295 Unexpected Discovery
Princess Tao Ran’s shout quickly attracted a group of imperial guards.
They were all shocked when they heard that the Princess Consort of Lang County had killed someone and fled.
The imperial guards were divided into two groups. One group went back to check on the palace maid’s corpse, while the other followed Princess Tao Ran to continue searching for the Princess Consort of Lang County.
After they walked away, Shen Junzhi let go of Yu Niaoniao.
!!
Yu Niaoniao took two steps back to distance herself from him.
“What are you doing here?”
Shen Junzhi said, “It’s a long story. Come with me first. It’s not safe here.”
He took Yu Niaoniao’s hand and wanted to take her away.
Yu Niaoniao stood still.
“Tell me why you’re in the palace first. Otherwise, I won’t be able to leave with you.”
From the moment she entered the palace until now, many things had happened in just four hours.
This palace was full of danger to her. She could not trust anyone inside. This included Shen Junzhi, who was in front of her.
Shen Junzhi was very helpless. “You’re still so stubborn. Alright, let me tell you. Today is the first day of the New Year. I followed the elders of my family into the palace to pay my respects to the emperor.”
Yu Niaoniao thought that his surname was also Shen and could not help but make a guess.
“Are you from the royal family?”
Shen Junzhi gave an affirmative answer.
“Yes, my father is Duke of Huan.
I was originally in Zhengde Hall with my father.
However, because there were too many people inside, it was too stuffy.
I didn’t feel too good, so I thought I’d come out and get some air.
I didn’t expect to bump into you here.”
Yu Niaoniao had never heard of the Duke of Huan and planned to ask Xiao Juan when she returned.
Shen Junzhi urged.
“If those guards can’t find you, they will definitely send more people to search this place from the inside out. If you are caught by them, you would definitely not be able to explain yourself.”
“Come with me quickly. I won’t harm you.”
However, Yu Niaoniao said, “I’m going to find Duke Lang.”
Now, the only person she could trust in the palace was Duke Lang.
Shen Junzhi said, “He’s still in the Zhengde Hall and won’t be able to come out for a while. Come with me first. I’ll help you find him later.”
Yu Niaoniao thought for a moment and finally chose to believe him.
They grew up together. On account of their friendship, she was willing to trust him.
Shen Junzhi brought her out of the house and took a detour around the palace before finally arriving at a dilapidated palace.
“A concubine died here before. Since then, this place has been locked up. No one has come in again. You’re safe here.”
Yu Niaoniao said, “Isn’t this the legendary Cold Palace?”
Shen Junzhi smiled helplessly. “This is the Glazed Jade Palace. It’s fine if you insist that it’s a Cold Palace. After all, this place has been abandoned for many years. It’s no different from a Cold Palace.”
Yu Niaoniao looked around and realized that the Glazed Jade Palace was already abandoned. The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and the path was filled with rotten branches and fallen leaves. Many of the palace doors and windows were damaged.
As they entered the place, a strong musty smell wafted over them.
Yu Niaoniao pinched her nose. “How many years has this place been abandoned?”
Shen Junzhi thought for a moment before saying.
“Twenty years.”
The furniture in the house was still there, but because no one had cleaned it all year round, it was already covered in thick dust.
Shen Junzhi coughed twice and said, “I remember there’s a well in the backyard. I’ll get some water and help you clean this place.”
Yu Niaoniao declined his kindness.
“There’s no need. I won’t be here for long. There’s no need to waste your time. You’re not well and it’s cold here. Stop standing here and go back to Zhengde Hall. At the same time, help me tell Duke Lang to come here and find me as soon as possible.”
Shen Junzhi was quite happy to hear the first half of what Yu Niaoniao said, but when he heard the second half, his eyes could not help but darken.
From the beginning to the end, the only person she trusted the most was Duke Lang.
Shen Junzhi coughed lightly twice again before saying, “Alright, I’ll leave first. Stay here and don’t run around. I’ll get Duke Lang to look for you as soon as possible.”
Yu Niaoniao nodded. “Thank you.”
Shen Junzhi smiled gently. “It’s my duty to protect you. You don’t have to say such polite words to me.”
Yu Niaoniao reminded him, “I’m married.”
Shen Junzhi’s smile turned bitter. “I know.”
Neither of them spoke after that.
Before Shen Junzhi expressed his feelings, Yu Niaoniao could still treat him like a brother. However, now that she knew his feelings, she could no longer interact with him without any misgivings like before.
After all, she was already married. There were some things that needed to be avoided.
Shen Junzhi looked at Yu Niaoniao and said, “Then I’m leaving.”
...
“Yeah.”
Shen Junzhi turned around and left the Glazed Jade Palace.
After he left, only Yu Niaoniao was left in the huge palace.
There was dust everywhere in the palace. It was so dirty that there was not even a place to sit.
Yu Niaoniao recalled Shen Junzhi’s words and finally went to the backyard.
The backyard was completely abandoned. A big tree in the middle of the courtyard had already withered. Part of its roots had been eaten away by insects. The entire tree had fallen to the ground, and even a portion of its roots had been brought out.
The soil in that area was also in a mess.
When Yu Niaoniao passed by with the bucket, she accidentally stepped on something hard.
She looked down and saw a small dark object.
She squatted down and picked up the thing. She wiped off the soil on it and took a closer look. She was shocked realized that it was a human bone!
From its shape and size, it should be a baby’s hand bone.
...
Yu Niaoniao immediately felt a chill run down her spine.
More than one person had died in this place.
She looked at the withered tree lying on the ground in front of her and hesitated for a long time. In the end, she decided to dig the spot and take a look.
It would have been fine if she didn’t know. Now that she knew that someone might be buried below, she couldn’t just sit back and do nothing. She had to see what was going on.
There was no hoe in the palace. She searched around and finally found a small shovel.
This shovel should be a tool used by gardeners to loosen the soil when cultivating flowers and plants. It was small and easy to manage for Yu Niaoniao.
She took off her heavy crown, took off her coat, pulled up her skirt, and stuffed it into her belt. She squatted on the ground and began to dig.
She dug out some bones one after another. When she pieced all the bones together, she confirmed that it was a newborn baby.
Princes and princesses often died prematurely in the harem. It was not rare for a dead baby to appear, but burying a dead child in the backyard was very strange.
Moreover, the baby’s bones were dark purple. It was obvious that he had died from poisoning.
As for what poison it had been poisoned with, it would have to be examined by a professional coroner.
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