A solitary tree is easily broken by the wind.

  "You're still so clever and resourceful."

  After Wen's other sisters left, Su didn't speak up immediately, but instead scrutinized Jiu with piercing eyes for a long time before saying.

  "Hehe, Master doesn't like my cleverness?"

  The ninth sister naturally knew that her thoughts couldn't deceive Su Shifu, so she didn't bother to distinguish and instead shamelessly played dumb.

  Su Shi Fu listened and shook his head, but ultimately smiled.

  She really likes her job as a mechanic.

  She still remembered that three years ago, after the embroidery class for the young ladies in the next village, she had given them an assignment to test their talent and also to show off her own skills, which was to embroider a flower.

  Vivid and lifelike is required, best if it gives a sense of being on the verge of jumping out!

  If it's too bad, she will consider not bringing this student.

  The next day when the embroidery was handed in, one of the Peony Branches was really badly done, with coarse and inferior stitching and messy thread ends.

  She didn't give it another glance and tossed it aside, ready to haul out the owner of this embroidery in a little while and assert her authority.

  But what was unexpected was that a miracle occurred ——

  It was the season when grass grew and swallows flew, suddenly a group of bees and butterflies fluttered in from the open window and landed on the proud chrysanthemum, waving but unable to shake them off.

  Looking at the mediocre chrysanthemum and then at the bees and butterflies on it, everyone was instantly stunned...

  Later on, she didn't punish the owner of this embroidery, nor did she praise her, because she understood that she had been clever.

  "Hehe... sisters, my rotten embroidery skills can't even attract butterflies. Actually... I was secretly drinking my aunt's osmanthus honey while embroidering, and accidentally knocked over the bottle, getting all the threads sticky with honey..."

  However, after class, she unexpectedly heard her and a group of sisters say that, with a silly smile on her face.

  She's not a kid, and at a glance, you can tell that this girl is insincere.

  She had heard some palace secrets and knew that in the previous dynasty, there were imperial concubines who used this method to attract the emperor's attention.

  This girl should also know about these things, otherwise how could there be such a coincidence in the world...

  But she deliberately made such a silly and careless appearance in front of her sisters, what a clever girl!

  "This behavior of yours doesn't look like that of a ten-year-old child at all." Master Su sat back down in front of the embroidery frame and looked at Jiu again.

  "Master has such a great career and status, what has he ever been like an ordinary woman?" Ninth sister still remained calm and unhurried.

  A very technical sentence, which both forcefully defends itself and cleverly flatters the other party.

  "Hehe, little oily mouth!" Su Yu and rarely showed a happy smile, but soon her face became gloomy again, and she said in a low voice, "You think I want to be like this..."

  "Master, did you think Jiuniang wanted it this way?"

  Jiuer's gaze fell on Su Shifu's face, which was full of melancholy and worry, and she remained silent for a long time before speaking in a low voice.

  Su Yu was taken aback, gazing deeply at her for a moment before letting out a silent sigh.

  She certainly understands her situation——

  After the incident of attracting butterflies with proud frost branches, she stayed after school that afternoon and severely scolded her.

  The trick is to take advantage of opportunities, but it's absolutely unacceptable!

  She cried and sincerely apologized to her.

  "You've gone to so much trouble, so why are you pretending to be clueless in front of your sisters?" she asked her.

  "I... I just don't want Master to not teach me, this student, otherwise Auntie will be heartbroken, but it's not for showing off." She said after thinking for a moment.

  "Why don't you want to show off?" She was taken aback.

  "Because... because a tree that stands out in the forest will be felled by the wind..." She hesitated for a long time before speaking softly.

  She couldn't help but pause again, then lowered her head to look at the little girl with her head down and a serious face, and a deep sense of pity rose in her heart.

  Yes, that's right! This girl is smarter than her, knows how to hide her abilities and restrain herself...

  "Master, I heard you coughing badly during class just now. Have you seen a doctor?" Jiujier asked about Master Su's health as the sky was getting dark and she didn't want to waste more words.

  "I've seen it before, same old problem." Su Shifu said calmly, and then picked up his needle and thread, pretending to work.

  Jiujie was anxious and held down Su Shifu's hand, "Shifu, you must take care of your own body!"

  "Save it, save it!" Seeing her so tense, Master Su smiled.

  Jiuer finally put her mind at ease and then asked Su Shifu what he had been busy with lately, and also volunteered to help him share the workload.

  In the past, Su had often been in such situations where he had to take care of his own estate, manage the business on Brocade Street, and sometimes even receive embroidery work from noblewomen who were difficult to refuse.

  At this time, Su Shifu would let the maid secretly send those things to Xu Auntie's hands, and let Xu Auntie pass them to Ninth Sister, letting Ninth Sister use her almost fake-but-real pirated skills to help her.

  Su Shi Fu smiled, "You this little girl, are indeed sincere in treating me, it seems my efforts have not been in vain. However... however, you can't help with this matter because the person I'm dealing with now is the highest-ranking woman, and there can't be any mistakes!"

  "What's the highest?" Jiuniang was taken aback for a moment, "Yang..."

  Before she finished speaking, Su Shifu had already nodded in agreement, "Right!"

  Jiuer automatically shut her mouth and stared at Su Shifu.

  "Heh heh......" Su Shifu smiled, "It's just a nose and two eyes, nothing special."

  Why isn't there anything unusual? Jiuniang opened her mouth, but ultimately only said in her heart that she, a person from two thousand years later, had only seen this motherly figure on TV and online.

  I wonder what kind of appearance and demeanor she has. Especially for this Yang imperial concubine who is from a family of generals and is both literary and martial...

  Jiuer was taken back to the courtyard by Qing'an when the sky had already darkened.

  As she walked through the garden and reached the corner gate, Jiu immediately put on a gloomy face, furrowed her brow, lowered her head, and assumed an unhappy expression.

  With this expression, walking through the corridor, back to his own room, sitting in front of the tea that Qinghang had long been prepared.

  She sipped a mouthful of tea and ate another piece of lotus cake, then lazily leaned against the beautiful daybed by the bed and smiled.

  Not bad, after a round of mental struggle, there is still a quiet place for self-cultivation.

  "Miss, the fourth miss and tenth miss have come to see you...... um, also the sixth miss and seventh miss......" But at this moment, Qing Tao hastily pushed open the door and entered.

  "Is there still Sixth Sister?" Ninth Sister was taken aback, and then came...

  ……

  Digression

  Important foreshadowing, but it's not a palace struggle article!