(Many people, including Gao Yuanjing, who was mentioned the day before yesterday, are safe. Temporarily, there is no news of my classmate. I believe he will also be safe. Best wishes to those trapped in the disaster area. Originally, I didn't want to say much yesterday. But, seeing a NC in the book review section, I still had the urge to slap him. However, it was better to pay less attention to this kind of clown. Readers, live well and continue to live happily. I believe that sometimes, peace is also a kind of power.)
…
…
It was already late at night, and the royal study was completely silent. The Qing Emperor was diligent in government affairs, so he had less favor for the back palace. Tonight, he did not sleep in the back palace but slept directly in the royal study many times. Thus, the eunuchs had long prepared all the necessary tools.
A light breeze crept in through the window. It clearly could not blow in through the glass, but for some reason, it still made the light in the room dim.
"Yes, I heard that she stole a piece of Shuiqing Jade that the empress wore when she was young. After being interrogated for a while, she couldn't deny it and found an opportunity to commit suicide."
Eunuch Yao very simply and clearly told the Emperor the whole story he knew and did not add another word.
"Shuiqing Jade?" The Emperor furrowed his brows and seemed to be thinking about this item. After a moment, he smiled and said, "I remember. That was something the empress wore when she was young. I remember that father gave it to her family after he arranged the marriage. At that time, father seemed to have just ascended the throne not long ago. The Palace was very chaotic, and this item was not of high quality. But, when she was young, the empress liked it very much and always wore it."
He furrowed his brows and pulled himself out of this rare warm memory. Indifferently, he said, "I remember that it was a cloud pattern on it."
Eunuch Yao remained silent. He didn't know what the Emperor's mood was.
"Although the empress liked it, she would not go so far as to beat a serving girl to death over such a small thing." A cold smile rose to the corners of the Emperor's lips. "Isn't she known as the most benevolent mistress in the Palace? Virtuous and kind, she has always played the role well. How could she fail in such a small matter? "
Eunuch Yao had clearly said that the serving girl had committed suicide out of shame, but the Emperor had directly said to beat her to death. Each person in the Palace was smarter than the last. Everyone knew what the truth was that these names were used to hide.
"Investigate what is going on in secret." The Emperor picked up the memorial again and regained his composure.
…
…
The Royal Palace had long recovered its seemingly eternal peace. No one would have thought that Eunuch Yao was leading a few old eunuchs to investigate something in secret. However, the Emperor did not seem to pay too much attention to this matter and did not ask for follow-up news for several days.
Another night, Eunuch Yao respectfully reported, "There is no problem with the palace maid's death."
The Emperor nodded and said, "I know."
"However, on the afternoon before the incident, the serving girl went to Guangxin Palace to deliver a roll of embroidered cloth. The day before, the batch of foreign cloth the empress had requested from Dongyi arrived. As usual, it was delivered to the various palaces the next day. There was nothing strange," Eunuch Yao added.
The Emperor slowly withdrew his gaze from the memorial. He glanced at him and then lowered it again. "I understand."
"The Crown Prince was in Guangxin Palace at the time." Eunuch Yao's head was as low as it could get.
The Emperor gently placed the memorial on the table and seemed to be deep in thought. He didn't say the words "I understand." He directly ordered, "Have Hong Zhu come over."
…
…
Hong Zhu knelt in front of the Emperor's low couch. His face was ashen, and his legs were trembling. Even the cotton robe in front of him was shaking with layers of ripples.
He was not faking it. He was truly terrified. He had thought that the clue that Sir Fan junior had arranged was buried very deeply and seemed to have nothing to do with him. He should be able to get far away from this matter. He had not expected that he would be kneeling in front of the Emperor in the middle of the night.
The Emperor didn't look at him directly and asked, "A serving girl died in the Eastern Palace?"
"Yes." Hong Zhu didn't hesitate at all. In order to show his magnanimity and sincerity, he did his best to compress his lungs, doing his best to make this reply as crisp as possible. However, the airflow was too strong. It made his voice break slightly and sounded very hoarse.
The sound of his reply echoed in the royal study. It was somewhat ear-piercing and unpleasant to hear. The Emperor furrowed his brows imperceptibly and said, "Lower your voice. Tell me what happened at the time."
Hong Zhu obediently told him how the empress remembered that piece of jade, how she began to investigate the Palace, how she found the serving girl, who conducted the interrogation, and how the serving girl committed suicide.
The Emperor seemed to be listening carefully, but it also seemed like he didn't hear a single word. His gaze remained on the memorial. Casually, he asked, "When the serving girl hit the pillar, did you see it with your own eyes?"
"No." Hong Zhu didn't hesitate in his reply. In the depths of his heart, he cried out that he was lucky. If the empress hadn't asked him to stay behind for other matters, he would not have agreed so naturally.
The royal study sank into silence again. After a long time, the Emperor suddenly raised his head and looked at Hong Zhu with a not-quite-there smile. "Why are you so afraid today?"
Hong Zhu swallowed. His face naturally revealed an expression of fear and self-blame. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed as he said in a sorrowful voice, "I have failed your grace. I didn't report the news of the serving girl's suicide in time. I deserve to die."
The Emperor was startled. He smiled and scolded, "I told you to go to the Eastern Palace to serve the empress, not to be a secret agent. Of course, you didn't have to report such a small matter to me."
Hong Zhu nodded his head like he was pounding garlic, but he was thinking about something else in his heart. A year ago, he had been banished from the royal study to the Eastern Palace by the Emperor, who had always favored him. In the eyes of outsiders, it was because Fan Xian had said bad things about him in front of the Emperor. Only he knew that the Emperor was only using this as an excuse to have him go to the Eastern Palace to be a gold medal spy. Furthermore, during this year, he had done well as a spy.
He comforted his cowardice in his heart and forced himself to think that even the Emperor didn't know who he truly belonged to, so what if he trembled a little?
The Emperor had been about to open his mouth to ask something, but he suddenly furrowed his brows and closed his mouth. Changing the subject, he said, "During this year in the Eastern Palace, how has the empress treated you?"
"The empress treats her subordinates very generously. All the servants wholeheartedly accept her." Hong Zhu's words were very artistic.
The Emperor smiled and said to himself in a very low voice, "For the sake of a piece of jade, a serving girl died. Is this considered generosity?"
After Hong Zhu left, Eunuch Yao stood quietly by the Emperor's side, waiting for the Emperor's edict. The Emperor was silent for a long time. He then said, "Hong Zhu did not lie. It seems that there was indeed nothing wrong with the serving girl's death, only …" He smiled and said, "Only, there was nothing wrong with the process."
Eunuch Yao's mind shook. He understood the Emperor's meaning. Since the founding of Qing Kingdom, all kinds of strange deaths had happened in the Royal Palace countless times. No matter how shady a plot or blood it was, it could all be smeared with an open and honorable reason. However, often, when the reason was too sufficient and the process too natural, the death itself was worthy of suspicion.
"There are some things that I do not believe. Don't remember them," the Emperor said calmly.
Eunuch Yao knelt down.
"Have Eunuch Hong come."
In his hidden fear, Eunuch Yao did not hear the Emperor's words clearly. He unconsciously replied, "Eunuch Hong went out just now."
The Emperor furrowed his brows and showed some displeasure. Eunuch Yao immediately woke up. Holding the front of his robe, he ran out the door. As he crossed the threshold, he almost fell.
…
…
Ever since Fan Xian's 300 poems had caused a commotion at the banquet, which was also the first time an assassin had infiltrated the Royal Palace in nearly a decade, Eunuch Hong, who had stayed in the Royal Palace since the founding of the country, had become increasingly silent and low-key. He was only willing to bask in the sun outside Hanguang Palace every day.
No one in the Palace or court dared to underestimate him. On the contrary, because of his silence, they increasingly felt that this old eunuch was unfathomable. Even Hong Zhu, the popular person in the Palace, had his current position because of him.
Even the empress dowager and Emperor maintained a certain level of courtesy toward this old eunuch.
Today, the Emperor directly called him by his name and said, "Hong Siyang, what do you think?"
The last time the Qing Emperor had called this old eunuch this way, it was to ask his opinion of Fan Xian. At that time, old Eunuch Hong had replied that he thought Fan Xian was too fake.
Only when it was important and needed Eunuch Hong's opinion would the Emperor seriously call him by his name. In the eyes of a bystander, perhaps this was a form of disrespect, but the Emperor's intentions were exactly the opposite. He always thought that calling Eunuch Hong "eunuch" would make him think of his hidden illness. Directly calling him by his name was more appropriate.
Eunuch Hong's body swayed slightly. With a half-asleep and half-awake expression, he replied in a quiet voice, "Your Majesty, there are many things that don't depend on how you look. Even if you see it with your own eyes, it may not be true."
The Emperor nodded and said, "My personality has always been a bit suspicious. I know this is not good and that I might see wrongly, so please help me take a look."
Eunuch Hong bowed respectfully and didn't say much.
The Emperor was silent for a long time. He then said, "Chengqian has been in good spirits this half a year. Other than the daily teachings of the grand tutor, he often goes to Guangxin Palace to listen to Yunrui teach him the three strategies of governing a country. I am curious how his body recovered so quickly."
Although cracks had appeared in the royal family, at least on the surface, there were no problems. The Emperor knew very well that his sister had studied the art of politics, so he usually did not object to the Crown Prince and Eldest Princess being too close. He had even secretly expressed his approval. However …
"Sorry to trouble you." After the Emperor said this, he didn't look at Eunuch Hong again.
Eunuch Hong slowly bowed his body and retreated. He slowly closed the door to the royal study and walked a distance away. Turning his head back to look at the light inside, he sighed in his heart and said to himself, "Since you know you are being suspicious, then in the end, why say you are curious? Your Majesty, you should change your personality. The future of Qing Kingdom is all in your hands."
… …
A few days later, a royal doctor suddenly fell ill and died. A few days later, a noble from a distant imperial relative's manor accidentally fell off his horse on an outing. A few days later, a fire suddenly broke out in Jingdou's famous Huichun Hall. A dozen people died.
On the night of the fire, a wooden-faced Eunuch Hong once again appeared in front of the Emperor. In an old voice, he reported, "I investigated the Imperial Academy of Medicine, and the royal doctor died. I investigated the imperial relative's manor, and the noble also died. I investigated the Huichun Hall, and Huichun Hall burned down. "
Tonight, the Qing Emperor did not read through memorials. He listened carefully to Eunuch Hong's report. After hearing these words, a strange smile flashed across the corners of his lips.
"Someone wants to hide something. Regardless of whether it is in the Palace or in the capital, there are not many people who can be ahead of you in everything," the Emperor calmly said. "I have always liked her methods."
Eunuch Hong didn't say anything. The entire world knew about the Eldest Princess' methods. However, she had not had a chance to show them these years. If these methods were used to help the Emperor balance the court and point his sword at the world, of course, the Emperor would like it. If they were used to destroy traces and deceive the Emperor, of course, the Emperor would not like it!
Eunuch Hong took out a pill from his clothes and handed it over. "I only managed to get one pill."
The Emperor used his finger to gently play with it. With a little force, the pill completely shattered. A strange fragrance assailed his nostrils. His eyes were cold as he said, "It is indeed a good pill."
Eunuch Hong calmly said, "It could be framing."
"So … everything has to be seen with one's own eyes," the Emperor said. "Rest first. No matter what happens in the end, don't tell mother."
Eunuch Hong made a sound of acknowledgment and left. He knew that even with his status, there were still many things in the Palace that he could not see.
A light wind blew through the buildings in the Royal Palace. In a garden not far from Guangxin Palace, the yellow-robed Qing Emperor flashed out from behind a tree. He lowered his head slightly and felt that it was strange. Hong Siyang had clearly made such a big ruckus, why didn't she restrain herself?
However, this glimmer of doubt had long been shattered by the anger and sense of absurdity in his heart. The Emperor's eyes were filled with an emotion of failure, disappointment, and absent-mindedness.
The middle-aged man did not return to his bedroom. He continued to rest in the royal study.
That night, he thought for a long time. He then asked Eunuch Yao, who was serving beside him, a strange question, "Will Hong Zhu know something?"
Eunuch Yao shook his head nervously and tried to persuade him. He had to protect Hong Zhu's life under the Emperor's hidden rage. Only then could he do his best to ensure his own safety.
"I want to kill him …" The Emperor furrowed his brows. "I want to kill everyone in the Palace."
Then, he calmed down and ordered in an unusually cold tone, "Summon Director Chen into the Palace."
Eunuch Yao, who was sweating profusely in the winter, quickly left the Palace and headed straight for Chen Garden to find his savior. Not long after he left, a loud crash came from the royal study. It sounded like someone had pushed over the precious five-foot bottle.
No one knew what could make the Qing Emperor, whose expression would not change even if the mountains collapsed in front of him, do something so angry to vent his interest.
… …
"There won't be any problems with Huichun Hall, right?" In Chen Garden, the old cripple, who had been sitting in a wheelchair for a long time, said to his closest comrade beside him. "I don't want to make a mistake at the last moment."
The messy haired Fei Jie said, "What problems could there be? Although Hong Siyang has personally acted, every step in the Palace has been within your calculations. They won't be able to catch anything. "
"Very good." Chen Pingping closed his eyes and thought for a long time. The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes bloomed like chrysanthemums. He then opened his eyes and slowly said, "I am thinking of a question. Should I have Hong Zhu disappear?"
This was a very strange question. The Emperor had occasionally thought of this because, in his rage, he had unconsciously wanted to kill everyone who might have guessed at the scandal of the royal family. Furthermore, he had immediately reacted and did not make this decision. Then, why would Chen Pingping want to kill Hong Zhu?
Chen Pingping furrowed his brows and said, "No matter how I think about it, in this entire matter, only Hong Zhu, this thread, could be a problem."
Fei Jie shook his head. "Although we thought of a way to let Hong Zhu see this matter, it is clear that the Emperor did not find out through this little eunuch."
These two sentences explained a shocking truth. It also explained the great question that had been lingering in Fan Xian's mind but had nowhere to ask.
Although Hong Zhu was the head eunuch in the Eastern Palace, why was he so lucky? Or perhaps, why was his luck so bad to discover the secret affair between the Eldest Princess and the Crown Prince?
It turned out that even Hong Zhu was only the first pawn Chen Pingping used to make waves in the beginning.
"Precisely because of this, I feel that this little eunuch is difficult to see through," Chen Pingping furrowed his brows. Chen Pingping furrowed his brows and said, "He is clearly the Emperor's spy in the Eastern Palace. After knowing about this, why didn't he report to the Emperor? I had thought that it would take another two months before this matter could be stirred up. "
"Perhaps he knew that if this matter got out of his mouth, he would die without a doubt," Fei Jie said. "Someone who can climb up in the Palace is not stupid."
Chen Pingping suddenly smiled slightly and said, "I admire Hong Zhu for being able to endure it all this time. However, the Emperor finally knows. Very good."
Fei Jie also smiled. His smile was slightly sinister. "You have a good successor. I have a good student."
Chen Pingping nodded with a satisfied smile. "Up until now, I still haven't figured out how he arranged it. Just this point alone shows that he has improved a lot."
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