Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 423 Frame Someone (Indigo Doll)

Upon hearing this, Ruixue murmured, "I was puzzled by Rong Jieyu's quick wit, as she has always seemed quite clever. She entered the palace on the same day as you, and it has only been a year since then. There is still a long way to go."

Qu Meiren smiled, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes.

Consort Jin and Consort Chun are closely allies; if Consort Jin falls, Consort Chun will lose her support. Consort Rong, who aspires to a higher position, must have been planning this for a long time before choosing this crucial moment to act.

However, despite her meticulous planning, she hadn't anticipated that Consort Jin had already seen through everything. This time, before Consort Rong could even make a move, she had already lost everything.

A butterfly wandered into the hall from outside the window, fluttering its wings and crashing against the window frame.

Qu Meiren reached out and gently pinched its wing, watching it struggle futilely between her fingers, and said softly, "The most taboo thing in the palace is to lose your temper. Just like you said, there are still many days ahead. She has really lost her mind."

......

Renming Hall.

After all the concubines had finished their morning greetings, the Empress kept only Consort Yi behind. Consort Song wanted to stay, but Zhixue stopped her with a smile: "Consort Song, please go back. Her Majesty the Empress and Consort Yi have some private words to say."

In the rear hall, Yi Xiuyuan knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe.

The Empress sat upright at the head of the table, her fingertips lightly tapping on the armrest, each tap seeming to strike her heart.

"I don't care what methods you used, now that Lady Qu has proposed to the Emperor to hold a religious ceremony in the palace, if anything is found in Shujing Palace—"

She suddenly leaned forward, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly, "Ning'er doesn't need to stay by your side anymore."

—Note: Sorry, the Second Princess was previously named "Ling An", which had the same character "An" as Yi Xiuyuan's given name. It has now been changed to "Ling Ning".

Yi Xiuyuan trembled, fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead: "Your Majesty, please understand, I... have been taking care of Ning'er diligently and have not overstepped my bounds."

The Empress stared at her for a long time, then suddenly chuckled, "That would be for the best." With that, she waved her hand, "You may leave, I am tired."

Yi Xiuyuan felt as if she had been granted a pardon and staggered out of the palace.

Zhi Xue, who was standing in the corridor, glanced at her meaningfully when she came out, then gave a curtsy and turned to enter the inner hall.

"Your Highness, Consort Yi looked strange when she left just now. A few days ago, Madam Shen visited the palace; could it be that she really did...?"

The Empress interrupted coldly: "Granny Gui, have you completed all the tasks I assigned you?"

Granny Gui leaned closer, her body hunched over. "Your Majesty, please rest assured, this old servant has made all the arrangements."

......

On their way back to Shujing Palace, Consort Yi Xiu and her maid suddenly saw Consort Song standing in the middle of the palace road, clearly having been waiting for a long time.

"Yi'an," Consort Song stepped forward to block his path, her expression grave, "Why has the Empress kept you here alone?"

Yi Xiuyuan concealed her panic and forced a smile: "No...it's nothing serious. Your Highness just asked a few questions about how Ning'er has been lately. Nothing...it's nothing."

Song Jieyu's expression darkened, her gaze passing over her and piercing straight to Yue Huan, she said coldly, "Tell me the truth."

The moon ring remained silent, watching its master's expression, and ultimately dared not speak.

-

At 3:45 PM, Abbot Guanghui of Daxiangguo Temple led twelve eminent monks into the palace. Jingming led the way, and the scent of agarwood mixed with sandalwood wafted along the palace path.

In front of the main hall of Dieqiong Pavilion, a nine-tiered lotus altar had already been set up.

The Empress and Consort Chun were both present, with Consort Qing and Consort Qi standing behind them. Even the Empress Dowager sent her personal nanny to observe the ceremony.

At the beginning of the ceremony, Master Guanghui, holding a nine-ringed staff, slowly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a Buddhist salute, and his eyes under his white eyebrows shone brightly: "Amitabha."

The Empress nodded slightly in return, and Consort Chun said softly, "Please, Zen Master Guanghui, move to the warm pavilion."

Qi Zhaorong suppressed her tears and led the abbot into the warm pavilion to visit Lingyi, while Consort Chun and others stood guard outside.

Inside the warm pavilion, Master Guanghui gazed at Princess Lingyi's face for a long time, then suddenly paused, his prayer beads twitching. He emerged only after about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

"Thump—"

The head monk struck the bronze cloud-shaped gong, followed by the ringing of the temple bell and other ritual instruments. Twelve novices then unfurled yellow silk scrolls in two rows, and chanting rose from the hall.

Halfway through the ritual, a sudden gust of cold wind blew out all seven eternal lamps on the outermost edge.

"Amitabha."

Master Guanghui's prayer beads spun rapidly. "This old monk observes that the princess's fortune is obstructed, as if she is being invaded by external evils."

Qi Zhaorong said urgently, "Please enlighten me, Master."

Master Guanghui frowned deeply, “This illness is no ordinary one. It is caused by the entanglement of yin and turbid qi. We must find its source in order to resolve it.”

Upon hearing this, Consort Yi turned pale. Although she tried her best to hide it, it still caught the attention of Consort Chun and Consort Qu. Consort Qu also trembled, revealing a look of panic.

When Consort Song saw Yi Xiuyuan's unusual behavior, her heart sank.

......

Lingcui Palace.

Meng Shu leaned against the vermilion pillars of Cuiyu Hall, gazing in the direction of Dieqiong Pavilion, with only the sound of wooden fish and faint chanting in her ears.

“Your Highness,” Green Willow whispered, “I have already relayed your message to Aunt Mei as you instructed. Aunt Mei immediately took the swaddling clothes that Consort Qi sent from the bedchamber and locked them in the storeroom.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Xia'er led Dong Ming into the inner hall, followed by more than ten palace servants from the Yeting Palace.

Dong Ming bowed and said respectfully, "Your Highness Consort Jin, please forgive us. We are under the Empress's decree to thoroughly investigate the palaces of all the women in the six palaces! Please grant us this favor."

Meng Shu showed no surprise and nodded slightly to Lv Liu.

Green Willow understood and immediately stepped forward to lead the way: "Eunuch Dong, please follow me."

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Dong Ming returned with his men, bowed, and said, "There is nothing unusual in Lingcui Palace. We apologize for disturbing Your Highness. We still need to search other places, so we will take our leave now."

After the people from the inner palace had gone far away, Green Willow said, "Such a grand display, just as Your Majesty predicted."

Almost simultaneously, a sudden change occurred inside the Huining Hall.

Tong Bo was also leading a group of palace servants on orders to search.

Inside the bedchamber, an unfamiliar palace maid was sneaking around, about to reach the bed.

Mingyue's eyes narrowed, and she flashed behind her like a ghost, grabbing her wrist and twisting it to subdue her.

With a crisp "click," an indigo cloth doll slipped out of the palace maid's sleeve.

Seeing this, Aunt Mei calmly stepped forward and picked it up in front of everyone. She glanced at it, and her face instantly turned ashen.

The puppet's chest was embroidered with the words "Jiang Hua" in gold thread, and three silver needles, gleaming coldly, were pinned directly to its heart.

Tong Bo gasped in shock when he saw it.

It should be noted that this "Jiang Hua" is none other than the imperial name of the Empress Dowager Cining Palace.