The Queen had a miscarriage and refused to see anyone, so naturally she was exempted from the request for greetings.
Ye Jun has been free these days.
Originally, he wanted to live a simple life behind closed doors, but as Nian Gao grew older, he became increasingly dissatisfied with the small courtyard of Yuxiu Pavilion and kept making a fuss about going out.
Having learned from the last lesson, I am not going to walk far this time. I will just walk around Yuxiu Pavilion.
No one will come to your door to cause trouble.
So I took the dog and started wandering around the area.
It just so happened that Zhou Cairen made some snacks and brought them to her, and the two of them went shopping together.
"I'm not afraid that my sister will laugh at me. The people in the palace have been in a panic these past two days. I'm timid and very scared. I have to see my sister to calm down."
"Do you think what you said is a reassurance?" Ye Jun said with a smile.
Zhou raised her eyebrows, "That's right, I have no future, I just want to rely on my sister to enjoy the shade."
Ye Jun glanced at her. Zhou was now living more and more like a child.
People who don't worry are indeed more relaxed and comfortable.
As the two were chatting, they met Hongdou who was beside Wang Xiuyuan. They saw that she was holding a few pieces of nice-colored fabrics in her hands, and thought they were gifts.
When you meet someone, greet them first.
"I pay my respects to Concubine Jieyu and Concubine Cairen." Hongdou bowed, "I didn't expect to meet you here. Xiuyuan asked me to bring these to Concubine Ming. They are all brightly colored materials. Xiuyuan doesn't like these, but she brought them here thinking Concubine Ming would like them."
Finally, he turned to Zhou and said, "The talented person also has some. It was sent by Xiangsi."
Wang Xiuyuan has always been prudent and thorough in doing things, without neglecting either side.
"Xiuyuan, thank you for your concern." Ye Jun smiled and asked Nanzhi to take it. After a pause, he lowered his voice and said, "For such a small matter, there is no need to ask Miss Hongdou to make a personal trip."
At this critical juncture, the concubines are moving around less. Wang Xiuyuan has always been cautious and would not send anyone if there was nothing important.
As expected, Hongdou looked around before walking closer and speaking in a low voice.
"We, Xiuyuan, have received news that someone from the secret chamber seems to have been active in the palace these past two days. They must be investigating something. Xiuyuan asked the servants to inform you two to be careful with your words and not let the emperor hear anything bad."
Only the Emperor can mobilize the secret cabinet, so it must be Ning Chen who sent people to investigate the case.
As for what to investigate, whether it was the cause of Yang's death or the reason for the Queen's miscarriage, it is unknown, but it is always right to be cautious.
"I understand. Miss, please reply to Xiuyuan. We will just pretend that we didn't notice anything. Don't be too deliberate. Everything should be as usual as long as we don't make any mistakes." Ye Jun whispered.
Hongdou nodded, "Xiuyuan means the same thing. Since the emperor has ordered people to investigate secretly, he certainly wouldn't want anyone to find out."
The word got through, and Ye Jun gave a reward as usual before sending the person away.
He was not in a hurry to go back, and he took a long walk outside with Zhou.
Just a few days ago, I said that I would ask Wang to plant spies by taking advantage of the palace affairs, and now it has really come in handy. It is really an unexpected success.
But unexpectedly, before hearing what the people in the Dark Pavilion had found out, Lin Xiurong suddenly revealed that Yang had died in vain and that someone had bribed the palace maid Xi Que to murder Yang.
This is like a stone that stirs up a thousand ripples.
The Queen had just had a miscarriage and was still in the period of confinement, so she could not appear in person. Therefore, the Queen Mother tried the case.
Ye Jun was completely speechless. When the emperor was away, the harem was in a mess.
Now I can see the advantages of having a low position.
Although she is favored, she has no say, so when she encounters such things, she can just listen and not get involved.
Unlike those in high positions, since the Queen cannot come, Concubine Shu and Concubine Wende will have to take on some responsibilities.
"Lin, you said someone bribed Xi Que to murder Yang, do you have any evidence?"
"Your Majesty, I will not accuse anyone without reason. This matter was discovered by the maid who cleans the house in my palace."
Lin Xiurong's eyes were red and her voice was a little weak, as if she was not feeling well.
Although she had always been in poor health, she had never been as strange as she was today.
"Yicui, a maid in my palace, has a fellow villager named Jinsui, who works in Jinglan Pavilion. After Yang died, there was no master to serve in Jinglan Pavilion, so only Jinsui and Xique were left to sweep the floor, and everyone else was dismissed."
"The magpie fell into the water and was seriously ill. It was only thanks to Jinsui's kindness and dedication in taking care of him that he survived. As a result, the two of them have a good relationship."
"One day, Jinsui accidentally discovered a purse made of fine cloth at the bottom of Xi Que's box. Inside was two silver ingots, weighing fifty taels."
"Jin Sui thought that it was impossible for a maidservant like Yang to save so much money, so she became suspicious. When she was chatting with Yi Cui in the palace, she told me about this matter. After a while, it reached my ears, and I became suspicious."
Lin Xiurong finished saying this, as if he had expended a great deal of effort, and his face became a little paler than before.
The Queen Mother frowned and immediately ordered people to go to Jinglan Pavilion to bring back the magpie and also search out the purse.
At first, Xi Que only said that it was the money left for her by Yang. At that time, Yang was afraid that she would have a difficult childbirth and die, so she asked Xi Que to take the money and leave the palace to make a living when she was old enough.
But this claim was soon denied.
Because according to Yang's position at that time, her monthly allowance was only twenty taels. This little money was not enough to reward servants, not to mention that there were other uses for it in daily life. It was impossible for her to leave fifty taels for a palace maid.
"Since she refuses to tell the truth, I will send her to the Ministry of Punishment for trial!" said the Queen Mother angrily.
Concubine Shu then threatened, "I advise you to confess the person behind this as soon as possible, so as to avoid physical pain. No one can bear the seventy-two punishments of the Ministry of Punishment."
Naturally, they hoped that the magpie would spit out something.
It would be better to admit that Yang was killed by the Queen.
The murder of a concubine is enough to make the queen suffer.
After being frightened like this, Xi Que finally confessed, saying that it was Concubine Zhao who instructed her to do so.
Such an accusation was really unexpected.
"Is it Concubine Zhao or someone else? You'd better think it over carefully before you speak. If there is any inaccuracy, you will be in trouble." Concubine Wende pressed.
Zhao was the Queen's person, so when she asked this question, no one could fail to understand her intention.
But Xi Que insisted that it was Concubine Zhao.
"Ever since Yang Wanrong moved to Jinglan Pavilion, Concubine Zhao often came to Jinglan Pavilion to chat with Wanrong. Du Juan, who was beside her, gave me some silver and told me to find a way to kill Yang Wanrong. In this way, Concubine Zhao could convince the queen to give the second prince to her to raise, and she could be promoted to the ninth concubine in one fell swoop."
"I was blinded by money and made a big mistake. I deserve to die, but it is true that I couldn't bear it and jumped into the lake to save people. Queen Mother, please spare my life for the sake of my turning back!"