C11

Is there any connection?

Looking at the respectful Ran Mei, Huai Jin nodded and started thinking. Originally, she hadn't inherited the original owner's memories, and it was due to Zhao Yang pushing the original owner into the water that she was able to be reborn. However, since the original owner's body was occupied by Zhao Yang and the original owner was her mortal enemy, if she really did arouse suspicion, then the empress dowager would protect Zhao Yang and put this matter aside.

Zhao Yang's matter could be put on hold, but not Ran Die's. Originally, she thought Ran Die's death was just an ordinary palace farce, but after seeing Yuwen Fei deal with Ran Die's corpse, she knew that it wasn't that simple. If he tried to investigate, he would be afraid of getting caught up in it. If he didn't care about the trouble, he wouldn't even know how he would die.

After thinking for a long time, Huai Jin decided to secretly investigate Ran Die's death, so she called Ran Mei along to the lotus pond.

Because of the water in the lotus pond, the air was even colder. Huai Jin had thought that there wouldn't be many people around the lotus pond at this time, but as soon as they arrived, they saw a group of palace maids and eunuchs looking for something.

"You guys go over there and take a look."

A maid who seemed to be the leader ordered the others beside her.

Seeing those people approaching, Huai Jin wanted to leave with Ran Mei, but she was stopped by someone.

"Since Princess Anping is here, why don't you sit with me and have a cup of tea?"

In the pavilion beside the lotus pond, the curtains were raised and Li Consort, who was dressed in a light purple palace attire, was drinking the tea in her hand as she tilted her head to look at Huai Jin.

Huai Jin halted her steps and her expression turned grim. She already suspected that Ran Die's matter was related to Li Consort. After all, she was the only one who could make Yuwen Fei come forward. She just didn't expect Li Consort to come looking for her so openly.

With a smirk on her face, Huai Jin made herself look as harmless as possible and walked into the pavilion.

"An Ping greets Imperial Concubine Fei."

Li Consort glanced at Huai Jin indifferently. After a long while, she finally replied, "Stand up."

Huai Jin sat opposite Li Consort and rubbed her sore legs. She pretended to be confused and kept looking around the court ladies and eunuchs, glancing at Li Consort. After hesitating for a while, she asked, "Imperial Concubine Fei, are you looking for something?"

Li Consort sipped some tea from her teacup and said casually, "Yes, I lost an earring over here."

Seeing this, Huai Jin didn't ask any more questions. She continued to drink the tea in her hand and chatted with Li Consort for a while.

"I heard that Zhao Yang has been with the Empress Dowager these past few days?" Li Consort tidied up the cloak handed to her, glanced at Huai Jin and casually asked.

Hearing that, Huai Jin snorted angrily, "If she has the ability, then she'll just stay in the Jubilee Palace and hide for the rest of her life!" He stomped his feet, as if he wanted to rush into the Jubilee Palace and beat Zhao Yang up badly.

Seeing her expression, Li Consort sneered. She opened her mouth and advised gently, "It's just a small matter. Since Prince Jin has taken responsibility for her, isn't that what you want? "After all, she's the granddaughter of the empress dowager's direct relative. Since the empress dowager is protecting her right now, you should take her in."

Huai Jin rolled her eyes in her heart and thought, "If you really want to persuade me, then you shouldn't remind me about my granddaughter, but on the surface, you should still cooperate very well with me."

Li Consort smiled and changed the topic. "But I'm curious. Why did you start a fight with Zhao Yang at the empress dowager's birthday banquet? Why did Prince Jin represent Zhao Yang?"

Huai Jin was stumped by his question. She was not unaware of the grudge between the original owner and Zhao Yang. She knew from Prince Jin that the original owner and Zhao Yang were quarreling because of Xibo Marquis, but this reason couldn't be known by anyone else. After hesitating for a moment, he said in a muffled voice, "I have long disliked her. "But Prince Jin..."

Li Consort was clearly shocked when she said that. She pursed her lips, and her face flushed red, but she could not say a single word. He couldn't help but laugh.

Actually, she also knew the situation inside, when someone told her that Huai Jin liked Xibo Marquis, and Yuwen Fei sent someone to tell her about the relationship between Prince Jin and Huai Jin today, so that she could defend her against Huai Jin, she really thought that the girl in front of her was someone who hid her true feelings very well.

Li Consort, who had "thought things through", finally relaxed her expression at Huai Jin. As Huai Jin thought of the past, she sighed softly and became a little more sincere.

"Found it!" A young eunuch shouted loudly in the distance, happily holding onto something as he ran into the pavilion.

"Did you find the Empress's earring?"

Hearing Huai Jin's voice, the young eunuch was stunned for a moment. He looked at Huai Jin strangely, grinned, and then brought his tightly clenched hands to Li Consort.

Huai Jin was curious and was about to take a look, but Li Consort had already taken the items and passed them to the maid beside her. She did not let Huai Jin see a single detail along the way.

After finding the item, Li Consort waved her hand to signal the palace maid to remove the item. She then got up and prepared to leave. However, just as he walked out of the pavilion, he stopped.

It was late at night, and the autumn wind blew and separated the two people. Huai Jin shivered as she saw this and quickly put on a cloak for Ran Mei.

"I heard that a palace maid died in Yongan Palace?" His light voice drifted in the wind, making it hard for people to hear him clearly from a distance.

Huai Jin's heart skipped a beat. She finally got down to business. With her eyes wide open, she asked, "How did Imperial Concubine Fei know?"

"Didn't the princess already see Fei'er today? Of course he told me." Li Consort paused for a moment before chuckling. Her voice then turned chilly, "She's just a palace maid, there's no need for the princess to be so concerned. After all, there are some things that might not be good for us to know."

With that, he turned around and led the group away.

Inside the pavilion, Huai Jin's hands were tightly clenched into fists. From the looks of it, Ran Die's death was caused by Li Consort, and she wasn't looking for any earrings just now. It was clear that she had left behind the evidence, but even if she knew, there was nothing she could do. If this was a trap set against her, she didn't have the ability to protect herself right now. A deep sense of powerlessness suffused Huai Jin's body.

"Princess, there is no need to be upset. This servant and Ran Die were sent by the marquis to protect the princess. If the princess is in danger because of us, then the servants will not be able to answer to the marquis." Ran Mei, who was standing at the side, looked at the gloomy-looking Huai Jin and comforted her.

It was obvious that Ran Mei blamed Huai Jin's depression on Ran Die's death. For a moment, she had a good impression of young master.

Huai Jin responded with a faint "hmm" and did not explain. The master and servant duo left the Lotus Pond one after the other.