nycdaug Chapter 293: Lots of Mysteries
Chapter 293: Lots of Mysteries
Although Concubine Yu received the reward, she was not happy in her heart. Firstly, her identity was a taboo. Secondly, what the empress dowager said today made her hesitate about her original decision. Is it really right to become a substitute for glory and wealth?
Concubine Yu's eyes vaguely swept over Yu Qingli who was standing beside her. Even though she just stood there with her hands hanging down and said nothing, her natural brilliance could not be concealed.
The Queen Mother waved her hand impatiently, "Alright, if there's nothing else, you can go back first. I believe His Majesty still has a lot of important matters to deal with, so there's no need to waste time here."
Murong Shiling knew that if he continued to stay, he would only bring trouble to himself, and Concubine Yu would probably not be in a good mood.
Thinking of this, Murong Shileng took Concubine Yu's hand, gave her a reassuring smile, then bowed to the empress dowager before leaving the Cining Palace.
After the emperor and his companions left, Yu Qingli said goodbye to the empress dowager, "Grandmother, it's getting late. I won't bother you any longer."
"Qingli girl, are you frightened by my attitude just now?"
Yu Qingli smiled faintly and said, "How could that be? Grandmother, you're worrying too much. Qingli isn't that vulnerable."
"That's true. From the first moment I saw you, I felt that you were extraordinary. But with your personality, it's a pity that you married Feng'er."
"It's fate, and Qingli has been in love with the eldest prince since she first met him two years ago. It will last a lifetime."
"Oh? If that's the case, I heard that you two haven't consummated your marriage yet, little girl Qingli, although I love you very much, if you want to continue living in this palace, this won't do."
Yu Qingli blushed. Although it was fake, it looked real. She secretly complained in her heart, who told the Queen Mother about this matter? On second thought, this was not surprising. There were no secrets in the palace. Besides, the Queen Mother was not as indifferent as the rumors said.
Yu Qingli thought for a moment and replied, "Grandmother, it's not that Qingli is unwilling to consummate the marriage with His Highness. It's just that for some reason, Qingli feels that since the marriage, the eldest prince's feelings for Qingli are no longer the same as they were two years ago."
Yu Qingli paused, then suddenly knelt down before the Empress Dowager and said respectfully, "Grandmother, if you truly care about me, could you please not force this matter? I want to wait until the eldest prince's heart returns to me before we truly become husband and wife."
Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother only sighed, waved her hand, and indicated that Yu Qingli could leave. Yu Qingli retreated politely.
As soon as they left the palace gate, Xiluo, who was following closely behind, took a step forward and called out in a low voice, "Miss..."
"Let's talk about it when we get back."
Yu Qingli lowered her voice and quickened her pace. Xiluo did not say anything else and followed Yu Qingli back to the hall.
After passing through two or three palaces, Yu Qingli and the others stepped into the familiar courtyard planted with albizzia trees. Meihong was not in the palace, only Qinghe was still sweeping the fallen leaves in the courtyard.
As soon as Yu Qingli and Xiluo returned to the palace, they closed the door, as if they had something to say. Although Qinghe was confused in broad daylight, she did not dare to go over and eavesdrop.
In the room, Yu Qingli had a cold expression on her face. She vaguely felt that something was wrong. When she went to see the Queen Mother today, she felt like she was being tested in every word. What on earth was the Queen Mother planning?
Thinking that Xiluo seemed to have something to say to him earlier, he couldn't help but ask, "Xiluo, what did you want to say before?"
"My lady, I just discovered that there is someone hiding in the Queen Mother's inner palace."
"Hidden people? Where? Maybe you are mistaken. There are many maids in the Queen Mother's palace. It is not surprising that one or two are hidden in the inner hall."
"I am not mistaken. This person is definitely not an ordinary palace maid. And just now, when the Queen Mother was questioning me, I sensed a murderous aura."
Yu Qingli raised her eyes to look at Xiluo, "Are you saying that the Queen Mother wants to kill me?"
"I dare not speculate, but the murderous aura in the inner hall is real, so Miss, you'd better be careful in everything you do. Even if it's not the Queen Mother's instigation, she is definitely not free from responsibility."
Yu Qingli's expression turned cold. It seemed that she was really in a situation where she was surrounded by enemies on all sides. Even the empress dowager who looked very kind was so cunning and scheming.
"Xiluo, can you find out who is hiding in the inner hall?"
Xiluo paused, as if considering his options. After a while, he said, "It should be possible! There's another thing I'm concerned about. Today, I smelled a peculiar scent in the Empress Dowager's palace. It was like the fragrance of flowers with a hint of the sweetness of cakes. It's a very unique scent. I've smelled it on the young master before, during the time he was poisoned."
Yu Qingli's heart skipped a beat. This meant that the man in the Empress Dowager's palace was probably not just trying to attack her, but had already done so, but just failed.
I'm afraid that the poison that Murong Yue was infected with before was originally meant for me.
Thinking of this, Yu Qingli suddenly remembered something, "Xiluo, do you remember what Murong Yue ate on the day she was poisoned?"
"I remember that the young master not only had a meal with us that day, but also ate some cakes sent by the prince."
Yu Qingli was stunned when she heard this, "You mean it was sent by the King of Yan?"
Xiluo suddenly thought of something and his expression became serious. "It seems that the Queen Mother has probably planted someone beside His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan."
Yu Qingli remained silent. Xiluo was right. This matter was indeed very strange. Who was trying to kill her? If it was the Queen Mother, she could have found any excuse to convict her. There was no need to resort to such despicable means. Moreover, Murong Yanhui was involved in this matter. She didn't think Murong Yanhui would poison Murong Yue. The only possible explanation for the whole thing was that Murong Yanhui was also kept in the dark.
Yu Qingli began to worry. This matter was of great importance and would not be resolved in a day or two. She immediately ordered Xiluo to keep a close eye on it and wait until the people from the Empress Dowager's palace showed up.
The situation was turbulent, and another secret struggle came to an end after Murong Shiling changed the imperial decree granting the marriage, but at least the result was good.
A single stone stirred up a thousand ripples, and many people in and outside the court immediately began to speculate about the truth behind the change in the arranged marriage. However, both the royal family and the Yu family were very secretive about this matter, which made the matter seem even more unusual.
However, such uneasiness was ultimately hidden in the heated wedding preparations. The Ministry of Rites, who were trying to whitewash the situation, tried their best to please Murong Cheng and made the wedding neither ostentatious nor gorgeous and unique.
Yu Qingli felt a vague unease in her heart. In her memory, the Crown Princess shouldn't be Liu Jinghong. Moreover, she seemed to have overlooked something. What was it?
Three days after Murong Cheng's wedding.
Yu Qingli held a cloud piece and placed it steadily on the rosewood chessboard.
"What's the point of playing chess with myself?" Murong Yanhui sat down with a smile and picked up a white piece and put it down.
"Guess who I met just now?" Murong Yan looked up at Yu Qingli, only to see her with her brows lowered, staring intently at the chessboard. Her long eyelashes seemed transparent in the sunlight, trembling slightly like butterfly wings, opening and closing, inexplicably making people feel clear and beautiful.
Yu Qingli dropped another piece after hearing this, "Who?"
"So there are things you can't guess." Murong Yan replied with a happy smile, "Here's a hint: it's the person I fear the most."
Yu Qingli made another move, "Master Liu?"
"Isn't it? He also brought some great news." Murong Yan replied, randomly making another move. "This time, we really did achieve something unexpected."
Yu Qingli finally placed a piece and looked up and said, "Uncle, you lose."
"If you lose, then you lose." Murong Yanhui simply swept all the chess pieces away. "It turns out that Liu Jinghong is actually Old Man Liu's biological daughter."
Murong Yanhui looked at Yu Qingli's surprised expression with satisfaction. "Unexpected, right? Indeed, who could have imagined that such a pedantic old man like Liu would have so disregarded etiquette back then, forcing Miss Xiaoru to flee her hometown, and only on his deathbed did he tell Miss Liu that her father was in the Imperial Capital. Only then did Miss Liu enter the capital, and who would have thought that after years of searching for him with no news, she was about to give up when something unexpected happened."
Murong Yanhui tutted his words, "This is really interesting. Old Liu has such a big handle in my hands this time. Let's see if he dares to talk nonsense in front of me in the future."
The two were talking when a familiar voice suddenly rang out from outside the courtyard, "I'm here to visit my sister. Do I need to inform her as well?"
Murong Yanhui raised the corner of his eyebrows and glanced at Yu Qingli, but only saw a faint smile on her lips, and he winked at Xiluo.
Xiluo immediately understood and went to the gate to greet him.
Yu Qingli glanced at Murong Yanhui and asked, "Isn't the emperor's uncle going to avoid it?"
"You guys aren't doing anything shameful, why should I avoid you?"
"My daughter is talking privately, and it is inconvenient for the emperor's uncle to be present."
Murong Yanhui sneered, "I'm curious about what kind of private conversation Lili can have with her."
Seeing that Murong Yan couldn't go back, Yu Qingli was too lazy to say anything to him.
Ever since Murong Cheng got married, Murong Yanhui had been repaying his kindness by persuading Murong Cheng to ask the emperor for permission to learn chess from him. He had become even more shameless.
As soon as Yu Zhenzhen followed Xiluo into the yard, she saw Yu Qingli and Murong Yanhui sitting opposite each other. Murong Yanhui was leaning against a tree beside him with his hands on his head. His slightly narrowed eyes made it difficult to tell his emotion, but the beautiful curve of his lips made Yu Zhenzhen's heart skip a beat. After a brief moment of joy, Yu Zhenzhen's heart sank again. Why was Murong Yanhui in Yu Qingli's yard?
Yu Zhenzhen's eyes slashed across Yu Qingli's cheeks like knives. This shameless woman was not satisfied with marrying Murong Feng, and she actually tried to seduce His Royal Highness the Prince of Yan!