Harem Daily Life

Zi Ling thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps it is because Fan Cairen has accumulated too much anger in his heart, and his fighting power is amazing for a while."

Fu Xin didn't think so. She said, "If you ask me, Fan Cairen has become a different person since she had a miscarriage. She is gloomy all day long. I'm afraid she has a demon in her heart and has gone insane. Usually, insane people will hit people very hard."

"Crazy?" Shu Fei thought for a moment and said with a smile: "That might be true, otherwise why would he suddenly hit someone!"

She once heard the empress dowager say that during the previous emperor's reign, there was a concubine who was poisoned and suddenly became irritable and angry. She beat up a concubine who was not on good terms with her and disfigured her. Wasn't Concubine Fan doing the same thing?

Shu Fei could guess this, and the Empress Dowager, who had experienced it personally, could naturally guess it as well.

In Changchun Palace, the Queen Mother asked Eunuch Qin: "Who do you think is behind the poisoning?"

Eunuch Qin's back was soaked with sweat. He had placed people in various places in the harem, but he didn't expect such a thing to happen. The Concubine Tao, whom the Queen Mother had a crush on, was injured. He had failed in his duty!

"Your Majesty, although I have placed people in various places, there are bound to be some negligence. Concubine Li and Concubine Tao were not allowed in. Concubine Fan has a low position, so I didn't think of releasing her before. This... Please forgive me, Your Majesty, it is my fault." Eunuch Qin apologized.

The Queen Mother glared at him and said, "You are old after all. You are not as efficient as you were when you were young."

Eunuch Qin lowered his head very low, feeling very embarrassed.

"Whoever is behind this is extremely scheming. Knowing that the two of them have a grudge and being able to take advantage of it, he even poisoned them first. He is very scheming and has the means to do so. He should not be underestimated. I didn't expect that such a person could emerge from the emperor's harem."

The Queen Mother said disdainfully, "Go and tell the Emperor that the string of Buddhist beads that the late Emperor gave me is missing and I want to search the palace."

Eunuch Qin exclaimed: "Queen Mother, what are you doing..."

"Hmph, help him search it thoroughly and check everything he's hiding. Maybe there will be some unexpected gains?" The Queen Mother snorted coldly.

Eunuch Qin was still a little hesitant: "But, searching the palace is a big deal, what if the concubines start making trouble..."

The Queen Mother glanced at him and said, "I am the Queen Mother and also their mother-in-law. I wonder who dares to make trouble!"

After saying that, he thought for a moment and said, "Send someone to watch Concubine Li's Changxin Palace. Since you can't send someone in secretly, just go in and check it out clearly. Search it carefully for me! As for Concubine Tao, just go through the motions. Yingyue Pavilion is such a small place, and there's a child there, don't scare them."

"Yes." Eunuch Qin responded quickly. He immediately went to report to the emperor and gathered all the people.

He Linzhang thought for a moment and said to Zhang Fuhai, "Then do as the Queen Mother wishes and search the palace. You bring people with you to search together, and focus on looking for poison."

After giving the order, seeing Zhang Fuhai hesitate, He Linzhang raised his eyebrows and asked, "Why aren't you going yet?"

Zhang Fuhai said in embarrassment, "It's easy to deal with other palaces, but Changxin Palace? Concubine Li is pregnant, and I'm afraid that making a big fuss will scare her."

He Linzhang frowned and said, "First, send someone to Yingyue Pavilion to tell Lady Tao not to be afraid, it's just a routine search. As for Concubine Li... I'll go there myself later."

After receiving the order, Zhang Fuhai was ready to act. He brought some smart people with him to search the palace with Eunuch Qin.

What the Empress Dowager said was indeed correct. The Buddhist beads bestowed by the late emperor were lost, and no one dared to stop them. They all respectfully asked the two eunuchs to lead people to search.

Yingyue Pavilion got the news in advance, and Eunuch Qin brought people here just for the sake of formality, and then left with them. Xiao Jinan was surprised and nervous to see so many people at once, and Tao Yanyan held him in his arms the whole time, which gave him a great sense of security.

When they searched Concubine Li's Changxin Palace, they encountered obstruction.

Concubine Li's people and the Queen Mother's people refused to give in to each other, and Eunuch Zhang tried to be a peacemaker, but it was of no use at all.

In the inner hall, Concubine Li, with a pale face, was letting the palace maid Jing'er do her makeup.

"Your Majesty, someone came suddenly and you didn't have time to dress up. What would you do if people saw that you were weak? You had originally planned to find an opportunity to blame the Queen Mother for the miscarriage at His Majesty's birthday banquet next month. Who would have thought that she would do this today!" Jing'er was in a panic and put another layer of rouge on Concubine Li to cover up her pale face.

Concubine Li glared at her: "Hold your hands steady, the more you get busy, the more chaotic it gets, and you can't keep your composure!"

Qing'er brought some bright clothes for Concubine Li to wear. After she was dressed up, she looked in good spirits, looking radiant and beautiful like a favored concubine.

After everything was arranged, Eunuch Qin also came in with his people.

Seeing Concubine Li sitting in the main hall, Eunuch Qin stepped forward and said, "Greetings, Concubine Li. I am following the Queen Mother's order to search all palaces for the lost Buddhist beads bestowed by the late Emperor. Please help me, Concubine Li."

Concubine Li didn't even raise her eyebrows, and said calmly, "I have been staying indoors for several months, concentrating on my pregnancy. How could it be related to the lost Buddhist beads? Eunuch Qin is deliberately trying to disgust me in the name of Buddhist beads! I am pregnant with the heir to the throne. If I get frightened and hurt the fetus, can you bear the responsibility?"

Concubine Li spoke in a low voice, but every word she said left Eunuch Qin unable to answer.

Eunuch Zhang tried to smooth things over, "Empress Li, the Buddhist beads were given by the late emperor. They are of great significance to the Empress Dowager. We have searched for them in other palaces, including the Empress. Please help me, Empress Li. I will watch over you. It will be done soon."

Concubine Li still gave face to Eunuch Zhang, as Eunuch Zhang was someone close to the emperor.

Just as he was hesitating, someone came to report that the emperor had arrived.

Everyone stepped aside and stood respectfully with their hands lowered.

Concubine Li was helped up and slowly walked to the door to greet the emperor.

He Linzhang strode in, followed by the Queen. The Queen happened to have something to do with the Emperor, and just then she knew that he was coming to Concubine Li's place, so she came over. The Queen hadn't seen Concubine Li for a few months, and she was curious about how Concubine Li's pregnancy was going.

He Linzhang stepped forward and helped Concubine Li up: "Didn't I tell you long ago that you don't need to perform the formalities since you're pregnant." After saying that, he personally helped her to her seat. The Queen's face was frosty behind her.

He Linzhang glanced at Eunuch Qin and said, "Take your men to search, Zhang Fuhai will follow. Don't worry, Concubine Li, I am here with you."

Concubine Li smiled gently, no longer the fierce look she had when she was confronting Eunuch Qin before. She said in a coquettish voice, "Yes, thank you, Your Majesty." After saying that, she took a step closer to the emperor and gently held his hand.

The queen took a deep breath, looked at Concubine Li's pretentious behavior, and suppressed the anger in her heart.

"How come the Queen has time to come here today?" Concubine Li asked softly.

The queen rolled her eyes in her heart: "I met His Majesty on the way and heard that His Majesty wanted to see you. I thought I hadn't seen you for a few months, so I came to see you together."

After saying that, he looked at Concubine Li and said, "Concubine Li, your baby is almost five months old, how come it's still so small? Don't just focus on maintaining your figure and ignore eating. When you are pregnant, you still have to focus on the heir to the throne. Don't lose sight of the big picture because of the small."

A hint of hatred flashed across Concubine Li's face.