Chapter 44 - Group attack

When coming out, Empress Ji was still wearing a light smile as usual.

After she allowed the concubines to stand up, she became serious, looked at Yun Fenghuang and said, “I just received news early in the morning. I heard that last night, there was a shocking commotion in Hu Zhu Palace. What was going on?”

Yun Fenghuang knew it was time for her to cooperate, so she quickly stepped forward to inform, “I had a nightmare and dreamed about Xin Qing last night!”

Many delicate concubines in the main palace exclaimed in a low voice, and some even leaned towards the people next to them…… Of course, high-grade concubines such as Empress Ji were still calm. Zhao Yuan Ji asked, “What did you dream about?”

“I dreamed that Xin Qing went back to Hu Zhu Palace.” Yun Fenghuang said, “Then she went to Ning Bi Hall. So, after I woke up, I sent someone to Ning Bi Hall to report. But the Mammy there just said I only dreamed about her because I always thought about her. It had nothing to do with Ning Bi Hall…”

“How could she say that it had nothing to do with Ning Bi Hall?” Zhao Yuan Ji frowned, interrupted her, and turned to the Empress, saying, “Sister, it’s quite inappropriate for Consort Yue to say so! Now in the Imperial Harem, everyone knows that Xin Qing was drowned in Yan Lan Palace, and her hairpin was found in Cheng Yue Palace. The Empress Dowager and Queen Mother of Honor both personally asked you to thoroughly investigate the matter. Although Consort Yue is still grounded and she was asked to come here for questions yesterday, she was still so indifferent when she heard this message! It’s obvious that she felt guilty!”

“Otherwise, she should have told you this immediately!”

At this time, it could be seen that Consort Yue was not popular in the Imperial Harem. There were many concubines in the main palace, but none of them spoke for her.

Some like Consort Xin, who was speechless with a gloomy face, could be considered so kind.

Others who wanted to frame Consort Yue were very positive. Taking the advantage that Noble Consort Gui was not present for her pregnancy, Noble Consort Shu was ranked the highest except the Empress, so she took the initiative to say, “Xin Qing had served Gui Ren Yun for a period. She died with a grievance. It’s not strange that she came to Gui Ren Yun in her dream. Since she entered Ning Bi Hall in the dream, would there be… any people or things related to her death in Ning Bi Hall?”

Fu Ren Yaoning immediately added, “Gui Ren Yun has always been smart, but acted recklessly this time! Last night, she sent the message to Ning Bi Hall. I am afraid that they have preparations for it. Even if there is any trace of evidence, could we find it?”

Fu Ren Yaoning seemed to blame Yun Fenghuang, but actually wanted to impute Xin Qing’s death, especially what happened in Yan Lan Palace and Cheng Yue Palace, to Consort Yue: so even if no evidence could be found in Ning Bi Hall, it was not strange. It had been several hours since Gui Ren Yun sent the message to Ning Bi Hall. Who knew what Consort Yue had done during the period?

After hearing this, Yun Fenghuang couldn’t help but glance at Fu Ren Yaoning. The girl’s father was a general. She was tall, with thin waist, long legs, and graceful figure. Maybe she often played martial arts with her father and brothers before joining the Imperial Harem. Her skin was not white and delicate. She wore a palace costume, which clearly reflected the outline of muscles of her upper arms and showed a sense of wild beauty.

If they fought, Yun Fenghuang was afraid she would lose… So, if there was a contradiction between them later, it would be better if she reasoned with her…

As she was silent, other concubines had chattered about Consort Yue for a while, and quickly reached a consensus that there must be something in Ning Bi Hall. So, they had to make an investigation, an instant investigation! If they could not find it, the evidence must have been destroyed by Consort Yue!

“In this case, I’ll send someone to do it immediately.” Empress Ji was very satisfied with the result. After looking around, she said, “But we have to pay respect to Queen Mother Ji…”

Noble Consort Shu said immediately, “Her Highness, Consort Yue is domineering. If there is no high-grade concubine there, I am afraid that the servants would not be allowed to search any place after going to Ning Bi Hall.”

Consort Xin immediately recommended herself, “Her Highness, I am willing to go!”

She was one of the most anxious people who wanted to find out the truth at this time. However, she was not doing this for clearing her name. After all, based on her identity and background, even if she really killed Xin Qing, nobody would take it seriously.

She just wanted to find the culprit who dared to put the crime on Cheng Yue Palace… Although she knew that Consort Yue was suspected by everyone at the moment just because they seized the opportunity to release their anger, this was the only chance for her to get closer to the truth right now. On the one hand, Consort Xin did not like Consort Yue, either; on the other hand, except Consort Yue, she couldn’t find any other suspect. So, she decided to investigate Hu Zhu Palace first. Maybe she could find a clue during the investigation.

Empress Ji glanced at Consort Xin and agreed, saying that she would ask for leave for her.

After thanking Empress Ji, Consort Xin said, “I have never been to Hu Zhu Palace, and the matter last night is related to Gui Ren Yun. Please, Her Highness, I’d like to take Gui Ren Yun with me.”

Empress Ji said, “Fine.”

Then she looked at Yun Fenghuang, and the latter agreed naturally.

Then Empress Ji took other concubines to Mian Fu Palace, while Consort Xin took the imperial decree and ordered a maid to gather more people with her from Cheng Yue Palace, for fear that Consort Yue might disobey the order.

During this period, she ignored Yun Fenghuang, as if she hadn’t asked the Empress to leave Yun Fenghuang to assist her.

Instead, a maid who dressed as a leading maid behind Consort Xin, came forward and whispered to Yun Fenghuang, “Gui Ren, do you have any idea what we may find later?”

“I don’t know.” Yun Fenghuang glanced at Consort Xin, thinking that both of them were the Emperor’s concubines. Even if Consort Xin’s position was higher, she should ask her personally, but just sent a maid… Did she look down upon her?

Even Empress Ji was not so arrogant.

She said lightly, “I just had a nightmare, and was worried about Consort Yue.”

Seeing that she was displeased, the maid lowered her voice and laughed, saying that Consort Xin was very angry for what happened yesterday, “Last night, when my lady returned from Yan Fu Palace, she was very angry, even released her anger on the gatekeepers. My Lady is always kind! Her roar yesterday hurt her throat. She just said a few words in front of Her Highness just now, but felt uncomfortable later. So, she could only send me here to ask Gui Ren… Please don’t take it to heart.”

Yun Fenghuang didn’t believe this. Possibly, Consort Xin was very arrogant and her maid made excuses for her.

But she also needed Consort Xin’s help to achieve her goal. Since the maid resolved the situation, she said, “I see! My Lady was wronged in this incident. The culprit was so cruel that not only did he kill my maid, but also disturbed Yan Lan Palace and Cheng Yue Palace. Her Highness, Noble Consort Shu and Consort Xin are so kind not to suspect me, otherwise, I do not know how to deal with it.”

The two talked a few words casually, then the maid spoke to the point and asked Yun Fenghuang’s opinion… After all, Yun Fenghuang was the one who caused the incident and showed her loyalty to the Empress. Today, since the Empress personally ordered to search Ning Bi Hall, Consort Xin and her maid did not believe that they had no preparation.

At this moment, Consort Xin just wanted to know the details so as to make a plan.

But Yun Fenghuang didn’t get the Empress’s instructions. She planned to discuss with the Empress in private after she reported the Empress later. Then she quickly thought about it and said, “In terms of Xin Qing’s death, I assume all ladies are acute and have known the truth. But… everything needs evidence.”

The maid thought for a while, and made a salute immediately, “Thank you, Gui Ren Yun.”

Then she left and went back to Consort Xin.

Consort Xin was drinking tea coldly, while the maid whispered beside her ears, and told her what Yun Fenghuang had just said.

“So, Her Highness had prepared something in Ning Bi Hall and waited for us to find out?” Consort Xin sneered slightly, “She is deliberate… But she has to ask my opinion before making use of me!”

The maid whispered, “Since My Lady is unwilling to be involved in, why do you take the initiative?”

“You don’t understand.” Consort Xin whispered, “If anyone is pregnant in the Imperial Harem, there will inevitably be a period of turbulence. Especially among the new concubines this year, there is an aggressive one… What’s more, the little son of the Prince Regent has just accepted the enlightenment education. The situation of the Imperial Court and the Imperial Harem force me not to stay in Cheng Yue Palace peacefully any longer. Instead of being passively involved in the game, it is better for me to take the initiative.”

Thinking for a while, she asked the maid, “Just tell them to be smart. If they find something, let them attribute it to Yun Fenghuang!”

The maid responded, but was stopped by Consort Xin before she was about to send messages to her companions, “Stop. Since Yun Fenghuang could let Consort Yue be grounded and protected herself from being punished, she must be smart enough to see through our tricks. We might not be able to frame her in this way.”

She let someone send a message to Yan Lan Palace, “Go and ask Noble Consort Gui if she wants to send people to Hu Zhu Palace. Since Noble Consort Gui also hates Consort Yue very much, I’m now offering her an opportunity and she should seize it.”

However, Noble Consort Gui was not a fool. If Yun Fenghuang had not been fooled, maybe she was also aware of the trick.

As for why Consort Xin delivered the message to Yan Lan Palace, “His majesty had gone to Yan Lan Palace and might not have left now. Noble Consort Gui should know what she should do.”

Anyway, Emperor Chunjia could not appear in Hu Zhu Palace.

Although Consort Xin didn’t really like Emperor Chunjia, she still couldn’t make the Emperor embarrassed in public.

This was a rare opportunity for her to humiliate Consort Yue. She absolutely had to make perfect preparation.

Consort Xin spent a while to make arrangements, and at that time, people of Cheng Yue Palace just came here. All of them were sturdy, even the maids were very strong, hard-featured and aggressive. Many of them still held sticks in their hands, seeming like they were not here to search, but to attack. Given Consort Xin’s respectable identity, although she had bad intention to Hu Zhu Palace, she still felt a little embarrassed after seeing this. She frowned and said, “It’s not appropriate.”

“My Lady, we are out of choice.” However, the leading eunuch had a good reason and said, “After all, everyone in the Imperial Harem now knows that the way to Hu Zhu Palace is not very smooth. The maid Xin Qing was somehow dead because of it! My Lady is noble, and since you have to go there, how could we relax our vigilance?”

The sticks they brought were all for protecting Consort Xin!

They didn’t intend to fight in Hu Zhu Palace!

But, if the sticks were still used in Hu Zhu Palace or the people in Hu Zhu Palace, then… that could be just a coincidence!

Anyway, they didn’t intend to fight in Hu Zhu Palace subjectively!

Consort Xin remained silent for a long while, and the thought to keep arrogance that she had developed since childhood and the idea of dealing with Consort Yue both fought repeatedly in her mind. Eventually, with the persuasion of the maids, she acquiesced…

Yun Fenghuang watched with cold eyes and secretly sighed. This showed that Consort Yue was very unpopular… Even Consort Xin, who was taught to be proud and virtuous, still disobeyed her will and made such a decision…

Anyway, Yuan’s Family of Fuyang was also a respectable family. Queen Mother Yuan in the previous generation was virtuous, like a normal girl of a noble family. How could Consort Yun turn into this?

At this moment, Yun Fenghuang couldn’t help but have the same doubts as Auntie Zhu…

At the same time, Auntie Zhu in Ning Bi Hall, who had not slept last night, was staring at Consort Yue, as if she was facing an enemy, “My Lady, have you understood what I just said?”