"Hello, Sister Wuya!" Liu was dressed in a light green cheongsam. When she smiled, her eyes curved like crescent moons, and her soft voice was truly endearing.
"Standing in the shadows eavesdropping on people's conversations, I wonder what Sister Liu is up to?" Uya said angrily.
“Sister Wuya, you’ve misunderstood. Actually, I came looking for you. I just happened to overhear something; I didn’t mean to eavesdrop!” Liu said.
"Looking for me?" Uya's almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly. "It seems I don't have much contact with my sister!"
“I was actually asked to do this by someone else, but this matter is very important to you, sister. May I speak to you in private?” Liu asked in a low voice.
Seeing Liu's unpredictable behavior, Wuya was led by the nose by her words and walked up to Liu, saying, "What do you have to say to me?"
Liu looked around, then focused intently on Wuya's large belly and said, "Sister, have you searched everywhere you can, yet still can't figure out why you suddenly have such a big appetite?"
Uya was surprised that she would bring this up, and even more alarmed by her keen insight into her actions. She frowned and asked, "What exactly are you trying to say?"
“Sister, why don’t we admire the flowers while we talk?” Liu said. “It wouldn’t be good if someone else came by and overheard something.”
Wuya nodded, then took Cuiyun's hand and followed Liu and her servants to admire the flowers.
Meanwhile, Lanqin and Cui Niang walked back.
“Master, why are you avoiding her? If you ask me, you should scold her to her face. Just because she's heavily pregnant, she acts like she can't have children with anyone else,” said Cui Niang.
"Or should I start yelling at her, or even pull her hair and kick her in the stomach?" Lanqin retorted. "Although I really want to do that, I just can't bring myself to do it. And there's no need for it, is there?"
Having said that, Lanqin left the bewildered Cui Niang behind and started walking quickly forward. Cui Niang hurriedly followed after her.
“My lady, the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching. How about we hold a unique family banquet this year?” Seeing that Lanqin remained silent, Cui Niang felt a little uneasy and quickly changed the subject. In recent months, Cui Niang had felt that Lanqin seemed different from before, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. Although the Fourth Prince was very happy at the family banquet for the Sixth Prince’s first birthday, and he and the mistress were in perfect harmony, the mistress seemed to be plotting something.
“The palace will definitely hold a family banquet. Whether our family will hold one this year is still unknown. We’ll see, there’s still a little over two weeks,” Lanqin said.
Meanwhile, Uya had already helped Cuiyun back to her room.
"Princess, please sit down quickly. I'll go pour you a cup of tea right away." Cuiyun helped Wuya sit down and immediately turned to pour tea.
"Cuiyun, is this water still drinkable?" Wuya asked.
Cuiyun was slightly stunned on the spot. Recalling what Liu had said to Wuya, her heart trembled slightly.
"Master, how did she know there was something wrong with the water?" Cuiyun asked.
"You mean the person behind her is the mastermind behind all this?" Uya asked. Actually, she thought so herself; she just asked to confirm what she was thinking.
“Princess, the most important thing for us now is to find out exactly what was put in the water. We investigated so many things before, but we didn’t check the water. Who knew they could tamper with it?” Cuiyun said incredulously.
"Wait. Go and get some fruit to eat. As usual, fetch the water, but don't tell anyone what Liu said," Wuya said thoughtfully.
"But Princess, are you just going to let them go like this?" Cuiyun asked.
“Go to the master and say that Liu knows who harmed me? What if Liu turns around and accuses me of framing her? She has gained some favor with the master now,” said Wuya. “Besides, as she said, our biggest enemy now is not her or the master behind her.”
"Princess, do you really want to deal with Nan Xiaoyuan?" Cuiyun asked, her heart skipping a beat.
“Why not! Did you see the way she looked at me?” Uya said through gritted teeth.
“But Princess, she is the person Master cares about most. If Master finds out that you are deliberately treating her, I’m afraid it won’t be good. Besides, Master, you are almost due to give birth now. If you stop drinking this water now, you might be able to lose weight,” Cuiyun said.
“I’m already like this, how can I possibly lose weight? Besides, there’s only a little over a month left. I’m afraid it’ll be too late. Cuiyun, I really hate it. Do you think I don’t hate the one who tampered with the water? But I hate even more that Niohuru can keep dominating the master’s heart.” Wuya said, “As long as she’s around, neither I nor my children will be valued!”
Looking at Wuya's expression, Cuiyun knew that she had already made up her mind. Perhaps she had already made up her mind when Liu said those words.
“Master, this matter must be carried out with absolute certainty, otherwise…” Cuiyun said.
“Of course! If they plot against my offspring and against me, as long as they are dealt with properly, the Niohuru clan may disappear from my heart forever!” Uya said with a smile.
“Princess, we still need to go to Liu Shi about this matter and plan it carefully. After all, Niohuru Shi has deep roots in this inner courtyard. I’m afraid it won’t be easy to get rid of her. If we don’t handle it properly, it might backfire,” Cuiyun said.
“Alright, go and invite Liu again tonight. Make sure it's done discreetly. Since she's the middleman, let's force the mastermind out from her. If you want to cooperate with me, you should show some sincerity,” said Wuya.
That evening, after dusk had covered everything, two women dressed in black cloaks silently entered the west courtyard.
"My sister is here!" Uya stood at the door of her main house and called out to the two women who had arrived.
"Since you invited me, I naturally came." As soon as Liu lifted her bamboo hat, her round and fair face was revealed.
"Sister, come in quickly." Uya averted her gaze, refusing to look at Liu for more than a few seconds.
After the two sat down at their respective tables, Cuiyun served them tea and then stood aside.
“Sister, you must have agreed and thought it through, which is why you sent your younger sister here?” Liu said.
“Of course, Niohuru is the common enemy of this princess, and also of you and the person behind you. If we get rid of her, the world in this inner court will change. This princess has thought about it for a long time, and actually already guessed it. Is it the East Courtyard?” said Wuya.
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