Chapter 13 Something's Wrong
He Ying led her people to a small hall a little further behind Xu Garden. The flower-viewing banquet had not yet officially started, and most of the palace staff were preparing there.
Everyone received rewards at the last birthday celebration, and I didn't expect to have to attend a flower viewing banquet so soon.
"I heard that Princess Yizhen loves watching dancing, and there are many dancers in her residence. I wonder what kind of reward she will receive for dancing well this time."
"Yes, yes, Princess Yizhen is very generous."
As Lan Wu listened to their conversation, the corner of her mouth twitched involuntarily. "Princess Yizhen is so generous?"
This is the most ridiculous thing in the world.
She's not exactly generous.
In her previous life, she became Consort Lan before the flower appreciation banquet. She was ill and did not attend the banquet, but she heard that the princess kept praising it. However, she did not receive any rewards and even had to take away one of the dancers who danced that day. The rewards that everyone received were paid by Consort Shu herself.
Thinking about all this, Lan Wu felt quite pleased.
The lively sounds from ahead didn't reach here. Everyone was talking and changing clothes when He Ying walked up to Lan Wu.
"Is your foot alright?" she asked.
Lan Wu nodded and smiled slightly at her: "Auntie, I'm fine."
Her foot injury had just healed, and He Ying was afraid of another accident, so she didn't let her dance in the very center position, but instead danced with the other backup dancers. Even though she was a backup dancer, she still had to dance skillfully.
"Go change your clothes, we'll be going out soon." He Ying lowered her eyes slightly, and after saying this, she looked towards the door.
Lan Wu hummed in agreement and said okay. Seeing He Ying about to get up, she quickly said, "Thank you for taking care of me, Auntie."
Although He Ying was strict when teaching the girls to dance, she was very caring at times like this. Although she didn't know what kind of conflict she had with Consort Shu, she tried her best to persuade Lan Wu not to come to the flower viewing banquet.
Lan Wu had no choice but to come.
He Ying mentioned it once and then never brought it up again. Now, there's no way to salvage the situation.
Hearing Lan Wu thank her, He Ying stiffened slightly. She turned her head and patted Lan Wu's shoulder, saying, "Dance well later."
After saying that, he walked to the other side and tidied up the clothes of several dancers whose clothes were not properly put on.
Lan Wu didn't know what time it was, but she figured she should hurry up and change her clothes, since several other people had already changed and gone out.
However, when Lan Wu spread out her clothes, she realized that she was missing an outer garment.
Everyone's clothes were brought together uniformly, there were no extras, and Lan Wu couldn't possibly wear clothes different from everyone else to dance, that would make her stand out too much, which would be inappropriate.
"Did you forget to bring it to the music hall?"
"Shall we all keep looking?"
Lan Wu also searched, but found nothing.
She raised her head and looked at the people in front of her. She didn't really believe it was such a coincidence that her outer garment was missing just when she was changing her clothes.
"They probably forgot it at the music hall. Lanwu, hurry back and get it. There should still be time."
"Yes, Lanwu, go back and get it quickly."
Lan Wu was still wondering if someone was deliberately plotting against her. It's understandable that she was suspicious; this situation had come quite suddenly.
"Does your foot hurt?" He Ying moved closer and sighed. "If it's uncomfortable, then let's switch places. It's not an important position, and no one should notice if one of you is missing."
"No need, Auntie, I'm all better now." Lan Wu stood up and looked at He Ying. "I'll go back and get it myself."
There is a shortest route from Xu Garden to Yuefang, which takes less than half an hour to go there and back, not to mention that Lan Wu ran there.
There were a few palace servants along the way, so Lan Wu had nothing to worry about. However, at the fork in the road, Lan Wu suddenly stopped inexplicably.
There are two paths ahead, both of which lead to the music hall, but one leads through the Thousand Carp Pond, while the other has a long path lined with wisteria.
More importantly, she felt inexplicably thirsty.
Did you get too hot from running?
Lan Wu took a slight step back and suddenly fell to the ground.
The ground in front of me made me feel dizzy.
The strange situation jolted her, cold sweat broke out on her back, and her fingers trembled. She tried to support herself on the ground but could barely stand up.
She picked up a stone from the roadside, looked at her feet, then at her hands, and was about to smash her hand when she suddenly remembered what Chu Mingheng had told her before.
Lan Wu swallowed hard, but didn't throw the object. She stood up unsteadily, biting her lip tightly, letting the pain bring her back to her senses.
Neither of these two paths is viable.
She turned and walked back.
Back to Xu Garden?
No, that won't work either.
The person who drugged her was among those people just now, and besides, she can't go back to her current state.
Where can she go?
Xu Garden… Liu Garden…
Lan Wu also knew of a place called Luoyingting.
Luoyingting was probably the closest palace to her.
However, she really hated that place, and besides, she felt that she wouldn't be able to make it to Luoyingting. She was feeling very dizzy and felt like she was about to fall asleep at any moment.
If only a splash of water could bring her back to her senses.
Lan Wu still held the stone in her right hand, and quickly tried to slap herself in the face with her left, but she had no strength and her hand was too weak to even slap herself.
what to do?
How can she get out of this predicament?
If nothing unexpected happens, someone will come looking for her soon, and it won't be a good person.
Wait a minute, what if Luo Yingting has also set a trap? Wouldn't she be walking right into one if she went there?
No, no.
We need to find another place to hide.
Lan Wu's dry mouth made her swallow hard, but even this simple action was extremely difficult. She looked up at the sky above her head, and her gaze suddenly shifted to the tall trees beside her.
-
Inside Xu Garden, Princess Yizhen had already arrived. The concubines were sitting and talking, and the garden was quite noisy.
Of the three in positions of authority, aside from Princess Yizhen, Consort Shu and Consort Rou were each seated in their respective places.
"This garden is still so beautiful. I wish I had made an identical garden for my princess residence." Princess Yizhen clicked her tongue twice as she looked at the garden filled with all kinds of flowers and winding streams.
Consort Shu smiled and said, "It's not too late now. If the princess likes it, why not build a garden in the princess's residence?"
Yi Zhen glanced down and said softly, "It's best not to undertake any more construction. If I want to see it, I can come into the palace."
Consort Shu raised her eyes and nodded slightly, revealing no other expression: "What the princess says is true."
Consort Rou sat quietly to the side, not interfering in the conversation between the two, but occasionally nodding slightly in agreement.
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