The Legend of the Concubine in the Harem

The incident of Shen Xiaoyi falling into the water eventually passed quietly. Apart from the fact that the inspections in and out of the palace became more stringent, there were no other changes.

The emperor did not show much sympathy for this woman who had served him but had the misfortune of being plotted against. He did not care, and his subordinates did not investigate the incident carefully. Xie Yu really did not count on him, so he ordered people to keep an eye on the eunuch Hua Mu.

However, Xie Yuzhen was very careful about every plant and tree around him. Anything that was close to his body or that entered his mouth had to be taken care of by Xiazhi and Chunfen personally. In this way, Shouning Palace was peaceful.

However, the manpower is still a little short. Xie Yuzhen still does not trust the palace servants assigned from the Shanggong Bureau after entering the palace. He can only observe them slowly. After a while, he will be able to pick out one or two sincere people to help Chunfen and Xiazhi.

The day after visiting Shen Xiaoyi was the day to pay respects to the Queen.

When she left Yanzhang Palace, she still couldn't see Liu Shuyi. After returning to the palace, she heard that Wen Baolin, Shen Xiaoyi's cousin, took care of her all night long and finally helped Shen Xiaoyi's high fever subside completely.

Xie Yuzhen originally thought that Wen Baolin would probably ask the Queen for leave and not come the next day as he was so busy. However, she did not expect that when she walked into the Kunning Palace, Wen Baolin was already sitting in her seat.

There was still fatigue in Wen Baolin's eyes, and he looked a little listless.

Xie Yuzhen was sitting right above Wen Baolin, next to her: "Baolin, you've worked hard."

"I'm just doing what I should do. I don't deserve any blame." Wen Baolin responded calmly.

Seeing this, Xie Yuzhen was too lazy to bother her anymore. Not long after, Liu Shuyi, who had not been seen for several times, came with a tired face. She looked even more haggard than Wen Baolin, with two deep dark circles under her eyes that could not be covered even with makeup.

The first thing Liu Shuyi did when she came in was to glance at Wen Baolin, her eyes somewhat obscure, and then she turned her gaze to Xie Yuzhen: "Excuse me, Talented Lady Xie, it was really unfortunate that you went to Yanzhang Palace yesterday. The Fourth Princess caught a cold and couldn't leave her alone, so I really couldn't spare the time to entertain you."

"Your Highness, you are too kind. I was just visiting Shen Xiaoyi. I shouldn't have disturbed you. Besides, the princess is precious, so it's never too careful." Xie Yuzhen said with a smile, remembering that she didn't see the imperial physician when she went to Shen Xiaoyi's room yesterday, and Wen Baolin said that the imperial physician had come to see her...

Now looking at what Liu Shuyi said, I'm afraid she didn't just withdraw the imperial physician who was originally treating Shen Xiaoyi.

No wonder Wen Baolin had to take care of Shen Xiaoyi in Yanzhang Palace for a whole night. If she wasn't there, who would know whether Liu Shuyi would be willing to return the imperial physician?

Xie Yuzhen narrowed his eyes. It was really interesting. To put it simply, this matter was just Liu Shuyi's way of suppressing the low-ranking concubines in the palace. To put it more seriously...she wanted to kill Shen Xiaoyi.

Shen Xiaoyi was of the sixth rank, and although she had served the emperor, she was not favored. However, Liu Shuyi was of the second rank, one of the ninth concubines, and had a biological princess. Even though she was no longer favored, she had established a firm foothold in the palace.

Logically speaking, Liu Shuyi had no reason and no need to target Shen Xiaoyi.

So was she angry because Wen Baolin was favored?

After all, these two people are from the same family. Wen Baolin is both talented and good-looking. In the past half month, he has served the emperor in bed twice. Among all the newcomers, his number of visits to Shouning Palace to visit Xie Yuzhen and her unborn child is second only to the number of times the emperor has visited her. He is considered to be very much favored by the emperor.

You know, most of the new concubines have never had the chance to sleep with the emperor.

But Xie Yuzhen wanted to think that the reason why Liu Shuyi targeted Shen Xiaoyi was even darker. Perhaps, the mastermind who secretly brought insects and snakes into the imperial garden, corroded the railings of the Qiu Shuang Pavilion, bribed the eunuchs in charge of flowers and plants, and wanted to lure Xie Yuzhen over to harm him was Liu Shuyi?

But this doesn’t make sense.

After Shen Xiaoyi fell into the water and before she had a high fever, she woke up once. If she had really discovered Liu Shuyi's conspiracy, she could have reported it directly to the Queen Mother at that time, but she did not.

Or, Shen Xiaoyi really knew nothing, and Liu Shuyi transferred her imperial physician away just to vent her anger and suppress her.

Or, Shen Xiaoyi knew the inside story and thought she had something on Liu Shuyi, but she didn't expect that she didn't have a fever at first, but developed a fever later. Liu Shuyi also realized that she might know something, so she simply transferred the imperial physician away, hoping that she would die of illness.

As the mistress of a palace, it was extremely easy for Liu Shuyi to deal with the lower-ranking concubines. She only needed to make a slight mistake in the rules of clothing and food to make them suffer in silence. Just like she did before, she directly transferred away the life-saving imperial physician and used the princess' illness as an excuse.

Even if Shen Xiaoyi really died of a high fever last night, the emperor and empress would at most reprimand Liu Shuyi afterwards.

However, a sixth-rank unfavored palace concubine had died. How could she have the qualifications to ask the mother of the crown prince to apologize?

Xie Yuzhen's mind was full of thoughts, and the concubines who came to pay their respects also came into the hall and sat down one after another.

She looked up and down and found that Concubine Song Shu was not here today. Instead, the female official in her palace was standing respectfully behind her seat. She must have asked for leave from the Queen again.

Concubine Deng and Concubine Li were sitting close to each other, whispering about the studies of several princes and princesses.

Later, Concubine Ning only sent female officials over.

Compared to the high-ranking concubines who were missing two, the lower-ranking ones were in good order. At first glance, they were all unfamiliar faces. Xie Yuzhen took a quick look and found that one of his "old acquaintances" had not arrived yet.

Meng Ronghua's seat was vacant. Xie Yuzhen remembered that the emperor went to Changrui Palace last night. She thought that Meng Ronghua finally got her wish and served him in bed. She has always been proud and arrogant. Once she got the emperor's favor, she would definitely show off to everyone. Unfortunately...

Xie Yuzhen raised his eyes again to look at Concubine Deng, who was sitting at the top, smiling and talking without any strange expression - she was Meng Ronghua's main seat. Logically, after Meng Ronghua stood up, he should go to her place first to wait, and then be brought by Concubine Deng to pay his respects to the Queen.

I don’t know whether Meng Ronghua was making fun of her for not getting up, or whether Concubine Deng deliberately didn’t wait for her.

Seeing that it was almost time to pay respects, Xie Yu really didn't want to miss this opportunity to stir up trouble, so he spoke softly: "Why is Meng Ronghua still nowhere to be seen at this time? If she is not feeling well, she didn't send a palace maid to ask for leave. Did something happen on the way?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Concubine Deng stopped talking to Concubine Li and explained in a gentle voice, "Meng Ronghua was with the emperor last night and must have been tired. I had something urgent to do this morning, so I didn't wait for her."

After saying this, Concubine Deng couldn't help but frowned in confusion: "She has always been well behaved, how could she delay for so long? It's also my fault. I was in such a hurry that I didn't notice her. Huanyue, go to the road to see if Meng Ronghua has arrived."

The female official behind Concubine Deng knelt and said yes. She lowered her head and walked around behind the concubines. Before she stepped out of the hall, she saw Meng Ronghua and his servant walking towards her in a hurry.

It was at this time that the queen finished dressing and walked out of the inner room.