C43

Chu Zongge looked around the abandoned palace that was filled with willow trees, and asked: "This is the Luan Feng Palace that my mother used to live in?"

The Eunuch Shen Eunuch, who was in charge of the palace, replied, "The words to return to Master Duanwang are precisely the Luan Feng Palace.

Chu Zongge looked at the green willow leaves and thought for a moment, "Eunuch Shen, why are there so many willow trees here?"

"The Emperor loves the willow, the palace is filled with willow trees, maybe the wind blew the willow tree seeds here."

Eunuch Shen's answer was the same as his answer to Xue Ronghua back then.

Chu Zongge deliberately let out a sigh, "Last night, you asked me in the Imperial Study, and got scolded a few times by the Royal Father if it wasn't for the historical story."

The Eunuch Shen hurriedly said, "Master Duanwang need not grieve. The Emperor remembers Your Highness's lessons and cares about Your Highness."

"My mother has lived in such a remote place, so I presume that she isn't very favored by her. No wonder she is so satisfied with me."

The Eunuch Shen advised: "Living here far from you doesn't mean that you won't be pampered. The Emperor really likes the Master Duanwang.

"Oh?" Chu Zongge narrowed his eyes, "Living far away doesn't mean one won't be pampered. Eunuch Shen has served in the Imperial Palace for most of his life, it seems that he knows about the matters of Royal Father and mother very well."

Eunuch Shen's expression froze, he absolutely did not expect that Prince Duan was actually plotting something for him, "Prince Duan, please forgive me, but this old servant does not dare to make wild guesses about the matter between Mrs. Heyi and the Emperor.

and even used the Mrs. Heyi's maternal family to flatter him. Chu Zongge sighed helplessly. Amongst the concubines who had been doted on by the Emperor before, which one of them wasn't from a noble family, he wanted to know if the Emperor really loved the Mrs. Heyi or not. It wasn't because of the battle achievements of the maternal family or something like that.

"Eunuch Shen, you don't need to beat around the bush with me. Back then, was my mother extremely favored, or was it extremely unfavoured?"

The Eunuch Shen replied respectfully, "The Emperor is impartial and strict.

What use was all that rain and dew? If he wanted to be the victor in the battle to ascend the throne, his mother must be the one the Emperor liked the most.

"Is Empress Chen the most beloved person in my heart?"

The Eunuch Shen did not answer his question. "The Empress has lived in the Phoenix Position for twenty years, she is graceful and pure, and has the best relationship with Jia Ren. She is deeply trusted by the Emperor."

Chu Zongge sighed: "Eunuch Shen you have served my mother Palace in the past, why haven't you opened the doors to me instead?"

The Eunuch Shen smiled mysteriously and cupped his hands: "Don't worry, Master Duanwang. Since it's not even dawn yet, how can you open the skylight?"

Chu Zongge's eyes lit up as he said joyfully: "You old fellow, you went in circles with me just now …"

The Eunuch Shen said gently: "This old servant did not beat around the bush with Your Highness, it's just that the Emperor has a myriad of thoughts and concerns for Your Highness, Your Highness needs to analyze them himself."

The meaning of his words was unclear to Chu Zongge, but because his soul was in someone else's body, he could only softly ask: "Thank you elder, I hope elder can give me some pointers when I'm at a loss."

Eunuch Shen laughed: "This old servant will definitely do everything I can to serve Your Highness."

Xue Ronghua and Little Zhui were still matching spices in the room, and when Xue Ronghua came in, she was in a very good mood.

Zhu Tong immediately put down what she was doing and bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Master Duanwang."

"Don't be so courteous, get up," Chu Zongge smiled at Xue Ronghua, "What are you two busy with?"

Xue Ronghua picked up a brocade bag and waved it in front of him, "To make the incense, how about you smell it?"

A rich fragrance assaulted his nose, and Chu Zongge frowned as he covered his nose: "This fragrance is too pungent right now, isn't it?"

Xue Ronghua brought her nose closer to her nose and took a careful sniff. The flower's fragrance was indeed strong, but it was indeed pungent.

"Zhu Tong, we still have to make it again."

Little Zhui, who was at the side, secretly laughed: "Zhu Tong said not to put those petals together, Miss doesn't want to hear it."

Chu Zongge immediately teased: "Your young miss doesn't understand this kind of daughter sentiment, I have never learned it before."

Xue Ronghua tried to defend herself: "How do I not understand? Isn't this learning?"

Chu Zongge laughed, "Then you better learn from Zhu Tong. The scented sachet she makes can even cure illnesses."

Zhu Tong hurriedly bowed to Xue Ronghua. "Just a little bit of tricks, I don't dare trouble would-be wangfei."

"Since you are already someone close to me, there is no need for you to be so courteous," Xue Ronghua said as she helped her up warmly.

"Yes," Chu Zongge nodded his head, "I have a headache coming on from being a manager, Zhu Tong made a perfume bag for him, and he will be alright in four or five days."

Xue Ronghua praised: "As expected, you are a talent nurtured by a doctor, Zhu Tong is truly amazing."

Chu Zongge was startled, "Zhu Tong, are you a doctor at Chiron?"

Zhu Tong nodded.

"What, you don't know, Zhu Tong didn't tell you?"

"No, I didn't ask her, didn't the minority in Chiron already know how to treat poisons?"

Xue Ronghua smiled at Zhu Tong: "How many talents did your previous master cultivate like you?"

Zhu Tong answered: "I have sisters."

Chu Zongge laughed, "If I can buy all of your sisters, then I really made a fortune."

Xue Ronghua joked: "There are so many gold, silver and jewelry in Master Duanwang that I have never seen before. I was still hoping to make a fortune with Zhu Tong's sisters."

The four of them looked at each other and smiled.

"I've come to find you today because I want to tell you something."

Little Zhui knew that the Master Duanwang was here to discuss some important matters with the Young Miss, so she quickly pulled Zhu Tong out of the room and waited outside.

Chu Zongge watched the two of them leave and couldn't help but praise them, "Little Zhui is really more and more sensible, it's better if you train him."

Xue Ronghua pursed her lips and smiled, "Of course."

"You really can't help but praise me," Chu Zongge grinned. "I went to visit the Luan Feng Palace and brought along the Eunuch Shen."

"Who is the Eunuch Shen?" Xue Ronghua asked doubtfully.

"He used to serve the Mrs. Heyi at the Luan Feng Palace."

"Did you get anything out of him?"

Chu Zongge shook his head helplessly. That old fellow is really shrewd.

"Even the people from your mother Palace aren't willing to answer your doubts. Don't tell me you want to directly ask the Emperor?"

Chu Zongge stared at her and said: "Eunuch Shen's meaning is that you don't want me to ask the Emperor and ask me to guess for myself."

Xue Ronghua's eyes were filled with surprise, "You?"

"However, he showed that he was willing to work for me."

Xue Ronghua muttered to herself, then calmed herself down: "This matter is already half exposed under the sun, the key point is whether you believe in this Eunuch Shen or not."

Chu Zongge nodded his head, "He has always took good care of me, and he doesn't seem to be someone close to the crown prince. I still believe in him."

Xue Ronghua looked at him meaningfully. "My opinion is that you can give it your all and fight to the end with the crown prince."

Chu Zongge showed hesitation on his face, "But I'm still half in the shadows."

"Don't worry," Xue Ronghua patted his shoulder, "That will definitely be a complicated and difficult to solve problem, but it will also be of great use to you."

Chu Zongge looked at her confident smile and gently said, "You always understand it better than I do."

Xue Ronghua smiled shyly: "Those who are a fan can see clearly."

Noble Consort Kang reached out her hand to touch the peony embroidery on the fan and smiled at the servant girl below: "Your cooking skills are getting better and better. The peony embroidery is so lifelike that it really seems like it is going to be on my fingertips."

The servant replied happily: "Thank you, Queen of Noble Consort."

Prince Jin took the fan and looked at it carefully, "En, not bad indeed."

The servant continued, "I had originally wanted to embroider some willow leaves to complement with peony, but later on I left something behind …"

Noble Consort Kang's hand that was holding the fan suddenly paused, and the smile instantly froze on her face.

The Prince Jin smiled: "The peony is a bright red, the willow leaves are dark green, and when embroidered together it becomes very tacky. The single embroidery is only used to create beautiful peony plants, that's great.

Seeing that the Noble Consort Kang's expression was not good, the servant panicked and quickly left the palace.

Prince Jin brewed a bowl of tea for mother, "What's wrong with mother? She's just like Empress Chen, she became absent-minded the moment she heard the word 'Liu'."

Noble Consort Kang slowly gulped down a mouthful of tea and said faintly: "Back then, Liu Chengyun had monopolized all the favors and all the concubines in the harem were just decorations. Now that all the willow trees in the harem have been planted, I'm afraid not a single one of them would not have been distracted."

The Prince Jin laughed: "What's the use of monopolizing favors, isn't the one still smiling in the palace the mother?"

"What's so good about laughing till the end? The palace compound is so lonely. I can only rely on embroidery to survive every cold night."

Prince Jin comforted her: "If it were me, I would say that mother is the best. Although Mrs. Heyi is doted on the most by Royal Father, but she still died the most in the palace, and I don't know who caused her death. And Empress Chen, hehe, in other words, has lived a stable life of Phoenix Position for twenty years, and what sounds bad is having been Liu Chengyun's substitute for twenty years, which is also why it seems like mother is also the best."

"But from the looks of Prince Duan, I thought that my mother was not being spoiled."

Prince Jin secretly laughed: "When he was born, Mrs. Heyi and Royal Father had already made their decision, what could he know?"

"Sigh," the Noble Consort Kang lovingly caressed his son's face, "You look at your beloved man and yet favor another woman. Fortunately, you were born in the royal family and you don't need to feel the love of a prince."

"Now, with this son accompanying mother, mother will no longer have to live a lonely life."

Noble Consort Kang said worriedly: "I heard yesterday that Prince Duan took Eunuch Shen to the Luan Feng Palace area."

"Prince Duan misses his own mother. He's just going to visit his old place."

"But," the Noble Consort Kang hesitated, "Then the Eunuch Shen …"

"Eunuch Shen is just a chief eunuch, there's no need to worry."

"The Luan Feng Palace are currently in ruins. I'm really afraid that the Prince Duan will find something extraordinary there."

Prince Jin smiled slightly, "He is already a pile of ruins, what else can he find?"

"Even if we don't find something from the Luan Feng Palace, I'm afraid we'll be able to find something from someone else's mouth."

"The Eunuch Shen was deliberately mentioned by the Emperor. I presume he wouldn't dare to say too much."

Noble Consort Kang sighed heavily, "I am afraid that I did not manage to kill Liu Chengyun when she was sick."

Prince Jin looked deeply into her eyes, "mother only needs to remember that the person who poisoned Mrs. Heyi's medicine all those years ago was Empress Chen, and that it had nothing to do with mother at all."

Noble Consort Kang was quiet for a moment, then nodded heavily.