After the incense was removed, Doctor Liang gave Lanqin some Western medicine, mostly to calm her nerves and promote sleep. After several days of suffering, Lanqin finally had a good night's sleep, which lasted for almost two days, and her spirits were almost fully restored.
"Master, who's behind this this time? The head nanny sent someone to say that quite a few people have access to this incense. Take them all in for questioning!" Cui Niang said angrily, seeing that Lan Qin's expression had finally returned to normal. They had surrounded the South Courtyard completely, but they still managed to find an opening and actually came up with the idea of tampering with these mosquito repellent incense sticks.
“Nian’s brain couldn’t have come up with these ideas, and her family isn’t in the capital. Her reach wouldn’t be that far. The person who was able to find this thing, and who even mixed it into a normal mosquito repellent, must be quite capable. So, besides the one in the main courtyard, who else here has such abilities?” Lanqin didn’t even need to think to know that it must have been the Fujin’s doing.
“She’s already imprisoned, yet she’s still harming people. This woman is truly a menace. Master, when the master returns, you must tell him about this. You have no right to punish her, so she’s acting with impunity,” Cui Niang said hurriedly.
“We need evidence, even though we know she did it. But without evidence, we shouldn’t alert the master yet,” Lanqin said. “Did the head nanny say where these incense sticks were bought from?”
"The head nanny said these were all sent by the Imperial Household Department. It's impossible for us to investigate the Imperial Household Department," said Cui Niang.
"From the palace?" Lanqin asked in surprise, thinking to herself that she hadn't expected the Ulanara clan's influence to be so far-reaching, even extending into the palace.
“Master, so we can only investigate this matter once you return!” said Cui Niang.
"Cui Niang, it's been quite a while since I paid my respects to Mother. How about I go to the palace tomorrow to submit a petition and go see Mother?" Lanqin said. She didn't want to be plotted against like this anymore, powerless to do anything about it. Even if she was being plotted against, she wanted to know the reason behind it.
"Your Highness, this servant will go and have someone send a token to the palace." Cui Niang looked at Lan Qin's expression and knew that she hated the Fujin to the extreme.
Meanwhile, inside the main courtyard, Lady Unalana was talking to Lady Uya. They hadn't expected Lanqin to figure out the problem with the incense so quickly.
"Madam, what you brought out this time was truly remarkable. It scared Niohuru so much that she couldn't sleep all night. If she had held on a little longer, she might have lost both of her babies. What a pity!" Wuya sighed. When she first heard about the incident at the South Courtyard, she was secretly pleased, hoping that Lanqin would show signs of premature labor.
"Hmph, she's lucky this time. She actually managed to see through the bewitching incense! But this time, at least she suffered for it, and it also vented the anger I've been holding in." A ruthless glint flashed in the Fujin's gloomy eyes.
"Madam, won't she catch you red-handed with this incense?" Lady Uya was a little worried, after all, she had also been involved.
"Don't worry, she won't be able to find out. That batch of mosquito repellent incense has always been supplied by the Imperial Household Department, not purchased by our household ourselves. How could she possibly trace it back to the palace?" the Fujin said.
“Oh, but if the master returns and finds out about this, he can go to the palace to investigate!” Uya said, still worried.
"The prince is going to the palace to investigate? Can he interfere in the affairs between the ladies and mistresses in the palace?" The princess consort smiled contemptuously at Lady Wuya.
"I'm just worried, Your Highness. The rumors outside have spread, and regarding the matter you told me about last time, my family is too weak to find such a person!" Wuya said with difficulty.
The Fujin glanced at Lingxiu, who understood and said, "Madam, you don't need to worry about that. Our Fujin has already found such a person. But to let this extraordinary person in, we'll have to rely on Madam. After all, our Fujin can't easily go out right now."
Uya gritted her teeth, suppressing her discomfort, and said, "Please, Your Highness, offer your words of wisdom!"
"How about this," the princess said, "we'll agree on a date. That man will be hawking rouge and powder outside the northwest gate. You'll call him in under the pretext of wanting to see how much rouge he uses. Then, quietly take him to the south courtyard. Once he's settled the snakes, let him out. Remember, you must do this discreetly, without anyone noticing. Understand?"
The thought of those cold, venomous snakes sent chills down Uya's spine, raising goosebumps on her back.
"Well, if Madam wants to establish herself in this household, she must get rid of Niohuru. Only when she falls will you have a chance, right?" the Fujin said with a light smile.
"I will listen to Your Highness. I will go back and make some plans." Lady Wuya stood up and curtsied.
"Yes, go. Think carefully about how to lure that person away. You need to know all the roads in the mansion and which routes the servants like to take every day. Try to do it flawlessly," the Fujin scolded sternly.
After Wuya left, the Fujin cursed at the door, "Coward! Look at how she was just now, she was probably scared."
“Madam, she comes from a humble family and is far from being comparable to you. She is truly overestimating herself. It is her good fortune that you are willing to help her,” Lingxiu quickly said.
"Hmm. Doesn't seem very bright either; someone like that is easy to manipulate," the Fujin sneered.
"My lady, is it almost time for the Fourth Prince? That girl Caiyun is very good at talking; she's already managed to win him over and get him to side with us," Lingxiu said.
“The Fourth Prince is Li’s son. As long as we tell him that his birth mother was killed by Niohuru, he will not be close to Song,” the Fujin said. “I think Hongshi is a promising child. If we raise him well, he may be of great use in the future.”
"Yes, Madam. Lord Wu Ge has finally agreed to help you again this time," Lingxiu said.
"Hmph, Father hasn't been involved in affairs for years. The glory of the Ulanara family has gradually declined. If he doesn't take it seriously, he might lose his title and official position to the Emperor. Just tell him that the Fourth Prince will be the heir to the Fourth Prince's mansion, and he'll start to scheme. This time, he's willing to find someone like this for us from Sichuan. We'll send him back immediately afterward, trying to get rid of Niohuru clan without anyone knowing. It would be best if that venomous snake bit her to death. That would save us a lot of trouble." The Fujin's face was full of gloom, and she hated Lanqin to the core.
No wonder, the once powerful Fourth Princess Consort is now imprisoned; how much she must hate Lanqin! But she never considers whose fault it is that she has ended up in this state.
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