It’s hard to break a phoenix’s destiny

Chapter 503: Water chestnut exposes the network of relationships

Two days later, Zhao Huanyong brought chicken soup again, saying that the emperor had killed all his fighting cocks and boiled them into broth. This time, it wasn't just him and Queen Hui who drank the broth, but everyone at the cockfighting scene that day had the broth. Moreover, this time the broth was specially boiled by Mao Hongmao and Lao Zhang, and it tasted very delicious.

Mao Hongmao also stood aside and asked Yang Xianrong to taste it. She had no choice but to drink a small bowl reluctantly, and it tasted really good.

There was still a large jar left, so Yang Xianrong kept Zhao Huanyong and asked him and several guards to sit down and drink the chicken soup while it was hot. Zhao Huanyong was very grateful and almost knelt down to kowtow.

Yang Xianrong just smiled and said, "There aren't so many rules here, why do you have to kowtow for everything? Besides, it's inconvenient for you to wear armor in winter when you have so many clothes to wear. Don't kowtow in the future."

"Thank you, Queen Hui." Zhao Huanyu and his men kowtowed to Yang Xianrong in a proper manner to express their gratitude. Of course, Zhao Huanyu also brought more news, for example, Lin Ruowang has now been promoted to the position of supervisor, replacing Supervisor Yang, and as the biggest eunuch leader around Sima Chi, he manages everything inside and outside the palace.

After this incident, the emperor felt that he could not indulge in such meaningless things as cockfighting, but should work hard to govern the Jin Dynasty. Otherwise, if the news of this cockfight in the palace spread out, not only Sima Chi would lose face, but the reputation of the Jin Dynasty would also be ruined.

Yang Xianrong smiled and thought to herself, what kind of reputation does the Great Jin still have now? Just look at the people in the palace, the women are jealous of each other, and the men are fighting for power. How can it still look like an imperial dynasty?

"There is another thing, which is actually quite strange." Zhao Huanyu finished drinking the chicken soup and saw a few large pieces of chicken in the bowl. He hesitated whether to pinch it with his hands and eat it. Zhang Liangchu was very perceptive and quietly put the salt pot over. Zhao Huanyu was much happier. "Du Jiandu was executed by the spies. The things in his room were carefully checked. Except for Hai Dongqing's things, there was nothing special. However, those who had a good relationship with him on weekdays were implicated this time... Originally, the emperor canceled the implicate, but this time... Anyway, many people in the palace are very nervous."

"Du Jian has followed the emperor before, right?" Yang Xianrong asked.

"It is said that he was just serving tea in the palace before." Zhao Huanyong looked at Zhang Liangchu again, "Perhaps, Zhang Zongguan knows him?"

"We've met a few times." Zhang Liangchu nodded, "but we've never had a conversation."

"According to the eunuchs who have a good relationship with him, this man rarely leaves the palace. He has also taken the fighting cocks of the previous emperor before, so he is quite familiar with it. The Saker Falcon that caused the trouble was brought into the palace a few days ago, but no one knows who gave it to him and what the specific circumstances are." Zhao Huanyu lowered his voice a lot, "Lord Liang sent people to investigate, but there are no clues. Anyway, the case has been closed as a spy now."

"Did they suspect Liu Yuan sent them?" Yang Xianrong was also a little curious. "Isn't Liu Yuan sick?"

"I heard that he is seriously ill, and his sons have begun to prepare." Zhao Huanyong knew a lot, "We are still safe now, at least the prince is still watching at the front line."

"Oh, these days are so restless." Yang Xianrong sighed again.

"Lin Ruowang is the chief steward now. If you have any questions, you can talk to him. He is an honest man." Zhao Huanyong reminded him again, "The food in the palace has been reduced recently. Although Queen Hui's food will not be reduced, the food in other palaces has been reduced by half. Also, the emperor killed all those singing girls... He said it was annoying to watch."

"…Why bother?" Yang Xianrong sighed again, "What about the queen?"

"She is still in Changqiu Palace and is not allowed to come out. Actually, there shouldn't be anything wrong, after all, Lord Liang is still here." Zhao Huanyong laughed, "Anyway, the prince is still the regent, so many things can be discussed easily."

Yang Xianrong nodded, "It's not easy." Zhao Huanyong is Sima Yue's man. Although he now obeys Sima Chi, the complicated relationship is always confusing. Yang Xianrong can only be nice to everyone, but she has to appear weak. Xu Henian's idea was also a helpless move.

After Lin Ruowang took office, he was more friendly than the previous Yang Zongguan, and he was even better at providing Yang Xianrong with food and clothing than before. He also liked the food made by Mao Hongmao, and often came to ask Mao Hongmao to help. He even gave him the key to the imperial kitchen, saying, "The emperor also liked the food in Mingyue Tower before, and now that he knows the ability of Mao Zongguan, he is naturally happy. If it weren't for the current too many things, he would come to Queen Hui's place to eat and drink."

Yang Xianrong grinned and had to agree to recruit Mao Hongmao.

After another seven or eight days, Mao Hongmao suddenly found Yang Xianrong quietly during lunch break, handed her a water chestnut, and said it was just from Lin Ruowang, and hoped that he could make some delicious food for the emperor and Queen Hui.

"What does this mean?" Yang Xianrong didn't understand.

"Do you know his relationship with Minister Ma?" Mao Hongmao asked.

"I know." Yang Xianrong nodded.

"Then you know that Minister Ma is the only one in Luoyang now. His whole family left a year ago, saying they went back to their hometown. However, the embroidered robe envoy said that his family often has servants going to Huzhou in the south."

"What does this mean?" Yang Xianrong was stunned.

"Sima Rui has a private courtyard in Huzhou... This water chestnut should have been picked from that courtyard."

"How can we tell?" Yang Xianrong held the water chestnut and looked at it. "Don't they all look like this?"

"Of course, the Queen can't tell them apart, but when I was running Mingyue Tower, I once made a dish involving water chestnuts - stewed water chestnuts with pork ribs. Although both are made with water chestnuts, the water chestnuts from the waters of Huzhou are sweeter and are the most delicious when stewed with pork ribs. Later, I bought a large batch of water chestnuts from Huzhou, including some from this villa... and they look exactly like this one."

"So, what does this mean?" Yang Xianrong's heart moved.

"This means that Lin Ruowang is very likely a spy planted by Sima Rui here..." Mao Hongmao's voice became even lower, "And the embroidered envoy has already met Yuan Heshuo and Yuan Caidie in the other courtyard..."

"What?" This time, Yang Xianrong was a little surprised.

"So, I guess Yuan Caidie thinks this water chestnut is delicious. She is usually very kind to the little princess, so she wants to use Lin Ruowang's hand to bring some delicious food to the little princess..."

Yang Xianrong widened her eyes and pondered Mao Hongmao's words. This intricate network of relationships in the palace became even more bizarre. Therefore, everything behind the scenes was not that simple. Perhaps Du Jian was wrongly killed in order for Lin Ruowang to stand by the side of the current emperor of Dajin. What will happen in the future? I'm afraid it has already been decided. So how should she choose?