OBS Chapter 145 Isn’t a brothel a good place to hide people?
Chapter 145 Isn’t a brothel a good place to hide people?
The next morning, after Xue Youli woke up, Banxia immediately came to help her wash and change clothes.
"Master, why are you up so early? Before the Emperor left, he specifically told us not to disturb your rest!"
Banxia put the basin filled with hot water on the shelf, then wrung the towel half dry and came over to wash Xue Youli's hands.
Xue Youli learned the whereabouts of the missing children from the Book of Heaven's Secrets. She couldn't wait any longer and wanted to tell Murong Che immediately.
She took the towel from Banxia and said, "I'll do it myself. Ask Ruyi to go to the imperial kitchen and get some ginseng soup that the emperor likes to drink. I'll send it to Zicheng Palace later."
Seeing that she was going to bring soup to the emperor, Banxia nodded hurriedly, "Okay! I'll go inform Ruyi immediately!"
By the time Ruyi brought the ginseng soup back, Xue Youli had also finished washing up.
She asked Banxia to carry the food box and go to Zicheng Palace with her.
However, when she finished climbing the long stairs, she looked up and saw that someone was already standing at the door of the hall before her.
The other person was also holding a food box. The palace maid beside him handed a heavy purse to Wang Defa, "Eunuch Wang, my queen is here to bring nourishing soup to the emperor. Please inform him."
Wang Defa pushed the purse back and said, "Empress Zhaoyi, the Emperor has specifically instructed this servant that no one is allowed to enter! Please go back first, Empress Zhaoyi. When the Emperor is free, he will come to see you."
Yin Xuan'er didn't want to come originally, but during this autumn hunting trip, her father, Duke Shen, saw that Xue Youli was more favored than her, so he went to see her specially and talked to her for a long time.
Her father told her to win favor by any means necessary and never let the position of queen fall into the hands of others.
Under his pressure, Yin Xuan'er had no choice but to go to Murong Che to make her presence felt.
Who knew that she was stopped by Wang Defa before she even entered the door of Zicheng Palace.
After hearing what Wang Defa said, her face instantly turned cold, "You little slave, you dare to stop me?"
Wang Defa has been with Murong Che since he was a child and has always been able to read people's expressions.
Seeing Yin Xuan'er's anger, he quickly bowed respectfully, "Empress Zhaoyi, I am only following orders. The Emperor has been busy managing state affairs and entertaining envoys from Nanzhao lately, so he's really overwhelmed..."
Before Wang Defa could finish his words, Yin Xuan'er said in a deep voice, "I know Your Majesty is tired, so I personally cooked a nourishing soup for Him. I painstakingly cooked this soup for several hours, and I must personally give it to Your Majesty!"
"Empress Zhaoyi, why don't you leave the soup here? When the Emperor is done, I will serve it to him."
Yin Xuan'er didn't have the patience to waste time talking to him. She frowned and said in a deep voice, "If this tonic soup gets cold, it won't taste good. Get out of here! I want to personally deliver this tonic soup to the emperor!"
As she said that, she pushed Wang Defa away and tried to force her way into the Zicheng Palace.
however--
Just as she was about to break in, a man's cold, questioning voice came from inside the hall, "Wang Defa, who is making a noise outside?"
"emperor……"
Before Wang Defa could finish his words, Yin Xuan'er rushed to reply, "Your Majesty, I know you are busy with official duties, so I personally prepared a nourishing soup and sent it to you!"
Murong Che ignored her and scolded Wang Defa harshly, "Wang Defa, didn't I tell you that no one is allowed to disturb me unless it's an emergency?"
Wang Defa glanced at Yin Xuan'er and said, "Your Majesty, I have spoken to Yin Zhaoyi, but she insisted on handing the tonic soup to you in person."
"I'm not thirsty, let her go."
Yin Xuan'er's face froze as she listened to the ruthless voice of the man in the hall, and she secretly clenched her hands in her sleeves.
She gritted her teeth and forced a smile towards the palace, "Your Majesty, this tonic soup..."
"Take it back with you."
"……Yes."
Yin Xuan'er had no choice but to shove the food box into Qing He's hands and said, "Let's go."
After she finished speaking, she flicked her sleeves and strode away.
Qinghe hurriedly chased after him with the food box.
Yin Xuan'er had not walked far when she ran into Xue Youli and his servant, who were also carrying food boxes.
She glanced at the food box in Banxia's hand and scoffed, "Princess Xue, the Emperor is busy with government affairs and does not allow anyone to disturb him. I advise you not to go over and bother yourself unless it's extremely urgent."
Xue Youli bowed slightly to her and said, "Thank you, Empress Zhaoyi, for your reminder. But since I'm here now, I'd better have Eunuch Wang pass on the message."
Qing He watched her lead Ban Xia as they continued towards Zi Cheng Palace. She turned her head to glance at Yin Xuan Er's expression and snorted, "Master, since Concubine Xue doesn't know what's good for her, let her suffer the consequences!"
Yin Xuan'er stood in front of the steps and was not in a hurry to leave. She seemed to be waiting to see Xue Youli make a fool of herself.
As Xue Youli reached the main hall entrance, Wang Defa came forward to greet her, "Good luck to Concubine Xue."
Xue Youli explained her purpose to Wang Defa, "I heard that the emperor was busy with government affairs and didn't rest all morning. I came here specifically to bring him some ginseng soup."
She thought of Yin Xuan'er's words and added, "Besides that, I have something else to tell the Emperor. It's extremely urgent!"
Wang Defa replied with a smile, "Please wait a moment. I will go in and inform you."
"Okay, thank you, Eunuch."
In the main hall, Murong Che was sitting at the desk, reviewing memorials.
Hearing the sound of the palace door opening, his brows knitted slightly, and the wolf-hair brush in his hand paused slightly. "What's wrong? Yin Zhaoyi hasn't left yet?"
"Your Majesty, Concubine Yin has gone back. Concubine Xue has come. She said she has something very important to tell you."
Murong Che put down the brush in his hand and said lightly, "Let her in."
"Yes."
Wang Defa immediately walked to the door of the hall and let Xue Youli enter the hall alone.
Not far away, Yin Xuan'er was waiting to see Xue Youli get humiliated, but she didn't expect Wang Defa to let Xue Youli go.
She was instantly furious, her shoulders shaking with rage. "Wang Defa kept saying the Emperor was busy and kept preventing me from entering the palace, yet now he lets Xue Youli in! He's so bold as to lie to me and say the Emperor isn't seeing anyone!"
Qing He was so angry that she stamped her feet, "This eunuch is going too far!"
Yin Xuan'er narrowed her eyes and said in a deep voice, "I will remember today's humiliation. One day, he will pay the price!"
……
In the main hall, Xue Youli walked up to Murong Che carrying ginseng soup and bowed. "Your Majesty has been extremely busy recently. I specially prepared this ginseng soup for you."
Murong Che glanced at the food box in her hand and raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure you made this soup yourself?"
He still remembered the pigeon soup she had supposedly cooked herself. If it was really a soup she cooked herself, he would not drink it.
"Not...are you sure? It was cooked by the chef in the imperial kitchen, and I brought it here personally."
Murong Che smiled noncommittally, then changed the subject and said directly, "I am indeed very busy today. If you have nothing else to do, I will come to see you tonight."
"Something's up! Your Majesty, after talking with you yesterday, I stayed awake all night, thinking all night, and finally figured out where those missing children might be hiding!"
Stayed up all night?
So he called her several times last night but failed to wake her up?
Murong Che did not expose her, but followed her words and said, "Coincidentally, I have not slept all night, and I have also thought of the hiding place of the missing child."
Xue Youli was slightly startled. She hadn't expected him to be so concerned about this case. "Where does the Emperor think the missing child is hidden?"
Murong Che looked at her and analyzed seriously, "Previously, the people from the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple searched every possible place in the capital: inns, restaurants, teahouses, noodle shops, pawnshops, and banks. The only place they didn't search was the red-light district. Aren't the brothels on that street a good place to hide people?"