chapter 17.2

Ren Anle's eyebrows furrowed. Yuan Qin's expression understood clearly, and she whispered a few words into Ren Anle's ear. She just realized that the young girl in front of her was actually the daughter of Du-shangshu. Because of her friendship with Shaohua-gongzhu, she was protected by her, and she was admitted to the palace as a palace maid to avoid the crime of exile.

It was no wonder that the daughter of the minister's mansion, whose name and title was famous in the capital in the past and was now a maidservant relying on another's charity, would become resentful like this.

"Du-xiaojie, no need to be polite, but do you want to ask something of Benguan?" Ren Anle said lightly.

(benguan – formally speaking of the self in third person, meaning 'this official')

Forget it, in the end it was her Du family that was at the end of its life, and couldn't blame others. Du Tingfang lowered her eyes, "Tingfang is alright, daren, please go ahead." Finished speaking, she stepped aside.

Ren Anle took a step and went, walked a few steps, then stopped. "Du-xiaojie, what the Du family does has nothing to do with you, and what Ling-xiong does also has nothing to do with you."

(xiong– brother, often used to indicate a friendly and familiar closeness with someone)

With these few light words, Du Tingfang suddenly raised her head, wearing a complicated expression. She was about to open her mouth, but was unexpectedly interrupted by someone.

"Tingfang…" Shaohua-gongzhu came rushing over from the other side of the path, with disheveled hair adornments and an urgent expression. She reached the rockery, blocked Du Tingfang with one move, and looked at Ren Anle with a somber face,

"Ren-daren, Tingfang is a person from my palace. If there were any offenses, may daren please forgive them."

Taking one look at Shaohua's appearance, it was clear that she had hurried over. As she had an imposing and overbearing presence, Ren Anle was a little surprised. She didn't think Shaohua, who was domineering and arrogant on a daily basis, would have a bit of a genuine temperament towards the young lady of the Du family.

"Gongzhu, that's not the case…" Du Tingfang had gratitude within her eyes as she held onto Shaohua's sleeve.

"No need to be afraid, Bengong is here." Shaohua took a step forward, her eyebrows raised, "Ren-daren, Bengong knows that you have Fu-huang's praise and you are an upstart in the court. Bengong can't afford to offend you, and can't offend relatives. Presumably, daren will not argue with little girls, and lose the manners of a court official."

Maybe it was because she still remembered what Ren Anle said in the hunting grounds that day, Shaohua would then use Ren Anle's words to question her back at this time.

Ren Anle's eyebrows furrowed. This princess wasn't too bad at heart… It's just that her eyesight was too poor.

Ai, women are so troublesome, and women with poor eyesight are even more troublesome!

"Gongzhu, Ren-daren did not make things difficult for me."

"Shaohua, having not seen you for a few years, how have you become such a troublemaker!"

The two voices sounded almost at the same time. Ning-gongzhu came out from behind the rockery, her face cold and solemn, looking at Shaohua with a slightly displeased expression.

Almost immediately, Shaohua's complexion changed. She stepped back and bowed her head in greeting: "Greetings to huang-jie."

(huang-jie royal sister)

The eldest princess An Ning has made outstanding merits and achievements, and she is no longer comparable to the princess raised in the deep palace. No matter how domineering Shaohua was, she dared not to make it known in front of her.

Shaohua's complexion changed several times. In a low voice, she answered "Yes," and with red eyes, she led Du Tingfang away in a hurry