Chapter 319: Embroidery causes trouble, hidden arrows are hard to guard against
Morning dew still clung to the petals of the crabapple trees in the east courtyard when Mian Xin was awakened by the chirping of birds in the corridor. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she clung to the stroller's railings, babbling toward Little Swallow. Little Swallow, her hair freshly combed, tied loosely into a bun and accessorized with a gold and jade hairpin, smiled as she walked over and lifted her daughter into her arms, "Little lazy bastard, the sun's burning your bottom."
"Mother..." Mian Xin buried her little face in the crook of her neck, coquettishly speaking in a baby voice. Little Yanzi, wearing a lake blue silk cheongsam with an intricate lotus embroidery around the collar, strolled slowly in the yard, holding her daughter, watching Xiao Dengzi and Xiao Zhuozi feeding the carrier pigeons.
"Where is the prince?" she asked.
"The prince went to the front yard to handle official business early this morning," Xiao Dengzi said, looking back and smiling. "Before he left, he told the kitchen to make more crystal shrimp dumplings, which the princess loves."
Xiaoyanzi smiled, feeling warm inside. Yongqi was always like this, taking her preferences to heart.
Shi Liu came over with a basin of warm water and said cautiously, "Princess, it's time to wash the little prince and princess' faces." She was wearing a turquoise cloth skirt, and the cuffs were a little white from washing. Since she changed her name, she has become more cautious in her actions.
"Thank you for your hard work." Xiaoyanzi handed Mianxin to her and watched her gently wipe the child's face with skillful and careful movements.
Mianrui also woke up, lying on the crib and waving his hands. Xiaoyanzi walked over, held her son's hand, and said softly, "Good boy Rui'er, let me tell you a story."
At this moment, Chun Tao suddenly walked in from outside the courtyard, holding a half-embroidered small dress in her hands, with a look of anxiety on her face: "Princess, the concubine asked me to ask if the little bellyband I asked Sister Shi Liu to help embroider a few days ago is finished? Prince Mian Yi is waiting to wear it."
Xiaoyanzi frowned. She didn't remember Shiliu having promised to embroider something for Mianyi. Shiliu was also stunned for a moment, and quickly shook her head: "I didn't... Concubine Fujin never asked me to embroider a bellyband."
"How could it be gone?" Chun Tao raised her voice, as if she had been wronged. "I clearly sent the material over a few days ago, and asked you to help me embroider a tiger to bless Brother Mian Yi to grow up strong. You agreed so well then, why are you denying it now?"
Shi Liu's face turned red with anxiety: "I really didn't..."
"Don't be impatient," Xiaoyanzi held Shiliu's hand, her eyes cold as she looked at Chuntao, "You said you sent the material over. When? Who saw it?"
Chun Tao's eyes flickered for a moment, and she said calmly, "It was three days ago in the afternoon. I personally handed it to Sister Shi Liu. She was the only one in the yard at that time."
Xiaoyanzi sneered inwardly. Three days ago in the afternoon, Shiliu stayed with her making shoes for Mianrui and had never left. This Chuntao was clearly lying.
"Oh? Really?" Xiaoyanzi walked up to Chuntao and looked at her sharply. "Then take out the material and let me see. What color is it? Are there any markings on it?"
Chuntao felt a little uneasy when she looked at her, and stammered, "It's... it's red, and there's no mark on it..."
"Red?" Xiaoyanzi smiled. "Prince Mianyi was born in the Year of the Rabbit, and Consort Jin has always been averse to the color red, saying it offends others. Why would they let you give them red material?"
Chuntao's face turned pale, and she opened her mouth but couldn't say anything for a long time. She didn't expect Xiaoyanzi to know this, and she was panicked for a moment.
"It seems you remembered it wrongly." Xiaoyanzi's tone was calm, but with unquestionable majesty. "Shi Liu has been with me these days and hasn't taken on any embroidery work. Go back and tell Concubine Jin that if she needs any embroidery, there are special embroiderers in the mansion, so don't bother Shi Liu."
Chuntao wanted to say something, but seeing Xiaoyanzi's cold eyes, she swallowed her words back and said awkwardly, "Yes... I know. I'll go back and tell the concubine." She turned around and walked away in embarrassment, holding the half embroidery. When she reached the door, she accidentally tripped over the threshold and almost fell.
Looking at her back, Shi Liu said with lingering fear: "Princess, they did this on purpose..."
"I know." Xiaoyanzi nodded, her eyes darkening. "They're looking for trouble with you." She held Shiliu's hand. "Don't be afraid. I'm here. No one can bully you."
Shi Liu's eyes were filled with tears and she nodded vigorously: "Thank you, Princess."
Little Mosquito was watching from the side, gasping in amazement. "Wow, these people in the West Courtyard are really good at finding fault! They can even make a fuss about embroidering a bellyband. It's unbelievable!"
The little bug also agreed: "That's right, it's too much!"
Xiaoyanzi took a deep breath. She knew this was just the beginning. Zhihua wouldn't let this go. The days ahead would likely be anything but peaceful.
"Little Dengzi," she ordered, "go to the front yard and tell the prince to pay more attention to what's happening in the west yard."
"Yes!" Little Dengzi responded and left.
Xiaoyanzi looked at the children playing in the yard, her eyes becoming determined. For the sake of her children, for Yongqi, and for everyone she cared about, she would never let Zhihua's plot succeed. She would fight this secret war to the end.
In the west courtyard, Chuntao told Zhihua everything that had happened. After hearing this, Zhihua threw the teacup in her hand to the ground, splattering the shards everywhere: "Useless! You can't even handle such a small matter!"
Chun Tao was so frightened that she knelt on the ground, trembling: "Concubine, calm down, it's me who is useless..."
"Useless thing!" Zhihua shouted, "You can't even handle a servant, and you still want to help me?" She paced back and forth, her eyes full of resentment, "Fang Ci, do you think you can protect her like this? You are so naive!"
She suddenly stopped and sneered: "Since soft means don't work, let's use hard means. Chuntao, you go..." She leaned over to Chuntao's ear and whispered a few words.
Chun Tao's face turned pale and she hesitated, "Concubine, this... isn't this too risky? If the prince knew about this..."
"What are you afraid of?" Zhihua interrupted her, her eyes fierce. "As long as we do it cleanly and neatly, who will know? If anything goes wrong, I'll take the responsibility!"
Chun Tao gritted her teeth and nodded heavily: "Yes, I will do it right away."
Watching Chuntao's departing figure, Zhihua walked to the window and looked towards the east courtyard, a fierce glint in her eyes. Fang Ci, you forced me to do this. Don't blame me for being cruel and ruthless. Blame you for blocking my way, blocking my son's way!
The sun was shining brightly in the east courtyard. Mianrui and Mianxin were playing in the yard, their laughter ringing. Little Swallow sat on the porch, watching the children, but a sense of unease welled up in her heart. She had a feeling that beneath the surface of calm, a greater storm was quietly brewing.
Yongqi returned from his official duties and saw Xiaoyanzi's furrowed brow. He walked over and held her hand, "What's wrong? Are you worried?"
Xiaoyanzi looked up at him and told him what had just happened. Yongqi's face darkened: "Zhihua is becoming more and more unreasonable!" He held Xiaoyanzi's hand tightly and said, "Don't worry, I will take care of it."
Xiaoyanzi nodded and leaned on his shoulder: "I'm not afraid of her playing tricks, I'm just worried that the child will be implicated."
"No," Yongqi comforted him, "I have already assigned more people to guard the East Courtyard. I will never let anyone harm you and the child."
As the sun set, its golden afterglow bathed the entire palace. The laughter and chatter continued in the East Courtyard, but the candlelight in the West Courtyard cast a chilling shadow. A silent battle had just begun.
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