Chapter 296

Qingfeng had hardly slept last night. The news Fuling brought back in the morning made her slightly relieved. Although the letters found from the rebels bore Lou Xiyan's seal, they were not in his handwriting. Rebellion was, after all, a crime that harmed the country and the court. Although the evidence was not ironclad, Lou Xiyan still had to be detained in the prison. The Prime Minister's mansion remained closed and very calm. Her sister should still be safe, right?

Fuling entered the courtyard hurriedly, walked to Qingfeng's side, hesitated for a while, and still opened her mouth to say, "Mistress, Madam Lou is holding the token and has already entered the palace from the North Gate." When Madam Lou appeared at the palace gate with the token, guards had come to report it. Madam Lou came to the palace to request an audience just after the Prime Minister was imprisoned; it was likely that she couldn't be separated from this matter.

Qingfeng, who was originally lazy, suddenly opened her eyes, supported herself on the soft couch, sat up straight, and said anxiously, "You go and pick her up quickly, bring her to Qingfeng Hall, and be careful not to let others see."

"Yes." Fuling bowed slightly and hurriedly turned and left.

Qingfeng stood up, and the palace maids immediately stepped forward to support her. Waving her hand to let them withdraw, Qingfeng stared at the courtyard gate, her hands involuntarily clasped together.

Before long, Fuling led Zhuo Qing into Qingfeng Hall. Qingfeng immediately greeted her, "Sister!"

As soon as she entered the courtyard gate, Zhuo Qing saw Qingfeng. She was still as thin as before, and her protruding abdomen made it even more prominent.

"Follow me." Pulling her hand, Qingfeng brought her into the room.

The two entered the inner room. Qingfeng gave Fuling a look. Fuling nodded cleverly, gently covered the door, and retreated quietly.

"Sister, are you okay?" Her sister's eyes were slightly swollen, and her face was too pale. She had always been gentle and fragile; how could she stand such a change? Holding Zhuo Qing's hand tightly, Qingfeng seemed somewhat excited.

Patting Qingfeng's hand gently, Zhuo Qing smiled faintly, "I'm fine."

Qingfeng concluded that Zhuo Qing was deliberately hiding her sorrow and sighed comfortably, "Actually, you don't need to worry too much about Brother-in-law's case. Although Yan Hongtian is a tyrant, he is not..." Recalling the confrontation with Yan Hongtian yesterday, Qingfeng suppressed the sigh in her heart and continued, "He is not a muddled emperor. Brother-in-law, as the Prime Minister of a country, has always been his right-hand man. This case is really suspicious; you might as well wait and see."

Zhuo Qing shook her head firmly and replied coldly, "I can wait, but Xiyan's body cannot. If he continues to stay in that prison, I'm afraid the case will be cleared, but he will be dead. This time, I don't want to sit and wait for death." She believed that this matter would definitely come to light in the end, but she didn't want to wait, especially after seeing Xiyan today.

Qingfeng was stunned. She had never seen such a persistent and firm light in her sister's eyes. In the past, she always believed in fate. Was it Lou Xiyan who changed her?

Determining that she was serious, Qingfeng didn't try to persuade her anymore and asked directly, "What are your plans now? What do you want me to do?" Since her sister would come to find her, she must have a plan, right?

Zhuo Qing's gaze swept over Qingfeng's slightly protruding belly, and the words that reached her mouth were swallowed back. After hesitating for a while, she said again, "I know that life in the palace is not easy for you. For the matter I'm asking of you, you just need to do your best. If it really doesn't work, then let it be. The most important thing is to protect yourself."

Qingfeng's heart warmed, and she never let go of Zhuo Qing's hand. With a hearty smile, she replied, "Don't worry, I will be careful. Tell me what you need me to do." She had once sworn that she would definitely repay those who had kindness to her, and she would definitely take revenge on those who had grudges against her. Over the past half year, Lou Xiyan had helped her many times, and she hadn't forgotten. No matter what request her sister made today, she would do it.

Zhuo Qing leaned over gently and whispered in Qingfeng's ear for a while.

Qingfeng looked at Zhuo Qing in surprise. She had originally thought her sister wanted to ask her to plead with Yan Hongtian, but she didn't expect her to want to... Facing Zhuo Qing's sharp eyes, she actually had such a plan; she was really not the simple and gentle sister in her impression.

Zhuo Qing asked in a low voice, "Is it possible?"

Coming back to her senses, Qingfeng nodded and replied, "I will definitely get it done."

"Thank you." Zhuo Qing stood up, "Then I'll go first. You take good care of your body." She was very grateful to Qingfeng, but at such a sensitive time, the longer she stayed in the palace, the greater the impact on Qingfeng.

Qingfeng also stood up immediately, wrapped her arms around Zhuo Qing's shoulders, and hugged her tightly, but it was only for a very short moment. Qingfeng still rationally let go of her hand, "You take care too."

The two looked at each other and smiled, no longer needing to say anything.

Opening the door, she saw Fuling running back from the courtyard. Standing before them, Fuling panted anxiously, "Mistress, the Emperor is walking toward Qingfeng Hall."

He rarely came to Qingfeng Hall at this time. Could it be that he was coming for her sister?

Zhuo Qing and Qingfeng looked at each other, and both saw the same speculation in each other's eyes. Qingfeng's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, and she said to Fuling, "Fuling, send her away from the side door, quickly!"

"Yes."

Zhuo Qing didn't exchange pleasantries anymore, waved her hand at Qingfeng, and ran away quickly from the side door next to the courtyard, following Fuling.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

The high-pitched voice of the eunuch sounded at the courtyard gate. Qingfeng not only didn't go up to receive him, but immediately retreated into the room and covered the door.

If Yan Hongtian was coming for her sister, letting him think her sister was still in Qingfeng Hall would buy her a little more time to leave the palace.

Before long, the door was pushed open forcefully by Yan Hongtian. Only then did Qingfeng slowly stand up from the bed, pushed aside the curtain, walked out, bowed slightly, and said unhurriedly, "This concubine suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable just now and took a short rest. I didn't know the Emperor had arrived and failed to receive you. I ask the Emperor to punish me!"

Yan Hongtian's eagle eyes swept over the small inner room. Except for the calm Qingfeng, there was no second figure.

"Where is she?"

Qingfeng played dumb, "Who is the Emperor referring to?"

The room was empty and couldn't hide anyone. Seeing Qingfeng's indifferent expression, the person must have already left. Yan Hongtian didn't intend to pursue it and just said coldly, "You had better not manage Lou Xiyan's matter; I have my own measures."

Raising her eyebrows slightly, Qingfeng laughed heartily and replied, "This concubine has already been placed under house arrest in this Qingfeng Hall; what else can I do? The Emperor is overthinking."

The matter had only happened for one day, and Qing Mo had already been to the Criminal Justice Official's mansion and found nothing, even turning Su Ling's study upside down. Qing Ling had been to the prison and entered the palace once. If she said she was just walking around to complain, he wouldn't believe it. Over the past half year, although Lou Xiyan and Su Ling had covered for them, he still knew exactly what they had done.

Now that Qing Ling didn't want to sit and wait for death, what did she want to do? And what did she want Qingfeng to do? Yan Hongtian began to find it interesting. If everything went according to his expectations, it would be very boring. He had long known that Lou Xiyan was deeply in love with Qing Ling. Now it seemed Su Ling was also no match for the beauty's charm. What about her? Qingfeng, besides painting, what else could you do?

Looking at her deeply, his fingers brushed lightly over Qingfeng's slightly raised chin, and he said with a smile that was not a smile, "My beloved concubine, don't let me down." After speaking, Yan Hongtian didn't continue to make trouble and walked away swaggeringly.

He could feel his hidden anger when he entered, but now he left so leisurely; he was truly fickle!

The complex light of playfulness and peeping mixed in Yan Hongtian's last look made Qingfeng's heart tremble. She forced herself to calm down. Regardless, she had to get done what her sister had entrusted to her.

Not long after Yan Hongtian left, Fuling also returned. Entering the room, she saw her mistress standing in the middle of the living room, frowning, as if she had been thinking for a long time. Knowing her mistress was anxious, without waiting for Qingfeng to ask, she had already replied, "Mistress, Madam Lou has already safely left the palace."

Secretly breathing a sigh of relief, Qingfeng nodded but still refused to sit down. Although the method her sister thought of could save the Prime Minister in a short time, the process was too dangerous, and that person was Yan Hongtian's biological mother after all. Would her sister anger Yan Hongtian by doing this? If she didn't do this, and if something happened to Lou Xiyan, her sister... Qingfeng bit her lower lip and beckoned to Fuling. After she came to her side, Qingfeng whispered in her ear, "You go to Xixia Palace and find a palace maid named Yao Chan, and tell her to come to the side door of Qingfeng Hall at the Zi hour tonight."

Fuling nodded, feeling puzzled in her heart. She was almost always with her mistress; when did her mistress arrange someone in Xixia Palace without her knowing? Fuling was about to turn and go out when Qingfeng added softly, "Be careful, don't let anyone discover you."

"Yes." Fuling vaguely felt that the matter Madam Lou asked her mistress to do must also be extremely dangerous, otherwise her mistress wouldn't be so heavy-hearted.

Tonight there were no clouds and no wind. The moonlight was bright, quiet like water. At the side door of Qingfeng Hall, two slender figures leaned against the wall. Under the shadow of the dense large tree, even if the moon was bright and the stars were sparse, it was difficult to discover them for a while.

Fuling whispered, "Mistress, the Zi hour has passed." Qingfeng's heart was a bit restless. Could it be that she didn't dare to come? Just at this moment, a figure on the palace path ahead bent slightly, sticking to the dwarf bushes beside it, and ran over hurriedly. When she reached the side door, the person didn't come forward but hid in the nearby dwarf bushes and observed everywhere. Fuling thought secretly that this person was quite cautious.

Fuling walked out a little. The moonlight shone on her, and Yao Chan also saw her. She ran over in a trot. After getting closer, Yao Chan discovered that under the shadow of the tree, there was another beautiful figure standing against the wall.

Yao Chan hurriedly stepped forward a few steps, "This servant pays respects to Consort Qing."

Qingfeng didn't beat around the bush and said softly, "This palace has a matter for you to handle."

"Whatever the Mistress commands, this servant will do." Before coming, Yao Chan had already thought of it. Consort Qing letting her go at that time was probably because she valued her as someone from Xixia Palace and wanted to use her.

"This palace wants something from Xixia Palace."

Yao Chan kept her head down and didn't speak, listening quietly.

After a while, she could feel the person in the dark lean over and approach her a little, softly spitting out a few words, "The Empress Dowager's private seal."

Private seal?! Yao Chan felt a chill all over, and she suddenly lifted her head to look at Qingfeng in front of her. Those bright, beautiful eyes were looking at her coldly. Yao Chan felt that her neck was as heavy as if a steel knife were placed on it. With a "thud," she knelt on the ground, but she didn't dare to speak loudly, suppressing her voice and saying anxiously, "Mistress, spare my life. This servant, this servant is just a small palace maid by the Empress Dowager's side and has no chance to touch the seal at all. Moreover, the Empress Dowager has been in the palace these two days. Even if this servant wanted to, I couldn't get it."

If she wanted to get it but couldn't, that meant she knew where it was, right? Qingfeng was in a great mood, "You don't need to worry about this. Tomorrow at the You hour, the Empress Dowager will definitely leave the palace. As long as you are fast enough, no one will discover it. You take the seal out, and naturally, someone will meet you. You only need a stick of incense's time to take the seal back and put it back in its original place." She only needed to stamp a few seals; it would be very fast...

Yao Chan was almost prostrate on the ground, shaking her head vigorously, "This servant really doesn't know where the Empress Dowager's seal is hidden." She had originally thought that Consort Qing wanted her to monitor everything in Xixia Palace and report to her in time if anything happened, but she didn't expect that what the Mistress wanted was actually the private seal!

Qingfeng wasn't in a hurry either, smiling slightly, her voice like a chant sounding faintly in the quiet night, "Yao Chan, you will be able to leave the palace soon, but Wang Wu still has to serve in the palace. Think carefully before answering this palace."

That night, that man abandoned her and fled, yet she still refused to confess even if she died. It could be seen that this person was the most important person in her heart. Did she think that if she didn't say it, no one would know? As long as she checked the people who had had contact with Yao Chan over the years, and then found the duty roster of the guards that night, what was difficult about finding that person?

Looking at Yao Chan, who was prostrate on the ground, breathing more rapidly than before, and trembling all over, Qingfeng knew she would definitely win.

(End of chapter)