Palace Fighting: Naive Concubines' Ascent to Power-Chapter 574: Powder Keg Lian Hua (Part 1)

Distracted by this, Lian Bao’s worries eased somewhat.

His face stern, he began instructing the details.

After he had explained everything clearly, he reiterated, "Although it is downstream and some distance away, we mustn’t be careless and reveal our tracks. Before and after getting the silver, we must clean up any trace. Don’t let anyone follow the clues and discover anything, don’t dawdle, and if something seems amiss, abandon the silver and flee immediately along the route we’ve arranged beforehand. If the situation becomes truly dire, then head for the Yongding River and look for an opportunity to jump in and escape by swimming."

Uncle Ma agreed to each point, committing them to memory.

Once everything was explained, Lian Bao felt relieved.

Just then, someone knocked at the door: "Aunt Ying, someone has come to the tower looking for a Mr. Wu."

The few people inside exchanged glances.

Lian Bao said, "The timing couldn’t be more perfect!"

If someone was looking for him, they would come to Qingfeng Tower and ask for Mr. Wu, and that was the only message he had left for the person he wanted to meet tonight—Liu Xianzhang!

In front of a palace gate outside the Star Palace within the Imperial Palace.

An old eunuch was carefully holding a perfectly square box, which he had specially found for the items inside, for fear of damaging the twelve precious objects within.

Above the box was placed a rattan with a colorful string-wrapped handle, woven exquisitely. It was just its use that was unclear, and it was too long to fit in the box.

This old eunuch was Ma Pitong, a horse-tending eunuch from the Imperial Horse Administration. Renowned for his expertise in horse breeding, able to diagnose horse ailments by the sound of their neighing, he earned the nickname Ma Pitong—a prestigious title that greatly affirmed his equine skills.

Not long ago, a high-ranking person left the palace, and the carriage was prepared by him. He was not sure who the important person was.

But when they returned, the one who handed back the carriage to him was a young eunuch from Star Palace, and some claimed to have seen an eunuch resembling Steward Zhang disembark from the carriage.

While tidying up the carriage, he found twelve clay figurines and a well-woven rattan, both neatly packed, hidden under the carriage seat.

These must be items left behind by the important person who left the palace.

Therefore, he thought to try his luck.

Although he couldn’t be certain whether it was Steward Zhang who had left the palace with these items, the fact remained that the young eunuch who returned the carriage was from Star Palace, so it would be beneficial to familiarize himself in front of Steward Zhang by returning these items to him.

Originally, that’s what he planned to do upon finding them, but he didn’t know what had happened in the Harem. Everywhere people were being arrested, causing terror.

He had to temporarily abandon the idea, for wealth was as fleeting as clouds, and his life was what truly mattered.

Being timid, he knew these items must belong to a VIP from the palace, so he dared not discard them and made sure to keep them safe.

Not until today, seeing that the palace was somewhat quieter and having been pushed to the edge by the hated rivals of the Imperial Horse Administration, indignation bolstered his courage, and he came.

With his status, he couldn’t enter the territory of Star Palace, and so he could only wait here, asking a young eunuch inside to help find Steward Zhang.

As he waited, his forehead kept sweating, feeling that he might be taking a risk.

Finally, a young eunuch came out, "Who are you, and what business do you have with Steward Zhang?"

Ma Pitong quickly bowed, smiled ingratiatingly, and said, "I come from the Imperial Horse Administration, in charge of horse breeding, named Li. Known for my skill with horses, people call me Ma Pitong."

After announcing his affiliation, he lifted the box in his hands, earnestly saying, "Some days ago, someone left these intricate items in my carriage, seeming to belong to Steward Zhang. Fearing to trouble him with my petty concerns during these busy times, I only dared to bring them over today. Would you be so kind as to help ask if they were indeed left by Steward Zhang?"

The young eunuch scrutinized Ma Pitong, then the box, and said, "Steward Zhang is not here, leave the items with me, please."

"Yes," agreed Ma Pitong with a touch of bitterness in his heart. He had anticipated that his status might not grant him an audience with Steward Zhang, and indeed, alas.

He cradled the box, took a few steps forward, and carefully lifted the box up.

The young eunuch picked up the rattan and examined it closely, no problems.

Then he opened the box and checked the mud dolls one by one.

In the end, after finding no issues, he accepted the items, "I will hand these over to Steward Zhang, you may go back."

Having said that, he turned and left.

Ma Pitong squeezed out a smile, "Alright, thank you, young master, have a safe journey."

Only after he saw the young eunuch walk away did he turn around, feeling disheartened, preparing to return the way he came.

The young eunuch, holding the box and the rattan, walked a few steps, then turned back to look. Seeing Ma Pitong’s dejected figure, he confirmed there truly were no problems and let go of his doubts.

After thinking for a moment, he added, "I will report to Steward Zhang that it was you who brought them."

This time, after finishing his words, he walked away without looking back.

Ma Pitong was suddenly overjoyed and repeatedly bowed in thanks. What he had wanted was just to have his name mentioned to Steward Zhang!

Inside Canglan Court.

Lian Hua stood with her hands on her hips, looking listlessly at the fenced-off Main Hall from a distance.

Xiao Jizi glanced at her, then at the Main Hall, and stepped forward. "Master, I’ve heard the Main Hall’s refurbishment is almost complete, and we can move in within a few days."

"I am aware." Otherwise, why would she come here?

His Majesty was busy with official matters, and she did not wish to stay in the palace, nor did she really want to deal with him, which was why she had come out.

She had come to see how the Main Hall was faring and, if possible, to supervise the work a bit—anything to change her mood.

But with the fences in place, only the Main Hall’s spire was visible, and nothing else could be seen clearly.

Since the Serpent incident, the fences had become taller and sturdier. The hole she had ordered to be smashed open was long ago patched up.

Rebuffed by her words, Xiao Jizi felt somewhat helpless, not understanding why lately his mistress had been as volatile as gunpowder, ready to explode at the slightest touch.

He was only trying to find some trivial conversation to cheer up his mistress, who was in a bad mood.

His mistress, who always wore a smile, now spoke as if she had swallowed explosives. Moreover, the smiles on her face had become scarce. When she did smile, it was as if she remembered something, and immediately her expression would close off, swiftly so.

He couldn’t understand what was happening. Hadn’t he heard any rumors of his mistress arguing with His Majesty?

Xiao Jizi glanced at the naive Xiao Qing and then at the clueless Xiao Linzi, both of whom seemed unaware of anything.

Sigh, it was up to him to handle it.

He paused, then brought up another topic, saying with exaggeration, "I’ve heard that the Main Hall even has heated floors installed, and they are incredible. I heard that during winter, even if you wear only a thin summer garment, you can sweat profusely as it’s so warm."

Lian Hua, with her hands still on her hips, turned to look at him, then blocked him again with a response that could infuriate the dead: "Oh, I’m aware."

As if she hadn’t seen it before—aren’t there heated floors in the Star Palace?

Xiao Jizi had just come from the Star Palace; how could he not know?

To say "I’ve heard" as if he had forgotten, his memory must be extremely poor.

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