The aroma of cooking filled the house: I sent my eldest brother to become the Grand Secretary.

Chapter 333 The Imperial Concubine Knows the Truth

Late at night.

The waning moon on the palace wall shone exceptionally brightly.

In the bathhouse, Shen Shuhua accompanied Zhao Ruhui as she bathed.

She watched as the palace maids began to remove Zhao Ruhui's clothes one by one, her gaze fixed on Zhao Ruhui's neck.

Zhao Ruhui's hair covered her neck, so she couldn't see anything.

"Go get a hairpin and put it up in Ming'er's hair first," Shen Shuhua suggested.

Zhao Ruhui was enjoying the service of the palace maids at this moment; all she had to do was raise her hands.

She smiled and skillfully allowed the palace maids to serve her.

In reality, she was only served a few times.

With her hair pulled back, Zhao Ruhui's neck was clearly exposed to Shen Shuhua's eyes.

No birthmarks.

No birthmarks!!!

Even though Zhao Ruhui's skin wasn't as fair as Shen Cao's, she still looked at her carefully for a long time; her neck was clean.

Where are the traces of birthmarks?

Zhao Ruhui walked to the bathtub and was helped to sit down.

Shen Shuhua remained seated on the soft couch to the side, staring blankly at Zhao Ruhui.

"Mother, are you sleepy?"

The sudden voice interrupted Shen Shuhua, "Ah, oh, Mother is not sleepy."

After saying that, she walked up to Zhao Ruhui.

Upon closer inspection, it becomes even clearer.

Shen Shuhua closed her eyes, as if she had finally come to terms with reality.

She clenched her hands, and when she looked up, all her thoughts were hidden away.

She turned to Zhao Ruhui apologetically and said, "Ming'er, your mother is suddenly feeling unwell, so I won't be able to let you sleep with her tonight."

Upon hearing that Shen Shuhua was feeling unwell, Zhao Ruhui quickly asked with concern, "Mother, what's wrong? Why are you suddenly feeling unwell?"

His eyes were full of worry, but he didn't move an inch.

Shen Shuhua noticed it too, and she couldn't help but recall the scene when Wanyue was anxious when she was sick before.

She still remembers that night when she suddenly felt dizzy and almost fell down.

At that moment, Wanyue was eating her favorite food, but her first instinct was to rush to her side and catch her steadily.

However, because he was running in such a hurry, his leg hit the table leg and swelled up for several days.

She waved her hand gently, "It's nothing, just an old ailment."

For the first time, disappointment appeared in his eyes when he looked at Zhao Ruhui.

"After you finish your bath, go back to your own room and sleep."

"You've had a long day, get some rest."

"Then Mother, you should also get some rest."

Zhao Ruhui then instructed the palace maids around Shen Shuhua to serve her well and to inform her immediately if anything happened.

Before stepping out of the bathroom, Shen Shuhua lowered her gaze and gave Zhao Ruhui a deep look.

Did she know?

Back in Yuehua Palace, after entering her own bedroom, Shen Shuhua dropped her pretense and revealed a rare sharpness in her expression.

Granny Cao wisely withdrew and closed the door.

He personally guarded the door.

"Go to the border yourself and investigate Granny Zhao and that child thoroughly," Shen Shuhua ordered calmly into the darkness, her face expressionless.

"Yes."

A cold voice came from the deserted darkness.

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.

It was as if the sound had never been heard.

Shen Shuhua sat there, a hint of murderous intent on her face.

For so many years, she has always lived her life around her daughter and has never had any thoughts of competing with her.

But now that everyone's practically touching her face, if she still can't see through it, then all those years she's spent in the harem have been for nothing.

She never expected that her constant forbearance would actually be taken advantage of by someone who saw her as an easy target.

Do you really think she's a vegetarian?

"Granny Cao!"

When Granny Cao heard someone calling her from inside, she quickly summoned her trusted confidante and asked her to guard the door while she pushed the door open and went inside.

Shen Shuhua beckoned to her, inviting her to come to her side.

Granny Cao knelt down in front of the Imperial Concubine, and Shen Shuhua whispered a few instructions in her ear.

Granny Cao's expression changed because of Shen Shuhua's words. She looked at the Imperial Concubine with a stern face.

The other person nodded at her.

She then realized the seriousness of the matter and, after receiving instructions, withdrew.

Even though she had seen a lot, she was still shocked by the news.

The princess is not a princess.

And this matter is actually related to the Empress.

Shen Shuhua recalled the Empress's expression after the Emperor left at the banquet.

That smile was impossible to hide.

With just a little thought, she connected the whole thing to the Empress.

She was so excited by the news that her daughter had been found that she was almost blinded by joy.

She and the Empress have always been at odds, so why would she be so kind as to find her a daughter?

However, she had a vague feeling that this matter was not simple.

We'll discuss everything after the guards return.

Lying in bed, the image of a girl with an ordinary face but beautiful almond-shaped eyes floated into her mind.

No wonder she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity when she first met her.

It made her want to spoil her.

At first, she thought it was Wanyue who kept nagging her about her older sister.

Looking back now, it wasn't for that reason at all.

It's because she's the daughter I carried for ten months and gave birth to.

very nice.

That's really great!!

She couldn't tell anyone about the birthmark until the matter was thoroughly investigated.

With a smile on her face, she quickly fell asleep.

……

In the dead of night, even the moon hid itself inside the clouds and took a nap.

A dark figure quietly emerged from Chengqian Palace.

Half an hour later, there was a knock on the back door of the Prime Minister of the capital.

With a single sound, the small door was opened.

It turned out that someone had been guarding behind the door all along.

The shadowy figure looked around first, then cautiously walked inside.

The person in the black cloak was clearly familiar with the Prime Minister's residence, skillfully making his way through the maze to the Prime Minister's study.

Even more strangely, candles were still lit in the Prime Minister's study.

"Knock knock knock."

"Come in." A deep voice came from inside.

After the dark figure opened the door and went inside, he turned around and closed the door again.

The servant who came with the shadowy figure stood guard at the door.

Prime Minister Du frowned as he looked at the newcomer.

"Why did you come today?" Prime Minister Du was clearly very dissatisfied with the other party's behavior.

Unexpectedly, the other party seemed not to hear Prime Minister Du's dissatisfaction and remained silent.

The shadowy figure first walked to the table and skillfully poured himself a cup of tea.

He drank the tea in one gulp before slowly walking up to the Prime Minister.

He took an envelope from his pocket and handed it to Prime Minister Du.

Prime Minister Du took the envelope with some doubt, opened it, and carefully read the contents.

After reading it, he chuckled and said, "Don't worry, I've already made arrangements over there. I just didn't expect her to send someone to investigate so late."

"It came much later than I expected."

"By the way, has anything happened in the palace?"

Upon hearing Prime Minister Du's words, the figure in black did not rush to answer, but instead slowly lowered his hat.

The face hidden under the hat was none other than the Empress, who should have been in Chengqian Palace at that moment.