The dim back

Zhang Yulu began to talk about her plan: "Originally, there are many noble ladies in the backyard among the noble ladies. They have nothing to do. What they do every day is to keep telling other people's troubles. Therefore, they are an important place for all sources of information."

Liu Zhongqing thought it made sense: "You just need to listen to what they say and then find out what happened from it. This is a really clever trick you came up with."

Hearing Liu Zhongqing say this, Zhang Yulu laughed and said, "I support you in everything you do."

Three days later, Zhang Yulu hosted a banquet for everyone and said to all the dignitaries: "Ladies, please forgive me. The prince and I have been married for such a long time, and we just had time to call you here."

Mr. Tao's wife said to Zhang Yulu: "I heard that your concubine is not an easy person to deal with."

The other Madam Zhang also said with a smile: "Look at her, she is so coquettish, and she said she was a lady from a wealthy family before. But she was once in a brothel. It is better not to mess with such people."

Hearing everyone say this, Zhang Yulu found it very funny: "The prince is quite good to me, and he can still treat me equally. After all, we are childhood sweethearts."

Mr. Chen's wife was a rather quiet person. When she saw everyone surrounding Zhang Yulu and talking non-stop,...

Mrs. Chen said to Zhang Yulu, "It's a little funny to say this. My master once told me to get to know you more, saying that you are a kind and elegant person."

Zhang Yulu looked at Madam Chen with a smile: "The Queen Mother recently assigned us a task, which is about Xiaoyu. I heard that his death was related to the Emperor and the Queen."

Upon hearing this, Madam Chen leaned over to Zhang Yulu's ear and said, "Princess, please don't be fooled. Xiaoyu was originally a servant from my mother's family. He was brought to the capital with me when I married. My grandfather presented him as a tribute to the emperor who was then the crown prince."

Hearing what Mrs. Chen said, Zhang Yulu naturally had her own thoughts: "Now I don't know where Xiaoyu is buried, and I really don't know why he fell into the pond in the palace."

Mrs. Chen thought about it again and again, but still couldn't help but said: "This matter was originally a secret, but I think if I want to be friends with you, I must show my sincerity."

Zhang Yulu felt that Mrs. Chen had something else in mind: "Just tell me what you want to say."

Madam Chen patted Zhang Yulu's hand and said, "This is the quota for my master's promotion. I hope the prince and princess can help you."

Zhang Yulu heard Madam Chen's request and could only smile and say, "That depends on whether Lord Chen has the ability. If he really has the ability, I believe you can be promoted smoothly without the prince and I mentioning it to the emperor."

When Mrs. Chen heard that Zhang Yulu obviously didn't want to help, she sighed and said, "I wanted to tell you, but suddenly I felt unwell. Wait until you come to the mansion tomorrow, and I will tell you when I have time."

Zhang Yulu heard that this was an excuse, so she had to bring out her identity as a princess: "If my prince says that you did it on purpose, does that mean your grandfather can't even be a minor official now? How can he talk about promotion?"

Mrs. Chen was so scared that she quickly shut her mouth: "They say the princess is kind, but now it seems that it's all rumors."

Zhang Yulu was not angry either: "After all, this is related to the relationship between Liu Zhongqing and the Queen Mother. I must be very nervous about it."

Mrs. Chen was smarter: "I believe that the prince will remember my help this time, so I might as well tell him."

Zhang Yulu waited for the next words while Madam Chen said, "Xiaoyu, this girl has a stubborn personality, but she is an ambitious girl who always wants to marry into the royal family."

Zhang Yulu had already guessed it: "So, he took the initiative to enter the palace?"

Madam Chen continued, "My grandfather also wanted to be promoted at the time, so he placed this girl beside the Queen Mother in order to win her favor. Xiaoyu has always been cautious in her work, and she has been appreciated by the Queen Mother."

Zhang Yulu was very puzzled: "Since he was already appreciated, why did he jump into the river and commit suicide?"

Madam Chen clapped her hands and said, "It seems that you are an unlucky person. You actually followed the Queen Mother and fell in love with the Emperor, who was still the Crown Prince at the time. Anyone who wants to be the Crown Prince must help the Crown Prince ascend the throne. He is just a little girl with no power and influence. Of course, he will not be liked by the Queen Mother."

Zhang Yulu felt that something was wrong: "So, this matter is also related to the Queen."

Mrs. Chen told the truth: "At that time, the Queen was the Shangshu's legitimate daughter. Of course, the Shangshu came to our house and said a lot. He just wanted us to take Xiaoyu back, but Xiaoyu disagreed. Soon we heard the news of Xiaoyu's death."

Zhang Yulu felt that this matter was difficult to investigate: "The Queen Mother said that she had an affair with a guard in the palace. Is this true?"

Mrs. Chen shook her head. "I knew you were going to ask about this, so I'm ready today. Xiaoyu sent me a letter a few days before she died, but the letter was very strange and I didn't understand it."

Mrs. Chen took out the letter and Zhang Yulu looked at it carefully. Then she folded the letter and looked at it again. Then Zhang Yulu suddenly realized.

Zhang Yulu pointed at the folded paper and said, "If you read it backwards, you can see what it is."

Madam Chen looked at the letter and read the words on it backwards: "Madam, save me."

Madam Chen was a little confused: "Xiaoyu obviously came to the palace on his own initiative, why did you ask me to rescue him? Why did you ask me to bring him out? He obviously didn't agree to come out on his own."

Zhang Yulu thinks that what happened back then is not simple: "I think we should still look for it and see what was different about what happened back then? And also the people and things that were concerned about this matter at that time."

Mrs. Chen immediately provided a clue: "When Xiaoyu entered the palace, the eunuch Liu Yuxiang was the one who was closest to him."

Zhang Yulu felt that the name Liu Yuxiang was very familiar: "Why do I seem to have heard this name somewhere before? I can't remember it for a moment."

Mrs. Chen said, "Liu Yuxiang's name is Xiao Yuzi. Even though he and Xiao Yu have only one character difference, their fates are very different."

Zhang Yulu listened quietly. Madam Chen told Zhang Yulu, "Do you know? It was Xiaoyuzi who led Xiaoyu to meet the emperor. Xiaoyuzi thought that if Xiaoyu could become a concubine, he could serve Xiaoyu and make his life easier. But that incident happened later. Xiaoyuzi had to stay in the study room obediently."

Zhang Yulu felt that something was still missing: "Who should I contact to find out the situation?"

Madam Chen told Zhang Yulu: "I heard from my master that we can find the prime minister's daughter for this matter. She was going to be the crown princess back then."