Chapter 334 Not a single word can be said

The noblewomen who had gone to rest in the side hall soon returned to continue keeping vigil. Li Nanke didn't have time to ask Wang Tongyun anything before returning to his position.

Keeping vigil is an extremely agonizing and torturous experience.

Even though they were initially saddened by the concubine's fate, after kneeling for a whole morning, most of the noblewomen were pale, their knees ached, and they were on the verge of collapse.

The same applies to Li Nanke and Song Yi.

Fortunately, lunchtime finally arrived.

The eunuchs set out a meal in the side hall, allowing the ladies of the court to take turns eating.

Li Nanke waited for Wang Tongyun to have dinner together. After dinner, taking advantage of the opportunity to change clothes, the two finally found a chance to talk.

What's the story behind the note?

She asked Wang Tongyun in a low voice.

Wang Tongyun looked around and, seeing that no one was around, quickly explained the whole story in a low voice.

"When we entered the palace, my aunt's body had already been prepared by the nanny and dressed in her burial clothes."

His Majesty said that his aunt was burned all over her body and he couldn't bear to see my family suffer, so he only took a look from afar.

I was heartbroken and couldn't believe it, so I quietly approached my aunt's body before it was fully light.

At that time, the eunuchs were busy carrying the coffin in, and the palace maids were busy arranging the vigil; no one noticed me.

So I quietly lifted the white cloth covering my aunt.

As Wang Tongyun spoke, her whole body trembled, tears streaming down her face, and she was sobbing that she couldn't speak.

“Aunt…Aunt, she…”

Li Nanke was very upset and went forward to hug her tightly.

Wang Tongyun leaned on her shoulder, sobbing so hard her breath came out in fits and starts. After a moment, she bit her lip hard before she was able to finish her sentence.

"I felt very sad when I saw my aunt's appearance, so I lay on her and cried. Then a delicate ball fell off my aunt."

As she spoke, she pulled out a delicate, hollowed-out ball about the size of a thumb from her person.

"This is a birthday gift I gave to my aunt when I was a child. I asked a craftsman to make it for me by hand. My aunt liked it very much and often wore it."

I opened the exquisite ball and found the note.

Li Nanke carefully looked around and quietly took out the note.

Only then did they realize that the writing on the note had been wetted and was now blurred.

"Huh? How could this happen? I was very careful."

Wang Tongyun burst into tears again.

Li Nanke said, "It's not your fault. Water must have gotten into the Linglong Ball when the palace servants were putting out the fire last night."

The delicate ball is hollow, making it easy for water to get in.

But given the circumstances, she thought this was probably the only clue that Consort Wang could think of that had been left behind.

Seeing a palace attendant approaching from a distance, Li Nanke shrewdly slipped the note into his robes.

"Now is not the time to talk. Let's wait until tonight."

They all had to leave the palace and go home at night.

Wang Tongyun nodded, wiping away her tears.

"The Lady of Fu'an County is talking to Miss Wang Si."

The eunuch approached and bowed slightly in greeting.

Li Nanke nodded, "My father-in-law is..."

“My servant is from the Daqing Palace. His Majesty wishes to see the Princess of Fu’an. Please come with me, Princess.”

Li Nanke's heart skipped a beat.

At this time, His Majesty wants to see her?

Her hand, hanging by her side, unconsciously tugged at her skirt as she thought of the note she kept close to her body.

Did someone see the note Wang Tongyun gave her?

Or does His Majesty have other intentions?

She winked at Nangong Qiang, who was standing not far away.

Nangong Qiang understood and quietly withdrew.

Li Nanke asked Wang Tongyun to pass on a message to Song Yi when she returned, and then said to the eunuch, "Let's go."

The rear hall of Daqing Hall was where the emperor rested every day, and the emperor was in the rear hall at this moment.

As Li Nanke stepped into the inner hall, a strong smell of medicine hit him, making him want to cough.

"Your Majesty, this humble woman pays her respects."

She knelt down and kowtowed in respect.

A listless voice sounded from above.

"Get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

She stood up, her gaze shifting slightly upwards, and saw the emperor reclining on the soft couch. She couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise.

After not seeing him for many days, the emperor had become even thinner.

Her once full cheeks had collapsed into two pale brown patches of skin, her cheekbones protruded sharply, and her eyes were sunken in bluish-purple sockets, her brown pupils appearing as if covered by a layer of gray haze.

What's even more surprising is that the hair at his temples has turned completely white.

Hair turned white overnight!

"What? Are you frightened by my appearance?"

The emperor's voice was heavily nasal, and the last syllable was damp, as if he had just been crying bitterly.

Li Nanke shook her head and said, "I know Your Majesty is so heartbroken that you are like this. I am not afraid."

The emperor stared at her for a moment, then slowly sat up straight.

"I summoned you here because I have a few questions to ask you."

Li Nanke looked terrified.

"Your Majesty, please ask."

The emperor looked her up and down, then suddenly asked, "Yesterday I summoned you to the palace to accompany the Imperial Concubine. What did you two talk about?"

Li Nanke was mentally prepared and recounted the events of yesterday.

"This humble woman told Her Highness about some interesting things that happened while studying at Jingxing Academy, and even read some Buddhist scriptures to Her Highness for a while, and then Her Highness fell asleep."

She then recounted in detail the interesting stories she had told and which chapter of the Buddhist scriptures she had read.

The emperor listened quietly, his eyes filled with deep sorrow.

Only after Li Nanke stopped did he ask again, "I heard that yesterday the Imperial Concubine suddenly had a fit and grabbed you. You must have been terrified."

"Can you get scratches on your body?"

Li Nanke stretched out her arm, revealing a noticeable bruise around her fair wrist.

"It's almost healed, it's nothing serious."

The emperor's gaze fell on the bruises on her wrist. After a moment, his eyes were fixed on her, and he suddenly asked, "Did the Imperial Concubine give you anything yesterday?"

Li Nanke's heart jumped into his throat.

If she hadn't been mentally prepared, she would have jumped up in fright.

Did the Emperor actually notice the note the Consort gave her yesterday, or was he just suspicious?

A flood of questions rushed through her mind, but she forced herself to keep from showing any sign of panic.

He just tilted his head blankly, pretending to be trying hard to remember.

"Things? The Imperial Concubine didn't give me anything."

The emperor's gaze sharpened, as if trying to see through her, but his voice softened slightly.

"Think about it again. Don't be afraid. I'm asking you this because I find last night's fire suspicious and suspect that someone is trying to harm the Imperial Concubine."

Therefore, I will now thoroughly question everyone who saw the Imperial Concubine yesterday to seek justice for her.

The emperor's voice was sorrowful, and a look of pain appeared in his eyes; he looked exactly like a husband who had lost his wife.

A layer of cold sweat broke out on Li Nanke's back, and her palms were also covered in sweat, sticky and uncomfortable, but she dared not move an inch.

If she hadn't already read the note the Imperial Concubine had given her, she would have believed the Emperor without reservation and told him everything about the note.

But now, she can't say a single word!