After Transmigration, I Snag a Stunning Bigwig as My Husband-Chapter 936 - 931: Forbidden Ground

Eunuch Fu, filled with doubt and anticipation, went to Chaohua Palace.

He ordered a thorough search inside and out, but found nothing.

Of course, there were some oddities, at least half a piece of pastry was found in the rockery.

Eunuch Fu returned to report to the Emperor.

Yet, the news of haunting at Chaohua Palace spread like wildfire throughout the Imperial Palace.

The palace attendants gossiped endlessly.

Despite the rumors, not many were truly afraid.

Chaohua Palace was a forbidden area in the palace; no one dared to go there.

However, inevitably, this news reached the ears of the Empress Dowager of Yongning Palace.

The Empress Dowager didn’t take it seriously, but Nanny Li did.

Nanny Zhou was thrown into the Lotus Pond by someone she sent, but after so many days, news of Nanny Zhou’s accidental drowning has yet to spread.

The Empress was still sending people to search for Nanny Zhou.

Could it be that Nanny Zhou is not dead at all?

But if she’s not dead, there’s no reason for her to hide in Chaohua Palace, right?

She could easily come out and seek refuge from the Empress.

Nanny Li felt she might be overthinking, but the absence of Nanny Zhou’s body left her uneasy.

She didn’t dare to act rashly and startle the snake.

She found a trusted palace maid and instructed her to walk to the Imperial Garden, carrying a tray. Pretend to accidentally trip over a stone, tilting the tray and causing its contents to fall into the Lotus Pond.

The spot where the items fell was exactly where the eunuch had thrown Nanny Zhou.

The palace maid urgently called for people to retrieve the items from the Lotus Pond.

In this weather, the pond water was freezing; if it were the maid’s belongings, no one would be willing to retrieve them, but if it belonged to the Empress Dowager, who would dare not go?

Unless they no longer wanted their head on their shoulders.

While the palace attendants were retrieving items, Nanny Li happened to walk by.

The eunuch was in the water for a long time before retrieving the items.

Nanny Li took the brocade box, frowned, and said, "The items in the brocade box are missing. Search carefully, search every piece thoroughly."

The eunuch was so cold he almost swore, but obediently continued the search.

The entire Lotus Pond was searched, and he said, "Truly, nothing was found. Let’s get two more people to help, shall we?"

He was genuinely frozen beyond endurance.

Nanny Li sent two more eunuchs down.

They searched for a long time, to no avail.

Nanny Li completely gave up.

The eunuch she sent to kill Nanny Zhou was her trusted aide, always swift in action; there shouldn’t have been any slip-up.

Could Nanny Zhou really have crawled out from the Lotus Pond?

Nanny Li felt a chill down her back.

Returning to Yongning Palace, she reported this to the Empress Dowager, who also found it unusual and sent a Hidden Guard to investigate Chaohua Palace.

The Hidden Guard came back to report, no one was in Chaohua Palace.

Only then did Nanny Li feel relieved. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The next day, while serving the Empress Dowager as usual, a palace maid came with a message, "Nanny Li, the Empress requests your presence at Phoenix Palace."

Nanny Li furrowed her brows, "Why is she calling me to Phoenix Palace? Did the Empress mention what for?"

"This servant does not know," the palace maid replied.

The Empress’s summons, Nanny Li dared not defy.

After tucking in the Empress Dowager, and instructing the palace maid a bit, she left Yongning Palace.

On her way to Phoenix Palace, a little eunuch hurried over, unable to hide his joy.

Running too fast, he bumped into Nanny Li’s arm without seeing her.

Nanny Li scolded, "Running so fast, are you in a rush to your next life?!"

The little eunuch, terrified, said, "This servant was rushing to report to the Empress, didn’t see it was Nanny Li, please forgive this servant’s transgression."

"Why are you in such a hurry, did something happen?" Nanny Li asked, rubbing her arm.

The little eunuch hesitated to speak.

Nanny Li’s gaze turned cold.

The little eunuch, frightened, whispered, "Nanny Zhou is still alive; I just saw her."

Nanny Li’s spine chilled, "Where did you see her?"

The little eunuch quickly said, "Eunuch Fu sent Eunuch Xiao Wu to Chaohua Palace to see if anyone was stealing pastries or fruits. Eunuch Xiao Wu was too timid to go, and as I happened to owe him twenty taels of silver, he asked me to watch for him, promising to write off the debt of twenty taels."

"I was lucky, just in time to see Nanny Zhou crawling through a dog hole into Chaohua Palace."

"I didn’t dare make a sound, afraid of inviting trouble for Nanny Zhou, so I’m rushing to report to the Empress."

Thinking of not only having the debt of twenty taels written off but also receiving a reward from the Empress, the little eunuch was filled with joy.

Could Nanny Li let the little eunuch report to the Empress?

Absolutely not.

She sent the little eunuch away, "I’m just on my way to greet the Empress; I’ll report to her myself."

The little eunuch felt a bit unwilling.

Nanny Li said, "Chaohua Palace is a forbidden area; you saw Nanny Zhou sneaking inside. Does the Empress need to leave you alive?"

The little eunuch, scared pale, immediately took his leave.

Nanny Li didn’t go to Phoenix Palace; instead, she headed towards Chaohua Palace.

Carefully avoiding the palace attendants, Nanny Li made her way to Chaohua Palace and indeed spotted the dog hole.

Instead of crawling through the dog hole, she went straight to the main door.

The palace gate was tightly shut.

Nanny Li knocked lightly twice.

The eunuch opened the door, and Nanny Li said, "The Empress Dowager sent me to see if Chaohua Palace is truly haunted."

The eunuch frowned and said, "Chaohua Palace is forbidden. Without the Emperor’s permission..."

"What?"

"Even the Empress Dowager’s orders mean nothing?" Nanny Li coldly replied.

"If you don’t report to the Emperor, how will he ever find out?!"

The eunuch, fearful, quickly made way.

Nanny Li said, "Wait outside; without my summons, do not enter."

The eunuch obediently followed.

Nanny Li stepped inside.

Chaohua Palace was forbidden, with few inside, but fairly clean.

Knowing Nanny Zhou was hiding within, Nanny Li had no fear of ghosts; she was fought to death when alive, would turning into a ghost change anything?

Moreover, in broad daylight, what ghost would dare to emerge and frighten people?

Nanny Li entered the main hall directly, finding it empty.

As Nanny Li moved forward, she noticed the altar cloth tremble slightly.

Upon closer inspection, she caught sight of a skirt hem.

When she looked closer, the hem was pulled inside.

Nanny Li sneered.

It seems she arrived at the right time, catching them unawares and cornering them in the hall.

Nanny Li walked over and yanked open the table cover.

Before she could clearly see the figure, a plate of pastries was hurled at her face.

Nanny Li took a hit and cried out in pain.

The plate clattered to the ground, echoing in the empty hall, startling everyone.

Wiping the pastries off her face, Nanny Li saw Nanny Zhou emerge from under the altar and prepare to run.

Nanny Li sneered, "Where do you think you’re running to?!"

Nanny Zhou halted and turned, glaring at Nanny Li with a cold gaze, "Even in death, I’ll drag you down with me!"

Nanny Zhou’s voice was hoarse.

Nanny Li said, "Your voice... "

"And you have the nerve to ask about my voice?"

"Throwing me into the Lotus Pond, I’m lucky to survive thanks to divine protection!"

"I didn’t expect, even hiding in Chaohua Palace, you’d still find me. Nanny Li, you’re truly impressive!"