712 Grant a Marriage (3)
Shen Miao couldnât help but look up at the window. The window was tightly shut. Xie Jingxing told her once that she didnât need to open the window to call him, but Xie Jingxing had not appeared for the past few days. Shen Miao walked to the window in her outer clothes and opened it. The night wind was cold outside, and Shen Miao tightened her clothes.
Cong Yang suddenly stood up from under the wall and asked Shen Miao, âMiss, are you looking for Master?â
Shen Miao was taken aback. She rubbed her chest and said angrily, âNo.â
Cong Yang pretended not to hear Shen Miao and continued in all seriousness, âMaster is away from the capital recently. Miss, you donât have to wait for him here.â
âI am not waiting for him,â Shen Miao emphasized. âI just want to get some fresh air.â
Congy Yang did not speak. Shen Miao thought of something and asked, âCong Yang, if I enter the palace, can you go with me?â
When Cong Yang heard that, he was stunned for a moment before saying with a blush, âIâm not familiar with the palace. If I follow you in, thereâs no place to hide and Iâm not confident that I wonât be discovered.â
Shen Miao lowered her eyes. Since Cong Yang was not confident in not being discovered, she would not force him to go with her. She said, âForget it.â
âMiss, if you have anything to say, you can tell me. When I report to Master, Iâll tell him about it,â Cong Yang glanced at Shen Miao and said.
Shen Miao closed the window with a bang.
On the other side, in Prince Ruiâs mansion, Gao Yang and Ji Yushu were studying a map. This map was densely marked with many places. If one looked carefully, they could clearly see that it was a defensive map.
The guard outside reported, âLord Gao, Young Master Ji, Miss Shen is going to the palace tomorrow. Do you want to send a letter to His Highness?â
âGoing to the palace?â Ji Yushu asked, âWhat for?â
The guard shook his head.
Ji Yushu sighed and said, âIâve been busy working on this map for the past few days and havenât been able to help Third Brother take good care of Miss Shen. Iâll be dead when Third Brother comes back. If we donât know anything, weâll both be in trouble. Hey.â He nudged Gao Yang. âYou know people in the palace. Is there anything special going on in the palace recently?â
âNothing.â Gao Yang thought for a moment and said, âLetâs not include this in the letter first. Heâs busy with work, so donât make him distracted. Since thereâs no news from Cong Yang, it shouldnât be serious. If anything really happens, weâll help her out.â
The guard nodded and left.
Ji Yushu looked at Gao Yang. âWhy do I feel that the way you handle it is not appropriate?â
âWhatâs not appropriate with it?â Gao Yang said impatiently, âFocus on the map!â
Ji Yushu muttered, âIn any case, if anything happens, Third Brother will ask me why I didnât report it to him in time. Iâll say that you asked me to keep quietâ¦â
â¦
The next day, Shen Miao followed Luo Xueyan into the palace.
Every time she entered the palace, something would happen. Luo Xueyan was a little vigilant, but Shen Miao was used to it because she already knew that the royal family was up to no good, which made her less nervous.
The palace maid brought them to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility.
When they arrived at the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, the first person they saw was the empress sitting at the head of the table. The consort sitting beside the empress was smiling and graceful. She was dressed elegantly but simply. It was Consort Dong.
The Empress and Consort Dong? Shen Miaoâs heart skipped a beat.
The empress was the crown princeâs biological mother. At this point, she was focused on helping the crown prince stabilize his position and was not in the mood to fight for power in the harem. Eventually, she lost to Consort Dong, who was always inconspicuous.