The stand-in didn't take it seriously for three years, and the minister was furious when they b

After the first person tried it, more and more people followed suit. Seeing that many people left successfully, the onlookers gradually relaxed, and the atmosphere in the venue became warmer.

Outside the door, Eunuch Defu cooperated and observed for a moment.

Originally, he did not hold out much hope, but unexpectedly, in less than an incense stick of time, a young eunuch was really caught. Upon trial, it turned out that he had leaked information to outside the palace. After he was gagged and taken away, Eunuch Defu trotted off to report to the emperor.

After leaving the banquet hall, not sure what time it was, Mu Lianzhi walked around to the Imperial Garden.

It’s a nice night tonight.

I don’t know if it was because of the banquet or if it was always like this in the palace, but lanterns were hung in the corridors of each palace and on many trees. Even at night, the courtyard was bright, and it was really interesting to stroll along the path.

Leng Yun and Leng Yu are both good at martial arts, and together with Ying Liu they hid in the dark. Mu Lianzhi is very confident in her skills, and she had taken the detoxification pill in advance, so she has nothing to fear.

Originally, she just wanted to test Bao Yanqing on a whim to see if he really had bad intentions. If so, it would be best if she could find a false target for him to frame. If not, she would use herself as bait and beat him up to vent her anger.

Therefore, when Ying Liu came back and said that he had no choice but to hand the letter to Beitang Yi, Mu Lianzhi didn't think anything of it.

According to the plan, she still walked towards the artificial lake in the Imperial Garden.

Just as the destination was within reach, a little palace maid suddenly appeared on the side path:

"Meet Madam Beitang."

Mu Lianzhi was still in shock, but the little palace maid had already explained her purpose in detail. When she heard that someone from the Empress Dowager's palace had come to invite her over, she was really surprised:

"The Queen Mother asked you to invite me? Miss, are you sure it means 'invite' and not 'summon'?"

This tone doesn't sound right.

She had stayed overnight in the palace but no master in the palace wanted to see her. Why would someone want to see her so late at night?

Mu Lianzhi just winked at Leng Yun and was about to ask what was going on, but the honest little girl had already taken the initiative to speak:

"Yes, the Empress Dowager said so. Old Madam Beitang came to the palace today to pay her respects to the Empress. There was a small banquet in the palace tonight. Many empresses from various palaces came, and it was very festive and lively."

"Even I have heard that Madam's family is indebted to the Empress Dowager. Maybe she has mentioned Madam and asked you to come over for a gathering. Madam Beitang can rest assured."

I have to say that this little girl is really smart. She revealed so much information in just a few words, and she sold it without leaving any trace. If the atmosphere is festive and lively, it should be good news.

I knew that people were only allowed to enter the palace but not leave for the next two days, but I didn't expect that my grandmother would also come to wade into this mess.

"Then please lead the way, young lady."

Mu Lianzhi gave a signal with her eyes, and Leng Yun took out a silver ingot and put it in her hand.

The little maidservant did not refuse. She thanked her for the reward and then respectfully led the way with a lantern.

After looking at the sparkling artificial lake with a little regret, Mu Lianzhi could only follow. Man proposes, God disposes, and the Queen Mother's order was not something she could disobey.

Pity.

……

At this time, the sound of music was heard in the palace, but there was no quiet corner.

In the banquet hall, guests whose palms have been wet will have someone check their palms and wipe them with white cloth before they reach the final signing stage. In fact, this is just taking advantage of people's "guilty conscience".

The principle is similar to that when starch water meets iodine, it will turn blue. A kind of medicine has been added to the water in the basin in advance.

In this way, anyone with a clear conscience will leave a color change reaction on the white cloth after touching the medicine in the basin with their hands and then wiping it with a white cloth dipped in another medicine. However, those who feel guilty and are afraid of being found out will most likely not remove the water from the basin, or will try to wipe it off if they touch it, and there will definitely be no obvious change if they wipe it with a white cloth again.

In fact, if your hands are clean and unchanged, there is something fishy going on.

Therefore, the door was guarded by the Imperial Guards and people from the Imperial Heavenly Pavilion, as well as supervision by the emperor's confidants. Although Beitang Yi was not watching everyone, he was also able to adapt to the circumstances.

In fact, there are also differences in the pass stamps left on the arms.

For example, if some abnormalities were discovered on the spot, some young eunuchs, palace maids, or officials' attendants would be seized on the spot; while some officials, especially high-ranking officials, would just register and stamp their belongings with different seals.

The attitude of handling the matter during this period will largely depend on Beitang Yi's reaction. After all, whether to catch the perpetrator or to play it safe depends on the emperor's opinion and his handling suggestions.

The same scene is being played out in different palaces and corners.

In fact, some things are always difficult at the beginning. When a typical Li Lei Feng Xing person comes out, the situation is calmed down, and everyone else becomes like a cat without temper, and becomes extremely obedient.

Things in the banquet hall were getting back on track in an orderly manner, and the supervisory officials sent by the emperor were keeping an eye on it. Beitang Yi led his men into patrol mode.

After checking two places and getting a backup list, Beitang Yi took his men away again.

Walking out of the palace, he inadvertently looked up at the starry sky, and suddenly remembered that Mu Lianzhi said she wanted to watch the moon with him. Unconsciously, he walked in the direction of the Imperial Garden.

Beitang Yi thought that if Mu Lianzhi was still here, he could also use his personal connections to accompany her for a while. Thinking of this, the corners of his lips unconsciously rose.

Walking along the artificial lake, Beitang Yi was just thinking of a reason to go through the grove when the guard suddenly said:

"My lord, it seems to be His Majesty."

He paused in his tracks and looked up, only to see the Emperor and Eunuch Defu appear on the other side of the slightly curved road. A wave of loss flashed through his heart, but he could only regretfully retract his glance from the path in the woods.

He took two more steps forward and saluted the emperor:

"Your Highness, long live His Majesty."

At this time, the emperor had received a lot of news, and his face was gloomy. Of course, this was not directed at Beitang Yi. He raised his hand and supported Beitang Yi:

"Any new progress?"

Beitang Yi took out the registration list he had just retrieved and handed it over:

"Your Majesty, I am leading a team to investigate. This is what we just got. Although it may not be related to this incident, I am afraid there are many people in this palace who have second thoughts."

Although he hadn't had time to see who exactly were there, he estimated that there were no less than ten people with abnormalities.

Thinking that all this was due to Mu Lianzhi, he couldn't help but feel overjoyed.

After all, this was not a trivial matter and involved a wide range of issues. He lowered his voice and was reporting the general situation to the emperor when suddenly a sharp female voice cut through the air:

"what--"