The bright moon is rising, and the night wind is filled with the fragrance of vegetation.
After Cen Yunchu had dinner, he asked someone to move a chair and put it on the porch, where he could enjoy the moon while blowing in the wind.
There happened to be a palace maid named Xinyue who was good at playing the flute, so he asked her to stand by the bamboo bush and play the flute for fun.
Cen Yunchu took the fan himself and admired the banana mountain stones embroidered on the fan in the moonlight.
After half an hour, Yu Sheng, the eunuch in charge of the palace, came over.
When he arrived, Cen Yunchu said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Concubine Hui is here to ask for a meeting with Ailian. Do you want to meet her?"
Yu Sheng was personally selected by the emperor and arranged for him to serve as an errand in Cen Yunchu's palace, so he was naturally loyal.
After hearing this, Cen Yunchu asked: "Well, Ai Lian is the most powerful person in front of Concubine Hui. Why is she here with us so late?"
"She didn't say it clearly, she just said that she had something important to do and wanted to see the empress." Yu Sheng looked around and said.
At this time, Cen Yunchu was already the biggest suspect in the murder of the fourth prince. Song Meiren, Jiao Meiren and others who often came to Cen Yunchu's palace on weekdays avoided seeing her at this time.
The relationship between Gao Huifei and Cen Yunchu had always been normal, and they had no contact in private.
Why did people from her palace come at this sensitive moment?
"Now that I've said that, there's no reason to disappear. Let her come in." Cen Yunchu put down his fan and straightened his posture slightly, no longer as casual and lazy as before.
"I think it's time to meet him," Yu Sheng was only thirty years old, but he was one of the smartest people in a hundred.
Of course he understands that as the master of the first palace, Cen Yunchu, only when she gets better can the people who follow her get better.
Although Ailian didn't tell him in detail, he could vaguely guess some of the clues.
Concubine Gao Hui was married to the emperor before he ascended the throne, and her qualifications were only slightly lower than those of the empress.
Ailian was originally her maid, and is now almost thirty years old.
These empresses in the palace are always surrounded by several servants who follow them from beginning to end.
These people will not be released from the palace even when they are old, but will continue to serve their master.
Later, she became a senior nun in the palace. If the master gained power, he would not treat them badly.
Not only will errands be arranged for them in the palace, but their family members outside the palace will also be taken care of.
There are many people who would rather sacrifice themselves to stay in the palace.
Firstly, I really want to be loyal to my master, and secondly, I also think about my family.
Although Ailian is no longer young, it is not obvious from her appearance.
She is petite and has a baby face.
Only the fine lines that form at the corners of her eyes when she smiles can show her true age.
She followed the maids from Cen Yunchu's palace and walked in. When she came to Cen Yunchu, she respectfully saluted and said hello.
"Get up!" Cen Yunchu raised his hand gently and said, "It's hard for you to come so late."
"Your Majesty, your words are serious. When I heard that you were injured, your Majesty Hui Fei specially asked your servant to deliver the muscle-promoting ointment.
This thing was sent as tribute from foreign countries a few years ago. There are not many of it. I'm afraid it's gone elsewhere." Ai Lian held a small white porcelain jar with gold in her hand and said, "You can see it within seven days after using it.
No trace left."
"Thank you so much, Concubine Hui," Cen Yunchu winked at Yu Sheng and asked him to take the things. "I will go over and say thank you in person some other time."
"Your Majesty, it's better to rest and rest in peace. Now that you are pregnant with the dragon heir, you must take care of yourself." Ailian said.
"Concubine Hui sent you here for other things besides delivering medicine?" Cen Yunchu asked with a smile.
Hearing this, Ailian paused for a moment and said in a slightly hesitant tone: "Our queen just sent the slaves to deliver the medicine, and didn't give any other instructions. It's just..."
"If you have something to say, there is no need to worry." Cen Yunchu smiled slightly.
Ailian didn't say anything, and knelt down first: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for being so abrupt. There are some things that I want to say, and they have nothing to do with others."
Cen Yunchu raised his eyebrows slightly, and a trace of anger flashed in his eyes: "I told you, just say it, I won't blame you."
"Then I'm so bold," Ai Lian said, raising her head slightly, "I just want to tell you that there seems to be something ulterior to the jade book in front of Zhong Jieyu."
"Oh? How did you know?" Cen Yunchu asked.
"Mo Han in our palace is a fellow villager with her, and we travel a lot in private. She said that Yushu has been delivering things outside the palace from time to time recently, and they are all valuable things.
We palace ladies all have a fixed monthly salary. Although Zhong Jieyu has been promoted this year, the people around her will not become rich all of a sudden." Ailian said, "And..."
"What you said is very interesting, go on." Cen Yunchu said with interest.
"And she asked Eunuch Yongping, the second steward of Fuxiang Palace, to bring her something outside the palace," Ailian said. "The other slaves didn't dare to say anything. The empress is a very smart person, and she will definitely be able to guess something."
What's coming?"
After hearing this, Cen Yunchu was silent for a moment, nodded and said: "Sister Ailian, thank you for your kindness in informing me.
It's just that I thought that I didn't have any deep friendship with Concubine Hui or you in the past, so why would you be willing to tell me frankly?"
Ailian was not flustered when faced with Cen Yunchu's questions, and explained softly: "It's not surprising that the empress is suspicious of this servant. After all, in this palace, people are separated from each other.
Although I am not from this palace, I have always admired my empress for her personality.
Even though our queen usually treats you lightly, she admires you in her heart.
Besides, no matter what grudges there are between adults, children should not be involved. The fourth prince is too innocent.
The slaves really don't like the behavior of eating inside and outside and murdering their masters.
I can't bear to see you being framed by others, so I tell you boldly. Whether you believe it or not is entirely up to you, I just hope you have a clear conscience."
Although Ailian spoke sincerely, Cen Yunchu would not be fooled by her words.
She did not doubt what Ailian said about the jade book, because this fact was easy to verify.
But she didn't believe that Ailian only told her out of righteous indignation, and she didn't believe that Concubine Gao Hui didn't know about it.
What kind of place is this harem? How can there be room for a palace maid to bear such a big responsibility behind her master's back?
Ailian pointed the finger at the people in the Queen's Palace, which was an attack on the Queen. This was no small matter.
If there are things that you see through but don’t tell, Cen Yunchu naturally understands this truth.
So he said: "Get up! I will seriously ask someone to investigate. Although Concubine Hui does not know about this matter, she is your master after all, and I will also miss her."
I won't treat you badly until this matter is settled."
Cen Yunchu had also made it very clear that Gao Huifei wanted to make friends with her through this matter, but she couldn't be too explicit about it.
He understands and accepts the other person's kindness, and will not let the other party be exposed.
