"Xiao Luzi, what's wrong?" Shiliu asked, noticing Xiao Luzi's uneasy expression as he weeded the yard.
"Sister Pomegranate, my brother didn't come out to meet me at his usual place today. I'm worried that something might have happened to him," said Xiao Luzi.
"Shh, keep your voice down. You want people to hear, don't you?" Shiliu made a shushing gesture.
"Sister Pomegranate, I... I'm worried about my brother," Xiao Luzi said.
“It’s alright. Your brother is so clever, how could anything happen to him? He’s just a lowly eunuch, who would suspect him?” Shiliu said.
"Sister Pomegranate, this servant is worried," Xiao Luzi said with a pained expression.
"Don't panic. They haven't found anything yet, and you're already making a mess of things," Shi Liu scolded.
"Yes, this servant was just worried. Sister Shiliu, please don't blame this servant." Xiao Luzi was just a third-class eunuch in Minqing Palace, responsible for pruning and watering the trees and flowers in the complicated courtyard of the Crown Princess.
"Okay, you can continue working. Don't worry, Her Majesty won't abandon your brother." Shiliu was holding the Crown Princess's clothes. It turned out that she had just gone to the Laundry Department to retrieve the Crown Princess's clothes that were being washed there.
Shi Liu frowned as she entered the Crown Princess's room, where she saw the Crown Princess playing chess with the Third Princess.
"Mother, Jin Yan has beaten you this time!" The Third Princess is seven years old and looks quite like the Crown Prince. She has been fascinated by Go since she was little. The Crown Princess specially hired a famous teacher to teach Jin Yan Go.
"Jinyan's chess skills have improved again; even your mother can hardly beat you anymore." Madam Shi rarely showed such a gentle and warm maternal demeanor; only with her daughter could she revert to her true womanly nature.
"Of course, my imperial grandfather even said that Jin Yan's chess skills are quite good," Jin Yan said. She was the only daughter of the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince, and her status was more noble than that of other princesses. Sometimes she could even be summoned by Emperor Kangxi.
"Does your imperial grandfather like Jinyan's chess skills?" Madam Shi was very proud that her daughter was favored by Emperor Kangxi.
"Of course, Jin Yan is well-behaved and obedient. Besides that little prince, Grandfather likes Jin Yan the most," she said with a smile.
"Jinyan, have you gone to see that little brother?" Shi asked.
“Yes, I have seen him. The little brother is so cute. My grandfather said he is my fourth uncle’s son, and also my younger brother,” Jin Yan said.
“That’s good. Would you like to send something to your younger brother?” Shi asked suddenly on a whim.
“But Grandfather is very protective of my little brother. I’ve only seen him once. It won’t be easy to see him again,” Jin Yan said honestly. It turned out that, for Hongli’s safety, Emperor Kangxi had almost completely refused to allow outsiders to visit him. Apart from Consort De and herself, no one else could freely enter or leave that place.
"Oh. Never mind then. Mother was just saying." Shi Shi had already seen Shi Liu winking at her, so she said to the Third Princess, "Jin Yan, that's enough for today. You should go back to your room. Mother needs to rest for a while."
Jin Yan was a well-behaved girl who never relied too much on Shi Shi. She and the maid who served her took the jade chessboard that Emperor Kangxi had specially bestowed upon her and went out.
“Your Majesty, when I came back just now, I saw Xiao Lu Zi whispering to himself. I think he’ll get into trouble,” Shi Liu said.
"What was he muttering?" Shi asked.
“He’s worried about his brother! That little brat,” Shiliu said.
"Does nobody know they are brothers?" Shi asked.
“No one should know. The two brothers have never revealed this secret. If Your Majesty hadn’t found out by chance, this whole scheme wouldn’t have been possible!” Shiliu said.
"It's a pity that it only made Hongli sick for a few more days," said Madam Shi.
“There’s plenty of time. As long as Xiao Bao’er is inside, we can keep track of his situation at any time,” Shi Liu said.
"Hmm, well said. This time, I went to great lengths; next time, I will make sure he lives." Shi's eyes flashed with an icy light.
"Your Majesty, let's wait a bit. We should wait until this matter is over," Shiliu said.
“Of course, let’s wait until this incident has passed quietly before we talk about it,” Shi said.
“What I’m worried about now is that Xiao Bao’er will betray us. If Eunuch Liang or Prince Yong finds out about him, that would be terrible. Xiao Luzi said he didn’t see Xiao Baozi at the place they agreed to meet today,” Shi Liu said.
"So, it seems that the little clerk might have been discovered again?" Shi asked.
"I don't know. No news is coming from over there right now. The only way to find out what's going on inside is through that little clerk, but he didn't go to see his brother today," Shi Liu said.
"Understood. Let the Crown Prince go and see, and he will know," said Shi.
Meanwhile, the Fourth Prince was sitting by Hongli's bedside, watching a palace maid feed him medicine. Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside.
"Fourth Prince!" The Crown Prince was already standing at the door, calling out as he looked at the Fourth Prince's back.
"Your Highness!" Fourth Prince stood up and hurriedly bowed to the Crown Prince. "Your Highness is so busy with state affairs, how could you possibly have time to visit Hongli?"
"It's alright. I was just on my way to report to Father Emperor when I stopped by to take a look. I heard that Hongli was assassinated. Well, have you found anything?"
"We haven't caught anyone directly yet; we're only in the suspicion stage," Fourth Master said.
"How despicable! Who could be so heartless as to harm a mere infant!" the Crown Prince exclaimed.
“We’ve already caught one suspect. He’s stubborn and refuses to confess, so I’ve sent him to the Censorate. I believe we’ll get him out of there soon,” Fourth Master said.
"Oh, who is it that has the audacity to be placed by Hongli's side? Father Emperor personally selected the servants for Hongli back then," the Crown Prince said.
“He’s a minor eunuch who doesn’t usually serve Hongli much. He’s still not confessing,” the Fourth Prince said.
"Damn it! Once he reveals who's behind this, we'll have him executed by slow slicing!" the Crown Prince said angrily.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness," said the Fourth Prince.
After the Crown Prince came out of the Qianqing Palace, he turned his head and glanced at him before hurrying towards the Crown Prince's Palace.
In order to investigate the mastermind behind this as soon as possible, the Fourth Prince did not return to his residence for several days, but stayed in the palace instead.
Even as night fell, there was still no news from the Censorate. The Fourth Prince was slightly surprised, thinking to himself that this little eunuch really had some backbone.
After much deliberation, the Fourth Prince decided to visit Consort De's palace. By the time he arrived at Yonghe Palace, Consort De already knew about Hongli's situation.
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