Madam Li frowned, stared at Yan Yu's eyes for a long time, and said, "Is this really why you want to send me away, my lady?"
Yan Yu's gaze flickered a few times under Li Shi's stare, but she hadn't completely lost her mind. Although she said she didn't believe what the Fujin said, she knew in her heart that she must not mention Wu Ge's rumor-mongering to anyone.
"That must be it. I can't figure out why the Fujin (wife) would obstruct me like this. Sister, what should I do now?" Yan Yu grabbed Li Shi's hand and asked anxiously.
"Let me think about it. Here's what we'll do: you stay here with me now. Does the Fujin know you came to see me?" Madam Li asked.
“I had no idea about my relationship with my sister; no one has mentioned it to me!” Yan Yu said.
"Alright, you stay here with me. I'll go and think of a way, okay?" Seeing that Yan Yu didn't seem to be telling the truth, Li decided to capture her first and then think of a solution herself.
"Sister, you must think of a way for me!" Yan Yu grabbed Li's hand, as if she had grasped a glimmer of hope.
After arranging Yan Yu in a side room in the east courtyard, Li returned to her main house, changed her clothes, and went to see the Fourth Master. Although she did not yet have direct evidence from Yan Yu that the Fujin had colluded with her brother-in-law to spread rumors, she could deduce from the few words that Yan Yu had revealed that the rumors circulating outside must be related to the sisters.
"Master, are you going to see the master now?" Que'er asked, looking at Li Shi in the bronze mirror as she combed Li Shi's hair into two buns and then carefully placed the pearl flowers and peacock hairpins that Li Shi loved to wear into her hair.
"What, do you think there's something wrong?" Madam Li looked around, afraid that there might be some flaw. She loved beauty very much. Que'er was promoted from a third-class maid because she had a beautiful hairstyle.
"This servant believes that since Your Majesty has not yet obtained direct evidence regarding the main courtyard and that rumor, it would be difficult to convict the Fujin if we were to speak to Your Majesty in this way!" Que'er said cautiously, observing Li Shi's expression. Seeing that Li Shi showed no displeasure, she dared to speak her mind.
“What you said is indeed correct, but now the Fujin has realized that the master is suspicious of her. We must take advantage of Yan Yu’s presence here to obtain evidence of what the Fujin has done!” When Li discovered Yan Yu’s covetousness towards the Fourth Master and the sisterly relationship between her and the Fujin, she deliberately approached Yan Yu in hopes of finding something to use against the Fujin.
"I have a solution, but I don't know if I should say it!" Que'er said, handing the earring to Li Shi.
"Speak!" After inserting the teardrop-shaped red coral earring into the hole, Madam Li smiled slightly with satisfaction.
"This servant sees that Princess Yanyu is someone who would disregard sisterly affection for herself. We just need to make her believe that the master is indeed in love with her, but I'm afraid that the woman mentioned in the rumors outside is not her, but someone else. For the sake of the country and the safety of all the people in the city, the master has no choice but to marry that woman with the water radical, and can only disappoint her feelings. If this servant is not mistaken, Princess Yanyu will definitely not be able to bear losing the fat meat that is about to be in her mouth. Perhaps in her confusion, she will say more things that are beneficial to us!" Sometimes even Li Shi felt that Que'er's thinking was not as good as hers. Whenever she encountered such a situation, she could often think of things that Li Shi had not thought of.
“That’s right, what you said is feasible. Then we’ll have to put on a good show for her.” Li’s eyes gleamed with excitement, as if the impending misfortune for the Fujin had made her incredibly excited.
"Master, I'm afraid you still have to invite the master over. Otherwise, even if we manage to get the information out of her, she might change her mind at the last minute, making all our efforts futile!" Que'er suggested.
"You're right. Help me to the front courtyard immediately." Madam Li stood up from her dressing table. Last time, despite all her efforts, she had failed, and the Fujin (principal wife) had only received a month of confinement. This time, she was determined to ensure that Ulanara would never recover.
When Li and her servant arrived at the front courtyard, they only received a reply from the gatekeeper that the Fourth Master was not there. Li was unwilling to give up, and she helped Que'er up and ignored the little eunuchs at the gate to walk in. They found Zhao Quan in the garden yelling at several little eunuchs. Because he was not serving the Fourth Master, he liked to find some small troubles to make things difficult for his subordinates.
"Zhao Quan!" Que'er called out from the main courtyard gate, with a charming Li standing beside her.
Upon seeing that it was Lady Li, Zhao Quan immediately waved to the few bowing eunuchs, telling them to continue their work. He then trotted over to Lady Li and quickly bowed, saying, "This servant greets Consort Li. May Consort Li enjoy boundless blessings and peace!"
"Alright, stop arguing with me," Madam Li said in a coquettish voice. "Fourth Master went to the South Courtyard?"
Zhao Quan glanced around cautiously before nodding and whispering, "They went there at noon and haven't come back yet."
Li frowned slightly, then winked at Que'er. Que'er took out a silver ingot from her sleeve and gave it to Zhao Quan.
Zhao Quan immediately stuffed the gift into his sleeve, beaming with delight as he flattered her, "This servant thanks Consort for the generous gift. I will inform you immediately of any news I may have."
"Alright, just remember what you said. In short, I, your wife, will not mistreat you!" After saying that, Madam Li raised her delicate hand and tapped Zhao Quan's chest before helping Que'er away.
Zhao Quan was left dumbfounded, watching Consort Li walk away with an elegant and alluring figure, stepping on the flowerpot-covered disciple. Suddenly, he pinched his thigh, jolting him out of his dazed state. He muttered angrily under his breath, "You even had your manhood cut off, what are you thinking about that stuff for! Don't you want your head?"
Zhao Quan swallowed hard before snapping out of his daze and heading back to his room. Even though eunuchs had long lost their manhood, a sliver of their subtle feelings for women still lingered in their consciousness. Li Shi's actions just now had precisely stirred those feelings in Zhao Quan, the eunuch. This was why he was willing to risk his head to become Li Shi's informant in the front courtyard. Initially, Li Shi had given him generous rewards, but the women in other courtyards had also offered him silver. Ultimately, however, he chose Li Shi!
After Li and her servant left the front courtyard, the two remained silent, both thinking about how to see the Fourth Master as soon as possible so that they could carry out their plan.
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