Early in the morning, several carriages left the palace through the side door.
No one dares to stop it.
The carriage headed west all the way towards Zongzheng Temple, the westernmost part of the capital.
Zongzheng Temple, a dilapidated courtyard. Shaofu was used as a prison for the royal family.
Originally, it was not called Zongzheng Temple, but Wuliang Temple.
Later, the temple was taken over by the Shaofu. The Shaofu saw that the place was remote and dark, and it was a good place to detain people.
So the temple was changed and specially used as a prison for the royal family.
Over the years, no one remembers Wuliang Temple, but when it comes to Zongzheng Temple, everyone knows it.
The further west you go, the more desolate it becomes.
Because of the existence of Zongzheng Temple, the surrounding residents gradually moved away. As a result, this area looks more and more remote and gloomy.
When we arrived at Zongzheng Temple, some officials came out.
Deng Cunli stepped forward to deal with officials.
Gu Jiu also got out of the carriage and let the officials watch over him.
The official verified his identity, pointed to the carriages behind, and asked, "What's on them?"
Deng Cunli hurriedly said: "It's bedding, clothes, books, pens, inks, paper and inkstones, etc."
The official said: "According to the law, I have to inspect the corresponding objects."
"It should be, it should be."
After speaking, Deng Cunli put a purse into the hands of the officials.
The official squeezed the weight and smiled with satisfaction.
He took a few small officials, inspected the carriage casually, and said, "Okay, you can bring everything in. But except for Madam, you can only bring four people in at most."
Deng Cunli looked at Gu Jiu.
Gu Jiu clicked on the name of the boy who washes his brushes and washes his ink, "You two go in with my wife."
Then, Gu Jiu called Qing Mei's name again.
Adding Deng Cunli, just made up four people.
The four of them carried a lot of luggage and followed Gu Jiu into Zongzheng Temple.
A door separated the prisoner and the free body.
There is a door, the sun is shining brightly outside the door, and the door is cold and terrifying inside.
The official led the way and led the five of them through the long corridor to a small courtyard, "Mrs. Zhao, Young Master Zhao will be imprisoned inside. Please go in by yourself."
Gu Jiu nodded, "Thank you!"
Deng Cunli gave another purse.
There is a hundred taels of silver bill in the purse.
The official took the purse and left satisfied.
Gu Jiu pushed the door open and entered.
The dilapidated courtyard door made a harsh creaking sound. Like an old man in his dying years, and like this gloomy Zongzheng Temple.
Those crunching sounds hit my heart like a blunt knife cutting the flesh of my heart.
Accompanied by harsh creaking sounds, there are bursts of piano sounds.
The sound of the piano is melodious and peaceful.
Gu Jiu stopped and listened carefully. The state of mind of the qin player is like the sound of the qin, as peaceful as a stream and river, as if there is no desire or desire.
Gu Jiu laughed suddenly, "Let's go, let's go in and visit Young Master."
This is a very small courtyard.
There are two main houses, two wing rooms, an old pagoda tree and a well in the yard.
Under the eaves, a stove was burning, and a kettle was placed on it.
Gu Jiu looked at the small courtyard. Has Liu Zhao ever lived in such a simple and small courtyard in his life
At this time, the sound of the piano stopped abruptly.
The door of the main room was pushed open, and Lin Shuping came out from inside.
When he saw Gu Jiu, he was obviously taken aback.
"Ma'am! Young Master, it's Madam who is here."
Lin Shuping cried out excitedly.
The sunlight passed through the door and reflected on the man's face. The man was sitting in front of the desk, his whole body seemed to be shining with golden light.
Gu Jiu narrowed her eyes, as if she wanted to see more clearly.
At this moment, Liu Zhao smiled.
He greeted with a smile, and an invitation.
Gu Jiu walked forward slowly step by step.
A short distance, there is always a moment to finish.
She came to Liu Zhao's side and sat on the ground, facing Liu Zhao.
"You came!"
"I'll come and see you, how are you doing?"
Liu Zhao was wearing black dark clothes, his face was pale, like a sick and weak young man.
Then Gu Jiu knew that under his sickly appearance, there was a strong body.
He just looks sick and weak on the face, but his body is not weak at all.
Liu Zhao still had a smile on his face, pure and gentle, like a passionate young man looking at the woman he loves the most.
However, Gu Jiu is always willing to play the role of spoiling the scenery.
"You can still laugh when you're in prison? Are you afraid of being imprisoned for ten or eight years? Are you afraid that my wife will divorce you?"
Liu Zhao's smile couldn't hold back anymore, and the corners of his mouth twitched, "You still want to divorce me? Who gave you the courage?"
Gu Jiu answered irrelevantly, "Your Majesty likes the emperors and grandchildren the most, and never has the heart to be harsh. Why did you get imprisoned in Zongzheng Temple this time? Could it be that Your Majesty hates you?"
Liu Zhao stared at Gu Jiu, "It doesn't matter if I'm imprisoned. You tell me first, who gave you the courage to divorce me?"
Gu Jiu rolled his eyes at him, "I don't need anyone to give me courage. If you really make me a widow for ten or eight years, I will definitely divorce you."
Staying in the palace for ten or eight years as a widow, on that day, Gu Jiu might be driven crazy and kill a few people first. People do not know it.
Liu Zhao grasped Gu Jiu's hand very hard.
Gu Jiu suffered from pain, "You always hurt me."
Liu Zhao loosened his grip, but did not let go.
He said loudly: "You don't want to get rid of me. You were born as my man, and you will die as my ghost."
Gu Jiu asked, "Then when will you leave here? Don't tell me it will take three to five years?"
Liu Zhao smiled narrowly and teased, "Can't you bear loneliness?"
"I can't bear the days when no one is backing me up."
Liu Zhao laughed.
Outside the door, Lin Shuping heard the laughter, and laughed too.
After so many days, the son finally smiled.
congratulations.
It can be seen that there is still a way for Madam.
Gu Jiu's frankness made Liu Zhao very happy.
He said: "Don't worry, I will support you for the rest of my life. I will be able to go out after half a year at most."
Gu Jiu frowned, "It will take so long?"
"It's already too fast, you can't be too harsh on me."
Gu Jiu thought for a while and asked, "Why did His Majesty lock you up here? Could it be that you are taking the blame for the prince?"
Liu Zhao's eyes were hot, and he stared at Gu Jiu closely.
Gu Jiu wiped her cheeks, "Why do you keep staring at me?"
"Because you look good."
"Don't talk about him, answer my question."
Gu Jiu had a look of disgust towards Liu Zhao.
Liu Zhao asked, "Do you know about the poisoning of the crown prince?"
Gu Jiu nodded, "I heard about it. You were imprisoned here because the crown prince was poisoned? Could it be that you were the spy of the Eastern Palace?"
Liu Zhao shook his head, "You just need to know that I was imprisoned here to protect the palace."
Gu Jiu obviously did not accept his statement.
"Is it really your poison?"
Gu Jiu couldn't believe it.
How old was Liu Zhao ten years ago? How could he have the ability to plant spies in the East Palace and even poison the prince.
Liu Zhao was silent for a moment, "Grandfather doesn't need to know who poisoned the prince, he just needs an excuse, a reason."
Gu Jiu was puzzled at first, but then suddenly realized.
Sure enough, just as she and Deng Cunli thought, the court does not need a real murderer.
It doesn't matter who poisoned the East Palace.
The important thing is that something like this happened. This incident made the emperor more suspicious and irritable.
Chen Concubine was sentenced to be cut in half and abandon the market, perhaps it was not because the emperor was affected by the poisoning of the prince.
The prince was poisoned, and it seemed that the prince was innocent. But is this really the case
With His Majesty's suspicious nature, would he really not doubt the crown prince
Everyone knew that at this time, the East Palace was in dire straits.
Dong Gong didn't want to be caught without a fight, so he could have directed and acted out a scene in which the prince was poisoned to delay time.
This possibility is too great.
With the emperor's suspicious character, when Liu Zhao was imprisoned in Zongzheng Temple, he would set his sights on the East Palace.
Once the Eastern Palace is watched by the emperor, the Eastern Palace will not be far from being finished.
What would she do if she were the princess
Just get caught
burn one's boats
Or do you take the initiative to show weakness and ask to abolish the prince
Gu Jiu looked serious, "You are imprisoned here, so it really has nothing to do with the prince?"
Liu Zhao answered irrelevantly, "I settled the matter of secretly minting coins for Chen Consort. On the second day of junior high school, I took the initiative to confess to the imperial grandfather. The imperial grandfather imprisoned me here for punishment, warning, and to deter others.
For me, this is a rare experience, and I need an undisturbed environment to think. Moreover, because of my frankness, the imperial grandfather will not go deep into the father, so the palace can be preserved. "
Gu Jiu guessed many possibilities, but he never expected that Liu Zhao would confess on his own initiative and was willing to be imprisoned in Zongzheng Temple.
She rubbed her eyebrows, "Yesterday, when the prince returned to the palace, I pressed him every step of the way and asked him why you didn't come back. I saw the expression on the prince's face, and he seemed guilty. It can be seen that from the very beginning, he planned to throw you away." come out."
Liu Zhao was silent.
Gu Jiu said seriously: "You may think that I'm trying to drive a wedge between you father and son. But it's a matter of life and death, even if you're not happy, I still have to say it."
"I don't blame you. I know exactly what my father thinks. He intends to throw me out if he can't withstand the pressure at the critical moment."
After finishing speaking, Liu Zhao laughed at himself, "I'm a dutiful son, how can I watch my father throw me out. Without him doing anything, I took the initiative to stand up."
Gu Jiu sneered, "You really are a filial son."
Liu Zhao raised his eyebrows, "I took the initiative to take the responsibility, which made my father heave a sigh of relief. Next, I will clear up the debts from the household department. I will be imprisoned here, and my father can only find a way to deal with it."
At this moment, Gu Jiu finally knew Liu Zhao's real purpose.
He was willing to be imprisoned in Zongzheng Temple in order to avoid the big storm of cleaning up the household debts.
Gu Jiu asked him: "Is it worth it? It is said that the plan cannot keep up with the changes, and this matter may not necessarily develop according to your expectations. If in the end, the success falls short, do you not regret it?"
Liu Zhao looked calm, and asked Gu Jiu a question, "Does my lord have a choice?"
Whether he took the initiative to stand up or was thrown out by King Ning, the treatment was very different.
Gu Jiu sighed, "Sure enough, if you marry the emperor's grandson, you are doomed to live an unsettled life."
Liu Zhao said with a straight face, "Do you regret it? Regret is useless."
Gu Jiu rolled his eyes at him, and said concernedly: "You are here, can you eat and sleep well? Have those officials ever shown you face?"
Liu Zhao shook his head slightly, "Don't worry about me. I am here, except that I am not free, everything else is fine."
Gu Jiu had already looked at Liu Zhao carefully, and it seemed that he was indeed fine.
It seems that the officials of Zongzheng Temple are also very jealous, and they dare not treat the prince and grandson at will.
In the courtyard next door, there was suddenly shouting and cursing, as well as the bang bang bang sound of smashing things.
She looked towards Liu Zhao with doubts on her face.
Liu Zhao didn't even move his eyebrows, "Uncle Thirteen lives next door, he has a bad temper, and he always has to toss about every day."
Gu Jiu said: "Hearing this movement, he is very angry."
Liu Zhao nodded, "It is true that he has a lot of grievances. However, he is weak, and it is normal for him to be bullied by other uncles."
The royal family members are also bullying and fearing the hard.
If you want to give an explanation to the emperor, then use the weak princes to come out.
As for the prince poisoning case, does it matter if it has anything to do with them
At court, none of this mattered.
The court only cares about the result, not the process.
Gu Jiu called for someone, and the two servants brought pens, ink, paper and inkstones, and all kinds of books in.
She said: "I know that your life here is difficult, so this time around, I brought you a lot of books for you to spend a lot of time."
Liu Zhao picked up a book casually, and said with a smile, "You are worrying."
"It should."
Qingmei is under the eaves, cooking on the stove.
Smelling the aroma of the food, Liu Zhao said to Gu Jiu, "Stay here at noon."
This is a request, not a request.
Gu Jiu looked at the furnishings in the house, it was very simple. There is no extra furniture and decorations.
Gu Jiu nodded, "Let the servants tidy up this room."
Liu Zhao was in a happy mood.
Gu Jiu's arrival changed his mood from overcast to sunny.
Qingmei is good at cooking. She cooked two dishes and one soup on the stove.
The food is simple, but the atmosphere is warm.
Together with Liu Zhao, Gu Jiu ate the most humble meal since marrying into the palace.
Liu Zhao was halfway through eating, and suddenly said: "From now on, you will come to visit me on the first day of every month."
Gu Jiu raised her eyebrows, "I plan to stop coming here until you are released from prison."
Liu Zhao was heartbroken, his brows and eyes twitched, and he said forcefully, "Come over on the first day of every month, and bring more pens, ink, paper and inkstones, and books."
Gu Jiu smiled narrowly, "Are you lonely?"
Liu Zhao looked hungry, as if he wanted to eat people, "I am naturally lonely. Would you like to stay here with me?"
Gu Jiu shook her head, without any cover-up, "I don't want to."
She is really a realistic and indifferent woman.
Liu Zhao said, "I am your husband."
Gu Jiu raised her eyebrows and smiled, "Haven't you heard the saying that a husband and wife are originally birds in the same forest, and when disaster strikes, they fly separately?"
Liu Zhao finally recognized Gu Jiu's essence.
"You just don't want to suffer."
Gu Jiu nodded again and again, "Exactly. I don't like suffering the most, so you just let it go. Originally, I wanted to bring the maids here, but the maids are all cautious, afraid that once they come in, they won't be able to get out. None of them were willing to come. In the end, I had to bring two young servants here for your order."
Liu Zhao said heartbrokenly: "Why did I marry you? Other couples share joys and sorrows. When I come to you, I wish I could run far away."
Gu Jiu returned Liu Zhao's previous words to him intact, "Do you regret it? It's too late to regret it."
Liu Zhao laughed, "My lord has never regretted it. Even if you refuse to stay, my lord will still be happy."
Gu Jiu's cheeks were hot, oh my god, what she said made her feel guilty. If it were someone else, they would have already taken the initiative to stay and stay by their side.
However, Gu Jiu's head didn't feel hot, she was very sober.
She said: "Of course you won't regret marrying me. Except that I can't share the hardships with you, I will take care of the other things for you. You asked Qianfu to give me the box, and I have been keeping it for you."
But Liu Zhao said: "You don't need to keep that box for me. It should have been handed over to you long ago. You can use the money in it. The house deed and land deed will also be handed over to you.",
Gu Jiu was stunned for a moment, "That box, you asked Qian Fu to hand it over to me, isn't it because there are ironclad evidence about Chen Concubine's private minting of coins?"
Liu Zhao laughed, "Of course not. I asked Qian Fu to hand over the box to you because the property inside was originally intended for you to take care of it for me. As for the evidence inside, those are not important. You Whether you keep it or destroy it, you can handle it yourself."
Gu Jiu rubbed the center of her eyebrows, feeling that she had misunderstood Liu Zhao's purpose from the very beginning.
She thought that the box was left to her by Liu Zhao.
The result was just a simple handover of property.
Fortunately, she didn't act rashly, otherwise Liu Zhao would be harmed.
She glared at him, "Remember to speak clearly next time. Don't let people misunderstand."
Liu Zhao burst out laughing again, "Could it be that you think I want you to take risks? How can I be that kind of person?"
Gu Jiu snorted, picked up a piece of chicken, and stuffed it into Liu Zhao's mouth.
I don't believe that so much food can't stop his mouth.