Flowery Hair: A Maidservant

Chapter 174 I wonder what the Princess thinks of this matter?

As night fell, lightning flashed through the clouds, and in an instant, a torrential downpour began.

As the torrential rain finally arrived, the entire capital city seemed to fall silent at the same moment.

The Taiji Palace still stands majestically like a mountain, and the blood outside Chengtian Gate has been washed away, as if the war had never happened here.

Yu Heyuan staggered to the outside of the sleeping quarters, knelt down, and reported:

“This servant just led people to investigate and found a fist-sized hole in the wall under the northwest wall. This servant has temporarily sealed it with mud, and Chun’er is guarding it now.”

A hole in the wall, a poisonous snake, a purse stained with the sap of the snake-bed flower...

Consort Zhen tightened her grip on Hua Yan's hand. She had never experienced such a scene before. Even when Aunt Lu encountered a scorpion, she only heard Hua Yan recount the incident after returning from the manor. Now, a similar situation was happening to her, which truly made her shudder.

Hua Yan felt extremely guilty. The day after entering the mansion, she took Mingyue and Donggua to check inside and out. She figured that the hole in the wall that Xiao Nianzi mentioned must have been dug recently. These days, she had been busy preparing for Consort Hui's birthday gift and had let her guard down.

The hole in the wall that Yu Heyuan mentioned was in a small garden in the backyard. Although it was a secluded place, it had indeed been checked before and there were no problems. After seeing it herself, Hua Yan's gaze swept coldly over Qiu'er. She was in charge of looking after this wall, along with the nearby covered walkway and the few plum trees in the garden.

“Miss Hua Yan, I know I was wrong. I checked yesterday when I was cleaning, and the wall here is intact with no holes. I haven’t noticed anything unusual for almost a month…”

Qiu'er knelt on the ground, her face pale and her whole body trembling.

Dong'er held up an umbrella to shield him from the rain, but ended up getting half of her body wet herself.

"Please allow me to explain, young lady. I live with Qiu'er and can testify for her. Qiu'er was feeling unwell early yesterday morning, and I helped her clean the garden."

Hua Yan carefully observed the hole in the wall by the dim light of the lantern. Although it was only the size of a fist, it was clearly not the work of a single day.

Mengzhu stepped forward and whispered to Huayan, "Qiu'er has been on duty for over a month, and has been responsible for cleaning this place."

"Lock them up for now. Ruizhu, you will guard them yourself. We'll discuss everything tomorrow."

A commotion arose from the front yard; it was Granny Gong leading the imperial physician to Yunyi Palace for a checkup.

As Hua Yan walked forward, she heard Granny Gong talking to the concubine.

"The concubine has been frightened. The princess has ordered Chief Secretary Song and Commander Xiao to go to Concubine Yu's residence in the Begonia Courtyard to investigate. This old servant will lead the palace physician to check all the halls to see if anything has been missed."

As they were talking, a eunuch from the princess's side sent a message, requesting that Consort Zhen move to the Ruyi Palace temporarily.

Before Hua Yan accompanied Consort Zhen out of the palace, she summoned Ming Yue to her side. Ming Yue nodded and took Dong Gua towards the Begonia Courtyard. Meanwhile, Aunt Mei and Meng Zhu stayed behind in Yunyi Palace to assist the palace physician.

Everything in Ruyi Palace was in perfect order. Not only was ginger soup brewed in the small kitchen, but after Consort Zhen took her seat, Zhixue immediately served her hot tea and snacks.

The princess was grief-stricken. She first said that she had failed the prince's trust, and then said a few words about how she, as the princess, had failed to protect Concubine Yu. Concubine Wu lived next door to Concubine Yu and was in great fear at the time, but she did not forget to comfort the princess.

"It is Sister Yu's bad luck that caused her to suffer this undeserved disaster. What does it have to do with the Princess?"

Perhaps it was destined that Sister Yu would suffer this calamity; Your Highness, please don't blame yourself. Speaking of which, I just heard Sister Yu's piercing cries for help, and I was truly terrified. I'm still feeling the afterglow.

Upon hearing this, Consort Zhen gave Concubine Wu a cold glance and said:

"Concubine Wu and Concubine Yu had been together for a long time, but I never expected her to be so cold-hearted."

Speaking of which, Haitang Courtyard is quite far from Guangzhi Gate, and there are many buildings in the rear hall. It's as if the venomous snakes specifically targeted her, as if they had a scent. The reason for this is truly thought-provoking.

What is the Princess's opinion on this matter?

Hua Yan stood behind the concubine. Although she felt that the concubine's words were inappropriate, she was too late to stop her. However, she did notice that Xing Yu's body trembled slightly after hearing these words.

Concubine Wu, mindful of her status, dared not refute, and instead held a bowl of ginger soup in her hands to warm her hands with the hot soup.

The princess sat at the head of the table, her expression calm. "There are indeed doubts about this matter. I have ordered people to investigate it thoroughly, and I expect there will be a conclusion tomorrow."

At this moment, Chen Ling, a eunuch in the Ruyi Palace, entered and reported:

"Your Highness, the Begonia Courtyard has been thoroughly searched. The venomous snake has been killed by Commander Xiao with a single sword strike. According to the guards in the manor, when they arrived, the maidservant beside Consort Yu had been brutally murdered."

Chief Secretary Song ordered his maid to report to the Princess that half an hour ago, people had been dispatched to search for the murderer throughout the residence.

Jiang Jie said with a sigh, "In the end, it was my oversight. I hereby give the order to give my concubine a proper burial."

She had anticipated Concubine Yu's death, but she was even more disappointed that Consort Zhen was unharmed. After all, Banu had brought more than ten vipers, which had helped her get rid of several troublesome creatures in the southwest...

Chen Ling accepted the order, bowed, and slowly withdrew from the main hall.

Looking at the dark rain outside the palace, Jiang Jie said in a deep voice: "We just received news that the Prince and Prince Heng were attacked at Chengtian Gate an hour ago. Prince Yu plotted a rebellion and colluded with Chen Xuan, the commander of the Five Cities Garrison, to raise an army to force the palace. They have now been suppressed by the Tianwu Army."

At this time of palace upheaval, another unexpected event has occurred within the household. The matter of the poisonous snake still requires a thorough investigation. Tonight, please trouble my two younger sisters to rest in the side hall.

"The Yu Prince's Palace Coup?"

Concubine Wu gasped in surprise, while Consort Zhen was horrified. While worried about the prince, she couldn't help but admire Hua Yan's uncanny ability to foresee things. Based solely on Minister Liu's impeachment of Prince Yu for plotting against the crown prince, she had already guessed that Prince Yu might be suspected of treason.

"It's getting late, my two sisters, please go and rest."

Jiang Jie's gaze lingered briefly on Consort Zhen, but he had no intention of discussing matters of the previous dynasty.

In the side hall, listening to the pattering rain outside the window, Consort Zhen murmured softly, "It seems that the previous dynasty is not in great danger, but the defeat of Prince Yu's army will implicate many innocent people. The palace coup has far-reaching implications, and the capital will surely be in chaos. I wonder how Father and Mother are doing now."

Hua Yan was also worried about Huan Yun and Ding Xiang. After a moment's thought, she comforted them:

"Although I don't know how the Prince plans to proceed, he will probably give the head of the family some advance notice. Miss, do you remember that your eldest son-in-law has recently arrived in the capital to take up his post as a captain in the Tianwu Army? Prince Jin may have to rely on his eldest son-in-law quite a bit. And with Zheng Shan and Madam Zhou around, there should be no worries even if something happens."

The more Hua Yan analyzed it, the more she felt that what she said made sense, and then her eyes lit up.

“Miss, the people fighting the thieves outside the manor might be the head of the family’s men sent to protect you. If those poisonous snakes hadn’t been exposed beforehand, even though the purse was in the storeroom, we would still be in deep danger.”

The head of the family and Madam Yun were always cautious and thorough. If they had received prior notice, they would have taken extra care. In Hua Yan's heart, no one made her feel more at ease than Madam Yun.

Consort Zhen smiled and, after a moment's thought, realized that what Hua Yan said was very likely, and felt somewhat relieved.