First Concubine

Chapter 124 Secrets of the Royal Palace (5)

From the moment Shui Linglong walked in, Mrs. Zhen’s eyes fell on her face. When she found her staring at the gift she had just given to Mrs. Wu, Mrs. Zhen couldn’t help but feel something in her heart. What an amazing little girl! What a keen intuition! I really underestimated her before!

Feeling Mrs. Zhen’s gaze, Shui Linglong retracted her gaze and smiled gently at Ms. Zhen: “Second Aunt!”

Zhuge Shu let go of Shui Linglong's arm, threw herself into Zhen's arms, and called softly: "Mother--" in a very unhappy tone!

Zhen touched her daughter's face and said angrily: "You don't have any manners in front of your sister-in-law! I'm not afraid of your sister-in-law making fun of her!"

Shui Linglong discovered that Zhuge Shu, who was still alive and kicking just now, suddenly turned into a frost-beaten eggplant, wilting and wilting. Why?

Zhuge Shu looked at Mrs. Wu’s retreating back, stamped her feet, opened the curtain and entered the inner room!

Mrs. Zhen couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed: "The child is small, don't blame Linglong. Sit down quickly."

Shui Linglong sat down and Liu Zhu offered a cup of fine Longjing. Shui Linglong took it in her hand and said with a smile: "Shu'er has an upright nature, it's no big deal." If it were her daughter, she would definitely beat her until she knew Hua'er. Why is it so red?

“Why did you come to the second aunt’s yard today?” Zhen changed the topic decisively.

Shui Linglong smiled softly and said: "Oh, I want to ask my second aunt for some ideas to make some winter clothes for the baby in my eldest sister's belly. The due date is December, I will start making them now and try to make a few more sets."

Zhen said calmly: "There are so many relatives, but you are the most caring! Not even the princess cares about Xiao Xi like you do!"

This is a bit too much. Did Zhen exclude herself so blatantly to test her relationship with the princess's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, or was she simply testing her own mood? Shui Linglong showed a look of fear: "Second Aunt, you...what you said really scared me! Where can I find my mother-in-law to be careful? My mother-in-law is in charge of the general affairs and has no time to get away. She orders her servants to do many things. , I don’t know anything when I first come here, I can’t help my mother and concubine with the housework, I can only show my best in life.”

What she said was watertight, which not only dismissed her hidden thorns, but also blocked the problems she might throw out next. If she directly said that the princess was busy and she was free, then he would ask her if she felt that the princess did not take him seriously. She, so she is not allowed to take charge of the family. But she insisted that she was new here and had no experience, so she couldn't help the princess run the family... She couldn't even utter a single word of the difficult words she had prepared!

Mrs. Zhen picked up the tea cup and took a sip: "Liuzhu, bring the booklet and let the Crown Princess take it back to read."

Liuzhu held three brochures and handed them to Shui Linglong respectfully. Shui Linglong took them, thanked Zhen, and said, "I was just thinking about asking my second aunt to get some flowers, and I forgot that my husband sent some." I gave the tea leaves from Jiangnan to everyone.”

After saying that, he glanced at Amber.

Hu Huan was busy and said: "I will go with you to get it. By the way, I will bring back two paintings made by the fourth lady for the second lady to appreciate."

 During this time, Zhuge Shu and Shui Lingqing were always playing chess, calligraphy and painting in her yard. In order to place their works, Shui Linglong specially changed a side room into a small study.

Zhen Shi nodded in agreement, and Shui Linglong left Xianglan Courtyard with Amber.

After confirming that the two of them were far away, Liuzhu expressed his doubts: "Madam, I see that the Crown Princess is not as gentle as she appears. If you just say that the Princess is not as careful as she is, will it offend her?"

Zhen Shi sighed slowly: "I just wanted to test what kind of person she is. She is indeed incredibly smart."

 Liu Zhu lowered his eyes and said nothing.

Ms. Zhen raised her finger and passed it to her ear. After hearing this, her eyes suddenly widened: "Yes, slave... let's do it now!"

Shui Linglong took Amber into the Mohe Courtyard. Shui Linglong went to the clean room first. Zhifan served tea and pastries very attentively. Amber looked at several plates full of exquisite pastries and swallowed her saliva: "I A slave doesn’t have to eat such good things.”

Zhi Fan smiled and said, "Don't you think that the food I eat on weekdays is not good enough to entertain you?"

Amber was surprised again: "You... do you usually eat... these?"

Zhifan nodded: "Yes, the Crown Princess is greedy, so the Crown Prince will try his best to find food for the Crown Princess. Once he buys a lot, the Crown Princess will often eat a little and then give it all to the house. There is a servant here. The prince likes spicy food, and the prince is afraid that she will get angry if she eats too much, so he buys snacks of various flavors, such as lotus root balls, chestnut shortcakes and taro cakes. The prince ordered people to rush back from Jiangnan."

Amber's eyes were full of surprise and envy. They were both servants, but they didn't expect that their lives were so different. But soon, the surprise and envy in Amber's heart were replaced by a new emotion. She felt that Zhifan's behavior was a bit... showing off! Yes, just show off! Zhifan just wanted her to know how the maids in Moheyuan lived, and what kind of life she lived...

Amber's complexion gradually returned to calm.

Shui Linglong came out of the clean room and sat down on the chair. Amber and Zhi hurriedly stood up and bowed respectfully to her. Shui Linglong looked at the untouched cakes on the plate and said kindly, "Isn't it to your liking?"

Amber lowered her head and said respectfully: "No, I was just drinking tea and didn't have time to eat."

"Wrap the amber." Shui Linglong said cheerfully.

“Yes!” Zhifan took out a delicate little brocade box, put it inside with white patterned wrapping paper, and picked up the cakes with chopsticks and put them into it.

It would be unreasonable for Amber not to notice Shui Linglong’s overtures! The Crown Princess was telling her that she could have as much glory and wealth as she wanted in the future! Who doesn’t want glory and wealth? But there is no such thing as free pie in the world. If you want something, you have to give it up...

 “Thank you very much for your kindness, Your Majesty, I appreciate it.”

Shui Linglong chuckled, this girl probably thought she was trying to bribe her to do something harmful to nature! Shui Linglong said slowly: "Don't be nervous. As for me, I don't plan to ask you to do anything. I just want to ask you a few questions. If you feel that I am worthy of your trust, tell me; if you are not sure about my character, I will also Don’t force it. Pastry is a matter of care, so don’t refuse!”

 Hu Hu lowered his eyes and bit his lip: "I would like to ask, Princess Concubine."

Shui Linglong smiled lightly and said, "I want to know the cause of Zhuge Yan's death."

Amber's face suddenly changed...

Liuzhu was picking flowers in the greenhouse near the second entrance. There were not as many flower species in autumn as in summer, and the colors were not as beautiful. Fortunately, the palace built a large greenhouse. It was like spring all year round, with hundreds of flowers blooming, and the flowers were beautiful.

About half an hour later, Anping walked into Liuzhu's sight while twisting a food box. Liuzhu walked over with a smile: "Anping, where have you been? And you came back with something twisted?"

Anping tightened his grip on the food box and said with a smile: "Oh, I went out... to buy something."

 “Did you buy it for the Crown Princess?” Liuzhu asked with a smile.

Anping's eyes flashed slightly and he said: "Uh... yes... yes!"

Liu Zhu glanced at the food box lightly, then smiled and said: "It smells very good. Which restaurant did you buy it from? It can't be Huangji Restaurant, right?"

Anping uncontrollably showed a "how do you know" expression, Liuzhu dusted off his sleeves, and deliberately said: "Oh, I heard that the food there is quite delicious, so I just took a guess."

Anping broke into a cold sweat and said, "I'm going to leave first. My dear sister, you can pick as many flowers as you like!"

Looking at An Ping's fleeing figure, a cold light flashed across his eyes...

In the Mohe Courtyard, Amber finally ended the inner war between heaven and man. She pursed her lips and said, "Master Yan... died of poisoning!"

 Poisoned? Zhuge Shu said it was because of illness.

 But there is only one truth.

Shui Linglong pressed her eyebrows and signaled Amber to continue.

"It was poisoned by a traitor in the clan." Hu Hu held the cup tightly, "Master Shizi and Master Yan were poisoned at the same time. Even the best alchemist from Kashgar Qing was invited to save his life. Later, the prince learned the news, Long Live the Lord. I had a Bai Zhuan Dan in my hand that could cure all kinds of poisons, so I sent a letter to Master Long Live, asking him to give me the medicine."

Shui Linglong blinked: "At that time, the prince hadn't made him the king yet, right?"

Amber nodded: "Yes, the prince has already held a sacrificial ceremony in front of the temple. The whole clan recognized the prince as the next clan leader. However, Long Live Lord used Bai Zhuan Dan as a condition and asked the prince to voluntarily give up his position as heir and come to Beijing to accept the throne. Feng, the prince agreed."

Shui Linglong picked up the teacup: "If that's the case, why is Master Yan still dead?"

Amber sighed slowly: "I also heard from my mother-in-law. After the prince announced that he had given up the right to inherit the royal family, Long live the Lord immediately gave him the Bai Zhuan Dan, and Master Leng Chengkun personally took the Bai Zhuan Dan to Kashgar to celebrate. But... Lord Leng is here. I lost one when I was drunk on the way.”

Shui Linglong opened her eyes wide: "I lost one, and the only remaining one was given to Zhuge Yu, so Zhuge Yan... died of poison?"

Amber's next words confirmed Shui Linglong's guess: "Yes, that antidote was taken by the Crown Prince, and later the court sent someone to deliver a second pill. Unfortunately... Young Master Yan did not survive until that day."

Perhaps Leng Youru wanted to save not the eldest son, but the youngest son, but the old lady and Zhuge Liuyun all gave Zhuge Yu the chance to live, so everyone felt guilty about Leng Youru and always tolerated her.

Apart from the poisoner, the real cause of this tragedy was Leng Chengkun, who was drunk and made a mistake. Leng Chengkun's negligence caused Leng Youru to lose her young son. Leng Youru killed Leng Wei at all costs and let Leng Youru. Chengkun also tasted the feeling of a white-haired person giving a black-haired person.

Shui Linglong felt a chill in her heart, Leng Youru was the real goddess of revenge!

But since Leng Youru is so affectionate, how can she be willing to hurt Zhuge Xi? There are countless ways to kill Leng Wei. There is no need for Leng Wei to destroy Yao Cheng and Zhuge Xi's family...

Amber stood up and said, "I heard this information from my mother's mouth. I definitely didn't make any claims and add any other words."

 If there is a mistake, it is because her mother made a mistake.

Shui Linglong glanced at Hu Hu gratefully: "Thank you very much. If you need anything in the future, just come to me. If you don't go beyond my duty, I will try my best to oblige you."

Amber bowed to Shui Linglong, picked up the box on the table, Zhuge Shu's scroll and two bags of tea, bowed and left, and suddenly turned around as soon as he reached the door: "Prince Concubine, I remember something, I don't know. Is it valuable to you? The eldest lady’s birthday is actually not at the end of the year, but in May. Even Miss Fourth and Prince An don’t know this.”

Shui Linglong’s eyebrows jumped!

Zhuge Liuyun and Leng Youru got married in January, the same year Zhuge Xi was born. If Zhuge Xi's birthday is really in May, why should everyone hide it?

 Is it to hide Leng Youru's pregnancy before marriage, or... Zhuge Xi is not actually Leng Youru's biological flesh and blood?

 (End of this chapter)