Chapter 175 The Twelve Flower Fairies
Princess Huayang thought carefully for a moment and said, "It is with Ye Zhen, and occasionally someone goes to say a few words."
Prince Rui usually stays for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea and then leaves; he doesn't stay long.
The Crown Prince suddenly asked, "Does anything special happen whenever Prince Rui goes to any particular place?"
The county magistrate of Huayang thought for a moment and said, "He always comes through the back door and leaves through the back door."
Nothing unusual was found.
Xie Yunyu interjected, "Is Consort Rong among the members of that poetry club?"
"Consort Rong's elder sister is a key member of our poetry club and is also a close friend of Ye Zhen. She often goes there."
Consort Rong visited twice, but she disliked crowds, was quiet and unremarkable.
Xie Yunyu pressed further, "Were Prince Rui present on those two occasions when Consort Rong visited?"
Princess Huayang felt a pang of unease as Xie Yunyu continued to press Consort Rong and Prince Rui for answers.
After thinking for a long time, he suddenly slammed his hand on the table.
“I went. When Consort Rong went for the second time, Prince Rui also arrived halfway there.”
On another occasion, Prince Rui left, and Consort Rong left with him.
After that, Consort Rong stopped coming.
But Prince Rui still came.
Xie Yunyu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "They really do know each other."
Then, looking at the Princess of Huayang, she continued, "Where do you hold your gatherings?"
"It's in a house next to the West Garden. The house is quite large, but for some reason it's been empty and uninhabited ever since."
"Please tell me the exact location, Aunt," the prince said.
"The house at the far east end of the first alley south of Xuanwu Street next to Xiyuan is called Fenghe Garden."
Upon hearing the words "Fenghe Garden," the Crown Prince, Xiao Ling, and Xie Yunyu exchanged glances.
"Now that Ye Zhen is the Princess Consort of Prince Rui, does she still have contact with the people in the capital?" Princess Jinyang asked.
Princess Huayang shook her head and said, "Sister, I don't know about that."
We haven't seen her since she went to the northern border with Prince Rui.
Xie Yunyu suddenly asked again, "Aunt Huayang, did the members of your poetry club all use flowers as code names back then?"
Princess Huayang exclaimed in surprise, "Oh my, how did you know?"
"Of course, each of us uses a flower as a code name; otherwise, why would we be called the 'Floral Poetry Society'?"
Xie Yunyu's lips curled slightly, and she glanced at Xiao Ling with a half-smile before continuing to ask the Princess of Huayang:
"Then, Aunt, what's your code name?"
"I arrived late, and all twelve flower goddesses had already been claimed. I had to find another way and took the name Manhua, which was offered in front of the Buddha, as my code name."
Therefore, my name is Layman Manhua.
Xie Yunyu asked, "Who is Peony?"
"Naturally, it's Ye Zhen."
Upon hearing this, the three gasped. Xie Yunyu then pressed for an answer:
Who is the lotus flower?
Upon hearing Xie Yunyu ask this question, the Princess of Huayang's expression changed again.
Frowning, he said to Xie Yunyu, "This is strange, Ye Zhen doesn't allow anyone else to use the name Lotus."
She said this was the Lotus Garden, and there were already lotuses there, so no one could call it "Lotus" anymore.
The expressions on the faces of the Crown Prince and his companions were quite fascinating.
Xie Yunyu then asked, "What is Consort Rong's name?"
The county magistrate of Huayang shook her head and said, "I don't know."
She only went a few times, and she wasn't a formal member; I've never heard of her having a codename.
Xie Yunyu was now almost certain that Consort Rong was Hehua.
"Who was Ye Zhen close to back then?" Xie Yunyu continued to ask.
"Are you close? It's alright."
But the twelve flower fairies all seemed to listen to her, as if she were their leader.
Xie Yunyu smiled and said, "I would like to trouble you, Aunt, to write down the twelve flower fairies and their corresponding names."
Princess Jinyang breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.
She never expected that the key to breaking the deadlock would actually be this poetry club.
Hua Yang glanced at Princess Jin Yang, who nodded and had paper and pen brought over.
After Huayang finished writing, the four of them took turns reading it.
The eldest princess and the crown prince went to see the emperor together.
Xiao Ling, together with Xie Yunyu, escorted Princess Huayang out of the palace.
The county magistrate of Huayang hesitated to speak throughout the journey.
Seeing this, Xiao Ling smiled and said, "Aunt, you came to the palace today only to visit the Empress Dowager, you didn't do anything else."
The Princess of Huayang nodded and had nothing more to say.
Before parting, Xiao Ling said, "The clues provided by my aunt this time are very important. If the matter is successful, His Majesty will surely reward her for her contributions."
Go find my mother; she might be able to help you fulfill your long-cherished wish.
Upon hearing this, the Princess of Huayang's eyes lit up with hope.
Is this really true?
Xiao Ling smiled and nodded: "My mother does hope that lovers will eventually be united in marriage."
Princess Huayang laughed upon hearing this, then turned and boarded her carriage, departing.
When Xiao Ling and Xie Yunyu returned, Xiao Ling told Xie Yunyu the love story of Princess Huayang.
Xie Yunyu was so engrossed in listening that she didn't notice Xiao Ling taking her hand without her noticing.
Xie Yunyu asked with a smile, "Since the guard has rendered meritorious service, why doesn't His Majesty reward him and then bestow a marriage upon him?"
"My uncle is too lazy to bother with these trivial matters."
Actually, the main problem is that the Prince of Qin's residence doesn't agree.
The King of Qin's uncle didn't say anything, but the old king was strongly opposed.
The old prince has become somewhat confused these past few years. He looks down on the guard's humble origins, saying that it's beneath his noble birth for his aunt, Huayang, to marry a mere bodyguard.
A woman stood on a corner tower not far from the palace, gazing into the distance against the wind.
Seeing the two people holding hands on the palace road, I asked:
"Who are those two? They seem so affectionate."
The palace attendant examined the documents carefully and replied, "It should be the Prince of Shou'an and his wife. The Princess Consort has come to the palace today to visit the Empress Dowager."
The woman smiled calmly and said, "I really envy you, the young couple has such a good relationship."
Her maidservant smiled and said, "Your Highness and His Majesty have a very good relationship."
This woman possessed an elegant demeanor and a serene, chrysanthemum-like grace; she was none other than Consort Rong.
This corner tower in the inner palace is next to the palace of Chunhua Palace. Standing on it, you can see a great distance.
In the future, you will be able to see that graceful lotus pond.
Ahead, you can see the main passageway leading to the inner palace.
Consort Rong's favorite thing to do was stand here and look at the scenery, the people, and the distance.
Hearing the maid beside him speak, he smiled faintly.
Yeah?
Are they in a good relationship?
The last time we strolled hand in hand was already a blur in my memory.
Was all those years of hardship in the palace for him?
Yes and no.
Perhaps it was for him at first, but since the birth of the prince, it has mostly been for the prince.
Consort Rong fell into deep thought.
His gaze followed Xiao Ling and Xie Yunyu until they disappeared from sight.
"Your Majesty, the sun is too strong, let's go back."
Consort Rong lowered her head and followed her maid to prepare to descend the corner tower.
As Xie Yunyu and Xiao Ling walked and talked, Xie Yunyu suddenly felt someone watching her and looked up at the corner tower.
Just then, I saw the person on the corner tower turning around to leave.
Xie Yunyu pointed to the corner tower and asked, "Where is that?"
Xiao Ling looked up and saw the group of people who were about to leave.
"The corner tower next to Chunhua Palace."
"Why build a corner tower there? It seems a bit excessive," Xie Yunyu asked.
Xiao Ling said softly, "It was built by the late emperor for Consort Ye."
Xie Yunyu sighed upon hearing this, saying, "The fact that Consort Ye enjoyed such favor back then is just one example."
"This isn't the place to talk about these things. Let's hurry and go find Mother and see how things are going there."
The two quickly headed towards the Imperial Study.
When the emperor saw the two arrive, he kindly invited Xiao Ling to sit down.
He then waved to Xie Yunyu.
Xie Yunyu stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Hmm... no need for formalities."
Xie Yunyu looked up and saw that the emperor's complexion looked much better than it had been at the Dragon Boat Festival banquet last time.
"Yongning, Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager was able to be successfully detoxified, and you deserve much credit for that."
"I'm going to reward you. What do you desire?"
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