CHAPTER 80: CHAPTER 79: THE LONELY WOMAN, WHAT’S WRONG WITH PAMPERING HER A BIT?

Compared to that copycat Shen Xinya, Shen Yunxi would certainly prefer Bai Shuangshuang to be favored.

She rolled her eyes: "They’re all shameless seductresses, desperately trying to steal His Highness the Crown Prince away from me! Nanny, I can arrange for Bai Shuangshuang to serve in bed, but after she gives birth, you absolutely must help me get rid of her!"

"Oh, dear lady, you can rest assured. This old servant will definitely help you keep the child but not the mother!"

While Shen Yunxi was making her plans, on the other side, Shen Yinning returned to the Gao Family in her carriage.

As soon as she stepped inside, Gao Zheng stormed over with a dark expression: "Shen, why did you deceive me?!"

Shen Yinning shot back with disdain: "Has Master Gao been drinking too much? What nonsense are you spouting in broad daylight?"

"You clearly have the ability to arrange for Old Master Yu to take disciples, so why didn’t you think about Hong’er and Hui’er but instead favored that worthless child born to a kitchen maid?! Do you even see this family as your own, or Hong’er and Hui’er as your own sons?!"

Shen Yinning scoffed lightly.

Treat Gao Hong and Gao Hui as her own sons?

How could that possibly be?

She replied, "Gao Zheng, it was you yourself who threw away the letter of recommendation. So why are you going mad now?"

"That’s because I thought the letter was fake!" Gao Zheng broke down. "How was I supposed to know you really had connections to Old Master Yu?! Why didn’t you inform me earlier?!"

Shen Yinning was speechless.

Wei Yu stepped forward to rebuke him: "My lady had already told you. It’s Master Gao who refused to believe it and even rejected her goodwill, insisting that Concubine Yin select a tutor for the two young masters instead. Now that Master Gao has seen my lady’s other child going to study at Yu Manor and grown envious, you turn around and blame her? A dignified man, and yet so shameless!"

"You—"

Gao Zheng was furious, but because Wei Yu was a maid sent from the Eastern Palace, he dared not curse her.

"Dear Zheng!" Yin Shanshan hurried over, saying, "You are a court official, arguing with a maid is such a disgrace! If that old man refuses to accept Hong’er and Hui’er as his disciples, and even elder sister won’t help, then there’s no need for us to beg them. It only gives them reason to look down on us!"

Gao Zheng let out a heavy sigh: "Old Master Yu is a Great Scholar of his generation. Who else in the world could teach as well as him?"

"What’s the big deal?" Yin Shanshan said confidently, "I’ll personally enlighten Hong’er and Hui’er."

Gao Zheng was incredulous: "You?"

Yin Shanshan pushed aside her bangs proudly: "Dear Zheng, rest your heart a hundredfold. I’m definitely a better teacher than that old man!"

Although her own academic performance in school had never been above failing grades in Chinese, math, English, and her scores in political studies, history, geography, physics, and chemistry were even worse—she had barely made it through art entrance exams to a technical college—but as a modern-day person, she was undoubtedly smarter than these ancient people.

Teaching Hong’er and Hui’er herself might even uncover their talents instantly, leaving Old Master Yu regretting his refusal.

Yin Shanshan grew more and more excited: "Your textbooks here are far too outdated, filled with nonsensical phrases like ’zhi hu zhe ye.’ Ridiculous! I’ve decided to write textbooks for Hong’er and Hui’er myself. Teaching them languages, math, and English side by side will ensure they win at the starting line! Perhaps in a year’s time, my textbooks will become popular nationwide, and all children will be using my books. Who would care about that old man named Yu by then?"

True to her impulsive nature, she started putting plans into motion the moment she stopped speaking.

Wei Yu stared blankly at her: "My lady, forgive me, but this Concubine Yin seems utterly absurd. Textbooks? What are languages, math, and English?"

Shen Yinning wasn’t sure either.

She didn’t care for Yin Shanshan or her children’s nonsense, preferring to retreat to her chambers to bathe and change her clothes.

The day’s events at Yu Manor had left her irritated. As she sat before her dressing mirror, her gaze accidentally landed on Lu Ying’s Money Shop token, inspiring her to instruct Haitang to take the token to the outskirts of the city and purchase a Hot Spring Villa.

Winter was frigid, and it was the perfect season for soaking in hot springs.

After all, the money belonged to Lu Ying; if she didn’t spend it, Shen Yunxi would. She might as well spend it on herself instead of letting others enjoy it.

And since Shen Yunxi had been searching for the so-called ’favored wife’ of the Empress Dowager, she directed Wei Yu to spread a rumor saying the wife resided at the Hot Spring Villa.

Eastern Palace.

De Sun presented the month’s expenditure report to Lu Ying. Learning that Shen Yinning had shaken things up by spending 100,000 taels of snowflake-patterned silver on a Hot Spring Villa, Lu Ying raised an eyebrow.

That little vixen certainly doesn’t hold back.

Still, he had hurt her feelings yesterday; indulging her for the next few days wouldn’t be too unreasonable.

Xue Ling, engaged in a game of Go with Lu Ying, sneered: "She’s merely the daughter of a convicted sinner, yet she lives extravagantly and frivolously. Your Highness ought to put her in her place."

Lu Ying placed a Go piece down: "My woman—what harm is there in pampering her a little?"

Xue Ling seemed to want to say more when Xue Mianmian, kneeling beside him, timidly tugged at his sleeve.

Xue Ling glowered: "Are you mute? Can’t you speak up if you have something to say?"

Embarrassed, Xue Mianmian’s face flushed, and she whispered almost inaudibly: "My lord, I haven’t seen Zhaozhao for days. May I visit Zhaozhao at the Hot Spring Villa?"

Xue Ling ignored her.

Ever since Shen Yinning returned to the capital, this girl’s mind had been occupied by her.

Yet, ever since Lu Ying had punished him by confining him to the Punishment Room for three days, she hadn’t spared him a thought.

"My lord..." Xue Mianmian tugged at his sleeve again, cautiously altering her request. "I heard soaking in hot springs is good for the body and makes the skin healthier and smoother. May I go to Zhaozhao’s Hot Spring Villa for that?"

"All superstition. Just pour some water into a bathtub at home, and it’ll have the same effect."

Xue Mianmian bit her lip, her soft, round doe eyes silently brimming with tears.

After a moment, she murmured, "I used to soak in hot springs outside the city every winter. But ever since I followed my lord, I’ve never soaked again..."

Xue Ling’s temples throbbed.

What kind of nonsense was this?!

What did she mean by never soaking in hot springs again since she started serving him?!

It was as if he lacked the means to provide such luxuries!

Compared to Lu Ying’s earlier remark, "My woman—what harm is there in pampering her a little?" Xue Ling now appeared miserly and stingy indeed.

Turning red with embarrassment, Xue Ling coughed lightly: "What sort of trivial thing is this that you’d cry about it? It’s just soaking in hot springs! Shen Yinning has a villa—do you think I’d be inferior to her? De Sun, how much did Shen Yinning’s Hot Spring Villa cost, again?"

"Reporting to you, Master Xue—the total was 100,000 taels of snowflake-patterned silver."

Xue Ling: "..."

100,000 taels of snowflake-patterned silver...

He really didn’t have that amount.

The funds he’d secretly amassed were all diverted to sustaining his Hidden Guards and Death Warriors. His accounts truly lacked liquid silver.

Clearing his throat, he said, "Purchasing a villa involves procedures, and who knows how long those will take. Forget it—soaking at Shen Yinning’s place will be just as good."

Lu Ying shot him a disdainful look.

Xue Ling pretended not to notice.

Xue Mianmian, however, was delighted and had already started planning the homemade pastries she’d bring to Shen Yinning as a gift.

The following day.

Xue Mianmian arrived at the Hot Spring Villa in a small sedan chair and joined Shen Yinning in the warmth of the spring waters.

Shen Yinning commented, "Xue Ling is unexpectedly generous this time, letting you visit me."

Xue Mianmian smiled awkwardly, embarrassed to mention Xue Ling’s penny-pinching antics.

Wei Yu entered with refreshments: "My lady, the Crown Princess Consort is here and requests to see you."

"The Crown Princess Consort?" Xue Mianmian was alarmed. "Why would she come to find you? Zhaozhao, does she know you’ve returned to the capital?! She’s so evil—she’ll kill you!"

Shen Yinning signaled her to calm down: "She doesn’t know of my presence. She assumes the resident here is that famed wife who writes Buddhist sutras. Today, she seeks my help and wouldn’t dare act recklessly."

"Then... Are you going to meet her?"