Scheming Through The Heavens 024 Guidance Warning
Soft and delicate snowflakes gently floated down from the sky, drifting with the wind.
Yu Wu stood under the eaves, looking at the dark sky with snowflakes dancing all over. In her line of sight, she could gradually see the small snowflakes getting bigger and thicker, densely packed, like white flowers drifting in the wind.
"Princess, shall I light the brazier?" Jade asked softly.
"No need, it's just a habit. The cold winter is ending, what's there to fear about this last bit of chill?" Yuan Wuyou stretched out her hand to catch a snowflake, watching as the pure white snowflake landed on her hand and melted into a crystal clear droplet of water.
Yu Cu always felt that the princess's words had underlying meanings, but after careful consideration, she thought it was just her own paranoia, so she could only stand by and quietly accompany her.
Yu Zhu took out a cloak from the inner chamber and put it on Yuan Wu You, gazing at the snowflakes in the sky that were getting bigger and bigger. She murmured: "Will this be the last big snow of this winter?" The year-end was approaching, but unfortunately they were in the Cold Palace, where they had not felt the festive atmosphere of lanterns and decorations in the imperial palace for many years.
Yu Cu shook her head: "It's still hard to say now, there are more than ten days before the Spring Festival." Even after the New Year, it usually takes one or two snowfalls for spring to arrive.
Listening to their words, Yuan Wuyou smiled slightly: "Tell me, what do you think of Chen Mei Ren?"
Yu Zhu didn't say a word after exchanging a glance with Yu Cui, but Yu Cui spoke out her feelings: "I feel that Chen Mei Ren is hiding something."
Yu Worry stretched out her slender palm, almost the same color as the snowflakes, to feel the occasional snowflake that fell on her palm melt into a stream of water. As for Yu Cui's words, she just raised an eyebrow but didn't turn around: "Why do you think Chen Mei Ren wanted to hide?"
Yu Cu was hesitantly looking at Yuan Wu You's back, her mouth opened and closed, wanting to say something but seemingly hesitant.
It was as if he had eyes behind his back, seeing her hesitation. Yuan Wuyou said calmly, "When I ask for your opinions, there's no room for evasion or concealment, speak without reserve, and say everything that needs to be said."
"Yes, this servant can't understand why Your Ladyship would punish Chen Meiren?"
Yu Zhu gazed at Yuan Wuyou's back, but in fact, after hearing what Chen Meiren had said, she had an idea in her mind, which shocked herself.
"Yu Zhu, you say." Yuan Wu You withdrew her hand and gently wiped the frostbite on her reddened hands with a silk handkerchief due to the snowflakes melting into water.
Yu Zhu bit her lip and fell silent for a moment before saying slowly: "I think Chen Mei Ren is Your Majesty's person."
Yu Cui looked at Yu Zhu in surprise.
Yu Wuyou's hand paused in its wiping motion, and then slowly smiled: "Then tell me, why do you want to get rid of her?"
Listening to the princess's soft and gentle voice, Yu Zhu's heart inexplicably tightened, and what came to mind was the scene she saw in the Lost Heart Palace.
"Gritting her teeth, she spoke honestly and truthfully: 'The servant... Chen Meiren has turned traitor.'"
Yu Wuyou tucked her hands into the thick, warm cloak and still didn't turn around, only lightly asking: "What do you think is the reason Chen Meiren betrayed us? What thoughts did you get from her betrayal?"
Yu Zhu fell to her knees: "I swear to death that I will never betray, and forever will not abandon the princess."
Yu Cui was shocked and immediately knelt down, biting her lip as she glanced sideways at Yu Zhu. The sky was snowing, but on Yu Zhu's forehead, a thin layer of fine sweat had formed. She felt somewhat puzzled that Yu Zhu looked so... fearful, yet somehow seemed to understand vaguely in her heart.
The princess had said something to Chen Mei Ren, she didn't know why, but the princess's tone wasn't very fierce, and there was even a smile on her face, yet she felt that what the princess said was true.
Yu Worry turned around, quietly watching the two kneeling on the ground for a while, and said in a light voice: "Both of you get up."
Yu Zhu Yu Cui got up restlessly and stood respectfully on one side.
Yu Wuyou gazed back, continuing to look at the snowflakes that were about to flutter in the sky. Her voice was as clear as water: "You all have made progress, and I trust you." But trust is not omnipotent. As her personal maid, they would eventually face the tests they should face, and she was just giving them a psychological lesson ahead of time.
Yu Zhu Yu Cui was shocked, did the princess mean that what they said was true? Was Chen Mei Ren not just a simple maid of Yu Fei, but actually a spy arranged by the empress to be by Yu Fei's side?
The two of them followed this train of thought and suddenly felt a chill at the implication behind it.
The princess is guiding them and also warning them.
Yu Worry smiled slightly, and Yu Fei was indeed a rare intelligent person, but that's not all, her luck was also good enough.
The four senior concubines, even if they were not favored, did not mean they did not exist. Once the big event was successful, they would become imperial consorts and lifelong competitors. Liu Yinghua was not stupid in this regard, otherwise she would not have suppressed these women for thirteen years without even daring to breathe loudly.
Although it ended in a miserable defeat!
In the past, the four imperial concubines, later the four noble ladies and now the four imperial consorts, only the personal maid of Yu Fei climbed onto the dragon bed and was granted the title of Mei Ren.
Xiao Huazi was holding an umbrella and carrying a lunchbox as she walked into the courtyard, where she saw the scene of three masters and servants watching the snow together. Her footsteps involuntarily stopped in their tracks.
Through the snowflakes filling the sky, he gazed at the carefree princess standing under the eaves, and suddenly felt that he had entered a refined, quiet, crystal-clear world. The pure white snowflakes, because of the person standing under the eaves watching the snow, became a beautiful painting in front of his eyes.
A sweep of snowflakes brings a chill, making one feel that even with snowflakes filling the sky, it's still breathtakingly beautiful.
……
Xiao Huazi moved the small stove from the kitchen, Yu Cuiyu took out all the dishes from the food box and heated them on the stove. He then entered the inner room to report the news that Xiao Gaozi had passed on today.
"The princess, Xiao Gaozi said that the eldest prince was deeply grieved by the death of the eldest princess and had taken sick leave for two days, not leaving the Eldest Prince's Mansion. As for the second prince, there was no great abnormality, but Yu Fei was so heartbroken that she fell ill in bed. In these few days, the second prince entered the palace more frequently than before."
Xiao Huazi reported the message and saw that she didn't make a sound, so he waited quietly beside her.
Yu Worry's eyebrows furrowed for a moment, then her eyes flashed with a hint of light. She was about to make a bold move. She lightly waved at Xiaohua, and Xiaohua immediately reacted and stepped forward.
Yu Wuyou whispered in Xiaohua's ear, and after being shocked, Xiaohua nodded firmly with a determined expression.
"Go." Yu Wu You looked at Xiao Huazi deeply before smiling and instructing.
Xiao Huazi pursed her lips and didn't say a word, she just nodded heavily towards her and then backed out.
Yu Worry slowly closed her eyes, calculating all possibilities of this matter in her heart, and this time she was just relying on luck.
……
Inside the imperial study, Emperor Qing's face was expressionless as he looked at the memorial in his hand. Below him, kneeling were General Zhao, Commander of the Imperial Guard, Liao, Minister of Justice, and Yu, Censor-in-Chief.
Everyone held their breath and buried their heads in the ground.
"Your Majesty, I, Zhao Renming, along with the Minister of Justice and the Inspector General, have conducted a thorough investigation into the fire at the Moon Palace. The destruction is severe, but we have not found any leads."
The voice paused for a moment, then continued: "General Mo has already ordered the Ministry of Punishment to conduct an autopsy on all 15 corpses in the Moon Palace, including the palace maids and eunuchs. Among the 15 corpses, 9 were female, 8 were palace maids, and 6 were eunuchs. All 15 people died from burns without a doubt, no abnormalities were found."
The palace staff of the Moon Palace consisted of eight palace maids and eight eunuchs. Except for two eunuchs who were on duty that night, all the others including the palace maids were killed along with the body of the Grand Princess.
Bang! Emperor Qing heavily slapped the desk, and the memorial in his hand was thrown in front of Zhao Renming.
"Isn't there anything unusual? Without any unusual signs, how could the fire at Moon Palace be so big that no one inside could escape?"
"We (your humble servants) are incompetent! We should have made a more detailed investigation." The three people kneeling on the ground apologized in unison.
"I warn you, if by the end of the year you can't find out who is behind the Moonlight Palace fire, I will have your heads chopped off."
The three of them were frightened out of their wits, covered in cold sweat, and retreated with trembling bodies.
Shi Ze watched the three adults come out in a fluster, and secretly shook his head. If they really couldn't find out the truth behind the scenes, these three adults would indeed get away with it.
Qing Di's furious expression seemed to recall something, and after a flash of calm light in his eyes, he slowly narrowed them: "Shi Ji."
"I'm here."
Xuan Yuanshi went to the Western Palace to meet with Imperial Censor Gu Ling.
Shi Ji was taken aback for a moment, but quickly regained his composure and replied steadily: "Yes, Your Majesty."
