On the other side.
Zhu Hong and Xiao Yuzi hurried to the front of Qianqing Palace.
Zhu Hong anxiously said to the chief eunuch: "Eunuch Li, I have an urgent matter to report to His Highness the Crown Prince. Could you trouble yourself to announce it?"
Eunuch Li frowned and said displeasantly, "How dare you! His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince are discussing matters inside the palace. No matter how urgent, you cannot disturb them!"
"But, but..." Zhu Hong was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. "I truly have an urgent matter that cannot be delayed. Please trouble Eunuch Li to announce it and let His Highness the Crown Prince come out to see me, alright?"
The palace maid who took Lin Qinghe away earlier was clearly here with ill intentions. If His Highness the Crown Prince was too late, Lin Qinghe would be in danger!
Eunuch Li pondered for a moment, and considering that Zhu Hong was Yu Rong's person, he said rather politely, "Even if I had the courage of a bear and leopard, I wouldn't dare to interrupt His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince's discussion. How about this... I'll go in and wait. If His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince finish their discussion, I will inform His Highness the Crown Prince immediately."
At this point, Zhu Hong had no other choice. She bowed and said, "Yes, I thank Eunuch Li."
Eunuch Li nodded slightly and turned to enter Qianqing Palace.
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Yonghe Palace.
Consort Duan squinted her eyes, slammed the teacup onto the table heavily, and sneered, "Lin Qinghe, you have served me for many years, and I never knew you were so eloquent. You dare to lie to my face!"
Lin Qinghe's eyes widened, and her small face showed a look of terror and fear. "Your Ladyship the Consort, I... I don't know what you are talking about?"
"You don't know what I'm talking about?" Consort Duan curled her lips and smiled sinisterly. "Well said, 'I don't know what you're talking about.' Lin Qinghe! Do you think you can fool me by playing dumb? You dare to betray me!"
Lin Qinghe was terrified. "Your Ladyship the Consort, you are mistaken! How could I betray you! If it's about saving His Highness the Crown Prince at the Jade Spirit Mountain autumn hunt, please let me explain. I was left with no choice but to resort to this tactic!"
Consort Duan sneered, clearly not believing her. "Oh? You were left with no choice but to resort to this tactic? Tell me... I'd like to see how else you can argue!"
The poison sent to the Eastern Palace before the autumn hunt was not actually poison, but a drug that would make one weak and limp, allowing the assassins arranged to easily take Yu Rong's life. However, Yu Rong, with his own strength, killed all the assassins, showing no signs of having taken any medicine!
From this, it was evident that Lin Qinghe had long ago betrayed her master and defected!
Lin Qinghe's palms were sweating nervously. She swallowed and said, "Your Ladyship the Consort, I am useless. When I tried to poison His Highness the Crown Prince, I was discovered by his subordinates. In a moment of desperation, I pretended to betray you, told the Crown Prince that I would work for him in the future, and informed him that you might make a move against him at the autumn hunt, thereby gaining his trust. My intention was to obtain more useful information for you in the future! In my heart, I have always had only you as my master!"
Consort Duan retorted with a cold smile, "Lin Qinghe, do you think I would believe you? Hmm?"
"What I said is not a single word of falsehood! I went to great lengths to follow the Crown Prince into the palace today because I learned important news that I wanted to report to Your Ladyship the Consort!"
Lin Qinghe took out the letter written by Gu Haotian to Yu Rong from her sleeve and presented it with both hands. "Your Ladyship the Consort, please take a look... After reading this letter, you will surely believe my words!"
Consort Duan's eyes flickered, and she gave a look to the personal maid beside her. The maid understood and took the letter from Lin Qinghe's hand and handed it to Consort Duan.
Consort Duan opened the envelope and lowered her gaze to read the content of the letter.
At this moment, Yonghe Palace was silent. Lin Qinghe knelt on the ground, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead out of nervousness.
She never expected to accidentally carry Gu Haotian's letter to Yu Rong, and now it was saving her life.
Lin Qinghe secretly observed Consort Duan's expression, praying that she would be fooled by her words.
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Qianqing Palace.
Yu Rong strode out of the palace and saw Zhu Hong, but not Lin Qinghe.
His heart tightened, and he had a premonition that Lin Qinghe was in trouble!
Yu Rong asked with no choice, "Where is Qinghe?"
Zhu Hong said urgently, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, something bad has happened. Just after you left the Imperial Garden, a palace maid from Consort Duan's palace came and took Qinghe sister away. Please hurry and save Qinghe sister!"
Yu Rong's face changed drastically. Without a word, he hurried towards Yonghe Palace.
The matter of Lin Qinghe saving his life at the Jade Spirit Mountain autumn hunt last time had not made Consort Duan foolish. She must have guessed that Lin Qinghe was no longer obeying her. Moreover, he had recently been severely suppressing You Feng's influence in the court. Having suffered such a great loss, Consort Duan was furious. If Lin Qinghe fell into her hands, her fate would be dire!
Yu Rong, burning with anxiety, arrived outside Yonghe Palace. His eyes deepened. Seeing that no one was around, he lightly tapped his feet, leaped over the wall, and entered Yonghe Palace. He avoided the palace maids and eunuchs inside Yonghe Palace and, relying on his memory of Wang Empress bringing him here when he was young, headed straight for Consort Duan's chambers.
Lin Qinghe had been taken away for so long. If he went directly to Yonghe Palace to demand her, he would have to wait for the palace maids to announce him. It would be a waste of time to delay here, so it was better to infiltrate Yonghe Palace first!
If Lin Qinghe was in trouble, he would not hesitate to break ties with Consort Duan completely!
Yu Rong arrived outside Consort Duan's chambers and hid in the shadows, squinting his eyes. Taking advantage of the palace maids' inattention outside the hall, he lightly leaped onto the roof.
Yu Rong squatted down and gently lifted a roof tile, looking down. He happened to see the situation inside Consort Duan's chambers.
Lin Qinghe knelt fearfully before Consort Duan, whose face was inscrutable as she stared at her.
Seeing that Lin Qinghe was unharmed, Yu Rong was slightly relieved.
Yu Rong, having calmed down, intently watched the scene below, his thoughts churning as he considered ways to rescue Lin Qinghe safely.
Before Yu Rong could come up with a plan, Consort Duan, who had been silent for a long time, said, "How did you obtain this letter from Gu Haotian to Yu Rong?"
Lin Qinghe said fearfully, "Replying to Your Ladyship the Consort, after I pretended to betray you in the Eastern Palace and gained His Highness the Crown Prince's trust, I have been trying to uncover information beneficial to the Third Prince. Heaven has not disappointed the determined. This morning, after His Highness the Crown Prince went out, I took the opportunity to sneak into the Crown Prince's study and found this letter on his desk."
Lin Qinghe paused. "The Great General who Guards the North has returned to the capital. I immediately thought this was of great importance to Your Ladyship the Consort and the Third Prince, and I wanted to report it to Your Ladyship the Consort first. Coincidentally, I was able to enter the palace with the Crown Prince today. As soon as I entered the palace and wanted to shake off the Crown Prince's people, Your Ladyship the Consort sent someone to bring me here."
Yu Rong heard their conversation word for word, his dark pupils constricting. He stared at the letter in Consort Duan's hand in astonishment.
Why did Lin Qinghe steal the letter his uncle wrote to him and give it to Consort Duan?!