Xuanyuan Jue

Chapter 199: The Misunderstanding (4)
This building is called Baoyue, with seven sides wide and double eaves resting on the mountain.On the tower, there is a huge gilded plaque with four big characters "Looking up and looking down", written by Emperor Qianlong himself.According to legend, the Baoyue Tower was built by Qianlong for Concubine Rong.This concubine Rong was born in Huijiang and belonged to the Hezhuo tribe. Because of her unique fragrance, later generations called her "Xiangfei Empress".Concubine Rong has been in the palace for a long time, thinking about the desert scenery. In order to relieve her homesickness, Emperor Qianlong not only built this building, but also moved the Hui from the Western Regions to Chang'an Street, and built a worship shrine opposite this building.As soon as the emperor's order came out, Huihuiying and Puning Mosque were completed successively. When Concubine Rong came to Baoyue, she could see the old scene of the same family and chat with her nostalgia.

This Baoyue Tower is adjacent to the Forbidden City in the east, Huijie Street in the south, wall construction in the west, and Sanhai in the north.Ascending the tower, you can have a panoramic view of the Xiyuan Group Pavilion.Suddenly, Feng Shen had a thought: If you lean on the railing upstairs, you can know the direction of the road in the palace, even if you can't see Xiao Dezhang's whereabouts, it's better than running around from east to west.

Thinking of this, Feng Shen went up the stairs.Just climbed to the top of the building, facing the South China Sea, a round island came into view.

Feng Shen had seen this island before on the way to Shuqingyuan, but at that time there were many shelters on the shore, so what he saw could be described as incomprehensible.At this time, if you look down at Baoyue Tower, you can see its whole picture.

There are many palaces and palaces on the island, dotted with pavilions and terraces.The island faces the pool on three sides, and only a stone bridge in the north of the island connects with the shore.The sparkling liquid, reflecting the sunset, sets off the palaces on the island like Qionglou Guanghan. Suddenly, it seems that the clouds and fog have been cleared, and the fairyland Penglai has been found.

After watching for a while, Feng Shen turned his gaze to the northwest again. There are more buildings and courtyards in the northwest, and they are far away.Feng Shen roughly estimated the location, and felt that the Yiluan Palace where Cixi lived was vaguely there.

As soon as he thought of Yiluan Palace, the image of Maid Rong appeared in Feng Shen's mind.She is Cixi's personal maid, and in front of her, even Xiao Dezhang has to be respectful.Xiao Dezhang was in such awe of her, so naturally he didn't dare to issue orders to her. In this way, if he inquired about where Xiao Dezhang lived, he could fall on Maid Rong.

"Oh, why didn't I think of it earlier? It took so much time for nothing!" Feng Shen didn't have time to repent, and immediately went down Baoyue Tower and rushed towards Yiluan Hall.

After rushing to Yiluan Hall, night fell.Therefore, it was the Empress Dowager's bedroom, Feng Shen didn't want to rush in rashly, but when he saw a little maid passing by outside the courtyard, he hurriedly called to stop. "Feng Shen, I'm looking for a girl surnamed Rong, please let me know!"

"A girl surnamed Rong?" The little maid thought for a while and said, "But there is no one surnamed Rong here!"

Feng Shen was about to speak, when a voice next to him said: "I know who Feng Zhangjing is looking for, alright Qiu Lingzi, go and do your work."

"Yes, Aunt Juan." The palace maid agreed, bowed her head and walked away quickly.

Feng Shen turned his head and saw that the person who came was another maid beside Cixi. "Oh, it's Miss Juan."

Maid Juan smiled and said, "Feng Zhangjing is here to find Rongzi, right?"

"Exactly," Feng Shen nodded, "but that girl said just now..."

Maid Juan smiled and bent over, "Her name is Rong'er, but her surname is He. Feng Zhangjing wanted to find 'Miss Rong' here, hehe, of course he couldn't find it."

"Ashamed, I take it for granted."

"Feng Zhangjing doesn't need to be polite as 'upper' or 'lower'. If you want to find Rongzi, follow me."

"So presumptuous!"

After Feng Shen finished speaking, he stepped into the hospital, and under the guidance of Maid Juan, he came to the lower part of the Highness.

Seeing that it was Feng Shen, Maid Rong asked, "Feng Zhangjing, how is the investigation going?"

Feng Shen said: "There has been some progress, but there are still some things I don't understand, so I'm here to ask Miss Rong for advice."

Maid Juan pinched the corner of Maid Rong's clothes, covered her mouth and smirked: "Listen, Rongzi, Feng Zhangjing is young, but he speaks like an old gentleman..."

Maid Rong said angrily: "Juanzi, Lafayette is not in the palace right now, let's not be joking around."

"Okay, okay, I'll just stop laughing." Although the maid Juan said so, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Maid Rong ignored her and said to Feng Shen, "What does Feng Zhangjing want to ask?"

Feng Shen said: "I'm looking for Miss Rong, because I want to ask where Eunuch Zhang lives."

Maid Rong said: "Why, is Feng Zhangjing looking for him?"

Feng Shen said: "Exactly, I have been looking for him for a long time today, but I haven't seen him."

Maid Rong said: "Eunuch Zhang is in charge of the birthday dining room, maybe he stayed there for a day...Feng Zhangjing doesn't need to worry, Lafayette is having dinner right now, Eunuch Zhang will accompany you there as usual, stay late After eating, I will send Lafayette back to Yiluan Hall."

Feng Shen thought for a while and said, "That's fine, then I'll wait for him here!"

Maid Rong pulled Maid Juan, and said to Feng Shen: "Then Feng Zhangjing please do what you want, we won't accompany you any longer..."

"Stay here, both of you!" Seeing the rare opportunity, Feng Shen wanted to ask the two maids for more information about Cixi. "I would also like to ask, what else does the old lady eat besides 'soothing wine' before going to bed?"

The second maid's face changed, and her tone became obviously serious. "Feng Zhangjing, why are you asking about these things?"

Feng Shendao: "I just suspect that the blood that the Empress Dowager saw in the painting that night was related to diet, so I ask this question."

After hearing this, the second maid softened her attitude. "It turns out that Feng Zhangjing is here to investigate the case... You don't know Feng Zhangjing. According to the rules of the palace, no one else can ask what Lafayette eats and drinks every day."

Feng Shenqi asked: "And why?"

Maid Rong said: "This is the precept of the ancestors, and it is also the law of the family. Lafayette never eats more than three spoons of each dish, and even the menu recipes must be burned every time they are used up. The reason for this is to prevent villains Find out the taste of Lafayette, and tamper with the diet. Therefore, it is better for Feng Zhangjing not to ask."

"So that's the case, thank you Miss Rong for your advice!" Feng Shen said again, "Then I'm going to ask the two girls about their diet and daily life. I wonder if it's a taboo?"

Maid Rong said: "It doesn't matter if servants like us eat and drink."

Feng Shen said: "Well, I heard that whenever the old lady takes tranquilizing wine, the two girls have to taste it first?"

Maid Juan smiled and said: "Taste everything? Rong Zi and I take turns to taste the wine, so there are not many tranquilizing wines. If we each take a sip every time, what else would Lafayette drink?"

Feng Shen frowned and said, "In this way, there were only two people who drank alcohol that night, and all three of them shed blood and tears when they saw the portrait?"

The second maid nodded, "That's right, that's true."

Feng Shen said: "When did the blood and tears on the painting disappear?"

"I don't know about that," Maid Rong said, "At that time, Lafayette was going to destroy the portrait, but he changed his mind and suspected that someone was doing something wrong, so he wanted to keep it as a deposit certificate... But the bedroom and Nuange never dared to do it again." So I took it to the side hall and placed it in front of the statue of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva."

Feng Shen said: "Can I go to the side hall to have a look?"

The second maid hesitated for a while, and both nodded. "Feng Zhangjing is investigating the case, so it's okay. Please come here."

When they came to the side hall, Maid Rong lit up the lamp.Feng Shen moved to look at the Guanyin statue, while the second maid stood aside and waited quietly.

Under the shadow of the candles, Feng Shen's brand-new court clothes were shining brightly, looking extremely glamorous.Looking at it, Maid Juan blurted out: "It's official clothes after all, it's different from what eunuchs wear. What they wear are either gaudy or simple and shabby. How can they be as solemn as court clothes?"

Feng Shen was taken aback, "What did Miss Juan say?"

Maid Juan said: "I'm praising Feng Zhangjing's court clothes. At a glance, it's obviously different from those worn by the eunuchs... Oh, Feng Zhangjing, I don't mean to compare you with them. We usually don't leave the palace at all. , the people who can see wearing official uniforms are probably those eunuchs..."

"Obviously different?" Feng Shen thought for a while, and suddenly felt that something was not quite right.

Maid Rong said: "Feng Zhangjing, don't pay attention to her, just concentrate on checking. It will be inconvenient when Lafayette comes back later."

"That's true." Feng Shen nodded, and looked at the altar again.

There is an offering table under the shrine, and a few dishes of offering fruit are removed on the table, which is a copper incense burner.However, there is a hollowed-out lid on the top of the incense burner, which is specially used for fumigation, so the table top is as clean as a mirror, without any incense ash or dust.

Feng Shen pointed at the censer and asked, "Miss Rong, do you usually use this censer to worship Bodhisattvas?"

Maid Rong said: "Yes, this incense burner has been used for many years, and it has never been replaced."

Feng Shen's heart trembled, "Have you never put straight incense sticks in this incense burner?"

"No," Maid Rong said, "I'm afraid of water in the palace, so that kind of sticky incense that is easy to fall into dust is not allowed. Even the kindling and fire sickle are managed by a special person, and there is no mistake in the slightest... ..."

Surprised, Feng Shen took out the portrait in his arms and unfolded it. "Look at the corners of this portrait, there are a few small holes made by burning incense ash... Could it be that they were burned here?"

Maid Juan interjected, "I also saw these small holes at the time, but the portrait is already like this."

Maid Rong compared the small holes and said: "It's not wrong, these holes are all made by burning the incense sticks, there is no such thing in the palace!"

Feng Shen suddenly raised his eyebrows, "Could it be that she set it up?"

Seeing Feng Shen's expression was different, the second maid hurriedly asked: "Feng Zhangjing, what's wrong with you?"

"It's nothing," Feng Shen said, "I would like to ask you two, where is the court lady named Ye He?"

"Ye He? Why did Feng Zhangjing ask her again? That girl is from Han Yuan Palace!"

"How do I get to Han Yuan Hall?"

"There is an island to the southeast from here, and the Hanyuan Palace is on it..."

"I just happen to know the place! Farewell!" Feng Shen tucked the portrait and rushed out of the hall.

"Feng Zhangjing, don't go in a hurry, there is..." When Maid Rong chased out the door, Feng Shen's figure had already disappeared.

Maid Juan also came out, "This Feng Zhangjing is really true, why didn't you listen to others?"

"Oh," Maid Rong sighed softly, "Forget it, I hope nothing happens to him..."

(End of this chapter)