After the first snow fell, it was windy and snowy for several days, and the entire capital had long been covered in silver, and Fufeng Courtyard was no exception.
On the morning of the second day of December, the wind and snow finally stopped, and the maids and women of the palace were sweeping the snow in the courtyard early in the morning.
Nangong Yue had just finished her breakfast when she heard Baihui report: Miss Fu Liu is here.
After a while, Lily led Fu Yunyan into the outer study. Fu Yunyan glanced at the thick stack of account books on the desk, and sighed sympathetically: "Ah Yue, you and my mother have worked so hard." It's the last month of this year, and Mrs. Fu has been very busy recently, and her desk is full of this year's account books.
"Six mothers!"
Nangong Yue pulled Fu Yunyan to sit by the window. After the snow stopped, although it was a little cold outside, but there was no wind, so Nangong Yue ordered someone to open half of the window to let in the air and enjoy the snow scenery by the way.
"Liu Niang, why are you here suddenly?"
"Why? I'm not welcome?" Fu Yunyan blinked mischievously, "I saw that the snow scene was good early in the morning, so I came to you specially to enjoy the snow and have a snowball fight..."
Nangong Yue was startled, and said with a broken smile: "Liu Niang, it's fine to enjoy the snow, as for the snowball fight..." As she spoke, her eyes stopped on Lily, "Let Lily play with you."
Fu Yunyan glanced at Lily, nodded and said: "That's right, I will not bully you, a powerless little nerd like me, a savage martial artist."
She stood up with a smile and said, "Ah Yue, where's the other little nerd in your family? Why don't you go out with her to enjoy the snow."
The other little nerd that Fu Yunyan refers to is naturally Xiao Fei.
Lily immediately replied: "The eldest girl went to the garden early in the morning and said she was going to sweep the snow and make tea."
Fu Yunyan couldn't help but think of how they swept snow in their house last year, and smiled: "Ah Yue, the little nerd in your family is as emotional as Sister Xi."
Nangong Yue thought of something and smiled too.
Lily said bluntly at the side: "Miss Fu Liu, you don't know, our eldest girl has lived in southern Xinjiang since she was a child, and this is the first time she has come to the capital. It is hot in southern Xinjiang, and the eldest girl has only seen it once in southern Xinjiang. Snow. A few days ago, it snowed in the royal capital, but she was so happy... She also said that there are nine elegant things in life: burning incense, drinking tea, listening to the rain, appreciating the snow, waiting for the moon, drinking wine, planting flowers, and searching for secluded places , Playing the piano. If the concubine Shi Zi didn't stop her, the eldest girl would have gone to wait for the moon on a snowy night like the ancients the night before yesterday."
Fu Yunyan was amused: "A Fei is really interesting."
While joking, they left the small study and headed for the garden.
At this moment, the maidservant has cleared away the snow on the road, but the eaves, branches, and flowers... are still covered with thick snow, which makes the whole palace look very different from usual, peaceful and distant.
Lily said with emotion: "Yesterday, the wind and snow were so noisy that I didn't sleep well in the middle of the night. Now the snow stopped as soon as it said it would. God is really capricious."
Fu Yunyan thought of something, and showed a mysterious smile: "Otherwise, how could there be a saying that the wind and snow will always pass!"
Nangong Yue couldn't help looking at Fu Yunyan, thinking about the recent turmoil in the capital, she always felt that she seemed to be referring to something.
"Liu Niang, you seem to be in a good mood today?" Nangong Yue asked tentatively.
Fu Yunyan hesitated for a moment, then said: "Ah Yue, you know about the fact that Marquis An Yi was taken to the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice?"
Nangong Yue straightened her face and nodded.
Speaking of Guan Yubai's matter, Lily's expression was a bit complicated, she lowered her head slightly to hide the strange color on her face.
"Ah Yue, what do you think about this matter?" Fu Yunyan asked solemnly, "Do you believe that Marquis An Yi will collude with the remnants of the previous dynasty?"
Nangong Yue said seriously: "The official family is full of loyalty, I naturally don't believe it!"
Fu Yunyan's eyes lit up immediately, and he clasped his hands together and said, "I knew you, Ayue, are also a discerning person!" Looking at her determined face, she seemed to be saying, how could the person I admire the most collude with the remnants of the previous dynasty!
After a pause, Fu Yunyan said again: "When I went to pay my respects to my grandmother this morning, Cousin Yu happened to be there, just like you and me, Cousin Yu also said that he believed in Marquis An Yi."
As he said that, Fu Yunyan couldn't help but hear his cousin Wen Yu's loud voice: "Grandmother, although my grandson has only known Marquis An Yi for more than a month, I have heard many stories about him before, and I have always admired him very much. During this time, Marquis An Yi has been taking good care of his grandson, giving careful instructions... Grandson feels that Marquis An Yi has a noble character, so he would never do such a disobedient thing. Grandmother, Marquis An Yi must have been framed by a traitor! It's a pity that the grandson is single and weak , and I can't help An Yihou, I can only ask grandma..."
The corners of Fu Yunyan's mouth curled slightly, and he praised: "Cousin Yu is worthy of being our Fu family, and he has the knowledge of people!"
Nangong Yue was thoughtful, if it was just because of this, Fu Yunyan shouldn't be so happy, could it be that...
"Liu Niang, is Grandmother Yong Yang going to ask to see the Emperor?" She asked hastily.
Fu Yunyan was stunned for a moment, and said with a look of surprise: "Ah Yue, you are so smart! Cousin begged grandmother to enter the palace to intercede for Hou An Yi.... Even the emperor would think about it if grandmother came forward." Fu Yunyan was full of smiles.
Nangong Yue suddenly stopped, and hurriedly asked: "Liu Niang, has Grandmother Yong Yang entered the palace?"
Fu Yunyan didn't know why she asked this, but she immediately replied: "The emperor is still in the morning court, and grandma plans to enter the palace in the afternoon..." She looked at Nangong Yue's face sinking like water, and felt a little worried in her heart, "Ah Yue, is there any chance?" What's wrong?"
Nangong Yue's eyebrows were tightly locked, and thousands of thoughts were intertwined in her heart... After a while, she looked at Fu Yunyan cautiously and said: "Your cousin may have good intentions, but sometimes good intentions may be self-defeating." A trace of complexity and doubt flashed in Yue's eyes.
What do you mean?! Fu Yunyan looked at Nangong Yue suspiciously.
"Liu Niang, do you know about the 'Rebellion of King Yu'?" Nangong Yue asked slowly.
Fu Yunyan was startled, not knowing the relationship between the two, but still nodded.
Nangong Yue said: "During the 'King Yu's Rebellion', King Yu colluded with most of the generals in the court to rebel. Now there is a lot of rumors in the king's capital, and everyone says that this time the 'King Yu's Rebellion' will repeat itself!"
Nangong Yue raised her eyes to look in the direction of the palace, and sighed, "Holy will is unpredictable!"
Fu Yunyan frowned thoughtfully.
Nangong Yue straightened out her thoughts and continued: "Liu Niang, Grandmother Yong Yang is not only the emperor's aunt, she is also a general, and she is also a general with high morals and high morals! Since ancient times, the emperor has tabooed courtiers to form cliques Civil servants form cliques for selfish purposes, but military generals form cliques for treason. Although the court is in turmoil and many officials have been implicated, at least the emperor has neither used the butcher knife nor tortured Marquis An Yi. It shows that the emperor should still have doubts about this case. But once a high-ranking and powerful person with military power like Grandma Yongyang is involved in this matter, not only will it not achieve the purpose of sending charcoal in the snow, but it may be the opposite. It will make the emperor even more afraid of An Yihou, so it will be of no benefit to An Yihou or the princess mansion. From the current point of view, the best policy is to be cautious and calm."
Nangong Yue made a lot of sense. After Fu Yunyan thought about it carefully, the more she thought about it, the more flustered she became, and she hurriedly said: "Ah Yue, I have to go home quickly."
Naturally, Nangong Yue didn't keep her, and sent her to the second gate in person, watching her leave with a complicated expression, thinking: Now that there is a storm in the court, if it is not for the in-laws, it really cannot be separated from the relationship, most officials choose to be wise and safe, and at the same time To avoid suspicion, so as not to be charged with forming a party or colluding, is Liuniang's cousin a newcomer to the official court, and is he simply maintaining a pure heart, or is he doing it on purpose
If it's the former, it's fine, if it's the latter...
Nangong Yue felt a little uneasy in her heart. She stayed there for a while, until Lily's saluting voice sounded beside her: "I've seen the eldest girl."
After following the sound, he realized that Xiao Fei had come over at some time.
Xiao Fei looked at Nangong Yue suspiciously, and asked, "Sister-in-law, I heard that Miss Fu Liu is here..." Why did she disappear again
Nangong Yue hurriedly said: "Sister Fei, Liu Niang suddenly thought of something, so she went back first."
Xiao Fei frowned slightly, feeling something was wrong, but since Nangong Yue didn't say anything, she didn't ask again.
Nangong Yue couldn't help but glanced in the direction of the imperial palace again, feeling a little heavy in her heart, and at this moment, there was another turbulent wave in the morning.
Yushitai Yushi Zhongcheng Wang sternly impeached Zhennan Prince Xiao Yi for colluding with An Yihou Guan Yubai. The two deliberately delayed the peace talks between Dayu and Baiyue, intending to destroy the diplomatic relations between the two countries, and once again triggered the war between the two countries. His heart is to be punished!
The Manchu Dynasty was in an uproar again, following the Minister of War, Chen Yuanzhou, General Zhang, Marquis Weiyang, Marquis Anyi, Chen Shilang... Now even Xiao Yi, the son of the Prince of Zhennan who is not in the capital at the moment, was also involved in this wave of turmoil. Could it be this time? Do you really want to repeat the "Yu Wang Rebellion" of the late emperor?!
Several ministers quickly raised their heads and glanced at the emperor sitting on the throne, and then lowered their heads halfway as if nothing had happened, all of them were silent.
The emperor, dressed in a bright yellow crown suit, sat on the throne with a big horse and a golden knife. His square face was expressionless, and it was impossible to tell whether it was happiness or anger.
Probably only Eunuch Liu who was serving at the side knew that the emperor was definitely not as calm as he appeared.
If he hadn't been there at the time, Eunuch Liu would have hardly believed that An Yihou Guan Yubai's "supernatural powers" had reached this level.
Someone really impeached Zhennan Prince Xiao Yi!
This is simply a prophet, isn't it?!
Who on earth colluded with Baiyue secretly... The more Eunuch Liu thought about it, the more frightened he became. He secretly glanced at the emperor with deep eyes, and his back was already wet.
No one spoke in the hall for a while, until one person suddenly came out, it was Nangong Qin. He bowed and bowed to the emperor and said: "Your Majesty, the son of Zhennan Prince is utterly loyal. He fought for Dayu on the battlefield, defeated Baiyue, and saved the people in southern Xinjiang from fire and water. Prince Xiao, his motives are really suspicious!"
"Xiao Shizi and Mr. Nangong are relatives by marriage, so it is natural to speak for Xiao Shizi." Wang Zhongcheng responded calmly.
Nangong Qin frowned slightly, and said again: "Wang Zhongcheng, I don't understand, what's the benefit to Xiao Shizi if it causes war between the two countries?"
Wang Zhongcheng respectfully said to the emperor: "Your Majesty, the Zhennan Palace and the Southern Border Army have always been warlike, and their value cannot be demonstrated without fighting. Your Majesty, please be careful!"
With such a heartbreaking theory, Nangong Qin suppressed the anger in his heart, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, as long as the two countries go to war, the lives of the people will suffer, and the people will suffer. The Zhennan Palace has been defending my Dayu border in the southern border for decades. It will start a war for no reason! Wang Zhongcheng's remarks really chilled the hearts of thousands of soldiers in southern Xinjiang! Please also learn from the emperor."
Wang Zhongcheng did not argue with Nangong Qin again, but said to the emperor again: "I ask the emperor to thoroughly investigate Xiao Shizi!"
The emperor's face was as deep as water, and he didn't speak for a long time, and the officials were also motionless, thinking: If the Zhennan Palace is involved in this, who will be next
The heavy court clothes in winter were almost drenched in cold sweat, and the crowd felt uneasy, except for the corner of Pingyanghou's mouth with a mocking sneer.
In this tense atmosphere, a person stepped out from the queue on the left of the emperor.
This person is Lu Wenzhuo, the chief assistant of the cabinet.
Lu Wenzhuo bowed his head respectfully, and then said with an upright face: "Your Majesty, according to my opinion, whether it is Marquis An Yi or Prince Xiao, they all acted carelessly in the affairs of Baiyue, which caused troubles. Doubts. Since this is the case, it is better to conduct a thorough investigation. If they are not guilty, they can clear their stigma and return their innocence!"
"I have made my own decision on this matter." The emperor's voice was lukewarm, neither happy nor angry, which made the officials feel more uncertain.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Lu Wenzhuo didn't say any more, and retreated to the queue.
The emperor gave Eunuch Liu a look, and Eunuch Liu screamed, "Retire!"
All the ministers hurriedly raised their robes and knelt down, sending off the holy car in unison.
The early court was over, but things were far from over. Nangong Qin immediately sent someone to Zhennan Palace to deliver news to Nangong Yue, while on the other side, the emperor secretly summoned Guan Yubai in the imperial study.
It was quiet in the imperial study room, just like last time, except for Eunuch Liu, all other palace people were sent away.
Guan Yubai saluted the emperor.
The emperor stared at Guan Yubai's half-sagging face and calm expression without blinking, and did not speak for a while.
In the early court, the emperor's heart was of course thunderous and furious, and it took almost all of his body's strength to hold it back. He is the emperor, and for the sake of the overall situation, he can't express his true emotions at will... At that time, the emperor felt that he might as well be a tyrant for a moment! To be a wise king, you need to look forward and backward, and take care of the overall situation. To be a tyrant, you can do whatever you want!
The emperor rubbed the center of his brows, and finally said: "Speaking plainly, no courtesy. Give me a seat."
After Guan Yubai sat down on the armchair beside him, the emperor said again: "Yubai, as you said, at the court this morning, Wang Zhongcheng of Yushitai impeached the prince of Zhennan for colluding with you..." In the emperor's voice With a trace of exhaustion, he told Guan Yubai exactly what happened in the court hall.
If it is said that before the early court today, the emperor only believed 70% of Guan Yubai's words, but now it is 120%. There are courtiers in the majestic Dayu who colluded with Nanman Baiyue, and even intended to frame a group of ministers, Minister of War Chen Yuanzhou, General Zhang, Marquis Wei Yang, Marquis Anyi, Chen Shilang... Xiao Yi, the son of Zhennan Prince, the people behind the scenes clearly wanted to... Cut off half of his Dayu court, so that he, the emperor, has no ministers or generals to use. As for Wang Zhongcheng, he didn't expect that even the dignified imperial censor Taizhong Cheng would be bribed by someone. It was really unexpected for him. This time, these moths lurking in the court were brought out!
The emperor is pleased, but more disappointed.
He feels that Dayu is flourishing day by day, but he doesn't know that there are already many crises hidden under the seemingly prosperous.
The emperor looked at Guan Yubai deeply, calmed himself down, and said in a deep voice, "Yubai, this Baiyue collaborator is really powerful, and even Wang Zhongcheng, the dignified censor Taizhong Cheng, can easily buy him off. I really want to see him now Take this Wang Zhongcheng down and torture him for interrogation, but..."
There is no evidence, just because Wang Zhongcheng impeached Xiao Yi, you can't say that he was bought by others, right? It is Yushitai's responsibility to impeach officials, and Wang Zhongcheng is not a fool. Once he admits it, he will have nowhere to turn around!
"Your majesty is right," Guan Yubai said without hesitation, "This matter involves a lot, and you should not act rashly, so as not to startle the snake. Why don't you follow Wang Zhongcheng and 'thoroughly investigate' Xiao Shizi, and your majesty, continue Jing-guan is... Isn't that what Lu Shoufu also suggested?"
Lu Shoufu... The emperor frowned slightly, and his heart moved.
Before, he only thought that Lu Wenzhuo proposed a thorough investigation of Xiao Yi out of caution, but now that he thinks about it, it seems a bit too coincidental.
At first glance, Lu Wenzhuo's words sounded quite fair, but on second thought, every word and every word confirmed that Guan Yubai had colluded with Xiao Yi...
Could it be that Lu Wenzhuo and Wang Zhongcheng are actually...
Thinking about it, the emperor's heart sank, temporarily suppressing the doubts in his heart, and said: "Yubai's words are true. But now I can only wrong Yubai and stay in the prison of the Ministry of punishment for a while..."
Guan Yubai stood up and said softly: "The emperor is serious. For me, for the sake of the emperor, what are the ministers? Besides, the minister has never been tortured in the prison of the Ministry of punishment, and there is no shortage of anything. It is just a place to live. For a few days, the right is to practice. The emperor doesn't need to worry about it."
The emperor looked at Guan Yubai with a touch of emotion in his eyes, and then let Guan Yubai back down, and quickly summoned Lu Huaining, the commander of Jinyiwei...
Nangong Yue naturally didn't know what happened in the imperial study room. At this time, she was hiding behind the screen, and learned about Xiao Yi's impeachment in the early court from the servant sent by Nangong Qin.
Although she had been prepared in her heart, Nangong Yue's eyes still froze, and she unconsciously clenched the teacup in her hand.
The opponent finally made a move to deal with Xiao Yi!
She couldn't help thinking of the letter that Guan Yubai asked Xiao Si to deliver to her... This fire finally burned Xiao Yi as Guan Yubai expected.
Baihui looked at Nangong Yue with worried eyes. First she was the son, and now she is the son... Although she knew everything that the concubine Shizi and Zhu Xing had arranged in recent days, she couldn't help but panic when she saw this situation, for fear that something might happen to her. one.
Nangong Yue put down the teacup and asked, "What does the emperor say?" The most important thing is the attitude of the emperor...
"The emperor has not expressed his position yet." The servant hurriedly replied.
Nangong Yue's index finger moved a few times on the desk and said: "Go back and tell uncle, just say that I know. Let him not worry."
Then, she gave Baihui a look. After Baihui rewarded the young man, she ordered a little maid to lead the young man away.
Nangong Yue came out from behind the screen. At this moment, only she and Baihui were left in the outer study room. Baihui said cautiously: "Concubine Shizi, what should we do next?"
Nangong Yue pondered for a while, then said lightly: "Just wait and see." She looked out of the window, a cold light flashed in her eyes, and said pointedly, "Some things that should come will always come."
At this moment, there was a commotion outside the outer study, and a woman shouted in shock: "It's not good! It's not good..."
Baihui hurried out of the door and scolded sharply: "The concubine is here, why are you yelling?!"
The mother-in-law shrank her body, and said in a trembling voice: "My concubine, there is a team of Jinyi guards coming from the street, looking fierce... It seems that they are coming to our palace!" She swallowed hard, remembering Just now when I saw from a distance that team of Jinyi guards made people on the street turn their backs, my heart tightened.
Nangong Yue also came out, and calmly ordered: "Quickly inform Steward Zhu and Uncle Zhou." Then she said to Baihe, "Go and call the eldest girl."
"Yes, Princess Concubine." The mother-in-law replied with a pale face, and the two ran away, feeling uneasy: Could it be that even their Zhennan Palace will be ransacked
But Lily was a little hesitant, she glanced at Baihui, and finally took the order.
"Concubine Shizi..." Baihui said solemnly, "Do you want this servant to protect you from the palace? In case Jinyiwei will bump into you." With her and Baihe's skills, together with Zhu Xing and Zhou Dacheng, they wanted to take Nangong Yue with her. It shouldn't be a problem to leave with Xiao Fei through the back door.
Nangong Yue gave her a comforting look and said, "Don't worry."
Baihui was stunned, although she believed that the young master's arrangement would never go wrong, but she still couldn't completely relax, if there were any accidents, what would the crown prince do
"Let's go out to meet the 'guests'." Nangong Yue stroked her sleeves and walked quickly towards the gate.
Before they reached the gate, they heard a loud "bang". The gate seemed to be kicked open roughly from the outside, and then a male voice said aggressively in a rough voice: "Jin Yiwei is ordered to handle the case and search the town. Nanwang Mansion, whoever dares to stop him, will be killed without mercy!"
A group of Jinyiwei rushed in, and the leader was Lu Huaining, the commander of Jinyiwei. At the same time, Zhu Xing and Zhou Dacheng also rushed over, with a group of guards with long swords behind them, and immediately surrounded Nangong. behind Yue.
After all, Zhu Xing and Zhou Dacheng came from the battlefield. Although the sword was not out of the sheath, the murderous aura emanating from the whole body still made Lu Huaining secretly startled.
Lu Huaining clasped his fists at Nangong Yue and said, "Concubine Shizi, can I take a step to speak?"
Nangong Yue nodded thoughtfully.
The two walked under a big tree, Lu Huaining cupped his hands again, and said in a low voice: "The concubine is offended! Please don't panic, the concubine is just pretending to be ordered by the emperor, the emperor trusts the concubine."
Sure enough... Although Nangong Yue had vaguely guessed a little bit, but confirmed it with her own ears, she was relieved and said with a slight smile: "Thank you, Mr. Lu, for letting me know."
Lu Huaining hurriedly said again: "It's just that I'm afraid I'll offend a little... Please forgive me."
"Master Lu is too serious." Nangong Yuezhi said roughly.
Afterwards, Nangong Yue returned to Baihui's side, and said to Zhu Xing and Zhou Dacheng meaningfully: "Steward Zhu, Chief of Guard Zhou, Master Lu is following orders, we must not cause trouble to Master Lu, nor trouble your son." Please add to the chaos!"
Zhu Xing and Zhou Dacheng looked at each other, and both took a step back, but they still followed Nangong Yue closely, protecting her like guards.
Lu Huaining waved his arms and said loudly: "Search!"
"Yes!" All Jin Yiwei responded aggressively in unison.
Not only in the palace, but also outside the palace, a group of Jinyi guards were densely surrounded, guarding the door with grim faces. There was such a big commotion on the street, everyone who saw it rushed to leave, and after a while, a group of onlookers gathered, discussing in one go:
"It was only two days ago that I heard that Weiyanghou's Mansion was impeached, and now I'm still contemplating behind closed doors. I didn't expect that it would be the turn of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion to be ransacked today!"
"These princes and generals are too courageous to collude with the remnants of the previous dynasty!"
"It's better for this little brother to be cautious." An old man stopped him, "The emperor hasn't made a conclusion yet..."
"It's all ransacked, it's not a conclusive conclusion!" The young man curled his lips indifferently, "These princes and generals look at the scenery on weekdays, but in fact, if something happens, it's just a matter of losing their heads. It's not as good as us little people. Had a smooth time...”
The common people had a great time talking about each other, but no one noticed that a man who looked like a servant in the back of the crowd took a few steps back cautiously, seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he walked away quickly.
He has to hurry back and report the good news to His Royal Highness the Third Prince!
The boy quickly got into a green-covered carriage in the alley, and the carriage sped away...
-off topic-
Yesterday's Xiaoxiang coin has been sent out, and every girl who left a message has it.
Please wait for me to calculate the lucky floor... I worked overtime yesterday, and it was already past 1 in the morning when I got home. I will find time to count today.