Article 154 (3)
The palace was not short of bright lanterns. As he came out of the Palace of Mental Cultivation, thinking that he would soon see his wife and children whom he had been missing for a long time, all his fatigue seemed to have gone. He strode quickly towards the Qian Xi Two Studios.
At this time, the crescent moon was already half-hung in the night sky, and the intersecting ink, dark blue, gray-blue, and silver-gray colors of the night sky were faintly shining with starlight, making the sky curtain look very beautiful and quiet.
The hall was brightly lit, with sweet voices like orioles, and the shadowy beautiful figures made him feel warm in his heart. However, as soon as he entered, those repeated calls of "master" and the sorrowful loving gazes that seemed to be weeping, suddenly made him feel annoyed. Where's Yúnzhū? "Where's Fújūn?"
"Furen hasn't come to the front hall all day, and we concubines don't know where Furen is either, probably taking care of the two gege and Er A'ge." Ula Nara Niemu said first.
Constantly managing respectfully followed behind, heard the words and said: "Fu Jin let all the brothers and sisters go down to rest first, and then let them come to see the king again. The kitchen has also prepared a feast for the king to entertain and wash away the dust. If the king is tired, the backyard has prepared hot water for washing and warm porridge, small dishes, what does the king think?"
His eyes softened, and the corners of his mouth curled up as he said to Gao Lu and others: "You all go back, don't even need to come pay respects tomorrow morning. I'll follow Fugui to Chongqing Palace to pay respects to Mother, and we can have a reunion dinner together tonight."
"Grandpa—"
The crowd was not satisfied, and after waiting for a day, they got this result? Hongli didn't care about them, he quickly walked through the courtyard to the back garden. The slaves and palace maids he met all smiled and greeted him politely, very dignified.
Yunzhu wore a moon-colored dress, with only a white jade hairpin adorned with an orchid on her piled-up black hair. She stood outside the bright hall, smiling brightly at him, "Are you back?"
He stepped forward and took her hand, feeling a sense of peace and contentment in his heart. "I'm back."
"Tired? Want to take a bath first?"
He paused, "Let's eat porridge first, I'm a bit hungry." He had also eaten dinner in Yangxin Hall, but it was a long time ago, and at that time, he was busy reporting the battle of Macau and the affairs of the Water Camp, so he hastily swallowed some food, which was not much different from eating dry rations on the road. Now thinking about it, he couldn't help feeling unsatisfied with the meal.
"I'll have them bring it over." She turned her head to Mingxin and said, "Go bring the dishes over."
"Yes."
Soon, Ming Xin led the people to bring the dishes made by Yunzhu herself to the next room's Huang Hua Li carved flower inlaid purple crystal inlaid green jade wrapped branch grape round table. There were glutinous rice porridge with osmanthus lotus seeds, safflower rice cooked with bird's nest chicken silk and celery, cold mixed sour and spicy kelp, fermented tofu, mixed duck silk, five-spice chicken, garlic mashed steamed cabbage, golden mushroom dish, tomato egg soup, scallion pancake, milk skin pancake and other dishes.
Fragrant and enticing, Hongli pulled her to sit in front of the table, scraping against the chair, drawing her puzzled gaze, and smiled: "Accompany me to have some."
Laughing so hard. Yunzhu didn't ask him at this time, holding chopsticks and occasionally picking up his favorite dishes for him, and she also had a small half bowl of Osmanthus lotus seed porridge to eat.
What really made her feel that something was wrong was when he didn't let her follow him to take a bath for the first time, previously he loved taking her with him to take a shower together...
After changing into a snow-white silk undergarment, Hongli awkwardly entered the bedroom and saw Yunzhu had changed into a loose light blue cotton robe. His eyes lit up, and he quickly took two or three steps to the high-legged plum blossom table's palace lamp, wanting to extinguish the candle flame.
"Wait a minute." His hand paused in mid-air, and he glanced sideways to see Yunzhu sitting on the edge of the bed, smiling slyly at him like a little fox that had caught its prey. His body stiffened involuntarily. "What's wrong?" It was late, time for bed...
"Come over." Yunzhu patted the bed and saw that he was still hesitating, so she said, "Otherwise, I'll go over there myself."
He raised an eyebrow and walked over to her, embracing her. "So you like it when the lights are on..." A hint of mischief sparkled in his smile as he leaned in to kiss her lips.
She pressed her hand against his chest, staring at him: "Don't move." She unbuttoned his shirt and carefully examined his chest, back, and arms. "Take off your pants so I can take a look."
"You..." He paused, his puzzled gaze seemed to understand something as a hint of emotion floated up, "I'm not hurt."
"I have to see it for myself."
His handsome face was slightly flushed, and his honey-colored skin in the dim yellow light had a particularly enticing flavor. Yunzhu couldn't help but tiptoe to kiss those full and beautifully curved lips that made women want to kiss them. When they finally separated, still catching their breath, she looked down and saw that his legs seemed fine. Had he hurt his butt? She recalled the unusual way he sat down during meals and subconsciously glanced behind him.
He almost immediately stumbled over his own feet. "Yunzhu." The voice was filled with awkwardness and resistance.
She nodded, looking at him with a mixture of laughter and tears, "We're husband and wife, what's there to be shy about?" She pulled him over, making him lie on the bed, his plump buttocks, long and powerful legs...
"Pfft", she couldn't help but burst out laughing, ignoring his embarrassed and awkward expression. She patted him on the butt and asked, "How did it become like this?" The area was covered in red bumps that looked like prickly heat or acne, slightly raised and itchy. "Is it because you often sit on hot chairs? It must be very itchy."
She had seen this symptom many times before, especially during the summer. Some people got it from sitting on a hot chair or somewhere else, while others got it because of excessive damp heat in their body... It was very itchy for a long time, and her hands would uncontrollably scratch it, resulting in more scratches, and after healing, there would still be faint scars left behind.
His perfect image... Hongli was extremely regretful, if only he had gone to sleep in the study earlier, but he couldn't resist the urge to hold her, and indeed there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
"When on the ship, he often went down to the water with the soldiers and after coming up sat on the hot deck chatting with them. On the way back to Beijing, he also rode a horse all the way... This was not what he wanted, when they found out along the road, someone asked Wu Shu to find some ointment to help apply it, but it didn't work."
"Wait a minute." She got up, took out peach blossoms, plum blossoms... chrysanthemum and other dried flowers from a row of blue and white porcelain jars, put them in a silver basin, added some bamboo core, tea dregs and millet porridge, honey, pretended to pour water, poured in some space water, mashed it into a paste with force, then brought it to the bedside and applied it to him by hand. "It's best not to ride horses for the next few days, the saddle is too easy to get hot, and don't sit in the sun when you sit down, wait until this heat toxin dampness disperses, it will be fine."
The comfortable coolness drove away the uncomfortable itchiness, he let out a breath and lay down on the bed, turning his head to gaze at Yunzhu under the lamp. Seeing her gentle expression, delicate eyebrows and warm eyes, he carefully applied the medicine to his own... His heart felt extremely warm and soft, and the desire to hug her didn't seem so urgent anymore. Slowly, he fell asleep just gazing at her.
In the following days, Hongli stayed in the main house every day, neither going to the back house for overnight stays nor summoning anyone to serve him at night. Wu Lanara Nianmu Yi and Gao Lü Wei were both anxious and resentful, secretly smashing things and cursing Yunzhu.
Xigui heard that, and had Shang Ayi brought over to ask. It turned out that her son was not sleeping in the Yunzhu house, but was resting in the study room. She thought that Hongli was busy with government affairs and hadn't gone to the backyard, and since he had indeed lost some weight after returning to Beijing, she felt that her son should take good care of himself... With this thought, she looked at Wu Lanala and others who were secretly complaining with disapproval, daring to have a flirtatious heart and thinking of monopolizing Hongli. They didn't know how to be considerate of his physical health at all, and were really unreasonable!
Dissatisfied in heart.
Before long, several days have passed and it is Double Ninth Festival.
On this day, the sky was exceptionally clear and beautiful. Everyone in the palace wore chrysanthemum flowers from early morning. The masters of various palaces and the high-ranking female officials also tied chrysanthemum sachets around their waists. The quantity of various chrysanthemum cakes and Double Ninth cakes made by the imperial kitchen since a few days ago reached its peak on this day.
The fragrant chrysanthemum cake, the refreshing and sweet chrysanthemum wine. Not only do ordinary people have activities such as going on excursions, climbing high to gaze far into the distance, admiring chrysanthemums, inserting osmanthus branches everywhere, eating Double Ninth cakes, and drinking chrysanthemum wine, but the imperial palace also has these kinds of activities every year to pray for physical and mental health, peace, and longevity. This year, Yongzheng indeed cancelled the banquet and took Empress Xi and Consort Yu with him to climb high in the Western Hills to enjoy the scenery. He left behind Hongli and Hongxu and other young people of their generation to gather together in the palace.
Shu Shen Gong Zhu, Bao Lan Jun Zhu, Wu Gong Zhu Zhi Xiang, Wu Fu Jin Wu Za Ku Shi, Ning Jun Wang Fu Jin Na La Shi, Hong Li, Hong Yu, Hong Ye, Hong Yun, Fu Heng... A large group of people, all relatives and in-laws, without any taboos, lively and bustling in the Imperial Garden admiring chrysanthemums, reciting poems about chrysanthemums, Double Ninth Festival poems.
The slaves stood far away at the bottom, and the guards were even farther away. Only the palace maids, like butterflies among flowers, occasionally carried pastries and wine pots back and forth between the tables.
A palace maid wearing a green palace dress, carrying a plate of freshly baked Chongyang cake, walked towards Yunzhu's table. Unbeknownst to her, she slipped halfway and the plate in her hand flew out two or three meters, landing in front of Hongli and his group. Hongli, who was talking to Fu Heng, looked up and said coldly, "Take this person away."
"Spare my life! I didn't mean it!" The little palace maid knelt down in a panic, repeatedly kowtowing and begging for mercy.
"Fourth brother, what a great holiday, don't let the servant spoil the fun, it's good to see... Wait, let someone clean up first...... Hmm?" Hong Duan narrowed his eyes and looked at the small roll of paper that came out from half of the heavy Yang cake, keenly aware that this might not be an accident, but a deliberate event.
Only carefully selected and trained slaves in the palace can serve their masters, and so-called "accidents" are often the result of palace struggles. Hongli, who has been familiar with all this since childhood, how could he not notice the subtle changes in Hongdiao's expression, and following his gaze, he naturally saw that small piece of paper as well.
A sharp light flashed in her eyes, and without waiting for his orders, Wu Shu came forward and took the things into her hands, and also instructed several palace maids around to clean up the broken porcelain pieces and pastries.
Since things have been brought to his doorstep, covering them up will only lead to rumors and gossip. Wu Shu received a hint from the master and opened the paper volume, his face changed immediately, and he presented it to Hong Li in a state of shock and unease.
Hongli took a look, his handsome face suddenly darkened, and after a while, he couldn't help but slap the table with his hand. "How can this be!" The red wood carving of the four seasons Fu Cha round table instantly cracked open a large gap on the surface, and the table legs sank into the grass more than an inch, showing how strong his force was when he was angry.
In the garden, whether they were admiring the flowers or eating cakes and drinking wine, all turned around, a moment of silence.
"Why is Grandfather so angry?" Gao Lu asked softly, her voice laced with a hint of worry.
"Wu Shu, come!" Hong Li's voice burst out from between his teeth, "Don't you dare take this slave away!?"
Wu Shulai had been serving Emperor Qianlong for over a decade. With just one glance, he knew what to do and responded with a single word before calling out for someone.
The palace maid rushed towards Yunzhu and cried out, "Madam, save me! Save your servant, save your servant!"
Yunzhu's delicate eyebrows slightly frowned as she looked at Hongli.
His eyes were cold, his lips pursed into a line, and his face was ashen.
She hesitated, but the palace maid changed her tone and cried out: "Madam, you can't ignore me, I'm also... You know, you know!"
Yunzhu could feel the suspicious and doubting eyes of everyone, so she calmed her mind and said to Hongli: "Your Highness, may I take a look at that small piece of paper? How come this palace maid looks so familiar to me. I think I understand something now?"
"Give it to her." Wu Shu came forward carefully picked up the note, Yunzhu didn't even wait for him to present it, and walked over, took a look, on which was written in tiny letters comparable to mosquitoes: Yun, one day without seeing you is like three autumns apart, I miss you like crazy, can we meet at the old place tonight? Yours, Alhatu.
"Is this... for me?!" Cloud Pearl's face was shocked, and she looked around at the people present, men and women alike. Wasn't the only one with "Cloud" in their name herself?
"What do you say?" Hongli's face turned extremely sour. He didn't believe that Yunzhu would secretly have an affair with someone behind his back, she wasn't that kind of person, but he couldn't control the acid in his heart, resentful. If this matter gets out, all reputation will be lost.
Under the bright sky and in such a gathering, how can this matter be covered up? Yunzhu solemnly said: "I request that Your Highness thoroughly investigate and clear my name."
"I believe you." What results can be found? Those who set up a trap with ulterior motives must have thought of everything, and if nothing is found, the matter will be exposed... A hint of worry flashed in his eyes, and then he put on a gloomy and stern expression. These people are really unrepentant, and his repeated tolerance has only led to their increasing audacity.
"Does the king believe there's any use?" Yunzhu hummed softly, turning her head to look at the palace maid, her eyes as cold as ice. "Since there are objects and people involved, naturally they must be brought up for questioning."
She was dressed in a sky blue cheongsam with embroidered peony flowers and butterflies on the edges of the collar, sleeves, and hem. The wide edges had a sky blue satin ribbon rolled up on both sides, and inside, there was an additional layer of pink satin. Her hair was styled in a curved bun, adorned with a blue-purple pom-pom flower, and two coral hairpins were inserted on either side of the bun. A string of crimson tassels hung from her left ear, and she wore a pale pink gemstone pendant earring. The overall effect was one of gentle elegance, refined beauty, and radiant purity, making it impossible to associate her with anything sordid or dark.
"Today, I invited everyone here thinking we could spend a joyful holiday together, but unexpectedly, this unpleasant incident occurred. As it concerns my personal reputation, I ask that you all bear witness."
Hong saw her figure like an orchid, with a spirit like a bright moon. She laid out the matter in a straightforward and open manner, and he couldn't help but admire her. He glanced at Wu Zaku and saw that she had nodded slightly and stood beside Yunzhu, with a smile playing on her lips.
"Who dares to slander Fu Jin so boldly, it's really deserving of death." The princesses in the imperial court, including Ula Nara, curtsied and said: "We, the consorts, are most particular about rules and etiquette. The gates of the two palaces are strictly guarded, how could such a thing happen? It must be someone framing us, I am the first to not believe it."
Believe it or not, no need to say it out loud.
Fu Heng and Hong Liang's eyes swept past like swords, and Hong Liang's wife, Nara, snorted: "No need for Fu Heng to explain specifically, we all see what kind of person Fourth Sister is in her daily life."
"Alhatu, do you know him?"
"No, I don't know. I'm just a servant who delivers things to designated places." The palace maid said timidly, her eyes darting towards Yunzhu for a moment.
Hong Jin's face flashed with a cold and stern expression, asking Fu Heng: "I remember that there is this person among the second-class imperial guards, right?"
Fu Heng's face turned extremely ugly, "He was demoted to third rank early on." Not to mention that he dared to scheme against his sister, but just saying that when that person took turns being on duty, he would always make small mistakes and leak messages to the side of Prince Li, the imperial guards would not be able to go far on this path, did he think everyone else was a fool who couldn't see through it?
Hongli had no choice but to say to Wu Shu, "Don't alarm anyone, go and bring that Alhatu here, I want to interrogate him personally."
The author has something to say: The imperial palace is not short of bright lights, and as he comes out of the Palace of Mental Cultivation, thinking that he will soon see his long-separated wife and children, all his fatigue seems to disappear, and he strides swiftly towards the Qian Xi Er Yuan.
At this time, the crescent moon was already half-hung in the night sky, rendering a crisscross of ink, dark blue, gray-blue and silver-gray on the night sky, with stars twinkling faintly, making the sky look very beautiful and serene.
The hall was brightly lit, with sweet voices like orioles, and the shadowy beautiful figures made him feel warm in his heart. But as soon as he entered, those repeated calls of "master", those eyes filled with sorrowful and loving gazes, suddenly made him feel annoyed and impatient. Where's Yúnzhū? "Where's Fújūn?"
"Furen hasn't come to the front hall all day, and we concubines don't know where Furen is either, probably taking care of the two gege and Er A'ge." Ula Nara Niemeng said first.
The housekeeper followed respectfully behind him and said, "Madam has let all the princes and princesses go down to rest first. She will have them come see you again in a moment. The kitchen has also prepared some refreshments for you to welcome you and wash away your fatigue. If you are tired, the backyard is ready with hot water for washing up, as well as warm congee and small dishes. What do you think, Your Highness?"
His eyes softened, and the corners of his mouth curled up as he said to Gao Lu and others: "You all go back, don't even need to come pay respects tomorrow morning. I'll follow Fugui to Chongqing Palace to pay respects to Mother, and we can have a reunion dinner together tonight."
"Grandpa—"
Everyone was not satisfied, and after waiting for a day, they got this result? Hongli didn't care about them, he quickly walked through the courtyard to the backyard. The slaves and palace maids he met all had happy expressions on their faces as they greeted him with courtesy, very polite.
Yunzhu wore a moon-colored dress, with only a white jade hairpin on her piled-up black hair, standing outside the main hall and smiling brightly at him, "Back?"
He stepped forward and grasped her hand, a sense of peace and satisfaction filling his heart. "I'm back."
"Tired? Want to take a bath first?"
He paused, "Let's eat porridge first, I'm a bit hungry." He had also eaten dinner in the Nurturing Heart Palace, but it was a long time ago, and at that time he was busy reporting on the war situation in Macau and the affairs of the Water Troops, so he hastily swallowed some food, which was not much different from eating dry rations on the road. Now thinking about it, he couldn't help but feel unsatisfied with the meal.
"I'll have them bring it over." She turned her head to Mingxin and said, "Go bring the dishes over."
"Yes."
Soon, Ming Xin led the people to bring the dishes made by Yunzhu herself to the next room's Huang Hua Li carved flower inlaid purple crystal inlaid green jade wrapped branch grape round table. There were glutinous rice porridge with osmanthus lotus seeds, safflower rice cooked with bird's nest chicken silk and fragrant scallion porridge, cold mixed sour and spicy kelp, fermented tofu, mixed pickled duck silk, five-spice chicken, garlic mashed steamed cabbage, golden mushroom dish, tomato egg soup, scallion pancake, milk skin pancake and other dishes.
Fragrant and enticing, Hongli pulled her to sit in front of the table, scraping against the chair, drawing her puzzled gaze, and smiled: "Accompany me to have some."
Laughing so hard. Yunzhu didn't ask him at this time, holding chopsticks and occasionally picking up his favorite dishes for him, and she also ate a little of the half-bowl of Osmanthus lotus seed porridge.
What really made her feel that something was wrong was when he didn't let her follow him to take a bath for the first time, previously he loved taking her with him to take a shower together...
After changing into a snow-white silk undergarment, Hongli awkwardly entered the bedroom and saw Yunzhu had changed into a loose light blue cotton robe. His eyes lit up, and he quickly took two or three steps to the high-footed plum blossom table's palace lamp, wanting to extinguish the candle flame.
"Wait a minute." His hand stopped in mid-air, and he glanced sideways to see Yunzhu sitting on the edge of the bed, smiling slyly at him like a little fox that had caught its prey. His body stiffened involuntarily. "What's wrong?" It was late, time for bed...
"Come over." Yunzhu patted the bed and saw that he was still hesitating, so she said, "Otherwise, I'll go over there."
He raised an eyebrow and walked over to her, embracing her. "So you like it when the lights are on..." A hint of mischief sparkled in his smile as he leaned in to kiss her lips.
She pressed her hand against his chest, staring at him: "Don't move." She unbuttoned his shirt with both hands and carefully examined his chest, back, and arms. Nothing was wrong. "Take off your pants so I can see."
"You..." He paused, his puzzled gaze seemed to understand something as a hint of emotion floated up, "I'm not hurt."
"I have to see it for myself."
His handsome face was slightly flushed, and his honey-colored skin in the dim yellow light had a particularly enticing flavor. Yunzhu couldn't help but tiptoe to kiss those full and beautifully curved lips that made women want to kiss them at first sight. When they finally separated, still catching their breath, she looked down and saw that his legs seemed fine, so was it his butt that was hurt? She recalled the unusual way he sat down during dinner and subconsciously glanced behind him...
He almost immediately stumbled over his own feet. "Yunzhu." The voice was filled with awkwardness and resistance.
She nodded, looking at him with a mixture of laughter and tears, "We're husband and wife, what's there to be shy about?" She pulled him over, making him lie on the bed, his plump buttocks, long and powerful legs...
With a "poof" sound, she couldn't help but burst out laughing, ignoring his embarrassed and awkward expression. She patted him on the butt and asked, "How did it become like this?" The area was covered with red bumps that looked like prickly heat or acne, slightly raised and itchy. "Is it because you often sit on hot chairs? It must be very itchy."
She had seen this symptom many times before, especially during the summer. Some people got it from sitting on a hot chair or somewhere else, while others got it because of excessive damp heat in their body... It was very itchy for a long time, and her hands would scratch uncontrollably, resulting in more scratches. After healing, there were still faint scars left behind.
His perfect image... Hongli was extremely regretful, if only he had gone to sleep in the study earlier, but he couldn't resist the urge to hold her, and indeed there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
"When on the ship, he often went down to the water with the soldiers and after coming up sat on the hot deck chatting with them. On the way back to Beijing, he also rode a horse all the way... This was not what he wanted, when they found out along the road, someone let Wu Shu come to find ointment to help apply it, but it didn't work."
"Wait a minute." She got up, took out peach blossoms, plum blossoms... chrysanthemum and other dried flowers from a row of blue and white porcelain jars, put them in a silver basin, added some bamboo core, tea dregs and millet porridge, honey, pretended to pour water, poured in some space water, mashed it into a paste with force, then brought it to the bedside and applied it to him by hand. "It's best not to ride horses for the next few days, the saddle is too easy to get hot, and don't sit in the sun when you sit down, wait until this heat toxin dampness disperses, it will be fine."
The comfortable coolness drove away the uncomfortable itchiness, he let out a breath and lay down on the bed, gazing at Yunzhu under the lamp. He saw her gentle expression, delicate eyebrows and eyes, and warm smile as she carefully applied the medicine to his... His heart felt extremely warm and soft, and the desire to hold her didn't seem so urgent anymore. Slowly, he fell asleep just like that, looking at her.
In the following days, Hongli stayed in the main house every day, neither going to the back house for overnight stays nor summoning anyone to serve him at night. Wu Lanara Nianmu Yi and Gao Lü Wei were both anxious and resentful, secretly smashing things and cursing Yunzhu.
Xigui heard that, and had Shang Ayi brought over to ask. It turned out that her son was not sleeping in the Yunzhu house, but was resting in the study room. She thought that Hongli was busy with government affairs and hadn't gone to the backyard, and since he had indeed lost some weight after returning to Beijing, she felt that her son should take good care of himself... With this thought, she looked at Wu Lanala and others who were secretly complaining with disapproval, daring to have a flirtatious heart and thinking of monopolizing Hongli. They didn't know how to be considerate of his physical health at all, and were really unreasonable!
Dissatisfied in heart.
Before long, several days have passed and it is Double Ninth Festival.
On this day, the sky was exceptionally clear and beautiful. Everyone in the palace wore chrysanthemum flowers early in the morning. The masters of various palaces and the high-ranking female officials also tied chrysanthemum sachets around their waists. The quantity of various chrysanthemum cakes and Double Ninth cakes made by the imperial kitchen since a few days ago reached its peak on this day.
The fragrant chrysanthemum cake, the refreshing and sweet chrysanthemum wine. Not only do ordinary people have activities such as going on excursions, climbing high to gaze far into the distance, admiring chrysanthemums, inserting osmanthus, eating Double Ninth cakes, and drinking chrysanthemum wine, but the imperial palace also has these kinds of activities every year to pray for physical and mental health, peace, and longevity. This year, Yongzheng indeed cancelled the banquet and took Empress Xi and Consort Yu with him to climb high in the Western Hills to enjoy the scenery. He left behind Hongli, Hongxu, and other young people of their generation to gather together in the palace.
Princess Shu Shen, Princess Bao Lan, the five princesses Zhi Xiang, Wu Zha Ku Shi of the five blessings, Na La Shi of Ning County Wang Fu Jin, Hong Li, Hong Yu, Hong Ye, Hong Ying, Fu Heng... A large group of people, all relatives and kin, without any taboos, lively and bustling in the Imperial Garden admiring chrysanthemums, reciting poems about chrysanthemums, Double Ninth Festival poems.
The slaves stood far away below, the guards were even farther away, only the palace maids flitted back and forth between the tables like butterflies among flowers, occasionally carrying pastries and wine pots.
A palace maid wearing a green palace dress, carrying a plate of freshly baked Chongyang cake, walked towards Yunzhu's table. Unbeknownst to her, she slipped halfway and the plate in her hand flew out two or three meters, landing in front of Hongli and his table. Hongli, who was talking to Fu Heng, looked up and said coldly, "Take this person away."
"Spare my life! I didn't mean it!" The little palace maid knelt down in a panic, repeatedly kowtowing and begging for mercy.
"Fourth brother, it's a great holiday, don't let the servant spoil the mood. Let someone clean up first... Hmm?" Hong Duan narrowed his eyes and looked at the small roll of paper that came out from half of the Chongyang cake, keenly aware that this might not be an accident, but a deliberate event.
Only carefully selected and trained slaves in the palace can serve their masters, and so-called "accidents" are often the result of palace struggles. Hongli, who has been familiar with all this since childhood, how could he not notice the subtle changes in Hongdiao's expression, and following his gaze, he naturally saw that small piece of paper too.
A sharp light flashed in his eyes, and before he could give orders, Wu Shu came forward to collect the things into his hands, and also instructed several palace maids around him to clean up the broken porcelain pieces and pastries.
Since things have been brought to his doorstep, covering up would only lead to rumors and gossip. Wu Shu received a hint from the master and opened the paper scroll, his face changed immediately, and he presented it to Hong Li in a state of shock and unease.
Hongli took a look, his handsome face suddenly darkened, and after a while, he couldn't help but slap the table with his hand. "How can this be!" The red wood carving of the four seasons Fu Cha round table instantly cracked open a large gap on the surface, and the table legs sank into the grass more than an inch, showing how strong his force was when he was angry.
In the garden, whether they were admiring the flowers or eating cakes and drinking wine, all turned around, a moment of silence.
"Why is Grandfather so angry?" Gao Lu asked softly, her voice laced with a hint of worry.
"Wu Shu, come!" Hong Li's voice burst out from between his teeth, "Don't you dare take this slave away!?"
Wu Shulai had been serving Emperor Qianlong for over a decade. With just one glance, he knew what to do and responded with a single word before calling out for someone.
The palace maid rushed towards Yunzhu and shouted, "Madam, save me! It's so beautiful! Save your servant, save your servant!"
Yunzhu's delicate eyebrows slightly frowned as she looked at Hongli.
His eyes were cold, his lips pursed into a line, and his face was ashen.
She hesitated, but the palace maid changed her tone and cried out: "Madam, you can't ignore me, I'm also... You know, you know!"
Yunzhu could feel the suspicious and doubting gazes of everyone, so she calmed her mind and said to Hongli: "Your Highness, may I take a look at that small piece of paper? Why does this palace maid have such a familiar appearance to me? I think I understand something now?"
"Give it to her." Wu Shu came forward carefully picked up the note, Yunzhu didn't even wait for him to present it, and walked over, took a look, on which was written in tiny letters comparable to mosquitoes: Yun, one day without seeing you is like three autumns apart, I miss you like crazy, can we meet at the old place tonight? Yours, A'erhate.
"Is this... for me?!" Cloud Pearl's face was shocked, and she looked around at the people present, men and women alike. Wasn't the only one with "Cloud" in their name herself?
"What do you say?" Hongli's face turned extremely sour. He didn't believe that Yunzhu would secretly have an affair with someone behind his back, she wasn't that kind of person, but he couldn't control the acid in his heart, resentful and angry. If this matter got out, all reputation would be lost.
Under the bright sky and in such a gathering, how can this matter be covered up? Yunzhu solemnly said: "I request that Your Highness thoroughly investigate and clear my name."
"I believe you." What results can be found? Those who set up a trap with ulterior motives must have thought of everything, and if nothing is found, the matter will be exposed... A hint of worry flashed in his eyes, and then he put on a gloomy and stern expression. These people are really unrepentant, and his repeated tolerance has led to their increasing audacity.
"Does the prince believe there's any use?" Yunzhu hummed softly, turning her head to look at the palace maid, her eyes as cold as ice. "Since there are objects and people involved, naturally they must be brought up for questioning."
She was dressed in a sky blue cheongsam with embroidered peony and butterfly patterns on the edges of the collar, sleeves, and hem. The wide edges had an additional layer of light blue satin ribbon on either side, and inside that, there was another layer of pink satin ribbon. Her hair was styled in a curved bun shape, adorned with a blue-purple pom-pom flower, and two hairpins made of mother-of-pearl inlaid with red gemstones were inserted on either side of the bun. A string of crimson tassels hung down from her left ear, and she wore pink gemstone earrings. The overall effect was one of gentle elegance, refined beauty, and a radiant aura that made it impossible to associate her with anything sordid or dark.
"Today, I invited everyone here thinking we could spend a joyful holiday together, but unexpectedly this unpleasant incident occurred. As it concerns my personal reputation, I ask you all to bear witness."
Hong Yu saw her figure like an orchid, with a spirit like a bright moon. She laid out the matter in a straightforward and open manner, and he couldn't help but admire her. He glanced at Wu Zaku and saw that she had nodded slightly and stood beside Yunzhu, with a smile playing on her lips.
"Who dares to slander Fu Jin so boldly, it's really deserving of death." The princesses in the imperial court curtsied and said: "We Fu Jin are most particular about rules, the gates of Ganxi are also strictly forbidden, how could such a thing happen? It must be someone framing us, I don't believe it first."
Believe it or not, no need to say it out loud.
Fu Heng and Hong Liang's eyes swept past like swords, and Hong Liang's wife, Nara, snorted: "No need for Fu to explain specially, we all see what kind of person Fourth Sister is in her daily life."
"Alhatu, do you know him?"
"No, I don't know. I'm just a servant who delivers things to designated places." The palace maid said timidly, her eyes darting towards Yunzhu for a moment.
Hong Jin's face flashed with a cold and stern expression, asking Fu Heng: "I remember that there is this person among the second-class imperial guards, right?"
Fu Heng's face was extremely ugly, "He has already been demoted to the third rank." Not to mention that he dared to plot against his sister, but when that person was on duty, he would often make small mistakes and leak messages to the side of Prince Li, the imperial guards would not be able to go far on this path, did he think others were fools who couldn't see through it?
Hongli had no choice but to say to Wu Shu, "Don't alarm anyone, go and bring that Alhatai here, I want to interrogate him personally."
