Chapter 91: She’s Truly My Cousin

“Because I often lose jewelry. But my jewelry is all gifts from His Majesty, and I cherish them dearly.” Ning Wanyin looked at Wen Meiren calmly, “So, I specifically ordered Xia Zi to follow behind, just in case.”

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the concubines, “Sisters, who hasn’t lost a piece or two of jewelry?”

It was true…

Who hasn’t lost jewelry?

But Ning Wanyin would never allow herself to lose jewelry. So, actually, having someone follow behind like this…

This wasn’t the first time Ning Wanyin had done this.

She had done the same in the Duke’s Mansion.

There were so many servants surrounding her, each with their own tasks.

“It seems like you knew something was going to happen and deliberately cleared yourself?” Cen Jiejue asked sharply, surprised.

Ning Wanyin continued to call, “Xia Zi—”

Xia Zi respectfully said, “From the day I started working for Jiejue, Jiejue has asked me to arrange for the last eunuch in the procession to watch for anything dropped on the road. Jiejue has always done this, it’s not a sudden arrangement today.”

The entire hall fell silent.

The concubines: Is she crazy?

Tang Miaoling: She’s truly my cousin!

Wei Yingya: Ning Jie, you’re my god!

Even Helian Qi’s gaze towards Ning Wanyin was a little surprised, Ning’s personality was really… exceptionally cautious.

Everyone was stunned for a moment before they all reacted.

Since Ning Wanyin was ruled out, then it must be…

“Someone, take all of Wen Meiren’s accompanying palace servants to the Criminal Investigation Department and investigate them thoroughly!” Helian Qi said coldly.

A group of palace maids and eunuchs were taken away by the eunuch in charge of punishment.

Helian Qi sent someone to escort Wen Meiren back to the palace, and the concubines all took their leave and returned to their respective palaces.

Wen Meiren was truly terrified today, seeing Helian Qi escorting her back to the palace, her heart stirred.

The emperor cared most about the child in her belly!

Otherwise, the emperor wouldn’t have accompanied her.

Now, she should use this child to gain the emperor’s pity!

“Your Majesty, your concubine is so scared…” Wen Meiren looked at Helian Qi with a delicate and timid expression.

“You know to be scared now, why did you go out before?” Helian Qi glanced at her impatiently and said, “Order, Wen Meiren acted carelessly, she is to be confined to her palace to reflect.”

Wen Meiren’s face stiffened, she didn’t expect the emperor to punish her, she quickly tried to clear herself, “Your Majesty… your concubine was frightened, it was a villain who tried to harm your concubine…”

Helian Qi didn’t have the patience to waste words with her, he turned and left Yanfeng Pavilion.

He instructed Lu Mammy, who was the only one left, “Choose a group of people from the Internal Affairs Department to work in Yanfeng Pavilion, be careful and cautious, arrange everything according to the arrangements of Changchun Palace.”

“This servant obeys the order.” Lu Mammy accepted the order.

Helian Qi returned to Qianxin Palace.

Wu Mi, the eunuch in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department, rushed over to apologize, “This servant was negligent, a palace maid under interrogation bit her tongue and committed suicide… This servant investigated the palace maid’s background and found nothing suspicious. This servant is incompetent in handling the case, please, Your Majesty, punish me.”

Too clean.

It couldn’t be traced back to anyone.

Helian Qi’s eyes were cold, “Forget it, this case ends here.”

There were many unsolved cases in the palace throughout history. The turmoil caused by the heir to the throne never subsided.

“Wang Degui, order Jin Zhong to choose a group of reliable eunuchs from the Imperial Guard to guard Yan…

Helian Qi instructed, “Go to Lingsxue Pavilion and have Ning Jiejue come to Qianxin Palace for breakfast tomorrow.”

If it weren’t for the fifteenth night, he would have gone to Lingsxue Pavilion now.

“Yes.” Wang Degui accepted the order. He thought to himself, His Majesty is becoming increasingly fond of that Ning mistress.

In the daytime, Ying Meiren was also framed.

His Majesty didn’t ask a single question, he just rewarded the concubine who had been wronged according to the principle of clear rewards and punishments.

But for this Ning Jiejue, the emperor was exceptionally fond of her.

…

Back at Lingsxue Pavilion.

Ning Wanyin sat in the bathtub, bathing, her long hair cascading down, her eyes calm.

The plot to frame her today, Concubine Shu had people sweep the palace path beforehand, which was a crucial part.

Concubine Shu was highly suspicious.

But it was also possible that someone had taken advantage of Concubine Shu’s arrangements and plotted this opportunity.

Anyone in the palace could have targeted Wen Meiren.

Ning Wanyin didn’t relax her suspicion of others. However, her suspicion of Concubine Shu was the strongest.

“Mistress, Wang Gonggong just came to deliver a message, His Majesty summoned you to Qianxin Palace for breakfast tomorrow.” Lianrui rushed in to report.

Ning Wanyin nodded slightly, “I know…”

“There’s never a peaceful day in this palace, luckily His Majesty likes you, he’s always thinking of you…” Lianrui comforted.

Ning Wanyin lowered her eyes, automatically skipping the latter half of the sentence.

Since entering the palace, she hadn’t planned on having a peaceful life.

The path to imperial power was full of thorns and littered with bones.

She had chosen this path herself, how could she not know what she had to face?

She was not afraid of these storms either, the victor takes all, it all depends on one’s ability.

“Go and find out the background of the palace maid who spilled the wine today.” Ning Wanyin instructed.

Lianrui was startled, “Mistress, do you suspect that there’s something wrong with that palace maid?”

“I can’t tell yet if there’s anything wrong, go and investigate, it’s better to be safe than sorry.” Ning Wanyin said.

Lianrui accepted the order, “This servant understands.”

After bathing, Ning Wanyin changed into a new set of clothes and returned to her bedroom.

Xia Zi rushed in to report, “Mistress, this servant has found out from Xiao Qingzi, after Tang Meiren left the banquet, nothing special happened, she didn’t meet anyone special, she just happened to meet Yihe Junwang.”

Ning Wanyin had sent him to find Xiao Qingzi to inquire about the news as soon as she returned to the palace.

“Yihe Junwang?” Ning Wanyin’s eyes flashed.

This prince was weak and sickly, he was destined to die young, and he was excluded from the struggle for the throne from the beginning.

Like Helian Qi, he was also a marginal prince.

The relationship between brothers in the royal family was like looking at flowers in a mist, it was impossible to tell the truth. But compared to Prince Yu and Prince Fu, the emperor and Yihe Junwang had a good relationship, they could be considered brothers who loved each other.

“Yes, Yihe Junwang lost his jade pendant…” Xia Zi recounted the whole story.

It seemed like a chance encounter.

But Ning Wanyin always made the worst assumptions…

“I understand. Tell Xiao Qingzi to make sure he protects Tang Meiren closely. If Tang Meiren meets Yihe Junwang again, ask him to be careful.” Ning Wanyin instructed.

Xia Zi accepted the order and withdrew.

Lianrui looked at Ning Wanyin, “Mistress, do you suspect this Junwang…”

“I can’t tell what he’s up to, maybe it was a chance encounter, it’s better to be safe than sorry.” Ning Wanyin said in a deep voice.