The day Yuan Xiang and the fourth prince got married, He Linwei heard that the whole way from Zhengyang Street to the palace gate was crowded with people watching the event, He Linwei did not go, her grandfather told Wei that girls should not always go out on their own when they are older, they are said to be unruly.
After Yuan Xiang’s marriage, she moved into the fourth prince’s house, so she had fewer opportunities to meet with He Linwei, but He Linwei sent someone to inquire, and the day the fourth prince accompanied Yuan Xiang back to the door, Yuan Xiang looked very good, so He Linwei was relieved.
On this day, He Linwei went to check on Li Heng and Xiaomutou’s martial arts practice, and walked into the training ground to find the three people squatting together folding gold yuanbao with gold foil paper.
“What are you guys doing here?” He Linyan asked suspiciously as he looked at the small pile of already folded Yuanbao on the ground.
The only one who could say something nice, Little Woody, hurriedly said, “Brother Heng said that in a couple of days it would be the anniversary of the Old Empress Dowager’s death, and he and his brother used to secretly burn some gold yuanbao for the Old Empress Dowager every year. In the past few years, his brother was not in the capital, so he burned them himself for the Old Empress Dowager.”
He Linyan looked at Li Xiaoheng in surprise, “Did you fold all these?”
Li Xiaoheng rolled his eyes, “No words?” (Or what?)
“I’m not good at folding.” Little wood is a little ashamed, but immediately he added, “But I’m not the worst.”
“The worst,” Xiaohuzi angrily threw away the gold foil paper in his hand that he had kneaded to the point of losing all its color.
He Linyan looked at Li Xiaoheng’s head down and serious Yuanbao’s appearance and felt some emotions.
After the death of King Jin and the late emperor, the people of the King Jin’s house still had a good time, because the old empress dowager was protecting them, even the emperor did not have the means to give the people of the King Jin’s house a look.
I heard that the Empress Dowager loved the King of Jin and Princess Anyi from the previous Empress, Princess Anyi was even brought up by the Empress Dowager herself. Love the house and the crow, the old Empress Dowager is also very protective of King Jin and Princess Anyi’s children and grandchildren. Li Heng should only be four or five years old when the old Empress Dowager died, and it is rare that he still remembers.
He Linyan comforted Li Heng and said, “Every year, the palace will arrange a sacrifice on the anniversary of the Empress Dowager’s death.”
Li Heng smiled but did not appreciate it and said somewhat impatiently, “Haunted bet on the East servant and West Fan, West Fan gold paper.”
The good little wood saw Li Heng struggling to speak, and quickly helped him explain, “I also told Heng this before, but Heng said the old ancestor did not like the tribute in the palace, she only likes gold. When the old empress died, she hid three large jars of gold and secretly distributed them to him, his brother, and his cousin, and no one else had a share.”
He Linyan: “…”
Li Heng nodded smugly.
Little wood continued: “Heng said to the old Empress Dowager at that time, the future also gave her a lot of gold, the old Empress Dowager heard the laughing bed of teeth can not see it! Later the old Empress Dowager is no more, Shi Zi brother said that the words spoken must be honored, and then every year with Heng brother folding gold yuan treasure.”
Li Heng continued to nod his head at the side.
He Linyan couldn’t help but smile.
“Right sister He, brother Heng said he wanted to go to a place to burn these gold yuan treasures on the day of the old empress dowager’s death anniversary, is that okay?” Little Woody looked at He Linwei with bewilderment.
Li Heng also looked over bashfully.
He Linyan looked at their identical expressions and helplessly touched her forehead as she asked Li Heng, “Where?”
Li Heng sniffed a little hesitantly, seemingly not wanting to reveal the location.
Or little wood whispered to persuade him: “Brother Heng, you will not let you go unless you say clearly sister! Although that place was previously known only to you and Shi Zi brother two people, but even if we know it, we promise absolutely will not say anything!”
Li Heng then reluctantly nodded, may be too much effort to say also easy to guess wrong, he picked up a stick on the ground and wrote three words: Yanming Lake.
“Yanming Lake?” He Linyan was a little surprised, although Yanming Lake is a lake, but the lake is full of flower house boats at night, it is a place to eat flower wine.
Probably see out the strange in He Lin night’s eyes, Li Heng indignantly wrote: what nonsense thinking! It’s my old ancestor who likes to listen to little songs! Once she heard people say that Yanming Lake are singing ditties, and told us to come out to listen! Unfortunately, she did not have the opportunity to come out after the old man entered the palace. Hey! Let me go or not!
He Linyan thought about it, but still nodded and said, “Yes, but I will find someone to follow you secretly.”
Li Heng reluctantly nodded his head and agreed.
Next, Li Heng did not make any fuss, but obediently folded his gold yuan treasure.
Waiting for the day of the old Empress Dowager’s death anniversary, after the sky darkened, Li Heng went out from the back door of the He family, little wooden head followed to give Li Heng cover.
Xiaohuzi volunteered to supervise them so that they would not cause trouble outside. Looking at Xiaohuzi’s serious look, He Linyan also allowed him to go.
Li Heng and Xiaomutou both had disguises on their faces, and with the addition of Xiaohuzi, the three of them together would not arouse suspicion. He Linyan originally wanted Gao Feng to send someone to follow him, but thought that the less people knew about Li Heng’s identity, the better, so he gave up.
But when the three of them went out for less than a quarter of an hour He Linyan was a bit restless, she always felt as if she had missed something, which caused a strong feeling of unease in her heart.
After thinking about it, He Linwei also followed the Yanming Lake, and left a message to the “Dark Lin” Fox Yao on the way out.
The Yanming Lake is the most lively time of the day at this time of the year, the lilting song, the song, mixed with the sound of men drinking and laughing drifted far away from the shore.
Because He Linyan followed out of the speed, so she saw from afar just walked to the shore of the three, see people when He Linyan carried in the heart of the breath on the relief.
It is a pity that this breath did not last long.
There are more than a dozen boats parked at the shore, these boats parked at the shore are not yet pulling in guests, the flower girls in the boats are laughing and joking through the bamboo curtains on the boats, playing the zither, so as to attract guests. Today, the voices of the girls of the boats parked on the shore were much quieter, and the one playing the zither had already played several wrong notes.
He Linyan carefully looked at the boats, her eyes suddenly beat, she found that these dozen boats should have been empty draught line is very deep, which means that there are either heavy things on board or a lot of people hidden.
Seeing that Li Heng, who was carrying a big cloth bag, was about to pass by those boats, He Linyan immediately shouted, “Jie!”
Little Woody immediately turned around and looked over, and when he saw He Linwei he seemed a little confused.
He Linyan didn’t wait for him to speak before he said angrily: “Come back quickly! If mother knew that you came to this kind of place with her to watch the fun, she would have to pick your skin!”
Little Woody was very smart, as soon as He Linwei’s words fell he immediately put on a pitiful look and said, “Sister! You must not tell Mother! Brother Yin and I were just curious and came to take a look! We’ll leave now, okay?”
Saying this, Little Woody pulled Li Heng with one hand and dragged Little Hu Zi with the other and came towards He Linyan.
Li Xiaoheng and Xiaohuzi didn’t react for a moment.
He Linyan walked a few steps faster and grabbed Xiaomutou’s ears while scolding him, “I told you to run away! I’ll teach you a lesson for mother before going home!”
“Get out of here!” He Linyan said in a small, quick voice while pretending to knock his brother.
At this moment, Li Heng also reacted, so without saying a word, he obediently cooperated with the scolding, and several people were getting farther and farther away from the boats.
Until out of the sight of those boats, He Linyan again and again to make sure that there is really no one to follow over when a heavy breath, she found herself a head of cold sweat.
“What happened?” Li Heng finally opened his mouth and asked.
He Linyan said, “Something is wrong with those boats just now, there might be an ambush up there.”
Li Heng’s eyes widened, “Putty rice dumpling vinegar?” (You’re not mistaken?)
Little wood immediately said, “Sister can’t be wrong, if she says there is a problem, there must be a problem.”
Although Li Heng was not convinced, but the face of his little brother still had to be given.
He Linyan thought about it and said to him, “No matter what, it’s always good to be careful.”
Li Heng looked at the bag in his hand, “What about the spicy swell?”
“Where is the place where you burned the Yuanbao, can you point it out to me?” He Linyan asked.
“In the spicy.” Li Heng then raised his finger and pointed.
The place Li Heng pointed to was behind a large banyan tree on the shore, where there was an open space, which was suitable for burning paper money Yuanbao.
“Swell?” Li Heng saw He Linyan turn his head and look around, could not help but wonder.
He Linyan thought about it and said to Li Heng, “You give me the bag, you guys wait here.”
Li Heng froze at the words, then was somewhat touched, but he still refused, “Putty夭 scar even abandoned the slut, ah? Not west! Putty not four evens putty ga drop kinky.” (You help me to burn ah? No way! You are not one of our Li family!
He Linyan directly took the bag in Li Heng’s hand, “You guys wait for me here, don’t go anywhere without my sign.”
“What’s wrong with you?” (How do you do this ah!)
He Linyan didn’t pay any attention to him and turned around and left.
She quietly went back to the Yanming Lake, not long after a beggar with a broken bowl came to He Linyan.
“Miss He, it is fox yao asked me to come to you, if you have something to do, just give me an order.” The beggar said quietly.
Fox Yao’s response was quick, He Linyan had left her a message to send a more flexible person to meet her at Yanming Lake, this person is now here just in time.
“Take this to the shore and burn it, if anyone asks you, you can say you picked it up.” He Linyan handed the bag of gold foil paper folded into yuanbao in his hand to the beggar.
The beggar nodded, took the things and went, because He Linyan did not specify for him to go to the open space under the banyan tree to burn, he found a random place to burn.
Although there are many people who come to the riverside to burn money to their ancestors at the Qingming Mid-Year Festival, but there are not many people who take such a big bag of “gold” to burn.
After He Linwei saw the beggar lighting the fire, some slight movements came from the boats parked on the shore, but these movements disappeared after a whistle.
A delicate woman in the boat raised her voice: “the beggar on the shore, this good day you are here to burn what Yuanbao? Not afraid of bad luck!”
Beggar according to what He Linyan taught him back: “Little lady, this is what I picked up on the shore. Our old family has a saying, on the road picked up the dead man’s money, must be burned immediately, otherwise it will be bad luck!”
“Oh? Where did you pick it up?”
“Right there.” The beggar pointed a random direction.
Hiding in the shadows He Lin night saw, from a painting boat out of a person, that person quickly towards the beggar pointed to the direction.
The beggar, after burning the golden treasures, patted his butt and left humming a little tune.
He Linyan didn’t pay attention to the boat again, but went to measure the small buildings built by the lake, recalling the whistle he just heard, which seemed to come from one of the small two-story buildings, and on the second floor of that small building could just see the open space under the banyan tree that Li Heng pointed out before.
He Linyan hid her figure in the night and quietly walked towards the direction of that small building.
He Linyan did not go upstairs, she just hid aside to pay attention to the movement of the small building.
I don’t know how long it took, but He Linyan finally heard the sound of the wooden stairs being stepped on, and someone came down from upstairs.
He Linyan’s gaze was fixed on the door that was about to be opened from the inside.
“Creak”, along with the sound of the door being opened, there was a familiar male voice, “It seems that the Kang County King will not come today. It is also true that even if he is still in the capital as you guessed, it is unlikely that he would risk being caught to come out to the lake to burn paper, this time it was your mistake.”
He Linyan wasn’t surprised to recognize that the person who spoke was none other than Qin Hengyuan, the son of Ningjiang Bo.
At this time, another gentle male voice said: “He will come, your people should not withdraw first, stay here and wait.”
This voice, however, caused He Linyan to change his face in a flash.
“How could it be him?” Despite having a guess in her heart before, He Linyan still couldn’t imagine that this person was also …
She still remembered the first time she saw this person, he was as light and dusty as bamboo, with a face like jade. She also remembered how everyone was laughing and playing in the Tai Bai Building.
He Linyan was in a very complicated mood, mixed with a bit of anger.
She knew that Li Yu trusted this person, and that time Cui Yan also said to He Linyan that Li Yu would probably let this person to take over the “dark forest” in her hands.
“How could it be you? Mu Zhi Zhen.” He Linyan couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
He Linyan felt that she had been careless, having let her guard down after capturing the Zhang family’s people, not expecting that there was a more important person hiding behind the Zhang family.
No wonder Qin Hengyuan dared to boast that this person would never arouse Li Yu’s suspicion.
He Linyan turned around and left.
Li Heng’s three people were really still waiting obediently at the same place.
He Linyan looked at Li Heng for a while and said to him, “Does anyone besides Li Yu know about your annual visit here?”
Li Heng shook his head.
“What about your cousin Mu Zhi Zhen? He doesn’t know either?” He Linyan asked directly.
Li Heng blinked and said with some uncertainty, “Not send Dao …, right?”
“I just saw him.” He Linyan said lightly raw.
“Ga?” Li Heng was a little unsure, and looked around for a bit.
“He and Ningjiang Bo Shizi were discussing how to catch you.”
Li Heng was first dumbfounded at his words, and then was full of anger, but his anger was not directed at Mu Zhi Zhen, but at He Lin Wan.
“Putty flick shrink eight off!” (You nonsense!)
He Linyan looked at Li Heng who was glaring at himself like a fighting chicken in front of her and suddenly felt a little bit of pain for him, but she felt even more pain for Li Yu.
“You come with me.” He Linyan thought for a moment, turned around and left.
Li Heng stood still, his eyes a bit confused, He Linyan had walked several steps away he still had not moved.
Little Woody gently tugged Li Heng’s sleeve and called softly: “Brother Heng, go take a look?”
Li Heng came back to his senses, he did not speak, but followed He Linwei.
He Linyan took Li Heng quietly to the hidden place, from there you can see the row of boats, the two looked over when they saw two people standing on the shore with their backs to them, the beggar before that some time was also escorted back, is warily being questioned. And the two people standing with their backs to them, one is Ningjiang Bo Shizi Qin Hengyuan, the other is Mu Zhizhen.
Obviously Li Heng was familiar with Mu Zhi Zhen’s back, he stared at that person in a daze, seemingly unable to understand the scene in front of him, so he seemed particularly overwhelmed.
He Linyan whispered next to him, “The man standing with Mu Zhi Zhen is Ning Jiang Bo Shizi, I don’t know if you know him, his father is the emperor’s man, and so is he.”
“For shrimp?” Li Heng’s voice was tinged with a crying tone.
He Linyan glanced at him, although she felt that she was being a bit cruel to the young man in front of her, she still said calmly, “It’s not just him, the whole Mu family might have defected to the emperor.”
Li Heng did not say anything, but his tears flowed down without warning, although he was usually very rowdy, but when he was really sad his crying was silent.
Little Woody held Li Heng’s hand tightly and comforted him with red eyes, “Don’t be sad, brother Heng, you still have me, I’ll always be on your side.”
Even Xiaohuzi, who had always looked at Li Heng unfavorably, patted his shoulder after tangling for a while.
“Little Heng.” He Linyan looked at Li Heng and said softly, “I could have not told you about this today, so that you can continue to be your carefree Kangxian Wang, no matter what happens you have Li Yu to stand in front of you. But Xiao Heng, Li Yu is not a wall of iron, swords and spears can not be invaded by water and fire God, in your suffering from the pain of betrayal of loved ones, he is also suffering the same pain as you. Every time before is Li Yu for you to shield the wind and rain, now you are an adult, or Jin Wang family lineage in addition to Li Yu the most legitimate heir, you can also become his reliance, you understand? You are needed.”
He LinHan’s words gradually listened to Li Heng’s heart, his tears flowed less and less until the moment when they were all gone, he wiped his face, a determined look appeared in his eyes that had never been there before, he tightly held back the small wooden hand and nodded to He LinHan.
“Mm.”
He Linyan smiled at him, and Li Heng also tried to show a smile, although now he smiled even harder than he cried.
He Linyan brought Li Heng over the purpose has been achieved, so again with them quietly left Yanming Lake, as for that captured scout, Mu Zhi really can not ask anything, when the time will naturally release.
He Lin night does not know whether his own actions today ** forcing Li Heng to grow up will have the suspicion of meddling, will not cause Li Yu’s resentment in the future, but she thought Li Heng should be the time to grow up, the situation today has not allowed him to grow up slowly understanding.
This night, before He Linyan went to bed, Little Woody sneaked in to find her.
“What’s wrong?” He Linyan looked at his sad face and asked softly.
Little Woody walked up to He Linyan and squatted down in front of her, carefully burying his face gently in her lap, like a little puppy seeking affection.
He Linyan instantly got softhearted and stroked his head.
“Sister.” Little Woody called out softly and carefully.
He Linyan paused and answered, “Mm.”
Little Woody’s somewhat tense body relaxed, he seemed to be somewhat satisfied, crouching on her knee for a while before speaking, “Sister, Brother Heng is so sad, I saw him secretly hiding in the nest and crying.”
“Well, you should stay with him more these days.”
“Sister, do relatives also betray each other?” Little Woody asked in a very puzzled manner.
He Linyan thought about it and said, “There are also distinctions between relatives. Mu Zhi Zhen is only Li Heng’s cousin, but he is also the heir of the Mu family, the grandson of the Mu family head who is most valued, the most dazzling son of the Mu family in this generation, and he has the whole Mu family behind him.”
Little Woody nodded his head as if he understood, and after thinking about it, he looked up at He Lin Wan and said, “Sister will always be my closest relative, and I will always be sister’s closest relative, right?”
He Linyan pinched his face and said in a decisive tone, “Right.”
Little Woody was relieved, curved his mouth and hummed softly.
He Linyan heard that he was humming the same tune that his mother and she had hummed when she had put him to sleep when he was very young.
He Linyan stroked his hair one by one, without speaking.
I don’t know how long it took, but Little Woody’s sleepy voice rang out again, “Sister, where’s cousin? Will he always be our closest relative too?”
He Linyan continued to tell him with an affirmative voice, “Yes, he is too.”
Little Woody murmured half asleep, “I actually used to secretly resent him for leaving me behind, but I don’t resent again now, my cousin is much better than Heng’s cousin, he’s just bad to the people who hurt us. Although he chose revenge between me and revenge, I know that if he had a choice between himself and us, he would always choose us.”
He Linyan blinked her eyes, forcing down the tears that welled up, “Well, I know.”
Little Woody fell asleep on He Linwei’s knee, and He Linwei watched him quietly for a long time.
He LinHan didn’t know when Little MuTou was sure she was hers, perhaps it was the sensitive nature of a child, or maybe some of her little habits made him suspicious, or maybe he was just guessing and testing, but none of that mattered anymore.
When Little Woody had fallen asleep, He Linyan had the sisters carry him back to his own room.
The next day, the little wooden head again see He Lin night in front of other people disguised very well, still call her sister He, as if there was no such conversation last night, so people can not see any flaw.
Only when others don’t notice, he speaks with He Linwei’s tone and demeanor with undisguised intimacy and trust.
The matter of Mu Zhi Zhen must be communicated with Li Yu, He Lin night after deliberating again and again to write a letter to Li Yu, as to how to deal with is Li Yu’s own matter, He Lin night can not give him any advice, after all, Mu Zhi Zhen is not her family.
But seeing the way Li Heng looked after learning that he was betrayed, He Linyan’s heart was still a little worried about Li Yu. A person’s external armor is hard, but the heart, liver and lungs are still made of meat, it hurts.
Li Yu to He Lin night’s reply letter is very fast, rare very concise, only one line: I know, I’ll handle.
He Linyan then did not care about Mu Zhi Zhen, she also did not have time to ask, because she and other girls in the capital received the empress’s decree, declared her into the palace.
This year’s primary election was coming.
The He family received the decree, and besides He Linyan, there was also He Zhen, and some people were happy and some were worried about this result.
On the second day after receiving the decree, He Linwei went to pay her respects to Wei, who was just about to explain a few words to her when Cao arrived with He Zhen.
Cao was also in a hurry and said to Wei without caring about He Linyan’s presence, “Third aunt, can my Zhen’er not go to the palace? Doesn’t the He family still have He Ling? It’s just as well that fourth sister-in-law wants He Ling to go, can you think of a way to switch the candidates around?”
Wei sighed and said to Cao, “Second daughter-in-law, it’s not that I won’t help you. I didn’t arrange for He Ling to go to the palace, it was your mother’s wish.”
Cao pleaded, “Third aunt, although I am not from your house, this is the uncle’s house, and you and uncle should be the ones to decide the affairs of the house. My mother …”
Before Cao could finish her words, she heard the maid outside report, “Madam, the second madam is here.”
Everyone turned their heads and saw Second Lady Qin already standing at the door, and they didn’t know if she had heard Cao’s words just now.
Qin couldn’t see anything on her face, she gave Cao a glance, and said very kindly: “If you are not well, go back and rest more.”
But Cao took He Zhen and knelt directly in front of Qin, “Mother, please don’t let Zhen’er go to the palace.”
Qin’s face went cold at once when she saw this, and Wei’s eyes were downcast as she drank her tea.
“Zhen’er is my own granddaughter, how could I harm her? Get up, don’t make a joke here with your third aunt.” Qin said in a cold voice.
Wei instructed the maid, “Go help the Second Mistress get up.”
Qin’s face was expressionless as she said, “Zhen’er’s entry into the palace is a foregone conclusion, this is her father’s and my decision, you don’t have to say anything, go back to your own courtyard.”
Cao’s face turned white after she was helped up, she looked at Qin’s who had already made up her mind, and after holding back, she couldn’t hold back her anger and said, “You like power, you can fight for it yourselves, why should my daughter be sacrificed for your ambition!”
Qin’s face turned blue at her words, “Who are you talking to!”
Cao took a deep breath and smiled mockingly, going out of her way, “Am I not right? In fact, for all these years I didn’t know what you were fighting about! I don’t know how it is possible to hate each other to death one moment, but to live together peacefully for the sake of profit the next. Your son used to say that it was not easy for you, and that everything you did was for him. But after I became a mother, I know that a mother who truly loves her child would not teach him to fight for fame and fortune at a young age, teach him to cater to the needs of the world, teach him to do everything to his own liking, and even send his only daughter to a cannibalistic place for profit. Forgive me, but you don’t love your child, you’re just selfish!”
Qin pointed at Cao’s anger, “Cao! Do you want a letter of repudiation!”
This was the first time He Linyan had seen the Second Lady so angry.
Cao said mockingly, “If you write me a letter of repudiation, I will immediately take Zhen’er back to her mother’s house and simply be grateful!”
Qin was so angry that she covered her chest with her hand and shook a little.
Wei asked her maid to hold Qin’s hand, Wei never intervened, but how He Linyan looked at it she felt suspicious of watching.
The company’s main goal is to provide a comprehensive range of products and services to the market. After all, it was the old lady who asked the second master to carry me into the door in a palanquin.”
When she saw that Qin was about to get angry, Wei spoke up slowly, “Second daughter-in-law, you should stop talking, don’t make your mother sick.”
Only then did Cao stop.
Qin nodded and looked at Cao and said word for word, “You are very good.”
Cao replied stiffly, “I’m only good if my children are good. If they are not good, I can’t be good! Then no one should be well!”
He Zhen, who was already dumbfounded by the situation before her, timidly tugged at Cao’s sleeve, “Mother, forget it, I’ll go to the palace if I want to, it’s not necessarily possible to be chosen anyway.”
Cao looked at He Zhen and sighed.
Wei said, “Older daughter-in-law, you take Zhen’er back first. The decree from the palace has already come down, and it’s too late to replace her, so you might as well teach Zhen’er more while she’s at home. Don’t worry too much, this time Ah Yan will also go to the palace, the two of them can take care of each other.”
Cao does not know whether she has figured it out or venting a bit of anger, listened to Wei’s words and took He Zhen to say goodbye, her serious mother-in-law where she did not even look at, Qin’s face is even more ugly.
I don’t know what Qin originally came to Wei to discuss, being so angry with her own daughter-in-law, she also did not continue to speak with Wei’s interest, also hurriedly left.
When only He Linyan was left in the room, Wei said to her, “Do you know why your second aunt suddenly made this scene?”
He Linyan was a little surprised, “Does grandmother mean that second aunt was deliberately trying to make a scene just now?”
Wei said, “Your second aunt has never stood out in the He family all these years, nor has she ever had any conflicts with your uncle and grandmother.”
He Linyan also felt that Cao was a bit strange just now, as if she wanted to be angry with her mother-in-law on purpose.
Wei smiled and said, “The list of people to enter the palace has already been decided, so it is not that easy to change them, your second aunt knows it well. The first thing you need to do is to get a good idea of what you’re doing.
“Then what does second aunt mean by this?” He Linyan asked for advice with an open mind.
Wei said in a light voice: “She is just making a statement to me that she is on my side between me and the Second Lady. Because she knows in her heart that if she follows the Second Lady’s wishes, He Zhen’s entry into the imperial family is already a foregone conclusion, but with He Zhen’s status, even if she enters the imperial family, she can only be a side concubine at most. Cao knows that He Zhen’s entry into the palace has become a foregone conclusion, so what she wants is for He Zhen to lose the election.”
“Then what does grandmother mean?” He Linyan asked.
Wei shook her head, “This is a matter for their house, I won’t interfere. I think your uncle and grandmother and your second uncle are planning something big this time.”
He Linyan nodded and asked, “Grandma, I’m going to the palace the day after tomorrow, is there anything else you need to tell me?”
After thinking about it, Wei said to He Linyan, “I don’t ask you to be brilliant in everything this time, just remember four words: be careful with your words and actions.”
He Linyan originally thought that by this time Wei should have explained something to her, or at least told her which one she wanted to be assigned to, but unexpectedly Wei still refused to give her the bottom line, and instead explained that she should not stand out. The company’s main goal is to provide a good solution to the problem.
When Wei saw that He Linwei was silent, she thought she was worried, so she said in a soothing voice, “Don’t be afraid, going to the palace is just a formality, grandmother has arranged everything else for you.”
Going through the motions? He Linyan raised her eyebrows secretly and pondered Wei’s words in her heart, but nodded her head in a good manner.
Since she couldn’t ask any important information from Wei, He Linyan didn’t ask any more questions and left after listening to Wei’s explanation of a few unimportant matters.
After lunch that day, He Linyan was just about to go to the study to deal with the news of the “Dark Lin” when Cao’s came, this time looking for her.
“Second aunt wants to see me for something?” He Linyan asked.
Cao’s mother opened the door and said, “Ah Wan, Second Aunt wants to ask you something.”
“Second aunt, please speak.”
Cao said, “This time when you go to the palace, please help Second Auntie take care of Zhen’er more. Second Auntie knows that you are a smart girl with ability, but you also know that your sister Zhen’er is not very bright, so I am afraid that she will get into trouble after she enters the palace.”
He Linyan laughed, “So this is what this is about! Second aunt, don’t worry, we are all family, I will take care of fourth sister.”
“Thank you, Ah night.”
Cao looked very grateful, but after Cao said that, she still didn’t have the intention to leave. Looking at her, He Linyan knew that Cao had come to her not just to ask her to take care of He Zhen.
He Linyan did not rush to ask questions, Cao’s tea she patiently accompanied her to drink tea.
After a cup of tea had gone down, Cao seemed to have made up her mind and raised her head and said to He Linyan, “Ah Wan, I still have some things to talk to you about, let your maid go out first.”
He Linyan nodded toward Chun Xiao and the other two little maids, and they retreated.
“Second aunt has something to say, but there is no harm in saying it.”
Cao thought for a moment and suddenly said, “Ah night, do you want to enter the palace?”
He Linyan froze, then said, “I naturally follow the family’s arrangement.”
Cao looked at He Linyan and said, “Listen to the family’s arrangement … So you actually don’t want to enter the palace?”
He Linyan was silent as she wondered where Cao had come to the conclusion that she did not want to enter the palace.
However, Cao thought that He Linyan was acquiescing and sighed, “You obviously have someone in your heart, but you can’t decide on your own about marriage, I understand that you must not feel well in your heart.”
He Linyan pondered over Cao’s words, seemingly not quite understanding, “The person of your choice?”
Cao thought that He Linyan was unwilling to admit it, so she said implicitly, “I heard that you had some dealings with the Xue family’s son when you were in Donglin.”
It seemed that Cao’s daughter-in-law, Pan Wenqiang, had said something to Cao that made her misunderstand.
He Linyan couldn’t help but feel amused, was this Pan Wenqiang afraid that she would say something so she would take the first step and put a charge of fornication in front of Cao.
However, He Linyan was curious about what Cao wanted to say, so she was silent and neither refuted nor admitted.
“Ah night, second aunt is very grateful that you can help me look after Zhen’er, so if you really have feelings for Mr. Xue, second aunt can help you.” Cao said sincerely.
He Lin Wan’s face did not move, “Second aunt can’t even stop her fourth sister from entering the palace, how will she help me?”
Cao’s face was a little uncomfortable as she was poked at a sore spot, but she still said, “Zhen’er’s matter is because her grandmother and father insisted … that I am not lying to you when I say I can help you.”
When Cao saw that He Linyan looked unconvinced, she thought about it and said, “I know a person who has some friendship with the Xue family, and the Xue family owes him a big favor. If you lose the election this time, I will contact that person and use this big favor to exchange for the Xue family to propose marriage to you.”
In her eyes, Cao had always been a woman who didn’t go out of her house, except for her own small courtyard, she never asked about the affairs of the house, how could such a woman have the confidence to make the Xue family take the initiative to ask for her hand in marriage?
He Linyan had a face of disbelief, “How could a man like Court Master Xue let his son marry just because of a favor? Is Second Auntie not coaxing me?”
Cao quickly said, “What am I coaxing you for? It’s just that the favor is so big that the Xue family can’t refuse to return it.”
He Linyan still shook her head, “Second aunt is definitely coaxing me. Xue Ge Lao is a senior official, how can he be so nice?”
When Cao saw that He Linyan did not believe her, she hesitated for a moment before finally saying, “Actually, … is more of a handle than a favor. With this handle in hand, just let Xue Ge Lao set a marriage for Xue Gongzi, he will definitely not refuse.”
He Linyan had a curious face, “What handle does Court Master Xue care so much about?”
But Cao shook her head and refused to say, only saying, “You don’t need to care about this, you just know that second aunt can help you to achieve what you want.”
He Linyan said, “If that’s the case, why didn’t Second Aunt Xue let the Xue family propose marriage to Fourth Sister in the first place? If it was the Xue family, grandma and uncle wouldn’t have refused, right? Then Fourth Sister wouldn’t have to go to the palace for the draft.”
“I don’t want Zhen’er to marry into the Xue family; the Xue family is not a good match.” Cao finished subconsciously and suddenly reacted, hastily adding, “What I mean is that the Xue family is not suitable for Zhen’er.”
He Linyan didn’t care about Cao’s words, but only asked, “Who is the man that second aunt is talking about? And he will definitely listen to Second Aunt?”
Cao’s face changed slightly at her words, but she soon said in a natural tone, “It’s a relative of my mother’s family, you don’t recognize him. Ah night, second aunt is telling you this because she wants to tell you that as long as you help me to protect Zhen’er safely, and finally let her go home and marry on her own, I will help you to get what you want.”
He Linyan looked surprised, “You want to let fourth sister lose the election?”
Cao nodded, “That’s why I came to you. I know you’re smart, so help Zhen’er think of a way.”
He Linyan said, “I understand what second aunt means, but how can you prove that you can help me get what I want?”
Cao seemed frozen, “How could Second Aunt lie to you?”
He Linyan sighed and said, “I don’t suspect that Second Auntie is lying to me, but if Second Auntie doesn’t give me an accurate answer, I really don’t have a bottom in my heart. You also know that my grandparents actually want me to go to the palace, if I answer you will have to go against the wishes of my grandparents, and if I help my fourth sister, I will have to offend my uncle’s grandmother and second uncle, so the elders of the family are all offended by me. If the Xue family can make it, it’s fine, if not, then I …”
He Linyan said here and sighed again, very disappointed.
Cao heard a moment of silence and finally said, “Then what do you want to say?”
“Can second aunt reveal who this person is?” He Linyan asked.
“I can’t.” Cao refused without any room for error. Perhaps realizing that she had refused too quickly, Cao explained again, “This person also has no explicit dealings with the Xue family, so even if you knew who it was, it would be useless.”
He Linyan frowned and thought, “Second aunt I naturally believe, but this relative of yours is … imagine if he is holding the handle of Xue Ge Lao, how can he easily use it? Hey, forget it, I think it is better to listen to God’s fate.”
Cao’s wife was a bit anxious, “How can you leave it to fate! This is a lifelong matter! You will definitely regret it later!”
He Linyan smiled bitterly.
Cao hesitated for a moment and finally said, “Look at it this way, I’ll ask the Xue family to give an answer first.”
He Linyan knew that this was the limit of what Cao could do, so she nodded and agreed, “Okay, then I’ll wait for Second Aunt’s reply.”
Cao nodded and left somewhat distracted.
After Cao’s departure, He Linyan couldn’t help but fall into deep thought.
Cao did not look like she was lying, which meant that she knew someone who had or thought she had a handle on Xue Ge Lao, and that person was willing to listen to Cao to a certain extent.
Although this handle is true or false can not be sure, but just because this matter involves Xue Ge Lao, He Linyan had to pay attention.
He Linyan has always wanted to find a breakthrough from Xue Yuancheng to figure out what happened to the Yang family, to complain and to revenge. But these years down either she or Li Yu have not succeeded. Xue Yuancheng, an old fox, has always been a man of action, otherwise he would not have made the Yang family trust him so much in the first place. If Cao’s side could have a breakthrough, it would be great.
Not long after Cao left He Linwei’s place, Wei sent someone to invite He Linwei over again, this time because his aunt He came with Chu Rong’er.
When He Linyan went over, she saw that both He’s mother and daughter, He Chu Rong’er, were full of smiles, very different from the way they complained when they came back.
As soon as He saw He Linwei, the smile on her face was amplified and she said affectionately, “Yo! Ah Yan is here? Come and sit next to your aunt.”
Even Chu Rong’er, who was always nonchalant, took the initiative to give He Linyan a smile.
Although she didn’t know what Wei had called her to do, she didn’t take the initiative to speak up.
He looked at He Linyan and said to Wei with a smile, “What did I say at first? Our He family has the most promising girl, Miss Evening! You see, I was right, right? Even if you can’t marry into the royal family, your status will be different!”
Wei smiled and didn’t answer.
He sighed again and glanced at her daughter with a bit of regret in her tone, “It’s just a pity that my Rong’er. Originally should have had a better future.”
Chu Rong’er said in a low voice: “Mother, you do not say, daughter now is not also quite good.”
He said, “Yes, yes, not to say this, not to say this! With my daughter Rong’er’s good fortune, she can be fine wherever she marries, after all, a phoenix is a phoenix wherever she goes.”
Wei’s calmly listened to He’s boast and boast back to their own daughter, eyelids did not lift.
On the contrary, Chu Rong’er after married than the previous have eyes more, she looked at Wei and He Lin night, and gently tug He’s clothes.
He’s will understand, and smiled to turn the topic back, “last time Mrs. Wei’s birthday banquet, I originally was to take Rong’er with third sister-in-law to go, who knows the day before the trip I suddenly twisted the waist, finally did not go, Rong’er for me also did not go. I heard that even old lady Fan went there later?”
He Lin night thought up, no wonder that day in the Wei family birthday banquet did not see He and Chu Rong’er.
However, hearing He’s tone that was a bit regretful but not too regretful, He Linyan was still a bit surprised.
Then listen to the He said: “But fortunately my son-in-law is over to celebrate the birthday! This time, thanks to my sister-in-law, my son-in-law was able to meet Lord Wei at Madam Wei’s birthday banquet. Lord Wei was very appreciative of my son-in-law, and later had someone deliver invitations to my son-in-law for two cultural meetings.”
Wei didn’t take credit for what she said, she just smiled and said, “It’s good to get to know more people.”
“That’s right!” He said joyfully. He said joyfully, “Not only has my son-in-law met a lot of people, but this time Rong’er has also had a lot more social engagements. Before, she never had the chance to enter the circle of ladies and daughters in the capital, but now it’s different! A few days ago, at the Liu family’s third banquet, Rong’er had a nice talk with the wife of the Duke of Jing, and when she was leaving, the wife of the Duke of Jing had to hold my Rong’er’s hand to prevent her from leaving, saying that she was very close to her.”
This time Wei was finally a bit surprised and asked, “Is the wife of Prince Jing’s son a girl from the Mu family?”
He Linyan raised her eyebrows gently.
He’s a bit smug, “That’s not the one! I heard before that the wife of the son was arrogant and hard to get close to. Now I can see, she didn’t meet someone like my Rong’er who has a good temperament, talent and appearance!”
Chu Rong’er also said softly: “In fact, sister Wan Ping is very good to get along with, although only met once, but with me very close, will lead me as a confidant. By the way, I heard that Ah night also knows sister Wanping?”
He Linyan smiled, “I met the wife of Prince Jing’s son twice before I left the capital, so I kind of know her.”
“No wonder!” Chu Rong’er nodded, “Sister Wanping even asked me about you.”
“Oh? Madam Shi Zi still remembers me?” He Linyan’s tone was slightly surprised.
Chu Rong’er covered her mouth and smiled, “Naturally I remember, she even asked me how you were doing in East Linning these years.”
“I’m sorry for her concern.” He Linyan nodded his head.
Chu Rong’er said again, “By the way, speaking of which, there is actually one more thing that I want Ah night’s help with today.”
He Linyan wasn’t surprised to hear this, she smiled and said, “Cousin aunt, please say.”
Chu Rong’er said, “I plan to save a small game, just invite some of my girlfriends to the flower viewing party, I haven’t had any experience in hosting flower viewing parties, so I wonder if Ah night is free to help me?”
He Linyan didn’t respond directly, she looked at Wei.
He quickly smiled and said to Wei, “My Rong’er is just thinking that Ah Yan will be going to the palace soon, so she wants to relax for a while before she goes to the palace. Said she wants to help actually also not really let her do work, third sister-in-law you don’t want to give up.”
Chu Rong’er also said: “Yes Ah night, Wan Ping sister also promised to come.”
Wei thought about it and said to He Linyan, “In that case, you can go.”
He Linyan nodded, “Got it, grandmother.”
Chu Rong’er became happy and took He Linyan’s hand, “That’s great, then I’ll wait for you at home tomorrow after lunch.”
He’s white Chu Rong’er glance said: “You say home, people still think it is your husband’s house! Your husband’s house is so big, the carriage can’t even park!”
“Mother!” Chu Rong’er tugged at He’s sleeve with some annoyance, then said to He Linyan, “It’s the courtyard my mother prepared for me.”
He Linyan nodded. She had heard that Chu Rong’er married when He almost wanted to give the entire Chu family to Chu Rong’er as a dowry, Chu family is naturally refused, at that time caused Chu Rong’er’s father almost to repudiate his wife. Although later Chu family and did not as He’s wish, but He’s when the family for many years, the hands of money and not a lot, the explicitly and secretly subsidized Chu Rong’er a lot, this capital city in the hospital is then prepared.
“Right, I heard that Ah night and the fourth prince consort good friend, when Ah night can call on the fourth prince consort together to come better.” Chu Rong’er seemed to have suddenly thought of something and said to He Linyan with a smile.
He Linyan couldn’t help but laugh in his heart, “The fourth prince consort has just been newly married, I’m afraid it’s not appropriate to go out to meet guests, let’s talk about it next time.”
Chu Rong’er smiled a little disappointed, but still smiled and nodded, “That’s good.”
After He and Chu Rong’er finished their future intentions, they sat for a little while and then said goodbye.
After He Linyan waited for them to leave, she asked Wei: “I wonder what cousin aunt is doing here?”
Wei said in a light tone, “You still don’t understand that her words are always about her husband’s family and husband? It is only to help the family Chu Hanlin to broaden the network of people in the capital. But she can within such a short period of time to invite the wife of the Prince of Jing to the meeting is a bit surprising.”
He Lin Even thought of what Chu Rong’er had just told her to invite Yuan Xiang by the way and couldn’t help but smile, “I think I underestimated this cousin aunt before, I think this time she not only invited Prince Jing’s wife, but also invited quite a few people.”
Wei did not understand at first, but she is also smart, a little thought on the understanding, can not help but shake his head and said, “she is still too eager some.”
The next day, Chu Rong’er sent someone to the He family in the morning, waiting to lead the way for He Lin night, so thoughtful and polite gesture is very unexpected to He Lin night.
He’s prepared for Chu Rong’er is a very chic garden, covers a large area, is almost a third of the size of the He House, although this garden is built in the suburbs, not as convenient as in the inner city, but as a bridal home for Chu Rong’er already enough to support the scene.
As soon as the carriage of He Lin evening entered the door, he smelled the fragrance of flowers, got off the carriage to take a look to find that the courtyard planted countless potted flowers and trees, even the peonies and peony that should not be in bloom at this season are blooming extraordinarily splendid.
Chu Rong’er was standing with her maids to greet her outside the pendant flower gate, and smiled when she saw He Linyan get out of the car, “Ah night, you’re here!”
He Linyan was wondering Chu Rong’er would personally come to greet herself when several carriages drove in, Chu Rong’er’s eyes lit up and hurriedly crossed He Linyan to welcome her.
He Linyan looked back, the carriage just stopped, Mu Wanping in the maid’s support from the carriage down.
Compared with a few years ago, Mu Wanping’s appearance has not changed much, but her eyes have a few light sorrow that was not there before, so her original bright appearance has faded a little.
Chu Rong’er took the initiative to hold Mu Wanping’s elbow, said affectionately: “Mu sister, you finally came, I’ve been waiting for you here for a long time, I was afraid you had something temporary to forget my invitation.”
But Mu Wanping’s gaze crossed Chu Rong’er and looked directly at He Linyan, she nodded politely to Chu Rong’er, avoided Chu Rong’er’s hand and walked to He Linyan.
He Linyan took the initiative to greet her and called out to Mrs. Shizi.
Mu Wanping looked at He Linyan for a few moments, smiled slightly and said with no emotion on her face, “I haven’t seen you for a few years, Miss He has become more and more attractive.”
He Linyan also smiled and said, “Madam is still radiant too.”
Chu Rong’er hurriedly came over and said with a smile, “Sister Mu, Ah night, to catch up with old times go inside and then catch up, here is the wind, don’t catch a cold!”
At this time another voice interjected and said: “Big sister, this courtyard is not bad. Tomorrow I asked my mother to also for me to buy a nearby, weekdays call friends to hold a poetry party tea party can not be better.”
Several people turn around at the sound of the voice, they see a young girl who looks 14 or 15 years old just got off the carriage.
Chu Rong’er froze, seems to have not expected with Mu Wanping there are others.
Mu Wanping looked back, to Chu Rong’er and He Lin evening introduced: “This is my fifth uncle’s sixteen cousin Mu Lanping, formerly followed my fifth uncle live long Jiangnan, not long ago returned to the capital, today I learned that I want to come to participate in the flower viewing will follow me out.”
Chu Rong’er hurriedly smiled: “So is the Mu family sixteen girls ah, welcome welcome! I was thinking that today’s crowd is small, sixteen girls can come, that will be more lively.”
Mu Lanping came forward and warmly took Mu Wanping’s arm, she looked at Chu Rong’er, smiled and nodded before moving her gaze away, when she saw He Linwei she inclined her head and looked at her for a while before smiling and said, “You are the He family’s eldest girl, right? I’ve heard of you.”
He Linyan hadn’t heard of this sixteenth young lady of the Mu family, but she knew that there was another branch of the Mu family in Jiangnan, which was also a direct lineage, and this Mu Lanping must be from the Jiangnan branch.
Although Mu Lanping is not as good looking as Mu Wanping, she is also considered a beautiful woman, and when she smiles, she looks kissable but with some of the haughtiness of a lady of the family, so she looks like she is very favored in the family.
He Linyan was thinking about this when he heard Mu Lanping say, “I heard that you are also one of the candidates to enter the palace this time, so please take care of them.”
The Mu family had a girl going to the palace this year? He Linyan secretly raised her eyebrows.
He Linyan nodded towards Mu Lanping and before she could speak Chu Rong’er laughed “giggling” and said first: “Ah night and sister Mu are good friends, and Miss 16 is sister Mu’s cousin, with this fate, you two will certainly get along well in the future.”
“Oh?” Mu Lanping seemed to look at Mu Wanping with some confusion, “Is big sister and this Miss He a close friend? How come I haven’t heard of it?”
Mu Wanping glanced at He Linyan and said in a flat tone, “How long have you been back in the capital? Miss He followed her parents to their post five years ago and only returned to the capital at the beginning of the year, so it’s not unusual for you not to know.”
Mu Lanping nodded in understanding and smiled, “So that’s how it is! No wonder big sister hasn’t been out to socialize much these days, but she answered this appointment today. So it is to meet friends ah.”
Chu rong’er this serious host hear this words smile somewhat forced, in order to hide their own embarrassment, she hurriedly will everyone to welcome inside, several people then followed Chu rong’er into a courtyard.
This courtyard is not very big, but the courtyard around all planted plum blossoms, after entering the house the maids will east and west south three windows are opened after, full of eyes are blooming spring plum, plum blossom clear and fresh fragrance also puff nose.
“Here is the plum garden, this season to come here to boil tea and enjoy the flowers is the most suitable.” Chu Rong’er said somewhat smugly, “there are also lotus garden, chrysanthemum garden and peony garden, unfortunately those several courtyards are still under repair, the flowers are also not in bloom, otherwise I will take you all to see.”
Mu Lan Ping is walking to the window to admire the plum garden scenery, heard Chu Rong’er words smiled, casually said: “you here the scenery is not bad.”
Chu Rong’er is about to smile modest a few words, Mu Lan Ping turned his head some nostalgic and Mu Wan Ping said: “just walked in when I remembered my family in Jiangnan four seasons garden, that garden is still my own drawing plans to repair it. It’s a pity that I couldn’t bring it to the capital with me.”
Mu Wanping looked a little lack of interest, casually comforted: “you in the capital to repair a same does not become.”
But Chu Rong’er asked curiously, “Four Seasons Garden? Is also the same as my courtyard?”
Mu Lan Ping looked at Chu Rong’er, smiled and said: “almost, but my mother has a house slave who is good at tending flowers and plants, so the four seasons of seasonal flowers and trees in the garden can bloom all year round. Just when I entered the door I saw you outside also put some other seasonal flowers and plants potted, also thought you this garden also with my four seasons garden.”
Chu Rong’er smiled and blushed a little, embarrassed, “The pots outside are the ones I bought back at a high price.”
Mu Lan Ping nodded, appropriately gave Chu Rong’er a step, “the capital is not warm than Jiangnan, to flowers and trees four seasons bloom is a little difficult.”
The maids moved a low table to the window, and set up a futon and tea making utensils.
He Linyan asked, “Is this cousin aunt’s way of making tea?”
Chu Rong’er looked at Mu Lanping, her smile was a bit stiff, “Boiling tea has become popular in the capital recently, I heard that it has also come from the south, I think Miss Sixteen is very good at it?”
Mu Lanping glanced at the low table from the tea set, in Chu Rong’er slightly nervous gaze smiled and said, “Recently the wind of boiling tea is indeed from our south, but I also only know a little.”
Temporary hold the Buddha’s feet roughly learned the way to cook tea want to show some of their elegant manners in today’s Mu Lanping a sigh of relief, but she still waved her hand to let the maid will cook tea apparatus are removed down, while to Mu Lanping said: “then we still do not cook tea today, I remember just a while ago to get a few good Junshan tea, we drink this today. “
Mu Lanping smiled and turned his head to speak with He Linyan, “I heard that Miss He has been in East Linning for the past few years?”
He Linyan was a little surprised by Mu Lanping’s attention to herself, she nodded, “Well, my father served in East Lin.”
Mu Lanping wanted to say something else, but Mu Wanping interjected, “Come on, let’s have some tea, so many words.”
Mu Lanping seemed to listen very much to Mu Wanping, the eldest sister, and spit out her tongue and sat down next to Mu Wanping, and beckoned towards He Linyan, “Ah night sister also come and sit down, later I want to listen to you talk about the customs of East Lin! I grew up in Jiangnan, and this journey to the capital is the farthest I’ve ever traveled. I envy those of you who can visit the borderlands, but unfortunately I’m afraid I won’t be able to realize this wish in my lifetime.”
Mu Wanping looked at the plum blossoms outside the window and said in a light tone, “Accustomed to the prosperity and peace of the Southland, how can I stand the barrenness and turmoil of the borderlands? It’s a place where wars and bloodshed are fought at every turn, do you think it’s your back garden where you can roam at will?”
Mu Lanping blinked and looked at Mu Wanping, puzzled: “Big sister is quite knowledgeable about the borderlands?”
Mu Wanping pulled the corners of her mouth and lowered her head to drink tea.
Chu Rong’er in their talk has been trying to interject, but but do not know where to join the conversation, she was about to give He Lin night to make her eyes to let her give himself a stand when the maid came in to report that there are a few guests arrived.
Chu Rong’er apologized with Mu Wanping and Mu Lanping, and then got up to go get the guests, but this time she did not welcome them out of the garden, but stood outside the plum garden to meet them.
This time came five women, are Chu Rong’er husband Chu Hanlin’s fellow wives. Hanlin courtyard is a noble place, inside there are some and Chu Hanlin like their own family background in general, relying on the imperial examinations into the small Hanlin.
Today came to the five women’s grades are big and small, but look at all seem to Chu Rong’er horse’s head, they came in when also incessantly praise this garden design is how exquisite, Chu Rong’er in front of them swept in front of Mu Lan plane of caution, smile extra reserved and proud.
He Lin evening took a glance at the three women treat Chu Rong’er attitude to understand Chu Hanlin and Chu Rong’er play what idea. With Chu Hanlin’s origin, it was difficult for him to integrate into the circle of the family in the capital, that’s why he wanted to draw in these colleagues with average family background to form his own power. Today to come here Mu family sisters is Chu Rong’er for himself to establish prestige steps.
Sure enough, that three women hear Chu Rong’er introduce that Mu Wanping is the An Guo Gong Shizi wife or her own good friend when the attitude towards Chu Rong’er is more careful.
Chu Rong’er is secretly smug, Mu Wanping but said: “I came here because the last time I met Mrs. Chu heard her mention that Miss He will come over today, I have not seen with Miss He for several years, want to catch up with her so I have the audacity to come over to bother. Miss He, let’s go for a walk in the plum garden, Mrs. Chu and all of you please make yourselves comfortable.”
Mu Wanping’s words let Chu Rong’er face smile become stiff up, several new women also look at each other, and look at Chu Rong’er, Chu Rong’er only head down to drink tea to hide their embarrassment.
Mu Wanping didn’t have much of a mind to pay attention to this, she only gave He Linyan a glance before getting up and walking out.
Mu Lanping was just about to stand up and say something, but Mu Wanping said as if eyes had grown on the back of her head, “Lanping, I’ll catch up with Miss He, you can come back later if you want to stroll around the garden.”
Mu Lanping blinked, looked at Mu Wanping and then at He Linyan, then revealed a smile, “Okay, big sister.”
He Linyan nodded at the people present and said, “Excuse me first,” and then followed Mu Wanping out.
Today the sun did not come out, it was a bit cold outside, and there was also a bit of north wind, Mu Wanping did not wear too thick, when the wind blew over her body clothes clung to her body, you could see some thin curves.
He Linyan was a bit afraid of the cold and tightened the cloak on her body, but Mu Wanping didn’t seem to feel the cold and continued to walk straight in front.
When the cold fragrance of spring plum blossoms unconsciously stained their dresses, Mu Wanping finally stopped walking and stood under a plum tree, and He Linyan also stopped walking after her.
Mu Wanping turned around to face He Linyan and asked, “Is Li Yu okay in Donglin?”
He Linyan did not expect Mu Wanping to be so straightforward, so she froze.
Mu Wanping looked at He Linyan and pulled the corner of her mouth, saying sarcastically, “What? Are you going to tell me that you never had any encounters with him in East Linn?”
He Linyan’s face remained unchanged, she smiled and seemed a bit puzzled as she asked, “How is he in East Lin, your Mu family should know very well, right? You are aunt cousins, I don’t know why Mrs. Shi Zi is asking about my head?”
The sarcastic expression on Mu Wanping’s face faded away at her words, turning into an expressionless face, and she didn’t look at He Linyan either, but stared at the plum blossoms all in front of her, seemingly lost in thought, and seemingly just staring.
A gust of north wind blew, blowing off a large area of fallen plums, Mu Wanping spoke at this time: “Do you really want to enter the palace?”
He Linyan said in a flat tone, “The arrangement of the elders at home, I have to follow it.”
Mu Wanping’s gaze towards He Linyan had a few complications.
“What if I let you choose yourself?”
He Linyan looked at the colorful peach blossoms in front of her and was silent.
Mu Wanping looked at He Linwei for a while, did not know what came to her mind suddenly laughed, her laughter resounded in the plum forest, He Linwei did not experience half a joyful emotion, but on the contrary, heard a few sadness.
“What about you, was it your own choice to marry into the Jing Guo Gong House in the first place?” He Linyan asked Mu Wanping after she had finished laughing.
Mu Wanping leaned against the plum tree behind her to catch her breath and nodded with a smile, “Yes, that was my own choice.”
After a pause, Mu Wanping said in a casual tone, “So yeah, it’s the path you chose, you have to finish it even on your knees.”
He Linyan nodded thoughtfully, “Thank you for reminding me, I will choose a path to walk standing up.”
Not far away came the sound of footsteps, and He Linyan turned around and saw Mu Lanping walking towards them.
“I heard big sister’s laughter from far away, what are you guys talking about so happily?” Mu Lanping raised her voice and asked.
Mu Wanping said impatiently, “I told you not to come! Can’t you see I’m catching up with Miss He?”
Mu Lanping smilingly pointed to a cloak held in the maid’s arms and said, “Big sister is so heartless! I was worried about you getting cold outside so I came to bring you a cloak, but you dislike me now! If I had known, I would have left you alone and let you blow in the cold here with your sick body!”
Mu Wanping hummed lightly, but lifted her feet and walked towards Wang Mu Lanping, only when she brushed past He Linyan, she suddenly whispered with a movement of her mouth, “Tell Li Yu and Li Heng not to return to the capital, and not to trust anyone.”
He Linyan turned her head to look at Mu Wanping, who had already walked quickly to Mu Lanping’s side and was taking the cloak handed over by the maid and putting it on herself.
Mu Wanping seemed to have remembered something, and while putting on her clothes, she turned her head and said to He Linhang, “By the way, that includes me!”
“Including big sister what?” Mu Lanping was a little puzzled.
Mu Wanping gave her a white look and disliked her, “Including that I can’t even stand your annoyance!”
Mu Lanping was not convinced, “Where am I annoying?”
Mu Wanping didn’t pay any attention to Mu Lanping and walked outside the plum forest on her own, not even paying any more attention to He Linyan.
Mu Lanping looked helplessly at He Linyan and said apologetically, “My big sister is just like that, she suddenly gets upset and ignores people somehow, so don’t worry about it, Miss He.”
He Linyan was pondering over what Mu Wanping had just said, when she heard Mu Lanping’s apology she smiled, “It’s okay.”
Mu Lanping walked up to He Linyan and asked, “But I’m a little curious, what did Big Sister say to you just now? I can’t believe you’re angry again.”
He LinHan shook her head, “Didn’t you also say that Mrs. ShiZi has such a temper? If you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have known that she was angry.”
Mu Lanping looked at He Linyan and smiled, “But then again, how did Miss He become friends with my big sister?”
He Linyan thought for a moment, and while walking towards the outside of the plum forest, she said regretfully, “I really can’t recall if you ask me that, but I just met her at one of the banquets, and then they crossed paths.”
Mu Lanping followed He Linyan outside and casually asked, “Miss He has been in East Lin for five years, has my elder sister ever asked you about East Lin?”
He Linyan shook her head, “No.”
Mu Lanping sighed, “But big sister, it’s good that she can catch up with you today and have a few words. She hasn’t been having a good time lately.”
“Oh?” He Linyan asked, “What has happened to the wife of the World Prince? I wonder if I can be of any help?”
Mu Lanping shook his head and said, “Her father, my second uncle, is seriously ill, and after the doctor came to see her, he said he was afraid he wouldn’t make it through the year. Eldest sister’s mother died early, she was raised under the knee of second uncle, father and daughter love is extraordinary, now … hey!”
“What kind of illness is Lord Mu suffering from? Why is it so sudden?” He Linyan asked with a frown.
Mu Lanping sighed again, “Actually it wasn’t sudden. I heard that the second uncle seems to have been sick for a long time, he himself also knows that his body is not working, but he has been hiding it from anyone, and does not go to see a doctor for treatment, until the day before yesterday when the second uncle suddenly fainted at home, after bringing in a doctor to look at the seriousness of the matter we only know that he is sick, but the medicine is not effective.”
He Linyan thought it was no wonder she hadn’t received the news that Mu Jingcheng was seriously ill.
After He Linyan and Mu Lanping returned to the plum garden, they found five more women, later these five women dressed more elegantly than those who came before, He Linyan recognized that they were all from a family. But they do not seem to be familiar with Chu Rong’er, but they all came together to talk with Mu Wanping.
He Linyan happened to hear a woman saying: “… haven’t seen sister Mu for a long time, we heard that you will come to this flower viewing party today, so we also came. This Mrs. Chu … is Mrs. Chu is correct, right? Sure enough, she didn’t lie to us.”
Mu Wanping frowned and looked at Chu Rong’er.
Chu Rong’er somewhat sheepishly avoided Mu Wanping’s sight and turned her head to order the maids to serve tea.
When Mu Wanping saw that Mu Lanping had returned, she got up and said, “It’s getting late, let’s go back.”
Chu Rong’er see Mu Wanping this is going to go, can’t help but some anxious, hurriedly over to retain: “Mu sister how this is going to go, is … not too I greeted not thoughtful ah?”
Chu Rong’er said while also to He Lin night to make a wink, want He Lin night to help detain.
Mu Wanping but already spoke: “You did not entertain poorly, you are too thoughtful. Afraid that I would be bored of enjoying the flowers, I even invited several ladies with whom I usually interacted more.”
Mu Wanping’s tone is very calm, can’t hear the angry look, but the sarcasm in this words but still can let the people present hear out.
Chu Rong’er’s face immediately reddened, “sister Mu, I did not mean anything else, just thinking, thinking …”
Mu Wanping raised his hand to stop Chu Rong’er next words, said bluntly: “I understand what you want to do, so no need to explain. I will leave first, you guys have a good time, Lan Ping you go back with me.”
“Okay, big sister.” Mu Lanping said obediently.
Mu Wanping nodded again to those ladies who were good friends with her and said, “I still have things to do at home, so I will excuse myself. The scenery here is not bad, if you are free, there is no harm in taking a stroll. I will invite you next time.”
The ladies were not stupid, and now they understood what was going on.
“We all came here because of sister Mu, since sister Mu is leaving, let’s also go together.” Those ladies looked at each other, and one of them said.
Mu Wanping also did not say anything else, nodded to Chu Rong’er, the owner of this room, said goodbye and left. Mu Lanping and several other ladies also followed Mu Wanping and left.
Now the people in the house at once left most of them.
Chu Rong’er stood there face a burst of red a white, Mu Wanping she did not dare to stop, after all, in the name of others and contacts to invite guests was publicly demolished is not embarrassed. Several other people she is also not good to stop, because simply not familiar, people simply will not take care of her retention.
And Chu Rong’er good friends of the few women see this, also all get up have to say goodbye.
Chu Rong’er face more ugly, good in the face of these people when she will not be faint hearted, but also reluctantly out to stay a few words, finally let the maid to take out their own prepared gift box one to one, send that several women cheerfully left.
He Linyan waited for everyone to leave, and also intended to say goodbye, but did not want Chu Rong’er, who had just been patient, to snap at her.
“What’s wrong with you? When Mu Wanping was leaving just now, you wouldn’t help me to hold back a bit? I asked you to come here to be a decoration?”
He Lin evening some surprise, because did not expect Chu Rong’er will suddenly snapped at herself, so she did not react for a moment.
But Chu Rong’er thought that He Lin night is deficient, more recklessly pointed at her and reprimanded: “Have seen stupid, have not seen you so stupid! So can not read the eyes to act and still want to enter the palace? I advise you to stop thinking of climbing up the ladder!”
He Linyan was laughing and crying. She also did not have the intention to argue with Chu Rong’er, straightened her skirt and got up: “It’s late, I’ll also leave now.”
“Is this the way you treat your elders?” Chu Rong’er was so angry that her voice drew up.
He Linyan looked at Chu Rong’er and sighed, “Cousin Aunt, you didn’t tell me beforehand that you invited Mu Wanping in my name, nor did you tell me that you invited her friends again in Mu Wanping’s name. How do you want me to help you round up your lies?”
Chu Rong’er couldn’t help but be speechless, but she didn’t want to lose face in front of He Linyan, and strongly argued, “Who said I invited sister Mu in your name? She was invited by myself.”
He Linyan smiled and nodded, “Since you invited her, then you can naturally retain her.”
“You!” Chu Rong’er was so angry that she couldn’t say anything, and just when He Lin Even thought Chu Rong’er still wanted to make a move, Chu Rong’er cried out.
“You, you bully!” Chu Rong’er cried while saying, as if she had suffered a great grievance, and He Lin night was the evil person.
He Lin night or the first time to meet Chu Rong’er such a person, simply sigh of amazement.
The maids all came over to persuade and coax Chu Rong’er, and someone else dashed out of the house to ask Chu Rong’er’s mother, He Shi, to go.
He Lin evening saw that things could not end well, so he took his own maid … sneaked away.
From the Chu Rong’er’s other court out of He Lin night finally a sigh of relief.
Chun Xiao said with a huff: “This cousin Miss is really unreasonable! Obviously she is her own unethical behavior, but also make it look like you bullied her! You’re not her mother, so why do you have to do everything she wants? You’re not her mother, so why do you have to obey her in everything? I sh*t!”
He Lin night is not very angry, this world all kinds of people, Chu Rong’er at most is annoying people just, and she does not have anything to do with.
Chu Rong’er in He Lin night here suffered “aggravation”, He’s natural will not let up. The next day He went to Wei to complain, it is said to be counted He Linyan such as to the elders vicious form of evil, in front of outsiders to fall on their own family face and so many crimes.
He Linyan didn’t hear it herself, Wei didn’t ask He Linyan to go over to see He, it was Chun Xiao who went to Wei’s maid to inquire about it and came back to tell He Linyan.
A few more days passed and it was the day He Linhe went to the palace.
The day before she entered the palace, Wei called her over and still didn’t tell her what she needed to do to enter the palace, but only handed her a box of silver tickets, which He Linyan later went back to take a look at and found that they were mostly small silver tickets of five, ten, twenty, fifty taels, which were supposed to be for her to reward the palace staff, and the largest denomination was only five hundred taels. These silver tickets add up to about 7,000 to 8,000 taels, such a large amount is very surprising to He Linyan, she thinks her father may not have taken so much silver from Wei’s hand.
In addition, Wei also told her that if there was anything in the palace or if she wanted to send news to her family, she could go to an eunuch named Bao Shan.
The second wife, Cao’s side, said she would ask the Xue family to give her an accurate message, but no news came from Cao’s side until the night before He Linyan was to leave the He family to go to the palace.
He Linyan had arranged for someone to keep an eye on Cao since she left that day. He Linyan thought that Cao would definitely contact that person and wanted to find out when Cao contacted him, but Cao didn’t move at all. The company’s business is not a good one, so He Linyan naturally will not try to alarm the snake, so he will also follow the troops do not move.
This day before the dawn, the carriage sent by the palace to pick up the person came.
Although the time for the election would not be too long, they would have to stay in the palace for three to five days, so the palace issued a special decree allowing them to bring a personal attendant, and He Linyan took Chunxiao with her.
Before leaving home, He Linwei went to see Wei first, and after she came out of Wei’s courtyard, she met He Zhen and Cao, who had sent He Zhen out.
He Zhen’s eyes were red and swollen, and her maid was holding an egg wrapped in a handkerchief to put on her eyes, but after a while she hugged Cao and cried again.
“Mother, will I not be able to come back? I heard that girls who enter the palace will not be able to see their families afterwards. I don’t want to be unable to see my mother!”
Cao hugged He Zhen and coaxed in a small voice, she also had tears in her eyes, but her emotions were not as outgoing as He Zhen’s, and she stiffly did not let the tears fall down.
“Second aunt.” He Linyan walked over and greeted Cao and called out to her fourth sister.
He Zhen seemed a little embarrassed to be seen by He Linyan crying like this, and sarcastically left Cao’s embrace, calling out for her big sister.
Cao gently patted He Zhen’s shoulder and said to her, “You first go with the maid to the second door and wait, I have something to say to your big sister.”
He Zhen looked at Cao and then at He Lin Wan, although she didn’t know what her mother had to say to her cousin, she still obediently took the maid and went away first.
He Linyan knew that Cao had something to say, so she asked Chun Xiao to follow He Zhen to the second door and wait there.
Perhaps because she knew that time was short, Cao didn’t wait for He Linyan to ask before she took the initiative to say, “Ah night, there is no news there yet, so what I promised you before …”
Seeing that Cao’s face did not seem to be fake, He Linyan said with confusion, “Second aunt, what does it mean that there is no news?”
“It means that that person hasn’t replied to me yet.” Cao’s eyes also had a bit of anxiety in them, and said, “But don’t worry, I will personally go out today and make sure that this matter is done.
He Linyan nodded, “My fourth sister and I are sisters, so we will naturally take care of each other, second aunt doesn’t need to worry.”
Cao said with a bitter smile, “How can I not worry? How can Zhen’er’s nature be able to enter the palace? Unfortunately, how I persuaded and begged could not stop them, I … also have no choice. All in all, she will be entrusted to you for the time being, and second aunt will thank you later.”
Cao’s family gave a few more words of explanation to He Linwei uneasily, until the steward came and urged that the palace carriage had been waiting for a long time, Cao’s family sent He Linwei to the second gate and took a second look at He Zhen by the way.
When He Zhen got on the carriage, she cried again and could not be persuaded, so He Linyan thought she was going to cry all the way to the palace. But when their carriage entered the palace gate, He Zhen stopped crying strangely after she saw the majestic and solemn Tianji Hall through the carriage curtain.
“Big sister, this palace is so big, what is it for.” He Zhen sniffled and peeked over to look beyond the curtain.
He Linyan said, “Tianji Hall, the place where all the civil and military officials of the dynasty go to the great court.”
He Linyan’s eyes widened in shock, and she pulled the curtain of the carriage open some more, staring unblinkingly at the outside, until the palace attendant walking beside the carriage gestured for her to put down the curtain.
“So this is the Heavenly Palace! Are we already in the palace? This is the first time I’ve been in the palace.”
He Linyan glanced at He Zhen, who was full of curiosity and yearning, and had to admit that Cao’s worries were correct.
“When you entered the palace, didn’t the elders teach you the rules?” He Linyan asked with raised eyebrows.
He Zhen pouted and said, “I was taught, my grandmother told me to talk less and watch how others act, but since she knew I didn’t even know how to talk and act in the palace, why did she want me to go to the palace? I can’t easily go to the palace once, maybe this is the only time in my life to go to the palace, it is normal to want to see more and grow more knowledge, isn’t it? When I get out of the palace later, when I talk to others about the palace, I can still say that I have seen the Heavenly Palace with my own eyes.”
He Linyan didn’t mean to teach He Zhen a lesson, and was relieved to see that she wasn’t crying anymore, so long as she didn’t make a big mistake, she would let her go.
Their carriage entered the palace from the north gate, and after circling around, they stopped in front of a palace gate, He Linyan and He Zhen came not too early and not too late, they arrived just in time to see people walking down from the two carriages parked in front of them.
He Linyan didn’t pay close attention to who those two people were, but when she got off the carriage, someone in front of her called out to her.
“Miss He?”
When He Linyan turned her head to look over, she saw Mu Lanping.
“It’s really you, huh? What a coincidence!” Mu Lanping seemed very happy to see He Linwei.
“Miss Mu.” He Linyan nodded, but her gaze was drawn to the woman beside Mu Lanping. That person noticed He Linwei’s sight and looked over, but only nodded her head slightly.
Mu Lanping, however, noticed the movement of the person beside him and asked in surprise, “Miss Fan and Miss He know each other?”
Fan Lanruo nodded her head and did not explain much.
He Linyan asked suspiciously, “It’s not strange that I know Miss Fan, after all, we have both lived in the capital for many years, but how did Miss Mu meet Miss Fan?”
Mu Lanping smiled and said, “Miss Fan is quite famous in the capital, so I had the audacity to take the initiative to get to know her, but it was really a coincidence that I met the two of you today, I met Miss Fan’s carriage when I was entering the palace gate. By the way, I haven’t had a chance to ask Miss Fan yet, did you also enter the palace for the draft?”
He Linyan also wanted to ask this question, because she had not heard the news that Fan Lanruo was also going to participate in this draft, so she was very surprised to see her here today.
Fan Lanruo said in a cold tone, “I came to the palace today to pay my respects to the Empress, who will be free to see me only in an hour. I just heard by chance that an old friend is also entering the palace today to participate in this small election, so I purposely came here to have a few words with her.”
Mu Lanping suddenly understood and said with a smile, “So that’s how it is, I said how come I didn’t know that Miss Fan was going to enter the palace before. Who is the deceased person Miss Fan is looking for? If she has already arrived first, we can go in and pass on the message for you.”
At this time, the sisters responsible for guiding them came over. Fan Lanruo took a look and said, “Thank you, Miss Mu, for your kindness, but it is not necessary, she should come over later, I will wait for her here. A few of you just make yourselves comfortable.”
Seeing her say this, Mu Lanping didn’t insist any more, He Linyan nodded to Fan Lanruo and took He Zhen with her.
The guiding sisters led them into a palace gate.
Mu Lanping smiled and asked, “Sister, I wonder where we are going here?”
The guiding sisters said kindly, “We are going to Wenzhen Hall, where all the girls who entered the palace today have to go first, and the girls are staying in Wenzhen Hall these few days.”
“So that’s how it is!” Mu Lanping nodded, and then whispered to He Linyan, “I thought before that Miss Fan was also going to participate in this small election, but I didn’t expect her to come, and I don’t know why.”
He Linyan said, “I’m not sure, I only met Miss Fan once, I don’t know her very well.”
Mu Lanping didn’t talk to He Linwei about Mu Lanping anymore, but talked to Sister Guiding, who was very easy-going and basically answered all of Mu Lanping’s questions.
Because the number of women entering the palace in this small election is not small and their status is not low, so there is no complicated process as in the usual big election, but there are some necessary procedures that cannot be avoided. One of them is to be examined by the old sisters in the palace to see if there are any traumas or hidden diseases.
He Linyan, He Zhen and Mu Lanping were brought to Wenzhen Hall by the guiding sisters.
Wenzhen Hall is a large hall, which is the residence of the showgirls during the selection of the talent, and it has a certain distance from both the outer court and the inner palace. This time, although only a small election, the number of women participating in the election is only a hundred or so, but are also arranged here.
Because of the small number of people, every four of them lived in one courtyard. He Linyan, He Zhen and Mu Lanping were placed in the same courtyard.
Because there were not yet all the people, He Linyan went to rest after she was assigned to a room, but she didn’t want the door to be knocked just after she sat down to drink half a cup of tea. Chun Xiao ran over to open the door and found that the person standing outside was Lian Xin, the maid He Zhen had brought with her.
“Big girl, a nun came over and asked our girl to change her room! You should go over and take a look!” Lianxin said anxiously.
“A nun? Why would a nun come into the palace?” Chun Xiao looked puzzled.
He Linyan thought about it, got up and walked outside.
He Linyan lived in the east wing of this small courtyard, while He Zhen lived in the west wing, so He Linyan got a clear view of the opposite side when she walked to the door.
He Zhen was standing at the entrance of the west wing with a puzzled and overwhelmed look on her face, opposite her stood two women, one woman was holding a wooden box in her hand, looking at her dress she should be a maid. The other woman should be the “nun” that Lianxin said, because she was wearing a lotus green monk clothes.
The women who entered the palace today were all dressed up, and even if they didn’t dress up in flowers, they were certainly elegant and pleasant, so a woman in a monk’s dress suddenly appeared and couldn’t be noticed.
When He Linyan walked over, she heard the maid with the wooden box in her hand pleading with He Zhen, “… If there are any other requests, please feel free to mention them, my girl sincerely wants to change rooms with you.”
He Zhen was in a difficult situation, a glance at the sight of He Lin Wan is like seeing a rescue, quickly shake off the two people ran over, pulling He Lin Wan whispered: “Big sister, this girl suddenly came to me to say to change rooms, is there something in this I do not know the reason ah? I heard people say that people in the palace are quite complicated, I really can’t understand what they want! And look at their dresses, so strange …”
The girl in the Guru’s uniform seemed to know that He Zhen was talking about her and turned her head to look over.
Although He Linyan already had some expectations in her heart, she was still stunned when she got a good look at the woman’s appearance.
If Fan Lanruo’s beauty is the cold beauty of ice and jade bones, Mu Wanping’s beauty is the bright and burning haughty beauty, Yang Weizhen’s beauty is the elegant beauty of Qingli, then the woman in front of her is the ethereal and unearthly beauty of the mundane.
Her eyes are bright like stars, as if born with love with a smile, but when looking at you there is nothing inside, as if you and a flower, a tree, a grain of dust is no different.
“Miss Xue.” He Linyan hid the complicated emotions in his eyes and nodded his head in greeting.
Xue Wanqing’s gaze however lingered on He Linyan for a moment, and the maid next to her hastily whispered to her, “This should be the He family’s eldest girl, who is a cousin to that He fourth girl just now.”
Xue Wanqing nodded at He Linyan, “Miss He. I’m sorry, I haven’t gone out for many years, so I don’t recognize all the ladies in the capital, so please forgive me for the rudeness.”
He Linyan naturally knew Xue Wanqing’s unsociable nature, and it was rumored outside that Xue Wanqing was cold and arrogant and not easy to get close to.
Yang Weizhen had been engaged to Xue Xingyi for so long that she should be familiar with Xue Wanqing, but the two of them had not met more than five times. Even when they meet, it is only a few pleasantries to each other, and not much friendship. In recent years, Xue Evening Qing has disappeared from the capital’s boudoir circle, hardly appearing in front of people.
Therefore, when Chen Yihan said she had a good relationship with Xue Yanqing a few years ago, He Linyan did not believe all of it.
He Linyan smiled and said, “I’ve been away from the capital for many years, so it’s normal that Miss Xue doesn’t recognize me.”
Xue Wanqing smiled politely at He Linyan and looked at He Zhen: “I’m sorry my maid didn’t explain clearly before, the reason why I want to change rooms with you is because the Guanyin statue I brought needs to be placed west to east, I just went to my room and saw that there is no suitable place.”
Only then did He Linyan see clearly that the sandalwood box in the hand of the maid beside Xue Wanqing contained a jade Goddess of Mercy statue.
“Oh, so.” He Zhen responded awkwardly, but her eyes quietly looked at He Linyan.
Xue Wanqing seemed to realize that He Zhen wanted He Linyan to make up her mind, so she said to He Linyan, “I have been fasting and chanting Buddhism for many years, and I have already gotten used to doing morning and evening classes every day. This time, although I had to go to the palace, the morning and evening lessons are not good to miss.”
“Miss Xue believes in Buddhism?” He Linyan asked with a raised eyebrow, she didn’t remember the previous Xue Wanqing was so obsessed with holding photos and reciting sutras, but she didn’t know much about the previous Xue Wanqing either, that’s all.
Xue Evening Qing thought about it and nodded her head gently, “I should believe.”
He Linyan pondered what the “should” in her words meant.
He Zhen gently tugged on He Linyan’s sleeve and whispered, “So she’s that Xue Wanqing! Big sister, why don’t I switch with her?”
He Linyan said to He Zhen, “In that case, you can change rooms with Miss Xue.”
He Zhen looked at Xue Wanqing, “Then Miss Xue, you wait for a while, I’ll have my maids pack up the things.”
Xue Wanqing nodded and performed a Buddhist salute, “Thank you both.”
Xue Wanqing and He Zhen both exchanged rooms, He Linyan then went back to her room, not wanting to sit down for a short time before Mu Lanping came looking for her.
“Miss Mu is already packed?” He Linyan welcomed Mu Lanping in.
Mu Lanping looked at He Linhe’s room and said with a smile, “There are many rules in the palace, so I didn’t bring much stuff into the palace, what is there to clean up? Your room looks about the same size as mine.”
Originally, He Linyan and He Zhen lived in the east and west compartments, while Mu Lanping and Xue Wanqing shared the four north rooms. Now He Zhen and Xue Wanqing had changed rooms, so He Zhen and Mu Lanping were now living in the north room.
After sitting down, Mu Lanping asked, “Miss Xue and your cousin have changed rooms?”
He Linyan ordered Chun Xiao to serve tea and nodded to Mu Lanping, “Well, it says that the west room is good for the statue of the Goddess of Mercy.”
Mu Lanping thought about it and pouted slightly, “I went to say hello to Miss Xue when she came over, and I thought that Miss Xue thought I was wrong to say hello, so she deliberately found an excuse to change the room. It was only later that I remembered that she doesn’t seem to like to make friends with people.”
He Linyan poured a cup of tea for Mu Lanping and smiled, “There are four rooms in the north room, which are actually similar to the layout of the east and west compartments, so I don’t think Miss Xue needs to make this extra effort.”
Mu Lanping held the cup of tea in his hand and nodded with a smile, “You’re right, I should have been overly concerned. By the way, I heard that there was some commotion outside just now, do you know?”
“What commotion?” He Linyan had a curious look on his face.
“Didn’t Miss Fan say she wanted to wait for someone earlier?” Mu Lanping nudged his mouth in the direction of the west wing, “So the one she was waiting for was this Xue girl. But there seems to be some conflict between the two of them, they didn’t say a few words before Miss Xue left, and Miss Fan’s face didn’t look good when she left.”
He Linyan raised his eyebrows at that, “Oh?”
Mu Lanping’s eyes widened and asked with a curious face, “Sister He, you know Miss Fan, so do you know what happened between them?”
Mu Lanping was young, and her pretty little face was still a bit tender, so when she looked at you so bashfully and called you sister, there was really no way for ordinary people to refuse her, but unfortunately the person sitting opposite her was not an ordinary person.
He Linyan smiled and shook his head, “I really don’t know about this! But why are you so curious about Miss Fan and Miss Xue’s affairs?”
Mu Lanping slumped his shoulders in disappointment, “Miss Fan and Miss Xue are beauties on par with my elder sister, I heard about them when I was in Jiangnan, of course I’m curious about them. Not only me, which of these people who entered the palace today are not curious about them, and I heard that …”
Mu Lanping said here pause, He Linyan asked, “Heard what?”
Mu Lanping thought for a moment and came over and whispered, “I heard that Consort De likes Fan and Xue very much and wants one of them to be the fifth prince’s concubine. Not only the Consort, but also the Consort wants to marry a girl from the Court’s family for the Sixth Highness. So the fifth prince consort and the sixth prince consort is likely to be produced between them. But the Fan girl actually did not participate in the draft this time, which is a bit strange. But why would she come to the palace today if she’s not participating in the draft?”
“I don’t know about that.” He Linyan sighed.
Mu Lanping angrily said, “How come sister He doesn’t know anything!”
He Linyan smiled apologetically.
Mu Lanping thought about it and smiled again, and looked at He Linyan with her head: “These are all our idle speculations, so if sister He doesn’t know, she doesn’t know. But there is one thing you definitely know, you can’t not answer me this time!”
He Linyan said, “If I knew it, of course I would answer you.”
Mu Lanping blinked, and the smile on her face became somewhat narrow, “Then can Sister He tell me what kind of person His Highness the Fifth Prince is? I heard that sister knew His Highness the Fifth Prince when she was in East Lin, and even this time she was traveling with His Highness back to Kyoto.”
He Linyan thought, Mu Lanping finally got to the main topic after going around in a big circle.
“His Highness the Fifth Prince?” He Linyan frowned and thought for a while before saying, “His Highness the Fifth Prince treats people with courtesy and gentleness, and is loved by the local people when he was in East Lin, and I heard that he is also extremely prestigious in the military camp.”
Mu Lanping nodded his head repeatedly as he listened, and waited for He Linyan to finish, then complained somewhat unsatisfactorily, “That’s all? I can find people to inquire about this.”
He Linyan said suspiciously, “That’s all I know, I have no personal relationship with His Highness the fifth prince, so of course what I know is what everyone else knows.”
Mu Lanping pouted and said unhappily, “Sister must know something else, but you just don’t want to tell me! To tell you the truth, I … have my heart set on the Fifth Palace, and although I know that with Miss Xue around, my chances of becoming the Fifth Prince’s concubine are slim, I still want to know more about him, after all, I won’t have the chance in the future. Sister won’t even satisfy me with this request?”
He Linyan looked at the pampered and demented girl in front of her and smiled helplessly, “Sorry, I really don’t know.”
The light in Mu Lanping’s eyes went out, but she didn’t make things harder for He Linyan, instead she took her hand and said, “Okay, okay, then I won’t ask. But what I said to sister today is a secret, sister can’t tell others.”
He Linyan nodded her head, “Of course.”
Satisfied, Mu Lanping spoke to He Linyan a few more times and then got up to leave.
He Linyan looked at Mu Lanping’s back as if she was thinking.
Mu Lanping had been in Jiangnan and it was hard to say whether she had met the fifth prince or not. But if Mu Lanping aspires to the position of the fifth prince consort, does it mean that the Mu family has fallen to the faction of Consort De?
When you think about it, it seems not impossible. The fact that Mu Wanping is married to the son of the Duke of Jing, who has always supported Consort De’s faction.
Although the Mu family has not fallen to any faction, but because the Mu family and Jin Wangfu out of the same lineage of Empress Xiao Gong, so by default is the Jin Wangfu lineage.
But now the Mu family backlash … He Linyan thought here, some headache pinched the brow.
The situation in the capital is really getting more and more complicated, Li Yu future to walk the road is also more and more difficult.
The girl who took part in the small election are arriving one after another, guiding sisters in accordance with the rules will be brought in groups to the Wenzhen Hall specifically for women to check the body of the place. Because there are ten people in a group, He Linyan was separated from He Zhen and Mu Lanping, but was divided with Xue Wanqing.
Xue Wanqing may have been explained by the palace people, He Linyan saw her again when she changed into a normal clothes, although the color and style are very simple and plain, but finally not so striking. When Xue Wanqing saw He Linwei, she nodded and greeted him, and He Linwei responded in a calm manner.
The guiding sisters led He Linyan into a room, Xue Wanqing walked behind He Linyan, and He Linyan saw that she had entered the room next to her own.
At first, He Linyan didn’t notice anything wrong, and the process of the old sisters’ examination went smoothly, without deliberate difficulties, but when the examination was almost finished the old sisters were suddenly called out by a palace maid.
He Linyan’s heart was already a bit wary when the old sisters left, she called Chunxiao’s name but got no response, as a rule, Chunxiao should be outside the door at this time.
She went to the screen to put on the clothes she had taken off before, but found that the clothes that were originally on the screen had disappeared, and now He Linyan was sure there was a ghost.
He Linyan coldly hooked the corners of her mouth, she wanted to see what kind of tricks the person behind this was trying to pull. She didn’t panic, she just casually tore off the silk mantle in the middle of the room and wrapped it around her body, then walked to the door and pushed the door, but as she expected the door was locked from the outside.
He Linyan stood at the door and thought for a moment before making a decision. She did not try to call for help from outside, but quietly hid behind the door.
After about half a quarter of an hour, the sound of footsteps finally came from outside. He Linyan noticed that someone had put his ear to the door, as if he wanted to listen to the movement of the people inside, He Linyan quietly leaned against the door without making a sound.
“Strange, how come there’s no sound inside? Are you sure she’s naked and locked inside?” A woman’s voice asked.
“Slave servant is sure!” This was the voice of the palace maid who had called the old maid out earlier.
Just as He Linyan was guessing the identities of these two, an impatient female voice said, “All right, open the door and let this palace in. I’d like to see if the bitch is more attractive naked than when she’s wearing clothes!”
A cold smile surfaced at the corner of He Linyan’s mouth when she heard this voice, it seemed that certain people’s methods were really as vile and crude as they had been for several years.
“Princess, I heard that this one knows martial arts, should we bring a few more people in to subdue her …”
Princess Chunyang seemed to have thought of something and immediately said, “Right! You go outside and call some guards to come over!”
He Linyan heard this and slightly lowered her eyes, the smile at the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but deepen a few times.
“Princess, you can’t!” The court lady was anxious and advised in a low voice, “Miss He is not the only one in this Wenzhen Hall today, if you call the guards in, things will definitely get bigger, and then it will be difficult to finish!”
He Linyan didn’t know if Chunyang really didn’t know the sky was high or she was used to being arrogant and domineering all these years, she could even think of the “good idea” of calling the guards to Wenzhen Hall when the showgirls were stripped naked for body check.
After all, she is convinced that the princess who dares to do death to the point of offending all the powerful people and families of the dynasty.
Unfortunately, Chun Yang is not stupid enough to realize that it is not right to do so once the palace maid persuaded her to change her mind and say: “Forget it, this time it is cheaper for her! Go get some eunuchs to come over!”
He Linyan leaned behind the door leisurely, not the least bit anxious.
There were eunuchs in this Wenzhen Hall, so soon four eunuchs were called over.
“Open the door!” Chunyang said in a cold voice.
“With a click, He Linyan heard the sound of the latch being opened, followed by the door being pushed open, and Chunyang walked in first.
He Linyan saw the right moment and quickly put the remaining half of the silk mantle in his hand over Chunyang’s head, then before the two palace maids and the four eunuchs reacted, he ruthlessly kicked the door shut, the door closed at the same time those people had been knocked out, He Linyan backhandedly inserted the plug behind the door, the action was flowing in a single breath.
Chun Yang realized that something was wrong and wanted to pull down the mantle over her head, but He Lin Wan had her hands free to clean her up.
He Linyan went to Chunyang’s side, ripped off her belt and tied her hands behind her back with her own belt.
Chunyang was extremely angry and cursed while struggling: “Bastard! Unbridled! If you dare to disrespect this palace, I will have my father execute your nine clans!”
He Linyan was not yet angry, but when she heard this sentence, she threw a backhand slap heavily on Chunyang’s face which was still covered with the mantle, because there was a layer of mantle, the sound of this slap was not crisp, but Chunyang fell to the ground with a scream of pain.
“He Linyan! I know it’s you! You’re dead! You’re dead!” You’re dead!” Chunyang didn’t forget to scream even at this point.
He Linyan gently rubbed his wrist without making a sound.
Jun Yang couldn’t hear He Lin Wan’s side of the movement, her eyes were blindfolded and she couldn’t see, so she couldn’t help but feel a little scared, but her pride wouldn’t allow her to beg for mercy from a person of lower status than her, so she shouted angrily, “He Lin Wan, don’t think I won’t know it’s you if you don’t make a sound! There are my men outside, as soon as you go out, you will be caught! You are guilty of offending the princess! I will have my mother give you death!”
He Linyan looked at Chunyang, who was barking like a mad dog, from a high position, and still didn’t make a sound.
The more Jun Yang said, the more she felt that things were not out of her control, and her fear was much less, and her voice even had some excitement in it, “My palace originally wanted to spare your life, only to strip you naked and humiliate you, and then have my mother ask Father to give you to the people of the Great Ji Kingdom for marriage! I heard that the people of the Great Ji Kingdom don’t know shame, women are like slaves in the eyes of men, and it’s common for fathers and sons to share a wife, so such a place is most suitable for a bitch like you!
He Linyan looked at Chunyang carefully and wondered what she had done in her past life and present life to make her hate her so much. In her previous life, it was understandable that Jun Yang would try to kill herself because of Xue Xingyi. What about this life? Was it just because of that one time in Tai Bai Lou that such a deep hatred had been formed?
He Linyan felt a bit unbelievable, this woman Chunyang is not a crazy person, right?
“And the one from the Yuan family, have you asked her if she feels good about being abandoned by her fiancé?” Jun Yang smiled smugly, “Aren’t you guys very close? The palace should have sent her to be your companion in the Great Ji Kingdom! It’s a pity that Li Liang got to her first! Hmph! Don’t think that the fourth prince’s concubine is so honored, even Li Liang is just a dog in front of my mother’s concubine! After she entered the fourth prince’s house, she will be at my mercy … you, what are you doing …”
The more she said, the more pleased she was, the more Chun Yang suddenly burst out and her voice became frightened.
He Linyan and her nonsense half-meaning, she pulled out a phoenix hairpin on Chunyang’s head, casually on her body a few cuts, Chunyang body that complex and exquisite palace dress became in pieces and fell to the ground, but a moment with the previous He Linyan, only a belly bib left on the body.
Chunyang had never suffered such treatment in her life, and after a moment of dumbfoundedness, she twisted her body and screamed.
He Linyan didn’t stop her from screaming, but only looked down at the person who had just been blabbering in terror, shrinking into a ball and trying to cover her exposed spring color. She seemed to understand why Chun Yang liked to torture people with despicable tricks, although she felt that she was using such tactics against people like Chun Yang was a bit degrading, but it was undeniable that the original bad mood seemed to be slightly more pleasant.
Chunyang’s shrieks reached the door, and the two palace maids who had followed Chunyang earlier began to knock anxiously.
“Princess! What happened to you, Princess?”
Chunyang hurriedly shouted, “Come in! Come in and help me!”
The people outside the door wanted to come in, but the door of Wenzhen Hall was not that easy to break open, so they banged the door loudly, but the door was still closed tightly. The noise here is so loud that it has alerted other people in the Hall of Wenzheng, and He Linyan heard many footsteps coming this way.
The outside court lady does not know what is happening inside, and now the door can not crash, finally anxious, “I go to report to the Queen! You tell people to take the girls here out first.”
The two palace maids split up and not long after, the footsteps outside were chaotic and He Linyan heard the voices of the palace maids and mothers kindly persuading the girls to leave for the time being, as well as some light complaints.
He Linyan listened to the voices outside and did not react much, but now Chunyang’s voice had screamed split, He Linyan lifted the belt that bound Chunyang and tied her to the pillar in the room, Chunyang’s limbs were not free and her body could not be covered, her body could not help but tremble.
At this time Chun Yang began to doubt the identity of He Lin Wan, she finally remembered that she came in and did not see He Lin Wan with her own eyes, so this person in the room if not He Lin Wan?
Imagine a girl who comes from an uncle’s family,
The father is still a court official, even if how the princess is dissatisfied with, will not risk the risk of the whole family being killed, so humiliate a princess. Because she did so trampled not only the face of a princess, but the dignity of the entire royal family, is bound to cause royal anger.
“Who are you … you are? You’re not He Linwei! Who the hell are you?” Jun Yang’s teeth couldn’t help but chatter as she sensed the unconcealed malice of the person in front of her towards herself.
He Linyan hooked the corner of her mouth and silently spat out two words: stupid.
There were footsteps outside coming this way again, and He Linyan frowned. It was only logical that the person who had gone to find Consort De to bring help would not return so quickly.
“Chunyang! Where are you! Come out here!” A man shook with rage.
He Linyan frowned, she heard the voice was the fifth prince’s.
“Your Highness! The princess is locked up in that room, please save her from coming out!” The palace maid who had just invited the boudoir in Wenzhen Hall out saw the fifth prince coming and hurriedly ran over to beg for help.
The fifth prince was angry at this time, directly kicked the palace maid out, the palace maid hit the wall and then rolled to the ground, but could not get up for a while, only lying on the ground and screaming in a low voice.
The fifth prince quickly walked to the door of He Linyan’s room and knocked on the door.
“Miss He? Miss He, are you all right?”
Chun Yang heard the Fifth Prince’s voice and hurriedly called for help, “Fifth Brother help me, he is not … Well …”
He Linyan didn’t wait for Chunyang to finish her sentence and picked up a piece of rag and stuffed it into her mouth.
The fifth prince also seemed to notice that something was wrong and knocked on the door again, “Chunyang?”
Chunyang screamed “Uh-uh-uh.”
“Miss He is you with Chunyang? You open the door.” The fifth prince’s voice was much heavier as he tapped on the door.
He Linyan still ignored it, she slowly looked around and didn’t notice anything missing, so she planned to leave the place quietly. He Linyan had observed when she entered the house before, except for the two south windows at the door, there was a very high and small window behind the screen in the inner room, where the bucket was placed, which was usually used for ventilation.
Behind that small north window should be an open space, in addition to this room, the north windows of the interior rooms of several rooms side by side were all open in that one.
He Linyan was only wearing a piece of mantle, so it was very inconvenient for her to move around. She planned to go to another room first to see if there were clothes she could change into.
He Linyan retreated silently to the inner room while calculating, at that moment she heard a slight sound, He Linyan’s body had already made a guard posture before she reacted, but it was already too late.
A figure and its bizarre speed from the north window above the beams flying down, noiselessly appeared behind her, He Lin Wan did not head back to sweep a foot to the person under the plate, but the person as if expected He Lin Wan’s movements, sensitive dodge. The only exchange of blows, He Linwei knew that this person’s martial arts skills are much higher than their own, plus she was only draped in a piece of mantle at this time, the action is stretched to the limit, very wretched.
When He Linwei’s wrist was caught by the man behind her He Linwei knew in her heart that it was going to be bad, but the man caught her wrist and did not subdue her, but instead used his other hand to gently wrap his arms around her waist.
In this way, that person has exposed his own life door without reservation behind He Linwei, with He Linwei’s skill, now she only use a move, the person behind her chest can be her piercing.
The man behind him seemed to be unaware of the danger he was in, his arms tightened slightly, and He Linh’s back was pressed against his chest, and the sound of “plop plop plop” was transmitted to He Linh’s ears through his chest cavity, causing He Linh’s body to tingle.
The person is not enough, will lower the head, the tip of the nose rubbed in the side of the neck of He LinHan, feel the person out of the breath into their own skin so that they can not avoid, He LinHan can not help but tremble.
“I miss you very much.” Just when He Linhun was frozen and didn’t know how to react, a familiar male voice murmured softly in her ear.
He Linyan blinked, her heart somehow softened.
She opened her mouth to say something when she suddenly remembered that she was now in an environment where there was a Chunyang tied to a pillar outside, so this was obviously not a place where she could talk.
The person behind him turned He Linhang’s body around, and He Linhang saw a young man in a guard’s uniform. The man’s posture is straight, his features are hard, his complexion is dark, and he looks very calm and reliable, but there is no resemblance to the man He Lin-an knew, the only thing He Lin-an is familiar with is the pair of eyes that are staring at him, hot like fire, and soft inside.
He Linwei could not help but slightly lower her eyes, avoiding his gaze.
It’s strange that the eyes that are obviously gentle make her feel uneasy. But a person like He Linwei, even if the wind and rain are raging inside, the surface can be as still as a mountain.
Li Yu looked at He Linwei for a while, the corners of his mouth slightly curved, he was leaning down to say something to He Linwei, but was interrupted by the fifth prince who was knocking on the door outside.
“… He girl you open the door, do not be afraid, I will certainly protect you from harm.”
Li Yu: “…”
Li Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly, and the aura on his body changed in vain.
After He Lin night perceived also can not help but secretly alarmed, even she does not know now Li Yu body with a trembling killing determined aura is formed when, she only knows is Li Yu in her do not know when must have experienced the brutal baptism of blood.
Li Yu let go of He Lin night raised step to go outside, He Lin night froze suddenly remembered what, hurriedly chased over. Li Yu is tall and long-legged, a few steps to the outer room, also saw tied to the pillar of Chun Yang, but not wait for him to see clearly to perceive a piece of something from the direction of the He Lin Wan flew towards himself, because he knew that side is He Lin Wan so Li Yu did not dodge, so when he came back to his senses is a black, a piece of drapery quickly and accurately over his head, blocking his vision.
Li Yu paused and suddenly let out a low laugh.
He Linyan gritted his teeth and fiercely pinched Li Yu with a slightly red face, and Li Yu’s laughter was even more uncontrollable.
Jun Yang also heard Li Yu’s laughter, more recognizable this is a man’s voice, her face brushed white. The first thing you need to do is to take a look at the actual situation. The consequence of being undressed by He Linwei and the consequence of being undressed by a man is completely different for Chunyang.
At this time, He Linyan heard more footsteps coming this way, it should be the palace maid who went to report to Consort De to bring people. He Linyan knew that this place should not stay long, pulled Li Yu and went to the inner room.
Li Yu obediently let He Lin night pull, and did not take the mantle off his head, until to turn the window when He Lin night helped him to lift the mantle that blocked his vision, Li Yu’s eyes only regained the light.
When He Linwei met Li Yu’s eyes again, he found that the sharpness and coldness in his eyes had disappeared again, leaving only a warm smile.
Turning a window for the two of them is no simpler than that, He Linwei came out first, followed by Li Yu, behind the north window is really an open space.
Li Yu landed on the ground and took He Linwei’s hand, he seems to be very familiar with the road here, and did not want to take her towards the front of the wall to run. This time Li Yu first turned up the wall, and then turn around and pull He Lin night, the two of them move deftly over the wall and go.
The other side of the wall is a long narrow alley, Li Yu holding the hand of He Linwei darted forward, He Linwei is still draped in the mantle, running very cumbersome, just when she was considering whether to tear off part of the hem to facilitate running, Li Yu has turned around and picked up He Linwei.
He Linyan held back a startled cry that came out of her mouth and subconsciously hugged Li Yu’s neck.
He Linyan raised his head to let Li Yu put himself down, but saw Li Yu’s slightly rigid chin after disguising himself, and the slightly upturned corners of his mouth.
He Linyan looked at Li Yu for a while, finally removed the tight breath in his body, quietly leaned his head on Li Yu’s shoulder, she noticed Li Yu’s hand holding her tighter.
Just when the two were about to run out of the narrow alley, Li Yu’s footsteps suddenly paused, lowered his head in He Lin Wan’s ear and said a “hold tight”, and then held her again over the wall.
Li Yu just hugged He Linwei landed, the two heard the sound of a team of people appearing in the narrow alley, Li Yu hugged He Linwei leaned against the wall for the time being did not move.
“Both ends of the alley are guarded by people! The palaces on both sides of the alley should be checked one by one!” The leader of the man said.
Li Yu sighed lightly and said, “It seems that the palace guards have also improved a lot after several years of absence.”
The place they were at now was a vacant palace near the Wenzhen Hall.
He Linyan glanced at him, “We are surrounded and can’t get out?”
Li Yu nodded, his tone somewhat regretful, “Obviously, surrounded.”
He Linyan frowned, “You didn’t find yourself a good retreat before you went to Wenzhen Hall?”
Li Yu put He Linwei down, thought for a moment, smiled and whispered, “Forgot.”
He Linyan: “…”
Li Yu lifted his hand to pin the slightly messy broken hair behind He Linyan’s ear, close to her ear, and whispered, “Regret running away with me? If you had remained there, with Li Zheng in place it might have been fine.”
Li Yu’s voice had a smile in it, and his eyes were also smiling, but He Linyan felt that his eyes were like still waters, hiding a dark tide that she didn’t know about.
He Linyan looked at him steadily and did not say anything.
The hand that Li Yu placed on He Linwei’s waist was a force, He Linwei was tightly held in his arms, the tip of her nose hit his hard chest, which hurt a little numb, and her eyes could not hold back the tears.
He Linyan noticed that there was something wrong with Li Yu today, she did not get angry, instead she raised her right hand and gently placed it on the back of his heart.
Her voice was flat, as if she was recounting a perfectly ordinary thing.
“I do not regret running with you, I will go with you wherever you take me, we agreed.”
Li Yu’s pitch-black eyes looked intently at He Linyan, he lifted his hand and gently rubbed her cheek, the dark fire that had been hidden in his gaze finally burned up at this moment.
He Linyan had never seen such a Li Yu, he was using someone else’s appearance, but it was as if he had even thrown away the layer of camouflage he had been wearing, revealing a deep and domineering interior.
Li Yu’s hands tightly imprisoned He Linwei’s waist, so that her body against his own, He Linwei can not move.
Li Yu’s breath was fiercely close, He Linwei’s eyes opened wide, but the hands placed behind Li Yu’s back involuntarily clenched into fists.
Just when Li Yu’s lips were about to press against He Linwei’s, someone outside broke the door and entered, He Linwei fiercely turned his head, and Li Yu’s lips were pressed against He Linwei’s cheek.
He Linyan heard a low sigh of helplessness.
He Linyan was so angry that he wanted to kick him, Li Yu seemed to finally realize that the situation in front of him was really not suitable for a fling, so he straightened up and touched He Linyan’s head, laughing in a small voice, “You leave first, I’ll distract them.”
He Linyan frowned and did not move.
Seeing the footsteps coming this way, Li Yu seemed to want to say something, but He Linyan grabbed his wrist, “Follow me.”
He Linyan didn’t say a word, pulled Li Yu and ran towards a small side door that opened on the right wall, Li Yu also didn’t ask her where to go and followed her.
From the side door out and over a wall to a palace alley, He Linyan stopped to identify the direction, and then pulled Li Yu along the palace alley for a while, and finally turned into a small side hall in the palace again.
This small side hall should be lived in some palace people, but may be on duty during the day where, so no one is seen. He Linyan stood outside the side hall and watched carefully for a while, then led Li Yu to an ear room in the side hall.
This ear room should be used to prepare tea, in addition to a small fireplace and a case table to place the tea set, there are only a few stools, a glance at the very empty.
“Where is this?” Li Yu asked after taking a look at this ear room.
He Linyan also surveyed this ear room, then let go of Li Yu’s hand, back to the door along the wall with steps to measure the distance, to determine the place after she began to use her hand to knock on the wall of green bricks, He Linyan in the knocking is in accordance with a certain rhythm and rhythm to carry out, sometimes light, sometimes heavy, sometimes slow, when she knocked to a certain place with a “click”, and the wall perpendicular to a small piece of the floor tiles began to sink, and soon appeared a can only allow one person through the secret entrance.
Li Yu, who had been watching He Linh’s movements, could not help but be a little surprised.
He Linyan calmly said: “There are dark passages under the palace, these dark passages are connected in all directions, and the entrances are all over the palace, which can connect to the 108 palaces in the whole palace. You can even go directly from here to the Heaven’s Ultimate Hall, without knowing the gods. And … there is a secret passage that leads directly to the outside of the palace.”
Li Yu heard a dark awning in his eyes here.
He Linyan looked at Li Yu, “Follow me.”
He Linyan was the first to go down the dark tunnel and followed closely. After He Linyan waited for Li Yu to come down, he fumbled and tapped somewhere on the wall, and the dark passage above his head closed up.
The dark tunnel is very dark, can’t see five fingers, Li Yu took out a torch and blew it after finally being able to see the scene within five steps.
“Huh?” Li Yu looked clearly, some surprise.
“Something looks familiar, right?” Although He Linyan knew about these secret passages, this was also her first time down.
They were in a long secret passage, and the walls on both sides of the secret passage were smooth to the touch, with traces of artificial carving.
“The snake cave that we entered last time is very similar to this secret passage.” Li Yu touched the walls and mused.
He Linyan nodded his head and said while feeling his way forward, “It is from the same group of people. It looks like this secret passage has not been used for many years, because the lamp oil has run out.”
Li Yu went forward and took He Linyan’s hand again, “You haven’t been down here before?”
“I just read the drawings.” He Linyan shook her head.
Li Yu gently squeezed He Linwei’s fingers, “Evening, I’m sorry.”
He Linyan turned her head and looked carefully at Li Yu’s eyes by the faint light from the fire, and suddenly said with a smile, “Why are you apologizing? Is it because you lied to me?”
Li Yu pulling He LinHan’s hand a tight, “Evening.”
He Linyan shook his head and stopped Li Yu’s words, “Let me take a guess. The guards who just chased us were your men? It’s reasonable that the palace guards couldn’t have come after us so quickly, because the two of us hadn’t exposed our whereabouts, and their speed was unnaturally fast. And even if they did come after you, with your skills would not be so panicked to be surrounded by people in a vacant palace.”
Li Yu smiled helplessly, “What else did you guess?”
He Linyan thought for a moment, “I remember that Cheng Yan, the leader of the Dark Lin B group, is the deputy commander of the forbidden army, is he cooperating with you in the play?”
Li Yu nodded his head and acknowledged.
He Linyan nodded, then turned around and continued on, “Let’s go, I have to go back.”
“Evening night!” Li Yu’s hand exerted a force, and He Linyan was dragged back into her arms.
He Linyan didn’t struggle, just looked at Li Yu and didn’t say anything, Li Yu was silent for a moment and smiled bitterly, “Since you knew the pursuers were fake, why did you bring me here?”
He Linyan said seriously, “The first thing I thought of when I recognized you in Wenzhen Hall today was to tell you about this secret passage, because I knew you needed it, and it had nothing to do with whether or not we were being chased by the pursuers to the point of no return. What you want, what I can give, I can give you.”
Li Yu looked at the serious-looking He Linwei, said nothing, directly confined her between the wall and his own embrace, lowered his head and heavily covered the lips that had just unconsciously said the most domineering and moving words of love.
He Linyan’s body stiffened for a moment, but Li Yu’s breath made her unconsciously relaxed, in front of her was this man with a warm chest, behind her was the cold wall, between the two was the heart that didn’t know who was about to jump out of his chest, under retreat He Linyan could only slightly tilt her head, overwhelmed and staring at her eyes.
“Evening, close your eyes.” Li Yu gently licked He Linh’s lips and coaxed with a gentle, dark voice.
He Linyan obediently closed her eyes, then she felt Li Yu pry open her lips and teeth without refusal, guiding her to entwine with him, and his hands around her waist were getting tighter and tighter, and the force of sucking on her tongue was getting heavier and heavier, as if he wanted to devour her whole body.
He Linyan’s feet were weak, her breathing was difficult, and she passively endured Li Yu’s plundering.
I don’t know how long it took, but when He Linyan was about to lose her breath, Li Yu finally withdrew from her mouth, but his posture of confining her didn’t change, his kisses gently fell on the corners of her mouth, the tip of her nose, the corner of her eyebrows and eyes, these tiny kisses were not as domineering as earlier, but extraordinarily tender and loving.
Finally, Li Yu printed his lips on her brow and whispered, “You give me what you have, I give you me. Okay?”
He Linyan came back to her senses and raised her eyes to look into Li Yu’s gentle eyes with a smile.
“Remember what you said.” He Linyan’s heart was still beating fast, her usual tried and true method of calming her emotions was not at all useful here, and the words that came out of her mouth did not go through her head.
Li Yu laughed lightly, but looked at her and said slowly and firmly again, “Every word I have said to you counts.”
He Linyan felt that the atmosphere in this small space at the moment always made her blush, and Li Yu’s gaze and voice were like shackles that bound her firmly so that she couldn’t get out of it.
She did not like the feeling of being in control of something, but she resisted her instinctive desire to escape, pretending to look back at Li Yu calmly, “I remember every word you said.”
This time He Lin Wan did not wait for Li Yu to react more, pulling his hand and heading deeper into the secret passage.
“Let’s talk about it later, now it’s time to go.”
Li Yu obediently followed He Lin Wan’s steps forward, He Lin Wan felt that the heavy thing that appeared on Li Yu’s body before seemed to be gone, his breathing and his footsteps, as well as the relaxed and casual hand that she held in her heart all showed his relaxed and happy mood at the moment.
“You know the way?” Li Yu asked after the two of them walked in the darkness for a while.
The only thing they had in their hands was a torch that served as a light, and they could barely see the road within five steps. But these secret passages under the palace will appear every small section of the bifurcation, the general first time people come here to walk a few steps will be lost in the secret passages, He Linyan’s footsteps but never hesitate.
“I know the direction of the secret passages, and I’ve been to this palace many times.” He Linyan said as a matter of course.
Even if ordinary people knew the distribution of the secret passages and were familiar with the palace’s environment, they would not be able to walk so easily under such circumstances, but Li Yu was not surprised, he just said, “Is this the way back to Wenzhen Hall?”
He Linyan heard a beat in his step and looked at Li Yu.
Li Yu sensed He Linwei’s gaze and also stopped, “What’s wrong?”
“This is the way to send you out of the palace!” He Linyan paused, his brows couldn’t help but frown, “Can’t it be that you still plan to stay in the palace?”
Li Yu didn’t say anything.
He Linyan then knew that he had guessed correctly and said with a straight face, “Have you forgotten your identity? If you were exposed in the palace, the emperor would not even have to find an excuse to kill you.”
Li Yu patted He Linyan’s head soothingly and said in a warm voice, “Don’t worry, I won’t be exposed.”
He Linyan tilted her head and avoided Li Yu’s hand, for some reason her heart was a bit irritated, she took a deep breath before trying to say in a calm and peaceful tone, “What is the reason you must stay?”
Li Yu was silent for a moment, then said, “I don’t know if you know this, nowadays, although the King of Jin’s House is in decline, but there is still a small group of people in the court who secretly support the King of Jin’s family, among these people there are big officials of more than three grades and some small officials of seven or eight grades.”
He Linyan nodded, “Although I don’t know it well, I’m not surprised, the old King of Jin was the most vocal choice for the crown prince after all.”
“These people in the court is very low-profile, usually also not often contact with my Jin Wangfu, but the loyalty is high, these years when I was in the East Lin also less their secret support in the court.” Li Yu said here again silent.
“Then what?” He Linyan asked.
Li Yu continued: “My great-grandfather and Princess Anyi one mother, when Empress Xiao Gong died great-grandfather nine years old, Princess Anyi only two years old. The two siblings grew up together, the relationship is much closer than the ordinary brother and sister. Therefore, after An Yi Princess married Ding An Waiting Mu Ru Bo, Jin Wang House and Mu family is also a glory and a loss. After my aunt Changle County married the son of Princess Anyi, the Jin Wangfu and Mu family’s relationship is also closer.”
Li Yu spoke very slowly, seemingly thinking about something while speaking, He Lin Wan also did not rush him, just nodded when he stopped, indicating that he was listening, “Well, these I know.”
Li Yu lightly sighed, “Then there are some things you may not know, in An Yi Princess married to the Mu family before my grandfather and Mu Ru Bo is a friend. The world only knows that the Mu family has a cabinet chief minister Mu Ruisong, but no one knows that Mu Roubaix was an amazingly talented person.”
He Linyan was a bit surprised, she had not heard of Mu Rubai except that he had married a princess and had been named Ding An Hou.
“At the age of twenty, he personally taught the Ding’an waiter son, Mu Zhizhen and I also followed him when we were young.” Li Yu’s tone carried a bit of nostalgia and sighing.
He Linyan asked, “Such a person is unknown, because of the status of the horse in harness?”
Li Yu shook his head, “Yes, but not all, I do not know the exact reason. I only know that my great grandfather has been very guilty of him, my father also respects him, and a large part of the Jin Wangfu’s contacts in the shadows have been given to him over the years.”
He Linyan was also shocked to hear this, “Those large and small officials of the King of Jin’s lineage in the court that you said before are in his hands?”
Li Yu nodded, his tone with a few helplessness, “Some of them follow my orders, but most of them are under his control.”
When He Linyan heard this, his expression couldn’t help but get serious.
In the past, the Mu family and the Jin Wangfu are in the same breath is okay, but now the Mu family has fallen back on …
He Linyan knew that the Mu family’s betrayal would make Li Yu’s situation more difficult, but she didn’t know that things would be this serious.
“So you returned to the capital and infiltrated the palace just for the matter of the Mu family?”
Li Yu nodded his head, “This matter is so involved that no one but me can solve it.”
He Linyan looked at him and said nonchalantly, “Because of this, you put yourself in danger. The Mu family must have been able to guess that you might return to the capital because of this matter.”
“Don’t worry, I have it in my heart.” Li Yu gently stroked He Linyan’s hair and once again whispered soothingly.
He Linyan was silent for a moment, or asked, “Did the Mu family … Mu family really betray?”
Li Yu was silent for a longer period of time, so long that when He Linhang thought Li Yu might not answer this question, she heard a seemingly unheard sigh.
When Li Yu spoke again his tone was calm and light, “From what I have so far, yes.”
He Linyan looked at Li Yu, although she couldn’t see anything from his expression, He Linyan knew that Li Yu’s heart was hard, it was just that Li Heng could choose to let out a loud cry, but Li Yu couldn’t.
“After my grandfather’s death, Ding An Hou was very ill, after that he has been in a separate hospital to recuperate, An Yi Princess also began to live in seclusion, I will rarely have the opportunity to see them. When I left the capital five years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Ding An Hou once, he was still bedridden, looking like an old man in his old age, no longer half of his youthful elegance. But when I left he still said to me … “Li Yu said here when a pause,” he said, I want to do what to do, the capital always have him in.”
The secret passage was dimly lit, and He Linyan did not see Li Yu’s expression when he said this, but she still held Li Yu’s hand backhandedly and comfortingly.
Li Yu lowered his head slightly and squeezed He Linwei’s hand in his palm, continuing, “This time when I returned to the capital, I wanted to see him again.”
He Linyan just frowned, then Li Yu smoothed his brow with his fingers, “Don’t frown, especially not for me, I don’t like it. I know what you want to say, don’t worry, I didn’t go to see Ding An Hou. Because I didn’t know what I could say after meeting him. If he had really defected to the emperor, there is no way for me to blame him, he has done a lot for my grandfather, my father as well as me over the years, without his shelter back then, my father wouldn’t even have survived to this day, he has been kind to our Jin Wangfu.”
“Then what does your sneaking into the palace have to do with him?” He Linyan asked.
Li Yu let out a soft sigh and said, “I came to look for the same thing.”
“What is it?” He Linyan was a bit puzzled, looking for something to come to the palace, and Li Yu himself had to come personally.
“My grandfather actually had a token when he handed over his class to Ding An Hou back then, and this token was initially kept by the old empress for him. But then … the old empress lost the token.” Li Yu’s voice with a few helplessness.
“This token is able to mobilize those forces in the hands of Ding An Hou?” He Linyan asked.
Li Yu nodded and smiled bitterly, “Well, the people in Ding An Hou’s hands are still my grandfather’s team after all. Originally, after my grandfather’s death, these people should be handed over to my father, but my father’s nature … plus the token left with the old empress dowager was lost, so those people have been mobilized by Ding An Hou, who used to be my most trusted elder.”
He Linyan frowned: “Is it true that the token in the old empress’s hand was lost? Could it have been secretly stolen by someone?”
It was no wonder that He Linwei would have such speculation, it was really because such a token was too important, how could it be lost just like that?
“If the token was lost in the hands of others, I would have suspected that it was taken away. But the old empress …” Li Yu paused, carefully considered some words before continuing: “the old empress’s nature is relatively simple and open, my grandfather if handed to her is some gold and silver things she can certainly well put away, but that token is made of xuan iron But that token is made of Xuan Iron, and it is very likely that her old man would have thrown it away as a lump of iron.”
He Linyan: “…”
“You have been to the palace quite a few times over the years, haven’t you looked for it?” He Linyan asked.
Li Yu shook his head, “these years into the palace although quite a few times, but each time there are people around to follow. I had Cheng Yan sneak into the Palace of Longevity a few times to look for her, but in the end, they all came back in vain, so I wanted to go and see for myself. Today Cheng Yan lied about an assassin and led a search of the palace, originally to create an opportunity for me to sneak into the Palace of Longevity during the day, because the guards are weakest at this time. The Palace of Longevity is not far from Wenzhen Hall, and I just happened to learn that you were embarrassed by Chunyang in Wenzhen Hall, so I rushed over to find you.”
After listening to Li Yu finish the story, He Linyan nodded, thought and said, “Although I do not want to splash you cold water, but I still want to say a word, this token has been lost for many years, even if you personally go to find, may not be able to find. Tinganhou side you still have to do two-handed preparation.”
Li Yu touched He Linyan’s head and said with a smile, “I know, if I can’t find the token this time, I have other plans, don’t worry.”
He Linyan looked at him, “Then when are you going to go to Wanshou Palace?”
Li Yu thought for a moment, “I’m afraid I won’t be able to do it during the day, I’ll go again tonight.”
He Linyan nodded and said to Li Yu, “Good, then I will go with you.”
Li Yu was stunned, and smiled bitterly, “Evening, you should know that two people together is much riskier than going alone? Even Cheng Yan, the deputy commander of the forbidden army, is not sure that he can avoid all the guards in the palace and sneak into the Palace of Longevity, otherwise we wouldn’t have to make such a big fuss today.”
He Linyan suddenly smiled, “You have a point, but that’s you guys. If you take me with you, I guarantee that you can perfectly avoid all the guards in the palace and sneak into Wanshou Palace unnoticed, because I can take you through the secret passage ah.”
Li Yu smiled and fell silent.
He Linyan shook his hand and said in a soft voice: “This secret passage is intricate, even if I tell you the route, it will take you some time to remember it, right? I’m afraid you won’t be able to do it without me leading the way. I take you into the Palace of Longevity and then immediately go back, to ensure that no one can find.”
Li Yu but a force in his hand to hold He Lin night into his arms again, his chin gently rubbed on the top of her head, sighed and whispered: “night night, in fact you do not have to think about everything for me. You can call me selfish or arrogant, sometimes I want you to stand there and watch me. As long as I know you are looking at me, I am crawling on the ground thorns will also crawl to your side. If this thorny path has a distance of a hundred steps, I hope I will be the one to finish the hundred steps.”
He Linyan did not say anything.
Li Yu touched He Linyan’s head, released her a bit, looked down at her and smiled and sighed: “But I also know that my evening is not an ordinary woman. She seems more willing to walk the difficult 100 steps with me than to stand still and wait. Although I feel heartbroken, I can’t help but feel proud and happy. Am I being selfish?”
He Linyan shook his head.
He Linyan knew that Li Yu wasn’t selfish, he was just accommodating. As a man and a superior, he tolerated her capriciousness and strength. He did not want her to do so much for him because of heartache, he was willing for her to do so much for him because of understanding.
He Linyan let Li Yu hug for a while, but still didn’t forget the main business, and reminded when he let go, “Name a place, I’ll come to you tonight after midnight.”
Although Li Yu was helpless, he still said, “I will come to you then.”
“Good.” He Linyan curved the corners of his mouth, “Now where are you going? I’ll walk you out, and then I’ll go back to Wenzhen Hall.”
Li Yu shook his head, “You go out with you, this secret passage you haven’t walked before, don’t come down by yourself.”
He Linyan thought about it and didn’t insist, taking Li Yu’s hand and turning into another forked secret passage in front.
They hadn’t gone too far from Wenzhen Hall, so it didn’t take too long to get back to Wenzhen Hall from the secret passage.
“Here we are.” He Linyan stopped at an exit, “This should lead to the back garden of Wenzhen Hall.”
He Linyan originally wanted to enter the secret passage through this secret entrance in the back garden after teaching Chunyang a lesson, but he didn’t want Li Yu to suddenly appear, so He Linyan feared that Li Yu had some plan, so he followed him and escaped.
This secret passage opening in the back garden under a rockery, the location is very secret, the two out of the secret passage is simply unnoticed.
He Linyan was about to say goodbye to Li Yu and leave, but he was pulled by Li Yu.
“You wait, I’ll be right back.”
He Linyan didn’t know what Li Yu was going to do, but he still nodded and hid back in the wigwam.
Li Yu soon came back and handed He Linyan a package, He Linyan opened it and found that it was a set of clothes, or a set of his own clothes.
“You change before coming out, I’ll guard you outside.” Li Yu said in a warm voice and turned around and went out.
When He Lin Wan changed her clothes and came out, she did not see Li Yu, but she knew that Li Yu must not have left yet, and she did not ask Li Yu to show up, but walked out calmly.
At the moment, the Palace of the Wenzhen has become a mess, acquaintances of the girls gathered in twos and threes to whisper.
Although just Chunyang’s palace maid persuaded all the people inside, Chunyang was saved and left avoiding people, but because the noise is too big, the palace such a crowded place where it is easy to hide the news?
So many people knew that Princess Chunyang had made things difficult for a woman who had been selected for the show, and the girls who had just been examined by the palace staff together with He Linyan were a bit scared after learning about it, and secretly complained that Princess Chunyang was really too much of a nuisance.
He Linyan walked to her own courtyard and found three other people living in the same courtyard also gathered in the courtyard to talk, even Xue Wanqing was also present.
He Zhen was the first one to see He Linyan and ran over to her, pulling her and saying, “Big sister! I thought something had happened to you! It’s good that you’re back! I was scared to death just now!”
Mu Lanping also walked over quickly and looked at He Linyan and said, “Sister He, where did you go just now? We’ve been looking for you everywhere! Huh? Why are your clothes …?”
Mu Lanping’s voice stopped and he looked at He Linyan with surprise.
He Linyan’s face remained unchanged, “My clothes got dirty, so I looked for a place to change, and it took some time.”
Xue Wanqing came over and looked at He Linyan’s clothes, although there was some doubt in her eyes, but she didn’t ask, she just said, “Is Miss He okay? I heard some commotion next door and wanted to come out to take a look, but I was stopped by the grandmother, and then I was brought out with the others.”
He Linyan shook her head and smiled, “I’m fine, thank you for thinking about me, Miss Xue.”
Mu Lanping looked at them and asked in a low voice, “Sister He, the person who was just embarrassed by Princess Chunyang is not you, right? I heard that it was the room next to Miss Xue’s that was in trouble.”
He Linyan was about to speak, but a sister came in with two palace maids.
“Which one is He Linyan?” The sisters who looked up asked with expressionless faces.
He Zhen looked at them and tugged on He Linyan’s sleeve a little nervously.
He Linyan stepped out, “I am.”
The grandmother looked at her for a few moments and asked coldly, “Where was Miss He just now? The housekeeping sisters in your courtyard said that you were not in Wenzhen Hall just now?”
He Zhen came over and whispered, “Big sister, when you didn’t come back just now, the housekeeping sisters came to look for you.”
He Linyan smiled and said, “Just now my clothes got dirty, so I looked for a place to change.”
“In which palace and which room did you change your clothes? Can anyone testify for you?” Sister’s stern eyes were fixed on He Linyan, not letting go of any subtle expression on her face.
He Linyan said freely: “It is the right hall of Wenzhen Hall, the first room on the left. The person who testified …”
Just at this moment, Chun Xiao, who had just been missing, came running back panting, with a bundle in her hand.
“Girl, how do you walk so fast, slave girl just almost left your jade ring pendant in the right side of the hall, only to turn back to get back.”
Only then did the crowd realize that the bundle Chun Xiao was holding was actually the dress He Linyan had changed out of.
He Linyan smiled and said to the sisters, “I don’t know why no one was on guard in the right side of the hall just now, only my maid can testify for me.”
Why was no one on guard? Of course, they were sent away by Chunyang’s people.
The maid obviously also knew this, she looked at He Linyan and Chun Xiao, then expressionlessly said, “Her Highness De Fei has summoned you, come with me.”
He Linyan didn’t look a bit embarrassed and said with a smile, “It’s an honor for me to be summoned by Consort De? It’s just that … I don’t know if you, Sister, have a clear order from Her Majesty?”
Sister’s face sank, “What! Her Highness, Consort De, still can’t summon you, a small showgirl?”
He Linyan hurriedly said, “I didn’t mean that! It’s just that I heard from the teaching sisters that a showgirl can only leave Wenzhen Hall during the election period if she receives an explicit order from several Queen mothers. I’m just afraid that I don’t know the rules and may accidentally break the palace rules.”
Sister couldn’t help but choke.
In fact, He Linyan was right, the palace has its own palace rules, although the showgirls entered the palace, but in order to avoid some bad things to damage the face of the royal family, such as can not leave the Wenzhen Hall.
The rules of the palace were not so strict when the Great Zhou Dynasty was just founded, and the late emperor once selected a showgirl to meet privately with a guard he knew, and the showgirl was finally selected to fill the harem, which happened because she was found to be pregnant before the late emperor was lucky enough to meet the showgirl.
Since then, even high ranking concubines wanting to summon a showgirl have to give an explicit decree with their own palace seal, not even an oracle.
Of course, that incident has been years in the past, the current palace is not as loose as the beginning of the country’s rules, it is unlikely that such a ridiculous thing as a guard giving the emperor a cuckold. The most important thing is that the government has to take care of the problem.
A palace maid behind the sisters angrily rebuked: “How dare you! Just a little showgirl, how dare you disobey Her Majesty’s decree!”
As soon as He Linyan heard this voice, she recognized that this palace maid was the one who had led the way for Chunyang before.
He Linyan took a look at her dress and found that she was a palace maid from Wenzhen Hall. This sisters looked new to her, and looking at her clothes, she didn’t seem to be from Wenzhen Hall.
At this time, another sisters came into the courtyard, this time it was Sister Shen, who was beside the Empress.
Sister Shen saw the sisters standing in the courtyard and froze, then said: “Sister Kui? What are you doing here if you are not serving beside Empress De Fei?”
Sister Kui’s rank should be lower than Sister Shen’s, but she just nodded to Sister Shen, “I’ve been ordered by Her Majesty to ask this Miss He a few questions, I wonder what Sister Shen is here for?”
Sister Shen glanced at He Linwei and smiled as she took out a scroll and opened it for Sister Kui to look at, “I am here by the empress’ order to announce Miss He and Miss Xue to go to Fengxu Palace.”
He Linyan and Xue Wanqing looked at each other.
Sister Kui took a glance at the phoenix seal on the scroll and hesitated for a moment, but still took a step back, “In that case, then I will go back first to return the order to Empress De Fei.”
Sister Shen smiled and nodded her head, “Good trip, Sister Kui.”
Before she left, Sister Kui remembered something and turned around to stare at He Linyan and said, “Since Miss He was sent to the palace by her family, she must be a wise person. In front of the Empress, say what you need to say.”
After releasing her words, Sister Kui took her people and left.
Only then did Sister Shen say to He Linyan and Xue Wanqing, “Miss He and Miss Xue, please come with me, by the way Miss He’s maid should come along.”
Chun Xiao looked at He Lin Wan somewhat nervously, and He Lin Wan gave her a glance, signaling her to put her mind at ease.
He Linyan answered yes to Sister Shen, and nodded to Mu Lanping and He Zhen, before taking Chun Xiao and Xue Wanqing with her and following Sister Shen.
The empress’s Fengxu Palace is not the first time that He Linwei came here, there is no change compared to a few years ago, He Linwei went to see the empress when Fan Lanruo came out of the empress’s palace.
Sister Shen treated Fan Lanruo very kindly and took the initiative to greet her, “Miss Fan is going back?”
Fan Lanruo nodded and gave He Linyan another glance, “Your Majesty’s palace is busy, I will come back to pay my respects next time.”
Sister Shen laughed, “Miss Fan, wait for it, the Queen will definitely call you every other day to speak.”
Fan Lanruo smiled and looked at He Linyan and Xue Wanqing behind Sister Shen.
He Linyan smiled at her, and Xue Wanqing glanced at Fan Lanruo and looked down again, fiddling with the Buddhist beads on her wrist.
Fan Lanruo stared at Xue Wanqing for a moment, seemingly wanting to say something, but eventually left without saying anything.
Sister Shen looked at Fan Lanruo’s back and for some reason sighed softly.
Xue Wanqing, who had not made a sound as if she was outside of the world, asked at that moment, “Why is Sister sighing?”
Sister Shen also did not expect Xue Wanqing to ask the question, and froze before smiling and saying, “Nothing, I just sighed at the fate of man.”
Xue Wanqing fiddled with the Buddhist beads in her hand and thought, “Fate? That’s a good explanation.”
Sister Shen did not understand Xue Wanqing’s meaning, and did not ask more questions, shook her head and led them into the hall.
Chun Xiao was taken away by Sister Shen before he entered the palace, while He Lin Wan and Xue Wanqing followed Sister Shen to see the Empress.
The queen’s face was as unchanged as the cold Fengxu Palace.
After He Linyan and Xue Wanqing got up after saluting, the empress first looked at Xue Wanqing and said, “I heard that Miss Xue wore something different to the palace today?”
The empress’s tone was somewhat surprised and curious, and did not mean to reproach.
Xue Wanqing bowed her head and said, “Yes, Your Majesty, my daughter has been rude today.”
The Empress smiled at her words and nodded to Xue Wanqing, “It is indeed a bit rude, you can’t be like that in the future, after all, this is the palace, everyone has to abide by the rules.”
“Yes, Your Majesty, I remember.”
The empress looked at He Linyan again and said with a pleasant smile, “Last time you came to my palace, you were a child. You have grown into such a person after a few years’ absence.”
He Linyan was a little surprised at her words, she didn’t expect that the Empress would still remember herself as He Linyan.
The Empress seemed to see her surprise and smiled, pointing to the hairpin on her head, “I gave you this hairpin, of course I remember it.”
He Linyan touched the flower hairpin in her bun and smiled down.
The empress pointed to the two stools in front of her, “You guys sit here.”
He Linyan and Xue Wanqing thanked the empress and sat down as they were told.
The empress looked at He Linyan and asked, “Come and tell me what happened in Wenzhen Hall just now.”
He Linyan expected that the Empress had called her to come here because of this matter, so she had already prepared a script, so she replied softly, “Your Majesty, I am not sure what happened. I waited for a long time and did not see the sisters return, but my clothes that were hanging on the screen were gone, and the maids who were guarding the outside were also missing. But it did not take long for my maid to come back, she told me that she was looking for a reason to send away while she was guarding outside, but halfway to suddenly fainted, it is good that she fainted for a short time, so she hurried back to me.”
The empress frowned when she heard this, “You mean your maid was deliberately taken away and knocked unconscious?”
He Linyan thought about it and shook her head, “I don’t know if someone took her away on purpose, even my maid herself couldn’t remember if she was knocked unconscious or if she fainted because she was unwell.”
Of course Chun Xiao was deliberately taken away and knocked unconscious, He Linyan could guess with her eyes closed that it was Chun Yang’s handiwork, and the Empress might not be unable to guess this, but He Linyan did not intend to actively testify against Chun Yang.
After Chun Xiao came back, He Lin Even hadn’t had the time to confront her, but He Lin Even knew that Chun Xiao was rescued by Li Yu’s people, and she believed that with Li Yu’s caution, he would have given a good account of what Chun Xiao said beforehand.
Although he didn’t know the exact words that Li Yu taught Chun Xiao, He Lin Wan didn’t worry in his heart. Even if their statements didn’t match, the empress would think that she was afraid of being retaliated by Chunyang, so she had concealed part of the truth.
“What happened after that? You took your maid and left that room?” The empress asked again.
He Linyan nodded, “At that time I felt something was wrong, so I asked my maid to find me a dress and came back, because I was in a hurry to wear it I also tied the wrong sash.”
He Linyan said here and blushed and bowed her head, “Thanks to this, I found it when I walked to the side hall of Wenzhen Hall, so I found a room to rearrange it. Later, when I came out, I found that there seemed to be some kind of change outside and people had disappeared. I was a little scared, so I took the maids to hide for a while before returning to the residence.”
Sister Shen said, “Did Miss He tell Sister Kui and the others that her clothes had gotten dirty before she went to change them?”
When He Linyan said this to Sister Kui and the others, Sister Shen had not yet arrived, although she did not know how Sister Shen had learned so quickly, He Linyan still nodded, “I did not know where Sister Kui and the others came from, and there was something strange about this matter, so I found a random reason.”
Sister Shen looked at the Empress, who nodded, then looked at Xue Wanqing and asked, “You were in the room next to hers?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Xue Wanqing replied.
“Then did you hear any movement?” The Empress asked again.
Xue Wanqing nodded and said, “I heard some movement next door, thinking that Miss He was next door, and wanted to go out to take a look, but was stopped by that Sister in my house.”
“Oh? What movement did you hear?” The empress looked at Xue Wanqing and asked.
Xue Wanqing said with some uncertainty, “It seems to be … Princess Chunyang’s voice.”
“Apart from Princess Chunyang and the palace staff, is there anyone else?” The Empress asked afterwards.
Xue Wanqing thought about it, and her face took on some hesitation.
The Queen’s face became serious, “You tell the truth, don’t be scrupulous.”
Xue Evening Qing finally said, “I think I also heard the princess and a man talking, this man is not His Highness the fifth prince.”
The Queen’s face changed and her brows furrowed tightly.
He Linyan glanced at Xue Wanqing.
It was only logical that Xue Wanqing shouldn’t have heard Li Yu’s voice, because Li Yu came in after the fifth prince, and at that time Xue Wanqing should have been taken away. So now Xue Wanqing is lying when she says she heard the man’s voice.
Xue Wanqing looked down and fiddled with her Buddhist bead string, as if she didn’t feel He Linyan’s gaze.
At this time a palace maid walked into the hall quickly and went to Sister Shen’s ear to say a few words, and Sister Shen also looked at He Linyan, so He Linyan knew that they must have questioned Chun Xiao.
The empress looked at Sister Shen: “How is it?”
Shen Sister nodded her head, “with Miss He said eight or nine is not far.”
The empress sighed, her eyes seemed to bring some annoyance.
“Today’s incident you do not publicize it, just pretend that you did not see or hear anything.” After thinking about it, the empress instructed He Linyan and Xue Wanqing.
He Linyan and Xue Wanqing nodded their heads and agreed.
The empress also said to He Linyan: “Chunyang has always been used to fooling around, this time it was her who tricked you, she has also been taught some lessons, after that she should stop for a while. As for Consort De’s side, don’t worry that she will ask for your guilt, no one wants to minimize the impact of this matter more than she does now, so don’t worry.”
He Linyan nodded again, “Yes, Your Majesty, I understand.”
The empress looked at Xue Wanqing again, “As for what you just said, forget about it and don’t mention it in front of others in the future. The Hall of Wenzhen is heavily guarded, there is no way a man will appear! What you heard was probably the voice of the chamberlain.”
Xue Wanqing nodded indifferently and said, “Yes, Your Majesty, what I heard was the voice of the chamberlain.”
Only then did the empress feel relieved and reassured the two of them before letting them go, and said, “This matter will pass, and you should ignore anyone who asks you about it in the future.”
“It seems that Empress De Fei wanted to ask me to go over for questioning.” He Linyan said softly.
The empress said in a light voice: “Now she won’t call you over again, just don’t worry.”
He Linyan and Xue Wanqing excused themselves and left Fengxu Palace.
When the two of them returned to Wenzhen Hall, Xue Wanqing suddenly opened her mouth and invited, “If Miss He is free, why don’t you come to my place for a cup of tea?”
He Linyan was a little surprised, but still nodded her head: “I’m sorry.”
After entering the house, Xue Wanqing sent the maid to make tea.
Xue Wanqing’s room was so well tidied up that He Linyan noticed that even the placement of the small cups on the table were symmetrical. The maid had just accidentally touched the beaded curtain hanging on the partition when she left, but Xue Wanqing couldn’t help but move over to smooth out the touched beaded curtain.
“Is Miss He a bit surprised by what I said just now in front of the Empress?” After Xue Wanqing invited He Linyan to take a seat, she took the initiative to speak.
He Linyan then asked smoothly, “Did Miss Xue really hear a man’s voice?”
Xue Wanqing, however, did not directly answer He Linyan’s question, she gazed at He Linyan for a moment and suddenly said, “I have heard my brother mention Miss He.”
He Linyan was once again surprised, but she did not show it on her face and only smiled lightly, “Oh? How could Lord Xue mention me? That’s quite a surprise.”
Xue Wanqing sighed and said with downcast eyes, “I also feel very surprised. My brother is like that, when he was studying he only cared about his studies and now he only cares about his business, even the family affairs of the Xue family he doesn’t care about, yet he is very impressed with you, Miss He.”
At this time the maid brought up the tea, He Linyan then head down to drink tea interrupted, did not answer Xue Wanqing words.
This tea should be the palace supply, and the tea in He Linyan’s room is the same. Xue Wanqing sip to see a mouthful of tea after a faintly invisible frown, said to the maid: “I’m not used to drinking the tea in the palace, you go to change the kind I’m used to drink.”
The servant girl led the order and retreated.
He Linyan found it quite interesting, Xue Wanqing seemed to have a good relationship with Xue Xingyi, but their living habits were very different.
Xue Xingyi’s study was so messy that it was extremely difficult for others to stretch their feet, but Xue Wanqing’s room was immaculate. Xue Xingyi can not even distinguish between the good tea brought home and the rough tea bought back by the boy at the entrance of the alley, Xue Wanqing felt that the tea in the palace were not to his liking.
Xue Wanqing did not know what was in He Linyan’s mind and said in a calm tone, “Princess Chunyang has always been reckless and presumptuous, it’s time to teach her a lesson this time.”
“Miss Xue has a problem with Princess Chunyang?” He Linyan heard the disgust in Xue Wanqing’s words.
Xue Wanqing shook her head and said with a frown, “I don’t have a problem with her, but what she did was very disgusting. I’m sure you know about her affection for my brother. In the past few years, my mother has tried to find a marriage for my brother several times, she did not know where she got the information, each time she sent someone to the girl’s home to threaten. Once, when the girl didn’t heed her threats, Princess Chunyang even sent someone to cut the girl’s hair and almost ruined her appearance.”
He Linyan heard Xue Wanqing’s words but didn’t feel surprised, she knew Chunyang’s viciousness well.
“Thanks to Miss Xue this time, otherwise, I’m afraid that the Empress De Fei’s side won’t let this matter go easily.” He Linyan said from the bottom of her heart.
If Consort De hadn’t been concerned about Chunyang’s reputation, she wouldn’t have given up so easily. But Xue Wanqing came out and said that Chunyang was in the same room with a man. If Consort De and Chunyang’s side continue to make trouble, Chunyang herself will not have a good ending, so it is better to settle the matter and minimize the impact of this matter.
But Xue Evening Qing did herself no good at all, but perhaps instead will let the mother and daughter of the De Fei hate. If not for Xue Wanqing’s status, and is in front of the Empress to provoke the matter, by the De Fei silence are possible.
“I’m not just helping you,” Xue Wanqing shook her head and sighed, “I don’t know how many days I’ll have to stay in the palace this time, I just hope that princess can stop for a while longer.”
He Linyan nodded his head with deep understanding.
Then they chatted a few more words, He Linyan and Xue Wanqing were not very familiar with each other, and now they had nothing in common, so to avoid coldness He Linyan talked with her about Buddhist scriptures for a while before saying goodbye.
Xue Evening Qing got up to see He Linyan out, and after walking a few steps Xue Evening Qing suddenly asked, “Miss He, I wonder what you think of my brother?”
Xue Wanqing seemed to ask this question casually, He Linyan smiled and said back, “Lord Xue is young and talented, he is a pillar of talent, I am just a woman in a boudoir, how can I judge freely?”
Xue Wanqing seemed a bit surprised to hear He Linyan’s words, and after a pause, she immediately said with an apology, “My question just now might have been a bit presumptuous. I just, I thought you were with my brother … I’m sorry, I misunderstood, please don’t mind.”
He Linyan nodded, “It’s okay, it’s just a misunderstanding, just say it clearly, I don’t mind.”
Xue Wanqing smiled bitterly, “These years my mother has been bothered by my brother’s marriage, but my brother never let go. When I heard Miss He’s name from my brother’s mouth, I was actually happy in my heart and thought … hey!”
He Linyan listened to Xue Wanqing’s exclamation and only smiled politely, with no expression on her face. Xue Wanqing saw that He Linyan was really unconcerned, so she stopped talking and sent He Linyan out the door.
Xue Wanqing was about to go back to the house when Mu Lanping’s door opened and Mu Lanping and He Zhen walked out hand in hand while talking and laughing.
Xue Wanqing nodded at them and turned around to go back to the house.
“Big sister, you’re back!” When He Zhen saw He Linyan, she let go of Mu Lanping and ran over happily.
“Just now Zhen’er and I were talking about whether we should find a palace staff to spy out the news, but I didn’t expect you guys to come back so soon.” Mu Lanping looked at Xue Wanqing’s closed room door, “Sister He just came out from Miss Xue’s place?”
He Linyan nodded, “After I came back, I went to Miss Xue’s place to say a few words.”
Mu Lanping pondered for a moment, then came up to He Linyan’s ear and whispered, “Sister He, I advise you not to get too close to Miss Xue.”
He Linyan frowned, “Although Miss Xue is a bit cold in nature, she is still a good person, why did Miss Mu say that?”
Mu Lanping thought for a moment and pulled He Linwei to the side, He Zhen also followed her.
Seeing that there was no one else around, Mu Lanping whispered, “Miss Xue told the sisters who came over to ask about her that she was brought out with the others, but she actually went back after she came out. So she must have known something that we didn’t know.”
He Linyan thought that if Xue Wanqing went back after everyone came out, that would explain why she knew that Princess Chunyang was locked in the house with a man. When the fifth prince saved Chunyang from coming out, Xue Wanqing might have heard their conversation.
“Maybe she even knew when you were being embarrassed by Chunyang, after all, she was right next door to you at the time, but she pretended she didn’t know anything.” Mu Lanping said with a frown.
He Zhen asked suspiciously, “Sister Mu, how do you know that Miss Xue went back for another trip?”
He Linyan also looked at Mu Lanping.
Mu Lanping smiled a little embarrassed, “I secretly asked someone to keep an eye on Miss Xue for me, and that person said she saw Miss Xue quietly go back after avoiding the crowd.
He Zhen was even more puzzled, “But sister Mu, why did you find someone to keep an eye on Miss Xue?”
“Aiya, why are you so many whys!” Mu Lanping’s face stiffened and she stomped her foot and pouted at He Zhen.
He Zhen spat out her tongue and hid behind He Linyan without speaking.
Mu Lanping looked at He Linwei and said embarrassingly, “Because I heard that she was likely to be the fifth prince’s concubine, so I asked someone to keep an eye on her.
He Linyan didn’t dismiss Mu Lanping’s words, she just smiled and said appreciatively, “Thank you, Miss Mu, for reminding me, I will be careful.”
Mu Lanping looked at He Linyan and asked, “Sister He, the Empress didn’t give you a hard time just now, did she?”
He Linyan shook her head, “The Empress only asked a few words.”
“That’s good.” Mu Lanping finished and sighed again, “There should be nothing on your side, but the Fifth Highness’s side will be troublesome.”
Mu Lanping paused here, she thought He Linwei would ask a follow-up question, but He Linwei didn’t know what she was thinking and was silent.
He Zhen couldn’t help but ask, “What’s wrong with the Fifth Highness?”
Mu Lanping looked worried, “His Highness was severely reprimanded by Empress De Fei, not to mention that some officials impeached him for breaking into the Wenzhen Hall, and His Majesty is also unhappy with him for this matter.”
“The officials got the news so quickly?” He Linyan finally gave some response.
Mu Lanping nodded, “Yes, which one of the girls in this Wenzhen Hall does not have an elder father or brother in the court? All the families are now watching this place. And Princess Chunyang has made such a big fuss, the word has spread inside and outside the palace. I think the fifth prince is also dragged by Princess Chunyang! If she hadn’t come looking for trouble, how would His Highness come to Wenzhen Hall and how would he be caught by the officials?”
He Linyan listened to Mu Lanping’s words and felt that the matter of Chunyang coming to Wenzhen Hall to find trouble with her was not that simple.
Even if Chunyang did things without thinking about the consequences, the fifth prince was not stupid in certain matters. This time it is obvious that someone is using her as bait, the fifth prince and Princess Chunyang together with the two siblings to the pit.
The first time I heard that you were in trouble, I didn’t even think about barging into Wenzhen Hall, you know that in a place like Wenzhen Hall, even the prince should avoid suspicion. Now he is impeached for you by the officials, and I do not know if it will affect the future …”
He Zhen again puzzled: “The fifth highness barged into the Wenzhen Hall is not to stop the Princess Chunyang? The Princess Chunyang is her own sister, her sister did something wrong the fifth highness as an elder brother can not get away with it, right? What’s my big sister’s business? My elder sister doesn’t know anything about it, right?”
Mu Lanping was choked and forgot to say what he wanted to say next.
He Linyan gave He Zhen an appreciative glance, but He Zhen hadn’t reacted yet and smiled when she saw He Linyan looking at her.
He Linyan didn’t let Mu Lanping continue to be embarrassed and sighed: “Although this matter has nothing to do with me from the beginning to the end, but His Highness was indeed impeached somewhat unjustly this time.”
“That’s right!” Mu Lanping nodded her head, blinked and said worriedly, “Sister He, do you think His Highness is very sad right now?”
He Linyan wanted to know what Mu Lanping’s intention was in nagging her, so she went along with her and said, “Probably.”
Mu Lanping seemed to hesitate for a moment, “Sister He, I think His Highness definitely needs some comfort right now …”
He Linyan couldn’t help but laugh a little when she heard this, but she didn’t show it, she just smiled and said, “Well, what you said makes sense. But there is certainly no shortage of people around Fifth Highness who can comfort him, so we should not worry too much about it.”
Mu Lanping pouted her lips and muttered in a small voice, “How can that be the same!”
He Linyan was too lazy to talk to her anymore and rubbed his forehead, “Sorry, Miss Mu, I’m a bit tired today, I want to go back and rest for a while, please make yourself comfortable.”
Mu Lanping seemed to want to call out to He Linyan, but He Linyan was already looking at He Zhen.
He Zhen hurriedly stood over obediently and bowed her head, “I will accompany big sister to go back and rest for a while, sister Mu I will find you next time.”
He Linyan nodded at Mu Lanping and took He Zhen away.
“Eh …” Mu Lanping looked at their backs and stomped her feet in some exasperation.
He Zhen looked back while walking, and waved her hand at Mu Lanping.
The slightly vivid expression on Mu Lanping’s face gradually faded away when He Linwei and He Zhen entered the house, looking at the closed door she didn’t know what had occurred to her, and smilingly hooked the corners of her mouth.
He Zhen followed He Lin Wan back to her room, and when she saw the maid close the door, she couldn’t help but ask in a low voice: “Big sister, does sister Mu like the fifth prince?”
He Linyan gave her a glance, “But in such a short time you’re calling on sister, it seems like the two of you just got along very well.”
He Zhen spat out her tongue and sat down after He Lin Wan, “I sat in her room for a while when I didn’t come back, she was very nice to get along with, she also told me a lot about what she saw in Jiangnan, so I didn’t realize that I was getting closer. By the way, she just asked me to inquire about you and the Fifth Prince.”
“Oh? Then what did you say?”
He Zhen supported her cheek with one hand, with an innocent and carefree face, “I said that nothing happened! Big sister has nothing to do with the fifth prince, our family has nothing to do with the royal family! This is the first time I’ve been in the palace!”
He Linyan couldn’t help but touch He Zhen’s head, “Good! If she asks you again in the future, you can still answer her like this.”
He Zhen was a bit flattered and nodded like a garlic, “Of course! I’m not stupid! By the way, you haven’t told me if sister Mu likes fifth highness, did she mean to comfort fifth highness just now?”
He Linyan nodded: “Mm.”
He Zhen was puzzled again, “Then what did she say to you? Want you to accompany her?”
He Linyan thought for a moment, “I don’t know, maybe.”
He Zhen wanted to ask more questions, He Linyan glanced at her and said, “Why do you have so many questions.”
He Zhen immediately covered her mouth.
He Linyan was a bit helpless and admonished He Zhen, “This person Mu Lanping, you should have less dealings with her in the future, and don’t believe a word she says to you, this person should not be trusted.”
He Zhen put down her hand and nodded, honestly, “I know, big sister, I’ll just ignore her in the future.”
He Linyan’s side had no danger, and after that, as the Empress said, Consort De did not send anyone to look for He Linyan’s trouble again. However, the fifth prince did not have an easy time getting past Consort De.
At this time, the fifth prince is suffering from the anger of concubine De has nowhere to vent.
“… Who told you to go to Wenzhen Hall! You’ve been kicked in the head by a donkey, don’t you know what kind of place that is? There were a bunch of people waiting to pick on you, and you were good! You’ve given yourself up for them to take advantage of! I thought you had grown in the past few years, but I never thought you would be so foolish!”
De Fei has been well maintained over the years, a few years have passed in the usual face is still not very visible old age, but she is so angry when she can see in her eyes a little bit of fatigue that was not there before, temper is also more irritable.
The first time the person was a student, he or she was a student.
The fifth prince stood expressionlessly in front of Consort De and listened, and did not speak back.
The first time I saw him, I got up and pointed at him and said: “Don’t think that this matter will be so easy to pass without talking! You tell me, what is it that makes you have to go to Wenzhen Hall!”
The fifth prince finally raised his head, “Mother Consort, why don’t you ask why your palace staff didn’t stop Chunyang from running to Wenzhen Hall to cause trouble? I know you’ve been focusing on your father all these years, but if you had put a little more effort into disciplining Chunyang, she wouldn’t have been so unaware of the importance of the situation and acted arbitrarily!”
The face of Consort De twisted for a moment, but at this time another palace staff rushed in to report: “Your Majesty, the princess she closed the door and did not allow the servant girls to enter the room, the servant girls heard her in the room to drop the cups, tables and chairs, afraid that she may accidentally hurt herself.”
Consort De said angrily, “Break down the door! If you’re afraid she’ll get hurt, tie her to the bed!”
The palace staff could also see that Consort De was now angry and did not dare to say anything else, so they led the order with trepidation and went down.
The fifth prince wanted to open his mouth to say something, but in the end, he did not speak.
The fifth prince wanted to open his mouth to say something, but in the end, he did not say anything. Concubine De was not relieved, and turned her head and ordered her palace maid, “Those who are serving with Chunyang today, whether eunuchs or palace maids, all of them are to be killed!
The big palace maid did not dare to say a word, silently bowed and retreated.
Consort De looked at the fifth prince and said coldly, “Are you satisfied now?”
The veins on the Fifth Prince’s forehead jumped, but when he met Consort De’s cold, stern gaze, he took a deep breath and lowered his eyes, not saying anything else.
The consort saw him like this, and the fire in her heart went away, and when he spoke again, his tone softened: “I will help you choose the main concubine this time, you just need to focus on the court.”
The fifth prince frowned at his words.
Seeing this, Consort De’s eyes narrowed slightly, “What? Have an opinion?”
The fifth prince thought about it, but still spoke: “Mother consort, recently the court is not peaceful, my son is overwhelmed, the matter of the main consort should be discussed later.”
The fifth prince’s son was examined for a long time, and then he said slowly, “Do you really want to discuss it later, or do you expect to discuss it at your own will when your wings are hardened?”
The fifth prince paused and said in a natural tone, “Mother Consort has worried too much, my son’s marriage will naturally have to go through Mother Consort first.”
Consort De smiled, not knowing whether to believe it or not, she looked at the fifth prince and said, “I don’t care what you think in your heart, but you must understand that the choice of the fifth prince’s main consort is not something you can decide on your own. Apart from this, I can follow you on who you see and who you want to take as a side concubine.”
The Fifth Prince’s hands hidden in his sleeves clenched into fists, this time he held back for a long time, but finally did not hold back and raised his eyes and said, “Mother Consort, I want to make my own decision on the choice of my main concubine, I implore you to …”
The first time I saw him, I didn’t know whether I was surprised that he would refute himself, or whether I was surprised that he would refute himself because of this insignificant matter.
She got up and slowly walked to the fifth prince, who couldn’t help but take a half step back, but then immediately stood still, his eyes dropping, not looking at Consort De.
Consort De suddenly smiled, “Zheng’er, if I told you that you could only choose between your marriage and the An family’s support, would you still insist on marrying a concubine according to your own wishes?”
The fifth prince was startled at the words and immediately looked up, “Mother Consort …”
Consort De waved her hand and said lightly, “I’m not threatening you, and I’m not forcing you, so weigh yourself before you tell me your decision.”
The struggle in the eyes of the fifth prince is very obvious, and Princess De can see it clearly, she is not in a hurry, back to their own soft collapse to sit down, with a rare gentle tone said: “this matter you go back to think about it, think clearly and then tell me the answer, this time I will give you the right to make your own decision. By the way, I heard that the kitchen has made a few new dishes, so stay for dinner today.”
The fifth prince’s expression has returned to normal, he shook his head, “Thank you for staying for dinner, my son remembered that there are still some matters outside, so I will not stay.”
The De Fei also does not care, nodded and said: “If so, then it is, you go to work. The impeachment matter you handle carefully, do not leave a stain, your father’s side I will also help you speak, in a few days this matter can fade down.”
The fifth prince nodded in response and bowed to retire.
As soon as the fifth prince left, Consort De’s face turned completely cold, and after thinking about it she called Sister Kui over.
“Have you asked clearly? Did His Highness go to Wenzhen Hall for that girl from the He family?”
Sister Kui replied, “Yes, Your Majesty. Slave servant went to ask the people serving His Highness, and His Highness was originally deliberating with his subordinates, and immediately went over after hearing that the princess went to Wenzhen Hall to trouble that He girl!”
Consort De’s face became even more ugly.
Sister Kui said carefully: “Your Highness, Your Highness and the Princess are afraid that they have fallen for someone else’s plan.”
Consort De laughed coldly, “Of course I know that someone is playing tricks in the dark! But if one of them hadn’t been capricious and one of them hadn’t been wise, they wouldn’t have given anyone the chance to scheme! So in the final analysis, it’s still their own stupidity!”
Sister Kui did not dare to speak.
Consort De pondered for a moment and ordered, “Keep an eye on the Fifth Highness.”
Sister Kui asked doubtfully, “Is that all? No need to give a warning to that girl He?”
Consort De smiled mockingly, “He dared to be upset with me over this woman today, how dare I go after his beloved? When the mother and son are centrifugal, won’t they fall for another outsider’s scheme?”
Sister Kui said comfortingly, “His Highness has always been very filial to Your Highness, this time it was just a momentary emergency, he will always figure out who is really good for him.”
Consort De waved her hand, “I gave birth to him, he is the son of His Majesty and I. I know what kind of character he has and what choice he will make in the end! He always felt that I was manipulating his life? This time I’ll let him make his own decision! As for that girl from the He family …”
The De Fei coldly smiled, eyes sharp, “I do not move her, so what, this time she does not die in my hands may be worse than death later! Who can say what life is!”
Sister Kui looked at Consort De’s eyes and shivered in her heart.
Consort De glanced at Sister Kui and ordered, “Chunyang side you pick a few more reliable people to serve her, keep a close eye on her, do not give me trouble all day long.”
Sister Kui said, “Your majesty, the princess said the person who caught her is a man’s matter …”
The first thing you need to do is to have a good look at the situation. This matter need not be mentioned later, Chunyang was just scared silly! Where is the man in this Wenzhen Hall.”
Sister Kui understood what Consort De meant and respectfully said, “Your Majesty said yes, slave servant knows what to do.”
On the other hand, the Fifth Prince was escorted out of Jingxiu Palace by a middle-aged chamberlain.
The Fifth Prince was quite polite to the chamberlain, “Eunuch Bao Shan stay, Mother Consort may have something for you later.”
The fat face of Eunuch Bao Shan smiled, like a hairy white bun, looking festive and loving, “Old slave is only in charge of the kitchen of Jingxiu Palace, the Queen will not think of looking for old slave. On the contrary, Your Highness looks like he is unhappy, old slave remembered that you were cute and smiling when you were a child.”
The fifth prince sighed and did not speak.
Bao Shan cheerfully said, “If Your Highness has anything unhappy, you can talk to Bao Shan like you did when you were a child, Bao Shan will definitely help Your Highness keep the secret.”
“Nothing.” The fifth prince shook his head, but after walking a few steps, he couldn’t help but say, “Mother Consort is going to choose a proper consort for me.”
Baoshan said happily, “Yah! That’s a good thing! Old slave congratulates Your Highness!”
The fifth prince shook his head, “But I don’t like it.”
“Has the choice already been decided?” Baoshan was puzzled.
“I don’t know, Mother Consort didn’t tell me.”
Bao Shan smiled, “Then how does Your Highness know that you don’t like it, maybe the person Her Majesty picked is just what Your Highness wants?”
The fifth prince, however, shook his head firmly and said obstinately, “Not as long as it is the person she has chosen, I will definitely not like it.”
Bao Shan was a bit surprised by this, but he didn’t make up for it like the other palace staff, but sighed and said in a low voice to the Fifth Prince: “Your Highness, although the old slave has little knowledge and no skills except for the craft on the stove, but the old slave knows the truth that you can’t have both the kingdom and the beauty. You have not yet had your wings, it is not the time to turn against the Queen! Although the An family is your foreign family, but the Queen has more than just your own son ah! Although His Highness is younger than you, but His Majesty is still young, the eldest son may not be more advantageous than the youngest!
The fifth prince froze and immediately asked, “Why did the eunuch suddenly mention the eighth brother? Did you hear something?”
The fifth prince said, “During your absence from the capital, the old lady of the An family often brought the two young ladies of the An family to the palace to visit the empress, and I heard that the old lady intended to let the eighth prince marry the second girl of the An family as the imperial concubine.”
“Let the royal brother marry the An family girl? I’ve never heard Mother Consort and Uncle mention it.” The fifth prince couldn’t help but say in surprise.
“Old slave also overheard it once when he went to serve food, so maybe the old madam is joking with the empress?” Bao Shan said in a hurry.
The fifth prince thought about it, but shook his head and frowned, “No, it’s not a joke. They might have made a decision long ago and are just hiding it from me alone.”
“Your Highness …” Bao Shan looked at the fifth prince with some heartache.
The fifth prince smiled and in turn comforted Bao Shan: “I am fine. I understand that mother consort and uncle family do not mean to give up on me, but at that time I was in East Lin, East Lin that place situation is complicated, I can not come back may not be, they just want to do two-handed preparation.”
The fifth prince said here silent for a moment, and self-deprecating smile, “I also understand the meaning of the words just mother consort, although I am her son, but also not emboldened.”
The fifth prince had no intention to say more here, raising his hand to indicate that Bao Shan stay, the fifth prince turned around and left alone.
He Linwei had an appointment with Li Yu, so by evening she had arranged everything, only waiting for Li Yu to come to her in the evening to explore Wanshou Palace together.
But the plan could not be changed, before dinner Wenzhen Palace suddenly received a decree that the Empress was going to have a banquet in the imperial garden, and all the people had to go to the banquet.
He Linyan was thinking about pretending to be sick to avoid the banquet, but after some consideration, she still felt that it was not appropriate. The incident of Chunyang giving her a hard time just happened today, although it didn’t spread out widely, but the well-informed people can still hear about it, if she claims to be sick, it will be easy to be suspected that she is using this matter to make an article. It is better to do one more thing than one less thing.
As for Li Yu’s side, she will definitely get the news, so He Linyan is not anxious.
He Zhen attended the palace banquet for the first time, so she acted very happy. After changing her clothes, she deliberately came over and asked He Linwei to help her see if there was anything wrong.
Because the clothes and jewelry were all prepared by the family before entering the palace, so generally there will not be any problems, but He Zhen today deliberately wore a peach-colored cloak, the cloak on the hundred butterflies through the flowers pattern embroidered with gold and silver thread, but also inlaid with some pearls and precious stones, by the light of the fire some vivid glory, especially those several limp butterflies more like a living general. This cloak really makes He Zhen look a little more innocent and delicate than usual.
He Linyan was wondering if this cloak was too conspicuous.
But He Zhen turned around in front of He Linyan and said happily, “Does it look good? This cloak was brought to me by my mother from the south at a great price on my birthday! She originally didn’t let me bring it into the palace, but I secretly hid it in my bag!”
He Zhen was talking happily, but when she saw that He Lin Wan was looking at her and not talking, she became a bit apprehensive and asked carefully, “What’s wrong, big sister? Is there something wrong?”
He Linyan swallowed her words when she saw her like this. She thought that today’s palace banquet would certainly be a competition among the girls, so He Zhen’s appearance was not out of the ordinary, even she herself was dressed up in order not to lose her manners in front of others.
“There’s nothing wrong with it, just wear it like this.”
He Zhen immediately smiled, “Then let’s go! I haven’t been to the imperial garden yet!”
When He Linyan and He Zhen came out Xue Wanqing and Mu Lanping were also planning to go out, Xue Wanqing and Mu Lanping were also meticulously dressed up.
Mu Lanping wore a goose yellow color, not flashy, but more gentle and dignified than usual. Xue Wanqing is a moderate dress, and He Linyan, the same, so people can not pick the wrong place, but a glance at it is also no highlight.
Xue Wanqing and He Linyan glanced at each other and both of them smiled.
There were guidance sisters waiting to guide them to the imperial garden.
The imperial garden in the imperial palace is naturally larger than the garden of ordinary mansions, and there are some exotic flowers and plants that are difficult to see elsewhere, others are fine, but He Zhen can not help but look surprised, but she also knows the limits, and did not look around or stop, but only when passing some scenery to glance twice.
When she saw a peacock opening its screen in the flowers in front of her, He Zhen couldn’t help but happily tug on He Linyan’s sleeve, “Big sister! Look, a peacock!”
But He Linyan saw the peacock and also saw the person standing next to the peacock who seemed to be feeding the peacock for fun.
“Who is so ignorant of the rules, making noise in the imperial garden! Can you afford to disturb the nobleman?” One of the people dressed as a palace maid looked over at the sound and reprimanded unhappily.
In fact, He Zhen’s voice was not too loud, far from being noisy, but He Lin Wan and the others still immediately stopped and saluted, because they could see that the “noble lady” the palace maid was talking about was a palace concubine with a very low status.
He Linyan’s eyes glanced at the somewhat swollen waist of that palace consort and had some idea in her heart that this should be the pure noblewoman who had won the emperor’s affection in the past few years, the one sent into the palace by the An family to secure favor for Consort De.
“Master, the garden is windy, why don’t we go back to the palace first? The emperor and the empress are considerate of your pregnancy and have given you special permission not to attend the palace banquet.”
The pure noblewoman handed the glazed bowl of food to the palace maid, stroked the peacock’s feathers while looking at them, and asked curiously, “Are these the showgirls who entered the palace this time?”
The sisters beside the pure nobleman came up to her ear and whispered a few words, the pure nobleman raised her eyebrows slightly, her eyes lingered on them for a moment longer, the sisters should be mentioning the identity and family history of the pure nobleman.
At this time, the peacock suddenly pecked the foot of the court lady holding the water in her hand, the court lady was startled and knocked over the bowl of water in her hand, and the water splashed onto the cloak of the pure noblewoman.
The palace maid immediately knelt down and apologized.
She glanced at her palace maid and did not get angry on the spot, but only said to the sisters, “In the future, such clumsy people should not be put in front of me.”
Sister also followed and apologized, then had the pale-faced palace maid brought down to await disposal.
The sisters were afraid that pure noblewoman would catch cold, so they helped her take off her wet cloak and advised in a low voice: “There is wind in the garden, why don’t you go back to the palace first? Later on, let His Majesty may come to visit you.”
“You’re right, His Majesty usually goes to see me at this time, I should be worried if I can’t see him later, let’s go to the pavilion over there and wait for His Majesty to come over.” Pure noblewoman cheered up, but then she touched her belly and complained, “But I feel a little cold, what if I catch a cold on the way?”
Sister heard her say so also worried, immediately instructed the palace maid: “Run back to get a cloak for your daughter, run fast.”
However, the pure noblewoman stopped the palace maid who was about to run back, her eyes fell on He Linyan and the others, then pointed at He Zhen and said, “I’ll wear hers.”
He Zhen didn’t expect pure noblewoman to suddenly point at herself and was confused until the palace maid beside pure noblewoman came over to her to borrow her cloak before she came back to her senses. He Zhen didn’t think much about it and subconsciously took off her cloak and handed it to the court lady.
He Linwei did not expect that the pure nobleman would suddenly ask for He Zhen’s cloak. He Linwei wanted to speak after she reacted, but He Zhen had already taken off her cloak and handed it out, so she did not speak again, only thinking that it would be better to send this inexplicable nobleman away as soon as possible so that they could leave.
The pure nobleman asked for He Zhen’s cloak and didn’t make any more fuss, taking her own people and slinking away slowly.
He Zhen waited for the pure noblewoman to leave and then collapsed, complaining to He Lin Wan in a low voice: “That cloak was bought for me as a birthday gift by my mother with a lot of thought and money, and it’s the first time I’m wearing it today!
Mu Lanping smiled and said, “It’s just a cloak, I have several of this style, if you like it, I will give you one.”
He Zhen said listlessly, “No,” and then said to He Lin Wan, “I’m also a little cold, big sister, you guys go ahead, I need to go back and add a garment.”
Mu Lanping said, “Just ask your maid to go back and get it, why do you have to go back again?”
He Zhen spat out her tongue, “The maid has my mother’s instructions, so she won’t pick something for me that suits me! Anyway, it’s still early, I’ll go change my clothes and come.”
He Linyan looked at the sky and said to He Zhen, “I’ll go back with you.”
He Zhen hurriedly waved her hand, “No, no, no, big sister, you are watching me, I do not dare to pick out clothes properly. Oh, you guys go ahead and leave me alone, I’ll be back soon.”
After He Zhen said that she didn’t wait for He Lin Wan to say anything else, she turned around and ran away.
He Linyan could only explain that He Zhen’s maid, Lian Xin, hurriedly followed her, “Keep an eye on her.”
Lianxin hurriedly trotted up and followed, “Don’t worry, Miss, slave servant will save you.”
This small incident is not on everyone’s mind, continue to go to the banquet place.
The Queen’s banquet place is in the west of the imperial garden, they almost have to cross the entire imperial garden to walk to the place, so the road also took some effort.
There is an artificial lake at the western end of the imperial garden, planted with a lake of lotus flowers, and a nine-bend lotus wind pavilion was built in the middle of the lake. Now this time of year, although not many lotus blossoms, but the shore of the lake is full of pink cherry blossoms, so sitting in the lotus pavilion is also very good to watch the scenery.
The Queen’s banquet today is set in this lotus breeze pavilion, He Lin night they went earlier, was led by the palace maid to the pavilion seated. Today’s seating is a long table for two people, and He Linwei and Xue Wanqing were placed together.
Because it was in the palace, those who arrived first only greeted each other slightly even if they knew each other or were familiar with each other, and did not talk much.
He Linyan and Xue Wanqing didn’t talk much even when they sat together.
After a while after they were seated, a palace maid came over and whispered to He Linyan: “Miss He, the sisters beside the Empress came and said that the Empress has a few words to explain to you and asked you to go over.”
He Linyan secretly frowned, the Empress had summoned her only today, she couldn’t think of any reason why the Empress wanted to summon her again within a short period of time, but in front of so many people she didn’t ask more questions, she just nodded her head and greeted Xue Wanqing, then got up and followed the palace maid to leave.
After walking out of the lotus wind pavilion and seeing no one else, He Linyan was about to ask a few questions when she saw a pair of palace guards walking in their direction, and He Linyan’s eyes paused on the lead guard.
He Linyan took refuge in a side path and waited for the group of guards to pass before she stepped out.
The leading palace maid pointed in one direction, signaling that someone was waiting for her over there, and then turned and ran away without waiting for He Lin-an to say anything.
He Linwei already had a number in mind at this point, so she didn’t call out to her, but only walked over in the direction she had just pointed out, and then she saw Li Yu, who was dressed in a guard’s uniform.
“You’re on duty here tonight?” He Linyan asked somewhat strangely.
It was reasonable to say that when the Empress hosted a small banquet for the ladies in the imperial garden, she would not normally call for the guards to be on duty.
“Tonight, His Majesty is hosting a banquet for the ambassadors and several ministers of the Great Ji Kingdom at the Baoqing House, and I am on duty outside the Baoqing House, so I am afraid that the previous appointment with you will be postponed.” Li Yu said.
“Baoqing Building?” He Linyan thought for a moment, “The one next to the imperial garden?”
He Linyan remembered that the Baoqing Building was a small three-story building next to the west side of the imperial garden, and from the third floor of the building, one could have a panoramic view of the imperial garden, so sometimes the emperor and empress liked to invite some imperial relatives or close ministers here, and sometimes they would bring people here to listen to the opera. So the Baoqing Building is very close to the Lotus Wind Pavilion, just now she sat by the Lotus Wind Pavilion can still see the heavy eaves of the Baoqing Building.
“Do not walk around tonight, as soon as the banquet is over you go back to Wenzhen Hall, and do not fall alone.” Li Yu explained in a low voice.
“What? Is there any problem tonight?” He Linyan was puzzled.
Li Yu shook his head: “The ambassadors of the Great Ji Kingdom will also enter the palace tonight, they have stayed in the capital for a bit longer this time, they must be here for something. Try not to run into them as much as possible.”
He Linyan asked with some curiosity, “Who are the ambassadors from the Great Ji Kingdom this time?”
He Linyi happened to see the ambassadors of the Great Ji Kingdom entering the capital the last time she was at the Immortal Guest Teahouse, but at that time her attention was on the Fourth Prince, plus there was no face she knew among the group of ambassadors, so she didn’t care.
Li Yu said, “It’s the Southern King’s faction, and the leader is the Southern King’s second son, Jia Lan.”
“The second son of the Southern King?” He Linyan raised his eyebrows.
The Southern King’s eldest son had died a few years ago, and according to the rules of the Great Ji Kingdom, the Southern King’s throne would be inherited by the second son, Jia Lan.
Li Yu nodded, explained in a low voice: “Great Ji country in the past few years, the struggle between the southern king and the northern king, at the beginning of the support of the southern king of the noble family more, but over the years Lou Hu promised to lure a few tribes with generous benefits, last year was a one-time extermination of two pro-southern king of the tribe, since then the southern king of the family seems inferior. The Southern King sent an envoy to the capital this time to trade cattle, sheep and horses with our dynasty, also want to take the opportunity to reverse the disadvantage.”
He Linyan couldn’t help but laugh after listening to this, “I remember a few years ago the Southern King accused Lou Hu of colluding with the Great Zhou Dynasty to mutilate his fellow tribesmen, because of this he gathered many people to fight against Lou Hu with him, how come now he himself is willing to take advantage of the power of foreign tribes?”
Li Yu said, “He can still break his promise to ally with our dynasty, but if he loses the battle with Lou Hu he will have nothing.”
He Linyan thought about it and nodded his head in agreement, “That’s a good point.”
Thinking of what had happened in the past few days, she couldn’t help but ask, “So the Grand Ji ambassador is holding on to the matter of Li Heng forcing the concubine Xi to die in order to get a good price for himself when it comes to the deal?”
“There is part of the reason, I guess. Concubine Xi is just a sacrificial lamb in the struggle between the Southern King and Lou Hu.” Li Yu said indifferently.
He Linyan couldn’t help but feel some pity, “Li Xiaoheng is really quite pitiful.”
Li Yu coughed lightly, “He’s been living in your house for a while now, he hasn’t caused you any trouble, right?”
He Linyan thought about it and nodded honestly, “Yes, it’s quite troublesome, but he’s gotten a lot more understanding lately.”
When Li Heng first came to the He family, he did like to cause trouble, and from time to time, he fanned the flames between Jie and He Yin, fearing that the world would not be in chaos, so he could be considered a model of sound disability and determination, but since he learned of Mu Zhi Zhen’s betrayal last time, he stopped, and He Lin Wan was not used to seeing Mu Yang sneak in to tell her off.
Li Yu heard her say this but smiled, “trouble can not be helped, in the future you have to be more disciplined.”
He Linyan heard Li Yu’s meaning and gave him a blank stare, Li Yu just laughed.
At this time, He Linwei heard Chun Xiao cough softly, Chun Xiao at the entrance of the road not far away to watch out for them, this sound should be to remind them that someone is coming or there is some unexpected situation.
Li Yu and He Linwei looked at each other, He Linwei nodded, and Li Yu disappeared behind a shadow of a tree in a few flashes.
He Linyan stood in the same place looking at the direction Li Yu disappeared, satisfied whispered praise: “Well – good hands.”
Chun Xiao walked over quickly and whispered to He Linyan, “Miss, the palace maid who just brought us here gestured for us to go back quickly, the Queen’s phoenix drive is arriving soon!”
He Linyan nodded, and Chun Xiao and He Linyan quietly returned to the Nine Curves Lotus Wind Pavilion.
When He Linwei went back, Xue Wanqing, who was in the same case as her, was not in her seat, He Linwei did not meddle, but her brows furrowed after she looked around.
“He Zhen hasn’t come back yet?”
The women’s residence is not too close to the imperial garden, but He Zhen should be back by this time.
Chun Xiao froze, “perhaps temporarily left the seat to go elsewhere, slave servant to inquire.”
Chun Xiao quickly came back from her inquiry and whispered back to He Lin Wan: “Miss, Fourth Miss hasn’t come yet.”
He Linyan’s frown tightened and she was about to get up and go to find He Zhen, but at that moment, the palace people sang that the Empress and several palace concubines had arrived, so He Linyan and the other girls who had arrived earlier got up to greet them.
The Queen and her concubines’ parade blocked the road, and all eyes were on the entrance and exit of the Lotus Wind Pavilion, so He Linyan couldn’t sneak out to look for her.
Chun Xiao was also sweating profusely and asked in a whisper behind He Lin Wan: “Miss, what should we do? Should I sneak out to find Fourth Miss?”
He LinHan knew that it was useless to rush at this time, so she calmed down.
“The phoenix driver has arrived, outside are guards, you can not sneak out. “
“But …”
He Linyan interrupted Chun Xiao: “And with you gone, I’m more likely to be found out without the people waiting around.”
Chun Xiao looked around and found that all the ladies who were seated had maids behind them, and they would be needed to serve wine and food at the banquet later, so if she left, it would be a bit conspicuous, so she had to give up.
“Then what can we do? Absent from the Queen’s banquet this … is what crime ah? Will you be implicated by the fourth young lady?”
Chun Xiao was anxious to the point that she was not just anxious for He Zhen, she did not have that much affection with He Zhen. She was more afraid that He Linyan would be implicated by He Zhen, so she wanted to take the risk to find someone.
After thinking about it, He Linyan calmed Chun Xiao down and said, “Don’t be anxious, let’s take another look, if we can’t, we can only say that she is temporarily sick.”
When Chun Xiao saw He Lin Wan say that and thought she had thought of an excuse, in her blind trust in her own girl, she let out a huge sigh of relief.
“Yes, yes, the Empress has always been forgiving, she shouldn’t pursue it.” And couldn’t help but complain in a very small voice, “Fourth Miss is also really, what kind of occasion is this today, she also dares to be late at will. You must talk to the fourth young lady after you return, lest she misbehave and implicate you in the future. “
He Linyan wanted to laugh bitterly, it was still unclear who was involved in this matter.
Just now she was comforting Chun Xiao, even if the Empress was forgiving and did not pursue the matter, the other mothers were not so nice, especially Consort De, whom she had just offended. Now He Lin Wan cannot help but suspect that He Zhen’s failure to return could have been deliberately designed by someone? The first thing you need to do is to get a good idea of what you’re doing. If this is really the case, then He Zhen is in danger.
He Linyan considers herself cold-hearted and cold-hearted, but she is also clear about her grudges and grievances. She was the one who had a grudge against Consort De, and if Consort De retaliated on He Zhen and made He Zhen suffer on her behalf, she would not have a clear conscience.
He Linyan was thinking about how to contact Li Yu and ask him to help find He Zhen, when Xue Wanqing, who had left the table for a long time, came back, Xue Wanqing came from the direction of the net room and was followed by the court lady who was guiding the way, so the people just took a glance and didn’t care.
He Linyan’s expression was so well managed that even Chunxiao, who had served her closely for many years, didn’t notice her inner anxiety, but Xue Wanqing just took one look at He Linyan and asked, “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?”
He Linyan couldn’t help but glance at Xue Wanqing.
Xue Wanqing had an ethereal and dusty temperament, so beautiful that she did not look like a person of the world, and even when she spoke out of concern for others, she seemed a bit careless.
He Linyan pondered for a moment and said truthfully, “He Zhen went back to change her clothes and hasn’t come back yet, so I’m a little worried about her.”
Chun Xiao couldn’t help but stare at He Lin Wan and then at Xue Wan Qing, wondering why her own girl told Miss Xue the truth. When did their relationship become so good?
The first time the Empress invited the showgirls, it’s not a good idea for you to go out and find someone. I have a good relationship with one of the palace people around the Queen, why don’t I ask her to go to Wenzhen Hall to take a look?”
He Linyan and Xue Wanqing were only friends, so she was a bit surprised to see that she was really willing to help.
Xue Wanqing seemed to know what He Linyan was thinking, smiled and said, “I owe Miss He a favor for changing the room before, even if we mortals are prone to ingratitude and injustice, the Bodhisattva helps us to remember this grudge clearly, consider it as I want to settle this karma for myself.”
He Linyan felt that Xue Wanqing seemed to have something in her words, and suspected that she was too sensitive and suspicious. But the most important thing now was to find He Zhen, so He Linyan didn’t have to be polite to Xue Wanqing and thanked her gratefully, “Then thank you, Miss Xue.”
Xue Wanqing didn’t say anything else, she just nodded her head, then turned around and explained a few words to her maid, who listened to the instructions and walked away with her head down, probably to find the palace staff who knew Xue Wanqing well.
He Linyan didn’t dare to rely on Xue Wanqing to help her find someone, she planned to wait for the Empress and the palace maids to sit down later, on the pretext of going to the purification room to contact Li Yu.
The empress took several palace concubines to the top seat, and He Linyan saluted along with them. The empress smiled and said a few words, then ordered the palace people to serve wine and food.
He Linyan felt a harsh line of sight shot towards her, she knew there was no one else who would look at her like that except for Consort De, so she didn’t look up and pretended she was oblivious.
But there are also sharp-minded people who have noticed that the atmosphere is not right, the line of sight if seemingly peeking towards He Linhang, just now was quite lively scene instantly quiet a lot.
At this time, the Empress turned her head to talk to Consort De, breaking this somewhat stiff situation, the Empress asked: “Pure noblewoman did not come? I remember she usually loves to be lively.”
De Fei retracted her eyes, “pure nobleman just sent someone to tell me that before in the imperial garden caught a cold, some discomfort.”
The empress frowned, “how so careless? The first thing you need to do is to ask for a doctor.”
The first thing you need to do is to take a look at the actual situation. But then, His Majesty will come out of her palace and go directly to the Baoqing House, and will not have time to come to the banquet.”
The empress in the imperial garden banquet showgirls, the emperor will reasonably come over to take a look, go through the scene or, considered to give face to the empress, but now left the empress, including the large garden people ran to visit the pure consort. Heard here, the pure nobleman’s saintly favor of the dragon has a newer understanding.
The empress, however, as if she did not understand the mocking words of Consort De, said in a calm tone: “Since His Majesty went to visit, I am relieved.”
At this time but listened to Xianfei said in a joking tone: “pure noble is also a blessing, I remember that in the past can make His Majesty so heartbroken is only De Fei sister.”
The smile on Consort De’s face paused as soon as Consort Xian’s words fell.
Everyone in the room pretended to be indifferent, drinking and eating snacks, but secretly they were listening to the war of words between the most noble women in the Great Zhou’s harem with their ears open.
He Linyan couldn’t help but glance at Consort Xian, who has kept a low profile in the palace over the years and rarely clashed with Consort De head-on, but now she was publicly mocking Consort De for being robbed of her holy favor by someone she got into the palace. The struggle of the harem has always been a mapping of the struggle of the court, so it is clear that the fight between the fifth and sixth prince can no longer even maintain the apparent peace.
The company’s main goal is to provide the best possible service to its customers.
The face of the consort is a sinking, angry to the extreme consort instead of laughing, she will be in the hands of the wine cup to the table casually a throw. The phoenix eyes lifted, the tone of voice mocking, “Very good, I want to see which family is taught out of the people, means in this kind of excellent.”
He Linyan was looking for an opportunity to leave the table, when she heard the words of Consort De, she had a bad feeling in her heart.
At this time a young eunuch came over, followed by a young girl who looked very disciplined but had some soulful eyes.
Chun Xiao, who was about to pour wine for He Lin Wan, looked up and was so frightened that her hand shook and the wine jug fell out of her hand.
He Linyan didn’t even look at it, his hand reached out and steadily caught the fallen wine jug and silently put it back on the table, but his eyes rested on the woman who had followed the inner supervisor over.
Even Xue Evening Qing couldn’t help but give a surprised “Huh” and look at He Lin Wan.
Everyone in the room saw the eunuch and the young girl, and the Empress asked in a warm voice: “Aren’t you with His Majesty today as an officer? Did something happen?”
The inner eunuch, who must be the emperor’s sidekick, smiled and bowed to the empress and replied, “In reply to the empress, the girl from the He family got lost in the imperial garden, and the master explained that the servant girl should send her here. Now that the person has been delivered, the slave servant will go to the Baoqing House to resume her orders.”
The empress nodded, and the inner eunuch retreated.
Xue Evening Qing whispered to He Linyan, “This one who sent the fourth girl back is serving in His Majesty’s Chengqian Palace, and his master is Liu Quan You, the eunuch in charge of the seal.”
There were other people present who recognized the identity of the eunuch, and countless meaningful gazes were on He Zhen, whose originally calm expression became somewhat flustered, reacting to the fact that she had not yet bowed, and hurriedly bowed to the Empress and the palace concubines.
“Greetings to the Empress and all the queens.”
The empress raised her hand, “Rise.”
He Zhen had just gotten up when she heard the voice of Consort De, whose tone sounded quite conciliatory.
“Come closer, let this palace take a look.”
He Zhen obediently moved a few steps and stood in front of Consort De.
Consort De snorted, as if she had lost interest, “I thought it was a delicate rose, but I didn’t expect it to be just a yellow chrysanthemum of ordinary color.”
He Zhen did not seem to understand the mockery in Consort De’s words and flattered with a sincere face, “Thank you for the compliment, only a beautiful face like yours is worthy of a rose.”
When He Linyan heard this, she secretly screamed that it was not good.
Sure enough, Consort De smiled and her gaze went cold, “How dare you curse this palace.”
He Zhen was at a loss for words, not knowing what she had said wrong.
In fact, in the previous dynasty, there was a beautiful-looking court concubine who loved roses, the emperor at the time built a rose garden to hide his mistress, but this court concubine later ended up not very well, after the death of the emperor she was ordered to be executed by the empress dowager for the crime of disrupting the dynastic system and thrown to the bone, her entire family was also ordered to be beheaded by the successor. The people of later generations then used the rose as a metaphor for the harem women who wrecked the country and the people.
“Someone, slap your mouth!” Consort De ordered coldly.
The palace maid serving behind Consort De immediately stepped forward and lifted her hand to slap He Zhen, who was so frightened that she backed away, the palace maid froze as if she did not expect He Zhen to dare to dodge, and after reacting, she immediately stepped forward and tried to grab He Zhen. He Zhen was too scared to care about anything, turned and ran, the two began to chase around the nine corridors, He Zhen usually like to play shuttlecock at home, body training is very flexible, the court lady several times to catch her, she twisted waist to avoid, causing the court lady almost knocked over the table.
This unbelievable picture, let the people present are stunned, even the Empress were frozen for a moment did not speak, De Fei is so angry that her face is green.
“Catch her for me!” De Fei ordered to the other palace maids.
Five or six palace maids received the order and went after her in unison.
Some of the people present saw this scene, some gloated, some did not care, some looked worried, Chun Xiao and He Zhen’s maids were so scared that their legs and feet were weak, their faces were white, and they looked like they were about to faint.
Xue Evening Qing glanced at He Linyan and found that He Linyan had no expression on her face, with her eyes slightly downcast wondering what she was thinking.
At this time, He Zhen ran to He Linyan’s side, she now also reacted to know scared, while running and crying, tears on the face of the makeup are blurred. He Zhen’s eyes lit up when she saw He Linwei, and subconsciously wanted to open her mouth to ask for help, but she opened her mouth just before she was about to open it and closed it tightly, then bit her lip and ran away from He Linwei.
He Linyan sighed and raised her eyes and shouted, “He Zhen, stop.”
He Zhen’s steps gave a beat, hesitated for a moment, but still obeyed and stopped running, standing there crying with no breath, and several palace people who were chasing after her immediately pounced on her and caught her.
The palace maid who received the order from Consort De at the beginning was panting, her hair and temples were messed up, she hated He Zhen so much that she raised her hand to slap He Zhen, but she didn’t want her wrist to suddenly go numb for some reason, the slap was hitting He Zhen’s face, but it wasn’t strong at all.
He Zhen is closed eyes to bear the slap, but found that the slap down the face but not pain, so she cried stopped, while choking while full of suspicion to look at the palace maid.
The palace maid herself some strange, can not help but touch their wrists.
The other people only saw that He Zhen had been slapped, but did not know the foul play between them, and thought that the palace maid had slapped her hand painfully.
The palace maid slowed down and wanted to slap He Zhen again, but He Linyan walked up to He Zhen, pulled her wrist, and said coldly, “Come with me to the Empress and ask forgiveness.”
The palace maid could not stop them from going to the Empress to ask for her sins, so she could only resentfully put her hand down.
He Zhen stole a glance at He Linyan, lowered her head and obediently followed her to the empress.
He Linyan pulled He Zhen down on her knees and made a big salute.
“My sister lost her manners before the phoenix driving, please forgive me, Your Majesty.”
He Zhen also huffed and said, “Please forgive Your Majesty.”
The Empress was about to speak, but Consort De snorted coldly and said, “The Empress can forgive her for the crime of disrespect, but this palace cannot spare her for the crime of disobeying the decree, she has violated the law below, please deal with the Empress according to the law.”
The empress frowned and did not seem to agree.
Consort Xian smiled and said: “Just a small matter, sister De Fei to shout and kill is a bit unkind. I think this child is just a little loose rules, I think it is because of the young age, let’s forgive her this time.”
The empress nodded, “Xianfei is right, De Fei …”
The Queen’s words were interrupted by a sneer, “She openly disobeyed the orders of the Palace, if this time forgive her, who will be willing to follow the orders of the Palace?”
The empress did not speak for a moment, if she is refuting De Fei, then De Fei can also be below the level of the queen in the future will not look at her.
The empress glanced at He Zhen, the little girl’s eyes were red with tears, looking at her with a pleading face. The empress sighed, thinking that De Fei must be punished, so let’s be lenient. So thinking, the empress and Xianfei looked at each other. The Queen and Consort Xian had the same idea, although she wanted to save He Zhen, but want to let her unharmed is really difficult, a few boards is not bad.
The Empress and Consort De reached a consensus and were about to speak when He Linyan spoke up.
He Linyan: “Your Highness, He Zhen is not disobeying the order and violating the law below.”
When the empress heard this, she thought she was trying to defend He Zhen and was afraid that she would anger Concubine De and be boarded together, so she deliberately said with a stern face, “Okay, this palace has its own decision.”
But He Linyan turned to He Zhen and said, “Where did you get that cloak?”
He Zhen opened her mouth and didn’t say anything, but her face turned a little red.
The people all looked at He Zhen, only to find that He Zhen was wearing a stone blue cloak, the cloak is a bit large, He Zhen almost to drag the ground, she just ran for fear of cloak swept to the two sides of the desk subconsciously raised the cloak in the arms, now kneeling also careful not to let the cloak fall to the ground and dust.
The people saw only thought she smiled when running cloak in the way or cherish clothes, did not think much of it, but now see this cloak looks very ordinary style, and no embroidered pattern, color and size is not too suitable for little girls, can not help but some strange.
The Queen’s side of Sister Shen took a closer look and seemed to recognize something, came up to the Queen’s ear and whispered a sentence, the Queen froze.
He Zhen finally spoke up, tugging the cloak in her hand and said nervously, “His Majesty asked someone to bring it to me.”
The crowd looked at He Zhen a little differently, after all, the emperor’s imperial cloak was not available to everyone.
The emperor’s court uniform and auspicious clothes are bright yellow, but the color of the regular clothes have more options, and the pattern can be the emperor’s choice, the crowd just did not recognize it is reasonable. But look carefully, He Zhen this cloak is not without pattern, it is only embroidered with brocade forging the same color dark cloud pattern, you have to get close to see.
He Linyan said with a single look: “Please be clear, Your Majesty, He Zhen just now did not deliberately disobey the order of the De Fei Niang, but she was wearing the imperial gift, out of a heart of love for the ruler and respect for the De Fei Niang, not daring to let the people under Your Majesty’s command to crash the sacred things, so they tried to protect each other to the death.”
This statement is silent, the party He Zhen is dumbfounded.
He Linyan’s words were of course nonsense, but she could not be faulted, just as just now, when De Fei wanted to punish He Zhen with the charge of disobeying the order and committing a crime, the Empress and De Fei had nothing to say.
The woman behind her, who had just slapped He Linwei, turned pale and fell to the ground with a “poof”.
The Empress coughed lightly and did not say anything, the Empress behind Shen Sister reacted quickly and gave a wink to the palace staff, immediately someone came up and dragged the kneeling palace maid down.
The palace maid looked at Concubine De beggingly, and said under her breath, “The slave girl just didn’t hit her …”
But Consort De didn’t even give her a look, she slowly got up, walked up to He Linyan and stared at her for a few moments, then glanced at He Zhen and said with a cold smile, “Very good.”
After saying that, Consort De brushed her sleeves and left.
He Zhen shrank in fear, and He Lin Wan looked respectful with her eyes downcast.
Consort Xian took a handkerchief and printed the corners of her mouth, smiling and rounding up the situation: “Well, it’s okay, Consort De was just joking with you.”
The empress looked at He Linwei and He Zhen and sighed slightly, “Get up and sit down.”
He Linyan and He Zhen got up and sat back in their seats.
Neither the empress nor Consort Xian said anything about Consort De’s leaving her seat, and everyone pretended that nothing had happened and continued to laugh and joke, and the palace banquet resumed its lively start.
He Zhen’s seat is several seats away from He Linyan, she was frightened tonight, but optimistic by nature, not much hidden in her heart, after drinking two glasses of wine with the girls at the same table, her face resumed smiling, but occasionally will carefully glance at He Linyan’s side, she is not worried about anything else, but afraid that she has just caused trouble, and later do not know whether she will be scolded by her sister, see He Linyan’s face has been very calm she will be half-hearted.
Xue Wanqing’s maid came back with a pot of wine and took advantage of the time to pour the wine to whisper a few words in Xue Wanqing’s ear.
Xue Wanqing glanced at He Zhen who was talking with the same seat and said to He Linyan: “The palace attendant I asked to find He Zhen before said that He Zhen was hiding in the imperial garden and crying, and was bumped into by His Majesty who went to visit the pure noblewoman, He Zhen did not recognize His Majesty at first and cried to him that his newly made cloak was snatched away, so His Majesty had his cloak given to him, after which His Majesty did not go to the pure Your Majesty’s palace and went directly to Baoqing House.”
He Linyan picked up the wine jug and poured wine for himself and Xue Wanqing, and after hearing that he just nodded plainly, “I know, many thanks.”
He Linyan didn’t ask who was the palace person who spied on Xue Wanqing and was able to spy in such detail, nor was she surprised that Xue Wanqing, a foreign minister’s daughter, still had eyes in the palace.
The company has a lot of people who have secrets, and as long as they don’t interfere with her, she won’t be curious at all.
The company’s main business is to provide a wide range of products and services to its customers.
Until the end of this palace banquet, there is no more trouble. After the Queen and all the palace concubines left the table, Sister Shen instructed the palace staff to take the girls back to Wenzhen Hall.
He Zhen obediently followed behind He Linyan, just relaxed some of the mood again apprehensive. When He Linyan didn’t say anything, He Zhen didn’t dare to make a sound either. When Mu Lanping came over to comfort her for the previous incident, she only barely made a perfunctory response.
After leaving the imperial garden, the palace people took the showgirls down another path, and when they passed a long, cramped alley, they suddenly heard a scream in the distance. This time the sky is already dark, the palace lamps in the hands of the palace people will be projected on the red palace walls, a wind blew, the shadow also trembled like a wandering soul away from the human body, wandering in the large palace.
A few timid showgirls were so scared that they drew a cold breath and clutched the hand of the person beside them. He Zhen couldn’t care less about being afraid of He Linwei and pulled her sleeve and hid behind her.
“Big sister, what is this sound?”
The old leading palace man turned his head to look at He Zhen and said in an indifferent tone, “Over there is the Department of Prudence, the place to punish palace concubines and palace people, anyone who enters there will have to shed their skin even if they don’t die.”
The girls looked at the old palace man’s face that looked a bit gloomy in the dim light could not help but psychological chills, especially the distant screams gradually weakened, after which there was no more sound, they have been fearful to the extreme.
Someone whispered, “I, let’s just go.”
“Yes, yes, yes, let’s go.”
After entering the palace to pay attention to the grooming of the showgirls are now buried head shrinking shoulders, pulling the hands of the people beside them fast as if there is something chasing behind them. In a short time, all the people had gone, leaving only He Linwei, He Zhen, Xue Wanqing and the old court lady.
When He Zhen saw He Linyan standing still, she hurriedly pulled her sleeve and said uneasily, “Big sister and the others have all left, let’s go too.”
He Linyan ignored He Zhen and said to Xue Wanqing, “You go back first, we’ll come later.”
Xue Wanqing also didn’t want to stay here for long, so she nodded and left quickly without asking anything.
When He Zhen saw that He Linyan didn’t leave, she was even more apprehensive, “Big sister, aren’t we leaving?”
He Linyan looked at her, “Wait a little longer.”
He Zhen didn’t know what He Linyan wanted to wait for, but she didn’t dare to resist. She looked around, everyone had left, only the two of them and the old palace attendant were left in the long alley, and the old palace attendant didn’t rush them, she just stood by with a palace lantern and waited with no expression.
He Zhen pouted aggressively, and stood closer to He Linyan.
At this time, a messy footsteps came this way, listening to the sound of several people.
He Zhen curiously turned around and saw four chamberlains carrying a what Dong silently came over, the thing was covered with a layer of white cloth, so He Zhen could not see clearly.
Until these few people almost walked to He Linyan and He Zhen, a gust of wind blew over, the layer of white cloth slipped down, a dead human face suddenly appeared in front of He Zhen, the old palace lamp in the hands of the palace staff will be the face of the resentful and resentful expression shone very clearly.
He Zhen froze, then reacted to what it was and screamed and jumped into He Linyan’s arms.
He Linyan felt He Zhen shaking in her arms, but said nothing, only raised her hand and patted her soothingly.
A moment later, He Linyan said, “It’s okay, it’s over.”
He Zhen was lying in He Linyan’s arms and shook her head vigorously, but refused to raise her head, so He Linyan didn’t force her, and stood there with He Zhen in her arms.
After a long time He Zhen himself calmed down, raised a tear-stained face, choked and said, “Big sister, I saw clearly just that that … is the palace maid who slapped me before, is she dead because of me.”
He Linyan didn’t answer, just lifted He Zhen out of his arms and said with a cold and heartless face, “Finished crying? Go back when you’re done crying.”
The old court attendant didn’t say anything and carried the lantern in front of him when he heard He Linyan say he was going back.
He Zhen kept pulling on He Lin Wan’s sleeve all the way, crying and choking while walking, but He Lin Wan didn’t care about her.
The old palace maid brought them to the entrance of Wenzhen Hall and stopped, He Linyan bowed to her, “Thank you, Sister.”
The old palace lady returned the salute, turned around and walked away with the lantern.
He Zhen was finally alert for once, she looked suspiciously at the direction the old grandmother had left and asked He Lin Wan in a low voice, “Did she take us down that road on purpose? Trying to scare us?”
He Linyan glanced at He Zhen and said with a sigh, “You come with me.”
He Linyan walked towards her room, and He Zhen knew that He Linyan was going to settle the score with her, so she hesitated for a moment, bit her lip, and dawdled to follow her.
After He Linyan and He Zhen entered the room, Chun Xiao sent He Zhen’s maid away, and then guarded the door like a god.
He Linyan walked to the edge of the collapse and sat down, looking at He Zhen who couldn’t speak with hesitation, “It’s not that she wants to scare you, it’s that Sister Shen beside the Empress wants to remind you.”
He Zhen’s eyes were still swollen from crying all the way, and she asked in a nasal voice, “What do you want to tell me about?”
He Linyan looked at her a few times, and only when He Zhen was a little uncomfortable by her did she ask in a light voice: “Did you recognize His Majesty from the beginning in the imperial garden, but deliberately pretended that you didn’t recognize him, and took the opportunity to sue Your Highness?”
He Zhen was a bit vain and did not dare to look at He Lin Wan, lowering her head and defending in a low voice: “I … did not mean to wait in the imperial garden to sue, I was very sad at that time and did not dare to tell you, afraid that you would reprimand me, but I really liked that cloak, it was my mother’s birthday gift to me, so who is she to take it away when she wants to? I hid in the imperial garden and cried. I hid in the imperial garden crying, was seen by his majesty, I was afraid to bump into him by his punishment on purpose pretend not to recognize his identity, in fact, I saw the pair of shoes he wore on his feet embroidered dragon pattern guessed that he was the emperor, I am not really stupid …”
He Zhen said here secretly glanced at He Lin Wan, saw He Lin Wan did not look angry, then continued: “I wanted to turn and run, but His Majesty spoke to me, I did not dare to run. Later, I saw that he not only did not want to punish me, but also spoke very kindly, and on impulse, I told him that the pure nobleman had robbed my cloak, and then he asked the eunuchs around him to bring me a cloak.”
He Zhen blushed slightly when she said this, she looked down at the cloak she had been holding in her arms, “I thought His Majesty was a very strict person who would chop people’s heads off at every turn, but I never thought he would be so kind to me, a small showgirl.”
He Linyan had been listening in silence and heard a cold smile, He Zhen saw her smile and was so scared that she didn’t dare to speak again.
He Linyan looked at He Zhen, “Why do you think the high and mighty emperor would be so kind to you? And didn’t visit Pure Noblewoman because of a word you said?”
He Zhen blushed even redder, swallowed for a moment, looked around, and then still came up to He Lin Wan’s ear and said in a small and squirming voice, “Big sister, do you think that His Majesty, His Majesty, has he taken a fancy to me?”
He Linyan looked at He Zhen and didn’t say anything. He Zhen was still a little confident, but she was wilted by He Linyan’s look and smiled awkwardly, “I’m just saying, His Majesty has so many beauties around, how could he possibly look at me.”
He Linyan said coldly, “It’s true that you’re not the one he’s interested in.”
He Zhen grimaced aggressively.
He Linyan continued, “He just saw you and remembered an old friend.”
He Zhen’s eyes widened, “Ah? I look like an old friend of His Majesty’s? Who is it?”
He Linyan saw that He Zhen only had curiosity in her eyes, but did not look sad, so she could not figure out whether this little girl had a secret love for the emperor or not, and after thinking about it, she decided to tell her her guess.
“There was a Lin Guifei in the palace, she was serving at his side when his Majesty was an imperial son, I heard that his Majesty was extremely fond of her, after ascending the throne originally wanted to establish her as the queen, because the old Empress Dowager and others opposed before giving up. It is said that Ande Fei favored the harem, but compared to that year Lin Guifei but far less.”
“Big sister, are you saying that I look like His Majesty’s favored concubine back then?” He Zhen couldn’t help but touch her face, couldn’t help but feel a little secretly happy, and added for emphasis, “A favored consort who was even more favored than Consort An and Pure Noble Consort?”
He Linyan glanced at her, interrupting her beautiful dream, “I don’t think she looks like them, but her nature is just like them. Rumor has it that Consort Lin’s personality is rotten and innocent, and she also loves to cry.”
He Zhen couldn’t help but be a little disappointed, “Oh, so.”
He Linyan looked at He Zhen, “And … it’s not a coincidence that you could meet His Majesty, someone deliberately designed this play.”
He Zhen was a little confused, “What kind of person wants to design me?”
He Linyan asked her, “Who took you to the place where you were hiding.”
“I couldn’t help but cry at that time, Lianxin was afraid that I would be seen so she pulled me to hide …” Here He Zhen suddenly reacted with a look of disbelief, “It was Lianxin? How is it possible, she is my personal maid, she has been with me since childhood, what good would it do her if she harmed me?”
He Linyan sighed, “She didn’t want to harm you, but someone instructed her to do so, wanting to make a future for you.”
He Zhen was stunned and finally reacted, she was naive and simple but not really stupid, “Is it grandmother?”
He Linyan didn’t say anything, taking it as a tacit agreement.
The person who could instruct Lianxin, and who knew He Zhen’s character so well to calculate her to this extent, was no one else but the second wife Qin, who was determined to get He Zhen into the palace. Of course, the emperor can also be calculated into, naturally not less than the Xianfei’s intervention.
He Linyan originally thought that the second wife’s target was the sixth prince, but she didn’t expect it to be the emperor himself.
He Zhen looked a little sad, but not too sad, lowering her head and tugging at the ties on her cloak, not knowing what she was thinking, and only after half a second did she raise her head and ask, “What about the old court lady who just brought us back? Did the Empress see that the encounter between His Majesty and me was deliberately designed, so she was specially asked to warn me?”
He Linyan said, “I can think that someone took advantage of His Majesty’s old affection for Consort Lin to get you into His Majesty’s eyes, how could the Empress and Consort Anders not see that? Why do you think Consort Anders shouted at you? But the empress is not warning you, she has always been kind-hearted, I’m afraid to remind you want to enter the palace, today such a bloody scene will not be less, and even someone will lose their life because of a small move or a casual word from you,”
He Zhen in front of the face of that palace maid dead, can not help but fiercely shiver.
Seeing that tonight’s incident had left a deep impression on He Zhen’s heart, He Linyan was relieved, and that was why she let He Zhen see the palace maid’s tragic condition.
He Linyan did not do this to scare her, but to remind her not to be fooled by the appearance of this palace, which could give women the highest honor, but could also devour human flesh and blood.
He Zhen’s face was tinged with guilt and uneasiness as she hesitantly asked He Lin Wan, “Big sister, aren’t you afraid?”
After all, that palace maid had actually died because of He Linyan’s words.
He Linyan glanced at her and her tone was light, “The person who will be tortured at the Department of Deliberate Punishment will be either her or you, you choose one.”
He Zhen’s face was white with fear, hesitated for a long time before saying guiltily, “That, that or she died. I … haven’t had enough of this world’s delicacies and nice clothes, I don’t want to die yet.”
After He Zhen said, instead of a relieved look.
The person’s life was harmed for nothing, He Zhen will naturally feel guilty, but if that person and she can only live one, that is the relationship between you die and I live, let such a person die she feels much less guilty.
He Zhen’s thoughts are very simple and self-serving, and very realistic.
He Linyan looked at He Zhen with a somewhat complicated expression, she used to think that with He Zhen’s simple and straightforward character, she was not suitable to survive in the palace, but now it seems that simplicity is sometimes a weapon that can also kill people invisibly.
Because she is really simple and straightforward, so the emperor who is very deep in the city can easily believe her, and even He Linwei herself is doing her best to protect her today.
He Zhen saw that He Linwei was not speaking when she looked at herself and was a bit strange, “What’s wrong with you, big sister?”
He Linyan returned to her senses and shook her head, “I’ve already told you all about the powerful relationship, what you want to choose in the future is your own business.
He Zhen understood what He Lin Wan meant and asked carefully and tentatively, “What if I don’t want to go to the palace? Big sister you know that my grandmother is determined to let me enter the palace, if His Majesty also … wants to call me to the palace because of a deceased person, what can I do ah? Even if I can disobey my grandmother, I can’t disobey the imperial decree.”
He Linyan said, “If you really don’t want to go to the palace, I will help you.”
He Zhen was curious, “Big sister has a solution?”
He Linyan said, “Today I pointed out that the cloak you are wearing was given by His Majesty, do you think I am just helping you get away with it? Having disgraced Consort Anders in public, do you think she will let you enter the palace with ease? You have no way to disobey your grandmother and His Majesty, naturally someone will help you.”
If you let Consort Anders punish He Zhen today, He Zhen will enter the palace instead of a lot more smoothly, Consort Anders beat people to eliminate anger will lower her guard, then Consort Xian will find a way to mention He Zhen in front of the emperor, she wants to enter the palace will be simple. But after tonight’s incident, with the domineering nature of Consort Anders, how could she tolerate He Zhen?
He Linyan was also originally inclined not to let He Zhen enter the palace, so from the very beginning, she prevented a hand, but after all, she is not He Zhen, will not think she has a good excuse to dictate her life, the final choice is He Zhen’s own matter.
He Zhen could not help but think about it as she listened.
He Linyan waved his hand, “You go back and think about it slowly.”
He Zhen returned to her senses, “Oh, then I’ll go back, big sister, you rest early.”
He Zhen hugged her imperial cloak and left.
After He Zhen left, He Linyan didn’t sleep either, she took a book from the bookshelf in her room and leaned on the edge of the couch to read it.
Chun Xiao gently brought in tea and stole a glance at the book He Linyan was holding, and couldn’t help but ask: “Why are you reading “The Precepts of Women”?”
He Linyan carelessly flipped over a page, “There are no other leisure books in Wenzhen Hall.”
Chun Xiao ran to the bookshelf to take a look, and indeed the only books on the bookshelf besides the Four Books of Women were the Biography of the Female, the Daughter’s Scripture, the Filial Piety Scripture, and the Rites of the Week.
He Linyan was thinking about something and asked casually, “What old problems?”
Chun Xiao: “In the past, when you made madam angry, she always punished you for copying these books, and then when you saw these books, you got panicky and short of breath, and you got dizzy and dizzy. But Miss, it seems that you haven’t been sick for a long time, sometimes the servant girl looks like a new person.”
He Linyan’s hand flipped through the book and gave Chun Xiao a glance.
When Chun Xiao saw He Linyan looking at her, she quickly smiled curtly and opened her mouth with a reflex, “What slave servant means is that you are now both talented in literature and martial arts, you have both ability and temperament, none of the girls in this courtyard can match you!
He Linyan put down the book in her hand and pressed her eyebrows, “Is the banquet at the Baoqing Building still not over?”
Chun Xiao hurriedly said, “Slave servant went to inquire about it?”
He Linyan waved her hand, “No need, bring in water and wash up.”
I think Li Yu will not come over today, so I will have to find another time to go to Shou’an Palace.
Chun Xiao hurriedly went out and stood at the door she breathed a sigh of relief.
Just when the girl looked over her legs suddenly weak, she wondered if she had done something wrong to make her own girl angry.
Thinking about it, Chun Xiao’s face became serious. It seems that over the years she has been a bit lax, thinking that she is already the first lapdog … ah shucks, the first belly around the master! But the facts show that to become the first belly she has to continue to work hard to do!
The first thing you need to do is to get a good idea of what you’re doing.
It seemed that even if her business ability was lacking for the time being, she was still the number one person in front of the girl, otherwise how could that powerful Lord Shizi have had someone give her the letter?
He Linyan took the note and opened it to see that it was indeed a letter from Li Yu.
Li Yu said in the letter that he would wait for news from him about going to Wanshou Palace, and asked He Linwei to make sure she didn’t act on her own. The other thing is that at the banquet tonight at the Baoqing House, the son of the Southern King proposed a marriage to the emperor and wanted to ask to marry the princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The emperor did not take a position at that time, did not say agree or disagree.
He Linyan looked pensive after reading the letter.
The three princesses today, Princess Nanyang from Princess Lin Guifei has already married, only Princess Chunyang from Princess Ande and Princess Huyang from Princess Xianfei are left, I don’t know which one is the target of this Southern King’s son.
But no matter which one it is, the harem will not be peaceful.
He Linyan suddenly remembered Chunyang’s clamor to send her to the Great Ji Kingdom to make peace with the bride, and wondered how she felt when she heard this news.
Many of the rules and rituals of the Great Zhou Dynasty were inherited from the previous dynasty, and the court’s selection is no exception.
In the ordinary year of the election, after the showgirls enter the palace, first check the etiquette and grooming, figure and features, whether there are defects hidden disease, will not pass the elimination. Qualified will be left to live in the Palace for a period of time, by the Queen’s consort sisters to examine the character, a large election of thousands of people into the Palace finally can stay only a few dozen people.
Because this year is a small election, into the palace of this batch of showgirls a total of only a hundred people, the rituals are streamlined a lot. Before after the primary election has been sent back a dozen or twenty people, the remaining dozens of people will stay in the Palace, and then observe a while to decide to stay.
In order to better observe the character of the showgirls, the palace from time to time will hold a variety of poetry, tea party, the queen and the concubines of the palace if they have a favorite candidate, will also be called into the palace by decree to speak, close examination.
The second day of the banquet, the empress issued a decree summoning more than a dozen showgirls to talk to Fengxu Palace, He Linyi the four people living in this small courtyard are among the candidates summoned by the empress.
He Zhen may not have slept well last night, her eyes were a little bloodshot, and she had dark circles under her eyes, but she was young, and after some careful dressing she was still a pretty little girl.
When He Linyan came out, He Zhen was complaining in a low voice that the pearls on her shoes were a bit crooked, and when she saw He Linyan she quickly raised a smile at her, no haze on her little face.
“Good morning, big sister.”
He Linyan nodded and glanced at Lianxin, who was squatting on the ground, helping He Zhen sort out the pearls on her embroidered shoes without any distractions, and there was nothing unusual about it, it looked like He Zhen hadn’t had a showdown with Lianxin after she returned yesterday.
The four of them left the courtyard together and went to the Queen’s palace with the other girls who were summoned to see them. The showgirls were all carefully dressed up, laughing and joking as they walked together in the flowery imperial garden was a beautiful sight.
He Linyan, He Zhen, Mu Lanping and Xue Wanqing were walking at the end. Mu Lanping was holding a fan embroidered with ladies in her hand, half covering her lips and whispering to He Linyan.
“I’m afraid that the result of this selection is among us.”
The other side of Mu Lanping, He Zhen heard this and hurriedly looked around at the girls.
The dozen or so people summoned by the Empress today are indeed the most outstanding among this batch of showgirls, either outstanding in appearance, talented or from distinguished families, or at the very least, they have a virtuous name.
He Zhen looked left and looked again and could not help but pout in disappointment and said, “It seems that I am the most ordinary one.”
Mu Lanping pinched her face affectionately and joked, “Why should sister Zhen be so presumptuous? The fact that you can stand here shows that you have something over the top.”
He Zhen rubbed her face and whispered, “I’m not being presumptuous, I’m being self-aware.”
He Zhen was lost for a moment before she adjusted herself and went over to whisper to Mu Lanping, “Do you know all these people?”
Although He Zhen grew up in the capital, she did not have many opportunities to go out, so she could not name many of the ladies in the capital.
Mu Lanping looked smug, “That’s for sure.”
He Linyan couldn’t help but look at Mu Lanping, although she could generally sort out the relationship between the major families in the capital, but after all, she had left the capital for five years, and it took her a lot of effort to remember who these courtesans were before she entered the palace. This is still the reason she has the assistance of “Dark Lin”, Mu Lanping grew up in Jiangnan and only recently came to the capital, so it must have taken her a lot of time and effort to memorize them all so quickly.
He Zhen tugged on Mu Lanping’s sleeve and asked her in a whisper, “Who is that girl in the blue cloth in front of us, is she one of the girls who went to the Empress’ palace with us?”
Mu Lanping looked up and immediately understood who He Zhen was referring to and nodded, “Yes.”
He Zhen couldn’t help but look puzzled.
In fact, she just said that she was the most ordinary one among the group is not correct, this woman in blue cloth is very ordinary looking, not to say she is ugly, but her features are bland and featureless, but her dress is also very plain compared to the others, just now He Zhen almost took her for the court lady who led the way at a glance.
Mu Lanping smiled and said to He Zhen: “She is the first granddaughter of the Duke of An, her boudoir name is Zhuang Pingting, in the capital city has the name of virtuous and filial.”
He Zhen suddenly realized, “So there is a virtuous name!”
Mu Lanping whispered: “It’s not just a virtuous name! His grandfather, the Duke of An, was promoted by real military merit. Although he no longer holds a real position in the military due to a recurrence of an old injury, His Majesty has been very attached to him in the past few years, but whenever there is a military matter, he will be announced to come to the palace to deliberate, and I heard that His Majesty has the intention of reusing him recently.”
He Zhen nodded his head, “So that’s how it is.”
Xue Wanqing couldn’t help but glance at Mu Lanping, “Miss Mu’s information is even better than mine, who grew up in the capital since childhood.”
Mu Lanping smiled, “It’s because I’m not from the capital, that’s why I put in a lot of effort to find out about this.
Xue Wanqing smiled lightly and didn’t say anything else.
He Zhen suddenly seemed to remember something, hurried around Mu Lanping to He Linyan’s ear, whispering to her, “Big sister, isn’t An Guo Gong the third sister’s …”
He Linyan didn’t wait for her to finish, she pushed her head away with her fingertips, lest she come closer and closer, “Hmm.”
Before they went to the palace, He Chuanwu found a marriage for He Ling, and the man was Zhuang Maoming, the first grandson of the Duke of An Guo. The palace’s unusual-looking Zhuang Pingting and Zhuang Mao Ming are the real brother and sister, and I heard that they are also a pair of twin sons.
He Zhen couldn’t help but curiously stare at Zhuang Hunding for a while, thinking that the Zhuang family grandson wondered if he looked as unusual as his sister.
When the group was about to walk to the Empress’s bedchamber, a man came out of Feng Shu Palace and met them. The man has a long body, handsome face and a very gentle temperament, and when he saw them, he took the initiative to avoid the side and let them go ahead.
The girls were surprised to see a young man coming out of the Empress’s palace when the lead palace attendant curtsied, “Greetings, Your Highness, the Second Prince.”
The second prince nodded his head, his attitude soft and cold.
The girls then realized that this was the Second Prince Li Yuan, who rarely showed his face in front of people.
His Majesty had seven adult sons, and the most favored ones were the fifth and eighth sons born to Consort De and the sixth son born to Consort Xian, while the other sons were not well known, especially the second son, who was like an invisible person in the palace.
When He Linyan was Yang Weizhen, she often went in and out of the palace, but at that time she hardly ever met with the second prince.
It is rumored that the second prince’s birth mother is just a handyman of the palace *** wrongly served the bed pregnant with a dragon child, gave birth to the child not long after the death. The emperor did not like the second prince’s birth mother, did not give her a place, and with it the second prince is also very cold.
But even if the emperor did not like him, this is still His Imperial Highness, so the palace people did not dare to let him make way, and the leading palace maid hurriedly said, “Please go ahead, Your Highness.”
The second prince stood still, “Take them in first, the mother is waiting in the hall.”
The palace maid did not dare to give way and bowed again before leading the girls past the second prince.
The showgirls did not dare to look much, they all slightly lowered their heads, and He Linyan did not raise her head, but she noticed a line of sight looking over in this direction.
“Wait a minute.” When walking in front of the second prince, he suddenly spoke out.
Since his voice was not loud, the palace maids and showgirls who had already walked past did not hear him, only the four He Linhans, who were walking at the end, stopped in their tracks.
He Linwei turned his head to look over, but saw that the second prince picked up something from the ground and handed it to them, to be precise, to Xue Wanqing who was standing next to her.
“Miss Xue, you dropped your purse.” The second prince handed an azure embroidered orchid purse to Xue Wanqing and looked at her and said gently.
Xue Wanqing looked at the purse for a moment and reached out to take it.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
The second prince nodded and turned to leave without saying anything.
This unexpected hiccup did not attract anyone’s attention, even Mu Lanping, who has always had a lot on his mind, only took the opportunity to take an extra look at the second prince, whom he had never seen before, to recognize his face.
The first thing you need to do is to get into the Fengxu Palace, and at first the attitude of the people is still formal, but the empress is gentle and kind, these young girls are soon comfortable joking.
The Queen will talk to each girl will have a few words, ask the same questions, just what hobbies do you have in your day, read a book? The first thing you need to do is to get a good idea of how many books you have read. This makes some people who want to pry some kind of tendency from the Queen’s attitude can’t help but be very disappointed.
The people were talking and laughing in the hall when a figure suddenly ran in from outside the hall, and without saluting, ran directly to the empress and jumped into her arms, moving so fast that the surrounding palace people could not stop it even if they wanted to.
“Mother, mother save Yi’er!” Princess Li Yi of Huyang cried out.
The maids and sisters who were following Princess Huyang arrived panting and saw the situation and knelt down to apologize.
The queen’s face flashed a trace of helplessness, waved her hand to let Huyang’s maids and sisters retreat, then gently patted Huyang’s back, even the tone of reproach was very gentle, “quickly get up and talk properly, there are other people in the mother’s palace, what do you look like this?”
Princess Huyang wiped her tears and raised her head to look before realizing that there were many people in the hall.
The girls also just came back to their senses and hurriedly got up to salute Princess Huyang.
Princess Huyang nodded perfunctorily and continued to complain to the Empress, “Mother, sister Chunyang said that Father wants to marry me off to the Great Ji Kingdom to make peace! Mother, Yi’er don’t want to go …”
The empress raised her hand and nudged Huyang’s lips, stopping her from saying anything further.
“Well, look at you crying like a little dirty cat, let Sister Shen take you down and wash your face.”
Princess Huyang still wanted to speak, but seeing the Empress’ face suddenly serious, she dared not say anything else, and wilfully followed Sister Shen down.
The matter of the princess’s marriage is the first time that the people in the hall heard about it, except for He Linyan, they could not help but look different. The Queen did not mention this matter again, and continued the conversation that was interrupted by Princess Huyang before.
When Princess Huyang reappeared, she had already washed her face and fixed her makeup. I don’t know if Sister Shen had explained something to her, but she didn’t say anything in front of everyone this time, but just sat listlessly on the footrest next to the empress.
He Linyan couldn’t help but glance at Princess Huyang and sighed that after five years this little princess still hasn’t changed, still naive and romantic, but born in royalty, such a nature doesn’t know whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing.
At this time, a chamberlain came in from outside to salute the Empress.
“The slave servant greets the Empress.”
The showgirls who had attended the dinner yesterday immediately recognized that this young chambermaid was the one who had sent He Zhen back to serve Her Majesty at that time.
The young waiter was the one who sent the Queen back and served Her Majesty.
The inner servant said: “His Majesty has decreed to ask the Empress to take all the girls to the small schoolyard in the palace.”
After saying this and seeing that Princess Huyang was also there, the chamberlain smilingly continued, “His Majesty has decreed that Princess Chunyang and Princess Huyang are also invited to go together.”
Princess Huyang couldn’t help but ask, “What does Father want us to do at the schoolyard?”
The chamberlain smiled and said, “The generals of the forbidden army and the warriors of the Great Ji Kingdom are going to compete in the small schoolyard, and His Majesty has invited the ladies of the palace, the princesses and all the nobles to go and watch the battle.”
The last thing Princess Huyang wanted to hear now was about the people and affairs of the Great Ji Kingdom, so she skimmed her lips and wanted to refuse, but the Empress opened her mouth, “Go and report to His Majesty, the Palace will arrive later.”
The housekeeper answered, bowed and withdrew.
The women in the hall heard that there is a lively to see, their faces are a little excited with expectation, the empress also did not say anything else, only to order Shen Sister to set up the driving.
The small schoolyard is set up in the inner palace, which is a place for the imperial sons and the forbidden troops in the palace to practice riding and shooting on a regular basis. The Great Zhou dynasty is martial compared to the previous dynasty, the beginning of the country when the palace from the emperor down to the chambermaids are more or less fist and foot kung fu, to the present, although the style of martial arts is not as good as the beginning of the country, but several imperial sons have been practicing riding and shooting since childhood.
The empress with the girls to the school field, early palace people set up a seat and tulle curtain at the edge of the school field, they just arrived not long after the consort, consort Xian and other palace concubines are also present. The empress and the consorts were seated according to their rank, while He Linyan and the other girls were seated outside.
Princess Chunyang arrived with Consort De, her eyes locked on He Linyan and glared at her, scaring several girls who were sitting closer to He Linyan into shifting their positions. Only Xue Wanqing and He Zhen did not move, Xue Wanqing is indifferent, He Zhen is not even notice Princess Chunyang.
When Consort De and Princess Chunyang sat down, Xue Evening said in a low voice, “How did you offend them so much?”
He Linyan was helpless, she couldn’t even remember how she had made an enemy with this mother and daughter. She reflected on herself, she had always been a low-key person all these years.
He Linyan shook her head, “Maybe some things are destined to happen.”
“It’s better to offend a gentleman than to offend a villain. Aren’t you afraid?”
He Linyan said, “Debt is not a worry. Do you want to sit a little farther away so you don’t get relocated?”
Xue Wanqing curved the corners of her mouth, “I’m not afraid, I have a talisman.”
He Linyan glanced at Xue Wanqing and understood what she meant and couldn’t help but smile.
At this time, Emperor Tiancheng brought some of his beloved ministers, as well as the ambassadors of the Great Ji Kingdom came to the schoolyard, and all of them rose to salute.
Because of the presence of foreign ministers, the seats of the emperor and his ministers were separated from the palace concubines, and they were not too far apart even with the curtain covering them, so the voice could be heard a little louder.
After all the people had arrived, the chamberlain beside Emperor Tiancheng began to announce the decree, to the effect that the warriors of the Great Ji Kingdom and the warriors of the Great Zhou Dynasty would have a fair and equitable match, and that the match would be to the end, no one would be hurt, and the winner would receive a generous reward.
The two sides have already stood in the school yard, He Linwei took a glance, the son of the Southern King of the Great Ji Kingdom as a guest of honor did not take the field, those who took the field are the people of the Great Ji Kingdom, should be their clan’s one in a hundred warriors.
The Great Zhou dynasty side of the field is mostly young generals in the forbidden army, He Lin evening saw Cheng Yan, Yuan Jian and other familiar faces, Li Yu was not present.
Seeing the desired result He Linwei could not help but breathe a sigh of relief, she just saw Mu Zhi Zhen among the people who accompanied the driver. Mu Zhijin and Li Yu grew up together, the two are very familiar with each other, Li Yu if in front of Mu Zhijin show up, in case they are recognized it would be bad.
The attendants carried the weapons rack over, the weapons rack above the display of a variety of weapons.
The first match, the Great Ji country sent a eight-foot tall, broad-breasted three pavilion of a big man, the forbidden army side of the battle is surprisingly Yuan Jian.
Although the position of Yuan Jian in the forbidden army is not high, only a small captain of a dozen people, but his popularity in the forbidden army is very good, see him to fight, the forbidden army soldiers are one by one to pat his shoulder cheer, someone said something, the soldiers laughter, Yuan Jian is so angry that a kick in the buttocks of the joker, and stretched out his finger to point out the loudest laughing people, and then break the knuckles, a confident face to the field.
Yuan Jian picked a long gun in the weapons rack, lifting his chin to indicate to the big man across the table to pick a weapon that he was comfortable with, but the big man squeezed his palm and said he didn’t need a weapon. Although the action is still polite, but that look to Yuan Jian’s eyes are full of provocation.
Yuan Jian frowned, backhandedly threw the lance in his hand back to the weapons rack, hooked his finger towards the other side, let the other side let their horses come, attitude than the other side is even more arrogant. The handsome action drew the blush of the court ladies watching the battle, waving their little handkerchiefs and cheering for him with their voices.
Yuan Jian heard the movement and turned around and waved at the court ladies, smiling handsomely, which caused another burst of screams.
He Linyan couldn’t help but laugh when he saw Yuan Jian’s wandering son’s behavior.
Some of the strict and old-fashioned officials who accompanied Emperor Tiancheng to watch the battle could not help but shake their heads and whisper “unseemly” when they saw Yuan Jian’s behavior.
The emperor has always wanted to cultivate an army loyal to him, so he is very lenient to those outstanding young generals.
Although Yuan gradually confident, but he and his opponent in the size of the gap does exist not small. Yuan Jian hit the opponent’s body force as if it did not hurt, but the opponent’s attack on Yuan Jian can make him hurt his bones. Yuan gradually can not find a way to resolve this natural size gap, can only rely on the flexibility of the body with unexpected moves to respond. The other side seems to have seen this and started to consume Yuan Jian’s strength purposefully.
As time goes by the women’s side only feel that Yuan gradually body flexible moves look good, but the other side but a board looks clumsy, think is Yuan gradually prevailed, only He Lin Wan know Yuan gradually will not be able to support.
Xue Evening Qing did not know martial arts, but she could see something on He Lin Wan’s face.
“Duke Yuan will lose this round?”
He Linyan nodded, “The other side is very experienced in sparring, Yuan Jian … is still a bit young.”
He Linwei guessed that this opponent of Yuan Jian was most likely to have rich experience in battlefield against the enemy, Yuan Jian was only a teenage boy with empty blood even if he was gifted, it was impossible for him to win if he was fighting against the enemy with the usual mentality of sparring with the people around him.
Xue Evening Qing said, “It’s just a sparring match, it doesn’t matter if you lose, the next match should be more certain than riding and shooting.”
As soon as Xue Wanqing’s words fell, he saw the warrior of the Great Ji Kingdom, who had just been defending but not entering the palace, start to counterattack, he grabbed Yuan Jian’s shoulder with lightning speed, and an over-the-shoulder drop threw Yuan Jian to the ground heavily.
Some of the young court ladies who had been cheering Yuan Jian with great enthusiasm cried out in surprise, while others were full of disappointment.
The Yuan Jian, who was thrown to the ground, knew in his heart that he was already at the end of his rope, and that it was almost impossible to turn defeat into victory, because his opponent’s experience in combat was indeed stronger than his, but although he understood it in his heart, Yuan Jian was still very reluctant.
If this was a sparring match between him and his brothers in the army, he would have lost, but now he is representing the Great Zhou Kingdom against the Great Ji Kingdom, and he lost so easily to the other side in the first match, he felt he had no face to meet the brothers who gave him the opportunity to fight.
Yuan Jian gritted his teeth and got up again, just that fall looked normal, but in fact his opponent was very sinister, using dark energy to hurt his ribs, but Yuan Jian did not show pain on his face, he thought that even if he lost he had to lose beautifully, he wanted to fight to the end.
After a few moves, Yuan Jian was again thrown to the ground by his opponent, using the exact same move as the previous fall.
The women’s side couldn’t help but let out a series of shrieks.
A smear of blood appeared at the corner of Yuan Jian’s mouth, probably from internal injuries, but he casually wiped off the blood around his mouth and got up again.
He Linyan saw this and could not help but frown, if the fight continued Yuan Jian was afraid that he would hurt his foundation.
She actually couldn’t understand Yuan Jian’s hard-headedness, but it’s not too late to admit defeat first, and then take revenge when you have the strength. The others also do not understand Yuan Jian’s insistence, He Lin Wan heard the showgirls next to her complaining in a whisper, “I thought it was very powerful, but it turns out it’s just a flowery frame ah! I can’t get off the field early to fight someone else who is good.”
Yuan Jian was knocked to the ground again.
The women all turned their heads away from watching, and the forbidden soldiers on the schoolyard also showed a worried look.
Yuan Jian struggled to stand up again, and Cheng Yan, the deputy commander of the forbidden army, frowned and secretly made a gesture to his subordinates, intending to force Yuan Jian to admit defeat when he could not hold on any longer.
He Linwei saw Yuan Jian’s eyes clearly at this time, they were tough and stubborn, even though his body was bruised and battered there was light in his eyes, it was the light of will that only a teenager has, it was usually hidden under Yuan Jian’s dangling appearance, only now did it show its sharpness.
He Linyan’s heart was somehow touched, even if her heart was as hard as hers, at this moment she didn’t want to see the light in Yuan Jian’s eyes disappear.
People around them, such as Li Yu, Xue Xingyi, Ye Yining, and herself, could not find this kind of light in their eyes. He Linyan usually thought this was good, but at this moment, when she saw Yuan Jian’s appearance, she still felt some regret.
The first thing you need to do is to look at the person you are looking at and say a few words quickly and silently.
The average person may not be able to see clearly what He Linyan said, but Yuan Jian has been practicing martial arts since childhood, his eyesight is beyond human reach, so he could see clearly, but Yuan Jian did not show it in his expression.
At this time, the attack of the warriors of the Great Ji Kingdom arrived just in time, and just when everyone thought that Yuan Jian would be taken down in the same position as the previous times, Yuan Jian suddenly moved, and his speed was faster than everyone expected. Only to see Yuan Jian suddenly go around behind his opponent and get on his hands and knees on his back.
The warrior of the Great Ji country was confused and didn’t react to what kind of move this was, but he believed in the power of one to subdue ten, and didn’t put Yuan Jian in his mind as an opponent, and tried to pull Yuan Jian off with his backhand, but it was as if Yuan Jian had grown on him, no matter what methods the warrior of the Great Ji country used, he couldn’t get rid of him, after several attempts the warrior of the Great Ji country ran out of patience and fell backwards violently, trying to crush Yuan Jian under him. But Yuan gradually, as if he had foreseen his move in advance, dodged away at the moment his opponent fell down. The warrior of the Great Ji Kingdom was so impatient that he was about to get up and give Yuan Jian a heavy blow, but Yuan Jian, who had just dodged, arrived without a sound and punched him hard on the dumb door point at the back of his head.
The warrior was dazed for a moment by this blow, and was about to counterattack, but Yuan Jian had already seized the opportunity to pounce on him and hit him repeatedly with his elbow, he did not hit other places, but only focused on this one part. The warrior of the Great Ji Kingdom, who seemed to have no weaknesses before, actually rolled his eyes and fainted under Yuan Jian’s successive attacks.
Yuan Jian did not dare to let down his guard, still riding on his opponent and staring at him, until the chamberlain rang the gong and decided that Yuan Jian had won, then Yuan Jian let out a sigh of relief and grinned at his brothers who were cheering and rushing towards him, then fell to the ground with his arms wide open.
Emperor Tiancheng, sitting at the top, laughed with pleasure and waved his hand, “Good! Heavy reward!”
The ministers took the opportunity to praise Emperor Tiancheng, and the ruler and ministers were happy together.
The little palace maids let out cheers and pulled the waiting eunuch doctors to go forward to see Yuan Jian’s injury.
He Linyan saw that Yuan Jian could not even lift his fingers, and the injuries to his internal organs were not expected to be light, but he had to act as if his opponent was just a good fighter in front of his brothers in the army and the palace maids who admired him, so he could not help but laugh.
Xue Evening Qing whispered and asked He Lin Evening, “What did you just say to him so that he could turn defeat into victory?”
Other people might not be able to see He Linyan and Yuan Jian’s interaction, but Xue Wanqing was sitting next to He Linyan, and she herself was very attentive, so naturally she couldn’t hide it from her.
He Linyan shook her head and said to Xue Wanqing, who was curious, “He won by himself.”
Xue Wanqing didn’t understand, “He was clearly going to lose just now.”
He Linyan said, “He was indeed about to lose just now, but the situation is not as bad as it seems to us, he was showing the enemy weakness, paralyzing his opponent and secretly looking for his opponent’s weakness.”
He Linyan could see that just now Yuan gradually was beaten by the other side without any ability to fight back was pretending, although he couldn’t fight hard against the other side, but it wasn’t so bad that he was beaten like that.
Xue Evening thought about it and understood, “Did you just remind him that his opponent’s weakness was at the back of his head?”
He Linyan nodded, “Actually, he may not be unable to see it himself if he is given a little more time. Yuan Jian had tried attacking all his possible weak points before, but the opponent seemed to have no weak points, which is not normal, even the strongest person will have weak points.”
Xue Evening Qing cited, “That person’s weakness is at the back of his head, but he is taller than Duke Yuan, so it is difficult for Duke Yuan to attack the back of his head, that’s why he has no fear!”
He Linyan gave Xue Wanqing an appreciative look.
Xue Wanqing asked again, “Then how did you see that? Even if his weakness is in a place out of Yuan Gongzi’s reach, it’s not easy to determine where it is, right?”
It was indeed not easy, otherwise Yuan Jian wouldn’t have tried for so long without finding it.
“I watched him carefully before he came on and found that he communicated with his people without uttering a sound, using hand gestures, but I know there are no mute people among the envoys this time.”
Xue Evening Qing shuffled her ears like, “Oh?”
Seeing that she was interested, He Linyan explained to her in detail, “The Mute Gate point, which belongs to the Governor’s Vessel, is the meeting point of the Governor and Yang Wei Vessels. This person has trained his body to be like a bronze wall, and his qi veins run endlessly, but only the hot dispersion of the two qi in the dumb door point causes him to be unable to make a sound before and after his kung fu, and this is his weak point.”
Xue Wanqing listened to the clouds, could not help but laugh: “This is medical theory, right? You are also proficient in this? You have the same hobby as my elder brother.”
He Linyan paused, avoiding the topic of Xue Xingyi, and just laughed, “Learning some medical theory can help you get twice the result with half the effort in martial arts. A woman’s strength is not as strong as a man’s, so if she wants to win a fight she can only find another way.”
Xue Wanqing glanced at He Linyan, smiled, and no longer mentioned her brother.
He Linyan lowered her eyes, she would learn medical science at first because she wanted to have a common hobby with her future husband, so even if she didn’t really like it, she tried her best to learn. After becoming He Lin Evening, she took the initiative to regain her medical books, but she wanted to win over Li Yu in a fight.
When you think about it, He Linyan couldn’t help but laugh.
As they talked, the second competition came.
The second game is riding, the Great Ji country can walk when they began to learn to ride a horse, in terms of riding kung fu of the Great Zhou dynasty is difficult to win, so despite this game, the forbidden army soldiers sent out with all their might still lost to the excellent riding skills of the Great Ji warriors.
Since they had already won the first round, it was acceptable for them to lose the second round.
The third game is archery, the Great Zhou dynasty side is originally Cheng Yan to fight, but when it comes to the field is replaced by another fresh face.
He Linyan felt that the person looked familiar, and after a little search from memory He Linyan remembered that this person was An Beiyue, Consort Anders’ own nephew, the one who released the snow leopard that had been hit by the living corpse scattered when he fought with Li Yu.
He Linyan just didn’t recognize it at first because An Beiyue’s appearance has changed a lot compared to back then, back then An Beiyue was a young boy with clear eyebrows and tender skin, with a somewhat cold temperament. Now he has grown a lot taller, his body is also much stronger, and his complexion has become a slightly darker wheat color, very much like a military teenager.
He Linyan could not help but frown when he saw him, but looking at the attentive appearance of the little palace maids handing out paddles and water, the popularity of this one now is actually not much worse than Yuan Jian.
An Beiyue’s archery skills are unknown to He Linyan, but looking at his confident look, I’m sure it’s not bad, otherwise Emperor Tiancheng wouldn’t have agreed to let him replace Cheng Yan.
As a matter of fact, when the attendants brought in the arrow target, An Beiyue and the warrior sent by the Great Ji Kingdom each shot ten arrows, and both of them hit the red center, but then it was difficult to tell the winner from the loser.
At this time, An Beiyue proposed to shoot a live target, and the people thought that the live target he was talking about was a moving arrow target, but An Beiyue said to Emperor Tiancheng, “Your Majesty, I said the live target is to let a person hold a fruit on his head, and then the person who shoots the arrow will shoot the fruit on his head blindfolded.”
Some of the courtiers thought it was inappropriate, but the son of the Southern King laughed and said it was a good idea, he had long been tired of seeing this kind of moderate competition, and it was more interesting to have some tricks.
The guest is a guest, the guest has said so, the emperor thought about it and agreed, and was about to order Cheng Yan to pick some people from the forbidden army to be the arrow target, but An Beiyue said that they have to choose their own arrow target to be fair, and only women can be chosen, so that the performance of the arrow target is also the key to determine the winner.
The Grand Ji Kingdom found the competition very interesting and agreed to it, so Emperor Tiancheng granted permission.
There was a lot of discussion on the women’s side.
Someone said, “What if I don’t get the right shot and hurt my face?”
The first thing the girls thought of was not what to do if they were shot in the head, but to worry about hurting their faces.
Someone said, “I heard that Mr. An is a good archer, so he should be fine, right?”
“Then can you guarantee a hundred hits?”
“This … would not know.”
The Great Ji Kingdom side chose one of the female slaves they brought as an arrow target, while An Beiyue’s eyes toured around the faces of the palace maids, who did not dare to meet An Beiyue’s eyes for fear of being picked as an arrow target.
An Beiyue is a little impatient, pointed to a court lady to let her go forward, the court lady was scared out of her mind, but An Beiyue is not half pity, ordered her to stand to the designated position, and then from the attendant to bring a fruit plate took a tangerine to her head. But just as An Beiyue picked up his bow and arrow and tried to aim at the fruit on the palace maid’s head, the palace maid fainted with frightened legs.
An Beiyue tried to pick a few more palace maids, but none of them could hold the tangerine on their heads securely.
The ambassadors of the Great Ji Kingdom made laughter, giggling and secretly ridiculing the men of the Great Zhou Dynasty for not being able to discipline women, and the slave girls they picked stood there with the tangerines on their heads, not daring to move without their masters’ orders, because they knew that if the tangerines fell off their heads and disgraced their masters, they would be dead.
Although the ambassadors are secretly ridiculing, but the face of Emperor Tiancheng and the ministers are a little embarrassed.
An Beiyue looked at the arrow in his hand, sighed and said unfortunately: “Is there not a woman with guts in our Great Zhou Dynasty?”
When An Beiyue said these words, his gaze, if anything, glanced over to the women’s side.
The next thing you know, Princess Chunyang’s unsympathetic voice rang out, “I don’t like what you’re saying, cousin! There are certainly women who have the guts! I heard that the daughter of Lord He Linyan, the commander of the Dengzhou battalion, has the style of her father, so she must not be afraid to be an arrow target for you.
As soon as Princess Chunyang’s words fell, the eyes of the people present looked towards He Linyan.
He Linyan laughed coldly in her heart, she said, “Which one is An Beiyue singing this? It turns out that she was waiting for her here.
The empress frowned and reprimanded Jun Yang in a low voice: “Nonsense! The He family girl is a showgirl who entered the palace for the election, how can you let her get involved in danger?”
Princess Chunyang said, “Mother, the so-called showgirls, is not the selection of women who are the most gifted and talented? If the carefully selected ones don’t even have the courage to share the worries of the court, won’t it make outsiders laugh at our women of the Great Zhou Dynasty for their cowardice and uselessness?”
An Beiyue also helped out with a smile, “I heard that Commander He is loyal and brave to the court and His Majesty, Miss He, as the daughter of Commander He, must not be one who is afraid of death, right?”
As if He Linyan did not agree to be the target of this arrow today, is the entire Great Zhou Dynasty in front of foreigners disgrace sinners, and can give birth to such a daughter He commanders to the court and the emperor can have how much heart?
A touch of complacency flashed in Chun Yang’s eyes, if He Lin Wan did not dare to go on the field today, she would definitely leave the impression of being greedy and afraid of death in front of everyone, and then her family would be disgraced for her. If she dares to go on the field, she dares to let her cousin deliberately miss her face! As for whether this competition can be won or not, Jun Yang doesn’t care at all, if she loses, she loses, it’s not like she’ll lose a piece of meat.
Chun Yang wanted to see panic on He Lin Wan’s face, but He Lin Wan’s face was very calm, as if she was not the one being forced to be the target of the arrow.
Princess Chunyang gritted her teeth, “Are we going to watch the people of the Great Ji Kingdom mock the women of our Great Zhou Dynasty for their lack of guts? If Miss He refuses to go, then …”
Chun Yang’s gaze roamed around the faces of the other showgirls, wanting to say that if He Linyan didn’t go then one of the others should be chosen to take the stage to save the face of their Great Zhou women, pulling the others together to intimidate He Linyan and make her the target of all.
But He Linyan curiously said, “If I don’t go, does Your Highness intend to be the target herself?”
Chunyang choked.
He Linyan smiled at Chunyang and said slowly, “Princess Chunyang is really a model for the women of our Great Zhou Dynasty, worthy of our emulation.”
Xue Wanqing on the side couldn’t help but laugh softly.
Chunyang’s face turned red and white, of course she couldn’t be an arrow target herself! Just kidding, even if the person shooting arrows is her own cousin, there is no guarantee that he won’t shoot arrows into her face.
The crowd saw that Jun Yang’s face was all red, but she didn’t say anything about going on the field herself, so they naturally understood that her righteous words just now were only for others but not for herself.
The situation was very awkward for a while.
The eyes that were originally staring at He Linyan now all gathered on Princess Chunyang.
Princess Huyang, who has always been at odds with Princess Chunyang, encouraged her, “What is sister Chunyang doing standing still? Why don’t you go ahead? Don’t disgrace the women of the Great Zhou Dynasty!”
How can Chun Yang really go up, she would like to tear the mouth of Huyang, looking at her as if to eat people, Huyang is not afraid of her, to see Chun Yang defeated she was very happy, and plan to reward He Linyan.
The first thing you need to do is to get a good idea of what you are getting into.
Chun Yang’s heart was aggrieved and resentful, how did she know that He Lin Wan had the guts to embarrass her in front of her father and so many people? Who in their right mind would dare to drag the princess into the water at this time?
But what did He Linyan have to fear? The problem is that even if she gives face to Chunyang, can Chunyang shake hands with her and make peace? Obviously not possible. Like she told Xue Wanqing, there are many debts, she doesn’t care if this foolish person hates her a few more points.
And who is she to give face to Chunyang? According to her mood at the time she just came back from rebirth, she hated the emperor’s family to death.
But He Lin Wan also did not intend to really let the situation stalemate, her father still has to beg for food in front of the emperor now.
Seeing that Consort Anders wanted to open her mouth to clean up the mess for Chunyang, He Linyan didn’t give her the chance, she got up from her seat and bowed to the top, smiling, “But the princess is a ruler, I am a minister. How dare my daughter involve the princess in danger? My father has taught me since I was a child to be loyal to the king and serve the country. So … it’s better for me to be the target.”
Princess Chunyang’s face became even more ugly after hearing He Linyan’s words, He Linyan had obviously seen enough of her jokes, on purpose!
The others, however, felt that He Linwei was very considerate, at least He Linwei was willing to go so that the rest of them would be safe.
The queen was a little worried and frowned as she explained to He Linwei, “Knives and arrows have no eyes, you … hide.” The hint is that it doesn’t matter if He Linhang loses the game, don’t really get hurt.
He Linyan made a salute and answered.
Princess Chunyang hated in her heart and sneered, “Mother is right, swords and arrows have no eyes, you should be more careful.”
Jun Yang finished with a suggestive glance at An Beiyue, so that he acted according to the plan, today she did not let He Linwei blood splattered on the spot regret for life she will not be called Li Yuan!
An Beiyue gave Princess Chunyang a reassuring look.
He Zhen, who was sitting not far away, looked over with some worry, while Xue Evening reminded in a small voice, “An Beiyue and Chunyang don’t have good intentions, you should be careful.”
He Linyan nodded and without saying anything else, walked towards the schoolyard and bowed to Emperor Tiancheng, “Your Majesty, my daughter is willing to be this target.”
The emperor originally saw that the palace maids and ladies were timid to shirk their duties and lost face in front of the ambassadors of the Great Ji Kingdom, and he was a bit displeased in his heart, but when he saw that He Linyan took the initiative to stand up and save some face for the court in front of the ambassadors of the Great Ji Kingdom, he could not help but be pleased and praised in front of everyone, “Good! It is true that a tiger’s father has no daughter!”
When the ministers saw that Emperor Tiancheng had spoken, they also praised one after another.
Princess Chunyang secretly gnashed her teeth.
An Beiyue was playing with a tangerine in his hand and said in a voice that only He Linyan could hear, “Don’t hide later! If you don’t dodge this prince will at most scrape your scalp when you submit to Chunyang, if you dodge then … I don’t have an accuracy in my hand, maybe the arrow will go towards your neck.”
He Linyan glanced at him and said mockingly without giving face: “How can you represent the men of the Great Zhou Dynasty in the battle with this accuracy of An Gongzi? You might as well go to the backyard and play pitcher with the women.”
Although He Linyan had stood out as Chunyang had wished, she could not really be an honest target for An Beiyue, she had other plans, so she deliberately provoked An Beiyue now.
Sure enough, when An Beiyue heard that He Linyan dared to mock him, a sinister look flashed in his eyes, “Are you looking for death?”
He Linyan smiled contemptuously and was just about to make another attempt when a voice asked, “An Beiyue, are you ten percent sure that you can win this competition?”
He Linyan turned around and saw that the person who spoke out was the Fifth Prince who had not shown up before. The fifth prince had just arrived, and when he saw He Linwei, he quickly gave her a reassuring look.
He Linyan’s attention was not on the fifth prince, she looked at the person standing behind the fifth prince, it was actually Xue Xingyi who was supposed to stay in East Linning, He Linyan’s eyes could not help but flash a trace of surprise, how did Xue Xingyi come back?
Xue Xingyi’s face was cold, oblivious to He Linyan’s sizing gaze, a dustless look under his eyes.
The first time I heard the fifth prince’s question An Beiyue paused, he promised Chunyang to teach He Linyan a lesson, and in exchange Chunyang had to help him marry Xue Wanqing.
Although An Beiyue did not intend to really want He Linyan’s life, but always have to leave some marks on her face in order to give Chunyang a good deal.
But this can’t be said to the fifth prince, but he heard Chun Yang mention the fifth prince has some small thoughts about this girl of the He family.
An Beiyue in his heart quickly calculate, in order to marry Xue Wanqing to the fifth prince offended worth it.
When the fifth prince saw that he did not speak, he could not help but frown: “Why did you propose to use a live target if you were not sure?”
An Beiyue is also a little annoyed at the fifth prince questioning him for a woman, the fifth prince to be his crown prince in peace and stability is not dependent on their An family to contribute, otherwise his majesty’s son so many why his turn?
An Beiyue skimmed his mouth and said perfunctorily: “Who can have a ten percent grasp of such matters? I have an 80 to 90 percent chance of winning.”
The fifth prince looked at He Linwei, a little worried, but he is not good to really tear face with An Beiyue, the An family between him and the eighth brother has favored the eighth brother, if he is not in harmony with An Beiyue, that …
They are actually not talking loudly over here, others can’t hear clearly what they are saying, the emperor sitting at the top saw the movement over here and asked in a voice: “Why don’t you start yet?”
The fifth prince’s face showed hesitation.
When An Beiyue saw the fifth prince’s expression, a trace of complacency flashed in his eyes, and he was about to speak, but Xue Xingyi, who had been indifferent, suddenly reported to the emperor without expression, “Your Majesty, An Beiyue said that he was not sure of winning this competition, so he had some stage fright.”
Xue Xingyi’s sudden tumultuous operation stunned both the Fifth Prince and An Beiyue.
An Beiyue’s eyes widened and his speech stuttered, “I, I sh, what …”
Xue Xingyi did not even give him a look, “Your Majesty, I heard that in the Great Ji country martial arts competition if you can not give your best is an insult to the opponent.”
The ambassador of the Great Ji country nodded his head, in their country is indeed so.
Xue Xingyi: “It is not important to win or lose a match with the country you are visiting, but you should pay attention to each game to show respect.
An Beiyue was so angry that he almost cursed, “I …”
An Beiyue grew up never only he shamelessly pitted others, but never been so shamelessly pitted, so much so that he is still not completely relieved from the gas.
The fifth prince looked at An Beiyue, who was so angry that he couldn’t speak, and then looked at He Linyan, and this time he wisely kept silent.
Emperor Tiancheng was already a little unhappy with An Beiyue today, so he didn’t care when he heard Xue Xingyi say so, and said indifferently, “Then let …”.
The emperor originally wanted to say let Cheng Yan on, but a glance at the Cheng Yan’s figure was not seen.
At this time Xue Xingyi said, “Your Majesty, I ask for a battle.”
Emperor Tiancheng smiled and became interested, “Ai Qing is also good at archery?”
Xue Xingyi said in a matter-of-fact tone, “I’m better at it than An Beiyue.”
An Beiyue: “…”
Emperor Tiancheng laughed at his words, “Good! Then you will be on the stage!”
If other civil servants said they were good at archery, Emperor Tiancheng might not believe them all, but Xue Xingyi said he was good at it, then he believed them.
Even the fifth prince looked at Xue Xingyi and didn’t ask him if he was ten percent sure like he asked An Beiyue, Xue Xingyi said he could do it, and there was really no time when he couldn’t. The fifth prince didn’t say anything else, nodded placatingly to He Linyan, and then walked away with a reluctant An Beiyue.
The women’s side saw this scene in different moods.
The empress was relieved, Consort Xian had been smiling and watching the fun, Consort Anders had little expression on her face.
Princess Chunyang has been so angry that she is going crazy, she just saw Xue Xingyi still some can not believe their eyes, Xue Xingyi is gone for five years, she did not miss him a day, looking forward to his return. Now he has really come back, but before she could rejoice she saw Xue Xingyi save He Linyan in three words.
And she didn’t even know Xue Xingyi could shoot arrows! Now she has to watch Xue Xingyi go to the archery competition for another woman, how can she bear it?
When Huyang saw Chunyang’s face distorted with anger, she smiled and poured oil on the fire, “I didn’t realize before that Lord Xue is still a compassionate person, but it seems that it still depends on who you are dealing with.”
Huyang is happy to make Chunyang hard, who let Chunyang take Ning Yi to poke her heart from time to time.
The fruit plates on the case table were brought down to the ground by her sleeves, attracting curious gazes from the showgirls.
The company’s main goal was to find a way to get rid of the problem.
However, Consort Ander spoke out coldly, “Chun Yang, sit down.”
Jun Yang’s body stiffened, although her heart was not willing, but did not dare to defy Consort Andersen, and sat down again, but her heart was like hot oil, so uncomfortable that she wanted to die.
Huyang originally wanted to beat the dog, but see Ande Fei voice, also do not dare to provoke, spit out his tongue silently to watch her hilarious go.
Xue Wanqing watched his brother and He Linyan talk happily while handing a tangerine to He Linyan, the picture is very harmonious and beautiful, her face is a cloudy and light, but the heart has been happy.
Xue Wanqing thought to herself that her ice-cold brother had finally gotten the hang of it and knew that the hero had saved the girl, and would take the opportunity to talk to her, and now she must be reassuring her not to worry and showing off her archery skills.
It is a pity that Xue Evening Qing was too early to reassure her brother.
With a cold face, Xue Xingyi tossed a tangerine that served as an arrow target to He Linyan.
He Linyan took the tangerine and asked in a low voice with some suspicion: “Why does Lord Xue want to wade through this mess today? You can’t be afraid of my blood spattering in the schoolyard, right?”
Xue Xingyi lifted his eyelids, his tone unperturbed, “Still have self-awareness.”
He Linyan showed a fake smile, “Tell me what your purpose is.”
Xue Xingyi’s eyes swept over the faces of the people on the schoolyard one by one and asked indifferently, “Where is Li Yu?”
He Linyan’s heart jumped, but he pretended to be surprised, “Why did Lord Xue say that? Isn’t Li Yu in Donglin?”
Xue Xingyi stared at He Linyan for a moment, He Linyan’s expression was flawless, but Xue Xingyi did not believe a word, he took out an arrow from the quiver, his finger stroked over the arrowhead of the wulong iron spine arrow, coldly said: “Iron arrow without eyes, a moment if this arrow is off by half … do you think he will appear? “
He Linyan understood the meaning of Xue Xingyi, frowned: “This is the purpose of your automatic request? Want to use me to lure out Li Yu?”
Xue Xingyi said with certainty, “He is really here.”
He Linyan tried, “I thought we had reached a temporary reconciliation while we were in East Lin.”
He Linyan was talking about Xue Xingyi’s previous promise to use the Immortal Camp to make a deal with Li Yu.
Xue Xingyi looked at He Linyan and asked, “Which me, which guys?”
He Linhang froze.
Xue Xingyi: “The current Li Yu is nothing more than a rebel, not yet worthy to talk about us.”
He Linyan laughed, “They say women are fickle, please forgive me, Lord Xue is more unpredictable than any woman I’ve ever met.”
Xue Xingyi ignored He Linyan’s mockery, his tone remained light, “How about we make a bet?”
“What kind of bet?”
Xue Xingyi looked at the guards who were guarding the school grounds very tightly, “Bet on whether he will show up later.”
He Linyan raised his eyebrows, “How about if he shows up and how about if he doesn’t?”
Xue Xingyi said: “If he loses and you win, it proves that this person is an impulsive and brainless fool who loves beauty and not the mountains and is not worthy of that position, so he can stop that ambition from now on. If you don’t show up and you lose and he wins, don’t mention the word ‘we’ again.”
He Linyan looked puzzled: “You bet with me, but the result is either I lose or Li Yu loses? Lord Xue, what about you? I mean where’s your face?”
Xue Xingyi said, “If you bet with me, whether you win or lose, I shall do one thing for you.”
He Linyan in the heart to measure Xue Xing Yi a promise in the end is worth a bet, after measuring He Linyan reluctantly nodded, “Okay. But … I think and Li Yu will not lose.”
Xue Xingyi a cold face stared at He Linyan’s smile for a moment, mockingly said, “You are confident.”
He Linyan raised her chin, “I’m not confident, I believe in him.”
Xue Xingyi suddenly said in a light voice: “Stand over.”
He Linyan: “What?”
Xue Xingyi looked impatient: “As an arrow target, do I need to teach you where to stand?”
He Linyan turned around and found that the “arrow target” of the Great Ji Kingdom was already in place and the competition was about to start. So she stopped talking nonsense with Xue Xingyi and turned around to walk to the designated position without any hesitation.
Xue Xingyi’s face was expressionless as he watched He Linyan leave, his eyes as dark as ink, no one could guess what was going through his mind at the moment.
He Linyan walked to the designated position of the arrow target and put the tangerine in her hand on top of her head, another “arrow target” next to her was also ready. Xue Xingyi and the archers from the Great Ji Kingdom also took their positions.
The guard on the platform waved the yellow flag in his hand to signal the start of the competition, and Xue Xingyi and the archer from the Great Ji Country picked up their bows at the same time.
He Linyan looked at Xue Xingyi, who was expressionless as he took the arrow, drew the bow, strung the string and aimed.
But when she met Xue Xingyi’s sharp and focused eyes, she couldn’t help but suspect that he was aiming at her own eyes and not the tangerine on top of her head.
She experienced the displeasure of being targeted at the door of her life and having her life and death at the mercy of others. He Linyan felt that she did not want to experience this terrible feeling for the second time in her life.
The moment before the arrow was about to leave the string, Xue Xingyi said a word to He Linyan silently.
He Linyan saw his mouth clearly, he said: you lost.
At this moment, Li Yu was still missing, according to the bet between He Linwei and Xue Xingyi, she seemed to have lost, He Linwei couldn’t help but roll a big white eye at Xue Xingyi.
It was at this moment that the change took place.
The palace maid who was pouring wine for Jia Lan, the second son of the Southern King, suddenly pulled a dagger out of her sleeve and stabbed him in the chest, giving no time for Canaan’s guards or the people around to react.
The palace maid did not flee after the blow, but just knelt down and shouted to the sky before wiping her neck with the dagger and dying clean.
But she died cleanly herself, but left a mess for everyone here.
When the ambassadors of the Great Ji Kingdom saw Canaan’s assassination, they immediately rushed to his rescue, and the medical officer accompanying him hurriedly stopped the bleeding and treated his wounds.
When the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty saw the assassin, they swarmed around Emperor Tiancheng, shouting: “There is an assassin! Protect the Emperor! Protect the Emperor!
Cheng Yan, the deputy commander of the forbidden army, who was missing before, appeared beside Emperor Tiancheng at some point, and at first drew his sword to protect him.
However, there was only one assassin this time, and he had already killed himself, so the scene was quickly brought under control.
The ministers had time to react, looking at the second son of the Southern King, who was dead or alive, some were anxious, some did not move, while others secretly exchanged information with each other.
The deputy ambassador of the Great Ji Kingdom also reacted and accused angrily in the not-so-standard Great Zhou language, “We came to Great Zhou for peace talks in good faith and wanted to welcome the Princess of Great Zhou with a heavy gift, but your palace maid took the opportunity to assassinate our ambassador, I have reason to suspect that what happened today was all a conspiracy of your Great Zhou Dynasty.”
Emperor Tiancheng’s face did not look good.
The official of the Ministry of Rites at the side immediately retorted, “We are also very shocked and regretful about the assassination of His Highness Canaan, but I beg to differ with the ambassador who said it was our country’s conspiracy, the assassin was dressed as a palace maid but was not a member of the Great Zhou Dynasty.”
Other ministers nodded in agreement.
“Before she killed herself, she was speaking in the language of your great steeds.”
“What did she just say? Is there anyone who can understand the Great Ji language?”
The deputy ambassador of the Great Gee country was speechless and his face became even more ugly, but the palace maid did speak the Great Gee language before she died, and the content …
The official of the Ministry of Rites, who understands the language of the Great Ji, immediately translated the words just spoken by the palace maid, “What she said was ‘Your Lord, the slave has avenged you, and with her life as a sacrifice, the slave curses the Southern King and his sons and grandsons to die a good death! Apparently the assassination was due to a personal grudge with the Southern King.”
Liu Quan You, the chamberlain, went to the corpse of the concubine and looked at it carefully, and then looked shocked and immediately reported to Emperor Tian Cheng, “Your Majesty, this concubine is not really from our country, she used to serve at the side of concubine Xi, the concubine Xi’s maid who was brought over from the Great Ji Kingdom.”
After Liu Quan You finished his words, the faces of the people were different, and the courtiers of the Great Zhou Dynasty whispered at the bottom.
“Isn’t the concubine Xi the same noblewoman from the Great Ji country who was … then killed herself by the Kang County King before?”
“That palace maid said she was avenging the death of concubine Xi, could it be that the death of concubine Xi had nothing to do with the Kang County King, but another hidden agenda?”
“From what she said, concubine Xi was killed by the Southern King?”
“Then is there some kind of conspiracy for them to frame the Kang County King?”
Listening to the group of ministers discussing about the death of concubine Xi, not only did the deputy ambassador’s face look ugly, but Emperor Tiancheng’s face also sank.
It was a good thing that the medical officer from the Great Ji Kingdom had finished treating Canaan’s injuries at this time.
The deputy ambassador hurriedly asked, “How is Lord Canaan’s injury?”
The medical officer wiped the sweat from his head and said, “Luckily, the dagger missed a few points and did not hurt the vital points.
The deputy ambassador’s face finally looked better.
The emperor also looked a little better and ordered the chamberlain to prepare a vacant palace for Canaan to recuperate from his injuries.
The people of the Great Ji Kingdom hurriedly carried Canaan carefully and followed the chamberlain, and as for the assassination, they could only wait until afterwards to talk about it.
The opponents are gone, of course, the competition can no longer be carried out, the emperor immediately announced the return to the palace, with a group of ministers have left, the ministers have to think of countermeasures and say before the people of the Great Ji country reacted, when the two sides tug of war to pre-empt.
The women’s side is still some distance away, so they were not affected by the assassination just now, but they were scared to death. The emperor and ambassadors have left, the empress pacified the concubines and showgirls a few words, also led the people to leave.
The empress can not be idle, the assassination of the palace maid is a person of the Great Ji country, but after the death of concubine Xi has been staying in the palace, before the assassination of this person has no movement, has not been in contact with anyone the empress should be properly checked.
But a few moments of work, the schoolyard people have gone seven or eight.
As the target of the arrows, He Linyan has long taken down the tangerine on his head, just because of the sudden change, Xue Xingyi’s hand that arrow in the end did not shoot out.
He Linyan walked up to Xue Xingyi and smiled at him falsely.
“It’s a pity that I didn’t have the chance to admire Lord Xue’s archery skills this time.”
Xue Xingyi glanced at He Linyan and said flatly, “What are you rejoicing about? We were betting on whether he would show up, and he didn’t, so you still lost.”
As soon as Xue Xingyi’s words were spoken, a voice said, “Who said she lost?”
Xue Xingyi and He Linyan turned their heads at the same time and saw a guard in a forbidden guard’s uniform walking towards them, although his face was unfamiliar, but who was that lazy accent if not Li Yu.
Li Yu walked over and seemingly naturally interposed himself between He Linwei and Xue Xingyi, smiling at Xue Xingyi and saying, “Although I don’t know what you are betting on, as long as it is related to me, I won’t let her lose.”
He Linyan looked at Li Yu who was standing in front of her, blocking her view firmly, and couldn’t help but curl the corners of her mouth.
Xue Xingyi’s face went cold the moment he saw Li Yu.
“Just now that assassination was planned by you?”
Li Yu did not deny it, but only said, “It was not originally today, so it was inevitably a bit hasty.”
Xue Xingyi coldly commented, “But good tactics.”
Li Yu smiled and politely returned, “Let Lord Xue laugh.”
Xue Xingyi looked at He Linyan behind Li Yu, but before he could say anything, Li Yu turned back to He Linyan and said in a gentle whisper, “The Empress has just sent someone over to look for you.”
He Linyan knew that he could not stay here much longer, so he nodded: “I’ll go back first, you be careful, don’t stay here much longer.”
Li Yu had a good face, “I know, I’ll go after I have a few words with Lord Xue.”
He Linyan wanted to say hello to Xue Xingyi out of politeness, but Li Yu who was standing in front of her didn’t have the slightest intention to move away, He Linyan couldn’t even see Xue Xingyi’s face, so she had to give up and turn around and leave without saying anything.
Li Yu watched He Linwei leave before turning around to face Xue Xingyi, just facing He Linwei when the gentle smile disappeared, only cold detachment.
Li Yu said, “Don’t use her to test me in the future.”
Xue Xingyi was even colder than him, “What does the son think this place is? It’s your turn to order me around?”
Li Yu curved the corners of his mouth, his smile did not reach the bottom of his eyes, “This is not an order, it is a warning.”
Li Yu’s words just fell, Xue Xingyi felt a cold killing intent, he suddenly turned around and saw the order of the high platform of the order of the guard is still standing there, but he is no longer holding the small yellow order flag, but a small crossbow, the arrow of the crossbow is pointing at himself at the moment.
Xue Xingyi has no doubt that as long as Li Yu a gesture or a look, that arrow will be accurate through his throat.
Xue Xingyi just faintly glanced at it and turned back.
“Kill me, and you won’t get out.”
Li Yu said carelessly, “Why don’t you try?”
Xue Xingyi looked at Li Yu for a moment and asked with some confusion, “I know you won’t kill me, at least not here, just as you know that even if I shoot that arrow out, it won’t really hurt her, why do you still want to risk making such a big fuss? Even if you wanted to assassinate the ambassador to start a dispute, you could have found a more appropriate time.”
Li Yu said flatly, “I don’t want to see someone pointing an arrow at her, not even just pointing.”
Xue Xing Yi was stunned.
Li Yu smiled, but the words came out very cold, “Speaking of which, An Beiyue should thank you, he owes you a favor for saving his life. Just standing here if it was him, at this time his corpse are cold.”
Xue Xingyi looked at Li Yu and coldly commented, “Crazy.”
Li Yu said indifferently, “I’m just telling you where my bottom line is, Lord Xue is better not to touch it in the future.”
Xue Xingyi was silent for a moment and suddenly asked, “If you had to choose between her and that seat one day, what would you choose?”
Li Yu looked at Xue Xingyi, but smiled, “Incompetent people need to choose, she I want, other I also want.”
Xue Xingyi also laughed, the tone of mockery: “words can not say too early, careful to fall.”
Li Yu looked at Xue Xingyi and said with understanding, “Lord Xue is so angry because you were faced with this dilemma, you chose one, but the result is not what you can afford?”
Xue Xingyi smiled and looked at Li Yu with a coldness in his gaze as if he could frostbite people.
Li Yu also looked at Xue Xingyi, the two did not speak, but the tense atmosphere seems to be a touch.
Finally Xue Xingyi first withdrew his eyes, coldly said a “hope the son of the world to take care of himself.” Then he turned around and walked away.
Li Yu blandly watched Xue Xingyi leave.
At this time, the schoolyard is no longer idle people, Cheng Yan quickly walked over, whispered: “have been arranged according to the son’s instructions, in addition …”
Cheng Yan hesitated for a moment.
Li Yu looked at Cheng Yan, his expression had returned to the mildness of facing his beloved subordinates: “Say it.”
Cheng Yan said: “His Majesty is currently convening his beloved ministers in the side hall of Tianji Hall to discuss the assassination of Jia Lan, the other ministers are concerned about how to use this matter to bargain with the Great Ji Kingdom, only Mu Zhi Zhen is suspicious of today’s assassination, I do not know whether it will be suspected to the son.”
Li Yu nodded and said without surprise, “His mind has always been sharp, it is normal to be suspicious.”
Cheng Yan is a little worried, “Prince, I think Mu Zhi Zhen since there are already suspicions, you should not stay in the palace involved in the risk, why not leave early …”
Li Yu gently interrupted Cheng Yan’s words, “No need, everything according to plan.”
Cheng Yan also wanted to advise, but in the face of Li Yu still mild but unquestionable gaze, Cheng Yan will be dissuasive words swallowed back.
Li Yu smiled, reassured his subordinates: “Do not have to be like a big enemy. Mu Zhijin know me well, I do not know him well? I have my own measure, really dangerous, without your advice I will also go.”
Only then did Cheng Yan put his heart down, “Yes.”
Xue Xingyi left the schoolyard and walked straight to the outside of the palace, usually he is cold and unpopular, today is with a cold aura of the gods and ghosts do not disturb.
But before he could get out of the palace gate, he was stopped by someone without eyes.
Xue Xing Yi coldly glanced at the person blocking his way and gave a salute.
“Greetings, Princess.”
Princess Chunyang greedily gazed at Xue Xingyi’s perfect handsome face and did not speak for a moment.
Xue Xingyi frowned and bypassed Princess Chunyang with the intention of leaving.
Princess Chunyang returned to her senses and blocked Xue Xingyi’s way once again, with a few moments of aggravation on her face.
“I’ve written so many letters to you over the years, why haven’t you answered me in any of them?”
Xue Xingyi said coldly: “As an official of the court, I only have the obligation to reply to official documents. Is the official seal of the court stamped?”
Princess Chunyang was choked up, aggrieved and angry.
“Xue Xingyi, I have waited for you and read you for so many years, how can you treat me with such an attitude?”
Although Chunyang’s words were meant to be accusatory, her tone did not dare to be too forceful, and the gaze she looked at Xue Xingyi was very sorrowful and lingering.
If this were an ordinary man, being a young girl like this look of resentment, the heart would have softened half, can not be tough, but unfortunately Xue Xingyi is not ordinary people.
I saw that Xue Xingyi was not moved at all, and his tone was also mocking: “Xue Mou left the capital when the words have been made clear to the princess, which sentence the princess did not understand? Since you don’t understand the words, you should read more to be wise.”
This translates to: if you are stupid, read more.
Princess Chunyang understood the meaning of Xue Xingyi’s words, and her eyes turned red with anger and sadness.
“You, you are rude!”
Xue Xingyi said, “Since you know how to be polite, you should not stop foreign ministers in the street in the future.”
Chunyang was now really angry and cried.
Xue Xingyi didn’t have any intention to comfort her and walked around her.
“Stop!” Princess Chunyang shouted in tears.
Xue Xingyi’s footsteps did not even pause.
“Xue Xingyi I told you to stop! If you take one more step, I’ll make you regret it!” Chunyang took a few steps forward to chase after her.
But Xue Xingyi still ignored.
Jun Yang stopped, and this time her voice had a ruthlessness in it, “Do you have a crush on that He Lin Wan, you like her, I will kill her! She is the next Yang Wei Zhen! Anyway, you are not allowed to like anyone but me!”
This time Xue Xingyi stopped, he turned around to look at Princess Chunyang, his eyes were as dark as ink, his tone was calm, “What did you say? Say it again.”
Chunyang saw that he was finally willing to turn around and was happy, “I said you are not allowed to like anyone but me.”
Xue Xing Yi: “The previous sentence.”
Princess Chunyang lifted her chin, her expression a bit smug, “If you dare to like He Linyan, I will kill her! I am the princess, even if I kill a few people, no one will dare to do anything to me.”
Xue Xingyi stared at Chunyang, “What does Zhen’er’s death have to do with you?”
Princess Chunyang heard him call Yang Wei Zhen so intimately, her heart was so jealous that she said, “I had planned to kidnap her and throw her into a thief’s cave so that she would never have the face to appear in front of you again, but unfortunately something happened to the Yang family before I could do it, so she was lucky. But I don’t mind using this trick on He Linyan!”
Xue Xingyi listened to the silence for a moment, seemingly a bit unbelievable: “You’re threatening me?”
Jun Yang gritted his teeth and said, “This is not a threat, it’s a warning! I’ll do what I say!”
Xue Xingyi looked at Jun Yang and suddenly smiled a little.
For some reason Chunyang saw his rare smile but a shiver spread instantly from her heart to her limbs, her body raised a layer of goose bumps, and Chunyang subconsciously took a step back.
Xue Xingyi lowered his eyes and said with a faint smile, “Do I look very nice to talk to? You are the second person to warn me today.”
Chunyang didn’t hear clearly and subconsciously asked, “What did you say?”
Xue Xingyi stroked his sleeve, his tone and expression were flat, “I said, you are stupid and don’t know it.”
Chunyang froze, this was the first time Xue Xingyi scolded her to her face.
Xue Xingyi turned around and walked away, this time no matter Chunyang jumped behind her or threatened to scold her, Xue Xingyi didn’t turn around.
After He Linyan went back from the schoolyard, she naturally did not see the so-called people sent by the Empress to look for her, as Li Yu said, the Empress was now busy investigating the concubines’ palace maids, where to care about her.
The impact of the assassination on the girls is that the tea party in the palace banquet is no longer, because no one knows whether there will be a second assassin, the assassinated second son of the Southern King is temporarily living in the palace to recuperate from injuries is guarded tightly.
The concubine searched the palace where the concubine lived under the order of Emperor Tiancheng and found a lot of letters between the concubine and Lou Hu, the Northern King of the Great Ji Kingdom. The concubine sent back to Lou Hu the information she had searched in the palace of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and Lou Hu gave instructions to the concubine’s actions, including a lot of information about the infighting between the Northern and Southern Kings within the Great Ji Kingdom, and in one of the secret letters Lou Hu’s men reminded the concubine to be careful, as the Southern King also had an inside man in the inner palace of the Great Zhou Dynasty and might take action against the concubine.
After the letter was searched, a young chamberlain in the inner palace killed himself, and it was later found that this person was most likely the spy of the Southern King in the palace, and the death of concubine Xi had nothing to do with him.
After the evidence was found, the court was in an uproar, the concubine was actually a spy of the Great Ji Kingdom, and it is very likely that she did not commit suicide, but died due to the infighting of the Great Ji Kingdom. In this way, the Kang County King could be the scapegoat found by the South King’s people.
In fact, Kang County King Li Heng is actually a scapegoat found by whom it is not easy to say, the Tiancheng Emperor himself also played an important role in it for certain purposes. If it is usual, the Kang County King was wrongly accused will be wrongly accused, but now the timing is a little special.
The Great Zhou Dynasty and the Southern King’s faction are in peace talks, there is a high probability that there will be trade and commerce in the future, although it is said that peace makes money, but when negotiating if you can seize the other party’s weakness, you can naturally grasp a lot of opportunities. If the emperor still insists on letting Li Heng be the scapegoat, the assassination the day before was said to be the revenge of their own people in the country of the Great Ji, it would not be justified, and it might also be bitten by the people of the Southern King, saying that the Great Zhou court deliberately bought the concubine’s maid to make things happen.
After considering all aspects, Emperor Tiancheng and a group of ministers had to put the current interests first and announced that Kang County King Li Heng had nothing to do with the death of concubine Xi, and Li Heng was thus inexplicably cleared of suspicion.
Faced with the evidence from the Great Zhou Dynasty, the deputy ambassador sent by the Southern King naturally refused to admit, and the son of the Southern King, Canaan, did not come out on the pretext of recuperating from his injury, but the attitude of the envoy sent by the Southern King was much more modest.
The next step was the negotiation between the Great Zhou Dynasty and the Southern King’s envoys. Because of the death of concubine Xi, the Great Zhou Dynasty had a certain initiative in this negotiation.
These news He Linyan did not deliberately go to inquire, but listened to Mu Lanping, this period of time in the palace of the movement is a bit big, these news court also did not deliberately conceal, so it is not difficult to pry.
The negotiation between the Great Zhou Dynasty and the Great Ji Kingdom is going quite well, I heard that this time they can introduce many varieties of good ponies from the Great Ji Kingdom, and at the same time there is news that the Emperor of Tiancheng wants to respond to the marriage proposal of the son of the Southern King, and intends to marry Princess Huyang over.
“Why Princess Huyang? Isn’t Princess Chunyang at a more appropriate age?” He Zhen, who was listening to the gossip with great interest, asked.
Jia Lan, the son of the Southern King, was already twenty-five years old this year and was said to have married two wives and had three sons, but the Grand Ji Kingdom was different from the Great Zhou Dynasty in that it was not a system of multiple wives and concubines, but polygamy. According to the rules of the Grand Ji Kingdom, Canaan can marry three proper wives, so the princess is also a proper wife even though she was married afterwards, and the ambassador of the Southern King also promised to give the position of the first wife to the princess of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Mu Lanping said: “Princess Huyang and Princess Chunyang are only one year apart, in fact, let whoever goes to the marriage can be. But I heard that Princess Chunyang’s marriage has already been arranged separately, so we can only let Princess Huyang go.”
He Zhen’s face showed sympathy, “It’s a pity,”
Mu Lanping also sighed, “That’s right! A good golden leaf has to be given to someone to be a plain wife.”
He Linyan listened to Princess Huyang’s marriage, but in her heart she was thinking about Ning Yi.
She had investigated Ning Yi’s affairs after she returned to the capital to master the “Dark Lin”, the relationship between Ning Yi and Princess Huyang over the years is very complicated, because Ning Yi has gone to the Department of the Shenxing, not in Huyang’s Linghui Pavilion, so the two do not have much contact over the years, but Ning Yi to Princess Huyang, the old master but always respond to requests.
Once Ning Yi went out on a mission and was seriously injured, it just so happened that the birthday of Princess Huyang was coming up, Ning Yi risked aggravating his injuries and ran a few horses to death, rushed back to the palace on the day of Princess Huyang’s birthday, in order to personally give Princess Huyang a birthday gift.
The outsiders only think that Ning Yi is a nostalgic old master, to the Princess Huyang to know the kindness of repayment. He Linwei, who understands Ning Yi’s character, is clear that Ning Yi will never be this kind of emotional person, thinking about the fact that he has been hit by the “relief of Jun’s worries” for so many years but has been safe and sound, what else does He Linwei not understand.
He Linyan didn’t care which princess went to the marriage, but she cared that if Princess Huyang really went to the marriage, what would Ning Yi do?
After entering the palace, He Linyan had been looking for an opportunity to meet with Ning Yi, but Ning Yi had been sent to arrest Li Heng and had not returned to the palace. But now that Li Heng’s charges have been cleared, Ning Yi’s mission should soon be over.
At this moment, Ning Yi, who is being thought of by He Lin Evening, is riding a fast horse to rush back to the palace. The reason he rushed back has nothing to do with the end of the mission, but Princess Huyang sent a letter to him saying that he must see him before the palace gate drops its key today.
The horse galloped all the way through, passing through the downtown area without slowing down, passers-by saw the man on the horse wearing the clothes of the Department of Justice, and dodged from a distance, even the carriages of the high officials of the capital and noble families saw the people of the Department of Justice only give way.
The reputation of the Department of Justice has never been very positive, especially after Ning Yi became the deputy of the Department of Justice, the authority of the Department of Justice has expanded a lot, plus Ning Yi likes to use heavy punishment, the three words of the Department of Justice can simply stop children crying at night.
Ning Yi sped all the way, and finally arrived at the Palace Gate before the key fell, but his face a cloudy, obviously not in a good mood.
Princess Huyang didn’t notice Ning Yi’s face, she just had a cry, eyes swollen like two peaches, looking at people with a false shadow, the moment Ning Yi entered the door, Princess Huyang is like finally found the backbone, immediately got up and ran to him, face full of sadness and aggression.
“Ning Yi, you’re finally back.”
Ning Yi, however, did not have half a heart of pity, he took the action of saluting to avoid Huyang’s touch.
Huyang did not notice Ning Yi’s detachment, and only focused on complaining: “Ning Yi, my father he actually …”
Ning Yi interrupted Princess Huyang, “Princess, I remember I told you not to rush me back to the palace when I was on a mission.”
Princess Huyang smiled, remembering the last time her birthday when Ning Yi rushed back with injuries, some heartfelt and some sweet, has been cloudy mood somewhat better.
“It’s okay if you really can’t rush back later, and you don’t have to listen to me too much …”
Ning Yi frowned and did not speak.
Huyang always can’t read Ning Yi’s various expressions, and she never forced herself to understand, she only look at the results, only know that Ning Yi is very good to himself, there will respond to the line.
So next to the palace maid Qingyu because of Ning Yi’s face scared face are white, Huyang can still pampered to Ning Yi.
“What is the matter that the princess is in a hurry to find me back to the palace?” Ning Yi interrupted Princess Huyang’s rambling.
Princess Huyang’s eyes reddened again and said with a sobbing tone, “I heard that Father is going to marry me off to the Great Ji Kingdom to make peace.”
Ning Yi smiled and lowered his eyes not knowing what he was thinking.
“What should I do, Ning Yi? I don’t want to go to the marriage, nor do I want to marry that Jia Lan, I heard that he already has two wives.” Huyang tugged at Ning Yi’s sleeve and said.
Ning Yi pulled the sleeve back from Huyang’s hand, “Has His Majesty already issued a decree?”
Huyang shook his head, “That’s not true, but the word came from the Chengqian Palace, father has decided to let me go.”
“What did Consort Xian say?”
Princess Huyang was aggrieved, “If Father had decided to let me go, Mother Consort would not have objected, she would not have offended Father for me, she was only intent on the sixth royal brother. The mother is willing to help me, but the father will not listen to the mother at all, the mother has no one in the court can speak for me.”
Ning Yi thought, silent and did not speak.
The more Princess Huyang thinks about it, the more pessimistic she is, she thinks that she is going to go to the peace treaty, a long way to marry to the Great Ji country, this life will not return to the Great Zhou, can not see their relatives, but also can not see Ning Yi …
Thinking of this, Princess Huyang suddenly said: “If I really want to be married by my father to the Great Ji country and marriage, you accompany me to go together, okay?”
Ning Yi froze.
But Princess Huyang felt that if the marriage was her inescapable fate, it would not be too difficult to have Ning Yi accompanying her.
Huyang looked at Ning Yi who was standing in front of her, a little bewildered.
She knew she would have to get married one day, and her mother said that all women have to get married, no one can be an exception. As for who to marry, where to marry she had never thought carefully before, and never had expectations. But once in a dream, she dreamed that she married Ning Yi, the content of the dream she actually do not remember clearly, only remember that she woke up the next day was smiling, but really awake after that whole day she did not smile again.
Later she tried to recall the dream of that night, but no matter how she thought, her heart was no longer sweet, nor bitter, but up and sour, that is a taste she had never experienced.
Then later Huyang did not think about it, she has always been how easy how to live.
Sometimes Chunyang would deliberately say in front of Huyang, “What are you doing being so nice to Ning Yi a castrati? It’s not like you can marry her.”
Huyang had been teased by Chunyang since she was a child, she was simple-minded and never held a grudge. But when Chunyang teased her with Ning Yi she didn’t forget it after being bullied and cried like before, she kept it in her heart, and she wanted Chunyang to be sad.
Hu Yang saw Ning Yi did not speak, asked again: “Ning Yi, you accompany me to get married, okay?”
I don’t know why, the words out of the mouth of Hu Yang’s heart again to experience the rise of the sour unspeakable taste, this taste makes her tears fell, but in fact she did not want to cry ah.
Ning Yi pursed his lips, did not say yes and did not say no.
Ning Yi naturally can not follow Huyang to the Great Ji country, in the Li family before the death of the people he will not go anywhere, just he was thinking that if Huyang really want to marry far away, he still have to find a way to untie the two between the “unjun sorrow” to do, otherwise once Huyang side of the problem, he will not have time to react, the Great Ji country is too far away.
This time, Huyang was a little unforgiving, stubbornly asking: “I go where you go, okay?”
Ning Yi finally spoke: “No …”
But he only said one word, then he coughed, and there was blood spilling out of the corner of his mouth.
Huyang froze and hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe for him.
“Have you … had a relapse of your old illness?”
Ning Yi pushed away Huyang’s hand and casually dried the blood himself with his sleeve.
“I’m fine, I’ll go back first.”
Seeing that Ning Yi had vomited blood, Huyang didn’t stay him hard anymore.
“Good, then you go back and recuperate well.”
Ning Yi turned around and left.
However, when he reached the door, he heard Huyang asking again behind him.
“Ning Yi, will you stay with me forever?”
Ning Yi snapped back to look at Huyang, who was biting her lip as she looked at him, with tears and persistence and stubbornness in her eyes.
Ning Yi stared at her for a moment, finally pulled the corner of his mouth, his smile was cold and without any temperature.
“As you wish, princess.”
After saying this, Ning Yi turned around and walked away.
Huyang looked at Ning Yi’s back in a daze and said softly, “If you promised, you can’t go back on your promise.”
He Linyan did not know that Ning Yi had already returned to the palace, Ning Yi was very busy and she did not have the chance to meet him by chance.
The next day, there was another incident in the palace, the palace people found a nest of termites hidden under the palace pillars of the Palace of Longevity when they were sweeping, the pillars were already half eaten and broken, if left unattended for some years the whole Palace of Longevity would have to collapse.
The Palace of Longevity is the old Empress Dowager lived in the palace, the old Empress Dowager died after the Palace of Longevity was sealed up, these years have been vacant, although it is an empty hall, but the Palace of Longevity still has symbolic significance, it symbolizes the Emperor’s filial piety, if one day the Palace of Longevity really collapsed, the Emperor of Tiancheng is afraid of having to give himself a serious edict of sin.
So the next day, a speech official to ask the emperor to rebuild the Palace of Longevity.
It was not a big deal for the emperor to repair a palace, so Emperor Tiancheng gave his permission and ordered the Ministry of Works to repair it as soon as possible.
When He Linyan heard the news of rebuilding Wanshou Palace, he immediately thought that it might be Li Yu’s side that was going to take action.
Li Yu has been staying in the palace, but did not find the opportunity to go to the Palace of Longevity to find the token, if you can reopen the Palace of Longevity, with the repair of the palace as a cover, to find something to be much more convenient, and do not need to He Lin night sneak into the Palace of Longevity with Li Yu from the secret passage.
As expected, this night He Lin night received the news sent by Li Yu, he intends to start action in the near future.
Just repairing a palace, in fact, is not much of a project, the palace repair up when living in the Palace of Wenzhen He Lin night simply did not hear any movement, the Palace of Wenzhen showgirls are not interested in this matter.
He Linyan was a bit interested, she knew that Li Yu was one of the guards sent to station in the Palace of Longevity during the repair of the palace, so that Li Yu can walk around the Palace of Longevity during the day without being suspected.
It so happens that on this day, the empress is finally free to summon the showgirls again, so she arranged for a singer to sing in the Qing Yin Pavilion and invited the showgirls to listen to the show.
The Qing Yin building is a theater building, which has a stage, is a special place for the court maidens to watch and listen to the music. Wanshou Palace is not far from Qingyin Pavilion, from Wenzhen Hall to Qingyin Building just to pass through Wanshou Palace.
He Linwei, He Zhen, Xue Wanqing and Mu Lanping went to Wanshou Palace together to listen to the opera. When they reached the gate of Wanshou Palace, He Linwei deliberately took a few more glances.
The palace of longevity is at this time in the construction of civil engineering, artisans in and out knocking noisy, a team of patrol guards just from the door to walk past, He Lin night a glance to see standing in the guards Li Yu.
In the moment that He Linwei looked over, Li Yu looked over as if he had a feeling, and after seeing clearly that it was her, he hooked the corner of his mouth at her, He Linwei also subconsciously curved his lips, and then immediately restrained his expression, so as not to be seen by others to.
When the two sides were about to brush past each other, Mu Lanping suddenly waved his hand happily towards the front: “Cousin! Eldest cousin!”
He Linyan followed Mu Lanping’s gaze and saw Mu Zhizhen, who was hurrying towards him.
He Linyan frowned and couldn’t help but glance in Li Yu’s direction, Li Yu’s back was to Mu Zhizhen, his back looked fine, and he was standing in the middle of a group of guards, so he shouldn’t have attracted Mu Zhizhen’s attention.
Mu Zhi Zhen was a little surprised to see Mu Lan Ping and He Lin Wan, but only nodded, and then shouted at the guards who had already walked past, “Wait.”
He Linyan’s heart thudded and looked back, but the guards were about to walk around the corner and didn’t seem to have heard Mu Zhizhen’s words and didn’t stop.
Mu Zhi Zhen frowned: “That team of guards in front, wait!”
Mu Zhi Zhen wanted to chase after them.
Mu Lanping and others also curiously turned back, Mu Lanping whispered: “What’s going on? Is there something wrong with that group of guards?”
There was indeed something wrong with that team of guards because Li Yu was among them, and if Mu Zhi Zhen found out that Li Yu was in the palace, the consequences would be unthinkable. He Lin Wan didn’t know why Mu Zhi Zhen suddenly appeared here, did she get any news, she only knew that she couldn’t let Mu Zhi Zhen catch up with Li Yu, although the disguised Li Yu might not be recognized by Mu Zhi Zhen, but she wasn’t afraid of the eventuality.
He Lin Wan did not have time to think about it, and quickly raised her hand and scratched Mu Lan Ping’s wrist, the tourmaline string on Mu Lan Ping’s wrist suddenly broke off, the round and clear tourmaline beads rolled down to the ground with a crisp sound.
Mu Lanping realized that the string had fallen off and let out a cry of surprise. At the same time, Mu Zhi Zhen, who had already taken a few steps, suddenly slipped and fell, and there were several rolling tourmaline beads where he had fallen.
Mu Lanping also found out that his cousin had accidentally stepped on the tourmaline beads he had dropped on the ground and fell, froze and hurriedly ran over to help Mu Zhi Zhen up, his face full of embarrassment and apology.
“Sorry ah big cousin, I didn’t mean to, this string broke for some reason, are you okay?”
Mu Zhi Zhen ignored Mu Lan Ping, after he stood up he pushed Mu Lan Ping away and walked quickly towards the group of guards. The guards also finally heard the movement and stopped, looking back over.
He Linyan, who had been carrying his heart, breathed a sigh of relief that Li Yu was no longer among that group.
“Lord Mu this?” The leading guard looked at Mu Zhi Zhen who was walking quickly and surprised, his eyes paused on his dusty mud stained robe.
Mu Zhi Zhen casually patted his robe, looked at them and smiled, without a trace of embarrassment on his face: “Are you the ones patrolling in Wan Shou Palace today? I’ve just left in a hurry and forgot to bring the drawings, I wonder if you could send someone to the Ministry of Works to run errands for me? I’ll buy you a drink when we get out of the palace.”
The leading guard said cheerfully, “It’s just a small matter, you don’t have to be polite, I’ll send someone there.”
Mu Zhi Zhen arched his hand, “Thank you.”
The leader of the guards pointed someone out and went on patrol.
Mu Zhi Zhen waited for them to leave before looking over towards He Lin Wan, his eyes lingered on He Lin Wan’s face for a moment longer, then smiled and said apologetically, “Sorry, I was rude just now, I was in a hurry to go on an errand, so I was in a bit of a hurry.”
Mu Lanping said awkwardly, “It’s my turn to apologize, just now my string broke, causing Eldest Cousin to fall, Eldest Cousin didn’t hurt anywhere, right?”
Mu Zhi Zhen shook his head, “No matter.”
He glanced at the tourmaline beads scattered on the ground and squatted down to pick them up one by one.
Mu Lanping hurriedly said, “No need to pick them up, big cousin! It’s just a string of beads.”
Mu Zhi Zhen said, “Other people will slip and fall if they step on it.”
Mu Lanping was even more embarrassed, her maids reacted and hurriedly helped to pick up the beads, and Chun Xiao and other maids also came forward to help.
He Linyan watched Mu Zhizhen finally pick up the red rope that was strung with beads, and she narrowed her eyes slightly.
Mu Zhi Zhen took the red rope and looked at it, smiled at Mu Lan Ping and said gently, “Remember to use a stronger string in the future.”
Mu Lanping said obediently, “Got it, big cousin.”
Mu Zhi Zhen got up, looked at He Lin Wan and said, “I haven’t seen you for many years, Miss He has changed a lot, I almost didn’t recognize you just now.”
His smile was warm, as if he was talking to an old friend.
He Linyan also smiled, “Mr. Mu has also changed a lot.”
Mu Zhi Zhen thought for a moment and sighed slightly, “Yes, people change, and I am naturally no exception.”
After Mu Zhi Zhen finished speaking, he nodded to He Lin Wan and the others, then walked towards the Wanshou Palace not far away.
Mu Lanping looked at Mu Zhi Zhen’s back and then looked at He Lin Wan, somewhat curious, “So Miss He is not only an old friend of my eldest sister, she is also familiar with my eldest cousin?”
He Linyan said lightly, “I can’t say I’m familiar with him, the capital is only so big, so when I was young I always met him a few times.”
Mu Lanping smiled and said, “That’s different. Although my elder cousin seems to have a good temper, but ordinary people don’t get into his eyes.
He Linyan smiled, “Really? Then I’m really honored.”
Mu Lanping was oblivious, but Xue Wanqing gave He Linyan a thoughtful look.
Mu Lanping said, “Aiya, we’d better go quickly, don’t arrive too late.”
He Linyan took a look at the direction of Wanshou Palace and followed Mu Lanping to go together.
He Linyan was a little distracted all the way.
Why would Mu Zhi Zhen suddenly come to Wanshou Palace? He did not believe in such excuses as supervising the repair of the palace. Could it be that he also came for the token? In case the relic was found by him first Li Yu this period of time plan is not a foregone conclusion?
And just now he called the team of guards, really just a coincidence?
The next head of the Mu family, Mu Zhi Zhen, his mind is naturally not simple, He Lin Wan also can not see him through. Such a person is of course the most reliable as an ally, but equally, the most dangerous as an enemy.
He Lin night this afternoon when listening to the opera is also a dual purpose, always pay attention to the outside of the movement, Qing Yin Court is not far from the Palace of Longevity, if there are any unexpected events, this side can also be detected.
But outside has been calm, think Li Yu is still safe for the time being.
During the time when He Linwei went to the clean room, he received a small note from Li Yu, the note said he was fine and asked He Linwei not to worry, in addition, after probing, he had found clues to the place where the token was hidden, in order to avoid a long night and plan to act tonight.
He Linyan stared at the note for a while, thought about it and crumpled it up and threw it into the bucket, then walked out of the purification room as if nothing had happened.
After coming out of the purification room, He Linyan was much calmer, but thinking about Li Yu’s action tonight, she was still a bit distracted.
The queen’s interest today is very good, after listening to the play also discussed with the girls in the play role, the girls in order to please the empress also actively participate in the discussion, He Linyan because not at all listened to so did not participate, only in the others to express their views when the pretence of smiling and nodding in agreement.
After the empress finished talking and turned her head to see He Linyan listening seriously, she smiled and asked her, “Which part do you like the most?”
He Linyan froze and replied, “Your Majesty, my daughter thought that the martial arts scene was not bad.”
As He Linyan spoke, the Empress’s expression was somewhat bewildered, while the other showgirls looked at He Linyan with somewhat strange gazes.
He Zhen anxiously tugged on He Linyan’s sleeve and reminded her in a low voice, “Big sister, today’s performance is only a literary one, not a martial one!”
He Linyan reacted and quickly stood up to apologize to the empress, “Your Majesty, forgive me, I don’t really understand the play, I’ve been listening to it in a fog.”
The empress smiled and waved her hand and said calmly, “Everyone’s hobbies are different, it’s not a fault that you don’t like to listen to opera, so sit down.”
He Linyan apologized again and sat down.
He Zhen looked at He Linyan and snickered, and He Linyan glared at her.
He Zhen spat out her tongue and whispered, “It’s not the first time I’ve seen my big sister make a mistake in public! I think it’s quite strange.”
He Linyan ignored He Zhen and went back with everyone else after the empress finished talking and returned to the palace.
The day passed by calmly and quietly.
But as the night fell, the uneasiness in He Linwei’s heart became more and more prevalent, she was worried about Li Yu.
If this is somewhere else, but this is the imperial palace, one wrong move, the whole set is lost, there is no possibility of turning around.
Finally He Lin night really no way to convince themselves to sit in the Wenzhen Hall and wait for the results, she thought, no matter Li Yu is to lose or win, she always have to watch with their own eyes, and she is familiar with the secret passages in the palace, to the time of last resort may also be able to save Li Yu a life.
The heart has a decision He Lin night instead of calm up, she waited for Chun Xiao to fall asleep after changing into a palace mothers wear indigo clothes, hair ornaments also changed into the palace people often combed hair style, and then take advantage of the night to go out through the window.
The deep palace was very cold and silent at night, and the drum tower outside the palace was ringing the bell on the third night when He Linyan left the room.
He Linyan was familiar with the way into the secret passage of Wenzhen Hall and finally got out from the dry well of an unknown small side hall not far from Wanshou Palace.
In fact, there is a secret exit closer to Wanshou Palace, but He Linyan chose a slightly more remote exit out of caution.
She did not intend to rush in, she only stayed here for the critical moment, if Li Yu’s plan went well, she did not even intend to show herself.
The Palace of Longevity has been quiet, because there is no construction at night, there are no lights, He Linyan does not know if Li Yu is now inside, the plan is not still smooth.
I don’t know how long I stood there, He Linyan suddenly heard a few cicadas from the back door of the Palace of Longevity, He Linyan heard that this was the signal of “Dark Lin” representing a successful operation and ready to evacuate.
He Linyan let out a sigh of relief.
But before He Linyan finished his breath, he saw several figures walking silently towards the back door of Wanshou Palace. Through the not too bright moonlight, He Linyan saw clearly that there were seven or eight people coming, and the one surrounded in the middle was Mu Zhizhen, whom he had seen only once during the day.
He saw that Mu Zhi Zhen with his men had quickly guarded the back door, the front door is not sure if there are still ambushes, and Li Yu’s people are still in the Wanshou Palace did not come out, He Lin Wan subconsciously took a half step.
But before she could walk out of the alley, her wrist was firmly grabbed by a hand.
He Linyan was startled and turned around to fight back, but after she saw who was holding her she let out a sigh of relief and was obediently pulled deeper into the alley by that person.
The person holding her had cold fingers and a very strong hand. He Linyan felt that her wrists would be left with bruises later, but she did not struggle away.
The man tugged He Linwei to a hidden corner before releasing her, turning around and mocking coldly: “Wasn’t you very powerful at first? How come you didn’t even notice when you were being approached?”
He Linyan sighed and looked at the familiar face in front of her and thought to herself: just now she was indeed distracted and lowered her guard, but on the other hand … is very powerful that is for outsiders, to family members where there is so strong vigilance? Before the brain reacts, the body has first recognized you ah.
The mouth but said: “Lord Ning, a few years not see kung fu to see long, I think not less squatting nooks and crannies on weekdays, right?”
No way, bullying people is also from the body instinct.
Ning Yi looked at He Linyan coldly, “Your teeth have not changed.”
At this time, the sound of breaking door came from the back door of Wanshou Palace, He Linyan’s face changed, Mu Zhi Zhen’s people acted.
However, without waiting for He Linyan to react, Ning Yi stopped He Linyan’s way and raised his chin in another direction, “Leave here immediately, I can pretend that I have not seen you tonight, as a return of your favor.”
He Linyan looked at Ning Yi and made a gesture to obey and leave, but when Ning Yi relaxed his guard a little, she immediately turned around and squeezed past him, running in the direction of Wanshou Palace.
Ning Yi, however, seemed to be on guard and quickly grabbed her by the back of the collar the moment He Linyan brushed past him.
“Don’t make me say it a third time, go back!”
He Linyan turned back.
Ning Yi’s expression was cold and icy, and he didn’t look a bit alive, so He Linwei’s heart immediately softened and he negotiated with him nicely, “I’m not going in, I’ll just stand at a distance and watch, okay?”
Unfortunately, the heart of the man was like iron, Ning Yi was not moved and said, “Leave immediately or go with me to the Department of Deliberation, you choose one.”
He Linyan simply said, “Either let me go or take me to the Department of Discretion, you choose one!”
Ning Yi coldly looked at He Linyan for a moment, twisted her back collar again and dragged her away, “Since you want to go to the Department of Discretion so much, I’ll make it happen.”
He Linyan was being twisted by Ning Yi like a quail, her usual image was gone, she was simply going to die of anger. No one would do this when she was the dignified and elegant Yang Weizhen, and no one dared to do this when she became the mighty and domineering He Linyan, namely Ning Yi.
In a fit of anger, He Linwei backhanded Ning Yi’s waist and scratched it, Ning Yi shook imperceptibly and let go.
He Linyan regained her freedom and gave Ning Yi a fierce glare while fixing her sash.
The two grew up together since they were young, so of course He Linwei knew where Ye Yining’s weaknesses were, and whenever He Linwei made a move to scratch Ye Yining when he was young, Ye Yining took the initiative to surrender. This is a slightly more intimate little game, after the two grew up no longer play, just that a little is also He Linyan unconscious action.
Ning Yi looked at He Lin night, the emotions in his eyes were hard to distinguish, just when He Lin night thought that Ning Yi had doubts about her identity because of her just counter action, Ning Yi’s expression returned to icy cold.
“Are other people that important to you? So that you can not even take your life?”
He Linyan glanced at Ning Yi and sighed, “I’m not going to fight for anyone’s life, I’m not that self-conscious, I really just want to stand at a distance and watch.”
Ning Yi stared at He Lin Wan for a moment, “You don’t seem to be too worried about the people inside.”
Ning Yi now also reacted to the fact that He Lin Wan is still in the mood to be here with him, because she is not in a hurry, at least not as much as he thought. Otherwise, if she really wanted to leave forcibly, he might not be able to stop her.
At this time, Mu Zhi Zhen had already led people into the Palace of Longevity.
Mu Zhi Zhen made a gesture and his subordinates rushed into the main hall of Wan Shou Palace with a few martial arts experts.
But they searched up and down the palace without finding anyone suspicious.
“My lord, there is no one. The guards at the front gate didn’t see anyone going out either.”
He was sure that there was someone in the Palace before they came in. They had guarded all the exits of the Palace before they came in, trying to catch a turtle in a jar, but the person trapped inside disappeared into thin air.
If that person was so easily caught, he would not have become a piece of the present day’s heartache.
“Search carefully again and see if there is a hidden entrance.” It is impossible for people to disappear out of thin air, there is either a secret room or a secret passage in this Wanshou Palace.
The subordinate took the order and went to search the rooms of the Palace of Longevity carefully.
Mu Zhi Zhen walked to the laurel tree in the middle of the courtyard, looking at this somewhat old tree, his expression was a bit dazed. He remembered when he was young, he spent a lot of time with Li Yu and Li Heng in this courtyard, when the old empress was still there.
The old lady likes to sit in the shade while getting high on melon seeds and tell them stories, in fact, the old queen told over and over again just a few stories, what “Chang’e stealing the pill of immortality”, “Gong Gong knocking down the mountain” he and Li Yu can recite backwards, and can not bear to tell the old lady The Empress Dowager said they were tired of hearing it, so every time he heard half of it he deliberately asked the Empress Dowager, “Grandma, the immortality pill is better than the yam cake you made?” and “Grandma, the immortality pill is better than the yam cake you made? So every time he heard it, he deliberately asked the Empress Dowager, “Grandma, are the immortal peaches better than your yam cake? Is it sweet?”
Li Xiaoheng, who did not have all his teeth, could not understand the story, but could understand the food, and began to pick at the legs of the old Empress Dowager to eat. At this time Li Yu will play black face to Li Xiaoheng training cry, the old empress dowager immediately heart her little grandson, not to tell them the story, the wind and fire personally to Li Xiaoheng Zhang Luo food.
The two of them have been working well together since they were young, and they have never had a red face or a fight.
Mu Zhi Zhen returned from his memories, raised his hand to touch the trunk of the tree, when he suddenly noticed that the soil under the tree had been turned over.
Today in the daytime, Mu Zhi Zhen has been up and down the Palace of Longevity to check once, then the soil is still good, thinking of this Mu Zhi Zhen squatted down to carefully check the soil, found that the place near the trunk of the tree is very soft.
Mu Zhi Zhen thought of a possibility, immediately the piece of soil, and then from the inside to find a palm-sized small wooden box. Wooden box in the hand, Mu Zhi Zhen stunned, the box is very old, rough workmanship, paint has been peeling, very much like the old Empress Dowager’s things.
The old queen mother’s family ancestors were carpenters, she herself can also do some rough carpentry work, Mu Zhi Zhen more than once heard the old queen mother proudly mentioned that she relied on this craft when she was young to support the Emperor Taizu for a number of years. For fear that they do not believe, she also hand-made them a rattle, a small wooden horse.
Mu Zhi Zhen opened the wooden box and found that inside was a Xuan Iron token with the words “See the order as you see the king”.
The first thing you need to do is to take a look at this token and you can’t help but stare.
Of course, Mu Zhi Zhen knew about this token, which was left behind by the old King of Jin and could command his old troops.
After his death, the old King of Jin handed over most of his old troops to his grandfather, but in fact, his grandfather’s hands are not all of the old King of Jin’s forces, the legend says that there are still some extremely loyal secret troops that even his grandfather did not know about, that is the King of Jin left the last honorary warriors of the King of Jin’s direct line, and the list of those old troops is hidden in a Xuan Iron token.
Mu Zhi Zhen knew that the token was in the hands of the old empress, Li Yu into the palace for the purpose of this token, but this token how here?
The first thing you need to do is to take a look at the list and see if it is still there.
After opening it, he saw that there was a piece of paper hidden inside.
Mu Zhi Zhen is a vigilant person, after seeing the contents did not take out the first time to check, he felt something wrong in his heart.
At this time, someone broke in from the front door, listening to the movement of many people.
Mu Zhi Zhen looked at the things in his hands, about to react, the token in the paper suddenly spontaneously combusted, in the dark courtyard lit up a fire.
Mu Zhi Zhen screamed in his heart and tried to put out the fire on the paper, but the paper was very thin and quickly burned away.
The person who broke in also happened to appear.
Mu Zhi Zhen looked up and found that the person who came was from the Department of Justice.
The Simplicity Division, looking at Mu Zhi Zhen, smiled very kindly, “Lord Mu, what a coincidence.”
Unlike the cold-faced Vice Secretary Ning Yi, the Secretary Kou Xian is a middle-aged man who always greets people with a smile, he looks a little rounded, looking like an ordinary rich lord, but Mu Zhi Zhen will not have a half-hearted contempt for the person in front of him, as the control of the Department of the Simplicity Division for decades, the emperor’s most trusted executioner, Kou Xian hands countless human lives, he is more ruthless than Ning Yi when it comes to ruthlessness.
Mu Zhi Zhen was very polite to Kou Xian, “Lord Kou, what is the reason for coming to Wanshou Palace late at night?”
Kou Xian said with a surprised face, “I should ask Lord Mu, this dark light Lord Mu is not here to repair the courtyard for the old empress, right?”
After saying this, Kou Xian laughed like a joke, but his eyes swept over Mu Zhi Zhen’s hand. Mu Zhi Zhen was still holding the token that had been opened.
Mu Zhi Zhen naturally closed the token in his hand and took it back into the wooden box, saying calmly, “I came here to report to His Majesty in advance.”
Of course, Kou Xian knew that Mu Zhi Zhen dared to bring people to Wanshou Palace in the middle of the night with the tacit approval of Emperor Tiancheng, but only he knew what he was doing here.
Kou Xian laughed and said, “What a coincidence, I am here on the order of His Majesty.”
Mu Zhi Zhen nodded, “In that case, then I will go with Lord Kou to His Majesty’s presence to review his orders.”
Kou Xian smilingly made a gesture of invitation, “Please go ahead, Lord Mu, we will be there later.”
Mu Zhi Zhen did not say much, nodded and walked out. When he passed by Kou Xian, Kou Xian’s nose twitched slightly.
After Mu Zhijin’s figure was out of sight, the smile on Kou Xian’s face also disappeared, he surveyed the courtyard of the Palace of Longevity, his eyes lingered for a moment on the small spot of black ashes under the laurel tree that was blown away by the wind, and turned his head to instruct his subordinates, “Search the Palace of Longevity carefully, inside and outside, don’t let go of any trace. “
“Yes, sir!” The subordinates took orders and went away.
In the alley, He Linyan and Ning Yi stood in the shadows, watching Kou Xian lead people into the Palace of Longevity, and not long after that, Mu Zhizhen and Kou Xian came out one after another.
It was only then that He Linyan let out a real sigh of relief.
Ning Yi thought for a moment, “Mu Zhi Zhen has been calculated?”
He Linyan said casually, “If he dares to calculate people, he should be prepared to be calculated.”
Ning Yi glanced at He Linyan, “Are you also involved?”
He Linyan shook his head with a good face, “This is something between their men, what am I involved in? I don’t know what’s going on in there until now, just like you.”
Ning Yi narrowed his eyes, obviously not believing.
“You believe me, I really don’t know what’s going on! It’s just that …” He Linyan paused here, “It’s just that I deliberately misled him a bit during the day.”
Today in the Qing Yin Pavilion listening to the play when He Lin night always feel someone in the dark watching themselves, this feeling is not based on the original body that sharp intuition, then she suddenly received a message from Li Yu, at first she thought it was really Li Yu afraid of her worry, so send a letter to reassure her, but in opening the letter to see the contents of He Lin night immediately understood, this is a set, is Li Yu for Mu Zhi Zhen deliberately set up a trap.
So her feeling that someone was watching her from the shadows should not be her own paranoia.
The first time she broke the bead string on Mu Lan Ping’s hand to help Li Yu get away, must have aroused Mu Zhi Zhen’s suspicion, Mu Zhi Zhen should immediately send someone to secretly watch her, and know Mu Zhi Zhen act cautiously Li Yu will simply send a letter to the scheme.
As for why He Lin Wan opened the letter and guessed that it was a trap, because the letter was not the characteristic left-handed handwriting that he used in his usual correspondence with her, but with some characteristics of Li Yu’s handwriting, although there is a big difference with his real handwriting, but people who are very familiar with him should still be able to recognize it, so the letter was not really written to her, but through her to write for others to see.
As for the letter that she crumpled up and threw into the bucket, she did not know if it was later fished out.
In order to cooperate with Li Yu, she deliberately pretended to have something on her mind after returning from the purification room but tried to hide it, and also deliberately said wrong when the empress asked her about the play, in order to do to the person in the dark, so that he believed the information conveyed by Li Yu, misleading Mu Zhi Zhen.
Later on, He Lin Wan pushed back on Mu Zhi Zhen’s previous behavior of calling the team of guards in front of the gate of Wanshou Palace, guessing that Mu Zhi Zhen might not be making a set for Li Yu.
Although Mu Zhi Zhen suspected that Li Yu had returned in order to find the token, but he was not sure where Li Yu was hiding, is not really will appear in the palace, so he called the behavior of the guards is not because he recognized Li Yu, but he was deliberately alarming the snake, the purpose is to let the hidden Li Yu speed up action.
He Linyan was concerned and let Mu Zhizhen fall to help Li Yu escape, but let Mu Zhizhen sure that Li Yu was indeed in the palace.
The good thing is that Mu Zhijin knows Li Yu, Li Yu also knows Mu Zhijin, and immediately reacted to the plan, and led Mu Zhijin to the Palace of Longevity.
The two men’s back-and-forth calculations, so that He Lin night sigh of amazement, really men’s hearts under the sea needle.
But although He Linwei knew that this is Li Yu’s trap, but this trap is what He Linwei really do not know, in order to prevent Mu Zhizhen, Li Yu did not reveal a cent.
The only thing that He Linwei can do is to believe in Li Yu, so she is doing a play, worrying about the emotions or some real feelings, and not completely deceitful.
Just saw Mu Zhi Zhen and the people of the Department of the Shen Xing arrived one after another, but Li Yu is nowhere to be found, He Lin Wan guessed that Li Yu’s plan should be successful, she also really rested her heart.
Ning Yi also does not know whether to believe He Lin night’s words, but he did not continue to ask questions.
It was He Linwei who was now at ease and wanted to talk to Ning Yi more.
“That person just now is your nemesis, the Sims Division Division Zheng?”
“You’re concerned about the matter of the Sims Division.” Ning Yi frowned and said.
He Linyan thought to himself, “I’m not concerned about the Department of Punishment, I’m just concerned about you.
But he smiled and said, “It seems that the emperor trusts him more than he trusts you.”
Ning Yi said coldly, “If it were me, I would only be willing to trust the one who grew up with me.”
He Linyan was stunned and fell silent.
Ning Yi Dao didn’t look at He Linyan and only said, “Kou Xian has served by the emperor’s side since he was young and is the person he trusts most, I am different from him.”
He Linyan responded dryly, “Oh.”
Ning Yi glanced at her, “Do you still want to be a guest at the Department of Prudence?”
He Linyan looked back, “What?”
Ning Yi said, “You’ve finished watching the show, why don’t you leave? In another quarter of an hour, the patrol will pass by here.”
Li Yu should have safely evacuated from Wanshou Palace, so there was really no need for He Linyan to stay here.
He Linyan hurriedly said, “I’ll leave now.”
Ning Yi nobly and coldly lifted his chin, signaling He Linyan to get lost nimbly.
He Linyan looked around, but said, “Lord Ning, it’s really creepy in the middle of the night in the palace, where are you going next? Are you going to go with me? Go together if you’re going the same way?”
“How you came, how you go back.”
He Linyan sighed, “I was lucky not to meet anyone when I came here, just now you said there were guards patrolling, what if I bumped into them?”
Ning Yi said, “If you bump into them, you will naturally die.”
He Linyan smiled wryly, “But I don’t want to die, and I’m afraid of pain, if I’m caught, and if I accidentally give up Lord Ning under severe torture, how would that be?”
Ning Yi snickered, “I think you don’t want to die, but you are impatient to live.”
He Linyan sighed, “No more jokes, I do have something to tell you, it’s better to travel together.”
Ning Yi gave He Linyan a non-committal look, turned around and left.
He Linyan knew his arrogant nature and took this as a tacit agreement, and quickly followed to follow.
Ning Yi is very familiar with the patrol of the palace, the two walked in the late night in the palace without hurry, a person did not encounter, although the palace is full of crises, but He Lin night felt the long-awaited calm mood.
The first thing you need to do is to get rid of the problem. Just like a hedgehog, although the whole body is full of thorns, but those thorns are outside the Royal, to the close people he will only expose the soft belly, very tolerant, very good temper.
The two did not speak on the way until they were about to walk to the Wenzhen Hall when Ning Yi stopped and frowned and looked back at He Linhang.
He Lin night helpless, unfortunately now she has also become an outsider, can only tolerate tolerate his eccentric temper.
“I heard that Princess Huyang is going to the marriage, what about the compulsion on your body then?”
Ning Yi originally didn’t want to answer, but when he met He Lin Wan’s eyes, he still said somewhat coldly and stiffly, “The princess wants me to go with her to the marriage.”
He Linyan subconsciously mocked, “She’s dreaming! … I mean you, a deputy of the Penal Prison Division, how could you possibly marry with her.”
Ning Yi looked at He Linwei and slightly pulled the corner of his mouth, “I chose her in the first place, everything has a price.”
He Linyan was very angry, although it was Ning Yi who used Princess Huyang first, but the “Unleashing Jun’s Sorrow” was not harmful to those who took the mother compulsion, otherwise it would not have become a sharp tool for the former imperial family to control the dead soldiers.
The first thing you need to do is to get a good idea of what you’re doing.
After thinking about it, He Linyan said to Ning Yi, “I’ll find a way to help you solve the compulsion.”
Ning Yi said carelessly, “This compulsion has not been unlocked for many years, what can you do. Don’t bother.”
He Linyan didn’t argue with Ning Yi, it was useless to talk about this now, but she wouldn’t give up helping Ning Yi solve the compulsion.
Ning Yi took the liberty of announcing the end of the conversation and said to He Lin Wan, “Don’t come out at night in the future, I won’t help you again if you meet me in the future. And that one, tell him his favor I have finished returning, do not commit to my hands, when the time comes I have no mercy to tell him.”
He Linyan still wanted to talk to Ning Yi, but Ning Yi turned around and left after letting out his harsh words, not giving He Linyan a chance to stay.
He Linyan watched his back disappear into the dark shadows of the palace and sighed.
At this time, the emperor’s bedchamber, Chengqian Palace, which is located on the central axis of the entire palace, had not yet turned off the lights.
The Emperor was sitting on the couch in his regular clothes, playing with himself, and the black pieces on the chessboard were besieging the white dragon with the momentum of dragon slaying, and the victory was already clear, but the Emperor had to think deeply about every single piece.
When Mu Zhizhen came in, he was about to salute, but Emperor Tiancheng waved his hand and pointed to the seat opposite him, “Sit down and finish this game with me.”
Mu Zhi Zhen: “Yes, Your Majesty.”
After sitting down, Mu Zhi Zhen glanced at the chessboard, but found that his side of the jar was dominated by the black pieces, and the opposite side of Emperor Tian Cheng was holding the white characters.
“If a normal person faced with such a situation, he would have thought that the emperor was insinuating that he was plotting against him and would have been scared to his knees.
Emperor Tiancheng glanced at the chessboard and asked, “I heard that you led people to besiege Wanshou Palace?”
Mu Zhi Zhen respectfully replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Emperor Tiancheng picked up a white piece, “Oh? What have you found?”
Mu Zhi Zhen was about to reply, but at that moment, Kou Xian, the head of the Department of Penalties and Prisons, who had lagged behind, came in, bowed and stood quietly to the side.
Mu Zhi Zhen presented the box containing the token, “I suspect that Li Yu’s people wanted to go to Wan Shou Palace to get something, so I brought someone to ambush them.”
Emperor Tiancheng raised his eyes, “You said Li Yu went into the palace? Where is he?”
Mu Zhi Zhen bowed his head and said, “I didn’t see anyone, but only found this, I’m stupid, I might have fallen into Li Yu’s trap.”
Emperor Tiancheng took the box without question, opened it and took a look, his expression froze.
“This is …”
Mu Zhi Zhen said, “It’s the token left by the old King Jin.”
Emperor Tian Cheng recognized this token, when King Jin was still alive in the misfire, when he was an unpopular prince following King Jin, he had seen King Jin use this token to order his men.
Emperor Tiancheng took the token out with some urgency, turning it over and over to examine it carefully, and could not help but fondle it again.
“It is indeed exactly the same as that token, and it is said to be able to command the dark ministry.”
The power left behind by King Jin has always been a piece of heartache for Emperor Tiancheng, and this piece of heartache has kept him awake at night all these years.
In fact, it is better to say that it is the King of Jin’s own dark department, rather than to go to the court elite handed over to the King of Jin by the previous emperor, and then through the cultivation of the King of Jin even more strengthened this part of the force.
These forces after the death of both the King of Jin and the previous king should reasonably be handed over to him, the new ruler, but unfortunately …
The new king of the country is the only one who has been able to get the best out of the country.
Emperor Tiancheng returned to his senses and his expression sank slightly, “Imitation?”
Mu Zhi Zhen told the story of how he found this token and then the paper that was stuck inside spontaneously combusted, without hiding anything. With Kou Xian intervening, he couldn’t hide it.
Emperor Tiancheng’s gaze grew deeper and deeper as he recounted. After listening to the Emperor Tiancheng turned his head to look at Kou Xian, who was standing at the side.
Kou Xian glanced at Mu Zhi Zhen and reported back, “Your Majesty, when the slave servant went in, he only saw Lord Mu’s hand as if he was burning something, and when the slave servant approached, there were only ashes left, so the slave servant did not witness the list, nor did he see it spontaneously combust.”
Mu Zhi Zhen sighed in his heart.
Emperor Tian Cheng played with the Xuan Iron token in his hand, not knowing what he was thinking.
“Are you sure this token is an imitation?”
Mu Zhi Zhen paused and shook his head, “I’m just guessing, I’m not sure.”
“Well.” Emperor Tian Cheng looked puzzled.
Mu Zhi Zhen had already stood up after handing out the token, and now stood at the side with Kou Xian with downcast eyes.
After an unknown period of time, Emperor Tiancheng raised his eyes, “I understand, you can go down.”
Mu Zhi Zhen bowed and saluted, “Yes, I’ll leave.”
Mu Zhi Zhen was about to leave, but heard Emperor Tian Cheng ask, “Has your father’s illness improved recently?”
Mu Zhi Zhen turned back and said, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for thinking of me. With the care of the palace doctors, my father is now awake more every day, and sometimes he can still speak with me.”
Emperor Tiancheng nodded his head, “That’s good. Your grandfather has been sick for many years, and Jingcheng is also sick now, so the burden of your family falls on you.”
Mu Zhi Zhen bowed his head and listened respectfully.
Emperor Tiancheng waved his hand, “Go down.”
Mu Zhi Zhen then retreated.
The first time I saw him, I realized that the clothes on his back were already wet with cold sweat.
Looking at the shadowed palace in front of him, Mu Zhi Zhen pinched his brow somewhat wearily.
He knew that Li Yu’s purpose in making this game today was to tell him one thing, that is, Emperor Tiancheng did not believe him, or rather did not believe their Mu family.
And after tonight, Emperor Tiancheng’s distrust of them will be even greater, and he won’t even be able to defend himself, because birth determines position.
Li Yu is indeed quite ruthless, a shot straight to the heart of the matter.
At this moment, in the Chengqian Palace, Emperor Tiancheng asked Kou Xian, “How much do you think Mu Zhizhen’s words can be believed?”
Kou Xian watched Emperor Tiancheng’s face and said with a smile, “Slave servant is obtuse, so I can’t tell what Lord Mu is saying. …”
Emperor Tiancheng was about to frown when Kou Xian continued, “But slave servant just found out a little something.”
“Tell me.”
Kou Xian said, “Just now Lord Mu said the list in the token was spontaneously combusted by itself, but the servant girl deliberately checked the ashes after he left and smelled a bit of firestone.”
Emperor Tiancheng raised his eyes, his gaze was sharp, “You mean that the list was not spontaneously combusted, but he burned it on purpose?”
Kou Xian lowered his eyes and said, “With His Majesty present, the servant did not dare to make a presumptuous judgment, but could only discuss the matter.”
Emperor Tiancheng’s face was slightly sunken, “If that is true, the token is real, the list is also 80% real, the reason he burned it before you arrived was to not give the list to me …”
Kou Xian stood quietly and did not interrupt.
Emperor Tiancheng thought for a moment, “Then is his claim that Li Yu has infiltrated the palace credible?”
“This …” Kou Xian smiled with difficulty, “If the Prince of Hengyang has really infiltrated the palace, and so long has not been discovered, I am the Secretary of the Department of Justice is derelict in his duties.”
The Department of Punishment as a knife in the hands of the emperor, but also his eyes to monitor the entire imperial capital, it is reasonable that any of the things happening in the palace can not escape the eyes of the Department of Punishment.
Kou Xian saw that the emperor did not have the intention of anger, and half-jokingly said: “Or … unless Hengyang Wang Shizi has the ability to fly and disappear, can escape from the supervision of the Department of Punishment?”
In fact, there is another possibility that there is a traitor in the Department of Discretion. But neither Kou Xian nor Emperor Tiancheng has thought about this possibility, because all the people in the Department of the Prudent Punishment have taken the “relief of the gentleman’s worries”, it is impossible to have the heart of betrayal.
Emperor Tiancheng is still cautious, although not very convinced that Li Yu lurking in the palace, but also explained Kou Xian, “carefully investigated, do not take it lightly.”
Kou Xian had followed Emperor Tiancheng for many years and naturally knew how scrupulous he was about Li Yu, and hastily replied solemnly, “Yes, Your Majesty, tomorrow the servant will sort out the palace carefully.”
After He Lin night back, lying in bed all night did not sleep, she thought about Ning Yi’s body compulsion, but how to untie her clueless.
Princess Huyang wants to take Ning Yi with her, He Linyan naturally refused to agree, but if Princess Huyang must want Ning Yi, make a scene, the emperor may not compromise. Although Ning Yi is a person of the Department of the Shenzhi, but as he said, he is different from Kou Xian, in the emperor is not irreplaceable, maybe the emperor will also send him to the Great Ji country as a spy.
The next morning Chun Xiao found several red bumps on the forehead of her own girl.
The next day, He Linwei found that the guards in the palace were much stricter, and occasionally you could see several chamberlains wearing the clothes of the Department of Punishment walking in the palace, even the Wenzhen Hall was also frequented by people from the Department of Punishment.
The girls are very nervous when they see people from the Department of Sentencing, and everyone is afraid of being arrested by the Department of Sentencing if they accidentally commit something. The sisters of Wenzhen Palace reassured the girls that the people of the Department of Punishment were only investigating the palace, in order to prevent the last assassination of ambassadors from happening again, and had nothing to do with the girls, so they should not be nervous.
The girls were pacified, but He Linyan knew that the action of the Department of Justice must have something to do with Li Yu. The palace guards are the first people to be investigated, but in Li Yu had prepared, in the night to explore the Palace of Longevity daytime was “out of the palace”, these are recorded in the book, so even if the investigation can not be investigated Li Yu dressed as the guard head.
But because of the “rest”, this period of time Li Yu naturally can not appear in the palace.
Last time was assassinated ambassador Jia Lan, after a few days of careful treatment of injuries have been improved, the Great Ji country ambassador again proposed the matter of peace, this time more formal, in the emperor’s morning court submitted a letter of state, the emperor agreed on the day.
After the court, the fifth prince and the sixth prince met on the narrow road outside the main hall, their eyes met, the sixth prince saluted first and called out “fifth prince”, the fifth prince nodded, after which there was no further communication between the two, and they left surrounded by their respective men.
The fifth prince’s subordinates looked worried.
“The Sixth Highness’ power in the court nowadays cannot be underestimated.”
The Fifth Prince’s face was a bit bad.
Before he left the capital, neither he nor the Sixth Prince had officially joined the court, but because he was a little older and the most favored in front of his father, his reputation was higher than the Sixth Prince’s at that time, and the Sixth Prince always took precedence over him on occasions when he was present.
But he left the capital five years, although he has accumulated some seniority in the military, the power in the court is somewhat less than these years of hard work of the sixth prince, now the sixth prince can not only compete with him in the court, and even have a vague tendency to overpower him.
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