Chapter 362: A Good Opportunity
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Xiao Juan was skeptical. “Since it’s not a sneak attack, why did you rush over from behind?”
Princess Tao Ran was angry and aggrieved. She said fiercely, “I have nothing better to do. I want to see if I can pick you up from behind. Can’t I?”
Xiao Juan said firmly, “Of course not. I’m a married man, and you’re about to marry the Emperor of the Chen Nation. We have to keep a distance from each other and not cross any lines.”
Princess Tao Ran no longer had the strength to say anything to him.
She said tiredly, “I’m tired. Go back first.”
Xiao Juan opened the door and walked out, instructing the maidservant who was waitinz outside, “Princess Tao Ran seems to be iniured. Get the Dhvsician to take a look at her.”
The maid was surprised. “Why is the princess injured?”
Xiao Juan did not answer and walked away.
He returned to his room, placed the No Return Saber at the head of the bed, took off his outerwear, and went to bed.
The next morning, Yu Niaoniao finished dressing up. Chun Feng wanted to put rouge on her face, but she refused.
“That’ll do.”
Chun Feng looked at her fair face and hesitated. “But you don’t look very good now.”
Yu Niaoniao looked at her cheeks in the mirror. She only applied foundation makeup, but there was no rouge or lip gloss, making her entire face look pale.
She smiled, pleased with this.
“That’s the effect I want.”
Chun Feng did not understand, but she did not ask further. There were many things that servants like her should not know.
Yu Niaoniao took a carriage to the palace with Meng Xizhou protecting her.
Coincidentally, they met Wei Liao by the palace gate.
After the past few days of adjustment, his mood improved a lot. At least he looked the same as usual.
He sized Yu Niaoniao up unscrupulously, his tone very playful.
“The Princess Consort of Lang County doesn’t look well today. Don’t tell me she fell sick because she misses Duke Lang?”
Yu Niaoniao pressed her hand to her heart and coughed lightly. She deliberately said in an affected tone.
“Yes, I haven’t been feeling well for the past two days. You’d better stay away from me, in case anything happens to me later and I have to blame you.”
Wei Liao sneered and said mockingly, “That’s true. You’re the apple of Duke
Lang’s eye. If anything happens, I won’t be able to bear the responsibility.”
Yu Niaoniao said, “Then please make way, Vice General Wei. You’re in our way.”
Wei Liao turned to the side and made way.
Yu Niaoniao walked past him with Meng Xizhou.
Wei Liao stood there and watched them leave.
He looked at Yu Niaoniao’s back thoughtfully.
“Why did the Princess Consort of Lang County enter the palace today?”
The Imperial Guard in charge of guarding the empty door answered truthfully, “Noble Consort Shu is holding a flower appreciation banquet in the palace today and invited all the princess consorts in the capital to the palace to admire the flowers and drink tea. I heard that the Empress Dowager will also attend.”
Wei Liao stroked his chin. He remembered that the Princess Consort of Lang County and Noble Consort Shu did not have a good relationship. Logically speaking, Noble Consort Shu would not invite the Princess Consort of Lang County to the palace as a guest.
Now that the Prince of Lang County had just left, Noble Consort Shu called the Princess Consort of Lang County into the palace.
Could there be a conspiracy?
But none of this had anything to do with him.
He was more concerned about something else..
A few days ago, the emperor had ordered a thorough investigation of all the people in the palace and found several missing palace servants. Wei Liao was in charge of investigating their whereabouts.
After some investigation, he realized that there was something wrong with a palace maid called the Yunque.
Yunque was originally an embroiderer in the Weaving Division. Because of her outstanding embroidery skills, she was transferred to the Startling Palace. Coincidentally, she was from the same hometown as Wang Cai.
Although he had not found any evidence, with Wei Liao’s experience in handling cases, he felt that the disappearance of Yunque and Wang Cai’s death was related to the Starling Palace.
Originally, Wei Liao had been vexed. What should he do to find out the truth about the Startling Palace?
Now, an opportunity had come knocking on his door.
Noble Consort Shu was busy entertaining the princess consorts today. There would definitely not be many people in the Startling Palace. It was a good opportunity to sneak in and investigate!
Wei Liao made up his mind. He turned around and walked into the palace. The Sky Wolf Guards following behind were stunned and hurriedly asked.
“Where are you going, sir?”
Wei Liao replied without looking back, “I have something to do. You guys go back first.”
Today’s flower appreciation banquet was set in the imperial garden.
When Yu Niaoniao arrived, almost all the other princess consorts were present.
Everyone was talking in groups.
When they saw the Princess Consort of Lang County appear, their voices fell silent.
Yu Niaoniao was used to this.
She pretended to be sick and found a place to sit down and rest.
At this moment, a line of words seemed to be written on her forehead: I’m sick. Please don’t approach!
Indeed, no one had any intention of approaching her. They were all secretly observing her, wanting to see what was wrong with the Princess Consort of Lang County today. Why did she look so pale?
Soon, Noble Consort Shu and Empress Dowager Deng arrived.
Everyone stood up and bowed to the two of them.
Noble Consort Shu helped Empress Dowager Deng sit at the head of the table.
Empress Dowager Deng’s smile was very kind. “Dispense with the ceremony. Stop standing. Sit.”
The princess consorts sat down and began to praise Empress Dowager Deng and Noble Consort Shu. They poured out pleasant words as if they were free.
Only Yu Niaoniao remained silent.
Noble Consort Shu asked.
“Why isn’t the Princess Consort of Lang County speaking today?”
Yu Niaoniao stood up and said gently.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I haven’t been feeling well for the past two days. I might have caught a cold by chance. I’m afraid of spreading the disease to you and the Empress Dowager, so I don’t dare to say anything.
Please forgive me.”
Noble Consort Shu looked concerned.
“Since you’re sick, you have to rest well. The wind here is strong and you can’t stand the cold. Why don’t you go to the Startling Palace to rest and get the Imperial Physician to take a look at you?”
Yu Niaoniao hurriedly waved her hand. “There’s no need to go through so much trouble. I’ve already taken medicine. It’s fine.”
However, Noble Consort Shu was very insistent on letting Yu Niaoniao rest in the Startling Palace.
In the end, even Queen Mother Deng spoke.
“Since it’s Noble Consort Shu’s good inten tions, Princess Consort Lang, go and rest. ”
Once Empress Dowager Deng spoke, how could Yu Niaoniao have the right to refuse?
She could only thank her and be carried to the Startling Palace by the sedan.
After she left. Noble Consort Shu glanced at Liu Zhi. who was following her.
Liu Zhi understood and quietly left the Imperial Garden, following the sedan in front.
When the sedan was halfway there, Yu Niaoniao spoke to the eunuchs carrying the sedan.
“I suddenly remembered that I haven’t paid my respects to the Empress since I entered the palace. Send me to the Fengyi Palace. I have to pay my respects to the Empress first.”
The eunuchs said awkwardly, “But Noble Consort Shu asked us to send you to the Startling Palace.”
Yu Niaoniao said, “It’s fine. I’ll go to the Fengyi Palace first. It’s the same if I go to the Startling Palace later. If Noble Consort Shu blames me later, I’ll bear the responsibility. I won’t implicate you.”
Hearing her say this, the eunuchs relaxed and prepared to change directions to the Fengyi Palace.
At this moment, Liu Zhi hurriedly caught up.
“Why did you guys change lanes?”