Rebirth of the Princess Pearl

In the afternoon of the compound, the sun shone blazingly on the ground, and the newly built walls exuded the smell of earth in the sun. Xiaoyanzi sat on a stone in the yard, frowning, staring at the pile of wood.

"We must get to the bottom of this matter. We can't just let it go." Xiaoyanzi clenched her fists, her eyes showing determination, and her feet kept stomping on the ground.

Ziwei sighed softly and said, "Xiaoyanzi, this matter is a bit tricky. Where should we start investigating?" Ziwei put her hand on her forehead to block the sunlight, her eyes full of thought.

Yongqi paced back and forth in the yard, his hand on his chin, as if he was thinking about something. "We can start from the source of the wood. Who was responsible for the wood supply before? Has anyone suspicious touched the wood?" Yongqi's steps were steady, and his eyes were a little cold.

Erkang nodded in agreement, standing straight with his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Yongqi is right. Let's first ask the worker who was responsible for transporting the wood." Erkang looked serious and looked at everyone with a firm gaze.

At this time, Princess Seya came over and said, "In our Mongolia, if we encounter such a thing, we will first gather all the relevant people and then ask them one by one." Princess Seya crossed her arms, her posture upright, and there was determination in her eyes.

Ertai also agreed: "Princess Seya, this idea is good. Let's get those workers here now." Ertai's eyes flashed with anticipation, and he turned around to call the workers.

After a while, several workers who were transporting wood were brought into the yard. They looked a little nervous, lowering their heads and not daring to look at Xiaoyanzi and others.

Little Swallow stepped forward and asked, "How come so much wood suddenly disappeared? Did someone ask you to do something?" Little Swallow put her hands on her hips, staring at the workers with eyes wide open.

An older worker said in a trembling voice, "Gege, we really don't know. We transported the wood here as instructed. Everything was fine before, but today it's suddenly less." He rubbed the corners of his clothes nervously and his body trembled slightly.

Ziwei walked forward and said gently, "Think about it carefully. Have you seen any suspicious people appearing around the wood? Or have you heard any strange words?" Ziwei's voice was soft, her eyes were full of trust, and she gently patted the worker on the shoulder.

The worker thought for a moment and said, "Gege, I seemed to see a few dark shadows wandering around the wood pile last night, but it was too dark and I couldn't see who they were." There was a hint of fear in the worker's eyes. He recalled what happened last night and his body became even more tense.

Yongqi frowned and said, "Black shadow? Then why don't you go up and check it out?" Yongqi's voice was low and his eyes became sharp.

The worker hurriedly explained: "Sir, we thought we were dazzled at the time, and we were also tired after a day of work, so we didn't take it too seriously. Who knew something like this would happen today." The worker's face was full of regret, and he lowered his head even more.

Erkang thought for a while and said, "It seems that someone did this on purpose. Those dark shadows are most likely the people who stole the wood." Erkang's expression was serious, and his hands unconsciously clenched the hilt of the sword.

Xiaoyanzi said angrily: "These people are so despicable. They actually used such despicable means to destroy the renovation of the slum." Xiaoyanzi's face turned red, and she waved her arms and walked back and forth in the yard.

Princess Seya said: "We have some clues now. Although they are vague, they are better than nothing. We can look around the compound to see if there are any suspicious traces." Princess Seya's eyes were firm and she made a checking gesture with her hand.

So, Xiaoyanzi, Yongqi, Erkang, Ziwei, Princess Seya and Ertai divided into several groups and began to look for clues around the compound.

Xiaoyanzi and Ziwei were in a group, and they walked slowly along the wall of the compound. Xiaoyanzi's eyes kept scanning the ground and the wall, and she kept muttering, "I must find a clue, I must find a clue." Her steps were hurried, and her braids swung behind her.

Ziwei carefully observed everything around her, and suddenly, she found a piece of cloth in the corner. "Xiaoyanzi, look at this." Ziwei bent down, picked up the piece of cloth, and looked at it carefully in her hand.

Little Swallow ran over, looked at the piece of cloth and said, "What is this? Could it have been left by those who stole the wood?" Little Swallow's eyes were full of curiosity, and she reached out and touched the piece of cloth.

Ziwei said, "It's very likely. The texture of this piece of cloth looks very good, and it doesn't look like something someone in a slum would have. Let's take it back and show it to Yongqi and the others." Ziwei carefully placed the piece of cloth in her arms, and then returned to the yard with Xiaoyanzi.

After seeing the piece of cloth, Yongqi and Erkang also thought it was an important clue. Yongqi said, "We can take this piece of cloth to ask people in the palace, maybe someone knows where it came from." Yongqi's eyes showed a glimmer of hope, and he took the piece of cloth and looked at it carefully.

Erkang nodded and said, "Okay, let's go to the palace now."

In the palace, Concubine Ling was sitting in the garden admiring the flowers. The flowers around her were gorgeous and exuded fragrance. Concubine Ling had a faint smile on her face and seemed to be in a good mood.

The little palace maid came over with tea and said, "Your Majesty, you seem to be in a good mood today." The little palace maid's voice was gentle as she placed the tea on the table next to Empress Ling Fei.

Empress Ling Fei smiled and said, "Yes, the palace has been a lot calmer recently, and I feel a lot more relaxed as well." Empress Ling Fei picked up the teacup and took a sip of tea.

At this time, Xiaoyanzi, Yongqi and Erkang came to the palace and met Concubine Ling in the garden.

When Xiaoyanzi saw Empress Ling Fei, she felt a little hesitant, but still walked up to her and said, "Empress Ling Fei, we have something to ask you." Xiaoyanzi's voice was a little stiff, and there was a hint of vigilance in her eyes.

Concubine Ling was a little surprised to see Xiaoyanzi and the others, but she soon regained her smile. "Xiaoyanzi, what do you want?" Concubine Ling's voice was gentle, and her eyes no longer had the calculations of the past.

Yongqi took out the piece of cloth and said, "Empress Ling Fei, we found this piece of cloth in the slum. Can you recognize where it is from? We suspect it is related to the theft of wood in the slum." There was a hint of expectation in Yongqi's eyes as he handed the piece of cloth to Empress Ling Fei.

Empress Ling Fei took the piece of cloth, looked at it carefully, and said, "I seem to have seen this piece of cloth somewhere, but I can't remember where it is. However, I can help you ask people in the palace." Empress Ling Fei's expression was serious, and her hand gently touched the piece of cloth.

Xiaoyanzi said with some doubt: "Empress Ling Fei, will you really help us?" Xiaoyanzi's eyes were fixed on Empress Ling Fei, her body slightly leaning forward, as if she was guarding against something.

Empress Ling looked at Xiaoyanzi and said sincerely: "Xiaoyanzi, I may have done some wrong things in the past, but now I don't want to be your enemy anymore. I will help you sincerely." There was sincerity in Empress Ling's eyes and a gentle smile on her face.

Erkang said: "Empress Ling Fei, thank you very much. We hope to find the person who stole the wood as soon as possible. The renovation of the slum cannot be delayed any longer." Erkang's expression was serious and he saluted to Empress Ling Fei.

Empress Ling Fei nodded and said, "Don't worry. I'll go and ask right away." Empress Ling Fei left the garden with the piece of cloth.

Xiaoyanzi looked at Concubine Ling's back and said to Yongqi and Erkang, "Do you think Concubine Ling will really help us?" There was still a hint of doubt in Xiaoyanzi's eyes, and her hands unconsciously fiddled with her braids.

Yongqi said: "I think Empress Ling seems very sincere this time, maybe she has really changed." There was a hint of trust in Yongqi's eyes, and he put his hand on Xiaoyanzi's shoulder, trying to comfort her.

Erkang also said: "No matter what, we have no other choice now. We can only trust her first." Erkang's expression was calm and his eyes looked forward firmly.

Concubine Ling came to the Imperial Household Department and showed the piece of cloth to the officials. "Take a look, where is this piece of cloth from?" Concubine Ling's voice was serious, and her eyes carried a commanding tone.

The official from the Ministry of Internal Affairs looked at the piece of cloth carefully and said, "Your Majesty, this piece of cloth looks like it was from the clothes worn by the people in the imperial kitchen." The official's voice was a little hesitant, and he looked at Empress Ling Concubine uncertainly.

Empress Ling Fei frowned and said, "The imperial kitchen? Are you sure?" Empress Ling Fei's eyes became sharp and her hands tapped the table lightly.

The official hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, I'm not sure, but it looks very similar." Beads of sweat appeared on the official's forehead. He lowered his head, not daring to look at Empress Ling Fei.

Concubine Ling said: "Then go to the imperial kitchen now and check if anyone knows about this piece of cloth." Concubine Ling's voice was unquestionable, and her eyes revealed a kind of majesty.

The official nodded quickly and said, "Yes, Your Majesty," and then hurriedly left the Imperial Household Department.

Empress Ling Fei returned to the garden and said to Xiao Yanzi and others, "I have already asked someone to check the imperial kitchen. You guys wait here for news." Empress Ling Fei's voice was gentle, and there was a hint of comfort in her eyes.

Xiaoyanzi and others were a little surprised after hearing what Empress Ling Fei said, but they could only wait.

In the imperial kitchen, officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were questioning the people in the imperial kitchen. A young cook saw the piece of cloth and said, "This piece of cloth is from Li Er's clothes. He was wearing this clothes yesterday." The young cook's voice was crisp, and he pointed to a busy cook and said.

An official from the Ministry of Internal Affairs walked up to Li Er and asked, "How did this piece of cloth appear in the slum? Are you involved in the theft of wood from the slum?" The official's voice was stern and his eyes were fixed on Li Er.

When Li Er heard this, his face turned pale and he stammered, "Sir, I... I don't know anything. This piece of cloth is from my clothes, but I didn't steal the wood." Li Er's body kept shaking and his hands were rubbing the corners of his clothes nervously.

The official asked, "So what were you doing in the compound yesterday?" The official's voice became louder and his eyes became sharper.

Li Er thought for a while and said, "Sir, I went to deliver vegetables near the slum yesterday, and I might have accidentally dropped the piece of cloth there. But I really didn't steal the wood." There was fear in Li Er's eyes, and his tears were welling up in his eyes.

The official felt that Li Er did not seem to be lying. He thought for a moment and said, "Did you see any suspicious people near the compound?" The official's voice softened a little.

Li Er said, "Sir, I saw a few people in black clothes sneaking around in the woods behind the compound, but I didn't know what they were doing." There was a hint of confusion in Li Er's eyes as he recalled what he saw yesterday.

After hearing what Li Er said, the official felt that this was an important clue. He hurriedly left the imperial kitchen and returned to Empress Lingfei.

After listening to the official's report, Empress Ling Fei said to Xiao Yanzi and others: "It seems that this matter is related to those people in black. You can go to the woods behind the slum to look for clues." Empress Ling Fei's voice was soft, and her eyes showed concern.

After hearing what Concubine Ling said, Xiaoyanzi and the others became less suspicious of her. Xiaoyanzi said, "Thank you, Concubine Ling. Let's go to the woods now." With a hint of gratitude in her eyes, Xiaoyanzi bowed to Concubine Ling.

Yongqi, Erkang, Xiaoyanzi and others came to the woods behind the compound. The woods were a bit gloomy, and the sunlight shone through the gaps between the leaves, forming patches of light.