Chapter 158 Weaving a Web

Shen He looked at him.

The little Quanzi quickly glanced at the Sixth Prince on the couch, and seeing that he was fast asleep, he moved closer.

"There's a call from the Dance Training Department."

"It is said that the young palace maid who was preparing the silk was careless and mistakenly took the inferior tribute silk from the storehouse, which led to the big mistake."

He paused, his voice lowering even more.

"That little palace maid committed suicide last night out of fear of punishment."

Committed suicide out of fear of punishment.

What a clean and neat "suicide out of fear of punishment".

Chen He's eyes narrowed slightly.

She did not look at the breakfast on the table, but raised her eyes and looked carefully at the little eunuch in front of her.

Yesterday, he still looked frightened and at a loss.

But now, he stood there with his head lowered and his eyes submissively looking, but deep in his eyes, there was a shrewdness and calmness that did not match his age.

That is a kind of clarity after assessing the situation.

Shen He suddenly remembered.

Yesterday, under Lanpin's fury, everyone was silent.

It was this little powerful man who, in a desperate attempt to protect himself, pointed the finger at himself.

But it was precisely because of that finger that the Sixth Prince later relied on him, that he had the "escort" of the imperial physician, and that he was standing here safely at this moment.

Was it an unintentional act or was it intentional?

Now it seems self-evident.

He knew who would be most useful to tell this news to.

He also knew what kind of people in this deep palace were worth his gamble.

The corner of Chen He's mouth curled up in a subtle arc.

He is a smart man.

The arc disappeared in an instant, replaced by icy indifference.

She raised her eyes, her gaze like two sharp daggers, piercing straight at Xiao Quanzi.

"That's really fast."

Her voice was not loud, but it was like an ice pick, hitting people's hearts.

Xiao Quanzi's body stiffened and his head drooped even lower, almost buried in his chest.

Chen He continued, enunciating each word clearly.

"Thank you for telling me."

"I've made a note of that."

These five light words are heavier than a thousand-pound rock.

What did you write down?

Is it this "feeling" that was recorded, or is it this incident that was recorded?

Xiao Quanzi is an expert, so of course he can understand the hidden meaning.

Instead of panicking, the corners of his mouth, which had been tense all the time, lifted up almost imperceptibly.

A knowing, intelligent smile.

He made the right bet.

The eldest daughter of the Shen family was far more interesting than he had imagined.

"I don't deserve it."

He didn't say another word, just bowed deeply, lowered his body, and retreated quietly, as if he had never appeared.

Silence returned to the hall.

Chen He walked to the window and pushed open the carved wooden window.

The cool breeze in the early morning, mixed with the freshness of soil and flowers, blew on her face, but it could not blow away the coldness in her eyes.

An innocent little palace maid became an abandoned pawn.

Her stepmother, her good sister, really hasn't made any progress at all, and her methods are still so shameful.

A very light sneer escaped from Chen He's lips.

Subconsciously, she gently stroked a plain silver bracelet on her wrist.

That's from Ya'an.

He was the first loyal servant she quietly rescued from the cannibalistic Shen family after her rebirth.

"Ya'an..."

She murmured softly, as if calling a comrade from afar.

“Chen Jiao…”

Thinking of this name, her eyes suddenly became as sharp as an eagle.

"I'm really looking forward to the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet more and more."

…

She turned back to the couch, wrung out the handkerchief again, and carefully wiped Xiao Jingchi's cheeks and neck.

His fever had completely subsided, but he was still a little weak and slept very deeply.

Chen He took good care of him, whispered a few words to the palace maid on duty, and then slowly walked out of Luoyang Palace.

She needed to take a walk around the palace.

The tension of the long night and the silent confrontation just now made her need some fresh air to clear her head.

In the dim morning light, palace maids who had gotten up early were already sweeping the palace roads.

The dew wet the bluestone slabs, reflecting tiny rays of light in the morning light.

There were a few birds singing in the distance, clear and melodious.

Everything seems so peaceful and vibrant.

But Chen He knew that beneath this peace, there were turbulent undercurrents and countless bones.

Chen He walked slowly, his mind clear.

The greatest benefit of rebirth is not that it gives you the ability to predict the future.

But when you fall into the dust and the abyss, when you are at your most desperate and helpless in your previous life, it allows you to see clearly who is a human and who is a ghost.

It is to make you remember those pairs of eyes that are filled with pity, indifference, hatred, or support.

In her previous life, those impoverished imperial guards who quietly gathered the remains of her family members in the mass grave;

The unfamiliar housekeeper who secretly gave her a cold steamed bun at the vegetable market;

These people, scattered in the cracks of power, have been insulted and harmed, yet still retain a trace of kindness and courage...

In this life, she didn't let anyone go.

She quietly gathered them, one by one, under her wings.

Using favors, benefits and promises, she weaves a huge web that only she knows about.

Chen He finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She raised her head and looked at the rising red sun in the sky.

The brilliant light pierced through the clouds.

Her net has been cast.

Now, it's time to reel in the thread.

***

The days passed by one by one in such a strange calm.

Chen He arrives at noon and returns at midnight every day, taking care of Xiao Jingchi meticulously.

Medicine, meals, comfort, companionship.

She did it perfectly, as if she was born to do it.

Lanpin's attitude changed so quickly from her initial vigilance to her later acquiescence and now to her current dependence that she didn't even notice it.

And Xiao Jingchi became more and more dependent on her.

"Sister Ah He, this doesn't taste good."

"Sister Ah He, tell me a story."

"Sister Ah He, please don't leave."

He was like a clingy little animal, following Shen He all day long, his clear eyes filled with her.

Chen He always had patience and coaxed her with soft words.

Only she herself knew that whenever Xiao Jingchi looked at her with those innocent eyes, her heart would skip a beat uncontrollably.

In a blink of an eye, it was two days before the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet.

The autumn weather is clear and refreshing, and the courtyard of Luoyang Palace is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus.

Chen He sat on a stone bench, holding a willow branch in his hand, scratching the ground intermittently.

Xiao Jingchi was right at her feet, concentrating on playing a nine-ring game.

"Sister Ah He, look, I untied it!"

He held up the toy in his hand as if presenting a treasure.

Shen He came back to his senses, smiled and touched his head.

"Jing Chi is really amazing."

Her gaze passed through the courtyard wall and looked towards the high sky.

Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet.

Everyone and everything is caught in the trap.

She repeatedly deduced every step in her mind to ensure that there were no mistakes.

Everything is perfect.

Except...

Chen He's brows knitted up almost imperceptibly.

Xue Minglan.

Chen He closed his eyes, and the fragmented memories of his previous life and the clues he had collected in this life began to be quickly pieced together and reorganized in his mind.

She gradually understood the source of the Queen's endless disgust and hatred for Xue Minglan.

Chen He's heart felt like it was being tightly grasped by an invisible hand, making it feel dull and painful.

"Sister Ah He?"

Xiao Jingchi's voice brought her back to her senses.

He raised his little face and looked at her worriedly.

"What's wrong with you? Are you unhappy?"

Chen He took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in her heart, and gave him a soothing smile.

"It's okay, sister is thinking about something."

She stood up and brushed the dust off her skirt.

"Jing Chi, be good and play here for a while. I'll be out for a while and will be back soon."

"where are you going?"

"To meet a... friend."