Chapter 277: I May Be a Glutton, But I’m Not Easy

Chapter 277: I May Be a Glutton, But I’m Not Easy

Xiaoyue shot a glance at Zhang Baiyun but kept her thoughts to herself.

Zhang Baiyun turned to a middle-aged man who looked like a steward and said, "Hurry and have the rooms for the princess and the Imperial Tutor tidied up again so she can rest properly."

The steward acknowledged and quickly relayed the order.

"Your Highness, please step inside!" Zhang Baiyun gestured with his hand.

"Imperial Tutor!" Xiaoyue called out.

"Alright, let’s go. Xier needs her rest too," Ci Xin said, slightly bowing to Wan Wenxiu before turning to leave.

Zhang Baiyun guided them to the second courtyard, showing each of them to their rooms.

After setting down their things, Hongmei and Nanny Gui headed to the small kitchen to boil water for the little princess’s rice porridge and bath.

Last night at the post station, Ruo Xi Baby didn’t have a proper bathtub.

Xiaoyue bathed with her daughter, changed into fresh clothes, and then had Hongmei dry and style her hair while Nanny Gui dressed the little princess.

"What’s all that commotion outside?" Xiaoyue turned and asked.

Hongmei went to take a look and then returned, saying, "It’s the Imperial Tutor. The city lord’s wife is loitering at his door with a bowl of bird’s nest soup."

"She’s such a drama queen, always causing a stir!" Xiaoyue scoffed. "Forget about him. Let’s take a stroll later. Yunzhou City’s nightscape is stunning."

"Indeed, Your Highness. Yunzhou City was once called the city that never sleeps. Its nights are far more enchanting than its days," Nanny Gui replied.

"Nanny, do you want to revisit the old haunts?" Xiaoyue turned and asked.

"No, there’s no point," Nanny Gui shook her head, her eyes cold and distant.

"Exactly, why bother?" Hongmei chimed in. "If they see Nanny Gui thriving, they’ll just try to exploit her again. Remember what happened with Eunuch Xia in the palace?"

"Yes, when they sold me off, they never expected me to live through it," Nanny Gui said, shaking her head.

With her hair in two little buns and dressed neatly by Nanny Gui, Ruo Xi Baby looked as precious as jade and snow. Even the usually stoic Nanny Gui couldn’t help but smile. "The little princess is the most beautiful child I’ve ever seen!"

"More beautiful than I was as a child?" Xiaoyue teased, scooping up her daughter. "When she’s older, she’ll need to find a husband who truly adores our Xier!"

"Your Highness, let’s head out. Hongmei, go ahead and reserve a private room at Wanfu Tower in the southern part of the city," Nanny Gui instructed.

The princess had been deceived into marrying that rogue Shangguan Jinghong, much to the Empress Dowager’s sorrow.

Now that the princess mentioned it, Nanny Gui worried it might reopen old wounds, so she swiftly changed the subject.

Xiaoyue opened the door, cradling her daughter, and immediately spotted Wan Wenxiu approaching with a delicate plate, looking rather sullen.

"Your Highness, I had the kitchen whip up some nourishing bird’s nest soup for you," Wan Wenxiu said, her voice deliberately soft but still grating.

"Oh, we’re just heading out for dinner. Thanks anyway, City Lord’s wife!" Xiaoyue said, giving the soup a quick glance before walking off.

"Is the princess worried I’d poison her, or is she just snubbing me?" Wan Wenxiu, who had been coddled and adored since birth, retorted.

As the daughter of Yunzhou’s wealthiest man, even in the Imperial City, her father’s fortune guaranteed her respect and a retinue of attendants.

Of course, she had no idea that the officials her father introduced her to were all minor figures, and her worldview was just as narrow.

However, she had truly never been rejected before, and no one had ever gone against her will.

Yet, as a mere city lord's consort, she dared to act so presumptuously in front of the princess.

Naturally, Xiaoyue guessed that this woman was more likely nursing a grudge.

"City Lord's consort, your bird's nest soup is mixed with deer blood and many aphrodisiac herbs. What, do you think this princess is too much of a woman?" Xiaoyue turned her head, looking coldly at Wan Wenxiu as she asked.

"This... this is a health tonic. I, I just added some randomly. Princess, it's up to you whether you eat it or not!" Wan Wenxiu's face turned completely red. She held the tray, gritted her teeth, and after a moment of silence, added, "I was just trying to be kind. If the princess doesn't want to eat it, then so be it!"

She shoved the tray into a maid's hands, spilling the bird's nest soup, and stormed off without a second glance.

"What kind of manners does this woman have?" Hongmei frowned and said.

"She's been spoiled since childhood, never faced setbacks, never considered others' feelings, just used to getting her way," Nanny Gui explained.

"But I've never even seen such behavior in the royal family," Hongmei said.

"The royal family would hire nannies and tutors, and the princes would be taught by Imperial Tutors and Imperial Preceptors. But among the common folk, especially those wealthy families, they believe money can move mountains. So, they spoil their children and throw money at problems, making them even more arrogant than royalty," Nanny Gui said.

"Hmm, it seems that City Lord Zhang has it rough as a son-in-law!" Xiaoyue ignored these comments and continued to carry Xiao Xi'er out.

"Yue'er, why didn't you call me?" From one side, Ci Xin came out of his room and asked.

"Hah, as if I'd dare disturb you! The city lord's consort brought you a feast, and you didn't even open the door. You're so composed—how could I possibly drag you out?" Xiaoyue pouted and said.

"Although I love to eat, I'm not one to eat anything. That bird's nest soup reeked—no way I'd touch it," Ci Xin said, then thought for a moment, "Yue'er, do you think Zhang Baiyun really drinks that kind of bird's nest soup every day?"

"Are you really that clueless, or are you pretending?" Xiaoyue rolled her eyes at him, then turned to leave, "Let's go. I heard there's a plague in the city—we should check it out."

Wen Xu had freshened up and arrived just as the princess opened the door.

Thus, the radiant princess, accompanied by two equally handsome men, followed by two servants, walked out of the city lord's mansion.

Beneath the corridor's eaves on one side of the city lord's mansion, watching Xiaoyue and Ci Xin walk away, Wan Wenxiu's handkerchief was almost torn to shreds.

"Indeed, it's said that the current princess is flirtatious, always flirting with the Imperial Tutor, and even delayed Imperial Doctor Wen's son. Now it seems those rumors were spot on!"