Drunken Exquisiteness

Chapter 31: Complicated and confused Xiao Qiang

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In the autumn of the twenty-fourth year of Shengwu, Yanxi Palace ordered Feng Qingchen, the second daughter of Feng's family, to be the princess of Qingping, and she served the Queen Mother as a maid of Yanxi Palace. So far, the two daughters of the Feng family are in important positions in the inner court of the Dazheng Palace, and are favored by the Emperor of Heaven and the Empress Dowager. Even though Empress Mincheng has died of illness for many years, the Feng family still has a stable foundation in the court and harem, and no one can shake it.

Since that day, Qing Chen has hardly talked to Ye Tianling too much. Although he will definitely come to Yanxi Palace every day, he always comes and goes in a hurry. Neither of them said anything about what happened, and sometimes it was even doubted that such a thing ever existed. One is quiet and transparent, the other has a cold face and a deep heart, just occasionally looking at each other and talking and laughing, everything is like the calm lake in late autumn, with endless depth in the clarity, which people can never explore.

But these days, Qing Chen met someone she had always been curious about, Ye Tianling's mother, Concubine Lian.

Since Empress Mincheng died of illness, the Emperor of Heaven has not been established for many years. In the harem, Ye Tianzhan's mother Yin Guifei is the most important. Concubine Yin's dignified and luxurious, like most women of the official clan, has a natural arrogance, and her almost perfect posture and appearance sometimes make people feel amazing. When Qing Chen met her for the first time, he made a negligent mistake and accidentally put the string of ice blue crystals on his hand. Concubine Yin glanced at her, and immediately cast her almost stern gaze, that condescending suspicion instantly turned into a graceful and unfamiliar kindness, although Qing Chen carefully kept the ice blue crystal and the warm jade cup Woke up, but also knew that Concubine Yin's dissatisfaction with her was unavoidable.

Unlike Concubine Yin, who crowns the Sixth Palace, Concubine Lian exists in people's sight with a quiet posture. This woman who is under an ordinary title, but so beautiful that the sun, the moon, and the stars are eclipsed, is in the entire Dazheng Palace. It seems to be a strange taboo, and few people mention it.

Qing Chen would occasionally see Concubine Lian by the Taiye Pond. The Taiye Pond in late autumn was often covered with lingering water mist, the light frost-like coolness in the air and the impenetrable high sky, so she stopped here. Staring at the Taiye Pool silently in the late autumn.

The fairy is facing the water, like a heaven and man, no one is willing to disturb the world, all the sounds and words seem to be blasphemy to her, but no one has seen her smile. Her distant posture is like a trace of ice and moon, cold and cold in the magnificent and colorful palace, facing the Qiongyao and Bi Pavilion beside the Taiye Pool, the jade shadow is prosperous. The silent sadness in her eyes drowned everything around her, but at the same time it had nothing to do with everything, even herself.

Seeing Concubine Lian like this, Qing Chen often couldn't help but think of Ye Tianling. Those eyes contained the same indifference to the world and some indescribable things, but for Ye Tianling, perhaps there was more aloofness and arrogance, and a sharpness that almost pierced people's hearts.

A woman who can almost make women obsessed, how will the emperor, as a man, dote on Concubine Lian. However, the fact is that the Heavenly Emperor never turned over the brand of Concubine Lotus, never gave extra favors, and the number of times he went to Concubine Lotus Palace would not exceed once a month. Not only the Emperor of Heaven, but even his own son, Ye Tianling, grew up in Yanxi Palace and rarely visited his mother. When the Empress Dowager saw Concubine Lian, she always had a rather special attitude. At least, Qing Chen felt that it was different from other concubines, but she didn't know what was different.

Compared with these, what surprised Qingchen the most was that she actually met the two sisters of Baguio and Danqiong in Yanxi Palace. I haven't seen each other in nearly a year, my younger sister Danqiong has grown up a lot, her features are delicate and cute, and her older sister Biguio is even more graceful.

At the beginning, Ye Tianzhan rescued the other women from the Nagato gang, and after the case was settled, he asked about their family backgrounds and settled them properly. Because the Baguio sisters were homeless, and they were in the middle of the palace's selection of maids, they were sent to the palace, where they happened to be on duty in Yanxi Palace.

The Qiong Pavilion is thick in autumn, and it has become deeply cold in a blink of an eye. The Forbidden Palace Pavilion looks a little tall in the solemn autumn and winter.

The world is already extremely desolate, and a brazier has been added to Yanxi Palace early. The Empress Dowager used to suffer from leg pains in the past, and every year in autumn and winter, the weather worsened and it was almost difficult to walk. Qing Chen is familiar with the pathology, he uses the method of gold acupuncture to slowly regulate the acupoints every day, and then applies hot compresses, within half a month, the Empress Dowager felt that the pain was relieved, and her whole body was much more relaxed.

The Emperor of Heaven was overjoyed when he heard about this, and Qing Chen took the opportunity to ask the Emperor of Heaven to allow her to join the Imperial Physician to read the classics of the academy. Although this matter was unprecedented, it was not considered to be exceeding the limit. allowed her.

In the afternoon of this day, Qing Chen went to the Imperial Hospital to read books as usual. The Imperial Hospital has a rich collection of medicinal herbs that is unmatched by folks. She seems to have entered a unique treasure house, and she has to wait for an hour or two every day before going back. Fortunately, she met Song Defang, an old imperial physician, and pestered him to ask for advice humbly. Song Defang first knew that she was deeply favored by the queen mother and could not refuse, and secondly, he was often attracted by her extraordinary and unique insights. In addition, she was smart, studious and obsessed with medical skills.

But Song Defang was not there today, and Qing Chen took out the scroll of "Ancient Meridian Method Manuscript" and was reading it raptly, when he suddenly heard someone behind him calling in a low voice: "Phoenix Lord."

As "Phoenix Lord", she must be from Mingyilou, she was slightly surprised and looked back, but she was surprised and said: "It's you..."

Behind her, Mo Buping, who used to be the commander-in-chief of Qin Tianjian and was known as the number one astrological person in the Celestial Dynasty, was looking at her surprise with a smile while stroking his five-willow beard under his chin.

It was noon, except for a few on-duty doctors and waiters outside, the entire Taiyuan Hospital was silent, she closed the scroll, and watched quietly without saying a word.

Mo Buping turned out a purple jade card: "This subordinate has seen Phoenix Lord."

Seeing that day's jade card, Qing Chen believed that Mo Buping in front of him was Mingxuan from Mingyilou, and the doubts that had been in his heart before were easily resolved, and he said in a low voice: "I guess it might be you, but you have kept it from me for so long. !"

Mo Buping smiled, as if a chrysanthemum had bloomed on his old face: "Phoenix Lord never asked about it before."

Qing Chen asked, "Why did you come here?"

Mo Buping replied: "This subordinate used to be the priest of the Qin Tianjian Zhengqing, and he was allowed to enter and leave the palace at will by the Emperor of Heaven. Besides, he has known Song Defang for many years, so it is reasonable to come to the Imperial Hospital."

"Since you are the Zhengqing of the Qintian Supervisor, how could you have anything to do with a Jianghu gang like Mingyilou?" Qing Chen got up and went with him to the depths of the Tai Hospital, asking each other.

Mo Buping said in his old and calm voice: "Although Mingyilou was born in Jianghu, it has belonged to the Celestial Dynasty since Emperor Taizu, and has always only obeyed the orders of the Ye clan, so it is inevitable that it has some relationship with the court. .”

"Oh?" This Qing Chen had never heard of it before: "Emperor Taizu? So, the current master of Mingyi Building is the Emperor of Heaven?"

Mo Buping looked a little solemn: "No, the current Mingyilou is still loyal to the late emperor."

"The first emperor?" Qing Chen couldn't help raising his eyes slightly: "I would like to hear the details."

Mo Buping knew that she didn't know much about Mingyilou, and she seemed to have no interest in it after solving the matter of Yuema Bridge, so she explained: "Mingyilou has only been loyal to the emperor since the founding of the celestial dynasty. , It has always been a secret to supervise the imperial power, if there is an abnormality among the royal family, it is the time for Mingyilou to perform its duties."

Qing Chen didn't want Mingyilou to be involved in such a complicated background, after a little silence, he simply asked: "Let's put it simply, Mingyilou came to me, what did you want?"

"Phoenix Master is really a happy person." Mo Buping has always admired her neatness, and said: "It's not Mingyilou who came to Fengzhu, it was Fengzhu who came to Mingyilou, or the subordinates believe that it was the former emperor who entrusted Phoenix Lord."

Qing Chen was surprised by his wording and reminded him: "The late emperor...has passed away for many years."

"Twenty-four years." Mo Buping replied: "Nowadays, my brother has inherited his brother's career, and he has been on the throne for a full twenty-four years."

"And then?" Qing Chen asked.

Mo Buping took out a small package from his arms, opened it and handed it to her.

When Qing Chen saw it, it turned out to be a human bone: "This is..." Before he finished speaking, he said "huh?", with a serious look in his eyes, and leaned closer to the bone for a closer look. Different from ordinary human bones, this bone faintly glowed a blue-gray color. She reached out and took a pack of silver needles from her bosom, picked out one and inserted it into the bone with a little force, and when she pulled it out again, the silver needles had turned a faint black .

"This is the remains of Emperor Renzong." Mo Buping said in a deep voice.

So courageous, Qing Chen restrained his expression and raised his head: "You guys stole into the tomb of the late emperor in Jingling and stole this?"

"It's not difficult for Mingyi Building." A gleam of light flashed in Mo Buping's eyes: "Although it is disrespectful, it is a last resort. What does Phoenix Lord think about this?"

Qing Chen took the remains, inspected them carefully, and pondered for a while: "If I'm not mistaken, this is a chronic poison. You mean the late emperor..."

Mo Buping nodded: "That's right, then Lord Phoenix, do you know who did it?"

Qing Chen stared at Mo Buping for a long time, then sighed, "Ask me? Let me guess, the biggest suspect is..." After speaking, he raised his head and looked at the Zhiyuan Palace where the Emperor of Heaven lived and governed.

Mo Buping also set his sights on Zhiyuan Hall: "If he ascended the throne normally, he would know how to control Mingyilou, and after so many years, Mingyilou has never seen anyone come to take over with royal tokens. So what Mingyilou has to do , is to assist the orthodox royal family to ascend the throne, not to be loyal to the current people."

Qing Chen thought for a while, and asked: "Is it possible that Emperor Renzong still has blood? As far as I know, his son is weak. Although he has two sons, they passed away in the tenth and fifteenth years of Shengwu. If the Emperor of Heaven is Brother Shi ascended the throne, so who do you mean by the orthodox royal family?"

Mo Buping didn't answer her immediately, but instead asked: "Is Lord Feng very familiar with His Highness Fourth?"

She glanced at him and didn't know why he asked: "It's okay to say we are familiar. He and I have saved each other's lives, so we are special compared to other people, but that's all. If we really want to say we are familiar, It would be better to say that I am familiar with the Seventh Highness, I have lived in Prince Zhan's mansion for a long time, you know that."

Mo Buping nodded: "Then Lord Feng thinks His Highness the Fourth Highness is the Seventh Highness?" It's not surprising that such a sensitive and taboo topic came out of his mouth in a bland manner.

The shadow under Qing Chen's eyelashes moved slightly, and a smile seemed to sneak out from underneath: "I remember you once said that His Royal Highness's honor is more than that."

Mo Buping was slightly taken aback, he didn't want her to bring up the matter again, and being swept away by that Qing Ling's eyes, he suddenly couldn't help but also smiled and said: "Phoenix Master, don't make fun of your subordinates."

"It's just a joke." Qing Chen's eyes returned to quietness, and he said, "You want to hear the truth? The truth is, I like His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Mo Buping stopped, and she also stood still: "Prince Ye Tianhao, Wen is enough to govern the country, and Wu Yiping is more than enough in the world. In terms of status, political achievements, popularity, temperament, strength and the favor of the emperor, there is no prince who can replace him now. Therefore, I like the prince."

Mo Buping sighed: "It's a pity that the sons and grandsons of dragons are all extraordinary species, but the princes may not be willing to do so."

Qing Chen swept his wide sleeves quietly with the wind, and said calmly: "But what does this have to do with me?"

Mo Buping said: "You are the Phoenix Lord of Mingyi Tower."

The breeze was blowing, Qing Chen raised his eyes, his eyes were as clear as a ray of sunlight reflected in the miniature pupils, and was instantly sucked in by the quiet blackness, she smiled and said: "Then what do you mean, let me take Mingyilou with you?" The king of Chu Shiqin abolished the emperor who seized the throne and the current prince, and let the orthodox royal family you said ascend the throne and rule the world?" The words of the rebellious and unreasonable Zhulian nine clans came out of her mouth like eating and drinking water, and even Mo Buping was really upset. Some couldn't stand her confession, and coughed dryly: "Cough, Lord Phoenix."

"Isn't it?" A brilliance flashed in her phoenix eyes: "Since you are the sword guard of Mingyilou, and you said those words just now, you also know that I don't like to beat around the bush."

Mo Buping and her stopped far away in front of the imperial pharmacy, and admitted: "This is the responsibility of the Mingyi Building, and Phoenix Lord is the recognized master of the entire Mingyi Building."

Qing Chen stood quietly, the cloud was clear and the wind was cold, and the sky was endless when he raised his eyes. The sun at noon seemed too dazzling, revealing countless secrets one after another. Earth-shattering waves. There was a bit of vigilance in her heart, and she really needed time to think about it, so she asked lightly: "How is the matter of Ming She handled?" Neither agreeing to anything, nor denying anything, such a small Tai Chi move.

Mo Buping replied: "The most important thing about entering the palace to see the Phoenix Lord this time is this matter."

"Speak." Qing Chen said.

Mo Buping said: "Tianji Palace has always been in charge of the finances of the Mingyi Building. Ming She not only betrayed us, but even squandered most of the property belonging to the building in the open and in the dark. Most of the money accounts we have seen are forged by him. The real remaining amount is less than 20%. He knew that one day he would be exposed, so he took the risk."

A long smile escaped from the corner of Qing Chen's lips, and he said, "I'm afraid it's because I'm not willing to bow down to you and Xie Jing."

Mo Buping was silent for a moment, and said: "Phoenix Master and them can see so clearly, the subordinates admire."

When Qing Chen was thinking, his eyebrows were slightly tightened, and he said casually: "Mingyi Building is in such a situation, you can be a good home."

Unexpectedly, Mo Buping suddenly knelt down on one knee: "This subordinate has neglected his duties, please forgive me, Lord Phoenix."

Qing Chen was taken aback, waved him to get up, and said in a deep voice: "This is a Tai Hospital, if someone sees it, won't it cause trouble?"

Although Mo Buping no longer pleaded guilty, but his expression was quite depressed: "In the past twenty years, my subordinates have searched everywhere for the whereabouts of the previous landlord and the reason for the sudden death of the late emperor, and they were often negligent about everything in the building, which made Mingshe take the opportunity to It is really shameless to face the great trust of the late emperor after causing a catastrophe.”

Qing Chen didn't intend to punish him, but said: "Since the incident has happened, it's useless to say more about self-blame. Did Ming's pardon take away the financial resources of Mingyi Building? How long can the rest last?"

Mo Buping said: "It's okay for a few months, but even if we try our best to make up for it, it's really difficult."

Qing Chen made a rough calculation that an organization of the scale of Mingyi Building would cost a lot of money to operate, she suddenly smiled slightly and said, "It's really hard to be a Mingyi Louzhu, you give me problems one after another, I If it can't be solved, I'm afraid I don't have the qualifications to be the landlord anymore."

Mo Buping bowed and said: "Phoenix Master's words are serious. The chaos inside and outside the Mingyi Building is actually an unprecedented difficulty. Fengzhu is taking on a big responsibility at this time, and his subordinates will definitely follow him to the death."

Qing Chen smiled and said: "Go and tell Xie Jing that I don't need to count all my profits from Simianlou, Tianwu Zuifang and Muyuantang, and they will be included in the accounts of Mingyilou in the future. And the current Shantang... Let's stop now. If I guess correctly, it will be enough for at least three months. As long as it is delayed for a while, there will be a way to turn around. From today on, the duties of Tianji Palace will be temporarily managed by Tianshu Palace. Let Xie Jing and Su Niang assist you, and don't let me see any more mistakes."

There was a calm demeanor in her gentle speech, not in a hurry, as if she just smiled in the current predicament, calmly pointed out, and solved it by herself. Mo Bu said respectfully: "This subordinate obeys orders."

Qing Chen shook his head and raised his eyebrows slightly: "Why do I feel like I made a very loss-making deal this time?"

Mo Buping smiled and said: "Actually, there is another way to get it done once and for all, and Phoenix Lord doesn't have to lose money."

Qing Chen was slightly interested, turned his head and said, "Let's listen."

Mo Buping asked: "Mingyilou has been responsible for guarding the royal family's treasure house for generations. If the emergency response can be activated according to the map instructions in "Ming Jing Lun", all problems can be easily solved."

Qing Chen said: "I can almost recite the book "On the Ming Jing" backwards, why have I never seen any maps?"

Mo Buping said with great emotion: "In this way, the "Ming Jing Lun" is really in the hands of Lord Feng. Has the Lord ever found out that water and fire are impenetrable in writing? Then the map of the treasure house is sealed in it, but only the map is not enough, and the key to open the treasure house is also required.”

Qing Chen raised his head slightly, his eyes were quiet and far away, maybe everything can only be explained by God's will, when the bamboo house and Ye Tianling were attacked, all the medical books were destroyed by flooding, only the "Ming Jing" "On" intact, but it turned out to be the reason, and asked: "Then what is the key?"

Mo Buping said: "A string of beads carved from amethyst stone."

Amethyst Beads! A faint light flickered across Qing Chen's eyes, and she asked, "Where are you now?"

Mo Buping lowered his voice slightly: "Lianchi Palace, my subordinates have searched for a long time. The late emperor did not give it to Empress Jinghui, but gave it to Concubine Lian, who was still a noble person at that time."

Qing Chen frowned slightly, very puzzled: "How could it be that the first emperor gave it to Concubine Lian?"

Mo Buping said: "Concubine Lian was once the favorite concubine of the late emperor. Now that he ascended the throne, all the concubines of the late emperor were cut off and sent to Qianmin Temple to worship Buddha according to the law. Only she stayed in the palace. The prince was born."

Qing Chen stepped through a side door in silence, walked forward for a while, suddenly stretched out his hand in front of Mo Buping, wrote the word "four" on the palm with his fingers, and then raised his eyes to ask.

Mo Buping looked at her with smile lines on his lips: "Phoenix Master is smart, but my subordinates are just guessing and have not yet confirmed it."

Qing Chen looked at the blue sky exposed on the wall of the red-tiled palace, then turned his head and looked at Mo Buping with a half-smile, "You're not giving me an idea, it's clearly another problem, get the amethyst from the concubine Lian How easy is it to string beads?"

Mo Buping said: "This matter is closely related to the Mingyi Tower, and it must always be resolved. As for how to deal with it, it is up to Lord Feng to decide."

Qing Chen stepped on the bluestone bricks slowly, and turned slightly sideways: "I know about this matter, so I'm not in a hurry." She smiled lightly, and suddenly said: "By the way, there is something I forgot to tell you. It used to be in my hands, but it was lost before coming to Tiandu..."

Mo Buping turned pale with shock: "What, lost?"

Qing Chen smiled and said, "Well, it was left in Mobei."

Mo Buping's half-gray eyebrows were knit together, and he was speechless for a while, as if he couldn't react for a while, he said after a long time: "Mobei is so big, but how to find it, if Lord Feng can remember where it was lost, my subordinates will immediately condemn it." Let's go..." But Qing Chen waved his hand and said slowly: "However, it's a coincidence that when His Royal Highness returned to Tiandu, he was brought back by Find, and he is still here with me now."

Mo Buping suddenly smiled wryly, and said: "Phoenix Lord, my subordinates now feel that the so-called business is really very difficult to do, no matter whether it is a loss or a gain."

Qing Chen suppressed a smile and said: "If you were not asked to go to Mobei to look for books, you have already made a lot of money. Don't forget to thank the Fourth Highness in the future. You can go back first, and I will go to the Simianlou to find you in the Sunrise Palace. .”

Mo Buping smiled at Qing Chen, really couldn't say a word, his face was full of sorrow and joy, he had no choice but to bow to her deeply, turned around and left first as ordered.