Chapter 152 Taking the Hook

When Lin Yuesha returned to the courtyard, Xuan Yao had already turned off the lights and gone to sleep.

With her secret exposed, Lin Yuesha made no attempt to hide it and went to the bathroom to bathe openly. Hongtao came in to deliver bath beans, glanced at Lin Yuesha a few times, and couldn't help but laugh, "She is indeed flat. Next time, stuff her with more cotton."

Lin Yuesha: "..."

She didn't want to bring up this topic. Every time she saw herself, she felt heartbroken. She wanted to grow up and transform into a beautiful woman with fair skin, a pretty face, and long legs.

"Is the young lady asleep?"

Lin Yuesha put on her undergarments and sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) talking to Hongtao.

“It wasn’t supposed to be this early, but I lit two calming incense sticks.”

If you light a calming incense stick, the person who inhales it will inevitably fall into a deep sleep within half an hour.

The calming incense was bought by someone through Hongtao. After it was bought, Xuanyao decided to test it on herself because she was going to use it on Lin Yuesha and was unsure of its effects.

“I went in twice and called for help, but she didn’t respond.”

After holding it in all day, Hongtao finally had a confidante and couldn't hold back any longer. She poured out all of her and Xuanyao's plans without hiding anything.

“I used to look down on Xuan Yao too much. She’s ruthless.”

Hongtao narrowed her eyes, becoming increasingly convinced that she had to send Xuan Yao to her death. Such a person was creating countless hidden dangers for herself.

"The 28th of the twelfth lunar month, that's only two days away."

Lin Yuesha was surprised; she thought Xuan Yao would choose to take action after the New Year, rather than being in such a hurry.

"How could she not be anxious? If the prince forgets her when he returns to the palace after the New Year, she will be left to fend for herself in the small courtyard."

As Hongtao spoke, she took out a handkerchief containing three pieces of jewelry and one hundred taels of silver given to her by Xuanyao.

"We agreed beforehand that we would split it equally."

Hongtao was chosen by Lin Yuesha. The silver and jewelry were of similar value, both worth about one hundred taels.

"Sister Red Peach, although we are cooperating, you have helped me a lot. If it weren't for you, I might have fallen into your trap."

Not wanting to leave anything behind, Hongtao decided that Lin Yuesha would be worried. After some deliberation, she chose the silver hairpin and the pearl bracelet, leaving the white jade bracelet behind.

Mother Chen was used to working and was reluctant to wear her white jade bracelet; she would feel bad if it got damaged.

The two items Lin Yuesha chose were only worth fifty taels each; the rest she left to Hongtao.

Seeing that Hongtao was about to refuse, Lin Yuesha said, "Sister Hongtao, don't be in such a hurry to refuse, listen to me."

The two of them need to make a plan, and in the end they will need to find someone to help them, which will inevitably involve bribing people. So even though they got more hearts, they may not necessarily gain an advantage in the end.

"You, you."

Hongtao understood Lin Yuesha's meaning and her impression of her grew better and better; she wished she could treat her as a sister.

"Alright, our lives are in danger, let's not refuse this little bit of money, let's get down to business."

Hongtao asked Lin Yuesha for her opinion on how to resolve Xuan Yao's situation before the New Year, as it was no longer advisable to delay.

Moreover, when two people set a trap, they must hit the mark on the first try, otherwise it will arouse suspicion. Xuan Yao is cunning and too clever. If she escapes and finds another way, it will be much more difficult to set traps in the future.

"Sister Red Peach, I have an idea."

Lin Yuesha had already planned this out: to lure He Xing, that scumbag, over here so he could go to hell with Xuan Yao.

"Only you can do this."

He Xing was suspicious. If someone else relayed the message, he would only believe it to a certain extent. However, Hong Tao was someone close to Xuan Yao and someone he had met before. So, if Hong Tao sent the message without anyone noticing, He Xing would definitely fall for it.

"You mean, I sent a message to He Xing, arranging a secret meeting with him on the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, and then lured the Prince over..."

Even if he didn't like Xuan Yao, she was still Zhenbei Wang's nominal concubine. If this man and woman were to meet in secret, Xiao Su would be green with envy and would definitely be furious.

"In this way, we can wipe them all out in one fell swoop, using someone else to do the dirty work. Brilliant, brilliant!"

Red Peach clapped her hands. No matter how she looked at it, the plan seemed foolproof, and she could find an even better excuse to go out and deliver the message.

“I told Xuan Yao that in case things don’t go well, I need to buy some aphrodisiac spices. Xuan Yao definitely agreed and even helped me cover it up.”

Red Peach bit her lip, pondered repeatedly, and concluded that it was feasible.

"But there's one thing, Sister Red Peach: this is quite risky, and we need to consider whether the Prince will punish both of us after he's enraged."

Lin Yuesha was thorough in her considerations, while Hongtao had no worries at all; she would handle this matter flawlessly.

"Don't worry, Sister Yue Sha, the Prince isn't that kind of person."

Hongtao was very certain that she only needed to clear her name, and Lin Yuesha's situation was even easier to handle; she could find Granny Xiao and Hongliu to act as witnesses.

With no one in the courtyard, Xuan Yao and He Xing rolled onto the bed, only to be blocked at the door by the Prince of Zhenbei. Seeing is believing; even if the two had been framed, they couldn't possibly escape.

As for being bitten back by Xuan Yao, Hong Tao wasn't worried; she wasn't stupid.

The two agreed on the plan, and the next day, Red Peach indeed went out to deliver the message.

After a day of training, Lin Yuesha's hand was getting better and she was getting pricked a limited number of times.

Although the pockmarked face was annoying, the ointment she gave was more effective than Xiao Mama's. Lin Yuesha was now looking forward to the effect of that prescription.

Xuan Yao lit some calming incense and slept until late morning. She was quite impressed with Hong Tao's competence.

So when Hongtao suggested going out to buy things, Xuanyao agreed without hesitation, and she looked forward to the arrival of the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month even more.

Because they were afraid of being exposed, Lin Yuesha and Xuan Yao didn't interact much, but Hongchou still came to do work from time to time.

...

Before we knew it, the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month had arrived.

Early in the morning, Hongtao went out to inquire about the prince's whereabouts. She learned that the prince had gone to the camp for training during the day and had instructed the head kitchen staff to come back for lunch in the afternoon.

"Are you sure? Then go to Granny Xiao's place later and find an excuse to call Lin Yuesha back."

Xuan Yao was rubbing her hands together, very excited. No one could stop her from getting what she wanted.

Hongtao nodded. She was also looking forward to the afternoon, when everything she had prepared would come in handy.

"Young lady, why did you call me back?"

Lin Yuesha hurriedly entered the room, panting.

"Well, the New Year is just two days away, and I figured you should take a rest. So I had Hongtao plead with Granny Xiao on your behalf."

As Xuan Yao spoke, she gave Hong Tao a wink, and Hong Tao immediately lit a calming incense stick.

"I've been a bit tired lately and haven't been able to serve the young lady."

Lin Yuesha showed a suitable expression of gratitude on her face and served tea and water to Xuan Yao. After a while, her body slumped and she lay limply on the ground.

"Great, it's done!"

Xuan Yao clapped her hands and laughed, "When will Your Highness arrive?"

Wait a minute, as long as Lin Yuesha's clothes are taken off, it will be done.

"Miss, there is about an hour left."

Red Peach glanced at the sky and gave a cold smile.

She had just seen He Xing at the back gate, and now she had secretly taken him to her room. Hong Tao lied to He Xing, saying that Xuan Yao had something important to discuss with him, and the simpleton immediately believed her. He came back with her and stayed at an inn in Hanmen Pass for two days.