Feeling trusted by her master, Qingxue naturally felt full of energy. She also thought that she should tell Ji An about this sooner rather than later, so that he would be even more motivated to complete this task well.
So Qingxue went to Yonghe Palace again, but didn't see anyone. She guessed that Ji An might have gone to Chengqian Palace, so she had no choice but to go back.
The next morning, just as Yinzhen went to court, Qian Shengyan was informed by Qingxue that Ji An was already waiting outside.
"Did something really happen last night?" Qian Shengyan was instantly wide awake. She sat up and said, "Quick, change your clothes!"
After changing her clothes, Qian Shengyan casually tied her hair up and met the little eunuch named Ji An. She left Qingxue in the palace and had Lvliu and Lvyan guard the door, forbidding anyone from entering.
Before she could speak, she noticed a layer of frost on Ji An's eyebrows, indicating that he had been outside all night and must be exhausted. Qian Shengyan couldn't help but feel sorry for him and asked Qingxue to fetch a new cotton-padded coat that Xiao Shunzi hadn't worn yet for Ji An. As for Xiao Shunzi, Qian Shengyan would make him two more.
Moved to tears by the new cotton-padded coat, Ji An immediately knelt down and vowed to serve Qian Shengyan to the death. This forced Qian Shengyan to get up again and say a few polite words before finally getting to the point.
“After Aunt Qingxue left last night, I quietly went to the backyard of Chengqian Palace. My masters do not know that there are rat holes in all the palaces and halls. However, I did not expect that the rat hole in the backyard of Chengqian Palace was newly dug and was exceptionally large. I quietly went in and waited for a short while before I saw a person dressed as a eunuch arrive.”
Ji An may have seen the Third Prince, but only from a distance. He didn't know what the prince looked like, and it was dark and moonless, so Ji An couldn't see him clearly. He just thought that Consort Xi wanted to find fault with Consort Hua.
Although the idea of a concubine having an affair with a eunuch sounds terrifying, Ji An had heard many scandalous stories from the old eunuchs of Yonghe Palace, so he was relatively accepting of it.
"This servant followed the eunuch all the way to the back window of the main hall. I saw the eunuch imitate the hooting of an owl a few times. A moment later, the back window opened. This servant saw it with his own eyes. It was Consort Hua who opened the window for him."
Ji An described the scene very clearly, using a combination of words and gestures. Qian Shengyan and Qingxue listened attentively. He continued, "After the eunuch went in, the window was closed. I secretly hid under the window and poked a small crack with a branch, but I couldn't hear very clearly what the two were saying. There were only occasional soft whispers, but they were really not clear."
As he spoke, he lowered his head, seemingly somewhat ashamed: "This servant thought this wouldn't do, that I would fail Your Majesty and Aunt Qingxue's instructions, so I risked my life to peer through the window..."
"This servant saw that the eunuch was actually sitting on Consort Hua's bed, with one arm around her waist!" Ji An said, his breathing becoming rapid. "He was really presumptuous, but Consort Hua seemed very happy, and even rested her head on the eunuch's shoulder..."
"However, the two didn't do anything more outrageous. They only talked for a short while before the eunuch left," Ji An sighed regretfully. "Because of Aunt Qingxue's instructions, I didn't follow the eunuch. I waited until dawn before leaving Chengqian Palace, and then sneaked over here when no one was watching..."
He said it was a pity, and Qian Shengyan and Qingxue exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with turbulent emotions.
Goodness, they've actually started dating!
Qian Shengyan couldn't understand Hongshi. As the eldest son of the emperor, he could have had countless women if he wanted to date. Why did he have to look for women in his own father's harem? If he couldn't control himself, then... judging from the description, he seemed to be quite able to control himself? He hadn't done anything specific.
After her initial shock, Qingxue was overjoyed. She had initially followed Qian Shengyan because of the Fourth Prince, but recently the Third Prince had gained the Emperor's favor, and although Qian Shengyan still enjoyed the Emperor's favor, she couldn't help but worry.
Now that we have such a big handle on the Third Prince, if we expose it, the Third Prince will have no chance of succeeding to the throne!
Well, that...
Qingxue was overjoyed and almost couldn't control her expression, but Qian Shengyan's voice interrupted her reverie: "You did very well, Ji An, I will remember you. The Seventh Prince currently has no one of useful ability by his side..."
Before she could finish speaking, Ji An had already knelt down and kowtowed with joy. Qian Shengyan waved her hand, telling Qingxue to see him out, while she herself sat there, frowning in thought.
I don't understand what Hongshi and Shanxiu are doing...
Moreover, does Hongshi actually know Shanxiu's true identity? Even if he doesn't know now, wouldn't Shanxiu tell him when their feelings for each other become intense?
Qian Shengyan was a little worried. Yinzhen had been planning this scheme for the Nian family for many years, and he couldn't let Hongshi mess it up recklessly. She thought for a long time and suddenly remembered Hongshi's aunt.
I heard that Li Wenhuan has been sent back to the Li family and has now been married off far away from Beijing.
If even his own aunt can act recklessly, what would happen if someone in the palace looked like Shan Xiu? Hongshi…
However, Qian Shengyan had no one outside the palace who could be used, and it was unlikely that she could find someone similar to Shan Xiu. Moreover, Shan Xiu was already a substitute for Nian Shi that Yinzhen had found. Did they have to find another substitute for the substitute?
Qian Shengyan was both amused and exasperated, unable to come up with a good solution. November arrived in the blink of an eye, and it was time for Kangxi's memorial service again. This time, Yinzhen only said one sentence to Qian Shengyan, and before she could refuse, he issued an edict ordering Hongli to offer sacrifices at Jingling on his behalf.
Qian Shengyan was somewhat helpless. Hongli was only thirteen years old after all. He had always been a prince who had taken the place of the sacrifice, and should have been an adult prince. However, Yinzhen did not care and directly ordered Hongli to go, without mentioning Hongshi at all.
But soon, Yinzhen issued another imperial edict, restoring Consort Li to her original status and returning her title. She is now Consort Qi of Zhongcui Palace.
This move undoubtedly brought honor to Hongshi, and Qian Shengyan breathed a slight sigh of relief. However, when she went to congratulate Consort Qi, she saw two people who surprised her greatly.
"Master..." Qingxue was getting angry. "What does Consort Qi mean by this? How dare she... This is disrespectful to my master!"
Qian Shengyan had no idea what the Li family was doing.
Today, as the two palace maids following behind Lady Li appeared, one of them, judging by her profile, bore a striking resemblance to Qian Shengyan. However, before Lady Li could even begin to get angry, she happened to see the other palace maid, who bore a striking resemblance to Shan Xiu…
Qian Shengyan immediately forgot about her anger and stared at the palace maid for a long time, slowly forming a plan in her mind.
Given how much Li loves her children, if Hongshi were to ask her for them, she certainly wouldn't refuse, right?
"Your Highness!" Qingxue exclaimed anxiously when she didn't hear Qian Shengyan's reply, "We must not let Consort Qi continue like this!"
"Hmm." Qian Shengyan tapped the small table repeatedly. "Qingxue, use the person who leaked the guards' shift change time to the Third Prince last time again."
"What?" Qingxue didn't react for a moment.
Qian Shengyan beckoned her over with her finger and gave her a series of instructions.
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