Chapter 11 Jin Ling 11
"Tuotuo?!" Everyone said in unison, their eyes looking at the red mark on the account book.
"Yes, that Persian fabric does have this pattern." Sanhao was reminded by her, "I remember... it seems to have been presented as a tribute in the first year of Huichang."
"Then if we find out who got this piece of silk in the first year of Huichang, we can know who the real murderer is!" Tan Sishan's face was full of joy, and Hu Sixhe beside him nodded repeatedly.
But the remaining five people did not look so relaxed.
"What's wrong? Why are you still frowning even after finding the evidence?" Hu Sishe glanced blankly at Tan Sishan next to her and found that it seemed that they were the only two who didn't understand.
"If only it were that easy..." Without holding out hope, Lady Cai sent Sanhao and Jinling to look for it. Sure enough, the record book was missing a key page.
Although Ruan Sizhen knew that the hope was slim, she couldn't hide her disappointment when she saw that they had found nothing. Then she suddenly remembered, "You just concluded that Mother Xu must be involved in this matter, but have you found any other evidence?"
Smart people react quickly. Jin Ling didn't hesitate and said the excuse Li Yi had prepared in advance:
"Today, I hid in the library with the account book and met Prince Guang. He said he had seen a purse with this pattern on Mother Xu. Eunuch Bu also said he remembered it."
"but……"
"But it's just a purse. Mother Xu can easily claim that other people are also suspects. Anyway, the record book is destroyed now, and no one knows how many people have received this cloth."
Sanhao immediately realized the loophole, and the others racked their brains and had to admit that things had once again reached a deadlock.
"Forget it, let's find another way." Zhong Xuexia sighed, "Prince Guang is still an idiot. If he accidentally makes a mistake, we will be guilty of an even greater crime."
"Actually... there's a way to find out what Madam Xu's purse looks like." Jin Ling came closer to the group and whispered softly...
The next day, with the help of Li Yi, they finally confirmed that the pattern on Xu's mother's purse was indeed the one with the camel pattern.
But the same thing goes, it is simply a pipe dream to think that you can overthrow the old man who has been by the Empress Dowager's side for decades with just a wallet.
Everyone else was inevitably discouraged and anxious, but Jin Ling, who was familiar with the plot, remained calm. She knew that it was Gao Xianyang's turn to appear.
As expected of being the official match of Lady Liu, she was willing to help others when she saw injustice. She was even willing to accompany them in playing tricks, and scared Mother Xu into admitting to the loan herself.
The Empress Dowager threw her to the care of Concubine Cai for punishment, with the purpose of warning those in the palace who she believed had ulterior motives.
For example, Concubine Zheng who was once again innocently scolded, and Concubine Wang who was ready to make a move.
"Do you remember what you said when you entered the palace?"
“Once a slave, always a slave.”
"Very good. I hope you will all remember from now on who you should be loyal to in this palace. If anyone dares to betray their master and seek personal gain, I will not show mercy!"
"Yes, I will follow the Queen Mother's instructions."
Jin Ling glanced at her and saw that both Concubine Zheng and Concubine Wang were pale. The former was naturally because her status as a servant was being ridiculed again, and as for the latter...
Obviously, Concubine Wang’s days of exclusive favor will come to an end.
The much-talked-about loan issue has finally come to an end. In order to get rid of the bad luck, the Empress Dowager plans to hold a grand birthday banquet for the emperor this year. For a time, all the concubines and court ladies in the palace tried their best, hoping to shine at the emperor's birthday party.
The Sizhenfang and Sizhifang of the Shanggong Bureau became the targets of flattery by those who were of low status and had no favors.
As the most skilled female official in the Sizhen Room, Ruan Sizhen has recently become more and more respectful of Jin Ling, even giving her the most lucrative jobs, which has caused Cheng Zhangzhen to look at her with increasing jealousy.
This time, there was no plagiarism incident of "Zhu Bao Ping An", and Cheng Zhangzhen felt an even stronger sense of crisis, so she actually put poison in her rouge box.
This time, she directly dragged Cheng Zhangzhen to meet Ruan Sizhen, told her everything that had happened, and waited quietly for Ruan Cuiyun's decision.
"We in the Sizhen Room will never tolerate scum who harms their fellows. Tomorrow morning, you should pack up your things and go to the torture chamber."
Ruan Cuiyun knew that she was jealous of Jin Ling, but she didn't expect that she would dare to poison her. If Jin Ling didn't happen to see it, the palace would be in a bloody storm again when the incident happened tomorrow.
Their Sizhenfang was already disliked by the Empress Dowager because of the last usury incident. If someone died on His Majesty's Christmas, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but feel that the punishment was still too clear. But a scandal like poisoning couldn't be made public...
Ruan Cuiyun narrowed her eyes, ignored Cheng who was still begging for mercy, and turned to comfort Jin Ling for a while. She also told her to keep the matter secret, and then she went in and out of Cai Shanggong's room the next day.
Not long after, I heard that Cheng had died of illness in the torture chamber.
"I never thought that Cheng Zhangzhen would get retribution in the end for committing such a wicked act." After everything was settled, Sanhao, who learned about this, couldn't help but sigh for her. But after all, it was Cheng who harmed Jin Ling first, and she deserved such an end.
Recently, she has been devoted to He Cainu. Seeing He Cainu's pitiful situation, she secretly made a hairpin for her even though she knew that Concubine Wang had forbidden it. She came up with the idea of using fluorescent powder to sprinkle on the pearl hairpin to add brilliance to Baochai.
That night, the two of them secretly ran to the garden and gave the Shadow Dance Firefly to He Cainü.
The next day, the two heard that His Majesty had met He Cainv in the imperial garden. Now she had jumped onto a branch and turned into a phoenix, becoming the emperor's new favorite, Concubine Hui.
Yao Jinling secretly complained about the roles in this drama. It was so easy to get to the position of concubine, much easier than the next door Zhen Mou Zhuan...
However, she did not pay too much attention to Concubine Hui. Although the two of them were her benefactors now, this person had a low status and had to join forces with Ma Yuanying in order to maintain her favor.
Although she didn't think she was wrong, she didn't have the time to care about her destined enemy, whether it was the original owner or her.
Yao Jinling secretly ridiculed herself for her hypocrisy and cruelty, but she did not intend to change, and even wanted to make it worse.
Jin Ling looked at Sanhao who came to congratulate her and slowly revealed her signature smile.
"Why are you here now, Sanhao?"
Liu Sanhao shook Jin Ling's hand and congratulated her with a smile: "I heard that Ruan Sizhen has submitted the list of candidates for the new head of the empress?"
"Yes, I just submitted it yesterday, and I don't know what the result will be yet." Jin Ling's expression was calm, even though she was almost considered to be the next chief princess.
Nonsense, this time the female protagonist will definitely be in charge. Guo is also going to use this opportunity to pressure Concubine Wang and sow discord among the four wives.
Sanhao had no idea what Jinling was thinking, and was still happy for her best friend: "Everyone in the Sizhen Room can see that Jinling, you are the best. This time, the position of the Chief Treasure belongs to you!"
Jin Ling gently covered her mouth, preventing her from continuing: "After all, nothing has been settled yet, so it's better to be cautious. In case it's not me in the end, it will save me from embarrassment."
Although Sanhao felt that the position of the treasurer could not belong to anyone else, he still nodded obediently and said nothing.
The two were chatting and laughing about what they had recently learned when a female historian suddenly came and called them away. When they arrived, they found that it was the Empress Dowager who wanted to discuss the emperor's birthday and the selection of the treasures with the other concubines.
Jin Ling looked coldly at Concubine Wang, who was once the most powerful woman in the palace and was now subordinate to Concubine Hui. Her pretty face turned pale and she couldn't help but sigh for her character.
In fact, the Empress Dowager may not like Concubine Hui very much. She just wants to support another favorite concubine in the harem to compete with Concubine Wang.
Ultimately, the reason Concubine Wang fell out of favor with the Grand Empress Dowager was simply because her ambition was exposed too quickly. The Grand Empress Dowager would never allow anyone to interfere with her palace power.
"I heard that the reason you, Concubine Hui, met the Emperor and received His Majesty's grace was because of this Shadow Dance Fluorescence?"
After the Empress Dowager had finished scolding her daughter-in-law, she turned her attention to the Shang Gong Bureau. Concubine Hui, who was sitting next to her, smiled gently and gratefully in Liu Sanhao's direction:
"Indeed, I was fortunate to receive His Majesty's grace that day thanks to the help of Liu Sanhao from the craftsmanship department who made this hairpin for me."
"Liu Sanhao? I've heard of her name before. I didn't expect that she is not only outstanding in embroidery, but also has quite innovative and unique hairpin making skills."
The Grand Empress Dowager smiled gently, her tone stern but not hostile. "Since that's the case, Consort Cai, I have another candidate for the position of Chief Treasure of the Imperial Treasure Office."
"I wonder who the Grand Empress Dowager has her eyes on?"
"The position of the treasure master naturally belongs to the most capable. Liu Sanhao, the female official in the Ministry of Production, has unparalleled skills and can also address the urgent needs of her superiors. She is the perfect choice for the treasure master."
Seeing that Lady Cai was about to speak, the Empress Dowager raised her hand to stop her. When she spoke again, her voice was filled with impatience:
"A leader should know how to use people wisely and not be complacent. He should cultivate new talents and inject vitality into them. Your Shanggong Bureau is derelict in its duty by leaving such talents unused. Now I point them out to you and set things right."
Having said that, Concubine Cai could only accept the order and express her gratitude. Jin Ling ignored the various scrutinizing looks from those around her, her expression neither happy nor sad. It was not until she noticed that Sanhao was looking at her with a look of guilt and helplessness that she secretly made a face at him.
Of course she wasn't angry. A blessing in disguise. And what's more, the lost horse was a lame old one...
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