c49 (1/2)

Chapter 49: Banished to the Cold Palace (Part 1)

Hearing the orderly footsteps, it did not sound like eunuchs. With her hands lightly rested on her flat belly, Qing Feng whispered to Fu Ling who was beside her, “Go and see what is going on.”

Fu Ling nodded and opened the door to see that there was a dozen guards standing at the courtyard and the one leading them was… Him? The guard that stop her at that night.

A tall and thin frame with a cold temperament that Fu Ling would be able to recognise him with a side view. However, he seems to be a bit different today. His eyes were constantly narrowed on his cold solemn face as if it was in contact with a gasp of cold wind. Fu Ling took a deep breath before pus.h.i.+ng the door open and loudly spoke, “Who are you and what are you here in Qing Feng Hall for?”

Ming Ze looked up and saw Fu Ling. With an emotionless face, as if it was his first time seeing her, he coldly replied, “This officer Ming Ze, third cla.s.s Imperial bodyguard of the Guards regiment, received the Emperor’s order to do a search in various palaces in the Inner Palace and would seek your forgiveness.” When Ming Ze finished speaking, without waiting for Fu Ling to respond, he clearly order, “Search.”

“Yes.” After finis.h.i.+ng, several guards began to search Qing Feng Hall but none would dare to force into Qing Feng’s chambers yet.

This person was extremely rude! A fire rage in Fu Ling’s heart as she angrily said, “This is her Ladys.h.i.+p’s bed chambers and will not tolerate your impudent actions. If it is under the orders of the Emperor’s, where is the decree?”

Ming Ze’s sharp brows pinched slightly as he coldly looked at the female that was glaring at him from the top of the platform but in his heart he was chuckling. Seeing the servant and thus knowing the mistress. It would seem that the one in the chambers would be more difficult to deal with.

Under the direct cold vision, Fu Ling’s heart started to palpitate like never before but she was unwilling to show any weakness in front of him and stared coldly back like him. “Fu Ling.” Fortunately at this time a clear sound came from the chambers and Qing Feng gently pushed open the doors and said, “Since it is under the Emperor’s command, let them search.”

Fu Ling secretly took a deep breath and replied softly, “Yes.”

Her complexion looked bad, it was pale and green and even though it was midday in the summer, she was still covered in a long silk drape. Ming Ze cast a look at her and quickly avoided her line of sight and continue to speak to the guards beside him, “Two of you will search the chamber carefully and place the stuff gently. As for the rest, go and search the rooms of the servants.”

“Yes.”

Ming Ze brought the two guards and walked into Qing Feng’s room. Qing Feng exchange a look with Fu Ling and Fu Ling lightly nodded her head in understanding and followed the guards into the inner chambers and observe them while they were searching. Qing Feng and Ming Ze were both left at the outer chambers. Qing Feng sat down on the soft couch by the window, with a small warmer in her hands and her eyes were looking out the window, not sparing Ming Ze a look.

There was no impact to Ming Ze when Qing Feng did not look at him. Ming Ze stood in the middle of the room and look at the furnis.h.i.+ngs, even though he did not search through every single thing but that sharp gaze and pressure would make one with a guilty conscience tremble with fear. Qing Feng secretly breath a sigh of relief in her heart, it was a good thing that that thing was burnt to ashes else she would definitely be uneasy now.

When Ming Ze eyes swept over the low cabinet by the screen, he unexpectedly saw a familiar black umbrella leaning against the leg of the cabinet. Is that… His umbrella? Ming Ze remembered that rainy night and that sorry condition but glamorous face. She actually kept the umbrella in the room?

Hearing Ming Ze taking two steps to the direction of the screen, Qing Feng look from the side and saw him staring at that direction. She look at the direction he was looking and discover the umbrella which was placed at the corner. Her heart thumped and Qing Feng’s face suddenly warmed up and she quickly turn her head to the other side, afraid to look at him.

Qing Feng’s face was very warm. That time when Fu Ling asked if the umbrella should be returned, she thought that Ming Ze would not be bothered about it and she did not want to make others think that she wants to use the opportunity to be close. In an annoyance, she did not let Fu Ling bother about it and the umbrella was left there. She never would have thought that Ming Ze would come into her chambers. This is just great, now she don’t know how that person would think of her!

Qing Feng was upset and embarra.s.sed and chose to ignore Ming Ze’s footsteps that were heading towards her. She could only pretend to be calm and continued to stare out of the window. When the steps has stopped, there was no sound for a long time. Just when Qing Feng wanted to turn around, Ming Ze’s deep voice sounded from behind her, “The Xin family have invited Yu Quan Temple’s abbot over due to the Empress sudden craziness. That bald donkey (mocking that Buddhist monk) said that there was someone in the Palace using witchcraft to harm the Empress.”

That deliberate lowered voice did not mention anything about the “umbrella” which made Qing Feng stunned for a moment. Recalling his two words “bald donkey” made her almost laugh out and she could cough lightly to suppress her bubbling laughter. But her laughter died with what Ming Ze said next.

“The leading officer had found a doll with the Empress’s birth characters on it at Imperial Concubine Hui’s place. And Imperial Concubine Hui has been escorted to Yi Lan Palace.”

Imperial Concubine Hui? What exactly was going on? Wasn’t the person they were trying to frame her? Qing Feng looked back at Ming Ze in surprise but found that Ming Ze only left a view of his back to her, like the many times before.

He had never gave her the time of the day and now why would he tell her these? Qing Feng wanted to ask him that but the lower ranked officers have finished searching and walked out. Thus Qing Feng can only give up on it.

A lower ranked officers broke, “Daren, there was nothing unusual found.”

The search at the exterior area was also completed and the guards quickly reported back, “The entire Qing Feng Hall has been searched and there was nothing unusual found.”