Chapter 321: Lure the snake out of its hole and set up a secret trap
The golden glow of the setting sun filtered through the crabapple treetops, casting a warm halo over the bluestone pavement in the east courtyard. But this warmth couldn't dispel the solemn atmosphere in the corridor.
After lulling Mianrui and Mianxin to sleep, Xiaoyanzi left them in the care of Shiliu and two reliable maids. She returned to the corridor, unconsciously twisting a lake-blue silk handkerchief. The handkerchief, embroidered with a few lively swallows herself, was now distorted by her twisting.
"Yongqi," she looked up at her husband, who was sitting on the stone bench opposite. He was stroking the jade belt around his waist with a frown on his face. "We can't just let this go."
Yongqi raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, clearly still recovering from his recent fury. "I know," his voice cracked. "But without solid evidence, even if we bring this to the Emperor, Zhihua will just cry, make a scene, and act aggrieved, and the matter will likely be dropped." He paused, his tone thick with self-blame. "It's my fault for being so useless that you've been subjected to this kind of injustice in the palace."
"It's not your fault." Xiaoyanzi shook her head, her eyes sharpening like a dagger. "Some people are just too greedy and shameless. Does she think she can scare me like that? I, Xiaoyanzi, am not a soft persimmon to be bullied!" She stood up and took two steps. The hem of her lilac cheongsam swept across the bluestone, stirring up a breeze. "Since she wants to play, then I'll play with her to the end."
"What do you want to do?" Yongqi looked at the familiar cunning in her eyes and knew that she must have an idea.
Xiaoyanzi walked over to him and leaned over to whisper something in his ear. Yongqi's brows gradually relaxed, and a hint of approval flashed in his eyes: "That's a good idea! Let's do it!"
"But..." Xiaoyanzi changed the subject, a trace of worry flashing across her face, "Isn't this too risky? What if she finds out..."
"Don't worry." Yongqi held her hand, his palm warm and strong. "I will arrange everything and will never let you and the children come to any harm again." His eyes were firm, with unquestionable determination.
At that moment, Xiao Dengzi, Xiao Zhuozi, Xiao Chongzi, and Xiao Wenzi tiptoed over. Xiao Dengzi was still holding the gilded bowl containing the bird's nest, his face solemn.
"Your Highness, Princess," Xiao Dengzi said in a low voice, "We were just walking around the west courtyard and heard Chuntao mumbling to a small kitchen servant, saying things like 'the plan failed' and 'the concubine is very angry.'"
Little Mosquito was shocked: "Wow, boom! This Chen Zhihua is too bold, dare to add that kind of thing to the bird's nest, if the princess really eats it, the consequences will be disastrous!"
Little Bug also nodded in agreement, his little face full of anger: "That's right! She's so mean! We must find a way to expose her true face!"
Xiao Zhuozi was more composed. "Your Highness, Princess, what should we do now? Should we tell the Emperor what we just heard?"
Xiaoyanzi waved her hand, "No need. This little rumor isn't enough." She looked at Yongqi, "Just do as we said."
Yongqi nodded and instructed Xiao Dengzi and the other three, "From today on, the four of you will take turns keeping an eye on the West Courtyard. Especially Chuntao and the servants in the small kitchen. Report any signs of trouble immediately. Remember, you must remain hidden and not be discovered."
"Yes!" the four of them answered in unison, their eyes filled with excitement and indignation. They were more than happy to serve Xiaoyanzi and expose the villain's scheme.
After making all the arrangements, Xiao Dengzi and the other three quietly withdrew. Silence returned to the corridor of the East Courtyard, leaving only Xiaoyanzi and Yongqi.
"It's getting late, I'll have someone prepare dinner." Xiaoyanzi said softly, trying to break the heavy atmosphere.
Yongqi pulled her back and held her in his arms. "Xiaoyanzi, I'm sorry for putting you through this." His voice was muffled, filled with deep guilt. "I asked you to marry me so that you could enjoy happiness, but I didn't expect you to have to face all this dirty work."
Xiaoyanzi leaned into his embrace, breathing in the familiar soapberry fragrance on him, and her uneasiness gradually dissipated. "Silly boy, husband and wife are meant to share joys and sorrows." She looked up and poked his cheek with a finger. "Besides, this little thing won't faze me. Back in the palace, I've seen situations ten or a hundred times more dangerous than this, and I managed to resolve them all."
Mentioning the past in the palace, Yongqi's heart moved. He knew Xiaoyanzi had gone through many hardships that he was unaware of. Perhaps those memories were the reason for her current resilience and wisdom. He hugged her tighter, "I'm here with you. I will never let you face any storm alone again."
Xiaoyanzi smiled, her smile bright and charming, like the sunshine after the rain: "Okay, then I will rely on you, Your Highness Prince Rong."
In the west courtyard, Zhihua sat in front of a solitary lamp, feeling worried. Chuntao stood nearby, not daring to breathe.
"Waste! You're all waste!" Zhihua suddenly swept the teacup on the table to the ground. The shattering sound was particularly harsh in the silent night. "If you can't even handle such a small matter, what's the point of me raising you!"
Chun Tao was so frightened that she fell to her knees with a thud: "Please calm down, Concubine! It is my fault. Please give me another chance, Concubine. I will never fail again!"
Zhihua looked at her coldly, her eyes like poisoned ice. "Give you another chance? How do you expect me to trust you?" She stood up, walked over to Chuntao, and said condescendingly, "Adding safflower to bird's nest, such a secret thing can be discovered. How can I trust you again?"
Chun Tao trembled: "This servant... This servant doesn't know how I was discovered... Maybe it's just bad luck..."
"Luck?" Zhihua sneered, "People who do great things never believe in luck!" She paced a few steps in the room, frowning, as if she was thinking about something.
After a long while, she stopped, a fierce look flashing in her eyes: "Since soft tactics don't work, let's use hard tactics."
Chun Tao raised her head and looked at her doubtfully: "What does Concubine Fu Jin mean..."
Zhihua leaned over and whispered something in Chuntao's ear. Chuntao's face grew paler as she listened, and in the end, her lips began to tremble: "Concubine, this... this is too risky, isn't it? What if we get discovered..."
"What are you afraid of?" Zhihua interrupted her, her eyes filled with desperate madness. "At this point, we have no way out. Either we succeed or we die together!" She stared at Chuntao intently, "Do you dare?"
Chun Tao looked at the cruelty in Zhi Hua's eyes, and her heart was chilled. However, thinking that her family was still under Zhi Hua's control, she could only bite the bullet and nod: "Your servant... Your servant dares!"
Zhihua smiled with satisfaction, and that smile looked particularly sinister under the dim light: "Okay. If you get it done, I will ensure that your whole family will be rich and prosperous for life. If you fail..." She didn't say anything else, but the threat in her eyes was obvious enough.
"I understand!" Chuntao kowtowed heavily, then retreated tremblingly.
Zhihua was the only one left in the room. She walked to the window and looked towards the east courtyard, where the lights were bright and she could faintly hear children's laughter. Her eyes grew increasingly resentful, and her nails dug deep into the wood grain of the window frame, leaving several deep marks.
"Fang Ci, Yong Qi, just wait." She muttered to herself, "The mistress of this Prince Rong's Mansion can only be me, Chen Zhihua! No one can stand in my way!"
Dinner in the East Courtyard was quite cozy. Xiaoyanzi forced herself to pick up some of Yongqi's favorite sweet and sour pork ribs and jokingly recounted some of Mianrui and Mianxin's anecdotes from the day. Yongqi also tried to play along, feigning indifference. But both knew deep down that a greater storm was quietly approaching.
It was late at night, and the children were already asleep. Xiaoyanzi lay beside Yongqi, but she couldn't fall asleep. She could feel that Yongqi was awake too, and his hand was tightly holding hers.
"Yongqi," she said softly, "what do you think Zhihua will do next?"
Yongqi was silent for a moment and said, "No matter what tricks she uses, we will take them on. This time, I will make her pay the price." There was an unprecedented firmness in his voice.
Xiaoyanzi nodded and leaned into his arms: "Yeah."
Outside the window, moonlight streamed softly across the courtyard of Prince Rong's mansion. The east and west courtyards, separated by a single wall, seemed like two completely different worlds. On one side, there was a tranquility shrouded in the impending storm, while on the other, darkness was brewing.
A silent contest has quietly begun.
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