During the day, the weather was sunny, and the servants in the palace said that the flowers in the imperial garden were in full bloom. So Shen Qingwan asked Zhao Yuanrong to go for a walk and enjoy the flowers.
"Your Majesty, look at the flowers, they are blooming so beautifully." Xiao Man said happily. Upon hearing this, Shen Qingwan just curled the corners of her mouth slightly and said nothing.
Zhao Yuanrong had been with her for a long time and was well aware of her indifferent personality, so he found a pavilion and sat down.
"Although the flowers in this imperial garden are beautiful, they are not as charming as my sister's." Zhao Yuanrong looked into her eyes with a faint smile on his face.
Shen Qingwan glanced at the blooming flowers with a lack of interest, then slowly spoke.
"Sister, have you been in contact with Concubine Liu recently?" Her eyes seemed to contain a pool of autumn water, but she had an indifferent temperament, but there was not the slightest sense of incongruity.
When mentioning Liu Churong, Zhao Yuanrong couldn't help but frowned.
She was arrogant and domineering on weekdays, and no one in the palace must like her.
After pondering for a moment, Zhao Yuanrong stared into her eyes and spoke slowly, "He was still showing off a few days ago, but I don't know what happened recently, and he has been silent."
If someone who used to be arrogant could suddenly change his temper and settle down, Shen Qingwan would not believe it. Even though Liu Churong was now behaving himself, she always felt that this was unusual and there was something evil about it.
"Is there any difference in her behavior?" They are from the same camp, so it's reassuring to say these words to their own people.
"I've been paying attention to it. I've just been a little more well-behaved than usual and haven't done anything to draw attention." Zhao Yuanrong told him everything he knew.
Hearing this, Shen Qingwan's gaze gradually became complicated, and a gleam of light flashed in her eyes.
Liu Churong's abnormal behavior during this period may not be accidental. If no one had told her to teach her, she would not have been able to do it.
Could it be that he was instructed by someone? Then what did that person want to do through Liu Churong? What was his purpose
This series of problems gave Shen Qingwan a headache. She didn't even sit in the Imperial Garden for a while before letting Xiaoman help her back.
"You keep a close eye on Concubine Liu, and inform me if anything unusual happens." Xiao Man still felt at ease with her, after all, she was her close maid.
Xiao Man was not lazy either, and went to other palaces to inquire about the matter unintentionally that day.
She was not in a hurry and gradually led to the main topic. After the two of them got warm and friendly, the palace maid Xiaolu also let down her guard.
"The Imperial Concubine has become much more easy to talk to recently. We palace maids are a little uncomfortable with her." Xiaolu said, still a little unbelieving. After all, the Imperial Concubine was not like this before.
Xiao Man pricked up her ears to listen, but pretended not to care, and asked casually, "Did the Imperial Concubine come into contact with someone and change her personality?"
Under her guidance, Xiaolu suddenly became interested. He looked around mysteriously and came closer to her after making sure there was no one around.
"I seem to have overheard the Imperial Concubine say that Prime Minister Liu and the Ninth Prince have been very close recently."
"Ah?" Xiao Man pretended to be surprised, "Ninth Prince?"
Xiaolu nodded firmly, "Recently, the Ninth Prince's people have often come to the Imperial Concubine's place, but I'm not there to serve her every time."
Xiaoman kept these words in mind, with a slight smile on her lips.
I could hear Xiaolu's panicked voice again, "Don't tell anyone, or the Imperial Concubine will skin me alive!"
"Yeah." Xiaoman nodded, but she had different thoughts in her mind.
Shen Qingwan was sipping tea in the room, her expression calm and she had an otherworldly temperament.
"Empress! Empress!" Xiao Man came running towards them from outside the palace, shouting. She looked carefree and didn't care at all about the strange looks from people around her.
Shen Qingwan unconsciously revealed a smile on her face. She just liked her straightforward personality.
Xiaoman ran all the way in, already panting, panting with her tongue hanging out, unable to speak. Her appearance made Shen Qingwan unable to help laughing.
"Xiaoman, don't be anxious, come and sit down and have a drink of water." Shen Qingwan waved to her, asking her to come over, and then poured her a cup of freshly brewed tea.
Xiao Man did not bother to savor the taste of the tea, she just tilted her head back and drank it in one gulp. Shen Qingwan continued to pour more for her, but she continued to drink regardless. Only when she had finished the whole pot of water did she scratch her head embarrassedly.
Seeing that she had finally calmed down, Shen Qingwan smiled slightly and asked, "What news did you get?"
"I heard that Prime Minister Liu and the Ninth Prince have been very close recently, and they have met privately many times." Xiao Man spoke mysteriously, as if she was talking about some huge secret.
"Is this news true?"
"Of course it's true!" Xiao Man assured, patting her chest.
Shen Qingwan frowned slightly. With Liu Churongrong's temperament as a spoiled young lady, she was fearless and dared to provoke anyone. But to say that ordinary things could make her behave herself, Shen Qingwan felt that it was simply impossible. And now that she has become like this, there must be some unspeakable secrets.
It seems that there is only one possibility, that is, all of this was arranged by Fu Huaiyu, and who knows what kind of plan he has. Shen Qingwan was secretly alert.
After thinking for a long time, he decided to tell Fu Yuheng about this.
"Are you sure this matter has something to do with him?" He slammed the table, then stood up, with a hint of anger brewing in his eyes, as if he had heard something unacceptable.
It is true. No matter who it is, if they hear someone say that the person beside them has other intentions towards them, they will probably not be able to accept it, let alone him who is so high and mighty.
"It cannot be confirmed yet, but it's basically the same." He lowered his eyes, his expression was a little complicated. It seemed that the man's hands were reaching further and further, and now he even reached the harem.
"Don't publicize this matter for now. The most important thing right now is not to alert the enemy." Fu Yuheng was silent for a while, and a slight curve gradually appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"I understand." Shen Qingwan raised her head and glanced at him. How could she not understand these principles? "But... Your Majesty, please be more careful." There was concern in her words.
Hearing this, he clenched his fists imperceptibly, and there was indeed a little more smile in his heart. Her concern was really rare.
"You go back first, I will handle this now." The tiredness in her expression was obviously due to her lack of rest in the past few days. If he kept her any longer, it would seem that he was being too harsh.
"Yes." Shen Qingwan was indeed tired, but these things had to be resolved before she could rest.