Chapter 336: Madam, let me make you fly!

Upon hearing Zhu Xiuxiu’s anxious inquiries, Xie Pan’Er repeated the oath Nanny Zhang had made.

"If I, your old servant, were to divulge this, may I die a terrible death!"

"An oath doesn’t guarantee anything! No, I still have to go find her!" Zhu Xiuxiu was still uneasy.

"That oath, she swore it in the presence of the Eldest Princess. Whether it’s truly binding or not, I don’t know."

As soon as Xie Pan’Er spoke, Zhu Xiuxiu immediately stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Xie Pan’Er.

That look in her eyes was as if she were staring at a fox.

"It’s better not to go. After all, Nanny Zhang was bestowed upon us by His Majesty. We should be doing our utmost to show her respect; how could we actively seek to offend her?" Huo Xing’Er chimed in.

Then she furrowed her brows and asked Xie Pan’Er, "Didn’t I tell you before not to let Suisui perform any kneeling actions?"

At this question, Xie Pan’Er blushed, showing her helplessness. "I tried every way to dissuade Nanny Zhang, but she wouldn’t listen. I even suggested that we could learn something else today. I proposed that the matter of the kneeling etiquette could be discussed with the Old Madam, or with you and Third Madam, to see what you all thought. Who knew Nanny Zhang would misunderstand my intentions and insist on teaching it today? She kept her eyes fixed on me, so much so that I didn’t even dare to try and sneak out to ask for your help!"

This was a child who hadn’t had it easy,

Huo Xing’Er thought, understanding the implications of her words.

"Have you issued a gag order on everyone in the courtyard?" Zhu Xiuxiu asked again.

Xie Pan’Er hastily replied, "Before the Princess’s lesson on kneeling etiquette began, I had already sent everyone away. Now, all we need is for Steward Liu to take care of that old locust tree in Qinxin Garden."

"That’s good!" Old Madam Ji said, patting her chest in relief. "Second Daughter-in-law, go to Nanny Zhang and tell her this: if anyone asks in the future, she is to say that today, like the other maids, she left the Mansion and was not present. Then, go to Steward Liu and tell him that after the Celestial Thunder struck today, when he led the household retainers into that courtyard, there was no one there."

"Yes!"

Not just Huo Xing’Er, but also Zhu Xiuxiu and Xie Pan’Er, instantly understood the Old Madam’s arrangements.

"Mother! Suisui can’t go back to her own courtyard right now. Why not let her come to my courtyard to play for a while?"

Back in Xun’an County, Xiaosuisui had always been under Zhu Xiuxiu’s care. But ever since they returned to Capital City, Xiaosuisui had encountered one issue after another. When problems arose, she was accompanied by either Xie Pan’Er or Huo Xing’Er. When there were no problems, she had to learn etiquette in her own courtyard. Now that there was finally an opportunity to take her precious charge out to play, Zhu Xiuxiu naturally didn’t want to miss it.

Hearing her words, Old Madam Ji couldn’t help but say, "What would she do in your courtyard? Our little treasure supposedly went to visit Xilin Lake early this morning; she’s not in the Mansion."

As soon as Old Madam Ji spoke, Zhu Xiuxiu’s eyes widened. "Mother, you mean..."

"Go find your third brother and tell him to bring out that Flower Boat of his, the one moored at Xilin Lake that he’s never used. We’re going boating!"

Zhu Xiuxiu was overjoyed. "Okay, I’ll go and talk to Ji Youcheng right away."

Old Madam Ji reminded her again, "Go out through the back door. Don’t let anyone see you."

Zhu Xiuxiu wasn’t slow-witted; she understood what Old Madam Ji meant. Celestial Thunder had suddenly struck the Ji Mansion; there were bound to be many people from the surroundings coming to investigate. If they were to swagger out through the Main Gate, it definitely wouldn’t do.

Old Madam Ji took Suisui and Xie Pan’Er to the back door, where she found a corner to stand in.

"My sweet treasure, you love to Feifei the most. Today, how about you take your maternal grandmother to Feifei with you, just once? Alright?"

Xiaosuisui nodded eagerly and chirped, "Okay, okay! Mistress, I’ll take you to Feifei!"