After the birthday banquet, the Empress Dowager became seriously ill, and Empress Yin was imprisoned in the cold palace for disobedience to the Empress Dowager. No one was allowed to see her, including King Zhan.
Ye Tianling and Qing Chen personally served the Empress Dowager at the bedside day and night, but they were powerless in the end. In late autumn and frosty cold, a field of chrysanthemums bloomed one after another in the Yanxi Palace. On the day when the color was as plain as the sea, the Empress Dowager passed away with a smile, and finished her eighty-four-year-old life.
Nine cities, the imperial capital, are all gone, and the world mourns. Emperor Hao stopped court for three days, and personally buried the coffin of the Empress Dowager in Xiling. Three days later, he returned to the court to listen to the government, his face was not sad, and his speech was as usual.
The ministers chattered endlessly about this, but Emperor Hao personally summoned the censors of the third courtyard of Yushitai on the first day of the restoration of the dynasty. After three days, he successively dismissed and replaced four servants and seven supervisors. Then two edicts were issued, one ordering nine political envoys in the world and thirty-six prefectural envoys to visit the imperial capital in batches to present their political situation face to face. The second order is to supervise the Ministry of Household Affairs of Shangshu Province to check the national treasury and the accounts of Ming and Qing Dynasties for review.
This immediately reminds people of the investigation of the household department in the 26th year of Shengwu. How many people's hearts were put back in their stomachs were picked up, fluttering and uneasy.
The mist is refreshing, the autumn wind is passing through the corridor and the water is cool, Ye Tianzhan is standing by the window, his clear face is always shrouded in a layer of haze under his brows. He had stood in front of the window for a long time, now he turned around and paced back and forth, sat down in front of the desk, and resumed his writing with a pen.
The pliable soft hair reveals a bit of sharp energy, and he slammed down on the snow-like silk slips in one go, and when he came to the end, he suddenly stopped, his eyes were slightly cold, and he swung his sleeves and threw a pen at the table. He stared at the memorial in front of him, and slowly retracted the hand that was pressing on it, and with a sudden grip, the entire elegant handwriting was destroyed between his fingers. He took a deep breath and suppressed the feeling of impatience, but he still couldn't use this manual.
He had his own way of understanding the situation of Empress Yin in the cold palace. Although the emperor was quite angry at the death of the Empress Dowager, Qing Chen tried his best to protect her. Treat her like my mother, she is not saying this in vain, if he pleads for Empress Yin at this time, it may backfire.
Thinking of this, Ye Tianzhan let go of the memorial, now that the time has not come, even though he is worried about his mother's situation, he deeply warns himself not to mess up.
In the matter of seeking a country, the outcome is not immediately clear. For a towering tree, the deep roots under it must be luxuriant in the luxuriant branches and leaves on the surface. It won't be long before the lifeblood of the Celestial Dynasty will be in his hands. Although accidents happened frequently in Beijiang after the war, they never wavered in his resolve. He will never give up on what he has determined.
He took out a jade hairpin from his bosom and gently held it in his hand. The hairpin is very simple, the style is not new, and the material is only ordinary white jade, but after countless times of touching, the jade color has a translucent luster, which makes it look extraordinarily elegant.
He remembered that when the steward of the bank sent the jade hairpin, he couldn't help but went to the four-sided building, just to see what the incomprehensible woman was going to do. The elegance of the surrounding buildings really attracted him, just like the person behind the deep gauze curtain. Listening to the piano behind the curtain, sitting quietly drinking tea, and helping her dismiss those people with ulterior motives, it was really like watching a defected child playing outside. It doesn't matter if she is allowed to be carefree, he didn't want to restrain her at all, she made him just want to take care of her, to see her laughing freely and having fun.
He smiled bitterly to himself, even now, he still feels this way. He only suspected that it was owed to her in the previous life, and in this life she came to collect the debt, including the principal with interest, and she would not give up until she got the last penny.
If life is just like the first meeting, the moment of first meeting is amazing, but it is scattered into bits and pieces of loneliness.
He doesn't know what loneliness is without her. When he met her, he was in the vast world, in a dream, waking up from a dream, alone.
She could see so clearly that he was not just Ye Tianzhan, and she was no longer just Feng Qingchen.
Confused, he almost didn't hear the brisk footsteps entering, until the bead curtain in front of the water pavilion was raised, he flipped his fingers, put the jade hairpin into his sleeve calmly, and only then did he look up. Duoxia's bright face was already in front of her eyes, she looked at him brightly, stretched out her hand and asked, "What are you hiding?"
Ye Tianzhan casually blocked her hand that reached into her sleeve: "Have you ever gone out?"
Duoxia bypassed the book case and knelt down beside him casually, "I met King Li in the shooting field. I originally planned to go hunting in Kunlun Garden together in the afternoon, but who knew that the emperor would send him into the palace, so we didn't go."
Ye Tianzhan saw that her hair was slanted, and her tight riding outfit outlined her shapely and tall figure. As she shook her head, a pair of jade bells swayed gently by her ears. It was charming and eye-catching. He smiled slightly. Said: "The Kunlun Garden goes deep into Baolu Mountain. There are many interesting things. I will let the twelfth brother take you there in the future, and I will definitely not let you down."
Duoxia said: "Let him take me there, why don't you accompany me? I heard from him that you are also a master of cross-jutting, but I have never seen it before."
Ye Tianzhan said: "Okay, I will accompany you some other day when I have time."
Duoxia looked at him sideways: "I don't care about perfunctory things. You are so generous to let King Li accompany me, it seems that you really don't regard me as your woman."
Ye Tianzhan raised his gentle eyes, smiled at her and said, "We made it very clear when we got married in Khotan. You have your purpose, and I have mine. I will help you keep Khotan and give You are completely free, as long as you don't mess around, I won't interfere with you."
Duoxia raised her head with a hint of arrogance, "I didn't disappoint you either. The thirty-six countries in the Western Regions are mostly in your hands now?"
Ye Tianzhan said: "You are smarter than your father. Before I went to the Western Regions, I really didn't expect that Khotan would have such a beautiful and smart princess."
Duoxia asked: "Is that what you thought at the palace dinner?"
Ye Tianzhan said: "What did you think when you invited me into the palace to appreciate the jade, and what did I think at the dinner party."
Duoxia laughed crisply, and put her arms around his neck, her soft tone was provocative: "I may not think the same as you, didn't I tell you that day at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet? I admire the prince's ambition and talent, so I am willing to marry him far away in the Central Plains."
The smell of ambergris on her body was mixed in the cool air of the autumn water pavilion, and Ye Tianzhan greeted the wild and charming light in her beautiful eyes, and wrapped his arms around her waist, and the two got closer , "Duoxia, don't always test my patience like this, you will regret it."
Duoxia only stared at his heart, he said such dangerous words, but his eyes were as clear as the autumn water that day, his gentle smile was prepared long ago, his emotions were all behind it, separated by a thin A layer of faint light is faintly distinct, but it just cannot be seen or touched. She had never seen such a man. That day when he was surrounded by enemies, he just turned his eyes like this, and smiled at her brightly, reminding her of an oasis of green and undulating green in the flying sand thousands of miles away. I don't know if the spring breeze in the Central Plains is like his smile. That's when a bold idea arose.
"No matter why, I'm already your wife, but why don't you even touch me? Am I not beautiful enough? Or do you have other women who are better than me?"
Ye Tianzhan let go of Duoxia, smiled and shook his head: "You are the most beautiful princess in the Western Regions. Anyone who asks me, I will answer like this. If I want a woman, there are many around me. I can pick and choose, but let me There are very few women who appreciate it, and you happen to be one. The thing about love is that you love me, and what I appreciate, I will not force it."
Duoxia asked back: "How do you know that I am reluctant? If I was not willing, would I marry you? Or..." She stared at Ye Tianzhan dissatisfiedly: "You mean it is very reluctant to marry me?"
Ye Tianzhan raised his head and smiled smartly: "It seems that you haven't figured it out yet, Duoxia, you're just curious because you haven't met someone like me. It won't be a dinner party if you marry me." It's love at first sight!"
Duoxia was taken aback by what he said, and then narrowed her eyes: "I'm just curious now, who is the other woman you admire? What kind of woman is it that makes a person like you so determined?"
Ye Tianzhan's eyes showed a different kind of deep taste, but he only asked with a smile, "What kind of person am I?"
Duoxia looked at his face and explored, and finally said: "I can't tell. According to what you said, if I can tell, then I am not interested in you. Now I should go back to Khotan to be my princess." .”
Ye Tianzhan nodded with a smile: "Yes, it's rare that you understand what I mean so quickly." He leaned back on the desk, relaxed his muscles and bones slightly, and thought for a while: "You will go back to the Western Regions sooner or later, but When I let you go back, you will not be just a princess of Khotan."
Duoxia naturally leaned against him, and after a moment of silence, she said: "You..."
Ye Tianzhan stroked her shoulder, "Don't worry, I will help you do everything I promised you. Oh, there is something I haven't told you yet. You are the only one who can inherit the Khotan Kingdom now." The throne."
Duoxia stood up in surprise, "Then my sister..."
Ye Tianzhan raised his hand to stop her: "You just need to know that she has lost this qualification."
Duoxia looked at him nearby, and could only see the smile that made her feel unfathomable, suppressing the emotional ups and downs in her heart, she smiled instead: "Then I thank you very much. It's just the current situation, what are you going to do? I am afraid that your emperor will not easily allow me to go back to the Western Regions."
Ye Tianzhan closed his eyes slightly, there was an imperceptible frown between his brows, but his voice was as smooth as before: "You don't have to worry about me, when it's time to go back, I will have a way to let you go back, no one can stop you .”
But it was unexpected to hear Duoxia ask: "Are all the recent rumors in Tiandu true?"
Ye Tianzhan raised his eyes, his expression was slightly stagnant, but he immediately laughed it off. Duoxia immediately said: "It really is true."
Ye Tianzhan smiled bitterly: "It seems that a beautiful and intelligent woman is really difficult to deal with."
Duoxia seemed to want to read something from his strange smile, but remembered his calm words in Khotan. In front of him, the melancholy hidden in his clearness, and his faint smile can only make people think it is an illusion.
"Back then, in Khotan, you told me that you could help me get anything I wanted except this heart. It turns out that your heart has been given to someone else. But since she is the woman you like, how could she become someone else's queen? "
Ye Tianzhan was not perfunctory to her: "You are really asking me this question."
Duoxia said: "Could it be that she doesn't like you?"
Ye Tianzhan turned his head and looked out the window. In the distance, the crystal blue sky was hazy and misty, and on the Xianyu Lake, there were remnants of lotus. A few years have passed in a blink of an eye, and I often still feel that she is standing in this misty room, smiling and smiling, every piece of decoration here is the same as before, and the things she has moved are stubbornly placed in the same place.
That autumn rain, pattering through the time when the sun rose and the moon set, every drop was her figure, clearly falling into the heart, blurred into one piece.
He smiled helplessly, turned his head to face Duo Xia's question, and said lightly: "If she ever liked me, she would have regarded me as someone else. After she knew who I was, she had already fallen in love with someone else."
Duoxia frowned when she heard this, "There are so many people in the world, it's not just this one. If it were me, if someone didn't like me, I would never forget him."
Ye Tianzhan smiled noncommittally: "Then you are smarter than I imagined." I don't know why I am willing to talk about this with Duoxia today. He didn't believe that anyone just wanted this person, but when he really met, he realized that if it wasn't for that person, if he knew each other and couldn't stay together, then everything would be dispensable.
As night fell, Qing Chen walked out of Fuming Palace slowly, Sun Shi sent him outside the palace, bent down, "Send off your empress respectfully."
Qing Chen tilted his head slightly, looked at Sun Shi under the light and shadow of a green gauze palace lantern, and suddenly found that the white hair on his temples was particularly eye-catching, and then remembered that he was also over fifty years old, just like the Emperor of Heaven.
The autumn night wind passed, adding a bit of coldness to the sparsely populated Fuming Palace, reminiscent of the dying old man in the bedroom.
Since the day he ascended the throne, Ye Tianling had never set foot in the Fuming Palace, and the Heavenly Emperor never summoned any imperial doctor to see him when he was ill. Only every three or two days, Qing Chen would personally come to give acupuncture and medicine.
After entering this Fuming Palace, she only regards herself as a doctor, no matter who is on the bed. And that's probably all she can do.
She couldn't get rid of Ye Tianling's grudge against the Emperor of Heaven, what kind of feelings Ye Tianling had towards the Emperor of Heaven, I'm afraid even he himself couldn't fully understand. This person was his uncle who killed his father and took away his mother, and also the emperor who raised and supported him. He lost too many things, and at the same time gave him more.
He imprisoned the Emperor of Heaven in the Fuming Palace, deposed and seized power, but he did not allow anyone to see the old and sickness of the Emperor of Heaven, and single-handedly maintained the last dignity of an emperor. He hated the Emperor of Heaven as an enemy, and at the same time respected him in a manly way.
To give birth to kindness, to raise kindness, which is more important? Standing on the edge of such chaos, who can tell clearly when viewed horizontally as mountains and laterally as peaks
Qing Chen returned to the palace, Ye Tianling has been summoning the ministers today, and he has no free time until now. Autumn and winter are approaching, and the sky is getting darker and earlier. Baguio has invited dinner several times, so Qing Chen just ordered to wait. Baguio also knew that the emperor must have dinner in Hanguang Palace every day, this has become a custom in the palace, but he didn't know why it was so late today.
After waiting for another hour, Sheng Jia was still nowhere to be seen, and the servant sent to Zhiyuan Hall came back, but said that the emperor did not know where he had gone. Qing Chen casually stepped out of the bedroom, stood in front of the palace for a while, then retreated from the crowd, and walked to Yanxi Palace alone. Sure enough, as she expected, Ye Tianling was sitting alone on the high platform in the back garden of Yanxi Palace, looking thoughtfully at the darkening sky.
Qing Chen walked up the steps lightly, and didn't notice until Ye Tianling was near. She squatted down in front of him, smiled and looked up at him: "Let me find it."
Ye Tianling also smiled: "What do you want me for?"
Qing Chen said: "It's so late, let's take it home for dinner."
Her smiling eyes are clear, like a crescent moon in the sky, such a pure smile with warmth. Ye Tianling shook his head and laughed, and pulled her up: "Later, I don't have much appetite."
Qing Chen held his hand and sat beside him, looking sideways at him with his chin in his hand: "Then if I make it for you, will you have an appetite? Hmm... Now that the crabs are getting fat, you can make that fried crab with onion and ginger, If you want something lighter, how about we eat noodles? But I’m afraid you won’t like it after making it.”
Ye Tianling was slightly moved, sighed, and shook her hand: "I'm not that picky, do you want to turn Shang Shansi off his feet?"
Qing Chen blinked his eyes playfully, and asked him softly: "Is it annoying to see the person you've seen all day?"
Ye Tianling suppressed his smile slightly, and said lightly, "Today, I'm just a five-state patrol."
Qing Chen didn't know about this before, so he couldn't help being surprised: "This is the first batch of patrols from the twelve states to enter the court, why is it only a small part?"
Ye Tianling's low and steady tone made people feel chills: "Wu Cun, the inspector of Hezhou, would bring a thousand taels of gold to visit the Wei Mansion as soon as he entered the sky, and nine out of ten officials of the third rank and above in the court would be bribed by him. Jiangzhou inspector The envoy Song Zeng chartered more than ten painted boats on the Chuyan River last night to entertain guests, and fought for the singing girls with others. Zhang Yong, the inspector of Wuzhou, didn't even know how many counties he governed in his state, so he wanted me to tell him The officials from the seven prefectures in Jiangzuo are really knowledgeable."
Qing Chen frowned when he heard this, thought for a while, but advised slowly: "Although that's the case, isn't it too hasty to depose officials one after another? It's inevitable that the court will be panicked."
Ye Tianling said: "Killing the chickens to warn the monkeys is to let them all know what kind of officials I want. This is the same reason to use this investigation of the national treasury to promote and dismiss a group of officials. Once the emperor and the courtiers, it is the same reason."
Qing Chen said: "The investigation of the national treasury involves a lot. The situation has not been completely stabilized yet. I'm afraid it will give people an opportunity to take advantage of."
Ye Tianling thought of today's report from the Ministry of Household Affairs, a sharp sharpness appeared in his eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "Do you know that there are only four million taels of silver left in Taikuang? During the reign of Shengwu, the four realms have been fighting all the time." Constantly, it consumes a lot of national power. How can we afford these people to take advantage of state interests and fill their pockets? The state treasury is still like this, and the states are also in a mess. The seven states on the left of Jiangzu are known as a paradise of wealth, but they are only rich in officials like Wu Cun and Zhang Yong. , for the country and the people, there is no income at all. Four million taels of silver, and the salary of Tiandu officials alone costs 300,000 a month. How can we use it to appease the frontiers? If any state suffers from natural disasters again, how can we use it for emergency? You have seen Si Weiyun's idea of water control. This year, the rain is moderate and the river flow is stable everywhere. It should be implemented, but it has been delayed again and again. The investigation is urgent and must be done."
Qing Chen looked at him quietly. During the twenty-seven years of Emperor Tian's reign, he had pacified the borders, deposed the princes, and brought the chaos of Emperor Mu to this day. The government is corrupt, the officials are monopolized, the treasury is empty, and the tax revenue is short. In the imperial capital, there is only money and money. The aristocrats of the valve are high above, even the royal family can hardly contain their power. Among the Kyushu, a thousand wastes are waiting to be rejuvenated, and under the four seas, thousands of people are waiting to be nourished. He holds up the world with one hand. How many difficulties are behind him
The night was deep and the stars were cold, casting firmness and coldness on his distinct side face, but it touched Qing Chen's heart with tenderness like water. Naturally, she didn't object to him checking the treasury: "If you want to fight this battle, you can only win, not lose. If you want to win beautifully, you must have people who know the bottom of the situation and have the means to do it."
Ye Tianling has actually been thinking about this question: "The difficulty lies in this person."
Qing Chen didn't speak for a while, quietly watching the darkening sky, and then said: "There is a person."
Ye Tianling paused for a moment, without asking who she was talking about, she just said, "That's even more difficult."
Qing Chen said: "But no one understands the world's finances better than him, and only he can restrain those powerful nobles."
Ye Tianling said: "Because he knows better than anyone else, he may be the biggest obstacle."
Qing Chen didn't refute him, he pursed his lips slightly, resting his chin on his knees, feeling regret for no reason.
That year, the autumn was bright and crisp, and the breeze was blowing in the mist-filled room. She had heard that man speak freely about his will and discuss his political opinions in depth. The heroic man with his eyebrows raised and his sword drawn, his elegant demeanor dressed in white, has a strange and shocking power, which deeply admires her. As early as that time, he saw clearly the crisis of the celestial dynasty, foresighted and determined to make new achievements. He wins over the top officials of the official family, and makes false claims with them. Is it not a quest to know oneself and the enemy? Only by knowing it can we win.
To make the country rich and the people strong, to flourish in a prosperous age, these are all coincident opinions. Will he become the biggest obstacle? If he wants to destroy these with his own hands, I don't know what it will feel like in his heart.
The double-edged sword of power always asks for it first, but what you can get is often unknown.
Qing Chen calmed down, raised his eyes and said, "Fourth brother, what a pity!"
Ye Tianling looked at her: "Qing'er, tell me the truth, how many of the suggestions you often told me before are your own opinions, and how many are his?"
Qing Chen smiled: "You can see it."
Ye Tianling smiled faintly: "I know you well, and I know him no less than you do."
Qing Chen thought for a while: "He talked with me too much about his thoughts before, but I can't tell them apart. You agree with many of them, right?"
Ye Tianling said: "He does have a lot of unique insights in governing the country. If he is willing to do this, he will be fully sure."
Qing Chen said: "The imperial grandmother once told you that you are not only rivals, but also brothers."
The empress dowager's last words, Ye Tianling will never forget, said: "I also promised the emperor's grandmother that I will never disappoint this foundation. When Zhaoning Temple is built for the emperor's grandmother, every time I accomplish a major event, I am going to build a pagoda in the temple, and the emperor's grandmother will be pleased when she finds out." He put his hands behind his head, lay on his back on the high jade steps, and looked deeply at the vast starry sky.
Qing Chen also lay down like him, quietly raising his head. A broad Milky Way is gorgeous like weaving, clearly across the sky, the sky is like water, and the stars are like the sea. Lying on such a high platform, one's soul extends infinitely with the deep night sky, as if traveling through the universe, exploring the unknowable mysteries of the universe, and at this moment, life is integrated with the boundless starry sky, never ending. The end, the tranquility is full of vitality.
Both of them seemed to be intoxicated by this feeling, and neither of them wanted to speak to break the silence at the moment. All around is the low singing of twittering caterpillar fungus, the breeze caresses the cheeks, all the troubles and hustle and bustle are like clouds of smoke, obliterated in Qingming's heart, there are no traces left, on the contrary, it makes the blood full of fighting spirit, Ye Tianling Couldn't help but slowly clenched his fists.
Luo Chang flowed beside her body, blue silk like clouds, Qing Chen stretched out his hand, starlight lingered between his fingers, everything seemed within reach. She said softly: "Fourth brother, the imperial grandmother must be watching us in the sky, there are also the queen mother, eleven, and maybe my father and mother. I often miss them very much, whether it is in the previous life or in this life, just because With them, I am who I am now."
Ye Tianling looked at her sideways, suddenly remembered something, pulled her to sit up, and handed something in front of her.
Under the starry sky, a string of crystal stones rested in his palm, dotted with light and translucent, with a light golden color as pure as sunlight. It turned out to be the string of titanium crystal beads, the treasures of the Ye clan's royal family exclusively for the queen. Qing Chen took it over in surprise, and couldn't help but feel excited, not because of the precious jewelry, this is already the eighth exquisite crystal.
That slight joy did not escape Ye Tianling's eyes. For so many years, she never forgot to collect these beads. This idea suddenly appeared, and it turned into a ray of disappointment in the bottom of her heart, which almost made him regret giving Qing Chen the beads.
At this moment, Qing Chen raised his head and smiled, raised his right hand to him, with the string of obsidian hanging loosely on his wrist: "Fourth brother, actually I still like this string of obsidian."
Ye Tianling said, "Why?"
Qing Chen sat with his knees hugged, looked at the starry sky, and said softly: "Each string of crystals has the memory of its owner, and there is your breath on it. Wearing it, it feels like you are always by my side."
Ye Tianling's heart moved slightly, and Qing Chen suddenly looked at him expectantly, and asked him: "Fourth brother, if one day, I mean, if, I can go back to the original world, would you be willing to be with me?" ?”
Ye Tianling smiled and answered her: "Okay."
Qing Chen happily asked: "Really?"
Ye Tianling said, "Really."
Qing Chen flung himself into his arms, smiling like a child. Ye Tian's stern and cold eyes seemed to be infected with her joy, they were clear and soft. He hugged her and said softly, "No matter where you want to go, I will accompany you."
Qing Chen frowned, leaned into his ear mischievously, and whispered: "Now let's go to the Shangshan Restaurant to get some food, okay? Don't let them know."
Ye Tianling looked at her with downcast eyes, raised his eyebrows, "Then let's go."
Qing Chen jumped up happily, took his hand and ran down the high platform.
An hour later, the chief servant of Shangshan Department knelt and kowtowed outside Hanguang Palace to plead guilty. Ye Tianling still had political matters to deal with, so he had no time to talk to him, so he took Yan Xi who hadn't turned the corner back to Zhiyuan Hall first.
Qing Chen heard Bi Yao say that Yu Tong was sweating profusely outside, wearing a cloud-colored single shirt, Shi Shiran stepped out of the bedroom, stood in front of Yu Tong and thought for a while, before throwing a sentence, "Shang Shansi actually hid I have never seen such a good sauce in Yushan, Yu Tong, you are so brave."
Yu Tong was so terrified that he didn't know what he replied. Now the small kitchen of Shangshan Division is in a mess, and several servants on duty have just woken up, and they are still at a loss, not knowing what is going on. Qing Chen dismissed Yu Tong, thinking that he had played a little too much, messed up the Shangshan Department, knocked out a few people, and almost alarmed the imperial guards, if the imperial officials knew about it How about
But... tonight's noodles are really good. Shangshan's special golden silk dragon beard noodles, served with the sauce made of something unknown, are so delicious that the two of them are rushing to eat. Ye Tianling actually started to cook the noodles, and the corners of her lips were about to rise uncontrollably.
Baguio took a few maids to put down the purple smoke silk and gold curtains around the Luan couch one by one, and the incense of cloud picking was lit in the bamboo-jointed phoenix-top stove, which was faintly wafting, and there was a sense of tranquility everywhere. Swaying through the bead curtain, I saw Qing Chen bowing his head and smiling, the light was dim, and her smile was sweet like honey, gentle and tender, making people unable to move their eyes away, and they couldn't help but follow her laugh it out. Thinking about it in a blink of an eye, my heart felt guilty again, I went forward and knelt down beside the couch, "Niang Niang, if Madam Bai knows about this, there will be an explanation."
Qing Chen's eyes rolled slightly, and he smiled again. Mrs. Bai is now conferred the title of Mrs. Daiguo. Although she has been given a mansion outside, she is granted permission to live in Miyagi in order to assist the queen in managing the harem.
The last time when King Ji escaped from Huangzongsi, a large number of palace personnel were replaced in the two cities of the palace, and the key departments of Huangzongsi, Yetingsi, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs also changed candidates one after another. Wu Wei, the Chief Eunuch of the Prince Ling's Mansion, was promoted to the Minister of Internal Affairs, replacing the original Sun Shi, and the inner court made Mrs. Bai the highest female official, who served the emperor and empress respectively, and took charge of the internal affairs of the two palaces.
Qing Chen raised a finger to his lips, and made a silent gesture to Baguio: "Don't tell Mrs. Bai."
Baguio frowned and said, "I don't need to talk about it. Tomorrow, just wait and hear the nagging."
Qing Chen said: "Then let's find a way to hide from Mrs. Bai tomorrow." She and Baguio have known each other for many years, and they have also supported them in times of adversity. There is a table full of imperial food waiting, but I went to make noodles to eat by myself, could it be possible to make something different?"
Qing Chen leaned on the phoenix couch, thinking of the hot aroma, and Ye Tianling's fussy look, and said with a smile: "You don't know that, there is really nothing better than delicious food."
Baguio took the books on the case according to what she pointed out, "Then what if it burns accidentally? There won't be a next time."
Qing Chen propped his forehead: "Where is it so delicate? It's incredible, you are going to chatter like Mrs. Bai."
Baguio said: "Okay, I won't talk anymore, I'll leave everything for Mrs. Bai to talk about."
Qing Chen opened the scroll casually, smiled without saying a word. Baguio knew that she was used to reading a book quietly before going to bed, so she stopped disturbing her and brightened the flame in the glazed lamp a little, and was about to step back when she listened to Mrs. Bai begging to see her outside.
Both Baguio and Qingchen were surprised, why did Mrs. Bai come over so late for such a little thing about Shangshansi? But after Mrs. Bai came in, she didn't have time to mention Shang Shansi, so she hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, Empress Yin of Qingquan Palace is dead!"
Qing Chen let go of his hands, and the scroll he was holding fell in front of him: "What?"
Mrs. Bai said: "People from Qingquan Palace reported that at three o'clock in the Hai hour, the emperor gave Yin Niangniang to death with poisoned wine."
Shocked by the news, Qing Chen got up from the couch. Bi Yao hurriedly stepped forward to help her, but saw her standing there concentrating on thinking for a while, and suddenly her phoenix eyes narrowed: "Madam Bai, immediately blockade the Qingquan Palace, detain all the palace residents, and strictly examine and interrogate them one by one, this is absolutely impossible. His Majesty's will."
Mrs. Bai went to do it immediately, Bi Yao served Qing Chen to do a little dressing, and also drove to Qingquan Palace.
Queen Yin's presence in the palace was King Zhan's biggest scruple. At this juncture, killing her would be of no benefit except to cause conflicts with King Zhan and the officials. What's more, even if death is really going to be given, the empress dowager's edict will not be used, and a decree will be specially issued, which is clearly intended to anger King Zhan. No need to ask, Qing Chen also knew that Ye Tianling would not make such an unwise decision.
The urgent task at hand is to find out the truth of the matter. Although the internal servant who delivered the decree had committed suicide, the female officer in charge of the ceremonies quickly interrogated several suspicious court ladies. The people close to Empress Yin are not allowed to be free on weekdays. On the contrary, there is something wrong with the unobtrusive maids. Qing Chen walked slowly past those maids, and with a glance, he noticed that one of the maids was hanging down quickly. She closed her eyes, holding the hem of the skirt with her fingers, trembling slightly.
She stopped in front of the maid, who suddenly saw a pair of phoenix embroidered shoes stopped in front of her eyes, she took a step back in shock. Qing Chen raised his head and signaled: "Bring her in." After saying that, he turned and entered the hall.
The lady in charge of the ceremonies then brought the maid, Qing Chen sat down in the hall, and the maid stood in front of her, panicked.
Qing Chen flicked the silver silk drape lightly, and asked, "Your name is Cai'er?"
Cai'er replied: "Go back to your mother, yes."
Qing Chen asked again: "Someone saw you burning something in Pianyuan last night, is there such a thing?"
Cai'er said in a trembling voice: "Madam, this servant was in her own room last night and never went out to burn anything. They must have misunderstood, and this servant was wronged!"
Qing Chen said lightly: "You don't have to be afraid, I will ask you three questions, as long as you answer truthfully, I will not make things difficult for you."
Cai'er bravely said: "Your Majesty asks questions, how dare this servant lie? But even if this servant tells the truth, I'm afraid your Majesty won't believe it."
The corners of Qing Chen's lips smiled coldly: "It's true or false, I can tell the difference naturally, you just need to answer. It doesn't matter if you don't want to tell the truth, I have the court secretary in charge of Xinggong to help me ask, Do you understand?"
Hearing Ye Tingsi's words, Cai'er trembled slightly, and replied: "Yes."
Qing Chen looked at her, and asked with Yan: "How old are you this year?"
Cai'er didn't think that the question was actually this one, and replied: "This servant girl is nineteen years old."
"Well," Qing Chen nodded and said, "How many years have you been in the palace?"
This is already the second question, Cai'er hastily answered again: "This servant entered the palace at the age of ten, and it has been nine years."
Unexpectedly, the words had just finished, and Qing Chen immediately asked: "Who gave you the things you burned in the garden?"
Cai'er opened her mouth and said, "Yes... ah... the servant didn't burn anything."
Qing Chen's phoenix eyes shone, and he shouted in a clear voice: "Come here, take it to the Yeting Division!"
Two female officials in charge of ceremonies stepped forward, Cai'er screamed and struggled: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! This servant is telling the truth, and this servant has been wronged!"
Qing Chen said coldly: "If I have wronged you, the torture you will suffer in the Yeting Division today will be punished a hundred times on me in the future. Let me ask you again, who gave you the things you burned? The truth Come on."
Cai'er knelt on the ground, trembling all over her body: "Your Majesty, please be merciful, this servant dare not lie to your Majesty again, please be kind to your Majesty."
Qing Chen stopped the two female officials, looked down at Cai'er quietly, and didn't say a word. Cai'er only felt that the gaze in front of her was cold and menacing, and she didn't know how the queen would deal with her, so she just kowtowed and begged for mercy. After a while, I heard Qing Chen say slowly, "This is the last chance, tell me."
Cai'er grabbed the brocade carpet on the ground tightly with her hand, and said: "Those things were handed over to the maidservant by the maidservant next to Madam Yin, who asked the maidservant to take them out of the palace to King Zhan. Qingquan Palace was sealed, so the maidservant could not get out, and the maidservant could not go out. If you dare to keep things with you, you have to burn them at night."
Qing Chen forced to ask: "What is it?"
"It's... it's the suicide note written by Lady Yin to ask King Zhan to rebel against him!"
Qing Chen was shocked, stood up and stepped down from the couch, raised his hand to dismiss everyone around him, leaving only her and Cai'er in the hall.
Half an hour later, Ye Tingsi Feng Yi ordered Empress Yin to take away the four female officials with her. When the sky was bright, Mrs. Bai went in alone with three confessions: "Madam, except for one female official who insisted on refusing to tell the truth and committed suicide by biting her tongue, the other three female officials have confessed truthfully. This is written by their own handwriting. confession."
Qing Chen held three confessions in his hand, and as he read through them, his face became colder and colder, and he was very frightened and angry.
After reading it, she lightly closed her eyes to calm her heart, put a few confessions into her sleeves, and ordered softly: "Tell Ye Tingsi that no one who knows the truth will be left behind."