Su Yunmo watched him leave, then turned to Ziyuan with a sigh. "Are you taking me out today just to celebrate for me? Or is it really about my money?"
Ziyuan smiled. "Nothing escapes Master's notice."
At first, it was purely for the celebration. But after returning that morning, she heard from Luoluo that Master had somehow acquired a lot of money. Children shouldn't be running around with so much money; it was safer to entrust it to adults.
The little dumpling rolled her eyes. All her subordinates were as cunning as monkeys.
"If you wanted to meet me, you should have picked one of the top establishments in the capital. Is a newly opened teahouse really worth my visit?"
Ye Yunshuang's voice drifted from across the wall. Su Yunmo hopped off her chair and pulled it closer to the transparent wall. Ziyuan followed suit, moving her table and pushing the pastries towards the little dumpling.
The little dumpling popped a pastry into her mouth, chewing as she watched the unfolding drama. Lin Yuning poured her a cup of tea. "Princess, please bear with us. Many of the major establishments in the capital have some connection to Su Yunmo. If our conversation today were to reach her ears, it wouldn't be good."
Ye Yunshuang's tone carried a hint of disdain. "You're right. No matter how capable that girl Su Yunmo is, she couldn't possibly extend her reach to such a newly opened, out-of-the-way teahouse."
The little dumpling smacked her lips and nodded silently. Ziyuan remained impassive, her gaze focused.
"Speak. The Princess of Southern Xinjiang will soon enter Prince Lian's estate, yet the Consort is not busy with preparations. What grand plan brings you to meet me here?"
A glint flashed in Lin Yuning's eyes. "Princess, if you want me to teach Su Yunmo a lesson to avenge your grievance from yesterday, that's not difficult. However, I also have a small favor to ask of you."
Ye Yunshuang scoffed. "You want me to help you deal with the Princess of Southern Xinjiang? She was betrothed to Prince Lian by His Imperial Brother himself yesterday in the grand hall. What can I possibly do?"
Lin Yuning continued, "I've heard that among the late Emperor's many imperial descendants, you have the best relationship with Prince Yunyi, aside from His Majesty. If Prince Yunyi were to speak up, this matter would surely be resolved."
What kind of relationship did Ye Ningyuan have with Ye Jingyu? Her support yesterday was purely because of that damned girl Su Yunmo! Now, even the Empress Dowager favored that girl, wanting to use her to curry favor with Prince Yunyi's estate. If she didn't make some plans now, would she have a good life in the future?
Ye Yunshuang said, "It's not impossible for me to help you, but you must first tell me how you plan to punish Su Yunmo."
Lin Yuning leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Su Yunmo only dares to be so lawless because of the General's estate. Now that Su Qingtian is away from the capital, if Zhou Wanyou also encounters some trouble, she'll lose her backing."
*Crack!*
The pastry in the little dumpling's hand was crushed. She narrowed her eyes, a dangerous curve forming on her lips.
Lin Yuning lowered her voice even further. "The most effective way to deal with a woman whose husband is away is to ruin her reputation."
Ye Yunshuang's eyes were filled with suspicion. "She is, after all, the General's wife, and her status is considered noble. Su Qingtian dotes on her. If you say she's involved with someone, not only others, but even I wouldn't believe it." If the General's estate's master and mistress were so easily estranged, her sister wouldn't have died back then.
"Simply accusing her is not enough. Today is New Year's Day, and all the estates are visiting each other. I've already sent an invitation to the General's estate. Zhou Wanyou is currently at Prince Lian's estate."
"The guests visiting the estate today are all relatives of high-ranking court officials. As long as someone sees something and it gets out, she won't be able to explain herself even if she had a thousand mouths."
The two women in the adjacent room let out simultaneous sinister laughs. Ziyuan frowned and bowed. "Master, when I returned to the estate today, Madam had already left in her carriage to attend the banquet."
Su Yunmo jumped down from her chair and started walking out. She stopped halfway and turned back, snapping her fingers.
*Snap!*
The teapot in the adjacent room shattered, and scalding tea splashed out. Two screams erupted from within. Su Yunmo left without a backward glance.
Xiao Zuo, having finished seeing off the guests, greeted her. "Master, are you leaving already? Won't you stay and play longer?"
"There's something," Su Yunmo waved her hand, and a chest appeared on the ground. "This is my token of appreciation. Wenxiang Pavilion will have many expenses in the future; take good care of it." She realized she really needed a place in the capital to keep an eye on various movements for her.
Xiao Zuo opened the chest and his eyes widened, sparkling at the sight of the chest full of gold and jewels. "Thank you, Master!"
Su Yunmo exited Wenxiang Pavilion. Ziyuan caught up. "Master, Prince Lian's estate is different from other places. It might be difficult for you to enter on your own."
"If I can't get in, someone else can," Su Yunmo got into the carriage. "Go to Prince Yu's estate."
A knowing look flashed in Ziyuan's eyes, and she quickly got into the carriage, heading towards Prince Yu's estate.
Prince Yu's estate had its gates tightly shut today. Su Yunmo knocked for a long time before the door finally opened. Qianxue looked at her with surprise. "Little Miss, why have you come?"
"I'm here to see Ye Jingyu about something. Today is New Year's Day; it's a day for visiting. Why are you keeping the doors closed?" Su Yunmo entered the estate and headed straight for the study.
Qianxue sighed helplessly. "You know our Master's temperament. He's not good at this kind of social visiting." Every year during festivals, many people came to give gifts, but Master refused to see them all. This year, Master had received the title of Prince, so more people would try to flatter him. Master couldn't handle it, so he simply had them close the gates and see no one.
"Being shy is an illness, and I'm here to help cure him," Su Yunmo kicked open the study door. Qianxue was startled. "Little Miss, you..."
*Bang!*
The door slammed shut, hitting Qianxue squarely on the nose. Qianxue clutched her nose, groaning for a while, her face full of resentment. Well, this one was even more troublesome.
Inside the study.
Ye Jingyu put down the book he was reading and looked up at her unhappily. "You're becoming more and more ill-mannered. Is my study a place you can just barge into?" He had taught her etiquette for several days not long ago; how could she have learned nothing?
"I don't have time for such formalities," Su Yunmo strode over, grabbed his wrist, and pulled him outwards. "Come with me, take me to Prince Lian's estate."
Ye Jingyu sat there, unmoving, letting her small hands grip his wrist and pull. "Little one, have you forgotten my instructions again?"
"This time is different. Lin Yuning is plotting against my mother. I can't rest easy if I don't go and see," the little dumpling glared.
Ye Jingyu pursed his lips and watched her for a while, then silently withdrew his hand and picked up his book again. "I'm not going."
Su Yunmo: "..."
"Hey, this is an emergency! I've come to you for help!" the little dumpling was furious.
Ye Jingyu calmly turned a page of his book. "The General's wife isn't that easy to scheme against. You should go play in the courtyard with peace of mind and not disturb me."
Su Yunmo rolled up her sleeves. "Are you going to help or not? If you don't help, I'll find someone else!"
Ye Jingyu didn't look up, completely indifferent. "Go ahead." If she could find anyone else, she wouldn't be here bothering him. The little dumpling puffed out her cheeks in anger. Fine, he was certain she had no other way to get into Prince Lian's estate.