Page 257

Nanny Gui spat out, "Back when she was still a maiden, this old servant knew she had a wicked heart. When she returned from Liangzhou to the capital and didn't gain the late emperor's favor, being sent to Da Ci'en Temple, you even visited her multiple times. But she never appreciated your kindness, that ungrateful wretch!"

Still unsatisfied with her scolding, Nanny Gui thought of Nanny Zhu, intensifying her hatred.

She gritted her teeth and asked, "Empress, was Nanny Zhu truly Lady Yun Hua's person?"

Empress Qi pondered for a moment before responding, "Nanny Zhu wasn't Lady Xiao Fu's, but Prince Qiyuan's. Do you remember, before Nanny Zhu came to our Qi family, Mother mentioned in passing that her elder sister also once served in the palace."

"How could this old servant forget?" Nanny Gui replied. "I clearly recall Madam saying that before Nanny Zhu entered the palace, her elder sister had already passed away?"

Empress Qi hummed in agreement. "Her elder sister was sold to a family named Zhou by her parents at the age of six. But after the Zhou family had their own child, they sold her into the Eastern Palace as a seamstress. She was fortunate to catch the eye of the former empress and later became Prince Qiyuan's wet nurse. Even on her deathbed, she was still worried about her younger sister. The former empress pitied her and found her younger sister, bringing her into the palace."

Nanny Gui said, "Nanny Zhu still has family back home. Who would have known that she had such a connection with Prince Qiyuan's wet nurse? No matter how much she cares for her elder sister or is grateful to Prince Qiyuan, she shouldn't betray you! Her status in the palace is all thanks to you. Haven't you treated her well enough over the years?"

Empress Qi chuckled. "Don't be angry, Nanny. Since she's Prince Qiyuan's person, naturally, she hates me to the core. It's no surprise she'd team up with Lady Xiao Fu. On this matter, I owe Xiao Yan a favor. If not for his reminder, how could I have known that there was still a hidden pawn of Lady Xiao Fu in the Kunning Palace?"

Aside from Nanny Zhu, there might be another person who was Xiao Fu's pawn.

Nanny Gui looked at the sleeping maiden on the couch and hesitantly asked, "Empress, is Princess Qingxi truly not that child?"

Empress Qi followed Aunt Gui's gaze and looked at Wen Xi. The bowl of medicine she had just fed her contained a sedative; the girl wouldn't awaken for another twelve hours.

"Master Fan Qing has informed me that this child was arranged by Xiao Fu to be by my side. As for whether she is truly my child, even Master Fan Qing is uncertain."

Empress Qi slowly swept her gaze over Wen Xi's features and said, "But I know for sure that she isn't that child."

She trusted Xiao Yan's words nine out of ten times. There had been a lingering doubt in her mind about whether or not Wen Xi was that child. It wasn't until Wen Xi pretended to fall ill and forced Empress Qi to act against Rong Shu that she realized the truth – Wen Xi was indeed not that child.

"Why doesn't His Highness the Crown Prince ask Court Attendant Sun to re-examine the blood if Wen Xi isn't the little princess?" Aunt Gui couldn't understand. "Now that she's become Princess Qingxi, if His Majesty discovers the truth one day, wouldn't both Your Majesty and His Highness have committed the crime of deceiving the emperor?"

Empress Qi's eyes darkened.

Xiao Yan had only divulged that Wen Xi was an impostor posing as the little princess but refused to reveal the identity of the real child. He seemed to be on guard against her.

Not only against her, but also against the emperor.

When she had sent Aunt Gui to fetch the medicine earlier, Xiao Yan hadn't mentioned who it was intended for. It wasn't until their return from the Imperial Ancestral Temple and the night Wen Xi ran a high fever that he sent word to the Kunning Palace, instructing her to use the medicine on Rong Shu.

It was as if he had already predicted that Wen Xi would force her to get rid of Rong Shu.

Xiao Yan insisted she acknowledge Wen Xi and publicly confer upon her the title of Princess Qingxi with great ceremony.

At first, she thought it was to make Wen Xi, Nurse Zhu, and even Xiao Fu believe that she had fallen for a trap, all part of a plan to lure the enemy into a trap.

But was that all there was to it?

If so, he should have revealed who the child's father was, so she could lower her guard and collaborate with him wholeheartedly.

The fact that he refused to speak indicated another possibility.

Once she acknowledged the child, the child might be in peril, and that danger would stem from the imperial palace itself.

That was why he was wary of her, as well as the Emperor.

Empress Qi gazed down at the jade Buddha beads in her hand, then lifted her gaze to look at Nurse Gui after a long while. "Nurse, before we visit Daci'en Temple, there's one more place I need to go."

"Where does Her Majesty wish to go?"

Empress Qi replied, "The Eastern Palace. I want to take a look there."

The Empress Qi's previous words had already confused Lady Gui, and now hearing that the Empress intended to visit the Eastern Palace only added to her bewilderment. She couldn't help but ask, "Why does Your Majesty wish to go to the Eastern Palace?"

"I must verify something," Empress Qi said, pulling down her sleeve to cover the jade Buddha bracelet. In a soft voice, she continued, "Stay here and watch over things, while I make a trip to the Palace of Heavenly Purity."

In Great Yin, officials were granted a holiday of ten days and a half, which ended after the Lantern Festival.

On the day of the Lantern Festival, the monks from Daci'en Temple would perform another grand ceremony at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. As the abbot of the nation's temple, Master Fan Qing was naturally expected to attend the ceremony until its conclusion.

In the Palace of Heavenly Purity, Empress Qi told Emperor Jiayou that she wished for Master Fan Qing to accompany Wen Xi to Daci'en Temple, due to her being possessed by an evil spirit.

"The child hasn't recovered since returning from the Imperial Ancestral Temple," Empress Qi expressed her concern. "Master Fan Qing's Buddhist knowledge is profound. With him by her side, I will feel more at ease."

Emperor Jiayou had heard about Wen Xi's possession a few days ago and had even gone to see her himself. He usually didn't believe in such matters, but since Empress Qi insisted on going, he allowed it, responding with a nonchalant "Mm" and suggesting, "Have Doctor Sun tag along."

However, Empress Qi refused. "Doctor Sun has always been in charge of the Emperor's health; he cannot leave the palace."

Emperor Jiayou paused, casting a glance at Empress Qi. "Then let the grandchild of Grand Censor Sun accompany her."

Empress Qi agreed with grace, rose from her seat, and took her leave, instructing her attendants to prepare the carriage.

The moment the carriage, illuminated by sheep horn lanterns, exited the palace, Emperor Jia You summoned Gui Zhong. "Take a group of men and follow behind the Empress. Make sure to ensure her safety."