Detective Ghost Empress

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The concubine who was walking ahead of the rest of the concubines was called Qin Mu Xiao, she was the legitimate daughter of the minister of the tax and revenue department. What was more, her father had the backing of Ji Yang who was the current right prime minister which gave her a lot of status.

She was the third woman who was added to the imperial harem after Liu Hui Ying and Ji Yu, and because of this, she had always been confident. In her eyes, neither Liu Hui Ying who did not know how to act in front of the crown nor Ji Yu who was nervous and bumbling had the right to be the next empress which was why she had always tried to unify the imperial harem under her wing.

Most of the concubines who came after Qin Mu Xiao did not have many powers in their hands and for the sake of the balance of the imperial harem to not be tilted on one side, these concubines who were chosen after three legitimate daughters were either not powerful enough or they were not the legitimate daughters in their family because of this, without Liu Hui Ying or Ji Yu trying to unify the imperial harem they could only follow Qin Mu Xiao.

" This concubine greets your majesty, the queen," Qin Mu Xiao bowed in front of Liu Hui Ying politely, it seemed like she truly respected the queen but her eyes which were cold were devoid of even an ounce of respect in fact she was looking at Liu Hui Ying as if she was looking at a fool.

" She thinks you are a fool," Jia Li who was salivating over the cakes that Liu Hui Ying was eating immediately gulped in hunger, she wanted to eat some yin energy as well after staying hungry for an entire night, she did not dare to act smart with Liu Hui Ying instead she wiped her chin and then carefully said to Liu Hui Ying, " That woman, she is looking down on you because you have never taken care of the imperial harem I think."

" Oh," Liu Hui Ying muttered casually as she munched the osmanthus cake which she had taken a bite from just now and then looked at the concubine who was bowing in front of her. She did not even acknowledge the greeting that Qin Mu Xiao had given her instead he continued to eat and drink without even permitting Qin Mu Xiao to stand back up.

At first, Qin Mu Xiao did not say anything but as minutes ticked by her delicate brows started to knit together as she raised her head and looked at Liu Hui Ying who was acting as if she could not see her, for one minute, Qin Mu Xiao wanted to ask Liu Hui Ying what did she mean by this but then she was reminded of the words that her mother had told her before she entered the imperial harem and immediately swallowed her harsh words back.

" Your majesty, this concubine is greeting you," Qin Mu Xiao bowed her head politely again at the same time she pulled a very pitiful expression on her face knowing that everyone was looking at her and Liu Hui Ying at the moment.

' This is the perfect chance,' thought Qin Mu Xiao in her head as she looked at Liu Hui Ying who was not speaking nor showing any interest in her. ' I will make her look like a cruel tyrant empress, one who does not even know what the weight of her crown holds!'

Though Qin Mu Xiao thought that she had hidden her thoughts really well, Liu Hui Ying was able to notice what was going on inside that little head of hers very quickly, she wiped the crumbs of the sweet cake off her fingers and then looked at Qin Mu Xiao with a smile but contrary to the smile on her face, her eyes were colder than ice.

" Concubine? I was afraid that the imperial harem did not have any other concubine other than Imperial concubine Ji, after all, other than her, no one else has ever shown their faces in front of me, much less greet me," said Liu Hui Ying as she drew her own literary sword and then aimed the sharpened edge at  Qin Mu Xiao with a smile on her face.

" I am afraid that there is a morning ritual which says that every concubine needs to come and greet me at dawn, how come...I did not see any of you?"

Qin Mu Xiao had not expected Liu Hui Ying to make use of this small negligence, though the imperial concubines indeed have to greet the queen in the morning, Liu Hui Ying was a queen who was not favoured by the Emperor which was why they did not care about her—— who would have thought that she would make a fuss over such a matter?

For a few seconds, Qin Mu Xiao was stumped but then she hitched up her smile and then straightened up before looking at Liu Hui Ying as she said in a soft voice, "I apologise, your majesty after your accident and imperial concubine Ji not being experienced enough to deal with the accounts of the imperial harem, I was the one who took care of everything which is why I might have ignored the morning greeting unconsciously, I hope you will forgive me."

"Oh I see," Liu Hui Ying nodded to herself, her lips curling up even more.

While Qin Mu Xiao was going against Liu Hui Ying, Yu Lingyun lit an incense and placed it on the ground causing Zhai Heng and Zhai Tianyu to look down at the burning incense with a confused looks in their eyes.

" What are you doing?" Zhai Heng asked as he looked at his friend who had ignited a pair of incense with confusion in his eyes.

Yu Lingyun joined his hands in prayer and then very solemnly said, " A fool dared to go against the devil, I am praying for her soul."