Palace Rumors 038

  A rumor has emerged in the palace, roughly that Gu Ling, who is investigating the case of the fire at the Qing Palace where Princess Changle was burned to death, has obtained evidence that proves the case was caused by Consort Mei.

  Rumors spread quickly, almost in the span of an afternoon, throughout the entire imperial palace. Since the fire at Moon Palace that burned everything to ashes and killed Grand Princess and many maids and eunuchs, the eerily quiet imperial palace was broken by this rumor.

  Originally rumored to be every day, this rumor is still just a rumor and can't be counted.

  But what was discovered next seemed to add fuel to this rumor.

  Yu Fei, who had been bedridden with grief, upon hearing the rumor, rushed to the Mei Palace and made a big scene with Consort Mei, adding a layer of mystery to what was originally just a rumor.

  ……

  Lianguiren lay on the soft couch with her eyes closed, cultivating her spirit. Outside the curtain, Xu Ren's voice rang out: "Reporting to Your Ladyship, I, Xu Ren, have something to report."

  The virtuous and noble person's eyes opened with a hint of doubt, and she glanced at her personal maid, Guizhi. Guizhi understood the cue and spoke up: "Her Ladyship has allowed Lord Xugong to enter."

  Xu Ren bowed respectfully as he entered the inner hall, and after paying his respects, Liang Gui's expressionless face said, "What is it?"

  "Reporting to Your Majesty, the palace maids have been whispering among themselves that Gu Ling has found some evidence, saying... saying... it's said that..."

  "What is it? You'd better speak quickly, otherwise I won't spare you." The imperial concubine sat up abruptly and shouted angrily.

  Xu Ren gritted his teeth and said: "It's said that Mei Fei Niang Niang is behind it, and the Crown Prince is also involved. Gu Ling may have evidence in his hands."

  Li Guiren's eyes lit up: "Is this true?"

  "This humble servant doesn't dare to deceive Your Highness, but currently there's a rumor spreading like wildfire in the palace. It's said that just now, Concubine Yu went to Concubine Mei's place and caused a commotion."

  Lianguirong hastily shouted: "What are you still standing here for? Hurry up and help me with my hair and makeup!"

  These two people are making a scene, how can she not go and join in on the fun?

  And Yu Fei actually made a big fuss in the Mei Palace like a madwoman, maybe the fire in the Yue Qing Palace was indeed done by that woman Mei Fei.

  When a stagnant pool of water in the palace is stirred up by a huge stone being thrown into it.

  The rear hall of the Liao Fu's Banpo Garden also had a discovery.

  Gu Ling ignored the various autopsy blades and neatly arranged skeletons around him, watching Liao Qingyun intently flipping through the booklet in his hand. After reading it, he decided to bring it over and discuss it with Qingyun together.

  Liao Qingyun closed the booklet in her hand, her eyebrows furrowed slightly. The appearance of this booklet was too unexpected, and its contents were even more shocking, revealing the secrets of the Shi family's affairs to the point where they were turned upside down, including some hidden secrets within the aristocratic families.

  "Brother Gu just wanted to sleep, and a hand secretly sent you a pillow, but whether the pillow is soft and comfortable remains to be seen."

  "Let's put aside the person who delivered this booklet for now, but the content inside is..." Liao Qingyun had a flash of consciousness in her mind, but it flashed by too quickly and she couldn't grasp it. She hastily waved her hand to signal to Gu Ling not to make a sound and disturb her.

  Gu Ling quietly watched Liao Qingyun, who seemed to be thinking of something.

  Liao Qingyun closed his eyes and carefully recalled the many fragments that had flashed through his mind like a lantern show, finally returning to a certain text he had seen earlier.

  He suddenly opened his eyes and quickly reopened the book, soon flipping to a page where he stared at the recorded content with a somewhat solemn expression.

  Shi Kaiyan wasn't a member of the Shi family by blood, which led him to think of an astonishing and unconventional idea. He recalled what Shi Ningxiang had said to the eldest princess in Meiyuan Garden yesterday about the little girl's small thoughts, and everything couldn't be ignored anymore.

  He had always been curious about what secrets the Grand Princess was hiding that would lead the murderer to ruthlessly burn fifteen lives.

  Is it possible?

  If this is indeed the truth, although it's shocking and unconventional, everything seems to make sense and can be explained.

  "Has Qingyun brother made a discovery?" Although Gu Ling was asking, he also knew in his heart that Qingyun had probably discovered some secret from the booklet, otherwise his expression wouldn't be so solemn.

  Liao Qingyun looked up at Gu Ling and said slowly: "I indeed have a bold idea in my heart." Not only is it daring, but also shocking. If the truth is really like this, then how should this case be concluded? Will it be another bloody storm or will it be buried in dust?

  Gu Ling was taken aback: "Brother Qingyun, just say it straight."

  Liao Qingyun looked at Gu Ling deeply: "I suspect that there is no Grand Princess among the fifteen corpses." Only in this way can it be explained why the murderer would burn down the Moon Clear Palace and turn everyone inside into charred remains that cannot be distinguished from one another.

  Among the fifteen corpses, there was no Grand Princess. The murderer who brutally set fire to the Moon Palace and killed all the eunuchs and palace maids wanted to conceal a secret that was now on the verge of being revealed.

  Gu Ling's eyes widened slightly as she thought for a moment, then suddenly opened them wide again and immediately said: "I'll go to the palace right away to see if there have been any missing palace maids recently."

  "Older brother Gu."

  Gu Ling stopped in his tracks and turned around, asking with his eyes.

  Liao Qingyun looked at him directly and said slowly: "Don't forget to check with the Imperial Household Department whether anyone from the Shi family entered the palace on October 18th."

  Gū Líng nodded solemnly: "I understand."

  Just as Gu Ling was about to leave the back hall, Liao Daren rushed into the great hall in a hurry and bumped right into him.

  "Liao Daren, why are you in such a hurry? What's happened?" Gu Ling exclaimed in surprise.

  Liao Qingyun on the side also looked at Liao Daren with a puzzled expression.

  Liao Daren saw Gu Ling and became very nervous: "Gu Ling, tell me, do you really have evidence in your hands?" Since the Emperor ordered Gu Ling to investigate the case, he and Yu Daren Zhao Jiangjun had not participated again. After all, they understood the Emperor's intentions a little bit. But unexpectedly, in just a few days, such a big storm was stirred up.

  Although Gu Ling was somewhat unexpected that Liao Daren would ask so directly, he also knew that Liao Daren must have had a reason for asking. He replied: "There is no evidence, but some clues have been found."

  "Dad, what's going on?" Liao Qingyun also asked.

  "I don't know who is spreading rumors, directly targeting Consort Mei and the Crown Prince, but it's not just that, even Gu Ling was implicated. This is obviously a rumor spread by someone with ulterior motives, regardless of whether it's true or false, Gu Ling wouldn't be foolish enough to spread the news."

  Gu Ling and Liao Qingyun exchanged a glance, both of their expressions turned serious. First, someone had sent over the booklet that led them to discover the clue, now rumors were emerging?

  They originally felt that there was a black hand secretly manipulating things, now they feel that this black hand is openly stirring up trouble.

  "It was just a rumor circulating secretly, but Yu Fei Niang Niang was so grief-stricken over the loss of her daughter that she actually believed it and made a big fuss in the palace, even startling the Emperor. I'm afraid the person who summoned us to the palace is probably already on their way here."

  Liao Qingyun and Gu Ling furrowed their brows simultaneously upon hearing this, wondering who this person hiding in the shadows was. Was it the murderer or someone else? If it was the murderer, that would be easy to handle, they would catch him soon.

  But if he isn't the murderer, what is his purpose?