After Su Peisheng left with several palace servants, Holland complained impatiently, "My good sister of mine really knows how to cause trouble. What's so special about rabbits? The Fourth Prince is actually willing to go along with her madness."
Hui'an glanced cautiously at Holland and said, "Master, don't be angry. Be careful of the dragon fetus in your belly. Or, shall I help you go and see how they catch rabbits?"
Holland scoffed, "It's sunny outside, why bother going to see that nonsense? I'd rather stay here and rest."
Meanwhile, Consort Hui was sitting in the carriage, watching Su Peisheng lead several palace servants to fetch some cloth bags and head towards the fields. She was puzzled and said to a young palace maid, "Go and see what's happening over there?"
After the maid left, Suoqiu immediately took out several small bottles from a bundle next to Consort Hui. Just as she was about to put them in her bosom, Consort Hui stopped her.
"Master, are you still going to keep them?" Suoqiu asked, puzzled.
"No, while everyone's gone over there, go and add some feed to her horse. This time, dissolve it in water and let the horse drink it. Be careful, though. Then hide these bottles near Yan Yu's carriage. Do you understand?" Consort Hui's beautiful face was now somewhat distorted.
Suoqiu thought for a moment and said, "Is Master worried that there isn't enough of what's sprinkled in the feed?"
Suoqiu was extremely nervous when she threw those things into the horse feed last time, so she was naturally reluctant to do it again now that Consort Hui asked her to.
Consort Hui glanced at Suoqiu and said in a cold voice, "That was obviously not enough. Haven't you seen the horses for more than an hour? Don't they feel anything at all? Don't worry, I will help you. When you go to water the horses later, I will go and have a word with our Consort Lan, so that she won't have time to worry about anything else."
Upon hearing this, Suoqiu immediately suppressed the fear in her heart and nodded meekly.
Meanwhile, the others saw smoke rising from the field and, having no one to do anything, all went to watch the commotion.
Even Yan Yu couldn't help but reach out, supporting Yun Yuan's hand.
Consort Hui lifted the "curtain" beside the carriage and looked at it. A sinister smile appeared on her face. She said, "This is truly heaven's help. Suoqiu, hurry up and get ready. In a little while, we'll go and visit Consort Lan."
Meanwhile, on Lanqin's side, she, along with Nianxue, Xicha, Ziran, Li Shubao, and of course Baoqin, Baolan, Xiaoyuanzi, and others, each carried a cloth bag and covered the entrances of the rabbit holes. However, some holes were still uncovered. Then, she and Su Peisheng piled up many fallen leaves and dry branches in front of the holes, lit them with a tinderbox, and instantly thick smoke rose up. Fourth Master then ordered Su Peisheng to use the front of his robe to continuously fan the smoke into the holes.
Gradually, more and more people came to watch the spectacle, including even the Eighth Master, Ninth Master, and Tenth Master, and naturally their princesses followed.
"Fourth brother, are you having a smoke battle?" Peach Blossom Nine chuckled. He'd been stuck in the carriage for almost ten days and was practically growing mold.
"If you want roasted rabbit later, don't stand there talking!" Fourth Master ignored his mockery and continued to add dry branches to the fire.
Upon hearing this, the Eighth and Tenth Masters ordered their personal servants to immediately guard one of the cave entrances. They lifted their robes and covered the entrances to prevent rabbits from escaping through them.
Lanqin said to the princesses, "There are still a few left to guard. Sisters, you can use the handkerchiefs on your chests to block them. Come and catch the rabbits!"
Seeing her laughing so carefree, even though Princess Shumulu of the Eighth Prince didn't like Lanqin, she couldn't help but help her maid to guard one of the cave entrances. The others also put aside their reserve and guarded several more cave entrances.
The smoke grew thicker and thicker, and Fourth Master and Su Peisheng kept fanning it in. Gradually, some of the openings began to emit wisps of black smoke.
"Fourth brother, why haven't we managed to smoke them out all this time? Are there any rabbits at all?" Peach Blossom Nine stood aside, still watching from the sidelines, and asked.
Fourth Master ignored him completely, focusing instead on fanning the fire with Su Peisheng.
Meanwhile, Consort Hui saw that many people were rushing over there to watch the rabbit catching, so she took Suoqiu's hand and got off the carriage, heading towards the carriage that Holland was riding in.
Seeing the coachmen standing by the roadside discussing the black smoke, Consort Hui deliberately walked around to the other side of the carriage so that they couldn't see her and her servants.
"Sister, are you there?" Consort Hui called softly through the curtain as she approached the carriage, giving Suoqiu a meaningful look. The latter understood and took a small bottle from her bosom, walking towards the carriage.
"But Sister Hui, what brings you here?" Holland immediately put down her chess piece and replied upon hearing that it was Consort Hui. Little did she know that her horse was being fed water laced with medicinal powder by Suoqiu.
"Sitting in the carriage is a bit boring. Why don't I keep my sister company and chat with her? I wonder if I could have the honor of riding in the same carriage with her?" Consort Hui looked around at the commotion and saw that Suoqiu had already given the horses the water. A smile slowly crept onto her lips.
"Please come in, sister." Although Holland did not like Consort Hui's visit, since she was already standing at the door, he could not refuse her any face. So he ordered Hui'an to lift the curtain.
"Oh dear, I forgot something, so I can't stay and talk to my sister anymore. I'll go back now." Consort Hui declined, seeing that Suoqiu had completed the task she had assigned.
"Oh, sister, take care." Holland stared intently at the direction from which the voice came, and whispered to Huian: This Consort Hui is really something else. She wanted to come in a minute, but now she doesn't. Does she think I'm a three-year-old child to be coaxed?
“I’m actually relieved that the princess isn’t angry and she’s not coming in,” Huian said reassuringly.
Meanwhile, another pair of masters and servants were also discussing them.
"Put that thing in Yan Yu's carriage right now, and don't let anyone see it," Consort Hui said, frowning.
"Yes, but if there are people guarding that side, I can't do anything about it," Suoqiu said cautiously to Consort Hui.
"Go and see for yourself, and when they're not looking, just throw it under her carriage," said Consort Hui.
"This servant doesn't quite understand why Master would frame Princess Yan Yu. She has no grudge against us," Suoqiu said, puzzled.
"It's just to divert attention; you don't need to know anything else," Consort Hui warned.
After Suoqiu got off the carriage, Consort Hui murmured to herself, "I hope Father's arrangements go smoothly, otherwise all this effort will be in vain."
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