The news that Lai Junchen was imprisoned quickly spread throughout the government and the public. The courtiers went to the court the next day, and the courtiers counted the evil deeds that Junchen had committed in the past two years to the Queen. The Queen was furious and ordered the future Junchen to be beheaded.
The date of Lai Junchen's execution was very close. He was convicted on the sixth day of the lunar month and executed on December 20th. Beheading so quickly, on the one hand, the officials hated Lai Junchen, and on the other hand, the empress acquiesced.
Beheadings are not performed throughout the year. Due to various considerations such as etiquette, superstition, and court finances, beheadings are often concentrated in autumn and winter, which is what the folks call "beheading after autumn". At the beginning of the dynasty, the emperor set the time for questioning and cutting in October, November, and December, and it has been used since then.
It is already December, if you miss this time, you will have to wait another year for Lai Junchen. Neither the courtier nor the queen wanted to take this risk.
The basics of the early dynasty revolved around the crusade against Lai Junchen. The more the courtiers talked, the more excited they became, and the crimes of Lai Junchen became more and more serious. Finally, the empress took advantage of the situation and issued an announcement among the people to publicly criticize Lai Junchen's behavior and rectify the atmosphere. Regal.
No matter what the ministers thought in their hearts, they all shouted "the sage is wise". The early dynasty ended amidst the praises, the courtiers went out in groups, and Li Chaoge also went to the demon town. Along the way, she noticed many hidden sights.
There was so much commotion in front of the Zhang Mansion last night, and with Nanshi not far away, the people coming and going are the most well-informed. In one night, the whole city knew that Lai Junchen had offended Princess Sheng Yuan, and was defeated by Princess Sheng Yuan and his son-in-law. Once? How rampant was Lai Junchen? Domineering and arrogant, but because of a trivial matter, he was defeated by Princess Sheng Yuan.
Lai Junchen has fallen. Now, it can be said that Li Chaoge and Gu Mingke have no rivals in the court.
After returning to the demon division, Bai Qianhe came over and reported to Li Chaoge: "Shi Xuguang, or Shi Yang, has been seen by our people. But he has a wound on his hand, so he can't go to jail now. I asked people to lock him outside and wait for his hands to heal before going to prison."
Yesterday, Li Chaoge clashed with Lai Junchen on the street, and Bai Qianhe took advantage of the chaos to lay down many black hands. Later Li Chaoge and Lai Junchen were called away by the queen, Bai Qianhe stayed outside to deal with the aftermath, drove away the crowd, restored order, and took Shi Yang away by the way.
Li Chaoge nodded: "Okay. Call him a doctor and take a good look at his hands. It won't be too late to interrogate him in a few days. It's not easy to read at night with the lamp on for many years. If your hands are so useless, it would be too late." pity."
Bai Qianhe should be, and he handed Li Chaoge a list with ghost-clawed words on it: "Is this something that was robbed and smashed in Zhang's house yesterday? I probably wrote down the number, and the conductor asked you to look at it .”
Li Chaoge took a look at it, and was hurt by the ugly eyes of those ghosts. She only glanced at it before returning it to Bai Qianhe: "Find someone with good handwriting to copy it again, and then hand it over to the imperial eunuch. The Zhang brothers are the queen's heart, no matter how much money they lose, the queen will not lose money." dealt with."
Bai Qianhe curled her lips, very dissatisfied that her handwriting was called ugly. He put away the documents, paused, his face seemed to be a little hesitant.
Li Chaoge sensed that he was wrong, and asked: "What's wrong?"
Bai Qianhe put away his foolish look, with a solemn face, and said: "Commander, what happened yesterday has been spread all over the world. We all know that it was Lai Junchen who was bullying too much, and even a bloody person couldn't bear it, but others People don't know. They only see that your husband and wife want to win the wind and the rain, even the most trusted servant of the queen? You can overthrow it. Things will go against each other, and prosperity will decline. Now you and Gu Siqing are in the limelight Too Sheng, I’m afraid it’s not a good thing.”
Li Chaoge put down his hands and sighed slightly: "I know. But if you don't advance in the court, you will retreat. How can it be? What's the best way to get the best of both worlds?"
The weak can hide themselves in the crowd, and they can protect themselves without offense, but those who stand on the top are not qualified to say no. She knew it was not a good thing to show her sharpness, but she had no way to avoid it.
In the Wei Palace, Li Changle raised his brows after listening to the maid's words: "Did the Empress really say that last night?"
The maid nodded her head: "What Liu Lang has heard with his own ears is absolutely true."
Li Changle frowned tightly, feeling an extremely bad feeling in his heart. Li Changle took off a hairpin and handed it to the maid, saying: "You did a good job today, go back quickly, don't be found out. Send a message to Liu Lang, let him continue to watch the queen, and if there is any news, send it to me immediately." .”
The jewelry worn by Li Changle was very valuable, and the court lady was overjoyed, and left with gratitude. After the maid left, Li Changle couldn't help standing up, pacing back and forth in the room. The Empress actually said last night that Li Chaoge is of no use if things go on like this for a long time? Now that Li Chaoge is powerful and powerful, what else can he do
Li Changle's heart was extremely heavy, she was always on guard against Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanxiao, but she forgot about Li Chaoge. Could it be that the empress wants to pass the throne to Li Chaoge
Ridiculous, how could there be? Such a thing! Li Changle was very angry. The queen's usurpation of the throne was already bad enough? The queen actually moved her mind to pass the throne to Li Chaoge? Since ancient times, the family business has always been inherited by the son. Isn't it true that the son either recruits a son-in-law or adopts him
The most important thing is that Li Huai is Li Changle's closest elder brother, and Wu Yuanqing is Li Changle's nominal husband-in-law. Even if the worst happens? In the end, Wu Yuanxiao ascends the throne, and Wu Yuanxiao is also her eldest brother. If Li Chaoge and Gu Mingke win in the end, then Li Changle will fetch water from the bamboo basket and have nothing.
Li Changle was very depressed. She found that since Li Chaoge appeared, her life has become a mess. The fiancé changed his mind, his father and brother passed away one after another, his friends became estranged one by one, and he was forced to marry someone he didn't like. Li Changle has paid so much, isn't it just to turn the tables against the wind? If Li Chaoge ascends to the throne in the end, then Li Changle will have to watch Li Chaoge's face for the rest of his life
Li Changle hates it just thinking about it, no? She will never allow this to happen? Li Changle couldn't help thinking, what if Li Chaoge didn't exist. She has always been the most beloved and only daughter of her parents. She will marry Pei Ji'an smoothly. After the death of her father, the throne will be inherited by Li Shan. The queen will not have the opportunity to usurp the throne. fall out. In a few years, Li Changle and Pei Ji'an will have children. She has the most outstanding husband, the most powerful in-law's family, and the elder brother who loves her the most. She will always live in the envy of everyone and live a happy life.
But now, everything is ruined. One of Li Changle's two elder brothers died young and the other was imprisoned. She was forced to share the bed with a person she didn't like at all, but Li Chaoge stepped on the bones of everyone and went straight to the sky. Ask? The possibility of tripod throne. Li Changle wanted to stop it, but Li Chaoge and Gu Mingke were very trusted by the queen. They both had a good reputation in the court and among the people, and they also held real power in their hands. Together, the two of them can be said to be invincible and invincible. What did Li Changle use to fight against these two
Li Changle paced back and forth on the ground, getting more and more anxious. Li Changle couldn't find any bargaining chips. Although she placed a male favorite next to the empress, she could make small troubles, but once a big court event happened, the two brothers couldn't talk at all. What's more, Li Changle still can't completely control Zhang Yanzhi and Zhang Yanchang.
Zhang Yanchang is a poisonous candy with a honeyed belly and a sword, and Zhang Yanzhi is even more ambiguous. Li Changle has to be on guard against being bitten by the second Zhang. She really dare not put the odds on her male favorite. Li Changle counted his old relatives and friends in detail, but none of them could be contacted. The Pei family and the eldest grandson's family have left Luoyang, and all the kings of the Li family have been exiled. Although Pei Chuyue and other handkerchiefs still exist, they cannot be married. Lord of the house. As for Li Changle's own husband's family? Let's not mention it.
Li Changle and Wu Yuanqing look like each other, she looks down on Wu Yuanqing, so Wu Yuanqing is on guard against her. Li Changle was full of irritability when a maid came outside and said, "Princess Guangning, the old lady wants you to go to Prince Liang's residence."
Li Changle was in a bad mood at first, but when she heard Wu Meng called her, she became even more upset: "I'm not free, I won't go."
The maid was in a dilemma and said, "Princess, the old lady said that you haven't paid her respects for a long time. Princess Liang is ill today. If the princess still doesn't go back, there is no need to call her mother-in-law in the future."
Li Changle rolled his eyes and was about to say something when his eyes moved slightly: "Princess Liang is sick?"
·
"Princess Liang's illness is nothing serious. The old man prescribes a few medicines. As long as the concubine doesn't worry about it, she will live well. She will take care of her and she will get better after the New Year."
Wu Mengshi nodded and asked the maid to follow the imperial physician out to prescribe medicine. Li Changle followed Wu Mengshi and asked, "Mother-in-law, why is sister-in-law suddenly sick?"
Wu Mengshi sneered, and said, "Princess Guangning, do you still remember that she is the daughter-in-law of the Wu family? I thought that Princess Guangning was too busy making love with her boyfriend, and had already forgotten about me as a mother-in-law. "
Wu Yuanqing has countless confidante friends, and Li Changle is not to be outdone, and one by one, he goes to the mansion to win male favors. Wu Yuanqing was busy playing with his own, and didn't say anything to Li Changle, but Wu Meng couldn't stand it anymore.
When Wu Mengshi saw someone, she complained that her second daughter-in-law was not filial to her. After one year of marriage, there was no movement in her stomach. Li Changle knew he was wrong, turned a blind eye to these words, and silently endured them. However, Wu Mengshi is getting more and more aggressive, and recently she often asks Li Changle to serve her, telling Li Changle to abide by women's morals, and not to go out to attend banquets all day long.
Because the empress is in power, it is more fun to have fun at the banquet of the women's family members, and it is common to ask male pets to accompany them. Li Changle brought the man back at first, but later seeing that the influence was not good, he simply went to play at other people's houses and stayed all day. What has Li Changle been doing for such a long time
Even a three-year-old child can't be fooled by this kind of deception. Wu Mengshi is jumping up and down every day because of gossip and nonsense, but when he sees Li Changle today, he is eccentrically squeezed out.
Li Changle had something to do today, so he put up with Wu Meng's rudeness and said, "How long has my sister-in-law been ill? It's the New Year's Eve soon, and there are a lot of things to do when the mistress is ill. Won't you delay the business?"
Wu Mengshi sneered: "The current daughter-in-law is really delicate. One can't say that she can't be beaten, and the other just blew a little wind and fell ill. Fortunately, there is still a side concubine. Otherwise, it would be a loss of Yuan Xiao's face." .”
Wu Meng's words contained guns and sticks, and neither of the two daughters-in-law was good. Li Changle pretended not to hear it, as if he was relieved, and said: "That's good, there is? The side concubine will share the burden with the sister-in-law, and the sister-in-law can also recover from her illness at ease. Mother-in-law, King Liang is today? When will you come back?"
Wu Mengshi finally felt something was wrong, she turned her head and looked at Li Changle curiously: "The sun is coming out from the west, you ask? What is this for?"
Li Changle smiled: "I have something I want to discuss with King Liang. Speaking of which, our family hasn't had dinner together for a long time. I'll call King Wei back. Our family should have a good meal."
·
The north wind howled, and the dead branches outside the house were whimpered by the wind. Concubine Xu of Liang was leaning on the pillow, looking out in a daze.
The maid reminded softly at the side: "Princess, you are still sick and cannot be tired. Go back to bed and rest."
When Mrs. Xu heard the title of the maid, she lowered her head and smiled wryly. princess? How can she? What kind of princess looks like. She was married to Wu Yuanxiao when she was still in the Wu family, and she was a close match with the Wu family at that time. Who would have known that the samurai behind? There? Such a great fortune.
After the queen ascended the throne, brothers Wu Yuanxiao and Wu Yuanqing became king one after another, and Wu Yuanqing even married the queen's direct daughter. Xu's position in the Wu family became more and more embarrassing, and outsiders continued to send concubines to Wu Yuanxiao, including many noble daughters. Mrs. Xu and Wu Yuan Xiaoben were married blindly. There was no love between husband and wife. Now Mrs. Xu is old and decrepit, with no talent and skills, and a clumsy mouth. How can it compare to those young and beautiful princesses? Miss Hou.
Xu's name is Wangfei, but in fact she only bears a name. The housekeeper? The right has long been given up to a tall and noble side concubine. Mrs. Xu knew she couldn't compete, so she decided not to. Every day, she paid her respects to her mother-in-law honestly and took care of her husband's daily necessities. Although Wu Mengshi is surrounded by many clever people who flatter him, Wu Yuanxiao doesn't even know how to wear the clothes and shoes made by Xu Shi.
But Mrs. Xu still insists that this is the duty of a wife. She believes that her mother-in-law and husband will always remember her well. But Mrs. Xu is not as good as a young girl after all. She caught a cold when she paid her respects to Mrs. Wu Meng, and fell ill after returning.
It can be said that it is very unpleasant to fall ill at the end of the year. Xu wanted to get well soon, but the more anxious she was, the more crooked her body became. Seeing Mrs. Xu's lonely look, the maid couldn't bear it, and said, "Princess, don't worry. You are the main concubine. No matter how favored the side concubine is, she will never surpass you. The imperial doctor said a few days ago, as long as you rest assured , It will be all over after the new year. Both the prince and the old lady? Let you recuperate at ease, and the princess should not think too much about it."
Xu covered the coughing mouth with a handkerchief, and said, "I didn't? Think about it too much. I really don't understand those account books and gift lists. It's better to leave it to the side concubine to take care of it. Now the prince's status is different. In the past, my old wife should not come out and embarrass the prince."
Mrs. Xu said she didn't care, but she had been sick for so many days, and she didn't even have a single visitor. She was still feeling lonely. The maid sighed, not knowing how to persuade her, so she went down to decoct medicine for Mrs. Xu.
Just as the maid went out, she bumped into someone head-on. The maid was very surprised when she saw the person coming: "Princess Guangning? Why are you here?"
Mrs. Xu heard movement in the room, and struggled to get up: "Who is here?"
The maid opened the curtain happily and came in, helped Mrs. Xu to sit up: "Princess, Princess Guangning is here to see you."
Xu's eyes lit up, it turned out to be Li Changle. For the Chinese New Year, Wu Mengshi and Wu Yuanxiao would not condescend to visit Xu Shi, and those favored concubines would not pay attention to Xu Shi. Unexpectedly, the only person who came to visit Xu Shi was actually Li Changle.
Mrs. Xu sat down, and she saw that she was wearing dusty home-made clothes, while Li Changle on the opposite side was gorgeously dressed, and she couldn't help feeling ashamed: "I'm deserted here, and I don't have any good tea to entertain my younger siblings. I have wronged my younger siblings."
Li Changle was sitting in front of Xu's couch in a delicate and gorgeous long dress, she didn't seem to care about the shabby surroundings at all. Didn't she touch the tea brought by the maid and asked, "Sister-in-law, are you feeling better these days?"
Mrs. Xu lowered her head and smiled wryly: "It's still the same. Blame me for not living up to expectations. The Chinese New Year is coming soon, but I fell ill. There should be a lot of banquets in these gods. The brothers and sisters just go and have a good time. Why bother to come Look at me. I have bad luck here, and it would be bad if I passed on my sickness to my younger siblings."
Li Changle said: "Sister-in-law, what are you talking about? When I first got married, it was thanks to my sister-in-law who persuaded me so that I wouldn't be overwhelmed. Now that I think about it, my sister-in-law is right. Life is so long, what hurdles can't be overcome?"
Seeing that Li Changle could think about it, Xu nodded her head and said, "That's the reason. As long as people are alive, they can want anything. They can plan slowly, but if people are gone, everything will be empty. You can figure it out again." Well, after all, you have? Mother’s family? Reliance, in-law’s family? I dare not offend you. Although King Wei is not at home, he does not dare to bring anyone to get in your way. That’s enough, how can there be in the world? Fourth concubine, as long as it doesn't hinder you, just turn a blind eye and let's go. When you get old, those Yingyingyanyans will naturally leave, and you two are the last companions."
Li Changle's eyes slowly swept across Xu's face, with a smile on his lips: "Sister-in-law said yes, I didn't expect my sister-in-law to be so reticent, but she can see so clearly in her heart."
Xu sighed self-deprecatingly, and said, "I'm not like you. I have been studying and writing since I was a child, and there is someone who taught me piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting. All I know are stupid things I figured out by myself. I am clumsy, I don’t know how to speak beautiful words, just listen to my brothers and sisters, don’t laugh at me.”
Li Changle said with a smile: "Why would I laugh at my sister-in-law? No matter how much my sister-in-law said? It makes sense."
Mrs. Xu was very embarrassed, Wu Yuanxiao disliked her for being too old, and took her out to embarrass herself, and the concubines below did not take her as a poor old wife seriously. Only Li Changle, who is a princess, is willing to be her "brother and sister".
Xu's heart was quite moved, and she was really moved, so she spoke to Li Changle with all her heart and soul: "Sister and sister, I know you look down on King Wei, but it's done, and the Wu family is your best home. God There are many handsome and talented family members in the city, but if you marry them, after a long time, the queen will be jealous. Only the Wu family is your protection and yours Weapons. You are a princess, so I shouldn’t be the one to deal with private affairs, but I still want to persuade you to calm down and stop getting involved with foreign men. While you are young, hurry up and have a few children with Wei Wang, Once you have a child, you are truly stable."
Li Changle had a smile on his face, and the smile became stiffer as he went to the back. She actually knew that Mrs. Xu was right, this woman was vulgar and mediocre, but she saw things very clearly, far better than those young ladies from a family who claimed to be well-versed in poetry and books. No gaudy decorations, no hypocrisy that hurts the spring and autumn, but often such simple and vulgar words are the real philosophy.
Li Changle instructed the maid to bring a bowl of medicine from behind, and slowly stirred it: "Thank you sister-in-law for reminding me, I will keep in mind what you said today. My sister-in-law still needs to recuperate, so drink the medicine first."
Xu nodded subconsciously. Looking at the exquisite porcelain bowl in Li Changle's hand, she suddenly realized something was wrong.
Xu looked at Li Changle suspiciously: "How do you know my prescription?"
This woman came from a humble background, but she reacted unexpectedly quickly. Seeing that Mrs. Xu has already noticed something wrong, Li Changle stopped being polite, and immediately said, "Hold her down, don't let her shout."
The nanny behind Li Changle stepped forward without saying a word, and firmly restrained Xu. No matter how stupid Mrs. Xu was, she knew that something was wrong with the bowl of medicine. She struggled desperately, and shouted at the top of her voice, "Come on, King Liang, old lady, Princess Guangning? Something is wrong, come on!"
Mrs. Xu yelled several times, but the outside was like a deathly silent place, with no life. Xu's heart skipped a beat, realizing that no one would come.
For Li Changle to come here, Wu Mengshi, Wu Yuanqing, and even Wu Yuanxiao all acquiesced.
Xu tried her best to avoid it, but was her mouth pinched and her teeth pried open. Li Changle sat across from her, clasped her hands, her eyes were calm, just like when Xu Shi first met her, glamorous and incomparably noble.
Li Changle watched with his own eyes the attendant pouring medicine on Xu Shi, the bowl of medicine quickly drained, the mother let go of Xu Shi, and Xu Shi immediately fell down on the couch. Xu retched and lay on the side of the couch, struggling to hold her throat. But the nanny who poured the medicine is a veteran in the palace, how could she give Mrs. Xu a chance to spit it out. Xu held it for a long time, and gradually felt cramps in her stomach. She clutched her lower abdomen and twisted together in pain. She looked at Li Changle in a state of embarrassment. From this angle, Li Changle was beautiful, tall, and her whole body revealed a certain arrogance.
Not knowing whether it was pain or sadness, a line of tears slowly welled out of the corners of Xu's eyes. She faced Li Changle's direction, her eyes gradually became loose: "It turns out that the imperial palace really turns people into monsters."
Li Changle just married into the Wu family last year? Xu was afraid that she would be overwhelmed, and advised her that the imperial palace is the most terrifying place in the world. It will make her mother not a mother, and her sister not a sister, so she reminded Li Changle to think about herself as soon as possible at the risk of disrespect. . Unexpectedly, Li Changle also turned into a monster in the end.
Xu's eyes were wide open, his wrists were hanging heavily on the side of the couch.
·
"What, Mrs. Xu passed away?" Sitting in the palace, the queen frowned deeply, "Didn't the imperial doctor say that it was not serious, why did he suddenly die of illness?"
Li Changle lowered his eyebrows and said sadly: "I don't know either. Mother, you also know that uncle and Xu have a weak relationship. She hasn't had a child for many years. Seeing the beautiful concubines entering the house one by one, it is inevitable to feel depressed. . After a long time, the body will not work. "
The queen sighed slightly, although she felt it was sudden, but Xu was just a nephew and daughter-in-law, not worthy of the queen's attention. The queen said: "After all, she has been in charge of the Wu family for half her life. She has never made a mistake for many years, and she is also a good person. Organize a funeral for her, and let her go with the dignity of Princess Liang."
Everyone is dead, how could Li Changle care about these things. She obediently agreed, and after a while, she looked at the queen lightly, and said softly, "Brother, after all, he is still young, and the Prince Liang's mansion can't be without it? The person in charge, I think, has to choose a successor for King Liang as soon as possible." the one to marry."
Datang didn’t have it? Ping wife, Fuzheng and other sayings, taking a concubine as a wife is to be exiled. No matter how capable and favored Wu Yuanxiao's side concubine is, if she is a concubine for one day, she will be a concubine for life. Wu Yuanxiao's official wife still had to marry from outside with eight sedan chairs.
It is the greatest kindness for the empress to bury Xu's family. It is impossible for her to allow her nephew to guard Xu's wife's funeral. The queen nodded her head and said, "Let your mother-in-law choose. No matter who the noble ladies in the city are, as long as you match each other and pass the word into the palace, I will give you a marriage."
Li Changle's eyeballs rolled slightly, with a girlish innocence, and asked: "Mother, what do you think of letting sister Sheng Yuan marry Liang Wang?"