"That's perfect, take this and wear it. I'll make another one for you later and have it delivered."

Baili Zhou watched as Baili Yao wandered around like a headless fly, thinking of this and that, going to get things wherever she felt like, and then she continued talking.

——————

When Wei Linglong woke up, she was surrounded by darkness and instinctively said, "Bai Cai, light the lamp."

Just as Wei Linglong had expected, the lights came on, but not by Bai Cai; they were lit by Zou Heng.

After Wei Linglong used the light to see her surroundings clearly, a hint of fear appeared in her eyes.

"Commander Zou, what do you intend to do by bringing me to a place like this?"

Wei Linglong stood up from the ground, dusted off her clothes, and began to question Zou Heng.

But Zou Heng didn't answer Wei Linglong's question; instead, he grabbed her by the collar and dragged her out.

The palace paths at night are always so quiet, even a little eerie.

"Let me go! Where are you taking me?"

"Do you believe I'll have His Majesty kill you?!"

Throughout the journey, Wei Linglong kept talking, but Zou Heng didn't answer her once, simply leading her forward.

Zou Heng directly brought Wei Linglong to Yunfeng Pavilion.

When the gate opened, Wei Linglong saw someone standing inside. When she recognized the person in the courtyard, she looked at them with affection and called out.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you've finally arrived! This Commander Zou has been making unwanted advances towards me!"

As soon as Wei Linglong was thrown to the ground by Zou Heng, she immediately got up and ran towards Qin Jue. Just as she reached Qin Jue, he kicked her away.

"His Majesty?"

Qin Jue didn't speak, and Wei Linglong roughly understood what he meant. She slowly got up from the ground and looked at Qin Jue. This time, there was no love in Wei Linglong's eyes.

After standing still, he dusted himself off and asked indifferently, "May I ask what brings Your Majesty here?"

"What is it that you don't understand?"

"There are too many things to discuss; Your Majesty is not sure which matter you are referring to."

After being taken to that dark, secret room by Zou Heng and spending a day there, Wei Linglong finally understood.

However, Wei Linglong didn't panic. She felt she had done a good job, and even if others didn't know, the worst that could happen was that she'd be sent to the Cold Palace.

"Did you do what happened to the Empress eight years ago?"

Wei Linglong was stunned, then shook her head. She knew that if she said yes, she might truly die without a burial place.

"The assassin who tried to kill the princess a few days ago was sent by you."

Wei Linglong shook her head again.

"You poisoned Lu Hua?"

Wei Linglong was about to nod, but then, remembering the poison that had poisoned Lu Hua, she shook her head.

"So what did you do?"

Hearing Qin Jue's calm voice, Wei Linglong assumed that Qin Jue believed her. Even if he didn't believe her completely, he believed her halfway, and since there was no further evidence, he seemed unfazed.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty only killed a few palace maids and eunuchs; they were so ignorant."

"Yes, I know."

"Bring the person up."

Wei Linglong was about to speak when she heard Qin Jue say, "Bring the person up." Wei Linglong panicked for a moment, but quickly regained her composure.

Before long, three palace maids and one eunuch were brought forward.

"Your Majesty, spare my life! Your Majesty, spare my life!"

The three men knelt on the ground, kowtowing to Qin Jue and begging for their lives.

"Tell me what you know."

Qin Jue pointed to the little palace maid at the very edge. If Qiu Meibai were here, she would definitely recognize her; she was the little palace maid from that night.

“A few nights ago, I overheard Sister Bai Cai asking Sister Hong Zhi to hire a murderer to kill the princess, but Sister Hong Zhi had a relapse at the time, so Sister Bai Cai left.”

The next day, Sister Bai Cai came to see Sister Hong Zhi again, and Hong Zhi agreed. That night, I... I told the princess. When I got back, I saw... I saw...

I saw Sister Bai Cai trying to strangle Sister Hong Zhi. After Sister Bai Cai left, I saved Sister Hong Zhi.

"That's all I know, Your Majesty. Please spare my life, Your Majesty!"

After speaking, the young palace maid repeatedly kowtowed to Qin Jue, begging him to spare her life.

"May I have your name?"

"My name is Dongtao."

Upon hearing the name, Qin Jue looked up at Dong Tao and asked, "Who named you?"

"I've been in the palace since I was a child. The old nanny who raised me told me that my name was given to me by a concubine."

Upon hearing this, a series of images flashed through Qin Jue's mind.

————

"Your Majesty, I have bestowed a name upon a palace maid today; she is called Dongtao."

Xiao Liyan handed the hand warmer in her hand to Qin Jue, who had just entered the palace.

"You don't need to tell me."

"Dongtao was found on the street by an old nanny who begged me for the favor of raising her. So I simply gave her a name."

"Well, it's up to you to decide."

Qin Jue, holding a hand warmer, sat down at the dining table and continued listening to Xiao Liyan talk about the baby.

——————

"In that case, you shall serve the princess from now on."

"This servant kowtows to thank Your Majesty, this servant kowtows to thank Your Majesty."

"Step back"

Upon hearing Qin Jue's words, Dong Tao retreated with a happy expression.

Bai Cai and Hong Zhi, who remained where they were, exchanged a glance, also wanting to go and serve the princess.

Qin Jue glanced at the three people remaining on the ground, and Hong Zhi and Bai Cai immediately began to speak.

"This servant...this servant..."

Hongzhi wanted to say something, but since she knew nothing, she could only remain silent.

Bai Cai hurriedly followed.

"Consort Hua was poisoned by Consort Jun, and the assassins who tried to kill the princess were also sent by Consort Jun."

"Even...even the Empress's poisoning was because of Consort Yan."

"You're talking nonsense!!!"

Upon hearing that Bai Cai had betrayed her, Wei Linglong pointed at Bai Cai and, while speaking, walked up to him and slapped him across the face.

The young eunuch beside him quickly chimed in.

"Consort Yan also plotted against Consort Wan's sworn sister, Tang Yu."

I don't know which word offended Hongzhi, but Hongzhi suddenly screamed.

"ah--"

"Green leaves...green leaves, dead...the Imperial Garden...the lake...in the lake...dead...dead."

Sanhezi walked to Qin Jue's side, "Your Majesty, she may be having a relapse..."

Qin Jue glanced sideways at Sanhezi, who immediately understood and began giving orders.

"Pull him down."

Hongzhi screamed as she was pulled down.

Bai Cai continued, "This servant knows a secret of Consort Yan."

"There have been a lot of deaths in the palace lately, and it is the work of Consort Yan."

It's unclear where Consort Jian heard it, but drinking human blood could beautify the skin and preserve youth. Therefore, she ordered the killing of many palace maids and eunuchs, who were then buried in the Cold Palace.

Wei Linglong had already sat down on the ground while everyone was recounting their stories, and started laughing as soon as they finished.

"Ha ha ha ha"