Wasn’t this exactly the kind of “calm and refined” female lead or supporting character she’d read about in novels in her previous life?
So the question was—was Consort Gu genuinely calm and refined, or was she just putting on an act?
Tang Rui rubbed her chin, leaving two dirty little handprints on her face, then hopped and skipped back to her own courtyard.
“Congratulations to the young princess! Congratulations!” Nanny Rong was already waiting with a group of servants.
Although the imperial decree hadn’t come down yet, the Princess Consort had already said that Princess Zhaohua’s status was set in stone.
“Thank you, thank you!” Tang Rui, small as she was, imitated the officials in court by cupping her hands politely, making the servants burst into laughter.
Nanny Rong finally noticed the dirt on her and quickly called to the maids and servants: “Hurry to the kitchen and boil hot water for the princess’s bath.”
“Yes!” The servants of Cuiweige bustled about.
“Everyone’s worked hard! Once the imperial decree comes down, I’ll give you all bonuses.”
With that, Tang Rui pushed open the door and entered the room. A black-and-white striped thing as thick as a thumb suddenly darted toward her.
This…
It was a snake!
Tang Rui’s eyes lit up instantly.
Nanny Rong’s face went pale with fright.
The servants also screamed in terror.
Black and red striped, with a triangular head—this snake was clearly highly venomous.
The venomous snake lunged, opening its mouth at Tang Rui’s face, its sharp fangs glinting coldly.
Two timid maids rolled their eyes and fainted on the spot.
At the critical moment, Tang Rui shot out her chubby little hand like lightning and grabbed the snake’s head with perfect precision.
Nanny Rong was still shaken, and it took her a long while to find her voice: “Little princess, you… you should throw the snake away quickly.”
Tang Rui put on an innocent face: “If I let go, it’ll bite!”
“Then… then I’ll go get someone!”
“No need! This is a good thing! Nanny Rong, please find me a jar!”
“Alright…”
Nanny Rong had no idea what Tang Rui wanted to do, but she still had the servants bring her a clay jar.
Tang Rui put the venomous snake into the jar, then pulled out several paper packets and opened them, pouring the powders inside one by one.
The snake repeatedly stuck its head out trying to bite her, but each time she knocked it back with a wooden stick.
After sprinkling all the powders in, Tang Rui looked at the two still-shaken servants: “I want lots of venomous snakes—small ones. Venomous insects work too.”
“This…” The two servants looked at Nanny Rong.
Nanny Rong frowned: “Little princess, what do you need these for?”
“Gu-making! I left my master in such a hurry that I didn’t bring my treasures, so I have to make them again!”
“…” Gu? You know how to make the legendary Gu?
Does the Prince know?
Does the Princess Consort know?
Tang Rui looked pitiful: “Do you have any?”
“We do…” Nanny Rong replied, then shot a meaningful glance at a young maid.
The maid understood instantly and slipped away to report to Situ Che.
…
“Gu-making?” Situ Che frowned: “Are you sure you heard correctly?”
The maid kept her eyes lowered: “Yes, that’s exactly what the princess said.”
Situ Che: “…”
Wasn’t that something only the Nanman royal family knew?
Ever since Nanman was destroyed by Beidi, the Gu Arts had been lost.
How did this child know such a thing?
Situ Che pondered for a moment before saying: “Give her whatever she wants.”
“Yes!” Receiving the answer, the maid hurried back to report.
Just as she left, Qingfeng said in a low voice: “Your Highness, should I investigate the princess’s past?”
“Probably nothing will be found.” A five-year-old child couldn’t have come to the Prince’s residence alone.
Someone had brought her here but hadn’t shown their face, which meant they didn’t want their identity revealed.
Tang Rui’s past would certainly be concealed by that person.
“Forget it! No need to look into it. Go check how a venomous snake ended up in her courtyard.”
“Yes!”
After he left, Situ Che called out lightly: “Mingyue!”
A figure appeared before him like a ghost, kneeling on one knee.
Situ Che: “From now on, you will follow Tang Rui. Record everything in detail, no matter how small, and protect her safety.”
The figure flickered and vanished, as if it had never been there at all.
…
With Situ Che’s approval, the two servants immediately bought several venomous snakes.
Tang Rui threw all the snakes into the jar and placed it in a cool, shaded spot.
Nanny Rong’s eyelids twitched as she watched: “Princess, this… is it done?”
“Done! Check again in ten days—remember to remind me then, Nanny.” Tang Rui said, then patted her stomach: “I’m hungry!”
Nanny Rong’s expression softened: “This old servant will have the food brought out right away. Little mistress, would you wash your hands first?”
“Okay! But I want to drink milk tea!”
“Milk tea?”
“I’ll make it in a bit—Nanny, will you learn with me?”
“Alright…” Nanny Rong never imagined the child could make anything good to drink; she just thought Tang Rui was being playful.
Tang Rui washed her hands and sat at the table. In a whirlwind of eating, she polished off all twelve dishes cleanly.
The rice remained untouched again.
The servants stared in shock at her round little belly, completely baffled!
Twelve dishes—where on earth was she putting it all?
Nanny Rong remained relatively calm; she had already witnessed Tang Rui’s appetite.
Children are growing, after all. It’s perfectly normal.
That’s how Nanny Rong comforted herself. After Tang Rui finished eating, she led a group of maids to help her bathe.
After changing into clean clothes, Tang Rui finally headed to the kitchen and began directing Nanny Rong to make milk tea.
Nanny Rong declared it absolutely delicious!
“The milk fragrance and tea aroma blend perfectly, the texture is silky smooth—it’s truly wonderful.”
“Right?”
Tang Rui took another big gulp and let out a satisfied milky burp. “Send a portion to Father, Mother, and the concubines. If there’s any left over, you all can share it!”
“Thank you, Young Mistress!” The servants had already been craving it after watching Tang Rui drink so eagerly.
Nanny Rong furrowed her brow and quietly reminded her, “Young Miss, don’t be too kind to the servants.”
“Nanny, I know what you mean.” She was simply worried that the servants would take advantage of kindness—feed a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, but give him a favor and he’ll expect a lifetime of it.
In her past life as a modern person, she should advocate for equality for all.
But this wasn’t the modern era—it was an ancient world with strict hierarchies. Still, some modern rules could be applied here.
Combine ancient and modern, take the best and discard the worst!
Tang Rui said seriously, “In a moment, gather everyone in my courtyard. I want to address them.”
Nanny Rong: “Very well…”
Tang Rui was a commandery princess, and Princess Consort Li doted on her. Besides Nanny Rong, there were ten other servants in her courtyard.
She couldn’t be bothered to remember the ranks of first-class, second-class, or third-class—she left all that to Nanny Rong’s management.
But now, she needed to lay down the law upfront.
After all the servants returned from delivering the milk tea, Nanny Rong gathered them together. Tang Rui stepped up onto a stool and began announcing the rules of Cuiweige.
In general, it was simple—an attendance system.
Each servant would have an attendance sheet at their workplace.
When they arrived, they had to sign their name, press their fingerprint, and record their start time.
When they left, they also had to sign, record their end time, and write a brief summary of their work or tasks for the day.
At the end of each month when wages were settled, Nanny Rong would deduct or reward based on the attendance sheets.
Everyone could also report on each other, serving as a form of supervision.
Of course, if a report was verified true, there would be a reward.
Additionally…