Yu Qingwu always felt that something was strange about this.

Normally, Gao Minyue rarely came to the front hall.

Even if Qiu Shiyi Niang came to visit the Crown Prince's residence, Steward Xun would never speak with her.

Therefore, someone must have deliberately led Gao Minyue to the front hall.

Gao Minyue had also vaguely realized this. She narrowed her eyes slightly and carefully recalled the events. As she remembered, the expression on her face changed rapidly.

After a long while, she finally looked up at Yu Qingwu, somewhat unwillingly and hesitantly saying, "When I was planting vegetables in my Chunfang Courtyard, I accidentally overheard two maids talking. They said..."

"Said what?" Yu Qingwu pressed.

Gao Minyue's expression was slightly awkward, avoiding Yu Qingwu's gaze before continuing, "They said that the number one talented woman in the capital had come to the Crown Prince's residence, and that shige (senior male apprentice/brother) had invited her. They said she was an unattainable fairy to shige, and that he was extremely happy that she had come to the residence this time, wanting to give her the best of everything. They also said… if she agreed to be shige's Crown Princess, there would be nothing left for you..."

"I was curious about what kind of fairy Qiu Shiyi Niang looked like, so I went to the front hall. Who knew… as soon as I entered, Qiu Shiyi Niang treated me like a servant. You know what happened after that."

So, Qiu Shiyi Niang had planted spies in the Crown Prince's residence?

Yu Qingwu didn't answer, her face gradually darkening.

After a moment, she raised her eyes to look at Gao Minyue, her tone cold and solemn, "A'Yue, I'm asking you, if you were to identify those two maids now, could you recognize them?"

"They were standing behind the tree at the time, I didn't see their faces."

"However, if they spoke again, I would definitely be able to recognize their voices."

Hearing Yu Qingwu's questioning, Gao Minyue also realized the seriousness of the matter.

Although she was foolish, she wasn't stupid.

The thought that someone dared to plant spies in the Crown Prince's residence was both surprising and infuriating. After speaking, she cursed in extreme annoyance, "That Qiu Shiyi Niang, her胆子 (dǎnzi - guts) is so big, she actually dares to plant spies in the Crown Prince's residence."

"I'm going to arrest those two damned maids right now!" Gao Minyue slammed the table and stood up, angrily heading out.

"A'Yue, no!"

Yu Qingwu grabbed her, looked around, lowered her voice as much as possible, and said, "A'Yue, remember, don't mention this matter to anyone."

Hearing this, Gao Minyue was stunned, somewhat unwilling and puzzled. Anger surged in her eyes as she resentfully asked Yu Qingwu, "Why? Is it because that Qiu Shiyi Niang is your relative? Are you protecting her?"

"If I wanted to protect her, I wouldn't have treated her that way just now." Yu Qingwu glared at Gao Minyue, seeing how incredibly foolish she was, she simply revealed the truth, "A'Yue, think about it, no matter how capable Qiu Shiyi Niang is, she's just a small di (嫡 - of the direct line) daughter of a marquis's family. Even if her father has some prestige in the court, the current Crown Prince isn't someone she can easily provoke. She dares to monitor the Crown Prince? What would be the consequences if she were discovered? She wouldn't have enough lives for that, and the entire Qiu family might be implicated!"

"Therefore, those two maids may indeed have some connection with her, but they may not necessarily be the ones she planted in the Crown Prince's residence."

"Then who is it?" Gao Minyue's brain was simple to begin with, and she became even more confused after hearing Yu Qingwu's words.

She frowned, her eyes filled with unwillingness and anger, and said, "But those two maids were clearly helping her!"

Yu Qingwu's eyes darkened. She gently beckoned Gao Minyue, signaling her to come closer.

"A'Yue, I'm asking you, in the entire Da Wei Dynasty, who has the most conflicting interests with your shige?"

"Who?"

"..." Yu Qingwu was speechless.

She glared at Gao Minyue, and said helplessly, "Naturally, it's the First Prince! Or... your shige's other brothers."

This time, Gao Minyue finally understood.

In an instant, the face that was still full of anger turned pale, and a trace of panic appeared in her eyes. She quickly covered her mouth, nodding like a chick pecking rice, and lowered her voice, "I... I understand. Don't worry, I will never say a word to others."

"Alright, go back and rest. I'm going to find Xie Jin'an."

Yu Qingwu breathed a sigh of relief. After speaking, she turned and walked towards the Zhuque Courtyard.

Gao Minyue stood in place, looking at the second shijie (senior female apprentice/sister) whom she used to bully to the point of being almost defenseless. A chill arose in her heart, and fear surged in her eyes.

No wonder, no wonder her shige told her not to provoke Yu Qingwu easily...

Gao Minyue took a deep look at Yu Qingwu's back and stepped out of the front hall in a daze.

On the other side, Yu Qingwu had arrived at Zhuque Courtyard.

At this time, the sky was gradually darkening.

The warm pavilion was lit with lights, and under the flickering candlelight, Xie Jin'an's handsome face was set off as hazy and alluring.

He was holding a roll of official documents. Compared to his usual dissolute manner, he looked serious and steady at this moment.

If Yu Qingwu hadn't seen Xie Jin'an's previous frivolous behavior, she would have almost thought that the man in front of her was a gentle, jade-like, and upright young master.

"Your Highness, what are you looking at?" She raised her foot and slowly sat down beside him.

Seeing Yu Qingwu sit down, Xie Jin'an didn't deliberately avoid her. Instead, he handed the official document to her, frowning and saying, "You were right about what you said some time ago. Thunder in winter, there will be disasters."

Yu Qingwu took the official document to look at it. They were all reports from various places about the snow disaster, saying that due to the heavy snowfall in the past few days, food in various places had been severely damaged. Nowadays, many places could not afford to eat, and the number of refugees was increasing day by day, and some were even burning, killing, and looting.

Seeing these, Yu Qingwu couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

She suddenly felt that it was not appropriate to be pulling Xie Jin'an into some internal struggles at this time.

However, she quickly calmed down, put the official document back, looked up at Xie Jin'an, and said, "Your Highness, I have something important to tell you."

"Mm, what is it? Is it about that Qiu Shiyi Niang?" Xie Jin'an rested his cheek on his hand, leaning on the desk. His eyes were a little tired, but his tone was very patient.

Yu Qingwu sighed softly, nodded, and shook her head, "It is, and it isn't."

"It's just that I asked A'Yue just now and found that Qiu Shiyi Niang seemed to have planted spies in the Crown Prince's residence. But no matter how I think about it, I feel that Qiu Shiyi Niang of the Qiu family shouldn't have such great courage. I don't know who is instructing her from behind. I originally intended to deal with those two maids directly, but after thinking about it, I felt that I should tell you. What do you think, how should this matter be handled?"