Harem Daily Life

Chapter 847: Alarming the Snake

It was a rare sight to see the little queen clinging to him like a clingy girl, and He Linzhang enjoyed it very much, so he simply slept in the study.

Changle Palace was brightly lit, and palace maids and eunuchs busily searched every corner, searching for frogs that might jump out of nowhere at any moment. In the end, they found a total of seventeen! Such a large-scale appearance of frogs was definitely not accidental; someone must have done it deliberately.

The next day, He Linzhang ordered an immediate investigation to uncover the perpetrators. Eunuch Zhang and Chang Tai led a thorough search of every corner of Changle Palace, finally discovering some clues at a secluded corner gate: a dead frog and several bamboo baskets that appeared to have been used to hold frogs. He Linzhang and Tao Yanyan's fury intensified as they gazed upon this evidence.

"Zhang Fuhai, continue to investigate these clues and uncover the mastermind behind this!" He Linzhang ordered. Anyone who dared to attack Changle Palace was challenging He Linzhang's bottom line, and he would show no mercy.

In Liufang Pavilion, Shu Cairen was in a good mood because she had played a prank on the Queen. After a good sleep, she woke up feeling refreshed and called Xiao Tang to ask about the outcome of the matter.

"Sir, everything went smoothly. The basket containing frogs can be found everywhere. It is not considered as evidence at all, and they cannot find us." Xiao Tang said with some pride.

"Did anyone see you catching frogs?" Shu Cairen asked again, feeling uneasy.

Xiao Tang shook his head: "There is no one here at all, please rest assured."

"Hahahahaha, Queen Tao also has her moments of being humiliated? That's really satisfying! By the way, this matter has come to an end for now. After the storm dies down, you can think about how else you can torment her." Shu Cairen swept away the gloom and gave the order in a happy mood.

Eunuch Zhang checked for several days but got no news, so he had no choice but to bite the bullet and report to the Queen.

Tao Yanyan looked at the account book, thought for a moment, and said, "They say you shouldn't alert the enemy, but sometimes it can be a good tactic."

Eunuch Zhang rolled his eyes and said uncertainly, "Does the Empress mean to... deliberately release some news, saying that she has found clues and evidence?"

Tao Yanyan nodded. "Right now, I'm in the open, and she's in the dark. She's watching my every move, and she might be secretly delighted. But if we suddenly announce we've found a clue, to scare her or trick her, she might lose her composure and reveal her true intentions."

Eunuch Zhang suddenly understood. "Alright, I'll do as your Majesty orders. But I still have one question. Does your Majesty have any suspects? Narrow down the list so we can conduct surveillance."

Tao Yanyan narrowed her eyes and said, "Just keep an eye on Shu Cairen. I have no evidence to prove it's her. This is just my guess. As for the others, Chang Tai will keep an eye on them."

Eunuch Zhang frowned deeply. If it was really Concubine Shu, then it would be really troublesome.

Eunuch Zhang was a man of action, and soon he spread the word that a eunuch who worked as a sweeper in the Imperial Household Department had secretly reported that he had seen someone catching frogs. This news spread quickly throughout the palace, and other palaces talked about it as a topic of conversation after dinner. Only those in Liufang Pavilion were truly shocked.

Xiao Tang became restless as soon as he heard the news. He thought about everything that happened that night. He was originally sure that no one saw him, but now he was a little shaken.

Suddenly, there were footsteps outside the door, and she was so scared that she almost fell to the ground.

"Xiao Tang, Cairen wants you to come over for questioning." Xiao Xin saw Xiao Tang sitting on the ground as he pushed the door open, and hurried forward to help her up: "Don't worry, even though someone reported it, it's so dark, maybe they didn't see it clearly. Don't scare yourself and cause yourself some problems. If Cairen wants to question you, just insist that no one saw it, and she can't blame you for anything."

Xiao Tang calmed himself down and said hesitantly, "You said that our Cairen is the Queen Mother's niece. If...if I were really captured, would Cairen save my life?"

Xiao Xin frowned, looked at Xiao Tang's pale face, and said soothingly: "Don't worry, Saito is usually a very kind person. He should... protect you. After all, no one was killed, right?"

Xiao Tang felt a little relieved and followed Xiao Xin into the hall.

Shu Cairen rubbed his eyebrows, looking very painful.

"Why are you taking so long?" She was already getting impatient.

Xiao Tang stepped forward to apologize: "Cairen, I was working outside just now, so I came late." After that, he stepped forward tactfully and massaged Shu Cairen's cervical vertebrae and legs.

"I don't know if this doctor's advice is helpful. Half of my body is still swollen and painful." The pain extended from the top of her head to the toes of her right foot, tormenting Shu Cairen day and night.

"The imperial physician said that you need to promote blood circulation and unblock your meridians to relieve the pain. You'd better walk more and stretch your muscles." Xiao Tang said while massaging.

Shu Cairen didn't respond to her words, but changed the subject, "Come to think of it, I called you here because I wanted to ask you again, were you seen by anyone when you went out to do something that night?"

Xiao Tang's grip tightened, then relaxed again, saying, "Talented Lady, I swear to heaven that no one has seen me. As for the news that circulated in the palace today... I don't know what it is, so please believe me."

Shu Cairen closed her eyes and rested, thinking back to the time when the Third Prince was pushed into the water by the First Prince. It took a long time to find an eyewitness.

Since someone saw him in such a remote place, then Xiao Tang... might not have been seen.

Once the seeds of doubt are planted, they are difficult to remove. Shu Cairen opened his eyes and sat up straight, and Xiao Tang also stopped massaging.

"Xiao Xin, go see if the bird's nest is ready in the kitchen. Bring a bowl over and give it to Xiao Tang as a reward. She did a great job this time and deserves a reward."

Xiaoxin frowned, wondering why the talented person would reward a maid with such a good thing. However, she could only obey the order and take it.

The little palace maid in the kitchen saw someone coming to get the bird's nest, sighed, and gave the stewed bird's nest to Xiaoxin.

Xiao Tang was flattered. This bird's nest was the best blood bird's nest. No other concubine in the palace had it except the empress and a few other concubines. Among the lower-ranking concubines, only Shu Cairen had it.

"Eat it, and work hard for me in the future. I won't treat you unfairly." Shu Cairen persuaded Xiao Tang to eat. Xiao Tang hurriedly thanked him and ate a bowl of bird's nest in front of Shu Cairen.

"Okay, you all go and rest. I'm tired too." Shu Cairen closed his eyes again and lay back on the couch.

Xiao Xin always felt that there was something strange about what happened today, but he couldn't tell what was strange. After following Xiao Tang back to the maids' residence, Xiao Tang was still a little excited because he had received a reward from the talented person today.