Pregnant women are always under the watchful eyes of everyone in the palace.
Huo Qinghe said "Oh" again: "Did you find anything about the Chuigong Hall? It's already August and it's so hot, is there still moss? Is it because it's close to the Imperial Garden?"
Before the girls could answer, she had already thought of one herself.
Green Cloud nodded and said, "I heard that the Imperial Concubine ordered a thorough investigation. The place where Lady Cao fell was covered with moss and green moss. I heard that palace maids also fell there at night, but the palace maids pretended not to see it and did not report it to their superiors in order to save trouble."
So, does that mean that Consort Cao's fall was just a coincidence? But with such an incident, the palace servants in charge of the Chuigong Hall would naturally be punished.
"I heard that Consort Chi has already ordered the punishment of a group of palace staff. This is not the first time that a palace banquet has been held in Chuigong Hall, so punishment is inevitable."
Huo Qinghe nodded slightly: "But this matter is over. If it can't be investigated clearly, then Consort Cao can only accept her bad luck."
Yes, there were so many places to stand outside the Chuigong Hall, why did Consort Cao insist on standing where she could see the fireworks? In the end, she brought it on herself. Luckily, she didn't drag the Emperor down with her. If something had happened to the Emperor tonight, it would have been a huge problem.
But things don't always happen by coincidence or by simply accepting bad luck. Who knows who's behind all these events?
Huo Qinghe frowned. The deep palace was truly a place where people could be devoured.
...
Pei Yuanhui was indeed fine, but he was getting impatient with all the annoyance.
After returning to Zhongcui Palace and being examined by the imperial physician, Consort Cao kept crying. It was one thing for her to cry, but she was always a crybaby. Pei Yuanhui had gotten used to her crying while talking since they were still in the Prince's residence.
However, when Consort Cao cried, she would wipe her tears with his sleeve, which made him somewhat impatient.
Zhu Shi and Zhu Ting had already left when Cao Shanlu started crying. Cao Pin's ankle had just been treated, and she was crying while gently scolding herself.
"Your Majesty doesn't care about me anymore. You don't even care when I'm injured..." Cao Shanlu was truly aggrieved at this moment.
Pei Yuanhui still didn't retract his hand: "Consort Chi has already dealt with the palace maids and eunuchs on duty at the Chuigong Hall today. You are pregnant, and the imperial physician said that you should not think too much. Alright, I will stay here and watch over you."
Considering Cao Shanlu's pregnancy and the fact that her crying wasn't too bad, Pei Yuanhui ultimately didn't say anything harsh.
However, Cao Shanlu refused to give up and continued to tug at Pei Yuanhui's sleeve, chattering on and on.
But Pei Yuanhui's mind had already wandered far away.
The Empress is currently suffering from illness, and most of the affairs of the harem are managed by Consort Chi. However, Consort Chi is not the Empress, and many of her subordinates, such as Consort Yi, Consort Cao, and Consort Zhou, are dissatisfied with her.
The Empress Dowager's last statement to him about the lack of a manager in the harem was naturally due to her own selfish motives, but it made no sense.
It's only August, and so many things have already happened.
Even if Consort Chi is capable of managing things effectively, with so many things to deal with on her own, it's hard to guarantee that no one with malicious intentions might emerge from her ranks.
Just like the previous dynasties, no single dynasty could ever become the dominant power.
He trusted Consort Chi and the Chi family, but Chi Xiexiang and the Chi family alone were not enough.
Pei Yuanhui was an official, an emperor, and a father, but first and foremost, he was the ruler of a country.
Cao Pin's crying had stopped at some point, and when Pei Yuanhui came to his senses, Cao Shanlu was already fast asleep, clutching his sleeve.
Pei Yuanhui chuckled silently. He reached out and took the handkerchief from beside the pillow to wipe away the tears on Consort Cao's face, before slowly pulling his sleeve out of her hand.
He sat for a while before standing up and going to the outer hall.
"Your wife should rest now. Take good care of her. She is pregnant now, and she has twisted her ankle, so she should not move around too much these next few days. Let your wife rest well during this time, and let her go out again after her ankle has healed. I still have some memorials to write in the Funing Palace, so I will come to see her again tomorrow when I have time."
Pei Yuanhui gave a definite answer, saying he would visit Consort Cao the next day, so that Cao Shanlu wouldn't be uneasy again when she woke up.
As they emerged from the main hall, the night deepened, making the figure outside the hall all the more conspicuous.
Pei Yuanhui, fiddling with the eighteen agate beads, asked in a neutral mood, "Who is that?"
Jin Yang quickly followed up: "Yes. Consort Xie lives in the east wing of Zhongcui Palace. I suppose it is Consort Xie."
Pei Yuanhui said "Oh." Among the rising stars, the Xie family had an outstanding background; the Xie family was a century-old prestigious family. She was also known for her humble and gentle personality...
He stopped twirling the eighteen beads in his hand and went down the stone steps.
"What are you doing here at this time?"
Consort Xie seemed startled, and the flower basket in her hand fell to the ground.
"Your Majesty. Greetings to Your Majesty, may Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings."
After she finished speaking, she shakily picked up the flower basket again, but her demeanor was impeccable.
"In the summer, there are many mosquitoes. I heard that mint can repel mosquitoes, so I thought I would pick some to take home. I can use it to make tea or put it in sachets to repel mosquitoes."
The concubines in the palace had a limited allowance each month, but those of the rank of Noble Lady and above usually had more than enough to go around.
It's quite remarkable that Xie could think of these things.
Pei Yuanhui hummed in agreement: "Consort Cao injured her foot. It's late now, you should go home early too."
Why pick mint in the middle of the night when you shouldn't?
Pei Yuanhui wasn't stupid; he wasn't so easily fooled. Even if he couldn't hear Xie's thoughts, he could guess what she was thinking.
Pei Yuanhui left after saying this.
The imperial carriage was already waiting outside Zhongcui Palace. Jinyang, supporting the emperor, asked again, "Your Majesty, shall we return to Funing Palace or..."
"Kunning Palace".
Pei Yuanhui didn't forget that today was the fifteenth, and besides, he did have something to discuss with the Empress.
"Tomorrow, summon **Yu to read a memorial to me before the Emperor. The autumn imperial examinations are coming up soon, and today Song Jijiu didn't seem to be in good spirits. What did the imperial physician say?"
With numerous scandals accumulating in the imperial court and harem, Pei Yuanhui could only remember the most important ones at this moment.
"Doctor Zhao said that Chief Physician Song's ailments are all old ones. But Chief Physician Song is in good health and nothing else is wrong."
Pei Yuanhui nodded: "Send back the memorial requesting that Grand Tutor Zhou retire to his hometown. Instead, appoint him as a Grand Academician of the Zhaowen Pavilion. He has many students there, which should be enough for him to live out his old age in peace."
According to the rules of the court, officials who reach the age of seventy must submit a petition to retire and return to their hometowns; otherwise, they will be impeached.
However, if an official is someone whom the emperor trusts greatly, he can naturally "select him by special decree," which is not unusual.
However, Pei Yuanhui was no longer willing to give Grand Tutor Zhou any real power.
That's about it.
Pei Yuanhui knew everything about both the imperial court and the harem.
"Your Majesty, we have arrived at Kunning Palace."
In fact, the imperial carriage had been stopped for a while, but Jin Yang saw that the emperor was deep in thought with his eyes closed, so he did not dare to disturb him.
He only spoke when he saw that the Empress had arrived at the palace gate.
Pei Yuanhui opened his eyes. Xue Yinjia was standing at the palace gate with a palace lantern. She gave a slight curtsy and smiled gently: "You must be tired. Hot water has been prepared. Get a good night's sleep tonight."
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