Two Schemes, One Honey Trap

As flowers bloom on two branches, let us tell of each in turn.

While Xia Jingui and her servants were probing into the Side Consort's identity, Princess of Beijing Wei was also receiving reports from two dowager servants who had accompanied her in marriage, in the Qin Room of the rear courtyard.

"I heard that First Master Sun dealt in seafood for several years and made quite a fortune—perhaps because of that, Lord Sun has always enjoyed a clean reputation at Shuntian Prefecture, and he has never been stingy with money. Not only has he never accepted bribes, he often helps the lonely, widowed, impoverished, and weak."

"There have been a few people crying injustice over Lord Sun's judgments, but when asked what exactly was unfair, none of them could explain themselves. Clearly, they were simply making wild accusations..."

Wei sat kneeling before the Yaoqin, listening expressionlessly for quite some time. Seeing the two women ramble on without getting to the point, she suddenly flicked her wrist, making the Yaoqin ring out with a clash of metal-like notes.

The two servants immediately fell silent and lowered their heads in fear.

Wei slowly rose to her feet, took a few strides forward on her long legs, and stopped before them. "I gave you silver not for you to go through the motions, much less to sing Sun Erlang's praises!"

"Please calm your anger, Your Highness!"

The two servants' legs went weak, and they knelt trembling before Wei. Though this Princess Consort rarely punished those around her, her fierce reputation was known to all.

Especially lately, with Wei Ruolan's troubles, the Princess Consort had been restless and anxious. Who knew whether she might take her anger out on someone else?

Thus, as soon as they knelt, one of the servants hurriedly said,