Chapter Fifteen: The Covetous Return, Storms Rise Anew
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The person who took off the hood was actually Imperial Physician Zhang!
I was so startled that I dropped the melon seeds in my hand.
He winked at me and murmured, “Miss Lu, it has been a long time.”
Before I could react, he had already slipped away.
What… was going on?
While I was still standing there in a daze, Eunuch Liu, the chief steward at the Emperor’s side, appeared. In his shrill voice, he proclaimed an imperial edict: Eunuch Li and Noble Consort Zhou had plotted to harm a prince. The evidence was conclusive, and both were to be sent to the Cold Palace!
I thought to myself: A prince?
Which prince?
Did this have anything to do with me?
Never mind. Whatever happened, I had come out ahead without lifting a finger!
I was secretly rejoicing when He Yunsheng tugged at my sleeve and whispered, “Sister Wan’er, let us go back first.”
Only then did I notice the strange looks the palace servants were giving me. They were filled with… admiration, envy, jealousy, hatred, and perhaps even a hint of awe?
Well, well. I had become someone who had truly seen the wider world.
I had thought I could enjoy a few peaceful days counting my little savings, but the very next day I heard the palace maids whispering that General Zhao had set his sights on my “treasure.”
Treasure?
What treasure?
Oh, right—the pile of battered metal I had found in the secret passage…
They actually thought that was treasure?
Good grief!
The rumor grew more outrageous with every telling, until it even reached Madam Lin’s ears.
That woman was no pushover. She immediately began spreading word everywhere that I had obtained the treasure through improper means, even hinting that I might use it to stage a rebellion!
Good heavens! That accusation was far too heavy for me to bear!
He Yunsheng was run off his feet trying to clear my name.
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But the rumor was like weeds: cut them down, and they sprang back with the next spring breeze.
Worse still, General Zhao actually told the Emperor in court that a mere palace maid possessed an enormous fortune and might be harboring treasonous intentions.
And the Emperor actually believed him!
He even ordered a thorough investigation into my “treasure”!
I was so furious I nearly overturned the table!
These people had gone completely mad with greed!
I decided to strike first…
I gazed into the bronze mirror and smiled faintly as I drew a small porcelain bottle from my sleeve.
Inside was my personally concocted “itching powder.”
Hmph. They wanted to investigate my treasure?
They would have to get past me first!
After finding out where General Zhao’s residence was, I slipped out under cover of darkness.
My special knack was no joke. My nose for wealth was every bit as sharp when it came to locating secret chambers and hidden treasure.
Before long, I discovered an inconspicuous ledger in a concealed compartment in General Zhao’s study.
Well, well. General Zhao looked like a respectable gentleman, but behind everyone’s backs he had actually been embezzling military provisions!
If this came to light, he would be in deep trouble!
My eyes darted about, and an idea came to me.
Rather than confront them head-on, I might as well let someone else do the killing.
I secretly copied the ledger, returned the original to its place, and slipped away.
The next day, I “accidentally” “dropped” the copied ledger along the route taken by the upright old censor, Lord Chang.
Who was Lord Chang?
He was famous for his incorruptibility. His eyes could not tolerate even a speck of dust!
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Just as I expected, at the next morning court session, Lord Chang brought out the ledger and exposed every one of General Zhao’s misdeeds.
The Emperor was thunderous with rage and immediately ordered a full investigation into General Zhao!
General Zhao and Madam Lin were thrown into a panic.
They could never have imagined that a lowly palace maid like me would possess such a vicious means of striking back!
“That damned girl! She has ruined everything!” General Zhao snarled through clenched teeth.
Madam Lin’s eyes spun rapidly. She leaned close to General Zhao’s ear and whispered a few words.
That very night, on my way back to the palace, I was ambushed by a group of men in black!
Well, well. General Zhao had been driven into a corner and was making one desperate move after another!
Fortunately, He Yunsheng had received word in advance and arrived with a squad of guards to rescue me.
The two sides clashed in a fierce battle. Blades flashed, swords rang, and the scene was truly spectacular!
The men in black had the advantage in numbers, but He Yunsheng—despite usually looking like a harmless little brother—proved remarkably dependable when it mattered.
Leading the guards and making clever use of the terrain, he managed to rout the attackers completely!
The surrounding townspeople cheered. Some even hurled rotten vegetables and stinking eggs at the men in black.
The scene was something else indeed…
Drums thundered, firecrackers exploded, red banners waved, and the streets were packed with people!
The immediate crisis had been averted, but I knew perfectly well that General Zhao was only the beginning.
In this imperial palace, where people were devoured without even a bone left behind, there would certainly be others coveting my “treasure.”
I had to come up with a foolproof plan to make them abandon all thoughts of it once and for all…
Ever since the incident with General Zhao, I had been constantly pondering how to protect my treasure.
One day, I was staring blankly at that pile of “battered metal” when I suddenly heard a familiar voice:
“Sister Wan’er, what are you looking at?”…
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