Then I'll Trouble You, Mrs. Hu

Grace rocked the swing set and smiled, "Mom has been at Forget Worries Pavilion since I was little, so of course I want her to come to the palace with me. But the palace has a rule—maids who enter must be under twenty years old. So..."

"Oh dear! Even if this old maid is a bit slow, I do know that much! I was asking which two maids you plan to bring into the palace!"

A candidate could bring two personal maids into the palace. In her previous life, she brought Hope and Claire.

Grace's eyes flashed as she asked, "Who do you think would be best to bring into the palace?"

Mrs. Hu, looking thoughtful, replied, "I think Hope and Claire are perfect—one is serious, one is lively. They were given to you by Madam, so their status is above the others. They're the best choice for you."

She'd said the same thing in her previous life.

Grace pretended to shake her head and said, "I want to bring Silver and Frost. They're a bit older and more sensible."

Silver and Frost, just like Mrs. Hu, were Grace Wan’s trusted confidantes.

Mrs. Hu’s smile faltered. "Those two are fine, but Miss, you really should take Hope and Claire! Otherwise, Madam might feel hurt!"

Judging by her reaction, Silver and Frost must have asked her to come and probe.

She must be afraid that Grace will actually take them into the palace.

Grace couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for herself.

Even they knew that following her into the palace wouldn’t end well!

Yet in her last life, when Grace Wan said she’d send her to the palace, she’d been so grateful...

Grace gave a mocking smile. "Let’s talk about this later. I’m planning to visit my mom this afternoon. Keep an eye out, and let me know when my dad heads to Mingyu Pavilion."

"Alright!" Mrs. Hu walked off, frowning.

Grace glanced at her retreating figure, a cold glint in her eyes.

This head housekeeper who manages all of Forget Worries Pavilion really needed to be gotten rid of soon!

Otherwise, once her Spirit Root awakened and she started cultivating, it would be a real hassle.

...

Mrs. Hu was efficient. After her father went to Mingyu Pavilion that afternoon, she came to inform her.

Grace stood up and instructed, "Hope, Claire, come with me. Let’s go see my mom."

"Yes, Miss," the two maids replied in unison.

"Miss, I’d better go with you!" Mrs. Hu hurried over again.

"No need. Hope and Claire can accompany me." Grace replied coolly.

"I should still go with you!" Mrs. Hu insisted. "The Second Madam gave orders—she’s worried you’ll upset the Prime Minister, so she told me to keep a close eye on you and give you reminders."

Reminders?

More like stirring up trouble, right?

But for now, she didn’t want to confront Grace Wan directly.

So, if she wanted to get rid of this troublesome maid, she’d have to do it discreetly—or get someone else to do the dirty work...

With that thought, Grace glanced at Mrs. Hu and smiled, "Alright, I’ll trouble you then, Mrs. Hu!"

...

Her mother’s Mingyu Pavilion was the most heavily guarded place in the entire Prime Minister’s Residence.

That was her father’s arrangement.

After her mother fell ill, her father worried something might happen to her, so he made Mingyu Pavilion as secure as a fortress.

Neither Grace Wan nor any of his other children could enter without his permission.

Grace, as his legitimate daughter, was the only exception.

It wasn’t that her father was deliberately guarding against Grace Wan.

After all, in his eyes, Grace Wan was still a proper and sensible woman.