"Yin Zhu, you've finally arrived." Xiao Man turned her head, her voice filled with joy.
"Yin Zhu pays her respects to the young lady." Yin Zhu, her face alight with happiness, curtsied with restraint.
"My mansion has been lacking a housekeeper. Now that you're here, I can finally relax." Xiao Man stood up and helped her to her feet.
"I become the housekeeper?" Yin Zhu was a little surprised. Back in the General's mansion, she had only been a third-class maid. Later, Xiao Man promoted her to second-class. Since there were no more spots for first-class maids, she had remained second-class. Yet now, in Lan Yue, she was leaping to the position of housekeeper. She felt a surge of flattered disbelief.
"With your capabilities, you are more than qualified for the position." Xiao Man said with certainty.
Yin Zhu's eyes turned red. "This servant will surely not disappoint the young lady's expectations."
"I believe you." Xiao Man beckoned, and Xiang Xue gracefully approached.
"The young lady had a room prepared for you early this morning. I'll take you to see it." Xiang Xue immediately led Yin Zhu to her room, coincidentally familiarizing her with the layout of the mansion.
Watching Yin Zhu walk a few steps before still remembering to bow and take her leave, Fu Dan's eyes flickered with a peculiar emotion. "Princess, is Yin Zhu a former maid of yours?"
"Yes, she was a maid gifted to me by my elder brother. She is a very meticulous person." Xiao Man looked at Fu Dan. "Don't let her delicate appearance fool you; she cannot lift heavy objects, nor can she carry anything substantial. But she is a capable person, not in combat, but in other aspects."
"This subordinate does not understand."
"She and you are like the civilian and military in a command. She excels at strategic thinking, while you excel at action. If the two of you join forces, it will not be easy for outsiders to breach the defenses of the Princess's Mansion." Xiao Man said meaningfully.
"This subordinate will surely guard the Princess's Mansion well."
"Fu Dan, tell me about the Tian Bao Building." Xiao Man spoke slowly. "There are five great buildings in Bian Jing, each belonging to a different princess. Which princess does the Tian Bao Building belong to?"
"The Tian Bao Building does not belong to any princess." Fu Dan thought carefully. "To this day, I have never met the owner of the Tian Bao Building. I only know that it is an extremely mysterious person. Across the entire Bian Jing city, very few people have ever seen the owner."
"Not someone from the court?"
"No. Rumor has it that the Tian Bao Building is related to Empress Yue Xian, but facts have proven otherwise. The Tian Bao Building has no connection to Empress Yue Xian. However, the court does not dare to cause trouble for the Tian Bao Building. It is a very special entity. Even the arrogant Fourth Princess would not dare to provoke the Tian Bao Building."
"What would be the consequences of causing trouble at the Tian Bao Building?"
"You would be hunted by experts from the martial arts world." Fu Dan warned Xiao Man. "Your Highness, please do not act rashly. The Tian Bao Building is no trivial matter. Within its walls, there are many experts I cannot defeat. Just by getting close to a few of them, I feel extremely uncomfortable."
"The Tian Bao Building is that mysterious?"
"Yes, the Tian Bao Building is that mysterious. The Empress even specifically decreed that no one should become an enemy of the Tian Bao Building."
Xiao Man's gaze shifted slightly. "Could it be that the Tian Bao Building was opened by the Empress?"
Fu Dan shook her head. "No, the Empress seems to be quite wary of the owner of the Tian Bao Building... It's not just the Empress; even people from the martial arts world are very cautious of the Tian Bao Building."
"How so?"
"Someone once caused trouble at the Tian Bao Building, and as a result, that person's entire family was slaughtered overnight, leaving no one alive. The authorities have yet to find the perpetrator. Furthermore, the Tian Bao Building can handle many matters that others cannot. Over the years, its status has become increasingly stable, almost unshakeable. If Your Highness wishes to establish a firm footing in the capital soon, it would be best to build a good relationship with the Tian Bao Building."
"Is that so? I am even more curious about the owner of the Tian Bao Building." A smile played on Xiao Man's lips. It would be best if it were different from what she suspected, otherwise, she would ensure the Tian Bao Building ceases to exist in this world.
Overnight, on the ruins of the Tian Bao Building, a seven-story pavilion, resembling a pagoda, stood tall as if it had appeared out of thin air. The traces of the devastating fire had vanished. Passersby stopped to stare, their faces filled with awe.
The First Princess, upon hearing that a pavilion had been erected overnight on the ruins of the Tian Yu Building, found it unbelievable. "A pavilion built overnight, do you think that's possible?"
"Your Highness, it is a fact. This subordinate has been to see it. A pavilion suddenly appeared where there should have been ruins. The crucial point is that the pavilion is exquisitely constructed; it certainly doesn't look like the work of a single night."
The First Princess was indeed curious and immediately went to the scene. Looking at the beautiful seven-story pavilion, the First Princess rubbed her eyes in disbelief.
"This is where the Tian Yu Building was located?"
"Princess, it was where the Tian Yu Building used to be." Her attendant reminded the First Princess. This place now housed another pavilion, and yesterday, the First Princess had already given the land deed to Xiao Man. From this moment on, this place no longer belonged to the First Princess.
"Bai Hua Pavilion." The First Princess's eyes flashed with a dark light as she read the three characters on the pavilion. Such a beautiful building; Xiao Man must have put a lot of effort into it. Perhaps Lan Yuan was right; Xiao Man had ill intentions from the moment she moved into the Tian Yu Building!
"Princess, what do we do?"
The First Princess gave a cold laugh. "Does she think that by simply rebuilding a pavilion, she can shake this Princess's status in Bian Jing? What a fantasy! I want to see what other tricks she has up her sleeve."
The Third Princess opened her window and looked out. "Eldest Sister, how did you manage it? A tall building rising from flat ground overnight. Come quickly and see, the First Princess's face has turned green."
Xiao Man picked up her teacup and took a slow sip. "It's just building a pavilion, nothing major."
"To finish building a pavilion overnight, no one can do it, yet you have. Look at the people outside, they are all so curious." The Third Princess said in amazement.
The Third Princess closed the door. "Eldest Sister, how exactly did you do it?"
"I couldn't do it." Xiao Man said slowly. "But someone by my side can."
The Third Princess's eyes flickered. She had spent a considerable amount of time with Xiao Man, yet she realized she understood very little about her. What abilities Xiao Man possessed, how many capable individuals were by her side, or how extensive her influence was, she had no idea.
However, the mere fact that Xiao Man could build a building in Bian Jing overnight was enough to awe the powerful officials of the capital!
"Eldest Sister, you knew from the start that Mother Emperor wouldn't summon you, and you targeted the Tian Yu Building from the beginning, didn't you?" Lan Qin had clashed with Xiao Man countless times and had always been defeated by her. Xiao Man always seemed to be thinking several steps ahead. She now understood that she was no match for Xiao Man and it was better to be a carefree princess under Xiao Man's protection.