Chapter 30 Intent to intercept
"It's just a guess, and we can't jump to a conclusion yet."
Jiang Yingli put the hairpin into Lian Qiao's hand and instructed, "Go to the Gongshan Division and ask the hairpin maker to pry off the ruby on the head of the hairpin and see if there is anything hidden behind it."
You should not have the intention to harm others, but you must be on guard against others.
Some things are hidden in the details, and just a little bit can hurt people.
No matter how weak and harmless Zheng Baolin looks, she still has to be careful with him.
Lian Qiao quickly got up and went to the Repair Department.
**
Zheng Baolin returned to Qixiang Palace and knelt on the ground to report to Su Xiuyi.
"Jia Jieyu has already accepted the hairpin."
Su Xiuyi was very satisfied. "Very good. Please visit us more often in the next few days. I hope you can be present when His Majesty goes to Zhaohua Palace. I have prepared a set of clothes for you."
After Su Xiuyi finished speaking, Lan Xiang brought up the dress.
It was a pure white wide-sleeved silk dress, the material was light and thin, with a layer of moonlight-like gauze on the outside, light as mist, and the neckline was wide open, just enough to show off her shoulders.
Although the skirt is white, the design is ingenious and not plain at all, but has a sense of otherworldly orchid.
"I don't need to teach you how to do it."
Su Xiuyi lifted Zheng Baolin's chin, glanced at the cheap fabrics on her body, and sneered, "If you help me succeed, I will be merciful and give you a few more. Just think of it as feeding the dog."
The maids in the hall all joined in the laughter.
Lan Xiang stuffed the clothes into Zheng Baolin's arms.
Zheng Baolin kowtowed to express his gratitude and returned to his side hall with the clothes in his arms.
At night, the news from the imperial court was that His Majesty did not turn over anyone's card tonight.
This is not surprising. After all, His Majesty is well known to be busy, and no one has bothered to try to meet him by chance in a place like the Imperial Garden in the past two days.
Jiang Yingli sighed softly.
In the past, Your Majesty would go out early and come back late, or stay in the study all day, but he could still take a break. But now, he cannot rest for a moment.
I hope everything will be fine after the busy period since you ascended the throne. Otherwise, Your Majesty is so tired every day, which is really bad for your health.
Putting the matter of serving the emperor in the bedchamber behind her, Jiang Yingli listened to Lian Qiao's detailed description of the hairpin.
"I saw the craftsmen pry the ruby out with my own eyes, and there was indeed nothing inside. But just in case, I soaked the hairpin in water and took it to the imperial physician for examination. He said the water was useless."
"Thanks for your attentiveness," Jiang Yingli praised. "Then it seems the problem isn't with the hairpin itself. I doubt Su Xiuyi would be so blatant."
"I really can't understand it. Xiuyi is already under house arrest. Instead of staying put, why does she have to go through all this trouble?" Qiuxia said dissatisfiedly.
Jiang Yingli's eyes lit up again. "Qiuxia, Qiuxia, you really hit the nail on the head. It's precisely because she's under house arrest that she has to do some tricks, to prevent a favorite concubine from appearing in the palace to overshadow her during her month of confinement."
"So she allowed Zheng Baolin to associate with the young lady, seizing the opportunity to steal the favor and lure His Majesty to Qixiang Palace?! How vicious! The young lady even helped Zheng Baolin, and she's turning her back on him!"
Qiuxia was indignant, looking at Lianqiao with resentment, "It's all your fault for persuading the young master to save someone and make friends, but you only attracted an ungrateful person."
Lian Qiao was also speechless about Zheng Baolin and sighed deeply.
Jiang Yingli was silent for a moment. "Forget it, as long as the hairpin is fine, we can just pretend we know nothing and keep an eye on the movements of Qixiang Palace. If it's really a case of intercepting a favor and not murder, then it will be much easier to deal with."
The next day, Jiang Yingli took the initiative to invite Zheng Baolin to the palace to talk.
Zheng Baolin was very flattered.
Jiang Yingli looked at her. She had a smile on her face, and looked peaceful and comfortable, like a delicate and harmless orchid in a valley.
She couldn't see any clues about Zheng Baolin from her facial expression, but the lingering sadness in her eyes always made Jiang Yingli feel like she had seen it before.
It was a compromise made out of helplessness.
Maybe...
Jiang Yingli stood up casually and walked to her side while chatting and laughing with Zheng Baolin.
Zheng Baolin thought she was just standing up and walking around casually, and didn't pay much attention to it. Unexpectedly, he saw the shadow of a sleeve flash in his peripheral vision.
Zheng Baolin subconsciously curled up his body.
The fear in her eyes the moment she looked up, no matter how quickly it disappeared, did not escape Jiang Yingli's eyes.
That's so familiar.
As expected, she was abused and threatened by Su Xiuyi.
After a moment of panic, Zheng Baolin immediately straightened his posture and looked at Jiang Yingli who raised her hand. He smiled and said, "What's wrong, sister? You raised your hand suddenly and scared me."
Jiang Yingli's expression remained calm, as if she hadn't noticed anything. She replied, "The fragrance of the flowers outside is what attracts bees and butterflies. I saw a little bug, so I fanned it."
Zheng Baolin nodded awkwardly.
That night, His Majesty was still busy in Changqing Palace and asked the Jingshifang to remove the nameplates of the concubines.
Although His Majesty has not summoned anyone to sleep with him for two consecutive nights, he has sorted out the complicated government affairs in the past two days, and it is very likely that he will come to the harem tomorrow.
Realizing this, Zheng Baolin couldn't sleep all night. The next day, she was called away early by Su Xiuyi.
"I heard that His Majesty had some free time to stroll around the Imperial Garden after the morning court today. He will definitely favor someone from the harem tonight. You should change your clothes early and go talk to Concubine Jia. If His Majesty doesn't turn over her card, you'd better be smart and walk along the path that His Majesty must pass. If nothing goes well tonight and His Majesty favors someone else, you'll never see that girl again!"
The sudden sinister tone made Zheng Baolin shudder and he responded repeatedly.
"I understand."
After returning to her side hall, Zheng Baolin put on the white dress.
It really suits her, with her slender neck, snow-white shoulders, and slender waist. When she walks, her gauze dress flutters like a dance under the moon.
Zheng Baolin looked at himself in the bronze mirror and smiled bitterly.
Wearing such beautiful clothes, but doing such despicable things.
She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, everything had become indifferent.
In Zhaohua Palace, Zheng Baolin was informed and Jiang Yingli asked Qiuxia to pour tea in advance.
When Zheng Baolin appeared at the door, his attire stunned everyone in the hall.
If they had not known Zheng Baolin and Su Xiuyi's intentions in advance, they would have been amazed when they saw Zheng Baolin in her outfit. The clothes suited her so well.
However, after knowing that she wanted to steal the favor, Qiuxia and Lianqiao couldn't help but look at her with contempt.
Jiang Yingli praised Zheng Baolin's outfit, asked her to sit down and have some tea, and then told her some interesting stories as if they were chatting normally.
This style of clothes was very common in the palace, but when Zheng Baolin wore it, he felt as if his skin exposed to the air was being tortured.
At night, news came from the Changqing Palace that His Majesty had turned over the name card of Concubine Jia.
It will take some time for the news to reach Zhaohua Palace. His Majesty will be here in just a moment.
Zheng Baolin's heart was in his throat.
She calculated the time perfectly, stood up and said to Jiang Yingli, "Your Majesty truly loves my sister. In that case, I cannot stay any longer, lest I disturb my sister and His Majesty's time together."
Jiang Yingli looked at her and smiled, "Okay."
Zheng Baolin turned around, and a pitiful look slowly appeared on his stiff face.
According to the precise time, she had just walked outside the hall and had not yet stepped out of the palace gate when a black gold-woven dragon robe appeared in her sight.
Zheng Baolin slowly raised his eyes, and Yingying looked over. His Majesty was standing at the palace gate, his gaze fixed on her...
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