FBC – Chapter 343 Schemes

Gu Hua had Dong Qing arrange a carriage for them. Yiyun took Yintao out of the mansion, heading straight for the bookshop.

Yintao whispered, “The princess sent the carriage to have the driver watch over us, right? What if we get exposed?”

Yiyun replied casually, “Don’t worry. The princess only knows it’s a bookshop. The clerk even personally delivered a book she wanted. She won’t suspect anything.”

Hearing this, Yintao relaxed and lifted the window to look outside.

They soon arrived at the bookshop. The clerk, seeing Yiyun, immediately led them to the inner room. Glancing at Yintao, he smiled and asked, “You must be Miss Yintao?”

Yintao’s eyes brightened. “You know me?”

The clerk chuckled, “Of course. You were sent into the princess’s mansion, the two young ladies.”

Yintao finally felt reassured—she hadn’t been forgotten by the empress. It was likely Yiyun’s background was better than hers, which is why the empress treated her differently.

“Ladies, please wait a moment. I’ll call the shopkeeper.”

Yintao hurriedly said to Yiyun, “I’ll go to the restroom.”

Before Yiyun could speak, she had already followed the clerk out.

Hearing footsteps, the clerk looked back.

Yintao quickly caught up and walked beside him, whispering, “I need to see the shopkeeper first. There’s something urgent I need to discuss.”

The clerk didn’t object and led Yintao to another room.

Upon seeing the shopkeeper, Yintao greeted him warmly, curtsying slightly, and said in a sweet voice, “Shopkeeper, my name is Yintao.”

The shopkeeper nodded faintly. “Miss Yintao, you’re too polite.”

Yintao pressed on earnestly, “To fulfill Her Majesty the Empress’s decree, I had no choice but to take this measure. Yiyun comes from a noble background; she can’t take action. So I must find a way myself, and I hope you can help.”

The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow, surprised that Yintao wanted to use Yiyun as leverage to take a shortcut.

“And how do you plan to do that?”

“First, please keep it from Yiyun. I want to go to the Juzhou Entertainment Bureau. I have some sisters I know there; I need to ask them for something.”

The shopkeeper frowned. “Juzhou Entertainment Bureau? If you go there, you’ll be discovered immediately, and someone will report it to the prefecture office. Juzhou’s bureau is different from others—the authorities watch very closely.”

Yintao was momentarily stunned.

Then she thought quickly and whispered, “Then help me find one thing. With it, I can win over Prince Yong. Then, I can obtain whatever information I need.”

“Oh? What do you want?”

Yintao stepped closer. The shopkeeper instinctively stepped back, but she grabbed his hand and wrote two characters in his palm.

His face twisted slightly, but he endured it until she finished. He quickly withdrew his hand and wiped it with a handkerchief.

Nonchalantly, he said, “Alright.”

Seeing his action, Yintao’s anger flared, but she had to plead with him. She forced herself to thank him and turned to leave.

The shopkeeper tossed the handkerchief into the wastebasket, looking disgusted.

The clerk snorted. “Born a courtesan, that’s the extent of her tricks. Does she really think climbing into bed will win over Prince Yong? If it were that easy, he’d be done for already.”

The shopkeeper sneered, “The empress is wise to favor Yiyun. If it weren’t to avoid Yiyun standing out too much, she would never choose another fool. If Yintao wants something, let her have it. If she ruins herself, that’s her problem.”

He told the clerk two words: “Inside, go.”

The clerk nodded and went.

The shopkeeper entered the room. Yiyun respectfully curtsied. “Your humble servant greets the shopkeeper.”

Yintao, feeling his disdain earlier, stood still, displeased.

Yiyun ignored her.

The shopkeeper politely said, “Please, have a seat.”

The two sat. Yiyun got straight to the point: “Shopkeeper, it’s very difficult for us to get out. The mansion watches closely. Is there any way to exchange information within the mansion?”

The princess had said that only by transmitting the information could they root out the spies in one fell swoop. Only by eliminating the threat could they truly survive after saving her father.

The shopkeeper nodded. “That’s possible. Has Prince Yong shown any recent movements?”

Yintao, noticing he was talking only to Yiyun, quickly interjected, “Prince Yong goes out early and returns late daily. After returning, he spends time with the children in the Fulutang Hall. After dinner, he returns to the main residence with the princess.”

Yiyun glanced at her. She had been secretly watching Mu Junyan and the others’ movements.

Yintao provocatively looked back at Yiyun. “We have to do something to live up to Her Majesty the Empress’s expectations, don’t you agree?”

Yiyun nodded. “Yes.”

Then she turned to the shopkeeper. “The princess seems more relaxed with me lately, but I still have to report each time I leave. I can’t always use getting books as an excuse.”

“Don’t worry, I understand.”

The shopkeeper handed Yiyun two books. “Go back quickly so you don’t arouse suspicion. I’ll arrange the location for exchanging tokens and will find a way to inform you.”

Yiyun stood and accepted the books, bowing slightly. “Then we’ll take our leave.”

Yintao panicked. “Shopkeeper!”

She hadn’t obtained the item yet and didn’t want Yiyun to know, but she probably couldn’t leave the mansion herself.

The shopkeeper ignored her, gestured politely, and followed Yiyun out.

Yintao was furious—if she didn’t get what she needed today, how could she win over Mu Junyan and show the empress her ability?

Back in the main hall, the clerk held a small vial and came out. The shopkeeper signaled him to give it to Yintao.

Finally, Yintao felt delighted, but she didn’t want Yiyun to see. Too late now, she had to take it, masking it with a smile. “Thank you, shopkeeper. This will help with my rash.”

The shopkeeper remained neutral, didn’t expose her, and smiled faintly, letting them leave.

Outside, the carriage waited under a tree. The driver was fast asleep.

Yintao whispered, “He’s sleeping so soundly—he wasn’t watching us after all.”

Yiyun nodded and went to wake the driver.

Back at the mansion, Yiyun said, “I’ll report to the princess.”

“I’ll come too.”

Yintao felt suspicious of Yiyun’s motives, determined not to let her benefit alone.

“Alright.”

Yiyun could do nothing but agree.

Gu Hua was playing with the children. Hearing they returned, she came out to the courtyard.

“Back?”

Yiyun stepped forward and bowed. “Yes, your servant got two more books. They’re borrowed, cost only two wen, and we can return them later.”

Yintao raised an eyebrow—she was quite the liar. Pretending to be noble with that deceitful face!

Gu Hua smiled warmly. “Buying books doesn’t cost much; no need to be so frugal.”

Yiyun replied softly, “The princess is too kind. I just wanted to pass the time. No need to keep them, to avoid wasting money.”

Gu Hua approved: “A practical girl. If you like reading miscellaneous books, there are plenty in the Wenhan Study in the front courtyard. Dong Mo can take you to choose.”

Yiyun’s eyes widened—she was allowed near Prince Junyan’s front courtyard? The Wenhan Study was the most strictly guarded. Books there could be borrowed, but only with the prince and princess’s permission.

She hurriedly bowed. “Thank you, Princess.”

Finally, Yintao spoke up: “Princess, I have little talent, but I can make a few kinds of Qinhuai pastries—beautiful and delicious. May I make some for you to try?”

Gu Hua’s eyes lit up. “Oh, you have that skill? Sure, let’s try.”

She gestured to Yun’er. “If you want, let her take you to the kitchen.”

Yintao was overjoyed. As long as she could make a few treats and have them eaten without suspicion, she’d have the opportunity to act.

Yiyun was anxious; she had no chance to tell the princess that Yintao might make a move.