Chapter 458: Steady Delay

Chunfen was so scared that she almost cried, "Madam Crown Prince——"

"Do as I say! We didn't kill the man, so it has nothing to do with us. Even if there's a grievance that has its perpetrators, it won't affect us at all, so there's nothing to be afraid of, okay? I don't know how much longer I can delay this, so hurry up, and invite the prince over! If you can't invite the prince over quickly, maybe both of us will be in trouble!"

"Yes, yes! Madam Crown Prince." Chunfen nodded in fear, and was dragged out of the Pear Blossom Pavilion by Zhao Liya. She pushed hard, gritted her teeth, and staggered away quickly.

Zhao Liya took a deep breath and looked up. Sure enough, she saw her good second aunt and good third aunt leading a group of people towards her with smiles on their faces. They were only separated from her by a flower garden.

When their eyes met, Zhao Liya clearly saw the twisted pride and ferocious excitement in Mrs. Zhou Er's eyes.

It really has something to do with them!

She was really in trouble this time. She didn't expect them to be so bold and careless.

Zhao Liya quickly stepped forward and blocked Madam Zhou Er and Madam Zhou San's group at the other end of the flower garden. She smiled and said, "Second Aunt, Third Aunt, ladies, what a coincidence!"

Mrs. Zhou Er smiled and said, "Why are you here? Don't you young people love to watch the fun? This year's dragon boat race is even more exciting and grand than in previous years. Why don't you go and see it?"

Zhao Liya chuckled and nodded. "I was just about to go, but I wandered around a bit too long just to enjoy the scenery. I felt a little tired, so I stopped here to rest. Second Aunt, Third Aunt, and all the ladies, are you going too? Why don't you come together?"

Madam Zhou Er said hurriedly, "You go first, we'll go later. It's just right, I'm a little tired, and I was thinking of going to the Pear Blossom Pavilion to rest for a while."

Mrs. Zhou San smiled and said to Zhao Liya, "How about we go in and rest together? Then we can go together later?"

"Lihua Pavilion," Zhao Liya smiled and was about to speak when she saw Zhou Hansheng and his men coming over. She couldn't help but feel happy. It's good that he is here!

Zhao Liya immediately said: "Second Aunt, Third Aunt, I have a few words to say to you two alone, I wonder if it is possible -"

Upon seeing this, the other ladies immediately smiled tactfully and said, "In that case, we'll leave first!" "Yes, Madam Liguo, please do as you please!"

Mrs. Zhou San quickly smiled and said, "That's fine. Why don't you all go to the Pear Blossom Pavilion and rest for a while? We'll be there soon."

In fact, those ladies did not really want to rest in the Pear Blossom Pavilion, but since Madam Zhou San said so, they could not refuse her face. Besides, the dragon boat race had not officially started yet, so there was no rush and they all agreed with a smile.

Zhao Liya did not stop her.

Zhou Hansheng came and these ladies couldn't get in.

"Second Aunt, Third Aunt, please come this way!" Zhao Liya quickly invited Madam Zhou Er and Madam Zhou San to the side to talk.

As soon as the ladies reached the entrance of the Pear Blossom Pavilion, Zhou Hansheng's personal guards arrived and politely stopped them.

When the ladies heard that the Duke of Liguo's son wanted to decorate this place, they naturally didn't hesitate to argue with him. Who would dare not give the Duke of Liguo's face? They smiled and said a few polite words before leaving.

When Madam Zhou Er and Madam Zhou San faced Zhao Liya alone, they did not look happy.

Mrs. Zhou San was especially impressed. Her face was filled with both pride and hatred. She sneered coldly, "Zhao, you are quite patient! But what's the point of stalling for time like this? It's just a last-ditch effort!"

Zhao Liya raised her eyebrows in surprise: "What is Second Aunt talking about? Why don't I understand!"

"You—" Mrs. Zhou San stopped Mrs. Zhou Er who was about to say something else and smiled faintly: "Zhao, what exactly do you want to talk to us about?"

What more could he say to her at this moment? So many eyes were watching. She had just walked out of the Pear Blossom Pavilion. Even if he hadn't caught her inside, what would it matter? She still wouldn't be able to clear herself of the primary suspicion!

As long as she was held responsible for this major suspicion, the Imperial Concubine and the Mi family would definitely not let her off! Even the eldest prince would definitely feel resentful.

They don't need to rush at this moment.

Mrs. Zhou Er finally reacted after being reminded of this, sneered, and said nothing more.

Zhao Liya said, "It's not me who's looking for you two aunts, it's you two aunts who's looking for me. You two aunts asked my aunt to tell me that you were waiting for me in the Pear Blossom Pavilion, isn't that right?"

Perhaps because they knew what was happening in the Pear Blossom Pavilion at the moment, Madam Zhou Er and Madam Zhou San always felt a little uneasy when they heard Zhao Liya mention "Pear Blossom Pavilion". A chill rose from the bottom of their hearts and they felt uncomfortable all over.

The two people flatly denied it.

"What nonsense? It's not true! We didn't look for you, nor did we ask Madam Qu to pass on this message. Even though we saw her, we just stopped to say hello and chatted for a few minutes. Is this what Madam Qu said? She must have misheard!"

"That's right, if I really wanted to talk to you about something, couldn't I have said it at home? I had to wait until here to find you. The Crown Prince's wife doesn't really think she's such a hottie, does she?"

"Is that so?" Zhao Liya smiled. "But that's exactly what my aunt said. She's not the kind of person who can't hear clearly. Are Second and Third Aunts playing a trick on me? I wonder if it's unintentional, or if they have ulterior motives?"

Mrs. Tuesday and Mrs. Wednesday's eyelids twitched violently, and they shouted at the same time: "What are you talking about!"

Zhao Liya burst out laughing, her eyes moving around, calm and composed, "Second Aunt, Third Aunt, are you worried?"

"Zhao Liya, why are you here?" Mrs. Zhou San was about to scold Zhao Liya, but when she looked up, she saw Zhou Hansheng almost walking up to her, and was very surprised.

Mrs. Zhou Er looked over suddenly and was also stunned.

Zhou Hansheng stood beside Zhao Liya. They looked at each other. He nodded slightly at her and patted her shoulder gently. Zhao Liya smiled slightly and her heart instantly calmed down.

"Second Aunt, Third Aunt, I wonder why you two are so harsh with the Crown Prince's Consort? Did the Crown Prince's Consort do anything wrong?"

Madam Zhou Er and Madam Zhou San did not answer him. They both looked towards the Pear Blossom Pavilion and found that the group of ladies had disappeared long ago.

The two were shocked. How could this be possible?

Without a witness, wouldn't their efforts today have failed? They'd come all the way through ninety-nine steps, only to lose at this last one?

"Have those ladies entered the Pear Blossom Pavilion?" Mrs. Zhou Er asked with a glimmer of hope.

Zhou Hansheng smiled slightly, his eyes cold: "What do you think, Second Aunt?"

(End of this chapter)