Chapter 175 Broken Jade Pavilion

The return of the Grand General was a joyous occasion, and even though the banquet was held at the Yuanmingyuan, the palace servants still showered the palace with gifts.

In the secluded Suiyu Pavilion, Zhen Huan, who had been demoted to a lowly concubine, sat dejectedly in a dilapidated side hall. Listening to the laughter and chatter coming from outside, she asked in a daze, "Huanbi, what's going on outside?"

"Your Highness..." Seeing Liu Zhu approach with red eyes, Zhen Huan finally realized that Huan Bi was long gone. With Huan Bi gone, all resentment and bitterness vanished. Now, Zhen Huan could only remember Huan Bi's kindness, and tears would well up in her eyes.

"My lady, don't be sad. Huanbi, Huanbi certainly wouldn't want to see you like this either."

Liu Zhu, who hadn't gone out with Zhen Huan that day, had no idea what had happened—her mistress had been demoted, and Huan Bi was gone too. Even though she was filled with panic, she still did her best to take care of and comfort her grieving mistress.

"Liu Zhu, you're all I have left." Zhen Huan leaned against Liu Zhu's waist, silently shedding tears.

"My lady, I will always stay with you."

The two women embraced, drawing strength from each other, when suddenly there was a knock on the closed door, and an unexpected person appeared before them.

"Jinxi!"

"Aunt Jinxi!"

When Zhen Huan and Liu Zhu saw Cui Jinxi, the head maid of Zhongcui Palace, appear at Suiyu Pavilion, they were both pleasantly surprised.

"My lady, it's Miss Liu Zhu."

Cui Jinxi entered the room carrying a bundle. Even though Zhen Huan had fallen to rock bottom, she still bowed respectfully to her.

"Jinxi, how did you get in?"

Zhen Huan was touched, but also wary and curious. There were clearly guards outside the palace, so how did Cui Jinxi get in?

“I happen to have some connections with the guards. I told them I was bringing in something that my mistress had left behind in Zhongcui Palace. Since it was just a matter of confining my mistress to her quarters, I pleaded with them, and they agreed to let me in, but I can’t stay long.”

As Cui Jinxi spoke, she placed the bundle she had brought on the table and slowly opened it: "Time is of the essence, so I packed some clothes, jewelry, and some loose silver. I hope that Your Highness can have a little better time."

Zhen Huan looked at the food on the table and was deeply moved: "You're so thoughtful. Even at a time like this, you're still thinking of me."

“Your Highness has always been kind to us palace servants in Zhongcui Palace. I am not ungrateful. Not only me, but Xiao Yunzi and the others also think of Your Highness. They helped pack these things, but it is inconvenient for them to travel, so they can only ask me to come and see Your Highness.”

Hearing from Cui Jinxi that the palace servants in her palace still remembered her, Zhen Huan felt much relieved and asked with renewed spirits, "Jinxi, do you know what happened outside after I was imprisoned? Did Sister Mei have a safe delivery?"

"Consort Hui gave birth to a daughter safely and has now been promoted to Consort Hui."

"That's good, that's good." Though she couldn't quite articulate her true feelings, Zhen Huan appeared relieved and thankful that Chen Meizhuang was unharmed. "What about the others? Has Huanbi's matter implicated the household?"

Even though she knew in her heart that the revelation of Huanbi's true identity would inevitably implicate the Zhen family, Zhen Huan still clung to a sliver of hope: what if, just what if, the Emperor didn't take it to heart?

Seeing Zhen Huan's expectant eyes, Cui Jinxi appeared somewhat embarrassed: "Your Highness... His Majesty has been lenient, and all the women in the household are fine, but Lord Zhen..."

What happened to my father?

"Lord Zhen has been demoted to a commoner and exiled to Ningguta."

Upon hearing Cui Jinxi's words, Zhen Huan immediately leaned weakly against Liu Zhu.

"My lord..."

After a long pause, Zhen Huan wiped away her tears and sat up straight with Liu Zhu's help: "It's alright, it's alright, at least Mother and Yu Rao are safe."

Zhen Huan could only console herself and try to calm her emotions. When she looked at Cui Jinxi again, she noticed the hesitation in her eyes: "Jinxi, is there something you want to say?"

"This servant..."

Seeing her hesitation, Zhen Huan smiled self-deprecatingly: "Now that I've come to this point, there's nothing I can't bear. Just say what you have to say."

Hearing her say this, Cui Jinxi no longer hesitated and told her everything: "Your Highness, after the news spread that Miss Huanbi had offended the imperial fetus, causing Your Highness to be demoted, this servant was somewhat skeptical. After all, although Miss Huanbi is somewhat domineering, she has always listened to Your Highness and doesn't seem like someone who doesn't know her place. This servant had doubts, so I secretly investigated..."

Upon hearing Cui Jinxi's words, Zhen Huan also became suspicious. After all, when she thought of Huanbi now, she only thought of Huanbi's good qualities and naturally refused to believe that Huanbi would act so impulsively: "Now that you mention it, I also feel that there were some problems back then. But what did you find out?"

Zhen Huan was a little agitated. If Jinxi hadn't found anything, she definitely wouldn't have said that.

Meeting Zhen Huan's expectant gaze, Cui Jinxi nodded: "This servant used to serve the Dowager Consort and has lived in this palace for many years, so I still have some connections. This servant learned that not long after you were brought back, Consort Cao was placed under house arrest, and the palace servants serving her were also arrested and interrogated."

"Consort Cao?" Zhen Huan recalled that unremarkable face and thought of how Consort Cao appeared kind but spoke with venom, and how she always managed to put Zhen Huan in a disadvantageous position. She was already somewhat convinced.

"Yes, after these past few days of investigation, I discovered that the people that Consort Cao planted were caught red-handed when they tried to harm Consort Hui, so they implicated Consort Cao."

"She planted people around Sister Mei?" Zhen Huan was very surprised, not expecting Cao Qinmo to be so capable.

"Yes, Your Highness may know this person. She is said to be a palace maid named Yu Ying'er."

"I remember her. Your Highness once said that her voice was as beautiful as a nightingale's." Liu Zhu couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, clearly not expecting that the seemingly shy and timid palace maid she once knew was actually a treacherous spy.

Zhen Huan nodded solemnly, clearly still remembering Yu Ying'er.

"There is another reason why I came here today. I found out that the reason why Huanbi offended Consort Hui was because Consort Cao had Yu Ying'er drug Huanbi, trying to kill two birds with one stone and frame her."

"What? What a vicious thought! What did our young mistress do to offend Consort Cao that she would resort to such cruelty?"

Unlike Liu Zhu, who openly displayed her anger, Zhen Huan remained silent. But the hatred in her heart was no less: "Cao Qinmo."

"My lady, I cannot stay any longer. I am telling you this in the hope that you can cheer up. There is always hope until the very last moment, and there will always be a chance for revenge."

"I understand what you mean. Thank you, Jinxi. I won't give up. One day I will walk out of Suiyuxuan."

Zhen Huan rose, grasped Cui Jinxi's hand, and swore an oath. At this moment, her fighting spirit was rekindled; even if it was only for revenge, she would not fall.

"Please take care, my lady. If you need anything in the future, please have the guards at the door pass on a message to me, and I will do my best to help you."

"Now there is one thing I hope Jinxi can do for me to keep an eye on Cao Qinmo's fate and see when His Majesty will return to the palace."

"Yes, this servant will certainly not fail your expectations, mistress."