Something was really wrong, even Sun Muqing could feel it.
But no one knows why.
Yan Chi gave Qin Wan a reassuring look, and immediately led Bai Feng forward. Although the city gates were closed and the towers were pitch-black, but in such a huge capital city, it was impossible that there were no guards at the gates. Something else happened today that changed the situation.
Yan Chi's horse came to the side gate, and slammed his whip on the city gate. The bang sounded strangely in the night, and soon there were shouts and curses from behind the gate.
"Who?! Who's outside?!"
Bai Feng shouted, "His Royal Highness Prince Rui returns to the city, why is the city gate closed?!"
The people inside were full of anger, but Bai Feng suppressed their anger when he shouted.
There was a rustling sound inside, and after a short while, the side door opened a gap, and a raw-faced head poked out from the gap with a bit of fear.
Looking at the movement outside, the man quickly shrank his head back, and the city gate closed again with a "click"!
Yan Chi frowned immediately.
"Your Highness, please wait a moment!"
A panicked voice came from behind the door, followed by the sound of leaving footsteps, Yan Chi's eyes darkened.
Bai Feng looked at Yan Chi, "Master, is it..."
Yan Chi shook his head to signal Bai Feng not to say too much, and Bai Feng quickly fell silent.
And soon, there were footsteps from behind the door again, this time more than one person came. Not long after, the city gate opened with a creak, and a man wearing a school captain's uniform appeared in Yan Chi's sight. He looked Yan Chi up and down for a moment, and hurriedly led a few people behind him to salute, "Meet His Royal Highness Prince Rui, there is a curfew and martial law throughout the night, so the city gates were closed early..."
The man was full of anger when he spoke, and after he finished speaking, he glanced at the carriage not far away, "Dare to ask Your Highness, why did you come back from outside the city?"
Yan Chi looked at the captain condescendingly, so close that the school uniform dared not look directly at him.
"Inside the carriage is Princess Yongci. Today I took Princess Yongci out of the city."
The captain hesitated to speak, only felt that Yan Chi's words were vague, but how could he dare to ask Yan Chi and Qin Wan what they were doing out of the city...
The engagement of Prince Rui and Princess Yongci is a well-known fact. The men and women of the Great Zhou Dynasty are not strictly guarded. It is very normal for the two of them to go out to play in the city or do other things. Not being in the city just proved his innocence.
The captain immediately stood up and stepped aside, "Your Highness and Princess please enter the city—"
Yan Chi glanced back, Qin Wan's carriage drove forward immediately, Yan Chi did not move, he looked at the captain and asked, "What happened in the city?"
The captain's forehead was covered with sweat, he lowered his head and said, "I don't know what my subordinates know, I only know that something happened in the palace."
Yan Chi's heart trembled, and he immediately thought of the emperor and empress. He nodded and rode his horse into the city gate first. Qin Wan's carriage and others then slowly entered the city. After entering the city, Yan Chi found that tonight The capital is extremely quiet...
Snow particles fluttered one after another, bigger than the one that fell in the afternoon. In the night, coupled with the snow curtain, Yan Chi couldn't see anything more than ten feet away. The eerie silence made everyone feel uneasy. Yan Chi looked at Sun Muqing ordered, "Bai Feng sent Miracle Doctor Sun back, and returned to the palace after sending them away."
Yan Chi naturally wanted to send Qin Wan back in person, Bai Feng nodded when he heard that, but Qin Wan lifted the curtain of the car and looked at Sun Muqing, "Remember my explanation this afternoon."
Qin Wan's explanation in the afternoon was to ask Sun Muqing not to mention the dagger, and Sun Muqing nodded immediately when she heard Qin Wan's order now.
In the afternoon, Qin Wan and Yan Chi's expressions were not quite right. Now that they are back in the capital, and the situation in the capital is so weird, now, even if Sun Muqing wants to deceive himself, he can't do it anymore. The dagger is of great importance, and it may bring him Come disaster!
This was Sun Muqing's first reaction, he nodded cautiously, this time he really listened to Qin Wan's words.
Qin Wan smiled slightly, "You don't have to worry, go back and rest early at night."
Sun Muqing nodded again, wanted to say something, but didn't know how to say it. He couldn't comfort Qin Wan, because he didn't know what Qin Wan was going to face. Chi, Sun Muqing was relieved just now, with Yan Chi here, nothing will happen to Qin Wan.
Bai Feng escorted Sun Muqing away, and Yan Chi took the guards and followed the carriage to the direction of the Marquis Mansion. Although the sky was already dark, it was not too late, and on the royal road leading to Xinglefang, it was rare to meet him. Pedestrians walked around, not only didn't see many people, but also met two groups of people from the patrol battalion. They saw Yan Chi and Qin Wan. Wan's heart became more and more determined.
Something happened, it must have happened, otherwise the security would not be so strict.
Qin Wan and Yan Chi looked at each other in the night, their eyes were full of confusion.
Qin Wan wanted to go back to the mansion to inquire about the situation, and Yan Chi also planned to enter the palace. The two had nothing to say, but they both understood each other's thoughts. The carriage sped up and headed towards the Hou's mansion. This night Yan Chi will definitely not rest, and reminded, "Be careful in everything, if I can, I will go to the palace to look for you tomorrow."
Yan Chi nodded, "The Hou Mansion should know something about it, you go back and rest early."
Qin Wan nodded, Yan Chi watched Qin Wan enter the gate of the Hou Mansion before riding away.
As soon as he entered the gate of the mansion, Qin Wan saw a nanny who had been waiting here for a long time. Seeing Qin Wan's return, the nanny was overjoyed immediately. While greeting Qin Wan, she turned around and rushed to the main courtyard. Going to the main courtyard, but along the way, I saw that the whole Hou Mansion was in a state of mourning, as if something terrible had happened to the Hou Mansion, Qin Wan's heart sank even more. At the entrance of the main courtyard, Hu rushed out with red eyes!
"Guan'er?! Guan'er, you are finally back..."
Even if he had been missing for half a day, Mrs. Hu would not be afraid of being so sad. Looking at the tears in the corners of Mrs. Hu's eyes, Qin Wan asked sharply, "Where's Uncle?"
Tears rolled down from the corners of Hu's eyes, "Your uncle, and your third and fourth brothers were all taken away!"
Qin Wan's eyes trembled, "Who was taken away?! How could he be taken away?!"
Hu couldn't help sobbing, "They were taken away by the king, saying that the emperor wanted to summon them, but... But something is wrong, even if the emperor wants to see them, it should only be to see your uncle, and you shouldn't take them away." Both your third and fourth brothers were taken away. Your third brother is in the imperial guards, and your fourth brother is from the patrol battalion! Why are you taking them away together? The people who came here are vicious, as if something happened to the Hou family , Guan'er, where have you been? Do you know what happened!"
Qin Wan's heart was beating like a drum, she supported Mrs. Hu and went into the house and said, "Prince Rui and I went out of the city today, the Queen Mother is not in good health, and Prince Rui and I want to go outside the city to find a A famous doctor who treats wind-evil diseases, unfortunately, today he missed it."
Hu was just asking casually, but when he learned that Qin Wan had gone outside the city, he realized that Qin Wan might not know what happened, so he was even more worried.
Qin Wan continued, "When we returned to the city, we saw that the city was under martial law. Why did we take uncle and the others away? When did this happen? Did the people who came here say anything?"
Mrs. Hu shook her head, "The people who came said that the emperor wanted to see them, and it happened half an hour ago."
Half an hour ago, it was already dark, what happened to take away all the male masters of the Hou Mansion at once
Qin Wan's feet suddenly paused. Could it be that something happened to the East Palace? !
Qin Chaoyu married into the East Palace as the Crown Princess, and only if something happened to Qin Chaoyu would it implicate the Hou Mansion!
Qin Wan thought of the afternoon and realized that the cold sweat was running down his back. The emperor had already made up his mind to abolish the prince. Could it be that the emperor did it tonight? Then even the people in the Hou Mansion must be controlled in advance? But if this is the case, why should the entire capital be under martial law
When they came back, the people in the patrol battalion were very vigilant, and they were almost interrogating people when they saw them. It looked more like they were looking for someone.
Qin Wan's heart was pounding. She didn't expect that not only did she not know more about the situation when she returned to the Hou's Mansion, but the Hou's Mansion was also implicated in it. It’s not too bad, just wait, there must be a purpose, and it’s possible that the emperor really has some orders.”
These words of reassurance won't do much, but now that there are more people with ideas in the mansion, Mrs. Hu is not afraid before. Compared with her, Qin Wan looks much calmer and calmer. Mrs. Hu wiped the corners of her eyes, Feeling a little embarrassed, "But... it doesn't make sense... Hey, there is nothing I can do now except wait, but... I'm just afraid that something will happen to Yu'er in the palace, so I have nothing to do."
This was what Qin Wan was worried about. However, her status had not yet allowed her to enter and leave the palace at will, and now there was a curfew at the gate of the palace. Unless Yan Chi was a royal prince like Yan Chi, who could enter the palace without purpose? !
"Don't worry, Auntie, there is really nothing I can do. I will go to the palace tomorrow to see the Empress Dowager, and I will find out what happened then."
Hu wished that it would be tomorrow, but at this moment, there was no other way but to wait, "Okay, okay, I know, maybe... Maybe Hou Ye and the others will be released soon?"
This is the best result, if you just go to the palace to order something, the person will come back later.
Qin Wan felt uneasy, so she had to wait with Hu Shi, but when they arrived at Zishi, they didn't see Qin Shu and the others coming back, but the gate of the Hou's mansion was free to enter and leave, and she didn't mean to restrict other people in the Hou's mansion. Wan couldn't make up his mind, seeing the time getting late, Qin Wan had no choice but to persuade Mrs. Hu to go to bed first. Mrs. Hu also knew that it was impossible to really wait all night, so she took a rest in the warm pavilion in the main courtyard and took care of her. The Hu family and Qin Wan just returned to Songfengyuan.
After a day of running around and knowing the shocking secret, Qin Wan was already exhausted at this moment, but she didn't fall asleep immediately. She retreated from the crowd, entered the inner room, and took out Princess Gong from the dowry box The wooden hairpin given to her, carefully look at the engraving on the wooden hairpin.
Although she is not proficient in painting, she is good at writing. The handwriting on the hairpin is very similar to the handwriting on the dagger. Wan had to come to that incredible conclusion.
Holding the hairpin tightly, Qin Wan washed and lay down while thinking about what might happen in the palace.
Qin Wan had the instinct to calm down the more anxious she was, she restrained herself from falling asleep, woke up early the next morning, hurriedly cleaned up and went to the main courtyard, only to see Mrs. Seeing Qin Wan coming over, Madam Yu hurriedly said, "Madam didn't fall asleep all night last night, Princess, please go and see Madam."
When did the Zhongyonghou Mansion in the past experience such twists and turns? !
What's more, this time not only Qin Shu was taken into the palace, but also Qin Yan and Qin Ye were taken away, how could Hu not be in a hurry
Qin Wan comforted Hu Shi a few words, and was thinking about whether he could enter the palace today, but someone from the concierge came to report!
Nanny Yu said a few words to the visitor outside, and quickly walked in, "Princess, the empress dowager is not well, someone from Shoukang Palace invited you into the palace!"
Qin Wan stood up immediately, not only because of the Queen Mother's condition, but also to enter the palace, Mrs. Hu grabbed Qin Wan, and Qin Wan hurriedly said, "Don't worry, Auntie, I know, you can rest assured and wait for my news. "
Hu nodded, and then let go of Qin Wan.
When Qin Wan arrived at the front yard, she saw that it was the same mother who came to invite her last time. Qin Wan couldn't bear it any longer when she saw the mother, and asked directly, "Dare to ask mother, what happened in the palace last night?"
The nanny's face changed slightly and she lowered her head, but Qin Wan didn't stop there like last time, "Don't tell me, mama, I will know when I enter the Shoukang Palace later, why don't you tell me first, so as not to wait later I don't know how to speak when I see the Queen Mother, in case..."
When Qin Wan said this, the nanny thought about it and thought it was the same.
Even if she doesn't say it now, Nanny Chen will say it when she arrives at Shoukang Palace. In that case, it's better to sell Qin Wan's favor.
"There was indeed an accident in the palace last night, but it wasn't Shoukang Palace..."
Qin Wan got into the carriage, and Mammy spoke hesitantly.
"Yes... Something happened to the Kunning Palace and the East Palace..."
Qin Wan's heart skipped a beat. Although it was expected, but it really happened, Qin Wan still felt a little tricky.
"Empress Empress and Your Highness the Crown Prince, what happened to them?"
Qin Wan asked cautiously, and the nanny moved closer to Qin Wan, and lowered her voice, "Last night... Last night, the Kunning Palace and the East Palace suddenly caught fire, and the whole palace was fighting the fire. The Empress and His Royal Highness are missing..."
Nanny's words were like a thunderbolt, hitting Qin Wan's spirituality heavily. This incident seemed to be more serious than the emperor's initiative to abolish the prince.
The emperor has not yet made a decision, what does it mean for the queen and the prince to act like this? !
After taking this step, is there any way for them to turn back? !
At this moment, Mammy added, "The Crown Princess is also missing."