The Self-cultivation of a Salted Fish Concubine

Chapter 287 Failed to Invite Favor

Spring Roll: "I have also asked this girl."

"The eldest son loves to drink soup in the evening. This girl would go to the kitchen to fetch soup at this time every night. Coincidentally, she saw the guards shouting in the front yard that day. She was so scared that she dropped the soup and hurried back to the yard to tell the nurse."

"The testimonies of several people all match up. There aren't many loopholes, and no one is particularly suspicious."

Xie Run frowned slightly. Could it be that her suspicion was wrong?

Chun Juan pondered for a moment before saying, "Although these people didn't get anything out of me, I was thinking that with so many people serving the eldest young master, it's impossible for the wet nurse and two maids to carry the eldest young master out of the yard, and the servants would be as dead as if they hadn't noticed."

"When I asked further, I actually found out something useful!"

"The eunuch on duty that night slept in the corridor and actually heard the conversation between the wet nurse and the two maids."

Xie Run said calmly, "I'm afraid he didn't hear much. If he heard something, he certainly wouldn't watch the wet nurse take the eldest master away."

Chun Juan scratched his head and laughed, "He really didn't hear much."

"But he said that while half asleep, he heard the servant girl mention the Moon-Watching Pavilion. It seemed that she was also 'instructing' the wet nurse to take the eldest son and escape to the backyard."

The wet nurse is a person without any opinion of her own.

When encountering danger, I suddenly lose my mind.

At this moment, someone vaguely mentioned in her ear that she should take the eldest son to escape to the backyard, and also said that the way to the Moon-Watching Pavilion was hidden. The wet nurse was afraid that she would unconsciously have this idea in her mind.

Xie Run: "Now the nurse can't remember what the two of them said, and the eunuch only heard a few words vaguely, and can't be sure that they were said by the servant girl."

"I'm afraid he's afraid of causing trouble and won't dare come out to testify. He only dares to mention it to you in private, right?"

Chun Juan lowered his head: "That's right."

"He told me what he had said and begged me to do it. If there were no other witnesses, he would never dare to come forward to testify."

"After all, he was also confused at the time and couldn't remember many things."

"As long as the prince asks, the truth will be revealed, and I am afraid that it will implicate the master, so I did not force it."

"You did the right thing." Xie Run lowered his eyes: "The evidence must be shown to the prince."

"For some things, we don't necessarily have to find out the truth. We just need to know who did what behind the scenes and who is the culprit."

Xiao Shu asked, "Master, are you going to investigate quietly?"

Xie Run smiled and shook his head: "No need to investigate further. We know there's something wrong with the servant girl. It means someone is secretly tampering with her."

"At this point in time, who wants to harm the eldest son? And who can do this?"

"Think about it carefully, and you will naturally have the answer in your heart."

Xiao Shu didn't even need to think, she just said, "Who else could it be besides Concubine Sun?"

Chun Juan asked doubtfully, "Master, are you going to investigate this matter or not?"

"If you want to investigate, just arrest that girl and ask her. She will definitely reveal something."

"We need to investigate, but there's no need to hold the girl hostage." Xie Run said calmly, "It was dark that night and the roads were slippery. Even if the little girl was instigated and threatened, I'm afraid she wouldn't know much."

"When the time comes, I don't know what will be involved."

Xie Run: "Now that we have a suspect, it's easy to investigate."

"Master, I will do it right away!"

Xie Run said to Dan Tao, "That servant girl has made a mistake and I'm afraid she can't serve the eldest master anymore. In that case, send her to Concubine Sun as a second-class maid."

Dan Tao and Xiao Shu opened their eyes, feeling surprised and a little happy. "If it was really Concubine Sun who did it, I'm afraid she would feel guilty after seeing the girl who was transferred to Songfeng Garden."

Xie Run continued, "Dan Tao, take one of the inkstones the prince gave me today and give it to Concubine Sun. Tell her that Tao Tao has been sleeping restlessly lately and I want to ask her for a jade pillow."

"I heard that Duke Ying is the best at collecting jade. I'm sure Concubine Sun has quite a few fine jades as well."

"Then you can reveal a few words from the little eunuch and test him."

After hearing this, Xiao Shu was eager to try, "Master, Sister Dan Tao is too gentle and not suitable for this job. Why don't you let this servant do it?"

Xie Run refused, "It is precisely because your sister Dan Tao has always been gentle and kind that she is the most suitable person to inquire."

"If you go, Concubine Sun will definitely guess that I got the news and went there specifically to test her."

"She's not stupid, how could she show any signs of it?"

Xiao Shu responded disappointedly.

Xie Run smiled and said, "Don't worry, I have a good job for you."

Xiao Shu opened her eyes, full of curiosity and excitement.

The next moment, Xie Run said, "Send someone to the front yard to find out what to do with Concubine Wan's funeral."

King Jing was a traditional ancient man, and he always had a clear distinction between the affairs of the front yard and the back yard.

He would never interfere in matters that belonged to the inner court, and would leave all authority to the princess.

He would never allow people from the inner courtyard to interfere in matters that belonged to the outer courtyard.

But Wan Linlang's matter is a bit complicated.

She was a member of the inner court, but she died in Qiang Wu, and her body was hastily collected by King Jing's men.

She died to save King Jing, so she should be considered a hero and her treatment should be raised to a higher level.

But before Wan Linlang left the mansion, she schemed to harm so many people, not to mention what she had done before, which left a very bad impression on King Jing.

Taking all these factors into consideration, and King Jing not mentioning how to deal with the matter, it was difficult for Xie Run to make any arrangements.

The light in Xiao Shu's eyes disappeared instantly. "Master, go to the front yard and ask. The prince will definitely know..."

She was afraid of King Jing.

In other words, the maids in the backyard, unless they were eager to get into bed, were afraid of seeing King Jing.

Xie Run smiled and said, "I just want to let the prince know and wait for his reply."

"If you do your job well, you will definitely get some benefits."

Xiao Shu nodded with difficulty and took a deep breath, "I will definitely do it!"

"Interpersonal relationships are the most difficult thing for you." Xie Run said with a smile: "No one in Chunshanyuan can match your ability in this regard."

Xiao Shu felt a little inflated by Xie Run's praise.

The sadness on his face disappeared instantly.

When King Jing returned in the evening, he naturally learned from the guards that Xie Run had sent someone to inquire about Concubine Wan.

He thought for a moment and said, "Shi'an, go to Chunshanyuan."

He had originally planned to stay in the study tonight.

When I was halfway there, I saw a figure in white clothes swaying by the side.

At first glance, it looked like seeing a ghost.

King Jing frowned, "Who's there?!"

Eunuch Shi'an immediately said, "Your Highness, there's a clear water channel ahead, and the water comes from the Moon Viewing Pond above. It's the middle of the night, so there shouldn't be anyone there."

King Jing was not afraid of ghosts and gods, and said coldly: "Send two people to check ahead."

"Yes!" Eunuch Shi'an pointed at the two young eunuchs with his whisk.

Hua Yu, who was squatting at the mouth of the canal in a white dress, was delighted when she heard the footsteps and turned her head shyly.

Instead of seeing King Jing, she saw two young eunuchs with pale faces and no beards, who were looking at her warily, as if they were catching a thief.

The shyness on Hua Yu's face disappeared instantly, "Who are you?!"

The young eunuchs looked at each other and saluted hurriedly: "Your servants pay their respects to Concubine Hua."

Hua Shufei was just getting angry when she heard the man's voice above her head, which was hard to tell whether he was happy or angry. "What are you doing here dressed like this so late at night?!"

Concubine Hua was slightly startled and looked up at King Jing, the emotion in her eyes changed instantly.

Grievances, dissatisfaction, admiration, longing... finally transformed into a cry of grievance and coquettishness: "Prince~"

Eunuch Shi'an and others standing by couldn't help but get goosebumps when they heard this.

King Jing: "..."

Concubine Hua belatedly stood up and saluted, deliberately lowering her voice as she spoke, "I heard that the prince led the Yan family army to Qiangwu to provide disaster relief, and many civilians and soldiers died in this disaster."

"Besides, the mansion is experiencing turmoil, and both the Third Young Master and Concubine Wan have suffered misfortune..."

"I have come here specially to burn some paper money for them, hoping that they can rest in peace in the underworld."

"Also, I heard that placing lotus lanterns on water can ward off disasters and bring peace, so I thought of placing a few lotus lanterns for the prince and the people affected by the disaster, to pray for peace and safety."

As she spoke, Concubine Hua lowered her head slightly, revealing her beautiful fair profile.

In the night, she was wearing a white dress, which made her look graceful, pitiful and lovely, and her beauty, which was only 60%, was enhanced to 70%.

This posture and angle were confirmed by the maids around her to best reflect Concubine Hua's beauty.

Including what she said today, the maids around her discussed and polished it before asking her to memorize it.

She herself felt great.

Concubine Hua thought to herself, the prince will definitely be moved, right?

Unexpectedly, after waiting for half a day, there was still no voice from King Jing.

Concubine Hua raised her eyes timidly, meeting King Jing's dark, cold gaze. "You are my concubine. Haven't the maids in the palace taught you when to wear mourning clothes?"

Concubine Hua's face turned pale, and she quickly explained, "Madam did teach me that. But I wear white clothes for the people and soldiers who died in Qiang and Wu..."

"Who are you to wear mourning clothes for them?" King Jing said with a hint of impatience. "I'm not even dead yet, so why are you so anxious to put on these clothes?"

"Since you like wearing it so much, then in two days, when Concubine Wan's funeral ceremony begins, you will be responsible for dressing her in mourning."

When Hua Yu heard this, her face turned pale.

Hua Yu: "How can this be possible?!"

"Why not?!" King Jing said coldly, "Since you can wear mourning clothes for ordinary people and soldiers you don't even know, you can probably do it for Wan Shifei as well."

"You two have always called each other sisters, so at least there is some affection between you."

Hua Yu felt aggrieved and angry, but was suppressed by King Jing's aura. She dared not say a word and could only shiver in the cold wind.

King Jing continued, "Or perhaps you feel that Wan Shiqi's rank is lower than yours, and you despise her?"

"Of course I'm not!" Concubine Hua dared not admit this.

King Jing was obviously angry. If she said that she despised the low status of her concubine Wan.

The people and soldiers outside were not as well-off in status and position as Concubine Wan, yet she came here in the middle of the night to burn paper and light lanterns.

Doesn't this mean that she is insincere?

Concubine Hua could only say aggrievedly, "I, I dare not."

"I only wanted to relieve His Majesty's worries, and I have no other thoughts."

King Jing was silent for a moment. "If you really have no other thoughts, I would be glad for you."

When a stupid person pretends to be smart, he is just being clever.

But he thought that no one else could notice it, and he just kept complaining about his grievances.

King Jing was not raised on dew, and he could see at a glance that Concubine Hua was trying to win his favor.

He just happened to be scolded by the old guys in the court today, and he was very angry.

When he returned home to deal with the affairs in the backyard, he met Hua Yu, the smart guy, on the way.

As soon as he was made the crown prince, Hua Yu wore white clothes and burned paper in the palace.

King Jing knew that she was not trying to curse her, but just wanted to win his favor.

It's so disgusting!

It would be better to just ask for favor directly!

Concubine Hua felt that King Jing's words were a sign of disdain for her being too cunning.

But she felt that she had acted very secretly and had not made any mistakes, so how could she have offended the prince?

Hua Yu cried tears of grievance, and King Jing turned around and left with his men.

He was afraid that if he stayed with Hua Yu any longer, he would vent all his anger on her.

When they arrived at Chunshan Courtyard, King Jing sat down with a sullen face.

The maids and servants beside them didn't dare to breathe.

Xiao Shu was even more worried and asked Xie Run, "Master, is it possible that the prince is angry because he knows that I went to the front yard to inquire about the collection of Concubine Wan today?"

Xie Run patted her hands and said, "No, the prince is not such a petty person."

After saying something that went against his conscience, Xie Run despised himself for a moment.

She didn't dare to comfort Xiao Shu, because she knew that King Jing was narrow-minded, but he generally didn't like to argue with his servants.

Even if he is dissatisfied, he will only vent it to her.

She took the tea from Dan Tao: "Let me do it."

Xiao Shu held Xie Run back and said, "Master, let me go."

"If the prince wants to blame someone, he can only blame this servant. At most, he will punish me..."

Xiao Shu couldn't bear to see his master suffer.

Xie Run smiled and waved his hand, "When have you ever seen the prince really angry with me?"

Xiao Shu: “…”

Actually, I have seen it before.

However, Xie Run had already made his decision, and neither Xiao Shu nor Dan Tao could stop him.

She walked forward lightly, holding the tea, "Your Highness, please have a sip of tea first."

Why are you so angry late at night? Are you holding your anger in somewhere?

King Jing snorted softly, picked up the tea and sniffed it, "What kind of tea is this?"

"It's a calming tea." Xie Run said softly, "I saw that the prince was very angry, and I was afraid that he would scare me if he got angry, so I asked the maids to make some to calm his mind."

King Jing: "...You knew I was angry, yet you still gave me this tea. Are you deliberately mocking me?"

Xie Run blinked innocently, "How could Your Majesty misunderstand my sincere feelings?"

She lowered her head in grievance, "Then Your Highness, please scold me, even if it means beating me... I will endure it this time and will tell Your Highness about my grievances later."

King Jing was originally very unhappy, which was why he attacked everyone indiscriminately.

But when he saw Xie Run pretending to be wronged, he wanted to laugh, "In your eyes, am I such an unreasonable person who beats and scolds others at will?!"

"That's not the case." Xie Run said slowly, "It is precisely because Your Highness is not that kind of person that I said I would endure it for now and complain to Your Highness later."

"If the prince is really such an unreasonable person, how can I have the opportunity to complain?"

King Jing snorted, but his anger was much less.

"You are becoming more and more eloquent now."