I just want to be a princess, no, you want to be a queen

Chapter 266 Secret Exposed

It was snowing in the capital, covering the entire palace, but inside Xiefang Palace it was still as warm as spring.

Although Song Moli's status had not yet been restored, her food, clothing, and other expenses in the palace were the same as those of a noble concubine. These days, the emperor stayed with her every night, further increasing her honor and favor.

Concubine Duan walked out of Xiefang Palace and couldn't help but shiver.

"You guys, why don't you bring the sedan chair over here quickly." The maid hurriedly called out to several young eunuchs guarding outside the wall of Xiefang Palace.

Duan Jieyu shook her head and said, "You guys go back first, I want to take a walk."

"My lady, it's so cold, please take care of yourself." The maid helped Concubine Duan put on her cloak and complained, "Song Fangyi is really too much. You are not her dancer, so why should she ask you to come here every day to teach her dance? If she really wants to learn, according to the hierarchy, she should come to our palace to ask for instruction in person."

At this point, she snorted, "Bah, you just want to use you to keep the emperor. Do you really think we are fools?"

Every day, while her master danced profusely in the palace, she accompanied the emperor in drinking and chatting. After the laughter, she accompanied the emperor to bed, while her master went home every night in the cold wind.

She was just like a dancer who could be summoned and dismissed at will.

As she spoke, the maid began to cry: "Yesterday, in order to show her magnanimity, she even invited you to serve His Majesty. She is a lady from a noble family, how shameless."

"It's not worth getting angry over such a small matter. Don't forget why we entered the palace. The emperor treats Song Fangyi differently. I can hear more news while I'm there. It's worth it."

Duan Jieyu reached out to touch the falling snowflakes.

It had never snowed in Yunzhao. She had only read about it in books, but she could never imagine what snow looked like in her mind. Now she finally saw it.

It is really not as good as willow catkins rising in the wind.

Duan Jieyu took off her cloak, walked onto the white jade bridge, and danced in the snow.

She fell into prostitution at the age of five and became a dancer in the Duke of Wei's mansion at the age of nine. Every dance she performed was to please others. This time, she would dance for herself!

Concubine Duan danced gracefully in the snow, forgetting herself and feeling at ease.

Clap, clap, clap, loud applause was heard. Concubine Duan stopped dancing and saw the emperor standing under the bridge.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." Concubine Duan hurried down the bridge and saluted.

The emperor took Concubine Duan's hand and helped her up, praising her, "Walking on the snow under the moon, the beauty's dance is truly a unique experience. If I hadn't returned to the Qinzheng Palace, I would have missed this magnificent sight."

Concubine Duan said shyly, "It is an honor for this dance that your Majesty likes it."

The emperor touched his icy hand, put it under his nose and kissed it softly: "Why don't you go back and dance here?"

Concubine Duan said, "My hometown has never snowed before. At first, I was delighted, but then I began to miss every blade of grass and every tree in my hometown. I was overwhelmed with emotion and couldn't help myself."

"What a moment of passion, I can't help myself." The emperor gently promised: "When there is a chance, I will accompany you back to your hometown to relieve your homesickness."

Duan Jieyu shed tears: "Your Majesty is the emperor, how can you be so busy and tired?"

"The emperor also wants to make the beauty smile." The emperor kissed the beauty's tearful eyes, and gradually became emotional. "Come, follow me back to the Qinzheng Palace."

Eunuch Su reminded him, "Your Majesty, the army has urgently reported the situation, and you have summoned several ministers to discuss matters in the Qinzheng Hall."

"Forget it, I have no choice." The emperor turned and left, and saw the flower cake in Eunuch Su's hand.

When he left Xiefang Palace, he felt a little hungry and took out a piece of flower cake. However, after taking only one bite, he lost his appetite and threw it to Eunuch Su.

"The taste of my beauty's hometown." The emperor placed the flower cake in Concubine Duan's palm. The gap in the flower cake became more obvious against her white palm.

He had been so impulsive that he gave it away without giving it much thought. Now, looking at the gap, he felt a little embarrassed. Fortunately, Concubine Duan took a bite from the gap and smiled sweetly, "It tastes like home. Your Majesty brought the cake to watch me dance. Is this considered a telepathic connection?"

"Of course." The emperor was delighted and ordered, "Chief Steward Su, order the imperial kitchen to prepare some Yunzhao delicacies and send them to Concubine Duan's palace."

"Your Majesty, I thank you." Concubine Duan respectfully saw the emperor off. After the emperor's sedan chair had gone far away, she looked at the flower cake in her hand, slightly stunned.

The maid knew that her master did not like His Majesty to touch her, so she was just trying to please him by taking the flower cake and throwing it into the water.

"Wait," everything should be done with caution. Duan Jieyu took the flower cake back and continued to eat it. Suddenly, she stopped and said, "Yu'er, try this flower cake."

Yu'er took a bite and said, "There's no difference."

Duan Jieyu took another bite and said affirmatively, "It's different."

Ordinary flower cakes have a light floral scent, but this flower cake has a much lighter floral scent and a hint of sweetness, as if it had been steamed again with sugar water.

Most people wouldn't be able to detect it, but as a spy trained by the Duke of Wei's mansion, she had been specially trained in her taste buds. Concubine Duan looked in the direction of Xiefang Palace, sensing that things weren't quite as simple as they seemed, and wrapped half a flower cake in a handkerchief.

"Yu'er, send her out and tell the young master to investigate thoroughly."

"promise!"

Yu'er didn't dare to delay and hurriedly took the flower cake to find the eunuch. A pair of eyes behind the rockery in the distance quietly followed Yu'er.

……

"Miss, something bad has happened." Jiaoli walked into the dormitory and whispered in Song Moli's ear. Song Moli's face suddenly changed: "Where is the person?"

Jiaoli pointed at the hunched figure outside the door.

Song Moli donned his cloak and left with Jiaoli. The hunched figure outside the door was none other than Zhou Hai, the young eunuch who had been following Yu'er. Zhou Hai led the way, guiding Song Moli to the rockery and water cave. Yu'er lay by the river, her body already cold.

Zhou Hai pulled out the flower cake wrapped in a handkerchief from his arms and knelt down. "I saw Concubine Duan give the flower cake to Yu'er, and she sneaked to the imperial kitchen. I was worried something might happen, so I just wanted to kidnap her, but I didn't expect to run into the patrolling Yulin Guards. In my panic, I suffocated her to death."

Song Moli asked, "Did you hear what they said?"

Zhou Hai shook his head: "The sound is too soft and too far away, I can't hear it at all."

Song Moli walked towards the dead Yu'er. Jiaoli frightened him and held him back, shaking her head fiercely, "Young lady, don't go."

"How could I be afraid of a dead person?" Song Moli pushed aside the horn pear, stepped forward to examine the dead body, and found the remains of the flower cake in her mouth.

How could a servant like Concubine Duan dare to eat the flower cake that the emperor gave to her, unless she felt there was something wrong.

"You were right to kill her." Song Moli stood up, his eyes gleaming with ferocity. "Where is Concubine Duan?"

Zhou Hai said, "When I went to chase Yu'er, Concubine Duan was still at Tingshui Bridge. I wonder if she has returned."

"Go to her palace and ask around." If Concubine Duan discovered Yu'er's death, the consequences would be disastrous. Song Moli gave him a look and took Jiaoli to Tingshui Bridge.