Chapter 7: Fire in Xiangzhu

Chapter 7: Fire in Xiangzhu

After Qiu Bi went to deliver the letter, a servant came to announce, "The Imperial Concubine Yi has arrived."

Everyone in the Ning Mansion knelt in the front hall to welcome them.

"Welcome Her Majesty Imperial Concubine Yi!"

Mu Yan looked calm and collected. She helped her sister Mu Rong up first, and then said to the others, "Stand up."

"Thank you, Imperial Concubine Yi!"

Everyone stood up one after another.

Ning Yunxi raised her eyebrows slightly, and saw that behind Mu Yan, there were many noble ladies of the Mu clan.

The ladies wore colorful skirts, had cherry red lips, and slender waists, each beautiful in her own way.

Mu Yan smiled slightly, fluttering her bright purple robe, her skirt rising lightly, and sat on the main seat.

The gold and jade hairpins worn diagonally on her high bun perfectly set off her beautiful temperament.

"My idea is to select female officials in Ning Mansion, which is very good."

Mu Rong agreed with a smile, and every move was gentle, modest and polite: "My dear sister, you are too kind."

"Xier."

Mu Rong waved at Ning Yunxi, her eyes and eyebrows were flawless, and she seemed to have no malice at all.

Ning Yunxi stepped forward as instructed and bowed again: "Auntie Noble Concubine, may you be blessed with good health and happiness."

Mu Yan smiled with satisfaction and looked her up and down carefully.

"Xi'er is still so well-educated and sensible."

Looking at her long hair that flowed like a waterfall, scattered neatly on her ink-colored skirt, her eyebrows like a crescent moon, her eyes like almond-shaped cheeks, her figure like a slender willow, and her red lips like a blooming peony, Mu Yan felt that she was as beautiful as a fairy who had fallen into the human world.

"The emperor loves ink color, Xier specially wore it, it's really thoughtful."

Mu Yan praised sincerely, and after saying that, she did not forget to put down the girls with words.

"You all need to learn from Xi'er with an open mind. Do you understand?"

The women were obviously unhappy: "Yes."

Ning Yunxi felt disdainful.

She had never heard that the emperor loved ink colors.

Oh, it seems that the Mu sisters are still so skilled in sowing discord and manipulating power.

"You are too kind, Auntie Royal Concubine."

Mu Yan stroked her hair gently, showing her great affection.

"In this case, time is of the essence. Let's start selecting female officials immediately."

As soon as he finished speaking, more than a dozen palace maids came respectfully.

They are all experienced palace maids in the palace, responsible for assisting Mu Yan and selecting female attendants.

After simple formalities, the selection officially began.

The palace maids carefully considered everything from the ladies' appearance and demeanor to their manners, virtue and talent.

After a series of selection processes, the most important one finally came: checking the ladies' sleeping positions.

The consul's maid announced loudly: "Next, we will check whether the girls are sleeping in a dignified and decent posture."

"Girls, please return to your respective rooms and take a nap with the maid in charge."

Ning Yunxi naturally returned to her own Xiangzhu Garden.

The noble ladies of the Mu family do not have their boudoirs in Ning Mansion.

Ning Hanwang, the Duke of Ningguo, said hurriedly, "The guest rooms have already been prepared. Please move to the East Courtyard."

……

Xiangzhu Garden is a sea of ​​bamboo with green waves, clouds rolling in the deep bamboo forest, gurgling springs and birds singing, creating a very natural poetic and picturesque scene.

Ning Yunxi walked in front, and the palace maid in charge of her followed closely behind.

When they reached the Xiangzhuyuan boudoir, Ning Yunxi said politely, "Xiangzhuyuan is the farthest from the front hall. Thank you, Madam Jiang, for following me all the way."

Madam Jiang smiled in response, "Miss Ning San, you are too kind. It is my duty to assist the Imperial Concubine in selecting female officials. This is what I should do."

As she spoke, Nanny Jiang had already lit the calming incense.

Ning Yunxi was well versed in medicine, so he naturally smelled something strange about the calming incense.

"This calming incense seems to be slightly different from the one we usually use."

Madam Jiang lowered her eyes, trying to hide her guilty conscience: "Madam Liu asked me to give you some spices to add to the soup because the young lady is a very light sleeper."

Ning Yunxi heard the key point: "Aunt Liu?"

Madam Jiang nodded and smiled: "Yes."

Ning Yunxi saw through it at a glance: "Madam Jiang means that you are Madam Liu's man?"

Madam Jiang naturally denied it: "Miss, you are too kind. I am alone and I don't belong to anyone."

Ning Yunxi smiled.

"Has Madam Jiang told anyone else about Aunt Liu sending spices?"

Nanny Jiang answered truthfully.

"Anyone in the Ning Mansion who saw this would ask about it out of curiosity. This includes the maidservant beside Duke Ning. I, this old servant, will tell you the truth."

Ning Yunxi understood her deep meaning: "Madam Jiang is a rare upright person in the palace."

The goal was achieved. Nanny Jiang said nothing more. After tidying up the bed, she bowed respectfully and said, "Please go to bed, young lady."

Ning Yunxi lay down as she was told, and Nanny Jiang covered her with a quilt personally.

After Ning Yunxi fell asleep, Nanny Jiang and E Lan joined forces to start a fire in Xiangzhu Garden.

Nanny Jiang left Ning Yunxi's boudoir as a matter of course, saying that she had to go to the bathroom urgently.

The fire was about to break out, but Ning Yunxi had long disappeared.

Since she had smelled something strange, how could she allow herself to be bullied?

Her and Yan Yu's plan was proceeding step by step...

At this time, Xianyiju,

The discussion between Mu Rong and Ning Fengzhe was just as heated as that in Xiangzhuyuan.

"I don't know if Ning Yunxi can understand what Nanny Jiang conveyed." Ning Fengzhe expressed his concern.

Mu Rong was calm and collected: "After the incident with Prince Jingchen, haven't you figured it out yet? Ning Yunxi, you are very smart."

Ning Fengzhe gently opened the folding fan in his hand, swaying it slowly, and the breeze ruffled his hair.

"Mother has a keen eye. Ning Yunxi is indeed an extraordinary person."

"Compared to Ning Yunxi's cunning, Liu Yan is too stupid."

"A few years ago, my mother secretly arranged for E-lan to serve as a servant, but she didn't notice it at all and instead entrusted her with an important task."

"Madam Jiang pretended to surrender, and Liu Yan had no suspicion at all."

Mu Rong smiled contemptuously: "She has always been like this. She always thinks that anyone can be used by her if she is given enough money."

Ning Fengzhe followed with a smile: "She thought that she had carefully planned to set fire to Xiangzhu Garden and then put the blame on mother. This was a great plan. Little did she know that E Lan and Nanny Jiang were both mother's people."

"Mother is using this trick to go along with the emperor's plan. This not only complies with the emperor's will, but also uses Liu Yan to warn Ning Yunxi not to conspire with Prince Di Jin. She can also kill two birds with one stone by using the arson incident to hold Liu Yan accountable."

"My mother is very resourceful and I admire her very much."

Mu Rong's slender hands gently twisted the silk.

"You're so sweet."

"Have you arranged the jade pendant and confession?"

Ning Fengzhe nodded: "Please rest assured, mother, everything has been arranged properly, but there is one thing that I can't figure out..."

Mu Rong looked at him puzzledly: "What's the matter?"

Ning Fengzhe told the story slowly and leisurely.

"Just now, when selecting female officials, Prince Di Jin came quietly to meet with me in secret."

Mu Rong frowned slightly: "Oh?"

Ning Fengzhe continued speaking.

"He told me that the imperial seal has been kept in Prince Dijin's palace."

"I deeply feel that this is reasonable. After all, King Di Jin has a special status."

"But he said that the one who stole the jade seal was Ning Yunxi. Ning Yunxi took advantage of the arson incident in Prince Chen's mansion to get close to Prince Dijin and took the opportunity to steal with the intention of treason."

"Once this matter is exposed, all members of the Ning family will die. King Di Jin really doesn't want to implicate innocent people, but outsiders are not allowed to enter the backyard without permission, so he told me quietly."

"As the elder brother, it will be easier for me. When I find the jade seal, I will use the excuse that I found it from the hands of bandits. This way, I can protect the Ning family and accomplish a great feat.

Mu Rong was horrified: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Before she finished her words, Mu Rong rushed out and went straight to Xiangzhu Garden.