Regarding Lady Yu, Yan Zhihua didn't think this young girl would be so careless. Immediately, she observed her surroundings and saw a delicate earring under a nearby bridge arch.
There was jadeite inlaid on the earring. It was clearly something a person from the Western Regions would have. In the harem, only one person had such earrings—An Suzhi.
She carefully picked up the earring and then quietly left. No one knew what she had discovered there.
After Yan Zhihua returned to the palace, she sat quietly on a chair alone. She thought for a long time and finally decided to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
Just as she arrived at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, she saw Su Ningde walking towards her respectfully.
"Concubine An, what brings you here?"
Hearing this, Yan Zhihua probed, "Does the Emperor know about what happened in the imperial garden?"
Hearing this, Su Ningde immediately led Yan Zhihua to a corner. He looked around, and after making sure no one was around, he spoke.
"Please, Concubine An, don't meddle in this matter. That princess is currently in the Emperor's favor, and no one can afford to offend her. Even if you know something, just pretend you don't."
Su Ningde wasn't being overly cautious. Just now, a concubine had been stabbed to death on the spot for saying a few more words about this matter.
Such a ruthless means was something even he had never seen before.
So, facing such an unpredictable person, he really didn't want Yan Zhihua to lose her life because of this.
"Eunuch Su, this subject wishes to see the Emperor. I wonder if the Emperor is busy with affairs now?"
Su Ningde shook his head. "The Emperor doesn't have many affairs, but currently, the Emperor is indulging in the harem, carousing with the concubines every day. So..."
"So, that princess from the Western Regions is also in the Hall of Mental Cultivation?"
Hearing this, Su Ningde nodded.
Knowing this, Yan Zhihua didn't ask any more questions and immediately turned around and left.
In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, An Suzhi was sitting beside Rong Xun, constantly grinding ink.
While grinding the ink, she kept probing, "Your Majesty, I understand that you've been busy with state affairs recently, but I just want to share more of your burden. I wonder when Your Majesty will rest?"
Seeing that Rong Xun still didn't say a word, she asked again, "Your Majesty, you've been reading for a whole day. If you continue like this, your body won't be able to take it. Let this subject serve Your Majesty to bed."
Hearing this, Rong Xun couldn't help but frown. He pushed away An Suzhi's hand that was on his. "I'm busy with state affairs and have no time for such romantic affairs. If you're tired, go and call Concubine An. I have something to ask her."
Rong Xun's rejection again didn't make An Suzhi angry. Instead, she nodded happily.
"Okay. In that case, this subject won't disturb Your Majesty's peace anymore. This subject takes her leave."
Rarely seeing An Suzhi leave so quietly, Rong Xun himself was a bit surprised.
Immediately, he said, "Ye Bai, go and investigate why Lady Yu died in the imperial garden."
"Yes, Your subordinate obeys."
Throughout the whole night, everyone had their own thoughts, while Tang Youyou slept soundly without a care in the world.
After waking up, she rubbed her sleepy eyes and slowly walked into the courtyard.
Seeing the old man rummaging through the precious medicinal herbs in the medicine garden, she put on an obsequious smile and walked towards the old man.
"Master, let this disciple take care of the medicinal herbs in the garden. I feel really bad seeing you busy all by yourself."
Hearing what Tang Youyou said, the old man thought it was a good idea. Immediately, he put down his work, picked up the tobacco pouch on the other side, and casually found a place to sit down.
While basking in the sun, he admonished, "Girl, you're the only one today. That brat Hua Ling disappeared early in the morning. You can just work by yourself."
Hearing this, Tang Youyou nodded. After waiting for the old man to fall asleep, she casually pulled out a few Dragon Bone Herbs and walked towards the Second Elder's residence.
Just as she arrived at the door, she felt that there seemed to be many people talking inside.
Immediately, she knocked on the door. Then she heard that the noisy voices inside suddenly became quiet.
After a while, the sound of footsteps came from afar. Then the door opened. She saw that there were more than a dozen disciples inside.
Each of these disciples had a numb expression on their faces.
Then, the Second Elder walked towards Tang Youyou. When he saw her, the old man said, "What are you doing here?"
Hearing this, Tang Youyou handed the Dragon Bone Herbs in her hand to him and explained, "This is what this junior's master asked this junior to give to the Second Elder."
After taking the things Tang Youyou handed over, the man was about to turn around and leave. But just as he turned his head, she clearly saw a layer of skin on his jaw that was not very clear.
This man had re - attached his skin to his face.
He was really a ruthless person. While she was in a daze, the man turned to look at her and said, "So, what are you still doing here?"
Hearing this, Tang Youyou nodded and respectfully said, "Okay. This junior has already given the things to the Second Elder. This junior takes her leave."
After saying that, Tang Youyou walked towards the Third Elder's residence again. But no matter how much she knocked on the door, no one opened it for her.
Just as she was about to leave, the Third Elder finally opened the door. He frowned in confusion and looked at Tang Youyou and asked, "You... Did the Fourth Elder send you here?"
Hearing this, she immediately nodded. "Yes, the Fourth Elder asked this junior to bring you some medicinal herbs. I wonder if this junior has disturbed the Third Elder's peace."
Hearing this, the old man said coldly, "Come in and talk. It's not convenient outside."
This man seemed to understand what she meant. As soon as Tang Youyou sat down, she heard the Third Elder say, "Speak. Why did you come here by yourself?"
Hearing this, Tang Youyou pretended not to understand. "Third Elder, this junior doesn't understand what you mean."
"Don't pretend not to understand. That old man would never send anything to me. This must be your own decision, right?"
Since she had been exposed, Tang Youyou directly said, "Third Elder, Qingyun Sect should not be as peaceful as it appears on the surface, right?"
Hearing this, he looked up and laughed. "Do you think I'll tell you just because of the medicinal herbs you brought? Or because you dressed up as a man and stirred up trouble in Qingyun Sect, pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger?"
He knew very well what Tang Youyou had done these days. He just didn't want to say much about some things.