Chapter 269 Coffin
News of Qin Jinzhi's life being in danger spread out of the palace and reached the ears of the major aristocratic families.
The Jiaofang Palace was completely closed to visitors.
The entire sleeping quarters were surrounded like an iron barrel.
The people in the palace could no longer get any news.
Even if the crown prince enters the palace, he cannot be seen.
The Crown Prince was filled with unease when he saw that the gates of the Jiaofang Palace were locked.
There is only one reason why the Emperor and Empress Dowager would suppress the news like this.
Qin Jinzhi is dying.
Once news of Qin Jinzhi's death spreads, the Zhenbei Army will surely be thrown into turmoil.
These people in the capital are already itching to make a move.
With Qin Jinzhi dead, the Zhenbei Army, this lucrative prize, will soon be devoured.
After all, if Qin Ye had no heir, when he passed away, these soldiers in the army would also need to find a way out for themselves.
With military support, his brothers were able to fight him with even greater strength.
If he hadn't naively believed Cui Huai's lies, he wouldn't have cut off his greatest support.
But regret is useless now. Since that's the case, then you shall bear the wrath of the Prince of Zhenbei, the Emperor, and the Empress.
Inside the Jiaofang Palace, Feiyan placed a peeled loquat beside Qin Jinzhi's bed.
"Princess, Physician Liu said this is good for the throat."
With one hand behind her head, Qin Jinzhi ate a loquat and said to Feiyan, "Prepare two softer quilts for me."
Feiyan quickly stepped forward and touched the bed board: "Princess, is the bed too hard? I'll go and prepare something right away."
Qin Jinzhi waved her hand, "No rush, don't pave here."
Feiyan asked in confusion, "Then what do you need a quilt for?"
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow. "Put it inside the coffin."
Feiyan suddenly stood up, pouting, "Princess! What did you say!"
Qin Jinzhi was startled by her intense reaction.
Then he chuckled and said, "It's fake, but I have to lie down in that coffin. I can't lie down without some soft blankets."
Feiyan pouted, "Can't we not lie in a coffin? It's bad luck!"
Qin Jinzhi tapped the bedside, "I, the princess, have no taboos, so I will naturally live to be a hundred years old."
Feiyan blinked. "Alright then."
Although the gates of Jiaofang Palace were tightly closed, it is unknown who spread Master Wuyou's comments from back then.
Master Wuyou was highly respected, and his commentaries were almost never wrong.
Qin Jinzhi was destined for a short life, and would not live past the age of twenty-one.
If she were to die here, it would fulfill Master Wuyou's prediction.
In addition, Liu Yiyi from the Imperial Hospital moved into the Jiaofang Palace and never came out again.
All the information combined leads to one conclusion.
Qin Jinzhi is probably already dead.
Cui Ying submitted several memorials to the palace, hoping to visit Qin Jinzhi, but all were turned away.
The entire Chidori Division was filled with unease.
Cui Ying, Hu Aman, and the others always had gloomy faces and hurried about.
Xue Niaoniao has been subtly inquiring about Qin Jinzhi's situation these past two days.
That day, she leaned close to Hu Aman and asked, "Aman, what do you think is happening to the commander? Why haven't we heard anything from him?"
Hu Aman said sternly, "Why are you asking this? Just mind your own business and stop meddling in other people's affairs!"
Xue Niaoniao pouted, "I'm also concerned about the Commander. I heard he was stabbed through the heart by a sword, and there hasn't been a single word from the palace. Could it be that the Commander has already...?"
"You joined the Chidori Division just to gossip about your superiors?"
Xue Niaoniao was startled by the voice behind her. When she turned around, she saw Cui Ying with a cold expression.
"Deputy Envoy, I'm just concerned about the Commander and want to know how she is doing now."
Cui Ying's eyes grew even colder. "If you want to know, why don't you go to the Prince of Zhenbei's residence to ask? Have you finished all your official duties?"
Xue Niaoniao shrank her neck. "Please forgive me, Vice Envoy. I will go and attend to official business immediately."
Seeing Xue Niaoniao's dejected figure, Hu Aman followed Cui Ying into the study.
After closing the door, the two of them exaggeratedly moved their facial features.
Hu Aman patted her face, "It's so tiring to keep a straight face every day."
Cui Ying looked at Hu Aman and asked, "Do you think Xue Niaoniao can understand what I just said?"
Hu Aman scratched his head. "He should be able to understand, otherwise, wouldn't it be suicide to hire such a stupid person as a spy?"
Cui Ying pursed her lips, "Find two people to keep an eye on her, and stir things up if necessary."
Hu Aman nodded, then walked out of the room with a gloomy expression.
Xue Niaoniao, however, truly understood what Cui Ying was saying.
Cui Ying probably doesn't know the truth about Qin Jinzhi yet.
But there is one person who knows.
Xue Huaiyi was not surprised to see Xue Niaoniao in front of the Prince's Mansion.
"Let's talk outside."
Xue Niaoniao looked towards the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion.
"Can't I go in?"
Xue Huaiyi's eyes were bloodshot, and he said expressionlessly, "The prince is not in the manor, and outsiders cannot enter the manor at will."
Xue Niaoniao looked at Xue Huaiyi and said, "You are the adopted son of the Prince of Zhenbei, and I am your daughter. Am I an outsider?"
Xue Huaiyi lifted his foot and walked forward.
Xue Niaoniao's eyes darkened, and she followed.
Xue Huaiyi took her to a restaurant.
The people who come here to eat are all ordinary people.
Xue Niaoniao sat down opposite Xue Huaiyi with some disdain.
Xue Huaiyi pretended not to see her expression and scalded the bowls and chopsticks with hot water.
Then Xue Niaoniao said, "You work at the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion, is this all you eat on a daily basis?"
Xue Huaiyi poured the water from the bowl onto the ground.
How old are you this year?
Seventeen.
Xue Huaiyi looked at Xue Niaoniao's face and said, "Your mother didn't tell you that I was fighting a war before I returned to the capital. Sometimes there wasn't even tree bark to eat during the war."
Xue Niaoniao was a little puzzled, "Is it because fighting was too hard that you returned to the capital?"
Upon hearing Xue Niaoniao's words, Xue Huaiyi smiled almost imperceptibly.
"Because the princess has no one to take care of her."
Xue Niaoniao's eyes flashed, "The princess was seriously injured at the hunting grounds, how is she now?"
Xue Huaiyi did not answer, but asked instead, "What illness does your mother have?"
Xue Niaoniao was taken aback, and a look of sadness crossed her face. "Tuberculosis."
Xue Huaiyi's eyes darkened for a moment, "How did you live after your mother died, and how did you end up in this Thousand Birds Bureau?"
Xue Niaoniao said somewhat awkwardly, "After my mother died, I was all alone. A wandering nun took me in as her disciple when I was young and taught me martial arts. Before she passed away last year, she told me to come to the capital to take a look. After I buried her, I came to the capital and happened to come when the Thousand Birds Division was recruiting. I tried it out and I didn't expect to actually get into the Thousand Birds Division."
Xue Huaiyi looked at Xue Niaoniao and asked again, "How old are you this year?"
Xue Niaoniao frowned. "Didn't you just say seventeen?"
Xue Huaiyi then asked, "What's your master's name?"
"Clouds and Water".
Where did you live after you became his disciple?
"Following my master, I traveled around everywhere."
"Why didn't you follow her and get ordained?"
"My master said that my affinity with Buddhism is still shallow."
How old are you this year?
Xue Niaoniao looked extremely impatient. "Seventeen, Seventeen, how many more times are you going to ask?"
Xue Huaiyi looked up at her, "Who sent you to find me?"
"yes……"
Xue Niaoniao suddenly widened her eyes, "You don't believe me!"
She stood up abruptly. "In that case, there's no need for us to talk anymore!"
Xue Niaoniao stormed off, and the waiter brought Xue Huaiyi a plate of beef.
Meanwhile, the servant behind the counter quietly followed Xue Niaoniao.
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