Half an hour ago.
After paying his respects to the Queen Mother, the Crown Prince of Thailand, Namgong Jin, came to the Emperor's palace.
Since the emperor was busy with the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven at that time, he could only wait outside.
Li Gui came out of the hall and accompanied him attentively.
When Nangong Jin was a child, he often went to the palace to play with the emperor, so he had been familiar with Li Gui since childhood.
The two chatted for a while.
Li Gui suddenly changed the subject and talked about Luo Qingzhou in a low voice.
"Your Highness, you don't know. The young master Luo whom His Majesty has favored recently was actually born in a humble family. He was just a concubine's son, and eventually married into the Qin family. In the autumn exam, he scored first in Mo City..."
"When the princess was in Mo City, she doted on him very much. It is said that she often summoned him to the palace to chat. As for what they talked about, no one knows. And when the princess proposed to reduce the title, the Qin family was the first to agree and took the initiative to resign..."
"After arriving in Kyoto, the princess also showed great concern for the Qin family. There was a case involving the Qin family, and the princess came in person to take the Qin family away from the Jinyiwei. His Majesty was also present at the time... The Qin family was very arrogant..."
"After the princess went to the border, Mr. Luo immediately came to curry favor with His Majesty and the Queen Mother. His Majesty seemed to trust him very much..."
At this point, he glanced around and lowered his voice, "But I think that Mr. Luo might have some problems. They were loyal to the princess at the beginning. And the princess had a maid, and His Majesty wanted to take her as a concubine, but the little bitch would rather die than agree, and finally committed suicide. It is said that the maid was originally Mr. Luo's woman, do you think he would not think too much?"
"So, I am afraid that Your Majesty has been deceived. That Young Master Luo is very cunning..."
"Oh, Your Highness, when I sent him back, I heard him privately saying that Your Majesty should not hand over all military power to Your Highness the King of Thailand, and that Your Highness, you... you..."
Nangong Jin's eyes turned cold and he asked, "What did you say about me?"
Li Gui lowered his head and looked around again, and said with embarrassment: "I dare not say."
Nangong Jin's face darkened and he said, "Li Gui, what are you afraid of? Just tell me! There's no one else here."
Li Gui said with a bitter face: "I am afraid that Your Majesty will blame me if he knows that I have been saying bad things about Mr. Luo behind his back."
Nangong Jin said with a frosty face: "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone else, just tell me."
Li Gui glanced at him, then immediately moved closer to him and whispered, "After being praised by His Majesty and the Queen Mother, that kid became very proud and arrogant. When I sent him back that night, he directly said that next year's top scholar would be none other than him. He also said that when he becomes an official, he will definitely impeach you, the Crown Prince, saying that you forcibly robbed women in Kyoto and acted recklessly. You are not worthy... not worthy of being the Crown Prince, let alone commanding the army with the King of Thailand..."
"Bang!"
Nangong Jin slapped the railing in front of him with a stern expression on his face: "Did that kid really say that?"
Li Gui immediately said in panic: "How dare I deceive His Royal Highness? At that time, the boy was full of vigor and seemed to look down on everyone. He even commented on and ridiculed the four great princes of Kyoto. Alas..."
At this point, he sighed again and said, "When that boy said bad things about you, Your Highness, I immediately refuted him, but he... He came up and slapped me in the face. From that day on, every time he saw me, he would slap me. If Your Highness doesn't believe it, you can ask the guards... I feel wronged... Woo woo..."
After saying that, he immediately covered his face and began to cry softly.
Nangong Jin clenched his fists, his eyes flashed with a fierce look, and said, "Li Gui, don't cry. You should look at the owner before beating the dog. You are at least someone by His Majesty's side, and someone I have played with since childhood. Since he dared to humiliate you, I will naturally not let him off."
Li Gui quickly added: "Your Highness, I don't mind if I suffer a little injustice. The main reason is that I am afraid that Your Majesty is young and will be deceived by that cunning boy. After all, that boy used to be the eldest princess's man and is loyal to her..."
Nangong Jin had a gloomy face, with a fierce light flashing in his eyes. He pondered for a moment, then suddenly sneered, "In that case, I will come to test him today. Let's see if he is really loyal to Your Majesty, or to someone else!"
Li Gui's expression changed, and he quickly asked in a low voice: "How are you going to try, Your Highness?"
Nangong Jin's eyes flashed, and he took out a letter from his arms, sneering: "This is a secret letter from the border army. Li Gui, you go find him later and tell him that this prince wants to see him and take him to the pavilion in the back garden. When the time comes, this prince will deliberately drop this secret letter to see his reaction. Whether he picks it up or not, this prince will make the decision and make you return the slaps he gave you!"
At this point, he snorted again and said, "If he dares to hide secretly, he and his Qin family will be executed, and no one will be left behind!"
When Li Gui heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up and he immediately thanked him profusely, his heart filled with joy.
Nangong Jin waved his hand and said, "Go ahead, I'll wait in the pavilion behind."
Li Gui agreed immediately and left in a hurry, his heart filled with the pleasure of imminent revenge.
When he came to the square outside the Golden Palace with two eunuchs, he soon saw the elegant young man wearing a loose Confucian robe.
"Little bastard! Your time of death has come!"
Li Gui gritted his teeth and said secretly in his heart, but his face was calm. He lowered his head, walked over quickly, and said respectfully: "Mr. Luo, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Thai Palace wants you to come over."
Luo Qingzhou had been staring into his eyes when he came over from a distance, and now he was still looking into his eyes and asked, "Is there something that your Highness wants to talk to me about?"
At this time, Qin Wenzhen, Qin Chuan and others also looked over.
Li Gui lowered his head and said respectfully, "Your Highness loves poetry very much. I just learned from the Queen Mother that Young Master Luo is very talented and good at poetry, so I want to meet Young Master Luo and make friends with him."
Luo Qingzhou stared into his eyes and said, "Oh? Really?"
Li Gui said: "Yes, Mr. Luo, please come in quickly, don't let His Royal Highness wait anxiously."
Luo Qingzhou's eyes moved, and he turned to Qin Wenzheng and the others and said, "Father-in-law, you wait here, I'll be back soon."
Bai Ling, who was standing by, immediately said in a crisp voice: "Uncle, I'll go with you."
Li Gui looked up at her, a look of amazement in his eyes, and said respectfully: "My lady, His Highness the Crown Prince does not see outsiders, only Young Master Luo."
Bai Ling wanted to say something, but Luo Qingzhou said, "You stay here with Madam, I can go by myself."
Li Gui was delighted and immediately said, "Mr. Luo, please."
Luo Qingzhou was calm and walked in front.
Qin Wen Zheng looked at their backs, frowning slightly.
Qin Chuan said worriedly, "Dad, I heard in the academy that the Thai prince has been domineering and bullying in Kyoto since he was a child. He has a very bad reputation. Let Qingzhou go alone, will there be any trouble?"
Qin Wenzheng glanced at him and said calmly, "What could possibly happen? Do you think Qing Zhou is as brainless as you?"
Qin Chuan: “…”
As Luo Qingzhou walked forward, he turned around and asked, "Eunuch Li, where are we going now?"
Li Gui hurriedly walked beside him to lead the way, lowering his head and saying, "Go to the Imperial Garden, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is waiting there."
Luo Qingzhou asked: "Imperial Garden? Is His Majesty here?"
Li Gui said: "His Majesty is still burning incense and bathing, preparing various offerings for worship. Only His Royal Highness is there."
Several people walked forward while talking.
A team of patrolling soldiers came along the road, glanced at them, and quickly left.
When the patrolling soldiers came to a corner not far away, the leading captain said, "You two go patrol ahead. I'm going to the toilet."
After saying that, he left in a hurry.
"Mr. Luo, this way."
Li Gui led the way in front, his face full of respect, but his heart was becoming more and more excited.
Thinking of the scene in which the little bastard would regret it deeply and be slapped by him personally, he couldn't help but grin, but luckily he held it back.
A few people walked through the nine-curve corridor and came to the garden at the back.
Luo Qingzhou followed him, passed through a round door, and saw the young man standing in the pavilion in front at a glance.
The young man was wearing an elegant brocade robe, had a slender figure and a handsome appearance. He was pacing in the pavilion with his hands behind his back, seeming to be thinking about something.
The stone table in the pavilion was filled with colorful fruits and cakes.
Li Gui hurried over and said respectfully, "Your Highness, Young Master Luo is here."
Nangong Jin turned around and looked at the young man behind him.
Luo Qingzhou bowed his head and said, "I am Luo Qingzhou, and I pay my respects to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Nangong Jin smiled and said, "Li Gui, please leave first. I want to talk to Mr. Luo."
Li Gui immediately lowered his head and retreated.
Nangong Jin extended his hand and invited, "Mr. Luo, please come in and sit down and talk."
Luo Qingzhou lowered his head and said, "I'll just stand there."
Nangong Jin smiled and said, "How can that be possible? I just came from the Queen Mother and heard that the Queen Mother praised Mr.'s talent and His Majesty also doted on him. I also heard that even the Princess showed special respect to him. I, Nangong Jin, dare not neglect him."
Then he invited again: "Sir, please."
Luo Qingzhou did not refuse and walked in with his head down.
Nangong Jin sat down first and said with a smile, "Please sit down, sir."
At this time, two palace maids came over, poured tea for the two of them, and then immediately left.
Luo Qingzhou then slowly sat down.
Nangong Jin looked at him and said, "Sir, are you confident about the next year's spring exam?"
Luo Qingzhou said: "We are still preparing. As for whether I am confident or not, I dare not say."
Nangong Jin smiled and said, "Since even the Queen Mother and His Majesty have praised your talent, there is no doubt that you will pass the imperial examination next year. By the way, what do you think of the demon tribe on the border?"
Luo Qingzhou said respectfully: "I have been studying at home and have not heard anything outside. I only know that the demon tribe has occupied our Great Yan City. Their crimes are extremely serious and they will be destroyed by our Great Yan army sooner or later."
Nangong Jin's eyes gleamed, and he sighed, "Originally, the princess went to the border. With her military talent, she could definitely destroy the demon tribe. Unfortunately, for some reason, the princess did not take action. Now the princess has suddenly returned to Kyoto, and the troops on the border have been handed over to my father. Alas, I heard that the demon tribe has sent many reinforcements, and my father dare not act rashly."
As he was speaking, Li Gui suddenly came hurriedly and said, "Your Highness, there is someone looking for you in front, please go over."
Nangong Jin slowly stood up after hearing this and said, "Mr. Luo, please sit down for a while. I'll be back soon. It's still early before the Taikang Feast. Don't worry, sir. I still need to ask you about poetry later."
Luo Qingzhou stood up and bowed, saying, "Your Highness, please go first."
Nangong Jin nodded, immediately followed Li Gui and left quickly.
After the two of them walked out of the round door, Luo Qingzhou glanced under his seat and saw a letter dropped on the ground.
He turned around, put his hands behind his back, and looked at the pond outside the railing.
In the pond, the red goldfish have exposed their heads and are breathing the fresh air outside.
Luo Qingzhou stood at the railing for a while, then suddenly walked outside.
Li Gui, who was hiding not far away and peeking at him, immediately came out, entered through the round door, and shouted: "Master Luo, where are you going?"
Luo Qingzhou walked out of the pavilion and said, "I want to walk around."
Li Gui walked over quickly and said, "Mr. Luo, please wait a moment. His Royal Highness will be here soon. If you leave now, His Royal Highness will not be able to see you when he returns, or His Majesty will suddenly summon you. I really have no way to explain."
Luo Qingzhou said: "I'll just walk around in the garden, not far away."
Li Gui glanced at the letter under the stone table and said with a smile: "Mr. Luo, you should wait in the pavilion. This is the Imperial Garden and you can't walk around."
As he said this, he hurriedly walked into the pavilion, walked to the stone table, and said with a smile: "Mr. Luo, there are so many cakes and fruits here. If you are hungry, you can eat as much as you want."
Luo Qingzhou walked over and stood with him. He glanced at the cakes on the table and said, "Okay, I'll wait here."
Li Gui lowered his head and secretly glanced at the ground, then stepped on the letter and moved it outside to a more conspicuous place. He then smiled and said, "Then Mr. Luo, wait a moment. I will go and see if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has come out."
After saying that, he turned around and walked away quickly, with a sneer on his face, muttering in his heart: "Little bastard, pick it up quickly! If you touch it, you're dead!"
He did not go far, but hid behind a rockery not far away, peeking at the situation in the pavilion through the cracks in the stones.
Luo Qingzhou stood in front of the stone table, ate a cake, paced back and forth, suddenly lowered his head, looked at the ground, then raised his head and looked around.
When Li Gui saw this scene, he was immediately delighted and hid himself immediately. After a few seconds, he raised his head and peeked into the pavilion.
At this time, Luo Qingzhou had already sat back on the stone bench.
Li Gui couldn't see inside, so he waited for a while and immediately walked outside.
At this time, Nangong Jin was standing in the corridor outside waiting.
Li Gui walked over quickly, and whispered excitedly, "Your Highness, it should be done! The boy found the letter on the ground, I wonder if he has picked it up."
Nangong Jin's eyes revealed a sinister look, and he sneered, "If he picks it up, no one can save him. If he turns a blind eye, I will find fault with him later and let you slap him. Li Gui, you can slap him hard later. If anything happens, this prince will take responsibility!"
Li Gui was overjoyed when he heard this, and said excitedly: "Thank you, Your Highness!"
Nangong Jin added: "Go, call a few more eunuchs and palace maids to come as witnesses. If he doesn't produce it later, you go and inform His Majesty immediately."
Li Gui immediately agreed and turned to leave.
Nangong Jin walked to the round gate of the back garden first and looked at the figure in the pavilion with a cold gaze.
at the same time.
The eldest princess and the empress dowager came to the emperor's bedroom, preparing to go to the Golden Throne Hall with him to offer sacrifices to the heavens, give thanks and pray for blessings.
Soon, Li Gui came behind Nangong Jin with four or five eunuchs and palace maids.
Nangong Jin turned his head and looked at them, and said seriously: "This prince has left a letter in this garden, you all come and help find it."
After hearing this, the eunuchs and palace maids immediately agreed respectfully.
Nangong Jin and Li Gui looked at each other, walked into the round gate, and walked towards the pavilion while searching in the bushes on both sides of the road.
When the two came near the pavilion and looked under the stone table in the pavilion, the letter that had fallen there before had disappeared.
Li Gui was overjoyed!
Nangong Jin narrowed his eyes, walked into the pavilion, a faint smile appeared on his face, and looked at the young man in front of him, waiting for his decision.
If he takes it out and returns it to him, he will naturally not be sentenced to death, but he will still be beaten.
And if he hides it secretly and doesn't take it out, then no one can save him and his entire Qin family!
There was silence in the pavilion for a few seconds.
He didn't take it out.
A sneer suddenly appeared at the corner of Nangong Jin's mouth.
At this time, Li Gui immediately left quickly, as fast as the wind.
He ran through the corridor, stumbled into the house, and said in panic: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! It's bad!"
Inside the room, Emperor Nangong Yang, wearing a gorgeous new dragon robe, was talking to the Queen Mother and the eldest princess. Upon hearing this, he immediately shouted angrily, "What are you panicking about? Don't you see that the Queen Mother and the Imperial Sister are here?"
Li Gui immediately knelt on the ground with a plop, and kowtowed, saying, "Queen Mother, Your Highness, I was reckless. I deserve to die, I deserve to die!"
The Queen Mother frowned and asked, "Little Noble, what's the matter that makes you so flustered?"
Li Gui hurriedly said, "Queen Mother, Your Majesty, the Crown Prince of Thailand was bored waiting outside just now, so he called Master Luo to the Imperial Garden to talk about poetry. Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince of Thailand's secret letter suddenly disappeared. The Crown Prince searched for a long time in the Imperial Garden, but couldn't find it..."
The Queen Mother asked, "What secret letter?"
Li Gui raised his head, glanced at the princess, hesitated for a moment, and said, "It was sent by the border troops..."
As soon as these words came out, the Queen Mother's face suddenly changed, and she immediately said, "Let's go and have a look. You should immediately call all the servants outside and go look together."
Nangong Yang said quickly: "Mother, don't worry. Since it fell in the garden behind, it can be found naturally. Too many people would be bad. If someone took it away on purpose, it would be troublesome."
The Queen Mother nodded and said, "Your Majesty is right. Let's go and take a look first."
Nangong Yang saw the princess still sitting there drinking tea, and hurriedly said, "Royal sister, let's go together, Luo Qing is also there."
Nangong Huoyue glanced at him, but before she could say anything, the Queen Mother had already pulled her and said, "Come on, Huoyue, let's go take a look together."
At this time, in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden.
After a moment of silence, Nangong Jin suddenly asked, "Mr. Luo, did you pick up anything just now?"
Luo Qingzhou was slightly startled when he heard this, and said respectfully: "Your Highness, did you drop anything? I was in this pavilion just now and didn't see it."
Nangong Jin smiled and said, "Forget it if they didn't see it. We can ask them to look for it later."
At this time, the palace maids and eunuchs had already started searching in other places.
Not long.
A group of people suddenly walked in from the round door.
Li Gui asked in a shrill voice: "Your Highness, have you found the secret letter?"
Nangong Jin looked at them, shook his head and said, "We haven't found it yet. I just asked Mr. Luo, and he also said he didn't see it."
Li Gui was puzzled and asked, "It's really strange. Your Highness the Crown Prince should not have lost it in the corridor before. How come the secret letter disappeared after coming to the Imperial Garden? Did it fall into the water?"
Nangong Jin looked at the pond below and said, "If it falls into the water, it will naturally float on the surface. The letter is made of special materials."
After saying this, he immediately walked out of the pavilion and went up to greet them respectfully, "Greetings to the Queen Mother, Your Majesty, and the Princess."
The Queen Mother frowned, looked around, and then looked at the young man in the pavilion.
Luo Qingzhou also walked out and bowed his head in worship.
Nangong Huoyue glanced at him and suddenly said, "Mr. Luo, did you really not see the letter?"
Everyone's eyes turned to the young man behind Nangong Jin.
Luo Qingzhou bowed his head and said respectfully: "I have been staying in the pavilion the whole time, and indeed I did not see it."
Nangong Huoyue was silent for a moment, then said, "Touch your body first, maybe you forgot it. If you really found it, take it out quickly. Ignorance is not a crime."
Nangong Yang glanced at her and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.
Luo Qingzhou still lowered his head and answered respectfully: "I didn't pick it up. If Your Highness doesn't believe me, I can swear on it."
Nangong Huoyue frowned slightly and was about to speak when Nangong Jin beside her suddenly said, "No need to swear, I'll search it. Don't blame me, Mr. Luo. The letter I dropped was a secret letter sent from the border. It's of great importance and cannot be lost."
Luo Qingzhou was silent for a moment and said nothing.
Nangong Jin's eyes flashed, and he smiled and said, "Mr. Luo, what's the matter? Are you afraid to let me search you, or is there another reason?"
Nangong Huoyue slowly clenched her jade hand in her sleeve.
Luo Qingzhou bowed and said, "Your Highness, I am not the only one who came to the Imperial Garden just now, right?"
Nangong Jin showed a sneer on his face and said, "Don't worry, the people who just came here, besides Mr. Luo, are me, Eunuch Li, and two palace maids. We will search them all later and won't let any of them go."
After hearing this, Luo Qingzhou still showed a hint of hesitation on his face.
The more he acted like this, the more suspicious people looked at him.
Nangong Huoyue was about to speak when he suddenly said, "Your Highness, if you want to search my body, can you find a woman to do it? I have been afraid of being touched by men since I was a child. Ordinary collisions are fine, but if you want to touch my whole body, I really can't stand it."
As soon as these words came out, everyone: "..."
Nangong Huoyue suddenly said, "Yueying, go search."
Unexpectedly, just as she finished speaking, Nangong Yang beside her suddenly laughed and said, "Royal sister, there is no need to trouble your people. There are so many palace maids here, just let them go. After all, men and women should not be intimate with each other, and we cannot embarrass Miss Yueying."
Nangong Huoyue narrowed her eyes and said nothing more.
At this time, the Queen Mother suddenly said, "Wan'er, go search."
Changsun Wan'er, who was standing behind her, nodded and agreed.
Nangong Yang glanced at her and said nothing more.