"Perhaps," Jiaming's expression hardened, and she said softly, "they've already made their move!"

"What?"

The more Jiaming thought about it, the more she felt it was true. "Don't forget, the Fujin's power is enormous, and it's not limited to the inner quarters of the Prince's mansion."

As for how Jiaming knew about the powerful influence outside the Fujin's residence, she had no concrete evidence; it was all speculation.

.

However, she felt that her speculation was quite plausible.

I still remember the time when my younger brother Jiaheng was hit by a horse. Although it was done by someone outside the Li family, it proved that the Li family had a lot of influence both inside and outside the family at that time. So, there must have been someone outside the Fujin family who could fight the Li family to a standstill. After all, if the Li family could think of attacking her from outside the family, it would be impossible that she didn't think of attacking the Fujin from outside the family.

Only in this way can the two forces be balanced and fight to a standstill.

Little He could guess that there were people outside the Fujin's residence, after all, the Fujin's family was the Ulanara clan, a prominent Manchu clan.

Therefore, upon hearing his master's guess, he pondered for a moment, and while thinking it was possible, he also took a deep breath and exclaimed in shock, "Master, it seems that the Fujin's power is exceptionally great!"

After being shocked by the immense power of the Fujin (principal wife), Xiao Hezi suddenly showed worry on his face, "The Fujin is so powerful, Master, what do you plan to do? It's dangerous!"

Jiaming smiled and said, "Nothing much, just do things the way they always have."

"Master?" Xiao Hezi didn't understand why his master was so calm.

Jiaming continued with a calm smile, "It's not like the Fujin (princess) hasn't tried to harm your mistress, but she's never succeeded."

"But Master, what if the Princess Consort decides to go all out and deal with you and the young master?" Xiao Hezi asked with great concern.

Xiao Hezi's words suddenly reminded Jiaming of something. Her calm smile vanished instantly, replaced by a serious expression. "You're right. I was inconsiderate."

After saying that, Jiaming fell into thought.

Next year, the 43rd year of the Kangxi Emperor's reign, is the year in history when the eldest prince, Honghui, passed away. If history repeats itself, judging from how much the princess cares about the eldest prince, she will definitely go crazy.

A woman who has gone mad is extremely terrifying. Even if Prince Honghui's death has absolutely nothing to do with her, she is still very likely to go so far as to harm her and Hongxuan, making them pay the price for the First Prince's death.

Therefore, it's better to be safe than sorry; we need to carefully consider how to guard against the Fujin's crazy retaliation if she goes all out.

"Alright, I'll consider what you've said." Jiaming looked up at Xiao Hezi and instructed, "As for the Wuya clan, regardless of whether the Fujin made her move outside the mansion, everything should remain the same as before. Just have someone keep an eye on them."

Speaking of this, Jiaming thought of what might happen next year and immediately instructed, "Also, tell our people in the main courtyard to be careful and absolutely not to get close to the First Prince. Just let them observe him secretly as before, and don't interfere in things they shouldn't."

In this way, even if something happens to the eldest prince, whether it's an accident or intentional, he won't be implicated.

After all, even if he didn't lay a hand on the eldest prince, if he got involved, he would definitely be disliked by the prince.

She may not like the Fourth Prince, but she must never be disliked by him.

"Yes, sir!" Xiao Hezi bowed and left.

On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, Jiaming got up early, changed her clothes, put on flowerpot shoes, draped a fox fur cloak, and went to the main courtyard to pay her respects with an umbrella.

Because it was too cold in the dead of winter, Jiaming didn't bring Xiao Hongxuan along.

.

Before the Princess Consort arrived, it was normal for everyone to chat back and forth. Jiaming was used to it. She held a cup of hot tea and occasionally chimed in with a few words, no longer like when she first entered the mansion, always keeping her head down and remaining silent like a wooden figure.

Soon after, the princess arrived.

After exchanging greetings and pleasantries, the Fujin (principal wife) and the others exchanged a few pleasantries before getting back to the main topic: "Sister Hesheli, you are a secondary Fujin. Prepare yourselves to enter the palace for the New Year's Eve dinner and to keep watch on New Year's Eve."

As soon as the Fujin said this, Hesheli straightened her back and accepted the envious and jealous looks from everyone in the hall that she was able to enter the palace.

Seeing Hesheli's smug look, the Fujin, holding her teacup to cover her mouth, curled her lips into a mocking smile. "Oh, by the way, Sister Li and Sister Guarjia, you two have made a contribution by giving birth to children. The palace wants you to bring the little prince along as well. Remember to prepare well."

Then, Jiaming saw Hesheli's smug expression freeze, and then, along with the other women in the hall, they all turned their gazes toward her and Li.

The others looked on with envy and jealousy, while Hesheli looked on with frustration and anger.

Jiaming understood why she was upset. Although she and Li were allowed to enter the palace, apart from their nominally lower status, they were actually of similar importance to Jiaming, a concubine, because they had children. How could she not be upset and angry?

However, Jiaming knew that this was not the end of it.

Sure enough, not long after, Jiaming saw the Fujin smile sarcastically again and say, "Hehe, Sister Wuya is very much liked by Mother Consort, so Sister Wuya will also be included in this palace."

Upon hearing this, Jiaming knew that the Fujin had incurred a great deal of hatred from the Uya clan this time.

Because Hesheli was a secondary consort, according to custom she was required to enter the palace for the New Year's Eve dinner and stay up all night.

Basically, concubines and secondary consorts who had given birth to sons who were favored by the emperor or whose sons had few offspring could enter the palace. She and Lady Li were able to do so because of this, and there were rules to follow. Therefore, even if Lady Song, Lady Zhang, and others in the household were envious and jealous, it was just envy and jealousy—after all, they had no children of their own!

But Wuya was different. She was just a concubine, and a relative of the De Consort's family who was not even five degrees of kinship. She was not the prince's cousin, nor was she the prince's favorite concubine. Why was she allowed to enter the palace?

As for the claim that it was because of Consort De's favor, Song and the others said that the emperor was far away and Consort De was too high and mighty to bother people like them.

They haven't bothered Uya these days, and Consort De hasn't interfered.

In short, those with profound skills in concealing their true feelings, like the Song and Zhang families, looked at the Wuya family with increasingly cold gazes, while those with less skill in concealing their true feelings displayed constantly shifting expressions, which was quite obvious.

Jiaming couldn't help but raise her eyes and glance at Wuya Shi with perfect naturalness, instantly taking in her expression.

Uya looked around at Song and the others with great pride, appearing arrogant and disdainful of everyone.

Seeing this, Jiaming lowered her eyes and thought to herself: The Fujin is indeed shrewd. On the surface, she mocks and suppresses Wuya, and then reveals her weaknesses so that Wuya can break through her suppression and mockery time and time again, allowing Wuya to build up confidence that is not commensurate with her strength.

Being overconfident is arrogance. Uya Shi has unknowingly fallen into the trap set by the Fujin.