Changsheng: Peak at the Beginning

Chapter 1220 Zhen Huan Enlarged to 144

There was a big problem with the Queen, but Qianlong did not think of intervening proactively at the first time. He just asked the Sticking Rod Office to investigate the Imperial Household Department carefully. Of course, it would be better for the Queen to deal with the palace maids with her herself.

In fact, among the concubines in the harem who were about to be canonized, the first person the queen suspected was Jin Yuyan. After all, who was it that first attracted the attention of the Cining Palace?

The empress thought carefully. Qianlong had already hinted at it once before, and the status of everyone was almost determined. It was she who listened to Zhu Mei's persuasion and said that Princess Jin Yuyan was a noble lady of the Yu family after all. Now that the court was using troops in the northeast, the Yu family was needed, so they should be appeased and even given the position of a concubine.

Of course, she didn't think there was anything wrong at the time, but when she thought about it carefully, Zhu Mei's attitude of speaking well of Jin Yuyan was too common, which showed that she had a lot of contact with Jin Yuyan behind her back.

The Queen was not like Fucha Langya, who would blame others when something went wrong. She would reflect on herself. After discovering that she had neglected to discipline her dowry maid, she immediately began to adjust her attitude towards her confidants.

Zhu Mei was watched for three or four days but she was not seen meeting with any outsiders regularly, nor did she have any secret conversations with the palace maids in Jingren Palace. However, her personal belongings did include dozens of taels of silver, a jade hairpin, and several Korean ginsengs.

The red jade hairpin looked very simple and elegant. The color of the jade was light, and the size of the pearls was not satisfactory. Twenty taels of silver was the maximum price for it.

But the reference of Goryeo ginseng is very clear. When people see Goryeo ginseng in the palace, they always think of Kim Ok-yeon from the Yu family.

The queen looked at the Korean ginseng and could not help but put her hand on her forehead and pressed her temple. "Even if Jin recognized the Imperial Household Department's bannerman as her adoptive father, she is still from the Yu family after all, a real foreigner. No matter how many princes she gives birth to in the future, even if she adopts a royal son, it will not be her son's turn!"

As long as she didn't mention her colleagues, Lian Xin felt that she could chime in: "Perhaps, Jin Gege wants to start with you, the queen, in order to benefit the Yu family?"

Lianxin expressed her own opinion and also praised the Queen greatly. After all, the Queen Mother insisted on letting her live in the Kunning Palace, which had been closed for decades. The resources that the Queen could leverage were considerable.

Of course, the Queen also understood Lianxin's hidden subtext, and she felt a lot more comfortable. After all, at this time, none of them knew that Jin Yuyan really had no self-awareness of her foreign identity, and even thought that she was very noble in the Qing Dynasty. That's why when she learned from Zhu Mei that her status was just that of a noble lady and she didn't even have a title, she asked Zhu Mei to intercede for her.

Zhu Mei was invited over very quickly. It happened that she had just taken a stroll in the Imperial Garden and brought back many chrysanthemums to put in a vase for the Queen.

Looking at the private items on the table that were supposed to be kept in her room, Zhu Mei immediately realized that the queen was targeting her.

Zhu Mei immediately knelt on the ground holding a bunch of golden chrysanthemums. She felt wronged and sad, and was very confused. "My queen, what did I do wrong to make you..."

The Queen, Lianxin and even Ye Xin did not expect that Zhu Mei would not admit her mistake at the first time. Even if she made up an excuse that someone in her family was sick and needed Korean ginseng as medicine, at least it would make people feel better.

The queen was too lazy to speak, so Lianxin stepped forward to help express her opinion: "Zhu Mei, where did you get this Korean ginseng?"

Zhu Mei was still very aggrieved and sad. After hearing Lian Xin's question, she did not rush to explain herself. Instead, she complained to the queen: "Look, your majesty, Lian Xin relied on the fact that she came from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and dared to disregard your face and privately plunder my residence!"

Ye Xin was stunned and couldn't help but look up at Lian Xin. Lian Xin didn't expect that Zhu Mei, who had always been competitive with her, was actually such an ignorant person. When she thought about her concessions to her in the past, she felt as if she was slapped in the face again.

But she couldn't let that slap hit the queen's face again, so she quickly asked, "Let's not talk about anything else. When did you get close to Jin Gege? What information did you sell to Jin Gege?"

Seeing that the queen hadn't spoken a word, and hadn't even looked at her, Zhu Mei's confused mind finally became much clearer. Her crying now seemed much more real. "Your Majesty, I have followed you since I was a child. You know that I am not that blind!"

"Girl Jin is just a tribute girl from a foreign tribe. She is far inferior to Fucha Gege and Gao Gege, who are from bannermen families. Besides, Gege Jin has some brains and some means. You can try to win her over to do some things so as not to dirty your hands!"

Hearing this, Lianxin couldn't help but admire Zhu Mei. Although she did look clumsy and stupid, it was people like this who could often burst out with unexpected talents at the critical moment of life and death.

For example, now, Zhu Mei's words confirmed her collusion with Jin Yuyan, but every word she said was for the queen's consideration. Even if the queen wanted to punish her, she would have to be cautious.

After hearing what Zhu Mei said, the queen really felt a little cautious, but for those in a higher position, they don't have to be so particular about the rules when dealing with those below them. After all, the rules are for outsiders to see. Lianxin and Yexin witnessed everything Zhu Mei did.

So the queen just chuckled and said, "Since you are so considerate of me, I will reward you well."

Zhu Mei thought she had passed this stage, and a look of surprise appeared on her face. She modestly declined, "It is my honor to work for you, Madam."

The queen was almost amused by Zhu Mei, and then she said, "You and Zhu Rui, as well as Zhu Yi and Zhu Shang, are all my dowry. You have worked hard over the years. Although you are now in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, you have to wait until you are 25 years old before you can leave the palace to enjoy your life."

"But you have made contributions today, so I will allow you to leave the palace and get married early. Don't delay the blooming season."

Zhu Mei and Zhu Rui both want power, and they have never thought about getting married. Especially since they have always compared themselves with the chief steward of Jingren Palace and the chief steward of the emperor, how could they agree to leave the palace now?

But Lianxin and Yexin were waiting nearby, and had been prepared for Zhu Mei to make a scene. They quickly took out their handkerchiefs and bet on Zhu Mei's mouth. Lianxin, in particular, was quite good at talking, and immediately advised: "Zhu Mei, you must remember the great kindness of the Empress. If this maid really waits until she is 25 to leave the palace, it will be very difficult for her to find a good family."

After taking Zhu Mei, Zhu Rui would naturally not be let go. The Queen quickly sent Zhu Mei and Zhu Rui out of the palace while the imperial decree was being announced to determine the ranks of concubines, and handed them over to Soren Zhuo for handling.

Now we are still in mourning for the late emperor, and the mourning period in the palace has ended early. However, it is a rule that no wedding banquet can be seen outside the palace within a hundred days. That's why Zhu Mei and Zhu Rui said that the Queen had granted them permission to leave the palace early. In fact, only Jin Yuyan, who was a maid, knew the situation inside, and she was therefore very worried.