The Self-cultivation of a Salted Fish Concubine

"My master was really quick to react. Using the name of the young lady, she managed to fabricate such a powerful poison and an excuse out of thin air." Xiao Shu laughed and said, "I was so scared at the time."

Xie Run: "...It's not really a fabrication. I just saw this method in a book before."

Xiao Shu: "That requires the master to be calm enough to scare Feihua."

Xie Run laughed and said, "This has become a case of us, master and servant, flattering each other."

Xiao Shu also smiled, her pair of crescent-shaped eyes looking particularly endearing.

Xie Run lowered his voice and said, "Everything we've done today, from finding the loophole in Sang Cao's words to exposing Han Shiqi's fake pregnancy, has been a gamble, a risky endeavor."

"But we can't always win the bet." Xie Run lowered his eyes. "I'm afraid we have to be more cautious next time."

This incident also taught Xie Run a lesson.

Even if you don't scheme against others, you still have to take the initiative.

Instead of waiting for others to harm you and then reacting suddenly.

After all, she lacked experience and was too soft-hearted.

Xiao Shu's brows also showed a hint of worry.

Xie Run raised his hand and gently stroked his belly. "Concubine Han is a careful and courageous person. If she wants to kill me, it must be more than just the mulberry grass."

Xiao Shu worriedly asked, "Master, do you mean that Concubine Han might have arranged something else to harm you?"

Xie Run pointed out, "Don't forget, the lost jade pendant hasn't appeared yet."

Xiao Shu's mood, which had just calmed down, started to get anxious again.

She said, "Today's chaos started with the kite string breaking and the rabbit getting out of control. These two incidents haven't been investigated yet."

Instead, it was Concubine Han's diving that triggered this series of events.

Xie Run also had a serious expression on his face. "We have to prepare for the worst."

"What?" Xiao Shu was slightly surprised.

"Maybe I will be the final culprit in these two things." As he said this, Xie Run actually laughed.

She said sincerely: "If it was really all arranged by Concubine Han, I have to praise her for her good tactics."

Xiao Shu: "...Master, are you still laughing?"

If this is true, shouldn't we panic?

"Why are you panicking? If an enemy comes, we will fight him; if a flood comes, we will block it with earth."

The most difficult time has passed, so why should we be afraid of other little things?

Xie Run's calmness also affected Xiao Shu.

After talking with Xiao Shu, Xie Run couldn't bear to see her too tired, so he took his people back first.

When he returned to his yard, Dan Tao had already brewed tea and was waiting for him.

Xie Run came back and first instructed, "Ask Yueyaer to go to Qiufeng Courtyard to take care of Xiaoshu. Tell her to bring her clothes and bedding. She'll have to stay there for a few days."

Dan Tao served tea, but didn't see Xiao Shu, so she asked, "Master, what happened to Xiao Shu?"

Xie Run took a sip of tea, sat there quietly thinking for a long time, and then sighed deeply.

Tell me what happened today.

Dan Tao's expression changed countless times, and finally turned into a sense of fear.

"Thank goodness the Master and Xiao Shu were quick-witted, otherwise we would have been in great trouble today."

Xie Run nodded. Although he had escaped a disaster, he still felt very heavy in his heart.

She also reminded Dan Tao: "Many things about today have not been fully investigated yet. I am afraid that they will all implicate us. We must take precautions as soon as possible."

Dan Tao nodded, "I'll have someone clean out the storeroom right away to see if anything is missing. Then have the maids check on each other..."

As he was speaking, Yueliang suddenly ran in hurriedly, her face and head covered in sweat.

"Master, there are two important things!"

Xie Run put down the teacup in his hand and said calmly, "Tell us one by one, and we will listen carefully."

Yueliang'er: "Concubine Li fell on the way home and had a bleeding attack. After consulting the palace doctor, he said that she would have to stay in bed to protect the fetus."

Xie Run suddenly had a bad feeling, "How did Concubine Li fall?"

"The princess specially sent maids and servants to follow us when we came here. How could someone fall down with so many people?!"

If it wasn't an accident, then it was a deliberate murder!

Xie Run's heart was beating a little too fast.

Yueliang nodded vigorously. "He said he tripped over a stone, but we found out that the stone was unique to our yard."

Xie Run suddenly thought of something, "Is it the Northern Xinjiang Golden Silk Jade from the low mountain?"

The person in charge of renovating Chunshan Courtyard tried to curry favor with Xie Run because he saw that Xie Run was pregnant and favored.

There was originally a gravel road on the hill, but the manager leveled it and specially bought a kind of northern Xinjiang golden jade to pave the road.

This kind of jade is light yellow in color and shines extremely brightly when spread on the road and illuminated by moonlight.

Xie Run could see more clearly when he took a walk at night.

It is very expensive to purchase large quantities of this kind of jade. In the entire palace, only Xie Run's yard has this kind of Northern Frontier Golden Silk Jade.

As soon as Yueliang mentioned stones, Xie Run thought of it.

Yueliang nodded, her eyes filled with anxiety. "Master, Master Li is having a miscarriage this time. Will this cause trouble for you?"

Xie Run said calmly: "It's okay. Let me tell you about something else."

Yueliang'er's heart immediately relaxed as she talked about the second matter, "The prince sent people to investigate the broken string of the kite on the Zhishuifang, and they traced it back to Orange, who was by Concubine An's side."

"Juzi insisted that Concubine An had ordered her to tamper with the kite string, and she died by hitting her head before she could even be tortured."

Xie Run frowned, "Orange? Why does it sound familiar?"

Dan Tao reminded softly, "Master, when Concubine Lu stole Concubine An's coal, it was in collusion with this Juzi."

Xie Run frowned, "I remember now. Juzi was punished with thirty lashes of the cane, and Concubine Lu took the initiative to take ten of them for her."

This incident was spread around the backyard as a joke.

Xie Run was also fortunate enough to hear it, so he had some impression of it.

Yueliang'er asked doubtfully, "Could it be that Juzi's murder is related to Concubine Lu?"

Xie Run frowned, "I don't know. But this matter is confusing, how did Concubine An get involved?"

Yueliang'er said, "Master, I'll go out and ask around!"

Xie Run waved his hand and said, "Go ahead."

After a busy day, she was indeed tired.

Soon, the eunuchs and maids in Chunshan Courtyard knew everything that had happened that day.

The first one to come and see Xie Run was Chunjuan.

Xie Rundu had just let his hair down and was about to take a nap when he heard Dan Tao say, suppressing her excitement, "Master, Chunjuan has something to report about the stone."

Xie Run thought for a moment, put on his coat, and said, "Let him come in."

There was plenty of charcoal burning in the room, so there was no trace of smoke, but it was warm.

When Chunjuan came in, there was a hint of excitement on his face.

Xie Run asked softly, "What do you want to say?"

Spring Roll: "Master, last time you almost tripped over a rock, you asked me to investigate, but I was useless and never found the culprit."

Xie Run seemed to understand something, "You were still investigating?"

Chun Juan lowered his head in embarrassment. "This is the first task that the master has entrusted to me. I must do it well for the master, to live up to the master's trust."