Reversal
He Mo sent people to secretly investigate Liu Shi according to the plan, but found that although she had correspondence with the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, the content was mostly about trivial matters concerning the He family's property, and there was not a single word about framing Yin Li or the secret edict.
The jade pendant engraved with the character "Liu" was actually an old item that Liu had lost years ago and had long since fallen into the hands of others.
“It seems that Liu is not the real culprit, but was just being used.” He Mo told Yin Li the investigation results, his eyes serious. “The other party deliberately left Liu’s token, just to make us mistakenly believe that she was the culprit, so as to divert attention.”
Yin Li pondered, "To be able to use Liu's identity so accurately and to know the situation of the He family so well, they must be someone close to us. Moreover, the two times they attacked me, it was related to the palace—last time it was Consort Jin's 'Rouge Intoxication,' and this time it involved Liu's relationship with the Duke of Zhenguo. Perhaps the mastermind is in the palace."
"You want to go into the palace to investigate?" He Mo immediately understood Yin Li's meaning, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes. "The situation in the palace is complicated and fraught with danger. I don't feel comfortable letting you go alone."
"Don't worry, I have a plan." Yin Li smiled slightly and took out a set of palace maid's clothes from her bosom. "I have already asked someone to prepare this outfit. Tomorrow I will sneak into the palace under the pretense of going to buy supplies. You will meet me outside. If there is any news, I will find a way to pass it on to you."
Although He Mo still had reservations, he knew that this was the only way to find out the truth, so he could only nod in agreement: "Be careful, and get out of there immediately if there is any danger."
The next morning, Yin Li changed into a palace maid's dress, styled her hair in a simple bun, and blended into a group of palace maids who were going to the palace to make purchases. She successfully entered the palace. The palace was magnificent and imposing, with towering walls, exuding majesty and solemnity, yet it also concealed endless conspiracies.
As planned, Yin Li first lingered near the Imperial Garden, observing the activity within the palace. The Imperial Garden was a riot of color, with pavilions and towers scattered throughout, and many palace maids and eunuchs were busy at work. Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps approached, accompanied by a eunuch's shout: "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived! All unauthorized personnel, please make way!"
Yin Li's heart skipped a beat. Crown Prince Gao Xi was the current emperor's eldest son. He was a low-key person, but quite talented, and had many supporters in the court. She was just about to find a place to hide when she accidentally tripped over a pebble and fell to the ground.
"How dare you, palace maid, disrupt His Highness the Crown Prince's procession!" a eunuch shouted, about to step forward and beat her.
"Stop." A gentle voice rang out. Yin Li looked up and saw a young man dressed in bright yellow prince's robes walking over. He had a handsome face, gentle features, and a hint of concern in his eyes. "Are you alright?"
Yin Li quickly scrambled to her feet, curtsied, and said, "This servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. I accidentally fell and disturbed Your Highness. Please forgive me." She kept her head down, not daring to look the Crown Prince in the eye, but her mind was racing, trying to figure out how to respond.
Gao Xi looked at her and saw that although she was dressed in simple palace maid clothes, her beautiful appearance could not be hidden. In particular, her eyes were bright as stars and had a kind of spirituality that was different from that of ordinary palace maids.
He smiled slightly: "It's alright, just be more careful next time. Which palace maid are you from? What are you doing here?"
Yin Li panicked. She hadn't thought about her identity, so she could only improvise: "Your Highness, I am a palace maid from the Imperial Kitchen. I was ordered to come to the Imperial Garden to pick fresh flowers and herbs to decorate the imperial meals."
Gao Xi nodded, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment before he suddenly asked, "What's your name?"
"This servant...this servant's name is A-Li." Yin Li made up a name on the spot, her heart pounding.
"Ah Li," Gao Xi repeated, a faint smile playing on her lips. "A beautiful name. Since you're here to pick flowers and herbs, I'll take you somewhere where the flowers and herbs are even more beautiful than here."
Yin Li hesitated. She had come to the palace to investigate the truth, not to travel, but she was afraid that refusing the Crown Prince would arouse suspicion, so she could only nod and say, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Gao Xi led Yin Li to a secluded courtyard deep within the Imperial Garden, where various exotic flowers and plants filled the air with their fragrance. Gao Xi pointed to a peony in full bloom and said, "This 'Yao Huang' is a rare variety brought as tribute from the Western Regions. Look at its beautiful colors."
Yin Li looked in the direction he pointed, and saw that the peony was golden yellow with layers of petals, truly beautiful and delicate. Just as she was about to praise it, she suddenly heard footsteps and a palace maid rushed over, saying, "Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress requests that you come to Kunning Palace immediately."
Gao Xi sighed helplessly and said to Yin Li, "It seems I can only accompany you to admire the flowers another time. You should go back early after you finish picking the flowers and plants. The palace is not like the outside world, so be careful."
"This servant obeys the decree." Yin Li curtsied, watching Gao Xi's departing figure, a strange feeling rising in her heart. She could sense that Crown Prince Gao Xi was not as gentle as he appeared; there was a subtle, profound depth hidden in his eyes.
Just as Yin Li was about to pick some flowers and leave, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a dark shadow flashing by in the corner of the wall. Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately followed.
The shadowy figure moved with incredible speed, weaving through the palaces before finally entering a secluded chamber. Yin Li quietly followed, peering through the crack in the window.
Inside the palace, an old nanny dressed in gray was talking to a eunuch. The old nanny's face was covered with wrinkles, but her eyes were unusually sharp. She was Liu, the most senior nanny in the palace. It was said that she was the most trusted person by the Empress Dowager's side and had a lot of prestige in the palace.
"How did things go?" Granny Liu's voice was hoarse, yet carried an undeniable air of authority.
"Reporting to you, Madam, everything is taken care of. He Mo already suspects Liu Shi, so he probably won't investigate any further clues," the eunuch replied respectfully.
"Very good." Granny Liu nodded. "That girl Yinli is quite clever; she managed to avoid it both times. But it's alright, she won't be so lucky next time. We must find out the whereabouts of the secret edict as soon as possible; we absolutely cannot let it fall into the wrong hands."
"Yes, Granny."
Upon hearing this, Yin Li was shocked. It turned out that the real culprit behind the two times she was framed was none other than Granny Liu! And her purpose was also to obtain the secret edict.
Just as she was about to continue listening, she suddenly heard a noise behind her. She immediately turned around and saw that Crown Prince Gao Xi was standing behind her at some point, with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Gao Xi's voice was low, tinged with a hint of doubt.
Yin Li panicked and quickly said, "Your Highness, this servant...this servant was just passing by and accidentally got lost."
Gao Xi looked at her, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment, and suddenly said, "Ah Li, you're not a palace maid from the Imperial Kitchen, are you?"
Yin Li was startled and was about to explain when Gao Xi smiled slightly: "Don't be nervous, I won't expose you. Tell me, who are you? What are you doing in the palace?"
Looking into Gao Xi's eyes, Yin Li knew she could no longer hide the truth, so she whispered, "Your Highness, I am indeed not a palace maid from the Imperial Kitchen. I am Yin Li, the head of the Yin family. I entered the palace to investigate the mastermind behind the two times I was framed. The old woman Liu who was speaking inside just now is one of the murderers."
Gao Xi's smile vanished, and his gaze turned serious: "You're Yin Li? The Yin family head who overturned the wrongful conviction of the Yin family?"
Yin Li nodded: "It is indeed this servant. Your Highness, Liu Mama's target is a secret edict. This secret edict involves the legitimacy of the royal bloodline and is of great importance. I beg Your Highness to lend me a hand and find out the truth."
Gao Xi was silent for a moment, then said, "Alright, I can help you. But you must promise me that you will tell me as soon as you find out the truth. Also, in the palace, you must follow my instructions and not act on your own."
Yin Li was overjoyed and quickly said, "Thank you, Your Highness! This servant agrees to use you."
Gao Xi looked at her, a smile appearing on his lips again: "From now on, you will be my personal maid. With me by your side, no one will dare to touch you. Let's go, let's leave here first, lest we be discovered by Granny Liu's people."
Yin Li nodded and followed Gao Xi out of the palace. She knew that with the Crown Prince's help, her investigation would proceed much more smoothly.
But she also understood that there was an even greater force behind Granny Liu, and this struggle had only just begun. As for whether Crown Prince Gao Xi was friend or foe, she couldn't yet be certain. But at this moment, she had no choice but to trust him.
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