Five days later, the case of Chen Qi's assassination was closed.
King Jinnan, the Crown Prince, several other princes, and important officials knelt in the hall, silently bearing the emperor's wrath. Before leaving the hall, he couldn't help but glance at King Shengxiang.
Prince Sheng Xiang lowered his head, with no expression on his face, as if he had accepted his fate.
Was it really done by my fourth brother
King Jinnan didn't quite believe it. It wasn't that he didn't believe that his fourth brother would harm his fellow clan members, but at a time when everyone was in danger, would his fourth brother really be so eager to get rid of his third brother's offspring
Although the crown prince was not favored, he was still the eldest son and had never been deposed. Would Prince Shengxiang really take action at this time? And he was not going to get rid of Prince Pinghuai, but only his offspring.
Indeed, since the beginning of winter, His Majesty has frequently summoned several princes to the palace, which naturally added a lot of appreciation. Although Chen Qi has been praised by His Majesty several times, it seems that he has not been outstanding enough to shine.
After much thought, King Jinnan still felt that this was more like a frame-up.
He couldn't help but glance at the crown prince. His elder brother had been appointed as the crown prince since he was young, but he had not been valued by his father in recent years. His position as the crown prince was indeed not stable enough. The crown prince was not a smart person, otherwise he would not have been caught up in the storm of changing the crown prince. But... King Jinnan shook his head.
All of this was just his assumption. He looked up at his father who was sitting on the dragon throne. If he could see that there was something fishy about this matter, how could his father not notice it? The King of Jinnan did not think that he was smarter than his father.
If the Emperor...
King Jinnan didn't know what he was thinking about, and he suddenly felt a chill down his spine.
They are obviously father and son and brothers, but because they were born in the royal family, they have to be cautious in everything. It is like walking on thin ice.
When leaving the palace, the King of Jinnan walked on the quiet palace road. He squinted his eyes slightly, looked at the flags fluttering in the wind, and made up his mind - he planned to come to the palace again tomorrow and ask to leave Beijing for his fiefdom.
Many things were hidden in the white fog. Since he couldn't figure them out, he would rather stay away from them for the time being.
Years ago, he had planned to ask for permission to go to his fiefdom, but now the princess was so badly injured that it was not suitable for a long journey. However, staying away from the imperial city was the safest option at the moment.
Chen Qi's wounds had almost healed. He was walking around in the courtyard, and when he heard the servants report that his father had returned, he hurried to meet him and ask about the result.
"He was sent to his fiefdom." Prince Pinghuai patted his son's shoulder. "My son has suffered so much, and now he is being sent to his fiefdom. This is simply too good for him!"
He sighed again, and said with emotion: "Your fourth uncle is temporarily bewildered and blinded by power. He doesn't care about the affection between brothers, but I, your father, do. Letting him go is a way of fulfilling the affection between brothers."
Chen Qi frowned and asked in confusion: "Is it really the Fourth Uncle who did this? I thought it was the Crown Prince or the King of Jinnan who slandered him..."
Prince Pinghuai looked at his son, who was as tall as himself, and said, "How could there be an injustice when your grandfather personally intervened? If you want to blame someone, blame the temptation of power, which made your fourth uncle lose his mind and his wits!"
Chen Qi lowered his head and sighed softly.
"All right." Prince Pinghuai patted his son's shoulder again, "Your injuries are not healed yet. Don't stay in the courtyard for too long in the severe winter. Go back to the house."
"Yes." Chen Qi agreed. He did not return to the house immediately, but stood aside and watched his father's back as he walked away. After his father's figure disappeared behind the treasure gourd stone door, he slowly withdrew his gaze. He frowned, his eyes were solemn, and I don't know what he was thinking.
Crown Prince Chen Lu was indeed inferior to his three younger brothers in every aspect. When he returned to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace from the Purple Dragon Palace, he immediately summoned several advisers, including his eldest son Chen Xun.
Chen Lian was still young and had an older brother, so the prince usually did not bring him with him when he discussed matters.
At this time, Chen Lian sat on the guardrail of the corridor, looking in the direction of his father's study. He swung his legs, and his embroidered boots rubbed the snow on the grass and trees.
Soon, he saw the eunuch Changchun hurriedly walk into his father's study. He couldn't help but stop swinging his legs.
During this period of time, Changchun only did one thing for his father. Chen Lian knew about this matter.
"Did they find someone?" Chen Lian chuckled, "Maybe I'll have a new stepmother."
After a while, several advisers in the prince's study left one after another, even Chen Xun came out, leaving only Changchun alone.
Changchun smiled widely and said in a flattering voice, "Hard work pays off, we found the person!"
"Oh?" The prince was overjoyed and immediately put down the teacup in his hand. "Did you really find it? Tell me, where is this person born with the Phoenix destiny?"
Changchun's smile froze for a moment before he continued, "The birth dates match perfectly, even the time of birth is not off by a single second! But... the girl is already married..."
"What's wrong with getting married?" The prince obviously didn't care. He only cared about the woman who was born with the Phoenix destiny to help him ascend to the Nine Cauldrons.
Changchun knew the prince's intentions, but the woman's marriage was indeed a bit special. He lowered his voice slightly and said, "She... married Prince An."
The prince was stunned.
"It's the girl from the You family who was married to Prince An by the Empress Dowager Cixi herself!"
Changchun reported the matter and secretly looked at the prince's expression. After a long while, the prince said leisurely, "Isn't she my niece's wife?"
Even if she is a stepmother, if she can help him ascend to the throne, he will snatch her away.
Chen Xun came out of his father's study and saw his brother sitting leisurely on the fence from a distance, so he walked towards him. He stood beside Chen Lian, one hand behind his back, and with the other hand brushed away the snow on his brother's shoulder, and asked with a smile: "Why are you sitting here?"
Chen Lian stopped swinging his legs and said, "Some people are good at scheming, while others are more interested in the mysterious words of sorcerers."
"What?" Chen Xun frowned.
"Nothing. I'm hungry. Let's go eat!" Chen Lian jumped down from the fence, smiled at his brother, turned around and trotted away.
Chen Xun looked at Chen Lian's back as he ran away, and couldn't help but look back in the direction of his father's study.
At this time, You Yuji was sitting under the window, making knee pads for her brother. Zhenxu and Jing Niangzi were sitting not far from her, also making cotton clothes for You Jiamu. Even Chun Xing was quietly sewing clothes beside her. Chun Xing became less and less talkative, but she stayed with You Yuji more and more.
You Jiamu was going to leave Beijing to fight at this age, and You Yuji was very reluctant and worried. But You Jiamu was stubborn, and You Yuji didn't think she could persuade him. Even if she forced her brother to stay, she even suspected that he would sneak out of the capital.
She couldn't just tie him up.
"Sister, why don't you ask me to help." Cuiyu walked in with a smile, picked up the half-sewn clothes on the table naturally, found a place to sit down, and started sewing.
"I remember you don't like needlework." You Yuzhi said with a smile.
Cuiyu asked casually, "Why did you say that, sister?"
"When you were sewing a wedding dress for Yingying's sister, didn't you refuse several times?" You Yuji said softly.
Cuiyu was startled, and the needle in her hand almost pierced her finger. She nodded casually, perfunctorily passing it over, and did not say any more on this topic.
Only after it got dark did Chun Xing and Cui Yu leave Tan Xiang Ying Yue.
However, the cotton-padded clothes that You Yuzhi prepared for You Jiamu were not finished yet. After dinner, she leaned lazily on the beauty couch under the window and took You Jiamu's cotton-padded clothes to do the final sewing.
Tomorrow is the day the army will leave the city, so she has to stay up late to sit.
Si Que came out of the clean room after bathing and glanced at You Yuji under the window. He took a glass lamp from the high-legged stand and brought it to the three-legged table next to the beauty couch, then dragged the standing lamp next to it towards You Yuji.
—Sewing under a lamp at night always hurts the eyes, so I had to bring a few more lamps.
After doing all this, Si Que climbed onto the beauty couch where You Yuji was. He lazily occupied the other end of the beauty couch, waved his hand, called Baisui over and put him in his arms. He caressed Baisui slowly while admiring the beauty under the lamp.
The light reflected from the glass lamp fell on You Yuji's face, making her fair cheeks feel warmer.
Si Que's movements of stroking Baisui's back gradually slowed down.
You Yuji thought that she would be done in just a little bit, but she didn't expect that the seemingly small amount of work would never be finished. She looked up inadvertently and found that Si Que was looking at her.
You Yuji was stunned for a moment, curved her lips, and said softly: "I still have some time to finish. You go to bed first."
She leaned forward, gently stroked the back of Si Que's hand with her fingertips, and then withdrew her fingers.
Si Que nodded, his eyes following the hand that You Yuzhi withdrew.
Although he agreed, he had no intention of getting up and going to the bed to rest. You Yuji yawned softly and continued to sew.
You Yuji didn't know when she fell asleep.
The next morning, Baisui squatted beside her and rubbed the back of her hand with his head to wake her up. You Yuji opened her eyes and found herself sleeping on the beauty couch, covered with a thin blanket. She turned her head and found that she was resting her head on Si Que's legs.
He was still asleep, and the clear, slightly cool light shone on his cold white cheek.
You Yuzhi looked at Si Que's long eyelashes for a while longer, and couldn't help but raise the corners of her lips.
The dress she made for You Jiamu was placed aside. She sat up carefully, trying not to make any noise to wake Si Que. She took the dress and took a look. Fortunately, only a little work was left to be done on the cuffs. She didn't have time to wash up, so she finished the dress first and carefully sewed a peace charm on the lapel.
Finally done.
You Yuji stretched lazily, her loose and slightly wrinkled clothes slid to one side, revealing her snow-white shoulders. She moved her legs off the beauty bed, lazily gathered her clothes, and looked back at the sleeping Si Que.
Before getting up to wash, she bowed slightly to Si Que and gently flicked his long eyelashes with her fingertips. When she wanted to flick them a second time, Si Que grabbed her wrist.
"Sister." He called her lazily, his eyes still closed.
"Did I wake you up?" You Yuji leaned over with a smile on her face and placed a light kiss on his closed eyes.
After she stepped back, Si Que opened his eyes.
Si Que held her wrist tightly and did not let go. You Yuji said softly, "Sleep for a while. I'm going to send the clothes to Jiamu."
Si Que still didn't let go, and asked coldly: "When will sister make clothes for me?"
You Yuji thought for a while and said, "Well... I'll make it for you when I get back. Anyway, there's still some material left from yesterday."
"Oh." Si Que let go.
You Yuji bent down to put on her shoes, picked up the cotton coat on the table and went out. Si Que's lazy voice came from behind her -
"What is your sister going to do for me?"
You Yuji curved her lips and said, "Well, there's not much material left, just enough to make you a bellyband."
Si Que's eyes, which were slightly narrowed with fatigue, suddenly opened and looked at You Yuji. You Yuji had already stepped out of the room and was turning back to close the door. The crack of the door gradually closed, revealing You Yuji's smiling face as she winked at him.
snort.
Si Que sat up with a cold face.
"Meow." Baisui, who had gotten a good night's sleep in the corner, stretched lazily.
The meowing sound attracted Si Que's attention, and he glanced over coldly. Baisui, who was halfway through stretching with his mouth wide open, suddenly stopped moving, jumped off the beauty couch, and walked away.
—Prevent being lost.
You Yuji smiled and walked out of the inner room, handed the clothes in her arms to Zhenxu, and asked her to put away the other clothes she had made yesterday. Then she hurriedly washed and changed her clothes, and went out without even having breakfast, fearing that she would miss the army leaving the city.
The author has something to say: Baisui: I will learn to dodge when I grow up!!!
2nd update around 12:00, 88 red envelopes randomly dropped in the comment area of this chapter, fuck