The Beloved Imperial Consort Chapter 130

Seeing Mu Xi Yao’s attitude, for a moment, everyone was on tenterhooks.

If she couldn’t catch anyone this time and have it as she wished, cefei won’t take her anger out on someone else, will she? Right now, his Highness was absent. They wondered whether He Lian principal consort will be able to suppress cefei’s arrogance.

In particular, that spy who planned to sacrifice the servant girl to protect herself. Her heart clutched tightly. Her arrangements were disrupted. She was disconnected from the information too and unable to kill the servant girl. How was she going to avoid lady Mu’s ploy? The most suspicious thing was the note she took out. Could it be that she missed something? How did she learn about the secret code name of Yin Ji?

She hasn’t received any news from the other side since the incident. Don’t tell her that Yin Ji was already captured in the fifth Highness’s residence. Thinking of such a possibility, a cold sweat welled up on the woman’s back. They were all their lord’s most competent chess pieces. Although they were not very familiar with each other, they knew some secrets. If Yin Jin couldn’t take on….the sixth Highness did not hesitate to exert ruthless methods. She simply did not dare to envisage her ending.

“You must be tired today. Tomorrow’s trial is much simpler. All you need to do is call the servant girls and boys from your courtyards and let them be inspected by the gugu specially invited by the chief steward to examine them.” Mu Xi Yao looked at the note and smiled profoundly.

“This Yin Ji was careful. Paper, pen, and ink were all pretty common. What a pity that the person who sent the letter was careless and left some marks on it which was enough to identify the real culprit.

Alright, you’re dismissed today. Go back. Your servant girls will be given to the chief steward to oversee. After tomorrow, those who have done nothing wrong will be released and can continue to serve their mistresses.”

After sending one after another person off, Mu Xi Yao called for Wei Zhen and gave him prudent advice.

“Order the secret guards to keep an eye on their subsequent actions – who they have met, what they have asked — all of it has to be recorded. No omission is allowed.”

Now, Wei Zhen understood mistress Yao’s strategy, and he exclaimed inwardly that she was cunning. This was a downright manipulation! That note couldn’t be more ordinary. Its surface was very clean. It contained no flaws mistress has spoken about.

Mistress Yao stressed so much on the importance of the note. She put it inside a small box before everyone and locked it, appearing extremely cautious. Right now, that person should be confused once she goes back and be even more indecisive. On top of that, her personal maid was detained by the mistress and being guilt-stricken, it was likely that tonight won’t be peaceful for her. She will definitely be deprived of sleep.

Mistress Yao wanted to tie spy that has been hidden for a long time in the residence without being found with bare hands¹?. Her idea was truly clever. The woman his Highness valued was indeed like him, an ordinary person fell short to them.

As Wei Zhen expected, once those four returned, except for lady An who had long been ruled out of suspicion, the remaining raised a big rumpus²?, each of them being awfully busy.

In the morning of the following day, while carrying a delighted expression, Wei Zhen handed over the information from the secret guards that have been on duty all night.

Mu Xi Yao opened the confidential report and nodded in satisfaction after reading it. That’s more like it! This show has been played for three whole days. No matter how cunning was the fox, in the end, it still revealed its tail.

But, the remaining people also were not worry-free characters. Just look at what they have done! Tsk, tsk, fortunately, she wasn’t the principal consort. Otherwise, she would be infuriated by them. She didn’t have the patience to manage them. She had grasped their secret in her hand. It wasn’t bad to leave them for later against a rainy day.

She didn’t expect to receive an unpredicted bonus while catching a renegade. If Mu Xi Yao knew that it was so easy to get so much information, she would have tormented the entire inner yard. What a pity it was too late to do anything. Who told her to have such a clear goal and act too fast? Now she regretted deeply her past deeds.

“If this is the case, let’s add another fuel to the fire.” Mu Xi Yao smiled brightly. Yet, the task she instructed to Wei Zhen was utterly devious.

As the saying goes, send Buddha to the west³?. When looking for the traitor, she naturally had to step on the person a few times and prepare more room for maneuvers. There can be nothing wrong with this. Besides, if it weren’t for that person’s guilty conscience, this trick of hers would be of no use. This is called “the evil man brings on himself”, “as a man sows, so let him reap”, and “knowing exactly how things stand”.

As Wei Zhen listened to Mu Xi Yao’s instructions, his eyes immediately lit up. His gaze was filled with reverence for Mu Xi Yao.

Mistress Yao was too smart. Fortunately that apart from being a little unruly, she was good-natured and won’t harm others. Or else, not many women would be left in the entire inner yard.

“Mistress, this subordinate is puzzled over a matter. This subordinate doesn’t know whether it could be spoken out.” He didn’t dare to ask his Highness anything. But, mistress Yao was easier to talk to.

Mu Xi Yao stopped her hands that were fiddling with bonsai. She raised her chin slightly, indicating that he needn’t be polite with her and can ask any questions.

When Zhao momo saw her mistress’s action, she had a hard time standing by idly watching her. Mistress could obviously display fine manners and etiquette, yet she did as she pleased regardless of the rules and acted carelessly in front of outsiders. Was lifting a chin something a noblewoman would do? This kind of mannerism was clearly associated with commoners. His Highness was too much. He doted on mistress so much that she treated rules with less and less seriousness. What should they do if the little master followed her suit in the future?

Wei Zhen was already used to Mu Xi Yao’s unruliness. He pretended not to see her inappropriate behavior.

“This subordinate was sent to the princess’s mansion to “exchange golden-crowned hummingbird that day. Afterward, his Highness left the residence and smoothly brought the mistress back. How did it happen? Previously, this subordinate and others had clearly much trouble finding mistress and didn’t make any progress.” Wei Zhen asked gloomily, particularly when he mentioned the word “exchange”, that expression of his could not hide the embarrassment he felt.

As soon as he recalled that forced buying incident, Wei Zhen was filled with shame. Afterward, he even lost to an aggravating hummingbird he never heard of before. He dwelled on this matter for a long time.

Mu Xi Yao paused when she heard the meaning behind his words, “Were you looking for a gold-crowned hummingbird? Wasn’t it high mountain crested ibis?”

Instead of looking for high mountain crested ibis Zhong Zheng Lin went to search for the hummingbird that was so rare that even she had never seen it before? Why?

Wei Zhen’s eyelid jumped upon listening to Mu Xi Yao’s questions. It couldn’t be what he thinks, could it?

“Mistress, high mountain crested ibis would do too?”

“Naturally. That day I was carrying a scented sachet. Inside was a special component consisting of raspberry and red flower of akebia which mountain crested ibis was deeply fond of. Although the golden-crowned hummingbird was also very sensitive to it, it was due to double-wing insects feeding on the red flower of akebia. The hummingbird was only interested in double-wing insects.”

The mountain-crested ibis easy was not only easy to find, it also responded more quickly to the scent left by her.

Mu Xi Yao’s explanation to Wei Zhen was half true and half false. She did not use a scent that day, but one of the few remaining drugs in the space she almost had forgotten. How can an ordinary scent last so long, and wait to be traced the next day?

The first time she faced assassins sent by the first prince, she used precisely the knockout drug stored in space. Unfortunately, after she entered the palace, much herbal medicine was forbidden there. She was unable to prepare drugs. As a result, Mu Xi Yao left the space standing idle. It wasn’t until that day when she was almost at the end of her rope that it suddenly occurred to her that she could use a few herbal medicines.

With a self-rescue plan, all that was missing was someone who could pass on the news to her. It just so happened that that day Zhong Zheng Lin dispatched a manservant to the side hall to look for Zhong Zheng Ming. On the way, he met Mo Wan Qing’s maidservant, the chess piece Mu Xi Yao had buried in the fifth prince’s residence.

The two were searching everywhere for the fifth Highness who was in the front yard. They accidentally met Mu Xi Yao and the party in the alley to the bamboo forest. Considering that the two renegades were on guard against her, Mu Xi Yao did not dare to take risks and call for help. She feared that the rebels would jump over the wall like a cornered dog⁴? and either the fish would die or the net splits⁵?. Hence, she could only take chances and sprinkle the medicine on the maidservant’s body as the two groups of people were passing by each other. Afterward, she kept running her eyes on her clothes.

Afraid that she won’t notice the anomaly, Mu Xi Yao even pretended to get angry. At the time, she was pretty mean and unkind with words. She loudly chided the servant boy, threatening him that if the lantern in his hand rubbed or scraped her silk skirt, she will properly check its condition once she returns. In case of damage to her fancy skirt, she would seek the fifth princess consort for an explanation.

Upon seeing her scolding the servant boy, the renegades initially thought that she was stirring up trouble. Just as they were about to get mad, she snorted coldly in disgust and left first all arrogantly. As she walked she raise her skirt in distress and voiced that it was a fine material specially sought by the sixth Highness and that it was truly hateful another person dirtied it in such a way.

After this commotion caused by Mu Xi Yao, in the eyes of the renegades, this incident was merely a woman cherishing the clothes gifted by the beloved man. To Mu Xi Yao, it was actually a turning point for her survival.

Mu Xi Yao was extremely satisfied with the gleam that flashed through the maidservant who followed the servant boy’s suit and begged for an apology. She proved herself to be a fine seedling chosen by her. A hint was all she needed. She certainly lived up to expectations.

Mu Xi Yao was particularly gratified when she recalled that dependable person. Once Yin Ji is captured, it should get quiet over there at Mu Xi Ting’s place. She has to find an opportunity to take that girl out and provide her a bright future. Or, she could change her identity and let her enter the residence to join her sister Chun Lan. She can take care of the little bun and become a chief gugu.

Mu Xi Yao entertained herself with ideas. Meanwhile, Wei Zhen wore a dejected expression. That aggrievement of his, even Mu Xi Yao whose mind has wandered elsewhere was unable to put up with it anymore, “Sir Wei, why that expression?” She properly explained the whole story so why are you still so sad?

“His Highness, his Highness ordered this servant to snatch the fourth princess’s golden-crowned hummingbird just because the mountain-crested ibis bore an ominous message. It was a widow bird.”

Mu Xi Yao’s face flushed from her own choke. Zhong Zheng Lin this man. There was a bottom line to fall out, all right?

It was just a bird. Was there a need to associate it with her? Moreover, what was wrong with a widow? Big boss hasn’t died yet. How would she dare to remarry?

Mu Xi Yao gazed fiercely at Wei Zhen. If he mentions this kind of unreliable and embarrassing matter again, he should wait to be fixed by her! Since the sixth Highness himself was pretentious the subordinate he groomed wasn’t any better.

Upon seeing him being ashamed for snatching the princess’s lousy bird, for a moment, wicked thoughts entertained Mu Xi Yao’s mind.

“Sir Wei, how about you pay another visit? Qie feels genuinely sorry for his Highness’s banknotes worth tens of thousands of taels. How about you go get those banknotes back for qie? As for the bird, just say that it flew away.”

That’s the result of you being a chatterbox and pretending a melancholy in front of her for a lousy bird. How could be one’s mood lifted by the sight of him?

Wei Zhen was frightened by Mu Xi Yao. He immediately asked for leave after uttering a few indiscernible words. This one was even more ruthless than his Highness. Not only won’t she give money, she even wanted to solicit the hummingbird. These two masters were really….a perfect match.

“Mistress, the letter from his Highness has arrived.” Wei Zhen who just freed himself was sent back by an urgent letter from the sixth Highness.

Seeing him being on guard, Mu Xi Yao laughed and scolded him, “Go, go. Who can possibly force you to collect debts?”

As soon as Wei Zhen handed over the letter, he quickly removed himself. With the sound of the swoosh, he was nowhere to be seen.

Translation notes:

[1] Refers to the idiom to tie a white wolf with bare hands, which means to gain valuable things with worthless things
[2] Raise a big rumpus is a Chinese idiom that means to drag in many people to do sth
[3] Refers to the idiom “Helping people to the end, sending Buddha to the west”, which means when you help others, help them to do the whole thing well
[4] A cornered dog will jump over the wall is a Chinese idiom that means to be driven to desperate action
[5] Either the fish dies or the net splits is a Chinese idiom that means to fight until both parties are destroyed

Relationship Diagram  (by Sith Kazar)

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