Plotting for the world 039 is like I am present in person

  Yu Fei made a big fuss in the Mei Palace, and all the concubines in the harem couldn't sit still, one after another they went to the Mei Palace.

  Although Yu Fei's behavior was somewhat abrupt, regardless of whether she was truly heartbroken or taking the opportunity to deal with Mei Fei, the purpose was not important. This question would naturally be answered by someone for them.

  What's the answer? What's the outcome?

  None of them would have anything to do with those women because anyone who dared to go and watch knew that they were not part of this circle.

  Xu Ren followed behind Liang Gui and headed towards the Qu Mei Palace, thinking about the task Xiao Hua Zi had given him. His heart was racing uncontrollably, and countless thoughts were swirling in his mind. What exactly was it that Xiao Hua Zi had given him? And what connection did it have with Hong Yi Gu Gu, the elderly lady who served by the side of Yu Fei in the Qiong Yu Palace?

  By the time they arrived at Qu Mei Palace, many of the masters of the palace had already rushed ahead of them.

  "Taolinglong, is it you who ruined my Dreamer?"

  Yu Fei's hoarse voice interrogated Mei Fei, if it weren't for the palace servants holding her back, she would have pounced on Mei Fei and torn her apart.

  Mei Fei was also shocked by this sudden rumor. Compared to Yu Fei's hysteria, she was surprisingly calm.

  "Yu Fei, you and I have been sisters for many years. The death of the Grand Princess, I can understand your grief, but when you hear some rumors and gossip, you rush to my palace like a madwoman? Is this not taking advantage of others too much?" As for Yu Fei being grieved over the Grand Princess's death, she believed it, but as for believing that Yu Fei would go crazy for the Grand Princess, even if you beat her to death, she wouldn't believe it.

  Yu Fei glared at Mei Fei: "Who is the one who deceives people too much? Don't pretend to be innocent here, among so many sisters in the palace, why are you the only one? Why doesn't anyone gossip about Ning Fei? Why doesn't anyone mention Liang Gui Ren?"

  Ning Fei and Liang Gui Ren exchanged a glance, both with very calm expressions.

  Mei Fei coldly snorted: "Shi Qin, I think you're not really crazy, you're just pretending to be mad and making trouble."

  "Empress Dowager."

  "Empress Dowager."

  The second and fifth princes rushed in hastily after hearing the news, both of them blurting out anxiously.

  Mei Fei looked at the anxious Fifth Prince and hastily pulled him over, her slender eyebrows slightly furrowed as she asked: "Jie Er, why have you rushed here?"

  The tense atmosphere did not get any relief with the arrival of the two princes, but instead became even more uncontrollable.

  Even the Second and Fifth Princes seem to be on high alert.

  The eunuch's sharp voice rang out: The Emperor has arrived! Those present were momentarily flustered.

  Just now, while everyone's attention was on the two princes who had just entered, Xu Ren had already quietly moved closer to the side. Now, taking advantage of everyone's movement as they heard the emperor's arrival and retreated, he naturally retreated to the side of Hong Yigong, the red-tasseled lady-in-waiting behind Yu Fei. In that instant when everyone was kowtowing, he quickly slipped something into her hand.

  Hong Ying's heart suddenly skipped a beat, and she instinctively turned her head to take a glance before immediately turning back, clenching her fists tightly. The surrounding voices shouting "Long live the Emperor" drowned out the pounding of her heartbeat.

  Qingdi ignored the people present, walked to the main seat of the great hall with big steps and sat down. He first stared at Yu Fei and Mei Fei for a while, then expressionlessly swept over the concubines who were watching the excitement in the scene.

  The atmosphere in the palace solidified slowly with the arrival of Emperor Qing, and the onlookers who were purely there to watch the commotion also became nervous. They hadn't expected the emperor to find out so quickly and come over personally; if they had known, they wouldn't have come to watch the excitement.

  "My harem is really lively today."

  Everyone present changed color at the words of Emperor Qing, which were profound and unpredictable, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.

  Among them, the one whose face changed the most was not Yu Fei, nor Mei Fei, nor the concubine who was watching the excitement, but Hong Ying.

  Actually, she didn't need to look up to know what was in her hand, but she couldn't believe it and took a sneak peek anyway.

  In that instant, her face also turned deathly pale, as if her entire body had fallen into an ice cellar, the coldness congealing all the blood in her veins, her heart grasped tightly by an invisible hand. The sky seemed to have collapsed, and she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, wanting to collapse backwards, but her body stiffened instead, kneeling down amidst the crowd, her ears seemingly losing their sense of hearing, unable to pick up any sound.

  She didn't know how long it had been, maybe a long time, or perhaps not that long after all, until the people kneeling beside her started to get up, and her scattered pupils slowly contracted, coming back to her senses.

  She didn't dare look at anyone, but the corner of her eye involuntarily flicked up to take a quick glance at Xu Ren, her palm clenched tightly around something in her hand.

  ……

  As Liao Daren had expected, the imperial edict arrived soon after.

  Outside the East Great Gate of the palace, Gu Ling and Liao Daren got off their sedan chairs and saw Zhao Tongling and Yu Daren waiting anxiously there.

  The two of them saw them appear and rushed forward anxiously.

  "Master Gu, is what I've heard really true?"

  "Gu Gongzi, do you really have evidence in your hands?"

  Zhao Tongling and Yu Daren almost spoke at the same time.

  Looking at the anxious two people, Liao felt that he could understand their feelings at this moment, because after hearing the news, he also rushed back home anxiously.

  "General Zhao, Lord Yu, the Emperor is still waiting for us. Let's enter the palace first and talk as we walk." said Gu Ling slowly.

  This time, Emperor Qing summoned them not in the Imperial Study but in the Golden Dragon Hall.

  Shi Ji looked at the four people who came in a hurry and announced the imperial edict of Qing Emperor: "Please ask the three adults to wait here, Gu Gongzi, you come with me."

  Gu Ling stepped into the grand hall, which was normally filled with officials from the imperial court. At this moment, however, he stood alone, making the space seem eerily empty.

  He followed Shizhi with his eyes not slanting, Emperor Qing did not sit on the dragon chair throne, but stood under the central step of the throne platform, facing away from the temple gate, as if he was gazing at the supreme dragon chair on the treasure steps.

  Shi Zhi led Gu Ling into the palace and then quietly retreated behind Emperor Qing.

  Gu Ling respectfully faced the Emperor Qing, with his hands behind his back and an expressionless face: "Your humble subject Gu Ling pays homage to Your Majesty, may you live for ten thousand years!"

  The emperor seemed not to have heard and remained silent for a long time.

  Gu Ling's kneeling and bowing movements were also frozen, the grand hall was empty but had an invisible solemn and majestic atmosphere, coupled with Emperor Qing's silence at this time, the atmosphere in the hall was really not relaxing.

  Even if Gu Ling was calm and collected, thinking about the possibility of him and Qing Yun's deduction made his emotions fluctuate for a moment.

  "Rumors in the palace have it that Gu Qing has already uncovered the truth?" Emperor Qing slowly turned around, his sharp eyes fixed on Gu Ling who was still bowing, and did not allow him to rise to respond.

  "Report to the Emperor, in this case I have indeed found some suspicious circumstances, but they are not as rumored within the palace." However, even if that's the case, if he and Qingyun's guesses were correct, then the consequences would likely be no smaller than the storm currently brewing from the rumors within the palace.

  Listening to Gu Ling's words, Qing Emperor did not rush out to ask questions, but instead walked slowly towards the steps.

  Gu Ling raised his eyes to glance at the back of Qing Emperor, then slowly lowered his eyelids, and his expression also completely calmed down. He had never doubted Qing Emperor's intelligence, ruthlessness and cold-bloodedness.

  So what kind of storm will the truth hidden behind this case stir up, and what does it have to do with him?

  Qing Emperor stopped after walking two steps down the stairs, and instead of continuing forward, he turned around to look at Gu Ling from a high position: "How does Lord Gu view the rumors in the palace?"

  Gu Ling replied in a low voice: "To answer Your Majesty, I think that the person who spread the rumors has ulterior motives." He had an intuition that the person who spread the rumors was not the murderer, but someone else, although he still couldn't figure out the purpose of the person who spread the rumors!

  "Does Gu Qing have a grasp on this case and can he bring out all those with ulterior motives for me?"

  "The humble subject will certainly not disappoint the Emperor's expectations."

  "Charity."

  "Yes, Your Majesty." Shizhi personally retreated and came out again, this time holding a tray in his hand.

  The Emperor's cold voice rang out: "With this golden plaque bearing the words 'As if I were present in person', you can move freely within the imperial palace. What I want is not clues, nor hints, but ironclad evidence that is as solid as a mountain. Do you understand?"

  Gu Ling respectfully received: "Your humble servant obeys the edict!"

  After receiving the order to withdraw, Gu Ling respectfully withdrew.

  As he watched Gu Ling retreat, a complex glint flashed in Emperor Qing's eyes, but it was gone in an instant, his face still gloomy and indifferent.

  On the side, Shi Zhi's head hung low, silently sighing in his heart. Five years, just five short years, and another bloody storm is brewing in the imperial court and harem again. The master's heart... actually has some regrets, right? Otherwise, he wouldn't have asked about Gu Gongzi's case without being asked.

  It might be better if I knew the truth a bit later.

  Although he understood, his master's heart was even clearer, and no matter how reluctant he was to face it, he would eventually have to face it.

  Maybe after this storm has passed, we can have another four or five years of peace.

  But can it really be so? Why did he feel an unprecedented sense of unease?

  Digression

  Today's second update will be a bit later.