Su Qingyu and Feicui walked all the way to the back of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. That row of side rooms was where the ladies changed their clothes.
Everyone had just entered the palace at this time, so there were not many people walking around here.
After the two entered one of the rooms, Feicui helped Su Qingyu adjust her headdress and started chatting.
"I heard from Wenzhu that General Chen was very stubborn and didn't say a word."
As she spoke, Feicui listened to the noise outside. As a martial artist, her hearing and eyesight were much more sensitive than others.
Danju, who thought she was being cautious, didn't realize that she was discovered by Feicui as soon as she reached the door.
Su Qingyu said from inside the house, "No matter how strong your bones are, they can't withstand the torture of the instruments. Wenzhu has always had a way with interrogations. He said that it will be enough in a few days."
"Alas, what a pity! That man said he had leverage over the Li family, but he was killed by Chen Ping."
While chatting with Feicui, Su Qingyu stuffed the silk paper in the fan into Feicui's hand.
Feicui understood and said, "It's a good thing that the Third Master sent the person away, otherwise the Crown Prince would have discovered the assassin when he was searching for him that day."
Su Qingyu smiled and said, "Isn't it? The Third Master sent the person to..."
Su Qingyu didn't say the rest of the words, but Danju, who was outside the room, thought that Mrs. Shen San had deliberately lowered her voice. She subconsciously pressed her body against the door, wanting to hear what the two were saying.
As long as the eldest lady hears where General Chen is imprisoned, she can rescue him, which will be a great achievement for her.
After Su Qingyu finished speaking, Feicui quickly went to the door and opened it.
Danju was still leaning against the door. When Feicui opened the door, Danju fell into the house.
The jewelry box in her hand also fell out.
Su Qingyu was shocked when she saw this and quickly stepped forward to help Danju up, "Miss, are you okay?"
Jade picked up the scattered jewelry on the ground and stuffed the things in her hand under the silk cloth at the bottom of the jewelry box.
Su Qingyu helped Danju up and pretended to see the person in front of her clearly.
"Danju? Why is it you? What are you doing at our door?"
Su Qingyu looked alert, obviously not wanting anyone to hear what she had just said.
Feicui also looked at Danju angrily, "What are you doing sneaking around outside? Are you eavesdropping on us?"
Danju also panicked. She snatched the jewelry box from Feicui's hand, opened it and took a look to make sure that the items were intact.
Then she quickly thought and explained, "Mrs. Shen misunderstood. I didn't know it was the Third Madam in the room. My clothes were dirty, and I wanted to find a room to change. When I walked to the door, I heard someone in the room. As soon as I got closer, the door opened."
As she spoke, she lifted the corner of her clothes to show Su Qingyu and Feicui. It was indeed stained, having been stained on the way home in a hurry.
Su Qingyu glanced at Danju suspiciously, then said in a cold voice, "Today in the palace, this lady will not bother with you. If you do it again, not even your young lady can protect you."
Danju felt as if she had been pardoned. After thanking Su Qingyu, she left with the box.
Looking at Danju's departing figure, Su Qingyu smiled faintly, "Let's go too, the palace banquet is about to begin."
When the two were about to reach the entrance of the main hall, they happened to see Shen Zhixiu hurriedly leaving the courtyard of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Su Qingyu frowned. Where was the Third Master going at this time? Did something happen?
A sense of uneasiness welled up in her heart, but she suppressed it forcefully. At this moment, she couldn't lose her composure.
At this time, Danju had already found Li Chaoyun and invited him to a secluded corridor outside the hall and told him the news he had just heard.
Li Chaoyun was shocked. "Did you hear correctly? They weren't talking about this kind of thing in the palace on purpose, were they?"
Danju recalled the expressions of Su Qingyu and her servant, shook her head and said, "It doesn't look like they did it on purpose. Besides, when they talked about where General Chen was imprisoned, they lowered their voices, so I didn't hear it."
"If you deliberately lured the young lady over, you should have been more deliberate than this."
Li Chaoyun was more thoughtful than Danju. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Did anything go wrong with the gift for the Concubine Chen?"
Danju dared not say that the item had fallen to the ground. With the young lady's temper, she would definitely punish him severely. Anyway, the jewelry was intact and there was nothing unusual.
She shook her head and said, "This jewelry box has never left my hand. Princess, don't worry."
Li Chaoyun nodded and said, "Let's finish today's business first. There's still time for General Chen."
According to Su Qingyu, Li Hu is already dead. If we eliminate the Shen family today, we will be safe.
Once the Shen family fell, it became easier to find Chen Ping.
Thinking of this, Li Chaoyun couldn't help but smile. She would take back all the pain that Shen Zhixiu had inflicted on Chen Ping.
Su Qingyu returned to the main hall from the back room and looked around first.
Marquis Shanning Li Jingchuan, Princess Yongjia and Li Chaoyun and his family of three were all there.
The women of the Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness's family did not come, but Marquis of Loyalty and Righteousness Song Zan and King of Loyalty and Bravery Song Hongshen did.
The ones who came from the Su family were Su Chengxun and his third wife, Mrs. Hai. The men from the Zhao family of Weiguo Mansion were all fighting in Qianzhou, and the female member who came was Zhao Rui's wife, Mrs. Yan.
Su Qingyu walked up to greet her third uncle and aunt, and then talked to Yan for a while.
A quarter of an hour later, it was time for the banquet to begin, and everyone sat down according to their seats.
Su Qingyu looked at the empty seat next to her. Although she was a little worried, her expression remained calm.
Her brother, Su Yuanzhou, had just come to comfort her, saying that Shen Zhixiu's temporary absence was for good news. As for what it was, Su Yuanzhou, mindful of the large crowd, didn't elaborate.
Soon, Emperor Xuande brought Empress Chen and several other concubines into the hall.
Everyone stood up and knelt on the ground to pay their respects.
"Everyone, please stand up. Today is the day to celebrate the birthday of the Concubine Chen. Regardless of whether we are kings or ministers, we should all gather together to have some fun."
After everyone sat down, Emperor Xuande picked up his wine glass and said a few polite words, then turned to Concubine Chen and said auspicious words to congratulate her on her birthday.
The concubines sitting behind Emperor Xuande all looked unhappy. They had never experienced such honor and favor.
After that, the banquet officially began. After a round of toasts, it was time to present gifts.
First came the concubines and princes in the palace, then the royal family members, and then the dukes, marquises, and officials of the second rank and above in the court.
When Li Chaoyun presented the birthday gift, Su Qingyu took a special look and saw that it was the Nichang Liuxian dress and the matching jewelry.
The birthday gifts were all placed on the table not far from Empress Chenfei, and had now piled up into a small mountain.
For this most favored of the six imperial concubines, the Empress Chen, every family had to think very hard about the gifts they gave. This table of gifts was priceless.
When it was time for the Shen family to congratulate her on her birthday, Su Qingyu stood up, walked to the center of the hall, and knelt. "I, your humble servant, congratulate Her Majesty the Concubine on her birthday. I wish Her Majesty the best, peace, and happiness."
Only then did Emperor Xuande realize that Shen Zhixiu was not in the hall.
Emperor Xuande, who was bent on pleasing his favorite concubine, immediately became displeased, "Where is Shen Zhixiu?"
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