Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 255: The Matter of the Three-Year Disappearance

"Jiang Lanye."

She suddenly called out.

"Ok?"

Song Yi suddenly leaned in, and taking advantage of the brief moment when everyone was captivated by the singing and dancing, she quickly placed a kiss on his lips, and then whispered, "I like you."

Jiang Lanye clicked his tongue lightly, and was about to reach out and pull Song Yi over when Song Yi immediately raised her hand: "Hey, mind the occasion. I have to behave more dignifiedly today."

After saying that, she began to pretend to enjoy the song and dance.

After the dance ended, the Empress Dowager's expression worsened.

Jiang Lanye didn't turn his head to look the whole time. What's the use of dancing so well?

Immediately afterwards, Consort Ning stood up.

She tried to relax, smiled, and walked to the center of the hall, taking the initiative to speak to Jiang Lanye first:

"Your Majesty, the atmosphere tonight is quite pleasant. Since the young lady has already performed a dance, I would like to offer my humble self a piece of music for Your Majesty. I hope Your Majesty will enjoy it."

Jiang Lanye responded with a faint "yes".

As Consort Ning prepared to play the zither, Consort Shen stared at her intently.

Heh. Actually, Consort Ning isn't a big deal. These days, she's noticed that His Majesty seems to treat her no differently than he treats others; he's still very indifferent.

Oh no, it's still a little different.

At least His Majesty paid attention to her; that's better than being the first to dance.

Song Yi stole the wine from Jiang Lanye's hand and took a small sip.

She frowned slightly: "No wonder you're a little drunk, this wine feels so stimulating."

She decisively pushed the wine back.

The melodious sound of a zither filled the hall, but Song Yi didn't know why she felt so bored and even a little sleepy.

She discovered that people in this world, even at family gatherings, only used these kinds of entertainment: dance was elegant and moving, as was music.

It's beautiful, but it feels unoriginal. After a while, it inevitably becomes boring.

Jiang Lanye was really a bit drunk. He usually had a high alcohol tolerance, but tonight's drink was unusually strong, something he hadn't drunk much of before.

"Do you want to go out and sober up?"

Song Yi lowered her eyelids and looked at Jiang Lanye, then touched his cheek with some concern.

"it is good."

Jiang Lanye stood up. Ning Fei was still playing the zither when he saw him take Song Yi's hand and leave.

The Empress Dowager frowned, and seeing that Consort Ning was still pretending to be calm and continuing to play, she was speechless.

Suddenly, Consort Shen stood up.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty seems a little drunk. I'll go and check on him."

She smiled with relief: "Good child, go quickly, I'm also a little worried."

"Yes."

Jiang Lanye walked steadily, and Song Yi's hand was firmly held by him as she was pulled out of Huayin Palace.

Under the thick moonlight, the two walked under the corridor. Listening to the faint chirping of cicadas all around, Song Yi suddenly realized that summer was just around the corner.

No wonder it's been getting hotter these past few days.

The night breeze was still quite cool. Jiang Lanye held Song Yi in his arms, pressing most of his weight against her and nuzzling her neck: "You smell so good."

Song Yi smelled the strong smell of alcohol on him and pouted in dissatisfaction: "Jiang Lanye, if you're really drunk, I'll just leave you here and abandon you."

Jiang Lanye paused, then immediately stood up straight: "I am not drunk."

Seeing his forced sobriety, Song Yi couldn't help but laugh out loud. Then, she suddenly realized something, raised her hand to touch her hair, and her expression changed drastically.

"It seems like the hair ornament fell off. I remember it was still there when I came out. It probably fell off on that stretch of road. I need to go look for it."

Seeing this, Jiang Lanye was about to follow her when Song Yi found it amusing and pressed him down to sit beside her: "You're swaying as you walk. It must have been because you kept rubbing against me that your hair ornament fell off. I'll go look for it."

He squinted, looking somewhat lazy: "Hurry up."

"understood."

Song Yi was a little anxious. That hairpin was extremely valuable and had a special symbolic meaning. If it were lost somewhere, she would definitely be extremely upset tonight.

When Consort Shen hurriedly chased after him, she caught a glimpse of the bright palace lanterns under the corridor. Jiang Lanye was sitting there, leaning against a pillar with his eyes half-closed.

She immediately took a detour and jogged to Jiang Lanye's side.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say."

She was panting, feeling inexplicably nervous, wondering how Jiang Lanye would react to what she was about to say.

Jiang Lanye had just closed his eyes to rest, but after getting drunk, even his thoughts slowed down. When he heard Shen Zhaoyi's voice, he opened his eyes, somewhat impatient.

"what's up?"

"Your Majesty, I have found out about the matter of the Imperial Concubine's disappearance for three years."

Jiang Lanye paused, his tone cold: "Who gave you permission to investigate these things without authorization?"

Consort Shen's heart suddenly raced, and her fingertips unconsciously tightened around the hem of her skirt. She took a deep breath and said softly, "I did not mean to offend you; I merely learned of some clues by chance."

Jiang Lanye's eyes cleared instantly, and his previous drunkenness vanished.

He had sent people to investigate those three years before, but even his own people couldn't find out. How could Consort Shen possibly know?

Besides, he no longer cares; all he cares about is that Song Yi will stay with him in the days to come.

Observing Jiang Lanye's reaction, Shen Zhaoyi became more and more certain that this matter was not simple.

She clapped her hands, and immediately two palace maids rushed over.

Jiang Lanye's gaze fell on them, his tone icy: "What?"

The two women knelt on the ground, somewhat panicked, and said, "Your Majesty, we two servants personally witnessed some things when Consort Yun appeared in the laundry department."

Consort Shen mustered her courage and asked, "Your Majesty saw the Imperial Concubine again in the Laundry Department, right? Regardless of how she came to the inner palace before that, when she appeared in the Laundry Department and changed her clothes, she revealed red marks all over her body."

The two palace maids quickly replied, "We saw it with our own eyes; it looked like it was being carried out by another man."

They dared not continue speaking.

Consort Shen said at the opportune moment, "Your Majesty, I did not want to investigate these matters, but I learned by chance that the Imperial Concubine had mysteriously disappeared for three years. During those three years, it is impossible to verify who took care of her, who was fond of her, or anything like that!"

"Your Majesty's heart is entirely devoted to the Imperial Concubine. If the Imperial Concubine were to wrong Your Majesty again, we, your humble servants, would be filled with utter rage!"

The moment the words were spoken, another set of footsteps sounded.

The three turned their heads and saw that Song Yi was holding the hairpin from before, looking at them with a puzzled expression.

Consort Shen steeled her resolve and said decisively, "Your Majesty, I did not intend to frame Your Highness, but it would be better for everyone if this matter were investigated thoroughly. How can the royal family tolerate such a person?"

Jiang Lanye remained unresponsive.

(End of this chapter)