Chapter 052
Chapter 52: Dead
Xia Meng Yan hurried toward the sound, but she did not see Xia Qing Yao or anyone else.
She saw only flecks of blood on the ground and a torn scrap of cloth.
[Did something happen to Xia Qing Yao?]
Her heart sank and she searched in a panic.
Only then did she realize that the nanny from before had not followed her.
[This is a trap.]
[Did they use Xia Qing Yao to lure me in?]
[Or did Xia Qing Yao truly get hurt?]
She did not dare delay. This was the Imperial Palace. She had no support here. If anything got pinned on her, she would be at others’ mercy.
[Worst-case scenarios flashed through her mind: frame-ups, being accused of adultery, or offending a noble?]
Meanwhile, on a nearby palace path, a eunuch attendant led Duan Yi Chen forward.
Suddenly a palace maid hurried over, but the eunuch blocked her, scolding: “Wretched servant, you see Heir Apparent Duan and still don’t bow. Slap your mouth.”
The maid dropped to her knees to beg: “It is my fault for not seeing clearly. Please, Heir Apparent Duan, spare me this time.”
Seeing her anxious face, Duan Yi Chen asked casually: “Which part of the Imperial Palace are you from?”
Before the maid could answer, the eunuch leaned in with a smile: “Heir Apparent, she serves tea by His Majesty’s side. I suppose the Emperor sent her with orders.”
Since they both served close to the Emperor, the eunuch had stopped the maid not to bully her, but to save her.
If Duan later asked the Emperor about it, the maid could lose her life over a careless word.
No one who waited before the throne was a fool.
Understanding his kindness, the maid explained: “The Chief Steward sent me to find Xiao Mu Zi on an errand, so I was rude before Heir Apparent Duan. Please forgive me this once.”
Duan Yi Chen toyed with the jade at his waist and said, “Xiao Mu Zi?”
He remembered hearing the Chief Steward call that name.
The eunuch smiled and said: “Heir Apparent, His Majesty is waiting.”
Duan nodded. The eunuch signaled the maid, and she hurried away.
Xia Meng Yan searched around the Imperial Garden, but found no trace of Xia Qing Yao.
She could only hope the girl had returned to Consort Ping’s palace.
[But that scream just now…]
She lowered her head in thought and walked around an artificial hill. Before she could see the path ahead, a numb sting hit her neck and her body tipped backward.
Right before she blacked out, something tightened at her waist as someone caught her.
She wanted to see the person’s face, but her eyelids were too heavy.
When she woke, a heavy weight pressed on her chest and she could not breathe.
She rubbed her neck and reached to push the weight away, only to find it was furry.
She snapped fully awake. The light was too dim to see, and she shouted on instinct: “Who’s there?”
No one answered. She shoved the heavy thing off. The quiet air burst with a muffled groan.
Without hesitation, she thrust the silver needle in her hand toward the sound.
Then she used the chaos to run forward.
She saw light ahead, and when the scene came into view, she cursed under her breath.
She was by the small lake beside the Imperial Garden, and the spot she stood in was the cave on the far shore where the boats were kept.
If she rowed a boat across, whoever hid in the dark would show up.
But if she did not leave and people arrived, she would still be trapped.
She decided fast and turned back into the cave.
Feeling around the heavy shape inside and confirming it was a person, she dragged him to the cave mouth.
She was surprised when she saw the face.
It was actually Xiao Mu Zi.
In her previous life, after she married Lin Ye Lan and entered the palace to give thanks, Xiao Mu Zi had stood by the door of the Imperial Study.
Her eyes narrowed. She quickly understood the plot.
[Xiao Mu Zi served before the throne. If anything happened to him, Emperor Xuan Ming would investigate hard. By then, not only I but even Father would be dragged into it.]
She set worries aside and checked him. Feeling a pulse, she let out a breath.
[Good. He’s alive.]
Luckily she always carried silver needles. A few quick pricks brought him back.
[Still, I want to see who is pulling this on me.]
She twisted the needle in her fingers, and the just-awakened Xiao Mu Zi fainted again.
She stripped off his clothes, then looked toward the boat at the cave mouth.
Outside, someone shouted: “Over there. I saw the Xia Family’s eldest miss go to the far shore.”
Consort Ping’s voice followed, sharp: “What are you waiting for? Go see whether she is inside.”
Old Madam Xia sounded puzzled as she asked, “Why would Meng Yan go there, Your Highness? Could they have seen wrong?”
Consort Ping looked to the maid who spoke. The maid bowed her head and said, “Old Madam, I did not see wrong. The eldest Miss Xia was looking for her sister in the Imperial Garden, then rowed to the other side.”
Consort Ping appeared worried and said to Old Madam Xia: “Whether she is or not, send people to check. I enjoyed our talk so much I lost track of time. I did not expect…”
Old Madam Xia replied, “Do not blame yourself, Your Highness. It is my poor guidance.”
A eunuch on the far side called out: “Your Highness, there is someone inside.”
Consort Ping’s eyes lit up as she told Old Madam Xia: “We found her. You can rest easy.”
Old Madam Xia feigned relief: “I am glad she is safe. I made Your Highness worry.”
Consort Ping said, “As long as she is fine.”
The two traded false comforts, but smugness flashed in their eyes.
[Once they bring her back and everyone sees Xia Meng Yan together with Xiao Mu Zi, no matter the reason, tongues will wag.]
Hiding under the boat, Xia Meng Yan heard Old Madam Xia’s words as the boat moved.
[She gave a cold laugh. As expected, Consort Ping and the old madam were working together. The so-called visit of thanks was just to lure me into the palace, seize a handle on me, and threaten Father and the Lin Family.]
[If their plan worked, even being a eunuch would not stop the scandal.]
Luckily, when she was young, she learned to dive with her cousin. She could stay in the water for half a day without trouble.
[But this could not last. I must find a way out.]
[I only hope someone else comes, then I can have Xiao Mu Zi carried away for treatment.]
Old Madam Xia grew proud when she saw Xiao Mu Zi carried up. As long as Xia Meng Yan’s stain was fixed, that unfilial Xia Ping Yuan would have to send her out of the Capital even if he did not want to. Then she could use this to control Madam Lin. In the end, the Xia Family would still be under her hand.
But she looked left and right and still did not see Xia Meng Yan.
Old Madam Xia stepped forward and asked, “Meng Yan, where is my Meng Yan?”
The eunuch on the boat shook his head: “Only one person on the far side.”
“Impossible. Someone clearly saw her go there. How can there be no one?” Old Madam Xia edged up to the lake and craned toward the boat.
Consort Ping glanced at the nanny beside her. The woman understood and went to question the boatman eunuch.
Head lowered, the eunuch said: “I would not dare lie. There was only one person on the far side. We did not find Miss Xia.”
Someone called: “Your Highness, there is no breath.”
At that, Consort Ping swayed. Seeing the blood on Xiao Mu Zi, she quickly covered her nose and mouth with a handkerchief and said, “Hurry, go get an imperial physician.”
Her trusted nanny turned to give orders, then put a hand under Xiao Mu Zi’s nose and widened her eyes: “Your Highness, there truly is no breath.”
[Dead?]
Old Madam Xia’s heart lurched. [That wretched girl Xia Meng Yan actually killed him.]
[If Emperor Xuan Ming learns of this, the Xia Family is finished.]
[Wait, Xia Meng Yan. Where is she?]
Consort Ping’s gaze tightened. She had only locked the two together. How had it turned into a death?
She looked to her trusted nanny. The woman clearly had not expected this either and shook her head.
[What now?]
[Xia Meng Yan is gone and Xiao Mu Zi is dead.]
[If Emperor Xuan Ming investigates, we are in trouble.]
Consort Ping lowered her voice and asked, “Have you cleaned everything up?”
The nanny nodded: “Rest easy, Your Highness. I used people from other parts of the Imperial Palace. Even if someone looks into it, nothing will point back to you.”