On a cloudless spring day, the sky is dazzling and blue.
The sunshine is very good, and through the delicate and shy flower branches, the broken shadows are shining brightly, the willows are stretched, the elm and locust trees are shaded, and the thick green is already beautiful. The water on the Wangqiu Lake is faint, the warm wind is like a drunken microwave, flying flowers dance lightly, falling on the Yuhu Lake, floating on the Champs Pavilion, gently curling up, leisurely.
The beaded curtains swayed slightly in gusts of breeze, walking along the apse of Tianji Mansion, the huge water-polished bluestone ground is flat and far-reaching, silent, and there is still a little coolness everywhere.
Suddenly there was a slight sound of footsteps coming from outside the hall, one person was walking slowly, and the other was barely audible when they landed on the ground, one in front of the other, going deep into the hall.
There are a few stretched yellow chrysanthemums floating in the clear and clear ice cup, and the slender fingers are lined on the sky-blue fine porcelain that seems to be able to seep water, which is beautiful and elegant.
"Phoenix Lord, someone brought it here."
Qing Chen quietly put down the teacup in his hand, raised his phoenix eyes slightly, and looked behind Ming Ze's face that was as rigid as his voice.
"Your officer... I have seen the princess!"
A slight smile appeared on Qing Chen's soft lips, "Doctor Wang, I feel a little uncomfortable today, thank you for coming to the mansion."
Royal Physician Wang Zhi had just left Yige City this morning when he was stopped straight, and entered Ling Wang's mansion in a daze, with a trace of cold sweat on his forehead, he lowered his head and said: "This is the job of a lower official, but In front of the concubine, the subordinate officials dare not use the axe. Besides... besides, the subordinate officials are not on duty today, so they have nothing with them, so I would like to ask the concubine to allow the subordinate officials to go back and get them."
Qing Chen raised his head slightly, "If this is the case, then there is no need. Jinshi acupuncture and medicine are all available in Lingwang's mansion, and you can take them as you like. If you go out here at this time, I'm afraid you won't be able to go back."
Wang Zhi looked up guiltily and looked up. In the quiet palace, a long rosewood screen with mother-of-pearl inlays painted a strange mountain scene with light clouds coming out of Xiuxiu. In front of the screen, Princess Ling was wearing a lake-colored light makeup like a cage of smoke. The water, the elegant eyebrows, the quiet corners of the lips, under the clear eyes, he just felt that he had nowhere to hide, as if everything in his heart was seen clearly, and he didn't even have the heart to search for a lie, "Wangfei ... Dismissal... Dismissal..."
Qing Chen said slowly: "I'm sure you know what I want to ask, and if you tell what you know, Prince Ling's Mansion will never embarrass you."
Wang Zhi said in a low voice: "The lower official is dull, I really don't know what the princess is talking about."
Qing Chen's eyes were quiet, and his voice was also faint: "Oh, it seems that I need to remind you, how about it, why don't you meet a few people first." With a slight signal, Ming turned around and left, and the subordinates of Mingyilou came out after a while. A few stretchers were brought in, and the white cloth was lifted, and there were several men in black who had been dead for a long time.
Wang Zhi was taken aback, and tremblingly said: "Princess... what... what does this mean?"
Qing Chen turned a blind eye to the corpses and just looked at Wang Zhi quietly: "The first two were intercepted by the guards of Prince Ling's Mansion in the backyard of your house last night, and the last two died outside Yige City, Banxia Pavilion. .”
Hearing the words "Banxia Pavilion", Wang Zhi was startled, lowered his eyes hastily, his body trembling slightly due to fear, "Xiaguan... I don't know anything, I don't know."
Seeing that he insisted that he didn't know anything, Ming Ze said coldly: "Phoenix Lord, hand him over to your subordinates. Within half an hour, your subordinates will definitely let him explain everything clearly."
Qing Chen smiled and said: "I'm afraid Royal Physician Wang won't be able to withstand your methods, but it's good to have a look, maybe you will remember something."
"yes!"
Wang Zhi was taken tremblingly by Ming Ze to a dark room a few steps away. As soon as he opened the door, he suddenly yelled in horror and stretched out his hand against the door to retreat.
Qing Chen picked up the tea in his hand, as if he didn't hear the exclamation full of fear, he took a sip slowly. Ming Ze snorted coldly, and his men pushed Wang Zhi into the room with only a little more force. Seeing that the door was about to close, Wang Zhi cried out in shock: "Princess! Concubine! I say, I say everything! Princess, spare me!"
"Ming Ze!" Qing Chen's low-pitched voice sounded faintly, and Ming Ze picked up Wang Zhi, whose hands and feet were already limp, and brought him back to his original place with a dark face.
A faint, slightly bitter fragrance of flowers overflowed, Qing Chen put down the teacup, in the elegant water color, a few chrysanthemums couldn't help themselves, floating up and down, and slowly regained their calm.
As soon as Ming Ze let go, Wang Zhi threw himself in front of him, and almost burst into tears: "Princess, it's not that I don't want to say it, the whole family is in their hands, I dare not say it!"
Qing Chen said: "The four members of your family were taken to Banxia Pavilion to wait for you. If the people from Prince Ling's Mansion went one step later, plus you five people, I'm afraid they are already on the way now. But this road is not Leave Tiandu to regain freedom, but Huangquan Road. Your parents, wife and children are in a safe place now, tell me everything you know, and I will not make things difficult for you."
Wang Zhi prostrated himself on the ground, thinking that today he and his family could escape the danger, but who knows that there is a dead end everywhere, and his heart is miserable. Qing Chen seemed to be able to read his mind, and said softly: "Don't worry, I have no intention of using your family to coerce you. There are many ways to get you to tell the truth, and I don't really like to use this one. Even today If you don't tell me, I will also send someone to send them out of Tiandu and settle them down properly, but whether you want to go with them or not, you need to figure it out yourself."
At this point, Wang Zhi had no way out, so he had to say: "Your official... I am willing to say."
Qing Chen looked down at him: "How did the imperial concubine get there?"
Wang Zhi's voice was rough: "On the surface, it looks like he hanged himself, but in fact, someone has already murdered him before hanging the beam."
Qing Chen said: "Who can do it?"
Wang Zhi hurriedly said: "This lower official really doesn't know."
Qing Chen thought that he couldn't know the details, so he asked again: "Then who instructed you to boldly hide this matter?"
Wang Zhi said: "Yes... it's the empress Ding, I'm greedy for money for a while... I just want no one to pay attention to the imperial concubine in the palace, nothing will happen, who knows... who knows..."
Qing Chen's voice was cold: "You probably forgot one thing, the imperial concubine is the mother of the Fourth Highness."
Wang Zhi's voice was trembling, and he said tremblingly: "Fourth Highness... ah! Yes... yes... I should die, I should die..."
Qing Chen stopped talking for a while, and Wang Zhi leaned on the ground. It was obviously a cool hall, but his forehead was dripping with sweat, dripping down one drop after another. After a while, the ground in front of him was stained with dark blue.
Concubine Ding, Qing Chen looked at the fluttering chrysanthemum with a calm expression, and it really was King Xi. Her slender fingers gently drew a horizontal line on the smooth surface of the case, and wrote along this horizontal line, which is a "five". The least conspicuous one, hidden in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity, is a wolf.
If there is any prince in the Dazheng Palace who is more silent than the fourth prince, it is the fifth prince Ye Tianxi.
He is not seen splashing ink and reciting poems on the leisurely jade lake, he is not seen while galloping horses and galloping in the Kunlun Garden, and he is not heard at the civil and military gatherings in front of the Taiji Hall. Although an unknown person is in charge of the Gyeonggi Division, he is actually the most thankless job in Tiandu.
But he is down-to-earth, it seems that he is willing to be overshadowed by King Zhan's splendor, and he is also willing to follow King Ling's military exploits and prestige. Sometimes people even forget that there is such a prince.
His mother, Ding concubine, came from a humble background and had an ordinary appearance, so she might be overlooked at any time among the concubines of the Sangong Sixth Courtyard. The Taiping Palace has been neglected all year round, and there are only a few grand banquets in a year to have the opportunity to meet the Emperor of Heaven.
However, ambition will not be wiped out because of these. On the contrary, like weeds, even if they are in barren rock crevices, exposed to wind and rain, when they breed and spread, nothing can stop them, and no one can escape.
Qing Chen raised her hand and brushed it lightly, and the traces left on the case were erased in an instant. She looked at Wang Zhi: "You go with them, someone will send you out of Tiandu. I will give you a piece of advice, forget it from today on. Concubine Lian, you forgot to be a concubine, it is best to forget the word "Wang Zhi", Ling Wang's mansion can't protect you for the rest of your life, you should do it yourself."
The gentle voice seemed to be in my ears, but it was high above me, "Thank you... Thank you, princess, for your kindness!" Wang Zhi touched his forehead to the ground and raised his head, only to see that Princess Ling had already got up, her quiet clothes were like clouds, calm and elegant, Faintly disappeared in the depths of the hall.
It's late spring and early summer again, and the honeysuckle vines of Yanxi Palace are lingering and spreading all over the corridors, with light shadows and greenery. Small flowers of gold and silver are dotted among the slender branches and leaves, and the sun has fallen a little, and the warmth has a bit of fragrance.
Ye Tianling came out of Yanxi Palace, perhaps because the light reflected in his eyes was too dazzling, he frowned tightly, as if he was not happy with the warmth of the sun. The emperor's grandmother was old, and he could see that she came to Yanxi Palace more and more frequently, at least no matter how busy she was, she would come to say hello every day. However, whether it is a prince or a hero, the pace of time will not stop because of this, he knows very well in his heart.
The clothes rustled in front of her, and the rings rang softly. Ye Tianling looked up and saw that it was Concubine Su Shu bringing a few maids to the Empress Dowager's bedroom. With soothing steps and a graceful figure, Concubine Su Shu under the sun has a kind of soft beauty. The hibiscus silk dress is as graceful as water, and the spring breeze is not strong, slowly passing over her gentle face.
"Ms. Concubine Shu." Ye Tianling was no stranger to Concubine Su Shu because of the eleventh day. At this time, Concubine Su Shu approached, with a slight smile on her lips, but the faint trace of haggardness in the beautiful eyebrows was so clearly falling. In Ye Tianling's eyes.
The moment Concubine Su Shu saw Ye Tianling, she couldn't help but look behind him, and then sadness and disappointment could not be concealed in her eyes, and Ye Tianling turned around subconsciously.
The breeze is empty, and things are changing.
The corners of Ye Tianling's lips tightened slightly: "... Your Majesty, please take care of yourself."
Concubine Su Shu's eyes glowed faintly, she tilted her head and lowered her eyes, she settled her mind, "It's hard for you these days." Later, she said softly, turned around and ordered the maids to back away, and walked forward slowly, Ye Tian Ling hesitated for a moment, but did not leave like before.
With a tall and straight figure and a handsome and cold expression, Concubine Su Shu looked at Ye Tianling silently by her side with indifferent eyes. He didn't speak, as if he didn't know what to say, but walked slowly. Concubine Su Shu stopped, stood under the light shadow of green branches and vines, and looked at Ye Tianling, "In this deep palace, the imperial concubine and I are considered close. I wonder if you would like to call me concubine mother at this time?"
According to the practice in the palace, apart from the respectful title of "mother queen" for the queen, the prince only called his biological mother mother concubine, and other concubines were called empresses according to their rank. Hearing Concubine Su Shu's words, Ye Tianling was silent for a moment, then he took a small step back, gently lifted the skirt of his clothes, and made a formal prostration to Concubine Su Shu: "Mother Concubine."
His voice was clear and firm, just like his usual style, as long as he made a decision, he never perfunctory.
Concubine Su Shu hastily raised her arms to help him up, her heart was sore, the tears in her eyes couldn't help but fell down.
Ye Tianling said in a low voice: "Concubine mother...it's because I didn't protect the eleventh brother well, I..." Facing a mother, there seems to be a part of my heart that has always been hard will soften. But what to say? What can I say? Even if you blame yourself a thousand times, how can it help? How many sleepless nights, how many times I want to drink to relieve my sorrow, but it is useless. It is inevitable! Sometimes only these four words are left in his mind, which are cold and hard to see deeply in front of his eyes, seeping into his bones and blood.
After a moment of gaffe, Concubine Su Shu quickly regained her composure, "It's not your fault. Ever since Che'er really led the army, I knew that there would be such a day sooner or later. Although I always wanted to stop him, I still let him go. He If it was a daughter, I would always protect him by my side, but he is not. He is the prince of the heavenly dynasty. This is the ambition of a man. Although I can't keep him in the end, I do I'm happy for him. Among you, my Che'er is the child who lives the most unrestrained and happiest life, because he has been doing what he likes. I am his mother. No one knows the child better than the mother. As long as he is in his heart I don't have any regrets, so I feel relieved. Ling'er, you don't have to blame yourself, if you can't see through, the pain of life is far worse than death."
Ye Tianling listened to Concubine Su Shu's words quietly, meditated silently, and then said softly: "What the concubine mother said, the child has been educated."
Concubine Su Shu smiled slightly, but sighed again: "But I don't worry about Li'er, Che'er has always been with you, even when she was young and vigorous, she was always safe in her bones. But Li'er was doted on by me since she was a child. Lawless, the emperor also indulged him, which is really worrying. Now in the court, you have to help me watch him more."
Ye Tianling frowned slightly. Recently, the Twelve Princes have repeatedly participated in this impeachment, and Shao Xiubing and others who were previously detained in the prison were repeatedly charged with serious crimes. Under such pressure, the Ministry of Punishment changed his sentence from exile to exile to prison, and executed him after autumn. Immediately after that, several servants in the palace who were closely related to the Su family jointly impeached the Ministry of Industry. It was Yin Mingtang, the eldest son of Yin Jianzheng.
Although this is true, but since the Yin family dared to do these things, they naturally did it seamlessly. Yin Mingtang was not in any danger, but he was made ashamed and embarrassed. In his anger, he ordered officials to go to his own business, and secretly pointed out that the twelve princes were domineering in the sky, acting arrogantly and inappropriately.
After a few times like this, the court hall was full of wind and sparks, and the Su family, who had always been neutral in things, had the intention of being at odds with the Yin family. The Emperor of Heaven has been in poor health lately, and he has not gone to court early for many days, and he was very angry when he saw a few such scriptures. Ye Tianling looked coldly at the twelfth trouble, and immediately ordered Chu Yuanjing to try to suppress those censors at the Yushitai, and then brought this matter up with Feng Yan seemingly casually. Feng Yan understood that from now on, as long as the playbooks of the Twelve Princes reach the Ministry of Education, they will not be published. Of course, this chapter of the Yin family will not pass this test.
At first the Yin family was not good at giving up, but Wei Zongping could see it clearly, and secretly advised Yin Jianzheng not to create such a powerful enemy as the Su family out of thin air. Yin Jianzheng was also worried about how to explain to King Zhan if the matter really got serious, so he stopped his flag and drums, and gave up resentfully.
Twelve was pressed several times in this chapter, knowing that Feng Yan was not so bold to make such a claim, so he went directly to Ling Wang's mansion. Ye Tianling knew very well that his temperament was different from Eleven's, that he was unruly and unruly, and he preferred softness to toughness, so he simply avoided seeing him, but Qing Chen greeted him with a smile.
Qing Chen invited Twelve to Sixue Pavilion, and ordered someone to prepare good wine to chat with him. There was a gentle breeze in front of the corridor, and Twelve smiled lightly at Qing Chen in the quiet shadow of unadorned gauze, and looked at her delicate body, even if she was really full of anger, she couldn't vent her anger, and she was depressed for a while, so she just bowed her head and poured herself out Self-drinking.
Thinking back to Tiandu at the beginning of the year, Qing Chen and Twelve rode together and rode together, laughing and playing, and it was the most enjoyable. It was rare to see him look so downcast, and I felt very uncomfortable. Boozy and easy to get drunk, she was afraid that Twelve would drink too much, so she deliberately found some interesting stories at that time to make him talk. Twelve is also suitable for the occasion, she said, and he replied, but the wine was still drinking cup after cup without stopping. Unexpectedly, after a few sentences, Prince Zhan's Mansion was inevitably mentioned, and when Twelve stopped pouring wine, Qing Chen's words paused slightly.
After a while of silence, it was Twelve who spoke first: "Seventh Brother will return to Tiandu soon, and I want to suppress the Yin family before that. Once Seventh Brother comes back, he will have no chance."
Qing Chen was silent for a moment, then said: "It's really not easy to touch the Yin family in his hands."
Twelve drinks a glass of wine: "Brother Seven is in the Western Regions, and his hands are in Tiandu. I'm not afraid that he will protect the Yin family. Recently, he himself is ruthless to the Yin family. Others don't know, but I can see clearly. But no matter how much he lays With a ruthless hand, he will always leave a retreat for the Yin family in the future, and wipe out all hidden dangers that may cause accidents. He will not touch the root of the Yin family. When he returns to Tiandu, the Yin family's sword will be completely wiped out. It has been sharpened, and it is easy, so I said, there is no chance."
Surprise flashed faintly in Qing Chen's eyes, she didn't expect Twelve to say such things. Twelve looked at her with a half-smile, "I know fourth brother is afraid that I will be lawless and anger father. In fact, father will not do anything to me. The big thing is to reprimand me and think about it behind closed doors at most. Look at Eleven brother For the sake of my father, no matter how annoyed my father is, he will not be able to punish me. As for the fourth brother himself, it’s not that he doesn’t need it, he just has that kind of temper. How much can he bear alone? At this point, no one can hide from this muddy water, and there is no need to always try to keep me out. Right now, I want to avoid it, so how can they let the Su family Staying out? The best defense is offense."
When Twelve said this, he gently played with the wine in his hand, and the shade gradually revealed from the green garden was reflected on his vigorous side face, covering the bright eyes with a luster of varying shades. White jade cup, amber wine, moist and slightly spicy.
When Qing Chen relayed this to Ye Tianling, the flowers in the courtyard were cold and the moon was in Dongshan. Ye Tianling looked at Tiantian, which was as bright as water, raised his eyebrows lightly, and there was a proud smile on the corner of his lips, that was the same thing in the bones of every man in the Ye family, no one was an exception.
Back at Prince Ling's Mansion, Qing Chen hadn't woken up from a nap, and Ye Tianling didn't want to disturb her, so he walked along Wangqiu Lake alone, thinking about things with his head down, and walked into the depths of the bamboo forest without realizing it. The breeze is light and the green shadows are quiet, which only makes people feel peaceful and refreshed.
Turning around a small path like this, I suddenly heard the sound of light footsteps, followed by the soft ringing of the hairpin, and the faint fragrance, and a woman's voice came to my ears, "Are you going back to Muyuan Hall? I haven't seen you for a long time, But sit for a while and leave again."
A slightly clearer voice said: "Qianyi, don't be so bored in the mansion all the time, go out for a walk anyway, I haven't seen you for a long time, and you're getting thinner."
Qian Ye said: "Every time you come, you drag me out, even take me to the singing and dancing workshop, what kind of place is that?"
The clearer voice said with a smile: "Isn't the song and dance workshop fun? You are always like this. I studied medical skills with the old genius doctor Zhang in Muyuan Hall. Men, women and children, I don't know how many people I have to see every day, and I don't think there is anything wrong. Yes. Why don't you wear the hairpin I picked out with you last time, but you don't like it?"
"The hairpin is pretty, but who am I to show it to..." Qian Mi said halfway, when a Qingba figure suddenly appeared in front of her eyes, she stopped in a hurry, as if she wanted to avoid it, but it was too late, Ye Tian Ling Zheng looked towards them.
The stern and cold face that was close at hand, the deep eyes were too black and too bright, like a starry night, the moment it came, it grabbed the brilliance of all things, covering everything almost with destruction. However, that piece of sky was extremely far away, and the unreachable distance made her not even have the courage to look up. The cold star was cold, without the slightest warmth, unchanged from ancient times.
She stood there timidly, not knowing what to do for a moment. On the contrary, the writing rhyme who accompanied her was graceful and generous, and blessed with a smile: "Your Highness!"
Only then did Qianye come back to his senses, hurriedly went down to salute, and said softly: "Your Highness..."
Ye Tianling just glanced at her, didn't seem to hear the slight tremor in her voice, and said softly: "Get up." He knew that Shu Yun often went back to the palace, and he heard Qing Chen praise her a few days ago Conghui, now in Muyuantang, she can see a doctor alone. However, he didn't care about these things, and he only stopped for a while when he encountered them here, and then continued to walk slowly. When Qianye raised his head behind him, he saw only a tall figure gradually disappearing into the depths of the path, feeling empty and desolate in his heart.
Still walking along the Wangqiu Lake, turning back to Shuyu Courtyard, I heard the sound of the piano at two o'clock in the distance. Ye Tianling stopped and listened carefully with his hands behind his back, and he knew that Qing Chen had woken up.
The leisurely and elegant voiceless voice is carelessly scattered like pearls and jade. When you hear it, you can imagine that from the fingertips that pluck the strings, half a piece of cloud clothes is scattered and flowing. The tourmaline is crystal clear against the white wrist like snow. Outlining the slender jade neck and the soft jaw along the line, the faint cherry lips must be lazy and smiling. Thinking of this, the corners of Ye Tianling's mouth couldn't help but also had a smile on his face, just hearing the sound of the zither coming through the mist and water, it made people suddenly excited!
Qing Chen had just woken up from a nap, sitting on the waterside pavilion, watching the waves of the lake from a distance, and casually plucked the strings, just to listen to the strings that were as thin as ice and crisp as jade. In the breeze, the light gauze wanders, indistinct and colorful, but suddenly a ray of clear and handsome flute sound seems to come from outside the sky. Broken gold, reflecting a dazzling brightness.
Feather eyelashes raised slightly, Qing Chen smiled slightly on his lips, raised his hand and flicked lightly, a smooth chord sound floated like running water, like passing through a curtain like dividing water, which just matched the sound of the flute.
The world of mortals is bustling with people, turning around among thousands of people, and seeing you, it seems that they have been waiting for a thousand years at that moment, these thousand years have passed because of you, and this look back, because of your beauty.
Outside the veil, on the lake, Ye Tianling leaned leisurely in front of the bamboo corridor, stroking the purple bamboo flute with his slender fingers, raising his eyebrows, his bright eyes were bright.
The sound of the flute is like the wind, and the sound of the zither is like water, one is sparse and distant, the other is elegant and timeless, with a clear and proud style, and the color of the water is faint, floating with the lake wind ups and downs, and dancing gracefully on the misty and emerald Wangqiu Lake.
All of a sudden, Ye Tianling pointed down slightly, and the sound of the flute rose sharply, like a dragon singing and whistling straight up into the sky. Qing Chen smiled lightly, waved the ice string with his hand, and Linglong Qingyin floated brilliantly, soaring upwards. The dragon swims in the sea of clouds, the phoenix dances in the nine heavens, accompanying each other, circling and soaring, between one flute and one qin, the vast sky is bright, Yu Yu clarifies, the proud wind god, the Lingyun heart, open the clouds and break the fog, and travel straight to the nine skys.
The wind and clouds are turbulent, overlooking the thousands of miles of Kyushu, the mountains and rivers are picturesque.
From the ethereal sky, the sound of the flute turns lightly, the sound of the zither turns low, the clear water and flowers float, and the dark fragrance wanders among the fleeting lights.
The two of them looked at each other, completely forgetting everything around them, and the breeze gently lifted the veil, and they glanced at each other like a surprise. She seems to come slowly from the misty clouds and mountains, and step by step, she steps into this bright and bright world of mortals. The starry eyes are clear and quiet, the world is full of prosperity and weak water, and he only sees this wave of flickering. The quiet and clear spring, lingering in the heart, has already turned into a deep current, passing through the long life and the long river.
All the hustle and bustle, all the glitz, all lowered their eyebrows and narrowed their eyes in this leisurely and elegant flute ensemble, and quietly receded. The breeze is free, the flowing water is high and the mountains are high. In the shady and green shadows of King Ling's mansion, the walkers stop and the speaker is silent. The maid who is picking flowers in the forest puts down the bamboo basket in front of her and listens attentively; He took the boat in his hand and turned around to stand.
In the depths of the path where the cherry blossoms are colorful, Qian Yan is alone, staring at the Wangqiu Lake, which is almost out of reach.