Empress Ji returned to Yan Fu Palace after the midday.
When Empress Ji was about to get out of her sedan after passing through the palace gate, the leading maid, left in the palace before, stepped forward to support her. The maid reported, “Your Highness, Mei Ren Yun has been here before midday, saying that Xin Qing, a maid, disappeared suddenly when they were on the way back from Mian Fu Palace. She said that she has searched Xin Qing nearby but found nobody. She dared not to go back Hu Zhu Palace, so, she came here for your decision.”
Empress Ji frowned, “Disappeared suddenly? What’s the matter?”
“Mei Ren Yun said that Xin Qing walked behind her and everything was okay on the way. When approaching Hu Zhu Palace, she wanted to order something to Xin Qing, so, she turned back but found nobody was there!” The leading maid continued, “I have sent someone to investigate, and it turns out that Rong Hua Wei and several maids indeed had seen Xin Qing
Emperor Chunjia stared at Yun Fenghuang for a while, and then smiled suddenly, “The Empress has really spoiled you. Shouldn’t you be grounded for a month? Why do you go around casually?”If he didn’t say that, Yun Fenghuang would almost forget that she was grounded.After all, when she went to Yan Fu Palace just now, Empress Ji did not mention it at all.If things happened as what she had discussed with Gongxiang Xiao, it was likely that even if she would stay at Hu Zhu Palace obediently a few days later, the Empress would not agree.“Your Majesty, you misunderstood me. I dare not to disobey Her Highness’s order.” Yun Fenghuang pretended to protect the Empress’ dignity, so, she changed her mind, “Here is the thing. Queen Mother of Mercy asked Nian Xuan to work for Chun Yong Palace, so, I had to let Xin Qing be with me. However, Xin Qing disappeared on the way to Hu Zhu Palace from Mian Fu Palace! I was so scared that I went to Yan
“... Aren’t you afraid?” On the way to Yan Fu Palace, Rong Hua Wei wanted to ask something a few times but failed. In the end, she couldn’t help but whisper to Yun Fenghuang, “I even dare not sleep tonight, for I may have nightmares after falling asleep.”Yun Fenghuang said calmly, “Xin Qing disappeared for a short time, so, she looks the same as she was before, except the livor mortis. If one is soaked in water for several days, it is really terrible to see.”Hearing this, the maid who led the way looked back. Rong Hua Wei even opened her eyes wider and said amazedly, “Have you seen it?”Yun Fenghuang said, “Of course.”“How could you see that?” Rong Hua Wei looked at her suspiciously, and there was even a hint of admiration in her eyes, “That kind of scene... Your family allowed you to see?”“You probably don’t know what a corpse looks like on hot days after being soaked for half a month?” Yun Fenghuang smiled slight
The trial at Yan Fu Palace that day ended without any results. Consort Xin was very unhappy when she left, and her skeptical eyes almost swept everyone. She came from a disinterested family. Affected by her family culture, she had acted inconspicuously since entering the Imperial Harem. She consciously disdained to fight with other concubines, but it didn’t mean that she was timid!The result, however, was not satisfactory. She led a peaceful life at Cheng Yue Palace by playing the qin (a seven-stringed plucked instrument in some ways similar to the zither) and making tea, but someone still framed her up!They thought she was a coward, didn’t they!Empress Ji noticed Consort Xin’s facial expression, comforting her perfunctorily, “I know you well...”“Because of languor, I often stay at Cheng Yue Palace and contact little with sisters in other palaces.” Consort Xin smiled unexpectedly and said indifferently, “You might not really kn
That day when Yun Fenghuang left Yan Fu Palace, she had been promoted to be a Gui Ren. As for the punishment of being grounded… it fizzled out certainly.Empress Ji didn’t think what she did was improper, because Queen Mother Ji ordered her to make a final decision. Now she indeed made the final decision, didn’t she?Empress Ji raised Yun Fenghuang’s rank this time by using the excuse that Xin Qing died distressingly, so, her master should be comforted.Whether others believed it or not, Empress Ji thought so.Of course, Yun Fenghuang had to pay something.“No matter what methods you would use and even you would pester him endlessly, I want to see the evidence that His Majesty did something secretly, especially something that could be discussed at the Imperial Court.” Empress Ji told Yun Fenghuang seriously, “If you can do that, I will let you be one of the noble consorts. At that time, whether you want to use your sur
In the rear hall, Consort Yue and Emperor Chunjia sat apart, playing Chinese chess on the table.Consort Yue was holding a chess piece, and her jade-like fingertips were more immaculate against the black piece. However, she wore an angry look on her face. After a while, she messed up the pieces, saying, “I don’t want to play anymore!”She dropped the black piece after she said that, stood up and walked to the round huanghuali-wood table inlaid with marble carved with a crane and a deer in the spring. Then she sat down at the round table and frowned slightly.Emperor Chunjia followed, held the square silver teapot with a mandarin duck-shaped top on the table, poured two cups of tea, pushed one to her and said, “Then we won’t play. Let’s talk.”Consort Yue bit her lip, and said, “Could Mammy Zhu convince that bitch?”“... It’s hard to say.” Emperor Chunjia pondered, “It’s mainly because we can’t figure out what she wants
When Nian Xuan was sent back to Xi Xing Building, although she had been diagnosed and bandaged, it was still difficult to hide her injuries.Xi Jing, who was just sent by Yun Fenghuang to take back the meal, was shocked, “What happened? Wasn’t she supposed to serve Queen Mother of Mercy? It is said that Queen Mother of Mercy is generous and merciful… Is it?”Yun Fenghuang ignored her, and enjoined her to take care of Nian Xuan these days, “She is asleep now because she took the sedative medicine. Maybe she would wake up at night. At that time, you can help her if she has anything in need... You two can share the same room.”Xi Jing said, “Gui Ren, such a big deal, don’t you tell Her Highness?”Somehow, she emphasized the words “such a big deal” like she was indicating something.“What a big deal?” Yun Fenghuang snorted softly, and said, “She is just a maid who is not even worth mentioning... Do you think Her Highness i
Nian Xuan was a servants’ child born in Xie’s Family, and was arranged as a fellow of Yun Fenghuang. At that time, there were several servants’ children. Nian Xuan was too stupid and ignorant to realize she was framed by others. Therefore, she was not prominent among them.As they grew up, Yun Fenghuang and Ms. Jiang observed their changes and chose four among them in succession as trusted attendants. Nian Xuan was one of them unexpectedly.After Xie Fenghuan’s affair, there was only one trusted attendant left—Nian Xuan. And when Yun Fenghuang set off from the north to Dijing City, she took Nian Xuan with her.It could be seen that Ms. Jiang and Yun Fenghuang trusted Nian Xuan very much... However, Ms. Jiang told Nian Xuan the above, while enjoined her daughter the following privately, “All members of Nian Xuan’s family work for me, and I decide their fates. They dare not make trouble. As for Nian Xuan, she has been naïve and simple since child
This evening, Emperor Chunjia wanted to stay in Ning Bi Palace to accompany Consort Yue. At most, he would be blamed by the Empress Dowager, Queen Mother Ji and Queen Mother Yuan. However, when he was coaxing Yuan Lianniang, Auntie Zhu, who had just persuaded Yun Fenghuang to go back, was astonished when she saw that scene in the back hall, “The palace gate is about to be locked. Why hasn’t My Majesty gone to Yan Lan Palace?”“... Lianniang feels a little uncomfortable.” The couple was shocked. Emperor Chunjia subconsciously wanted to defend Consort Yue, “I am worried about her.”“Don’t worry about her, My Majesty.” Auntie Zhu smiled, but there was a trace of murderous intention in her eyes. She said softly, “There are many of us who can take good care of Consort Yue. Anyway, if Consort Yue is really uncomfortable, you can’t stay here anymore. What if you are infected?”Emperor Chunjia said with a smile, “Auntie Zhu, please, just tonight. I wil