NOVEL NEXT Chapter 296: Falling into a trap
Early in the morning, a woman in gorgeous clothes entered the dyeing building with several maids.
The waiters in the restaurant knew she was Concubine Xian just by looking at her.
After all, although there are many nobles in the capital, they rarely go out with three or four maids. Moreover, the clothes she wears are much more gorgeous than ordinary people, and her every move is unusual. She is really conspicuous in the crowd.
But none of them showed anything strange. Only one person came forward and asked: "Is this lady dining downstairs or choosing a quiet private room?"
Concubine Xian didn't raise her eyes, and the maid on the side said: "We want a private room and bring you the best wine and food."
"Yes, please go upstairs."
The waiter chose a private room near the back for them, and then went to prepare the food and drinks.
Soon, the waiter came to serve the food, and also brought a bottle of the best wine in Zhaoranlou and placed it on the table.
"Wait a minute, I have something to ask you."
Concubine Xian suddenly called out to the waiter.
The waiter stopped without much hesitation and replied: "You tell me."
"I see that your dye house business is very good, and the dishes look good. I think your boss is a capable person. I wonder if you can let me meet him?"
After she asked, the maid took a bag of silver and stuffed it into the waiter's hand, and said, "Speak well, and my wife will reward you."
The waiter was also prepared. He weighed the money in his hand and replied with a greedy expression on his face: "To be honest, our boss is not in the restaurant and rarely comes back. I don't know when he will come back." Come on. In this way, I won’t accept your money in vain. You can leave your name and when our boss comes back, I will tell him immediately, do you think this is okay?”
Concubine Xian was definitely dissatisfied with this answer, but she didn't embarrass him too much and asked: "Then can you tell me, what is your boss's name?"
"This……"
The waiter was a little embarrassed, "We never know our boss's name, we just call him Mr. An."
"Mr. An? Is your boss a man?"
Concubine Xian was a little confused. It was not that she had never investigated the Zhairan Building. When Liu Xiangchang came here before, she felt that something was wrong with the Zhairan Building, so she sent someone to check. However, she did not expect that in a small restaurant, the mouths of these people were so bad. It's quite strict, but I can't find any information.
But she still noticed some subtle clues, and by piecing them together, she was able to guess a thing or two.
It's just that she originally thought it was Ye Qingran who opened it, but now when she asked the waiter, it didn't seem like she was lying. Could it be that she had guessed wrong?
The most in-depth information she had now only reached that village, and she didn't know much more.
There was a lot of news in the capital and it was complicated. Most of her people were in the palace and could not reach outside the palace.
The other concubines had the support of their mother's family and were able to find out information outside and send it to the palace, but she did not. It was the end of what she could do.
Seeing that the waiter didn't know anything else, he waved him away.
After finishing the meal, the maid took the time to remind her: "Your Majesty, it's time to return to the palace."
Concubine Xian narrowed her eyes and stood up: "Don't be in a hurry, and bring some good pastries back to the palace. I want your majesty to try them."
It is difficult for a concubine like her who occasionally leaves the palace to eat exotic food from outside. The things in the palace are always the same and nothing new, so it is always right for her to bring some back.
After returning to the palace, Concubine Xian took the cakes directly to the imperial study.
Normally at this hour, the emperor would read the book in the royal study. As long as he was not in a bad mood, she could go in.
Sure enough, after Xiao Xiazi went in to report, he led her in.
"I have met your Majesty."
Concubine Xian smiled and saluted.
The emperor did not raise his head and responded calmly: "Get up, my beloved concubine, why are you free to come to me today? Aren't you going to leave the palace to see new things?"
"When I go out, I am naturally thinking about Your Majesty. When I see something strange, I want to bring it back for Your Majesty to try."
She placed the food box on the table and took out the specially selected pastries.
These pastries are specially made in an outside workshop and are completely different from those made by the imperial kitchen. Not only are the styles novel, but even the fillings used are very fresh.
After Xiaoxiazi tried it as usual, she placed the whole plate of pastries in front of the emperor.
The emperor smiled and said, "It's hard for my beloved concubine to think of me when she was having fun. This pastry can be made in such a bright color. This is the first time I've seen it made into a little person. It just looks like it's made to coax a child." .”
"This is specially chosen by my concubine for Your Majesty. Your Majesty is busy with political affairs every day, so there is nothing wrong with bringing in some innocence once in a while."
She stepped forward to take the cake and brought it to the emperor's mouth. "Your Majesty, try it. How does it taste?"
The emperor opened his mouth and took a bite, and praised: "It suits my taste very well. My beloved concubine will choose it."
After Concubine Xian smiled and joked a few words, she turned to say: "Oh, I suddenly remembered that when I was dining at the famous Zhairan Building in Beijing today, I seemed to see Sister Ran'er... Maybe I was dazzled. It's just that he looked very similar, and as soon as I was stunned, he disappeared."
"She's so good, what are you doing to bring her up?"
The emperor finished the pastries in her hand in a few seconds, "Okay, I still have things to do. My beloved, please go back to the palace first. I will have dinner with you later."
"Yes, I have resigned first."
After Concubine Xian bowed and left, the emperor's eyes became complicated. After being silent for a while, he shouted: "Come, go and check who is in the dye building."
In fact, he was a little surprised when Concubine Xian mentioned Ye Qingran.
In his subconscious, Ye Qingran was exiled with the Ye family and would die on the road. He really never thought that the Ye family would still be alive.
After such a long time, he had long forgotten Ye Qingran's family, so it felt strange to mention them again now.
If Ye Qingran was not dead, then she should be hiding here and there like a mouse, finding a secluded place to survive. How could she dare to return to the capital and throw herself into a trap?
There must be something fishy in it.
He didn't know why, but a daughter of the Ye family who had lost her powerful position still made him feel threatened.
As an emperor, what he is best at is using the power in his hands to eradicate all those who threaten him.
A few days passed, and Concubine Xian's side was quiet, but Ye Qingran did not relax his vigilance.
After all, Concubine Xian went to the Zhiran Building to investigate the news and she knew it. Although she was fooled by Concubine Xian's question, it did not mean that Concubine Xian was stupid and she would definitely come back to test her in the future.
More importantly, Concubine Xian and the emperor were in a nest of snakes and rats, and Concubine Xian found her and her family, which meant that the emperor already knew about this and needed to be more cautious in the future.