Half an hour later, Banxia was brought to the Xihong Hall of Bixiao Hall, and Mrs. Luo could only wait anxiously outside.
For this Xihong Hall, Banxia is both familiar and unfamiliar. When she was a maid in the palace, the current King Zhennan is still the son of the prince, and the former concubine Dafang is the concubine of the son of the prince. The couple lived in Bixiao Hall .
Banxia used to be a maidservant in Bixiaotang, for her, this place was no different from her home. At that time, she was ambitious and wanted to be the maidservant and capable person next to Princess Xian in the future. that happened...
Ban Xia lowered her eyebrows and lifted her skirt to cross the threshold, but it was only a few feet away, and to her, it was like the ends of the world.
"See Princess Concubine."
Ban Xia knelt down in the hall with a plop, and the moment she knelt down, she still couldn't help raising her eyes to look at Shi Zifei quickly.
The crown prince is only fifteen or sixteen years old, with black hair tied in a simple bra, and wearing a rose-red beige with ten brocade makeups, which makes her skin as snowy and radiant.
She is sitting gracefully on a rosewood grand master chair, she looks so thin and weak that it will break if the wind blows, her small slapped face, those shining eyes seem to be able to turn people away at a glance. Seeing through, one hardly dares to look directly...
"Shizi Concubine, I have been wronged by this servant, and this servant has never stolen the jewelry of the former princess!"
Ban Xia kowtowed heavily, her chest was in her mouth, her head was lowered, she looked cowering, and under the backlight, a shadow was formed on her face, making it difficult to see her expression clearly.
Finally found the person. Nangong Yue was not in a hurry to question Ban Xia, but just looked at her quietly.
Judging from the description of the other party's dress, one can tell that Banxia has lived a good life with the current master's family all these years. Since she has returned to Luoyue City for two years, why doesn't she come to visit her mother openly? Why did her mother go to see her secretly, so secretive and evasive
If she has no ghosts in her heart, why should she be like this!
Thinking about it, a cold light flashed in Nangong Yue's eyes.
When she happened to meet Mrs. Luo in Jinxiufang that day to buy brightly colored materials, Nangong Yue felt something was wrong. She had read the information on Mrs. Luo in the roster. Mrs. Luo lost her husband in her early years and had no relatives or reasons. She only had an only daughter, Banxia. So who is Mrs. Luo planning to buy this bright material for
Nangong Yue immediately suspected that maybe Banxia had gone around and returned to Luoyue City.
So, under her orders, Que'er mobilized a large number of people to ask Li Sanshui's family, Mother Le and others for questioning. They found Pinellia!
With half-lidded eyes, Nangong Yue took a sip of tea slowly on the rim of the cup, and after putting down the cup, she gave Que'er a wink.
Que'er nodded knowingly, cleared his throat, and said: "Miss Banxia, since you never stole the jewelry of the former princess, how could you be punished and kicked out of the palace?!" Que'er didn't wait for the other party to reply, He hurriedly said, "Could it be that, as rumored in the palace, you have the guts to seduce the lord?!"
To seduce the prince? ! Ban Xia was dumbfounded, and finally knew what it means to be fearful, and hurriedly said: "The servant has never seduced... seduce the prince! Shizifei, the servant is wronged." Ban Xia said without much fear.
Que'er pretended to be suspicious and snorted coldly, and counted all the rumors heard from the old people in the palace, and Ban Xia was dumbfounded and repeatedly denied it.
Que'er suddenly laughed, and said in a flat but sharp tone: "Then Banxia, what was the reason why you were sent out of the house back then?"
Although he had been prepared for a long time, Ban Xia's body still trembled, and he became stiff like a stone sculpture in an instant.
She still lowered her head, and hurriedly replied: "Slave... the servant made a mistake.... the servant accidentally dropped the Guanyin Guanyin enshrined by the former princess..." She tried to calm down, and said to herself in her heart, even if the princess was found The old man in the former concubine's courtyard could only get this answer.
No matter whether the concubine Shizi believes it or not, I am no longer a servant of the palace after all, as long as I grit my teeth and don't talk about life and death, even the concubine Shizi can't do anything to me!
Que'er couldn't see what Ban Xia was thinking, a sarcastic arc formed at the corner of his mouth.
Those who know the current affairs are heroes. After 19 years, the concubine Shi Zi took great pains to find out about a slave girl who had been sold for many years. Didn't Ban Xia think that a simple perfunctory sentence would be able to send them away
Que'er looked at Nangong Yue questioningly, and deliberately asked for instructions: "Concubine Shi Zi, it seems that Ban Xia is unwilling to tell the truth."
"The servant girl is telling the truth!" Ban Xia raised her head excitedly, her eyes turned red at some point, she pretended to be strong, but she couldn't hide the strong outsider in her heart.
Nangong Yue didn't want to talk to Ban Xia, there is an old saying: "It is the reward of eating the king, and it is a matter of being loyal to the king." As a servant of the palace, Ban Xia doesn't understand the simplest truth. When encountering troubles and disasters, I just think about being wise and safe, how can there be such a good thing in this world!
"Baihui, you go to Yu's mansion." Nangong Yue gave Baihui an order indifferently, and Baihui immediately took the order and left.
Yu's Mansion is Ban Xia's current master's house. When Ban Xia heard this, his face turned pale, and he vaguely guessed what the concubine Shi Zi wanted to do...
Even if the main family reuses him again, I'm afraid he won't disobey the Zhennan Palace for himself...
Time passed amidst Ban Xia's uneasy speculation, her complexion became more and more ugly, but she held on to the last glimmer of hope, maybe, maybe...
Nangong Yue picked up a script book and flipped through it leisurely, as if Pinellia didn't exist at all. The thrush at the side served Nangong Yue's tea carefully, and no one in the hall paid attention to Ban Xia.
For Ban Xia, it was even more uncomfortable than when she was interrogated by Que Er before.
She was almost restless, feeling that the time was so tormenting...
After an unknown amount of time, Baihui came back with a small red lacquered and carved wooden box in her hand.
Ban Xia stared at the wooden box, her pupils shrank. She recognized this box, it was Madam Yu's box!
My own guess is good, the concubine Shizi really... really gave herself to...
Thinking about it, Ban Xia's body shook twice, crumbling.
Baihui walked past Banxia without looking sideways. After saluting to Nangong Yue, she opened the wooden box in her hand and showed it to her, and then sent the box to Banxia.
This is his own deed of prostitution, and the cinnabar handprint on it is still as bright red as blood after so many years, it is extremely dazzling.
A thin layer of water vapor floated in front of Ban Xia's eyes.
The Crown Princess didn't say anything, but the threat was clearly revealed.
There is only a body deed in this box, without her husband, without her children...
If she continues to fight to the death, the imperial concubine will have more ways to deal with her. It is only the first step to separate her husband and wife and say goodbye to her flesh and blood.
From now on, my body deed is in the hands of the concubine, and my mother's body deed is also in the palace. My mother has worked hard to raise me since she was a child. Do I really have the heart to hurt her...
I am not unaccompanied, alone.
There was despair in Ban Xia's eyes, and her originally pale face became even paler, almost transparent.
Back then, she tried her best and took twenty boards to save her own life... Nineteen years have passed. When she thought that the past could disappear in time, she never thought that she would not be able to hide it in the end. After all, it is in response to an old saying: it is a blessing, not a disaster, and it is a disaster that cannot be avoided!
In an instant, the last line of defense in her heart collapsed...
I don't know when, Banxia has tears streaming down her face, she bowed her head respectfully, choked with sobs and said: "Concubine Shizi, my servant said, I hope that Concubine Shizi will not anger my maidservant's mother, she doesn't know anything..." Banxia didn't dare to tell Mrs. Luo, and she didn't dare to tell anyone. She planned to keep this secret in her stomach for the rest of her life.
"Let's talk." Nangong Yue said two words with a serious face, without any emotion.
Ban Xia calmed down and tried hard to recall what happened back then, everything seemed to be still fresh in his memory.
Maybe it's because she never dared to forget...
"It's been almost nineteen years... I still remember that it was the eighth day of November. In the afternoon, after lunch, I suddenly found that one of my earrings was missing, so I searched for it along the way, and ended up passing by the back garden of Bixiao Hall. At that time, I saw Lu, the nanny of the former princess, dump a jar of medicine dregs under a magnolia tree in the corner. At that time, the slaves didn't care, but after the slaves passed the magnolia tree the next morning, I found that more than half of the leaves on the tree had fallen... "
Ban Xia's white lips trembled slightly, and after a pause, she continued: "Two days later, my servant heard that the concubine Xian, who had always been pregnant, suddenly felt cramped, but she was fine soon... At that time The servant girl couldn't help but wonder if there is something wrong with the medicine dregs dumped by Nanny Lu..."
"Miss Banxia, since you feel suspicious, why don't you report this matter to the master in the palace?" Baihui's tone did not fluctuate.
Ban Xia shrinks back, feeling coldness and disdain in the eyes of the maids in the hall... She doesn't understand the truth, but she is so soft-spoken!
Ban Xia took a deep breath, and said again: "Shi Zifei, Madam Lu is the number one person next to the late princess. She raised the late princess since she was a child. The servant girl is just a third-class maid in the yard. She speaks lightly and speaks nothing. Tooth, even if the maidservant tells it, who will believe it!" If Madam Lu bites back, not only her, but even her family will be involved.
Besides, if everything is as she guessed, then there must be someone instigated by Madam Lu, and the identity of the person who can instigate her is definitely not simple. What's more frightening is that the person they want to attack is the former Princess Dafang. In this southern border, in this palace, who dares to have such courage...
To this day, Ban Xia still dare not think about it.
No matter who is behind the scenes, if she finds out that she accidentally saw it and wants to kill a little girl like her, that would be very simple.
Ban Xia simply made a mistake on purpose, and the mistake must be not too big or too small, so she pretended to accidentally smash the Guanyin Guanyin, and "just happened" to be seen by Madam Lu, and the next development Just as she expected... Later, when Banxia learned the news of the death of the first princess, she was even more thankful that she made the right choice, otherwise, her life would have been gone long ago!
Everyone present is not stupid, how can they not know Ban Xia's selfishness, Que'er curled his lips in disdain, and said sharply: "Why bother to quibble, after all, it's just greed for life and fear of death.!"
Ban Xia's complexion was pale and white, her lips trembled slightly and she could not speak. She is afraid of death, but who is not afraid of death!
"As the former concubine's servant, you should take care of the emperor's worries. You know that Nanny Lu's behavior is suspicious, but you let it go. You know that the cause of the late concubine's death is suspicious, but you conceal it and don't report it. You are equivalent to an accomplice." Que'er's tone was sharp, "Which master would dare to take a slave like you?"
The maidservants in the hall all looked at Ban Xia with contempt, even if Ban Xia was eloquent, she couldn't say a word for a while.
"Prince Concubine!" Banxia cried and kowtowed several times, "I know I was wrong, I just hope that Concubine Don't take the blame on your family... No matter how the concubine punishes you, I will have no regrets!" She was humble Prostrate on the ground, not daring to move.
Nangong Yue looked at Ban Xia coldly.
Ban Xia may be a good daughter, a good wife, and a good mother, but for the master, she is not a "good" slave.
This matter is indeed complicated, and it is indeed beyond her ability to solve it as a little maid, but when the old prince was still alive, even if the King of Zhennan was not reliable, she could still sue the old prince and let the old prince decide.
But she didn't do anything... She just wanted to stay away and keep herself safe.
If she had spoken out earlier, the former princess would not have left so early, leaving Xiao Yi alone...
"Come here, take him down first." Nangong Yue said lightly.
Of course she wants to deal with Pinellia, but not now.
She still wants to keep Pinellia, and let the two confront each other after finding Nanny Lu!
Ban Xia was quickly taken down, and the hall became quiet again, with a dignified atmosphere.
Nangong Yue's face sank like water, she picked up the teacup and put it down again.
Today, the matter of the late princess has finally made some progress. What Banxia said just now made Nangong Yue more vigilant. No matter who is behind the incident, she must be careful and not to startle the snake...
"Shizi Concubine," Que'er observed Nangong Yue's expression, and said cautiously, "Then Madam Lu... I heard someone mention it when I was registering the roster."
Seeing that Nangong Yue raised her eyebrows and motioned for her to continue, Que'er continued, "Not long after the late concubine passed away, Nanny Lu asked the old concubine to leave the mansion and return to her hometown, and the old concubine agreed..."
A stern look flashed across Nangong Yue's eyes, and she asked, "Que'er, go find out where Nanny Lu's hometown is, and then... Baihui, ask Zhu Xing to send someone to bring Nanny Lu back!"
"Yes, Princess Concubine." Que'er accepted the order with a serious face and retreated.
The hall was so quiet that everyone's breathing could be heard, until a servant girl came to report that King Zhennan asked the Crown Princess to come over, and the silence was broken.
Nangong Yue nodded slightly, got up and stroked her skirt, and walked out.
King Zhennan still saw her in his study. After seeing the ceremony, King Zhennan asked kindly: "Princess Princess, the year is approaching. There are many trivial matters in the palace recently. Are you busy?"
With a smile on her lips, Nangong Yue said respectfully, "Father, don't worry, my daughter-in-law is busy."
The king of Zhennan nodded in relief, and said: "This king knows that you have always been capable. However, there are many and complicated things during the Chinese New Year. It is also the first year for you to take care of the affairs of the palace. This king thought, let your eldest aunt come to help you." Two, what do you think?"
Nangong Yue stood there with lowered eyebrows. Based on her understanding of King Zhennan, he might not have thought of such "comprehension". Thinking of Mrs. Qiao's visit to Xiao Fang just a few days ago, this matter is It is not difficult to guess who proposed it.
Nangong Yue's guess was right, it was Mrs. Qiao who suggested it to King Zhennan. The king of Zhennan thought it was reasonable. Although the concubine was capable, she never took care of the big palace, especially during the Chinese New Year. The concubine is a newly married woman. If the rules are wrong, something went wrong. Not good. So, Zhennan Wang thought about it and simply called her over.
"My father's kindness, my daughter-in-law is very grateful. It's just..." Nangong Yue said with some embarrassment, "Our prince's mansion is celebrating the new year, and Qiao's mansion is also celebrating the new year. I am afraid that the eldest aunt will be too busy at home. What's more, the daughter-in-law heard that cousin Lan has recently passed away. Unwell, I often need to take care of my eldest aunt, how can my daughter-in-law bother her."
The King of Zhennan frowned. It's okay to say anything else, Qiao Ruolan is crazy now, and the eldest sister carries it everywhere, she can't control her insanity in Qiao's mansion, but if she talks crazy in the mansion like last time Language is not good. An Yihou will be back sooner or later.
"Father." Nangong Yue continued submissively, "My daughter-in-law intends to ask Sister Fei and Ni to help. If there is really something difficult to decide, and you are here, Father, you can also give some advice to your daughter-in-law."
That's right, I'm still here, if there's anything wrong, it's fine for Shi Zifei to come and ask herself! Um! It's better for the eldest sister to stay in Qiao's mansion and watch Qiao Ruolan don't cause any trouble. Thinking of this, King Zhennan spoke up and said, "Then you will have to work harder..."
Nangong Yue bowed her knees and agreed.
At this time, there was a knock on the door, and the chief follower of King Zhennan reported from outside, "Your Majesty, there is good news, great victory in Licheng City!"
King Zhennan and Nangong Yue were overjoyed immediately, and King Zhennan even forgot that Nangong Yue was still here, so he couldn't wait to order: "Let someone come in!"
A young general in military uniform strode into the study room, knelt down on one knee, clasped his fists and said, "My lord, my son led the Southern Border Army to recapture Dengli City on December 17th! Killed nearly 10,000 enemy troops." He said. , He submitted the good news in his hand.
"Good, good, good!"
King Zhennan read the victory report at a glance, stood up overjoyed, and said hello three times. The huge stone in his heart finally fell: Dengli City was finally taken back. If the old father fell into a dream again, he would not As for the speechless. Xiao Yi, a rebellious son, finally looks like a prince!
The corner of Nangong Yue's lips couldn't hide a smile, Dengli City had already been taken, and this was the last city occupied by Nanliang.
The war with Nanliang will stop. After this battle, neither Nanliang nor Baiyue will pose a threat to southern Xinjiang, and Ayi will not have to fight outside all the time.
Very good!
After coming out of Zhennan Wang's study, Nangong Yue smiled and told the two accompanying maidservants: "I'm very happy today, pass on my order, and everyone in the whole house will reward you with a month's money."
Huamei said flatteringly: "The servant will thank the concubine for everyone."
Nangong Yue was in a good mood, and said, "Go to the small Buddhist hall first, I want to burn incense for my grandfather, grandmother and concubine mother." She was going to tell them the good news and ask them to bless A Yi in the spirit of heaven!
Baihui and Huamei agreed, and accompanied Nangong Yue to the Buddhist hall.
The small Buddhist hall that Nangong Yue mentioned is in the southeast corner of the backyard of the palace, where the old prince, the old concubine and the tablet of the former concubine Dafang are enshrined. Since returning to southern Xinjiang, she would come to the Buddhist hall to offer incense on the first and fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year, and during festivals.
The woman guarding the Buddhist hall bowed her head and opened the door, prepared incense candles, and greeted the princess and concubine to enter.
The Buddhist hall is quiet and solemn, filled with a faint smell of cigarettes, lingering at the tip of the nose, making people calm down.
Nangong Yue burnt incense as usual, kowtowed, then clasped her hands together, and murmured about Xiao Yi to Dafang's tablet...
The maids were all waiting outside the Buddhist hall, not daring to make any noise, and the surroundings were quiet.
After a while, Nangong Yue opened her eyes, stood up with a calm smile, and left the small Buddhist hall.
With a "squeak", the door of the Buddhist hall closed again, shutting the cigarettes in that room behind...
Nangong Yue walked forward along the bluestone path, and said, "Let's go and see the Magnolia Magnolia that Banxia mentioned."