An incense stick later, everyone had finished listening to the conversation in the recording pen.
The expressions on everyone's faces were varied.
Particularly Jun Nan Sheng and Consort Jing, their expressions were truly unpredictable.
Jun Nan Sheng didn't recall anything he had said earlier, while the content of the recording played by the Cold King's Consort was indeed a conversation between him and the dog emperor.
He never knew that such a miraculous item capable of recording voices existed in this world.
Consort Jing, after listening to the recording pen's conversation, felt a chill down her spine. She was so angry her teeth itched, and she kept cursing Jun Nan Sheng in her heart.
This accursed wretch!
Not only had he stolen the Imperial Seal from her, but he had also dragged her down with him.
If the Emperor were to confirm that she was the one who stole the Imperial Seal back then, he would definitely not let her and Xiao'er go.
"Your Majesty, this Jun Nan Sheng is slandering this concubine. How could my Jing Hua Palace have a secret chamber? If you don't believe me, you can have someone search this concubine's sleeping quarters."
Consort Jing forced herself to calm down.
"Very well, I shall personally take everyone to Jing Hua Palace for a thorough search."
Seeing Consort Jing's stubbornness, the Emperor indulged her.
However, upon hearing the Emperor's words, Consort Jing was stunned. She hadn't expected the Emperor to be serious about it.
After the Emperor finished speaking, he had Jian Feng escort Consort Jing, and Jun Mo Han carried Jun Nan Sheng as they majestically proceeded towards Jing Hua Palace.
Lu Zong Ran, being quite discerning, did not follow. After all, this was an imperial family matter, and it was not good for an outsider to know too much.
However, the Emperor's summons of Consort Jing in the middle of the night, despite the Emperor's close attendants not spreading rumors, still quickly spread throughout the entire imperial palace.
Even the Empress, who was under house arrest by the Emperor, received the news from Xiao An Zi.
At this moment, the Empress, who had just instructed the palace servants to extinguish the lights, habitually furrowed her brows upon hearing Xiao An Zi's voice. This Xiao An Zi had been startling her frequently lately, which made her very annoyed. If it weren't for the fact that she had no one to use at the moment, she would have dealt with this Xiao An Zi long ago.
As she was thinking, Xiao An Zi rushed into the Empress's sleeping quarters and hurriedly said, "Your Highness, Consort Jing of Jing Hua Palace was just secretly summoned by His Majesty."
"Consort Jing, she has always appeared cold and detached. Has she also revealed her true colors so quickly? Tell me, how did she provoke His Majesty?"
"Your Highness, the palace maids and eunuchs around His Majesty have very tight lips. This servant cannot extract any useful information from them. However, this servant speculates that His Majesty's summons of Consort Jing is likely related to the disappearance of the Imperial Seal." Xiao An Zi speculated, flicking a large whisk and bowing.
The Empress pondered for a moment after hearing this and then asked, "What is your basis for that?"
"Just now, this servant hid in the shadows and saw the Cold King and the Cold King's Consort, as well as two unfamiliar old men. According to unofficial sources, the Cold King and the Cold King's Consort have been secretly assisting His Majesty in retrieving the Imperial Seal during this period. I don't know if it's true, but this servant believes it is."
Xiao An Zi said gossipyly.
"This matter has nothing to do with our Feng Qi Palace. You should not concern yourself with it. You may withdraw."
Upon hearing this, the Empress waved her hand at Xiao An Zi.
Xiao An Zi, helpless, had no choice but to retreat.
After Xiao An Zi left, the Empress immediately fell into deep thought.
If His Majesty managed to find the Imperial Seal this time and dealt with Consort Jing, he would likely have time to deal with her.
This night, the Empress had another sleepless night.
Meanwhile, at Jing Hua Palace, the show was just beginning.
The Emperor, leading everyone, arrived at Jing Hua Palace in a menacing manner and began searching for Consort Jing's secret chamber.
Eunuch Li, following the Emperor's instructions, led two young eunuchs to search for the switch to the secret chamber. As a result, the three eunuchs searched Consort Jing's sleeping quarters for a long time but could not find the switch hidden beneath the lampstand. Later, the Emperor also had people tap on the walls of Consort Jing's sleeping quarters... In the end, Eunuch Li and the others still could not find the so-called secret chamber that Jun Nan Sheng had mentioned.
Consort Jing was extremely pleased with this outcome. Fortunately, her imperial son had the foresight to have her secret chamber blocked tightly two days ago, otherwise, she would be in trouble tonight.
However, Consort Jing was rejoicing too soon.
Just as she was feeling proud, Jun Nan Sheng spoke.
"The entrance to that secret chamber is right behind this painting of a lady."
Jun Nan Sheng enlightened everyone.
He originally didn't intend to tell the dog emperor the exact location of the secret chamber, but seeing Consort Jing's smug expression made him very uncomfortable.
Earlier, this vile woman had accused him of baseless accusations in the imperial study, but he was a man who sought revenge. This was the perfect time to tear down this woman's facade.
The Emperor, Jun Mo Han, and Leng Ruo Li all looked at him with some surprise.
However, upon hearing Jun Nan Sheng's words, Consort Jing's face instantly turned grim. This Jun Nan Sheng was not helping her, but rather helping his enemies.
"Eunuch Li, according to Jun..." The Emperor looked at Eunuch Li, his words trailing off.
The Cold King and his consort interrupted him.
"Father Emperor, leave the matter of finding the secret chamber to your son and Li'er." Jun Mo Han said seriously.
"Good, then you two shall go and take a look." The Emperor readily agreed to the Cold King and his consort's request.
Afterward, the Cold King and his consort walked in front of the painting of the lady that Jun Nan Sheng had mentioned. Jun Mo Han raised his hand and lifted the painting, clenched his fist, and forcefully knocked on the wall. The wall inside indeed did not produce a "boom, boom, boom!" sound, indicating it was solid.
But what Jun Mo Han found strange was that the walls in Consort Jing's sleeping quarters seemed to have been recently disturbed. Why would Consort Jing renovate her sleeping quarters for no reason?
Moreover, for a consort in the inner palace to renovate her palace, she had to report to the Imperial Household Department first, and then to the Ministry of Works. But he had been supervising the Ministry of Works recently and hadn't heard of any consort in the inner palace reporting renovations.
"Consort Jing, has your sleeping quarters been renovated recently?"
Jun Mo Han's purple eyes flickered as he looked at Consort Jing and asked.
"...This... Yes, it's like this. A few days ago, a nest of rats was discovered in this concubine's sleeping quarters, which frightened this concubine so much that she couldn't sleep for two nights. Therefore, this concubine had someone exterminate the rat's nest and also renovate the walls in the sleeping quarters."
Consort Jing was startled at first, but then she calmly answered Jun Mo Han's question.
At this moment, the perpetually sleepy Snow Dragon in Leng Ruo Li's spatial dimension suddenly spoke, "Master, this woman is lying. There is no rat's nest in this room. The secret chamber you are looking for is behind this painting of a lady. Have the male master (Jun Mo Han) blast open this wall with his internal energy, and you will find the secret chamber door."
"Oh, Snow Dragon, how do you know that?" Leng Ruo Li asked it curiously through her thoughts.
"Master, my eyes have the ability of X-ray vision," the Snow Dragon said proudly.
"Alright, you are indeed amazing."
Leng Ruo Li praised it exaggeratedly without hesitation.
Immediately, Leng Ruo Li said to Jun Mo Han, "Jun Mo Han, the secret chamber is in the location Jun Nan Sheng mentioned. You can see it by blasting open the wall with your internal energy."
Jun Mo Han had no doubt about Leng Ruo Li's words.
As soon as her words fell, Jun Mo Han immediately gathered seventy percent of his internal energy and blasted open the wall behind the painting of the lady. With a "bang!", the bricks on the wall clattered down. As a result, he really blasted open a secret chamber passage, and Consort Jing's expression changed drastically.