Before the word "stab" was uttered, a torch was suddenly lit outside the porthole. Dozens of lantern torches on the front and rear of the ship were instantly lit up, immediately reflecting the flames up and down the river, and there were also lantern torches on the shore suddenly lit up. Frost through the window could hardly keep his eyes open. There was only a "plop" outside the window, and the internal officer's voice was sharp and thin, and it was extremely ear-piercing in the silent night: "The assassin has jumped into the river! Catch the assassin! Come on! The assassin has jumped into the river, catch the assassin..." On the springboard The sound of footsteps is chaotic, the bottom of the bulwark is hollow, the sound of footsteps sounds more and more chaotic, people and horses on the shore are screaming, countless lanterns and torches are rushing towards this side, only the sound of "plopping" can be heard, it seems to be the officers and soldiers of the imperial camp Jump down the river to hunt down the assassin.
There was a lot of chatter outside, and then there was a hasty knock on the door: "Miss Mu! Miss Mu!" It was the voice of the court lady Li Er, who didn't hear her answer, and the people outside seemed to be in a hurry and kicked open the hatch door forcefully. , more than a dozen lanterns rushed in, and the cabin was suddenly as bright as day. Seeing her sitting there in good order, the leading eunuch seemed relieved, and said, "Young lady is frightened. There are assassins on board, and people from the imperial camp have already gone into the water to hunt them down. Please don't worry, young lady."
Rushuang knew that this person was Liao Cunzhong, the chief eunuch in Concubine Hua's palace, so she didn't answer immediately, Li'er said: "It's really frightening, luckily the girl is not asleep yet."
Rushuang ordered Jian'er to fetch the wax, relit the lamp on the table, took the small silver candle scissors, and cut the wick by herself, before she said slowly: "It's such a busy night, I can't bear to sleep."
Liao Cunzhong had heard that she had a strange temperament, he hesitated for a while and was about to ask her to leave, but it was already rumored that Concubine Hua had arrived. Liao Cunzhong went out to meet him, and saw the four gilt silver eight-treasure lamps approaching gradually. The night was windy, and Concubine Hua wore a red cloak, which made her look even more graceful. She was surrounded by court ladies and officials. Concubine Hua supported Liao Cunzhong's elbow to enter the cabin, Rushuang had always ignored palace rules and etiquette, and just sat there, indifferent. Concubine Hua acted as if nothing had happened, and said: "I really didn't expect this kind of thing to happen. I rushed over as soon as I heard about it. Fortunately, no one was hurt. This assassin is really daring, and he is not afraid of Ling Chi's execution. He will implicate the whole family."
Rushuang never liked to talk, she held on to that lacquered fan in her hand, and shook it once and for all. Seeing that she ignored her, Concubine Hua was angry, but she didn't want to argue with her. At this moment, an internal official came in from outside, knelt down and said, "I want to report to your mother, the assassin has been caught."
The assassin had already drowned due to choking on too much water, and the people in the imperial camp picked up only the corpse. Countless torches shone on the wet and curled body, someone turned the assassin's face away, the flames on the torch were blown by the wind, and the light flickered on and off. Although it was not the first time for Concubine Hua to see a dead person, she still felt sick. It is really puzzling how such an unknown man got into the boat that the palace family members were taking, so they searched the assassin's body, but only found a jade pendant, which the internal officials hurriedly presented to Concubine Hua.
Concubine Hua saw that the jade pendant was the best suet white jade, greasy and flawless, carved with an upturned lotus leaf, and a pair of mandarin ducks covered under the leaf. Although the silk tassels have been soaked by the river water long ago, they have not faded, and they are neatly paired with a pair of Wannian Ruyi Concentric Knots. This kind of knotting is very particular, and folks are not allowed to use this kind of "Ten Thousand Years" pattern. Concubine Hua saw that the jade pendant was tied with such a knot, and the jade carving was exquisite, so it was undoubtedly from the inner palace, so she called Liao Cunzhong: "Go and check the file to see which palace it is from."
Rushuang said leisurely at this time: "No need, this is my thing."
Concubine Hua said: "Ms. Mu's things, why did you find them on the assassin?"
Rushuang said casually: "I'm going to ask Jian'er now, I'll give her the jade pendant this afternoon." Rushuang's face was slightly mocking, and seeing her calm expression, Concubine Hua called Jian'er to interrogate her.
Jian'er had already turned pale, knelt down with a plop, and kowtowed repeatedly. Concubine Hua said: "You are Jian'er? How did this thing get into the hands of the assassin? You tell me honestly." Jian'er was so frightened that he trembled all over, opened his mouth wide, and couldn't say a word for a long time. Concubine Hua said: "It doesn't matter if you don't want to say it, I naturally have a way for you to say it." After speaking, she immediately ordered someone to get the lottery.
Jian'er had heard about nailing fingers with bamboo sticks long ago, and was so frightened that he was so frightened that he cried repeatedly: "Ma'am, please forgive me, please forgive me, Miss Mu gave me this jade pendant, and asked me to give it to Zhang Shengbao, saying that Zhang Shengbao naturally knows who to give it to."
Concubine Hua asked, "Who is Zhang Shengbao?"
Jian'er said: "It's an internal official who works in the imperial dining room. He needs to buy vegetables every day, and we always entrust him to carry things outside the palace. Right now, on the ship, only the small boats on their kitchen boat can dock."
Concubine Hua turned to look at Rushuang, seeing her sitting there motionless, ignoring her. So he told Liao Cunzhong: "Go pass on Zhang Shengbao."
Zhang Shengbao failed to pass, Liao Cunzhong turned back immediately, his face was very ugly: "Mother, just now Zhang Shengbao committed suicide by jumping into the river in fear of crime."
Concubine Hua seemed very surprised, she glanced at Rushuang again, and said, "Now there are all the witnesses and material evidence, so I can only wrong Miss Mu first." She ordered Jian'er and Li'er to be taken away, and another person came to accompany Rushuang Shuang, and ordered Rushuang's building to be strictly guarded, and no one was allowed to enter or leave. Concubine Hua said: "Let's wrong the girl for one night, and tomorrow morning, I will send someone to tell the emperor how to deal with it, but it will be judged by the holy will." She stood up and said, "Miss, rest first, the emperor will know tomorrow anyway. gone."
Rushuang just said at this time: "I'm afraid I won't survive tonight."
Concubine Hua's expression changed: "What do you mean by that?"
Rushuang stood up, pushed aside the gauze curtain with the handle of her fan, and looked at the lit torches on the shore not far from the window: "If I die tonight, if the emperor asks me tomorrow, all you have to say is that I committed suicide because of my adultery. It can be completely eliminated. This series of tricks first accuses me of having an affair with others, and then calmly takes my life. The last step is of course to kill people to silence them, so as to prevent future troubles forever." Looking back and staring at Jian'er, "The three witnesses have passed the testimonies. Two dead, aren't you afraid?"
Jian'er was kneeling there and hadn't gotten up, his body softened and he almost collapsed on the ground.
Concubine Hua was furious, and said coldly: "Your words are insinuating, do you mean that what happened tonight was framed by me?"
Rushuang didn't answer, and turned away. Concubine Hua's face was flushed with anger, Liao Cunzhong saw that the opportunity was wrong, and immediately said: "Your Majesty, why don't you send someone to report to the emperor immediately, and respectfully invite the emperor to order you." The voice echoed clearly: "Your Majesty, please see Prince Yu."
Concubine Hua was very surprised, Prince Yu was at the driver's side, and there was a post report at dusk, informing everyone that the emperor had arrived at the Lechang Palace. Naturally, Prince Yu, who was in charge of the police, should be in Lechang, why did he come here at night? What's more, even though he was on the ship, it was also a temporary palace, and it was already dark, so it was inconvenient for the prince to enter the building ship with his family members without authorization. When Concubine Hua heard that he was coming, she expected to come by order, so she had to follow the matter and order people to put down the curtain and summon him across the curtain.
Through the gauze curtain, Yingyingchuochuo saw Prince Yu saluting, his voice was as calm as usual: "Dingluan has neglected his duty, causing an assassin to alarm Fengjia, please forgive me, Concubine Hua." Because he is in charge of the imperial camp, Mr. Concubine Hua's tone was very homely, she said very politely: "Master Qi, please sit down." Then she said, "Master Qi came just in time, the identity of this assassin is suspicious, I am about to send someone to ask for an order to investigate."
Prince Yu said very calmly: "The emperor is worried about the fleet of the palace family members, so when he arrived at the palace, he ordered Luan to come over and have a look. I didn't expect that something really happened."
It is said that he is worried about the fleet of the palace family members, I am afraid that it is only one person who is worried about it. Concubine Hua's heart was sour, but her tone was still as calm as possible: "Qiye came here by order, that's even better. Although I'm taking care of the harem temporarily, this matter involves others, right and wrong, and if it is in Qiye's hands, it will definitely be fine. Check it out."
Now he ordered Liao Cunzhong to report to Prince Yu the mandarin duck pendant found on the assassin's body and the confession of the son picked up. Liao Cunzhong spoke eloquently and vividly. Prince Yu listened carefully until finally Liao Cunzhong finished speaking. Fang asked, "Who was the first to discover the assassin?"
Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, and after a long while, an internal officer responded, "It was Miss Mu who called out first, saying that there was an assassin..."
Rushuang's voice was unique, she called out loudly in the quiet night just now, not many people heard it. Concubine Hua's heart sank. Prince Yu said: "Since this is the case, there must be something else hidden about the jade pendant. The matter involves the palace, and I will ask for an order tomorrow." After saying that, he stood up and asked to leave. Before the ceremony was over, Fang raised his head and suddenly saw something sticking out from behind the curtain. A slender and fair white hand, before he could react, he saw that hand pushed aside the curtain, and someone came out from behind the curtain, and bowed to him as a salute, a pair of eyes like a thousand-foot cold pool, clear and pure, in the Fluctuating under the light: "My lord, please take Rushuang to see you immediately."
Prince Yu never expected that she would come out from behind the curtain, and even hearing her speak for the first time, he felt a shock in his heart and hesitated to answer.
Rushuang said: "My lord is wise, so I naturally understand that what happened tonight is a trap designed by others. People's hearts are treacherous and unpredictable, Rushuang cherishes life, and feels precarious, and must not stay here to be slaughtered by others. Please, my lord, Rushuang and the court lady Jian'er went to the imperial court together, respectfully invite Sheng Duan."
Concubine Hua was also taken aback by her behavior. After hearing her words, she was furious, stood up abruptly, and reprimanded from behind the curtain: "Mu Rushuang, what do you mean by your words?"
Rushuang remained silent, just staring at Prince Yu. Prince Yu had never been stared at by a woman like this, so it was inconvenient to meet her eyes, so he had to turn his face away. At this moment, Jian'er, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly shouted: "Concubine Hua, I framed Miss Mu for you, but I didn't expect you to be dishonest, intending to kill someone, anyway, it's a death, I turned into a ghost I won't let you go." After speaking, he smashed out of the window and threw himself into the river with a "plop". Concubine Hua was terrified and almost fainted. Several maids behind the curtain shouted urgently: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Concubine Hua said in a trembling voice: "Quick! Catch this bitch." She knew in her heart that if Qian'er died , I couldn't explain it to myself, looked through the curtain, but saw Rushuang standing indifferently, Prince Yu had already hurried to the side panels outside the cabin, officers and soldiers from the imperial camp had already entered the water to rescue him.
Concubine Hua didn't care about etiquette, she lifted the curtain and walked out quickly. The small boats of the imperial camp came and went on the river, holding lanterns and torches to catch people. Gradually, half an hour passed, Concubine Hua felt cold all over, she stood there with the maid supporting her, not saying a word. Rushuang stepped forward, looked at the dark river, and said casually: "It seems that another one has died." Concubine Hua looked back, and saw her complexion like jade under the lamp, her eyebrows were picturesque, and her appearance was unspeakably beautiful. Concubine Hua couldn't help shivering, with hatred in her voice: "Your trick is so poisonous. You will have retribution—you will be retribution one day."
Rushuang's voice was so soft that almost no one else could hear it except herself: "I am not the one who will suffer retribution, and no one who deserves retribution will be able to escape." Yan Bi smiled sweetly, and she fell into the Gong Lai had never smiled before, but now he showed his face and smiled, like a lotus blooming at the beginning, graceful and peaceful. In an instant, the fan had crossed over, covering most of her face, Concubine Hua almost thought that she had misread in a trance, she had already turned around and walked away slowly.
Prince Yu saw that it was hopeless to rescue him—even if he fished it up, he would definitely be a corpse, so he turned back to the cabin. Ru Shuang bowed her knees in a salute: "My lord, please be the master of Ru Shuang." Concubine Hua's complexion was ashen, she was on the verge of tears, and said, "Seventh Master, I can't argue with anything now, but please ask the emperor to judge you." Prince Yu pondered for a moment, Said: "Your brother obeys orders." Since he used this title, he was handling family affairs as the emperor's younger brother. Although it was still not proper in terms of etiquette, he was still reluctant to follow the authority.
It was already three o'clock in the night, and Rushuang came out of the cabin, only to feel that the river wind was cold, and the flat gold embroidered butterfly cloak on her body fluttered, and Rushuang unconsciously clenched the glittering gold long sleeves tied around her neck. sash. A glazed lamp in the officer's hand illuminated the springboard under her feet. Ru Shuang raised her head, and saw a green-covered carriage surrounded by the imperial camp on the embankment—although it was a carriage that the palace people usually ride in, surrounded by torches, it was clear that Prince Yu had already mounted his horse and was waiting beside the carriage.
Phosphorus walked on the gravel on the river beach very slowly, and finally reached the front of the car. The inner officer bent down, but she did not step on the inner officer's back to get into the car as usual, but said softly: "Help me It's done." The inner officer who was waiting for the driver of the car fell down in fear and said: "I dare not, my servant should wait for the girl to get into the car."
Rushuang said indifferently: "You are a servant who waits on others, and I am also a servant who waits on others, so why dare you dare?" The inner official answered "Yes", got up and gave her a firm hand on her elbow, She has a light body and has already stepped into the car. The maid raised the curtains high and asked her to sit in the car before lowering the curtains.
There was a pair of bright horn wind lanterns hanging in front of the car, the sound of the traffic on the gravel road, looking through the thin brocade car curtain, the two lights were also shaking, like a pair of glowing wind chimes, and the crisp bells could almost be heard Swaying—Ru Shuang calmed down and realized that it was not an illusion. The Zijin Luan bell's voice was crisp and clear, it was near the carriage, and the sound could be heard.
She didn't expect it to be him, it turned out that she had guessed wrongly, the imperial horse party promised to use the purple gold luan bell, but she forgot that Prince Yu had long ago received a decree to give him the purple rein and purple gold luan bell. The tall figures of the imperial cavalry were reflected on the window curtains on both sides, and the dots of torches stretched forward, like two huge fire dragons, sandwiching her car in the middle. Through the narrow square hole in the elephant's eye window, one can see Prince Yu not far ahead holding the reins of the horse.
He was surrounded by people, countless torches illuminated his figure and face, his profile was calm and serene, just like the night, with an unbelievably wide and abrupt softness, even the posture of holding the rein on the horse's back was all in her memory The image of some secret in the depths bears a horrifying resemblance. In such a quiet night, only the "whoosh" sound of the flame burning on the torch, the "click" sound of the horse's hoof stepping on the gravel, and the crisp "jingle" sound of the Luan bell... There are "plop plop" in these sounds. "The abnormal sound turned out to be her own heartbeat.
She leaned her head on the window curtain, the undulating road seemed to be deliberately, every time she ran over the uneven place, there was always a strange sense of loss. It was so far away, like the cliff of Chihiro, which she knew she would never be able to cross, and the other side was just a vast expanse, which was a mirage of her own illusory dream, so she would never be able to reach it in this life. There was a sudden twitch in the heart, as if the heart was being held tightly by someone, the pain was so sad.
The maid accompanying the car asked: "Miss, are you sleepy? You should lie down and have a rest." She couldn't answer, her heartbeat was disordered, and every time she hit her chest hard, the pain was so painful that she couldn't even breathe. Beads of sweat oozed from her forehead, and she bit her lip to prevent herself from moaning. The maid accompanying the car finally noticed her abnormality, and asked anxiously, "Girl, what's wrong with you?"
She wanted to fumble for the medicine in her purse, but she barely had the strength to move her arms. The maid was at a loss, she lifted the curtain of the car, and said anxiously: "Stop the car quickly! Your lord, Miss Mu is not well."
All the sounds in my ears were mixed and chaotic, far and light, just like in a dream. There was bright light coming into the car, and someone was buzzing. She tried to open her eyes wide, and saw the vaguely familiar eyes, her heart suddenly sank, and she tried her best to make a voice as thin as a gossamer: "Purse... medicine..."
The green pill the size of a broad bean exuded a familiar faint cold fragrance. She stuffed it into her mouth and poured water immediately. She swallowed it with difficulty. The water is sweet and cool, like a line of cold spring, gurgling from the throat into the body. She gradually regained her breath, and the pain in her heart gradually subsided, only then did she realize that most of her body was leaning on the shoulder of the maid, and a commander was holding a golden leather water bag in her hand, her eyes fixed on it Looking at her intently, even Prince Yu reined in his horse and stood in front of the shaft. Seeing her awake, he only asked, "Can I still take the carriage?"
She nodded slightly, and he stopped talking, turned around and ordered everyone: "Continue on the road."
The maid lowered the curtain, and the tall figure was separated from the curtain along with the flames, and could no longer be seen. The clinking hooves of the cavalry resounded again, she was exhausted, and fell asleep drowsily under the effect of the pills.
Chi Jinran, a commander who followed Prince Yu's horse, was a trusted bodyguard who had accompanied Prince Yu on the expedition to Shehu. Although he was only twenty years old, he had already been promoted to commander because of his outstanding military achievements. He had a baby face and a childish temper, he rode up to catch up with Prince Yu, bowed and stretched his arms, still tied the water bag back to Prince Yu's saddle, showed his white teeth with a smile, and said, "Sick She's alone, I really don't know what the emperor likes about her? It's the middle of the night, our errand is really useless."
Prince Yu looked back at him, intending to warn him.
Chi Jinran was swept away by his eyes, scratched his head, and said: "My lord, I know I was wrong, Guan Yun travels a long way to send off the emperor's wife, my lord, you are just like Guan Di, this act of loyalty and daring will show the sun and the moon. "
Prince Yu lashed his horse back with a whip: "What kind of nonsense is irrelevant, why don't you go ahead and find the way."
Chi Jinran stuck out his tongue, patted his horse and went straight forward.