Chapter 202 The Queen's Suspicion

"What did you say? She asked you to give her a maid's outfit?"

Late at night, Ling'er came to Yongshou Palace again.

This time, Zhen Huan hadn't fallen asleep yet, so she called Ling'er in directly.

However, after hearing what Ling'er said, Zhen Huan pondered for a while, and soon, she seemed to have figured out the problem.

Now, Rou Da Ying has been asked by the emperor not to leave the Chuxiu Palace. This is something that everyone in the harem knows. So if she wants to do something at the flower viewing banquet, she must hide it from others. The best way for her is to appear at the banquet disguised as a palace maid.

"I understand. It's late now. You should go back quickly. Don't let Rou Yingchu get suspicious these next two days. I promise that I will set you free after this is over."

"Thank you, Empress Xifei, thank you, Empress Xifei."

Ling'er knelt down and kowtowed in gratitude. She was just a little servant. It was a great honor for her to find a good master. Now she was lucky enough to have the protection of Concubine Xi.

"Go back."

Looking at Ling'er leaving, Zhen Huan's eyes were full of complicated expressions.

This palace looks magnificent, and everyone outside the walls hopes to be able to walk in one day, but only those who are inside know how cruel and ruthless it is.

"My lady, it's late, let's go to bed."

Liu Zhu walked in and gently reminded Zhen Huan.

"I understand, Liu Zhu, please go out first. I want to be alone and quiet for a while."

"yes."

Thinking that everything would be over in a few days, Zhen Huan didn't feel too nervous. Instead, she felt more relieved for some reason.

In the past few years, she has been on edge every day in the palace, not daring to relax for a moment. Sometimes she thinks that such days are really meaningless.

…

The flower viewing banquet was finally scheduled for three days later. For Zhen Huan and Nian Shilan, this date was just right. They had been worried that Doctor Wen would be rushed in developing the antidote, but now with these extra days, they could make the final confirmation of the developed antidote.

As for the Queen, since she had no idea of ​​Jianqiu's secret arrangements, she always thought that this was just an ordinary harem banquet, and she didn't even put as much effort into it as she did in the previous Mid-Autumn family banquets.

If she could have foreseen what would happen three days later, I believe she would have deeply regretted her carelessness today.

However, she had no idea what was about to happen, and she still ordered people to keep a close watch on the Fourth Prince every day as usual.

On this day, after leaving the study, the Fourth Prince was invited to Jingren Palace by the palace servants waiting at the door as he did every day before.

When the Fourth Prince arrived, the Queen was writing attentively at the desk. As she finished her last stroke, a big word "忍" (forbearance) appeared on the paper.

"Empress, the Fourth Prince is here." Jianqiu walked into the room.

"Let him in."

Yixiu put down the pen in her hand, straightened her sleeves slightly, and walked to a chair nearby and sat down.

"Greetings to the Empress Dowager."

"Get up."

"I heard from your master that the emperor has been praising your studies these days."

The Fourth Prince bowed and said, "Replying to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor has indeed praised me a few times, but I also know that it is all because of the Empress Dowager's constant encouragement behind me every day. This is why I have been able to catch the Emperor's eye."

The Fourth Prince had been in contact with the Queen for quite some time, so he naturally knew very well what she wanted to hear him say.

"You are a sensible and good child. It is best that you think this way. You must remember that the Empress Dowager is so strict with you now because of your future. Once the matter is accomplished, you will understand the Empress Dowager's painstaking efforts."

The Queen tried her best to brainwash the Fourth Prince, but she seemed to still think that he was as gullible as before.

"I naturally understand your Majesty's intentions. Please rest assured, I will not let you down."

The Fourth Prince lowered his head as a gesture of greeting, hiding the sarcastic smile on the corner of his mouth.

"I heard from the palace servants that you've been very close to Concubine Xi and the others these days? You should know that there's some rift between me and Concubine Xi and the others, so why are you still doing this?"

The Queen's gaze fell on the Fourth Prince, staring at him intently, as if trying to see something from his expression.

Finally asked.

The Fourth Prince silently said this in his heart, but did not show it on his face.

"In reply to your Majesty, I do go to the Yikun Palace frequently, but I have reasons for doing so."

The Fourth Prince explained calmly, without any sign of panic after being discovered by the Queen.

"I know that Concubine Xi has always been favored by the Emperor, and I also know that I am not valued by the Emperor. However, I think that if I can visit Yongshou Palace more often, I will naturally become friends with Concubine Xi over time, and this will also help me gain some favor with the Emperor. I have met the Emperor several times in Yongshou Palace. When the Emperor saw how I treated Lingxi and Hongzhou, he would praise me for my brotherly love and respect."

The Queen seemed to believe what the Fourth Prince said. As the Emperor's wife, she naturally understood his temperament.

After the current emperor experienced the struggle for the throne, his blood relatives are almost gone. In the eyes of the world, he attaches great importance to brotherly love and respect.

"You are quite clever. Then continue to behave well in front of your Royal Father. Do not disappoint me. Also, you must remember that you are raised under my name. Concubine Xi and Concubine Hua will definitely not treat you sincerely. You must be more careful."

The Queen's words sounded as if she cared about the Fourth Prince, but only the Fourth Prince himself knew that this was just a warning to himself, reminding himself to always remember his duty.

"Please rest assured, Madam. I will always remember your careful cultivation of me and will never let you down."

"Just be aware of this. It's getting late, and it's almost time for dinner. Please stay here and have dinner with me today."

"yes."

The Fourth Prince only felt relieved at this moment. Fortunately, he had already thought about how he would answer if the Queen asked about this matter. He didn't expect that it would really happen today.

When he returned to his residence, the Fourth Prince called Xiao Linzi, who had always been by his side, and gave him careful instructions.

"Xiao Linzi, if someone close to the Empress Dowager comes to ask you questions, you must not tell her everything. Just pick out some unimportant things to talk about. You must not let the Empress Dowager realize that we are sincere to Empress Xi."

Xiao Linzi is the only person the Fourth Prince can trust, and almost nothing he does can be hidden from him.

"Yes, Master, please rest assured. I know this very well."

The Fourth Prince waved his hand to let him go and sat alone at the desk for a long time.

He always had a feeling that what Concubine Xi wanted to do was not far away, and whether he would be truly free at that time.