Chapter 184 Kidnapped

In a secluded room in a manor on the outskirts of the capital, Shangguan Jin and Hua Yueniang sat side by side.

Shen Qingyue and Hua Wanli stood behind the two.

Opposite them was an elderly palace maid in her fifties, blindfolded and strapped to a chair.

She frantically shook her head from side to side, trying to figure out where she was from the sounds around her.

Wasn't she just walking peacefully in the Imperial Garden, preparing things for the Empress Dowager to use early in the morning?

How did I end up here?

"Where is this? What kind of thieves are these? How dare they kidnap a palace lady?"

"How dare you!" The old palace servant remained assertive.

For so many years, who has dared to touch anyone in the Empress Dowager's palace?

Shangguan Jin smiled silently and looked at Hua Yueniang beside her.

If the intention was not to let this old palace maid go back alive after she was tied up, why blindfold her?

Shangguan Jin was a little confused.

But soon, Shangguan Jin realized Hua Yueniang's purpose in doing so.

As time went on, the old palace servant's attitude changed significantly.

From being arrogant and domineering at the beginning to softening his attitude later, it only took less than half an incense stick's time.

"I don't know if you're looking for money or if you want to get something done?"

Anything that I can do, I will do for you heroes.

I am just a palace maid; I have nothing else, but I have saved up quite a bit of silver.

If you don't mind...

By the end, the old palace maid's voice had become pleading...

Shangguan Jin understood; this was a psychological tactic. The less people know about their surroundings, the more panicked they become...

Once you panic, many things become easier to handle...

"Silver? What can I do if I don't need it?" Hua Yueniang suddenly said.

However, Hua Yueniang's tone now was completely different from her usual sweet and coquettish tone.

Hua Yueniang's tone was now filled with indifference, disdain, and even a hint of murderous intent...

"Heroine... then why did you kidnap me?" The old palace servant panicked even more when she heard a woman's voice.

Often, women are more ruthless than men...

"There are some old stories I'd like you to ask about, and I hope Granny Sang can tell me frankly," Hua Yueniang said slowly.

The old palace maid who was brought in was none other than Sang Qinghuan.

She visibly trembled when Hua Yueniang mentioned her surname.

"I am only in charge of some utensils and furnishings in the Empress Dowager's palace. I am not familiar with other matters," Sang Qinghuan said nervously.

"Who asked you about things in the Empress Dowager's palace?"

"What I want to ask is about what happened in the late Emperor's Consort Wan's palace before you went to the Empress Dowager's palace," Hua Yueniang continued.

Sang Qinghuan's body trembled violently.

Shangguan Jin could see that her hands, which were tied up and pressed against the armrest of the chair, clenched up immediately.

"What Consort Wan... I don't know."

"Don't know? Do you need me to help you remember?"

Sang Qinghuan entered the palace in the 21st year of the Wu Yuan era, starting as a washing maid.

In the same year, Consort Wan, who was then just a noblewoman, entered the palace.

The late emperor doted on Consort Wan, and when selecting palace maids for her, he always chose those from the Jiangnan region.

And you, being from Guazhou, became fast friends with Consort Wan, who was originally from Jinling.

They promoted you from the lowest-ranking palace maid to their personal maid.

In just three years, you became one of the head maids in Consort Wan's palace.

Consort Wan trusts you implicitly...

"It was only two years after Consort Wan's death that you went to the palace of the former Empress, now the Empress Dowager, am I right?" Hua Yueniang said, word by word.

Sang Qinghuan's hands trembled even more violently.

She was even more frightened, because very few people in the palace knew about her past and present.

The old palace maids have mostly been replaced long ago.

How did this woman know that?

Seeing that Sang Qinghuan remained silent, Hua Yueniang gave a cold laugh.

"What? Don't you remember? Do you need me to help you recall?"

And you shouldn't even think about proving your innocence with your death.

You have someone on your mind, someone you can't bear to part with!

Upon hearing Hua Yueniang's words, Sang Qinghuan froze.

She couldn't believe her ears. What had this woman just said? She had someone on her mind? How did she know...?

"My patience is limited. I'll say something more, and if you still don't want to talk about it, guess what I'll do?"

After you were promoted to head palace maid in Consort Wan's palace, your status rose accordingly. Not only did you come into contact with more people, but you also became bolder.

When Consort Wan was three months pregnant, you became involved with a palace guard surnamed Liang.

Not only did they have a secret affair, but Huanzhu also became pregnant with his child.

After Consort Wan left, it was said that you went to another palace.

Actually, you found a secluded palace to give birth to the child.

Of course, you couldn't have done all of this on your own without Empress Zheng's arrangements at the time.

At that time, you gave birth to a baby boy and were escorted out of the palace overnight by a guard surnamed Liang.

That child is now named Liang Youcai, and he is thirty-three years old.

He indulged in all five vices: eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring.

He had a principal wife and two concubines, and they lived in Tonghua Lane in the capital. They had two sons and a daughter.

The oldest is already thirteen years old. I heard he's doing well in his studies and has already become a junior scholar.

Over the years, you've amassed quite a fortune in the palace.

On the sixteenth of every month, she would ask someone to deliver the silver she obtained from the palace to her son's family.

For thirty years, I haven't missed a single one.

"Sang Qinghuan, tell me, am I right or wrong?" Hua Wanli continued.

Sang Qinghuan was truly in despair...

How did this woman know these things?

Even the Empress Dowager couldn't possibly know such details!

She must have connections to know all this and even manage to escape from the palace...

"Don't overthink it. You wouldn't want your children and grandchildren to suffer unexpected harm because you're too tight-lipped, would you?"

Tonghua Lane...

It's not far from here, maybe in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Sang Qinghuan, don't you want to see your children and grandchildren?

Having spent so many years in the palace, you must miss your children and grandchildren very much!

"Should I do something kind?" Hua Yue Niang asked with a smile.

The more friendly Hua Yueniang's attitude was, the more violently Sang Qinghuan's hands trembled.

"Tell me! Tell me! I'll tell you whatever you ask me!"

"Please don't hurt my child," Sang Qinghuan shouted.

"Why are you shouting so loudly? Don't worry, this is a secret room, no one can hear you!"

Since you've agreed, let's begin!

"Let me remind you again, my patience is limited. If even one thing doesn't match what I know, your son will have another hole in his body," Hua Yueniang continued.

Sang Qinghuan had no choice but to nod frantically.

Shangguan Jin turned her head and glanced at Hua Yueniang.

No wonder Hua Wanli has been saying that her mother is busy these past two days.

So they went to investigate these matters...

However, the fact that these palace secrets were uncovered suggests that the eunuch Hu I introduced must have put in a lot of effort...