Da Li Temple - Chapter 45.2

Chapter 45.2
Inside Man

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The Empress Dowager jolted and stretched her neck to probe outside the door, saying, “Is it Fu Gui? Come in.”
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She handed the teacup to the palace maid beside her, slightly straightening her demeanor.
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The officer beside the Emperor, Eunuch Fu Gui, marched in.
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The Empress Dowager saw a layer of fine sweat on his forehead from afar, thinking that there was something urgent. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have run over on such a hot day.
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He bowed to the Empress Dowager, reached up his sleeve, and took out a secret report, looking around nervously.
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The Empress Dowager immediately understood what was happening and dismissed everyone in the room.
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“Is it a secret report from Jingche?” She impatiently asked Fu Gui to present what was in his hand.
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Fu Gui nodded and said, “It’s what the Emperor asked his servant to take to the Empress Dowager.”
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The Empress Dowager received it, and after unwrapping it, she couldn’t even wait to read it herself and subconsciously asked, “Is there something going on over in Hongzhou?”

Fu Gui nodded and shook his head again, saying, “It was a close call ……”
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When the Empress Dowager heard him say that, half of her soul flew away in fear, and she didn’t have the heart to look at it herself and hurriedly asked, “What’s going on?”
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Fu Gui made a long story short, “It should be that someone has leaked the news; Hongzhou’s Governor suspected the identity of the Heir and tested him out.”
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“What?!” The Empress Dowager was so surprised that her body went limp and almost collapsed. Fortunately, Fu Gui was quick to help her.
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Previously, she heard Su Moyi was going to Hongzhou to do some work. This matter was only known to her, the Emperor, and Fu Gui for safety reasons.
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Somehow, the news leaked out; it was bizarre. However, the Empress Dowager could not care less about the strange; she hurriedly grabbed Fu Gui and worriedly asked, “Will Jingche be in danger?”
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Fu Gui hurriedly relieved her, “No. The good thing is the Heir is smart. Not only did he turn the danger into a haven, but he also dispelled Official Zhang’s doubts.”
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The Empress Dowager breathed a sigh of relief. With a look of anger, she gritted her teeth. She said: “I told him long ago not to be the Chief of the Da Li Temple. He is either arresting criminals or spies. He couldn’t care less, but I’m a handful of old bones, feeling fear and worry all day. You see, I’m missing a few pounds.”
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“……” Fu Gui looked at the Empress Dowager’s double chin, silent.
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The Empress Dowager whines for a while, not forgetting to continue to probe: “That Jing che said what news has leaked?”
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Fu Gui thought for a moment and said in a low voice, “The Heir said that Official Zhang seemed to know that he was injured some time ago.”
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“This ……” the Empress Dowager could not help but shrink at the sound of it.
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Even the Emperor reluctantly told her about the matter of Su Moyi’s injury, not to mention the others. Thinking about it carefully, except for Dr. Bai and Su Moyi’s Ye Qing and Lin Wanqing, who came to Hongzhou this time, she was the only one who knew about this matter.
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As the order of the Imperial Physician, Dr. Bai has always been a tight-lipped person. From the previous Emperor to the present day, he has always been her most trusted doctor, so it is unlikely that something went wrong on his side.
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In that case, how did Official Zhang know about it?
Could there be spies from Song Zhengxing’s party mixed in with her or the Emperor?

The more the Empress Dowager thought about it, the more she was afraid, and she only felt a chill in her heart. She shook Fu Gui’s hand and asked, “Are you sure no one else knows about Jingche’s injury?”
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Fu Gui was startled by the question and hurriedly knelt down to clarify, “This is something that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor ordered to conceal; even if this slave has a hundred guts, I wouldn’t dare to talk nonsense!”
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“I didn’t say it was you,” the Empress Dowager picked up the person with one hand and said straightly, “You think about it. What other people could know about this matter apart from us?”
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Fu Gui wiped the fine sweat on his head with his sleeve, frowned, pondered momentarily, and said, “Empress Dowager, think about it. Recently, are there people around you who you’ve had contact with? Maybe it is an unintentional mistake, a slip of the tongue.”
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The Empress Dowager silently pondered, nodded, and said, “Recently, the days have been so hot. Except for those palace consorts who greeted me, I have not been out of the door. With my mouth closed at all times, I think I am going rancid. Who can I talk to?”
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“Yes, yes ……” Fu Gui bent down to agree and unintentionally said, “Empress Dowager did not go out to walk?”
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“Walk?” The Empress Dowager asked rhetorically, only saying, “A few days ago, Shu’er came to find me, accompanying me to walk at the Taiyi Pond.”
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At this point, the Empress Dowager’s words abruptly broke off. She looked at Fu Gui in a daze; her face was in disbelief. Seeing her sudden silence and frightening face, Fu Gui was so scared that he hurriedly knelt again but was yanked up by the Empress Dowager’s hand.
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“When did Zhang Ren test Jingche?” She asked, her face solemn.
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Fu Gui thought momentarily and said, “The letter said it was two days ago.”
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Two days ago.
From Sheng City to Hongzhou, the fastest transmission would take two days. If Su Moyi had sent a letter back the first time after suspecting a mole, then the news must have traveled from Sheng City four days ago. Calculating the time, Wei Shu came to Chang’an Hall to pay her respects about five or six days ago.
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Moreover, during her walk at the Taiyi Pond, she questioned Su Moyi’s news more than once. At first, she only thought Wei Shu was concerned about his condition. Still, to cover up the trip to Hongzhou, she casually used his injury after chasing a fugitive as an excuse to stall.
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Thinking about this, the Empress Dowager felt something blocked her chest, and every breath was suffocating.
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This matter was too bizarre. After all, Wei Shu, a grand princess, why would she have to help Song Zhengxing? Furthermore, wasn’t she bent on marrying Jingche?
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Unless —
The Empress Dowager was startled, stunned by her absurd thoughts. But her eyes then sank, and the hand still carrying Fu Gui’s lapel suddenly tightened, saying, “Accompany me to the Cheng Huan Hall.”
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Author Notes :??
Lord Su: I’ll be lighter next time and won’t shoot it inside from now on.
Qingqing: I only heard ‘next time’ and ‘from now on’; thanks!