auspicious time has come

Chapter 226 "Death of Madam Xiao"

Seeing that there was something wrong with her expression, the palace maid asked with a wink: "If Miss Ji has any other orders, just tell the servant girl."

The Crown Princess has personally confessed that the entire Eastern Palace must not neglect Mrs. Ji.

"Then I'm going to bother you and ask sister Yuejian to come over and tell me that I have something to do with her." After Heng Yu said that, he added: "The sooner the better."

Gong'e responded and left immediately.

It could be seen that Hengyu was a little impatient, Gong'e hurried back, and Yuejian soon followed.

"Mistress Ji—" Yue Jian had a questioning look in his eyes when he saluted.

Just now, Mrs. Caiji clearly went out of the palace with Princess Yongyang, but now she turned back and called her over urgently, it must be something urgent.

"I have something to find Mrs. Xiao from the Beihou Mansion. She was out of the palace before, but the female envoys of the Hou Mansion said that they have never seen their wife outside the inner palace—" Hengyu said: "The palace in the palace According to people, Mrs. Xiao has left the banquet for half an hour, and she is alone, since she has not returned, could she have lost her way elsewhere?"

Yuejian immediately became vigilant after hearing the words.

If it is really lost, it is naturally the best situation——

"My maidservant understands." Yue Jian said, "My maidservant will let people go and look around."

Heng Yu looked into the distance: "Most people who get lost will not wait in the same place. The night is dark and the gate of the palace will be closed, so it is not appropriate to delay for too long."

Yue Jian nodded: "The maidservant will send more people to search for Mrs. Xiao as soon as possible."

Jian Yuejian quickly arranged the matter, although Hengyu felt that it was impossible, he still said: "Sister Yuejian, where is Jieshi Xiao, maybe you can ask someone to ask."

Yue Jian glanced around, lowered her voice and said to her: "The servant girl was just told by the Crown Princess to deliver ginseng soup to His Highness, and just came back from His Highness, Lord Ji is also there... I haven't seen Mrs. Xiao."

Hengyu understood in her heart, but still couldn't feel at ease, so she said to Aunt Qizhen beside her, "Aunt Qizhen, I'll go look for it too."

Qi Zhen took a look at the few clan disciples who were quite drunk and had just come out of the palace, and said, "Let's go together."

Hengyu nodded.

She goes in and out of the East Palace every day, and she has already memorized all the places, so she doesn't need the palace staff to guide her.

Leaving the front hall where the banquet was held, Heng Yu hesitated for a moment between the corridor and the path in front of him, and chose the secluded path.

"There should be few people stepping here." Qizhen followed her and walked in, passing through a bamboo forest, only to see darkness in front of her.

"If it's in a lively place, you can see palace people asking for directions everywhere, so you won't have to wait so long." Hengyu said as she walked with her skirt up, "Besides the corridors, the palace people will definitely go there as soon as possible. Searching."

Qi Zhen nodded when she heard this, and held up a lamp to light the way for her: "Be careful where you step."

Outside the bamboo forest, there is a wooden bridge of narrow stream, with gurgling water and insects singing from time to time.

"Aunt Xiao!"

Hengyu tried to shout a few times, but she couldn't get a response, so she could only keep going.

Going forward from a long corridor, it leads to the back garden of the East Palace.

What Hengyu walked was not the main entrance of the garden, but from here, it leads directly to the west of the garden. The scenery is not the best, but fortunately, there is a stone lamp not far away, so the sight line is relatively brighter.

Hengyu yelled as she walked, the uneasiness in her heart gradually expanded.

Qizhen's brows also gradually drew together.

At this time, the footsteps of several people approached.

Hengyu turned her head to look, only to see that Yue Jian walked over quickly with two maids.

"Mistress Ji—"

"But did you find Mrs. Xiao?" Heng Yu asked hurriedly.

Yuejian shook her head: "I searched everywhere, but I haven't been able to find Mrs. Xiao yet."

Heng Yu's eyes darkened, and he said immediately: "Please ask sister Yuejian to let someone tell Jieshi Xiao about this matter."

Right now, things... I'm afraid it's not that simple.

Yuejian Zhengshi nodded, and whispered to a maid next to her to go to the study to deliver a message.

Several people continued to search around, and met several officials who were walking slowly in the garden and talking, and mentioned the word "Jiang Linggong" in their words, followed by low sighs.

Some of them noticed Heng Yu and the others, so they stopped and looked over.

"Are you looking for someone?" Ma Shangshu, the leader, asked.

Yuejian Fushen bowed to them: "Yes, Mrs. Xiao who is looking for Ding Beihou's Mansion, have you seen Mrs. Xiao before?"

Ma Shangshu thought for a while, then shook his head: "I have just arrived here, and I have never seen it on the road."

Don't ask how he was so sure that he knew Mrs. Xiao, a female family member who had just entered the capital - after all, she was the mother of his family's deadly enemy, could he not pay more attention?

Yue Jian was talking with Ma Shangshu and the others, but Heng Yu's eyes fell on the lotus pond not far away.

She took a few steps closer, knowingly.

It's the beginning of summer, and the lotus leaves in the pond are green. Most of the pink lotus are just budding, and a few flowers are scattered here and there.

And among the connected lotus leaves, there is obviously a gap, and several flower stems are tilted from side to side.

Hengyu's heart skipped a beat, and she rushed to the pond, only to see a dark vermilion floating in the water among the messy lotus leaves.

"There are people in the water!" Heng Yu exclaimed in surprise.

Yuejian Qizhen and the others walked quickly after hearing the sound.

Hengyu glanced anxiously at the maids, and hurriedly said, "Quickly find the inner guards to help!", then quickly took off the cloak, pulled off the colorful cloud cloak, and jumped into the lotus pond.

"Miss Ji!"

Qizhen's complexion also changed: "Miss Heng!"

"...Is it a little lady who jumped in?" Ma Shangshu and others also changed their expressions: "Go and see!"

The lotus root is planted all over the pond, the roots are deep and mixed, and there is silt under it.

Even though Hengyu can swim, it is difficult to move forward, so she can only tear off those roots and flower stems, while approaching the corner of the clothes.

And the closer she got, the heavier Hengyu's heart sank, her mouth and nose were full of fishy smell, and this smell didn't seem to be watery smell——

The night was too dark, she couldn't distinguish the color of the water at such a close distance, but felt that the darkness seemed strange...

She swam forward with all her strength, reached out to grab the corner of the clothes, and then held an arm.

This is not the middle of the deep water, people are entangled in the lotus leaves, ups and downs, at this time being pulled by Heng Yu like this, revealing a familiar but too quiet face.

There was no chance in Hengyu's mind: "... Aunt Xiao!"

It really is Aunt Xiao!
Seeing that the person had lost the slightest sense of consciousness, Heng Yu didn't care to think about other things for a while, stretched out his hand to embrace him, and swam to the pond with all his strength.

"This……"

"Go and help!"

Ma Shangshu and the others were shocked when they saw this, and kept urging the guards who were called over by Yue Jian.

Two guards stepped forward quickly, one of them waded into the pond, and helped Hengyu lift Mrs. Xiao up, and lay it flat on the side of the pond.

"Hurry up and ask for a medical officer!" Heng Yu, whose dress and hair were soaked, said in a trembling voice. Open Madam Xiao's mouth and clean up the impurities and sludge for her.

After cleaning her mouth and nose, she realized that the person under her was not breathing, Heng Yu still didn't hesitate for a moment, and used both hands to press Madam Xiao's heart hard.

Although she doesn't understand medical theory, she has read more books than others, has been to many places, and has seen a wider range of things, and because she can swim, she knows more complicated emergency measures than ordinary people.

Qizhen stepped forward, looked at Mrs. Xiao's pale and lifeless face, and hesitated to speak.

"It really is Xiao Jieshi's mother..."

"How could it fall into the water so well?"

"Mistress Ji..." Mr. Jin Liulang, who was passing by here, came forward when he saw this. Although he was terrified, he immediately squatted down and asked, "But... is there anything I can do to help?"

But he saw that the terrified young girl only focused on pressing down on the chest of the woman below her, unable to hear his words at all.

Seeing this, the young man could only urge the palace servants around him: "Is the medical officer here yet? Go and urge again!"

Even without mentioning anything else, if someone had an accident in the East Palace tonight, it would be a great trouble.

Hearing the movement, more and more people came around, and some women and family members backed away screaming after seeing Mrs. Xiao's face clearly.

"The medical officer is here! Get out of the way!"

Medical officer Jia stepped forward with the medicine box, and Heng Yu's subordinates kept moving: "It's on the head, I need the medical officer to deal with it quickly!"

Medical officer Jia was surprised when he heard the words, and checked quickly.

The person who sent the message only said that Jieshi Xiao's mother had drowned and was no longer breathing - just hearing these words, he was so frightened that his liver and gallbladder were torn apart!

Only now did I realize that there was still a wound on the head!

"The injury is at the back of the head, there must be a lot of bleeding..." Looking at the wound that was still shocking after being soaked in water, Medical Officer Jia hurriedly checked his nose and pulse, and his complexion gradually turned pale.

"I'm afraid...I'm afraid I won't be able to save him." Medical Officer Jia's voice trembled slightly, tactfully.

Hengyu didn't even raise her head, she just said: "Please ask the medical officer to bandage it first!"

The girl's jaw was tight, her expression stubborn and unwavering.

"Medical officer, hurry up!" Jin Shaoling also urged beside him.

Doctor Jia had no choice but to follow suit, even if it seemed meaningless to him.

"Miss Ji, why don't I... or another court lady do it?" Jin Shaoling suggested, seeing the pale face of the girl who couldn't tell whether it was pool water or sweat. .

Hengyu's movements suddenly paused, his eyes changed for a moment but then suddenly suppressed the strange color.

She looked at the young man in front of her as if suddenly returning to her senses.

Then, looking past the young man, he looked at his mother-in-law, Yuejian, those officials, the wives and servants of the maid.

At this moment, her mind was buzzing, and she could no longer hear a sound, but could only see those people either looked frightened, shook their heads and sighed, or said something in their mouths.

In the next moment, the buzzing in his ears disappeared, and Heng Yu forced himself to calm down.

She lowered her eyes tremblingly, looking at Mrs. Xiao with a pale and cold face, big tears suddenly fell from her eyes, as if she had finally accepted the fact: "...Aunt Xiao, is it true that I can't be saved?"

Medical officer Jia sighed: "The injury is extremely serious, and he was drowned again. Judging by his expression, it has been at least three quarters of an hour..."

Hengyu suddenly bent over and hugged Mrs. Xiao's body, crying.

Seeing this, Medical Officer Jia put away the medicine box, sighed and stepped back.

Hengyu turned her back to the crowd, facing the direction of the lotus pond. At this moment, she was lying on Mrs. Xiao's body, blocking her view from behind——

Everyone saw the girl crying heartbroken, and some female relatives couldn't help but shed tears too.

The officials surrounding them exchanged complicated glances with each other.

If something happened to Madam Xiao in the palace, it would definitely cause an uproar...

"His Royal Highness!"

Amidst the sound of saluting, a dark blue tall and straight figure strode through the crowd and came over.

Seeing the situation in front of him, Xiao Mu's eyes were shocked.

Hearing the voice behind him, Heng Yu, who was full of tears, raised his head and looked at Xiao Mu.

"Mother, she..." Xiao Mu walked over in a daze, and looked at Mrs. Xiao who was lying there quietly in disbelief.

"Master Hou." Heng Yu choked up and said, "Send Madam... let's go home."

Xiao Mu froze when he heard the words, and slowly squatted down, holding Mrs. Xiao's extremely cold hand.

The crown prince walked over quickly: "Medical officer Jia, Mrs. Xiao—"

"The minister is incompetent and failed to save Mrs. Xiao..." Doctor Jia knelt down and pleaded guilty.

The prince's feet sank, and he ordered the guards beside him: "Go to the imperial medical office again, and quickly invite a few more medical officers to come!"

"Yes!"

"No need."

The half-kneeling figure from behind said in a fixed voice.

The prince's footsteps were heavy and he took two steps forward: "Xiao Jieshi..."

Xiao Mu had no expression on his face, his eyes were reddish, he raised his hand to take off his cloak, and put it on Mrs. Xiao.

He finally looked at Heng Yu, and Heng Yu was also looking at him.

After looking at each other silently for a while, Xiao Mu picked up Mrs. Xiao and turned around with heavy steps.

Seeing that he was about to leave, the prince stepped forward quickly, his eyes full of guilt: "Xiao Jieshi, this matter..."

"I'm going to take my mother back now." Xiao Mu interrupted him, looking ahead.

The prince was in a deep mood: "I will definitely find out this matter as soon as possible and give Mrs. Xiao an explanation. Come and lead the way for Jieshi Xiao."

A waiter stepped forward.

Seeing the cold figure leave, the expressions of all the officials changed.

Just gone? !

And just because he left like this, it makes people feel that it is inevitable that he will never let it go...

If this matter is handled improperly, I am afraid...

The prince looked at the bloodstains left by Mrs. Xiao just now, and asked the medical officer Jia who was kneeling there: "Can you see what Madam Xiao was injured by?"

"Returning to Your Highness, it should be a fatal injury caused by a blunt object being struck hard..."

Dull things?

"It's a stone..." Heng Yu, who was sitting there limply, stood up with support and pointed to the stones arranged under the rockery beside him, "There is a stone missing there."

The prince and others heard the sound and looked over, only to see that there was an obvious pit among the strange rocks scattered under the rockery.

Stones that have been placed here for a long time, once removed, will leave sunken stone pits.

The prince looked at the lotus pond: "After the murderer hit Mrs. Xiao on the back of the head with a stone, he threw the person and the stone into the lotus pond—"

There is no possibility of covering up this matter, he must give Xiao Jie a real and true confession.

Vibrate all around.

Mrs. Xiao's death was not as simple as accidental drowning!
"Come here." The crown prince immediately ordered: "Anyone who is attending the banquet in the East Palace tonight, those who have not left the palace are not allowed to leave on their own, those who have already left will be recalled, and the gates of all palaces will be immediately sealed, and no one is allowed to leave the palace— —Except for Xiao Jieshi."

"Yes!"

　Goodnight everybody.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)