Chapter 914: A Trip to Fengyi Palace

Si Yu picked up the note under the dressing screen, but her fingertip brushed a soft folded corner.

Her heart thumped; she gently unfolded the note, and inside was a folded brocade handkerchief.

When she opened it, the handkerchief bore blooming peonies in deep crimson, exactly the pattern the Empress had once used.

She turned the note over and over; it was completely blank.

Si Yu clenched the handkerchief, hurried into the sleeping hall, ordered all palace staff to withdraw, and shut the hall doors tightly.

Mu Rong Jin saw her expression and understood it was related to the note.

Her face tense, she said, "Bring it."

"Yes." Si Yu stepped before her, and presented both the note and the peony brocade handkerchief together.

Mu Rong Jin reached out, lifted the handkerchief, her fingertips trembling slightly.

The gold‑threaded peony brocade handkerchief, each stitch exquisite, was exactly what she had once used.

Si Yu whispered, "Your Majesty, there's nothing on this note."

Mu Rong Jin ignored the note, staring fixedly at the handkerchief,

Could it be that the handkerchief seized from the assassin matches this one?

She looked up at Si Yu, "This palace asks you, how many such handkerchiefs does Fengyi Palace have in total?"

Si Yu froze for a moment, "I will check right away!" she said, then turned and ran out.

After roughly the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, she hurried back, her forehead drenched in sweat.

"Returning, Your Majesty, I have checked: Fengyi Palace has received ten such peony brocade handkerchiefs from the Needle Craft Bureau."

"But," she paused, her face blank, "I just went to the storeroom to verify one by one, and now only nine remain."

"Quick!" Mu Rong Jin did not hesitate, thrust the handkerchief into Si Yu's hand, speaking rapidly, "Put this back into the storeroom immediately, go now, quickly!"

"Yes!" Si Yu clenched the handkerchief, turned and left.

Mu Rong Jin listened as her footsteps faded, then walked slowly to the bronze mirror.

In the mirror, a fine layer of cold sweat reflected on her forehead.

So that's it!

Every stitch in Fengyi Palace is recorded.

If this handkerchief is the iron evidence of the crown prince's assassination, His Majesty will surely investigate.

If one happens to be missing… then it is not a "doubt" but a "fact."

This palace's charges would be impossible to clear.

Si Yu returned swiftly.

She stepped beside Mu Rong Jin, whispered, "Your Majesty, it's secured; rest assured, none are missing now."

Mu Rong Jin nodded, and her tense body gradually relaxed.

Si Yu hesitated a moment, then spoke, "Your Majesty, you must still take care of your phoenix body; I will fetch some for you…"

Before she could finish, a palace attendant's report came from outside, "Empress, Cheng Gonggong has arrived, claiming His Majesty's command to request an audience with you."

Mu Rong Jin shivered all over.

Si Yu's hand suddenly clenched her sleeve.

Mu Rong Jin looked at the bronze mirror.

The woman in the mirror had sunken eye sockets, her complexion almost transparently pale.

"Prepare my makeup."

"Yes." Si Yu hurried forward, reached for the rouge on the dressing table.

The warm red spread in layers, fully covering the pallor on Mu Rong Jin's face.

Si Yu then arranged her sideburns and inserted a nine‑tailed phoenix hairpin neatly into her hair.

"Change clothes."

Si Yu quickly fetched a bright‑yellow embroidered palace robe with pheasant pattern, carefully dressed her in it and fastened the sash.

Mu Rong Jin glanced at the bronze mirror, her bearing dignified, expression composed; she was still the mother‑empress of the realm!

She rose, her skirt sweeping the floor, stepping toward the main hall, while Si Yu followed with utmost reverence.

Cheng Gonggong, seeing Mu Rong Jin emerge, bowed and said respectfully, "Your servant has seen the Empress."

Mu Rong Jin slowly took her seat on the main throne in the main hall, raising her hand slightly, "Cheng Gonggong, please rise."

Cheng Gonggong straightened, smiling, "Empress, today the Needle Craft Bureau inventory found a peony‑embroidered handkerchief missing one piece, reported to His Majesty."

He lifted his eyelids, looked at Mu Rong Jin, his gaze gentle, "His Majesty asked me to inquire."

"Your Majesty, are all ten in the palace present?"

"If any are damaged and discarded, the Needle Craft Bureau can settle the accounts."

Mu Rong Jin felt a thud in her heart.

Indeed! Her guess was correct; His Majesty truly came to investigate.

She's fingertips curled slightly in her sleeve, a faint smile appearing on her face, "Such a trivial matter, why must Cheng Gonggong trouble himself to come personally?"

Cheng Gonggong quickly bowed, smiling humbly, "Your Majesty jokes, this is all within my duties."

Mu Rong Jin turned her head slightly, her gaze landing on Si Yu's face, which was ashen.

"Si Yu," she said calmly, "accompany Cheng Gonggong for a trip, to check whether those handkerchiefs are all present, any damage."

"Yes." Si Yu bowed her knee, eyes down, walked to Cheng Gonggong, "Cheng Gonggong, this way, please."

The two walked out of the main hall, one ahead of the other.

Mu Rong Jin lifted the tea cup and took a sip.

After a short while, the two returned.

Eunuch Cheng bowed to Mu Rongjin and performed a salute: "Mother, I have inspected everything, ten scarves, not a single one missing; I may now return to report."

Mu Rongjin nodded slightly: "You have been of service."

"I dare not, I dare not," Eunuch Cheng said, bowing again, "I will now return to report, I take my leave."

After speaking, he bowed, stepped back a few paces, turned, and walked toward the hall's exterior.

Si Yu stared at his retreating back as it vanished outside the hall, her legs went weak, and she fell to her knees.

Mu Rongjin sat motionless, her fingertips icy, her palms slick with cold sweat.

Eunuch Cheng returned to Zichen Hall and reported the matter of the brocade scarves to the Emperor.

Xiao Jieyun fell silent for a moment, murmuring to himself: "Although Li Jing never inquired what Si Yu did in the imperial tomb."

"But since it was to pray for Che's child, why not go to Xuanqiong Temple, yet go to the imperial tomb instead?"

Eunuch Cheng's heart jumped, and he dared not intervene.

The Emperor picked up the folded document on the desk and began to leaf through it.

Mu Rongjin returned to the bedchamber and collapsed softly onto the couch.

Xiao Che began to cry from the rocking cradle, but she seemed not to hear.

Si Yu hurriedly gave the small cradle a gentle shake: "Young prince must be hungry, Mother, Mother?"

Mu Rongjin startled awake, snatched her son from the cradle and lifted him: "Si Yu, tomorrow send someone to the Ning Prince's Mansion."

"Present the mutton‑fat white jade ruyi from the main hall to Princess Consort Ning, and ask her to bring the princess to the Phoenix Ritual Palace."

"Yes."