Cao Xiong naturally didn't know what natural wind was, let alone what the relationship was between sparrows and Concubine Cui.

But when His Majesty asked him a question, he did not dare to neglect it and quickly leaned forward and said, "Your Majesty, Concubine Cui has been staying in her courtyard since returning to Chuxiu Palace. There has been no movement."

Then he smiled flatteringly and said, "There are a few little monkeys who seem to be planted by the Cui family. They have been trying to get close to Concubine Cui. But don't worry, Your Majesty, I am keeping an eye on them."

As he said this, he showed a very sinister smile.

Zhao Xin opened his eyes slightly and glanced at him, then closed them again and ignored him... He was used to it.

…

Chuxiu Palace, as the name suggests, is where the newly selected concubines entering the palace are temporarily housed.

The environment in such a place would certainly not be very good. Some concubines were even crowded in a yard with a group of people, which was similar to the staff dormitories in later generations.

Fortunately, after Cui Yuyan returned from Xingqing Palace, someone arranged a separate courtyard for her, and a little maid who was sent into the palace with her was also sent over to serve her.

Such treatment naturally made the other concubines in Chuxiu Palace envious, but what could they do? After all, they had the Cui family as their backing, so they could get the emperor's favor so quickly.

Cui Yuyan, who moved into a separate courtyard under the gaze of envy, jealousy and hatred, had no intention of paying attention to the owners of these gazes.

After returning from Xingqing Palace, she felt inexplicably disturbed. Some eunuchs or palace maids arranged or bribed by the Cui family gave her several glances, but she pretended not to see them.

She naturally understood what those people wanted to do?

She simply wanted to know whether she had gained the emperor's favor and whether she had the emperor in her hands...

She just wanted to sneer in her heart, thinking those people were a bunch of fools.

"Do these people really think that the emperor is such a brainless, lustful, incompetent and tyrant ruler?"

She was sure that there were countless pairs of eyes around her at this moment. The actions of those people who thought they were covert were probably as ridiculous as a thief wearing a nightgown in broad daylight in the eyes of the emperor.

However, she did not intend to remind those people. Firstly, it was useless, and secondly, her mind was completely disturbed by what the emperor said.

"The Lin family that was destroyed sixteen years ago is actually my father's family, and the Shangguan family is my mother's family. Is this possible?"

"But what's the point of the emperor lying to me? Is he trying to keep me in check and not let the Cui family know about his hostility towards them?"

Cui Yuyan finally thought of a reason to convince herself.

Yes, that must be it.

If I am really an orphan of the Lin family, and the Lin family was destroyed because of the Cui family, then why did my adoptive father adopt me?

Thinking of this, Cui Yuyan couldn't help but let out a sigh, pretending to have convinced herself, nodded vigorously, and whispered: "Yes, it must be like this!"

"Ah, what, what is this?"

The maid Xiaodie was sitting next to her. She had already become a praying mantis, with her mouth open and her head nodding. She was startled when she suddenly heard her speak.

He quickly stood up and asked while wiping his saliva.

Cui Yuyan ignored her and said in a serious tone, "Xiaodie, I can see that the emperor is indeed hostile to my adoptive father and the Cui family."

"Ah, what, then, what should we do?"

Xiaodie was startled when she heard her words, and subconsciously looked around, as if to see if the emperor had come, but it was pitch black all around and she could not see anything.

However, Xiaodie inexplicably felt that there seemed to be something dangerous in the darkness. She couldn't help but shiver and shrank behind Cui Yuyan, looking left and right like some timid little animal.

Cui Yuyan frowned and tapped her palm lightly with her fist, saying, "No, we must inform our adoptive father of the emperor's attitude towards our family so that he can prepare early!"

"How, how...tell?"

Xiaodie asked absentmindedly.

"yes……"

Cui Yuyan subconsciously frowned again. This was indeed a problem.

The reason why the emperor did not hide his hostility towards the Cui family in front of her was because he was not afraid that she would spread the news.

"Girl, why don't we run."

Xiaodie suddenly said.

Although she has entered the palace, Xiaodie was originally Cui Yuyan's maid when she was in the Cui family. They grew up together, so she did not change her name to "noble lady" like others did. She was still habitually called "girl".

"Nonsense, where can you run to?"

Cui Yuyan, of course, didn't care about her title. She tapped her forehead with her finger in annoyance and pointed at the surrounding palace walls and said, "Look at this forbidden palace. Can you escape?"

"So, what should we do?"

Xiaodie subconsciously looked in the direction of her finger and felt that it was indeed very close.

This palace is too big for her, even bigger than the Prime Minister's Mansion. With her ability to get lost even in the Prime Minister's Mansion, she won't be able to escape even if she is let go.

But thinking of the rumors she had heard in the palace in the past two days, she couldn't help but say fearfully, "Girl, if the emperor really hates our prime minister, will he kill us?

I heard from people in the palace that the emperor really enjoys killing people.

What little eunuch, little palace maid, little empress, if they are unhappy, snap! "

Xiaodie bared her teeth and made a gesture as if she was scratching her neck, but she scared herself.

He quickly hid behind Cui Yuyan again.

Seeing her timid look, Cui Yuyan couldn't help but feel angry and amused.

Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, he comforted her, "Don't worry, the emperor won't kill us, at least not for now. Who knows, he might summon me again in the next couple of days and pretend to make me a concubine."

As he spoke, a sarcastic sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth.

"real?"

Xiaodie didn't understand what her girl was talking about, but she was relieved to hear that she wouldn't be killed, even temporarily.

He sighed softly, then patted his chest and said, "That's good, that's good."

Cui Yuyan shook her head and poked her forehead again, "You are so timid. I really don't understand why my adoptive father arranged for you to enter the palace with me."

Xiaodie twisted her chubby waist and sat next to Cui Yuyan again and said, "Why else could it be? It's because others don't want to.

They all say that the Prime Minister will definitely become the emperor in the future, and when that happens we will all be buried with the current emperor."

"nonsense!"

Cui Yuyan's face changed when she heard this. She scolded her in a low voice, then subconsciously looked around, glared at her and said, "Don't say such nonsense in the future!"

Xiaodie didn't notice Cui Yuyan's expression and subconsciously defended herself, "It wasn't me who said that. The servants in the Prime Minister's Mansion all said that. They also said someone saw the Prime Minister secretly trying on the crown in the middle of the night..."

"Speak!"

Cui Yuyan reached out and patted her. Xiaodie then saw Cui Yuyan's stern expression. She stuck out her tongue and dared not say anything more.

Cui Yuyan herself couldn't help but frowning solemnly. After a moment, she asked in a low voice, "Is that what all the servants in the Prime Minister's Mansion say?"