Chapter 45 - Puppets

Consort Yue wore a cold face, and said angrily, “I will pretend to be a dumb and deaf person in the future. No matter what these bitches say and do, I’ll choose to ignore it and just let them go! Are you satisfied?”

“If you really have that patience, I will be relieved!” Auntie Zhu sighed, “In short, you just keep calm temporarily. We are in a difficult situation. We can’t afford the results.”

When she said this, she looked depressed, not as aggressive as before. Even if Consort Yue was full of anger, she couldn’t help but ask tentatively, “Is there any changes in the Imperial Court?”

Auntie Zhu didn’t intend to elaborate for her, only said calmly, “You just stay in the palace peacefully, and don’t worry about other things.”

Consort Yue suddenly put a long face, and said angrily, “You always blame me for not caring about my family. But when I ask about my family, you just say that I don’t have to worry about that!”

When Auntie Zhu was just about to answer, a maid came in with a stern look, saying that Consort Xin, together with Gui Ren Yun, brought a large number of people, and had already arrived at the gate. They said they had an imperial decree, and would search the palace!

“What?!” Auntie Zhu’s face turned green, and Consort Yue shouted incredulously, “Search the palace! How dare Ji Lingzi!”

The maid said cautiously, “They… they said because last night Gui Ren Yun dreamed that Xin Qing’s soul came to our Ning Bi Hall, they thought there might be any clue.”

“And she believed this? For these years, Ji’s Family…” Consort Yue was interrupted by Auntie Zhu, whose eyes were gloomy, “Since they had the imperial decree, we should follow the order.”

Consort Yue glared at her, “No! We can’t let them search!”

“But Consort Xin brought a lot of people.” The maid reminded timidly, “Many people hold sticks…”

Auntie Zhu sneered, “Did you hear it clearly? If we obediently let them come in and search, it won’t be embarrassed. Even if they find out something, you are a concubine anyway and you can still defend yourself! If you stop them, then no matter what will happen next, Consort Xin will make a few people bear the blame at most, but we will suffer loss! It’s okay if we servants have to suffer punishment. But as a consort, are you sure you can bear it by then?”

Seeing that Consort Yue was silent, she sighed and said to the maid, “Send our people to follow Consort Xin’s people closely. Don’t give them any chances to frame us.”

After thinking about it, Auntie Zhu was worried and asked whether Yun Fenghuang had entered Ning Bi Hall recently.

The maid answered quickly, “No, she only walked a few steps further in the palace last time. Qing Die happened to meet her and gave her some rewards before she went away.”

“Gui Ren Yun has not been in the Imperial Harem for a long time, so she shouldn’t have the ability to mess things up in Ning Bi Hall.” Auntie Zhu groaned, “But we still have to be careful. Her Highness wouldn’t search the palace just for a so-called nightmare of Gui Ren Yun. Probably, they had prepared something.”

Not only did she think so, Consort Xin also thought the same. Therefore, she didn’t ask people to prepare in advance to frame them. However, her people searched for a long time but found nothing!

“What?” Consort Xin was drinking tea with her trusted attendants in the front hall. When she heard this, she frowned, glanced at Yun Fenghuang, and said to her maid softly, “Go ask her what’s going on?”

Yun Fenghuang didn’t know Empress Ji’s plan, either, but she thought of something and asked the maid, “We are making such a mess in Hu Zhu Palace. Will His Majesty and Queen Mother of Mercy come over?”

“His Majesty went to Yan Lan Palace to accompany Noble Consort Gui yesterday.” The maid had no idea why she asked that, and answered casually, “He might have no time to deal with this matter. As for Queen Mother of Mercy, I think Her Highness will send someone to inform her.”

Since the Empress agreed with this, even if they didn’t remind the Empress, she would surely find a way to stall Queen Mother Yuan.

The maid urged Yun Fenghuang, “If Gui Ren has known something, it’s better to say it earlier! In case the two have time to get here, then our efforts would be in vain.”

Yun Fenghuang pondered for a while, and asked in a low voice, “Is there anyone in Ning Bi Hall sending the message to the two just now?”

“They are stopped by our people.” The maid was a little impatient, “Gui Ren Yun, such a big deal…”

“Maybe it is because of Auntie Zhu.” Yun Fenghuang said, “She was sent by Queen Mother of Mercy… By the way, you can send someone to report this to Chun Yong Palace.”

The maid frowned slightly, “What?”

Yun Fenghuang didn’t explain, “Just tell your lady what I said.”

The maid gave her a suspicious look. Although she was a little unhappy, she still did as she said.

However, Consort Xin thought for a while after heard this, and she let the maid follow the order.

“My Lady, why?” The maid went out to send messages, and was still unable to understand. When she returned to Consort Xin, she asked quietly, “Although Fu Ren Yaoning said that if nothing was found in Ning Bi Hall, the evidence must have been destroyed. I still think it would be safe if we find something.”

Otherwise, Queen Mother of Mercy and Emperor Chunjia would defend Consort Yue, then Consort Yue would still be safe.

Consort Xin sighed and said, “Do you also think that the Empress’s movement is aimed at Consort Yue? I was wrong, too! No wonder that Her Highness thinks highly of Yun Fenghuang even if she just joined the Imperial Harem for a few days. She is really smart… Her Highness is doing this to test Queen Mother of Mercy’s attitude!”

The maid was surprised and repeated, “Queen Mother of Mercy?”

“If I am right, there will be another group of people waiting outside or even in Chun Yong Palace at this time, waiting for taking actions after Queen Mother of Mercy makes response to the distress signal from Hu Zhu Palace.” Consort Xin whispered, “So, it’s not important if we could find something in Hu Zhu Palace. We just have to make the mess big enough to disturb His Majesty and Queen Mother of Mercy… Of course, it is also fine if they keep silent this time. It also confirms something!”

Seeing that the maid still didn’t get what she said, Consort Xin waved her hand, but did not intend to explain further. She only enjoined, “Please invite Gui Ren Yun to come and talk with me. She is smart. Coupled with the appreciation of Her Highness, she must be prominent in the Imperial Harem in the future.”

Therefore, she could not treat her as a concubine who was a grade lower than herself.

For her background, Consort Xin was indeed not afraid of being troubled. But she did not have to pretend to be arrogant and be hostile to Yun Fenghuang, especially under the circumstance that she knew Yun Fenghuang would be prominent in the future.

After all, although Gui Ren Yun had framed Consort Yue several times, she had never framed Consort Xin so far.

Although the two sides had some bad feelings with each other at the moment, it was not profound. It would be better if they could smooth it now.

“His Majesty has no offspring, and fortunately, Noble Consort Gui is pregnant.” Consort Xin asked the maid to invite Yun Fenghuang to sit in the hall, and she took the initiative to speak, “Although what happened to Xin Qing had somehow gotten me involved, I am fine and have enough time and energy to make a thorough investigation! But Noble Consort Gui is pregnant, if we don’t settle it quickly, she would be always worried about it. However, my people are useless, and could find nothing now. If we stay here a little bit longer, I am afraid that the bitch Consort Yue will come over and question me in person… Since Xin Qing is your maid, and Her Highness also thinks highly of you, do you have any advice?”

“Consort Yue shares same grade with you, My Lady. You still have an imperial decree. Even if she comes over, she can do nothing.” Yun Fenghuang lowered her eyes and said, “Even if Queen Mother of Mercy comes, at most we come to Queen Mother of Honor together, begging her to deal with this matter.”

Consort Xin thought for a while and asked, “What if Queen Mother of Mercy doesn’t come here?”

“Doesn’t come here?” Yun Fenghuang was shocked and said, “Why not? Queen Mother of Mercy has always been at ease, and she likes Consort Yue very much. If His Majesty doesn’t accompany Noble Consort Gui, it is reasonable that he would come here. Since His Majesty has to take care of Noble Consort Gui at this time and couldn’t come here, if Queen Mother of Mercy does not come, either, wouldn’t Consort Yue be too pitiful? Queen Mother of Mercy is her legitimate aunt. Even if Consort Yue is aggressive, wouldn’t she come here to comfort her?”

“…” Consort Xin took a sip of tea and said, “Gui Ren Yun is right.”

Then they were silent. Unexpectedly, Consort Yue didn’t come over to question them. Maybe she was stopped by Auntie Zhu.

As time went by, both Emperor Chunjia and Queen Mother of Mercy didn’t come… Finally, it was almost time for lunch. Empress Ji sent a maid to inquire about the result, knowing that there was no evidence in Ning Bi Palace. She asked, “Have you searched the pond? Xin Qing was found in the lotus pond before. Besides.”

The maid glanced at Yun Fenghuang, “Gui Ren Yun was also pushed by someone into the water since she just joined the Imperial Harem.”

Consort Xin suddenly realized something and said quickly, “I ignored that! Everyone, drain all the ponds in Ning Bi Hall and check them thoroughly!”

Then, in the silt of one of the ponds, they found a pile of puppets covered with moss. After peeling the moss off, they saw that everybody’s name was written on the puppets, such as Empress Ji, Noble Consort Gui, Noble Consort Shu, Consort Xin, Fu Ren Yaoning, Zhao Yuan Ji, Jie Yu Jia, Jie Yu Lu… except Consort Yue!

Oh, there was a relatively new puppet, which had not been covered with moss, but only with a layer of greasy algae, and a name was written on it—“Yun Fenghuang”.

All the puppets were needle-punched and scorched, which showed the person’s resentment towards these concubines obviously.

Seeing this, Consort Xin was very happy, but also full of anger. She stood up immediately, ignored the other ponds that had not been drained, beckoned Yun Fenghuang, and took Consort Yue to Yan Fu Palace!

“All of you have wanted me to die for a long time!” Consort Yue was horrified after seeing these puppets, but she refused to admit it, and was forced to kneel on the red step of the palace. She shouted piteously, “It’s not strange for you to frame me in this way!”

Empress Ji was not angry, and said, “So, you didn’t do this?”

“Of course I didn’t!” Consort Yue denied decisively, “Although I am aggressive, I do know the rules. How could I do this crazy thing?!”

As she said that, she glanced at Consort Xin and Yun Fenghuang fiercely, “There must be someone framing me!”

In fact, Consort Yue doubted the Empress, but she knew that she could not defeat Consort Xin, not to mention the Empress. So, even though she wanted to kill both Empress Ji and Consort Xin emotionally, she still suppressed her emotion and aimed at Yun Fenghuang, “Consort Xin took a team to search my palace. Although she has a bad relationship with me, she is too proud to do such shameful thing. While Yun Fenghuang is different, and the bitch…”

Empress Ji interrupted her and said, “Gui Ren Yun just joined the Imperial Harem, but most of the puppets were covered with moss… How could Gui Ren Yun do this?”

“But she is Noble Consort Shu’s sister.” Consort Yue changed her mind and blurted out, “Maybe she was instructed by Noble Consort Shu! Noble Consort Shu has joined the Imperial Harem right after the marriage of His Majesty!”

“Do you doubt Noble Consort Shu?” Empress Ji almost burst into laughter. She happened to hope that there would be a conflict between Noble Consort Shu and Consort Yue. After hearing this, she was happy to send someone to invite Noble Consort Shu to confront, “Both Consort Yue and Noble Consort Shu are high-grade concubines in the Imperial Harem. I can’t neglect your innocence. No matter what you want to say, just say it. I will certainly deal with it impartially and will not disappoint either of you!”