The concubine, a former cannon fodder, becomes pregnant, and the childless prince spoils her rotten.

Lin Zhizhi shuddered; she knew Liu Gulan acted extremely.

But no one expected that she and the concubine would come up with such a scheme that would hurt the enemy a thousand while also harming themselves eight hundred.

After several days of anxious anticipation, they realized that Liu Gulan really hadn't made any moves.

At least he didn't actually accept those ill-gotten gains in front of her, and he refused them quite frankly, as if he really had no such intention.

Liu Gulan was in a good mood recently and even took the initiative to talk to Lin Zhizhi. "I heard that you and the Prince have had a falling out recently? That's why you've had time to stay here with me at the shop. Don't worry, couples always make up after a fight. One day the Prince will visit you again."

The premise is that even if her alluring face is ruined, the prince will not despise her because of it.

Liu Gulan had already heard the reason, but she never expected that happy Ying's unintentional words would be far more useful than Lin Shangya's previous scheme.

I just felt that Cen Jingyi was too strange, and I had no idea what was going on in his mind.

"Young Master Liu really loves to meddle in other people's family affairs." Lin Zhizhi remained unmoved; such verbal provocation was no longer enough to make her lose control.

Seeing her reaction, Liu Gulan felt like she had punched a cotton ball, and she was both angry and annoyed.

He then snorted coldly and ignored her.

When Fang Bin arrived, he was still carrying Fang Qiao. After looking around, he found out what had happened.

He walked up to Lin Zhizhi and whispered, "This isn't the place to talk. I came here to see him, and you should understand what I mean."

It was precisely at this time that Lin Zhizhi frowned, wanting to refuse. Now, by introducing Fang Bin to the prince and bringing up the epidemic, she feared it would be seen as a deliberate attempt to win favor.

Liu Gulan had wanted to find Fang Bin before, but her aunt prevented her from meeting him.

Now that he's come to their door, they greet him warmly, "What would this customer like to buy?"

Upon seeing him arrive, she whispered to Lin Zhizhi, then said, "This maid is already the prince's woman, it's not appropriate for her to be so intimate with a man. Why don't you tell me what you'd like to buy, sir?"

"Qiao'er, go pick out a handkerchief." Fang Bin reached out and patted his daughter's head, watching her trot up and tiptoe to look at the counter.

She then chose an adorable cat pattern, her cheeks glowing pink, and even her clothes looked brand new.

He looks much better than before, it seems Fang Bin has come to his senses.

He placed some loose silver coins in front of Lin Zhizhi; they were the same ones she had placed on that dilapidated table earlier, untouched.

He ignored Liu Gulan the whole time, leaving her standing awkwardly and helpless.

She felt that Fang Bin had already discovered her scheme to lure him into a trap, and it would be very difficult for them to befriend each other now.

Seeing that Lin Zhizhi had written down the account, he picked up Fang Qiao and said meaningfully, "This shop is very popular. It's only been open for a short time and there are already so many people talking about it. I think it's best not to delay some things."

Whether it's purchasing medicinal herbs during an epidemic or running a large, eye-catching shop, caution is advised.

Liu Gulan sensed a warning in his words and said, "I have learned more about this place recently. I know what I can and cannot do."

"Lin Zhizhi and I are honest and law-abiding people. We just sell handkerchiefs, dresses and accessories. How could anyone find fault with us?"

"Moreover, this shop originally belonged to the concubine, and it is inextricably linked to the prince."

"No one would dare to offend the Prince, and even if they did, that concubine is no pushover."

Liu Gulan was there, acting like a bully, her eyes fixed on Fang Bin.

This is a future prominent figure, resourceful and cunning, whose actions are never fully understood.

Even when she was suppressed, she still managed to stand up again with her own strength. She really wanted Fang Bin to help her.

Lin Zhizhi was incredibly lucky; she gained Fang Bin's favor through her actions.

Fang Bin noticed her subtle hostility and thought that the fact that the two of them could manage a shop together peacefully meant that the prince behind it was someone with a plan.

Fang Bin's understanding of Cen Jingyi was limited to a few rumors that had circulated from the battlefield years ago.

Later, he was deliberately suppressed by those with ulterior motives, which led to the rapid erosion of the prince's prestige and achievements.

At the time, Cen Jingyi did not take any countermeasures, but Fang Bin's mind was focused on pursuing Fang Qiao's mother and he did not pay attention to these matters.

He was well aware of the dangers involved, and Cen Jingyi's decision to keep a low profile at the time was quite in line with his own ideas.

However, judging from Lin Zhizhi's attitude, she didn't mention his affairs to the prince at all.

The slight embarrassment he showed because the other party had taken the initiative to come to him left him somewhat amused and exasperated.

Is this maid genuinely indifferent to whether he will become the prince's advisor, or is she doing it on purpose?

It really whetted people's appetites.

Fang Bin's arrival made Liu Gulan wary.

She felt that Lin Zhizhi wouldn't know the details of the story like she did.

But Lin Zhizhi was really difficult to deal with. She had also heard about the cruise ship incident, although she was confident that she could handle it better than Lin Zhizhi.

But even the most ordinary maid in the royal palace has such abilities, which shows how difficult it is to deal with people in this world.

Fang Bin deduced that Lin Zhizhi's actions could not be kept from Cen Jingyi, which was why he came to the shop so openly to find her, also to reveal to Cen Jingyi that he had a special source of intelligence.

After seeing the father and daughter off, Lin Zhizhi returned to her residence and heard that the princess had successfully obtained the key to the storeroom.

She comforted the women of the various households, prepared a banquet to entertain them, and even invited the royal merchant who had saved people that day.

Everyone in the palace was saying that the princess was kind and benevolent. Although Xiying's wounds had mostly healed, she was still allowed to rest for a few more days.

After this, even if the people in the other residences had complaints, they couldn't find anything wrong with it.

They knew perfectly well that the Prince's Mansion was merely implicated in the matter, and that the Princess Consort's actions were already more than enough.

In her early years, due to her humble origins, the princess was often neglected in aristocratic circles, and coupled with her poor health, she rarely attended gatherings.

The Emperor's attitude towards Cen Jingyi has recently softened, and the Princess Consort has begun to interact with various households, leading those attending the banquet to speculate about the changing situation.

Dou Xiuchan declined the princess's invitation, citing that she was unwell and could not be exposed to the wind.

The female relatives of the princelings also replied to apologize, saying they had something to do or were feeling unwell.

The princess compiled the guest list, summoned Lin Zhizhi, and instructed her: "Rewrite a formal invitation based on the list, and tell the kitchen to prepare delicious food. The weather is getting hotter, so remember to prepare plenty of cold dishes and fruits. Do you know the preferences of these ladies?"

"This servant understands."

"Very good, I trust you to handle things. You may leave now."

Lin Zhizhi accepted the order and withdrew, but she could feel the princess's gaze upon her.

Fortunately, I had received a letter from Li Dan before, so I just wrote it in that format. Seeing that her name was included, I thought I might be able to ask her for some information.