Chapter 20

Su Yaozheng assured Han Jing that Xu Chong could be trusted to serve her without worry.

Han Jing was once again touched by the princess’ effort as she never expected her to provide a guardian like Xu Chong. She could not imagine the extent of his capabilities since he was the Emperor’s former private guard.

“Thank you, mother…” Han Jing did not know what else to say.

“Don’t be silly! What’s mine is yours,” Su Yaozheng tutted. “I am more than happy to see you becoming mature. Xu Chong raised two girls since they were young, but they’re not in the residence right now. I’ll get someone to send them over tomorrow. You can have them by your side to protect you. You decide.”

Han Jing nodded.

“Oh!” Su Yaozheng exclaimed, “Those girls will not be enough. You will need a reliable steward. Ah Long has a sister who has served me before. She was engaged when she entered the palace and I married her off when she came of age after I left the palace. She sent a letter to Ah Long, saying she was unhappy there and wished to come back to be a steward. Her husband’s family despised her because she was infertile. She is smart, she only got married because she was naive, not expecting to turn out this way. I have already requested for her to be escorted here, she will be with you after all this. I’ll feel more at ease knowing you have a steward with you.”

Princess Yi Feng already planned these arrangements for Lady Han much earlier, but she figured to carry them out later so that Jing’er could have her freedom. She was reckless to think that no one in the capital would find trouble with Jing’er.

She thought that Jing’er would be unhappy to have many people around her since she was ashamed of her birthmark. That was why she only had Dong Bao with her.

Now that Jing’er was ready, she finally made the arrangements she was supposed to. Everything that happened the day before will not repeat itself.

“Mother, you are so thoughtful,” Han Jing chirped. She was surprised that Su Yaozheng took care of everything. She figured that she had been planning it for a while but did not arrange it.

Han Jing envied Lady Han from the previous life to have such a considerate mother. This mother was now hers.

“Alright, Ah Long should be back soon. I have some instructions for her, so you should stay and listen,” Su Yaozheng instructed as she summoned Aunt Long.

“Pass these words to Madam Li and Second Young Lady,” she ordered. “I instruct them to kneel in the ancestral hall in the west while copying the Buddhist texts a hundred times. They are not allowed to get up without my permission.” Su Yaozheng’s tone was cold and cruel.

“Mother,” Han Jing blinked in surprise. “What is this for?”

“I will not get involved in matters you wish to handle on your own, but I am punishing them by making them copy Buddhist texts for putting me in a bad mood,” she said nonchalantly. “You can supervise them if you have nothing to do.”

Su Yaozheng pressed on her temples. “The rocky journey wore me out. I’m going to rest.”

Han Jing was speechless.

The maidservants followed Su Yaozheng hurriedly when she stood up and walked in the direction of Hanguang Court. Han Jing stood up to follow, wanting to see Han Yan copying the texts on her knees in the ancestral hall.

Right when they were stepping into Hanguang Court, a servant announced unexpectedly, “Your Highness, Master is here.”

Han Jing had just remembered that she did not only have Princess Yi Feng as her mother. She also had a father, Han Siju, the official of Qing’an!