Chapter 108 Unexpected culprit

Since Noble Consort Gui announced that she was pregnant, she had been exempted from paying respect by Queen Mother Ji and Empress Ji. She could concentrate on pregnancy in Yan Lan Palace. No matter when Xin Qing’s body was found in the pool she usually walked around, the summer banquet was held, or all consorts contended for such gorgeous Cai Nv as Yi Xing’en these two days, she did not appear in person.

She should walk out of Yan Lan Palace now…

Noble Consort Shu and Consort Xin looked at each other, and then left Yun Fenghuang and Jie Yu Jia to greet.

“I have stayed in Yan Lan Palace for several days, and suddenly want to come out.” Noble Consort Gui, who didn’t get off the carriage because she was pregnant, lifted the curtain to speak to them. She said softly, “In addition, since there are new concubines in the Imperial Harem, I also want to join in the fun.”

She was a dignified beauty. Maybe because of her pregnancy, her skin was a little dark, not as white as before, and she was not energetic. She combed her hair as Shizi haircut, wearing a few pieces of gold jewelry. A pair of long gold gourd-shaped and jadeite-embedded ear pendants shook slightly with her movement. The small embedded jadeite was small and transparent, reflecting a layer of green on her neck.

Noble Consort Shu noticed them and smiled slightly, “I seemed to see that pair of ear pendants at Her Highness.”

“This was rewarded by the Empress Dowager.” Noble Consort Gui smiled, “Her Highness has another pair… It is said that during the reign of Emperor Shenzong, he got a piece of jadeite with high quality. Then he let a craftsman make it into two pairs of ear pendants. I have one pair of them.”

“There is no such good jadeite in the Imperial Harem these days.” Consort Xin also said, “The emerald green of the ear pendants is really flawless.”

Three consorts ignored others and chatted about jewels for a while. Then Noble Consort Gui asked two Jie Yu, who lowered their heads and pretended to be obedient, what happened.

“Something bad happened.” Noble Consort Shu said briefly, and wasn’t partial to anyone, just repeating their words, “Consort Xin and I came late, so we didn’t see the process. We just watched that they were fighting…”

Noble Consort Gui frowned slightly and sighed, “Therefore, it is caused by Happier? It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have brought it back to Fei Han Palace if I had known it.”

Maybe Happier was the name of the cat.

“How could we attribute it to you, Noble Consort Gui?” Noble Consort Shu said, “We can’t avoid it. Besides, it is so hot these two days. We can’t bear it even though we wear thin, not to mention the cat which has thick fur. In fact, it wasn’t a big deal. In the final analysis, Jie Yu Mao was too impulsive.”

Consort Xin said, “As a consort, how could Jie Yu Mao believe evil things… She is usually calm, but she was impulsive this time.”

Their words were not fierce, but showing their attitudes that they supported Jie Yu Jia.

It could also be said that they supported Noble Consort Gui to suppress Yun Fenghuang.

As the three consorts spoke, no one else dared to make any sound. Therefore, although Yun Fenghuang and Jie Yu Jia were standing a certain distance away, they could hear the conversation clearly.

Hearing this, Jie Yu Jia showed a bit of joy, but she was immediately alert, and then pretended to be resentful quickly.

When she did this, she secretly glanced at Yun Fenghuang next to her, and wondered the expression of this new Jie Yu Mao who had always been arrogant since she joined the Imperial Harem.

Yun Fenghuang had no expression on her face.

Jie Yu Jia was a bit disappointed and disdainful. She felt that Jie Yu Mao was pretending to be calm.

“Although you could still be calm at this time, I’ll wait to see if you could hold it later!” Jie Yu Jia thought.

Soon, the three consorts ended the conversation, and decided to bring people of Xuan Qing Palace and Fei Han Palace to Chong Chang Hall. On the one hand, they should not be late to pay respect; on the other hand, this matter should be dealt with by the Empress.

A group of people set out in a magnificent manner. When they arrived at Yan Fu Palace, Empress Ji was already out. She frowned and listened to the report from a maid.

Yun Fenghuang quickly looked up among the crowd and estimated that the maid was telling the matter.

Noble Consort Gui took the lead to enter the hall, to ask pardon, and to tell the thing… Then Jie Yu Jia complained with tears, and Yun Fenghuang explained calmly… “I thought it was a big deal. As Jie Yu, you made the chaos in public, and even made the new Cai Nv involved in. It is ridiculous!”

After their argument, Empress Ji, who was obviously a little impatient, said without expression, “Jie Yu Jia couldn’t teach her people well. So many maids should fail to stop such a little cat, and even make it hurt the appearance of new Cai Nv. I should punish you! It is okay that Jie Yu Mao protected her people. But you should not ignore the rules, and beat a consort in public, and even took the lead in instigating people to fight… I was speechless to you two. You should know the rules!”

After scolding them, the Empress made a decision directly. She asked Jie Yu Jia to go back to Fei Han Palace and introspect for ten days. As for Yun Fenghuang, she would be fined a month’s salary, and should kneel outside Chong Chang Hall for two hours after paying respect in Mian Fu Palace. It served as a warning to all people!

The maid holding Happier was sent to Clothing-Cleaning Department, and the Cai Nv, who was hurt, was compensated by asking an imperial doctor to treat her and was promoted as a Feng Yi.

The Empress decided to let it go after her announcement, and then took people to Mian Fu Palace.

But at this time, Noble Consort Gui said, “Wait!”

“Are you uncomfortable, Noble Consort Gui?” The Empress glanced at her and asked casually, “Mother and I have said that your baby is the most important. During the pregnancy, you do not have to pay respect. You shouldn’t hurt yourself just for etiquette.”

“Your Highness.” Noble Consort Gui moved slightly to say, “I have asked an imperial doctor. He said that the fetus is safe now, and I can move around. Then I come out.”

She meant that she did not ignore her baby’s safety just for her reputation of emphasizing etiquette.

“Originally, I just came out to take the fresh air, but I didn’t expect that there would be a dispute between Jie Yu Mao and Jie Yu Jia. In the final analysis, it is my fault. I shouldn’t bring Happier back to Jie Yu Jia.” Noble Consort Gui sighed, “Now such as bad thing happened… I am really uncomfortable.”

The Empress said lightly, “I know that you have always been kind and generous, but you don’t think too much about this matter. It has nothing to do with you. You should concentrate on your childbirth and give me and His Majesty a strong and intelligent prince.”

The implication was that you were kind and generous, so you shouldn’t involve in other things.

But since Noble Consort Gui came out personally, it was obvious that she did not plan to turn a major issue into a minor one and let it go, “Your Highness, I just feel weird. Jie Yu Jia gave Happier to me a few days ago, and I raised it for four or five days. It had no spirit all day and even became worse. I just thought that it missed Fei Han Palace and then sent it back, letting Jie Yu Jia raise it for two days… Happier is really gentle. Otherwise, I can’t raise it in terms of my situation.”

Empress Ji responded, “What do you mean?”

“And what Jie Yu Mao did also makes me confused.” Noble Consort Gui continued, “Although Jie Yu Mao is young and impulsive, she still knows the rules. When the incident happened, it was not far from Yan Fu Palace, and everyone knows that you care about her. You insisted on sending Cai Nv Yi and Cai Nv Qu to Xuan Qing Palace, even ignoring my application… Therefore, even if Jie Yu Mao cares about her people, if she tells you, you must help her.”

“Noble Consort Gui, what do you think?” Empress Ji asked in contemplation.

Noble Consort Gui glanced at the crowd and said, “Since I was not present at that time, I didn’t know what happened. However, Cai Nv Yi had been supporting the Cai Nv who is hurt on the way to Yan Fu Palace since I met Jie Yu Mao, Jie Yu Jia, Noble Consort Shu and Consort Xin. Therefore, the two must have a good relationship. Now, Cai Nv have not yet served His Majesty and have the same grade. They must line up with the familiar person when they follow their hostess to go out, right?”

Empress Ji looked at Yun Fenghuang, and Yun Fenghuang… Yun Fenghuang looked at Yi Xing’en. She knew that Yi Xing’en and Qu Hongzhuan followed Yun Qingman, but she didn’t notice other people.

“Your Highness, I did go with Sister Ling at the time.” Yi Xing’en replied, stepped forward and said with hesitation, “In fact, when Happier rushed over… originally it came towards me, but I was terrified and subconsciously hid. As a result, it attacked Sister Ling.”

Hearing this, everyone seemed to understand something…

Although the palace road was fairly spacious, when the teams of two consorts went side by side, they already blocked the road.

The cat ran quickly. Was Yi Xing’en extremely alert so that she could avoid the attack of Happier but let her companion behind her bear it?

Or… was there an inside story?

However, Cai Nv Ling who was hurt lowered her head and wiped her tears without saying anything. The consorts also did not mean to interpose, just listening to Noble Consort Gui, “It is weirder. Although Cai Nv Yi is low in grade, everyone in the Imperial Harem knows her. Everyone around me can testify that Happier likes to play with girls, especially beautiful girls. It is obedient in front of them… How could it hurt Cai Nv Yi suddenly?”

The Empress had no response and let her continue.

Noble Consort Gui continued, “I have just asked people to find Happier, and hope to find some clues. This is related to two Jie Yu. We are sisters in the Imperial Harem, and it’s better if they are reconciled with each other. Since I suspect it, I need to investigate it to avoid feud between the two Jie Yu. Otherwise, it may make trouble for Your Highness and His Majesty. What do you think, Your Highness?”

Since these words were awe-inspiring, Empress Ji would not refuse. Just counting the time, she ordered a maid to go to Mian Fu Palace to report that something happened here, and they had to go later.

Then, people waited patiently. After a while, a maid of Noble Consort Gui held Happier, waiting outside the hall.

Of course, Empress Ji summoned the imperial doctors to check. However, before the imperial doctors arrived, Happier, which was originally held by the maid obediently, started to get irritated. It looked at Cai Nv in Xuan Qing Palace, and screamed at them. Yi Xing’en and others were so scared that they went back, and asked consorts for help, “Help me, My Lady!”

“It seems that there is a secret!” The Empress was sullen. Both Yun Fenghuang and Empress Ji knew that after Yi Xing’en and Qu Hongzhuan went to Xuan Qing Palace yesterday, Noble Consort Gui, Noble Consort Shu and other high-grade concubines whose wishes didn’t be fulfilled might take action when they paid respect today.

Therefore, after listening to Noble Consort Gui and Noble Consort Shu, the Empress only thought that Jie Yu Jia was instructed by them to frame Yun Fenghuang, but Yun Fenghuang refused to give in. Then the fight broke out.

Thus, the Empress didn’t care about it, and just planned to deal with it casually… However, it turned out that Noble Consort Gui had another plan this time.

Well, the Empress would never believe that when Noble Consort Gui made an exception to come out during her pregnancy, she would happen to meet the dispute between two Jie Yu, and even more coincidentally reveal the truth.

She was just a little annoyed. Since Noble Consort Gui had been staying in Yan Lan Palace these days, and she was busy in dealing with matters that Emperor Chunjia took the power, Ji Muzi was demoted, and the Empress Dowager was ill. She relaxed her vigilance these days. However, Noble Consort Gui made trouble now.

After this, it was time to watch Yan Lan Palace carefully!

When the Empress was thinking about it, a maid outside came to report that the imperial doctors came.

Then the imperial doctors easily found the elsholtzia from Happier’s claws and hairpins of some Cai Nv in Xuan Qing Palace.

The elsholtzia was not the native elsholtzia in the country. For a variety of reasons, it had the same name with the native one. In fact, it was from Weihe Region. It had somewhat heat-relieving and hemostatic effects. Therefore, it was planted in the country. But it had an effect that many people did not know. It was to attract the attention of cats, lynxes, leopards and even tigers.

The reason why Happier suddenly attacked people was found, and then it was logical to find out the real culprit. But to everyone’s surprise, it was not Yun Fenghuang who was accused by Jie Yu Jia and others. Instead, it was Yun Qingman!