Pei You'an followed the footprints in the snow and chased to the back mountain in one breath. Seeing a black shadow in front of him, taking advantage of the situation, he was climbing the mountain wall that was more than ten feet tall.
Beyond the gable is Lao Lin. Once he escapes, in such a snowy night, I am afraid that it will be hard to find traces.
Pei You'an didn't stop, he threw the long sword in his hand vigorously forward. The long sword was like a snake, piercing the air, and chasing towards the black shadow. Kankan climbed the top of the wall and waited to climb over the wall. At that time, the tip of the sword chased after him, inserted it into his back shoulder, and the man froze and fell to the ground from the top of the wall.
A guard chased after him. Seeing that man was struggling to get up from the ground, he was about to escape. He went up and pinned him to the ground. Pei Youan hurriedly stepped forward, leaned down, and quickly pinched the man's jawbone. With a slight "click", the man screamed, his entire jaw dislocated, and a bitten wax pellet rolled out of his mouth.
…
In the back of the palace, the Zhou family stayed up all night.
Today, there is an early morning, and it is nearly five, but the emperor still hasn't returned.
Her people, there is no news back.
This is the second time that Xiao Lie has secretly left the palace in the middle of the night since the night of the prince's wedding.
The Zhou family has determined that the place where Xiao Lie went that night must be the one in the Ci'en Temple.
She can also infer that the emperor will leave the palace again tonight, in all likelihood, it is still the same place as the previous time.
It's not that she didn't know how to send someone to spy on the emperor's trail, in case the consequences were revealed, but she couldn't suppress her desire.
Goryeo and Annan's princesses will soon be registered as concubines in the harem. Not only that, after the spring, the Ministry of Rites and the Zongren Palace will also preside over the selection of beautiful women, and the harem will continue to be filled.
The Zhou family understands that this is no longer the Wuding Palace, and the situation where she has been monopolizing her husband for more than 20 years will never return. By the emperor's side, there will soon be women younger and more beautiful than her. From now on, even though she still leads the harem and has a high status, only she can understand the taste of it.
But if that's the case, then that's fine. The Zhou family will never be so confused that they want to take the risk because of the emperor's wide acceptance of the harem.
Over the years, her heart disease under suspicion made her smell an unusually dangerous aura from the emperor's unusual move to expand the harem.
First, the Crown Princess made rash remarks and caused an unexpected disaster. Although it was reluctantly resolved, the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince had obviously hated Xiao Lie since then. One wave has not settled, and another wave has arisen. His brother's methods are too extreme, and his invitation to success fails. The Zhou family is disheartened, and the prince is again implicated.
In fact, when Xiao Lie ascended the throne, there were ministers of the Ministry of Rites who had nothing to do when they were full, citing the scriptures, and suggested to the emperor to expand the harem. But at that time, Xiao Lie sent it back on the grounds that state affairs were undecided and he had no intention of having a harem.
The emperor Nayan opened a harem at this time, it is definitely not as simple as what he sees on the surface.
If the emperor was only dissatisfied before, then this moment may be the real beginning of the prince's danger.
Xiao Lie was in his prime, and he still had time. If he changes his mind, who in this world can stop him
From the day he brought the sixteen-year-old Pei You'an to Wuding that year, perhaps because of a woman's intuition, the Zhou family felt that Xiao Lie was unusual for this so-called "old friend" son.
And the root of all this may lie in the courtyard of Ci'en Temple.
Now, even for her own son, she must find out everything about the emperor.
In order to ensure that there would be no accidents, she was extremely careful, even the prince did not know about it, and the person she sent was also a bodyguard who had been secretly used by her since Wuding. She is very sure.
Mrs. Zhou lay down with her clothes, and finally fell asleep dimly. Suddenly, she was awakened by a nightmare. She woke up in horror. She found that the sky was getting slightly brighter. Entering, there was a sound of footsteps outside the hall.
The footsteps were abnormally heavy, stomping on the ground with a sound, the sound getting closer and closer, as if implied anger, shaking the ear drum.
In this palace, who else would walk like this
Zhou Shi's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and he quickly climbed down from the phoenix bed, and only a few steps away, he saw that the palace servants in front of the palace were kneeling on the ground, and the hanging tent suddenly moved and was lifted up by someone. , With the slight sound of the golden hook being pulled to the ground, Xiao Lie's figure appeared in front of Zhou Shi.
Zhou Shi stopped abruptly, met the two gloomy eyes cast by Shang Xiaolie, his heart sank quickly, but he calmed down and forced a smile: "Long live if you don't go to Zaochao, is there something wrong here?"
Xiao Lie said coldly: "You are not too timid, how dare you send someone to spy on me! Immediately, you will move out of Kunning Palace and move to Beiyuan. Without my permission, you are not allowed to leave for half a step!"
After Xiao Lie finished speaking, he turned around and strode away. Cui Yinshui led a few sturdy eunuchs, bowed to the Zhou family and said, "My lady, long live the decree, the slaves have to obey, please ask the lady to leave the palace, and the slaves will escort the lady to Beiyuan."
Beiyuan is hundreds of miles away from the imperial city. There is a royal mausoleum nearby. It was originally built by Taizu when he founded the country. Although the forbidden garden covers a large area, the palace is simple and simple. Home in January to commemorate the ancestors. After Taizu left, this system was gradually abolished, and Beiyuan became increasingly desolate. More than 20 years ago, Emperor Tianxi moved there to avoid the plague that swept the city and lived there for nearly a year. Now Beiyuan is like a cold palace.
Zhou Shi's hands and feet were cold, and his face was instantly pale. Looking at the back of the emperor's departure, he suddenly shouted, pushed Cui Yinshui away, chased after a few steps, and grabbed the emperor's sleeve.
"Is there any evidence for this remark of Long live? I don't know what wrong I have made! Why spy on the whereabouts of Long live? The concubine was framed! The concubine is not afraid of confrontation!"
Xiao Lie turned his head to stare at the Zhou family, and squinted his eyes: "Not to mention that I have found out, it means that there is no way to live. Besides you, who else in the palace would know that I left the palace last night?"
He nodded and sneered: "Now there is a big harem, you and the East Palace are the two big ones. If it's not you, it's very good, so it must be what the East Palace does. You want to stay, keep it for yourself, this is called People go to judge the prince!"
Xiao Lie pulled back his sleeves and pulled his legs away. Mrs. Zhou fell to the ground, stretched out his hands to grab the emperor's legs again, and said, "Long live, this has nothing to do with the prince! It's the concubine's fault! The concubine admits the mistake! You should be confused for a while, and make a mistake, please forgive the concubine this time because of your kindness in serving you for more than 20 years!"
The emperor gritted his teeth and said, "Looking at the trace of the emperor, this alone is enough to abolish your position as the queen! Your post, I will not move, but from now on, you will go to me, so that I can recuperate and no longer need to Meet!"
Xiao Lie pulled out his leg, which was caught by the queen, and was furious before moving forward.
The Zhou clan shouted: "Long live! Back then when the late emperor died, your eldest brother was suspicious of you. When you first ascended the throne, you were trapped in Wuding. In the second year of Tianxi, you left the country privately without telling your concubine where you were going. You didn't return for half a year, if it wasn't for your concubine hiding everything for you at that time, how could you be today?"
Xiao Lie said angrily: "You were protecting the crown prince first, and in the name of witchcraft, you combined to deceive the emperor. You really think I am old and confused and can't be manipulated? At that time, I was only thinking about the 20 years of blood kinship. You just changed it! I don't want you to be ignorant of restraint! Today, I still miss the hair from the past, and this is the last time to save your face! Don't say it anymore, you just go, from now on, you don't have to go back to the palace!"
Xiao Lie strode away.
Zhou shi was lying on the ground, staring at the back of the emperor leaving, tears streaming down his face.
Cui Yinshui waited for a while, then gave the eunuch a wink. The two eunuchs stepped forward, one left and one right, and knelt down, trying to lift the Zhou family off the ground, and said: "My lord, forgive me, the slaves are also acting as messengers. Don't be surprised, Niangniang, it's better to go quickly, lest long live the anger..."
Zhou Shi raised his hand and made a few "slaps", and the eunuchs slapped each other on the face. After slapping the people, he supported himself, slowly got up from the ground, wiped away the tears on his face, and stared at Cui Yinshui coldly. He glanced at it and said, "No matter how bad this palace is, it is still the queen of the Great Wei! This palace can walk, how can you allow you poor slaves to do it?"
Cui Yinshui slapped himself with a slap in the ear, bent down and said, "The slave is guilty, and the slave punishes herself! How dare the slave treat the maiden slowly? After speaking, he straightened up, his face turned cold, and he shouted, "Why are you still kneeling? Long live the purpose, the Queen Mother felt the drought in the provinces this year and how difficult the people's livelihood was, so she voluntarily moved to the Xiyuan Mausoleum to pray for blessings. Get up and prepare for the empress to move to the palace?"
The people of the above-ground palace stood up one after another like a mourning concubine. Zhou Shi's face was pale, he turned his head, and glanced back at the palace where he had not stayed in for a long time. Finally, he took a step and walked forward.
She walked out of the Kunning Gate and saw the prince leading the prince concubine. The two knelt beside the road to see off for her.
She turned her eyes to the prince and stared at it, unable to speak, but at this moment, she believed that her son would understand.
As soon as she accidentally angered the emperor, she was expelled from the middle palace and sent to Xiyuan.
The current emperor is no longer the King of Clouds in Wuding. His power is unpredictable, and his face is ruthless.
Just now, when she heard the heartless words to send her to Xiyuan from his mouth, for a moment, she could hardly bear the resentment and unwillingness that had been in her heart for more than 20 years. , is about to blurt out.
But she finally swallowed hard. Everything is for the prince.
Now she wants her son to be more forbearing. At least, when she is still unable to fight against the Lord of the World, she must not lose her temper.
Back then, when Emperor Tianxi got married, the young Xiao Lie also respected the emperor's decree, married her as his wife, and had a son with her. For more than 20 years, even though there was no other woman by his side, Zhou Shi knew that this man had a heart of stone, he had never loved himself, and he would never be moved by her tears. This time he sent her away, and soon there will be a new person entering the palace. If there is no son, she may never be able to return to this middle palace in her life.
Fortunately, there is a prince.
Sooner or later, she will definitely come back, walk through the north main gate in the middle palace, and take back everything that belongs to her today.
She stared at the prince like this, and walked in front of him step by step.
Unfortunately, sadly, fate often plays tricks on people. Giving people hope, but in the end, it is often just to make people more deeply aware of the double pain that the hope was dashed.
At this moment, Zhou Shi did not know that this was indeed the last time she walked through Kunning Gate.
…
Xiao Yintang stared at the back of his mother who was gradually leaving, his eyes were gloomy, and with a slight movement of his shoulders, he was about to get up from the ground, but Zhang Fengtong, who was beside him, held his hand down.
"Don't be impulsive! The queen mother is no longer safe. Even if you go to Wanzai to speak for her again, Wanzai will not listen. Maybe you will be angry with you. Fortunately, the queen mother is still in the position, and the prince should be patient now and wait for an opportunity in the future. Move, concubine, this should also be the wish of the mother."
Zhang Fengtong lowered his voice and spoke quickly.
Xiao Yintang stared at her, put away his hand, got up from the ground, turned straight, and walked towards the East Palace.
…
On the same day, the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty were all surprised to learn that the empress moved the palace to Xiyuan to pray for the people on behalf of the people. The Ministry of Rites issued a statement. The ministers secretly discussed in private, and after pondering, although they still don't know where they are, they also vaguely know that after Zhou Jin, Zhou Hou is also completely unacceptable to the emperor.
In front of Zhou's house, everyone avoided it. Zhang Jiaxu has been hurt by things, and Zhang Lao has not been sick for a few days. Beneath the peaceful courtroom, an invisible undercurrent surged silently.
The big house of the Pei family has been noisy these days.
Zhou Hou's name is moving to the palace to pray for blessings. Who doesn't know that the emperor can't tolerate her anymore. Touching her is like giving the prince a bad look. I heard that there will be a bride in the palace soon. It is really hard to predict what will happen in the future.
Mrs. Xin regretted letting her son marry Zhou Jiao'e at the beginning, but the raw rice became cooked rice, and now she can only admit that she was unlucky. Although she still did not dare to show her power towards Zhou Jiao'e, she was no longer forbearing as she used to be, and her expression changed. It was a lot ugly, and Pei Xiuzhi was impatient. Zhou Jiao'e holding her stomach and coercing it didn't work. The house was crying all day long. In the end, Mrs. Xin didn't want to be laughed at by the second room, so she ordered the courtyard door to be closed. In the name of raising a baby, Zhou Jiao'e is not allowed to leave the hospital at will. Zhou Jiao'e also seemed to finally realize that most of her backstage was suddenly gone. Thinking of relying on her son in her womb in the future, she gradually restrained herself and started raising a baby, and the family finally calmed down.
The end of the year has passed so quickly.
In the spring, these days, Jiafu began to pack up.
Just a few months ago, Mrs. Meng, who had returned to Quanzhou, sent a letter. In the letter, she mentioned that her grandmother, Mrs. Hu, contracted a fever at the end of summer. The bones of the body looked a little weaker. At that time, on the Pei family's side, the old lady was also seriously ill, and Jiafu was incapable of doing anything, so she could only reply a letter and send some medicinal materials along with the letter to show her filial piety. Now that the New Year is over, Pei You'an and Ding You are at home, and finally everything is fine, and she goes out of Rexiao again. Knowing that Hu's health is not as good as before, she took the initiative to propose a few days ago, saying that she would accompany Jiafu back to Quanzhou to visit relatives in person while the spring was coming.
In a few days, Quanzhou in March, in and out of the city, is full of Erythrina, a scene that is rarely seen in the capital. Jiafu has a lot of affection for the place where she was born. At the end of last year, she had such thoughts in her heart, but she had just left the hot filial piety. In the past few months, although Pei You'an was closed to thank guests, she was in the study all day long. In the book, or holding scrolls, or painting, or teaching her to read, she seems to be living a leisurely life, but Jiafu feels that he always has his own thoughts, and, if he never shows it in front of her, she will be hard to say. She kept pressing it in her heart, but she didn't expect that he would see it out, and offered to accompany her back to Quanzhou.
Jiafu was overjoyed, packed her things early, chose an auspicious day, looked forward to it day and night, and finally arrived on the day of departure, the weather was sunny, and together with Pei You'an, she said goodbye to Mrs. Xin, and Jiafu took Madam Liu Sandalwood with her. Xiang and the others, Pei You'an accompanied Yang Yun and several other entourages, a group of more than a dozen people in total, arrived at the pier, boarded the big boat, and sailed south against the southerly wind that was already blowing.