Because the north wind was extremely strong that night, and it seemed to carry an evil spirit, the fire naturally grew stronger.
The luxurious Jihua Palace was burned overnight, and the smell of gunpowder smoke in the Yongxi Forbidden City could not dissipate for a long time.
Mu Huai didn't return all night, Rong Xi was preoccupied, so he didn't sleep all night.
That night the second princess, Mu Qian, was rescued by the palace servants, her delicate hands were burned by the flames, her eyes were filled with panic, and she fell to the ground.
Seeing that the place where he grew up was slowly turning into a raven-black ruin, and his hands were burning with unbearable pain, he couldn't help crying.
Mu Qian's crying was extremely shrill, as if she had lost her mind, she made so much noise that it was difficult for the concubines around to sleep peacefully.
Concubine Li Gui was finally rescued by the palace servants. Both her white and greasy skin and her beautiful appearance were completely destroyed by the fire.
A woman is the one who pleases herself, when the imperial physician sighed helplessly, Concubine Li Gui felt that she might as well die. No matter how good the medicine powder is to treat her, her rotten body cannot be restored, and it will only be more terrifying after the scabs form.
She wanted to cry, but when she called for help just now, her throat was accidentally swallowed by sparks, and it was also burned, and now she can't even speak a complete sentence.
Seeing such a mother and concubine being carried out, Mu Qian was so shocked that she fainted on the spot.
The scene was extremely chaotic, even though Jihua Palace had been burnt down, the imperial physician received the order to temporarily carry Concubine Li Gui and Second Princess Mu Qian to Concubine Shu's palace nearby.
Concubine Shu was an old person when Emperor Zhuang retired from his residence. She gave birth to Emperor Zhuang's eldest son, Murun, but Murun died of illness shortly after Emperor Zhuang ascended the throne.
Concubine Shu was not very happy when her sleep was disturbed in the middle of the night, let alone a dying carbon man covered in blood was sent to her palace.
Seeing that the person was Concubine Li Gui, Concubine Shu slightly raised her eyebrows, a smile gradually appeared on her lips.
Well, this domineering concubine Li Gui also has today.
Concubine Shu ordered the eunuch to place Concubine Li Gui in the main hall, and all the imperial physicians made troubles against Concubine Li Gui's body. The current situation is really too difficult.
Concubine Shu sat in the armchair with a calm expression on her face.
The maid standing on the sidelines watched the imperial physician carefully tear off the clothes sticking to Concubine Li Gui's skin, her heart trembled and she suppressed her vomiting.
Concubine Li Gui couldn't speak, but her body was in pain, and she could only let out a strange whimper.
Concubine Shu raised her crescent eyebrows and let out a long sigh of relief, as if she was enjoying Concubine Li Gui's pain.
When Mu Ji learned that Concubine Li Gui had been carried to Concubine Shu's palace, he hurriedly begged the eunuch guarding the palace gate to enter the palace to see Concubine Li Gui.
After all, Mu Ji is a prince, and it is not in accordance with the rules to break into the concubine's palace at night, the eunuch asked him to wait a while, and he went into the palace to ask Concubine Shu.
Concubine Shu chuckled lightly, and said to the eunuch: "You tell the second prince that it's getting late, and his first prince should not enter this palace. Then tell him, this palace will definitely take good care of Concubine Li Gui for him."
Afterwards, she walked towards Concubine Li Gui who was on the ground in the hall, her tone was obviously very gentle, but in the middle of the night, it made one's spine chill.
Concubine Shu said: "I will definitely take good care of you, Concubine Li. This palace will not let you die early like Concubine Xian, and will definitely let you live well."
Concubine Li Gui groaned, but said nothing more.
The eunuch endured the fear in his heart, and after receiving the order respectfully, he turned back to the palace gate. He told Mu Ji that since it was late at night, it was not suitable for him as a prince to enter the palace of concubine Shu, so he should go back early to rest.
Mu Ji was extremely anxious, so he ran to the Qianyuan Hall where Emperor Zhuang lived, regardless of his manners. He knelt outside the hall, and seeing the bright lights inside, he knew that Emperor Zhuang had not fallen asleep.
Mu Ji begged Emperor Zhuang with a crying voice: "Father, please let my son and minister meet the concubine mother."
The one who answered him was silent for a while.
Mu Ji kowtowed heavily towards the direction of the hall.
Tuk, tuk, tuk—
After three blunt bangs, there were bloodstains on his forehead, but he continued to plead: "If it is inconvenient for my son to go to Concubine Shu's palace, please also ask Father to visit Concubine Mother in person... Concubine Mother has made mistakes before, but I beg you For the sake of giving birth to your son Chen and Qianer, go and see her..."
Mu Ji lowered his eyes, and saw a pair of red Chinese boats standing in front of his eyes.
He looked up, facing Mu Huai's deep black eyes, his heart couldn't help but tremble.
Mu Huai's voice was cold, without any emotion.
He looked down at Mu Ji and said, "Go back, Father will not see you tonight."
Mu Ji got up, and when the always gentle and refined boy looked at Mu Huai, his face was filled with hatred.
He turned around and left. He didn't take a few steps, but stopped, and said to Mu Huai who was behind him, "How long do you think you can be proud of?"
Mu Huai remained silent, looking at Mu Ji as if looking at a firefly.
Mu Ji's voice became harsh, and he said again: "Mu Huai, just wait for me."
*****
The next day, Rong Xi deliberately passed by Jihua Palace, and saw that the formerly gorgeous palace was now only left with a scorched black frame, and his eyes gradually turned dark.
She knew a lot of people in the palace, and she had heard everything about last night during the trip. Some things in the palace would definitely be embellished, but most likely the same.
She quickly left Jihua Palace, found a secluded place, covered her heart and began to vomit.
The same is the biological son, but the treatment is quite different.
Mu Ji wanted to see his mother, but Emperor Zhuang refused.
However, Emperor Zhuang's health improved today, and he met civil and military officials in Jiazheng Palace, and went to court, but he didn't care about Concubine Li Gui.
The grievances and grievances between your lord are not very clear when she leaves.
But as a mother, she hoped that the child's father would love him the most.
She didn't want her husband to have children born to different women and treat them differently.
Everything in the palace made her feel terrible. She had been here for almost four years, but she already knew what the palace was like.
It's just that in order to survive, she gradually became numb to all this in her heart.
Now that I have a child, the fear deep in my heart has finally been awakened.
Mu Huai is strong and superior.
He will have many children in the future, and she is really not bad for a child born to a slave. But her child is the most precious in her heart, and she can't tolerate others degrading her child.
This morning, she just felt entangled and loosened in her heart, and wanted to tell Mu Huai about her pregnancy.
But now, those thoughts were all blown away by the wind, she just wanted to escape from this terrifying deep palace and forbidden city.
*****
Before the New Year's Eve, a sensational event happened in Bianjing Imperial Street.
Although the matter has passed for a long time, it is still talked about by the common people, and the storyteller in the restaurant Wazi always talks about it vividly.
That day, at the Xuande Building on the Imperial Street, there was a girl wearing a thick linen skirt, beating the Dengwen drum.
After the thunderous drums sounded in the bustling Yujie, the people suddenly realized that someone wanted to sue the imperial court and beat the drums to express their grievances.
Although the Dengwen Drum has been standing next to the Xuande Building, since Emperor Zhuang came to the throne, it has been just a decoration and no one dared to beat it.
King Jin Muhuai happened to ride his horse past the center of the Imperial Street. After hearing the news, he got off his horse and walked towards the girl.
The officers and soldiers have come here and feel that this civilian girl is causing trouble, so they want to drag her down and beat her up a few more times.
Mu Huai stopped the actions of the officers and soldiers, and in front of the people, he asked the girl why she had grievances.
If she really has a big grievance, he will complain for her today.
When the woman's surname was given, her husband's name was Yan Juxu, who was a scholar.
The woman surnamed Shi said that although An Hong, a Hanlin scholar, was a knowledgeable official, he chose the candidate for himself in the imperial examination, and chose that vulgar idiot as the candidate, while her husband who was studying hard in a poor window had no way to go to the public for recommendation and performance. Volume, lost the election.
Mu Huai sneered, and asked the girl: "How do you know that your husband will definitely be elected?"
Minnv, surnamed Shi, replied: "If Your Highness doesn't believe it, you can send someone to find the policy theory written by Minnv during the Husband's Palace Examination. Based on his talent and learning, he must be among the top three."
The officials next to Mu Huai scolded Shi's surname Minnv for being presumptuous, and wanted to drag her down and beat her to death.
Mu Huai waved his hand to stop the official, and then someone actually found out Yan Juxu's plan. He spread out the rice paper himself, frowned and began to read.
After a while, he threw the theory on the ground, and asked Shi's surname in a deep voice, "Such a level, but still in the top three? Didn't I have any talents in Daqi?"
The peasant girl surnamed Shi held up the rice paper with trembling hands, then raised her head to look at Mu Huai, with a slightly excited tone, she said, "Your Highness Mingjian, this... this is not my husband's handwriting!"
After speaking, everyone present was shocked.
In Daqi's scientific research, which has always been fair, there was a scandal in which the theory was changed without permission.
Mu Huai stared at the civilian girl on the ground, and said coldly to the officials behind him: "Check it out for me."
After Emperor Zhuang learned of this, he handed over the matter of fraudulent imperial examinations to Jin Wang Muhuai.
After Rong Xi learned of this, she felt that it was strange that a girl named Min was suing the imperial court at that time.
On the higher ground of Yujie Street and Lane, there is a watchtower of the government. One is to detect the fire situation at any time, and the other is to prevent people from causing trouble in the market.
If the girl had any intention of beating the Dengwen Drum, the officers and soldiers above would have discovered it early in the morning and stopped it in time.
But when Minnv was beating the drums, no one stopped her.
When Mu Huai arrived on horseback, the officers and soldiers had just arrived at Xuande Tower.
good means.
Rong Xi secretly felt that this girl beating drums to cry out for grievances was probably Mu Huai's play in front of the people.
The first part of this play is to seek fame, and the second is to get rid of people.
This time, Mu Huai punished relevant officials, used the power of Taiwan's admonishment, and vigorously suppressed political parties that were not conducive to his succession, and the people in the court were panicked for a while.
But the common people repeatedly praised Mu Huai for being fair and considerate of the common people.
In order to make Daqi's scientific examinations more serious and fair, Mu Huai asked Emperor Zhuang for orders to re-set the palace examinations in the Yingying Hall, and all the rankings released by the Ministry of Rites were not counted.
Emperor Zhuang felt unwell, so he asked Mu Huai to take the exam.
During the whole day, Mu Huai only drank a few cups of tea, read the theories and scriptures of all the candidates with the academicians of the Imperial Academy, and then discussed the final candidate with the officials of the Ministry of Rites.
It was night when the imperial examinations were finally completed, Rong Xi sighed deeply, Mu Huai was only 21 years old, but he was well versed in the art of being an emperor, if he could really inherit the throne, he should be a good emperor.
She has been very lethargic recently. When Mu Huai returned to the palace, he saw her petite body lying on the table, breathing lightly, and falling asleep.
In the past few days, this woman is not very obedient, she often does wrong things on purpose, as if she wants to make him angry.
He even reprimanded her yesterday, don't think that he won't kill her because he is happy with her.
The woman spared her life, she was shocked when she heard this, and then she worked hard for him.
Mu Huai was very tired after a busy day, but when he saw Rong Xi, his heart softened suddenly.
He hugged the delicate woman horizontally. Recently, Rong Xi's body was always cold, not as warm as before.
Rong Xi didn't sleep soundly. Seeing that she was flying into the air and was in Mu Huai's arms, she opened her eyes in shock.
Mu Huai looked down at her, feeling a little helpless, and said, "I don't have the heart to touch you today."
Rong Xi breathed a sigh of relief, and asked Mu Huai to put her down.
She accompanied Mu Huai for dinner, although Mu Huai didn't eat lunch, he didn't have much appetite.
But tonight Rong Xi's appetite was good, Mu Huai found that she had suddenly developed a sour taste and ate a lot of fish balls stewed with vinegar, so he pushed the fish balls in front of her, and signaled her to use them more.
Rong Xi was pregnant, even though she had a poor appetite, she forced herself to eat more every day.
Seeing this sneer, Mu Huai felt that this woman's petty temper had been used enough, and she had returned to her usual obedience, and a certain part of her heart calmed down.
In the middle of the night, Rong Xi sat docilely at the small case that Mu Huai had prepared for her, holding a needle and thread in her hand, as if she was sewing something.
Mu Huai saw that her profile was calm and beautiful, but when he picked up the pen, he didn't practice calligraphy, instead he dipped it in ink and outlined the outline of the woman in front of him on the gold-sprinkled paper.
Rong Xi sensed that Mu Huai was looking at her, and seeing him lower and raise his head from time to time, couldn't help laughing, and asked him softly, "Is Your Highness painting a servant girl?"
After hearing this, Mu Huai cupped his fists to cover his lips, quickly covered the painting with a thick stack of paper, and said in a calm voice on purpose: "Drawing you? It's a beautiful idea."
Rong Xi's smile didn't stop, Mu Huai felt a little strange seeing her like this.
This woman is in a very good mood tonight.
He got up, walked in front of Rong Xi, and when he looked down at her, she also stood up.
Afterwards, the woman's slender arms wrapped around his waist. Mu Huai was startled, and saw a beautifully crafted scorpion wrapped around his waist.
Rong Xi said in a warm voice at this time: "The servant made a scorpion for His Highness. The leather pouch inside can put some knives and pens and other small things, and you can also hang sachets and jade pendants. It is very convenient to wear on weekdays."
Mu Huai's heart warmed slightly, and he said to Rong Xi: "The mind is clever."
After finishing speaking, he saw that the stunning beauty in front of her suddenly hooked the buckle of the scorpion with her little finger, then raised her eyes, and looked into his eyes with a little temptation.
Mu Huai grabbed her slender wrist, raised his eyebrows slightly, and asked, "What are you going to do?"
Rong Xi stood on tiptoe and lightly kissed him on the lips.
After Mu Huai was slightly startled, he closed his eyes immediately, and was about to lean forward to deepen the kiss, but was avoided by the woman.
Rong Xi's soft lips had already touched his ears, and she could only hear her murmuring in a soft voice: "My servant will serve His Highness tonight, but Your Highness has promised me that I will let this servant come, okay?"