"This..."
The maid, addressed as 'Xiao Cui,' knelt on the ground with a thud, repeatedly kowtowing, "Your Highness, spare me, Your Highness, spare me. This servant knows her mistake, this servant knows her mistake."
The displeasure in the woman's eyes was replaced by disgust. Even so, she softened her voice, saying, "Get up. Crying and wailing as if I were a man-eating flood or fierce beast.
Xiao Cui, you've been by my side for many years, like a sister to me. How could I truly bear to punish you?
Furthermore, Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager always prefers tranquility. Since she hasn't sent anyone to inform me, it would be inappropriate for me to presumptuously disturb her."
"Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, Your Highness."
Xiao Cui scrambled up from the ground as if granted a great pardon, her face still etched with fear and trepidation.
That night, news spread from Yaohua Palace that the palace maid Xiao Cui had accidentally fallen into a disused well and drowned.
However, in this cannibalistic palace, the death of a palace maid or eunuch was too common, so much so that it didn't even cause a ripple.
On the other side.
When Lin Qingge and her family of three returned to the Lin residence in the carriage they had arrived in.
Whether it was exhaustion from a day of activity or the richness of the meat consumed that night causing sluggish blood, Lin Zimò was already asleep and letting out soft snores.
Seeing this, Lin Qingge could only grit her teeth and pick up the chubby little child.
"Let me."
Leng Ningyue said, and effortlessly took Lin Zimò from Lin Qingge's arms.
Returning to the main courtyard where the three resided.
Unexpectedly, Murong Bai, who had disappeared all afternoon, was now standing in the open space in the center of the courtyard.
The moonlight cast a soft silvery-white glow upon him. His eyes were downcast, making it impossible to discern his expression.
"Coroner Murong?"
Lin Qingge called out, and the figure of pure white then lifted his head as if waking from a dream.
"Oh, it's you, sir. How was it? Was the palace interesting?"
"Besides the food being good, everything else was average."
Murong Bai's lips curved slightly upon hearing this, "That sounds like something you would say. But since you're still in the mood to comment, you must not have met His Majesty, right?"
"How did you know?"
Murong Bai smiled and left without a word.
Although Lin Qingge had long experienced his 'difficult nature,' the strangeness she felt tonight was particularly strong.
Watching his retreating figure, which held a hint of faint sorrow within its loneliness, Lin Qingge did not return to her room to rest. Instead, she went to Lin Yan's doorway.
Before Lin Qingge could even raise her hand to knock, the door creaked open from the inside.
"Sir?"
Lin Yan looked at the person before him with some surprise, setting aside the basin of water he was holding.
"Sir, you come to see your subordinate so late. Is there something important?"
Lin Qingge did not answer but glanced around.
Seeing this, Lin Yan understood and said, "Sir, please rest assured. This courtyard is secluded and only I am here, so there's no need to worry about eavesdroppers."
Ever since Hua Jinrong's identity was revealed, An Yi and the others had come out into the open. Like Lu Mingxuan and the others, they now openly resided in the manor, specifically in the side courtyards closer to the main courtyard.
Thinking this, Lin Qingge was no longer as cautious, "Important isn't quite the word. I just wanted to ask if 'I' and the new Prime Minister Feng Qingchen were old acquaintances?"
Lin Yan, understanding the question, thought for a moment and replied, "Your Excellency, Prime Minister Feng was adopted by Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager from a young age and educated by specialized tutors. He did not study at the Hanlin Academy.
However, the chief examiner for Your Excellency's imperial examination was then Minister of Personnel, Prime Minister Feng."
"Isn't he just a chief examiner?"
"Your Excellency, you may not know, but there has always been an unwritten rule in the Great Xia imperial examinations.
Candidates refer to the chief examiner of their year as 'Zuo Zhu' (seat master). After passing the examination and entering officialdom, they naturally form factions with their 'Zuo Zhu,' mutually supporting and protecting each other.
Therefore, the position of 'Zuo Zhu,' the chief examiner, is particularly important and is usually held by someone of high status and power.
The chief examiners for the previous few imperial examinations were all Prime Minister Shangguan, which is also one of the reasons for Prime Minister Shangguan's vast influence.
However, this year's imperial examination saw the late Emperor acting against convention. He even invoked the name of the Empress Dowager to override all objections and appointed Minister of Personnel Feng, who was only a third-rank official at the time.
Thinking about it now, it's likely that the late Emperor, knowing his time was short, feared that Prime Minister Shangguan would overshadow the throne after his demise. Thus, he made preparations in advance, paving the way for His Majesty.
But the late Emperor was also a cunning strategist. On one hand, he suppressed Prime Minister Shangguan, and on the other hand, he bestowed the hand of Prime Minister Shangguan's only daughter upon the then Crown Prince.
This showed great favor while forcefully binding Prime Minister Shangguan to the Crown Prince."
"Prime Minister Shangguan's only daughter? Prime Minister Shangguan only has one daughter?"
"Presumably. Prime Minister Shangguan's only daughter is named Shangguan Wan'er, born to Prime Minister Shangguan and his official wife.
However, after Prime Minister Shangguan lived alone for over a decade, he took in a concubine a few years ago. But that concubine has never had any children."
"Concubine?"
Lin Qingge ran the word through her mind and realized it must refer to Shangguan Hong marrying a concubine again out of loneliness.
But as the saying goes: a stepmother is like a father.
No wonder her sister Ningyue said Shangguan Hong had nothing to do with her…
As Lin Qingge's thoughts drifted, Lin Yan asked knowingly, "Did Your Excellency meet Prime Minister Feng in the palace today?"
Recalling the Prime Minister who practically had 'I'm resting, you come over' carved onto his forehead, Lin Qingge managed a strained smile, "I, I suppose so."
"Just in case, it would be best for Your Excellency to have this subordinate by your side when you go out tomorrow."
"Alright. When you go out tomorrow, I'll have Constable Yan come to fetch you."
With that, Lin Qingge left without looking back.
Since there were still a few days until her official appointment, and there were many things to purchase upon arriving in the capital, Lin Qingge and her family of three went out after breakfast the next day.
To avoid being too ostentatious, Lin Qingge only brought Yan Tinghao, Lin Yan, and Lian Chengyi.
After a round of shopping, it was already noon.
With an empty stomach, Lin Qingge looked at the familiar three characters 'Jubaizhai' not far away and walked over without hesitation.
One had to admit, it was indeed the capital.
Even though it was also called 'Jubaizhai,' the 'Jubaizhai' in the capital, whether in terms of decoration or grandeur, far surpassed the 'Jubaizhai' in Changzhou County.
Knowing that his wife preferred quiet, Lin Qingge directly requested a private room. However, as soon as everyone sat down in the room, the waiter came in with an apologetic expression.
"My apologies, honored guests. This private room was just booked by the young master of the Minister of Works' family. Therefore, we must ask you to move to the main hall, or wait downstairs for other private room guests to leave."
"Why? We were here first!"
As soon as Yan Tinghao's indignant words fell, the door to the private room was pushed open from the outside.
A slender young man, dressed in luxurious attire, raised his chin and said imperiously, "Why? Because my father is the Minister of Works!"
Hearing this, Yan Tinghao curled his lips dismissively, "So what? Having a father who is the Minister of Works is something to be proud of? My father is the Prince of Zhennan! And I don't go around telling everyone about it like you!"