Zhang Luo stopped and turned around. “What do you mean?”
He Yixian lifted his robe and walked to his side. “If you want to know who’s behind Zheng Yuejia, I can suggest someone.”
Zhang Luo said coldly, “Speak directly, don’t beat around the bush with me.”
He Yixian lowered his voice and replied, “Consort Ning.”
Zhang Luo’s hand clenched into a fist behind his back.
Seeing that he hadn’t spoken yet, He Yixian continued, “Consort Ning and Zheng Yuejia knew each other before entering the palace. To avoid suspicion, they never interacted within the inner court.”
Hearing this, Zhang Luo recalled what Zheng Yuejia’s uncle had said in his confession: that when Zheng Yuejia was a student, he had loved an official’s daughter, and shortly after his family’s downfall and removal from the registry, that girl had entered the palace.
His uncle couldn’t say who that girl was, but now He Yixian’s words confirmed it.
Zhang Luo’s knuckles cracked as he stepped closer to He Yixian. “Who else knows about this?”
He Yixian shook his head. “Only you and I.”
“Why didn’t you tell the Eastern Depot directly?”
He Yixian smiled slightly. “This is an internal matter of the Ceremonial Office. I hope you won’t inquire further. However, if you want to verify this, you can question another person.”
“Silence!”
Zhang Luo sharply interrupted He Yixian, his eyes suddenly blazing.
“No need to tell me.”
Meanwhile, in the palace, You Guichun still hadn’t been captured.
To track down her whereabouts, the six departments of the inner court were each investigating their female officials. Yang Wan and Song Yunqing stood outside the Palace Ceremonial Department, waiting to question people.
Song Yunqing said, “Don’t you think it’s strange? A living person, a woman no less, just disappeared within the palace like this.”
Yang Wan waved her hand. “Don’t talk about such things here.”
Song Yunqing said, “Yang Wan, I feel like you know something. Otherwise, why did you say those things that time when we were having hotpot at Commander Deng’s?”
Yang Wan asked quietly, “What did I say?”
“You told Deng Bibi to resign from the wet nurse selection duty, and sure enough, trouble came from that position.”
“I…”
Just as Yang Wan was about to speak, she saw a group of Imperial Guards approaching the Palace Ceremonial Department’s entrance, carrying chains and shackles.
Madam Jiang and Madam Chen heard the commotion and came out of the department.
Madam Chen looked at the torture instruments in the Imperial Guards’ hands and said formally, “We’re conducting an internal investigation within our six departments. What is the meaning of this?”
The captain said, “Madam Chen, we’ve come only to take Record Keeper Yang back for questioning. Please don’t take offense.”
Hearing this, Madam Jiang spoke up, “Female officials belong to the inner court. Even if there’s a crime, it should be investigated and handled by the Palace Ceremonial Department. Since when has the Northern Suppression Bureau interfered?”
“If that’s the case, we’ll speak plainly. Saying we’re here for questioning is already being polite. Consort Ning is implicated in the case of conspiring to harm the prince. We from the Northern Suppression Bureau are investigating this case by imperial order and have the authority to arrest anyone related to the case for questioning.”
“What did you say?”
Yang Wan pushed through the crowd. Song Yunqing tried to pull her back but was shaken off.
“The Consort is an imperial concubine. How dare you casually accuse her of conspiring to harm the prince!”
The captain shouted, “The Suppression Bureau is still investigating. Why is Record Keeper Yang so agitated?”
Yang Wan pinched the base of her thumb, forcing herself to calm down.
She hadn’t thought before that this matter would involve her too.
But thinking about it another way, if she remained uninvolved, she wouldn’t be able to fully understand the ins and outs of the Hejiu case. Being involved might help her see things more clearly.
But… the Northern Suppression Bureau’s prison, Zhang Luo…
She couldn’t think deeply about that place, nor about that person.
Seeing the standoff, Madam Jiang stepped forward, shielding Yang Wan behind her. “We must report this to Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Very well.”
The captain stepped back. “We’ll simply wait here a while.”
“Madam…”
Yang Wan gently tugged at Madam Jiang’s sleeve. “No need to report to Her Majesty.”
Madam Jiang turned back. “Yang Wan, do you know where they want to take you?”
Yang Wan nodded. “I know.”
Madam Jiang shook her head. “If you know, then don’t speak!”
“It’s useless, Madam.”
Yang Wan looked up at Madam Jiang and said softly, “This involves the prince’s case. Even Her Majesty won’t show mercy.”
After speaking, she walked forward a few steps to the captain who had spoken.
“You haven’t disturbed Chengqian Palace, have you?”
The captain replied, “No. Before this case is cleared up, no one dares to be disrespectful to Consort Ning.”
“Good.”
Yang Wan raised her hand. “I’ll go with you.”
Seeing this, the captain bowed to her. “Thank you for your understanding, Record Keeper.”
Then he waved his hand and ordered, “Take her away.”