"Tick-tock"
"Beep-da—"
Those who saw Qin Jue in the prison bowed to him one by one.
Where are they?
"Innermost"
Yu Ying led Qin Jue to the very back.
"Please, kill me, kill me!"
The palace maid who had been captured by Zou Heng that afternoon was now tied to a pillar.
There were no marks on the body surface.
"Girls should be pretty, Yuying, how are you taking care of her?"
"How dirty are your clothes?"
He even backed away in disgust.
"You might be wronging me, but Zou Heng was in charge of this."
"Yu Ying, you've gone too far! Master, it's not that we subordinates refuse to change her, it's just that she's a woman."
"What if this gets stuck with the brothers? They don't want to get that damn disease."
"Master, I've investigated. This man has worked at several brothels."
He spoke with obvious disgust, as if this woman had tainted his own mouth; it must have been tough on the people who were executing her.
"Is your leg better?"
Zou Heng immediately became obedient upon hearing his leg mentioned.
"Not yet. He's still limping."
Zou Heng took a few steps in front of Qin Jue, demonstrating his still-limping leg.
"Did you get any results from the questions?"
"No, he must have received some training, otherwise the Marquis of Anding wouldn't have sent him to the palace."
"It's too dirty, throw it in the water and wash it."
Two guards arrived, untied the man from the pillar, and threw him into a bucket filled with "water."
"Kill me, kill me!"
"If you won't speak, we have many ways to make you speak; we have plenty of time."
Yu Ying told her what was in the water.
Yu Ying stepped forward and looked at the face contorted with pain.
"This water is a beauty toner."
"This water contains salt, chili peppers, and snakes that can cause stomach upset."
"Don't worry, these snakes have very little venom, and there are antidotes in this water. You won't die."
"Do you think I'm scared? I won't say anything."
"This is just the beginning. Yu Ying will throw her to where she's working, and then put her back in the bucket when she's done."
The woman in the tub breathed a sigh of relief when she heard she was being taken to a brothel. She knew the brothel madams well; she would find a chance to escape later.
——————
Qin Jue left the prison cell and went into the hot spring pool, thinking about what had happened that day.
If I hadn't discovered the needle hidden in the blanket, that girl would probably have cried her eyes out in pain again.
"Yansheng, your little wife is amazing!"
Upon seeing Yu Ying appear without his command, he let out a low growl.
"Get out! I only have one wife!"
"Okay, okay, I misspoke, I'll explain properly."
"That Consort Duan put laxatives in the food of all the ministers and ladies-in-waiting, and some of it was poison."
"This poison is 'vine' poison."
"It's the same poison that the Empress used to inoculate her."
"It seems the Marquis of Dingkang's household is up to no good."
"Is there any direct evidence?"
"No, Consort Jian acted as an intermediary and was able to extricate herself afterward. This time, it was the people from the Marquis of Dingkang's residence who administered the poison."
It was not Wei Linglong.
"Yu Ying, Wei Linglong is just like Wei Kun; no matter what she does, she always has a few people watching closely and collecting evidence."
"I know, I'm leaving."
"By the way, Yansheng, where's Xiaoxi'er? I haven't seen her all night."
"She's asleep. You can leave now."
When Yu Ying heard that his beloved Xiao Xi'er had actually fallen asleep, he had no choice but to give up.
Yu Ying thought to herself that she didn't want to wake the adorable little one. Resigned, she went back to the Dark Guard camp.
————
Tinglan Palace
Lu Hua hadn't rested yet, and sat in front of a cluster of orchids.
He looked down at the orchid, lost in thought for a long time.
"Your Majesty, this servant does not understand why Your Majesty is helping Consort Li?"
"Qingyun, I saw him. He seems to be working for His Majesty now."
"I want to see him, to find out, I have to climb up."
"As for Consort Li, she can help me. Even if she suspects me, it doesn't matter. I pose no threat to her or the little princess."
"I can become her first assistant in the harem, and she will become my protector."
"This is a win-win deal, and Consort Li will agree."
Qingyun knew who it was when his mistress mentioned "him"; he was the only person she had never forgotten all these years.
"Qingyun, I've kept living because he's still in my heart. I want to ask him why he didn't come back then."
Upon hearing what Lu Hua said, Qingyun fell silent. Before entering the palace, the Empress was merely a tool at home.
Since entering the palace, the Empress has lived a very difficult life due to being out of favor with the Emperor.
Regardless of the reason, if Your Highness wishes to continue in the palace, I will accompany you.
"Of course it's worth it. Without him, I wouldn't exist."
——————
After Qin Jue finished bathing, he first went to his side hall and picked up several memorials to review.
In the past, when I reviewed memorials, that little dumpling would always sit in my lap and watch me review them.
The little one is asleep tonight, and Qin Jue is here alone reviewing papers, which feels rather strange.
After reading only a few books, he put down the memorials and went to the bedside.
Quietly watching the little one sleeping soundly on the bed, I looked closely and realized that those eyes really did resemble hers.
I wonder if she's doing well now, and whether she's truly been reincarnated as people say.
The more I thought about it, the more my heart ached. I really disliked this feeling, so I stopped thinking about it.
I took off my outer robe, lay down on the bed, and pulled the sleeping little bundle into my arms.
The little dumpling's sleeping posture is really not very elegant, with its little mouth pouting and its two hands clenched into fists.
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