maidservant

Chapter 23 An unexpected event occurred on the Prince's wedding night

Lin Yu straightened up from the couch and said, "Yunshan, although we have only been together for two years, we have a life-and-death friendship. From now on, the three of us, master and servant, should behave like we do in the Marquis' Mansion. When no one is around, I will just treat you as sisters."

Yunshan heard this and stood up and said:

"In terms of checks and balances, the Crown Prince relies on both the old power behind the Crown Princess's family, the Duke of Ying, and the meritorious officials like the Marquis. Consort Cui of the West Court represents the dignity of the royal family, while the Li and Yang brothers are backed by the new nobles of the six ministries. In terms of personal connection, now that you all have entered the palace at the same time, Consort Cui is closer to the Crown Prince, having known him since childhood. However—"

Suddenly, a lantern flickered past the window, and the three of them fell silent. Lin Yu watched the figure approaching from the veranda, calculating the time, figuring it was Aunt Zhuang coming to retrieve the "Fu Lu" (Blessings Record) she had personally copied for the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, a prayer for a long line of descendants.

Sure enough, Aunt Zhuang knocked on the door: "Good luck to your Ladyship," Aunt Zhuang's voice was carried into the hall by the night wind, "It's time to pray for blessings and record them in the ancestral hall." Behind her, the little palace maid Wu'er was holding a sheep-horn lantern. In the dim light, Yunshan smelled a strange fragrance on her.

"May the Crown Prince and Crown Princess live in harmony and enjoy a long and prosperous life."

Lin Yu presented the scriptures, and when the footsteps disappeared at the end of the corridor, Yun Shan suddenly lowered her voice:
"What I left unsaid just now—Concubine Cui Liang sent green plum wine to the Crown Prince's study yesterday." She lit the candle, the flames dancing across Lin Yu's suddenly constricted pupils. "And our Marquis once said that the Crown Prince hates sour things."

The two wondered, "Concubine Cui Liang should know the Crown Prince's preferences better. Why is that?"

"I suspect that Concubine Cui Liang is not interested in competing for favor. If that's the case, don't be the first to jump in and attract attention until you're sure you've established yourself."

Lin Yu leaned against the head of the bed, letting Yun Jin and Yun Shan massage her legs and shoulders.

"The fate between the prince and me only began with three pages of the alliance." She suddenly said,
"I know what you mean. Even if I had been cautious and not competed for favor, the Crown Prince would not have been too indifferent to me because of my father. However, the Lin family sent me to the Eastern Palace. If I just treated me as a decoration, I would be ashamed of my family."

The three of them remained silent, pondering for a long time until a night watch eunuch passed by the window with a lantern. Yun Jin reminded them, "It's time for Consort Liang to go to bed. We will consider everything slowly. We have to pay our respects to the Crown Princess tomorrow morning."

As soon as the third gong sounded at the hour of Mao, the scent of agarwood incense filled the main hall and the bedroom.

The Crown Princess was shyly dressing the Crown Prince and was about to go to the palace to pay her respects and serve him tea.

However, hurried footsteps were heard from the corridor. It was Aunt Lai, the prince's wet nurse since childhood, who now worked as the manager of the backyard of the Eastern Palace.

"This old servant has something important to report."

Aunt Lai knelt on the carpet covered with double happiness patterns, the red gold longevity hairpin in her hair still trembling.

In the ebony tray in her hand were the remaining pages of the Fu Lu that had not been completely burned last night, with the charred edges curled up like ghost claws.
"When Lin Liangdi's scrolls burned, black smoke rose three feet high, and the silvery charcoal in the brazier turned gray-purple."

The Crown Prince's hand, which was tying his belt, suddenly tightened, and the jade pendant hit the rosewood table. The Crown Princess was startled and quickly let go of her hand.

This incident really touched the prince's sore spot. On the one hand, it was unlucky for such a thing to happen on the day of his wedding, and on the other hand, he always disliked women in the backyard causing trouble in the family home.

"Check." The prince slammed his white jade ring on the dressing table. The bronze mirror reflected his tense jawline.
"Anyone who handles the writing, anyone who comes into contact with it during the escort, including the rough cleaning staff—"

The words stopped abruptly, and the Crown Princess suddenly offered him some warm tea and whispered softly:

"Your Highness, if we mobilize a large force for this matter on the second day of your wedding, I'm afraid word will reach His Majesty." The Crown Princess advised, continuing, "How about leaving this matter to me?"

"Okay." The prince agreed and took two steps back to sit on the couch.

The Crown Princess stepped forward and asked, "The pens, ink, and silk paper that the four sisters used to copy the Fu Lu were all uniformly distributed by the royal family. I'm afraid Lin Liangdi's copy must have been tampered with."

"That's what the princess said."

"So perhaps Miss Lin is unaware of this matter. Auntie, please go to Shaokun Palace first and explain this matter to Miss Lin. Let her investigate the suspicious individuals in the courtyard on her own. Remember not to make too much noise and not to alarm the other sisters. We will discuss the details after Your Highness and I go to the palace to pay our respects to Father, the Emperor, and Mother."

Aunt Lai understood the meaning of the last half sentence and knew not to alert the enemy. So she took the order and went to Shaokun Palace with two servants.

In Shaokun Palace, Yunjin was tying Lin Yu's hair in front of the mirror.

The lotus engraved on the edge of the bronze mirror was suddenly illuminated by the morning light. Aunt Zhuang stood outside the curtain, holding a gilded food box, the lid condensed with frost that had not melted last night. "Liang Di," "Aunt Lai, the general manager, is here. She said she has something important to tell you."

Lin Yu invited Aunt Lai into the hall. After Aunt Lai explained the whole story in detail, Lin Yu asked Yun Jin to go and close the door of Shao Kun Palace. He used the excuse of arranging some trivial matters to check the maid's ear room.

Yunshan replied:
"Aunt, this matter is obviously aimed at our master. The scriptures are so important, our master has always treated them with great care."

Then he took out a carved red sandalwood box, which contained neatly arranged paper and ink. "Aunt, please understand. Our master has carefully preserved the remaining paper and ink and would not dare to soil even a single bit of it."

She continued, "Yesterday, this servant accompanied Liang Di and personally delivered the 'Fu Lu' to Aunt Zhuang. Aunt Zhuang carefully checked the text and found no problems."

Aunt Zhuang stepped forward at the right moment to speak. "When I received the scroll, the text with the rising sun pattern still emanated the fragrance of imperial ink. I also opened it and checked it in front of you, and there are no flaws. The silk paper also bears His Highness's personal seal, so it cannot be faked."

"Yes, I have also seen this unburned fragment, and the silk paper material has indeed not been changed." Aunt Lai smiled and agreed.
"Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess has also stated that this incident would be extremely detrimental to Shao Kun Palace. Your Highnesses naturally trust Lin Liang Di."

"I will certainly live up to the trust of His Royal Highnesses the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess." Lin Yu gestured for Yunshan to continue.

"Although our master is innocent in today's incident, it is also related to our Shaokun Palace. Aunt, please rest assured that Shaokun Palace will investigate."

Then he turned around and asked, "Aunt Zhuang escorted the scriptures all the way last night. Did they pass through other people's hands along the way?"

Aunt Zhuang hurriedly explained:

"I, the servant, respectfully carried the scriptures directly to the palace hall, where I, along with the other aunts in the courtyard, guarded my own scriptures and waited for an auspicious time to burn them together. No one else was involved in this, and servants were stationed throughout the courtyard all night. Lady Liang and Aunt Lai may go and ask. If anyone disagrees, I am willing to go with Nasi to face the punishment and settle the matter."

After hearing this, Lin Yu didn't trust Aunt Zhuang, whom she had just met. However, if she was really detained, she always felt that something was wrong, so she frowned:

"If what Madam Zhuang said is true, where did the mistake go wrong?"

　Everyone~ From February 2th to February 18nd, this novel will be participating in the ranking. Please read the two newly updated chapters every day. This "reading rate" is very important to me! Thank you! ~~~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)