Wen Jufeng (End)
Yu Hongning shook her head. "Yesterday I kept talking to Sister Zhuangmu, and I could tell she wasn't very comfortable, but she still stayed with me. If we were kids, I would have kicked her out long ago. Has her temper changed since she lost her memory? Besides, seeing her all alone made me feel bad."
Yu Hongqi suddenly smiled. The entire garden scenery paled in comparison to that smile, like an autumn leaf falling into a clear pond—a fleeting moment of beauty.
"What are you laughing at? You're so ugly."
Yu Hongqi's lips curled into a smile as he turned around and walked with her, saying, "A-Ning, we don't really know Zhuangmu. Whether she has amnesia or not, you can still be friends. I'm worried that our probing might throw her off balance and be detrimental to her."
"Okay, I got it, bro!"
"..."
Chen Zhuangmu stayed in Funing Palace until late at night. The Empress was yawning repeatedly, but she still didn't want Chen Zhuangmu to leave her side.
She circled around in front of the Empress and said, "Look, Aunt, I'm not a child anymore. You should rest, or you'll have a headache tomorrow."
Seeing the Empress's eyes soften, she added, "I'll come to see you often, won't I?"
The Empress finally nodded, personally escorted her to the door, and instructed her maid to see her off as well.
She smiled and nodded, then turned around and heard the Empress say "longingly," so she turned back. The Empress simply looked at her and said, "Come home often."
She smiled and agreed again.
In the stillness of the night, all senses are amplified countless times, including sorrow and expectation.
The small boat drifted on the lake, scattered flowers and grasses were blown about, and everything was quiet and serene.
“Aunt, I’ll walk back myself,” Chen Zhuangmu said.
"Alright. Princess, please take this oil lamp."
The aunt handed the oil lamp to Chen Zhuangmu, preemptively silencing her refusal: "If Her Majesty the Empress finds out, she will blame this old servant for dereliction of duty. This old servant knows the way around the palace, you should take it."
She clutched a not-too-heavy oil lamp in her hand. Her footsteps gradually faded away, and gentle ripples spread across the lake. A jumble of thoughts suddenly flooded her mind. She shook her head with a wry smile, stared at the small, muddy patch beneath her feet, and continued walking.
The palace maid who was waiting for her welcomed her into the room. Knowing that she did not like to be disturbed, she left after saying, "Princess, please give your orders."
Chen Zhuangmu sat down on the stool, looking dejected, and picked up the teapot to pour herself a cup of tea.
It's cold.
"oops!"
The sudden sound startled her so much that she almost dropped the teapot. Turning around, she saw the emperor sitting in the main seat, looking at her.
"Why don't you say a word?" Chen Zhuangmu frowned.
The emperor looked bewildered. "Didn't I just say that? What kind of audacity do you have?"
Chen Zhuangmu almost rolled her eyes and said, "This is the palace. I wasn't that vigilant, that's why I was frightened."
"The palace is the real danger zone." The emperor's voice was not loud, and he did not elaborate. He brought over a food box, opened it, and handed her a bowl of soup, which was still steaming hot.
"I had the doctor brew this fresh. Drink it quickly, I have something to tell you."
Seeing the emperor's unusual solemnity behind the curtain, she blew on the medicine and swallowed it despite its heat.
At this moment, the emperor stood with his back to her, his hands behind his back, and the dragon scales on his sleeves shimmered in the candlelight, but the dragon head was nowhere to be seen.
“A lone goose.” Looking at her uncle’s slightly plump figure, he had nothing to do with the lithe and agile goose, but for some reason, she felt that the emperor resembled a goose.
The emperor was silent for a moment, then asked with a serious expression, "Dresser, what have you discovered since you started your day?"
When she was a child, whenever she returned from the academy or went out to play for a while, the emperor would ask her, "Did you discover anything?"
She answered truthfully: "It's different from the Huijing I knew before. There are many people living inhuman lives here."
The emperor nodded and then said, "If the capital city is like this, what about the areas outside the imperial city? What about the outskirts?"
Before Chen Zhuangmu could answer, the emperor said, "Alright, I won't beat around the bush with you anymore. Nowadays, everyone in the court is two-faced, and the true nature of those officials is completely blurred. Xiao Zhong has stirred up power, and Zhao Yi can still weigh things against him, but the vast number of officials he has gathered have countless instances of false reporting and concealment."
The emperor seemed to feel guilty. He paused for a moment and said, "This situation must be resolved with swift and decisive measures."
These few simple words stirred up a storm in Shen Zhuangmu's heart. The image of her uncle, whom she had always believed to be shrewd and in control of the overall situation, began to waver in her mind. This was the first time the emperor had discussed politics with her directly.
"Zhuangmu, now that you're in the Dali Temple, that's the most convenient place for you."
Her position was deliberately arranged by him. If she wanted to, it would be very convenient for her to find out. If she didn't want to, going home would not be a big deal.
Chen Zhuangmu's breath hitched; she couldn't imagine what she was about to do.
When the emperor saw that she didn't answer, he became anxious.
“You are the general’s daughter. How can you stand idly by in the face of such a situation? I am currently overwhelmed with other matters. Your mother’s death is not so simple. This is an opportunity. Haven’t you always wanted to investigate? No one but you and I would take your mother’s matter so seriously.”
Her mother was an invincible general, which put a lot of pressure on Chen Zhuangmu.
Compared to what others had mentioned, what she longed for was something too embarrassing to even mention. She just wanted to rest her head on her mother's lap and sleep for a while.
“No matter whose daughter I am, I will never disregard the people. But Uncle…” Chen Zhuangmu tentatively expressed her opinion.
"The cave you're in today is where the people of the previous dynasty hid. It's been thirty years since the founding of the 'Qun Kingdom,' yet we've discovered their traces right under our noses." The emperor ignored Chen Zhuangmu's words.
His back was slightly hunched, as if he had a thousand words left unsaid. After hesitating for a moment, he suddenly said, "Your mother's death is inextricably linked to Xiao Zhong. He is arrogant and proud and will not take you seriously. This is an opportunity."
Those few words were like a sharp blade piercing her predicament, leaving her defenseless. After a moment of silence, she said, "Uncle, I'm willing to get involved in this."
"What is my cousin, the Crown Prince, going to do?" Chen Zhuangmu suddenly asked.
A struggle flashed in the emperor's eyes. He turned his head away as if to hide his intentions, drank a cup of tea, and then uttered a single sentence.
"I don't think we can count on him."
Hearing the emperor's words, Chen Zhuangmu didn't ask any further questions and simply replied, "Understood."
The emperor hummed in agreement, then suddenly asked as if he remembered something, "What were you and Zhao Yi talking about in the pit today?"
Chen Zhuangmu did not hide anything and told the emperor the truth.
The emperor sighed and said, "You've been fooled by him."
Chen Zhuangmu's eyes widened.
The emperor looked at her and continued, "Although he is the deputy envoy, all the power of the Privy Council is in his hands."
Chen Zhuangmu couldn't understand and asked, "Why?"
"The envoy is a veteran who retired from the battlefield. I found a position for him and put him in it. He's a rough man and doesn't like to manage things, so it all fell to Zhao Yi. He's just going through the motions."
"So, sometimes Zhao Yi's actions are even attributed to the envoy?" Chen Zhuangmu asked, frowning.
Upon hearing this, the emperor frowned: "How would I know? It depends on the person."
"It's late, so I'll be leaving now. Please take good care of yourself." The emperor rose and left, stopping Chen Zhuangmu from seeing him off.
Chen Zhuangmu sat alone in a chair, staring blankly at the cold tea.
Long ago, Shen Zhuangmu felt that something was preordained, but she couldn't explain it, which only made her mind confused.
Now that the emperor has laid it all out in the open, and that investigating the truth is inextricably linked to politics, her mind suddenly made up.
The next morning, the Imperial Kitchen prepared the meal, and Chen Zhuangmu and her family enjoyed a rare meal together before she went to work.
The emperor stood atop the high pavilion, overlooking the entire palace, while a youthful figure gradually disappeared.
"Won't Your Majesty personally escort them?" the eunuch asked.
"She has to walk her own path; the child will have to learn from experience sooner or later," the emperor replied, his eyes fixed on something.
When Chen Zhuangmu arrived at the Dali Temple, she began studying under Zhang Lushi. She diligently studied and memorized the notes, and her time to leave office was fast approaching.
She was thinking of going somewhere to investigate, but she hadn't seen Li Chu all day and was wondering how to get in. Just then, she heard a soft creak of the door, and Chen Zhuangmu looked up to see Li Chu crouching down and slipping in.
As soon as she entered, she slumped into a chair, rubbing her belly, and said, "As expected of the Dali Temple, it's so fair. No matter how I pleaded with that old man at the gate, he wouldn't let me in."
Chen Zhuangmu frantically winked at Li Chu, her eyes almost twitching, but Li Chu misunderstood. She dragged herself over and asked in a daze, "What's wrong, Princess? Are your eyes uncomfortable?"
Chen Zhuangmu smiled and looked behind her, saying, "Recorder Zhang, please don't take offense. My maid is still young."
Li Chu suddenly realized with a "Wow!" and silently mouthed to Shen Zhuangmu, "There's someone else here!"
Chen Zhuangmu smiled indulgently.
The clerk had other business to attend to and left first. Chen Zhuangmu patted Li Chu and said, "Come with me somewhere."
Li Chu nodded, and took out two wrapped snacks from her small bag, saying, "Princess, these are the last two pieces of lava hibiscus cake."
Chen Zhuangmu burst out laughing.
The sun gradually receded into the distance, leaving behind a desolate autumn light, and dryness permeated every corner of the air.
After finishing her job, Chen Zhuangmu couldn't wait to tell Li Chu about her plans.
“We’ll go in first, then check the register,” Chen Zhuangmu explained to Li Chu.
Li Chu's brows furrowed even more deeply. "Are you sure they still have them? That's impossible, isn't it?"
Chen Zhuangmu's smile lacked conviction, but she still insisted, "They must have kept it; this thing is still very important."
Leaving aside the daily flow of people, how can we confirm that those people are out following her mother? Do they necessarily have to go at night?
The carriage stopped at a certain place, and the two of them got off and let the coachman leave first.
Chen Zhuangmu had been very quiet the whole way, and now she kept her mouth tightly shut, trying her best to keep her eyes from wandering and to appear calm and composed.
So they silently slipped to the back wall of the courtyard.
Chen Zhuangmu pointed to a spot and asked, "Li Chu, can you get up there?"
Li Chu tilted her head back and gestured, saying, "No problem!"
As she spoke, she took a step back, wrapped her right arm around Chen Zhuangmu's waist, and softly called out, "Get up!"
The two of them slowly rose up. Chen Zhuangmu stared wide-eyed, and Li Chu said, "Princess, stop looking! Tell me quickly, which door is it?!"
Chen Zhuangmu suddenly realized what was happening, carefully examined the surrounding houses, and finally pointed to an inconspicuous little house.
Unfortunately, the hut was guarded by four men, whose sharp eyes were fixed on this direction.
This startled Li Chu, causing her to lose her footing and the two of them to fall onto the roof.
"Isn't this what you do? Why are you so nervous?" Chen Zhuangmu's doubts were practically drilling into her head.
"No way." Li Chu looked very aggrieved. "I'm a proper bodyguard, I've never done this before."
Chen Zhuangmu was unsure how to respond. She stared intently at the four people, seemingly noticing something. She moved closer to Li Chu, wanting to whisper something to her, but a voice suddenly came through between them.
What are you doing?
She turned her head behind the curtain, and there stood Zhao Yi.
Without turning her head, Li Chu instinctively swung her hand to hit him, but Zhao Yi raised his hand and pressed down, grabbing Li Chu's collar and blocking Chen Zhuangmu's waist, and pulled the two of them down.
"What kind of quirk does Shen Lu have? Does he like climbing walls?"
Zhao Yi leaned against the wall, a mocking look on his face.
Chen Zhuangmu rolled her eyes, ignored him, walked to the wall and stuck her head out. There were also four guards at the gate, so it seemed impossible to enter the register room without anyone noticing.
She had just looked at it; the room with the roster didn't even have a window; it was all sealed off.
It seems the only option is to take the "right path".
Shen Zhuangmu sighed dejectedly, and Zhao Yi leaned closer, asking with a seemingly serious expression, "Does Lord Shen seem to be planning to sneak in?"
Chen Zhuangmu straightened her back, seemingly gaining more confidence, and said, "Official business."
"How could that be?" Zhao Yi said bluntly, "Why would the Dali Temple send you to investigate a case?"
"What do you mean?" Chen Zhuangmu's tone suddenly became sharp. She stared into his eyes, as if she needed him to explain himself clearly, or she would not be polite.
Zhao Yi stood up and said seriously, "What I mean is that I lack seniority. The Dali Temple values experience more when it comes to handling affairs."
Chen Zhuangmu touched her nose and realized that what he said made sense. Her frightening arrogance disappeared, and her gaze fell on the door.
“Waiting here won’t do any good. Why don’t you ask him if you can get in?” Zhao Yi suggested from behind her, sounding quite confident.
After listening to Chen Zhuangmu, she felt that it made a lot of sense. Since she couldn't get in through the back door, she could only go through the front door.
She called out to Li Chu, and as she was about to leave, she suddenly frowned and looked at Zhao Yi with a suspicious expression. She asked, "What are you doing here?"
Zhao Yi smiled and said, "I also have to go through this gate."
Chen Zhuangmu smiled, stopped pushing Li Chu, and circled back to Zhao Yi's side, saying, "Could you please do me a favor, Vice Envoy?"
She had a warm smile on her face, but there seemed to be a cold glint in her eyes, which startled Zhao Yi.
"Is this how Lord Shen asks for favors?"
Zhao Yi seemed very dissatisfied.
Chen Zhuangmu's expression changed abruptly. "What are you doing going in there?"
Zhao Yi crossed his arms and leaned back, "I was also doing this for business?"
"Then let's go in together?" she said again.
Zhao Yi jumped up and said, "Fine, I'll call it even for the life-saving favor you gave me."
Chen Zhuangmu was displeased. "Your plan is too ambitious! How can saving a life be compared to this?"
Zhao Yi laughed angrily, "It was because your hidden weapon suddenly flew out that I got kicked by them."
Chen Zhuangmu pursed her lips. "Okay."
As he spoke, Zhao Yi had already walked ahead, with Chen Zhuangmu following behind him. He suddenly stopped, almost bumping into Chen Zhuangmu's back.
"What are you doing?!"
Zhao Yi glanced at Chen Zhuangmu, then suddenly pulled a veil from his sleeve, unfolded it, and handed it to her. He seemed quite cautious, which made Chen Zhuangmu's mood seem a little better.
Li Chu had been standing on tiptoe against the wall, but quickly straightened up when she saw them coming.
"I only have one piece, why don't you wait here for a while?" Zhao Yi looked helpless.
Upon hearing this, Li Chu looked at Chen Zhuangmu with a wronged expression. The latter walked over and patted Li Chu's head, saying, "Don't cry, I'll buy you something delicious when we get back."
And so, they gracefully departed under Li Chu's watchful gaze, while Li Chu found a secluded spot to stay.
Following Zhao Yi in was indeed easy. The guards at the gate didn't even look at her properly, nor did they ask Zhao Yi what he wanted. They simply handed Zhao Yi a token, and that's how she got in.
Chen Zhuangmu secretly followed Zhao Yi and whispered, "Could you take me to the place where we check the city gates?"
Zhao Yi readily agreed: "Of course, I have nothing to do today."
After saying that, he left Chen Zhuangmu with only his back turned.
Chen Zhuangmu: "..."
They arrived at the roster room, where the doorman greeted them. Zhao Yi then took out a plaque, which the man touched and looked at before returning it to him. His gaze then fell on the face of Chen Zhuangmu behind him.
"You, take off your veil."
The curtain remained still.
The gatekeeper was immediately angered, but after glancing at Zhao Yi, he calmed down.
"Young lady, please give me a name; this is official business."
Zhao Yi watched this scene quietly without saying a word.
She untied the rope at the back and removed the veil from one corner. Her eyebrows and eyes were red and swollen, and she was unrecognizable.
"Oh dear, I understand, young lady. Now, please give me a name."
"Ah."
The gatekeeper quickly wrote down their names and let them in.
As soon as they entered, Chen Zhuangmu turned around and grabbed Zhao Yi's arm, "What exactly are you here for?"
Zhao Yi did not resist and stood there obediently. The latter immediately let go of his hand and took a step back.
Chen Zhuangmu knew he definitely wouldn't tell; it wasn't easy for him to get in, so taking care of her own business was more important.
She glanced past the rows of shelves, found "April 8th, Zhengde Year 19", opened it, and was surprised to find several pages of blank paper.
Chen Zhuangmu frowned slightly and continued flipping through the pages. It wasn't until two days before her birthday that some names appeared.
According to the old man in Tongshi, if the list is fake, then the guard's death was a perfect arrangement; if the list is real, does that mean... no, it can't be real.
This list was started being recorded at midnight, but it wasn't reported at that time and wouldn't have been recorded at midnight.
Chen Zhuangmu flipped to the page three days before her birthday, took out paper and pen from her sleeve, and quickly started copying in a corner.
Zhao Yi, looking through the bookshelf, saw her copying something and asked, "What's the use of copying this?"
"Official business."
Zhao Yi approached her, caught a glimpse of what she had copied, and his usually unserious smiling eyes narrowed slightly.
"Let's work together."
He said.
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