The third-day celebration and the full moon celebration of the twelfth princess passed in the blink of an eye, and April arrived quickly.
An ancient poem says, "In the human world, the flowers of April have all faded, but in the mountain temple, the peach blossoms are just beginning to bloom." Throughout the palace, grasses grow tall and birds sing, lush and verdant, a scene of flourishing life.
After her afternoon nap, under the bright spring sunshine and with a gentle spring breeze caressing her cheeks, Xu Lejin lay comfortably in her chair, with Lianzhi bowing behind her.
"Your Majesty, has something happened in the Cold Palace?"
Ru Hua entered the palace in a flustered manner and whispered to Xu Lejin, "In the Cold Palace, Lan Kou, who used to serve Consort Fan Jia, secretly left the Cold Palace this morning and met Consort Xiao Hesheli in the Imperial Garden."
Xu Lejin nodded slightly.
"Although Consort Fan Jia angered the Emperor and was moved to the Cold Palace, she soon passed away. But the dead are gone. Consort Fan Jia was recommended by the Empress before her death. Lan Kou, who used to serve Consort Fan Jia, secretly left the Cold Palace. Consort Xiao Hesheli is the Empress's cousin."
After a pause, Xu Lejin said softly, "Even if Consort Xiao Hesheli took Lancôme back to the East Annex of Changchun Palace and informed Consort Zhao that Lancôme should stay by her side to serve her, it would not be a big deal."
"Your Majesty is quite right, but..."
Ru Hua frowned, exchanged a glance with Lian Zhi, and said respectfully, "This servant heard that when Lan Kou met Consort Xiao Hesheli, she kept saying that she had something to report to the Emperor."
"Yes, I understand!"
Startled for a moment, Xu Lejin remained calm and said, "A person with a clear conscience has nothing to fear. Even if something happens, it is Consort Zhao who should be worried, not me."
"When Consort Zhao was in charge of the palace, Consort Fan Jia was sent to the Cold Palace and died overnight. The circumstances were unclear."
Lianzhi and Ruhua lowered their heads and responded softly.
Outside the Qianqing Palace
The young eunuch, keeping a low profile, respectfully reported to Liang Jiugong, "Your Excellency, news has come from the Cold Palace that Huanxi, the palace maid who was sent there a few days ago, was found dead in her room yesterday."
A sharp glint flashed in Liang Jiugong's eyes as he looked at the little eunuch.
The young eunuch shuddered, glanced timidly at Liang Jiugong, lowered his voice, and then spoke. "Your Excellency, the head eunuch of the Cold Palace sent word five days ago that Huanxi went mad the day after she was sent to the Cold Palace."
"Now that you're so happy, won't that affect your plans, Father-in-law?"
Liang Jiugong frowned slightly, put his hands behind his back, looked up at the sky, and pondered for a long time.
"She was inexperienced. I went to great lengths to save her life that day, thinking she would come in handy when things got really tough. But she went mad before and is now dead."
Liang Jiugong paused, then said in a deep voice, "Little Ma, send a message to the Cold Palace to say that everything has been taken care of. Huanxi, the maidservant of Consort Ma Jia, has never appeared in the Cold Palace."
"Yes, I understand."
The young eunuch, nicknamed Little Ma, respectfully agreed.
After hesitating for a moment, Xiao Mazi asked again, "Sir, is there anything else?"
"oh?"
Liang Jiugong looked puzzled.
Xiao Ma Zi spoke in a low voice. "Lan Kou, the palace maid who used to serve Consort Fan Jia, stayed in the Cold Palace after Consort Fan Jia passed away. This morning, for some unknown reason, Lan Kou ran away from the Cold Palace and was taken to Changchun Palace by Consort Xiao Hesheli."
Liang Jiugong nodded.
"A palace maid is no big deal."
Changing the subject, Liang Jiugong's expression turned serious as he said, "Does Consort Fan Jia know the cause of her death? The head steward of the Cold Palace is becoming increasingly lazy and incompetent; he can't even keep an eye on a palace maid."
"Little Ma, tell the Cold Palace to be more careful. If this happens again, I won't mind replacing the Cold Palace's head steward."
Little Ma nodded obsequiously in agreement.
After frowning and thinking for a moment, Xiao Mazi spoke respectfully, "Your Excellency, Lan Kou should not know the cause of Consort Fan Jia's death. The report from the Cold Palace is that Lan Kou was sent away on the night Consort Fan Jia entered the Cold Palace."
Liang Jiugong nodded slightly, remaining silent in thought.
East Annex Hall of Changchun Palace
Consort Xiao Hesheli sat solemnly, with Lancôme kneeling before her, disheveled and unkempt.
After a long while, Consort Xiao Hesheli looked at Lancôme and said, "You mean that you personally saw Huanxi, the maidservant of Consort Ma Jia, being sent to the Cold Palace that day?"
"And then someone told Huanxi to watch her mouth?"
Lancôme respectfully replied "Yes," her eyes gazing expectantly at Consort Hesheli.
"Rumors are circulating in the palace that Huanxi has gone missing. According to you, Huanxi was thrown into a well, then rescued and placed in the Cold Palace."
“A palace maid was favored, even though she was acting under someone’s orders and deliberately provoked Consort Ma Jia to vomit blood. She was pushed into a well to be silenced, but someone saved her life and hid her in the Cold Palace.”
"Life in the palace is becoming more and more interesting, so it's not in vain that I tried so hard to get into the palace."
Consort Xiao Hesheli smiled coldly, her lips curving upwards.
Lancôme, kneeling on the ground with her head bowed, had a strange glint in her eyes. She quickly looked up at Consort Xiao Hesheli, then lowered her head and remained silent.
Consort Xiao Hesheli chuckled softly, sizing up Lancôme.
"In my east wing, the palace maid Hui'er who was cleaning a few days ago fell seriously ill and was sent back to the Imperial Household Department. Now we are short of a cleaning maid. Lancôme, would you be willing to stay and serve me?"
"If you're willing, I'll have Peony go to the Imperial Household Department to give you a word later."
Upon hearing this, Lancôme raised her head with a joyful expression and said repeatedly, "This servant is willing, this servant is willing. Thank you, Your Highness, for saving this servant from the Cold Palace. This servant is deeply grateful for Your Highness's great kindness and will certainly swear to serve Your Highness to the death."
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