Chapter 324: The Empress's Suspicion (4)

Prime Minister's Mansion

Under the heavy night, the deep lake was so calm that not a single ripple could be seen. The cold moonlight plated the clear pool with a layer of silver. Beside the stone table in front of Lanyue Lou, two tall figures sat opposite each other. The small stone table was already covered with empty wine jars. The man in purple leaned his head on his hand, his narrow eyes slightly squinted, looking as if he couldn't hold his liquor, though a closer look would reveal his eyes remained perfectly clear.

Watching the large hand reaching out from across the table to pick up another unopened jar of wine, the man in purple finally couldn't help but speak: "It is getting late. Does His Majesty not intend to return to the palace?"

Yan Hongtian's hand paused in mid-air, his sword-like brows slightly raised. "Is the Minister chasing Me away?"

"I would not dare." Lou Xiyan said he wouldn't dare, but he had already placed the wine jar under the table, showing no intention of letting him drink any more.

Leaning on the table leg with one hand, Yan Hongtian glanced sideways at the jar under the table, then flipped his hand to retrieve it. He clicked his tongue in mock lament: "The Lou Prime Minister, who gives away Rongshan Warm Jade so easily, is actually this stingy, serving Me mere yellow rice wine and now refusing to let Me drink it?"

"The mansion only has yellow rice wine and fragrant snow wine; if Your Majesty wishes to drink aged Xifeng, there is plenty in the palace." Moving his own cup aside, Lou Xiyan didn't stop him, as there was only one jar left anyway. "Speaking of the warm jade, that was a gift for my nephew; how could I be negligent?"

Yan Hongtian downed the wine in his cup and refilled it, though he didn't force Lou Xiyan to continue drinking. His black eyes, filled with teasing, stared at Lou Xiyan. "Since when did you become so henpecked?"

Lou Xiyan was not annoyed, smiling slightly. "Compared to General Su, I must admit defeat."

Yan Hongtian's hand holding the wine cup paused, the teasing in his eyes fading away. His brows furrowed slightly as he replied in a low voice: "It is truly unexpected that General Su would send such a heavy gift." Su Ling was naturally reclusive and rarely associated with high-ranking officials, and since the Su family had no daughters, he never involved himself with the harem. Yan Hongtian had originally bestowed Qing Mo upon Su Ling to bridge the gap between him and Xiyan, but he never expected Su Ling to send a *Ya Zi* ornament to Qingfeng's child. This was clearly establishing himself as Qingfeng's backer. What could have caused such a sudden change in Su Ling?

Yan Hongtian was clearly worried, but Lou Xiyan laughed rarely. "General Su is now doing anything to please his beauty; he would send any gift!"

"Qing Mo?" Was it really because of that little girl?

Recalling how Su Ling had shielded Qing Mo this afternoon when assassins from Juling Island held a government official hostage to demand her release, Yan Hongtian felt a sudden sense of clarity. Su Ling had defied the Empress in public and used the Su family name to protect Qing Mo; sending a *Ya Zi* ornament was nothing to be surprised about.

Qing Mo...

That little girl looked frail, yet her martial arts were not weak. Most uniquely, even the Su Army obeyed her every word. Lightly rubbing the white jade wine cup, Yan Hongtian smiled. "That girl is indeed interesting; no wonder Su Ling treats her like a treasure. Her skills should go beyond what we saw today, right?"

Qing Mo's uniqueness was indeed more than what was seen this afternoon, but Lou Xiyan did not intend to elaborate. He smiled without answering, then asked: "The incident last time—it shouldn't have been an accident, right?"

Lou Xiyan suddenly changed the subject. With their years of tacit understanding, Yan Hongtian knew exactly what he was referring to. "After the rocks rolled down, Ming Jian immediately went up the mountain to investigate. It was indeed someone who had loosened the rocks, waiting for the right moment to cut the ropes and cause the 'accident.' However, apart from the loosened soil and some small marks from the ropes, nothing was left behind. To cause such a commotion, they must have been lurking in the villa for quite some time, yet not a single person in the Imperial Guard noticed."

"Oh?" So clean and efficient? "Not a single trace?"

Dipping his finger into the wine, Yan Hongtian drew a pattern on the stone table. "In the villa, they were very cautious and left no traces. However, there is only one road in and out of Shuchuan Villa. Ming Jian found the ashes of a campfire in the woods by the road, footprints of three people, and a diamond-shaped mark."

Lou Xiyan looked down at the pattern—a perfect diamond with two intersecting lines in the middle. Organizations that used fixed symbols for communication were usually of considerable scale. Lou Xiyan guessed: "People from Juling Island?"

"The actions of the Juling Island people this afternoon were merely a desperate move to control Ao Tian. Attacking Qingfeng would gain them nothing. Ming Jian has already found that the mark belongs to a pugilist sect called the Ling Shui Alliance."

Ling Shui Alliance? Lou Xiyan's usually composed expression stiffened significantly at the name. If Juling Island was a place that only cared about money, the Ling Shui Alliance was even more mysterious. Rumors in the pugilist world said the Alliance Leader was neither righteous nor evil, acting independently. They accepted money to kill, but more often, they dealt in information and never opposed the imperial court. Who in the court could command the Ling Shui Alliance? If someone truly could, their schemes would not be simple. Or was someone deliberately leaving this mark to divert attention? Doubting this, Lou Xiyan said softly: "This matter must be investigated thoroughly."

"Ming Jian is already investigating."

Yan Hongtian looked calm. Lou Xiyan guessed he had already made arrangements, so he said no more. As Yan Hongtian finished his last cup of wine and stood up to leave, Lou Xiyan asked quietly: "What do you intend to do about this child?"

Yan Hongtian's figure paused for a brief moment, but only for a second. He acted as if he hadn't heard Lou Xiyan's question and walked toward the courtyard gate.

Lou Xiyan froze, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly. He watched the slightly hurried figure walk away, the corners of his mouth gradually curling upward. What did the silence mean? When had the Lord of Qiongyue, who always had a plan in mind, ever fled like this?

It was just past noon, and the area in front of Qingfeng Hall was already crowded. Naturally, the servants who usually served in the hall were there, along with seven or eight nannies and maids sent by the Empress Dowager to help care for the little prince, not to mention the eunuchs and maids sent by other concubines to offer their congratulations.

Fuling had been waiting at the hall entrance early on. From afar, she saw a carriage approaching, surrounded by eunuchs and nannies, with Imperial Guards following. The spectacle was no less than the Empress returning to the palace. Fuling walked down the steps with joy to greet them. As the carriage drew closer, the general leading the guards looked familiar. A closer look revealed it was Ming Ze?!

Fuling felt dazed. Did he also go out of the palace with the Emperor this time? Why was he the one escorting the mistress back? Fuling stared at Ming Ze for a long time until the group stopped at the entrance of Qingfeng Hall. She quickly lowered her gaze, fearing her strangeness would be noticed. Fuling quickened her pace and called out softly as she reached the carriage: "Mistress."

A fair hand lifted the curtain, and Ruyi poked her head out, smiling at her: "Sister Fuling."

Fuling nodded slightly. Ruyi retreated into the carriage, and a moment later, she helped Qingfeng out.

In the early winter weather, she was wrapped in a large cloak, holding a bright red swaddle in her arms. She looked much the same as when she left, only her face seemed a bit rounder after just a few days. With the help of Ruyi and Fuling, Qingfeng stepped out of the carriage easily. Looking at Fuling, who was dressed thinly, she teased: "How is it that my Fuling has become so thin in just a few days of not seeing her?"

Fuling froze. This mistress had just returned and was already teasing her. Fuling rolled her eyes at Qingfeng and hummed softly: "This servant is fine, no need for the Mistress to worry!"

Knowing she was a bit annoyed, Qingfeng stopped teasing her. She safely handed the little prince in her arms to Fuling and stretched her hands. Fuling lifted a corner of the swaddle to look; the baby was sleeping soundly with his mouth slightly open. Fuling praised in her heart: The little prince is truly handsome.

"This servant pays respects to the Qing Concubine, and pays respects to the little prince."

Qingfeng had just stepped off the carriage and walked a few steps when she saw a crowd kneeling at the entrance of Qingfeng Hall. The greetings were loud and uniform. Qingfeng couldn't help but laugh; this was what they called "rising in status because of the child."

An old nanny in her fifties stood up and smiled obsequiously: "Qing Concubine, the Empress Dowager is concerned about your exhaustion, so she specifically sent us to take care of the little prince."

They had already sent four or five to the villa, and now seven or eight more had come. How many people did one child need? Qingfeng didn't think much of it, but she kept her expression calm and said loudly: "All rise. Xia Yin, accept the gifts from the various palaces and thank them on my behalf. Lan'er, take the nannies to their rooms to rest."

Xia Yin, who had been standing in the back, never expected Qingfeng to give her tasks after returning. It wasn't until Lan'er pushed her that she and Lan'er stepped forward and replied: "Yes."

The leading nanny was unhappy and said anxiously: "Mistress, we are here to serve you and the little master..."

Qingfeng suddenly laughed heartily. "I know. Isn't that why I'm arranging for you to stay in Qingfeng Hall for convenience? When I need your service, I will naturally summon you. Withdraw."

If Qingfeng had driven them away, she could have sworn not to leave, but now, she couldn't say anything. No matter how unwilling the nanny was, she could only respond with a nod.

Fuling held the little master and followed behind Qingfeng. She didn't know if it was an illusion, but the mistress seemed more tactful in handling matters than before, not as sharp as she used to be. Perhaps it was because of the little prince.

Walking to the door, Qingfeng turned to Shen Yao, who had been following her these past few days: "The little prince is asleep, go and rest."

"Yes." As quiet and obedient as ever, Shen Yao bowed and withdrew. As she passed Fuling, she bowed slightly as a greeting. Fuling looked back; this person should be the wet nurse, she looked very proper.

The three entered the hall. Once the door closed, Fuling let out a long sigh: "Mistress, you have finally returned."

Finally returned? She had been gone for less than ten days. Had something happened again? Qingfeng handed the child to Ruyi to take into the inner chamber and asked in a low voice: "What happened? Did something happen to Zhen Zhen?"

"No, everyone in the palace is focused on you now, no one will notice the Cold Palace. She and the child are doing quite well."

"What exactly happened?" Zhen Zhen was fine, and she had safely given birth to the prince. What else in the palace could make Fuling so worried?

Pulling Qingfeng into the study, Fuling whispered: "Three days ago, a group of pugilist assassins lurked in the Gao Mansion, captured Magistrate Gao and his family, and demanded the court hand over Miss Qing, otherwise they would exterminate the entire Gao family. That Magistrate Gao is the Empress's own uncle."

"What?" Qingfeng felt a chill all over. "Is Mo'er alright?"

(End of chapter)