Li Rong listened to Pei Wenxuan's words in the dark night and watched Pei Wenxuan go to bed.
Li Rong closed her eyes and slowed down for a while before finally returning to the bedside. She sat by the bedside for a while, and finally said, "Don't think about it, I remember."
"You didn't let me down," Li Rong said clearly, "I won't let you down either."
Pei Wenxuan did not respond to her, but only when she returned to the bed, Pei Wenxuan stretched out his hand and wrapped Li Rong around his chest.
After the two slept until dawn, they went to the court together. It was as if nothing had happened in the courtroom. The officials performed their respective duties, and Li Ming could not see the slightest difference on his face.
After the court, Li Rong personally sent people to investigate the personnel related to Master Hongde in the previous life.
Master Hongde turned out to be just a fortune-teller in Qingshui Town. He accidentally committed a murder in a dispute, so he escaped. After studying Buddhism with a Tianzhu monk for several years, he came back and said that he was a Tianzhu monk. The merits and virtues of the past lives have been tricked and deceived in Huajing.
In the last life, this person was the crime exposed by Li Rong, and she was expelled from Beijing by her. He had many followers, and killing him directly would cause turmoil. So on his way from Huajing to the southwest, Li Rong asked someone to assassinate him.
With the help of the previous life, Li Rong quickly determined the whereabouts of these people and began to collect their confessions. By the time Li Rong was busy, it was almost the next afternoon, but she still went to the Huguo Temple non-stop, and then went on like this. As she expected, the host of Huguo Temple told her tremblingly that Master Hongde had been invited to the palace.
Li Rong got the words, and immediately rushed to the palace.
As soon as she left, the news had already reached the palace.
When Concubine Rou got the news that Li Rong was going to arrest Hongde, she was still taking a nap, but she woke up instantly. She sat on the chaise longue, and after a while, she immediately ordered her servants: "You go and ask Mr. and tell him, Li Rong Find the handle of Hongde, and I'm going to enter the palace to arrest people! Let him think of a way, think of a way immediately!"
The maid had something to say and hurried out. After everyone went out, Hua Le came forward and said in a panic: "Mother, what is she doing to arrest Hongde now?"
"She's arresting Hongde now, and what we said before, I'm afraid it won't count."
Concubine Rou pursed her lips: "Hongde told His Majesty that Li Rong secretly asked him to postpone the wedding date for Li Chuan. These are all empty words and utterly baseless things. The only thing that can be proved is that only the people from the Princess Palace will go. I have found him. There is evidence for this matter, so I can prove it, but if Li Rong is checking Hongde, it is not surprising that she will go to Hongde. Li Rong's mouth turns black and white, and she is afraid that she will cry. Crying, His Majesty thinks she has been wronged again."
"Your Majesty has already held grudges against us in the past," Concubine Rou frowned a little uneasy, "If this matter is overturned by Li Rong again, we may not be able to talk more about Li Rong's affairs in the future. Position, Pei Wenxuan is afraid to sit tight!"
"Then what about this?" Hua Le panicked, "What shall we do in a moment?"
Concubine Rou didn't speak, she closed her eyes, and after a while, she took a deep breath: "Wait for now, Mr. Ruo has nothing to do."
Concubine Rou hesitated for a moment before saying, "Then we can only rely on us."
The two waited for a while, and when they heard Li Rong entering the palace, Hua Le grabbed Concubine Rou's sleeve and burst into tears: "Concubine Mu, she has already entered the palace, what should I do? Is the royal father going to punish us again? ? Mother Concubine... "
"Niangniang." As Hua Le was talking, the maid rushed in and hurriedly handed a piece of talisman paper to Concubine Rou. This was a light apricot talisman paper with intricate patterns painted on it. Under the patterns, it was written that The birth dates of Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan.
Concubine Rou was stunned for a moment, took the talisman paper in her hand, raised her eyes and said, "What is this?"
"Sir sent it to Master Hongde. The master said that Master Hongde can't keep it now. The most important thing now is not to let Pei Wenxuan be the minister of the Ministry of Personnel."
"Then what's the use of this talisman?"
Concubine Rou frowned, and the maid came forward, leaned against Concubine Rou's ear, and whispered for a long time.
Concubine Rou listened carefully, and after listening, Concubine Rou couldn't help but praise: "Sir, you are indeed resourceful."
Saying that, she handed the talisman paper back and instructed Human: "Give the things to Master Hongde secretly, and let him remember the words that should be said together."
The attendant responded respectfully, took the talisman paper, and retreated.
After Concubine Rou's people had arranged everything, Li Rong also went to the imperial study.
She had already notified it in advance, and when she arrived at the imperial study, she drove straight in, and then saluted Li Ming respectfully, and said loudly, "I have seen the father. Long live the father. Long live the father."
Li Ming looked up at her and said, "I heard that you entered the palace to arrest people?"
"Yes," Li Rong raised her head to meet Li Ming's gaze, "My son is currently investigating the case of the demon monk Hongde, and it has been nearly three months since he collected evidence, and now he has finally collected all the evidence and went to Huguo Temple to arrest people. Dao actually entered the palace. Did the royal father listen to his slander?"
Li Rong said that he was proud of something, but Li Ming didn't look at it. He looked at the book and said: "It was brought in by Concubine Rou, saying that she wanted to hear him talk about Buddhism. There is no slander, but there is an interesting thing."
"What's the fun?" Li Rong didn't seem to know anything. Li Ming raised his eyes to look at Li Rong, his voice was low, and he warned a little, "I heard that you asked him to lie and postpone the prince's wedding?"
"Postponing Chuan'er's wedding?" Li Rong looked surprised, "He is a monk, how can he relate to the prince's wedding?"
Li Rong said it too naturally, Li Ming stared at her for a long time, Li Rong met his gaze frankly, raised her eyebrows and said, "Why does the royal father look at me like this?"
"It's nothing," Li Ming explained when he saw that the scrutiny did not have any impact on Li Rong, "He has a lot of prestige among the people, and just a single prophecy can get the support of many people. If he really said that Chuan'er should not be married in recent years. Otherwise, there will be natural disasters, more people will listen, and Chuan’er’s marriage will have to be postponed.”
"I see, such an eminent monk," Li Rong suddenly realized, and then said, "Then why did he frame me?"
"He framed you?" Li Ming laughed, with a deep meaning in his eyes, "Why don't I call him here and you confront each other?"
"That's the best." Li Rong said happily, "I want to see, how does this demon monk plan to justify himself?"
"Go, invite Master Hongde." Seeing Li Rong's agreement, Li Ming turned around and instructed the little eunuch beside him to call Hongde over.
The little eunuch took his order and hurriedly retreated. Only Li Rong and Li Ming were left in the room. Neither father and daughter spoke. They did their own thing and repeatedly didn't know each other.
After a while, Concubine Rou and Hong De rushed in.
Although Hongde was born in the countryside, he was very good at disguising. As soon as he came in, he had the demeanor of an eminent monk and a famous scholar. Concubine Rou and him saluted Li Ming together, Li Ming raised his hand to get the two to stand up, and said directly: "His Royal Highness Pingle said that you have committed a crime and will arrest you. If there is a misunderstanding, please clarify, if there is no misunderstanding..."
Li Ming raised his eyes to look at Concubine Rou, Concubine Rou coughed lightly and said slowly: "If there is no misunderstanding, it should be taken away by His Royal Highness Pingle. But His Royal Highness Pingle, looking for someone to help, now crossing the river and demolishing the bridge, who are you? out?"
"Looking for help?" Li Rong laughed. "Who did I ask for help? This old bald donkey?"
Li Rong turned to look at Master Hongde, looked him up and down, and then laughed: "Why do you say I asked him for help? Just talk about it with his empty mouth and white teeth?"
"Master Hongde," Li Ming listened to Li Rong's words, and turned his eyes to Li Ming, "Pingle is right, I can't just listen to you alone, you said that the people in the princess' mansion asked you to discuss the matter of the crown prince. , is there any evidence?"
Hearing this, Master Hongde paused, and after a long time, he said slowly: "His Royal Highness does things meticulously, and the old monk did not leave any token. But the old man knows the birth date of the prince, is this evidence?"
Birthday horoscope is a person's most confidential thing, especially the identity of the prince. Most people may know the exact date of birth of the prince, but it is difficult to pinpoint the exact time.
He was able to say Li Chuan's birthday, which was indeed evidence.
"If you know the prince's birthday, you can say that I have met you?" Li Rong laughed and retorted, "What if someone deliberately told you to frame me?"
Li Rong's hint was already obvious, and Concubine Rou's face was a little awkward for a moment. Li Ming coughed lightly and could only defend Li Rong: "Pingle is right, do you have any other evidence?"
"It's enough to know the birth date of His Royal Highness," Hong De sighed, "What if I also know the birth date of the concubine and the princess?"
"I said it, just know..."
"What if not only knew?" Hong De interrupted Li Rong's words, and Li Rong was stunned for a while.
Not only does he know, but does Hongde have evidence in his hands
But where did Hongde get the evidence that Pei Wenxuan didn't do it cleanly enough
Li Rong's heart was numb, and at this moment, she saw Hong De kneeling at Li Ming's feet with a piece of talisman paper in both hands.
"This is what the people in the princess' mansion asked me to do. It is said that the concubine specially ordered it. The old man promised it, and I just finished drawing it recently, and I am planning to give it to the concubine."
Li Ming didn't speak, he picked up the talisman paper, frowned after a quick look.
It was indeed the birth date of Li Rong and Pei Wenxuan. When Li Rong married Pei Wenxuan, he had seen both of them.
Li Ming was silent for a long time, and finally handed the talisman paper to Li Rong. He said helplessly: "Pingle, actually admitted it, it's not a big deal."
"I really don't have anything to admit, Erchen." Li Rong answered firmly, and as she spoke, Li Rong took the talisman into her hand.
She hurriedly glanced at the content above and confirmed that it was indeed the birth date of the two people, and the handwriting indeed looked like Pei Wenxuan's handwriting.
Although Li Rong spoke tough words, she felt a little uneasy in her heart.
Pei Wenxuan may indeed do such a thing to let Hongde calculate the marriage for him, but it stands to reason that he should not leave anything.
But Pei Wenxuan is always a little silly when it comes to feelings, and he may have forgotten it.
She stared at the writing on it, thinking how to argue. Everyone was waiting for her answer. After a long time, she was about to speak when she suddenly smelled the incense from the temple on the paper.
Li Rong's ghost envoy touched the paper, and then instantly discovered that this paper was the only marriage paper in the Huajing Yue Lao Temple!
"This talisman is not something of Master Hongde." After Li Rong reacted, she raised the corners of her mouth, looked up at Hongde, and said with a smile, "This is just a talisman requested by the concubine in the temple while playing, we will keep the talisman in the temple. I went to the temple, I don’t know what Master Hongde did when he stole this thing and framed me here?”
"But it doesn't matter. Ben Gong has also been with you for a long time. Since you can't produce strong evidence, then I have to file a complaint with Your Majesty."
"What does Your Highness want to tell the old monk?"
Hongde put his hands together on his chest, and his expression was calm: "If you want to add guilt, there is nothing to worry about, Your Highness please."
Li Rong smiled and raised her hand: "Please Mrs. Wang."
Hearing this, Hongde's face changed dramatically. Li Rong observed his expression and said with a smile: "Wang Caishan, Master Hongde has been a master for a long time, don't you remember where you came from?"
As Li Rong spoke, a woman walked into the hall tremblingly. The moment she saw Hongde, the woman's eyes brightened.
"Xiang Gong!" The woman rushed up and said excitedly, "Xiaogong, are you still alive?! Xianggong, how did you become a monk? You..."
Before he finished speaking, Hongde pushed her away and shouted, "Who is your husband?!"
The woman who was pushed away was stunned for a while, then she swept away the gorgeous cassock on Master Hongde's body, she reacted abruptly, stood up from the ground, raised her hand to Hongde, and said tremblingly, "You ... It turns out that you didn't have an accident outside, you just didn't want to come back! Good, good, Wang Caishan, thanks to me serving your mother at your house for more than ten years, it's okay for you to be comfortable and obedient outside and not go home now. Still want to pretend with me? Wang Caishan, even if you turn into ashes, the old lady will recognize you!"
"You... you are talking nonsense!" Hong De was startled by the sudden appearance of his wife, and stuttered.
When Mrs. Wang heard this, she was excited and rushed towards Hongde, roaring: "Bastard, I'll kill you! I'm going to kill you!"
It's just that as soon as she spoke, she didn't have time to act, and was pressed to the ground by the guard next to her. Madam Wang struggled and yelled on the ground, and Li Ming frowned.
He didn't want to care about Hongde for a while, and waved: "That's it, you can take it away."
Li Rong smiled, she raised her hand, and said respectfully, "Father, since you have made a decision, the minister will go back first."
Li Ming waved his hand, and Concubine Rou hurriedly stood up. Just as she was about to say something, Li Rong immediately shouted: "The emperor has already agreed, what else does Concubine Rou have to say?"
With this loud shout, all the words of Concubine Rou were suppressed. Li Ming looked up at her and said lightly, "What else do you have to do?"
Li Ming's tone was already obvious, and Concubine Rou was speechless. After holding it for a long time, she finally could only say: "Chen concubine... Chen concubine is fine."
"The minister retire there."
Li Rong saluted with a smile, then waved to the side, and the guard rushed up, pressing Hong De and Madam Wang out of the palace.
"You mother-in-law," Hongde scolded as soon as he left the palace gate, "you have no brains, you ruined me! Ruined!"
"You bastard, what future do you want?" Mrs. Wang sneered, "It's all said that men have hearts. I didn't believe it before, but now I know it. You bastard, wait until you leave the palace and see if the old lady won't strip you. Skin!"
Both of them were born in the market, and there is no bottom line in scolding them. Even after Yu Hongde has been nurtured by the upper class for more than ten years, there are still some who can't beat Mrs. Wang.
The two were pressed by the guards and followed behind Li Rong, yelling and scolding as they walked.
And Li Rong put her hands behind her back, listening to the scolding of the two, she felt that the moon was bright and the stars were bright, and the road ahead was bright.
As soon as she walked out of the palace, she saw Pei Wenxuan waiting at the door. Pei Wenxuan was not wearing an official uniform, only a blue jacket and a white single shirt.
The spring sun is approaching, and Huajing is also heating up. People like Pei Wenxuan who pay attention to appearance have already taken the opportunity to change into spring shirts.
He stood quietly outside the palace gate, looking at the silhouette of the distant mountains in the dark night, with a slender figure, like a pine and a crane.
Seeing him from a distance, Li Rong couldn't help laughing. She happily trotted forward, grabbed Pei Wenxuan's hand, and said happily, "Pei Wenxuan!"
Pei Wenxuan turned his head calmly, seeing the smile on her face, he knew the result, and said gently: "It seems that Your Highness has won a big victory."
Li Rong held Pei Wenxuan in her arms, showing no modesty at all: "It's okay."
After speaking, Li Rong turned her head and instructed the people behind her: "Detain Wang Caishan to the Superintendent, and Mrs. Wang will take him to the inn."
The guard respectfully complied, and Li Rong turned around again, walked over to the carriage with Pei Wenxuan, and asked, "Did you come to wait for me on purpose?"
"Let's drop by." Pei Wenxuan said subconsciously, but after he finished speaking, he hesitated for a moment, and then said, "No, I came to wait for you on purpose."
"How did you come up with two answers?" Li Rong raised her brows, and Pei Wenxuan helped Li Rong onto the carriage, her voice soft, "The first answer is subconscious. The second answer is true."
"Isn't what people say subconsciously the truth?"
Li Rong sat in the carriage and asked some strange questions. Pei Wenxuan sat next to her and shook his head: "What I said subconsciously might not be the truth, but it was just something I wanted to protect myself."
Li Rong thought about it and thought so too.
Seeing that Pei Wenxuan started pouring tea for her, she pursed her lips and felt a little happy.
Pei Wenxuan realized that she was in a good mood, and glanced at her: "Are you so happy to have won a game?"
"Pei Wenxuan," Li Rong held her chin, "Tell me the truth, did you secretly go to Yuelao Temple to make a wish?"
When Pei Wenxuan heard this, he was a little strange: "Why does Your Highness ask this?"
"Look," Li Rong took out a talisman from her hand and handed it to Pei Wenxuan, "What is this?"
Pei Wenxuan originally smiled, but when his eyes fell on the talisman paper with the birthdays of the two written on it, his expression changed drastically, he grabbed Li Rong's hand and said anxiously, "Where did you come from?!"
At the same time, in the imperial study, Concubine Rou rubbed Li Ming's shoulders.
In her mind was what the maid was saying in her ear.
"Sir said that Hongde's actions are untrue, as long as it arouses His Majesty's suspicion. The most important thing now is to let His Majesty know that His Majesty and His Highness Pingle have a deep relationship. His Majesty suspects that the Crown Prince and the Princess have joined forces. If you have feelings, Your Majesty won't be able to tolerate Pei Wenxuan."
"This is a three-life marriage talisman imitating the handwriting of the concubine. It is a rune in the Yuelao Temple that promises marriage in the next life. The ritual of asking for a talisman is complicated and different from ordinary blessing runes. As long as you can persuade Your Highness to admit that this talisman is indeed theirs , and then inform Your Majesty the true meaning of this talisman and give guidance."
"Pei Wenxuan's official career has come to an end."