"It's been a while since we last met. I didn't expect that even though you're already the Concubine Jia, you're still acting so recklessly. Back then, you barged into the Yiqing Terrace without hesitation, disrupting my practice and accidentally injuring your maid. Have you forgotten about it now?"
Wei Shuyi finally saw the person she wanted to see. She gave Yu Huai a noncommittal smile and said, "Such a mistake caused the Imperial Master to be banished to the wilderness to provide disaster relief. After all this time, you are the one who should remember it. Why should I remember it?"
Yu Huai looked at her without saying anything.
Instead, he walked to the table and poured a cup of tea.
"I didn't expect that Concubine Jia would come. I didn't come to greet her from afar, so I am here to welcome her with tea instead of wine."
"You are too polite, Master Imperial Master. I came here today to ask about an old matter."
"If this is what I know, I will tell you everything. But if it's beyond..."
Before he could finish, Wei Shuyi smiled and interrupted, "On the day you injured Wen Yu, I saw the name of the Duke of Wei on the wall. However, when the Emperor came again, the words on the wall unexpectedly disappeared. I wonder what kind of magic the Imperial Master used to achieve this?"
A flicker of discomfort flashed across Yu Huai's face, but he still chose to lie: "Who is the Duke of Wei? Why haven't I heard of him? And... maybe the Queen was frightened that day and had hallucinations. There's never been any words carved on this wall! The Emperor even came to inspect it himself later."
Wei Shuyi interrupted his sophistry again: "You can lie to others about this, but based on my past experience, I would never hallucinate due to being frightened. It seems that the Grand Master is unwilling to say it?"
"Your Majesty, I find this very strange. You've already lived a life of luxury, the apple of His Majesty's eye. Why are you still trying to embarrass me? After all, I was once your savior. Should I leave you a way out so we can meet again in the future?"
"Master Imperial Preceptor, you should tell the Imperial Concubine this. If she hadn't repeatedly attacked my concubine Zhaohua, I wouldn't have been so focused on keeping a close eye on her!"
As expected of the Imperial Master, even though he had been forced into a corner, he still maintained an elegant smile and showed no sign of panic.
"Empress Jiapin, I just don't understand what you're saying. How could it be my turn to speak to the Imperial Concubine about her affairs? There are so many palace maids and eunuchs in Chengqian Palace, they'll naturally warn her a little."
Wei Shuyi was about to say something when he suddenly noticed a familiar person approaching and bowing to Yu Huai: "Master Imperial Master, His Majesty has given us a new mission. Would you like to go and take a look?"
This also gave him a way out. Yu Huai nodded and ordered them to leave. "Empress Jiapin, as you can see, His Majesty has assigned a new task. As a minister, I have no choice but to check it out. Otherwise, why don't you return to Lin'an Palace first?"
She drank the tea in one gulp, unguarded. "If that's the case, I've made another wasted trip. I'll take my leave for now."
She didn't leave Yiqing Terrace, but lingered nearby for a long time, so much so that Wen Yu couldn't help but ask, "Miss, are you still waiting for the Imperial Master to come out? Do you have anything to say to him?"
"He's determined not to reveal a word. But I just saw someone I know."
"What do you mean?!"
"He's the one who came to rescue him. He used to be in the Astrology Department and is one of Xin's senior brothers who selected concubines."
As he was speaking, the man walked down the stairs and met Wei Shuyi's inquiring gaze when he turned the corner.
He waved towards Wei Shuyi and quickly moved closer: "Empress Jiapin, I came to Yiqingtai to do something at the request of Taoist Yu."
"I was really shocked! I thought you had betrayed Taoist Yu and become one of those people the Astrology Department deliberately flatters in order to climb the ladder!"
The man quickly shook his head and denied it: "Empress Jiapin is worrying too much! The reason why Senior Brother arranged this step is also for your consideration."
So it was Yu Pei who did it?
Yu Pei is proficient in deduction and good at prediction. Maybe he had already anticipated her today.
Wei Shuyi looked at the closed door of Yiqing Terrace and asked, "You've been here for a long time. Have you found out anything about the strange whereabouts of the Imperial Master?"
"In reply to your Majesty, I followed what Senior Brother said and gradually approached the Imperial Preceptor. I did find something amiss."
"Oh? Tell me about it."
"That aunt from Chengqian Palace always comes to Yiqingtai to pass on messages, and from time to time she also tells me things that I cannot hear. However, I once took advantage of her hurried departure and got a personal item."
As he said that, he took out Qianwei's handkerchief.
"I haven't had time to report this matter to my senior brother yet, so I'd like to hear your opinion. If this handkerchief, used exclusively for women, appears in Yiqingtai, and the emperor happens to discover that it belongs to Chengqian Palace..."
"Don't act rashly for now!" Wei Shuyi took the handkerchief and shook his head at him. "If the imperial concubine uses Qian Wei as a scapegoat again, it will be no different from Qian Dai who died back then! Before doing anything in the future, it's better to forge the most direct evidence."
The man seemed to be thinking about it, but still nodded in agreement.
——There is no peace in Chuxiu Palace either.
Ever since Bai Shiwei's face was damaged, she had been confined to her side room day and night. The concubine who had been living and eating with her was also temporarily moved to another place by the maid.
The maidservant who served her closely was naturally furious: "What should we do? Young lady! The palace selection is coming soon. If your face still can't be seen by others, then everything you have endured in the past will be in vain! What's the word for it... Yes, it's a failure at the last moment!"
"What's the rush? Isn't this just a few days away?"
"But... the stuff on your face can't be removed in a short time. It's all my fault! I was already in the deep palace, but I didn't protect the young lady well, so you became like this..."
The maid was so anxious that she slapped herself a few times. Bai Shiwei stopped her and said, "Alright, it's just some minor quarrels. There's no need to blame yourself. This is your first time in the palace, so you haven't noticed these conspiracies and intrigues. I can just be on guard myself."
When the maid heard this, her eyes widened in surprise: "Miss, have you figured out a way to break this?!"
"It's true, but it's the noble ladies of the capital, led by Su Yin, who look down on my background. They want to suppress me and teach me a lesson. So, let them be proud for a few days! On the day of the palace selection, I will naturally give everyone an answer."
Bai Shiwei didn't care about the red pimples on her face. Instead, she opened the window and stood facing the wind.
Even though this is the most taboo thing among imperial physicians.
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