Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 504 Strange Fragrance

No, we can't just stand there and take a beating!
Lin Zhiqing didn't have time to think much and followed the palace maid's steps.

The maid she brought today was a former bodyguard. Although she was somewhat taciturn, her martial arts skills were top-notch, and she could hold off an unexpected situation for a while.

The two hadn't walked far when they soon heard a crying sound.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, wake up, Your Majesty!"

Lin Zhiqing frowned. As more and more people gathered around her, she had a feeling that something was wrong, and it was likely to be something serious!
Consort Rong's maid pushed aside the onlookers on the outside, and as soon as she peeked inside, her legs went weak.

After realizing what had happened, she spoke in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty!"

Then, she staggered and ran inside.

Lin Zhiqing quickly squeezed in.

Red! A striking expanse of red appeared before her eyes.

Then came a very strong smell of blood.

Consort Rong's head slammed against a rock, her whole body trembled, and her pupils dilated.

Even the usually composed Lin Zhiqing couldn't help but shrink his pupils.

What is going on?
How did someone who was just arrogant and domineering suddenly become like this?

Seeing several palace maids surrounding Consort Rong, weeping and wailing, Lin Zhiqing couldn't help but shout outside, "Summon the imperial physician!"

Her shout snapped everyone around her out of their daze, and they immediately ran towards the Imperial Hospital.

Lin Zhiqing took a few steps forward; there was too much blood!
She could sense that Consort Rong's life force was rapidly fading away.

No one dared to approach her.

Lin Zhiqing gasped and took a few steps back.

She immediately began to observe her surroundings.

This is a corner of the Imperial Garden, which looks extremely remote. There are very few palace servants around, barely enough to form a small circle.

Consort Rong lay in the middle of a path, with a huge artificial rockery not far away.

Beneath her head was a somewhat sharp stone, completely stained red with blood.

There were some withered yellow leaves on the path, and rainwater had accumulated in some places.

Looking at it this way, could it be that the ground was slippery, causing Consort Rong to slip and fall, which led to the accident?
This situation doesn't seem like Consort Rong was plotting against her at all.

Just as Lin Zhiqing's thoughts were in disarray, the imperial physician rushed over.

Not just the imperial physicians, but also... Consort Shu?
Not far from the Imperial Garden is the Thousand Carp Pond, so Consort Shu was indeed not far away.

At this moment, Consort Shu's face was pale and her hair was slightly disheveled.

Her skirt had some mud spots on it, but her shoes and socks were perfectly clean.

She subconsciously glanced at Consort Shu's clothes and attire, and soon, more and more people came upon hearing the sound.

There were eunuchs, palace maids, guards, and some concubines enjoying themselves nearby.

There were so many people that she was pushed to the edge.

Soon, several heart-wrenching voices grew louder.

Lin Zhiqing felt a chill run down her spine; she knew what this meant.

Consort Rong is dead!

The imperial physician said it himself.

Before she could even process the news, the Empress arrived in a hurry.

Such a major event in the palace has had a very negative impact.

As the last person to have contact with Consort Rong, Lin Zhiqing was taken to Fengyi Palace for questioning.

"Miss Lin, why did you clash with Consort Rong today?" The Empress sat on the high platform, staring intently at Lin Zhiqing.

Lin Zhiqing took a deep breath: "Your Majesty, Consort Xian has other matters to attend to. She has asked a maid to lead me around the Imperial Garden."

"Consort Rong was also in the Imperial Garden. She dismissed Consort Xian's servants and asked me to peel chestnuts for her."

Lin Zhiqing recounted the entire story, word for word.

Her testimony was consistent with that of Consort Rong's maid, and no one could find fault with it.

The Empress took a deep breath: "Miss Lin should know the seriousness of this matter. After leaving the palace, you should know what you should say and what you shouldn't say."

"Your subject understands." Lin Zhiqing certainly wouldn't go around spreading rumors; she wasn't ready to live any longer.

Just when she thought she could leave the palace, the Empress pursed her lips and said, "You will stay in Fengyi Palace for now. I will let you leave the palace after the matter has been investigated."

"Your subject obeys." Lin Zhiqing knew that some people might doubt her, so she did not dwell on the matter too much.

As time passed, Lin Zhiqing, who lived in the side hall of Fengyi Palace, remained uneasy.

She knew the palace was no good place, but she never imagined that a lively person could turn into a corpse in an instant.

Even if Consort Rong was at odds with her, it was still a living, breathing human life.

Did you fall accidentally?
Lin Zhiqing felt something was off, but couldn't quite put her finger on it.

But soon, something even stranger happened.

In the dead of night, when no one was around, Lin Zhiqing and his bodyguards slept fully clothed, but they faintly smelled a very faint fragrance.

The fragrance appeared so suddenly and eerily in the dead of night.

If Lin Zhiqing hadn't been so uneasy and unable to sleep, she might never have discovered it.

The guards also noticed this and immediately opened their eyes.

The two exchanged a glance, feeling that the whole thing was strangely unsettling.

Lin Zhiqing intended to wet the handkerchief with tea and cover her nose, but she stopped abruptly just as she picked up the teapot.

This is Fengyi Palace, the Empress's territory. What if the Empress were to target them?
Then everything in this room is dangerous!

She put down the teapot, tore the handkerchief into several pieces, and stuffed them into her nose.

The guards followed suit, plugging Lin Zhiqing's nose and shoving her under the bed.

The scent of incense rises, making the ground the safest place at that time.

Lin Zhiqing had no martial arts skills, so he did not show off.

The room was pitch black, and she could only rely on her hearing to determine the location of the guards.

The guards first observed the room to confirm that the fragrance was not coming from inside.

So, only the outside of the door remains.

The guards moved quickly to the door but found nothing unusual.

The taste seemed to appear out of nowhere.

Lin Zhiqing felt a little nervous, but she still kept thinking.

She thought for a moment and snapped her fingers.

The guards, who had intended to break down the door, heard the snap of their fingers and quickly returned to the bedside.

"You come in first, and we'll pretend we don't know anything and see what the people outside are up to!" Lin Zhiqing said.

The guard nodded and rolled over to lie down on the bed.

The two held their breath and felt that time was passing very slowly.

After who knows how much time had passed, the door creaked open!
Lin Zhiqing didn't dare to move, tightly covering her nose and mouth.

She could hear someone coming in, and they were deliberately keeping their footsteps low.

Soon, the footsteps approached the bedside.

The room was completely silent, so silent it was almost eerie.

Who is coming?
Why would they target Lin Zhiqing?
Could it be that the Empress wants to harm her?

This is Fengyi Palace, how come other people are coming in?
Various thoughts flashed through Lin Zhiqing's mind until the footsteps stopped in front of the bed.

By the moonlight, Lin Zhiqing could see the boots of the person beside the bed.

Those were a man's feet!
man!?
Why would a man appear at Fengyi Palace?
Or was this person originally from Fengyi Palace?
A fine layer of sweat appeared on Lin Zhiqing's forehead.

Because she could clearly see that the man was holding a long sword.

If Lin Zhiqing hadn't noticed that strange fragrance, he would probably be dead by now.

How to do?
This is the royal palace!
How could the palace be like an ordinary person's home, where anyone could come and go as they pleased?
The person at my bedside is definitely not simple!
Just as Lin Zhiqing was pondering, a long sword gleaming with a cold light was raised.

He's going to take action!
Lin Zhiqing took a deep breath. She knew that the guards would not let this person succeed, but she was still unsure.

As the longsword was raised higher and higher, she felt a chill run down her spine.

coming!

"Boom!"

At the critical moment, a knock sounded on the door.

Lin Zhiqing's breath hitched, and in the blink of an eye, the man in front of the bed had disappeared.

His footsteps led towards the window, and as the window opened and closed, the room fell completely silent.

Once he was sure the person had left, the guard rolled out of bed and looked towards the door.

"Miss, it's Her Majesty the Empress!"

Hearing this, Lin Zhiqing still dared not relax.

The man just now found the window with ease, clearly very familiar with the place.

What kind of person was the Empress?
The question quickly popped into her mind.

"Wait a little longer," Lin Zhiqing said in a very low voice.

The guard nodded and stopped moving.

But soon, the knocking on the door became more urgent.

Lin Zhiqing frowned.

If the Empress outside were in cahoots with the previous group, she certainly wouldn't have made such a fuss. What exactly is going on?

The knocking grew louder and louder, and soon Lin Zhiqing heard the voice of the empress's maidservant again.

"Your Majesty, you're having a fit of hysteria. Come back with me immediately..."

Hysteria?

What does this mean?
Before she could even think, the Empress's voice rang out:

"Miss Lin, are you asleep?"

Her tone sounded somewhat anxious, not like she was trying to be mysterious.

Lin Zhiqing gritted her teeth, believing her ears, and quickly crawled out from under the bed: "Your Majesty, this humble woman has not yet gone to sleep."

As she spoke, she quickly turned on the light and opened the door.

Then she saw the Queen close her eyes and let out a long sigh.

"Your Majesty, what has happened? If you wish to see me, simply give the order," Lin Zhiqing said.

"It's nothing, it's nothing." The Empress's joy instantly turned to calm. She looked at the nanny beside her and quickly spoke:

"Let's go. You're right, I'm having a fit."

With that, she turned and walked out first.

Lin Zhiqing only saw the backs of the Empress and the old woman.