Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Three Updates in One [10,000 Words]...

Among the crowd, Concubine Tong's voice was particularly loud, and on her face, as beautiful as a flower, complex emotions such as surprise, anger, and fear gradually emerged.

Her hand was still on her hair bun, and when she couldn't find the pearl given by the emperor for a long time, her face turned pale and she kept urging the palace servants to find it quickly.

The crowd gradually became chaotic, and the other concubines also cast suspicious glances at her. Concubine Niuhulu straightened her clothes, stood up from her seat, walked to Concubine Tong's side, and asked her softly, "Sister Tong, what are you looking for?"

Concubine Tong's face turned pale, and she looked at her with some disgust. "Concubine Niuhulu, didn't you notice that the oriental pearl on my hairpin is missing?"

After saying that, he felt something was wrong and quickly added, "Maybe someone stole it and wanted to frame me!"

It is true that stealing Dongzhu is a capital crime, and losing the things bestowed by the emperor is also a serious crime.

In order to avoid taking responsibility, Concubine Tong would rather be stolen.

It’s better than…

Thinking of this, she raised her eyes and glanced at Concubine Niuhulu again. She tried her best to soften her voice and said slowly, "Your Highness, you will be the head of the harem in the future. It is your duty to look after the concubines. If you remain indifferent at this moment and just stand aside and watch the show... When the Emperor returns later, what do you think he will think of you?"

There was a hint of threat in these words.

But when she spoke, she deliberately lowered her voice very low, so among those present, only Concubine Nianhulu, who was closest to her, could hear it clearly.

Concubine Nianhulu's expression immediately became stern. She looked back at Concubine Tong with deep eyes, suppressing all the joy that surged in her heart. Then she calmed down and began to order the palace servants behind her to help search.

Concubine Tong is right.

Although the imperial edict had not been issued yet, whether from the hints in the words of the Empress Dowager when she paid her respects, or from the overt and covert flattery of the palace servants in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, she had already known her final position in advance - the position of the Empress!

As the future queen, she should take care of the harem. Therefore, now that the Dongzhu on Concubine Tong's head has been stolen, no matter from which angle, she should step forward to take charge of the situation.

After hearing what Concubine Nianhulu said, the palace maids behind her immediately began to search the surrounding area.

Seeing this, the other concubines also sent the palace maids behind them to help.

In an instant, almost all the palace servants in the hall knelt on the ground, their eyes as fiery as torches, carefully searching every inch of the smooth floor, and the scope gradually expanded.

It seemed that they were about to find Li Shuyao and Qingyao.

The two men quickly put down their chopsticks and stood up, with their hands hanging in front of them, their heads lowered, and they stepped back obediently, leaving a large space in front of the table for the palace servants to search.

"The daughter of Guan Guo Luoluo." At this time, a concubine suddenly spoke. Her voice was neither loud nor low, and it attracted the attention of others as soon as she opened her mouth.

She spoke slowly and pointedly, "Why doesn't the maid behind you help Concubine Tong find her lost items?"

Li Shuyao was dumbfounded: "..."

Guo Luoluo Qingyao was also a little surprised: "..."

The two people stood at the gate and looked at each other. They didn't expect that they would be picked on even if they were just standing there quietly.

Li Shuyao thought to herself that this was probably the hardship and experience that Qingyao could not avoid no matter what on her way to becoming a big villain.

Guo Luoluo Qingyao sighed in her heart. Her mother had said that she should keep a low profile, but it turned out that this was not a goal that could be easily achieved by just showing weakness once.

There is still a long way to go...

However, seeing that all the palace maids in the hall were kneeling on the ground, searching for things in fear and trepidation, with only Li Shuyao as the palace maid standing upright, it did seem a little inappropriate.

Li Shuyao sighed softly, her little face suddenly looking a little sad. Forget it, just treat it as a duty.

Resigned to your fate, you have to bend your knees and kneel down.

Unexpectedly, Concubine Tong, who was standing under the platform, suddenly spoke up, "Never mind, one more isn't a big deal."

There was a hint of disdain in her expression. She raised her eyelids and glanced lazily at Li Shuyao. She pouted and flicked her handkerchief, saying angrily, "This palace maid doesn't look smart at all. What if she's clumsy again and breaks my things?"

"Just ask her and Guo Luoluo to come over here so they don't get in the way."

Li Shuyao, who was first disliked for being "not smart" and later said to be "clumsy" and "in the way", blinked her big watery eyes and looked at Concubine Tong with a natural and innocent look.

There was some joy in my heart, but not much.

A little angry, but not much.

In short, it is a very complicated emotion that is hard to describe.

She intuitively felt that Concubine Tong didn't really dislike her for being stupid, but... why did she say that?

These words are so unpleasant!

She is obviously very useful, okay?

Li Shuyao puffed up her soft cheeks in dissatisfaction, silently took Qingyao's hand beside her, walked past the palace servants, and came to the group of concubines. She stood consciously in the outermost corner, lowered her head, pouted her mouth slightly, and felt very depressed.

However, she did not notice that Concubine Tong on the high platform looked at her again. Her gaze lingered on her slightly bulging cheek. She didn't know what she remembered, and a smile flashed across the corner of her lips.

He quickly regained his angry expression and turned to look at the palace servants who were searching the hall below, "Hurry up and find it!"

Concubine Nianhulu beside her was not willing to be outdone. She coughed twice and then spoke: "Keep your eyes open. If anyone finds Concubine Tong's lost things first, I will reward you handsomely!"

*

A few more incense sticks passed.

Before the palace maids could find the lost Dongzhu of Concubine Tong, the emperor had already returned from enjoying the cool breeze.

He still reeked of alcohol, his handsome face dignified yet awe-inspiring. His hawk-like eyes scanned the hall. Without a trace of surprise on his face, he addressed the court ladies bowing on the ground and asked in a deep voice, "What happened?"

Concubine Tong and Concubine Niuhulu knelt side by side at the front, their palms slightly moist. They half-knelt on the ground, mustered up the courage to look up, and recounted the whole story and their own guesses. Finally, they said, "The palace servants have been searching for it for a while. If it was accidentally left on the ground, it should have been found long ago."

"But now I haven't seen you for a long time. I can't help but wonder if there might be a thief among the palace servants."

Concubine Niuhulu also spoke quickly at this time: "I think so too."

"Get up first." Upon hearing that the Dongzhu he had been bestowed upon him was missing, the emperor's face showed no sign of anger. Instead, he reached out and helped the two concubines up, one on each side. Then he slowly walked up the steps and sat on the dragon throne. He raised his chin and said in a cold voice, "Liang Jiugong, take all the palace servants on duty in Qin'an Palace today and search them thoroughly."

Half of the palace maids kneeling on the ground suddenly panicked.

The other half were brought by the concubines themselves to serve. When they heard that the emperor was only searching the palace maids on duty in the Qin'an Palace, their faces lit up with joy. After bowing in different gestures, they stood up quickly, not even having time to clean up the dirt on their bodies, and they couldn't wait to return to their master.

Liang Jiugong took the order and went down. After a while, he returned with a whisk in his arms. He frowned and shook his head at the emperor, "Your Majesty, the palace servants on duty at the Qin'an Palace did not find the lost Dongzhu that Concubine Tong had found."

The emperor tapped the handle of the dragon throne thoughtfully, then asked Liang Jiugong, "Are there any palace servants with unusual behavior?"

Liang Jiugong continued to shake his head, "No, these people were transferred here by the Ministry of Internal Affairs two days ago. Before they were transferred here, they were handed over to Nanny Chen from the Ministry of Internal Affairs. They were taught the rules and knew how to distinguish between the important and the unimportant."

What this means is that no one would be brave enough to steal the jewelry from the concubines during the Dragon Boat Festival banquet.

After all, this is a serious sin that can bring disaster to the entire family.

At the outside of the crowd, Li Shuyao suddenly widened her eyes when she heard Liang Jiugong's words, then pinched one of Qingyao's fingers and pulled it twice in panic.

Qingyao quickly whispered to comfort her, "It seems that Song Fuwen sneaked in here on his own, and didn't bribe anyone."

Li Shuyao shook her head gently twice and lowered her voice to Qingyao, "No, I mean, since she's not in Qin'an Palace now, where could she have gone?"

That's a good question.

Guo Luoluo Qingyao frowned and thought for a moment, "Could it be that he's lurking behind the ladies in the palace?"

After all, the palace maids all wore similar green clothes, and if they were mixed in the crowd, it would be difficult to identify them at a glance.

"It's possible!" Li Shuyao quickly stuck her head out and looked around to check.

This scene was seen by the emperor sitting on the dragon throne. It seemed that the person who deliberately framed Li Shuyao was not among the palace servants in Qin'an Palace.

He didn't think that person would mingle among the concubines and palace maids.

However, it is not impossible to check it out; it just takes a little more time.

Then he ordered Liang Jiugong: "Take these people down and search them as well."

He pointed to the huge group of palace people behind the concubines.

Concubine Tong looked behind herself in some doubt, recalling that before the Dongzhu was lost, it seemed that no strange palace servants had approached her, so it was very likely that there was an internal thief?

Concubine Nianhulu also looked at her with an ambiguous look.

The two of them probably thought of going together.

Concubine Tong hesitated for a moment, but quickly made a decision. So what if there was an internal thief? She only had an old nanny and two personal maids who were brought into the palace from the Tong family.

Apart from that, all of them were palace maids sent from the Imperial Household Department, so even if there was an internal thief, the shame would not be brought upon her.

Concubine Tong shook her handkerchief, without even glancing at the panicked palace maids behind her, and let them be taken away by Liang Jiugong's men with an indifferent expression.

Even the palace maids around the concubine were taken away for investigation, let alone Guo Luoluo Qingyao, a government official?

So Li Shuyao was taken away as well.

The only difference between her and other palace maids was that she was taken away alone by an old nanny with a particularly gloomy and terrifying face who was standing next to Liang Jiugong.

After leaving the Qin'an Palace, the palace maids nearby saw her walking straight towards Li Shuyao, and were so frightened that they fell silent for a moment.

This nanny looks like she would prick someone with a needle!

But only Li Shuyao was not very afraid.

Because she had recognized who it was.

So when everyone was hastily retreating, she was the only one who lowered her head and followed Nanny Gong very obediently, walking silently into an empty palace room.

Before Madam Gong turned to look at her, she took the initiative to open her arms to the left and right, her watery, clear eyes full of trust and openness, and said to Madam Gong in a crisp voice: "Madam, I didn't steal it."

After saying that, he took two steps closer and signaled to Matron Gong that she could search him at will.

Nanny Gong could hardly hold back the solemn expression on her face.

She stepped back, reached out and pressed down Li Shuyao's outstretched arms, and tried to soften her voice, "I know it wasn't you."

——She was usually serious, so even if her voice was soft and gentle, it still sounded a bit rough and gravelly to Li Shuyao's ears.

It sounds weird.

Like a big bad wolf coaxing a little white rabbit.

Li Shuyao quietly clenched her fists, trying hard to get rid of the images that appeared in her mind.

Then, she took out the purse from her sleeve and said, "But Mammy, I do have something extra with me today. It's this purse."

"Also, I saw Song Fuwen in the Qin'an Palace two quarters of an hour ago. Apart from two things, I didn't find anything else."

She tried hard to show her useful side to Madam Gong.

Before Madam Gong could ask any questions, she confessed everything in detail. Finally, she placed the purse in the palms of her hands and held it in front of Madam Gong with an extremely pious attitude. "Madam, can you help me take a look and see if this purse is embroidered by Song Fuwen?"

Matron Gong was startled when she heard this. She quickly took the purse and rubbed the embroidery marks on the surface of the purse with her fingertips. She then turned it inside out and carefully examined the stitching. Finally, she shook her head, her tone lacking any emotion. "This purse was probably not embroidered by her, but by another palace maid named 'Ruhui' in the tea room."

As Madam Gong spoke, she brought the purse close to her nose and sniffed it again: "It smells a bit like ambergris, and a few faint traces of moon incense."

Half Moon Incense? Is it an aromatherapy scent?

Li Shuyao blinked in confusion, feeling a little disappointed.

It seems that the plan Qingyao mentioned before is going to fail.

Matron Gong knew she didn't understand, so she took the initiative to explain: "This is a relatively precious spice, with a light and elegant scent that lasts long. It is a recipe left by a scholar during the Song Dynasty. The Imperial Household Department then found several famous spice shops outside the palace and carefully blended it." [1]

"The late Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager loved this flavor. When Concubine Tong was little, she often came to the palace to accompany them. Over time, she naturally came to like this flavor as well. Therefore, after Concubine Tong officially entered the palace as a concubine, the Ministry of Internal Affairs donated all of its limited stock to Chengqian Palace in order to curry favor with her."

Li Shuyao keenly grasped the key point. "So, anything that Concubine Tong wears, whether it's clothing or hair accessories, will inevitably be tainted with Ban Yuexiang's scent as long as it has stayed in Chengqian Palace?"

"It's only natural." Nanny Gong nodded and put the purse away.

"So, even if you have already disposed of the Dongzhu in this purse, as long as this purse is still on you, you cannot escape suspicion."

After a pause, Matron Gong continued, "Besides, this purse was made by Ruhui. No matter how you try to argue, you won't be able to throw the dirty water back on Song Fuwen. She's not in Qin'an Palace right now, and no one in the palace knows her. How can you link this matter to her based on your own words?"

Um? ?

Li Shuyao blinked, and blinked again.

Feeling a little scared, I quietly took two steps back.

Wow, Nanny Gong is really scary. She clearly didn’t say anything, so why does Nanny Gong act like she has already guessed the truth?

Is this the legendary palace fighting intuition?

Could it be that Madam Gong can read minds? This is too fantastical!

Li Shuyao couldn't help but go over the few words she had said before in her mind again. While thinking, she raised her eyes to sneak a peek at the reaction on Nanny Gong's face.

No matter how she suspected and guessed, she could not have imagined that the emperor, who was eavesdropping not far away, had already noticed something when she was in the imperial garden.

After a moment, there was no obvious change in Madam Gong's expression.

Li Shuyao stood with her hands behind her back, four or five steps away from Nanny Gong. She pursed her lips dryly, looking a little honest and aggrieved.

Then he reached out his hand and searched his body over and over again.

Seeing this, Madam Gong was a little puzzled, "What are you doing?"

Li Shuyao answered obediently: "Let's look for anything else."

She searched for a long time but found nothing, so she carefully walked back to Madam Gong, pinching her fingertips. After putting aside all her previous thoughts, she softly asked Madam Gong, "Madam, what should I do now?"

Matron Gong glanced at her and said, "Wait."

"What are you waiting for?" Li Shuyao was stunned.

Madam Gong: "I'll take you back after Eunuch Liang finishes searching the others."

Li Shuyao felt a little worried after hearing this. She asked Madam Gong, "What if I go back too late, Qingyao, no, what if Miss Guo Luoluo gets worried about me?"

Matron Gong: “…”

She glanced at Li Shuyao with a look of dismay, "When it comes to innocence and kindness, you two are equally matched, but when it comes to composure, I'm afraid you're not as good as her."

As she spoke, she couldn't help but taunt Li Shuyao slightly, "You're a year older than her, and after spending more than a year in the palace, you've only grown in age, not anything else."

Li Shuyao became quiet after being "scolded" and did not even mention going back.

He bit his lip, lowered his head, and took the scolding seriously.

After Matron Gong finished speaking, she carefully raised her head and defended herself somewhat unconvincedly, "Matron, I'm actually only seven months and six days older than Miss Guo Luoluo, not a year older. And, I haven't only grown older in years, I've also grown, grown..."

She thought about it for a long time with a little distress, but couldn't figure out what she had grown.

You can't say that I've traveled through time, because the snacks in the Qing Dynasty were sweet and fragrant, and not greasy, so I've increased my appetite and food intake, right?

Mind? It seems that there is indeed no such thing.

The combined intelligence of her and Qingyao probably doesn't reach as much as Song Fuwen alone.

Experience? What is that...

After a long period of fruitless thinking, Li Shuyao's momentum suddenly weakened. With drooping shoulders, he said angrily, "You've grown taller!"

Matron Gong squinted her eyes and said, "..."

As I watched, I suddenly burst out laughing.

*

After all, those palace servants were there to serve the concubines, and the lowest rank among them was third grade. Therefore, after Liang Jiugong suppressed the people, he could only let a few experienced old maids search the body.

After a while, the speed slowed down a lot.

By the time everyone finished searching and returned to Qin'an Hall, the night had already quietly fallen outside and the stars were high in the sky.

Liang Jiugong went up the stairs to report the situation to the emperor.

Concubine Niuhulu, Concubine Tong and several other concubines hurried over.

Li Shuyao walked back to Qingyao and blinked at her twice with smart eyes, indicating that nothing was wrong with her.

Qingyao then felt relieved.

The two held hands and looked up at the high steps again.

There was already a quarrel over there.

Concubine Tong's expression was extremely gloomy, while Concubine Nianhulu, standing aside with a hint of smugness, suggested something: "Perhaps it didn't fall into the Qin'an Palace, but was accidentally left in the Imperial Garden?"

Concubine Tong clutched her handkerchief and said, "No, it must be in the Qin'an Palace. When I saluted the emperor earlier, I also confirmed that the Dongzhu on the hairpin was safe and sound."

But now, nearly two hours have passed since the banquet started, and she didn't pay attention to when the Dongzhu was lost.

As she thought about it, Concubine Tong felt a chill in her heart.

If she can't find it back...she will be charged with the crime of losing the gift from the emperor...

Concubine Nianhulu saw all her reactions and felt more and more proud in her heart, but she still managed to pretend to be worried, as if she was really worried about Concubine Tong.

The emperor did not pay attention to what the two concubines beside him said.

His attention was all on the two little girls not far away who were holding hands with innocent expressions.

The loss of Dongzhu is not a big deal, but it is not a small matter either. It all depends on how he chooses.

As for Song Fuwen, he had ordered several guards to capture him before returning to the palace. Now he was in the side hall, waiting to be summoned.

If the usual process is followed, he would not need to make a decision. He only needs to give an order, and no matter how big the conspiracy of that person is, the Ministry of Punishment will have thousands of ways to make her reveal her purpose.

But... this won't serve any educational purpose.

He had long intended to raise Guo Luoluo's rank, but had delayed issuing the decree. Firstly, he did not want her to be targeted by those in the harem with ulterior motives, and secondly, he had decided to have several maids in the Palace of Heavenly Purity teach her some self-protection techniques.

As for whether she would use these learned methods to harm others...

That depends on whether she has the ability to escape the eyes of the old maids and the Queen Mother in the palace.

But the emperor still subconsciously believed in Guo Luoluo.

As for Li Shuyao... tsk, it's no exaggeration to say that even if she was given a knife, she wouldn't think of killing anyone. She'd probably just throw the knife away immediately and run away as fast as she could...

He wouldn't even think of burying the murder weapon.

Thinking of this, the emperor's heavy heart suddenly relaxed and his expression became a little brighter.

He hid his hand under the table and quietly gestured to the guards beside him.

The guards quickly took the order and left.

Soon, he carried Song Fuwen back to the Qin'an Palace and threw him to the ground without any courtesy. He half-knelt and reported, "Your Majesty, an incense stick of time ago, the palace guards caught a palace maid acting suspiciously around the Imperial Garden. I wonder if she is related to the theft of Concubine Tong's Dongzhu."

Concubine Tong suddenly came to her senses and looked at Song Fuwen with a gloomy expression. Her voice was a little sharp, "It was you who stole my Dongzhu?"

Song Fuwen knelt on the ground, her whole body trembling violently. She leaned her head against the ground with a guilty conscience and replied in panic: "Slave, I am innocent. I don't know what Dongzhu is."

"Then raise your head." Concubine Tong's voice was surprisingly cold.

After seeing Song Fuwen's face clearly, she tightened the handkerchief in her hand. "I remember you. You came to me three times in half an hour, and each time you were holding a blue and white porcelain wine pot with a magpie pattern, right?"

Song Fuwen didn't expect that she even remembered this, and a trace of panic flashed across his eyes.

Soon, she suppressed it again and knelt on the ground again, "Your servant, I don't know what the Empress is talking about. The wine pot in my hand was given to me by Eunuch Wu from the Qin'an Palace. He ordered me to be responsible for pouring wine for the Empresses..."

"Also, every time I went over, Her Majesty's cup was always filled with wine. Except for the first time when it was filled, the next two times, didn't she glance at it from a distance and then walk away?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the irritation on Concubine Tong's face disappeared completely.

A hint of coldness also flashed across Concubine Nianhulu's eyes. Among the other concubines, some instantly understood something, while others were confused and puzzled, and pulled their left and right to ask questions.

Li Shuyao leaned close to Qingyao's ear and asked, "Is there anything wrong with what she said?"

The logic is clear and there is no flaw.

According to Song Fuwen, she went near Concubine Tong three times in total, and only the first time did she actually come into contact with her. The other two times she just looked at her from a distance and then left.

So there is no possibility of taking action.

And if she succeeded the first time, why did she have to go twice more?

Isn't this a perfect alibi for her?

Qingyao shook her head and sighed, "You just think things are too simple."

"You can't just listen to what she said, but think about why she remembers it so clearly."

You should know that there is a rule in the palace regulations that when a palace servant serves in front of the master, unless the master instructs otherwise, he must always keep his head down and look directly at the floor, and he must not look at the master's face at all times.

And today in the Qin'an Palace, there are more than a dozen of the emperor's concubines. Amidst the clinking of glasses and the mixed company, how could she remember accurately how many times she poured wine for Concubine Tong and how many times she failed?

Unless she has been secretly keeping an eye on Concubine Tong.

Even after Qingyao's suggestion, Li Shuyao still didn't understand.

A huge, clear question mark appeared on the delicate white face.

Qingyao: "..."

She sighed again, almost crushing the Chinese characters into pieces before she could pour them into Li Shuyao's empty brain.

Then, she looked at Li Shuyao with a hint of pity in her eyes: "I thought I was already stupid enough among these ladies, but I didn't expect that Sister Shuyao could be even better than me..."

After a pause, she continued to tease: "It seems that Concubine Tong's vision is as sharp as a spur, and it is indeed very vicious."

Li Shuyao puffed up her cheeks in displeasure, feeling unconvinced in her heart, but... the fact was such that she had no room for quibbling.

He could only bitterly turn over the contents of the book "Biography of Concubine De" in his heart, and recite it over and over again with gritted teeth, vowing that one day he would be able to adapt to the local customs and become a master of palace fighting!

*

On the other side, Song Fuwen was still kneeling on the ground, not understanding why Concubine Tong didn't continue to ask questions after he had just finished speaking?

It shouldn't be like this.

According to her original plan, the person kneeling in the center of the hall and enduring everyone's questioning should be Li Shuyao!

In the morning, she discussed embroidery techniques with Ruhui and successfully obtained a purse embroidered by Ruhui herself. In the afternoon, she changed into the old clothes she had worn when she was a common palace maid, sneaked into the Qin'an Palace, and after observing from the shadows, she finally set her sights on the precarious oriental pearl in Concubine Tong's hairpin.

He waited for nearly two quarters of an hour before the pearl fell from the hairpin. While pouring wine for Concubine Nara, he successfully took away the pearl that had rolled to a place not far from the seat under her.

Then put it into Ruhui's purse and quietly put it into Li Shuyao's sleeve.

If there was any mistake, it was that before leaving, she was accidentally stopped by Guo Luoluo, who made her stay for a while longer. She deliberately found a bench with broken legs from the side hall, hoping to take the opportunity to embarrass Li Shuyao in public.

Besides that, even when they were evacuating, they were accidentally discovered by the palace guards...

If she had known this, she shouldn't have left at this time.

However, when the palace servants searched, how could she explain to Eunuch Liang why she appeared in Qin'an Palace today wearing the clothes of an ordinary palace maid.

It seems that no matter how I plan, it's always a vicious circle.

...No, that's not right, she was wrong.

Dongzhu is with Li Shuyao, so Concubine Tong should be interrogating Li Shuyao. Why is she interrogating her?!

Perhaps knowing that her fate today would not be good, Song Fuwen actually had some desperate thoughts in her mind. Then she clenched her fists and said boldly: "Madam Tong, I am truly wronged. If you don't believe me, I am willing to accept the nanny's body search to prove my innocence!"

"It's just that today in the Qin'an Palace, there are more than just me, the palace maids acting suspiciously!"

"I just felt a dull pain in my stomach and wanted to relieve myself, so I planned to leave for a while, but I was taken away by the guards."

"As for Li Shuyao, she was clearly a tea-serving maid in the Qianqing Palace, but somehow she tricked Lady Guo Luoluo into bringing her to the Qin'an Hall for a banquet. During the banquet, she even crouched under Lady Guo Luoluo's table several times, doing something furtive."

"So, if the Empress's Dongzhu was lost, could it have rolled to the feet of Miss Guo Luoluo and been secretly taken away by Li Shuyao?"

As soon as she finished speaking, before Concubine Tong had any doubts in her heart, Nanny Gong beside Liang Jiugong stood up with a sullen face.

"Miss Song, are you doubting this old servant?"

When he heard her call out his last name, Song Fuwen's face turned pale again. Only then did he realize that he had already been recognized by Liang Jiugong and several maids.

Why was Li Shuyao not punished for sneaking into the Qin'an Palace to attend the banquet?

There is only one reason, Li Shuyao followed Lady Guo Luoluo to the banquet with the emperor's permission!

So even though she knew that Dongzhu was with Li Shuyao, for the sake of the Palace of Purity and the emperor's reputation, even if Nanny Gong found it, she didn't dare to bring it up in public.

I can only push her out to be the scapegoat...

Li, Shu, Yao!

When Song Fuwen thought of these three words, he felt extremely hateful.

The emperor was so attentive and meticulous in planning for her that even Concubine Nianhulu and Concubine Tong in the harem did not receive such favor and treatment.

Doesn't this just prove that the emperor has taken a fancy to her?

In this case, among those present, only Concubine Tong can save her.

Thinking of this, Song Fuwen kowtowed several times to Concubine Tong, and raised three fingers at the same time, "Madam Concubine Tong, I dare to swear to the Eternal Heaven that the Oriental Pearl must be in Li Shuyao's hands. Please send someone to search her body carefully!"

"We will definitely find Dongzhu!"

She said this with such force that many people present believed her and cast suspicious glances at Li Shuyao one after another.

Li Shuyao's wrist was instantly held very tightly by Qingyao.

Li Shuyao tilted her head slightly to glance at Qingyao, and found that the expression on her face was not as relaxed as before. Her black eyes, which were always smiling and lively, were now filled with dark clouds. She even bit her lower lip in anger, and she looked like she was about to turn evil.

Li Shuyao quickly grabbed Qingyao's hand and comforted her in a quick voice: "It's okay, don't be afraid. Dongzhu is not with us. We can search again. I'm not afraid anyway." She also remembered to lower her voice.

Qingyao was stunned, not knowing what she had thought of, and her fingers slowly loosened the strength of their grip on Li Shuyao's wrist.

His expression didn't look as gloomy and scary as before.

Li Shuyao broke free from her hands, walked forward bravely, and knelt down with her heart pounding.

After kneeling down, he found that he was not far from Song Fuwen, only about two steps away.

After thinking for a moment, she lifted her skirt and moved her knees, kneeling a little further away from Song Fuwen. Then she put down her skirt, placed her hands on her forehead, and kowtowed towards the steps. After a proper salute, she straightened her back again and said to Concubine Tong calmly, "Your Majesty, the Oriental Pearl is not on me. I am willing to accept the search by the nanny to prove my innocence!"

She repeated Song Fuwen's words almost word for word.

When Song Fuwen spoke, he looked flustered and at a loss, with obvious guilt and inability to speak.

And when it was Li Shuyao's turn...

Her actions of catching butterflies with Qingyao in the Cining Palace that morning had already left an impression of her pure heart in the minds of the concubines. Later, when they came to the Qin'an Palace, everyone witnessed with their own eyes how her and Qingyao's minds were full of snacks and food.

To be honest, if a chicken drumstick and an oriental pearl appeared in front of her and Guo Luoluo Qingyao at the same time...

The first thing they would do is rush to the chicken leg with stars in their eyes.

There is greed, but it is not certain what it is directed at.

Following this line of thought, Concubine Tong thought more deeply, and felt that if the Dongzhu on her hairpin was really accidentally dropped and kicked around on the ground, and finally kicked to the feet of Li Shuyao and Guo Luoluo Qingyao, the two of them would probably pick it up and put their heads together to discuss whether it was edible.

Once they find out that it is inedible, they will probably report it to the head nanny of Qin'an Temple, saying that they have picked up a beautiful pearl, and then hand the pearl to the nanny, asking her to find the real owner of the pearl.

Instead of just taking it away with ulterior motives!

And judging from what Matron Gong just said, she probably knew this palace maid.

Furthermore, Li Shuyao's actions when she knelt down just now also showed that there was a big rift between her and this palace maid, and there might be some irreconcilable hatred.

In order to clear himself, he threw dirty water on Li Shuyao, the easiest person to bully, among those present?

Or perhaps the Dongzhu was indeed accidentally lost, but was picked up by this palace maid, who deliberately stuffed the pearl into Li Shuyao's body to frame her. Then, during a body search, it was found by Madam Gong, who probably knew her character well and knew she was not a greedy person, so she reported it to the Emperor.

His Majesty ordered people to search the surrounding area and finally caught the palace maid!

Therefore, it is very likely that Dongzhu is not in Li Shuyao's possession, but in the hands of Nanny Gong.

After knowing that Dongzhu was not lost, Concubine Tong suddenly felt relieved. The look in her eyes when she looked at Song Fuwen was no longer filled with murderous intent, but with a hint of pity.

After all... they are all dying, so why should she care about that?

Concubine Tong's expression eased, and when she spoke again, her tone was like a spring breeze, "No need to search, I trust you."

After saying this, she turned around and saluted the emperor gracefully, "Your Majesty, I believe that Li Shuyao is not the one who will steal the Dongzhu."

After a pause, she continued, "I also believe that with the emperor's wisdom and bravery, I will definitely seek justice for me. So, for now, I will obey the emperor's arrangements in all matters."

What she meant was that the emperor only needed to return the Dongzhu to her afterwards and not blame her for losing it.

Li Shuyao knelt on the ground with a confused expression.

ah?

Why?

Isn’t Concubine Tong the main villain in the early part of the original novel?

Why did he suddenly show his affection towards her?

Still believe in her...but she doesn't even dare to believe herself.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have searched himself in the side hall.

On the steps, after Concubine Tong finished speaking, she stood aside by herself.

The emperor, whom she had entrusted with all her trust, was also a little confused at this moment.

His expression was calm, so no one in the hall noticed anything wrong with him except himself.

He knew for sure that the real culprit behind all this was Song Fuwen, and he had ordered people to capture her early on. Even if Concubine Tong didn't speak up, he wouldn't allow anyone else to search Li Shuyao's body.

As the tea-serving palace maid in the Palace of Heavenly Purity, once Song Fuwen's identity is exposed, everything she does today, including what she says, will become the object of suspicion in the future.

Just one thing... he really didn't know where the Dongzhu had gone.

Among those present, probably only Li Shuyao and Guo Luoluo Qingyao knew about it.

He ordered someone to bring Song Fuwen out, firstly to clear Li Shuyao's suspicion on the spot, and secondly to hope that Li Shuyao would take the initiative to tell the whereabouts of the Dongzhu during the defense.

But I never thought that Concubine Tong would let it go...

How should Li Shuyao speak about this?

It was also the first time that the emperor took the initiative to worry about a palace maid.