Chapter 32 - 3#

What if he saw Rong Jiu… what would he say to him?

Wait, he had said before that he wanted to be quiet. What if Rong Jiu didn’t come looking for him?

Should he go to the Miscellaneous Affairs Office to find Zheng Hong first?

Several thoughts swirled in Jingzhe’s mind, but his hands didn’t slow down. He poured himself a large glass of water and was gulping it down.

Behind him, Shi’en rushed in, pushing Gusheng, who was reciting a book outside the door, inside.

With a crash, even Huiping and Jingzhe, who were still in the room, were all locked inside.

Jingzhe almost choked: “What’s the hurry? Is there something else to do?”

In the morning, they had gone to clean the western palace, and by the time they returned, their backs were aching.

Logically, if something new had happened, he should have known.

Shi’en panted heavily and said, “Did you know? Yesterday afternoon, His Majesty killed someone in Shoukang Palace!”

“What!”

Gusheng’s voice flew out, and he quickly covered his mouth.

Emperor Jingyuan and the Empress Dowager did not have a good relationship.

This was a well-known fact in the harem, but no matter how bad it was, they would still put on a show.

Emperor Jingyuan had barely given the Empress Dowager the respect she deserved.

—Although not allowing the Empress Dowager to set foot in Cining Palace was the greatest humiliation.

But to kill someone in Shoukang Palace?

Even for the mad Emperor Jingyuan, this was too reckless.

Jingzhe asked cautiously, “Who was killed, and why?”

Fear remained on Shi’en’s face: “It was Consort Zhang.”

“Consort Zhang?” Huiping’s face also changed, “…How could it be, her surname is Zhang!”

Zhang was a major surname among the noble families.

Although not as prestigious as Wang, Cui, or Shen, it was still well-known.

If Emperor Jingyuan killed a concubine without reason, even if he was the emperor, he would be criticized by all the officials.

Shi’en smiled bitterly and said, “If I knew that much, I would have been dead by now.”

Jingzhe lowered his eyebrows: “Where did you hear this?”

Shi’en had a wide network of contacts and many friends. His news was indeed more informed than theirs. But news from different channels would be slightly different.

Shi’en: “From the people in the Imperial Kitchen. In the morning, no one from Consort Zhang’s palace came to collect their rations, and that’s how they found out something had happened.”

Jingzhe finished the rest of the water and instructed, “This matter will definitely cause a huge uproar. It seems to have nothing to do with us, but if we get involved, it could be a disaster. We must be careful with our words and actions, and not say anything we shouldn’t.”

What happened yesterday was only noticed by the various palaces this morning. The news must have been deliberately blocked by the higher-ups.

Shi’en and the others nodded repeatedly. This was also the reason why he had rushed to inform them.

Jingzhe looked at the sky outside. It was almost time to report to Jiang Jinming. He spoke with the others for a while and then hurried to Jiang Jinming’s place.

Today, Jiang Jinming’s face did not look good.

He said to Jingzhe with a grim face.

“Later, you will personally select a few people, choose a few cautious and quiet ones, and come with me.”

Jingzhe keenly realized that this must have a lot to do with what Shi’en had said.

He said nothing and immediately went out to select people. Besides Huiping, Shi’en and Gusheng were not among his choices.

Shi’en and Gusheng could naturally keep a secret, but Jiang Jinming had seen their usual temperament. At such a critical juncture, it was of course impossible to trust them.

Seeing that the people Jingzhe had selected were all calm and introverted people from the past, Jiang Jinming nodded.

Not long after, he led these six or seven people and left quietly.

Jingzhe kept his head down and followed Jiang Jinming, neither looking at either side nor asking about the destination. Only when he smelled the increasingly obvious smell of blood did he close his eyes.

Sure enough, it was here.

What Jiang Jinming had brought them to deal with was a particularly terrifying bloody hell.

This was Consort Zhang’s residence.

At the rank of consort, she could have two chief eunuchs, four chief palace maids, and countless second and third-class eunuchs and palace maids serving her.

But now, all that could be seen was a mess of blood everywhere.

The bodies were long gone, leaving only the bloodstains from the massacre. But even so, the bloodstains splattered on the palace walls all indicated the horror of yesterday.

Jiang Jinming’s voice deepened, his expression somewhat gloomy.

“Do what you have to do, don’t talk too much, don’t look too much. If something happens, don’t blame me for not reminding you!”

Jingzhe and the others agreed.

They cleaned up silently until dusk. When the sun set in the west, the entire palace was restored to its former appearance, as if the cruelty that followed like a shadow would also disappear after the blood faded.

On the way back, Jiang Jinming once again instructed them. He also gave each of them a reward and then let them go.

Only Jingzhe was left behind.

Jiang Jinming’s brows were furrowed with anxiety, and he said softly, “Jingzhe, these days, keep a close eye on the Zhidian Si. If there is anything wrong, remember to notify me in time.”

Jingzhe agreed.

Jiang Jinming sat in his chair, frowning and thinking about something. After a while, he sighed, “You don’t ask anything.”

Jingzhe: “Of course this subordinate is curious. But this curiosity is not worth my life.”

Jiang Jinming said gloomily, “If everyone was as clear and understanding as you, that would be great.”

After a while, he seemed to feel that it was not good to let Jingzhe be so confused, so he shook his head.

“Forget it, forget it, such a big matter, the people below will find out sooner or later.” He leaned back in his chair, “Consort Zhang is dead.”

Even hearing this sentence again, it was still filled with an indescribable fear.

Jingzhe: “Was it… an accident?”

“Why pretend to be confused when you understand.” Jiang Jinming smiled, “Did you clean all day for nothing?”

Jingzhe pinched his arm and smiled bitterly.

Jiang Jinming: “The incident happened in Shoukang Palace. She died on the same day, and even the people around Consort Zhang were silenced.” He gritted his teeth, “I heard that the Empress Dowager was very, very unhappy.”

Jingzhe was silent for a while. If it really happened in Shoukang Palace, then the Empress Dowager would be more than unhappy.

She would probably be mad with anger.

After all, the precedent of Chenghuan Palace was right before their eyes.

For Emperor Jingyuan to kill someone in Shoukang Palace was truly… to not put the Empress Dowager in his eyes.

“…But Your Majesty, hasn’t he always been uninterested in the harem?” Jingzhe held back, still a little puzzled.

Jiang Jinming also smiled bitterly: “Who knows.” This secret, probably only the people present at the time knew.

Jingzhe learned a lot from Jiang Jinming, but he was still a little confused after he went out.

However, this matter had no direct relationship with them. He pinched his sore arm and planned to wander to the Miscellaneous Affairs Office to find Zheng Hong.

Although there were many things to do today, he was still a little concerned about… Rong Jiu.

Not to mention he was an imperial guard.

Yesterday’s events… was he involved?

Who would have thought that Jingzhe had just left the door.

On the palace road, he ran into the swaggering Rong Jiu.

This scared Jingzhe, who had been mentally preparing himself all the way, to turn around and run.

…Wait?

Why was he running?

This was not right.

He barely stopped.

He had to greet him properly.

He had to discuss it properly, have a good talk.

After Jingzhe told himself this several times, he had just turned around when he bumped into Rong Jiu’s hard chest.

…How many times has it been?

How many times has this been!

Jingzhe covered his suffering nose and preemptively questioned: “Why do you walk without making a sound!”

Rong Jiu: “You walk too slowly.”

Jingzhe looked at Rong Jiu’s height, looked down at himself, then looked up at Rong Jiu’s head, and became angry from embarrassment!

“Being so tall is useless. You have to be as well-proportioned as me to be just right.”

Rong Jiu then imitated him, and according to Jingzhe’s words, carefully looked at Jingzhe from head to toe. He stared at him until his whole body was hairy and he wanted to slip away, then he slowly nodded.

“Indeed, it’s just right.”

When holding him, it was very comfortable.

It fit perfectly in his arms, every inch was very suitable.

Jingzhe understood what he meant in an instant, and couldn’t help but think of what happened on New Year’s Eve. His ears turned red and his face was hot.

If it were yesterday at that time, even if he had talked to Mingyu, Jingzhe would have definitely run away. But now he had something on his mind. He looked left and right, and after making sure no one was around, he pulled Rong Jiu into the shadows.

At this moment, it was dusk, and the scarlet sunset was devouring the dim sky, which would soon become dark.

Jingzhe: “Yesterday, did you follow His Majesty to Shoukang Palace?”

Rong Jiu covered his mouth and said, “Ah.”

That slightly cool voice carried a hint of carelessness.

“I should have gone.”

“If you went, you went. What do you mean you should have gone.” Jingzhe glared at Rong Jiu, his voice lowering again, “You, this matter, will you be okay?”

Rong Jiu’s voice was strange: “Why would I be in trouble?”

Jingzhe sighed, too lazy to waste words with him. He touched him all over and made sure everything was fine before he breathed a sigh of relief.

He glanced at Rong Jiu: “Two great Buddhas are fighting. People like you who serve by their side are the most likely to be affected.”

The people around Consort Zhang were the best example!

Rong Jiu seemed to have just noticed Jingzhe’s worry, and his attitude suddenly changed strangely, “Jingzhe.”

He said it as if it were a piece of fragrant candy, and with a gentle pinch, a soft sweetness would flow out.

Jingzhe’s heart skipped a beat strangely. It was a subtle, silky illusion.

But he already knew it was not an illusion.

Previously, when Jingzhe faced Rong Jiu, there had been countless signs, but each time they were ignored by Jingzhe.

It was a premonition of danger.

Rong Jiu was an extremely dangerous person.

He was different from everyone Jingzhe had ever known or seen before.

He should…

Trust his instincts more.

Jingzhe pursed his lips and looked down at his toes: “What?”

Rong Jiu approached him step by step, his light steps carrying an inexplicable pressure.

Jingzhe could feel it, but he stubbornly refused to retreat.

If Rong Jiu still wanted to make those various wrong statements from before, saying things like “I won’t apologize, I’m not wrong,” then he would definitely have to fight again…

“You’re afraid of me.” Rong Jiu said so, his cold voice seemed to carry a hint of a smile, “You also know that I am not a kind and weak person.”

He raised his hand and gently stroked Jingzhe’s side face.

Rong Jiu approached him, and that sharp, suffocating beauty also enveloped him.

That gentle feeling, itchy, made Jingzhe want to avoid it… the cool touch, that coldness returned again.

“The person you should be worried about is not me.”

Yes.

Compared to worrying about Rong Jiu, Jingzhe should feel sad for the blood splattered on the ground.

Those were living human lives.

Jingzhe murmured, “…But I don’t know them.”

The one I care about is you.

Then he heard Rong Jiu’s laughter.

A light, strange sigh.

“You always surprise me.”

Rong Jiu sometimes wanted to tear him apart.

Death was true possession, just like his mother, who was always trying to kill him in every possible way.

That was true control.

And this violence also filled Rong Jiu’s bones at all times. He suppressed his dangerous and crazy desires and pressed his lips to Jingzhe’s neck.

The vigorous vitality was beating, and he smelled a sweet fragrance.

It was like touching a fragile weed.

It stubbornly took root and grew in the corner of the wall. The rich green vitality was condensed on the branches and leaves, and not an inch was not perfect.

Pitiable, and lovely.

Extremely fragile, but very stubborn.

For the first time in his life, Rong Jiu had what was called…

Pity.

He felt sorry for Jingzhe.

Because he had encountered such a greedy and unrestrained monster.