Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Palace Maid Fourteen Days
No one knew where Xiao Dingzi went in the afternoon, and there was no sign of him in Siguozhai, so Shen Qingqing paid special attention to the direction of Xiao Dingzi's residence.
Finally, Xiao Dingzi came back. The two looked at each other. Shen Qingqing put down the work in her hands and followed him into the house.
Xiao Dingzi turned around and closed the door, then asked, "Did you have a good day today?"
Shen Qingqing asked at the same time: "Pei Pei, did you ask me to take me to see Concubine Xian?"
The two voices overlapped, and the two paused. Xiao Dingzi looked at Shen Qingqing without avoiding his gaze: "Yes."
Shen Qingqing gritted her teeth and replied, "It went very smoothly!"
"You have planned this long ago, right? To help Concubine Xian uncover the secrets of the Shanggong Bureau." Shen Qingqing said with certainty, "Even if I am not here today, Concubine Xian will know these things from other sources. I can help you learn to read, so why do you want to use me and let me get involved in this mess?"
After this incident, there is no possibility for Shen Qingqing to rely on Concubine De. Even if Concubine De doesn't know about it, it is still a hidden danger and she may realize it one day.
To be honest, if it was really Concubine De who did it, she would admire her cunningness, but the prerequisite was that Shen Qingqing herself was cleared of all wrongdoing.
Xiao Dingzi said in a pale tone: "It's not exploitation, it benefits many parties." He realized it later and felt guilty.
Shen Qingqing grasped the key point and asked quickly: "Speak clearly, which parties?"
"I didn't tell you before, but I have already acknowledged Wang Jigui as my godfather—"
"Wait!" Shen Qingqing interrupted, touching the back of her head to make sure her memory was correct, "Isn't it Eunuch Wang?" And he was accepting disciples.
Xiao Dingzi said with a wooden face: "That's right, but something happened in the middle, and Wang Jigui became my godfather." Obviously, he was not comfortable with the title of godfather, and it felt a bit awkward.
Shen Qingqing sighed with envy: "It's a step to heaven."
The only two eunuchs around the emperor directly entered the center of power.
Xiao Dingzi asked sinisterly: "Do you still want to listen?" He should have known that selling oneself to a eunuch as a father was despised by others, but for Shen Qingqing, the only regret was that the man was not herself.
It is obvious that she has been studying since she was young, so she should despise the eunuchs the most.
But it is like this...
Shen Qingqing's eyes were clear: "Okay, go ahead." She just didn't interrupt.
Xiao Dingzi took a long breath, "The matter of Concubine Xian is my token of allegiance to my godfather. My godfather didn't want Concubine Xian to lose the favor of the emperor and leave Concubine De alone, so he asked me to deliver a message to Concubine Xian. Today is a coincidence. Concubine Xian happened to leave Jingren Palace and stop at Yiqu Garden. I didn't want to miss this opportunity. In addition, you often talked about meeting Concubine Xian, so I sent Peipei to lead you there. Concubine Xian has someone from my godfather around her. Even if Concubine Xian doesn't ask anything, that person will lead you to answer what happened in Siguozhai and make the matter clear in a natural way."
"But things went unexpectedly smoothly. My godfather's people did not move, which did not arouse Concubine Xian's suspicion. She will only regard this as an accident."
People from the Qianqing Palace, Jingren Palace and Siguozhai worked together to make today's event happen.
Shen Qingqing still had questions: "Is this your godfather's idea or the emperor's? Also, if we do this, won't we offend Concubine De?"
Xiao Dingzi had already figured this out, and blurted out, "I don't know, godfather never said it, but I guess it was godfather's intention, and the emperor may not have instructed it. The second question is, in the palace, no matter which side you join, you will always offend one side, so why can't the offended person be Concubine De? If godfather and I plot against Concubine De without dragging you in, wouldn't it be awkward? Besides, isn't it true that the greater the risk, the greater the reward?"
Shen Qingqing groaned and struggled desperately: "I don't feel alienated. What is our relationship? Do we need this to prove it?"
Although the jade pendant in her arms proved that the returns were indeed very high, it was human nature and she didn't want to take risks.
Xiao Dingzi smiled and said, "It's too late."
We are already in the same boat.
Shen Qingqing: “…”
"But if your godfather can interfere in the harem just by his will, wouldn't he be in danger? You know, he has an eunuch named Qian who has served two generations of emperors by his side. Isn't he afraid of being caught?"
Although the words sound harsh, how dare a mere eunuch party plot against the concubines?
The current emperor doesn't seem like someone who can be controlled by the eunuch party.
Xiao Dingzi: "First of all, this matter is very small, so small that people can't feel the undercurrents. Concubine De may just feel that she is unlucky, and when Concubine Xian reacts, she will definitely suspect Concubine De. Regardless of whether Concubine De is involved or not, Concubine Xian will counterattack Concubine De, and it will be even more difficult for Concubine De to spare the energy to investigate this accident. Concubine Xian has already taken action to smooth over your affairs in Yiqu Garden. There are many palace people passing by Yiqu Garden. If Concubine Xian waits for a few days before taking action, it will make Concubine De even more confused. As for Eunuch Qian, I can only say that this is the result of a multi-party game, and someone doesn't want Concubine De to go any further."
"De Fei is too watertight. This is her strength, but also her fatal flaw."
Shen Qingqing understood that Eunuch Qian had the same idea. If he discovered what Wang Jigui was doing, he might try to cover it up.
I'm afraid that the eunuch Wang's taking in disciples in the harem was a foreshadowing of what happened today by Wang Jigui.
Shen Qingqing did not hesitate to speculate about this eunuch Wang in the most scheming way.
Shen Qingqing was silent for a while, but couldn't help but start gossiping, "What does your godfather look like? Is he as burly as Eunuch Qian, or is he skinny, or is he a fat, smiling tiger?"
Xiao Dingzi actually recognized Wang Jigui as his godfather. If not now, when?
Xiao Dingzi thought she was going to say something, but...
"Walls have ears. You're talking about your godfather. Aren't you afraid that he will kill you?" He was a little helpless.
Shen Qingqing said awkwardly: "I only said this in front of you, and aren't you one of his biggest lackeys now?"
Will Xiao Dingzi betray her? Of course not.
They were friends because they went to school together, and they were just short of being brother and sister.
Xiao Dingzi: "...Is there a better word than running dog?"
Shen Qingqing thought for a moment: "Minions? Pawns? Hawkdogs? Accomplices?"
In the end, Shen Qingqing was unable to find out the true appearance of the mysterious eunuch Wang because Xiao Dingzi took out a silver note to divert her attention.
Xiao Dingzi said, "I remember you used to like jewelry very much. I haven't seen you buy new ones in the past few months, and your most valuable pieces are gone. Take these and buy them first."
Shen Qingqing felt embarrassed at first, but then she thought, if one person succeeds, the whole family will benefit, so she happily accepted it.
She took out the jade pendant given to her by Concubine Xian's maid and handed it to Xiao Dingzi to check: "How do I use this jade pendant?"
It is a science to know how to use the favor of Concubine Xian without making the Empress angry.
Xiao Dingzi: "It's inevitable that you will get hurt if you stay with Du Baolin. Ask Concubine Xian to transfer you to her palace."
Xiao Dingzi had heard about Du Baolin's temper and hurting people. When they were in Zhiyun Hall at first, Shanhu, Wanxia, and Chaolu would get some injuries on their hands and arms from time to time. Daimao had served Du Baolin since he was a child, so he knew when to show up and how to appease Du Baolin's temper, so it was no big deal. Once, Chaolu's forehead was hit by the sharp part of the candlestick and bled, but she endured it and didn't get angry, which made Xiao Dingzi discover the clue.
But what was he doing at that time?
If he helped them expose Concubine Du, who was at the peak of her power at that time, would he have a good ending and not be stabbed?
However, during the three months in Siguozhai, Shen Qingqing served Du Baolin closely, but she managed to avoid every attack of Du Baolin. Xiao Dingzi was surprised and also wanted to cooperate with Shen Qingqing.
He thought, they are all smart people - Shen Qingqing is indeed smart, she can understand so much at such a young age, but he didn't expect that she has such a childish temper in private.
However, this is more reassuring.
Shen Qingqing asked where Xiao Dingzi was going: "What about you?"
He understood what she meant: "I will leave when the harem is reorganized, but you'd better leave before that."
Shen Qingqing was confused. What did a major reshuffle mean?
She didn't ask any more questions. Xiao Dingzi knew his limits anyway. What she needed to consider now was how to get hurt in a way that would look miserable but not serious.
Fortunately, since Pepe came, she has been able to serve Du Baolin more closely, so she is not afraid of missing opportunities.
After Shen Qingqing checked the accounts, she left. Before leaving, she said to Xiao Dingzi, "You should have a good rest. You have dark circles under your eyes." It was not easy for him to mediate in the palace.
She closed the door behind her.
Xiao Dingzi was stunned for a moment, and after the door was closed, he finally realized what was happening and touched his eye sockets.
He recalled the last words his godfather said today: "After you finished the work, your traces were too obvious." Obviously, everything was done by his godfather, but he looked calm and composed, as if he was just having a normal conversation, without any trace of emotion.
Only then did he understand what his godfather meant. He was too nervous and too tired about this matter.
Xiao Dingzi smiled with interest, stretched his arms, and went to bed.
-
In the morning, Du Baolin got up. Shanhu was about to wash Du Baolin with a towel. Shen Qingqing took a look at the scars on her hands and said caringly, "Sister Shanhu, the wound should not be exposed to water. Let me do it."
Shanhu was stunned and covered the wound with her other hand. Before she could react, she heard Du Baolin's impatient voice: "Why don't you come in?"
Shanhu had no choice but to let go. Shen Qingqing took the handkerchief and replied in a steady voice, "Master, I will be right there."
As she spoke, she carried the basin into the inner room.
【Why not coral? 】
Thinking of this, Du Baolin also asked: "Where is Shanhu?"
Shen Qingqing cleaned her carefully and said, "Sister Shanhu's hand is injured. I'm afraid it will offend the queen."
Du Baolin felt uncomfortable for a moment. He didn't care that Shanhu didn't serve him personally, but he was unhappy in his heart.
[As a slave, it is my duty to see my master injured. Besides, I am not injured to the point of being unable to move.]
Shen Qingqing pretended not to hear and served Du Baolin wholeheartedly.
Du Baolin has a rule for hurting people: the closer he is to them, the more casual he will be. For example, he would use this as an example for the former head maid and second-class maid in Zhiyun Palace. As for the third-class maid who he rarely gets close to, he would find a reason to attack them, usually by punishing them by kneeling, and would not leave any minor wounds that might give people pause.
Because of this principle, she has not had any problems in the past two years.
Poor Coral, even though she is the only one loyal to him, Du Baolin still doesn't restrain himself.
She trusted Coral so much that she was very casual.
Therefore, Shen Qingqing only needs to be considerate, docile, and do her best to gain Du Baolin's "casualness".
Seeing Shen Qingqing taking over her job, Shanhu was not unwilling, but felt relieved. When Nanny Fang was around, the master knew how to restrain herself, but now, her temper is getting worse and worse.
Sometimes Coral couldn't sleep at night and tossed and turned. She asked herself if she regretted not going with Chaolu.
She replied, regret.
No matter how much money you are rewarded with, it can never make up for the pain of disability.
But she envied Daimao too much, envied her master's trust in her, envied her for being the only one to receive the master's reward, envied her for having no scars on her arms, and even thought that if one day she could serve her master so easily.
In the end, Daimao was expelled from the palace, but she was bewitched and stayed there, thinking that she would be the next Daimao.
But she chose to ignore the final situation of Daimao. The master made a mistake and the servant was responsible.
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