C334 The Secret of the Palace(1)

"Do you still remember that year when Imperial Advisor Helian had a child by his side. Afterwards, a fire broke out in the quiet hut and the child was burned to death?"

"Yes, it's an orphan that's been taken in by his master. She has no mother or father, so she's very pitiful." The Daoist Priest recalled, "Master doted on him and treated him like his own child. Afterwards, he was burned to death and Master almost went crazy."

It wasn't as if he was looking at his own child, but his own birth. However, in order to maintain his identity as the Imperial Advisor, he didn't dare to admit to others.

If this matter really got out of hand, it would be impossible for Helian Yuan Chen to punish the Imperial Advisor for this matter. But if this secret affair was pursued any further, it would be possible to find out that Helian Divine Art had poisoned the Emperor.

Helian Yu felt more and more that there were too many secrets on Helian Divine Technique. Although Jing Nan believed him, Helian Yu didn't quite believe him. Maybe he was someone who wanted to kill Jing Nan.

It was nothing for a man to betray a woman in private in order to justify his crimes.

"Have you heard of the Cold Eating Powder?"

The two Daoists suddenly quieted down and stared at Helian Yu as if he were a monster.

"Why?"

"The formula for that kind of thing has long been extinct in my Northern Chu … "I heard that once it was spread to the Southern Moon Country, they became popular among the scholar-officials and aristocrats, causing them to become dejected and not be a good thing." They shook their heads in disgust, obviously unimpressed.

One of the Daoists was reminiscing about the past, saying that the Frigid Eclipse Powder had arrived in the Northern Chu at an unknown time, and had become very popular among the nobles in the previous dynasty. Some of them said that it could make one feel Fantasy, some said it could extend one's lifespan, and later on, it was secretly passed around in the palace, perpetuating one's youth.

The other priest began to fidget, nudging him with his elbow.

He seemed to have understood something and looked at Helian Yu to keep his mouth shut.

"Just say it, it's been twenty years and it has nothing to do with you." Helian Yu said indifferently, knowing their scruples.

When the Daoist Priest heard this, he continued with some unease. He heard that Imperial Concubine Wu Yu had only died from excessive consumption of the Frigid Eclipse after hearing rumors from others. The Emperor, who had been grieving over the loss of Imperial Consort Yu, felt that the Frigid Eating Powder was a harmful item. He ordered the burning of all the prescriptions and forbidden the Northern Chu people from taking them.

Helian Yu simply didn't believe him and only sneered slightly. He never would have thought that his royal father ordered him to ban the Frostbite Powder, and it was actually a good thing.

"Why does royal father think that my mother's concubine died from excessive consumption of cold food?"

"Of course, it was Master who said that. Master is well aware of the pill formulas and is also well-versed in the way of medicine. He saw that Imperial Concubine Wu Yu died from the pill sand and mercury poisoning."

Helian Yu was stunned. He had originally thought that since the cinnabar and mercury were commonly used in alchemy, it was likely that he was the one who had ordered the Frigid Food Powder to be refined for Imperial Concubine Yu. He didn't expect that he would first suggest that the cinnabar and mercury be poisoned to the point of death.

Just as he was thinking, he heard a slight clamor from outside. Someone had entered the quiet hut.

Helian Yu didn't think that there would be someone like him, thinking of this abandoned place. He looked up and was surprised to see Helian Meng walk in.

Helian Meng didn't look too much like Helian Peng. He had a long, white face, light eyebrows, and narrow eyes. He looked very feminine and handsome. He usually didn't say much, but always wore an elusive smile.

Helian Meng was clearly startled for a good while before he asked, "What is Brother Crown Prince doing here?"

Helian Yu didn't want to pay any attention to him. He merely gave a cold snort and passed by Helian Yu.

Helian Meng was used to Li Yao's cold and arrogant expression, so he didn't think it was strange. He turned his head to look at Li Yao's back until he disappeared. "What did the crown prince come here for?"

The two Daoists answered truthfully.

Helian Meng thought for a while. He didn't understand what was going on, so he stopped thinking about it. Zuo Lian had entered the palace at night. At that time, Imperial Concubine Yu had died. Since the two of them had never met, of course they hadn't met before. Even if Imperial Concubine Yu's death was suspicious, there definitely wouldn't be any connection with Zuo Lian.

He had only come here to let the two Daoists refine some pills for him, so that the inner force that was holding him back would be able to clear that barrier.

Unfortunately, these two Daoists did not learn many pill recipes from the Helian Divine Technique. Refining them into pills to strengthen one's Qi was very little.

As Helian Yu walked, he recalled Helian Meng's appearance. The more he thought about it, the more he felt that he didn't resemble Helian Yuan Chen in the slightest. Naturally, Helian Peng didn't resemble him either.

As he thought about this, he went back to the palace. One of the spies he had sent to investigate had already returned, and reported back to him: Eighteen years ago, when the left wheat was ready to be planted, she had been born cold and delicate in the coldest season of the Northern Chu. Helian Yuan Chen had agreed that she should go to the Qi Zhou Palace in the south to prepare for the production.

At that time, no one had gotten pregnant in the palace for several years. Helian Yuan paid particular attention to that pregnancy, and even ordered the Queen to accompany him. Although she was nominally in charge of palace affairs, she was actually taking care of Imperial Consort Zuo.

After all, the imperial concubine had to be safe at all times.

It was said that when Imperial Consort Zuo set off, she was five months pregnant. It would take her at least three months to arrive at the Qi Zhou palace, where she would have a baby soon. There were several midwives accompanying her, fearing that she would be ready to give birth anytime soon.

No matter what, it was an unreasonable request on the part of a pregnant woman like Ma Laughton. However, even Yuan Chen agreed to it. It could be seen that his love for Imperial Concubine Zuo was completely opposite of what was right and wrong.

Helian Yu couldn't help but sneer as he thought about it. If there was something fishy, it must have happened while he was on his way or in the palace.

As for the reason why the left side of the buckwheat must go to the palace to wait for delivery, I'm afraid it's not as simple as trying to dispel the cold.

If she wanted to give birth to a prince, then she must have some tricks up her sleeve that would be inconvenient to use in the palace.

Following the return of the second spy, he was responsible for investigating who had accompanied them back then. A long list was drawn up. Helian Yu took a glance at it and crumpled it into a ball before throwing it away.

If all of them knew the secret, then it wouldn't be a secret. He only recorded down the names of the most important people on the list in his mind and instructed them to take the paper ball and burn it.

However, after a few days, all the spies came back, but the most important person was not found.

Helian Yu's face couldn't help but darken. He was obviously in a bad mood because he was most concerned about the midwives who delivered the babies for Zuo Lian. "What happened to those midwives back then? Could it be that they died without a single one remaining? "

"Reporting to the crown prince, it's really the case. Those midwives said that they are old, and some have already passed away …"

"Could it be that there isn't a single survivor?" Helian Yu shouted harshly and slammed the table.

"Two are still alive... One has gone demented, the other... We didn't find anything. "

Just as Helian Yu was about to get angry, one of the spies hastily said, "Crown Prince, you can actually start from the eighth prince's wet nurse. He had a wet nurse, but Imperial Concubine Zuo brought it back by herself. She served him since birth."