Chapter 219 Biting Back
Outside Chengqian Hall, the lights were bright, and a roaring bonfire illuminated the night as if it were daytime, with the fragrance of sandalwood and agarwood filling the air.
Amidst the deafening sounds of gongs and drums, the grand Nuo opera performance proceeded smoothly, with everyone immersed in the festive atmosphere of celebrating the Lunar New Year's Eve. An hour later, the grand Nuo ritual procession departed from the palace in a grand procession, intending to drive away the "evil spirits" to the outside of the South Xuan Gate.
Dou Wenyi followed the crowd to the Daqing Hall. Just as she was about to sit down, she saw the nanny beside Consort Zhang rush over anxiously and whisper, "Your Majesty, the Seventh Princess is missing..."
Consort Zhang was startled and looked up at Emperor Muzong on the throne. "Can't any of you keep an eye on her? Have you searched all the places she frequents? What about Zhang Cheng'an? Aren't they always together?"
"Young Master Zhang is also missing." The old woman's forehead was covered in cold sweat.
"Take more men and hurry up and go find them!"
"Your Majesty, perhaps the child is just playing and has forgotten the time. I'll go out and check on him." Dou Wenyi had a bad feeling.
Consort Zhang looked at her gratefully, took her hand, and whispered, "No, Cheng'an is very sensible. Even if Pei Shuyue is naughty, he won't be late. There must be something fishy about this. Yi'er, don't disturb His Majesty's interest for now. Help me search carefully and bring her here quickly."
Dou Wenyi clearly saw Pei Shuyue while watching the Nuo opera, and it was less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. It's impossible that she got lost in the palace. I'm just afraid that someone is deliberately trying to trip her up!
The relationships within the palace were complex, but after the death of Consort Zhang's greatest rival, Consort Tan, she practically held absolute power in the harem. Who would dare to provoke her?
Pei Shuyue was, after all, a princess, and no one dared to touch her easily.
Could it be...?
Dou Wenyi didn't have time to think it through; she lifted her skirt and ran out with the nanny.
Once outside the palace gates, she inquired in detail about the places the nannies and others had searched and the places where she had gone missing, and then they split up to search for them.
Suddenly, I remembered that Pei Shuyue really liked her cat named Xuetuan. Could it be that she went to look for that cat?
Dou Wenyi was extremely anxious. Turning her head, she saw a scarlet official robe and it was Shen Yanzhou walking hurriedly.
Shen Yanzhou stopped and bowed, saying, "Crown Princess."
Dou Wenyi quickly recounted what had happened.
Shen Yanzhou's brows furrowed. He knew all too well that the palace was rife with underhanded tactics and schemes. Even princes and princesses sometimes couldn't escape their fate, such as drowning or accidentally falling into a well.
"Don't worry, I will immediately order the Imperial City Guard and the Imperial Army to search for it."
Looking around at the eerie surroundings, Zhang Cheng'an gently tugged at Pei Shuyue's sleeve. "Let's go back first and stop looking. Maybe Xue Tuan will come out on her own soon."
“That kid Wei Siyuan is definitely lying to you. If he really dares to touch your cat, I’ll beat him up. Your aunt will be worried when she can’t find him later.”
Pei Shuyue's eyes were slightly red, tears welling up in them, and one of her small hands was already clenched into a fist. She hated Wei Siyuan to the core!
Zhang Cheng'an took her hand and ran back as fast as he could.
After running for a while, a stone suddenly came flying at Pei Shuyue. Zhang Cheng'an quickly pushed her away, but the second stone landed heavily on Zhang Cheng'an.
Pei Shuyue looked up and saw a boy of about ten years old emerging from behind the artificial hill.
Her face darkened, and she gritted her teeth in anger, "Wei Siyuan, how dare you plot against me, the princess? I will have my father punish you!"
Wei Siyuan was the youngest son of the Yongchang Marquis's family. His mother was the sister of the Imperial Son-in-Law Cheng Shen. They were not even considered imperial relatives, but because of the Princess's influence, they frequently entered and exited the palace, and the others were acquainted.
Wei Siyuan grinned maliciously, "Oh dear, I'm so scared! You still haven't found your damn cat? Let me tell you, I threw that little beast into the lotus pond, it's going to freeze to death in a bit!"
As he said this, he simply pointed to the lotus pond behind him.
Pei Shuyue trembled violently and rushed over.
She looked around and finally saw that Snowball seemed to be injured, struggling to swim back and forth in the water, trying to climb ashore, but the rock wall was too high and slippery for it to climb.
Wei Siyuan said smugly, "You saw it?"
At that moment, she was almost driven mad with anger.
Pei Shuyue used all her strength to slam into Wei Siyuan. With a 'plop', Wei Siyuan slipped and fell into the pool.
"Help! The Seventh Princess has killed someone—"
Wei Siyuan's voice was shrill and tearful.
The lotus pond isn't very deep, but it's full of silt. If a person gets stuck in the mud, they will die.
The two servants hiding behind the artificial hill were terrified and rushed out, frantically trying to rescue the people.
Meanwhile, Zhang Cheng'an had successfully rescued Xue Tuan and held it in his arms. Only then did he realize that both of its hind legs were broken, with some areas still showing skin and fur, and stained with specks of blood.
Pei Shuyue leaned closer, heartbroken.
When Xue Tuan saw its owner, it meowed twice with a sob. Pei Shuyue could no longer hold back her tears, which fell like large drops of broken beads.
She couldn't bear to look at Xue Tuan anymore, and cried uncontrollably, "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have left you to go see the Nuo opera performance. I didn't protect you well."
The two servants had already rescued Wei Siyuan. He was shivering from the cold after being submerged in the water in the winter.
Pei Shuyue wiped away her tears, her face filled with murderous intent, "Wei Siyuan, you bastard, this princess will break your legs!"
The servants hurriedly protected their young master, advising, "Seventh Princess, it's just a cat, don't be impulsive."
Wei Siyuan shrank behind the servant. To be honest, he was really scared at this moment.
Pei Shuyue pretended to turn and leave, and taking advantage of the servant's inattention, she quickly went around him and slapped Wei Siyuan hard across the face.
Wei Siyuan's right cheek swelled up instantly. He was furious and jumped up, wanting to hit her.
His wrist was suddenly grabbed. "Stop!"
Pei Shuyue looked up and saw Shen Yanzhou's cold and stern face. Tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. "Brother Yanzhou, he bullied me—"
When Dou Wenyi saw Xue Tuan's condition, her heart clenched.
When the servants saw them arriving with the Imperial Guards in a menacing manner, they trembled with fear and quickly knelt on the ground. "Sir, it was my young master who offended the princess. It was all his fault. But he was also pushed into the pool by the Seventh Princess and caught a chill. May we take him to change his clothes first?"
Inside the Daqing Hall, as the music began, the courtesans of the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) took to the stage to perform, and the New Year's Eve banquet officially began.
Consort Zhang kept a close eye on the movements at the door, but Pei Shuyue was nowhere to be seen, and she grew increasingly anxious.
As the emperor bestowed gold and silver banners and pennants, and the princes and princesses received their gifts one by one, he still couldn't find the Seventh Princess. "Where is Little Seven?"
Just as Consort Zhang was about to reply, she saw a noblewoman kneel on the ground, crying out in anguish, "Your Majesty, the Seventh Princess just pushed my son into the lotus pond. I'm afraid she doesn't want to come over..."
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