Emperor Chunjia stared at Yun Fenghuang for a while, and then smiled suddenly, “The Empress has really spoiled you. Shouldn’t you be grounded for a month? Why do you go around casually?”

If he didn’t say that, Yun Fenghuang would almost forget that she was grounded.

After all, when she went to Yan Fu Palace just now, Empress Ji did not mention it at all.

If things happened as what she had discussed with Gongxiang Xiao, it was likely that even if she would stay at Hu Zhu Palace obediently a few days later, the Empress would not agree.

“Your Majesty, you misunderstood me. I dare not to disobey Her Highness’s order.” Yun Fenghuang pretended to protect the Empress’ dignity, so, she changed her mind, “Here is the thing. Queen Mother of Mercy asked Nian Xuan to work for Chun Yong Palace, so, I had to let Xin Qing be with me. However, Xin Qing disappeared on the way to Hu Zhu Palace from Mian Fu Palace! I was so scared that I went to Yan Fu Palace to report it to Her Highness. Her Highness was busy and she would send some maids for me several days later. I was too timid to go back to Hu Zhu Palace alone, so, I came to Tong Xia Palace. I planned to borrow some maids from Noble Consort Shu or Qingman to accompany me.”

“…” Apparently, Emperor Chunjia had not known Xin Qing’s disappearance. He was shocked, “Disappeared?”

Emperor Chunjia was walking when he talked with Yun Fenghuang. Hearing the news, he stopped and frowned, “What’s going on? Tell me from the very beginning!”

After hearing Yun Fenghuang’s words, which seemed complete and detailed, he looked at her with suspicion, “Hu Zhu Palace is a bit more remote, but it is located in the palace. So many people were safe back and forth, but your maid disappeared. Why?”

“It was probably because Consort Yue has been grounded these days, and someone took the opportunity to bully people of Hu Zhu Palace?” Yun Fenghuang thought for a moment, and signed, “It must be the case… Your Majesty, you must protect us!”

Emperor Chunjia became serious, “The matter has not been figured out, so, you’d better not to overstate!”

“Your Majesty, I am telling the truth.” Yun Fenghuang said, “Why did Xin Qing disappear among so many maids? Someone must target at Hu Zhu Palace. As a lowly-ranked concubine, I couldn’t be a threat for others, so, Consort Yue probably be the target! It doesn’t matter that you care nothing about me, but don’t you worry about Consort Yue?”

Hearing this, Emperor Chunjia frowned slightly. Indeed, Xin Qing disappeared unexpectedly, and it happened on the way to Hu Zhu Palace. Whether someone aimed at Consort Yue or not… He was not sure…

Of course, he thought that Yun Fenghuang was one of the suspects. But considering that Yun Fenghuang ranked lowly and joined the Imperial Harem for a short time, he thought she was unable to do such a thing alone.

If she did, there must be someone behind her.

Who was it?

What did this person want to do?

Emperor Chunjia was silent for a moment, and didn’t walk into Tong Xia Palace. He waved his hand, “All right. Such a thing happened in the palace, and no wonder you are anxious. I will go to Yan Fu Palace to talk about it with Empress Ji.”

When he was about to turn away, a group of people came out from Tong Xia Palace unexpectedly. Noble Consort Shu had already learned that Emperor Chunjia would come here, but she was not sure whether he would meet her or not, so, she didn’t show up. She waited at Cheng Cai Hall for a long time, but Emperor Chunjia kept talking with Yun Fenghuang at the palace gate. She couldn’t bear it, so, she went out to see what happened.

“I came back after greeting Queen Mother Yuan. I didn’t know it!” Noble Consort Shu said. Because she always supported Chunjia, seeing her going out, Chunjia stopped to tell her the thing, though he wanted to go to Yan Fu Palace to figure it out. After hearing the thing, Noble Consort Shu was shocked, and said worriedly, “Your Majesty, I will go with you… Fenghuang, it is serious. Why didn’t you tell me? Fortunately, it was your maid who was in trouble. If it was you, how could I face my aunt?”

Yun Fenghuang said bitterly, “I am here now, right? I wanted to tell you this before, but Xin Qing, my only maid, disappeared suddenly. I was scared to go back. I had no time to stop for breath until I ran into Yan Fu Palace…”

“No maid around you now?” Noble Consort Shu flickered her eyes, planning to arrange a maid around Yun Fenghuang. But Yun Fenghuang said, “Sis, rest assured. Her Highness just said that she would send someone for me.”

Noble Consort Shu smiled, “Now you rank lowly and can have few maids according to rules. Her Highness thinks highly of rules, so, she must give you no privilege. Your maids should be clever and diligent, or they would make trouble for you. I know this very clearly, so, I will help you.”

Yun Fenghuang thought to herself, “It doesn’t matter that you want to arrange a maid around me. After all, the Empress and Gongxiang Xiao would do that. I don’t mind whether there will be two or three maids who keep watching me.”

After all, she didn’t intend to trust anyone in the palace. She just wanted her maids to work hard.

Now she cooperated with Gongxiang Xiao who could kill people for her. If she didn’t like the maid, she could ask Gongxiang Xiao to kill the maid just as what he did to Xin Qing.

Thinking of this, Yun Fenghuang said, “Sis, thank you.”

Seeing that Noble Consort Shu had the intention to take her to Yan Fu Palace, she quickly found an excuse, saying that since she had told the thing clearly, it was unnecessary for her to show up. She said she was tired and hungry and wanted to go back to Hu Zhu Palace for a rest. She said, “Sis, if you are worried, you can send someone to accompany me.”

“… Sounds pretty.” Noble Consort Shu glanced at Emperor Chunjia next to her, finding that he was looking into the distance, and he seemed not to see what she did at all. After thinking for a while, she nodded with a smile. She called a few strong maids, ordering them to send Yun Fenghuang back to Xi Xing Building. She added, “There is only one maid at Xi Xing Building, so, stay there for further service, or Fenghuang may find it difficult to have one maid when she needs something. Understand?”

The maids replied in unison. Noble Consort Shu said gently to Yun Fenghuang, “You can ask them casually, and I still have lots of maids.”

Yun Fenghuang conveyed her gratitude. Seeing the Emperor and Noble Consort Shu go far away, she said, “Let’s go.”

A group of maids gathered around her and returned to Xi Xing Building. The eunuch who was left there was shocked. Seeing Yun Fenghuang come back and give orders, he did not dare to ask more but work silently.

After taking a bath, Yun Fenghuang went out with her long hair wet and called maids to dry her hair. Unexpectedly, a while later, someone came here to convey a message, “Mei Ren, Xin Qing was found. Her Highness let you go and identify her.”

“Found?” Yun Fenghuang was surprised slightly and asked where did they find Xin Qing?

There was nothing to hide, so, the maid told her directly, “We found her in the lotus pond at Yan Lan Palace.”

Yun Fenghuang, “…”

Was Gongxiang Xiao so powerful?

This result was out of her expectation. Yan Lan Palace was not as desolate as Hu Zhu Palace. Because Noble Consort Gui, the hostess of Yan Lan Palace, had a close relation with General-in-chief of the Cavalry, Garrison Troops and Guards always thought highly of her. Now she was pregnant, so, General-in-chief of the Cavalry must focus more on her.

Yan Lan Palace must be so well-protected that even no fly could come in. Otherwise, Yun Fenghuang did not believe no one wanted to hurt Noble Consort Gui. After all, Noble Consort Shu and Consort Yue had been hurt when they were pregnant before.

Gongxiang Xiao was so powerful that she was able to put Xin Qing into Yan Lan Palace… Why did he choose to cooperate with her?

Thinking of this, Yun Fenghuang was in a bad mood. She thought that she had gotten her ally implicated. She could not bear it. She had never become so cumbersome!

But wait… if Gongxiang Xiao really didn’t need her, why did he bother to contact with her and listen to her?

Yun Fenghuang glanced at herself in the bronze mirror. Was she more beautiful recently so that Gongxiang Xiao fell in love with her at the first sight but pretended to be indifferent?

Mei Ren Yun was in deep thought. Did she have the potential to be a dangerous beauty who could cause troubles…?

She always thought that she made a living because she was clever, considerate and…

“How is Noble Consort Gui?” Yun Fenghuang calmed herself down for a while, combed her half-dried hair and said, “Is she okay?”

The comer lowered her head, “Mei Ren, Her Lady didn’t see that, but she was also frightened. Her Highness has arranged for a doctor to go there. Please be assured.”

That was right. How could the Empress miss this opportunity to know the physical condition of Noble Consort Gui?

With the maid, Yun Fenghuang thoughtfully went to … Yi Jia Palace.

There was no other way. If Xin Qing were not found in the lotus pond at Yan Lan Palace, nothing would happen. Since Xin Qing was, she must be moved away to protect Noble Consort Gui and her baby from getting misfortune.

After Xin Qing was picked up, it was not possible to send her to Yan Fu Palace to bring misfortunate to the Empress. Because Yi Jia Palace was not far from neither Yan Lan Palace nor Yan Fu Palace, and no hostess was there, it was selected to clear a room as temporary mortuary.

Yun Fenghuang just lifted the hood to take a look and she was sure that the one was Xin Qing. The poor maid was delighted secretly at the reward of Noble Consort Shu yesterday, and was nervous to go out with her this morning… but now livor mortis could be seen on her body.

Yun Fenghuang gazed at the pale face which was already full of livor mortis. She had a mixed feeling, excited but indifferent.

It was impossible to say that Yun Fenghuang had deep feelings about the maid. After all, they lived together for a few days, and she didn’t know whether the maid was someone’s informer or not.

Besides, Yun Fenghuang was not sentimental by nature. The fact that Nian Xuan, who grew up with her, had not appeared so far did not make her panic, so, Xin Qing was nothing for her.

She just thought that life was impermanent. One might be happy yesterday but didn’t know how sad he or she would be today and what would happen tomorrow.

So, was it meaningful to live a peaceful life?

Maybe one day it would come to an abrupt end!

If so, life would be wasted.

Therefore, she’d better to make trouble.

“That’s right.” Withdrawing her thoughts, Yun Fenghuang lowered the hood and stepped back, “This is Xin Qing.”

The maid nodded, “Mei Ren, please follow me to Yan Fu Palace to report it to Her Highness.”

When the two crossed the threshold, the maid yelled towards a moon-shaped gate at distance, “Rong Hua Wei, Mei Ren Yun is ready, so, let’s go.”

There was a sound of footsteps soon. Wei Hengyan, who changed into a light-yellow dress, covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief. She grabbed the maid beside her, and walked out cautiously and timidly. Seeing Yun Fenghuang being alone and calm, she was shocked.