frightfiction Chapter 172 Full of Suspicious Points
Chapter 172 Full of Suspicious Points
At Songhe Pavilion, the bodyguard Ling Xiao recounted everything he had seen and heard that day to Lu Zhiheng.
His Majesty has not attended court for several days in a row. After finishing his official duties, he goes directly to Xingyue Palace. His favor towards Consort Qiao is even greater than before. There are many strange things going on, which makes people think a lot.
Lu Zhiheng sat at the desk, still wearing his court robes, the bright red color of which made his already handsome face appear even more dignified.
"Your Majesty, I have observed that Consort Qiao's words and actions have recently become increasingly similar to those of the former Consort Chu," Ling Xiao reported, bowing.
Upon hearing this, Lu Zhiheng scoffed, "When did she become unlike that person?"
Since entering the palace, she had been intentionally imitating the former imperial concubine, first by wearing purple clothes, and then by her dancing and musical skills.
“Since she wants to spread this matter, then let’s give her a hand. Ling Xiao, you tell Qiao Gongquan about this, and I want to see what he does.”
Now that Qiao Gongquan is on good terms with him in official matters, he naturally has to protect his daughter to some extent.
"Yes!"
After saying that, Chu Qingyin's gentle and beautiful face appeared in his mind again.
wrong……
He suddenly remembered the night the two of them killed the black bear. In the dim light of the night, with only the moonlight scattered to make out some outlines, how did she manage to hit the black bear in the eye with an arrow?
Lu Zhiheng's gaze suddenly sharpened as scenes from the past flashed through his mind.
When they first met, Qiao Qingyin, who had not yet entered the palace, felt an inexplicable hostility towards him.
Later, she went to the Ministry of Justice alone, and her excuse for going to pray for blessings now seems very strange.
Furthermore, she had never met that Consort Chu, so how could she have achieved such a similar appearance and mannerisms?
And when she fell to the bottom of the cliff, the way she stitched up her wounds was clearly a technique commonly used in military camps...
"Lingxiao!"
Ling Xiao had one foot almost out the window when he suddenly heard the call and turned around in surprise: "Master?"
Lu Zhiheng's face was frosty. "Go and investigate whether Consort Qiao has ever had any contact with anyone in the military before?"
Ling Xiao was taken aback, finding the order rather strange.
How could Consort Qiao, a pampered young lady raised in seclusion, have any connection with people in the military?
However, since his master had given such an order, he dared not ask any further questions.
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Ling Xiao agreed, then braced his fist against the window and quickly disappeared into the dark night.
The night was cool and still, with a gentle breeze blowing.
Lu Zhiheng sat alone in the bamboo pavilion in front of Songhe Pavilion. His servant Cheng'an brought him a pot of clear wine, which was the famous Pear Blossom White from Zuixianlou.
He had changed into a moon-white brocade robe, with delicate cloud patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs with light blue silk thread. The silk thread shimmered under the moonlight, like the reflection of a lamp in the water under the night sky, flowing and shining.
Alone under the moon, he drank cup after cup of pear blossom wine. The spicy liquid slid down his throat, but it could not dispel the many doubts in his heart.
The events that occurred in the mountain courtyard showed that Consort Qiao's behavior was completely different from that of a young lady raised in the inner chambers.
At that time, under those circumstances, he had no intention of thinking about it, nor did he want to.
But there are many things that he can't simply stop thinking about just because he doesn't want to.
There are just too many suspicious points.
Even though she was trying her best to hide it, there were still many oddities that could not be ignored.
Suddenly, an image of a woman dressed in coarse linen clothes, holding firewood in her arms, smiling at him flashed into Lu Zhiheng's mind.
At that time, Qiao Qingyin's cheeks were rosy, and in the sunlight, it seemed as if every strand of her hair was radiating golden light. Her eyebrows were curved in a smile, and the cinnabar mole between her eyebrows was even more captivating...
Realizing he had lost his focus, Lu Zhiheng shook his head violently, spilling the wine from his glass onto the floor.
He raised his hand and touched his chest, feeling the violent pounding of his chest, and inexplicably became agitated.
Since returning to the palace, her charming and beautiful face has been constantly appearing in his mind, impossible to guard against.
Qiao Qingyin, Chu Qingyin...
Two incredibly similar faces—could it be that she really has returned?
Lu Zhiheng was suddenly startled by his own thought. He had never believed in ghosts or gods, but only in the power of human will to overcome nature.
How could such a bizarre thing as possession and resurrection exist in this world?
The moonlight shone on the man's cold face, outlining his furrowed brows, but it couldn't penetrate his unfathomable black eyes.
***
The following day, Pei Yuanling, concerned about Chu Qingyin's health, still rushed to Xingyue Palace after court.
Stepping into the inner room, he saw that Chu Qingyin's face was as pale as paper and her figure seemed even thinner. His heart clenched, and he hurriedly stepped forward to hold her hand: "Yinyin, what happened to you? You were fine yesterday."
Chu Qingyin forced a weak smile and said softly, "Your Majesty, perhaps you caught a chill last night, it's nothing serious."
Pei Yuanling would never believe her words. He turned and glared at Xianglan, scolding, "How have you been serving Her Highness! How did she become so ill overnight!"
Xianglan was so frightened that she knelt down with a thud, trembling, and blurted out the words she had prepared beforehand.
"Your Majesty, I am innocent! The Empress has been feeling unwell since she returned yesterday, and I never expected her to be in such a state this morning."
If one had only been exposed to the scorching sun for two hours, it would have been impossible for them to become this ill, let alone catch a cold...
"Yesterday, when the Empress Dowager invited Your Highness over, this servant was left outside the palace. I don't know if Your Highness..."
"Shut up!"
Chu Qingyin's voice was hoarse as she forced herself to sit up, her eyes filled with exhaustion: "Your Majesty, please don't listen to Xianglan's nonsense. It's because I'm weak that I threw off the covers at night because I felt hot, and that's how I caught a cold. It has nothing to do with anyone else."
Pei Yuanling grasped her cold hand, his face grim.
How could he not understand Xianglan's implied meaning?
Furthermore, Physician Ling visited yesterday and said there was nothing seriously wrong.
Unless, something else happened in the Empress Dowager's palace.
However, the Wang family is currently very powerful, and the Empress Dowager is the Wang family's support, so even if he is dissatisfied, he can only endure it for the time being.
"It was my oversight. I will send more people to take care of you later," Pei Yuanling comforted him, his eyes full of tenderness.
"No need, Your Majesty, I have Xianglan and the others, that's enough... cough cough..."
Chu Qingyin suddenly covered her mouth and nose and coughed.
She coughed twice, but it didn't stop. She had no choice but to bury her head in the blanket. Her slender shoulders trembled uncontrollably, and she almost coughed up her lungs.
Seeing this, Pei Yuanling quickly patted her back and said, "Let's call the imperial physician to come and take a look."
"No...it really doesn't need to." Chu Qingyin grabbed the man's sleeve.
After a long while, she finally came to her senses. Her delicate face was flushed red from coughing, her willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her eyelashes trembled as she said, "But I am now seriously ill and I am afraid I will not be able to serve Your Majesty."
"It's alright, Yinyin just needs to take good care of herself."
Pei Yuanling comforted him gently, "Once you've fully recovered, I'll take you for a stroll around the palace, shall I?"
"Mmm." Chu Qingyin nodded, forcing a smile. Her voice was hoarse, and each word seemed to cause her pain.
Pei Yuanling helped her lie down, kissed her forehead, and then turned to instruct Xianglan and the others: "Have Physician Ling stay at Xingyue Palace at all times, and make sure there are no mishaps."
Xianglan and Yuyan knelt on the ground, huddled in a corner, trembling. "Yes, we obey."