The servant led them to the box, Chang Zuo followed behind Helian Yu, and the two of them went in together. The servant then closed the door and stood guard outside.
In the center of the box stood a carved mahogany round table with a brocade tablecloth embroidered with auspicious images.
There are several carved chairs placed around the table, in the same color scheme as the mahogany table, with the backs of the chairs inlaid with beautiful jade and gems.
There are ink paintings hanging on the wall, and a screen is placed on the side, with a picture of mountains and rivers on it, which is magnificent and elegant.
Helian Yu took Chang Zuo to sit down, staring at the food on the table. He swallowed his saliva first, then looked at Helian Chi, "Fourth brother, why did you ask me to eat?"
"Hongying is dead."
When Helian Chi spoke, he stared at Helian Yu's expression, wondering what he wanted to verify.
Helian Yu felt a little unfamiliar with the name when she first heard it, but then she realized that this was the person who gave her silver to bury Yan'er when she first came, and was also a good sister of the original owner's mother.
Dead?
Helian Yu's face was solemn, and she couldn't help but scream, "Didn't I order the Ministry of Punishment not to take her life?"
Tears rolled down along with the roar.
Helianyu couldn't tell what she felt. She and Hongying were not familiar with each other, but Hongying was able to lend her money just by calling her Liu Yueya when she was still unknown. How could she end up losing her life? Helianyu 's eyes seemed to be stained with cinnabar, and no matter how she wiped it, it wouldn't go away, and then beads of dew rolled down.
Chang Zuo took out a "gray rag" from his arms and wiped it on Helian Yu's face.
Helian Yu tried a little harder but failed to push him away, so she could only let him wipe it.
"Why are you crying? I'll take you to slaughter the Ministry of Punishment tonight." Chang Zuo drew his sword and said fiercely.
Helian Yu still pushed his hand away, "It's not like I want to cry, I can't help it!"
Chang Zuo quickly shut up and said thoughtfully: "It's my fault. I won't be so mean to you next time."
"Humph, it's your fault!"
Helian Yu raised her chin and let Chang Zuo wipe her tears. The two of them were so harmonious that they ignored the presence of Helian Chi.
Helian Chi held the wine glass and put it to his lips, then put it on the table, "Xiao Yu'er, do you want to know who did it?"
Helian Yu felt pain in her eyes, so she asked Chang Zuo to go out and get her two eggs. She lay on the table and asked Helian Chi listlessly, "Who?"
"Shufei."
Helian Yu carefully recalled the plot related to Concubine Shu. In Helian Chi's eyes, she was distracted again.
Helian Chi couldn't help but frown. Her deficiency must be treated as soon as possible to avoid a premature death in the future.
Helian Yu remembered and slammed the table, "She is really not a good person! A big bad girl!"
"Do you want to take revenge on her?" Helian Chi asked.
As soon as he finished speaking, Chang Zuo took out two eggs and two pieces of silk material.
He placed the egg in the silk material, raised his hand and pinched Helian Yu's head, "Close your eyes."
"Uh-huh."
Helian Yu closed her eyes obediently, puffed out her cheeks and raised her chin, looking cute and playful.
Helian Chi frowned slightly and grabbed an egg.
"I am Xiao Yu'er's elder brother, so I should do my best to take care of her." Helian Chi raised his eyes and looked at Chang Zuo, "Thank you for your concern, young master."
Chang Zuo glanced at him and handed over another egg. "Come down, Your Highness. I will go to the palace and chop off Concubine Shu's head."
As soon as he finished speaking, he took the sword.
Chang Zuo raised his foot and rushed out of the window, but Helian Chi grabbed his arm.
"Your Highness?"
"Don't be impulsive. If you kill the concubines without knowing the reason, even the Imperial Master can't protect you."
Only then did Helian Chi realize how straightforward Chang Zuo's mind was, and he also realized that Chang Zuo was a man of great righteousness, so he couldn't help but feel a sense of appreciation for his talent.
"Fourth brother is right, brother Changzuo, don't be impulsive." Helian Yu closed his eyes comfortably, "Aren't we going back to the palace at the end of the month? Look, I'll go back and trip her up, and lock her up in the cold palace to eat stale steamed buns!"
Helian Yu didn't believe it. She knew Xie Rangchen many years better than Chang Zuo.
He once said: If you could be more careful, I would die with my eyes closed.
It can be seen that what Chang Zuo said was totally wrong, or perhaps, the master was just comforting Chang Zuo, because his mind was straighter than a stick, and he had to say some comforting words to prevent Chang Zuo from feeling inferior.
Chang Zuo looked at Helian Yu's disdainful expression and knew that she wouldn't listen, so he didn't say anything else.
He thought that if Helian Yuzhen said something in front of the young master, he would press her mute point to make her unable to say those words.
After about a quarter of an hour, the eggs on Helian Yu's eyes were taken off.
The food was a little cold, so Helian Chi ordered new dishes and served Helian Yu, whose arms were still short, a satisfying meal.
…
…
Hongying was a palace maid in the laundry department. Logically speaking, her death in the Ministry of Punishment was as quiet as an ant drowning in the sea.
Hall of Mental Cultivation.
"Chang Hai, has anything happened in the palace recently?"
After reading the memorial, Helian Su picked up the calming soup on the gold-inlaid wooden tray.
"Your Majesty, the harem is relatively peaceful, but there is one matter that may be big or small... I don't know whether I should report it or not."
"Speak." Helian Su showed no emotion, "I forgive you."
Chang Hai bowed to express his gratitude, "Your Majesty, it was Miss Hongying that you asked me to take care of. She died in the Ministry of Punishment."
Helian Su put the tranquilizing soup on the table and asked, "When did it happen?"
"At 9:00 this morning, he was beaten to death. They said... it was the order of Concubine Shu." Chang Hai finished speaking and quickly knelt down, "Your Majesty, please forgive me."
Helian Su waved his hand and said, "Bury Hongying's body and send it to the Imperial Master's Mansion. Explain every word to Xiao Yu'er."
"I obey your order."
Chang Hai obeyed the order and left the Yangxin Palace. From what the emperor meant, he wanted him to do it personally. He guessed that he wanted to give the young master a reminder, or for some other reason.
Chang Hai did not dare to make any rash judgment. He collected his thoughts and quietly left the palace to do his business.
Qixiang Palace, where Concubine Shu lives.
"Yucui, I'm suddenly feeling anxious. Please ask Doctor Feng to come over."
A jade hand stretched out from the brocade curtain, white and delicate.
The palace maid Yucui, who was on night watch, quickly got up and ran out.
Yue'e stepped forward to comfort Concubine Shu and lit sandalwood for her. "Did your Majesty have a nightmare?"
Concubine Shu stroked her chest and murmured, "I don't know what's going on... Could it be that someone wants to harm me? By the way, whose card did the emperor turn over tonight?"
"Your Highness, it's Concubine Yuan."
"Noble Lady Yuan? Oh, she's still a noble lady after three years. When the group of beauties enter the palace on the second day of February this year, I think her good days will be over!"
"Your Highness is right." Yue'e cursed a few more times and tried to coax Concubine Shu, "Your Highness, why would you bother with her? You have the Eighth Prince by your side. How can Concubine Yuan compare to you?"
Speaking of this, Concubine Shu enjoyed listening to it a lot and was no longer nervous.
"That's true." Concubine Shu was arrogant, ruffling her hair with her fingers. "Although my little Ba is only a month old, he is very smart. When he can speak, Your Majesty will definitely love him."
"Your Highness is right."
As the night grew darker, Chang Hai sent Hongying's body to the Imperial Master's Mansion overnight.
Just as he was about to knock on the door, he saw a crack with a note inside -
Those who carry corpses are allowed to enter.