Chapter 119: Jinghua Palace
Lan Wu still remembered Yue Zhaorong saying that the palace maid skilled in making incense later went to serve Empress Dowager Cimin. Since she had served under both empress dowagers, there was no reason Dan Shan wouldn’t recognize her.
So it seemed Chu Mingheng had called Aunt Dan Shan to identify someone.
If Zhu Qing truly was that incense-making palace maid, then the reason for her death in the previous life might not have been as simple as just a few imperial concubines in the rear palace wanting her dead.
After pacing around the Inner Palace several times, Lan Wu sat down on the soft couch outside the screen to rest for a while. Huddled up, she silently wrapped her cloak tighter—she didn’t want to fall gravely ill just yet.
Seeing Lan Wu looking listless and uninterested, Lian Qiao brought her a stack of books, saying, “This servant has sorted all the books Your Ladyship enjoyed reading recently. Would Your Ladyship like to continue?”
Lan Wu truly didn’t feel like reading at the moment, so she shook her head.
“Then would Your Ladyship like to paint?” Lian Qiao suggested again, but Lan Wu still shook her head.
Her ladyship had just recovered somewhat from her illness and indeed shouldn’t engage in activities that strain the mind. But how could she cheer her up?
Lian Qiao pondered carefully, then suddenly brightened, remembering something.
“Your Ladyship, the cat brought back yesterday has been entrusted to the palace maids to be raised in the backyard. Would Your Ladyship like to have the cat brought over to see?”
Reminded by her, Lan Wu also recalled that Princess Yizhen had gifted her a cat yesterday, which Chu Mingheng had named Yun Gao.
Since she had to recuperate in the hall anyway and couldn’t inquire about outside news, she might as well amuse herself with the cat.
“Go ahead then, bring Yun Gao here.”
“Yes, Your Ladyship.”
Before long, Lan Wu heard meowing at the hall entrance, sounding particularly affectionate.
Lan Wu looked over and saw Lian Qiao carrying Yun Gao into the hall.
Yun Gao was livelier than yesterday. Once on the soft couch, it acted as if patrolling its territory, tail held high, walking leisurely and contentedly across the couch. Suddenly, it leaped onto the low table on the couch, resting its head right before Lan Wu’s eyes. Those deep blue, pure pupils were endearing no matter how one looked at them.
Lan Wu placed her hand on Yun Gao’s head, and the next moment, it raised its front paws, rubbing its head against her palm and emitting a soft purring sound.
Lan Wu thought she might have misheard, so she gently stroked Yun Gao’s head again and leaned closer to listen—sure enough, she heard the sound.
“Your Ladyship need not worry. According to the people from the animal garden, the cat makes this sound when it’s comfortable,” Lian Qiao said.
Yun Gao didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable. Its personality was too affectionate, making it easy for anyone to grow fond of it.
“Have someone look after it daily, and don’t let it wander outside Yilan Hall carelessly,” Lan Wu nodded, adding another instruction.
Aside from her, no one else in the palace kept cats. If it accidentally got lost or offended someone, it would always be troublesome.
“Yes, Your Ladyship, this servant understands.”
Although the inner hall door of Zhaoyi Wen’s Hanlu Palace was open, the palace maids seemed somewhat idle.
“Your Ladyship, this servant has returned.” Zhuzhi entered the hall to pay respects to Zhaoyi Wen. Upon hearing the command to rise, she looked up and saw all the doors and windows in the hall open, with Zhaoyi Wen wearing autumn robes standing at the table practicing calligraphy.
“These servants are getting lazier by the day. Now that the weather is growing colder, why are all the doors and windows open? What if Your Ladyship catches a chill?”
As she spoke, she stepped forward to close the windows.
“That will do.” Zhaoyi Wen did not look up, halting her action.
Zhuzhi paused, glancing at the window and then at her, before stepping closer and lowering her voice: “Your Ladyship, the people from Huanyi Bureau spoke readily enough, but none of them said anything useful. I inquired for a long time; they truly seem unaware.”
“Are you certain they are not intentionally concealing something?” Zhaoyi Wen asked Zhuzhi as she slowly continued writing.
Zhuzhi shook her head gently: “It shouldn’t be. Your Ladyship may not know, but those assigned to Huanyi Bureau perform the hardest and filthiest tasks. I tempted them with benefits, and every one of them wished to leave Huanyi Bureau. Their words likely cannot be false.”
Zhaoyi Wen fell silent for a moment, then set down the brush in her hand.
“Those originally from Consort Zeng’s palace were dealt with thoroughly, leaving only these who know nothing no matter how much you ask…”
Zhuzhi cautiously observed Zhaoyi Wen’s expression and reminded her: “Your Ladyship has forgotten, there is still one palace maid from Consort Zeng’s palace who remains alive, now in Noble Consort Li’s palace…”
Zhaoyi Wen frowned slightly. She had not forgotten about the one named Pan Xi, but Pan Xi had not been in Zhaoyun Hall for long, and might not know more than those from Huanyi Bureau.
“Your Ladyship, since Pan Xi was able to notice the issue with the paintings in Zhaoyun Hall, it shows she is sufficiently meticulous and cautious. Perhaps she might have noticed something else as well?”
Zhuzhi’s point was valid, but that person was now in Noble Consort Li’s Jinghua Palace, and getting her out would not be easy.
“It is late today. Tomorrow, go to Jinghua Palace to inquire.”
“Yes, Your Ladyship.”
Zhaoyi Wen spread out the page she had just written, saw the ink was not yet fully dry, and set it down again, using a paperweight to press one corner. She tilted her head to glance at the wide-open window.
The next day, Zhuzhi went to Jinghua Palace under the pretext that her mistress had sent her to inquire about Noble Consort Li’s recent condition.
Now that Consort Shu held authority over the palace, and Zhaoyi Wen was openly aligned with her, sending someone to inquire would appear to outsiders as merely wanting to witness Noble Consort Li’s pitiful state and gloat over her misfortune.
Zhuzhi smiled lightly and said: “The day before yesterday, Zhen Zhaorong fell ill, and all the palaces went to visit. Only Noble Consort Li did not go. My mistress is concerned that Noble Consort Li might be unwell, so she sent me to show concern. If Noble Consort Li is feeling unwell, we can also summon someone from the Imperial Medical Academy to take her pulse.”
Yu Mei listened to this without showing anger, merely replying calmly: “Indeed, Her Ladyship had a headache the day before yesterday, which is why she did not go to Yilan Hall to visit Zhen Zhaorong. We appreciate Zhaoyi Wen’s concern.”
Zhuzhi stood outside the hall, her gaze sweeping casually around. She did not see Pan Xi anywhere.
Although she had never seen Pan Xi’s appearance, her mistress had said that the most beautiful one among the crowd would likely be Pan Xi. After looking around, she truly did not see anyone matching that description.
Zhuzhi smiled and said: “I must trouble Sister Yu Mei to go inside and announce me. I still need to see Noble Consort Li in person, pay my respects, before I can properly return to the palace and report my task completed.”
Yu Mei hesitated slightly, glanced toward the inner hall, and then agreed: “Then wait here. I will go in and announce you.”
Zhuzhi nodded, watching her head toward the main hall.
But she ended up waiting for nearly half an hour.
Only after half an hour did she see Yu Mei come out and tell her that Her Ladyship was summoning her inside.
Zhuzhi’s expression remained unchanged. Thanks to the half hour she had waited, she had observed all the palace servants coming and going outside the hall, yet she had truly failed to spot Pan Xi, who was supposed to stand out.
Since she wasn’t serving outside the hall, she must be inside.
With that thought, Zhuzhi lifted her foot and followed.