inspire-indiana Chapter 424 The Princess's Maid (28)
Chapter 424 The Princess's Maid (28)
"Your Majesty, how should this matter be handled?" Eunuch Xu asked.
There is a traitor in the palace who has connections with the State of Chu; this is no small matter.
Yue Zeyuan pondered for a moment, then looked up at the pigeon in the guard's hand.
The guard who shot down the pigeon was a skilled archer; he hit the pigeon's wing precisely, causing it to fall without killing it.
Yue Zeyuan instructed, "Raise this pigeon as soon as possible, and then send this letter to Yaohua Palace intact."
He wanted to see how the person who corresponded with the State of Chu would reply, unaware that his letters had been intercepted.
Qi Ning naturally learned of Yue Zeyuan's plans through the system.
A few days later, the carrier pigeon was well cared for and flew to Yaohua Palace with the secret letter.
Qi Ning didn't retrieve the letter immediately, but instead asked the system, "Has Yue Zeyuan sent anyone to keep an eye on things?"
If he sends someone to keep an eye on her and finds out that she went to retrieve the letter, wouldn't that expose him?
The system replied, "No, Yue Zeyuan probably doesn't want to alert the enemy and wants to see a normal reply before contacting anyone."
"That's good."
Nevertheless, Qi Ning remained somewhat cautious.
Even if Yue Zeyuan didn't specifically send someone to keep an eye on things, there were many people and eyes in Yaohua Palace, and there was also Yulan there.
Therefore, Qi Ning went into the inner hall, secretly put something in the incense burner when no one was looking, and then asked the other servants to leave. He only called Yun Jing in and asked her to serve him during his afternoon rest.
Yun Jing was naturally unwilling: "You really think you're an empress."
"If I am not a concubine, then who are you?" Qi Ning retorted.
Yun Jing choked for a moment, then had no choice but to help Qi Ning change her clothes.
After Qi Ning got into bed, she sat on the edge of the bed, intending to rest for a while.
But not long after she sat down, Yun Jing drifted off to sleep.
Qi Ning lay on the bed, naturally not asleep. She watched Yun Jing faint before getting up to open the window, finding the pigeon perched outside and taking the letter from its leg.
When Qi Ning retrieved the letter, she parted the pigeon's wings to take a look. It was indeed injured, but it had almost healed and was covered by feathers. If one did not know the situation, it would be difficult to notice.
She quickly took the letter and read its contents.
They were simply asking whether the news of Yun Jing's favor with the emperor was true or false.
Qi Ning burned the letter in the incense burner, then wrote the four words "The news is true" in reply, put the letter back into the bamboo tube on the pigeon's leg, and released it.
"Host, that pigeon had barely flown out of Yaohua Palace when it was captured again by people arranged by Yue Zeyuan, and a reply was sent to Yue Zeyuan," the system said.
"Hmm." Qi Ning responded calmly, "Let him see it."
She cleaned the contents of the incense burner.
After doing all this, Qi Ning went back to bed and fell asleep as if nothing had happened.
Yue Zeyuan received a reply very quickly.
He looked at the simple four words on the reply and asked, "Was the reply just sent?"
"Your Majesty, that's right."
Yue Zeyuan's expression was unreadable; he simply instructed, "Send this reply back to the State of Chu as usual."
The contents of that reply were true, and there was nothing to hide. Yue Zeyuan not only didn't mind Chu Hanfeng knowing about his and Ning Fei's current situation, but he was actually eager for him to know.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
After explaining the matter, Yue Zeyuan led his men to Yaohua Palace.
After arriving at Yaohua Palace, he did not have anyone announce his arrival, but went directly to Qi Ning's bedroom.
Yulan noticed his arrival and hurriedly stepped forward to greet him: "Your Majesty."
Yue Zeyuan didn't stop walking: "Where is Consort Ning?"
"Your Majesty, the Empress is resting in the palace."
Yue Zeyuan recalled what the guard had said, and that the reply had just been sent. He asked again, "Is she alone in the palace?"
If it's a person, they are very likely to do things that are unknown to others.
“No, Yu Tao is serving inside,” Yu Lan replied.
Upon hearing this, Yue Zeyuan frowned slightly.
"Understood, you don't need to come in."
Having said that, he stepped into the inner hall.
The inner hall was quiet. As soon as Yue Zeyuan entered, he saw Yun Jing sleeping by the bedside.
Through the hazy bed curtains, one could see Qi Ning lying asleep on the bed.
Yue Zeyuan stood outside the beaded curtain and glanced at the master and servant before going inside.
Yun Jing was startled awake by the noise.
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty."
Yun Jing was startled to see Yue Zeyuan standing by the bed.
Ever since what happened last time, she has been somewhat afraid of Yue Zeyuan.
Yun Jing subconsciously knelt down like an ordinary palace maid.
Yue Zeyuan glanced at her and said, "Go out."
"Yes."
Yun Jing quickly retreated.
Yue Zeyuan then stepped forward, lifted the bed curtains, and sat down on the edge of the bed.
He looked at Qi Ning lying on the bed. She was fast asleep, her cheeks flushed slightly.
Yue Zeyuan watched her quietly for a while, then reached out his hand and stroked her face with his slender fingers.
Qi Ning seemed to sense the itch, turned her head to avoid it, and then opened her eyes and woke up.
"Why did you come at this hour?" Her voice still carried a languid sleepiness.
During this period, Yue Zeyuan did indeed stay at Yaohua Palace almost every night, sharing a bed with Qi Ning. However, he was usually very busy and would only come over at night, rarely having free time during the day. It was quite normal for Qi Ning to ask such a question.
"I wanted to come and see you."
As Yue Zeyuan spoke, he reached out his hand to Qi Ning: "Now that you're awake, get up."
Qi Ning grabbed his hand and was pulled up by him, but instead of getting up to change her clothes immediately, she lazily leaned into his arms and wrapped her arms around his waist.
She had just woken up and was only wearing a thin undergarment. Her body was soft and warm, and she snuggled into his arms. Yue Zeyuan's heart softened.
He put his arm around her, looked down at her, and asked, "Haven't you had enough sleep yet?"
Qi Ning shook her head: "Let me lean on it for a bit."
She rarely showed such a coquettish and charming demeanor. Yue Zeyuan looked at her dizzy state and couldn't help but lower his head to kiss her.
The two kissed for a while, their bodies embracing tightly. Seeing the desire in Yue Zeyuan's eyes, Qi Ning quickly pushed him away, saying, "I need to get up."
Yue Zeyuan paused, looking at her helplessly.
Qi Ning smiled, then dodged him and got out of bed, and called someone in to serve her.
"Magnolia!"
"Mother, you're awake."
A short while later, Yulan, having heard the commotion, came in with her entourage.
The hall immediately became lively as palace servants helped Qi Ning change her clothes, and the previous romantic atmosphere vanished without a trace.
Yue Zeyuan had no choice but to give up, as there was nothing he could do about her.
After Qi Ning finished tidying up, Yue Zeyuan sat down at his desk and beckoned to her: "Come here."
"what happened?"
Qi Ning walked over.
Yue Zeyuan pulled her directly to sit on his lap.
On the desk was a piece of calligraphy that had just been written; it was a poem, and the ink was still wet. It was clear at a glance that Yue Zeyuan had just written it.
"How about it?"
Qi Ning looked at the calligraphy and nodded seriously: "Not bad."
"I don't think I've ever seen you write. Write a few words for me to see."
Yue Zeyuan said this seemingly casually, and then handed the calligraphy brush in his hand to her.
"Host, Yue Zeyuan wouldn't be trying to verify your handwriting, would he?" the system guessed.
Eighty percent yes.
Otherwise, why would he ask her to write for no reason?
It seems he still harbors some doubts about her.
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