The Empress continued looking over the dossier.
However, studying the dossiers alone wouldn’t yield much more. After a moment of thought, she commanded, “Little Wan, make another trip to the Imperial Guard and fetch the palace maids’ entry and exit records from within the palace.”
“This Subject will go at once.” Mu Fuwan immediately withdrew.
As Mu Fuwan left, Wang Feifei asked curiously, “Your Majesty, do you truly suspect Chief Steward Xing?”
The Empress closed the dossier in her hands and replied unhurriedly, “Feifei, you must not be deceived by surface appearances. At the very least, the fact that Ruolan has been continuously planting people as palace maids inside the Imperial Palace is a matter worthy of great attention, is it not?”
Upon hearing this, Wang Feifei stuck out her tongue. “Your Majesty speaks reason. Feifei used to disguise herself too, in the past.”
“There is no need to mention past matters. Zhen does not care about the disguises Feifei wore then.” The Empress took Wang Feifei’s hand and patted it.
“Mhm, Your Majesty is the best.”
Feeling her hand held by the Empress, Wang Feifei smiled happily.
Some things feel tense at the start, but as time passes and they become habitual, one learns to enjoy them.
It wasn’t long before Mu Fuwan returned.
Records of personnel entering and leaving the Imperial Palace were indeed kept by the Imperial Guard. The records from recent months were now presented before the Empress.
The Empress glanced over them briefly.
At a first glance, the entry and exit records seemed unproblematic. Although the palace maids went out from time to time, it was not frequent, and they did so under the pretext of leave. Even a palace maid taking occasional leave seemed reasonable.
But all these palace maids were ones Xing Ruolan had planted—not a single one was a senior palace maid.
Furthermore, the Empress noticed the timing of their outings was very regular. They went out at fixed intervals; only the person going out each time was different, as if they were taking turns.
“Do either of you have any thoughts?” The Empress let Wang Feifei and Mu Fuwan examine the records as well.
The two women came closer to look.
After watching for a while, Wang Feifei scratched her head. “Your Majesty, Feifei doesn’t see anything wrong.”
Mu Fuwan also shook her head, indicating she hadn’t noticed anything.
In truth, the Empress couldn’t glean much direct information either. It was simply that, combined, the various clues made her subconsciously feel that these palace maids’ outings were perhaps not so simple.
She checked the most recent outing times, then looked at the prior ones. Following the pattern, a palace maid would be going out today as well.
Thinking of this, the Empress instructed Mu Fuwan, “Little Wan, a palace maid should be leaving the palace today as well. Tail her and see exactly what she is going to do.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Mu Fuwan nodded in acceptance.
Since the records showed palace maids leaving at various times—both morning and afternoon—it was hard to pinpoint the exact time, only that it would be today. Thus, Mu Fuwan could waste no more time and hurried off to the main gate designated for palace maid entry and exit, ready to wait on standby.
After Mu Fuwan left, the Empress thought for a moment and said to Wang Feifei, “Why don’t we leave the palace as well?”
Wang Feifei asked in surprise, “Surely a matter like this doesn’t require Your Majesty to personally tail someone?”
“Zhen is certainly not leaving the palace to tail a single palace maid. We simply feel stifled staying within the palace all the time and wish to go out and amuse ourselves..” The Empress chuckled lightly.
“Feifei understands! Feifei will accompany Your Majesty out to have fun.” Wang Feifei nodded her head.
The Empress felt at ease leaving the matter of the palace maids to Mu Fuwan. Her main goal was to increase her intimacy with Wang Feifei. The intimacy level hadn’t been able to increase during these past days, and the Empress felt it might be related to the environment. After all, wandering the same places every day provided no sense of novelty.
Thus, the Empress departed with Wang Feifei, rejecting Xing Ruolan and any other palace maids or Imperial Guards from following. With Wang Feifei by her side, the Empress felt quite secure.
When they reached the palace gate, Mu Fuwan was still waiting there. No palace maid had departed yet that day.
So the Empress gave Mu Fuwan a few more instructions before finally leaving with Wang Feifei.
The streets of Phoenix Capital were very broad. Carriages rolled by endlessly, and pedestrians wove through like threads.
Not long ago, under the organization of the Ministry of Rites, Phoenix Capital had just held the Flower Festival. Thus, many flowers could still be seen everywhere on the streets—some planted in pots placed at shop entrances, others woven into wreaths hung on doors.
Along the street, scattered petals drifted by from time to time, paving a path of flowers.
As they walked, the Empress glanced at Wang Feifei beside her, reached out, and took her hand.
This gesture made Wang Feifei can’t help but look over.
Holding hands while walking on the street wasn’t inherently odd, but given the disparity in their status, walking hand-in-hand like this inexplicably quickened Wang Feifei’s heartbeat.
“The city is crowded. Stay closer,” the Empress said softly.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Wang Feifei replied in a low voice.
“Now that we are outside, don’t call me Your Majesty… hm, don’t call me Your Majesty. Call me Young Miss.”
“Feifei understands, Young Miss.”
Wang Feifei pursed her lips and smiled.
Since the burden in her heart had been washed away, Wang Feifei had become considerably more cheerful and lively. All of this was true emotion, without the slightest pretense.
The Empress would occasionally check Wang Feifei’s information again, and it hadn’t changed any further.
“Young Miss, where shall we go to play today?” Wang Feifei blinked her large eyes and asked curiously.
“Let’s just wander the streets at random. But I’ll say this first: I won’t be eating any of the street food here,” the Empress replied after a moment’s thought.
“Feifei understands. Feifei knows some fun places—how about Feifei leads Young Miss to have some fun?” Wang Feifei looked very eager.
Taking the Empress out to play was undoubtedly a rather exhilarating matter.
“Fine, you lead the way.” The Empress had no objections to this.
Wang Feifei grew even happier, even skipping twice as she walked.
Seeing Wang Feifei become increasingly uninhibited before her, the Empress was very satisfied. This was the embodiment of an increasing relationship.
So, when would the intimacy reach Level 2?
The Imperial Palace had many entry and exit points, but strict regulations dictated who could pass through which. Palace maids could only leave on normal business through one specific exit.
Mu Fuwan hadn’t waited long there before a palace maid finally arrived.
After being registered by the Imperial Guard, this palace maid was released from the palace.
“Who is she?”
Mu Fuwan went to ask the Imperial Guards.
“Reporting to Commander, she is called Yun Zheng.” The guards checked the records and gave an answer.
“Good. Continue holding your posts.”
Mu Fuwan said nothing more and unhurriedly followed.
With her strength, tailing someone without being discovered was relatively easy.
