Old Madam Song was an experienced woman, and she quickly understood.
Song Shuyu must have wanted to go home because she was sick.
"How about this: Grandmother will stay with you. It's the perfect chance for me to enjoy a few days of your good fortune!"
Song Shuyu held Old Madam Song's hand and smiled.
"Alright!"
Old Madam Song patted Song Shuyu's head.
"No, you still need to have a doctor come take a look at you."
"Grandmother, a doctor has already been here."
"I'm fine, your granddaughter just caught a cold and will recover soon."
Song Shuyu held onto the old madam, refusing to let her leave.
"Princess?"
A crisp voice came from outside the door.
Soon after, a maid dressed in bright, beautiful clothes walked in.
Song Shuyu recognized her as the senior maid who served Princess Ling.
Behind her followed a square-faced older woman.
"Princess, just now His Highness wanted to punish the maids and servants in your room, and Her Highness couldn't stop him."
"Her Highness thought that you must have no one to serve you here."
"So, she had me bring a servant woman over to attend to you."
"Mrs. Zhao, Her Highness has spoken. You must serve the Princess well. If you dare to slack off or not do your best, your entire family will be sold off!"
The older woman hastily bowed and said, "This old servant wouldn't dare."
After scolding the older woman, the maid turned back and smiled at Song Shuyu.
"Her Highness is very busy, but she is always thinking of you, Princess."
"Her Highness said, if you lack anything here, or if you want anything, just have Mrs. Zhao come over and say the word."
"Even if it's the stars in the sky, Her Highness will find a way to bring them down for you."
A satisfied expression appeared on Song Shuyu's face.
"This servant still has matters to attend to, so I will take my leave now."
The maid gave a shallow bow to Song Shuyu and Old Madam Song, then left.
Old Madam Song looked Mrs. Zhao up and down. "Go see if the doctor prescribed any medicine for the Princess, and brew it."
"Yes, ma'am."
Just as Mrs. Zhao was about to leave, someone came in through the door.
The two of them almost bumped into each other.
"Move out of the way! It's hot!"
The maid who entered was holding a bowl and quickly walked to the table.
With a loud clatter, she placed the medicine bowl on the table.
Then, she grabbed her earlobes with her hands.
"It's burning me! It's so hot!"
Old Madam Song was getting on in years and hated hearing any words related to death or dying more than anything.
A displeased look appeared on her face.
"Shuyu, is this the senior maid arranged by Her Highness?"
"How can she be so reckless? She has no manners at all!"
"And where did her clothes get so dirty? Serving her master, yet she doesn't even know to change into something clean?"
Hearing Old Madam Song's reprimand, the maid awkwardly lowered her hands and stood to the side.
Song Shuyu saw that the maid who brought the medicine bowl in was the same one who had poured water for her earlier.
It seemed this maid hadn't gone to rest, but had gone to brew medicine for her instead.
"Grandmother!"
Song Shuyu stopped Old Madam Song.
"I told you to go rest, but you went to brew medicine for me instead?"
"Yes, this servant thought that since you are sick, you definitely need to take medicine."
"I went to the small kitchen and brewed it for you."
The maid explained timidly.
"What is your name?" Song Shuyu asked.
A flash of joy appeared in the maid's eyes.
"To answer the Princess, this servant is named Daya."
"Daya? That sounds awful. How about I call you Chunxiao?"
"From now on, you will stay by my side and serve me."
The maid fell to her knees with a thud and kowtowed.
"Chunxiao thanks the Princess for the name!"
Old Madam Song was very satisfied with Song Shuyu's actions.
Winning over servants was a great skill for a master.
Song Shuyu was doing very well.
"All of you, go out. I like it quiet. I will call you if I need anything."
"Yes, Princess."
Chunxiao and Mrs. Zhao bowed and walked out.
"You sent everyone away—do you want your grandmother to feed you your medicine again?"
Old Madam Song looked at Song Shuyu with a reproachful gaze.
Song Shuyu held Old Madam Song's hand and acted coquettishly.
"Grandmother, I just want you to feed me!"
Old Madam Song fell for this completely. She beamed with joy and stood up to get the medicine bowl.
"You, oh you. How did you get sick when you were perfectly fine?"
"Now look, you have to drink this awful medicine again."
Old Madam Song walked to the table and reached out to touch the bowl.
"It's still a bit hot. Let it sit for a moment."
"That Chunxiao is clumsy too, not even letting the medicine cool down before bringing it over."
Song Shuyu blinked.
"Grandmother, come here."
Old Madam Song looked confused. "What is it?"
Song Shuyu turned her face to the side for Old Madam Song to see.
Old Madam Song's eyesight wasn't very good, so she leaned in for a closer look.
When she clearly saw the slap mark on Song Shuyu's face, she was startled.
"What is this? Did Her Highness hit you?"
"No, this handprint is so small, it doesn't look like an adult's."
Old Madam Song looked at Song Shuyu suspiciously.
"Shuyu, why did you hit yourself? Could it be that you want to frame someone else?"
Song Shuyu pouted.
"Neither! Grandmother, my face just inexplicably swelled up."
"I don't even know who hit me!"
"What?"
Old Madam Song leaned in and carefully examined it again.
The person in front of her was indeed her clever granddaughter, no mistake about it!
"Did you have this before you got a fever, or only after you woke up from it?"
Song Shuyu quietly recounted the whole course of events to Old Madam Song.
Old Madam Song was almost angered to death by Song Shuyu.
"You actually failed to frame someone else and ended up giving yourself a cold instead?"
"Tell me, where did your usual cleverness go?"
As Old Madam Song spoke, she reached out her index finger and poked Song Shuyu's forehead.
Song Shuyu also hadn't expected to outsmart herself.
"Grandmother, I didn't think it would turn out like this either."
"Grandmother, didn't you say that my adoptive father values me highly?"
"But why is it that when I went to see him, he refused to see me?"
"Moreover, adoptive father is so scary!"
Song Shuyu told Old Madam Song about Prince Ling smashing the teacup and hitting the Princess.
Old Madam Song lowered her head and pondered for a moment.
"Next time, remember this: when your adoptive father is busy, you absolutely must not go and cause trouble."
"Men have great matters to attend to. At such times, even if his bedfellow went to him, the result would be the same."
"But Father would never hit Mother."
Song Shuyu retorted.
"Who said..." Old Madam Song stopped herself just in time.
"Men are all the same. Besides, Prince Ling is the man who will become Emperor in the future. Naturally, his temper is bigger than an ordinary person's."
"You need to be good and obedient. Once Prince Ling ascends the throne, you can just wait to enjoy a life of luxury!"
Whenever Old Madam Song thought of that day, her face filled with joy.
"Alright, Grandmother will bring you your medicine. After you drink it, get a good sleep."
"Perhaps by the time you wake up, your illness will be cured."
Hearing her grandmother's words, Song Shuyu nodded obediently.
The medicine was very bitter, and Song Shuyu cried as she drank it.
"Now you know how uncomfortable it is. Remember from now on, nothing else matters; you yourself are the most important, understand?"
"Grandmother, I'll remember. I want candied fruit."
Old Madam Song popped a piece of candied fruit into Song Shuyu's mouth.
"Alright, close your eyes and go to sleep."
Song Shuyu lay down and blinked.
"Grandmother, that jinx, how is... how is she doing?"
