Chapter 46 Inquiry
It was already noon, and Lan Wu was about to have lunch after getting up. She sat on the chair that Lian Xi had cushioned for her and glanced at today's dishes.
"These are fresh shrimp?" Her rank was not high, and Longyu Pavilion did not have a small kitchen. Everything she ate was brought from the imperial kitchen. Even so, she could not eat whatever she wanted.
Shrimp like these are not something someone of her rank should be allowed to eat.
Lan Wu used her chopsticks to stir the peeled and stir-fried shrimp in the bowl. The shrimp were quite large and tasted even more delicious.
The palace maid serving the meal replied with a smile, "Your Majesty, this is what I saw when I went to the Imperial Kitchen to get the food. The shrimp there were so lively and fresh that they said they were sending some over for Your Majesty to try."
As expected of the imperial kitchen, they really know how to handle things.
Lan Wu was halfway through her meal when she remembered Rong Shuyi from Qiushui Pavilion.
It's been more than half a month, and I wonder how Rong Shuyi's health is recovering.
She harbored doubts about Rong Shuyi's miscarriage, but after that day, the palace became a taboo subject. Chu Mingheng issued an edict forbidding anyone from mentioning it again, and even Lan Wu found it difficult to investigate.
But she wasn't entirely without ideas.
Lan Wu summoned Lian Xi.
"Go and tip the Imperial Kitchen. Tell them the dishes they made today were good, and I want to eat fish tomorrow. Ask if they can make a braised fish."
Lianxi looked at her, bowed slightly, responded with a "yes," and then withdrew.
The Imperial Kitchen was a complex place with a diverse mix of people. In addition to the daily meals delivered from various palaces, fresh fruits and vegetables were also sent daily from the Imperial Household Department. In such a large place, when things got busy, it was easy for other people to get mixed up without anyone noticing.
Lianxi led a palace maid to the imperial kitchen and instructed her to put away the bowls and plates in the food box.
The young palace maid responded with a "yes" and then walked inside, disappearing from sight in no time.
Lianxi glanced left and right, then stepped towards the small door on the left.
The path leading from the small gate became increasingly secluded, and there was no one to be seen around. Soon, Lianxi turned left at the fork in the road and entered an alley, and soon reached the end of the alley.
The alley was filled with clutter, which conveniently blocked Lianxi's view.
She didn't wait long before she heard footsteps coming from the alley entrance, and soon, a person appeared behind Lianxi.
"Miss Lianxi," the man said in a low, respectful voice.
Lianxi turned around and asked without further ado, "How is the matter that Her Majesty asked you to handle going?"
Zhang Mu nodded repeatedly and said to her, "This servant has been observing carefully these days and found that Consort Rong often eats pig liver and black-boned chicken in her palace. These are all top-quality ingredients, but half of the meals sent to her every day are returned. I heard that Consort Rong cannot stand the smell of animal offal."
"This has been going on every day for almost twenty days."
Lianxi frowned slightly as she listened. It wasn't surprising that Consort Rong had used so many blood-nourishing substances after her miscarriage. But if Consort Rong couldn't stand the smell of internal organs, why were these things being sent to her palace every day? Couldn't other blood-nourishing substances be used instead?
"This is all I have found so far," Zhang Mu said, glancing frequently at the alley entrance, as if afraid someone might come looking for him.
Lianxi took out a purse from her sleeve, handed it to him, and said, "Keep an eye on things. If you find anything amiss, report it to me immediately."
Zhang Mu took the purse, beaming from ear to ear. He nodded cautiously and said, "Of course, of course. Don't worry, Miss, this servant will certainly serve Your Highness well."
After leaving the imperial kitchen, Lianxi hurried back with the maidservants who were acting as a decoy behind her.
The way back to Longyu Pavilion involves passing through several palace roads. As early summer approaches, there are many palace servants coming and going on these roads at this hour.
Under such circumstances, the two figures kneeling beneath the red wall became particularly eye-catching.
As they passed by, Lianxi and the maid behind her bowed to the man before quickly walking away.
"Sister Lianxi..." The little palace maid behind her seemed curious and couldn't help but call out to Lianxi.
"Shut up," Lianxi snapped, stopping her.
The young palace maid quickly shut her mouth and stopped talking, following her back to Longyu Pavilion.
Lan Wu was taking a nap, but she couldn't fall asleep. When she heard Lianxi return, she sat up from the couch and let Lianxi in.
"Quickly rub my back." Lan Wu said as she lay down on the couch, her black hair loose, which she casually brushed aside. She hugged a soft pillow to her chest, looking somewhat tired.
Lianxi stepped forward and gently massaged her waist.
After a moment, she looked back and then whispered to Lan Wu:
"Your Majesty, Zhang Mu said that the meals sent to Consort Rong's palace every day consist of blood-nourishing ingredients such as pork liver and black-boned chicken. This has been going on for over twenty days. However, Consort Rong cannot stand the smell of offal, and half of the meals sent to her are returned every day."
Lan Wu, with her eyes closed, felt comfortable being massaged by Lian Xi. Upon hearing this, she hummed in confusion.
If you can't stand the smell, why send those things over every day? Aren't there any other blood-nourishing ingredients available?
Lan Wu couldn't figure it out herself, but she felt that asking Physician Chen should be helpful.
"When will Physician Chen arrive?"
"Your Majesty, Physician Chen will not arrive for another three days."
Three days... well, let's wait a little longer then.
"What is the name of her current personal maid?"
Lianxi thought for a moment but had no recollection of it, so she shook her head and said she didn't know: "I only heard that she was personally chosen by Eunuch Xu. I don't know her name or what she looks like. I've never seen her come out of Qiushui Pavilion."
"Your Majesty, there is one more thing." Lianxi told Lanwu about the person she had seen on her way back.
Lan Wu opened her eyes, turned to look at her, and asked, "Consort Yue? Is it Consort Yue who lives in Yifang Garden?"
Lianxi nodded and replied, "Yes."
"I just sent someone to inquire, and I think there should be results by now."
Lan Wu lay back down on the bed: "Then go out and ask, and come back and tell me later."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Lianxi withdrew her hand and quietly left.
Yue Zhaorong always had an inappropriate "kindness." In her previous life, when Lan Wu was wrongly accused of having an affair with a guard, Yue Zhaorong spoke up for her.
However, her rank was too low, so her words had no effect, and Lan Wu still died.
This time, Lan Wu guessed that Yue Zhaorong must have done something "good" again, offending someone.
After thinking for a while, Lan Wu rolled over on the quilt to relieve her sore legs and lower back pain.
She thought: Lianxi's massage skills are really good. She only learned from Physician Chen for a few days, and she has already learned so well.
Why didn't she have Lianxi, her personal maid, by her side in her previous life?
As Lan Wu was pondering this, a sound came from outside the door.
"Come in."
Lianxi pushed open the door and went inside. Just as she was about to bow, she met Lanwu's bright eyes, her gaze particularly intense.
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