Chapter 510 Wang Hu's whereabouts remain a mystery
Zhao Yunci strode into the Chaofeng Palace and saw that Su Wan and Chu Ruohan both had serious expressions. She couldn't help but ask:
"What's wrong with you? Why are you so serious?"
He walked over to Su Wan, his eyes softening slightly. "Are you worried about that censor at the morning court?"
Su Wan nodded, then shook her head and looked at Chu Ruohan with a hint of help in her eyes.
Chu Ruohan nodded slightly, indicating that she could say whatever she wanted.
Zhao Yunci frowned slightly upon seeing this: "How dare that censor criticize the Queen in the court!"
"I think there must be someone behind this! I've already ordered someone to investigate."
He paused and looked at Su Wan: "Wan'er, do you have something to say to me?"
Su Wan took a deep breath and mustered her courage to say, "Your Majesty, I have something I want to tell you, but... I don't know whether I should say it or not."
"Just say it." Zhao Yunci held her hand and gave her strength.
"It's about Concubine Shu." Su Wan said softly, "Concubine Liu visited Concubine Shu, and there seemed to be something strange in her words. This concubine and Sister Ruohan both feel that this matter may not be simple."
She temporarily concealed the fact that Concubine Shu's child was not a dragon seed, and only raised the doubts about Concubine Liu's visit.
Zhao Yunci heard this, and a stern look flashed in her eyes: "Liupin? Why did she go to see Shufei?"
He then snorted coldly: "Speaking of Concubine Shu, I have already investigated the fire in the cold palace. It was indeed man-made!"
"Moreover, the fire starter used isn't ordinary tung oil, but a more secret Western spice. It ignites immediately when it comes into contact with fire, and the smoke is so small that it's difficult to detect."
"If it weren't for the thunderstorm last night, the fire would have been even more difficult to control. This is clearly intended to frame the Queen!"
Chu Ruohan interjected, "Your Majesty, I think the timing of Concubine Liu's visit to Concubine Shu and what she said to Concubine Shu were too coincidental."
"First, there was a fire in the cold palace, then there were the censors' attacks, and now Concubine Liu has gone to see Concubine Shu. Could all of these events... be connected to this whole thing?"
Zhao Yunci stood with his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed.
Concubine Liu has been in the palace for many years and has always behaved in a gentle and virtuous manner, not being competitive. She has a good reputation in the harem.
He pondered and said, "Princess Liu is usually quiet and obedient. If it is really her, then her scheming is too terrifying."
He suddenly turned around and shouted to the chief eunuch waiting outside the palace, "Come here! Pass on my order to secretly investigate all recent dealings of Concubine Liu in the palace, as well as any unusual behavior by the palace maids. Not a single word must leak out!"
"I obey your order!" The chief eunuch quickly responded and retreated.
Seeing that Zhao Yunci had become suspicious, Chu Ruohan took the opportunity to suggest, "Your Majesty, I have an idea."
"Since Concubine Shu is one of the key figures in this matter, perhaps we can start with her and see if we can lure the snake out of its hole and make some people reveal their true intentions."
Zhao Yunci's eyes darkened slightly, and after a moment's thought, she nodded, "This is a very good plan. You will assist the Queen in carrying out this secretly."
"Don't alarm Concubine Shu for now. Let's see what tricks the people behind her will play."
He looked at Su Wan again, his tone gentle but with unquestionable firmness: "Wan'er, don't worry, I will send more people to protect your safety and will never let you suffer any injustice again."
Su Wan felt warm in her heart and nodded, "I understand."
At the same time, inside Yonghe Palace.
Concubine Liu was sitting in front of the dressing table, and her personal maid was helping her take off her headdress.
"Your Majesty," the palace maid reported softly, "I just learned that the wife of the Duke of Zhenguo had a long, private conversation with the Empress in the Chaofeng Palace. Then His Majesty also went there and stayed for quite a while, apparently discussing something important."
Concubine Liu paused slightly while holding the ivory comb. Her face in the mirror remained calm, with only a barely perceptible glimmer in her eyes.
"Oh? Really?" She responded lightly, as if she didn't care.
Su Wan is a new queen and her foundation is not stable. Even with Chu Ruohan's help, how big a wave can she make?
Although Chu Ruohan has the support of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, she is the wife of an external official after all, and the waters in the harem are deep.
She put down the ivory comb and said to the palace maid, "Go over there and give Concubine Shu some advice, so she knows what to say and what not to say."
"If she is smart, she should understand her situation and not let her ruin my plans."
Concubine Liu's tone was gentle, but it carried a hint of chill that brooked no disobedience: "Tell her to behave herself. I will find a way to protect her and the 'dragon seed' in her belly. If she doesn't appreciate my kindness and keeps talking nonsense..."
She didn't say anything else, but the threat in her unfinished words was clear.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand." The palace maid responded respectfully and quietly retreated.
Concubine Liu looked at her beautiful face in the mirror, and an unfathomable smile slowly appeared at the corner of her mouth.
As the night deepened, candles lit up brightly in the Chaofeng Palace.
Zhao Yunci had just come from the imperial study and brought the latest news. His face was even more gloomy than the night outside the palace.
"The people I sent reported that the guard named Wang Hu has indeed been transferred out of the capital." There was a chill in Zhao Yunci's voice.
"But his whereabouts remain a mystery. All clues have been deliberately erased, making it very difficult to track him down."
This result was expected, Concubine Shu did not lie!
Su Wan's heart sank. "To be able to use such means to quietly wipe out a person's whereabouts, the power of the person behind this cannot be underestimated."
"This just reinforces Concubine Liu's suspicion," Chu Ruohan chimed in, calmly analyzing, "If she had nothing to hide, why would she go to so much trouble to send Wang Hu away, and do it so cleanly?"
Zhao Yunci quietly clenched his fists in his sleeves, and a hint of murderous intent flashed across his eyes.
"She's hiding it well! I will never let go of anyone who dares to plot against the Queen!"
"Your Majesty, calm down." Chu Ruohan stepped forward and bowed slightly. "We don't have any solid evidence right now. If we act rashly, we might alert the enemy and even draw criticism from the court."
"Then what do you think we should do?" Zhao Yunci looked at Chu Ruohan, and was very convinced of her wisdom.
Chu Ruohan pondered for a moment, then leaned close to Su Wan's ear, lowered her voice, and whispered a few words about the plan in her mind.
Su Wan listened carefully, her eyes gradually lighting up. She nodded heavily and said, "Just do as my sister says."
Zhao Yunci looked at the two of them. Although she didn't hear the specific content clearly, she guessed a little bit and said in a deep voice, "Okay, I will fully cooperate with you."
It was just past midnight and the night was as dark as ink.
Outside the side hall where Concubine Shu was imprisoned, the guards were stricter than during the day.
Chu Ruohan came here again, carrying a small palace lantern, on the pretext of visiting on the Queen's orders.
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