Shen Yun Xuan's expression darkened. He looked at Hua Yun Jin and asked, "Does His Highness have any arrangements?"
"On the day His Majesty gives birth, certain individuals will surely make their move. This Prince believes..."
"Lian Xin, you say you saw Hua Wang go to Cha Fu Lou?" Li Yao Qin asked.
Lian Xin nodded, "The people I sent reported back to me."
"Good." Li Yao Qin nodded, stood up, and looked at Lian Xin, "Help me get ready."
Lian Xin was taken aback, "Eldest Miss, are you going out?"
Li Yao Qin nodded, "Naturally, I am."
Lian Xin didn't understand, but she didn't dare to pry. After Li Yao Qin had dressed and made up, she told Lian Xin to invite the daughters of the other ministers to Ming Yue Wine House.
Ming Yue Wine House was one of the most luxurious wine houses in the capital. Lian Xin didn't understand, "Eldest Miss, why are we going to Ming Yue Wine House for no reason?"
"Just do as I say. By the way, leave from the main courtyard. If you encounter anyone from Suo Xin, answer them truthfully."
Lian Xin nodded, "Yes, Eldest Miss."
When Lian Xin returned, Li Yao Qin was already growing impatient. She looked at Lian Xin and asked, "Did anyone from Suo Xin question you?"
Lian Xin nodded, "Everything happened exactly as Eldest Miss predicted. Rong'er came to ask me, and I told her as Eldest Miss instructed."
Li Yao Qin nodded, "That's good. Now, let's depart!"
As they reached the main courtyard, Li Yao Qin spotted Suo Xin. "Eldest Miss, where are you going?"
Li Yao Qin replied indifferently, "Out."
Without another word, she walked towards the manor gates.
"Rong'er, you go and follow the Eldest Miss," Suo Xin suddenly ordered.
Rong'er was stunned, "Aunt Xin, why should I follow the Eldest Miss?"
"I told you to follow, so why are you asking so many questions?" Suo Xin looked at Rong'er displeased.
Rong'er, frightened, quickly said, "I… I fear the Eldest Miss will discover me."
If the Eldest Miss found out, her fate would surely be dire.
"Then aren't you afraid of making me angry?" Suo Xin approached Rong'er and said word by word.
Rong'er trembled and instinctively took a step back, "Aunt… Aunt Xin…"
"Are you going or not?" Suo Xin asked with a cold smile.
Rong'er quickly replied, "I'll go, I'll go."
With that, Rong'er left the manor. Suo Xin let out a cold snort. Qing'er, standing beside her, couldn't help but ask, "Why didn't Auntie let me go?"
Suo Xin glanced at Qing'er and said, "I'm not willing to let someone loyal to me take such a risk."
After the carriage had traveled for a while, Lian Xin peeked through the carriage curtain and saw Rong'er stealthily following them. She couldn't help but ask, "Eldest Miss, are we just letting her follow?"
"What else? What should we do?" Li Yao Qin asked Lian Xin.
Lian Xin said indignantly, "Of course, we should call her over and reprimand her severely."
Li Yao Qin smiled, "And then what after the reprimand?"
Lian Xin was taken aback and looked at her, "Could Eldest Miss be doing this on purpose?"
Li Yao Qin tapped Lian Xin's forehead, "Finally, you've had a moment of cleverness."
Lian Xin scratched her head, "Eldest Miss, I don't understand what you mean."
"Then just watch," Li Yao Qin said faintly, without further explanation.
Lian Xin nodded as if she understood, and sat back in the carriage, no longer paying attention to Rong'er outside.
Since Eldest Miss had said so, what else did she need to worry about?
The carriage stopped at the entrance of Ming Yue Building. Lian Xin alighted first, followed by Li Yao Qin. Lin Shu Fang, the daughter of the Minister of Rites, who was waiting outside, approached with her maid.
"Sister Shu Fang, it's been a long time!" Li Yao Qin walked forward and said warmly.
Lin Shu Fang nodded and smiled, "It has indeed been a long time. When Cui Hu told me you were hosting, I was afraid I had misheard."
Being invited by Li Yao Qin, the daughter of the Minister of Personnel, made her feel somewhat delighted.
Who was Li Yao Qin? The talented and beautiful woman renowned throughout the capital.
Although she had entered the palace before and some unpleasant things had happened, the scholars in the capital's appraisal of Li Yao Qin had not changed.
Not to mention that Li Yao Qin's father was the head minister, and being invited by Li Yao Qin was also an honor.
"Sister Shu Fang, what are you saying? I've always wanted to chat with Sister Shu Fang, but I've never had the chance. Now that I do, I must have Sister Shu Fang accompany me for a few drinks."
Lin Shu Fang generously said, "Alright, Sister will accompany you today with all her might."
Upon entering Ming Yue Building and arriving at the pre-booked private room, Li Yao Qin and Lin Shu Fang ate and chatted.
Outside the door, Cui Hu and Lian Xin were also talking in hushed tones.
A moment later, another noble lady arrived. As she approached the private room, Cui Hu said, "Greetings, Miss Sun."
Sun Yi Yi asked, "Where are Sister Shu Fang and Sister Yao Qin?"
Cui Hu opened the door and called inside, "Eldest Miss, Miss Li, Miss Sun has arrived."
The door opened, and Lin Shu Fang and Li Yao Qin had already stood up to greet Sun Yi Yi at the entrance.
Sun Yi Yi smiled, "You two sisters are not being fair, drinking secretly behind my back."
Lin Shu Fang said, "We waited for you for a long time, Sister, but you didn't come. So Sister Yao Qin and I started eating first."
Sun Yi Yi covered her mouth and chuckled, "I was just teasing you two sisters. Did you really think I meant it?"
"Quick, sit down," Lin Shu Fang said, pulling Sun Yi Yi along. Sun Yi Yi looked somewhat hesitant, "I came out with my mother…"
"Madam Sun is also here? Quickly invite Madam Sun up, don't let her wait outside!" Li Yao Qin said.
Sun Yi Yi said shyly, "How can I? I'll just chat."
"Listen to Sister Yao Qin. How can we let Madam Sun wait outside? Quickly invite Madam Sun in!" Lin Shu Fang said.
Sun Yi Yi hesitated for a moment. At this point, Li Yao Qin suggested, "Madam Sun is an elder. As juniors, we should go down to welcome Madam Sun up."
Lin Shu Fang nodded, "Sister Yao Qin is right. Yi Yi, let's go down together."
Sun Yi Yi originally said it wasn't necessary, but unable to resist the persuasion of Lin Shu Fang and Li Yao Qin, they went downstairs together.
Li Yao Qin was the first to reach the entrance and said, "Madam Sun, I apologize. We invited Sister Yi Yi to talk and made you wait outside. Please come in with us."
Madam Sun smiled and said, "It's alright. You girls haven't seen each other in a long time and have many things to say. What would I, the disruptor, do?"
Lin Shu Fang stepped forward and took Madam Sun's arm, smiling, "Madam Sun, what are you saying? It's just the girls' private talk. Madam Sun can pretend she didn't hear it, can't she?"
With that, Lin Shu Fang and Li Yao Qin, one on each side, helped Madam Sun up to the second floor.
Madam Sun, unable to refuse the kind invitation, could only sit behind the screen, drinking tea and listening to the cheerful laughter from the front. She couldn't help but recall the past, when she and her close friends had been so happy.