0p0 Chapter 226: Unexpected Discovery of Concubine Xi’s Reminder
Chapter 226: Unexpected Discovery of Concubine Xi’s Reminder
After listening to Xiao Ruzi's report, Shi Nanxi, who had returned to the pavilion, sat up straight unconsciously and squinted his eyes and said:
"You said you just saw Xiao Ying, who works in the back hall of Pingpin in Changchun Palace, secretly talking to Guo Guiren's personal maid? Did you see that correctly?"
Xiao Da Ying was the one who rushed over on the day when Pingpin's little prince died and accidentally bumped into her. It was that bump that caught Pingpin's attention.
The incident happened suddenly at that time, and a strange thought flashed through her mind, but the situation did not allow for deep thought, so she suppressed it. Afterwards, she reviewed it and once again felt that Xiao Da Ying's behavior was strange. How could a concubine in the palace be so rash?
What's more, the little prince died at that time, and Kangxi was in a very bad mood, and was easily angry. All the concubines were cautious, but Xiao Da Ying was reckless and not afraid of being sent to the cold palace for misbehaving in front of the emperor.
Moreover, she felt that Pingpin was used as a knife in the false accusation that she was unlucky, so she asked people to secretly keep an eye on Xiao Daxing, but the other party had not behaved in any unusual way. Unexpectedly, she was accidentally bumped into by Xiao Ruzi today.
Xiao Ruzi affirmed:
"I swear to heaven that I am not mistaken. Xiao Yingda is wearing a dark blue Manchu suit today. It may look inconspicuous, but I was originally working in the Imperial Garden. Changchun Palace is very close to the Imperial Garden. I have seen Xiao Yingda several times while working there. I am definitely not mistaken."
Shi Nanxi took Xixi and stroked its back with her hand, her expression lost in thought, while Xiao Ruzi continued:
"I had someone follow Xiao Da Ying for two months and nothing unusual happened. The people watching her gradually relaxed. Even I thought Xiao Da Ying was fine. I didn't expect to see her in contact with Concubine Guo's people today. It seems that the Queen's previous suspicion was correct."
"So the person behind the false accusation that the Empress is unlucky is Concubine Guo?" Hongying continued.
"It's not Lady Guo." At this time, Nanny Yang denied it:
"To be precise, it should be Consort Guo Luoluo."
She looked serious:
"Xiao Ying is from Pingpin's palace. If she had a normal relationship with Concubine Guo, she wouldn't have to meet Concubine Guo's personal maid in secret. The two of them must have had an inhuman relationship in private. When the little prince died, the queen speculated that Concubine Guo Luoluo was probably the mastermind behind it. It's just that Concubine Guo Luoluo didn't come to Changchun Garden this time, so she contacted Concubine Guo's people."
At this time, Xiao Ruzi also said:
"Xiao Ying was not favored before, but she had one day of sleeping with Pingpin every month. Before Pingpin got pregnant, she was pregnant once, but she didn't find out for more than a month. On the way to pay respects to Pingpin, she accidentally fell and died. From then on, she fell out of favor and rarely went out."
"Some people privately said that the death of Xiao Ying's child was not an accident, but was caused by Pingpin. However, there is no evidence, and there is no smoke without fire. This rumor is likely to be true. So Xiao Ying, the person in Changchun Palace, secretly defected to Concubine Guo Luoluo. I think it is very likely."
Shi Nanxi didn't say anything. After a while, she raised her eyes, her eyes curved, but there was no smile in her eyes as she said:
"What a coincidence! I just met Concubine Guo's Nara Changzai today, and now I've met Concubine Guo's Xiao Da Ying. I should tell Concubine Guo about this coincidence. She is so popular that I'm a little envious."
Nanny Yang and the other two looked at each other, and they all understood what the Empress meant, and there were smiles in their eyes.
Xiao's promise did not affect Shi Nanxi's mood much. She continued to stay in the pavilion to enjoy the breeze and the scenery.
But she was destined not to enjoy the scenery in peace today. While the master and servant were chatting and laughing, Concubine Xi walked into the pavilion swayingly, fanning herself with a round fan.
"Your Majesty, I have met you. I didn't expect to meet you by chance. I was wondering why I heard the magpie calling so early this morning. It turns out that the happy event is supposed to be here!"
Yes, what a coincidence, Shi Nanxi's eyes curved and she said:
"Sister, get up quickly."
Concubine Xi raised her eyebrows, stood up, and walked to the bench closest to Concubine Xian. Her personal maid Zhenzhu quickly wiped the bench clean with a handkerchief. Concubine Xi then sat down and congratulated with a smile:
"I congratulate Your Majesty on your promotion to the rank of Imperial Concubine. When I received the news a few days ago, I wanted to congratulate you in person, but I knew that Your Majesty liked quietness, so I didn't come to your house for fear of disturbing you. I didn't expect to meet you here today. It seems that I have to congratulate you in person."
"It is only the emperor's favor that makes me feel unworthy." Shi Nanxi said modestly.
Concubine Xi held the round fan and gently covered her lips with it, chuckling softly:
"Your Majesty's modesty is worthy of the emperor's praise. How can I not be worthy of it? I think no one is more worthy of your praise than your Majesty."
They are all flattering and fawning, but the old ones are the most experienced. Nara Changzai is far inferior to Concubine Xi, Shi Nanxi commented in her heart, but her face seemed a little embarrassed by the praise.
"Sister Xipin, thank you for your compliment."
Concubine Xi smiled but said nothing. At this moment, her eyes noticed Xixi on Concubine Xian's legs, and her smile deepened. Concubine Wang actually knew to use catnip to attract cats, and thus attract the emperor. Some other people were so unorthodox, but unfortunately they were too stupid.
Seeing that Concubine Xi turned her gaze to Xixi, Shi Nanxi's eyelashes trembled, and she began to introduce:
"This is Xixi."
Then he touched Xixi's head and introduced her: "This is Concubine Xi. Say hello to Concubine Xi."
Xixi played with the orange cat for a while and felt better than before. It looked up and meowed at Concubine Xi.
There was interest in Concubine Xi's eyes. She leaned over and touched Xixi's head gently. Xixi did not struggle, but just meowed softly again.
"I didn't expect Xixi to be so well-behaved. Seeing this, I want to get a cat. It will be fun for me when I'm bored."
Concubine Xi touched Xixi again.
Shi Nanxi just smiled and didn't express any opinion. Otherwise, if Concubine Xi raised a cat and something happened, it would probably be blamed on her, so it was better to be cautious.
Concubine Xi teased Xixi for a while before she straightened up again and started fanning herself again, over and over again, in a leisurely and lazy manner. However, her next sentence made Shi Nanxi pause slightly.
"That's great. Xixi has finally recovered her spirits."
Shi Nanxi lowered her eyes to hide the deep thought in her eyes, as if she was unaware that Concubine Xi knew that Xixi had been in a bad mood recently.
"Well, maybe it was due to the change of seasons before. Xixi was a little unwell and has only gradually recovered recently."
Concubine Xi nodded:
"We need to be more careful when changing seasons, not only cats, but also people. Especially when going boating on the lake, we must remember to put on more clothes and not get caught in the wind. We women are most afraid of catching a cold, which can easily hurt our bodies. However, given the emperor's love for the queen, he will definitely not forget to remind the servants around him."
As she spoke, Concubine Xi covered her red lips with a round fan, revealing her charming and attractive phoenix eyes, and looked at Shi Nanxi with a teasing look.
Change of seasons? Cats? Boating on the lake? The emperor?
Shi Nanxi immediately and keenly extracted four key words from it.
Put together, it seems to refer to the time when the emperor took her to go boating on Houhu Lake on the day of the Beginning of Autumn.
The cat is now alert. The reason it was not alert was because it was lured by the concubine with catnip.
Was Concubine Xi reminding her that Concubine Wang's drugging was related to the Emperor taking her to the Houhu Lake for boating on the day of the Beginning of Autumn?
Shi Nanxi thought quickly in her mind and came to this guess, but she lowered her head as if embarrassed by Concubine Xi's teasing.
The two chatted for a while and then Concubine Xi took her leave.
Shinanxi pondered for a moment,
He ordered solemnly:
"Immediately send someone to investigate whether anything happened when the Japanese palace and the emperor were boating on the lake in Liqiu, or whether there were other people in Houhu at that time."
"Yes, ma'am."