"It's so small and delicate, it seems to have always been a child's toy." Qingxue looked at it, not remembering which master had ever worn this double fish jade pendant.
Qian Shengyan examined the jade pendant for a while, turning it over and over. It was small and exquisite, but it looked quite old. The jade had been rubbed and polished repeatedly, and it looked as if it were covered with a layer of glaze, which was very beautiful.
Qian Shengyan put it aside, thinking she would ask Hongli and Hongshan later to see if either of them had seen it.
Unfortunately, since there wasn't much to do after tidying up the side hall, Qian Shengyan didn't let them stay there any longer and sent them away early.
She hadn't taken it seriously at first, but a little while later, when Qingxue told her that the Pisces jade pendant had been found under Hongxuan's pillow, she began to realize that something was wrong.
“Hongxuan’s bed is tidied up every day. How could I not have seen what’s under his pillow?”
Qian Shengyan thought about it and felt something was wrong. Nothing was missing from the side hall, but what if something had been added?
Clutching the jade pendant shaped like two fish, she went directly to the back hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation and informed Yinzhen that she would come to the back hall to say a few words when he had time.
At this time, Ulanara was making preparations.
She wanted to see Lady Li in person, but she couldn't let anyone know she had gone. Fortunately, as the Empress, it was still easy for her to find out some things.
With Shushen's advice, and considering that Li Shi was now a "disposable commodity" and would probably be gone after this use, Ulanara Shi took out all her best treasures.
A packet of white powder spun slightly in her palm. Ulanara looked up at the sky, her heart filled with anticipation.
Li, you've never done anything right in your life. In your final moments, you must help me out...
Qian Shengyan waited in the Hall of Mental Cultivation until dark but Yinzhen did not come to the back hall. She could only vaguely hear the voices of a group of people in front of her, and they were all very excited and talking passionately.
She sighed, looked at the jade pendant with two fish in it again, and couldn't help but call Hongli over.
"Mother." Hongli bowed, and Qian Shengyan beckoned him to her side, showing him the jade pendant with the double fish design: "Have you seen this before?"
“This, my son has never seen before,” Hongli said, puzzled.
“I’ve never seen Hongshan wear or play with it.” Qian Shengyan put it aside. “Today, a thief broke into the side hall. After searching around, we found that nothing was missing, but this double fish jade pendant was added.”
"Too many?" Hongli was taken aback. He then picked up the jade pendant with the double fish design and examined it for a long time. After a moment, as if remembering something, he took out a jade copper coin from his purse.
Qian Shengyan didn't realize what was wrong at first, but then she saw that Hongli's expression was becoming more and more cautious, and she asked, "What's wrong?"
Looking at the jade coin again, Qian Shengyan was startled and finally remembered where it came from—years ago at the Lion Garden in Rehe, Emperor Kangxi saw Hongli and liked him very much, so he gave the jade coin to Hongli to play with.
Later, Yinzhen said that this copper coin once belonged to the late Crown Prince Yinreng, which he had worn since childhood, and was later taken back by Emperor Kangxi.
The jade pendant of the deposed crown prince was given by Kangxi to Hongli. Yinzhen was quite happy at the time, but now, Qian Shengyan only felt a chill down her spine.
There's no other reason than that this coin and the Pisces jade pendant look very similar in material, and even their wear levels are about the same. However, Hongli cherished the jade coin more and rarely handled it, so it didn't look as smooth as the Pisces jade pendant.
Qian Shengyan's heart skipped a beat, and she understood: "This is..."
“It seems to belong to Prince Li.” Hongshi frowned. “It looks like it’s from the same piece of jade as the one my son has.”
He looked up at Qian Shengyan, his eyes full of confusion: "How come Hongshan has it too?"
Qian Shengyan also frowned.
Emperor Kangxi had never even met Hongshan, so it couldn't have been given to him by Kangxi. Who else could have obtained something belonging to the former Crown Prince?
Yinzhen?
However, Qian Shengyan felt that Yinzhen did not like the former crown prince, and it was even more impossible for him to give Hongshan something that Yinreng had used. Moreover, since Yinreng had used this item, it carried a different meaning. Kangxi giving it to Hongli could be interpreted as him having high hopes for him as the young crown prince, so what did it mean if Yinzhen gave it to Hongshan in private?
Both were raised at a very young age, yet they were both raised in the emperor's presence...
In an instant, Qian Shengyan felt a chill run down her spine.
She understood that the person who came had deliberately turned the side hall upside down not to steal anything, but to leave behind the Pisces jade pendant!
If she hadn't discovered it and had left it in the side hall, or given it to Hongshan, then it wouldn't have been a good thing whether Yinzhen or Hongli saw it later!
If Yinzhen knew that the jade pendant had been used by Yinreng, he would probably suspect that she had connections with the former crown prince's people; and if Hongli recognized that Hongshan had something with the same meaning as himself, would he start to be wary of his half-brother?
Even if they weren't on guard, this matter, planted deep in their hearts, might resurface someday. At the very least, it sows the seeds of discord between the brothers...
The supreme throne forced Yinzhen and his brothers to fight for many years. By the time it came to Hongli's generation, some people probably didn't want to see him sit comfortably in the position of the invisible crown prince without any trouble...
Seeing Qian Shengyan's face turn pale with fright, Hongli quickly dropped the jade pendant and came over to comfort her, "Mother, don't worry. How old is Hongshan? Even if I were foolish, I wouldn't doubt him, much less distrust you."
Qian Shengyan just watched him silently.
In his words, Hongli believed in Hongshan and in her, but he did not believe in Yinzhen.
It's understandable that they don't believe it.
Just as the aging Emperor Kangxi was wary of his former crown prince and all his grown sons, Yinzhen will also grow old one day. When he looks at the grown-up Hongli, will he still be able to calmly treat him as his son?
Qian Shengyan's lips moved slightly, and after a moment she said, "I will discuss this matter with your father, the Emperor."
"The intruder has malicious intentions, Mother, please be careful." Hongli frowned. "Let's find out who did this first."
Qian Shengyan nodded, and just then, Su Peisheng arrived.
He smiled with utmost respect, first bowing to Qian Shengyan, then giving a deep bow to Hongli, and said, "Thank heavens, this servant has not failed His Majesty and Your Highness's orders, and has found out who sneaked into the side hall and ransacked it!"
"Who is it!?" Qian Shengyan immediately straightened up, and Hongli also turned around abruptly.
Su Peisheng was taken aback, and quickly said, "It was...it was the young prince himself..."
"What?" Qian Shengyan and Hongli asked in unison.
As dusk fell and night was about to break, Ulanara knew that the Emperor was very busy that day. Taking advantage of the changing of the guards, she quietly left Changchun Palace through the back gate with only Yanruo and the head eunuch Zeng Kang, and quickly went to the Cold Palace.
The Cold Palace is now located north of the Western Six Palaces, making it convenient for Ulanara to get there. They arrived quickly, and Zeng Kang opened the door. Ulanara stepped inside and saw Li Shi sitting in the courtyard, staring blankly at the sky.
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