Princess, she is the one who facilitated the extradition.

Gui Yao asked, "Any clues?"

Li Deshun glanced at Xiao Huaijin.

Nan Yao's arrangements all stemmed from Xiao Huaijin's genuine affection for his young master.

However, he hesitated because he was unsure whether he should let Xiao Huaijin know about the young master's background.

Gui Yao waved his hand, "It's alright, Your Highness."

Xiao Huaijin's lips curled up slightly, and Li Deshun then spoke, "This old servant has investigated these past few days and found that none of those close to Princess Baozhu, whether inside or outside the palace, have suffered eye damage."

The princess left the capital around the time when palace maids were not allowed to leave the palace, yet five palace maids died.

Those who died of illness, those who were beaten to death, those who died in internal strife, and one who accidentally fell into the water—all of them had traceable bodies and were truly dead.

Moreover, none of them served in the princess's palace and had very little contact with the princess; only one of them…”

Li Deshun pointed to the palace in front of him and said, "This is where Consort Su used to live."

Gui Yao followed his gaze and saw that the palace was very old, probably because no one had lived there for several years. There were no palace servants guarding the gate, so it must have been empty.

She pushed open the door, and a cloud of dust rushed in. "What's her situation? How old is she?"

"He died in his early thirties."

Li Deshun glanced around to make sure no one was inside. "However, this old servant found out that she faked her death, and the princess helped her."

He was very close to the princess, but she didn't tell him.

Gui Yao carefully looked around the room but couldn't recall anything. "The princess and she were on good terms?"

"Consort Su is gentle and mild-mannered, never vying for anything. She only received favor when she entered the palace, and has been content with this side hall ever since."

Li Deshun truthfully said, "She is skilled in cooking, and the dishes she makes are very much to the princess's liking. The princess often came to her place when she was in the palace."

She had a fiancé before entering the palace. When they were about to get married, her brother and sister-in-law sent her to the palace.

Her fiancé remained unmarried and even joined the army, eventually ending up under the Crown Prince's command by chance.

He emphasized the word "Crown Prince" slightly, reminding Gui Yao that the Crown Prince in his words was Princess Baozhu.

Gui Yao nodded. "Go on."

"That man made great contributions in the final battle, but lost an arm as a result."

His Highness, mindful of his past contributions, wishes to secure him an official position so that he may live a peaceful life in peace.

Li Deshun sighed, "That guy was incredibly audacious. He refused His Highness's offer and told His Highness about his affair with Consort Su, hoping to use his achievements to get Consort Su out of the palace."

His Highness took this matter to heart. Upon his triumphant return to the capital, he inquired of Consort Su. Consort Su, upon learning that the man was still waiting for her and had lost an arm, also knelt and begged His Highness to grant her request.

"So Princess Baozhu agreed to help them?"

Gui Yao pressed her brow.

Consort Su was the emperor's woman, which was unprecedented. There had never been an emperor's woman who left the palace to marry someone else.

The fact that she would step in to help shows that she and Consort Su have a very good relationship.

"Where did Consort Su go after faking her death and leaving the palace?"

Li Deshun shook his head, "The Su family doesn't know the truth, so Consort Su will definitely not return to the Su family after leaving the palace."

This old servant has already sent people to the man's hometown to investigate, but has not yet received any news.

Gui Yao thought for a moment, "Do you have Consort Su's birth date and time?"

Regardless of whether Consort Su is in black robes or not.

Gui Yao decided to first check whether she was alive or dead, so as not to go in the wrong direction and waste time and energy.

The birth dates of all women who entered the palace were recorded in the palace archives.

"I will send it to you as soon as I find out."

Going forward now would easily arouse suspicion.

Gui Yao expressed his gratitude.

Li Deshun waved his hands repeatedly, saying, "You flatter this old servant."

After visiting Consort Su's palace and several other places, Gui Yao paused outside her former palace.

The door is new, and the flowers and plants in front of it are neatly trimmed. A pomegranate tree peeks out from the wall, with bright red and plump pomegranates hanging outside the wall, unpicked by anyone.

It is evident that although the palace owner is no longer there, the courtyard has been well maintained.

The door was flung open with a bang, and Granny Wang came out with several palace maids, blocking the entrance.

"Her Majesty the Empress said that Princess Baozhu is about to return to the court, and instructed this old servant to take people to tidy up the palace."

If you're just packing up, why stand at the door?

Gui Yao glanced at her and asked De Shun, "Who planted this tree?"

De Shun bowed and said, "Your Majesty enjoys eating guava. Princess Baozhu personally planted it for Your Majesty. Your Majesty misses the princess and often brings this old servant to maintain the palace. Your Majesty always hesitates to eat this fruit."

The implication was that the reason the Princess's Palace remained as good as new for three years was all thanks to His Majesty. Granny Wang felt a little embarrassed, as this was indeed her first time cleaning here.

Just as he was about to say something, he saw Gui Yao leap onto the top of the wall, deftly pluck two ripe pomegranates, and toss them to Li Deshun.

Gui Yao stood on the wall, looking at every plant and tree in the courtyard. Before her eyes flashed a chubby girl with two little pigtails, stumbling and running after butterflies in the courtyard, followed by the Emperor and De Shun, and a group of palace servants...

"Princess, please don't be offended. If you wish to see His Highness's palace, this old servant must inform His Majesty."

Granny Wang spoke up again, "His Majesty values ​​our Highness highly; she doesn't easily allow outsiders into her palace."

Gui Yao's thoughts were pulled back. She landed on the ground, smiled faintly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "Thank you for your kindness, Granny."

The place where he grew up, now, to enter, he had to listen to a servant's ridicule. Gui Yao turned and left.

To some extent, the words and actions of servants can reflect their masters. The empress had been in charge of the harem for many years, so how could she not see the character of Wang Mama?

The fact that the empress was retained despite this suggests that she was not as virtuous and dignified as the outside world portrayed her to be.

Guiyao's impression of her birth mother was not good during this trip to the palace, but it wasn't all without gains. At least Deshun saw all of Wang Mama's actions.

After visiting two more places, Gui Yao couldn't remember anything, so she said to De Shun, "I'm tired. I'm leaving the palace and won't bother His Majesty any longer. Please pass on this message."

De Shun watched her retreating figure, a pang of heartache flashing in his eyes.

Back in the Censor's office, he presented pomegranates and recounted how Granny Wang had tried to make things difficult for Gui Yao at Xuanji Tower and then blocked his way.

The emperor snorted coldly, "He's quite the one who's been hiding his true abilities."

Perhaps because Fengyi Palace had been too smooth and carefree before, everyone was able to put on a kind face, and they forgot that the glory of Fengyi Palace was earned for them by Zhuzhu.

"Go and renovate Chaoxia Palace. From now on, when Zhuzhu returns to the palace, she will stay in Chaoxia Palace."

Chaoxia Palace was the palace where the Empress Dowager lived when she was a concubine. After His Majesty ascended the throne, he renovated it extensively, making it even more magnificent than Fengyi Palace.

The emperor stroked the two pomegranates his daughter had picked for him, his eyes tender. "Move all the things that Zhuzhu likes over there."

The anger that had been building up inside Li Deshun finally dissipated a little.

Then the emperor asked again, "Did she ask you who you inquired about Consort Su's matter with?"

"no."

Li Deshun truthfully reported Gui Yao's words to the emperor, and cautiously said, "Your Highness should have guessed it."

The emperor tapped the table, but did not deny it.

Gui Yao did indeed guess it.

According to De Shun, she used to have the best relationship with the emperor, so if she wanted to release Consort Su from the palace, she would have to get his consent.

The emperor then gave her the house where the black-robed figure had been hiding, which shows that he had been secretly watching her all along.

She asked De Shun to investigate the matter of the black robe, which naturally did not escape the emperor's eyes. In the entire palace, who knew more about the old stories in the palace than the emperor?

However, the Empress, Gui Yao asked Xiao Huaijin, "Do you think there's anything wrong with the Empress?"

Xiao Huaijin's intuition has always been accurate.

"Yes, she felt guilty."

Gui Yao nodded. She had intended to test each of her former close friends on an equal footing, but she hadn't expected to make a new discovery.

"Let's go into the palace again tonight."

Xiao Huaijin: "I'll go with you."

Considering his current level of lightness skill, Gui Yao did not object.

That night, Li Deshun delivered Su Cairen's birthday gift and then went to the City God Temple.

A moment later, she returned with a furrowed brow.

"It's not Consort Su. She died three years ago, but because of her good deeds in life, she has been reincarnated."

I wanted to ask her something, but I couldn't.

"Dead?"

Li Deshun was shocked. His Majesty had allowed her and her fiancé to retire to the countryside, and she was in good health. How could she have died?

"How did she die?"

Gui Yao shook his head. The City God only investigates life and death. To investigate the cause of death, one must go to the underworld, which is not just a matter of expending spiritual energy.

"Continue the investigation."

Because she had to go to the palace that night to keep an eye on the Empress, Gui Yao covered her mouth and yawned.

Seeing that she was sleepy, Li Deshun left after a short while.

Back at Xuanji Tower, Xiao Huaijin took out two sets of night clothes. "How can we keep it from Eunuch Li?"

Gui Yao began to change his clothes. "The emperor and he have been together day and night for decades, so his thoughts cannot be hidden from the emperor."

She didn't want the emperor to know she was going to the palace that night.

Not long after he left, Gui Yao and Xiao Huaijin changed into night clothes and headed straight for the palace.

Meanwhile, the emperor was also having a late-night talk with the crown prince.