"I didn't expect there to be such under - the - table deals here too!" Wei Shuxuan propped her chin and couldn't help sighing.
Xin Zizhao turned to look at Wei Shuxuan. "No matter where you are, it's common to see people getting ahead through connections. You can't have just realized this now, can you?"
"Of course not. I'm just sighing," Wei Shuxuan retorted. Then she looked at Xin Shang. "Brother, you still haven't told me who that Eunuch Jin's backer is."
"Reply to Young Master Wei. It's the Empress Dowager."
"You've got to be kidding me! It's her?" Wei Shuxuan was shocked. Although she knew that the Empress might be involved with Concubine Tong in framing her, she had the least suspicion of the Empress regarding the palace murders.
"Don't tell me your suspicion of the Empress is the lowest?" Xin Zizhao could tell what was on Wei Shuxuan's mind at a glance.
Wei Shuxuan gave him a disdainful look. "Please, stop trying to read my mind all the time. I need some privacy."
"I'm not trying to read your mind. I can just tell."
The way Xin Zizhao raised his eyebrows really annoyed Wei Shuxuan. She turned to Xin Shang again. "Xin Shang, have you found any other useful information?"
"Reply to Young Master Wei. Concubine Tong and the Empress have been in frequent contact these days."
"They're cousins. It's normal for them to be close and in frequent contact, isn't it?" Wei Shuxuan voiced her doubt.
"According to the information from the maids, Concubine Tong and the Empress could hardly meet once in half a month before."
Wei Shuxuan remembered the information she got from Xiao Yuanzi before. Although the Empress and Concubine Tong were cousins, in fact, the Empress had many affairs to deal with in the harem, while Concubine Tong didn't like to be restricted and always liked to take walks around the palace.
It wasn't that their relationship was bad. It was just that the Empress couldn't leave due to her harem affairs, and Concubine Tong liked to wander around, so they didn't meet often.
Now, what on earth made the Empress put aside her harem affairs to visit Concubine Tong?
"Your subordinate has no other information to offer for the time being."
"Then keep investigating and report back."
"Yes, your subordinate obeys the order!" Xin Shang clasped his fists and then flew away.
After Xin Shang left, only Xin Zizhao and Wei Shuxuan were left in the main hall of Fenghe Hall. Xin Zizhao asked Wei Shuxuan, "How did your big task go today?"
"Do you even need to ask? It went very smoothly, of course. After my unremitting efforts, it was really hard for me to get on good terms with those eunuchs!"
"Oh? Are you really that capable?" Xin Zizhao smiled imperceptibly. "I didn't notice."
"Humph, I won't let you look down on me. Just wait and see. I'll get the information I need from them."
"Then I wish you success."
Hearing Xin Zizhao's sarcastic tone, Wei Shuxuan was really annoyed. She wanted to retort but couldn't find the right words, so she just kept silent and waited for dinner obediently.
Xin Zizhao, sitting on one side, caught a glimpse of Wei Shuxuan's cute little expression and couldn't help smiling secretly.
In the Ningshou Palace, the Empress was pacing back and forth restlessly, while Concubine Tong, sitting on one side drinking tea and having snacks, looked very calm. "Cousin, why are you pacing back and forth?"
"Tong'er, you know our current situation. I'm really worried."
Concubine Tong grabbed the Empress's hand. "Cousin, don't worry. I've come up with a better plan to help you and Zheng'er."
"What plan?" The Empress looked at her doubtfully. Concubine Tong waved at her, signaling her to come closer. Then Concubine Tong whispered something in the Empress's ear.
"Will this really work?" The Empress asked again uncertainly.
"I guarantee it won't go wrong. Anyway, no one knows where she is now. Just find someone, right? Cousin, just trust me this once."
After hesitating for a while, the Empress finally nodded. At this point, she had no choice but to take a gamble.
"Xiao Shuzi, you're here again?" Xiao Yuanzi greeted Wei Shuxuan happily when he saw her coming.
"Yeah, I'm here to work. You know what? I was scolded by the Fifth Prince again last night. It was so scary. I almost cried."
Wei Shuxuan was really good at acting. Even the secret guards hiding in the dark to protect her almost believed it.
"Really? Did you do something wrong again? Otherwise, why would the Fifth Prince scold you?" Xiao Yuanzi patted Wei Shuxuan on the shoulder comfortingly.
"I just...," Wei Shuxuan pouted aggrievedly. "I accidentally broke the Fifth Prince's vase."
"Of course he should scold you. Don't you know that the things in the palace are very expensive? How could you be so careless? It's lucky that he just scolded you. Some hot - tempered masters would have had you beaten hundreds of times already!"
Wei Shuxuan nodded. "Yes, I know I was wrong."
Today, Wei Shuxuan continued to work with Xiao Yuanzi in the imperial kitchen, washing dishes. While washing, she chatted with Xiao Yuanzi and tried to get some gossip about the concubines in the palace from him.
"Xiao Yuanzi, I heard that Concubine Jie is a princess from the Qiangfeng Kingdom."
"Yes, her. Remember never to provoke her. She has a really bad temper. She thinks she's so beautiful that she looks down on everyone. Anyway, she's very hard to serve."
"Got it. Thanks for the reminder, Xiao Yuanzi."
"Also, you'd better not provoke Concubine Tong either. She has a very changeable personality and always has a lot of tricks up her sleeve. She always comes up with strange ways to punish the maids and eunuchs around her, making them live in constant fear. A few eunuchs I know have lost a lot of weight."
"Really? That's so scary?" Wei Shuxuan already knew that Concubine Tong had a bad temper, but she didn't expect her to be so vicious.
"Of course. Why would I lie to you?" Xiao Yuanzi gave her a sideways look.
"Luckily I don't work in her palace," Wei Shuxuan continued. "What about the Empress?"
"Shh!" Xiao Yuanzi immediately leaned over and covered Wei Shuxuan's mouth. He looked around warily and then whispered, "Don't talk casually about her. There are many spies in the palace. Do you understand?"
Wei Shuxuan, with her mouth covered, nodded.
Xin Zizhao thought that the best way to find out the truth behind it was to capture Eunuch Jin.