A Place of My Very Own?

With that, Lianrong stepped forward to help her pack her things, only to find the room completely bare. There was not even a proper blanket on the bed, only a thin, threadbare sheet. How could it keep anyone warm? She thought to herself that this must be a pitiful soul who had been severely oppressed.

Lianrong said nothing and quickly packed the belongings, then said, "Mistress, let us go."

Jiang Jinxin followed her to Meixiang Residence. This place was much more spacious and elegant than the servants' quarters, fully furnished with a bed, warm bedding, tables, and chairs.

Jiang Jinxin stood frozen in place, her demeanor somewhat timid, as if she had just entered a world she did not belong to and had yet to adjust.

"This is your residence from now on, a place that belongs only to you," Lianrong reminded her.

Hearing this, Jiang Jinxin was astonished. "A place of my very own?"

"Yes, this is the place the Prince has designated for your exclusive use."

These words were like a massive boulder crashing into her heart, raising turbulent waves.

The women in this inner court all had to live off the grace of that man. She was no exception, and neither was the Princess Consort.

Indeed, Prince Rui was the sole master of this estate.

In an instant, her expression softened, and she smiled. "You are right. This is a place that belongs only to me."

After a moment of adjustment, she realized how intoxicating this feeling was. If her mother and younger brother could also live in peace, she would be much happier.

She thought of how she had scraped by under the thumbs of those two women for years. Her father had never spoken up for them, nor had he ever comforted them. Bringing them back to the Marquis's Estate was merely to give them a bite to eat, but he had never spared them a single glance. She knew one thing very clearly.

Value. Because she and her mother lacked value, they were not valued by her father.

She remained lost in thought for a long time, not even realizing when Lianrong entered the room.

"Reporting to Mistress, the Prince has sent word, summoning you to the study tonight to attend to his inkstone," Lianrong said with a smile.

Jiang Jinxin murmured in response and smiled. "Then please do my makeup, keep it elegant and light."

She possessed an exquisite beauty; even light makeup made her look peerless. With her willow-leaf eyes, both slender and full of charm, her facial features were exceptionally striking, and her petal-like lips were naturally rosy and plump even without rouge.

She had fully inherited her mother's beauty, perhaps even surpassing her slightly, while also inheriting her father's finest feature—his nose.

This was why she had caught Jiang Yushu's eye.

Perhaps men all favored a face like hers. Otherwise, even though the Prince had initially refused her bed-service, the moment Jiang Yushu forced her to deliver soup to him, he had immediately bedded her.

She had been in the estate for less than ten days, yet she had served him three times. There were two Side Consorts in the inner court, as well as several concubines bestowed by the Empress. This month, the Prince had visited the inner court five times in total, and she had served him three of those times. Thus, she believed the Prince liked her face.

After having dinner, she went to the study to serve.

Prince Rui was reading official documents. Hearing her enter, he gestured for her to stand beside him and asked, "Do you know how to grind ink?"

"Yes, Your Highness, this concubine knows." With that, she began to carefully grind the ink, keeping silent, her movements gentle and rhythmic.

She had applied ice water to her hands beforehand to keep her fingers from swelling. Jiang Yushu's methods of torment were extremely cunning; the long, slender needles pierced her hands to cause pain without leaving any visible wounds.