Chapter 213: Move back for your lordship (1/2)

Chapter 213: Move back for your lordship

Of all the people present, only the young eunuch had no idea what was going on. Li mama and Eunuch Gu had both served the empress dowager for over ten years. No matter how stupid they were, years of living in the palace had made them witnesses to many things. All of them could catch the oddity with this matter.

Nobody had suspected Grand Concubine Yi and Murong Wanru before because the empress was the one who summoned her to the palace. Furthermore, she had never been conferred a title. Because nobody suspected anything about her, no one bothered to investigate her past. But now the results were enough to stir suspicions within the empress dowager. With Grand Concubine Yi favoring Murong Wanru, the Murong family should be favored as well. Even if Murong Wanru wanted to distance herself from the Murong family, they should’ve come knocking on the door themselves. With such connections alone, the local officials would have to treat them well.

Why did it seem like everyone had disappeared from the Murong family instead? Grand Concubine Yi was so fond of Murong Wanru. Did she have any other reasons besides finding her agreeable?

Once she got her hands on the 《Daily Records of the Imperial Harem》, the empress dowager turned to Grand Concubine Yi’s pages. Here, there were detailed accounts of Grand Concubine Yi’s pregnancy, such as when she was determined to be pregnant, when she gave birth, and the midwives present. The empress dowager carefully looked at line after line before Li mama couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Mistress, His Highness Duke of Qin is an age older1 than Murong Wanru.”

The empress dowager didn’t even raise her head as she replied coldly, “She only entered the palace when she was six years old. Who knows if she was really six at the time?”

At these words, Li mama and Eunuch Gu exchanged glances. It seemed like they were on the same wavelength as esteemed empress dowager.

“Cui Ping, Shuang Xi2, Imperial Physician Lin, Gui mama, Mother Chen, Mama Su…” the empress dowager’s long, long nail pointed at each of the names without leaving anyone out. “Eunuch Gu, go and find all these people for me. I want to interrogate each of them personally. Remember, no one else can know of this matter!”

Eunuch Gu glanced at the names before silently committing them to memory. “Mistress need not worry, your servant understands.”

The empress dowager was very satisfied. She even handed the 《Daily Records of the Imperial Harem》 to Eunuch Gu, her eyes sharp and incisive.

Grand Concubine Yi, Duke of Qin, you two better pray to Heaven for protection. Don’t let me find anything, or else…I’ll have your Duke of Qin’s estate disappear off the face of Tianning forever!

Danger spread its roots without anyone the wiser.

—

It wasn’t clear whether Long Feiye had found Mama Su yet, but Han Yunxi spent the past month extremely busy. It wasn’t good to care too much after his affairs, so she didn’t bother asking, either. She fulfilled her promise to leave Murong Wanru at Marquis Pingbei’s estate, while Grand Concubine Yi did her half by relinquishing all matters related to the estate. Besides the occasional trips to Marquis Pingbei’s estate to check on Murong Wanru, she spent most of her time in the Peony Courtyard.

With help from Steward Xia and Zhao mama, Han Yunxi made drastic reforms to the estate. She got rid of Grand Concubine Yi and Murong Wanru’s most trusted subordinates and placed two dependable servant girls to wait upon the Peony Courtyard. She even dismissed most of the idle workers, leaving only a few servant girls and pageboys for Zhao mama and Steward Xia. As for security measures, that was Chu Xifeng’s responsibility. In a flash, there were only a few pieces left of a once gigantic system, leaving things pure and fresh. Efficiency rose as a result, while cliques and groups lessened, helping everyone to become of the same mind. After taking care of such business, Han Yunxi still had something very important to do: moving out of the Hibiscus Courtyard.

That was Long Feiye’s territory. Without his permission, no one could enter or exist. Han Yunxi had relied on that courtyard in fear of Grand Concubine Yi and Murong Wanru seeking her trouble. She couldn’t keep relying on it now that the troubles were gone, right? Not only did that fellow have an unhealthy obsession with cleanliness, he was also very secretive. Han Yunxi stood at the window of her little garret and looked towards Long Feiye’s darkened quarters. She thought and hesitated for a while. She could admit that she was reluctant to part with this place, but she knew it was a futile effort to stay. Nothing would come of it.

Early next morning, she was resolved as ever to move out. The goal was a large, empty compound next to Grand Concubine Yi’s called the Narcissus Residence. After busying herself for an entire day, she fell onto her back on the bed, exhausted. Though her body didn’t move, her mind was still spinning its gears. Everything had just about ran its court in the estate, but her detox system was still in the middle of upgrades to recover its abilities. Even her mental state had just about recovered, so why hadn’t the detox system started working again? Just how long would these upgrades take? Could she get an estimate of time? Fortunately, nothing major had happened recently to need the system, or else she’d be crying by now.

“Esteemed wangfei, this old servant still thinks it isn’t appropriate. After all…you should tell His Highness first, shouldn’t you?” Zhao mama was still talking about the same thing. She didn’t want esteemed wangfei to move out.

Han Yunxi was ready to sprout cocoons from her ears as she waved a hand. “Zhao mama, it’s getting late. You should go sleep.”

Fine, even Zhao mama was tired from persuading her all day. She helplessly shook her head and silently retreated. Only then did Han Yunxi open her eyes to stare at the ceiling. Long Feiye should be very happy that she moved out. Why would he blame her for not telling him first? Moreover, a busy man like him probably didn’t have time to notice such minor matters. Heaven knows if he was even back yet. Han Yunxi lazily got up and prepared to get ready for bed. Right at that moment, Zhao mama suddenly returned, smiling at Han Yunxi with a mysterious look on her face. Han Yunxi felt her hairs stand on end as she said unhappily, “If there’s something to say, then speak up!”

Zhao mama smiled even more happily. “Esteemed wangfei, just then His Highness sent people over to, what were the exact words again…” as Zhao mama spoke, she cleared her throat before adopting Long Feiye’s icy, aggressive tone. “The things that were moved out of the Hibiscus Courtyard today, must all be returned without fail to their original places within an hour!”

Han Yunxi startled at these words. Zhao mama’s voice wasn’t very loud to begin with, but she felt like her ears were ringing in pain.

“Esteemed wangfei, His Highness has orders. Please forgive me.”

Zhao mama wasn’t a bit apologetic, her smile so wide it was impossible to close her lips. With a wave of her hand, the crowd of people outside swarmed in like bees. Aside from the servant girls, there was Steward Xia and the pageboys. A dozen or so subordinates were all personally picked out by Han Yunxi herself, their hands quick and dexterous. They swarmed in and whizzed out, using only a few trips to sweep the giant compound clean. Han Yunxi had always hated unreasonable, aggressive people, but when she looked around at the forcibly emptied rooms, she didn’t feel disgusted at all. Instead, she felt something indescribable.

By now, Zhao mama had returned again. “Esteemed wangfei, His Highness has further words to pass on.”