"With such a severe drought, you've illegally occupied a spring all by yourself?" Fourth Master asked, his expression changing.

"No, no, how could I, an old man, take it all for myself? My daughter married the prefect here as a concubine, and that spring belongs to the prefect." The old man regretted it a little. He thought that the fourth master just wanted to inquire and that he would go to fetch water himself, but he didn't expect that the master would scold him today.

Fourth Master immediately understood. It was clear that the prefect of Huolu County in Zhengding Prefecture had privately occupied an underground spring and even told his concubine's family, but kept it a secret from the other people. It was extremely despicable!

Meanwhile, Lady Wuya and her servants got up early in the morning and, before sunrise, hurried towards the northwest corner. Because the Fujin (principal wife) had sent someone to give her instructions, she dared not delay and rushed over immediately.

"When is that mysterious snake charmer planning to come?" Cuiyun complained as she helped Wuya walk in that direction. They had been doing this for a while now, and it was already hot outside, plus they had to keep an eye on things there several times.

"Judging from what Lingxiu said yesterday, it seems to be within the next few days. As long as I can get that person to have the impression of a demon, I'm willing to run around like this every day," Wuya said through gritted teeth.

The mistress and servant arrived at the northwest corner of the Fourth Prince's residence, where they saw Granny Cai sweeping leaves under the pear trees. Seeing Granny Cai reminded Cuiyun of the harsh and abusive words that had been used against her, and she felt uncomfortable.

"Madam is here!" Granny Cai saw that Madam Wuya and her servants had arrived, and she quickly dropped the broom in her hand and went to greet them.

Uya smiled calmly and said, "Oh, the weather is really hot. I came here early this morning to cool off. I hope I didn't disturb you while you were cleaning."

Granny Cai's wrinkled face was now beaming like a flower as she said solicitously, "Exactly! Madam, why don't you sit under those pear trees? It's quite cool there. These pear trees are seven or eight years old, and they're big and leafy."

Uya nodded and followed Granny Cai over. Several stone benches were arranged under the pear tree, and the tree's many leaves kept out the heat.

"Grandma, has that peddler I mentioned not come these past few days?" Uya picked up a yellow pear leaf from the ground and played with it in her hand.

"No, this old woman listened carefully, but I didn't hear anything about selling rouge and face powder," said Granny Cai.

"Did you go to sleep or have a meal and someone came?" Cuiyun asked, frowning. These days, Wuya had been patronizing this old woman Cai quite a bit.

"No, this old woman received a reward from the madam, so I would never shirk my duties. Besides, I've also asked the gatekeeper in the northwest corner to keep an eye out. Don't worry," said Granny Cai.

"Take these and give half to the gatekeeper." Uya gestured to Cuiyun to take out another purse and hand it to Granny Cai.

Granny Cai took the purse with a smile and immediately bowed, saying, "This old woman will go right away. Please wait a moment, madam."

As Granny Cai took the purse to the gatehouse, Cuiyun couldn't help but spit out, "How many purses have you given her already? This old woman is just greedy for money."

"Hmph, the greedier she is, the tighter she keeps her mouth shut. Besides, she's an old friend of the Fujin (the wife's elder), so if she dares to keep her mouth shut, the Fujin won't let her off the hook," said Lady Uya.

Just then, a voice suddenly rang out from outside: "Selling rouge and face powder! Good quality and cheap! Come and see!"

"Madam, listen!" Cuiyun said to Wuya immediately upon hearing the hawking cry.

"I heard you. Let's go see what's going on at the door." Uya helped Cuiyun to her feet, while Granny Cai had already told the doorman to open the door and went out to call out to the woman selling rouge and face powder.

When Wuya and her servants arrived at the gatehouse, they saw that the peddler selling rouge and face powder had already been led up the steps by Granny Cai.

“Go in, go in. It’s early in the morning, no one will see you. Hurry up and go to the pavilion over there with your wife to pick something. I’ll go over there and keep watch for you!” Granny Cai said.

Uya nodded to the man, then helped Cuiyun turn and walk inside. The man wore a bamboo-green outer robe and a green bamboo hat, carrying two carrying poles as he entered. His poles were full of various trinkets that women liked.

Granny Cai walked to the path over there and pretended to continue sweeping leaves. The man then followed Wuya and her servants to the pavilion and put down their carrying poles.

"This humble servant greets Madam!" The man made a gesture as if inviting Madam Wuya to look at something, but what he said was completely different.

"Are you someone invited by the Fujin's side?" Uya asked, pretending to go forward to look at the items on the carrying pole.

“Indeed. Lord Ulanara has already told me. The treasure has been brought in,” said the man in the bamboo-green robe. He had a pair of peach blossom eyes, but upon closer inspection, he actually looked like a woman.

A man with feminine features is bound to be a demon!

Upon hearing this, Uya's hand, which was rummaging through the goods on the carrying pole, trembled slightly. The thought of that incredibly venomous snake sent a chill down her spine.

Wuya gritted her teeth and said, "The Princess Consort originally wanted me to take you to the South Courtyard. But the truth is, it's impossible to go there. In your current state, if you go out, it will inevitably arouse suspicion. How can that thing be placed in the South Courtyard?"

The man pondered for a moment and said, "Madam, there's no need to worry. You don't need to take me with you. My darling will naturally go to find her!"

Upon hearing this, Uya immediately said with delight, "That would be perfect. What else do you need me to do, sir?"

The man said, "No need, Madam can go back after choosing a few boxes of rouge."

Uya looked at the man in surprise and said, "How can that be? Sir, you can't stay here alone. You should go out at the gatehouse in front of me later."

The man smiled slightly and said, "That's fine then. Please make your choice quickly, madam, and then I can leave."

Uya and her servant were completely bewildered by his words, and said, "We haven't even put that thing in the South Courtyard yet, why are you leaving already?"

A glint of light flashed in the man's eyes as he said, "They've already been released!"

Uya opened her eyes wide and immediately looked around, but she didn't see a single venomous snake.

"Just as I put down the load, they slipped out from underneath and crawled into the bushes. Madam simply didn't notice," the man said.

Uya was taken aback and immediately jumped back, staring at the goods, but couldn't see anything different about it.

"Madam, please choose quickly. If you linger too long, it will arouse suspicion," the man said.