Zhu Hong wanted to find out what was going on, and Lin Qinghe knew it as clearly as if it were written on her face. She deliberately put on a shy and timid appearance. "Yes, I served the Crown Prince all night and I'm almost exhausted. Please have Xiao Yuzi go in to help the Crown Prince wash up. I need to go back to my room to rest."
Zhu Hong's surprise flashed in her eyes but was still noticed by Lin Qinghe.
Zhu Hong said, "Yes, Sister Qinghe. You should go back and rest. The servants are here to attend to the Crown Prince."
"Okay, I'm leaving then."
Under Zhu Hong's gaze, Lin Qinghe walked away. However, at the next corner, Lin Qinghe immediately stopped and hid, observing Zhu Hong secretly from the shadows.
Zhu Hong spoke with Xiao Yuzi for a while, presumably instructing him to attend to You Rong's ablutions. After giving instructions, she looked around to ensure no one was watching, and then quickly headed towards her own room.
Lin Qinghe followed closely.
After Zhu Hong closed the door, she poked a hole in it with her finger and leaned in to peek. As expected, she saw Zhu Hong stealthily taking out writing materials.
In a moment, Zhu Hong finished writing the note, folded it, hid it in her sleeve, tidied up the writing materials, and got up to leave.
As soon as she opened the door, she saw Lin Qinghe smiling at the doorway. Zhu Hong's face suddenly turned pale, and she hastily tried to hide her right hand behind her back.
"Qing... Sister Qinghe, why are you at my door? Do you have something to instruct?"
Lin Qinghe raised an eyebrow. "There is something I need to tell you, but... it's better if we go inside to talk."
Zhu Hong's eyes flickered, and she nervously stepped aside. "Yes, yes... Sister Qinghe, please come in."
Lin Qinghe stepped into Zhu Hong's room and, without beating around the bush, went straight to the point. While Zhu Hong wasn't paying attention, she suddenly reached out and snatched the note hidden in her sleeve.
To Zhu Hong's astonishment, Lin Qinghe opened the note and asked with a half-smile, "Zhu Hong, what is this?"
"This, this is..." Zhu Hong was so flustered she couldn't even utter a complete sentence. Suddenly, she knelt down with a plop, her voice trembling, "Sister Qinghe, this servant also works for Noble Consort. These are the Noble Consort's orders, and this servant dares not disobey."
"Is that so?" Lin Qinghe read the contents of the note. "Lin Qinghe stayed overnight in the Crown Prince's chambers and has an intimate relationship with the Crown Prince?"
"Sister Qinghe, this servant... this servant is truly just following the Noble Consort's orders!"
Lin Qinghe sighed and helped Zhu Hong, who was kneeling fearfully, to her feet. "I didn't come today to interrogate you. I just want to have a heart-to-heart talk."
Zhu Hong timidly asked, "What does Sister Qinghe want to say? Please speak, this servant will listen."
"Zhu Hong, I recall you are a palace maid in the Eastern Palace, not transferred from Noble Consort Duan's palace."
"Yes, this servant was transferred to the Eastern Palace a year ago from elsewhere."
"Hmm... And did Noble Consort Duan say that as long as you followed orders, once the matter was accomplished and the Third Prince ascended the throne, she would grant you wealth and status?"
"The Noble Consort said she would find a good marriage for this servant and give her a large sum of money so she could leave the palace and get married."
If she could leave the palace and get married, who would want to remain a servant in the palace? Zhu Hong was naturally tempted and agreed to Noble Consort Duan.
"Leaving the palace with a generous dowry and marrying into a good family is indeed a good prospect..." Lin Qinghe nodded in agreement, then suddenly changed the subject and retorted, "But have you ever considered that if something were to happen to the Crown Prince, as someone from the Eastern Palace, would you still have your life to leave the palace?"
"What do you mean by that?"
Lin Qinghe's eyes flickered. "I don't mind telling you, I have now defected to the Crown Prince. I know that whether the Crown Prince suddenly dies or is bestowed death by the Emperor for any reason, all of us in the Eastern Palace will be implicated and will not escape death!"
Zhu Hong's face turned ashen with fear, and she couldn't speak.
Lin Qinghe gave a self-deprecating smile. "I am telling you this because we are in the same boat, used by Noble Consort Duan. That's why I'm being upfront with you. As for your path... I will not interfere with your choice! But I just want to tell you one thing: staying alive is the most important thing. If life is lost, all the wealth and status in the world will turn to smoke."
Lin Qinghe stuffed the note back into Zhu Hong's hand and turned to leave.
Lin Qinghe had not taken two steps when Zhu Hong, her expression struggling, gritted her teeth and said, "Last night, Sister Qinghe stayed in her room and did not go to the Crown Prince's chambers."
Lin Qinghe's steps halted, and the corners of her lips curved upward.
It was done!
Lin Qinghe learned from Zhu Hong that Noble Consort Duan had ordered her to monitor Lin Qinghe and report immediately if there was any suspicion of her betraying them. The method of passing messages was to hide the written notes under a flower pot at the entrance of the Eastern Palace. Noble Consort Duan would arrange for a soldier among the imperial guards to retrieve the note during a guard change.
Lin Qinghe had won Zhu Hong over. As for what to write in the note sent to Noble Consort Duan, it was entirely up to her.
With the issue of being monitored by Noble Consort Duan in the Eastern Palace resolved, Lin Qinghe had no further worries and began to prepare to help You Rong lift his house arrest.
That night, at midnight.
Lin Qinghe stealthily approached You Rong's chambers and met with Zhu Hong.
Lin Qinghe asked in a low voice, "How is it? Did you bring everything I asked you to bring?"
Zhu Hong nodded and brought out two burlap sacks she was carrying. "Sister Qinghe, look... this is the millet you wanted. I got it from the kitchen specially, and no one saw me."
Lin Qinghe smiled with satisfaction. "Good! What about the ladders? Did you have them prepared?"
"Yes. During the day, I told Xiao Yuzi that some tiles on the Crown Prince's chambers were broken and needed repairs, so they brought two ladders, one placed at the front and one at the back of the palace."
Lin Qinghe: "Excellent. Then we will proceed as we discussed this morning, dividing our tasks. Remember to be careful when you get on the roof."
"Yes, Sister Qinghe, this servant understands. You must be careful too."
Lin Qinghe waved her hand, indicating she understood, and then, under the bright moonlight, walked towards where the ladders were placed.
Zhu Hong carried the remaining small bag of millet towards the back of the palace, her heart full of doubt.
Why did Sister Qinghe want to sprinkle millet on the roof of the Crown Prince's chambers? Was it some kind of witchcraft she didn't know about?
Lin Qinghe nimbly used the ladder and successfully climbed onto the roof of You Rong's chambers. From such a height, the cold wind blew, and Lin Qinghe shivered.
She rubbed her nose and muttered, "Quickly finish sprinkling the millet and go back to sleep. Don't get sick from the cold..."
Inside the chambers.
You Rong, who had been lying on the couch with his eyes closed, heard the movement on the roof and suddenly opened his eyes. He reached under the pillow for his dagger and gripped it tightly.
You Rong's expression was cold, and his nerves were taut.
Was it an assassin?
Was it someone sent by Noble Consort Duan again?