Tongxuan blushed and avoided eye contact, saying, "This... I don't know either."

Hongchang patted Tongya's head and said, "Silly!" He explained, "Yesterday Father and Mother were together, and today Mother is sick. What else could it be? Father must have made Mother unable to get out of bed."

"Huh?" Tongya's mouth dropped open in surprise, then she clenched her fists, indignantly saying, "Why did Father bully Mother? He even made Mother sick! Humph! I hate Father!"

Hongchang covered his mouth with his fan and burst out laughing.

Tongxuan glared at Hongchang reproachfully: "Why are you telling Yaya this?"

Hongchang scoffed, "Anyway, she wouldn't understand even if I told her, so what's the big deal?"

Tongxuan's face flushed with anger: "You're absolutely awful! I'm going to tell Mother! Let Mother teach you a lesson!"

Hongchang's expression changed instantly. He grabbed Tongxuan's arm and begged for mercy, "Good sister, please forgive me. I promise I'll never talk about this with Yaya again, okay?"

"Hmph, you're not calling me 'little sister' now? Since you called me 'older sister' once, as long as you keep calling me 'older sister' from now on, I won't tell Mother, okay?"

Tongxuan raised her chin, curled her lips, and smiled slyly like a fox.

Hongchang cursed under his breath for taking advantage of someone's misfortune, but on the surface he had no choice but to compromise, forcing a smile and bowing with his hands clasped: "Good sister, I agree, okay? Please don't tell Mother!"

Knowing his mother's temperament, if he knew that not only did he talk about his mother's embarrassing moments behind her back, but he also told Ya Ya about it, his mother would definitely break his legs.

"What are you talking about? What can't you tell me?" Tongya put her hands on her hips, her face full of displeasure.

Tongya quickly grabbed Tongya's hand: "Yaya, don't listen to your brother's nonsense. He's always been frivolous. Mother is perfectly fine, how could she be sick? She's just sleeping in."

Tongya angrily turned her head and glared at Hongchang: "You scoundrel! You lied to me and even spoke ill of Father!"

Hongchang was on the verge of tears. This Tongxuan was getting more and more cunning.

They're actually trying to shift the blame!

Is Ya Ya, that little firecracker, someone to be trifled with? Won't I be resented by her for life?!

Five days later, Heyue was taking Hongxiao for a stroll in the garden when a maid came to report that someone wanted to see Heyue.

Upon hearing the identity of the visitor, He Yue fell silent.

Hailan looked worried: "Madam, you'd better not go."

Heyue shook her head and handed Hongxiao to the nanny: "Take good care of Hongxiao. Hailan, help me change my clothes. Let's go out."

Hailan hesitated, looking at Heyue's determined expression, but ultimately said nothing. She returned to her room, helped Heyue change into an orange qipao, and followed Heyue out through the west gate.

A horse-drawn carriage was parked outside the West Corner Gate.

Heyue paused for a moment, but still went forward.

The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing the smiling face of the Eighth Prince's wife, Lady Guoluo: "Come on up."

Heyue helped Hailan onto the carriage, and they sat down inside.

When Heyue noticed that Hailan hadn't come in for a while, she was puzzled. The Eighth Prince's wife explained, "There are some things I want to say to you alone. Your maid and my maid are in the carriage behind. They will follow us, so don't worry."

He Yue showed no embarrassment whatsoever, and smiled faintly: "Of course I believe that Eighth Sister-in-law would not do anything to my maid, but I wonder why Eighth Sister-in-law summoned me out?"

The carriage slowly set off. Heyue didn't ask where she was being taken, nor did she show any nervousness. She just quietly watched the Eighth Prince's wife.

The Eighth Prince's wife smiled gently: "Have you really forgotten our past relationship? Do you really intend to treat us like strangers?"

Upon hearing this, He Yue's expression changed slightly. She turned her face away and retorted softly, "It was never my intention to oppose my sister."

In the end, she still called out "sister".

He Yue still couldn't bring herself to be indifferent.

"You pretend not to care, but I know you've never forgotten me, your older sister," the Eighth Princess said with a smile.

"But how could I not simply ignore you?"

These words truly moved Heyue, who suddenly turned to look at the Eighth Prince's wife.

The Eighth Prince's wife held her hand and smiled slightly: "We've been good sisters for so many years, how could we be inferior to a man? Even if I tell myself that I don't want Yinzhi to end up like that, and I want to save him, even if you side with the Thirteenth Prince, I still can't disregard your wishes."

Just as I love Yinzhi, I know you also love the Thirteenth Prince, especially since you have a child with him.

I understand your feelings. We're all caught up in this situation and have no choice but to accept it. Since that's the case, why not keep things simple? Their business is their business; let's not let it affect our sisterly bond anymore. Let's go back to how things were before, okay?

"Why did my sister come to see me at this time? Why is she telling me this now? Can I believe her?" He Yue remained rational and asked the question that was bothering her.

The Eighth Prince's wife smiled bitterly: "That's why I know our time is running out. No matter who wins or loses this battle, one side will always be defeated. At that time, we will eventually become opposing sides."

Before that, I want to put everything else aside and have a good talk, catch up, and you... spend some time with me, okay?

Meeting her expectant gaze, He Yue couldn't bring herself to be heartless and ultimately softened: "Alright, I believe you, sister."

The Eighth Prince's wife smiled brightly, looking very happy and gratified.

He Yue felt a surge of warmth in her heart and tightened her grip on her hand.

The group went to a teahouse and sat by the window on the second floor. Looking at the gloomy sky and the deserted streets, the Eighth Prince's wife sighed, "Even the heavens have realized that storms are brewing, and even the sky has changed."

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