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

Chapter 339 How She Appeared in the Palace

Late at night.

The sky was like a black curtain, with only a few scattered starlight filtering through.

At the entrance of Yuehua Palace, the Emperor listened to the Empress's words with a furrowed brow.

Why is the Moon Palace deserted in the middle of the night?

Is there no one in the palace?

Even though the empress tried to hide it well, he still saw a hint of schadenfreude on her face.

In the darkness, he glanced at Zhao Ruhui and sensed something unusual.

Just as he was about to order Li Defu to return, the Empress seemed to sense the Emperor's intention to withdraw, and she gave a wink to the nanny beside her.

After receiving the message, the old woman went to the entrance of Yuehua Palace and knocked on the door vigorously, shouting as she knocked, "The Emperor and the Empress have arrived, why don't you come out and greet them?"

When Granny Cao heard that it was the Emperor who had arrived, she dared not keep him waiting for long, no matter how much she delayed.

Otherwise, before the Imperial Concubine returns, these servants will likely lose their lives.

She quickly went to the door and carefully removed the latch.

Hearing the commotion, the old woman at the door knew that someone inside was opening the door. She seized the opportunity and kicked the door open the moment it opened.

Granny Cao was kicked so suddenly that she fell backward and landed on the ground, where she didn't get up for a long time.

When the door opened, the old woman ran to the Empress and the Emperor with a smile, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Empress, the door is open."

The emperor gave her a stern look and had no choice but to lead his men inside.

Upon entering, they found the courtyard completely dark. "Someone, light the lamps."

Soon, the lanterns in the courtyard were lit, and the courtyard became bright.

When the Empress saw such a commotion, and Shen Shuhua had not yet shown herself, she knew that Shen Shuhua was doomed.

She looked worried. "Your Majesty, with all this commotion, the Imperial Concubine has not woken up. She must be very ill."

She turned to Cao Mama, who had just managed to stand up and was bowing, and scolded her, "Your master is so sick, and you didn't even report it? What kind of servant are you!"

"Someone, slap him."

Granny Cao was so frightened that she immediately knelt down on the ground. "Please, Your Majesty, do me a favor! My mistress is just suffering from a relapse of her old illness. She drank some calming soup and went to bed early."

"It's not as serious as Her Majesty the Empress makes it out to be; there's really no need to bother others."

"Moreover, ... moreover, the master instructed us not to bother His Majesty unless necessary, saying that His Majesty is already very busy with state affairs recently. We should not trouble His Majesty with her affairs."

"I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly. I dare not be negligent in my duties regarding my master's affairs."

The Empress snorted coldly, "How dare you talk nonsense? We've been here for so long, is your master still fast asleep?"

"I think your master isn't actually in this Moonflower Palace, and you servants are afraid of being exposed, so you're deliberately delaying."

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in the Empress's eyes. "You dog servants, hurry up and tell the truth. If the Emperor and I can't find the Consort in Yuehua Palace, you servants will be in for a world of hurt."

Granny Cao kowtowed to the Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, please see the truth. We would never dare to lie."

The Emperor gave the Empress a cold look.

Tell her to stop.

However, given the current situation, the Empress will not let it go so easily.

"Your Majesty, matters concerning the harem are my duty. A concubine has disappeared from the harem, and I must investigate this matter thoroughly."

"Someone, come with me to the Imperial Concubine's bedchamber."

Upon hearing the Empress's words, the old nanny revealed a vicious smile and hurriedly walked in front of the Empress.

Upon arriving at the Imperial Concubine's bedchamber, she gently knocked on the door. Seeing no response, she turned to look at the Empress.

The Empress nodded, and she kicked the door open.

The group rushed into the dormitory.

"Your Majesty, the bedroom is empty."

The Empress smiled when she heard her words.

She pretended to be anxious and ran back to the courtyard, knelt down, and said, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened. My sister, the Imperial Concubine, is not in her bedchamber."

"I urge Your Majesty to send someone to investigate this thoroughly."

After the Empress knelt down, she sensed that something was amiss.

She felt like she had missed something.

However, she was already overwhelmed by the joy of Shen Shuhua's absence from the palace.

She continued, "I heard that today the Imperial Concubine summoned Shen Yu'an to the palace. Could it be that the Imperial Concubine dared to leave the palace without permission? This is a serious crime, Your Majesty."

The Emperor looked at the Empress with great interest. He understood that the Empress wanted to kill Shen Shuhua.

She must have known for a long time that Shen Shuhua was not in the palace, which is why she had him bring so many people with him.

The purpose was to expose the fact that the imperial concubine had left the palace without permission in front of everyone.

The Emperor spoke with a cold laugh, "Wanming, didn't you say your mother was seriously ill and bedridden? Where is she?"

Zhao Ruhui was so frightened that she knelt down on the ground, "Father, I didn't know!"

After he finished speaking, he turned to look at Granny Cao and asked, "Why isn't your master in the palace?"

Granny Cao looked up at the Emperor, then at the Empress, and said, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has gone to bed after taking the calming medicine prescribed by the Imperial Physician."

"Nonsense, I just went to the palace and it was empty."

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine did not sleep in her palace tonight, but in a side hall."

"Impossible! You audacious lackey, how dare you spout such nonsense! Guards, drag him away and slap him!"

"This servant would not dare to speak recklessly. If you do not believe me, this servant will personally go to the side hall and wake up the Imperial Concubine."

After saying that, she got up and went to the side hall. A short while later, the candles in the side hall were lit.

After a while, Granny Cao helped Shen Shuhua out, with Wanyue following beside her.

The Empress and Zhao Ruhui stood there dumbfounded, as if they had seen a ghost.

The Empress turned to look at Zhao Ruhui, who was terrified.

Impossible, she clearly saw Shen Shuhua secretly leave the palace.

Impossible. She personally sent someone to inquire at the palace gate, and Shen Shuhua had indeed left the palace.

How she came to be in the palace.

Shen Shuhua had clearly just gotten up; she hadn't even had time to comb her hair and had only put on her coat before rushing out.

"Ha," she yawned, first bowing to the Emperor and Empress, then looking at the Emperor with a puzzled expression, "Your Majesty, why are you and my sister in my palace in the middle of the night?"

"But what happened?"

When the Emperor saw her, he breathed a sigh of relief, walked up to her, and took her hand. "I heard from the Empress that you were seriously ill. How are you feeling?"

"Seriously ill?" Shen Shuhua frowned. "I just felt a little dizzy, so I asked the imperial physician to prescribe some calming medicine for me. I fell asleep after taking it."

"I must say, Physician Li's medical skills are excellent. After taking the medicine, I slept very soundly."

"If it weren't for Granny Cao calling me, I'd probably still be asleep." After saying that, she pouted, somewhat reproachfully blaming the Emperor.

The Emperor gently patted her hand, "It was my fault."

After saying that, he turned to look at the Empress and said angrily, "Empress, you had better give me an explanation for what happened tonight."