Chapter 225 The Show Begins
Chu Liuzheng found a piece of gossip and clicked on it.
[Frog fun! It was murder! Aunt Qi did it. She was the one who bludgeoned Doukou to death and threw her into the well!]
[You, a Xixia spy, are quite arrogant. I've provoked you... Wait! This is going...]
Chu Liuzheng scrolled down.
[Frog Fun, not having enough ambition, Cai Baolin is really courting disaster!]
*
Qiu Shui Zhai.
The heavy door curtain was lifted, letting in a cold wind and causing the candlelight to flicker.
"Master, I'll ask someone to get some hot water right away." Caizhu took off Zhu Hanyu's cloak and put it on the shelf next to the screen.
"No rush." Zhu Hanyu sat down at the table, picked up the kettle and poured a cup of hot tea, "Call little Ruizi in."
"Yes." Caizhu went out to call someone, and soon brought in a young eunuch who looked no more than fourteen or fifteen years old.
"Your servant greets the master." Little Ruizi bowed.
"Get up." Zhu Hanyu looked at him, holding the teacup. "What information have you heard about Kang Cai?"
Little Ruizi said, "My Lord, I have made careful inquiries and found that Kang Cai is usually a quiet and cowardly person, often bullied by the eunuchs of Huaqing Palace. It is unlikely that he would do such a thing as poisoning the ointment."
Zhu Hanyu couldn't remember when she had a grudge with Na Kangcai, but since the Queen had closed the case after investigating this point, she didn't say anything more in Changchun Palace just now and just took it as a matter of course.
She took a sip of tea and asked, "How about cardamom?"
"Miss Doukou is a poor person." Xiao Ruizi's tone was a little sad.
This aroused Zhu Hanyu's curiosity and asked him to explain in detail.
Xiao Ruizi had heard about Doukou being forced by Song Chengen, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household Department. Now that he saw that Zhu Hanyu was interested, he told her all the news he had heard.
Zhu Hanyu was surprised: "Did Concubine Gao really save her?"
Little Ruizi nodded: "That's what Manager Wang said."
Wang Jinzhong's words should not be false. Zhu Hanyu's fair fingers slowly stroked the teacup. Gaopin had saved Doukou's life, but Doukou went to Chengbi Hall and now jumped into the well and died...
She slowly tightened her grip on the teacup, thinking that Cai Baolin's poisoning might not be that simple.
Little Ruizi was still looking at her. Seeing that she remained silent for a long time, he couldn't help but ask, "Master, do you have any other instructions?"
Zhu Hanyu was brought back to his senses by him, and he ordered Caizhu to give him the reward money and waved his hand to ask him to leave.
Xiao Ruizi left happily.
Caizhu massaged Zhu Hanyu's shoulders and whispered, "Master, I'm afraid Cai Baolin's poisoning isn't that simple. You were almost implicated. You must be careful."
Zhu Hanyu nodded and said, "Remember to remind me to visit Chengbi Hall in the next few days."
Caizhu agreed.
Zhu Hanyu covered her mouth and yawned, rubbing her eyes: "Go get some hot water, I'm tired and want to rest early."
*
On New Year's Eve, the emperor held a banquet for his ministers. During the banquet, there were clinking glasses, drums and music, and the charming dance of the Xixia princess brought the atmosphere of the whole banquet to a climax.
The sound of stringed instruments drifted away with the night wind, all the way to the equally bustling Yiran Garden.
"Here I come!" Chen Xing ran into the house excitedly, carrying a large food box. Yu Zhui lagged behind, panting. "Go slowly, don't spill the soup."
"It won't spill." Chen Xing placed the food box on the large table. Moxiang and Xia Qiaoru came over to help bring out the dishes.
There was a simple barbecue grill next to the table, and the meat skewers were sizzling with oil. Chu Liuzheng was eating fruit while instructing Siyue to sprinkle seasoning on them.
Chen Xing came over with a smile, reaching out to take a skewer to taste, but Mi Yue slapped it open and said, "It's not cooked yet. Be careful or you'll get an upset stomach if you eat it."
Chen Xing pouted in dissatisfaction, looked around the room, and asked in confusion: "Where are Xiao Xiazi and Xiao Yunzi?"
"They've gone to get the wine." Chu Liuzheng threw the fruit core into the bucket. "They'll be here soon."
As they were talking, Xiao Xiazi came back with the bowl and chopsticks, and Xiao Yunzi came back with two jars of wine.
"This wine is not strong, Miss Liu Zheng can drink it too." Xiao Yunzi put the wine jar on the table.
"No, your injury hasn't healed yet, you are not allowed to drink a drop of alcohol." Moxiang glared at Chu Liuzheng who stretched out his claws towards the wine jar.
Chu Liuzheng smiled awkwardly and begged, "Good sister, I'll just have a taste."
"No." Moxiang's face was stern and there was no room for negotiation.
Chu Liuzheng felt helpless. Not only did he feel that his injuries had not healed, but he suddenly had a new mother.
Xia Qiaoru smiled and hugged her. "Miss Moxiang is doing this for your own good. Don't think about drinking anymore. Wait until your injury heals before drinking. We have morel mushroom chicken soup tonight. Miss Yuzhu bought it specially. You can have a couple of bowls later."
"Yes, Chen Xing and I have been waiting for a long time for this bowl of soup." Yu Zhui set the table and greeted everyone with a smile, "Stop busying yourself and come and sit down."
"Chen Xing!" Si Yue put the grilled meat skewers into the plate, but when she turned around, five skewers were missing. She was so angry that she chased Chen Xing and beat him.
"Sister is so stingy." Chen Xing turned around and made a face at her, then ran to Chu Liuzheng and used Chu Liuzheng as a shield.
Chu Liuzheng was dizzy from the duo act and had to speak up to smooth things over, coaxing the two sisters to sit down.
Chen Xing still had another string in her hand, and she raised it to Chu Liuzheng's lips with a smile, "Sister, have some."
As soon as Chu Liuzheng opened his mouth, Moxiang looked over, as if to say, "Try it if you dare."
Chu Liuzheng calmly closed his mouth and said, "I'll drink the soup, you eat."
【嘤~My barbecue! 】
Xiao Yunzi poured wine for everyone, and of course Chu Liuzheng had soup, which Moxiang served herself.
"After so many years in the palace, this is the happiest year I've ever had. It's fate that we can all get together." Yu Zhui raised his glass happily: "May we get better and better."
Moxiang followed suit and raised her glass: "Everything you wish for is granted."
Chen Xing raised his glass: "Always smile."
Chu Liuzheng raised the bowl of soup: "Be healthy and fit."
Xia Qiaoru raised her glass: "Be safe and sound."
Xiao Yunzi raised his glass: "May everything go well."
Si Yue raises his glass: "No worries every year."
Xiao Xiazi raised her glass and looked at everyone, her cheeks slightly red. "We'll celebrate the New Year together next year, no one will be left behind."
"Yes, not one less!" Everyone looked at each other, smiled and shouted, "Cheers!"
The sound of clinking glasses was crisp and pleasant. Chu Liuzheng held the bowl of soup and sipped it, but he regretted it halfway through.
When others toast, she drinks the whole bowl. After drinking this big bowl of soup, she doesn't want to eat anything else.
Just as she was debating whether to finish the drink to bring good luck, Xia Qiaoru put her bowl aside and stuffed the wrapped roast duck roll into her mouth.
Chu Liuzheng blinked.
The night is still long, and we have to stay up tonight, so it’s okay to drink slowly.
She turned and looked out the window.
[By now, the show ahead should be starting, right? It's a shame I can't watch it live. The tyrant mustn't let Butterfly escape.]
"A-choo!" Xiao Jingfan suddenly sneezed.
Empress Zhong immediately looked over with concern, "Your Majesty, have you caught a cold?"
"Nothing." Xiao Jingfan waved his hand and lowered his eyes to look at the seats below, and happened to meet Wei Mingliang's eyes who was looking over.
Wei Mingliang raised his glass to him and saluted him from afar.
Xiao Jingfan also gave him face by picking up the wine glass and taking a sip.
Weiming Yujin came back after changing clothes and sat down next to Weiming Liang, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she was worried about something.
Wei Mingliang turned to look at her and asked, "What's wrong?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
