After weighing the pros and cons, she decided to go out first. She needed to verify her suspicions before she could see the situation clearly.
Currently, the only person who can unravel her doubts is Jiang Wang.
She planned to ask Lady Liu to help her find Manhuan first, as she needed to go to the palace as soon as possible. If the matter couldn't be resolved, everyone would be in danger. This was the only option for now.
Taking advantage of the fact that the old women in the courtyard were all distracted by the commotion outside, she quickly found an opportunity to climb over the wall. However, Xue Rong couldn't get out. Shen Mingzhuang was anxious, but could only tell her to hide in the haystack for now. "You hide here, I'll find a way to get you out."
She needs to go out and show herself first, let the Shen family know she's here, and then it will be much easier to find an excuse to come in and take Xue Rong out.
Xue Rong's eyes glistened with tears, but she bit her lip and nodded, suppressing her sobs.
Shen Mingzhuang was exhausted after climbing over two walls, but fortunately she could see the gate. She quickly walked out, and the old woman next to Liu Shi, who used to work in the mansion, immediately recognized Shen Mingzhuang.
She hurriedly called out to Shen Mingzhuang, "Grandma, you've finally come out!"
Upon hearing this, Liu and the others immediately went over. Seeing that Shen Mingzhuang was indeed there, Zhao and Gu's expressions softened. Gu hurriedly stepped forward to Shen Mingzhuang and asked, "What happened? Why aren't you in Beiyuan? Why are you here?"
Shen Mingzhuang did not answer Gu Shi's question immediately. Instead, she glanced at the people from the Shen family who had come over. A dozen servants were standing below, and six or seven rough-working women surrounded them. Her expression calmed down a bit, and she said to Gu Shi, "Second Aunt, this is a long story. Please allow me to explain it to you later. I have a maid inside. Please accompany me to look for her."
Madam Gu was surprised that Shen Mingzhuang had specifically asked her to accompany him. She hesitated for a moment, then looked at Madam Zhao and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, let's go together."
Zhao didn't think much of it when she heard this. With so many people here today, how could this damned Shi Mansion possibly trap them inside? Since Gu wasn't afraid, why should she be?
It wasn't that Madam Gu wasn't afraid; she simply trusted Shen Mingzhuang's character.
When the daughters of the third wife were learning manners at her age, her favorite was Shen Mingzhuang.
This child is bold, meticulous, polite, and knows her place. Later, when she heard that she had entered the palace, she felt a little regretful. If Shen Mingzhuang could have married into a more ordinary and well-off family, she would surely have lived a harmonious and happy life, managed things in an orderly manner, and become an excellent head mistress. However, after entering the palace, although she was a favored concubine, she was not the empress and only held the title of concubine. She was always a concubine.
This was the first time Shen Mingzhuang had asked her for help, and based on her understanding of Shen Mingzhuang, she agreed without much hesitation.
Xue Rong huddled in the haystack, and whenever she heard someone pass by, she couldn't help but tense up, trying to bury herself even deeper. When Shen Mingzhuang arrived with her men and found her, Xue Rong's face was covered in tears, but she forced a smile and comforted her, "Miss, I'm alright!"
Seeing this, Madam Gu vaguely understood what was going on. She said in a deep voice, "What is the background of this Shi family? Why don't we report it to the authorities and let them handle it? In broad daylight, under the clear sky, under the very heavens, someone actually dares to lay a hand on the imperial concubine. They are truly audacious and reckless!"
Upon hearing this, Shen Mingzhuang quickly waved his hand to calm Gu Shi down, saying, "Second Aunt, this is not the place to talk. I didn't know you thought this way. This house is mine, but there are some things I need to figure out as soon as possible. I hope you can lend me a hand."
In the past, the two of them had only ever asked Shen Mingzhuang for favors; they had never been asked to do favors by Shen Mingzhuang. Upon hearing this, the two of them exchanged a surprised glance.
Having left the Shi residence safely with Xue Rong, Shen Mingzhuang asked Gu Shi to arrange a carriage for him, and then asked Gu Shi and Liu Shi to help him find Man Huan. He then took Xue Rong directly into the palace.
With the waist token given to her by Jiang Wang, no one dared to stop her along the way. Shen Mingzhuang went directly to the Imperial Study, but there was no one there. Hou Linghai had gone to inspect the south of the Yangtze River as an imperial envoy, and Tan Yonglin was also not there. When the little eunuch at the door of the Imperial Study saw Shen Mingzhuang, he was stunned for a moment before he hurriedly bowed to her.
Whether Shen Mingzhuang lives inside or outside the palace, she is the Emperor's Mingfei. Now, besides Shufei, the only other person in the harem is this Mingfei. In fact, no matter how Shufei is, she can't compare to this Mingfei.
Where is the Emperor?
Shen Mingzhuang was anxious, and his voice couldn't help but carry a hint of urgency.
The young eunuch dared not answer. If he told Consort Ming where the Emperor was, he feared that when Eunuch Tan returned, he would lose his tongue.
He looked troubled and knelt on the ground, replying, "Your Highness, this servant does not know where His Majesty has gone. If Your Highness is anxious, this servant will send two people to search for him."
Shen Mingzhuang had previously worked at the "grassroots" level and was quite adept at the ways eunuchs dealt with people. He naturally knew that this was just the eunuch's way of fobbing him off, so he didn't bother arguing with the eunuch and turned to head towards the Hehuan Palace.
Since Jiang Wang is praising Consort Shu in such a high regard, and it's not the time for the grand court assembly, and there's no one in the Imperial Study, he must most likely be in the Hehuan Palace.
Inside the Hehuan Palace, Liu Wenxin was directing the palace servants to move flowers and plants. She was dressed in a light blue gauze palace dress, wearing a pearl headdress, with a flower decoration between her eyebrows and a peony bun on her head. She was dressed in a dignified and luxurious manner. Although she tried her best to appear generous and proper, a closer look revealed her petty nature.
When Shen Mingzhuang arrived, the maids at the door were stunned. No one expected that Consort Ming would return. Her sudden appearance caught everyone off guard.
At this moment, Liu Wenxin gently covered her nose with a light blue handkerchief. She turned her head and saw Shen Mingzhuang outside the palace gate. For a moment, she thought she was seeing things. But when she looked closely, it really was her! She was quite surprised and opened her mouth, unable to say a word for a long time.
Shen Mingzhuang ignored her reaction and went straight inside.
The plum grove, visible from the front gate, was now empty. The ground was covered with a grass carpet, and many flowers and plants were piled up at the entrance. Palace servants were moving flowers and plants in and out, clearly intending to fill the empty space.
When Liu Wenxin saw that she glanced at the plum grove and then showed a look of disappointment, she knew that she was jealous and was immediately delighted.
Yes, she used to be the only one in the Emperor's heart. She said she liked to appreciate plum blossoms in the snow, so plum trees were planted all over the North Garden and Hehuan Palace. Now that she has returned, everything has changed, and those plum groves have disappeared along with the dissipation of his favor.
"Why did you return to the palace, sister? Didn't you say you were going to leave the palace to cultivate yourself in seclusion?"
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