The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Zheng Jie stood up and paced back and forth, her mind racing. Who could she turn to? Who could help her?

She quickly went through all the people she could think of in her mind, then suddenly stopped, walked to the table, spread out a piece of paper, picked up a pen, and wrote a short passage on it.

After writing, she held the paper close to the candlelight to let the ink dry quickly, then folded the paper, stuffed it into a hollowed-out wax ball, and sealed it with melted wax.

She carefully tucked the wax pellet into her sleeve. Then she opened her vanity case, stuffed all the loose silver and several silver notes she had saved up into her inner pocket, took a deep breath, and began to wait.

At dinner time, Cui'er knocked on the door carrying a food box: "Miss, it's time for dinner."

Zheng Jie opened the door, stepped aside to let her in, then glanced at the two old women at the door before closing the door expressionlessly.

Cui'er placed the food box on the table, turned her back to her, opened the food box, and took out the food.

Zheng Jie silently walked to the dressing table, picked up the sandalwood box containing jewelry, raised it high above her head, and smashed it down on the back of Cui'er's head.

Before Cui'er could even utter a sound, her body went limp and collapsed.

Zheng Jie grabbed her and dragged her to a corner. She quickly stripped off Cui'er's outer garment and put it on herself. Then she took out the prepared strips of cloth and tied Cui'er's hands and feet, and stuffed a wad of cloth into her mouth.

She crumpled her cloak into a ball and stuffed it into the food box, then ate a couple of bites of food, picked up the food box, and went out with her head down.

The old woman guarding the gate glanced at her and casually asked, "Miss, are you finished eating so quickly?"

Zheng Jie hummed in agreement and quickly walked towards the kitchen with the food box in her hand.

Seeing that the two old women didn't suspect anything, Zheng Jie walked a short distance, then turned around and quickly headed towards the side gate of the mansion.

In the shadows, a dark figure silently rose from the rooftop and trailed away into the distance.

Seeing that Zheng Jie was about to leave the mansion, the man raised an eyebrow and decided to help her. He went to the side gate ahead of her and launched two pebbles. The old woman guarding the side gate immediately fell into a deep sleep.

Zheng Jie carefully avoided the servants and old women on night duty in the mansion. When she arrived at the side gate, she saw that the old woman guarding the side gate was looking down and seemed to be asleep. She was overjoyed and quietly pulled open the door bolt, squeezing out through the crack in the door.

Seeing her leave, the man in the darkness leaped down and kindly re-bolted the door.

That night, as long as no one entered the house, no one would discover that Zheng Jie had secretly left the mansion.

Zheng Jie left the mansion, took her cloak from the food box and put it on, then threw the food box aside by the roadside. She ran breathlessly to the First Prince's residence under the cover of night.

She stepped forward and knocked on the door forcefully. The doorman opened the small window in the door, frowned, and asked, "Who are you looking for?"

Zheng Jie said anxiously, "I am Consort Zheng's younger sister. I have urgent business to discuss with Consort Zheng. Please inform her."

The gatekeeper sized her up and down, then said in a flat tone, "Consort Zheng has spoken; she will not see you!"

Zheng Jie felt a rush of heat to her head. She clenched her fists and forced a smile: "Big brother, are you mistaken? How could my sister refuse to see me?"

The doorman snorted and was about to close the window.

Zheng Jie hurriedly called out, "Wait! I'll give you money, please pass on a message to my sister for me! I'm begging you!"

"Miss Zheng," the gatekeeper interrupted impatiently, "please don't make things difficult for me. Not only the concubine, but the First Prince has also given the order that he will not see anyone who comes!"

After saying that, he slammed the small window shut.

Zheng Jie stood outside the door, biting her lip tightly. After standing there for a while, she suddenly kicked the door frame and turned to leave.

As she walked, she muttered to herself, "They're all kicking me when I'm down. You're all kicking me when I'm down! Fine! I'll go find Princess Yamin myself. I don't believe she'll accept this. That bitch Yun Jin was made a county princess, I don't believe Yamin can swallow this insult!"

She hurried through several streets and alleys, heading straight for the Princess's residence.

As she approached the vicinity of the Princess's residence, she slowed her pace. If she went through the main gate, she would inevitably alert the Princess, and if she found out, she would definitely not be able to see Ya Min.

Zheng Jie thought for a moment, then went around to the side door, knocked, and an old woman opened the door a crack, glanced at her, and asked, "Who are you looking for, young lady?"

Zheng Jie put on a smile and said softly, "Mother-in-law, I'm looking for Miss Liu'er, who serves the princess. I'm her cousin."

The old woman glanced at her and said indifferently, "Liu'er is no longer in the manor."

Zheng Jie was taken aback and blurted out, "Not at the manor anymore? Where did she go?"

"He made a mistake and was sold off." After saying this, the old woman immediately tried to close the door.

Zheng Jie felt a chill in her heart and quickly reached out to block the door, pleading, "It's like this... Mother-in-law, to be honest, I asked Liu'er to inquire whether the Princess needed any servants. My previous employer moved to another place and couldn't take me with them. If I can't find work soon, I'll be homeless. Mother-in-law, please, have mercy and ask around for me. Is there anyone in the household who needs someone?"

The old woman looked her up and down again, a hint of suspicion flashing in her eyes: "You have such delicate skin, you don't look like someone who has done rough work."

Zheng Jie panicked and quickly took out a silver ingot from her sleeve, secretly slipping it into the old woman's hand. With a forced smile, she explained, "Grandma, I used to serve the mistress by combing her hair at my previous job, so I really didn't do any rough work. But now I'm just grateful to have a place to stay, how could I dare to be picky? I can do any kind of work, please help me, Grandma."

The old woman weighed the silver ingot in her hand, and her expression relaxed slightly.

She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said, "Forget about working for the princess. But the laundry room does need someone to help out. Can you do that?"

Zheng Jie gritted her teeth and put on an excited expression: "Capable! Capable! I'm good at washing clothes!"

As long as she could see Yamin, she didn't care what she did; she didn't plan to stay long anyway, she'd just blend in first.

But the old woman added, "Do you have a household registration certificate? You'll also need a guarantor. Preferably someone who works in the household. Besides Liu'er, who else do you know?"

Zheng Jie was stunned for a moment before finally saying, "I also know... the girl Hong'er who serves the princess..."

"Hong'er has been sold too." The old woman interrupted her. "Don't even think about anyone who used to serve the princess. Even the princess's wet nurse has been sent to the estate. Except... Granny Liu from the small kitchen."

Zheng Jie's eyes lit up: "I know Granny Liu too! Could you call her Granny Liu for me?"

For the sake of the silver ingots, the old woman said, "You wait here," then closed the door and turned to leave.

A short while later, the side door reopened, and a stout cook in her fifties came out. She looked at Zheng Jie and asked suspiciously, "Are you Liu'er's cousin? I've never seen you before?"