The Female Psychology PhD Who Time Traveled to the Royal Harem

Chapter 322

"Zhu's Second Son sending a letter to the Imperial Noble Consort?"

Consort Wen looked at the unfamiliar young eunuch: "Which palace do you belong to? How could the letter from Zhu's Second Son be entrusted to you for delivery?"

The young eunuch slightly bowed his body: "I am Xiao Ganzi, formerly in the service of the Empress. After her passing, I have been responsible for cleaning and guarding the Empress's spirit tablet in the Fengxian Hall. Consort Wen, I am from the Zhu family."

He produced a token, which indeed bore the character "Zhu," similar to one Consort Wen had seen on Fenyun before.

Only then did she half-believe, half-doubtfully accept the letter: "But the Imperial Noble Consort has been staying in Chengqian Palace these past few days and hasn't returned."

Xiao Ganzi showed urgency: "But the messenger from my master, Zhu's Second Son, said this letter is of utmost urgency and cannot be delayed for a moment. Consort Wen, I cannot stay away from the Fengxian Hall for too long, nor can I enter Chengqian Palace. Could you please deliver it urgently?"

If she leaves, wouldn't Consort De be the ruler of Hexi Palace?

But this young eunuch's anxious demeanor didn't seem fake...

She stomped her foot and exclaimed "Oh!" before turning to instruct Mu Tan: "Make sure to watch over Consort De and don't let her run around. It's best to lock the doors. If you can't stop her, follow her wherever she goes. Do you understand?"

Mu Tan nodded: "I will stay by Consort De's side without leaving her."

Since Xiao Ganzi said it was a matter of life and death, Consort Wen felt the letter weighed a thousand pounds. What if it concerned the life of the Imperial Noble Consort...

She started running.

Fortunately, Hexi Palace and Chengqian Palace were not far apart, and she quickly arrived: "Go, quickly inform them that Consort Wen has urgent matters to report."

Jiang Xinyue thought it might be something about Consort De and quickly summoned Consort Wen inside, surprised by her sweat-soaked appearance: "What happened? Did Consort De try to kill you?"

Consort Wen waved her hand, gasping for breath, and before she could speak, she threw the crumpled letter: "A letter... from Zhu's Second Son in Yu Province... it's... extremely urgent."

Jiang Xinyue quickly handed the grape ice bowl to Shuangjiang and took the letter, tearing it open.

The vigorous handwriting of Zhu Qianyi leaped off the page: "Yu Province is experiencing a drought, and someone is taking advantage of the situation. They have hidden a stele in the dried-up lakebed, engraved with the words 'Heaven's wrath, Jiang replaces Shen.' A Ministry of Justice official happened to visit and brought the stele back to the capital. If I intervene, the Emperor might suspect the Imperial Noble Consort of forming factions. Thus, I write this letter, urging the Imperial Noble Consort to prepare. The stele should arrive in the capital on the same day as this letter. I hope the Imperial Noble Consort remains safe."

The signature was Zhu Qianyi, with an official seal that could not be forged.

Jiang Xinyue's heart skipped a beat, recalling what Consort Wen had told her earlier. The Ministry of Justice official Zhu Qianyi mentioned was the same one Consort Wen had mentioned during their stay at the palace, who had taken an extended leave from Lord Jiang. He was a spy arranged by the Duke of Cheng.

She looked at Consort Wen: "Did you tell the Emperor about that matter when he visited Hexi Palace yesterday and asked you to move palaces?"

Consort Wen nodded: "Yes, I did..."

The Emperor was a busy man, rarely seen in the harem. Consort Wen had been eager to fulfill Jiang Xinyue's request, and since she finally saw the Emperor, she made sure to bring up the matter before discussing the palace relocation.

She pretended to be naive, saying that a Ministry of Justice official had taken leave from her father due to Lord Jiang's absence at the palace, but her father was hesitant to approve it, fearing Lord Jiang's return. The official had pleaded and begged, and her father had no choice but to agree.

Unexpectedly, the official had been gone for months, prompting her father to write to her in complaint.

The Emperor had then asked who the other Ministry of Justice official besides Ma Yiyang was, questioning why he could be so derelict in his duties.

Consort Wen had replied: "He must be a disciple of the Duke of Cheng's household."

The Emperor turned to her: "Why do you say that?"

"Because my father saw the official go to the Duke of Cheng's residence after taking leave. He found it strange at the time but didn't think it concerned him, so he didn't pay attention. But thinking back, Consort De was quite unhappy when the Imperial Noble Consort took her place as one of the Four Consorts. I find it odd that this official works under Lord Jiang but is actually aligned with the Duke of Cheng."

Consort Wen had been in the palace for over a decade, known for her straightforward nature, so her words did not seem influenced by Jiang Xinyue.

Consort Wen added: "After the Emperor's court session today, he kept my father and Lord Jiang in the imperial study to discuss matters."

It must have been about the Duke of Cheng and the official.

The Emperor was a man of action, addressing matters the same day he discovered them.

The stele!

The stele engraved with "Heaven's wrath, Jiang replaces Shen" was also entering the palace today.

Jiang Xinyue tore the letter into pieces and handed it to Jiang Chuan: "Burn it."

Concerned, Consort Yu stepped forward: "Should we come with you?"

Jiang Xinyue shook her head: "No, you should act as if you know nothing. I will go alone."

It wasn't about acting pitiful in front of the Emperor; this was about the stability of the empire.

She needed to intercept the Ministry of Justice official.

As the horse galloped into the capital and stopped at the palace gates, Imperial Doctor Hu had already received the news and was waiting inside. Consort De intended to take the lives of the entire Jiang family today.

The stele wasn't newly engraved but had been prepared by the Duke of Cheng's household shortly after Jiang Xinyue gained the Emperor's favor.

Before the Emperor knew of the drought in Yu Province, the Duke of Cheng's household had already received a secret report, prompting them to transport the stele into the city, burying it in the dried riverbed.

If it weren't for Consort De stabbing herself to distance herself from the imperial concubine massacre incident, she would have handled this herself today.

Before Imperial Doctor Hu left, Consort De had warned him to be careful of the Imperial Noble Consort.

Careful of what?

She was merely a woman who charmed the Emperor with her looks, no match for her own lady.

How could she possibly know today was when Director Lin would bring the stele into the palace? There was no way she could stop it.

After meeting Director Lin, Imperial Doctor Hu had four eunuchs carry the stele from the carriage. The Duke of Cheng couldn't be involved directly, as they didn't want the Emperor to think this implicated the previous court.

Though their intent was to destroy the Jiang family, they had to maintain appearances.

The long palace corridor was eerily silent, the silver-black floor and walls glistening after being cleaned, sending an uneasy feeling through Imperial Doctor Hu: "Strange, this path wasn't this quiet when we came through."

"I had the entrance sealed off, so of course, it's quiet," a woman's alluring voice echoed.

Jiang Xinyue's graceful figure approached: "Imperial Doctor Hu, why aren't you attending to Consort De in the side hall of Hexi Palace and instead are here?"

Her playful gaze shifted to Imperial Doctor Hu's back: "Isn't this Director Lin of the Ministry of Justice? An underling of my father, when did he get so close to Consort De's people?"

As she spoke, she quickened her pace, approaching directly.