Shrouded in mystery

  Na Yunhui hastily left, the more she thought about it, the more unwilling she became. She came up with a plan and pulled out the golden hairpin from her head, using a handkerchief to mess up her makeup, and rushed straight to Rong Fei's residence in Yanxi Palace.

  At this time, Rong Fei was leaning on the acid branch wood noble chair, with Ting Lan reading aloud from "The Biographies of Exemplary Women" in the chapter "Meng Mu Duan Zhi", while Yu Lan used a goose feather fan to gently stir up the cool breeze. Rong Fei's face wore a smile, her index finger occasionally tapping lightly on the back of the chair.

  Suddenly, a mournful cry came from the palace, and a disheveled woman rushed in, kneeling down to hug Rong Fei's legs. This frightened Rong Fei out of her wits, but fortunately several eunuchs arrived just in time, and it turned out that the seemingly madwoman was Yunhui.

  Rong Fei took a sip of the tea served by Ting Lan, gently patted her chest and seemed to say with lingering fear: "This palace thought it was that vengeful spirit coming to claim my life, but it turned out to be you."

  "Master, don't be angry," Tinglan consoled. "Yun Gege must have been wronged and only came to you for justice, which is why she was a bit impolite. These slaves are also at fault for not advising her properly; they should be punished by deducting their salary."

  Rong Fei glanced at Ting Lan with the corner of her eye and said, "Even if Ting Lan pleads for you, you will be punished by deducting two months' salary. Now get out of my sight!"

  The palace was left with only Rong Fei, Yunhui and Rong Fei's personal palace maid Tinglan.

  Rong Fei coldly said: "Looking at your crazy appearance, who would believe you are the princess of the Fourth Prince?"

  Yunhui cried: "Slave servant asks the princess to take charge. A few days ago, slave servant saw a beautiful fabric in the warehouse, asked for the fourth brother's reward, and made this new dress. Today, I went to ask Mrs. Fu for peace, but not only was she coldly ridiculed, saying that I am of low birth, not worthy of wearing Shu brocade, not worthy of wearing golden hairpins, but also let someone pour a whole body of tea water on me. Slave servant has no relatives in the palace, relying on the princess's kindness to serve the fourth brother, but did not expect to be humiliated like this. She poured tea water on me today, and didn't put the princess in her eyes!"

  Rong Fei Chong Yun Hui raised her chin, gazing at Ting Lan. Ting Lan understood, walked to Yun Hui's side, and with one push, Yun Hui, who was prostrating herself on the ground, fell onto her back, revealing a peacock pattern on the front of her cloak.

  Rong Fei hummed softly and said: "Such good material and embroidery work is indeed rare, no wonder you like it so much."

  Yun Hui hurriedly followed the sound of horse hooves and said: "Your Ladyship has a good eye for quality, in order to rush the embroidery work, I secretly added 10 taels of silver to the Embroidery Bureau, using the best threads and palace maids, it was only just finished."

  "I'm afraid it's also made under the pretext of making it for Ulanara!" Rong Fei sneered, "Although the peacock is not as good as the phoenix, it is still the king of a hundred birds. If you want to fly up to the branch overnight, you should look at your fate!"

  Yun Hui said with a hint of resentment: "Isn't the current De Fei also from a humble background as a palace maid? Yet she has become the mistress of Yonghe Palace."

  De Fei gave birth to two sons, each of whom could be a rival of Yong Qi for the throne. Moreover, De Fei was of humble origin and often sat at the same table as Rong Fei during family banquets, which already made Rong Fei feel humiliated. Anyone else would not have dared to mention De Fei's favor in front of Rong Fei, but this Cloud Hui who didn't know when to stop. Rong Fei was furious, and Ting Lan knew the situation and handed her a cup of tea, saying: "Master, don't stoop to her level."

  Rong Fei didn't get angry, but instead smiled and said: "Is she a match for him? Even if you fly up to the branch, you still need to see whether it's a towering tree or withered vines. It seems like she forgot what she was doing by the side of the Fourth Prince? Ting Lan, give this cup of tea to Yun Gege and let her sober up."

  Tinglan held a cup of tea and walked to Yunhui's side, softly sighing as she poured the scalding hot tea over Yunhui's head.

  Tea, still retaining the temperature it was brewed in, seeped through her hair and onto her scalp. Fortunately, there wasn't much tea, so it didn't cause a large-scale burn, but it was enough to make Yunhui suffer. However, she knew Rongfei's personality - if she didn't endure this now, she might suffer an even greater punishment later. According to palace rules, when the master punishes a servant, the servant must thank them for their kindness. Although Yunhui had already become the Fourth Prince's woman, there was still a huge gap between her lowly status as a gege and Rongfei, who was deeply favored by the Emperor. Yunhui wisely knocked her head against the ground: "Thank you, Your Ladyship, for your kindness! Thank you, Your Ladyship, for your kindness!"

  Rong Fei smiled and said to Ting Lan: "I heard that the names of the palace maids in Hai Ding Ge are all strange and nice, what's it called... Cloud..."

  Tinglan had been in the palace for a long time and knew many people. She quickly greeted them, saying: "Yunwei, Yunxi, Yunqiu..."

  Rong Fei stood up, walked slowly to Yun Hui's front, and said with a slight disdain: "A slave is just a slave, once branded, it can't be removed. If you do things well for me, I'll let you be the master among slaves. But if you dare to ruin my plans, you'll only be a slave of slaves. Yun Hui, do you understand?"

  Yun Hui nodded repeatedly and said: "I understand! I understand!"

  Rong Fei let out a soft laugh and said to Ting Lan, "Give her a change of clothes. After all, she's someone from Yanxi Palace, don't lose face!" Having said that, she entered the inner palace.

  Yunhui could finally release that long-suffering ferocious expression, the seeds of hatred had already sprouted.

  In the evening, Yirui was about to go to bed early, but heard a "ding dong" sound from the front yard. Yunqiu came back with a sly smile and whispered: "Cloud Gerge doesn't know what stimulation she received, drank a lot of wine, and is smashing things in the front yard!" The three looked at each other and smiled, but Yirui was somewhat worried, "Will it be because I said something wrong during the day and made her unhappy? Should we go take a look?" Yunqiu quickly said: "Madam, don't go, being smashed to injury would be even worse. Moreover, Cloud Gerge somehow drove all the palace maids out, everyone is finding a place to hide!"

  Yi Rui hesitated after hearing the words, just as Qing Qiu entered with a bowl of bird's nest soup. It had been several days since Yi Rui had seen Qing Qiu, let alone have her attend to her in her room. As Qing Qiu ladled out the bird's nest from the pot, she spoke warmly: "The past few days, I was careless and caught a cold, so I didn't dare come near to serve you, milady." Yi Rui quickly asked: "Are you feeling better now?" Qing Qiu smiled: "I'm all better! Milady, drink this bird's nest soup and have a good sleep, and you'll be fine soon too!" Yi Rui had never felt Qing Qiu being so gentle and considerate towards her before, and was doubly surprised. She drank the bird's nest soup and fell asleep.

  This sleep was exceptionally sweet for Yirui, and when she woke up, it was already past noon. Yunqiu and Yunyan hurried to attend to Yirui's washing, dressing, and hairdressing.

  At this time, it was also heard that a eunuch came to report, saying that Princess wanted to see him.

  Yi Rui also spoke up, and Cloud Autumn hastily said: "What is she doing here again?" Yi Rui pressed down on Cloud Autumn's hand to calm her. To the eunuch, she said: "Let her wait outside the door, just say I haven't gotten up yet." Cloud Autumn anxiously said: "What's the use of saying that, she'll still force her way in. Little Xiangzi, you must definitely stop her."

  It's strange to say, but on this day Yunhui not only didn't sneak in privately, but instead waited respectfully outside the door for nearly an hour. When it was time to meet, she also properly performed a ritual curtsy.

  Yirui felt a bit embarrassed, and after exchanging a few casual words with Yihui, she noticed that Yihui kept glancing around stealthily. So she asked: "Sister, if you've taken a liking to something in my room, just say so, and I'll definitely give it to you."

  Yun Hui smiled and said: "Sister dare not accept sister's gift, just think this house is decorated very elegantly, want to take a look."

  Yi Rui stood up and said: "Sister, please go ahead."

  Yun Hui hastily got up and the first thing she did was rush to the bed curtains, searching for something everywhere.

  Yun Qiu whispered privately: "In the past, wasn't it her job to clean and tidy up? What's so good about that?"

  After walking around in circles, it seemed like they couldn't find what Yunhui was looking for. Seeing her disappointed expression, Yirui curiously asked: "Sister, what are you looking for?"

  Yun Hui shook her head and remained silent for a while, then asked Yi Rui: "Good sister, did the fourth brother come back last night?"

  Yi Rui was shocked by her words, and she exchanged a glance with Yun Yan and Yun Qiu, saying: "The Fourth Prince must have already left the Jade Gate Pass, accompanying the Emperor. How can he return to the palace at will? Moreover, if he were to return to the palace, there would definitely be an advance procession, so how could it be so quiet?"

  Yun Hui nodded blankly, muttering: "Yes, yes......"

  Yi Rui saw her unnatural appearance and couldn't help but ask: "Could it be that sister saw the Fourth Prince last night?"

  "Not at all, not at all..." Yunhui suddenly became flustered, wiping the fine sweat on her forehead with a handkerchief. "Sister has something to attend to, I'll take my leave first!" She hastily walked towards the door, and just as she was about to reach it, she turned back to give Yiruifeng a slight bow.

  After Yunhui left, Yuyan couldn't help but burst out laughing and said: "This person is really interesting, yesterday he was still arrogant and domineering, but in just one day, he became humble and courteous, with perfect manners."

  In these forty days since Yun Chen left, Yun Hui did not come to stir up trouble again, and Yu Ruo was also happy to be carefree.

  Seven days after Yongzheng's return, Yirui unexpectedly received an invitation from Yunhui to have dinner with Yongzheng and the three of them.

  It's said that they will have dinner with Yunhui and Yinbin, Yuyan and Yunqiu can't wait to take out all the clothes in the closet and let Yirui try them on one by one. Seeing herself wearing a full head of jade hairpins, Yirui couldn't help but laugh and say: "What's this for? Do you want to turn me into a hedgehog?"

  Yunyan held a golden phoenix hairpin with one hand, and searched for a suitable place while muttering to herself: "The mistress doesn't mind these things, but I do. I feel that we can't let the princess's quarters be inferior."

  Yi Rui smiled and snatched the hairpin from Yunyan's hand, then inserted it into Yunyan's "second bun", saying: "This way, you won't be outdone!"

  The cloud goose's energy was extremely exhausted, and she took off her golden hairpin, stomping her foot and saying: "I'm not talking about myself, I'm talking about you, Master!"

  Yi Rui slowly pulled out a few exquisite pearl hairpins and said, "A family dinner, let's keep it simple."

  "However, Fourth Brother is present!"

  The door creaked open and Qingqiu walked in with a food box, seeing the three of them arguing over their makeup. After some thought, she said, "May I offer my humble opinion, milady?"

  Yi Rui smiled and said: "Being able to get Aunt's guidance is the best."

  Ning Qiu also styled her hair into a "swallowtail bun", picked a small and delicate shell chrysanthemum hairpin, and inserted several crystal hairpins on the side. She then called Yunyue to bring over a moon-white colored soft bamboo robe.

  The cloud goose pouted and said: "It's not good at all, it's so plain, how can it compare to that foxy girl?"

  Qingyu said sternly, "Shut up. Yun Gege is also someone by the side of the Fourth Prince, how can you allow me to privately criticize him? In the palace, one cannot seek victory, otherwise, seeking it will only bring unrest."

  Yi Rui gazed at herself in the mirror, and the beautiful woman in the mirror was elegant and refined. She smiled and said, "Auntie really understands me deeply."

  The dinner was set in the "Dongyutai" inside the Haichengge, and this dinner party was carefully planned by Yunhui. The dishes were sumptuous, to say nothing of Yunhui's dress, a hundred-flower brocade that made her face radiant with joy. After several cups of wine, she became even more charming and lovely.

  It was already September, and Yirui was weak, a gust of autumn wind passed by, and she couldn't help but sneeze several times.

  "Look at you, this body has no color to speak of. It must be that those dead slaves didn't take good care of you. People are thinner than chrysanthemums..."

  Yi Rui put on a cloak and smiled: "My concubine's body has always been weak, it's no wonder others would bully her."

  Yun Hui hastily took over: "Fu Jin is a magnanimous person, and I, Hui, am ashamed to be inferior."

  Yin Zhen took a sip of tea, looked at Yi Rui and said: "Today Yun Hui is hosting a banquet, there's something I need to ask you, I'm afraid you won't be happy about it, so I've been asked to come and talk to you."

  Yi Rui's heart skipped a beat, and she forced a smile.

  Yin Zheng continued, "Hui'er's reputation is already well-known to everyone. If there are still servants who share the same name as her, it would be easy for people to gossip about it. You are Fu Jin, you should help come up with a solution."

  Yi Rui smiled secretly in her heart: "This Yunhui, doesn't want to get into trouble herself, but instead throws the problem at me." After some thought, she said: "Why not let the lower officials change 'cloud' to 'rain', rain and autumn, praying for a great Qing dynasty with favorable winds and rains, it's also a good intention."

  Yun Hui Xi said: "Thank you, Fu Jin, Hui Er respects you!"

  Yi Rui got up and took the wine cup, but it was not easy to pour the wind and fall to the ground. Tonight is just sixteen, the moon is on the willow branch, the earth is white and bright. On Yi Rui's head, a chrysanthemum hairpin shines brightly, accompanied by the reflection of broken crystal stones, her eyes are bright and her teeth are white, her skin is as white as jade, really like a fairy from the moon coming down to the world, like smoke and mist. Next to her was Yun Hui in red clothes, who was simply a woman from the market, so vulgar that she couldn't bear it.

  The immortal has a somewhat distracted expression, and can't help but chant: "The fairy wears a snow-white cloak, the goddess is not dressed in red. The pink butterfly comes rarely seen, the hemp garment is even more fragrant."

  "Osmanthus clusters are ashamed and simultaneously bloom, plum blossoms envy the first fragrance. Upon entering the jade-like flowers' song, from now on spread joyful verses."

  "Good one, a carefree and self-satisfied Yao Hua's poem."

  Yunhui didn't understand poetry and songs at all, and had no idea what the two were talking about. She could only get up and pour wine for them again.

  At this time, Qingyu brought a tray of sweet rice cakes and said loudly: "Osmanthus fragrans pendants, chrysanthemum hairpins, Double Ninth Festival cakes, these are things that ordinary people use to pray for good luck. The osmanthus fragrans pendants have already been sent to each room, now I invite the Fourth Prince, Fuheng and Yun'er to eat the Double Ninth Festival cakes together, symbolizing a smooth and successful new year.

  Upon seeing the exquisite pastry, Yongzheng said with relish: "I really didn't expect that Qingxiu would have such good culinary skills, let's give it a try!" After speaking, everyone took a piece to taste. The pastry was delicate and smooth, but had an extremely strong milk flavor. Rui also remembered eating Double Ninth Cake at home, which was clear and sweet, completely unlike this one.

  Yi Rui was deep in thought, but saw Yun Hui suddenly vomiting loudly, and even spit out all the food she had eaten earlier. Yin Zhen's heart was anxious, and he couldn't help but rush forward to pat her back, shouting: "Xiao Chengzi, hurry up and call for the imperial physician."

  "No, no!" Yunhui grasped Yongzheng's sleeve tightly and said: "In the past few days, I missed Fourth Master so much that I couldn't eat or sleep, and my intestines were injured. I've already asked the imperial physician to come and treat me." After speaking, she vomited again.

  "Which imperial physician is it? The chief or the deputy? No, I'm not reassured. Let them come again and I'll ask myself."

  Yun Hui became even more anxious and repeated: "No no no..."

  Ning Qiu said: "Since Yun Gege is like this, please ask the imperial physician to come and take a look again. In case the condition worsens, it won't be good. At least we can instruct the maids to pay more attention to his diet and be more careful!"

  Yun Hui turned around and said to Ning Qiu: "Shut up! Get out! I'm fine, don't call a doctor!"

  Yin Zuan became increasingly strange, he pushed Yun Hui away, walked down the pavilion, and whispered a few words to Xiao Chengzi. Xiao Chengzi immediately left quickly.

  Yunhui in the pavilion had a dead man's aura emanating from her eyes. She knew that Xiaochengzi was heading towards the Imperial Hospital.

  Her secret will be revealed soon.

  Yi Rui's face changed suddenly, and she didn't know what to say. She picked up her own cloak and put it on Yun Hui...

  Yun Hui suddenly turned against her previous obedience, knocking away Yi Rui's hand, and a wolf-like glint appeared in her eyes.

  Yi Rui's eyes trembled for a moment, this gaze, she had seen it before when Liu Bojun was about to die. Could it be... Yunhui...