The next day when it was still early, Wei Changjuan stood up to see Liu Ruoye off, who had talked to her all night long. She chose to leave at this hour to avoid being seen. “Sister Liu, now I realized what it means to stay strong despite all these hardships. I used to think everyone was my friend, but these few months made me realize that apart from Sister Min and you, no one else cares about me.”

Liu Ruoye said gently, “Don’t say that! It's not that only the two of us are here to visit you and have you in our hearts. It’s just a little hard to see you these days. Firstly, they might be afraid of disturbing the elders in your family. Secondly, they weren’t aware that you're having a hard time here. Everyone thought you’re extremely depressed so visitors aren’t welcome. Otherwise, everyone would have paid you a visit even if it was against the wishes of the elders.”

Wei Changjuan couldn’t help but remember how Liu Ruoye had been sent away several times to the point where she had to bribe the guards. This time, she even had to disguise herself as a maidservant to get in. Embarrassed, she complained about Wei Changwan in her heart, “I knew Sister Liu meant well! But why does my first sister always think she’s bringing me down? I'm not that stupid! Besides, Sister Liu has been defending everyone that I’ve blamed earlier. It’s not like they know! Obviously Sister Liu is someone sincere and honest, but my first sister is always suspicious of her. Alas!”

But no matter what the reason was, Wei Changwan was still her first sister by blood. Hence, Wei Changjuan did not want Liu Ruoye to know that it was Wei Changwan who refused to let her visit. After thinking for some time, she decided to put the blame on Mrs. Min and Mrs. Zhou. “I have never told the guards that I didn’t want visitors, including you. The guards would never have the guts to make such a decision themselves! It must be because Mrs. Min and Mrs. Zhou who are treating me badly are scared to let people know the truth. Hence, they instructed the guards to do so. They’re probably scared that they’ll be too embarrassed to meet anyone in the future. Alas! I have to apologize to you for having sisters-in-law like this!”

Liu Ruoye sighed gently and said, “Don’t be too harsh on them. Maybe it’s because they have never been in charge before. Now that they are given such a huge responsibility all of a sudden, they might be overwhelmed and neglect you. On top of that, they might be so overwhelmed that they acted rudely to you, especially because you’re living under them. Be a little more forgiving, or you’ll just cause damage to your health by bottling up all the anger!”

When she saw Wei Changjuan's annoyance, she immediately changed her tone and said, “Of course, don’t hold yourself back if Mrs. Min and Mrs. Zhou go too far! No matter what happens, you are still your father’s daughter and your brothers’ sister. So I’m sure they’ll never side with your sisters-in-law instead of you. Besides, I do agree that Mrs. Min and Mrs. Zhou have gone a little too far. It’s not very kind and ladylike of them to do so. It's a pity that our families aren’t close to each other at all. I spent the whole night trying to think of someone who could speak to your two sisters-in-law on your behalf, but I couldn’t come up with any. Never mind. I'll try talking to my mother about this when I get back. Let’s see if she has any good ideas.”

Wei Changjuan was so touched by her words that she almost cried again, “Sister Liu, you’re so nice to me.”

“Don’t say that! You make us sound like strangers.” Liu Ruoye teased her, “There’s no need for formalities like this between us.” Liu Ruoye reminded her once again to not suck it up if it was too much for her to handle.

Bitterly, Wei Changjuan pressed a handkerchief against the corners of her eyes and said emotionally, “I don't care if the people out there are being sincere to me or just putting on a show. I’m already grateful enough to have you and Sister Min as my close friends. Although what Sister Min said to me was different from what you said, I know it’s all for my own good. However, I like what you said better. Sister Min is great, but she always urges me to succumb to Fengzhou and Wei Changying. I just can't do it!”

Liu Ruoye who was still dressed as a maidservant smiled lightly and said, “Sister Wei, since you’re so bothered, I guess I’ll keep some words to myself, so you don’t feel even more bothered.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Changjuan quickly pulled her back, “Sister Liu, what else do you know? Why didn't you tell me?”

“Sister Wei, listen to me this time. Some things are better left unknown.” Liu Ruoye said gently, “Especially now that you're not feeling well mentally, why add to your worries?”

The more she tried to hide, the more curious Wei Changjuan was. But this time Liu Ruoye insisted and said, “In the past, I can't help but tell you things that you shouldn’t know. I ended up harming you instead. I must learn from my lessons. Listen to me and don't ask any more questions.”

With that, she left.

When she got back, Zhang Shaoguang who was in the room immediately went to her daughter upon hearing that she was back. Seeing Liu Ruoye in the same clothes she wore yesterday, she said, “You've even changed your clothes? I thought you were coming straight over.”

Liu Ruoye said, “I changed it on the carriage. I don’t want anyone to get suspicious.”

“What’s the situation like over there? Was she the one who ordered the guards not to let you in? But since you spent the night at the Wei Family's house, I suppose she has been convinced by you?” Smiling, Zhang Shaoguang asked her maidservants to leave and poured her daughter a cup of hot tea.

Liu Ruoye took a sip and smiled, “If she had really wanted to avoid me, I wouldn’t have got in. It’s either Wei Changwan idea or someone else from the Wei Family who doesn’t want me in.”

She went on, “We guessed it right. Old Madam Song was the reason for Mrs. Duanmu’s death.”

Zhang Shaoguang said, “Ever since the Third Miss of the Wei Family moved to the capital after her marriage and Wei Changjuan has repeatedly got into a conflict with her, I knew that Wei Shengyi and his family would be in a mess. They always say Old Madam Song is very strict with rules, but what everyone means is how ruthless she is! Even though she was in no position to order me around when she was in the capital, I never had the courage to take her lightly. Now that she’s still well and alive, Wei Changjuan actually dared to take the initiative to provoke her only lineal granddaughter. Isn't Wei Changjuan digging her own grave?”

She went on, “Can’t blame her for being too young and naive. She hasn’t seen her grandmother yet and didn’t know how ferocious she can be! When I was still a daughter of concubine, I was so obedient and sensible! But of course, I can’t compare myself with my sister. If it hadn’t been for my mother who passed on early…”

Liu Ruoye laughed, “Mother, you’re too nice to compare yourself with Wei Changjuan. She's nothing more than a kid who's been spoiled by her parents and doesn't know any better. How is she on the same par as you?”

After gossiping about Wei Changjuan, Zhang Shaoguang got down to business with her daughter. “You've won over her heart for some time now. Does she trust you completely without any form of suspicion now? I heard she’s pretty close with the Miss of the Min Family. It’s fine if they stop her, but what if they start to suspect us?”

“Of course, I have my guards up against Min Yinuo! I even reminded Wei Changjuan before I left today!” Liu Ruoye smiled and said, “Although she is mourning now and she’s not quite aware of what’s going on outside, everyone knows that she’s very close with Min Yinuo. When the day comes, her two sisters-in-law will have to give her gifts respectively for the sake of being presentable. How can I not tell her?”

Zhang Shaoguang said, “You reminded her? You didn't tell her?”

Liu Ruoye laughed, “What's the point of telling her? It’s not time yet. If I tell her, she'll make a scene without Min Yinuo being there. What if Min Yinuo explains herself when she pays Wei Changjuan a visit? Mother, you know how gullible Wei Changjuan is. When the day comes and someone else tells her about it, how will Min Yinuo be able to make time to pay her a visit and explain herself? By then, Wei Changjuan will know who is really being good to her.”

“My daughter is so smart.” Satisfied, Zhang Shaoguang praised her daughter and said, “It’s a double attack then! By then, I doubt she’ll not obey what you say. I’m just worried that she’ll bring you down with her afterwards. That would be troublesome.”

Liu Ruoye’s lips curled into a thin smile as she said, “Would she be able to?”

While the two of them were talking, a servant who was at Zhang Shaoguang’s courtyard sneaked out silently and went to a house in the alley behind the house to give some instructions. After a short time, the servant went back to the courtyard, and someone came out from the house. After strolling through the streets and alleys and seeing that there was no one spying, the person headed straight to the mansions that the palace people had purchased near the royal palace.

That afternoon, Crown Princess Liu Ruoyu attended the Empress to lunch and headed back to the Eastern Palace. As she walked past the main hall, she heard music and laughter from women, which was accompanied by words of affection. The palace people who accompanied her did not dare to make a sound, but Liu Ruoyu merely smiled and walked on lightly with an unchanged expression. All the entertainment in the main hall was like spider silk to her. It would all be gone with just a brush of the hand.

Bored, she was resting in her bedchamber when a palace people came in and whispered, “Your Grace, Ju Zhong asks to see you.”

“Let him in.” Liu Ruoyu narrowed her eyes. Ju Zhong used to be a servant who cleaned the Eastern Palace. After she married into the Eastern Palace, she tested him several times and realized he was someone sensible enough and worthy of a promotion. Hence, she transferred him to her courtyard to attend to her peony flowers.

In fact, Liu Ruoyu wasn’t a huge fan of flowers or plants, and she couldn’t care less about the peony flowers in her courtyard. The servant’s real task was to inform her of everything that was happening inside and outside the royal palace. Even the mansion he bought outside the royal palace was also paid for by Liu Ruoyu.

Liu Ruoyu had nothing to hide from others. The only secret she had was her trying to spy on Mrs. Zhang and her daughter.

This was a well-known fact to everyone she trusted.

Ju Zhong came in and greeted her. Knowing that the Crown Princess wasn’t a fan of conversations, he went straight into the topic after she excused him, “She only returned at dawn with the reason that she spent the night at a farm outside the city. But Zhang Ping said there was no trace of grass or leaves on the carriage, and it was as clean as if it had never left the city at all. Your Grace, it is the time of the year when the grasses grow rapidly. Hence, no matter which farm she went to, there would be traces of grass on the wheels. It’s impossible for the carriage to be that clean. Hence, Zhang Ping guessed that Liu Ruoye must have gone somewhere else and was just trying to hide it from Old Master.”

Since they knew that Liu Ruoyu hated her stepsister, Ju Zhong and the others followed suit by mentioning Liu Ruoye's mother and daughter without any honorifics.

As expected, Liu Ruoyu did not get mad at Ju Zhong for not mentioning Liu Ruoye's honorifics at all. She thought for a moment and said, “Where did she go? Does Zhang Ping know?”

“Zhang Ping sneaked out while Liu Ruoye was talking with Zhang Shaoguang to update us about the situation and went back to the courtyard immediately. She said that Liu Ruoye had been to the Wei Family’s Mansion a few times prior to this. Hence, it might be related to the Seventh Miss of the Wei Family.” Ju Zhong said, “The Wei Family refused Liu Ruoye’s visits on the excuse of the Seventh Miss’s poor health. But Miss Min, who has a good relationship with the Seventh Miss of the Wei Family, visited her a few times. As for this, Luo Ruoye’s maid Baihua cursed in secret that the Wei Family couldn’t tell good from bed. Miss Min is the granddaughter of the Duanmu Family and a daughter of an aristocratic family. But the Wei Family welcomed Miss Min while shut the door upon Liu Ruoye.”

Liu Ruoyu laughed coldly at this and said, “Finally someone from the Wei Family is sensible enough to keep a distance from this disastrous woman! What a pity! Mrs. Duanmu had already lost her life, yet her daughter is still so foolish! If Liu Ruoye spent the night out, she definitely went to the Wei Family’s mansion that night before and disguised herself to meet Wei Changjuan. I’m confident that she deceived the public and won Wei Changjuan’s heart again. Hence, she stayed the night there!”

After a moment of silence, she said, “If she were to spend the night at the Wei Family’s mansion, it would be extremely risky even if Wei Changjuan were to take her in and give her a hiding spot. After all, the rest of the Wei Family may not be as dumb and naive as Wei Changjuan. If she were discovered, Liu Ruoye would never be able to explain herself! If it hadn't been something urgent, Liu Ruoye would have never taken the risk! But what exactly is she after?”

Ju Zhong then said cautiously, “Your Grace, would it be something to do with Liu Ruowo?”

“The two of them have been planning all along just for Liu Ruowo to take the place of the Sixteenth Family Brother.” Liu Ruoyu lowered her eyelashes as she said, “As a matter of fact, there will definitely be some connections. But what exactly are they going to do?”

Ju Zhong did not dare to and was unable to answer this question. The bedchamber was silent as Liu Ruoyu bit her lips and thought, “Considering how young and ignorant Wei Changjuan is, there is really not much she can do. As the daughter of the Wei Family, she despised the people of Fengzhou and Wei Changying. If Liu Ruoye wanted to provoke her to harm them… But these people aren’t dumb though. How would they let her get close to them? If she had to deal with other people, Wei Changjuan would not be able to play much of a role. However, Liu Ruoye spent so many years of effort to befriend Wei Changjuan. Hence, there is something useful that she sees in her. But what is it?”

As she was thinking about it, the door of the chamber was pushed open suddenly. Crown Prince Shen Xun walked in. He dressed in a pair of red silk trousers, with the upper half of his body naked. An apricot-colored gown was draped over him. It seemed he had a little too much fun with his concubines in the main hall. Hence, his golden crown was tilted, and his handsome face flushed. There were also a few obvious rouge marks on his face.

Walking in with charm and lust, he looked at Ju Zhong and the other palace people playfully and casually as they looked back at him panicked. They froze for a moment before bowing down and greeting him in fear.

Seeing Liu Ruoyu rise reluctantly to greet him, Shen Xun eyed Ju Zhong who was standing a few steps away from her from head to toe. Snorting, he waved his hand to tell the palace people to excuse themselves. When they were the only ones left in the bedchamber, Shen Xun stroked his chin and looked at Liu Ruoyu playfully while saying, “I thought you called a servant in privately because I hadn't been here for some days, and you couldn't hold back your loneliness. Hence, you asked a servant to accompany you so you could be less lonely. Seems like something else was going on here?”