"Framing the South Courtyard? Forgive my ignorance, but I can't think of anything right now," Cui Ling said, scratching her head.
"I think that Liu is quite clever. Why don't we test her loyalty to me first?" Lady Nian said.
"Does Master mean to let Liu find a solution? To let the matter of Wuya fall into the hands of the South Courtyard?" Cuiling asked.
“That’s right, we need to think about it carefully. We can’t tell her everything, but we still need her to do things for us.” Mrs. Nian stroked the dog’s fur.
"I wonder if this Liu woman will listen to me," Cui Ling said.
"Let's take our time and see. There are still several months to go, no rush!" said Mrs. Nian.
Meanwhile, Liu, supporting Hongqiao's hand, walked towards Chunhui Hall.
“My lord, this Consort Nian is much more arrogant than the one in the South Courtyard,” Hong Qiao said.
“How powerful is the Nian family in Sichuan and Shaanxi? Father will definitely try to curry favor with Nian Gengyao. Although the Nian family is a bit difficult to please, they are not impossible to get along with,” said Madam Liu.
“Master, there’s something strange about the Fucha woman who lives across the street. I heard from Qiuyan that she tried to go out, but the old woman guarding the gate stopped her. She said she’s under house arrest and absolutely cannot leave the courtyard,” Hongqiao said.
"When I saw her yesterday, she put on quite the airs, but she turned out to be a complete idiot," Liu scoffed.
The mistress and servant chatted idly all the way back to Chunhui Hall. There, they found Lady Fucha sitting on a swing under a locust tree in the courtyard, lost in thought. Lady Liu glanced at her a few times, a smile playing on her lips, and prepared to go into her own room.
"Oh, where did you go? South Courtyard? Or East Courtyard?" Fucha had already seen the sarcasm on Liu's face and couldn't help but make a sarcastic remark.
"I paid my respects to Consort Niu yesterday, and today I will naturally pay my respects to Consort Nian as well," said Lady Liu.
"You've got a knack for pleasing neither side, sister," Fucha said sarcastically, holding a morning glory flower in her hand. She hadn't slept well all night, wondering how she had displeased the Fourth Prince. Hearing her words, he should have been surprised, not so disgusted. She was the legitimate daughter of the Fucha family, with considerable influence; her words should have been exactly what the Fourth Prince wanted to hear.
"Hongqiao, let's go inside. Consort Nian and I will be going later. Let's go back and have lunch first." Liu ignored Fucha's sarcasm and turned to her maid.
Watching the evening glories sway gracefully in front of her, Lady Fucha squeezed the evening glories in her hand and stood up from the swing in a flash!
Liu and her servants went into the room and beckoned over the two maids assigned to her.
"Green Branch, Autumn Swallow, I don't want to know who you were before. But have you thought about what kind of life you want to live from now on?" Madam Liu put away her gentle demeanor from yesterday and said seriously.
"Your Highness, we are now serving you, so naturally we follow your lead. Your Highness's favor makes our lives easier," said Green Branch.
"Very well, since you understand this principle, then serve me well. I am favored, and naturally you will receive many benefits. If you don't do your best, you won't fare well even if you are transferred elsewhere. No master will like to use a servant who doesn't do his best," said Madam Liu.
"This servant wouldn't dare, please give your orders, Your Highness." Qiu Yan understood the meaning behind Liu's words.
"I don't care what methods you use, just find out why Lady Fucha was confined by the Fourth Prince. That will be your first merit in front of me," Lady Liu instructed.
Green Branch and Autumn Swallow exchanged a glance, both looking somewhat troubled. The Lady Fucha opposite them was not someone to be trifled with, and getting information out of her maidservant would not be easy.
"What, can you handle such a small matter?" Madam Liu naturally noticed the hesitation in the eyes of the two maids.
"Your Highness, we servants will go and give it a try," Qiu Yan said.
“Very good. Now we’ll go fetch lunch. I’ll have lunch and then rest for a while. Then we’ll go see the concubine from last year.” Liu said.
At noon, the maids from both rooms went to the kitchen to fetch their meals. Although Lady Fucha had bribed the master, she was punished by the Fourth Prince on her very first day in the household. The commotion was known throughout the entire mansion. The kitchen, however, was the place most prone to favoring certain people. Seeing that Lady Fucha didn't seem to be favored by her master, they immediately put on airs. Green Branch and Autumn Swallow, along with Ping'er and Red, mentioned the meals almost one after the other, but Lady Fucha's meal was not mentioned at all.
Hong'er couldn't hold back any longer, so she went to the eunuch Huang and said, "Master Huang, we've been here for quite a while now. When can we bring up our princess's lunch?"
The eunuch Huang glanced at the two of them and said, "Wait a little longer. Didn't you see Consort Song? Consort Wu's meal is being prepared! Your consorts are from a newer household, so you should at least give way to your seniors!"
Hong'er said angrily, "But we arrived first! Does this mean we, the princess, are supposed to wait until the very end?"
"Oh dear, Miss Hong'er, I never said that. Alright, the meal is almost ready. Wait a little longer! I'll go check!" Eunuch Huang, not wanting to say anything more, left Hong'er and Ping'er behind and turned to enter the kitchen. Inside, it was filled with steam, and not a single person could be seen. Hong'er could only stamp her feet and stand at the doorway waiting!
Qiuyan and Lüzhi walked past them carrying food boxes. Qiuyan said sarcastically, "It's no use stuffing silver in there."
Upon hearing this, Hong'er immediately retorted, "What did you say?"
Qiuyan stopped and retorted defiantly, "I didn't say anything! Green Branch, did you hear what I said?"
"I clearly heard you say that even bribing people wouldn't work." Hong'er's face flushed with anger. She was already in a bad mood because of the trouble she had with getting the food, and now Qiu Yan's sarcastic remarks had really ignited her anger.
"So what if I said something? Did I say anything to you? Why are you getting all worked up?" Qiu Yan said immediately, seeing that she had angered Hong'er quite a bit.
"You, you were clearly talking to me." Hong'er knew she was talking about her, but seeing that Qiu Yan wouldn't admit it, she couldn't do anything about it.
"So if you think it's you, then it's you. Anyway, I can't stop you from thinking what you want, right?" Qiu Yan laughed, about to turn and leave.
"Stop right there! You're just a maid, how dare you mock our princess? Watch your face!" Hong'er said.
"Oh dear, Green Branch, I'm so scared! What should I do? If I go back, Princess Fucha will beat me!" Qiu Yan deliberately shouted, attracting the attention of the maids who came to fetch food.
"What nonsense are you talking about? When did our princess hit you?" Hong'er hurriedly said when she saw Qiu Yan deliberately shouting to attract attention.
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