Rong Fei is not honored

Liang Jiugong sighed dramatically and scolded, "You too, I know that Granny wanted to take this opportunity to eliminate all the hidden dangers in Zhongcui Palace, but how could we really use those disloyal servants?"

"What hidden danger?" Granny Li was stunned.

Liang Jiugong said with a half-smile, "Don't tell me, Granny, you didn't investigate that person's background?"

Granny Li looked at Liang Jiugong, hesitant to speak.

"You really didn't investigate?" Liang Jiugong frowned. If it were true, even if Consort Rong pleaded for her, he probably couldn't save Granny Li this time. "His Majesty sent you to Zhongcui Palace so that Granny could protect Consort Rong, how could..."

“I have naturally screened all the servants sent by others, but... I thought that little eunuch, like Yu Hu, was sent by His Majesty to protect his master.”

"I...I delivered it?" Liang Jiugong's expression changed drastically. No, how come he had no recollection of it at all?

"It wasn't delivered by you personally, but it was definitely someone from the Qianqing Palace. At the time, he specifically mentioned to me that such a servant shouldn't be too high-profile."

Although it wasn't said explicitly, that was the gist of it. My master and I were thinking that perhaps His Majesty was worried that if this got out, the other masters in the palace would cause trouble for him.

As you know, it's impossible to investigate someone's background without any prior warning, especially since Zhongcui Palace is always under surveillance. Since it was sent from Qianqing Palace, its identity is certainly innocent.

Granny Li hurriedly explained the situation, then she and Liang Jiugong looked at each other in silence, their expressions gradually cracking.

As soon as Kangxi came out, he noticed that Liang Jiugong and Granny Li looked a little strange. He frowned, but said nothing and went straight back to the Qianqing Palace.

"Speak." He didn't want to doubt Ji Nai, but things were just too coincidental, so coincidental that it was hard not to be suspicious.

Ji Nai wanted to use a self-inflicted injury to get rid of Zhao Jia clan, but he just happened to run into Wu Ya clan, and by such a coincidence, he chose a problematic servant.

Moreover, planting spies was indeed a common tactic in the palace, but remaining inactive was the best way to conceal one's activities.

That little eunuch could have easily obeyed orders, but he turned the self-inflicted injury into a real act. It was a sudden thought that he saw as a good opportunity, so he acted on his own, even though he had received prior instructions and was cooperating with Uya.

However, both the former and the latter have loopholes. In comparison, it would be more reasonable if these were all Ji Nai's schemes.

Emperor Kangxi didn't know what he really wanted to do, or why he needed to know the truth.

If it really was Ji Nai's scheme, and she still chose to conceal it after he pressed her for details, would Kangxi be disappointed or even punish Ji Nai?

He might be disappointed, but he wouldn't pursue Ji Nai's mistakes. But if he wasn't willing to hold him accountable, why investigate further? Wouldn't it have been better to turn a blind eye, like he did with Hesheli?

“Granny Li’s reaction was fine, and she was unaware that the little eunuch’s identity was unusual.”

Kangxi frowned upon hearing this. He knew Liang Jiugong's abilities, and since he said that Granny Li was fine, he shouldn't be wrong. But how could it be because he didn't know? This was completely different from what Kangxi had expected.

Liang Jiugong recounted everything that Granny Li had told him in detail, then bowed his head and awaited his death.

Kangxi laughed in anger, "So, you're trying to tell me that the problem isn't Zhongcui Palace, but my Qianqing Palace?"

The truth is neither that the usually cautious Ji Nai suddenly became careless and allowed a potential threat to participate in the plan, nor that Ji Nai intended to kill two birds with one stone, implementing a self-inflicted injury while eliminating unsettling factors in the palace.

It wasn't that he underestimated Ji Nai's cunning; he thought the simple, kind, and even somewhat foolish Ji Nai actually had everyone under his thumb.

Rather, because the problem occurred in his own Qianqing Palace, Ji Nai, trusting him implicitly, had no idea the young eunuch was involved. Wasn't all the suspicion and unease that arose from this incident laughable?

For half a month, Emperor Kangxi did not set foot in the inner palace.

The unsuspecting crowd assumed that something had gone wrong in the inner palace and displeased the Emperor, so they began to blame Consort Xi, the culprit, and even Noble Lady Nara was not spared.

They didn't care whether Lady Nara was the victim or not, especially since she hadn't miscarried.

Before, at least they could have a bowl of soup, but now they not only can't see the Emperor, they're also confined to their quarters. Meanwhile, Consort Nara is pregnant again with a royal heir, and with Prince Wanfu, she has two children—how could anyone not be jealous?

Therefore, there were even more people who hated Consort Nara than Consort Xi.

Only the Empress and a few others who knew the truth understood that His Majesty's absence from the inner palace was most likely due to his worries about Yinreng. Indeed, Yinreng was His Majesty's crown prince, his only legitimate son; with such a serious matter occurring, how could he not be troubled?

Zhongcuigong

Granny Li had been quite worried these past few days, fearing that something unexpected might happen. Although she had lied to Liang Jiugong, it was still deceiving the emperor, and her composure was already quite remarkable.

It would be strange if her master acted as if nothing had happened.

Sometimes, Granny Li really wanted to ask where her mistress came from, or if Ma Jia's ancestral graves were truly emitting auspicious smoke.

At first, Ji Nai ignored Li Mama, who was acting strangely, but when he saw that the time was right, he took the opportunity to comfort her.

"What are you afraid of? Weren't these people sent from the Qianqing Palace? If our people hadn't found something amiss, who would believe that someone could use His Majesty's hand to plant a spy in the Zhongcui Palace?"

"Can……"

"Do you know who that little eunuch works for?"

Granny Li shook her head. She didn't know; their people hadn't found out at all.

The people sent from Qianqing Palace were not easy to investigate openly. Even though, just to be on the safe side, Granny Li still conducted a screening in secret, but the action was very discreet.

Although the Emperor wouldn't care, it's easier to deal with the King of Hell than with his underlings. It's best not to offend Liang Jiugong and Wei Zhu if possible. Granny Li didn't want to cause any trouble with them over such a small matter.

Don't be fooled by Liang Jiugong and Wei Zhu's current friendly demeanor towards Zhongcui Palace. Just wait and see how they'll change their attitude the moment their master falls out of favor.

Actually, Li Mama didn't take it seriously at first, but as she investigated, she realized something was wrong.

Is there a problem with His Majesty, or with the Qianqing Palace?

Neither of them was a big deal, so Li Mama's men immediately retreated, not only ceasing their investigation but also erasing all traces they had left behind.

Because they couldn't find the key information and he escaped quickly enough, he actually managed to clean up the mess smoothly.

Upon returning, he reported it to his superiors. Surprisingly, his master simply told them to forget about the incident and, no matter what happened in the future, to pretend they knew nothing about the eunuch's problem.