The thought that I had unknowingly found myself standing on a precipice, almost falling off, was terrifying.
With the horrific sight of her body being shattered to pieces right before her eyes, Jiaming disregarded the fact that it was getting late and that it was time for her to go to sleep according to her normal schedule.
Even when I went to sleep, I tossed and turned all night.
She didn't sleep, and those who served her—Hongtao, Lvliu, Xiao Hezi, and others—kept her company and tried to find a solution together.
But how do we come up with a solution?
Xiao He couldn't find anything at all, he had no clue whatsoever, so how was he supposed to get started?
Jiaming frowned and paced around the room, round and round.
Xiao Hezi and the others next to her didn't feel dizzy at all. It wasn't that they didn't see her spinning around, nor that they were resistant to dizziness; it was simply that none of them were paying attention to Jiaming.
Although they were all looking at Jiaming, their eyes were unfocused, their brows furrowed as they pondered something.
“Since that anomaly, there must have been something unusual here. Could it be that we’ve overlooked something?” Jiaming, who was circling around, suddenly stopped and looked at Xiao Hezi, saying, “Xiao Hezi, tell me everything that has happened recently, that is, the days before and after the anomaly. Perhaps the anomaly is hidden in some small matter and has been overlooked by us.”
"Okay!" Xiao He thought about it and felt it was very likely.
However, he did not speak immediately. He pondered for a while, and after organizing his thoughts, he recounted the events in the manor in chronological order.
"Five days ago, Consort Song sent you a screen through Concubine Liu. The red embroidery thread on that screen was soaked with..."
After listening patiently, Jiaming shook her head. "Not this one." Then, while gesturing for Xiao Hezi to continue, she walked to the couch with one hand on her belly and sat down.
After becoming pregnant, I can't stand still for long; I get a little tired after just a short while.
"Four days ago, Concubine Wei brought you a storybook, saying she heard that you, Master, enjoy reading it. She said that this particular storybook is hard to find in the capital, and it's quite good, so she specially brought it for you. In that storybook, there are a few pages..."
"It's not this one either!" Jiaming shook her head in disappointment.
“Three days ago, on the day of the strange event, a dark figure entered the residence of the Fujin… the residence of Li Shu Fujin… the residence of Hesheli Ce Fujin…”
Jiaming frowned. "This only indicates that they've made some unusual movements, but we haven't discovered what those movements are specifically." She sounded a little downcast, but quickly perked up. "Continue!"
"Two days ago..."
"It's not any of these," Jiaming said, her eyes dimming.
"One day ago..."
Still nothing was noticed; Jiaming's spirits were beginning to wilt.
"today……"
This is a tricky situation, Jiaming thought, raising her hand to press her temples.
Not only do the listeners find it troublesome and difficult, but the speakers also feel the same way.
Suddenly, Xiao Hezi remembered something, and his expression became extremely serious.
"Master, do you think they might be targeting Prince Guarjia and Prince Qijia? After all, we have few people outside and our network isn't tight enough, so we haven't discovered anything unusual yet."
Upon hearing this, Jiaming immediately sat up straight and became serious.
After thinking for a moment, he said to Xiao Hezi, "Tell me about the news that has been coming from outside these past few days, and see if you can find any clues. Whether you find anything or not, you must inform Jiaheng and Erlin to be on the lookout tomorrow."
"I'll send someone to inform them tomorrow." After nodding in response, Xiao Hezi turned to the news that had come from outside.
First and foremost, there's the matter of the Eighth Prince's residence.
"...The Eighth Prince's wife has attacked Lady Wang several times, but Lady Wang is extremely lucky and has managed to protect her child each time. According to the rumors, not only has the Eighth Prince developed a grudge against the Eighth Prince's wife because of this, but the palace has also developed a grudge against her. It is said that in this year's imperial concubine selection, they must appoint a concubine to enter the Eighth Prince's residence to put pressure on the Eighth Prince's wife..."
"Wait!" As Jiaming listened, a flash of inspiration struck her, as if she had thought of something, but for a moment, she couldn't quite grasp it.
Xiao Hezi asked in surprise, "Master, what have you thought of!"
Red Peach and Green Willow, who were listening nearby, also looked at Jiaming expectantly, hoping she would say something.
Jiaming frowned, racking her brains, and said dejectedly, "I just thought of something, but it flashed by too quickly."
"Little He, why don't you repeat what you just said? Maybe the master will remember." Hongtao rarely gave such a reliable suggestion.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Hezi looked at Jiaming, who nodded in agreement, finding it feasible.
So Xiao Hezi continued, "...Eighth Prince's wife has repeatedly mentioned...the selection of concubines, she must..."
“Yes, it’s this ‘talent show’.” Jiaming stood up excitedly, her eyes shining.
"A talent show?" Xiao Hezi looked doubtful. "Master, are you sure about this? The palace's talent show hasn't concluded yet. Even if someone will be chosen for our Prince's residence, it hasn't happened yet, has it?"
Moreover, compared to the soon-to-be new brides who are yet to be confirmed, wouldn't they be more wary of you, Master, who has a clever young prince by your side and is pregnant with another?
Jiaming didn't know what Xiao Hezi was thinking, but she could guess from Xiao Hezi's words and expressions.
Her answer, of course, was that the newcomer who was about to enter the household was indeed more feared than she, an old woman.
However, she wouldn't say it out loud. This was something she knew, the transmigrated woman knew, and the reborn woman knew as well.
Li is a time-traveling woman, Hesheli is a reborn woman, and the Fujin is also a reborn woman, which is why they coincidentally experienced strange events at the same time.
After all, that Niohuru clan member, the famous birth mother of the Qianlong Emperor, was selected for the imperial concubine selection this year! Of course, historically, she was selected last year, but since there wasn't one last year, it was this year.
So Jiaming answered Xiao Hezi definitively, "It's a talent show."
As for the reason, she only vaguely said: "There are candidates they are wary of in this talent show."
Although Xiao Hezi didn't know where his master had found out, he didn't delve into it, and that didn't stop him from continuing to think along this line of thought.
"However, this is just speculation. Although I am 90% certain that your master is right, there is no concrete evidence. You can investigate privately to see if it is true. Of course, if it is, you can continue to follow up without interfering. Just keep it in mind."
"What if it isn't?" Xiao Hezi wasn't reborn or a time traveler, so he wasn't as certain about this guess as Jiaming.
“If not, then we’re in trouble. We’ll just have to keep wandering around like headless flies.” At this point, Jiaming changed the subject. “However, I still believe my guess more. I’ll leave this to you, Xiao Hezi.”
Xiao Hezi: "Yes, sir!"
With her worries resolved, Jiaming slept soundly through the night.
The next day, the weather was fine, the flowers were still so beautiful and fragrant, and the birdsong was very pleasant.
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