Chapter 21 - 2#

And the one who did it was the one in the Palace of Longevity and Health.

She paid a lot and suffered a lot to collect evidence.

By the time Talented Lady Yao had finally collected the evidence and wanted to tell the late emperor, it was already too late.

The Cishou Empress Dowager died, and the late emperor was furious.

Talented Lady Yao couldn’t even see the late emperor’s face before she was demoted to the North Wing. Fortunately, at that time, she was very familiar with a young eunuch in the pharmacy, and it was through him that she was able to preserve the evidence.

This young eunuch was Chen An.

Chen An was originally from the Zhidian Division, then went to the Imperial Pharmacy, stayed for a few years, and was implicated in the death of the Cishou Empress Dowager. He was also transferred to another place, and later, he became a grand eunuch step by step.

The ups and downs in this were also very thrilling.

Chen An was a person of great loyalty and righteousness. At that time, Talented Lady Yao often had dealings with the Imperial Pharmacy because she served the Cishou Empress Dowager. Seeing that Chen An was pitiful, she helped him a few times.

Chen An always remembered this casual kindness.

Not only did he risk his life to preserve the evidence for Talented Lady Yao, but he also campaigned for Talented Lady Yao before the late emperor’s death, fighting for an opportunity to see the emperor.

When Jingzhe saw this, he was already dumbfounded.

When Chen An was still alive, he would go to see Chen An once a year. He didn’t dare to go too many times, for fear of causing him trouble.

But he had always been very grateful to Chen An.

The Chen An in Talented Lady Yao’s writing was just like the one Jingzhe knew, but his experience was even more dangerous.

But looking at the fact that Emperor Jingyuan has now ascended the throne, but King Rui has not been given a high position, their plan should have… succeeded, right? It was just that the late emperor was already weak at that time and was unable to deal with the sinner who was already the empress, but at least, he did not write a succession edict.

Without an edict, regardless of orthodoxy or seniority, the ninth prince at that time was far more qualified than the thirteenth prince.

Even if he was not prominent.

But Talented Lady Yao did such a thing. If the Empress Dowager knew the reason, how could she let him live.

…Even Chen An’s death might be related to this.

Chen An’s health had always been very good. How could he suddenly fall ill and die?

When Jingzhe thought of this, his brows furrowed even more.

Even if his parents did not allow him to take revenge, but being in the middle of it and knowing more and more, sometimes… how could Jingzhe be willing to watch his enemies live well?

Chen An took such a big risk because of Talented Lady Yao’s kindness a few times, and what kind of dealings did he and his father have to make him conceal Jingzhe’s identity, and even not have to go through the palace punishment?

Jingzhe couldn’t help but want to see the other things even more. He hurriedly checked and found that in addition to the letter, there was a small bag of things, and some scattered things that he couldn’t see the use of yet.

Jingzhe gave all those things back to Mingyu.

After thinking about it, it was easy to lose them if he carried them with him, and if he kept them himself… he was not in the North Wing for a long time, so it was safer to give them to Mingyu as before.

It was also because of Rong Jiu’s words and Talented Lady Yao’s letter that Jingzhe had been in a daze for the past few days.

…

On this day, Jingzhe, Gusheng, and a few others were getting tools in the Zhidian Division.

Gusheng looked around and found that Yunkui was gone again. He couldn’t help but complain a few words. What was wrong with this kid recently?

The number of times he ran out recently was more and more.

Even the higher-ups were talking about it.

A eunuch named Shien ran over in a hurry and said with a smile, “Yunkui asked me to take his place for half a day’s work.”

Huiping asked curiously, “How much did he give you?”

Shien grinned and made a gesture. Gusheng gasped and said jealously, “Why didn’t he come to us three? I can do his work for him.”

How could this money be given to outsiders?

Shien and Gusheng joked and played all the way. A few people went to the lotus pond together. Gusheng also specially observed Jingzhe and found that he had returned to his usual calmness and was no longer distracted, so he was relieved.

Day after day of work, especially this kind of rough work, can make people feel bored.

Since it was boring, it was easy to gossip.

Shien was a lively person, a bit like Changshou, but his personality was much better. He was whispering about the recent events in the palace.

They didn’t dare to talk loudly. If they were heard, it would be a fatal matter.

It was said that the noble consort had been going to the Qianming Palace for seven or eight days in a row, but every time, she could not see His Majesty’s face. But the noble consort didn’t care and still went.

Shien was sighing at the noble consort’s infatuation.

Gusheng poked Shien in the waist with his arm, “Are you crazy? You dare to say such things outside, don’t implicate us.”

Shien covered his mouth and looked around, relieved.

They were just eunuchs, what right did they have to comment on the palace concubines, especially the noble consort? It was fine if they were alone, but the lotus pond was a place where people could come at any time.

Fortunately, they always got up much earlier than others to sweep.

There was no one around now.

With this accident, the few of them did not speak for the rest of the time and quickened their pace in unison.

Jingzhe was bending down to work when his ears suddenly twitched.

He whispered, “Someone is coming.”

Gusheng’s face changed slightly. He pulled him to the side and whispered at an extremely fast speed.

“If you encounter a noble master who is up early while sweeping, you must not look directly at them. You must kneel on the side and wait for the noble masters to leave.”

These were the rules of the Zhidian Division, and they were also common in the palace.

But Gusheng knew that Jingzhe used to be in the North Wing and had done few of the rules outside, so he specially reminded him.

Jingzhe nodded, and the few of them knelt down one after another.

Before long, a group of people appeared at the corner.

The rustling sound was not heavy, and they were walking slowly, as if they were taking a walk. As they got closer, they could hear a few scattered conversations.

“…At this time… early…”

“Slow down.”

“The scenery here is not bad.”

“Noble Consort, this lotus pond is…”

Jingzhe’s hearing had always been very good. When he heard that it was the noble consort, he frowned slightly.

In fact, when he was with Huang Yijie, Jingzhe was not treated badly.

Huang Yijie was not the kind of person who would be harsh, but he also remembered that she was the Empress Dowager’s person.

The sound of footsteps got closer, and the few of them bowed their heads in salute.

The group of people was about to pass, but the leader, Huang Yijie, stopped and said with some surprise, “So it’s you.”

Jingzhe paused slightly. This person had stopped in front of him.

He couldn’t pretend he didn’t know, so he slowly raised his head.

Huang Yijie looked at Jingzhe’s appearance and then smiled, “That day, you said you were going back to the Zhidian Division. I was worried about you and sent someone to ask, but they said you were sick. Now that I see you, I am relieved.”

Even though she had become a noble consort, Huang Yijie still spoke in a gentle and soft voice.

Jingzhe: “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. This servant is much better.”

Huang Yijie: “That’s good.”

She didn’t say much more, as if she had just seen him on the road and asked a few questions. Then she was helped by a palace maid and walked slowly towards the front.

Huang Yijie was followed by four or five palace maids. The procession was grand, much larger than that of other concubines.

“Yushi, check again when you have time.”

After they had gone far, Huang Yijie instructed the palace maid beside her, “I want to know why the Empress Dowager cares so much about Jingzhe.”

“Yes.”

The palace maid replied.

Huang Yijie quite liked Jingzhe.

He was good-looking, worked quickly, and was clever.

If such a person became her subordinate, it should be very comfortable. It was a pity that at the beginning, she would think of Jingzhe because of the Empress Dowager.

Yushi: “Your Highness, are you still going to His Majesty’s place today?”

Huang Yijie said calmly, “I’m going.”

She didn’t care about the cold shoulder at the moment. It was to deal with the Empress Dowager.

Emperor Jingyuan’s appearance was indeed beyond Huang Yijie’s imagination. It was true that she liked him, but it was also true that she was using him to achieve her own goals.

The Empress Dowager had sent her to the capital from thousands of miles away, gave her the surname Huang, and made her a noble consort, not to send her to compete for favor.

Huang Yijie lowered her eyes. Her ten slender fingers were clasped together.

The Empress Dowager had sent her here to take someone’s life.

…

“You’re a good one, Jingzhe.”

Gusheng hung on Jingzhe’s back and was almost strangled to death by Jingzhe.

“I’ve been so good to you, but you lied to me!”

Jingzhe had Gusheng on his back and was pulling Shien, who was watching the fun, in front of him. He had no choice but to send a small look of help to Huiping.

Huiping stood on the side, smiled at Jingzhe, and said softly, “But I’m also curious, why didn’t you want to go?”

What happened in the Chuxiu Palace was influenced by the buff. Although it was very embarrassing for Jingzhe, if no one specifically mentioned it, they would subconsciously keep it a secret for Jingzhe.

So indeed, no one knew that Jingzhe didn’t miss the errand in the Zhongcui Palace because he was “sick”, but because he had actively refused Huang Yijie from the beginning.

Jingzhe smiled bitterly, “I’m a vulgar person. I’ve also thought about fighting for wealth and honor before, but what happened in the Chenghuan Palace really scared me.”

Gusheng choked and was dropped by Jingzhe.

“You’re being penny wise and pound foolish.” He pointed, “Who doesn’t want to climb up? Besides, aren’t we eunuchs more likely to die than those in the Chenghuan Palace?”

He also thought that Changshou was pitiful and acknowledged that life was unpredictable.

But, at least, those people were unlucky and encountered Emperor Jingyuan’s outburst, so they died. But these little eunuchs, perhaps because of a manager, might never have a chance to get ahead in their lives.

The lower the rank, the cheaper the life.

Jingzhe sighed lightly, knowing that Gusheng had a point.

Gusheng wanted to say more, but Shien pulled him and stopped him, “Let’s hurry up. If we delay any longer, we won’t be able to finish.”

Gusheng had to shut up.

On the way back, Jingzhe asked them to keep it a secret, saying that if others knew, it would definitely cause a lot of trouble.

Even Shien, who loved to gossip the most, patted his chest and promised.

Gusheng laughed, “This is good, Shien is here. Jingzhe, let me tell you, if the news leaks, it must be Shien’s big mouth.”

Shien punched Gusheng on the back of the head and cursed.

…

Jingzhe would still go back to the North Wing every day, taking the usual, more remote palace path. He was already familiar with it and could remember it by heart without the need for lights.

On this day, he walked forward unhurriedly, calculating in his heart that he should finish reading the rest of the things and think about it carefully. But then, he heard a strange, rustling sound of water.

He paused slightly, remembering what Wuyou had said before.

In the palace, in some dark corners, you might sometimes encounter ghosts.

But he was not very afraid.

After all, people were sometimes more frightening than ghosts.

Jingzhe didn’t want to stop, nor did he want to see if it was a person or a ghost, so he planned to continue walking. But that ghost… no, it should be a person, had already stopped, and was contentedly pulling another person out of the bushes, and they ran right into Jingzhe.

Jingzhe: “…”

Yunkui: “…”

Jingzhe subconsciously looked behind Yunkui. It seemed to be a palace maid. Yunkui’s movements were faster. He reflexively blocked the person behind him, using his tall body to hide her completely.

Jingzhe: “…I didn’t see anything, I’m leaving.”

He finally realized what the sound of water was.

It was kissing.

It was really terrible. How could he run into Yunkui and a palace maid having a secret affair? He probably knew now why Yunkui was always running out.

“Wait, you wait.”