Crossing the Palace Fighting Fox Harem

The encyclopedia Hua Rong continued to expand the entry: "Fifteen years ago, when the emperor was seven years old, Concubine Yu finally became pregnant with a dragon. She took great pains to send the emperor to Qi as a hostage, just to let her unborn child sit on the seat of the crown prince in the future. But unfortunately, not long after the emperor was sent to Qi, Concubine Yu had a miscarriage, and her dream of becoming the queen was shattered. More than ten years have passed since then, and the late emperor has not had an heir. Until three years ago, Concubine Shui Cong finally gave birth to a dragon son, but who would have thought that both mother and son would die mysteriously later..."

"What about Concubine Yu?" Ji Anni was curious about Concubine Yu's current situation.

She was so glorious back then, why is there no news about her now? She had been in the palace for more than half a month, and she had never heard anyone talk about this imperial concubine. If Hua Rong hadn't mentioned it today, she wouldn't have known about this person.

Hua Rong said, "It's strange to say, since Concubine Shui Cong died three years ago, Concubine Yu seemed to have suddenly changed her personality. She suddenly became indifferent and taciturn. She no longer wanted to be a queen, but just wanted to be a concubine quietly. It was not until three months ago when the emperor returned to the court and ascended the throne that Concubine Yu moved to the Xian Palace to live."

"Xian Palace..." Ji Anni had heard Shui Furong mention this place before.

On the first day Shui Furong entered the palace, she visited this idle palace. I wonder if Shui Furong knows the Imperial Concubine Yu...

"Your Majesty, you seem to be very interested in what happened three years ago?" Hua Rong asked meaningfully.

It would be a lie to say that she was not interested. Anyone who heard about the mysterious palace case would be interested. Moreover, Ji Anni was in the palace now, and many people related to the case were her acquaintances. How could she not be interested?

"Huarong, how do you think the little prince died?" Ji Anni seemed to think Huarong knew everything and asked her all kinds of questions.

"Your Majesty, I dare not say anything nonsense..." Hua Rong lowered her head slightly, looking a little painful.

"Why don't you dare to say it?" Ji Anni wanted to ask something from her.

Hua Rong smiled bitterly and said calmly, "My Lady, three years ago, our entire Xi family was executed, all because my father wrote a note about An Shi in the history books. Do you know what he wrote back then?"

Seeing Ji Anni shaking her head, Huarong sighed and said, "What he remembers is... Concubine An killed the mother and took the son away, and became the queen."

"Kill the mother and take the son..." These four words hit Ji Anni's heart hard, coinciding with her own guess.

The mother who was killed was Concubine Shui Cong; the son who was taken away was the little prince.

Although I had guessed that the extermination of the Xi family three years ago was related to the palace mystery, I never expected that Xi Jinde would be so bold as to directly write that An was the mastermind behind the case. No wonder he got into trouble...

Ji Anni felt very sad when she accidentally revealed Hua Rong's scar and saw the painful expression on her face.

"Huarong, does your father have any evidence?" Ji Anni asked.

Hua Rong shook her head painfully, as if trying to shake off the nightmare, and sighed softly, "This is where he overestimates his own abilities. He has no evidence to support his claims, yet he still dares to speak nonsense. He thought he was upright and honest, but who knew that he would bring disaster to the Xi family."

When talking about the tragedy that happened that year, Hua Rong still seemed to resent her father.

"Huarong, don't be sad." Although Ji Anni didn't like Huarong, she couldn't help but sympathize with her.

Hua Rong seemed to be unable to stop talking, and murmured, "...He thought he was loyal and brave, but what happened later? The Xi family ended up spreading rumors and misleading the people, and the whole family was executed. At that time, many people in the palace suspected that Concubine An had murdered Concubine Shui Cong, but since the Xi family was exterminated, no one dared to discuss this matter anymore."

The An family's killing of all the Xi family members was probably intended as a warning to others. They used the blood of the Xi family members to silence the public.

"Your Majesty, you ask so many questions. Are you trying to reopen the old case?" Hua Rong raised her eyes and looked at Ji Anni.

Ji Anni subconsciously shook her head and denied: "No, I... I was just asking casually..."

It’s been so long since the incident happened, and Ji Anni doesn’t want to stir up trouble again.

Huarong glanced at Ji Anni with a sad look, and whispered in a low voice: "My lady, don't guess randomly. I don't want you to repeat the mistakes of the Xi family..."

Given the power of the An family in the court, anyone who wants to investigate this case will only end up in trouble.

With the lesson of the Xi family as an example, who would have the courage to follow suit?

So far, the case has involved five concubines...

Among them, Concubine Shui Cong died, Concubine Yu changed her nature, Concubine Baogui was possessed by evil spirits, and Concubine Hui went crazy. They were all victims. Only Concubine Zhuang An Yiru was completely different. She was named queen and dominated the harem. Now she is the queen mother, and even the emperor has to look at her face.

Judging from the results, among the several concubines who had the hope of ascending to the throne that year, only An Yiru was the biggest winner.

Could it be that she was the one who planned the murder of Concubine Shui Cong and the fall of the little prince into the well?

Forget it. The more I thought about it, the more upset I became. The more confused I became, Ji Anni shook her head and decided not to think about it anymore.

Suddenly, Shui Furong's face appeared in her mind.

Shui Furong is Shui Congfei's sister. After entering the palace, she first visited Xian Palace and then investigated Congfei Palace. She deliberately did not attend the night banquet in Xuantian Palace and did not submit her name card. It is clear that she did not enter the palace to become a concubine, but to investigate the cause of her sister's death...

Isn't she afraid of angering the Queen Mother and offending Mrs. An?

This Shui Furong is really quite courageous...

#

After dinner, Ji Anni, accompanied by Die'er, went to the West Palace.

Without its owner, the West Palace became very deserted. The palace maids had all been transferred away, leaving only a few young eunuchs to clean the courtyard.

They said that after cleaning the courtyard today, they would start tidying up the interior tomorrow. All the jewelry, clothes, and utensils that Concubine Baogui had worn would be sent back to the Shangshu Mansion.

If even these things were sent away, it would be as if all the memories of Baoer in the West Palace were erased...

Ji Annie felt a tightness in her chest, which made her feel uncomfortable.

She walked around the corridor in the West Palace and suddenly remembered the first time she came here. At that time, she followed Xiaoyao and Yunzhen closely, fearing that she would get lost. Now, although she knew the way, she didn't know the people...

The building is deserted and looks desolate.

Be it Xiaoyao or Baoer, they are no longer alive...

Before she knew it, she had arrived at the door of Bao Niangniang's bedroom.

In the past, when Xiaoyao led her, she always led her to this door and then went to inform Concubine Baogui.

Whenever she heard the sound of "ding-ding-dang-dang" of the curtains being lifted, she knew that Concubine Baogui had come out to greet her.

But now... I will probably never hear that crisp sound of the curtain being lifted again, right?

Just as I was thinking about it, I suddenly heard a few soft "ding ding" sounds, like an auditory hallucination.

Ji Anni rushed in excitedly and saw that she did not see Concubine Baogui, but only saw a swaying pearl curtain and an open window.

It wasn't Empress Bao who lifted the curtain, but just a breeze...

Looking at the slightly swaying bead curtain, tears couldn't stop falling.

She walked into the inner room in a daze. On the soft couch, a touch of pink was particularly eye-catching.

After taking a closer look, I realized it was the peach blossom hairpin.

On the first day of entering the palace, Bao Niangniang gave her this hairpin. Not long ago, Ji Anni returned the hairpin to Bao Niangniang, hoping to encourage Bao Niangniang. Now Bao Niangniang has passed away, and tomorrow, everything here will be sent back to the Shangshu Mansion.

At least, let me leave something behind to remember Empress Bao...

Ji Anni wiped her tears and put the hairpin away carefully.

Die'er looked at her worriedly, as if saying with her eyes: The dead cannot be resurrected, so don't be sad, my queen.

People always cherish what they have now more after they lose something.

"Die'er, I never want to see anyone... disappear from my sight again..." Ji Anni clenched the hairpin tightly in her hand.

I never want to... go through this kind of pain of separation from life and death again...