The queen is sober in the world, and she is winning every step of the palace fight.

The air is slightly cool in the early morning.

The morning light began to shine through the eastern sky, illuminating the dragon head of the sedan chair carved with a golden coiled dragon, reflecting a cold light, just like the cold light in the emperor's eyes at that moment.

"How did you escape? Did the people from Gongzhengsi have a good sleep last night?"

His tone was light, but Cao Bin perked up and answered carefully, because he knew that his master was angry.

"Your Majesty, last night, everyone from Chunxi Palace and Changle Palace was brought to the Palace Administration Office. There were nearly a hundred people, nearly two hundred in all. The torture chamber was insufficient, so several temporary areas were set up to accommodate them. The maid Linshui was the first to be tortured. She was beaten with a stick and unable to move. She was unconscious and carried to a single room, where she was guarded by two people. It was a foolproof procedure."

Who would have thought that in the early hours of the morning, while being interrogated, Concubine Yue accidentally knocked over a candlestick, igniting the straw and bamboo mats, and causing a flood in the torture chamber. All the officers from the Palace Administration Office rushed to put out the fire, but one of the two guards who were supposed to be guarding the water had left, leaving the remaining officer to watch over several adjacent rooms. In a moment of carelessness, she escaped.

She was unconscious, lying motionless in a corner, and the guards had checked on her several times and she seemed normal. But in reality, she had at some point gathered a bundle of straw, wrapped it in clothes, and disguised herself as a human in the corner, but she had disappeared.

The Palace Administration Office has searched everywhere for her, but to no avail. They are currently searching for her everywhere, and to prevent her from leaving the palace, they have also sent people to guard the palace gates. If there is any news, they will report it immediately."

The emperor listened silently and sneered softly.

"So, did you get anything new out of her last night during the torture?"

"Your Majesty, she was tortured, and she used the same excuse, saying that Concubine Zhao had ordered her to murder Ying Ronghua."

The emperor suddenly looked at Yu Sujin.

"You spoke very clearly last night. Now, tell me, how credible is the testimony of this palace maid?"

Yu Sujin lowered her brows and thought carefully for a moment before she spoke, "I dare not make any rash judgments. This maidservant may have escaped because she was afraid that Concubine Zhao would be convicted and implicated, so she fled to avoid death. Or perhaps she framed Concubine Zhao and feared execution if the facts were proven, so she fled before the truth was known."

Gazing at the emperor's expression, she softened her tone. "Your Majesty, I'd like to say something. Instead of judging the truth of her claims, shouldn't we investigate whether anyone in the Palace Administration Office helped her escape? Also, was the fire truly an accident? Even if it was, why would so many people rush to put it out? Did they even neglect to guard the prisoners?"

The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly and stared at Yu Sujin.

After a moment, he said in a somewhat surprised tone: "Yu Zhong has raised a good daughter. You are very thoughtful."

Yu Sujin's heart skipped a beat.

That's not a good compliment.

She quickly put on a shy expression, pursed her cherry-pink lips, and smiled, "Your Majesty, you are too kind. In fact, Your Majesty must have thought of everything I said, and you have thought of more and better than me. I just racked my brains to come up with a few doubts, and I don't know if what I said is correct."

At this moment, the eunuch in attendance whispered, "Your Majesty, the morning court is about to begin."

The emperor said nothing more and ordered his carriage to depart, telling Cao Bin to keep an eye on the Palace Administration Office. "As Noble Lady Yu said, keep an eye on the Palace Administration Office to see if anything is amiss."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Farewell to Your Majesty."

Cao Bin and Yu Sujin saluted and watched them go.

After the dragon chariot had sailed away, Yu Sujin couldn't wait to ask Cao Bin, "Is Concubine Zhao safe in there? Where was she when the fire broke out? Is she safe? Did she have dinner this morning?"

"I haven't seen Consort Zhao. If you're worried, why don't you go and see for yourself?"

Cao Bin bowed, answered politely but distantly, then took his leave, using the excuse of running errands.

Yu Sujin could naturally feel his coldness.

But he didn't care, smiled slightly, and said in a gentle voice: "Eunuch Cao, take care."

Then she packed up simply and didn't even return to her own palace. She said that the emperor asked her to visit Ying Ronghua, and went directly to Ciyu Palace.

"My lady, don't you want to go back and have breakfast before going?" The accompanying maid was worried that she was hungry.

Yu Sujin said, "The Queen Mother and Ying Ronghua can't afford to give me a meal? The food in Ciyun Palace is much better than what we have here."

She strolled along the smooth and clean palace path.

Hold your head high and chest out, looking at the sky.

The scheming concubine of the former Minister's Mansion has unknowingly developed a sharp edge in her eyes.

The maid beside him was a little surprised after just one glance.

The young lady's eyebrows and eyes are somewhat similar to Concubine Zhao, but her expression and temperament are a bit like Concubine Yue...

The morning after Mid-Autumn Festival is even colder than in early autumn.

Beneath the apparent calmness of Daliang's harem, it was bustling with activity and everyone was busy.

The Palace Justice Department was busy interrogating people and investigating cases, the concubines in the palace were busy discussing what happened last night, and those who were active visited each other early in the morning to talk and speculate about the future direction of the incident.

If there is any place that is quiet, it is probably only a few Buddhist temples.

There is another place, which is the Qingliang Palace of Concubine Si.

This place is located in a remote area, not close to other palaces, and there are no good scenery, so few people come here to stroll around.

If Concubine Si's dance had been successful last night, perhaps there would be palace maids from the Imperial Household Department delivering rewards today.

But because she was defeated last night, the Qingliang Palace was quieter today than usual.

Even the palace maids and eunuchs who originally served here rarely moved around.

First of all, I'm too lazy to serve a master with no future.

Secondly, Concubine Si was moody in private, far from the virtuous image she appeared in front of the emperor. The servants were afraid that if they appeared in front of her, they would be in trouble and would either be scolded or beaten.

So the Qingliang Palace was so quiet inside and outside that it seemed as if no one lived there.

Except for a few palace maids who had to stand on duty, everyone else stayed in their own rooms or in the backyard where their masters could not see them.

However, there was someone in Concubine Si's inner room.

Besides Concubine Si herself, there is another person.

A guest.

He was tall and dignified, dressed in the attire of a palace guard. He sat across the table from Concubine Si and drank a cup of hot tea.

"I didn't expect that the maidservant had the ability to escape. She actually refused to die."

Si Fei's face was cold, and there was a fierce flash in her eyes. "Can you find her? If you can't, her whole family will die."

The guard shook his head. "Now is not the time to kill her family. If she finds out they're dead, she might turn against you and turn against you. That would be disastrous."

Concubine Si pondered.

He frowned and said, "Then find her and kill her."

The other party laughed: "I am alone. The palace is so big. Where can I find her? Besides, we can only work in the outer area and are not allowed to walk around freely in the inner palace. What if she is hiding somewhere in the inner palace?"

Si Fei's expression grew increasingly gloomy.

The guard smiled, reached out and covered her hand.

"Don't think about these troubles. I came here with great difficulty..."