"I've heard a rumor circulating outside that if the chief priest of the sacrificial ceremony marries a woman whose five elements are all water, this great calamity can be averted! I wonder if Your Highness has heard of this rumor?" the princess asked cautiously.

"Please sit down, Madam. Su Peisheng, serve Madam tea!" The Fourth Prince strolled over to the armchair behind the desk and sat down.

After Su Peisheng left, the Fourth Prince looked at his wife, who was also looking back at him gently. "I have naturally heard this rumor. I didn't expect that my wife could hear rumors outside even without leaving the house!"

"Although I haven't gone out, the servants in the manor often go out and bring back some gossip from the streets." After hearing about what happened to the Fourth Prince last night, the Fujin went directly to Lanqin's place. You can imagine how upset she was. This made her even more impatient, and she decided to come and bring up Yan Yu's matter with the Fourth Prince early this morning.

"That's just a rumor, do you believe it, my lady?" Fourth Prince asked, contrary to his usual behavior.

"I don't know whether I should believe it or not, but the longer the drought lasts, the more easily the people's hearts become unsettled. Now that Father has entrusted the Ministry of Revenue to you, Your Majesty, the responsibility on your shoulders is heavy. I am truly ashamed that I cannot share your burden. If that rumor is indeed true, I think it wouldn't hurt for Your Majesty to give it a try. It's just another sister to accompany you." If the Fourth Prince hadn't already become suspicious, the Princess Consort's words would have been so reasonable that even he almost forgot what Lanqin had said the night before.

"I am very pleased that my wife is so understanding. However, the person presiding over the ceremony this time was not you. I wonder if my wife is convinced that you are the one who presided over the ceremony?" the Fourth Prince said, feigning doubt. He was indeed suspicious about the matter, but what he couldn't understand was who was secretly plotting all of this, and what their purpose was.

"It's not you, sir, how could it be?" When the Fourth Prince said this, the Princess Consort couldn't help but show a hint of surprise, but she quickly covered it up.

"The person to preside over the ceremony has not yet been decided. Father is considering it. It may not be you, but perhaps the eighth brother, or perhaps the thirteenth brother!" the Fourth Prince said with a "serious" expression.

The princess's expression changed slightly at this moment. Although it was very subtle, it still did not escape the Fourth Prince's exceptionally sharp eyes.

"Does the Princess Consort have anything else to say to the Prince?" the Fourth Prince asked, interrupting the Princess Consort's slight reverie.

"What I wanted to tell you, Your Highness, is that the Mid-Autumn Festival is just a month away, which is also Your Highness's birthday. I wonder what Your Highness's plans are!" The Fujin knew that it was really inappropriate to bring up this matter at this time, but she really couldn't say the words she had prepared in her heart, so she could only use this matter to evade the Fourth Prince's question.

"It's too early for you to say this, my lady. Besides, the drought is still raging in the capital. How can I possibly be in the mood for a birthday celebration? If you have nothing else to say, my lady, please go back. I have other matters to attend to," the Fourth Prince said, his face showing displeasure. However, he knew that his lady's words were merely an excuse, and that this was not what she truly wanted to say. Since she was no longer willing to discuss it, he felt it was better to wait and see.

Meanwhile, Yan Yu was waiting for news from her wife in the main room of the main courtyard. Last night, she and her wife learned that the Fourth Prince had returned to the manor, but he went straight to the south courtyard. Although she had not yet officially married into the Fourth Prince's manor, she had already considered Lan Qin her imaginary rival. Upon hearing that the Fourth Prince hadn't even shown his face in the main courtyard, she was furious! Her wife remained silent with a gloomy face, but she actually knocked over the copper basin that Chun Liu had brought for washing hands.

"Princess, don't be so anxious. When the Fujin goes to talk to the Fourth Prince, there's a good chance that things will go as you wish." Yun Yuan stood beside her, watching Yan Yu standing at the door, constantly looking towards the courtyard gate.

"Eldest sister is just so slow-paced. If you ask me, she should have invited brother-in-law over last night. I don't know what's so good about Niu Shi. She's not exactly a beauty, yet she gets such favor from brother-in-law!" Yan Yu was filled with dissatisfaction and confusion towards Lan Qin at this moment. After their meeting in the pavilion last night, she felt that her beauty far surpassed Lan Qin's and that she was sure she could win over the Fourth Master's heart.

"Yes, this servant thinks that Consort Niu is nothing special, not comparable to the Princess at all. As soon as the Princess enters the manor, the Fourth Prince's heart will surely lean towards the Princess sooner or later." Yun Yuan tried to say what Yan Yu wanted to hear. She knew her mistress, whom she had served for seven or eight years, all too well.

Sure enough, her words pleased Yan Yu, and she finally felt at ease, walking to the seat next to the main bed of the Fujin (the wife of the deceased).

"Go, have Chunliu make me a cup of tea. I've been here so long, and these servants really have no sense of propriety at all." Yan Yu felt thirsty, so she ordered Yun Yuan to go find Chunliu. Ever since the Fujin (princess's wife) started implementing the water-saving rule, Yan Yu, who had always been pampered, had long been unable to bear it. Now that the Fujin was not here, she thought that she didn't have to follow the rule anymore.

Yun Yuan responded and left, leaving Yan Yu alone in the main house. She looked around, feeling a deep disapproval of her elder sister.

A moment later, Yun Yuan returned, but there was nothing in her hands. Yan Yu frowned and said, "Where's the tea? Why did you come back empty-handed?"

Yun Yuan said aggrievedly, "I went to the side room to find Sister Chunliu as you instructed, but she actually said, 'The water for the Fujin's courtyard hasn't been delivered yet, and you should wait.' I asked her how long I would have to wait, and she actually told me to go to the kitchen to ask myself."

Upon hearing this, Yan Yu's anger flared up instantly. How dare a mere servant speak to her like that!

"Go and call Chunliu in!" Yan Yu roared.

"Yes!" Yun Yuan had long harbored resentment towards Chun Liu because of her temper, so she was naturally happy to see Yan Yu punish Chun Liu!

When Chunliu followed Yunyuan into the house, she saw a pretty face filled with anger. When she saw her come in, her beautiful eyes shot out a venomous light.

"Your Highness, Chunliu has arrived." Yun Yuan curtsied and then stood aside as instructed by Yan Yu.

Before Chunliu could speak, Yan Yu roared, "Chunliu, I remember you married into the Fourth Prince's mansion with your elder sister, right? Back in the Ula mansion, you were just an ordinary second-class maidservant by your elder sister's side. What, am I, the Ninth Princess, not able to command you?"

Chunliu knew that Yan Yu's summons couldn't be for anything good; it must be about the tea they had just asked for. However, the kitchen hadn't delivered the water yet. There was still some hot water from last night, but it was no longer suitable for brewing tea.