EBE Chapter 313 The Questioned Concubine Yu
Chapter 313 The Questioned Concubine Yu
Yu Qingli stood up from in front of the chessboard and walked to the corridor. Her eyes fell on an unknown small flower not far away, and she seemed to be thinking about something. Counting the days, if she remembered correctly, it was time for hunting.
A memory flashed through Yu Qingli's mind, making her already cold face even more gloomy. It seemed that she had to arrange some things in advance.
Just as I was thinking about this, Mei Hong hurried over and stopped panting. Without even wiping the sweat from her forehead, she smiled and reported, "Miss, good news."
Yu Qingli frowned. Although she had been in the palace for some time, she didn't feel like she would hear any good news in the palace, let alone from Mei Hong.
While Yu Qingli was frowning, Mei Hong had already adjusted her breathing. Her round eyes were extremely bright and she looked at Yu Qingli excitedly, "Miss, I heard that the emperor has issued an order to go hunting in the West Mountain enclosure tomorrow."
Yu Qingli's heart skipped a beat. So fast?!
Mei Hong seemed to sense that something was wrong with Yu Qingli's expression, so she asked curiously, "What's wrong? Miss, are you unhappy about the news?"
Yu Qingli lowered her eyes and said perfunctorily, "What's there to be happy about? It's just organizing a hunting trip for the princes and ministers. It has nothing to do with me."
"Not this time!"
Mei Hong's smile became even sweeter, and the two small dimples on her cheeks were particularly distinct. Seeing those dimples made Yu Qingli think of some unpleasant things, so she suppressed her emotions.
"What's the difference?"
"I heard that His Majesty allowed the princes to bring their wives into the hunting grounds this time. Actually, this is all thanks to Concubine Yu. Concubine Yu said she had never seen what a royal hunting trip was like, so His Majesty..."
"I understand." Yu Qingli interrupted Mei Hong. She was not interested in knowing the process. She just wanted to know the result that the emperor was about to go hunting.
She vaguely remembered that in her previous life, something happened in the hunting ground, and it seemed that the prince was injured. Because of this, the prince was bedridden for a long time, and the situation in the court gradually turned to Murong Feng's side.
Yu Qingli felt that she had reason to believe that the prince's injury must be related to Murong Feng.
Originally, this incident should have happened half a month later, but now it has happened earlier. Could it be the same as the previous flood in Jiangnan? After rebirth, although things have not changed, the time has been advanced.
Regardless of whether she did it in advance or not, she would not let Murong Feng's conspiracy succeed. She wanted to let Murong Feng know that if he wanted to successfully ascend the throne, the only person he could rely on was her, Yu Qingli, and all the decision-making power was in her, Yu Qingli's hands.
She wanted to capture Murong Feng's imperial power and his true heart at the same time, and then trample on him mercilessly!
Mei Hong looked at Yu Qingli's thoughtful expression and suddenly felt uneasy. The young lady was becoming more and more difficult to understand.
"Meihong, go and prepare. Since His Majesty has issued an order, we cannot delay too much."
Meihong accepted the order and left. Xiluo stepped forward and said with a hint of regret, "Miss, it looks like you really can't go to tomorrow's opening ceremony."
Yu Qingli nodded. It was a good idea this way. If they couldn't go, Murong Yuan and the others naturally couldn't go either. But as long as they didn't go, there was nothing to worry about the opening of the Beauty Shop.
However, to be on the safe side, it is better to send someone to remind Qu Linlang.
In the Wolong Palace, golden curtains were stacked layer upon layer, and a pair of ivory-white peony satin quilts were winding around. In the corner on one side of the room, there was a gorgeous begonia. The incense from the exquisite incense burner was lingering, intertwining with the fragrance of the begonia flowers. On the colorful beaded and carved dragon bed, a man and a woman were lying. They were Emperor Murong Shileng and the most favored Concubine Yu at the time.
Concubine Yu opened her eyes, but her gaze was a little vague. It was unknown what she was thinking. Her soft and boneless fingers were drawing circles on Murong Shileng's chest. Suddenly, her hand was grabbed. She looked up and saw Murong Shileng looking at her with a smile.
"My beloved concubine, are you trying to seduce me this early in the morning?"
Concubine Yu smiled lightly, "Your Majesty, you are awake. I will get up and help you change your clothes. It is getting late, and Your Majesty should go to the morning court."
"You are even more proactive than I am." Murong Shileng joked.
Imperial Concubine Yu said sternly, "I simply don't want the previous incident of ministers kneeling to make a remonstration to happen again. After all, I cannot bear the charge of bringing disaster to the country and its people."
Murong Shiling was deeply moved. Concubine Yu must not want to embarrass herself. He embraced her slender waist with emotion and said, "Yu'er, meeting you in this life is truly a blessing from heaven. I have nothing to ask for in my life."
"Your Majesty, you are too kind. It is Yu'er's greatest blessing to be loved by Your Majesty."
Concubine Yu added in her heart that although this blessing was stolen, she did not regret her original decision. Compared to suffering death in the dungeon of the imperial palace, she should cherish the time now.
Murong Shiling's heart moved. Having been in a high position for many years, he had long forgotten what true love was. Moreover, the imperial family was inherently ruthless. If he had not met Concubine Yu, he would probably be no different from other emperors. But now, he only wanted to favor Concubine Yu alone.
"Speaking of which, Yu'er, why are you so unwilling to tell me your life story? I can help your family gain promotion and live a carefree life."
Concubine Yu lowered her brows. She felt mixed emotions when she heard such words. She was happy that the emperor was thoughtful and even thought of her family. This was probably what people often said, "Prosperity for all." But she was worried that she was not Concubine Yu at all. If this secret were discovered, she would definitely be killed without a burial place.
But if this secret is continued, it will inevitably arouse the emperor's suspicion. Even if the emperor believes it, I am afraid that other women in the harem will take action.
Murong Shiling watched Concubine Yu fall silent, his gentle face also becoming hushed. Empress Li's words flashed through his mind, "Your Majesty's favor towards Concubine Yu is understandable, but shouldn't you at least investigate her background? Regardless of her origin, she must have a source. Her inexplicable appearance and mysterious disappearance just don't seem right no matter how you look at it."
Could it be that Concubine Yu is really hiding something from me?
Perhaps he had already gotten it. Murong Shiling felt that although he liked and doted on this woman, he could not completely ignore her other affairs.
There has never been such a precedent in the palace. As the queen said, if she was an assassin sent from somewhere, wouldn't her life be in danger if she could enter and leave the palace so freely?
It’s just that Concubine Yu is too mysterious, which aroused his interest in investigating.
At this time, Concubine Yu was unaware of the impending danger and was only thinking about how to get away with what was happening.
Just as he was about to speak, Eunuch Fu's voice came from outside the palace, "Your Majesty, it's getting late. The ministers are already waiting in the Golden Throne Hall. Your Majesty, please..."
"I understand. Please wait outside the palace. I will be there soon."
After the emperor finished washing up, he looked at Concubine Yu thoughtfully, then turned and left Wolong Palace to attend court. Concubine Yu, who was left alone in the palace, inexplicably felt an indescribable uneasiness.
"Get ready! Go to Ju'an Palace!"
As soon as Concubine Yu left Wolong Palace, the news had already reached the ears of all the concubines in the palace.
In the Chaofeng Palace, the queen sat upright on a hollow carved nanmu phoenix chair. Her usually dignified face now revealed a hint of coldness. Her thin lips were tightly pursed, revealing her unsuppressed anger.
"No one has arrived yet? These people are getting more and more arrogant!"
Queen Li slapped her hand on the back of the chair and sternly asked the palace maids and eunuchs who went to various palaces to report.
All the palace servants knelt on the ground trembling with fear, and no one dared to say a word, for fear that if they said too much, they would make mistakes and become unlucky.
"Hey, who made my sister so angry?" A slightly charming voice came from outside the palace, and then a figure in purple appeared in the queen's eyes, and behind her, many concubines in the palace followed in groups of three or two.
It was Concubine Lin!
Queen Li glanced at the concubines who were late. She had sent people to various palaces to invite them before dawn today, but they only came now. These people really didn't take her, the queen, seriously!
Queen Li's eyes were fierce, and she made no effort to hide her anger. The concubines were so scared that their calves were shaking. It had been a long time since they had seen the Queen with such an expression. They had a bad feeling. Seeing the Queen like this, they wondered if something was going to change in the harem.
Although the sun was shining brightly outside and the autumn wind was gentle, everyone in the Chaofeng Palace felt a bit of a chill in their hearts.
Even Concubine Lin, who had always been at odds with Queen Li, felt inexplicable pressure at this moment. She knew a little about Queen Li's vicious methods, but fortunately, this time, she also knew that Queen Li's anger was not directed at her.
Empress Li waited until all the concubines had politely saluted her before she slightly subsided her murderous intent. She glanced at everyone and asked, "I called you here today to discuss this Imperial Concubine Yu. Does anyone here know this Imperial Concubine Yu?"
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. By now, not only in the palace, but even in the imperial court, the name of Concubine Yu, who had caused the emperor to miss three days of court, had spread everywhere. She was practically a household name. And the Empress actually asked if anyone knew her? This question was truly amusing.
But the question was asked by the Queen, and no one had the courage to laugh.
"Do you think my question is ridiculous?" Queen Li asked frankly, "Have you ever considered whether any of you knew this woman before she became Imperial Concubine Yu?"