sbdcsierra Chapter 155: Xunyou joins Shen Zhinian
Chapter 155: Xunyou joins Shen Zhinian
Li Changde had served the emperor since he was a child and was very good at observing the emperor's words and expressions. With just one look from the emperor, he knew whether he wanted to serve tea or massage his legs.
But in all these years, he had never seen His Majesty look so relaxed and comfortable.
There are many beautiful concubines in the harem, but the emperor is responsible for the vast country, and what he needs most is someone who can make him feel relaxed. No wonder Rou Guiren is so favored!
But the matters of the previous dynasty cannot be delayed any longer!
Li Changde didn't dare to disturb the emperor who was in high spirits. It was really too difficult. After waiting for the two to finish a game, he hurried forward.
"Your Majesty, the rebellion near Licheng has ended, and several adults are still waiting for you in the imperial study. After today, when the seal is sealed, we can only deal with it after the New Year..."
State affairs were of primary concern, so Nangong Xuanyu reluctantly put the black piece in his hand back into the chess box: "Niannian, I'll come to see you another day."
General Yuchi was the first to quell the rebellion in Licheng. Since Concubine Xue had no children, the emperor could not reward the Yuchi family by making her a concubine, and she would definitely continue to stay in the Yanxi Palace.
This was exactly what Shen Zhinian wanted. Otherwise, if the emperor turned over her card, she would have to find an excuse to shirk responsibility: "I respectfully send your majesty off!"
In the blink of an eye, it was time for dinner.
Fuqiu walked in and said, "My lady, Xunyou is already waiting for you behind the rockery in the Imperial Garden. She is coming out from the Imperial Kitchen to get dinner for Concubine Liu. If we delay too long, Concubine Liu might get suspicious. We must hurry."
Shen Zhinian immediately stood up and took only Fuqiu and Xiao Zhouzi with him.
Fuqiu was the one who facilitated this; and Xiao Zhouzi was good at martial arts, so he could protect her if something unexpected happened. Shen Zhinian was pregnant now, so she had to be cautious.
Zhongcui Palace was very close to the Imperial Garden, and soon the master and his two servants arrived at their destination.
Fuqiu was watching outside, while little Zhouzi supported Shen Zhinian and went around behind the rockery.
Xunyou also didn't expect that she and the people from Tingyu Pavilion used to be mortal enemies, but now the relationship has become delicate.
You can't blame her for being shaken. You can only blame the young lady for being too cruel!
"This servant pays respects to Lady Rou, may the Lady be blessed with good fortune!"
"Get up."
Xun You raised her eyes to look at Shen Zhinian, and asked faintly, "Mrs. Rou is now a popular concubine. I wonder if Miss Fuqiu can call me over. What do you want me to do?"
Shen Zhinian looked at her with a half-smile: "The maids in the noble families who serve their masters are often able to read and write. I wonder if Miss Xunyou has read Zuo Zhuan and understands the principle that a wise bird chooses the right tree to inhabit?"
Xunyou's eyes were dark and unclear: "I am stupid and have never read it, but I understand what Lady Rou means. But there is one thing I don't understand, and I hope Lady Rou can help me solve it."
"Oh?"
Xun You said straight to the point: "I believe that if I choose to turn against Concubine Rou, with your great favor, even if our young master will never be able to turn things around, you will be able to save my life."
"It's just that... I am a servant of the Liu family, and my family is far away in Yangzhou. If I work for you, then my family..."
Not to mention that Yangzhou is thousands of miles away, the Liu family is the local boss there. With Shen Zhinian's current power, he can't reach out at all. Even if he can, it's not worth it to spend so much energy to win over a palace maid.
Shen Zhinian sneered: "Have you forgotten what happened to Xunmei?"
Both of them are smart people, so they just need to stop talking about some things.
Xunmei was loyal to Liu Ruyan, but what happened? The emperor was furious, blood flowed for thousands of miles, and Xunmei's entire clan was exterminated.
There are only two paths before Xunyou now -
Either continue to be loyal to Liu Ruyan, and wait until one day she abandons you and you will not only fail to protect your family, but you will also die.
Either you turn from darkness to light, at least you can keep yourself safe, and maybe you will have a chance to save your family.
Xunyou bit his lip, feeling torn between his conscience and his desires.
Shen Zhinian did not urge her and waited quietly for her to make a choice.
Xunyou recalled that she and Xunmei had been serving the young master together since she could remember.
They said they were serving, but what could the two kids do? They were just playmates for the young master.
Although the lady's character was not as gentle and harmless as outsiders saw, she was very kind to her own people. Under the lady's care, she and Xunmei lived a more decent life than ordinary ladies.
Gradually, the young lady grew up and became more and more charming. There was no girl prettier than the young lady in the whole Yangzhou. Even if there was, they would have secretly ruined her.
The three of them are not only master and servant, but also each other's closest partners!
But what Xunyou could never have expected was... after entering the palace, facing the real test, the lady not only abandoned Xunmei, but also abandoned her without hesitation!
Xunyou understood that as slaves, they should die for the young master. But she took the blame on her own initiative and was treated as an abandoned child by the young master and threatened with her family. These were two different concepts.
She was really chilling...very chilling...
In that case, what's wrong with her wanting to live?
Xunyou's eyes gradually became firm, and she knelt down to Shen Zhinian and bowed deeply: "I am willing to serve you, Noble Rou, even if it means sacrificing my life for you!"
Shen Zhinian looked down at her.
She couldn't be sure whether Xunyou had really figured it out or was just deliberately confusing her to gain her trust.
So she couldn't let Xunyou know now that she suspected Liu Ruyan was faking her pregnancy. Otherwise, she would alert the enemy and it would be difficult to carry out the subsequent plans. She might even be tricked by the enemy and blamed them on her.
"Since you are willing to serve me, I am naturally happy. But before that...shouldn't you let me see your sincerity first?"
Xunyou knew that if she didn't hand over her evidence, Shen Zhinian would not believe that she was truly loyal to him.
She took a deep breath and said slowly, "When Concubine Kang took safflower by mistake, she had a miscarriage. It was found that Yin Yingda was responsible, and His Majesty banished her to the cold palace and sentenced her to death. It was thus implicated that the safflower was given to her by Xunmei. Xunmei took all the blame and committed suicide out of fear of guilt."
"But in fact... the mastermind behind the scenes is our young master!"
Shen Zhinian said calmly, "Everyone with eyes in the harem can see that Liu Ruyan was behind that."
"But everything requires evidence. Xunmei took all the blame, and His Majesty couldn't convict Liu Ruyan as the murderer. Although His Majesty only stripped her of her title in the end, he also despised her."
"What's the point of bringing up something that has already been settled?"
Xun You stared at Shen Zhinian: "No, I have evidence!"
"There are detailed records of the palace maids and eunuchs who went out of the palace to buy things. But why did we only find Xunmei and not the red flower that murdered Concubine Kang? Where did it come from?"
"Does Lady Rou know why this is happening?"