jdhmnovel Chapter 677 Cui Jinxi's Provocation
Chapter 677 Cui Jinxi's Provocation
Yunli.
Yes, Yunli!
Yunli once said that he always regarded his family as relatives.
Yu Rao is his only sister, Yun Li will definitely help her.
"Someone, come here! Call Xiao Yangzi over to me!"
"Yes, master."
Jingchun, who hadn't received any reward for three months, turned around and rolled his eyes silently.
She muttered to herself, Xiao Yangzi just left, why couldn't the master finish what he was saying at once?
I heard from my sisters that the masters of other palaces, such as Yongshou Palace, Yikun Palace, Xianfu Palace, and Changchun Palace, all gave winter rewards to their servants. Only their Zhongcui Palace not only did not receive any rewards, but...
When she saw Cui Jinxi walking in from outside, she hurried forward to greet her.
"Hello, Aunt Jinxi!"
Cui Jinxi nodded slightly, with a sharp look in her eyes.
"Jingchun, daytime is the time for work, don't be distracted, otherwise..."
She left her words unfinished and Jingchun quickly begged for mercy.
"Aunt Jinxi, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me this time."
The master fell out of favor for no reason and became irritable. Once his subordinates made a mistake, they would be fined monthly wages.
Jingchun has a younger brother who is studying at home. If he doesn't send money back, he won't be able to raise enough money for his brother's tuition next year.
She fell to her knees with a thud, and Cui Jinxi quickly helped her up.
"What are you doing? I'm not the kind of unreasonable person. We are all servants, so just be careful in the future."
She wanted to win people's hearts in private, but she must not let her master find out anything unusual.
In order to make money for the young master, Cui Jinxi colluded with her own people who distributed the monthly allowance to withhold the monthly allowance of some of the lowest-level palace maids in the name of Concubine Zhen.
It was common for the steward to withhold money from the lower-level palace servants, and she was not afraid of being reported.
At worst, he could kneel down in front of Concubine Zhen and admit his mistake, saying that he was raising money for her.
Last time, he withheld the silver notes that Concubine Zhen returned to Prince Guo. Part of it was used to hire assassins to hunt down Zhen Yuandao and his wife, and the other part was sent back to the clan to train personnel.
Ever since the clan leader was imprisoned by the late emperor and starved to death in prison, the clan has gone from bad to worse, relying entirely on the savings accumulated in earlier years to survive.
No work has been done for almost thirty years, so no amount of wealth can sustain the family.
Cui Jinxi looked towards the east wing hall with hope. Fortunately, they had tried their best to send the young master into the palace.
He is also the descendant of the late emperor, so why can't he inherit the throne?
Cui Jinxi patted Jingchun and whispered a few words to comfort her.
Seeing the other person's grateful face, he lifted the curtain of the main hall.
"Master, I saw Xiao Yangzi return. Do you have any news about the Second Young Lady and Bai Zhi?"
When Zhen Huan heard her mention her sister, her heart ached.
She wiped her eyes again with the handkerchief and spoke with a trembling voice.
"In the winter forests, there's a lack of food, and the starving animals are running down the mountain... Xiao Yangzi sent people into the mountains to search, but they only found a bloodstained bag. Bai Zhi might be in grave danger."
"There's no trace of Yu Rao on the peak, and I don't know where she is."
At this point, her voice was choked with sobs.
"Jinxi, Yurao must still be alive, don't you think?"
Cui Jinxi suppressed the joy in her heart and nodded affirmatively.
"Master, the Second Miss is blessed with good fortune. She will be safe. Perhaps she is trapped somewhere, waiting for you to find her."
"That's right. But I don't have anyone outside the palace. Could you please write a letter to Yunli and ask him to look for her on my behalf?"
Zhen Huan knew very well that if her handwritten letter accidentally fell into the hands of others, it would bring her great trouble.
The Emperor was already displeased with her, and she had to proceed with caution before regaining his favor.
"I've asked someone to call Xiao Yangzi, and he'll be here soon. Jinxi, go directly to the study and write the letter. I'll grind some ink for you."
"Yes, I will obey your Majesty."
Cui Jinxi gritted her teeth quietly. The emperor was very strict about rules. Palace ladies were not allowed to have any contact with men other than their family members, especially since Prince Guo was the son of the late emperor.
Zhen Huan didn't want to give others any handle, and she didn't want to do that herself even more.
Cui Jinxi's mind raced as she suggested in a low voice.
"Master, I once heard Doctor Wen say that if you write on paper with alum water, once the water has dried, the paper will still be white. Only by soaking it in water will the ink show through. Your Highness is deeply in love with you, why don't you write the letter yourself?"
Zhen Huan believed that Wen Shichu would not lie, and Cui Jinxi's proposal made her somewhat tempted.
She thought about it and shook her head to refuse.
"Jinxi, Yunli took a huge risk by entering the palace to meet with me. The Emperor has already returned to the palace, and the other concubines in the harem are all very cautious. He can't act impulsively again."
Zhen Huan took out a small bag of light yellow crystals from the secret compartment in the study, took a small amount and mixed it with water.
Cui Jinxi soaked the brush with alum water and looked at Zhen Huan embarrassedly before writing.
"Master, the prince is extremely talented, but I can only recognize a few characters. I am afraid of polluting the prince's eyes. Could you please dictate and I write it down?"
Zhen Huan had selfish motives, so she agreed without thinking.
She first told the truth about Yu Rao, and then, at Cui Jinxi's suggestion, she told him about the recent situation of the Eleventh Prince and Princess Lingxi.
While Zhen Huan was out talking to Xiao Yangzi, Cui Jinxi added the current situation in Zhongcui Palace at the end, specifically mentioning that her master was being treated coldly because he was unwilling to serve the emperor.
The emperor did not publicize the fact that Concubine Zhen drugged the Eleventh Prince, and no more than half a handful of people knew about it.
The ambitious Prince Guo knew better than anyone what Zhen Huan's fall from favor meant.
The reason why Queen Chunyuan is still remembered by the emperor is because she died at the moment when the emperor loved her the most.
The emperor also has feelings for Concubine Zhen, so isn't it just right for her to take this path?
Cui Jinxi dried the three pages of letter paper, put them in an envelope, sealed it, and handed it to Xiao Yangzi personally.
Watching the young eunuch leave the main hall, Cui Jinxi stepped forward and gently rubbed his master's head.
There are a few more white hairs among her long black hair. Zhen Huan, who risked her life to give birth to a child, is getting older and older, and she needs to act as soon as possible.
Cui Jinxi hid the silver thread close to her scalp and pressed it on her shoulders.
"Master, I watched Princess Longyue's class from the window today. She is as intelligent as you, and understands everything immediately. She is very much loved by the female officials."
"Sister Mei is very good at raising children."
After Zhen Huan said this lightly, she didn't speak again.
After Longyue went to the garden with the emperor, she sent a letter there every month, but the child only replied with three words every time: "Be well! Don't worry!"
After waiting for a long time for her to return to the palace, she was not warm to her own mother.
Shen Meizhuang is really good at raising children, she has taught them so well that they don’t even recognize their own mother!
Cui Jinxi seemed to sense the coldness in Zhen Huan's heart, and she sighed softly.
"Master, Concubine Hui is the only person in this palace who truly loves you. It's a pity that she is so beautiful and has a tragic fate. She was accidentally tricked by others."
"Jinxi, did you discover something?"
Wen Shichu and his family of three all died in prison because of Concubine Hui's poisoning, which caused her to lose her greatest helper.
She has always been brooding over this and wants to know who is plotting against her in secret.
Seeing that she was interested, Cui Jinxi curled the corners of her lips and began to tease her.
"Master, you are blind to the truth. The most important thing in the harem is profit. Concubine Hui's death by poisoning is a two-birds-with-one-stone move. Who do you think will benefit the most from this?"