Chapter 477 Inquiry

Alarm bells rang in Jiang Huan's mind; it was hard not to think of that eerie jade carving.

The envoys from the southern border secretly contacted Consort Li's maternal family; it was far more than just chatting and drinking tea.

After thinking for a moment, she said, "Since they've come to us of their own accord, why don't we turn the tables on them?"

Consort Li was no fool; she immediately leaned forward and said, "Your Majesty means..."

Jiang Huan leaned closer and said directly, "Pretend to cooperate first, and see what they really want to find out."

Consort Li listened carefully, quickly weighing her options in her mind.

Although this is somewhat risky, if it can expose the conspiracy in southern Xinjiang, it will also benefit the maternal family.

Moreover, Jiang Huan trusted her, which is why she offered her advice.

She pondered for a moment, then nodded: "I understand. If there is any news, I will report to Your Majesty immediately."

"Thank you for your trouble, sister." Jiang Huan's smile became more sincere. "This matter is confidential, so please be careful and prioritize safety."

After the banquet, the palace appeared to have returned to calm, but undercurrents began to stir beneath the surface.

The envoy from southern Xinjiang, Agule, sent several invitations to meet with the emperor, citing the reason as discussing trade details and deepening the friendship between the two countries.

Inside the imperial study, Huo Lin casually placed the respectfully worded visiting card next to the memorials and tapped it twice with his fingertips.

"It's him again." Huo Lin's tone was flat, revealing no emotion.

Wang Degui, who was standing to the side, bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty. This is the third time we have sent a letter today. They say they have many trade details they would like to ask Your Majesty in person."

Asking for advice? Perhaps you're here to scout out the way.

Huo Lin sneered inwardly. He picked up his teacup, skimmed off the foam, and asked, "What did the Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial say?"

"Your Majesty, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies reports that the envoy from the Southern Frontier was very proper in formal occasions and only discussed trade cooperation. However, his entourage has been in frequent contact with several businesses in the capital recently, and during these meetings, they have been probing into the political climate in the palace, especially regarding the Weiyang Palace, where they seem to be quite curious."

Huo Lin's gaze darkened, and the teacup fell onto the table with a soft, crisp sound.

As expected, his true intentions lay elsewhere.

Was the inquiry into the palace's preferences an attempt to uncover his weaknesses, or a search for an opportunity to send another "special" congratulatory gift?

"Keep an eye on them. I need to know who they contacted and what they said." Huo Lin's voice carried a hint of coldness.

"Your servant obeys the decree."

Meanwhile, inside Weiyang Palace, the charcoal fire burned brightly, dispelling the chill of early winter.

Jiang Huan was reclining on a chaise longue covered with thick plush cushions, listening to Xiao Zhao report in a low voice the news from Consort Li's side.

"Consort Li said that the deputy envoy from the Southern Frontier visited again a few days ago. This time, he didn't meet Consort Li's uncle directly, but instead had a pleasant conversation with her cousin who held a sinecure in the Ministry of Rites. He gave her several boxes of spices unique to the Southern Frontier, saying that he wanted to make friends."

Xiao Zhao's voice was clear and crisp, and her words were well-organized: "The deputy envoy was full of praise for the magnificent scenery of the Great Liang Dynasty, and he also asked about the Empress's temperament and preferences, saying that he was worried about giving inappropriate gifts in the future."

Jiang Huan was toying with a hand warmer in her hand. Upon hearing this, she raised an eyebrow: "What was Consort Li's reply?"

"Following Her Majesty's previous instructions, Consort Li had her mother send a message out, saying..."

Xiao Zhao imitated Consort Li's tone, with a hint of resentment: "The Emperor's affection for the Empress is naturally deep. Even the water in Weiyang Palace is sweeter than elsewhere. We are just decorations in this palace. We can't even see the Emperor a few times a year."

After hearing this, Jiang Huan couldn't help but chuckle: "The way she puts it, she really sounds like a resentful woman in the deep palace."

Xiao Zhao smiled and said, "That's right. I heard that the deputy envoy from the Southern Frontier didn't show it on his face when he said those words, but his steps were lighter when he took his leave."

Jiang Huan nodded, pondering in her heart.

"Tell Consort Li to be careful in everything, and to keep all messages secret. Safety is the top priority."

Jiang Huan gave instructions, then remembered something else: "By the way, regarding her cousin, since he has accepted the gift, don't be too formal. Just maintain normal contact and don't alert him. But you also need to give him hints about what he can say and what he absolutely must not utter."

"Yes, I understand."

After Xiao Zhao left, Jiang Huan sat alone in the warm pavilion, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the delicate patterns on the hand warmer, her thoughts drifting away.

What exactly does Nanjiang want? Is it merely to plant spies in the harem, or is there another motive?

Just then, the sound of palace servants greeting him came from outside the hall; it was Huo Lin returning.

Jiang Huan immediately composed herself, a smile spreading across her face. Just as she was about to get up, the figure strode in.

"You're back early today," Jiang Huan said with a smile, looking up at him. She didn't get up, but moved to the inside of the soft couch to make room for him. "Did that envoy from the Southern Frontier stop bothering you with endless 'inquiries'?"

Huo Lin sat down in the seat she offered, squeezed her hand, feeling its warmth, and then relaxed his brow, letting out a soft hum upon hearing her words.

[Your thoughts are written all over your face. Do you think I'm a fool?]

[I just wanted to see what tricks they were up to.]

Hearing his thoughts, Jiang Huan knew he was aware of the situation, so she felt relieved and casually mentioned, "By the way, Consort Li sent a message saying that people from the Southern Frontier have contacted her maternal family."

She relayed the key points of Xiao Zhao's report to Huo Lin.

As Huo Lin listened, his expression gradually darkened. The gentleness he had shown when he entered the hall vanished without a trace. His sword-like eyebrows furrowed slightly, and his eyes deepened.

"You had Consort Li feign cooperation to pass on a message?"

“Yes,” Jiang Huan nodded, not paying much attention. “We should just play along. If they want to know, we should give them what they want to hear. Consort Li knows how to keep things in check. She can pass on some vague information without touching on the core issues, and at the same time gain their trust. Maybe we can even get some information out of them.”

Huo Lin took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady, but the worry in his eyes was unmistakable: "Madam, do you know how dangerous this is?"

Jiang Huan was taken aback by his question: "I think this method is quite good..."

"The people of Southern Xinjiang are skilled in witchcraft and sorcery. The origin of that jade incense has not yet been investigated. If you let Consort Li contact them, what if they notice something amiss and follow the clues to target you?"

As he spoke, his fingers unconsciously tightened: "I know you want to help, but this is too risky."

Jiang Huan was certainly aware of the danger, but she wasn't naive or innocent; how could she possibly put herself in such a perilous situation?

She turned to face him, her tone becoming serious: "The people from Southern Xinjiang have already come to our doorstep. If we pretend we don't know and avoid them, do you think they'll stop? They might think we're easy to manipulate and come up with other, more insidious tricks."

She reached out and grasped Huo Lin's slightly cold fingertips: "Consort Li is a sensible person. She knows what's important and what's not. The message she sent was carefully considered by me. It's all harmless news that won't hurt us in the slightest. It can keep them hanging, which is very worthwhile."