Chapter 36: Fortune and misfortune always go hand in hand...

Xiaoshun helped Zhao Changning tidy up. In order to save time, he just tied his long hair into a loose bun and quickly took out a jacket to put on.

She looked worried. "Auntie, the dew is cold at night, put it on quickly."

Zhao Changning pursed his lips, clutched his collar, and said solemnly, "How much private money do I have left?"

She spent a lot during this period. Just to settle the woman of that bastard Hu Gouer cost her five thousand taels.

Xiao Shun was stunned. "Except for the ginseng, the gold, silver, and other jewelry, there are also 1,500 taels of silver notes."

Zhao Changning breathed a sigh of relief, at least there was still some left.

She held out her hand, "Give me all the banknotes."

Xiao Shun's face was filled with fear. "Aunt, are you going to run away?"

Zhao Changning: “…”

"Who else knows about this?" she asked as she walked, stuffing the banknotes into her arms.

Yunsheng swallowed nervously. "For now, there are only a few people guarding the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the three Anyi brothers. I think this matter is too serious, so I'm going to stop making a fuss and come to you immediately."

Zhao Changning nodded and breathed a sigh of relief, "You did a great job."

This kid has many shortcomings. He is as timid as a mouse and cries at the slightest provocation, but he is not stupid at all and is more careful than many eunuchs.

Yunsheng was so worried that tears came out. "Aunt, what should we do? It's such a big thing, the ceremony is about to begin, I'm afraid... or you should run away..."

"Don't cry." Zhao Changning frowned, but softened his tone. "I will definitely find the Phoenix Seal before the ceremony begins."

Why is she running? She didn’t run when things were so difficult back then, so why is she running now? Where is she running to?

They walked hurriedly, the night mist blowing on their faces, and they quickly arrived in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, their temples slightly wet.

Zhao Changning noticed that when he came out of the Qianqing Gate, there were many palace gates and the gatekeepers were always there.

"Go tell Anyi to bring over everyone who has been able to enter and exit the Hall of Supreme Harmony since I left. Don't tell them anything has happened. Just say there are some preparations to be made before tomorrow's ceremony. Don't let them talk. Keep them separate. I'm going to Kunning Palace right now."

Yunsheng quickly stopped her, "Aunt, going to Kunning Palace at this time is like seeking death. Hurry and find it now. If you find it, at least you can make amends..."

Zhao Changning's eyes flickered as she spoke in a grave tone, "Without the Empress's support, I, a nameless maid, can't accomplish such a big thing."

Until now, she has never been able to obtain the position of palm seal that Hu Gouer easily obtained, even though she meets all the requirements. Needless to say, she understands the reason.

Those people were conquered in a hurry, and not all of them obeyed her. Normally, they obeyed her only because she did have some qualifications and had face in front of the late emperor and the new emperor. But if something really happened, those fence-sitters would not be easy to fool, and might even secretly make trouble.

She looked up at the inky sky, where a few stars twinkled occasionally, indicating that she still had time.

"Hurry up, what are you waiting for? If we really delay the ceremony and can't find the things, we will all die."

Yunsheng shuddered with fear, tears streaming down his face. "Yes, yes, auntie, I'll go right away..."

Seeing him rolling and crawling in fear, Zhao Changning closed his eyes and let out a long breath.

The master of Kunning Palace had already gone to bed, but when the gatekeeper saw that it was Zhao Changning who came, he still gritted his teeth and went in to find Chunyun.

Chunyun clutched the clothes she had just put on, looked up at the dark sky, and looked at Zhao Changning with a confused look on her face. "What are you doing here at this time? Has the ceremony been moved up?"

Zhao Changning leaned over and heard the other person suddenly wake up.

Chunyun's hands were shaking as she pulled Zhao Changning inside and ran, "Oh my God, something big has happened. Come in with me quickly."

The sound of footsteps was particularly clear in the dark night, and the night was a little chilly as summer was approaching.

The Queen's voice rang out from within the tent, full of sleepiness. "Chunyun, what happened? It's so noisy."

Zhao Changning took a quick step forward, knelt on the ground, and explained the situation clearly word by word. Saying any more nonsense at this time would be a waste of time.

The queen was no longer sleepy. She flung open the curtains and glared at him, "How could this happen? Is this what you did? Do you know the consequences of this?"

Zhao Changning touched the ground with his forehead, remaining calm.

"I dare not shirk responsibility for this matter, but the eunuchs and maids in the palace have been without a leader for a long time, and those fence-sitters are more difficult to deal with than the other. I am of low rank and my words have no weight, but I didn't expect to be tricked. I only hope that Your Majesty will give me a chance to investigate this matter. I will definitely give Your Majesty an explanation and retrieve the Phoenix Seal before the grand ceremony begins."

After all, the queen had lived in the prince's mansion for many years and was well aware of the human relationships in the palace, so she finally calmed down.

The only person she could rely on and trust at this moment, apart from the soon-to-be-acquired position of queen, was Zhao Changning.

The situation in the palace is complicated, and even the emperor cannot figure it out for the time being. If she causes trouble, I am afraid that someone will report her soon. There are too many people eyeing the position of queen.

It’s hateful. If she had a powerful family, what would she be afraid of?

She couldn't control the anger and fear in her heart, and finally gnashed her teeth and blurted out, "It must be Shang Meir, it must be Yonghe Palace, check it out immediately, search it..."

Zhao Changning's eyes fixed, he knelt a few steps, took the Queen's hand, and said quickly and briefly, "Your Majesty, be careful with your words. Beware of ears."

She said gently, "No matter who did this, we can't make it public. If we make a big fuss, it won't be good for anyone. The most important thing right now is to ensure that tomorrow's ceremony goes smoothly."

The queen panted a few times, her forehead covered with sweat, and she grabbed Zhao Changning's hand.

"I panicked, Changning. Can you tell the Emperor about this?"

Zhao Changning immediately shook his head. "Disturbing the Emperor at this time will do you no good. It's also tantamount to telling all the ministers that the Phoenix Seal was lost before the ceremony. Not only will it bring shame upon you, but it will also further imply that you are immoral and incompetent..."

"How dare you! You're talking nonsense." Chunyun angrily pushed Zhao Changning. "It's all your fault. How could you not see past a Phoenix Seal? Aren't you quite capable..."

The queen is the queen after all, and she immediately stopped Chunyun.

She looked at Zhao Changning fiercely, her voice trembling, "Changning, can you find it back?"

Zhao Changning nodded without hesitation, "As long as the Queen agrees, I will definitely be able to retrieve the Phoenix Seal."

The Queen nodded immediately, "Okay, I order you to investigate. After tonight, you will be the seal of authority in this palace."

Everything will only be legitimate after the coronation ceremony, and there must be no mistakes.

Zhao Changning tightly grasped the Empress's hand and said firmly, "If this matter is successful, your calmness and ability to handle affairs will make even the Emperor consider you worthy of being Empress. It is only natural that the harem will be handed over to you. Your Majesty, misfortune and fortune are always interdependent. Don't worry, just wait in Kunning Palace. Tomorrow, the Emperor will definitely hand the Phoenix Seal to you."

The queen looked at Zhao Changning's calm and determined eyes, and her extremely restless heart slowly calmed down.

She nodded and said earnestly, "Everything is up to you, go now."

Zhao Changning said firmly, "I will never let your Majesty down."

Chunyun wiped her tears and looked at Zhao Changning's hurriedly leaving back, choking with sobs, "My Lady, do you still believe in her?"

The Queen, draped in her clothes, stood before the latticed window and said quietly, "I believe her."

She didn't know why, but she just believed her. Zhao Changning and Shang Meir were two completely different women. During all these days together, there was never any love between men and women in Zhao Changning's eyes when she looked at the emperor. She was willing to believe her.

Zhao Changning ran out of breath and finally arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Yunsheng was wandering under the eaves, pacing back and forth and sighing, while Anyi was waiting on the side with his arms folded. Both of them looked unhappy.

Seeing Zhao Changning coming back, they both hurried to greet him.

"Aunt, you are finally here. What did the Queen say?"

Zhao Changning raised his hand to stop the two from talking. After regaining his breath, he asked, "Have you got everyone here? Did you alert anyone?"

Anyi nodded immediately, "Don't worry, auntie, it's late at night, everyone is sleeping soundly, no one was disturbed."

Yunsheng continued, "Aunt, there are a total of forty-two people. Twelve of them take turns guarding the hall, and the remaining thirty are guarding the doors, windows, and corridors. Oh, and there are also people who come in to clean and arrange things. We thought about it for a long time, but we really can't figure out who they are."

Zhao Changning breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the security was tight and not too many people were involved.

"You didn't say anything, did you? You didn't let them talk, did you?"

The person must be one of them, but it will be difficult to deal with if he colludes with others or the criminals know his intentions.

Yunsheng nodded. "Aunt, I will follow your instructions strictly. I am afraid that it will be difficult to watch them if they are locked up in the room, so I have them stand in rows in the front courtyard of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. If anyone speaks, An, Anyi, and Yunhui will be able to tell at a glance."

Zhao Changning praised him again, "You are very thoughtful. Once this matter is resolved, I will definitely reward you well."

In the front yard, the stone lamps were bright and torches were lit, clearly illuminating everyone's figure.

When Yun Hui saw her aunt come in, she felt like she had found her backbone. "Aunt, you're finally here, the emperor..."

Zhao Changning glanced at her coldly, and Yun Hui immediately shut up, but she couldn't hide the worry on her face.

"It is the Empress' will that has summoned you all here tonight," Zhao Changning said loudly. "The grand ceremony is imminent, and there are many tasks that need to be prepared in advance. After all, this grand event in the palace cannot be achieved without your contributions. Of course, the Empress will not let your hard work go to waste. She has already prepared rewards."

She took out a stack of banknotes.

The people who were called over started talking to each other. When they saw the banknotes, their irritation caused by being woken up in their sleep was at least slightly relieved.

The big guy Anyi shouted angrily: "Don't talk, do you want to be beaten?"

Suddenly, the buzzing sound disappeared.

Zhao Changning took in everyone's reactions and said with a smile, "Don't complain, everyone. It's an honor for us servants to work for the Emperor and Empress, not to mention the generous rewards. Just relax, I'll arrange your tasks one by one."

She looked at Yunsheng and said, "You call out their names, one by one."

There is no time to discuss the show with everyone. Every moment now is about saving my own life.

Zhao Changning knew he could only rely on himself, so he took a deep breath and became full of fighting spirit.

The first person to come in was a little eunuch with shifty eyes. It seemed that Yunsheng really wanted to catch the thief.

"Have you seen the Phoenix Seal?" Zhao Changning asked directly.

The candlelight in the room was deliberately lit very brightly, and the young eunuch's face still had traces of sleep, and he shook his head in confusion.

"Aunt, isn't the Phoenix Seal always locked? How could I be so lucky as to see this thing?"

Zhao Changning smiled. "Then guess what the Phoenix Seal should look like?"

The young eunuch began to imagine things in a wild and chaotic way, and spoke in a messy way.

Zhao Changning assigned him a job seriously and sent him out.

"Tell those who have been questioned to wait in the side hall. No talking is allowed. Anyi, you go and guard it yourself."

Zhao Changning asked each person who followed her, either directly or indirectly, with threats and deception. She drank several bowls of tea and watched the sky outside the lattice window gradually turn duck-shell blue. She felt a little anxious in her heart.

Next, a tall uterine maid came in.

Zhao Changning knew her. She was a quiet person, but she worked diligently and had good relationships with others.

"I remember you were working at the Siyuan Bureau?"

The little maid bowed her head and replied, "Yes, aunt, there will be a grand ceremony tomorrow, and the seal holder asked me to send some peonies and other flowers for the decoration."

Zhao Changning smiled and said, "Is this your first time entering the Hall of Supreme Harmony? Have you seen the Phoenix Seal?"

"I haven't seen it." The little maid quickly agreed, as most people said. "That thing is precious, not for us to see. What do you want to ask, aunt?"

Zhao Changning narrowed his eyes. This was the first time he asked her a question back.

"Just a small talk, don't be nervous. What do you think the Phoenix Seal should look like? It's been on display in the Hall of Supreme Harmony for three days. It would be a shame if we didn't know what it looked like. Everyone else has seen it."

After hearing that others had seen it, the young palace maid paused for a moment before saying, "Since it's a seal, it should be square, and there must be a phoenix on it..."

Zhao Changning looked at her expression carefully; it was too calm, and too deliberate.

There was not even a trace of fluctuation in the corners of his eyes or eyebrows, and he didn't even seem confused about the question he asked. He didn't look like he had just crawled out of bed. He was neat and tidy, and not even his hair was a bit messy.

This interrogation was just a method she was familiar with. She didn't know much about solving cases, but she understood human nature.

Zhao Changning waited for her to finish speaking, then asked her to go to the side hall and continue questioning her.

After questioning forty-two people, it was already dawn.

Yunsheng was sweating profusely, "Aunt, did you get anything?"

Anyi was also a little stunned. "They should have used torture directly. How can they get the answer by asking like this? We'll all die..."

"What's the point of using torture? He's already dared to steal the Phoenix Seal. Do you think he can be persuaded to do so by torture?" Zhao Changning said calmly, "Perhaps he's not only stubborn in words, but also in character. The palace is so big, we'll never find him even if we torture him."

It's a pity that time doesn't allow it, otherwise she would have done it more beautifully. Zhao Changning could only take a gamble.

She walked into the side hall and looked at everyone coldly, but she was always keeping an eye on the little palace maid out of the corner of her eye.

"The Phoenix Seal was lost last night. This is a capital crime. If someone stole it, please take it out now. I can even plead with the Emperor and Empress on your behalf. But if you really ask the noble to come..."

The words are not finished, but the meaning is clear.

Suddenly, the side hall was in an uproar. Everyone was shocked and started chattering.

When Zhao Changning noticed the palace maid, he was very wary and a little flustered at first, but he quickly integrated into the group and started chattering with everyone. The whole process took only a few breaths.

She entered the palace at the age of eight and has been able to get to where she is today by serving others. Her ability to read people's expressions is at least third best, if not second best.

"Yunsheng, come here." Zhao Changning leaned over and whispered a few words into his ear. "...You must be careful and brave. Remember, I'm here if anything happens. Don't be afraid."

Yunsheng hurried out the door.

Zhao Changning raised his hand to silence everyone, then said, "Don't worry too much. The Phoenix Seal has actually been found. I just said this to let everyone know what happened. Now that it's been found, let's disperse. However, you must not forget your future mission."

The little palace maid looked calm, but a little uncomfortable.

After working so hard all night, Zhao Changning was a little overwhelmed.

Her voice was hoarse. "An Yi, divide the banknotes and let everyone go back to rest. We will personally oversee today's ceremony."

Anyi said dejectedly, "Yes, aunt."

As the sky brightened and the sun peeked out, the ceremony of crowning the queen was about to begin.

The Queen was worried. She looked at the dark blue in her eyes in the bronze mirror and said in a hoarse voice, "Put on more powder to cover it up."

Chunyun could only do as she was told, muttering, "I wonder what the situation is, Madam. You haven't slept all night, but you can still hold on."

The Queen's bloodshot eyes flashed with confusion, and she gritted her teeth and said, "I have to hold on even if I can't."

The Imperial Guards arranged the Empress's procession and the imperial carriage had arrived outside the Fengtian Hall. As bells and drums sounded, officials from the Ministry of Rites read the imperial edict of enthronement. The Emperor and his officials, dressed in their imperial robes, entered the Fengtian Hall. Whips were cracked on the steps, and the "Qingping Canon" resounded...

The queen heard the sound from afar and was panicked, but she had to hold on. The nine-dragon and four-phoenix crown on her head, which symbolized glory, and the heavy sacrificial dress bound her tightly, and she could hardly stand.

The chief and deputy envoys who led the ceremony had already arrived in front of Kunning Palace and shouted, "Chief Envoy Li Pingzhang, Deputy Envoy Zhou Han, in accordance with the imperial decree, bestow upon the Empress the imperial edict and the imperial seal."

The Queen followed the usher in the imperial carriage and headed for the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Her eyes could not help but look at the towering palace with its flying eaves and brackets.

Has the Phoenix Seal been found? Can the Emperor hand it over to her?

The Queen hoped that the imperial carriage would go slower and slower to give Zhao Changning more time.

Chunping was standing beside the imperial carriage, walking with a worried look on her face. Suddenly, her eyes lit up and she whispered, "Your Majesty, please look..."

The queen remained motionless, her demeanor unchanged, but her eyes couldn't help but glance around.

She saw two figures running wildly on the path leading to the east gate of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

The old-fashioned indigo guy in the front seems to be Zhao Changning.

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Author's comment: Changning: Running away? Me? [rolling eyes]