mtl008 Chapter 190 The White-Clad Ghost
Chapter 190 The White-Clad Ghost
The matter of the late Consort Gui has always been a taboo in the harem.
Now, when these two palace maids mention it, the Imperial Garden at noon seems to suddenly become gloomy.
The palace maid, seemingly oblivious, continued, "I've heard that ever since that imperial concubine passed away, the palace has become very eerie at night, and you can often hear women crying."
"Could it be that the lingering spirit of that person is still haunting the palace?"
The two maids chatted back and forth, making a lot of unfounded speculations. When they got to the creepy parts, they both gasped and felt a chill run down their spines.
What nonsense are you two spouting here?
Chu Qingyin emerged from behind the flower wall with an icy expression.
Upon hearing Chu Qingyin's voice, the two maids trembled with fright, turned around hastily, and knelt on the ground with a thud.
"Greetings, Consort Qiao...May you be well."
One of the maids, her voice trembling with tears, looked at her face, which bore an uncanny resemblance to the late Consort, and grew even more frightened: "We...we were just chatting and had no intention of offending the late Consort."
Chu Qingyin's gaze was like frost as she coldly swept over them. "What kind of place is this, where you are allowed to spout such nonsense? If someone with ulterior motives hears this, how many heads do you have to chop off?"
Another maid raised her head tremblingly, her eyes filled with fear and pleading. "Your Highness, I really didn't mean it. It's just... the atmosphere in the palace has been so strange these past few days. We maids on night duty feel uneasy."
Chu Qingyin frowned, and Xianglan beside her spoke first: "What strange things could there be in the palace? I think you're the ones with guilty consciences."
"It's true. My sister saw it with her own eyes. She would never lie to me."
One of the bolder girls knelt on the ground, her face pale, her voice filled with fear, but even more so with fear of the person in charge.
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin's expression tightened slightly, but she still kept a straight face and said, "Speak, what did your sister see? If you dare to lie, I will not let you off easily."
The maid swallowed hard, her voice trembling as she said, "Your Majesty, when my sister was on night duty, she passed by that abandoned side hall of the Cold Palace and saw a blurry figure inside, like a woman in palace attire, floating around. She was so frightened that her legs went weak, and she ran back as fast as she could. She's still sick now."
"absurd!"
Xianglan scolded, "It's late at night. Maybe your sister is seeing things or has been frightened by some stray cats or dogs, so she's making up these nonsense stories."
But the maid hurriedly shook her head, her voice trembling with tears, and said, "Sister Xianglan, you're not seeing things. My sister may be timid, but she wouldn't dare to lie to everyone about something like this."
"Moreover, in the past few days, many people in the palace have felt something was amiss at night, always hearing faint cries."
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingyin frowned even more deeply.
After a moment, she raised her eyes and looked in the direction of the abandoned side hall, and said in a deep voice, "This matter must not be publicized any further. If I hear even a whisper of it, none of you will have an easy time."
The two maids nodded hurriedly and said yes repeatedly.
Chu Qingyin waved her hand, signaling them to leave.
The two maids, as if granted a pardon, quickly stood up, bowed their heads, and hurriedly retreated.
Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, Chu Qingyin's expression softened slightly.
What do you mean by "wandering spirit"? She's just standing right here, isn't she?
"Your Majesty, you said that Her Majesty the Empress suddenly fell ill. Could it be related to this matter?"
Xianglan looked uneasy. Now that she had been in the palace for so long, she had heard some of the rumors that had circulated.
The former Consort Chu died in that side hall of the Cold Palace. But what was Empress Wang doing there?
"Do not speak recklessly."
Chu Qingyin's expression changed, and she said coldly, "Have someone investigate whether that palace maid's sister is truly ill."
"Yes." Xianglan nodded immediately upon hearing this.
After the two returned to Feixue Palace, she asked Kang Luhai to investigate personally.
Kang Luhai accepted the order and left, but soon returned.
With a solemn expression, he knelt before Chu Qingyin and reported, "Your Majesty, the younger sister of that pruning maid is indeed bedridden."
"According to her maid, when she returned from her night watch that day, she was pale, trembling all over, and kept muttering that there were ghosts. She was obviously terrified. The female doctor couldn't figure it out either, and only said that she was too frightened."
"The news has spread throughout the palace. Everyone says that Consort Chu has returned to claim our lives."
Kang Luhai knew that his mistress was favored because of that person, and he was already careful with his words, but he still saw a chilling coldness on Chu Qingyin's face.
He quickly lowered his head, not daring to look any further.
Just then, Chen Zhongliang's announcement came from outside the door, "His Majesty has arrived—"
Chu Qingyin was startled and quickly got up to greet her.
"Your Majesty, I respectfully welcome you. May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings."
A young emperor in a long black robe strode in from outside the door, his hands behind his back.
"What are you talking about, my beloved concubine? The atmosphere in the palace is so heavy."
The man's steady voice broke the silence, a gentle smile playing on his lips, but the sharpness in his eyes was undeniable.
"We just chatted about some trivial things."
Chu Qingyin's voice was soft and gentle, with a perfectly timed smile on her face. "It's still early, Your Majesty. What brings you here?"
"There were few official business matters today, so I came over as soon as I finished my work."
Pei Yuanling waved his hand, indicating that everyone should dispense with formalities.
His gaze swept over the faces of everyone in the hall, finally settling on Chu Qingyin. His dark eyes narrowed slightly: "I sensed something was off as soon as I arrived at the door. What's wrong? Has something happened?"
Xianglan and Kang Luhai exchanged a glance, then both lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound.
Chu Qingyin composed herself and said gently, "It's nothing. I was just strolling around the Imperial Garden today when I overheard two maids talking about gods and ghosts, so I sent someone to inquire about it."
"Oh?"
Pei Yuanling narrowed his eyes slightly, then walked to the main seat and sat down, taking a sip of tea. "Did you find out anything?"
Seeing that he had no intention of letting the matter rest, Chu Qingyin said helplessly, "They say there are strange figures in that abandoned side hall at night, and strange crying sounds can be faintly heard from it."
"But there are no evil spirits in this world. It's probably just someone making a fuss about it."
It wasn't that Chu Qingyin didn't believe in ghosts and gods; after all, she herself had been reborn into this body by a twist of fate, so she really had no choice but to believe.
But she herself is already here, so who is the white-clad ghost in the cold palace?
This matter had already spread like wildfire throughout the palace, and Pei Yuanling couldn't possibly be unaware of it. Perhaps it was because he learned of this that he suddenly came to Feixue Palace.
"So, according to Yinyin, what's going on here?"
Pei Yuanling has been extremely busy these days, and the thin dark circles under his eyes have deepened.
Now that this incident has happened in the harem, he can't give anyone a friendly look.
"Your Majesty, I dare not speak presumptuously."
Chu Qingyin pondered for a moment, sighed, and said carefully, "But this rumor came out of nowhere, and it's likely that someone is deliberately doing it behind the scenes. As Your Majesty knows, the palace has never been peaceful, and it's inevitable that some people will use this to cause trouble."
"I was just about to be promoted to the rank of Consort when the Empress fell ill. And just then, rumors started to circulate. It's hard not to have some doubts about the twists and turns involved."
Chu Qingyin sighed, her bright face contorted with distress, "I suppose it won't be long before rumors spread that I am a demonic concubine, and that the Empress fell ill because my promotion to the rank of concubine offended her."