Time Travel: Pampered by the Aloof Prince
Chapter 312 Princess, There Are Some Things You Better Not Meddle In

Chapter 312: Chapter 312 Princess, There Are Some Things You Better Not Meddle In

The next day, under the scorching midday sun that seemed hot enough to cook someone, Qi Yu entered the Imperial Palace once again.

She did not particularly like the solemn and austere atmosphere of the palace and would not step into it unless absolutely necessary.

However, her frequency of visits in recent days had become so high that even Li Tianze found it strange.

In the Imperial Study Room, Li Tianze heard the Hidden Guard’s report, frowning slightly, "What is Princess Qi here for this time?"

The Hidden Guard reported in detail what he had seen, "Your Majesty, after Princess Qi entered the palace, she first went to Xuanruo Pavilion and then proceeded to the Imperial Hospital."

Upon hearing this, Li Tianze’s frown deepened, "She did not visit the Noble Consort?"

The Hidden Guard replied, "The Princess is currently still in the Imperial Hospital."

"I see, you may leave now, continue to closely monitor every action of Princess Qi," Li Tianze waved his hand dismissively at him.

The Hidden Guard acknowledged and then disappeared within the Imperial Study Room.

Li Tianze knitted his brow in thought for a long moment before asking Zhou Fu standing behind him with his head bowed, siming to be mute, "What do you think, why has Princess Qi been frequently coming to the palace recently?"

Zhou Fu’s expression hardened, replying, "Perhaps she is... visiting the Noble Consort."

He was cautious in his words, mentioning only the Noble Consort without specifying which one.

Currently, there are only two Noble Consorts in the palace, and both, whether the one in Xuanruo Pavilion or the mother of Prince Qi, are related to Qi Yu.

This way of speaking was indeed faultless.

Li Tianze noticed his carefulness and scoffed softly, "You certainly cover all bases."

Zhou Fu kept his head down, offering an apologetic smile, "How could a servant possibly speculate about the Princess’s thoughts."

As June came, the weather grew increasingly hot.

The Imperial Study Room was located in the southwest corner, still relatively cool, yet Zhou Fu’s back was drenched in sweat.

Li Tianze, without turning to look at him, continued, "If I remember correctly, Princess Qi does not have a good relationship with Consort Wan, why does she visit Xuanruo Pavilion every time she comes to the palace?"

Zhou Fu turned pale, his tone hesitant and compliant, "This... I do not know."

Recently, the Emperor had been paying extra attention to matters concerning Xuanruo Pavilion, having Hidden Guards monitor anyone related to that area, not letting even the slightest disturbance go unnoticed.

Princess Qi’s frequent visits and her trips to Xuanruo Pavilion had long aroused the Emperor’s suspicion.

Yet the reports from the Hidden Guards were still ordinary, and though the Emperor was puzzled, he noticed nothing unusual.

Life in the palace looked calm, but Zhou Fu acutely sensed that this was only the calm before the storm.

Soon, this storm would break.

These days, even he had to tread carefully, for fear of making a single slip.

Li Tianze put down the memorial in his hands and stood up, his tone cold, "Proceed to Jingyang Palace."

Zhou Fu immediately responded, "Yes."

Meanwhile, Qi Yu was drinking tea with Mo Qingshan in the Imperial Hospital.

Mo Qingshan enjoyed a yard to himself within the Imperial Hospital, and when he was not busy, he would steal wine from the Imperial Kitchen, then return to his small yard to leisurely enjoy his rare moments of leisure.

His days were much more carefree than those of the princesses in the palace.

Qi Yu’s visit today was not for tea, but Mo Qingshan lowered his voice, looking sly, and said to her, "This is the most expensive tea in the palace, a thousand silver per ounce!"

Qi Yu’s eyes lit up immediately, and each of them drank a cup of this invaluable tea.

After finishing a cup of tea, Qi Yu felt that the saying "you get what you pay for" held some truth—the invaluable tea did taste more fragrant and left a sweet aftertaste that made her mouth feel fresh.

She smacked her lips and said to Mo Qingshan, "Master, remember to gather more tea leaves when you go out."

Mo Qingshan glared at her, "I’m not here to stock up!"

Qi Yu slowly "oh"ed, her face full of disbelief.

He indeed wasn’t there to stock up; he was just a porter in the Imperial Kitchen.

After her playful comment, she slightly straightened up and told Mo Qingshan about the corpses she had seen at the Grandmaster Residence the previous night.

Mo Qingshan frowned, his expression complex, "Isn’t Liu Ying that old fellow always known for his strict family discipline? How could he allow murder in his residence?"

Qi Yu knew that the Liu Ying he was referring to was the previous emperor and the current emperor’s teacher, Liu Yiyao’s grandfather, the Grandmaster known for his profound knowledge.

"The matter is indeed perplexing. However, many times, behind seemingly complex issues, there often lies an unexpected reason," Qi Yu silently shook her head, her tone somewhat somber, "A few people died in the residence, which could be a big or small issue. But to kill and then hastily bury the bodies in a well only suggests one thing—it might have been done by someone from the Liu Residence who had no means to transport the bodies out, so they dealt with it so carelessly."

Mo Qingshan stroked his beard and nodded slightly, "You make sense."

Qi Yu then stopped discussing this issue further with him.

She had come today for Chen Shi.

"Chen Shi?" Upon hearing this name, Mo Qingshan subconsciously furrowed his brows, "These past few days I’ve been paying attention, and Chen Shi either goes to Jingyang Palace to take the safety pulse or stays in his room; he’s very reserved."

After a pause, he sighed regretfully and added, "However, he is very methodical in his work, and his medical skills are also not bad. If I didn’t know he was a person of the Empress, he could indeed be a valuable asset."

Qi Yu listened silently, waiting for Mo Qingshan to finish, then asked, "Has he ever mentioned his family?"

Without even thinking, Mo Qingshan shook his head, "Not at all; he never talks to anyone and is highly vigilant. Several times, I’ve tried to fish for some information during casual conversations, but he saw through me, and I couldn’t get anything out of him."

Upon hearing this, Qi Yu also felt somewhat headache.

This person was like a sealed iron plate, completely impenetrable.

Unless, she could find a crack in his armor.

Suddenly, her eyes flickered, and a smile curved on her lips.

Hadn’t she already found the breach?

"You girl, what are you thinking about now?" Mo Qingshan, seeing her sly expression, knew she probably had a plan.

Qi Yu smiled slyly, "I can’t tell Master now."

Mo Qingshan waved his hand in annoyance, "Go on, don’t disturb me drinking."

Qi Yu laughed and bid him farewell, rising to leave the small courtyard.

She returned to the front hall of the Imperial Hospital and just happened to encounter Lou Qingming. She respectfully called out, "Imperial Physician Lou."

Lou Qingming performed a bow, "Princess."

Qi Yu looked around and casually inquired, "Is Imperial Physician Chen here?"

Initially calm, Lou Qingming’s expression suddenly changed, and he said coldly, "Imperial Physician Chen has already gone to Jingyang Palace."

Qi Yu nodded and was about to leave.

As they brushed past each other, she then heard Lou Qingming say in a low tone, "Princess, some matters are better left untouched."