Others may not know what phosphorus powder is used for, but Feng Jin knows it. When he was young, he watched a juggler perform. Out of curiosity, he asked the juggler about it. Only then did he know that the "ghost lights" that fluttered in the dark and looked a little scary were made of phosphorus powder.
"Your Majesty, there is a young eunuch in the Palace Department whose ancestors were jugglers. He explained the reason for the strange fire at night. It turned out to be related to the phosphorus powder on the body of the palace maid." Seeing that the emperor did not show any curiosity, Gao Dezhong knew that the emperor probably knew the reason, and added, "I have been in the palace for so many years, but I didn't know that phosphorus powder has such an effect. I am really ignorant."
"Not to mention you, even I only found out about the effect of phosphorus powder by chance," Feng Jin felt a little better. "It's normal that you don't know about it. I'm afraid that few people in the palace know about this."
"Your Majesty is very knowledgeable and talented, and I am not even a fraction of him." Gao Dezhong asked in confusion, "That person knew that was the only way for the Majesty to go to Xihe Palace, but he still created such a weird scene. I wonder what he was thinking."
"I'm afraid someone did this because that's the only way for me to get to Xihe Palace," Feng Jin said calmly, "Now that the identity of the maid and the origin of the strange blue fire have been revealed, let the Queen investigate. It's really unpleasant that the maid did this."
"Yes, I will go to Jingyang Palace to convey the emperor's order." Seeing that the emperor was unhappy about this matter, Gao Dezhong did not dare to say more and retreated quietly.
The empress has had really bad luck recently. Accidents keep happening in the harem, and she can't figure out the reasons. Now the emperor has given up on the Zhao family. I'm afraid it will be even more difficult for her to sit on the throne of empress in the future.
The empress had just received the emperor's order to keep her mouth shut, and now she received the emperor's order to investigate her strictly, which made her feel a little unhappy. Zhao Xianrong had a lot of things going on, and she made things happen every other day. As an empress, she was even more like the Minister of Justice. The emperor had to protect her reputation, so even if she wanted to use this as an excuse to do something, she had to think twice.
"Your Highness, what should we do about this?" He Yu frowned. "The matter of Zhao Xianrong's miscarriage was just settled a few days ago, how come this matter has come up again... How about I ask Your Highness to come and discuss this matter together?"
"Do you really think Jiang Yingxue will still work for me wholeheartedly now?" The Queen sneered, "Now that she is a noble concubine and has raised the eldest prince, she is only under me, how could she not have other thoughts?"
"Her Majesty, the virtuous concubine has always been on good terms with you, so it shouldn't happen..." He Yu said hesitantly.
"There is no sisterhood in this harem," the queen adjusted her expression, calmly called over her trusted eunuchs and palace maids, and instructed them on certain matters.
In the Zhuxiu Pavilion, Zhuang Yuyan looked at the fluttering snow outside, then looked at the people sitting next to her, and held the soup pot in her hand a little tighter.
In fact, she didn't want to accompany Xu Zhaorong to experience the fun of brewing and tasting tea in the snow, nor did she want to chat about women's life with the unfamiliar Ning Fei and Xian Gui Fei. She just wanted to return to the palace and enjoy the life of luxury in bed.
Isn't the best thing on a snowy day to lie in a warm bed and enjoy the warmth? Why did she have to sit in a pavilion that couldn't block the wind? Even though there was hot tea, snacks, and a charcoal stove, she still felt uncomfortable.
Why was she so stupid to choose this path? You have stupid legs, so you will meet other concubines!
"Drinking tea here is quite unique," Concubine Xian Gui took a sip from the teacup, "I haven't had a good look at the scenery in the palace for quite a while."
"The Empress Xian Guifei and the Empress Ning Fei will be very busy helping to manage the harem," Xu Zhaorong said. "I will not take care of these matters, but when I think about it, I feel that these things are extremely troublesome."
"The Empress is the one who is really busy. We are just helping her and have only taken on the title for nothing," Consort Xian Gui put down her teacup. "Now that a lot of things have happened in the harem, I'm afraid the Empress won't be able to rest well for a few days."
Zhuang Yuyan glanced at the three of them, not knowing what Concubine Xian Gui meant by saying this. Concubine Xian Gui was the Queen's person, and everyone in the harem knew it, but it seemed a little fake when she kept saying it.
Concubine Ning nodded and said, "What Concubine Xian Gui said is reasonable."
Ever since Zhuang Yuyan gave birth, the power of the empress has been divided. Xu Zhaorong deliberately brought this up at this moment. In addition to trying to please Concubine Xian and Concubine Ning, she also wanted to embarrass Zhuang Yuyan.
Zhuang Yuyan was not a fool, she just didn't understand why Xu Zhaorong hated her. Could it be that she was too vulgar and conflicted with her fresh and melancholy temperament?
"Zhao Xianrong has been silent, is there something on her mind?" Concubine Xian Guifei was very friendly towards Zhuang Yuyan. No matter what the reason was, at least she never gave Zhuang Yuyan any humiliation.
"Your Majesty has a keen eye," Zhuang Luyan forced a smile, "I haven't been sleeping well lately. Sometimes I seem to hear a child crying. I am so confused that I lose my composure in front of Your Majesty."
"Alas, there is no such thing as being impolite or not," Concubine Xian Gui personally poured hot tea into Zhuang Yuyan's cup, "You are not well yet, I am just worried that you are not getting enough rest, it is not good for your health. You are now in your prime and are favored by the emperor, there is nothing to worry about."
Zhuang Yuyan showed an unpleasant smile on her face, picked up the teacup and took a sip, "Thank you for your words, Madam. I am useless and I am sorry to have caused you to worry."
"Empress Xianrong is so worried that it is really harmful to her health." Xu Zhaorong looked at Zhuang Yuyan with a smile, "It is useless to think too much about some things."
Zhuang Yuyan looked back at Xu Zhaorong, "Xu Zhaorong is right. Some things are not only useless to think too much about, but also useless to do too much."
The smile on Xu Zhaorong's face froze, and her hand holding the teacup tightened, but she could no longer speak.
As if she didn't hear the hidden meaning in the two people's conversation, Concubine Ning smiled and pointed to a place not far away and said, "Look ahead, is that Concubine Zhen?"
Zhuang Yuyan followed Concubine Ning's movements and saw a woman in red walking in the distance. Because it was snowing, her face could not be seen clearly.
However, the only person in the harem who wears such gorgeous clothes is probably the newly entered concubine Zhen.
"This eye-catching thing must be a rare talent." Xu Zhaorong sighed softly, "A red flower in the snow cannot be more eye-catching."
This elegant person sometimes said even more immoral things. Zhuang Yuyan withdrew her gaze, but the only one in the harem who dressed so ostentatiously was Zhen Cairen.
Lady Zhen had never expected that several high-ranking concubines would be drinking tea and admiring the snow in the pavilion, so she hurriedly knelt down outside the pavilion to pay her respects, the cold snow stinging her knees so much that they ached.
"Ms. Zhen, you don't have to be so polite. It's snowing heavily outside. Come to the pavilion to warm yourself up," Concubine Xian Gui spoke, and Zhuang Yuyan and the other two naturally did not comment. Xu Zhaorong deliberately looked at Zhuang Yuyan for a second longer. After all, this former personal maid was caned to death by the emperor because she violated Zhuang Yuyan's reputation. This matter of violating the master's reputation can be a big or small matter. If the master does not pursue it, it is not a big deal. If he pursues it, beating her to death is not an excessive matter.
Zhuang Yuyan pretended to be kind and didn't lose her temper, which allowed the emperor to establish her authority. I don't know whether it was the palace maid's bad luck or Zhuang Yuyan's good luck.
Lady Zhen walked into the pavilion, and was somewhat afraid to look at Zhuang Yuyan, who was wearing a snow-white fox fur coat. The former chief palace maid beside her was beaten to death by the emperor because she had violated this emperor's oath, and she was afraid that this emperor was also dissatisfied with her.
Zhuang Yuyan didn't want to mention the dead palace maid, so naturally she wouldn't make a fuss about it. After Zhen Cairen entered the pavilion, she didn't say much and just let her stand in the corner.
"Where did this talented lady Zhen come from?" Xu Zhaorong asked lazily.
"Replying to Xu Zhaorong, Concubine Yan likes the plum blossoms in the West Plum Garden and asked me to pick them for her." Zhen Cairen answered carefully. It was obvious that the lesson last time had made her a lot more low-key. Unfortunately, she was not smart enough.
Xu Zhaorong glanced at her red dress and raised her eyebrows, "The yellow plums in the Ximei Garden do have some flavor." Ximei Garden is very far away from Linyuexuan. This Xue Zhenyao is quite good at making things difficult for people.
Concubine Xian Gui nodded and said, "Even the emperor praised the plum blossoms in the West Plum Garden. It's a pity that Zhao Xianrong didn't go to see them these days."
Zhuang Luyan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please don't laugh at me. I know which plum blossom cake is delicious, but I don't know which plum blossom is more beautiful."
Concubine Ning smiled when she heard this, "It seems that there is a reason why the emperor said you like to eat."
Concubine Xian Gui nodded, "That's true." If this thing doesn't taste good, the baby in her belly might not fall out. The people in the harem who can't control their greedy mouths are as terrible as those who can't control their talkative mouths.
Zhen Cairen watched as several people sat on a stone block covered with thick mats, drinking hot tea and joking with each other, while she stood in the corner like a servant. She couldn't help but feel an indescribable resentment in her heart. These people were not better looking than herself, but they were only able to enjoy their current glory because of their better backgrounds than herself.
Everyone in this harem can make her bow her head, everyone can make her tremble with fear. Her appearance is obviously not inferior to others, why should she be inferior to these people? She is unwilling to accept this!
Zhuang Yuyan noticed the expression of Zhen Cairen in the corner. She understood the gap in status, but this was the harem, so what could she do even if she was unwilling?
What's more, this man's maid was beaten to death because of her. This kind of slap in the face was no small matter. If she got up, it would not be of any benefit to her. She didn't want to let this man climb to a high position and then go against her.
Women in the harem should still be a little cruel to others.
Just as he was thinking this, he saw several eunuchs hurriedly walking over here. When they saw them, they first greeted them honestly, and then said, "My lords, the Queen Mother asked us to invite Zhen Cairen to Jingyang Palace for a talk."
Concubine Xian Gui asked curiously, "Is there something wrong?"
The leading eunuch said, "If you have time, you can go together."
Zhuang Yuyan glanced at Zhen Cairen. What was this about Zhen Cairen?