Chapter 334 Exposure (Two Updates)
How could it be... her?
Gu Changqing asked incredulously, "She... assassinated Jiaojiao... What about the events at the Marshal's Mansion and the Marquis's Mansion before?"
The old chief priest knew about this, after all, when Gu Changqing escaped from prison to visit Gu Yan, it was the old chief priest who let Gu Changqing into his home.
The old chief priest said, "Although there is no evidence for that matter, judging from the motive, it does seem to be her. Apart from her, probably no one else is so eager to see His Majesty and the Empress Dowager reconcile."
Even if the Zhuang family wanted to control everything, they didn't think it was a bad thing if Zhuang Jinse had a harmonious relationship with His Majesty. On the contrary, if they could win over His Majesty and get him to grant the Zhuang family more benefits, Grand Tutor Zhuang would be happy.
It's just that His Majesty never gets on the pirate ship.
The old chief priest continued, "I suspect she still harbors resentment towards the position of Empress Dowager. She wants to be Empress Dowager, and she wants to get rid of Zhuang Jinse. It's just that she hides herself too well, so much so that even though she is the most suspicious, no one suspects her."
Something flashed in Gu Changqing's eyes. He clenched his fists, his expression turning icy cold.
“I’m afraid she’s been eyeing Liu Lang lately too.” The old chief priest hesitated for a moment before revealing the jade pendant. “Moreover… I suspect she was the one who poisoned the young Marquis of Zhaodu back then.”
Gu Jiao's eyes also turned cold.
Seeing that the brother and sister seemed determined to enter the palace and execute the person on the spot, the old chief priest hurriedly advised them: "You two, don't be impulsive. You absolutely cannot go into the palace to kill someone! With the late emperor's bodyguards here, you won't be able to kill them, and you might even get injured. Besides, even if you did kill them, it wouldn't be legitimate. His Majesty won't forgive you, and neither will the laws of this dynasty."
Gu Changqing said coldly, "Are we just going to let her live like this?"
The old chief priest chuckled and said, "To deal with this kind of person, you naturally have to take an unconventional approach!"
"Why take such an unconventional approach?" Gu Changqing asked.
The old chief priest smiled mysteriously: "Naturally... it's about giving them a taste of their own medicine!"
Using someone's knowledge to fight them back sounds simple, but it's not easy to do.
This old white lotus is especially well hidden; even the old chief priest admits he is inferior.
However, the old chief priest has always been unwilling to admit defeat. You may be more learned than me, or have a higher official position than me, but you can't be better at tea than me!
Life is like a play, it's all about showing off our acting skills!
Gu Jiao silently touched her little basket.
The old chief priest asked, "Where are you going so late?"
"Let's go see my great-aunt," Gu Jiao said without changing her expression.
The old priest said, "Put down the basket."
Gu Jiao blinked and put the small basket down.
"Take out the dagger."
Gu Jiao took out a black iron dagger with a resentful look on her face.
"The other three."
Gu Jiao then took out the three daggers she had hidden on her body.
"Bring out the sack."
"Take out your hidden weapons."
"Take out the poison needle."
"And that crackling thing you made."
Gu Jiao pouted: "That's gone."
The old chief priest: "Poisonous insects."
"A poisonous snake."
Gu Changqing's temples throbbed as she heard this. "Are you, a young lady, carrying so many dangerous creatures in your little basket? Even poisonous snakes!"
Gu Jiao emptied the small basket completely, leaving only a small medicine box.
The small medicine box cannot hide living things or things that do not belong to it, otherwise it will disappear. Gu Jiao has tried this.
The old chief priest knows this girl too well. If he hadn't stopped her today, she could have gone straight into the palace and put Consort Jing in a sack.
But the risk is just too great.
He wouldn't allow her to take such a risk.
Gu Changqing ignored his sister's strange basket of things and looked at the old chief priest, asking, "What exactly does Chief Priest Huo plan to do?"
The old chief priest stroked his beard: "Well..."
He has a method, but he's missing a tool!
This person must be highly trusted by the emperor and able to easily enter the palace.
The second point alone wasn't too difficult for him, but ever since the emperor discovered that he had acted as his father for a period of time, the emperor had harbored a lot of resentment towards him.
I no longer trust him as much as I used to.
The old chief minister looked up to the sky and sighed, "It's not easy being a subject."
Just as he was sighing, the clatter of hooves and the turning of cart wheels came from the alley. The sound stopped at the door next door, and then the whole alley heard Xiao Jingkong's furious roar: "Aaaaah! I never want to go out with you again! It's not fun! Not fun at all!"
The old chief priest muttered, "What happened? Who did he go out with? Why is he so angry?"
Neither Gu Jiao nor Gu Changqing knew.
The three of them went outside.
Little Jingkong jumped down from a tall carriage, and then stomped his feet angrily!
"Clear the sky," Gu Jiao called out.
When Xiao Jingkong saw Gu Jiao coming out of her great-uncle's house, her little mouth twitched in grievance, and she ran over and jumped into Gu Jiao's arms.
Gu Jiao squatted down, wiped the sweat from the little guy's forehead, and touched his collar; his clothes were completely soaked with sweat.
Marquis Xuanping stepped down from the carriage, raised an eyebrow at the little guy, and chuckled, "I took you to such a high-class restaurant, and you don't even appreciate it."
"My lord." Gu Changqing cupped his hands in greeting.
"Hmm," Marquis Xuanping responded indifferently.
Xiao Jingkong was furious: "You still dare to talk back! Such a big restaurant! So many good dishes, and you only ordered an egg for me!"
Marquis Xuanping coughed lightly: "Those are eggs braised in abalone sauce, they're very expensive. Besides, can a child like you eat that much? Didn't I take you boating?"
"What a lousy boat! It's leaking! I scooped water the whole way! Waaah!" Little Jingkong was so aggrieved. "Jiaojiao, my arm is sore."
There are boats that cost twenty copper coins, and boats that cost fifty copper coins. Further up the river, there are also awning boats that cost one or two taels of silver.
Marquis Xuanping rented the cheapest boat, which not only had no canopy, but also had a leaky bottom halfway through rowing.
In the end, it was unclear whether the person was rowing the boat or the boat was rowing the person.
Gu Jiao picked up Xiao Jingkong, who nestled in her arms, sobbing with grievance.
What a thrilling day!
He never wants to go out with that stingy little monkey again!
"I'll take Jingkong inside first," Gu Jiao said, turning and entering the house.
Gu Changqing and the old chief priest looked at Marquis Xuanping, their expressions indescribable.
I know you're stingy, but you don't have to be this stingy!
Marquis Xuanping coughed lightly and grumbled, "Why are you looking at me like that? I've worked hard too! I've never even taken care of Aheng when he was little. I've spent all my time and energy taking care of the little guy, and he didn't even call me 'Master'."
"You want to be Xiao Jingkong's master?" The old chief priest looked Xuanping Hou up and down, his eyes gradually brightening. "That's easy. You do me a favor, and I'll find a way to get Jingkong to call you master!"
Marquis Xuanping looked at the old chief priest with suspicion.
A rain fell during the night, which dissipated much of the summer heat. As dawn broke, the heavy rain stopped, and the palace courtyard was filled with fragrance, mixed with the damp scent of earth, which was refreshing and delightful.
Empress Xiao got up very early.
According to palace rules, she should have gone to Renshou Palace to pay her respects to Empress Dowager Zhuang. However, since Empress Dowager Zhuang was not an ordinary empress dowager, she had to attend the morning court session, which saved her, as her daughter-in-law, the trouble of having to observe the rules in front of her.
However, not paying respects to Empress Dowager Zhuang does not mean not paying respects to Consort Jing.
"Your Majesty, this peacock and kingfisher hairpin is beautiful," said the young palace maid who was combing Empress Xiao's hair.
Empress Xiao looked at herself in the bronze mirror and sighed deeply: "Time waits for no one, beauty fades quickly, what use are the most beautiful hairpins and jewels? When you get old, nothing you wear will make you look good."
The young palace maid hurriedly said, "How could Your Majesty grow old? You are the peony among flowers, with unparalleled beauty, and also the pine and cypress in the mountains, growing ever more luxuriant after frost! You will only become more and more beautiful!"
Empress Xiao smiled faintly: "You have such a sweet tongue." She waved her hand, signaling the maid to put the hairpin on her head.
The young palace maid put on the peacock-and-kingfisher hairpin and then selected a few white jade beaded flowers for her.
"Your Majesty is the Empress; you do not rely on your beauty to please men. What fear is there of the passing years?"
Granny Liao came in carrying a basin of water infused with flower petals.
Empress Xiao smiled and said, "What you say is absolutely right."
She was the Empress, the Emperor's wife. Unlike the other concubines, she and the Emperor had been betrothed, had a wedding ceremony, and shared a true bond as husband and wife.
Men can spend some time and effort on other women, but a wife is still a wife.
Empress Xiao dipped her hands into the flower petal water.
Granny Liao said, "Your Highness, Marquis Xuanping has arrived."
"Brother is here?" Empress Xiao's eyes lit up.
Granny Liao sighed inwardly, only in front of Marquis Xuanping would the Lady reveal the side of a young lady before her marriage.
"Please come in quickly!"
It's not a quick announcement, it's a quick invitation.
Empress Xiao deeply respected and loved her elder brother, and of course, Marquis Xuanping treated his younger sister well as well.
Empress Xiao met Marquis Xuanping at Qingyou Pavilion, where guests were received.
Marquis Xuanping bowed and said, "Your subject greets the Empress."
Empress Xiao hesitated, glanced at the palace maids and eunuchs in the pavilion, and said in a deep voice, "You may all leave. I have a few private words with Marquis Xuanping."
"yes!"
The palace servants withdrew one by one.
Empress Xiao then stood up with a smile and walked towards Marquis Xuanping: "Brother!"
Marquis Xuanping gave her a disdainful look: "Why are you dressed like a bird today?"
Empress Xiao, as if doused with a bucket of cold water: "..."
Empress Xiao took a deep breath.
My brother's mouth has remained unchanged for decades!
Empress Xiao and Marquis Xuanping sat down on the chairs. She did not sit in the main seat on the steps, but sat next to Marquis Xuanping.
Empress Xiao asked, "How has my brother been these days?"
Marquis Xuanping said, "That's good. Where is the Empress?"
Empress Xiao smiled and said, "Of course I'm happy to be there too."
Marquis Xuanping looked at her exquisite makeup and cumbersome jewelry and asked, "Do you regret entering the palace?"
"How could that be?" She had no regrets. Wasn't it good to be the empress? Besides, although His Majesty had three thousand beauties in his harem, he had never truly neglected her, the empress.
It was her own idea to marry the emperor; in a way, she stole Consort Zhuang's thunder.
Consort Zhuang was the emperor's principal wife, but after the emperor ascended the throne, he only bestowed upon her the title of Consort Zhuang, a second-rank official, and then issued an edict to marry her as empress.
As a result, she and the Xiao family suffered a lot of difficulties from the Empress Dowager Zhuang's faction, and her brother shouldered all the burdens on his own.
Therefore, she felt both gratitude and respect for her brother.
She asked with a smile, "Brother, what brings you here to see me today?"
"I have a favor to ask of you," said Marquis Xuanping.
"What is it?" Empress Xiao asked.
Marquis Xuanping said, "An old friend asked me to deliver something to Consort Jing. It is a very precious item, and he asked me to personally hand it to Consort Jing."
Empress Xiao smiled and said, "I thought it was something serious. What's so difficult about it? I'm on my way to Huaqing Palace to pay my respects to Consort Jing. Why don't you come with me, brother?"
"Alright." Marquis Xuanping nodded.
The brother and sister went to Huaqing Palace.
Ever since Consort Jing moved here, Huaqing Palace has become much more lively. All the concubines in the harem who were qualified to pay their respects to Consort Jing came. Their desire to please Consort Jing was genuine, and their hope to bump into the Emperor was also not a lie.
Empress Xiao did not need to meet the emperor by chance, but since the emperor regarded Consort Jing as his birth mother, Empress Xiao naturally respected her as her mother-in-law.
Empress Xiao never expected that Consort Zhuang would also come.
The two most powerful concubines in the harem met at the gate of Huaqing Palace, each accompanied by their own eunuchs and maids, and the atmosphere seemed to freeze.
The two were originally evenly matched in the harem, but today, with Marquis Xuanping backing Empress Xiao, Empress Xiao's aura was exceptionally strong compared to usual.
"Marquis Xuanping," Consort Zhuang greeted him with a smile.
"Your Highness, Imperial Concubine." Marquis Xuanping gave a perfunctory bow.
He acted this way even in front of the Emperor, so Consort Zhuang didn't take his attitude to heart. Consort Zhuang smiled and looked at Empress Xiao: "Is the Empress here to pay her respects to the Dowager Consort?"
"Isn't the Imperial Concubine one?" Empress Xiao asked calmly.
Consort Zhuang smiled and said, "A few days ago, Prince Ning quelled a band of mountain bandits. The villagers were grateful for Your Majesty's kindness and specially made some tea cakes to ask Prince Ning to bring to Your Majesty. Prince Ning is still in the mountains dealing with the aftermath, so he could only send the tea cakes back by his guards. I will take care of it for him."
Prince Ning, Prince Ning.
Even though her son is the Crown Prince, His Majesty always makes the Crown Prince study in the Imperial Study, while Prince Ning is often entrusted with important tasks to help His Majesty govern the country!
Nowadays, Prince Ning's popularity among the people is almost surpassing that of the Crown Prince!
Empress Xiao's fingers tightened, and a cold glint flashed in her eyes.
"Let's go in," said Marquis Xuanping.
Empress Xiao rolled her eyes at Consort Zhuang and stepped into Huaqing Palace with Marquis Xuanping.
Consort Zhuang gave a slight bow, which was quite perfunctory.
It wasn't until Empress Xiao and Marquis Xuanping entered Consort Jing's bedchamber that Consort Zhuang's expression turned cold.
The female official standing to the side sneered, "What's so great about it? If His Majesty hadn't broken ties with the Empress Dowager, the position of Empress would have been hers long ago!"
Consort Zhuang sneered, "What's the use of sitting on the Empress's throne? She's given birth to two good-for-nothing sons who are incapable of shouldering great responsibilities!"
Consort Zhuang also entered Huaqing Palace. She had indeed come today to deliver tea cakes to the emperor. Common people's things are not refined and are not clean, but the emperor did not say that he would actually eat them.
All he needs to know is the will of Prince Ning and the people.
No matter how many merits Prince Ning established abroad, he would always tell the people that he was acting on the orders of his father, the emperor, and that it was not he who protected the people, but his father, the emperor of Zhao.
How could an emperor not love such a son?
The emperor was indeed pleased to see the tea cakes, and indeed did not eat them, but he did indeed praise Prince Ning highly.
"The Imperial Concubine has done a good job in raising her son." The Emperor was overjoyed, but then, thinking of something, he sighed softly, "If the Crown Prince were half as sensible as his elder brother, I wouldn't be so worried."
Consort Zhuang smiled and said, "If the Crown Prince doesn't mind, his elder brother would be happy to take him out to gain experience."
He neither flattered the crown prince nor belittled his own son, but instead spoke of brotherly harmony and respect, which pleased the emperor greatly.
"It's time for them to go out and gain some experience. I'll find them a job later and have them go with me." The emperor paused and asked, "I haven't seen Yan'er and Xin'er for a while. Have them come to the palace another day."
Qin Yan and Qin Xin are two young princesses of the Ning Prince's Mansion, born to a concubine. One is three years old and the other is two years old.
"Yes," Consort Zhuang replied with a smile.
The emperor put down the memorial and said, "Now that you're here, come with me to see Consort Jing."
Consort Zhuang would be disrespectful to refuse.
Inside Qiuhua Pavilion, Empress Xiao and Marquis Xuanping had already paid their respects to Consort Jing.
Empress Xiao sat beside Consort Jing. When she saw the Emperor enter with Consort Zhuang, who was beaming with joy, Empress Xiao's face darkened.
"Greetings to Consort Jing." Consort Zhuang bowed.
"What brings you here?" the emperor asked, looking at Marquis Xuanping.
Marquis Xuanping said, "I have been entrusted by someone to deliver something to the Empress Dowager."
As he spoke, he took out a small brocade box from his wide sleeve.
Granny Cai came over, took the brocade box, and presented it to Consort Jing with both hands.
Consort Jing was still seriously ill and looked unwell. She covered her face with a handkerchief, coughed twice, and then took the box.
"Which old friend is it?" Consort Jing asked with a smile.
Marquis Xuanping said, "That old friend said that if the Empress Dowager opens the box, she will know the answer."
Upon hearing this, Consort Jing nodded and opened the box.
Marquis Xuanping is the emperor's confidant; he is trustworthy and would not harm him.
But what no one expected was that the moment the box was opened, a dart shot out!
Everyone's expression changed drastically!
Marquis Xuanping was also startled. He never expected that the box contained hidden weapons, but unfortunately, he didn't have time to make a move.
Consort Jing is old, weak, sick, and disabled; it's over, she's going to die!
The dart flew straight toward Consort Jing's face, but in the blink of an eye, Consort Jing's eyes sharpened, and with a flick of her two fingers, she caught the dart!
Everyone stared at her in disbelief.
The hall fell silent instantly.
I'm not saying anything more, just asking for a monthly vote!
(End of this chapter)
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