The First Empress - Chapter 9

Chapter 9 The Truth
The next morning, after serving Huiqi to wash up and change her clothes, Bu Linglong drove to the Kunde Palace to pay her respects to the Empress as usual after Huiqi got up and drove to the court.

The Empress did not say anything more. She only asked a few questions about Bu Linglong’s condition last night, and then she let Bu Linglong leave. Bu Linglong was anxious and happy for the Empress to let her go. As soon as she left the Kun De Palace, she changed into a small sedan chair and hurried to the Changqing Palace where Chen Chongyi was.

In front of Changqing Palace, a sharp-eyed eunuch hurriedly ran to inform Chen Chongyi. Chen Chongyi helped the personal maid out to welcome Bu Linglong. She was both surprised and gratified, “Sister only waited on her bed last night. Why did she come to my place so early today?”

Bu Linglong did not have a trace of joy on her face. She only left the palace maids and eunuchs. She came to Chen Chongyi’s side alone and whispered, “Big sister, take me to the inner hall. I have something to say to big sister.”

Seeing this, Chen Chongyi’s expression unconsciously turned solemn, “Sister, follow me.”

After entering the inner hall, Bu Linglong sized up the surroundings. Seeing that everyone had been sent out, she calmed down slightly. As soon as he opened his mouth, it seemed to be an irrelevant topic, “Sister, is Luo’er not in the palace?”

Chen Chongyi was stunned, but she still replied, “No, at this time, she went to the weaving bureau with the other princesses to learn the female celebrity.”

Bu Linglong nodded and continued, “Sister, do you remember the morning when I went to the Imperial Garden with Baoluo to admire the flowers and met Concubine Lan?”

How could Chen Chongyi not remember? He nodded slightly and added, “It was that afternoon that you found the Crystal Osmanthus Cake poisoned by Imperial Concubine Rou in the Empress’ palace.”

“Yes, so now I have a question to ask elder sister-did you receive the crystal osmanthus cake from the Imperial Cuisine House that day?”

Chen Chongyi hesitated and recalled for a moment. She said, “Seems like not. Crystal osmanthus cake is Luo’er’s favorite. I often instruct the kitchen to cook it, but if the Imperial Cuisine Room specially sends it over, I should have an impression of it.” As she spoke, she got up and walked outside the room. She said to the palace maid who was standing, “Ju Hui, go to the kitchen and ask. On the day of the accident in the Empress’ palace, they did not receive any pastries from the Imperial Cuisine House.”

However, after a while, Ju Hui bent her knees and came back to report, “If we return to the Empress, we did not receive any cakes from the Imperial Cuisine House that day, nor did we receive any from the Imperial Cuisine House for a few days.”

Hearing this, Chen Chongyi turned her gaze to Bu Linglong. Unexpectedly, Bu Linglong’s expression became even darker. After a moment, she waited for Ju Hui to retreat far away before saying, “To tell you the truth, that day Luo’er escaped from the red girl and went to my palace to play. It was only then that I remembered that the Imperial Cuisine Room brought osmanthus cake over in the morning and took it out to eat with Luo’er.” If I hadn’t used that pastry with Luo’er in the morning, I wouldn’t have been able to smell the slightest difference in aroma between the two in the Queen’s Palace in the afternoon. ”

Chen Chongyi was also a smart person. Thinking about it, his expression unconsciously changed. Since the Changqing Palace did not receive the pastries that day, he knew that the pastries had not been sent to the six palaces. Then why did he give them to the Qixia Palace alone? Bu Linglong had no special hobbies for pastries. If Princess Baoluo hadn’t happened to visit, she probably wouldn’t have taken care of those pastries. And Baoluo was always an obedient girl. Why did she run away from the female celebrity to find Bu Linglong that day?

One by one, “accidental” series, often constitute some inevitability.

Chen Chongyi called Ju Hui in again. Her expression was much more solemn than before. She lowered her voice and instructed, “Quietly, go to the Imperial Cuisine Room and find Xiao Huan Zi. Ask him how many palaces did the Imperial Cuisine Room deliver the Crystal Osmanthus Flower Cake to that day.”

She turned around and gently held Bu Linglong’s hand, explaining, “Don’t worry, Xiao Huan Zi has served me before and is trustworthy.”

Wait a little longer this time, But after about half an hour, there was still news quietly sent back to Changqing Palace: “Back to Your Highness, that day, the Imperial Cuisine Room only delivered cakes to Kun De Palace and Qi Xia Palace. Originally, they were also going to deliver cakes to Imperial Concubine Zhou’s Palace, but Wei Lan happened to come to instruct Imperial Concubine Zhou’s lunch changes, so the people in the Imperial Cuisine Room wrapped the cakes for Wei Lan and let her go back.”

Chen Chongyi and Bu Linglong exchanged glances. They could already see the unease and shock in each other’s eyes. After a moment of silence, Chen Chongyi could not help but say, “That Luo’er’s side …”

“Your Highness, there’s no need to ask.” Bu Linglong’s voice trembled imperceptibly. ‘”The Empress and her concubines know Luo’er’s temperament. Even if that red woman is really boring, Luo’er won’t easily run away from the table. Someone must have encouraged Luo’er at that time-Luo’er wouldn’t dare to return to Changqing Palace after leaving the weaving bureau, so she can only go to my palace.”

“If that’s the case …” Even Chen Chongyi’s voice began to tremble, “Then that aconite-headed poison that day, perhaps … wasn’t from Imperial Concubine Rou?”

Bu Linglong stared at the square bricks on the ground and slowly nodded.

“Is it … the Empress?” Chen Chongyi’s voice was so low that even Bu Linglong couldn’t hear it clearly. “I know that the Empress hates Concubine Rou, but this time, it seems to be a little too quick … If the Empress really acted like this, and her schemes were far-reaching, how could she be suppressed by Concubine Rou for so many years in the palace?”

“Sister is wise.” Bu Linglong felt a chill run down her spine and understood the risks involved in her speculation. “The reason why the Empress was unable to take down Imperial Concubine Rou in the palace was because someone refused to let Imperial Concubine Rou fall. Now, the Empress was able to force Imperial Concubine Rou to death with a piece of uneaten poisoned pastry because someone acquiesced to do so.”

This “someone” could not be said openly, but needless to say, it was already firmly established, too obvious.

Chen Chongyi sucked in a breath of cold air, “General Zhou has already been executed …”

Bu Linglong nodded, feeling a little pity in her heart.

This topic could not continue. Every word she said was a little more dangerous for her and Chen Chongyi. Bu Linglong was about to start another topic when she heard Chen Chongyi sigh faintly–

“Little sister, you entered the palace late, so a lot of things did not see. Imperial Concubine Rou entered the palace only one year later than the Empress. At that time, the Emperor was only twenty-one years old. Nine years, nine whole years. The emperor and her … how deep is their relationship? Even after ascending to the throne, the emperor cannot tolerate the military power of her mother’s family. What can a weak woman like her do if she is imprisoned in the palace? Why did he set up such a trap on his own initiative? Step by step, he had to force her to death … ”

Bu Linglong was shocked. She hurriedly covered Chen Chongyi’s mouth with a silk silk cloth and anxiously said, “Sister, you don’t want to die! How disrespectful is this!”

Chen Chongyi immediately reacted and couldn’t help but turn pale. She repeatedly said, “This palace has made a mistake …”

Bu Linglong worriedly twisted the handkerchief in her hand, “Sister, this is the end of the story. It’s the old Chinese calendar that has already been flipped over. Dust goes back to dust, earth goes back to earth. It’s fine if you know me. Otherwise, we’ll lose our lives immediately.”

Chen Chongyi had bitterly endured in the palace for more than ten years, how could he not know the severity of it? After clearing his throat, a gentle expression changed on his face. He held Bu Linglong’s hand and said affectionately as if nothing had happened, “This palace has obtained two new batches of satin. The color is a bit more charming. It is very suitable for my younger sister’s age. Remember to bring it when my younger sister returns to the palace.”

Bu Linglong naturally showed a happy expression and said gratefully, “Concubine, thank you for your concern.” As he talked about the style of the palace dress, he gradually changed the topic.

However … the bitterness in Bu Linglong’s heart could not dissipate. It was like a cold wind in late autumn, wandering around in waves and refusing to leave. Nine years of deep affection, once kindness is broken, and the relationship between myself and Huiqi is just a blessing in disguise, I’m afraid, it’s even more humble to the point that it’s not worth mentioning …

The more Bu Linglong thought about it, the more melancholy she became. No matter how lively the topic was, it was still deserted.

After a while, because Chen Chongyi ordered no one to enter the inner hall, a young eunuch knelt outside the room and said with a long voice, “Your Highness–”

Chen Chongyi frowned and raised her face to ask, “What is it? Come in and tell me.”

“Yes,” said the eunuch respectfully. “Your Majesty has decreed that a family banquet will be held at Hsiungtai tonight. Please attend the banquet punctually.” After reporting his business, he lowered his voice and attached a message, “I heard it was for the sake of Jin Lan Beauty’s status.”

Chen Chongyi’s eyelids twitched as he calmly asked, “Is Jin Jieyu coming?”

“Back to the Empress,” the little eunuch bent down even more. “The news from Zhaoyang Palace said that Lan Beauty’s father had contributed greatly to the country, and the Emperor intended to give it to Feng Zhaoyuan.”

Chen Chongyi’s expression suddenly changed. After she waved her hand and ordered the eunuch to retreat, she forced a smile and said to Bu Linglong, “Look, it hasn’t even been half a year since I entered the palace. I’m actually going to sit on equal footing with you.”

Bu Linglong’s eyebrows were silent. She only shook her head and comforted Chen Chongyi, “Only one has gone. Another has come. Your Highness, we don’t have to fight over this. We just need to live our own lives.”