No, it should be Yi Zhen. She looks so much like the woman in the painting!
A chill ran down Yun Xi's back.
If her guess was correct, the woman being commemorated in the secret passage should be the late Concubine Qing!
Then why does Yi Zhen look so much like her!?
A wild thought popped into Yun Xi's mind:
Could it be that Yi Zhen is the child of the late Concubine Qing!?
And the reason why Emperor Zhaohuan is so indulgent and doting on Yi Zhen is to repay Concubine Qing for her help when she was alive?
No!
Yun Xi stared blankly at Yi Zhen's departing back, her mind racing.
Yi Zhen was about the same age as her. Seventeen years ago, His Majesty was still an unfavored prince, while Concubine Qing had been in the palace for three years and was at the height of her popularity, favored above all others in the harem. Judging from the late emperor's affection for Concubine Qing, if she had been pregnant at that time, it would have been impossible to hide it.
Moreover, based on her few encounters with Noble Consort Shen, if Yi Zhen were really someone else's child, she didn't believe that Noble Consort Shen would have remained oblivious for so long.
Most importantly, Noble Consort Shen and Yi Zhen looked quite alike. Anyone could tell at a glance that they were mother and daughter.
But what about that portrait?
Could it be that the person in the portrait wasn't Concubine Qing? Was it Noble Consort Shen? Or could it be Yi Zhen?
The thoughts in her mind were getting more and more absurd. Yun Xi quickly stopped herself, turned around, and tugged at Hun Yuan's sleeve. She asked:
"Senior Brother, didn't you see Concubine Qing when you were a child? Do you still remember what she looked like? Is there anyone else in the palace who looks very much like her?"
Hun Yuan was taken aback by Yun Xi's question. He recalled as he replied:
"Hmm? Concubine Qing? Well... I only remember that she was tall and had very fair and beautiful skin, but I can't remember her clear face."
"I was only six or seven years old at that time. Most of the time, it was Master who was talking to her, and I was just eating beside them. If you ask me now who looks similar to her, uh..." Hun Yuan spread his hands. "I don't know either."
"Why?"
Jiang Ning, who was beside them, sensed that there was something behind Yun Xi's words and asked:
"Did you see Concubine Qing during the time you disappeared just now? Did you also meet someone who looks very much like her?"
Yun Xi glanced at the somewhat empty courtyard after the crowd had left. She pointed at the room and said:
"Let's go inside and talk."
After they were all seated, Yun Xi briefly told them about how she had fallen into the secret passage, met the aunt, and seen the portrait.
Hun Yuan immediately got excited and said eagerly:
"Do you still remember the way? Although I can't remember Concubine Qing's appearance clearly, if I can see that portrait, I'm sure I can recognize her to a great extent."
"And that aunt. I remember that there was indeed a woman who always followed Concubine Qing. Her name was something like Lan Chu. She was very trusted by Concubine Qing. But after Concubine Qing's death, Lan Chu disappeared without a trace."
"I once thought that she had also died of the epidemic. Now it seems that it's very likely that she was persecuted by others at that time. She had no way out even if she left the palace, so she had to stay in the palace all the time."
As if thinking of something, Hun Yuan's eyes suddenly darkened. He guessed:
"If that's the case, there may be other secrets behind Concubine Qing's death back then."
"I think so too,"
Yun Xi nodded in agreement and said:
"It's just that I don't know if it was someone in the palace who did it or those people from the Holy Master's faction."
"Anyway, His Majesty has already entrusted this matter to you to investigate. We don't have to be in a hurry. The most important thing now is..."
Yun Xi jerked her chin towards the outside room. A dark glint flashed in her eyes:
"First, find the mole."
"Mole?"
Hun Yuan and Jiang Ning exclaimed in surprise in unison.
Even Lian Yi beside them widened her eyes in disbelief.
The Zhaogan Hall was different from other places in the palace. The people who served here were all carefully selected and then passed through the layers of selection set by Hun Yuan. Many things in the Zhaogan Hall involved royal secrets. If anyone else dared to interfere even a little bit, it could be regarded as having ill intentions and attempting to usurp the throne.
Thinking that there was someone with ulterior motives even under such a serious crime.
Did he think that since Yi Zhen was just a princess and not a prince, he wouldn't be punished so severely?
Yun Xi raised her index finger and gently pressed it against her lips, signaling the others to be quiet. Then she said:
"Only a few of us know about Concubine Qing's matter. I haven't even told A Yuan, my father, or my mother. But Yi Zhen was able to know about it and start planning on the Lantern Festival. Today, she even calculated the exact time and brought Emperor Zhaohuan here to pick a fight."
"If there wasn't someone tipping her off, I wouldn't believe it."
Hun Yuan angrily slapped the table and stood up, ready to shout for someone.
Yun Xi quickly grabbed him and whispered:
"Senior Brother, don't be in a hurry. I'm here. It'll be easy to find the mole."
"But now isn't the time to deal with him. Let's quietly find him first. Isn't he going to tip off Yi Zhen?
A cold smile curved Yun Xi's lips. She said:
"Let him tip her off to his heart's content!"
At this moment, Yi Zhen was also flying into a rage in her own palace.
She had punished several maids who had done a poor job in succession before she felt a little better.
"Mu Yuan,"
There was nothing but hatred in Yi Zhen's eyes.
"Have you taken care of the person who pretended to be a ghost?"
Mu Yuan buried her head extremely low and replied:
"Your Highness, it's been taken care of a long time ago. Please rest assured, Your Highness. The body has been pulverized and cremated. There won't be a single trace left for them to find."
"Um..."
Yi Zhen rubbed her temples. The anger in her heart subsided a little more. She said:
"The palace is surrounded like an iron bucket. Yun Xi has martial arts skills and was able to slip out of the Jianjia Palace quietly. There must be another exit in the palace!"
"Tell Li Bu to keep a close eye on Hun Yuan these days. Father won't let him enter the Jianjia Palace. That bitch Yun Xi will definitely tell him the way out. They're going to investigate Concubine Qing's matter. They'll definitely find another chance to go in. If they let anyone escape again..."
Yi Zhen's eyes turned fierce. Her lips moved soundlessly, forming the word "kill".
But in the next few days, Yun Xi didn't enter the palace.
Yi Zhen didn't wait for Hun Yuan and the others to go to the secret passage. Instead, she waited for the Seventh Prince of the Ying State who had come to propose marriage.
On the day the delegation entered the capital, Yun Xi was in the Qiwantang with Qiao Yan, choosing wedding gifts for each other.
Hearing the bustling noise outside, they leaned against the window and looked down together.
A man in the delegation had a high nose and deep eyes. He was heroic and upright. His dark blue robe fluttered in the wind, and his light bronze skin glowed with a healthy and lustrous sheen. He was particularly eye-catching.
Qiao Yan clicked her tongue and murmured:
"This Seventh Prince seems to be very good at martial arts. I really want to have a match with him."
Yun Xi gave her a funny look and whispered:
"You really live up to your status as the young lady of the Marquis's Mansion. While others only care about whether he looks good or not at first glance, you actually want to fight with him."
"Hehe..."
Qiao Yan gave a carefree laugh and asked her mischievously:
"What about you? Are you only looking at how handsome he is?"
"What are you talking about!"
Yun Xi gave her an annoyed look. She glanced at the man on the horse below and said in a slightly deep voice:
"The Seventh Prince has nothing to do with me, but the person beside him..."
Yun Xi tilted her chin towards a person beside the Seventh Prince who was wearing a cloak with the hood up, making it impossible to see their face. She said:
"I think this one is even more interesting."