Chapter 31 - 1#

At the beginning of the new year, Jingzhe was a little listless. Going to work every day was like going to a funeral. Huiping and the others were a little worried. After some thought, the brothers sent the most talkative Shi’en to inquire. If he had really encountered some trouble, they could help.

They couldn’t just let Jingzhe help them all the time without doing anything in return.

Unfortunately, he returned in defeat.

Shi’en shrugged: “He just said he was in a bad mood, and wouldn’t say anything else.”

And besides the occasional oddity, Jingzhe seemed to be his usual self. When he brought it up, Jingzhe even laughed and patted his shoulder, putting his arm around him and talking for a while.

It was only when he came back that he realized he had been fooled again.

Jingzhe could really be a big trickster sometimes!

Gusheng rubbed his chin, “Is it something that’s hard to talk about?”

Immediately after, Huiping seemed to remember something and subconsciously wanted to speak, but held back and didn’t say it.

He remembered on the first day of the new year, he heard Jingzhe come back in a half-asleep state. It seemed to be early in the morning… Jingzhe must have been out all night.

Originally, this was against the rules.

But on New Year’s Eve, many people stayed up late, and the imperial palace was no exception. At this time, ordinary rules, as long as they weren’t too harsh, would be overlooked.

On New Year’s Eve, Jingzhe should have been meeting a friend.

Did they have a fight?

Huiping had all sorts of guesses in his mind, but on the surface he said: “Jingzhe just doesn’t want to talk about it, it’s not a big deal. As for you guys, have you finished the homework Jingzhe assigned?”

At the thought of this, Shi’en and Gusheng looked embarrassed, their faces pale.

During the New Year, not only had the higher-ups relaxed a bit, but they had also been very lax with themselves. Let alone homework, they had even forgotten to read and practice calligraphy. Hearing Huiping mention it, they immediately ran away in shame.

Huiping shook his head with a smile and saw Huli waiting outside the door. He was slightly stunned, not knowing why Huli was here, and went up to him.

Huli was thin and small, but very clever. He pulled Huiping to a secluded place, looked around, and whispered in Huiping’s ear for a while.

Huiping’s expression became serious, and he nodded at Huli.

At this time, Jingzhe, who was being worried about by his friends, was following Jiang Jinming to visit the Chief Eunuch.

This Chief Eunuch had been in this position for more than ten years. If nothing unexpected happened, he would continue to do so until he was no longer of a suitable age.

The supervisors under him had a fairly good relationship with him, at least on the surface. After all, the entire Zhidian Jian was not a prestigious or profitable place.

Since they couldn’t climb to that position, their way of life was not to have conflicts with their immediate superiors.

Jingzhe stayed outside the house with the other young eunuchs brought by the other supervisors, chatting.

And guarding the door.

This was not the first time he had been brought to a meeting by Jiang Jinming. He was already familiar with the young eunuchs brought by the other supervisors, at least he could talk to them. It was not abrupt to listen to their gossip.

However, he was often the one listening, and rarely spoke.

This group of them was much better off than those who just buried their heads in work.

Working with the supervisors, they sometimes ran errands everywhere, saw more, and knew more.

Jingzhe heard the young eunuch from the Miscellaneous Affairs Department say: “When my supervisor first came, he was… in charge of discipline… during the palace-wide investigation earlier, many people died…”

After a period of adjustment, the Miscellaneous Affairs Department had a new supervisor, and the number of staff had returned to the quota.

“I heard it was all ordered by the one in Shoukang Palace.”

“…A few concubines were in the imperial garden… something happened, they fell…”

“…Bleeding… injured…”

Jingzhe’s mind wandered for a while. He only listened carefully again when he heard a few ear-catching words.

The one who had just spoken was still the young eunuch from the Miscellaneous Affairs Department, named Liao Jiang. He looked quite cute when he smiled.

Liao Jiang said that he was following his supervisor to do some errands. When they passed the imperial garden, he happened to hear some commotion. But at that time, his supervisor urged him to leave quickly and not to stop, so he didn’t see what happened. Later, when he inquired, he found out that there had been an accident in the imperial garden at that time, and several palace concubines had been injured, falling and bleeding from their heads.

Another supervisor’s attendant eunuch couldn’t help but find it strange after hearing this: “Why haven’t I heard about this?”

Liao Jiang: “This happened in the morning.”

Someone else sighed: “It’s a good thing Supervisor Jiang was quick-witted. If he had stayed and seen something he shouldn’t have, it would have been real trouble.”

Liao Jiang was young. The reason the new Supervisor Jiang had taken a liking to him was none other than his name, which happened to coincide with his. Supervisor Jiang was rather superstitious and thought it was a good omen, so he brought Liao Jiang to his side.

In reality, Liao Jiang was still a greenhorn.

Fortunately, he was quite smart and had a decent appearance after some quick training. Only in some details would his immaturity be revealed.

Liao Jiang smiled: “Supervisor Jiang is really nice. On the way back, he also taught me.”

The things they talked about were not to be spoken of outside. After all, some were sensitive. If they said something they shouldn’t have and it was leaked, it would be troublesome. But the few people present were all by the supervisors’ side, so they spoke more freely.

Jingzhe listened to a lot of gossip. On the way back, he followed behind Jiang Jinming and heard him ask:

“Are you not feeling well?”

Jiang Jinming’s tone was very gentle, but Jingzhe’s expression became serious. He said respectfully, “It’s just that this servant hasn’t been sleeping well these past few days, which has worried the supervisor.”

Jiang Jinming smiled and looked at Jingzhe, “No need to be so serious, just talking.”

Jingzhe: “If there have been any omissions these past few days…”

Before he could finish, he saw Jiang Jinming wave his hand and sigh.

Jingzhe paused slightly and stopped talking.

Jiang Jinming: “You have a good relationship with Yunkui, which is one of the reasons I chose you. However, you are literate and can write, which is also your skill. I have observed your cautious words and deeds these past two months. Hmph, if that boy Yunkui had a fraction of your caution, that would be good.”

Jingzhe did a good job, and he was not afraid to show some gentle attitude.

Jingzhe just smiled.

Jiang Jinming was a good supervisor. Jingzhe didn’t find it difficult to work under him. He was also very lenient with Jingzhe because of Yunkui.

However, don’t look at the disdainful tone he used every time he mentioned Yunkui. If Yunkui had done only a tenth of what Jingzhe did, in Jiang Jinming’s eyes, it would be a thousand times good.

Their relationship with Jiang Jinming was completely different, and Jingzhe would never confuse this relationship.

He was cautious for safety.

Jiang Jinming liked this caution.

Just now, when the supervisors in the room finished talking and stopped to drink tea, the commotion outside faintly drifted in.

Jiang Jinming observed for a while. Among the chattering young eunuchs outside, only Jingzhe was the one who was always listening.

This was good. People who talked too much were prone to not living long.

Jiang Jinming: “Today, the Chief Eunuch said that in a few days, the palaces in the west will be cleaned up. At that time, remember to arrange for manpower.”

Jingzhe took note of this. On the way, Jiang Jinming gave him many more instructions. By the time they returned to the Zhidian Si, it was already afternoon.

After he finished the trivial matters at hand, he was free.

At this moment, the system’s voice sounded strangely.

[Task Seven Completed]

Jingzhe was stunned. Task Seven?

He had long forgotten about Bi Xintian. Not to mention whether he had the ability to complete it, even if he did, Jingzhe had no intention of doing so.

“Task completed, does that mean Bi Xintian was kidnapped?” Jingzhe’s expression was strange. “He was taken away, and that counts as my task completed?”

He hadn’t lifted a finger.

[Since the system can bind to the wrong host, why can’t it judge a task as completed?]

Jingzhe: “…”

You have the nerve.

You even dare to draw inferences.

This was a good thing for Jingzhe. He didn’t have to think about the trouble of punishment anymore. But this also meant that Bi Xintian had escaped, such a scourge…

Jingzhe really couldn’t be happy.

He would rather he died on the execution ground.

“When was Bi Xintian kidnapped, and who kidnapped him, can you find out?”

Jingzhe asked. This system was unreliable, but sometimes it could have a flash of inspiration.

[The person who kidnapped him is called Meng Zhongtong. He was taken away two months ago.]

The system actually responded.

It seems that every time it completes a task, the energy it obtains is constantly increasing.

Jingzhe couldn’t think of any high-ranking official or prince named Meng Zhongtong, but two months ago…

“He was taken away two months ago, why is it only considered completed now?”

[The jailbreak was to keep people safe. Being taken away doesn’t mean being safe. Bi Xintian’s current whereabouts are judged to be safe, so the task is completed.]

Jingzhe: “A trap.”

This task was full of traps.

Well, the task was completed. Jingzhe couldn’t jump out and kill the person. At least for Jingzhe personally, it was a good thing.

At the same time the task was completed, the system could also use that energy to do something. Otherwise, the system would not have been able to answer Jingzhe’s question just now.

Although Task Seven was not completed under his will, it made Jingzhe rethink Task Six.

These days, Jingzhe had secretly heard a lot about Zhongcui Palace.

Some of it didn’t even require much reaction to know.

After all, the Noble Consort of Zhongcui Palace was a celebrity in this harem.

There were also many people staring at them.

Recently, the Noble Consort and Consort De have been at odds frequently. This tension was known even in the North Quarters, let alone Shoukang Palace. But strangely, the Empress Dowager did not express her opinion on this matter.

Both the Noble Consort and Consort De were considered relatives of the Empress Dowager. Was it difficult to manage the palm and the back of the hand?

There were many speculations, and outsiders didn’t know. But besides this matter, Zhongcui Palace had lost its favor. The emperor had not set foot in Zhongcui Palace since before the new year.

This sounded like an insignificant matter, but immediately after, the entire harem was also in it. Emperor Jingyuan was very ascetic and had not gone to the harem again.

So many palace concubines, he had never seen him particularly care for any of them.

Oh, there were, but either they were almost scared crazy like Concubine Xu, or they died like Talented Lady Liu…

When Jingzhe thought of Emperor Jingyuan, he couldn’t help but think of Rong Jiu’s “don’t care about being cuckolded.” This sentence sounded so awkward no matter how he heard it. Could it be that Emperor Jingyuan was really impotent…?

Jingzhe was very cautious. When he thought of Rong Jiu, he tried not to let his expression change. He very restrainedly hid his emotions.

He patted his face, he had to think about serious business!

Zhongcui Palace sent people to the imperial kitchen twice a day. The person who usually went was the head eunuch Niu Bao. The head palace maid Yushi was brought into the palace by the Noble Consort from outside and was the most favored. No matter when she went in or out, the Noble Consort would always bring her.

And she was precisely the one Mingyu had mentioned in the imperial kitchen, the one who would make all the living creatures in the imperial kitchen afraid.

Jingzhe had also seen Yushi from a distance, at the lotus pond at the beginning. Although it was just a glance, Jingzhe didn’t feel anything was wrong.

Was it because animals were more sensitive than humans?

Assuming Yushi really had a problem, then as her master, and Huang Yijie, who had been named by the system several times, the problem must be bigger.

In addition, she had visited Emperor Jingyuan many times. Even if she was rejected by Qianming Palace, she never stopped.

If we speculate from this, the emperor should be her target.

“Not in the sense of man and woman… but aimed at…”

Jingzhe murmured, could it be that the Empress Dowager wanted Emperor Jingyuan’s life?

How could a weak woman like Huang Yijie assassinate the emperor in the heavily guarded Qianming Palace?

If overt force was not possible, then… Jingzhe suddenly remembered the poison Rong Jiu had mentioned.

Rong Jiu was poisoned when he was young. When Jingzhe was a child, he heard his father tell stories. Those powerful heroes were defeated because villains poisoned their swords. If it was like this…

Let alone a weak woman, even a child could do it.

Jingzhe patted his forehead and sorted out his thoughts again.

First, Huang Yijie is from the Huang family. After entering the palace, she became the Noble Consort at the Empress Dowager’s behest. At the same time, the system issued a task to prevent her from entering the palace, which means that Huang YJie’s entry into the palace is detrimental to King Rui.

Then, under the powerlessness of this wrong host, Jingzhe, Huang Yijie still entered the palace and became the Noble Consort. The system issued a second task, which was to prevent Huang Yijie from achieving her goal. This not only confirmed that she entered the palace with a mission, but also meant that the Empress Dowager had not given up her idea.

After entering the palace, for several months, Huang Yijie frequently went to Qianming Palace. The number of times was not many compared to other palace concubines, but it was not few either.

Coupled with Jingzhe’s previous speculations, she might be trying to poison him…

No!

Jingzhe suddenly realized, if it was just to poison someone, why did the Empress Dowager insist on Huang Yijie entering the palace? Was she good at using poison? Or… some more secretive method than using poison?

In any case, Huang Yijie’s target should be Emperor Jingyuan.

To complete the task, one must start from this point.

At the thought of this, Jingzhe’s face wrinkled.

That was Qianming Palace!

Jingzhe’s only contact with Qianming Palace was Rong Jiu.

…Rong Jiu.

Jingzhe fell silent.

Since New Year’s Eve, until now, there had been several fifths of the month, and Jingzhe had not gone once.