The next day. At noon.
Xu Wanhai bowed respectfully and reported,"Young master, we just received news that the Emperor stripped the Zhen family of their title. Young General Zhen, the young madam of the Xue family, and his son were all imprisoned." Lord Zhen and Lady Zhen were imprisoned at home.”
Baojuan's hand that was pouring tea paused and she said in surprise," But Lord Zhen is the hero who vindicated Runan King?”
I leisurely sat on the pear blossom wooden chair, unmoved. On the sandalwood table was a crystal plate filled with hibiscus cake. He casually picked up a piece and tasted it. The shape and color of the hibiscus cake were like hibiscus flowers, beautiful and delicious. It was one of the favorite snacks of the concubines in the harem. The interior of the soft pastry was compact and had well-proportioned pores. When eaten, it felt loose, soft, sweet, and fragrant. Oh, not bad.
Ju Qing's delicate eyebrows twisted as she vented her hatred." This is retribution!”
Qiao Hui put down the needlework in her hand and disagreed." What can you say and what can't you say? Do you still need Eunuch Xu to teach you?"”Her clear eyes were filled with worry.
Ju Qing blushed. She knew that she had said something wrong, but she still felt upset and remained silent.
Xu Wanhai's eyes flashed sharply as he smiled at Ju Qing."Young lord, I heard it was young general Zhen's mistress who reported it to us."”
Baojuan laughed and said,"Didn't you say that it was a temporary measure to break into the Runan Prince's Mansion?" Previously, there were even palace servants in the harem who praised this woman for her noble character and integrity!”Her rosy lips curled up in disdain.
Xu Wanhai said calmly," Young Master, I heard that none of the Xue and Luo families who were suspected of forming cliques have written a letter to clarify the Zhen family. None of the officials in the court have spoken up for the Zhen family.”
Ju Qing smiled coldly. I'm afraid…" The hatred and helplessness in her tone were obvious. She still could not let go of Xueqing's death.
Baojuan was surprised,"But why did noble Qi's family report the Zhen family?" Weren't they related to the Zhen family by marriage?”
Xu Wanhai held his chin with his rough hand and said,"The Zhen family is honored because of the rehabilitation." Not to mention how much Wan Fei had been doted on before, she was even inferior to Hua Fei back then. Looking at the other ministers who had made contributions, they were not so favored!”
"Is it because Wan Fei is pregnant and Noble Qi has entered the palace? Even if it's for the family, you have to go and fight?" Or was it just a competition between the officials of the imperial court?”
Qiao Hui frowned and interrupted," No, although this matter was reported by Noble Qi's family, this firework woman inexplicably betrayed us! Little master, this servant thought that this matter was very strange!”
Everyone couldn't help but look at me, and I thought it was funny. He took a sip of tea and raised his eyebrows coldly. Wanfei had just gotten pregnant and such a thing had happened. It was as if someone had deliberately set it up.”After saying that, he closed his eyes and pretended to sleep. He pondered in his heart.
The wind and snow outside the window did not stop. Everyone felt helpless and could not help but look at each other in bewilderment.
After a short while, Xiao Shunzi led an old granny to report respectfully," Little Master, this is Granny Tian from the Everlasting Palace.”
I lazily opened my eyes and looked at the old woman in front of me. Although she was already old, I could still vaguely see the charm of her youth. Her weathered face was very gentle and kind.
Because her arrival brought in a blizzard, my heart felt inexplicably cold.
Nanny Tian bowed respectfully and said," Little Lord, the Empress Dowager is seriously ill. Please go and serve her!"”His gentle tone was unquestionable. Should I sigh that he is indeed worthy of being the person by the side of the Empress Dowager?
Xu Wanhai looked at me worriedly. I got up obediently and said lightly,"Thank you for your hard work, Mrs. Tian." It is a concubine's blessing to serve the Empress Dowager. However, it is windy and snowing heavily outside. Please allow me to change my clothes and return in a moment.”
Nanny Tian's gentle eyes unconsciously sized me up. Even when she saw my snow-white hair, she only glanced at it without any emotion, not even a trace of pity. He looked like a kind old man on the outside, but he was actually cold on the inside. When she saw my thin clothes, she only smiled and respectfully said,"Please, Little Lord. This servant will wait."”
Such a polite attitude made me feel inexplicably uneasy.
In the inner chamber.
I wore a moon-white brocade palace dress with pink lilies embroidered on the skirt. I used a white brocade belt to tie up my slender waist. Her silver hair was tied up into a beautiful and dignified bun. There was only a white jade hairpin with plum blossoms and a glazed crabapple flower in her hair. No makeup.
"Little master, ever since the Empress Dowager fell ill, she has not summoned any of the concubines in the harem. This time, I don't know why, but this servant's heart is very uneasy!”Bao Juan buried her head and helped me put on a black fox cloak. The black fox fur on the hood was soft and shiny. The entire cloak was thick and warm, and it was of high quality. This was something that Xuan Ling had recently sent Li Chang to personally deliver to the Misty Pavilion. Although he had never come to see me, I could feel that I still had a place in his heart.
I caressed the soft cloak, my heart was warm, but my eyes were cold. I said in a rare strict tone," I will bring Xiao Shunzi and Ju Qing to the Yongshou Palace this time. If there is nothing, I will order Xiao Shunzi to report that I am safe. If I enter the Yongshou Palace but there is no news, then you must personally go to the Yiyuan Palace and invite the Emperor to the Yongshou Palace! Do you understand?" It was better to be safe than sorry. Perhaps this trip would be a trap and he would never come back.
Bao Juan was frightened by my serious expression and her face turned pale. She clicked her tongue and said," Little Master, what will happen when we go to the Eternal Longevity Palace this time? Then why don't you say that you're not feeling well and won't go?”Loyal girl, wholeheartedly thinking for me.
I looked at my clothes in the bronze mirror and said coldly,"Those who come with ill intentions will not come!" Let's go!" After saying that, he turned around and left calmly.
Bao Juan sighed and followed closely behind.
The white world seemed to have no end. Snowflakes fluttered in the wind. Although they came from the sky, they had no place to go in the human world.
Turning around, the Mist Intent Building became more and more blurry in my vision. I suddenly felt like I was about to leave this world, as if I could never go back.
Xuan Qing had just come out of the Eternal Longevity Palace with Little Meng Zi. His handsome face was emotionless, but there was a hint of worry hidden between his brows. His footsteps were heavy.
Xuan Qing kept recalling the scene from before.
Yongshou Palace.
The Empress Dowager's weak body lay weakly on the soft couch. Her face was sallow and haggard.
Looking at the empress dowager like this, Xuan Qing felt an indescribable feeling in her heart.
Ever since his mother left the palace to worship Buddha, he had grown up by the Empress Dowager's side. Moreover, the Empress Dowager treated him like her own child. Whenever she was sad, she would always care for him. Now, the Empress Dowager was probably not doing well. Just thinking about it made his heart unable to stop feeling sad.
The Empress Dowager smiled kindly and said," Sixth Brother, it's windy and snowing outside. You should go back quickly!”Then, for some reason, she pulled his sleeve reluctantly and brushed away the non-existent wrinkles on his body. She said in a sad tone," You're already an adult. You have to take good care of yourself."”
Xuan Qing was startled. A strange expression appeared on his handsome face, and he didn't know how to answer.
The Empress Dowager instantly smiled gently and said,"You're not young anymore!" It was time to get married. It doesn't matter how the family is. If you like a lady from any family, please ask your Imperial Brother to agree!”
Walking and stopping, they arrived at Upper Forest Park. At the corner of the inner courtyard, there was a rare white marble stone screen, engraved with elegant and mottled words. It looked like a kind of restrained wealth, but also a kind of ancient elegance. In front of them was a large flower bed with flowers and green grass, but it was now covered in thick ice and snow. The bustling scenery of the past was nowhere to be seen.
The wind and snow in the sky became even more rampant.
At this moment, he saw a black dot, a thick black color, piercing through the wind and snow and crashing into his eyes.
When he got closer, he realized that it was this cold woman-An Wanyi.
His silver hair was like the moonlight in the night sky. He felt a sudden pain in his heart. There seemed to be a strange emotion. Was it jealousy? Could such a cold woman be so heartbroken for her Imperial Brother? Her black cloak made her skin look like jade, translucent and sparkling. Her face was flawless without any makeup, and her delicate features were like a snow maiden who had fallen into the human world. Starlight fell from her eyes, and she looked charming. Her eyes moved slightly, and there seemed to be thousands of words in the depths of her pupils.
She quietly stood under the plain oil-paper umbrella, a unique scenery, a beauty that refused to stay for the world.
His heart was beating violently for some reason, and he seemed to be able to hear the heavy thumping sound coming from his chest. His eyes were unconsciously focused on this woman, and he even forgot all his worries. Everything around him no longer existed.
At this moment, she gently exhaled. The snow on her hair melted and dripped onto her collar and her sparkling skin.
Xuan Qing's heart also started to beat. It was wet and a little ambiguous, pushing his blood to his lower body, lighting a dark fire there.
He was stunned.
He, who had never married, did not know what love and desire were.
And this cold woman in front of him, who could even be said to be his sister-in-law, had actually ignited his desire without saying a word. It was as if she had already figured out every bone in a man's body and knew where to tickle the most effective place.
Xuan Qing smiled awkwardly. Her handsome face was like an orchid and jade tree, and her black eyes were shining with a heart-stirring light. She smiled lightly and said," So it's Young Master An. Mother Tian, are you going to visit Imperial Mother?"”
Tian mama, Xiao Shunzi, and Ju Qing bowed respectfully and said,"This servant (servant) greets the King of Qinghe!"”Xuan Qing stood there with a gentle smile on her face.
I nodded coldly and left in silence.
The corner of her black clothes accidentally touched his body, and a fragrance fell. Xuan Qing couldn't help but take a whiff. He remembered this fragrance after smelling it once.
That time in Mi Xiu Palace, the woman who had pretended to be unconscious even though she had not fainted had glared at him angrily. Her eyes had been filled with charm.
That time in the Everlasting Palace, her scarlet clothes were already covered in blood. The thick red wooden board fell heavily on her body, and his heart also ached. However, he miraculously stopped in his tracks. The smell of blood mixed with the familiar fragrance tugged at the strings in his heart. This made him feel pity for her and also made him feel possessive.
The few of them walked further and further away. Xuan Qing looked at the woman's back in a daze. She still recalled the warmth and satisfaction in his heart when she fell into his arms weakly. Such a delicate and soft woman, who would she show her true colors for?
Eternal Longevity Palace stood in the snow, majestic and quiet.
I don't know why, but I feel more and more uneasy.
Mrs. Tian smiled and courteously led me into the inner room. In the blink of an eye, Kikukyu and Little Shunzi disappeared.
When he entered the inner room, the Empress Dowager was sitting on a large brick bed, leaning against a soft pillow made of brocade and feathered satin, her eyes closed as she pretended to sleep. The faint light outside the window shone on her thin face, flickering. Her lips were tightly pursed into a straight line, and no emotions could be seen. Under the windowsill, there was a dark incense burner on the wooden table of Five Bats Holding Longevity Pear Blossom. It was decorated with gold, copper, lotus petals, and pearl patterns. It slowly emitted an elegant sandalwood fragrance. He was wearing a dark purple satin robe with two layers of gold on the cuffs, looking elegant and luxurious.
The Empress Dowager heard footsteps and opened her eyes. She said in a low and hoarse voice," You're here."”It was so unfamiliar that it was as if she had never known me.
I respectfully saluted and said,"It's my fault for being late!"”
The Empress Dowager leisurely twirled the Buddha beads in her hand and coldly said,"The Empress has gone mad because of the bewitching fragrance."”
My heart skipped a beat and I said in surprise,"Although I haven't stepped out of Lan Yi Lou, I heard the emperor's imperial edict saying that the empress is seriously ill!"”There was no mention of the Bewitching Fragrance.
The Empress Dowager sighed." The Empress's bewitching incense was made by you, right?”
Although her voice was soft, the deep meaning in her words could be heard. A cold wind seeped in through the window, and the leaves outside rustled in the wind. Unknowingly, a silent chill enveloped the entire room.
I knelt on the ground and coldly said,"Empress Dowager!" This concubine is wronged!"
The wrinkles on the Empress Dowager's forehead seemed to have smoothed out. She said lightly," It's already done. Why put on an act?" When aijia was still Consort Lin, I was already used to these little tricks of yours!”Then why did you only say it today? What were you waiting for?
Seeing this scene, Granny Tian retreated.
Zhu Xi smiled and said," Young Master An, there's only the Empress Dowager and you now. If you have anything to say, you don't have to hide it. Why don't you open the window and say it openly?”There was indeed only the Empress Dowager, me, and Bamboo Breath Granny in the huge palace.
I knelt on the ground and said,"Why is the Empress Dowager so sure that it's the concubine?" The concubine had no enmity with the Empress, so how could she do such a thing? Besides, if the Empress was really poisoned, why didn't the Emperor announce the decree?”Empress Dowager, oh Empress Dowager, do you want to ask for the truth, or do you want to denounce me?
The Empress Dowager snorted and said dejectedly,"This widow is already old, but when it comes to scheming, the Empress is not as good as you!" Aijia is only worried about the emperor and the state of Great Zhou!”
I lightly said,"The Empress Dowager's blessings are deep and not ordinary people can compare!"”If you want to play Tai Chi, do you think I'm afraid of you? I want to see who will be able to endure the years to come!
The Empress Dowager looked at my calm face and sighed," What a pity! What a pity, what a pity! If aijia lived for a few more years, how could a scheming and vicious woman like you be allowed to run wild in the harem?”His emotionless voice was piercing.
The Empress Dowager said a few words of pity, as if she really was filled with endless sorrow. I quietly gazed at her, revealing a strange state of mind. There must be something wrong with this abnormal situation! How was this the decisive Empress Dowager of the Vermilion Family? She could even lay a hand on her lover, so how could she say such a thing? Besides, she already knows that I'm dealing with the Empress. Does she know about my fake pregnancy and the so-called Regent's henchmen? My heart turned cold bit by bit. If I couldn't survive this, I, An Lingrong, would never be able to make a comeback.
The old and the young looked at each other. There was fire dancing in each other's eyes. The Empress Dowager said expressionlessly,"It's a pity that you're not a child of the Zhu family. Otherwise, what's the point of giving you the position of Empress?"”However, there was no sincerity in his tone.
I said fearfully,"I'm just the daughter of a county magistrate. I've never dreamed of being an empress!" Besides, the Empress is only seriously ill!" Did she go crazy just because you said so? Xuan Ling said that she was just sick, so the Empress must be sick! This Great Zhou is Xuan Ling's world. Even if you're his biological mother, you can't!
The Empress Dowager couldn't deny it." You're a pitiful person. You don't have a child, and you have a beautiful face and white hair. You've suffered so much at such a young age. This is also the Empress 'fault. She's too cruel and forced you concubines to death!”With a slight sadness, he paused and continued,"But you have the emperor's favor! Aijia can see that the emperor has you in his heart. Even the Pure Yuan Empress is inferior to you!”
I was bewildered. The Empress Dowager was acting very abnormally today!
I lightly said,"Empress Dowager pities my concubine, my concubine is extremely grateful!" It was just that this matter of the Empress was not something that could be ignored by the concubines. The concubines had only entered the palace for a short period of time, but no one in the harem praised the Empress as a virtuous Empress!”He was very virtuous, so virtuous that Xuan Ling almost had no descendants! But isn't this the result of your indulgence?
From time to time, Granny Tian would personally bring the medicine to the Empress Dowager's bed. On the red tray, there was an exquisite and small lotus bowl filled with black medicinal liquid.
Nanny Tian's eyelashes drooped, casting a faint shadow on her face. Her hands were unusually gentle as she helped the Empress Dowager apply the medicine. Seeing this, I felt more and more uneasy.
The Empress Dowager was a little drowsy after taking the medicine. The luxurious satin robe could no longer match her thin body. The Empress Dowager, who never used makeup, had actually applied a lot of powder and rouge on her face today.
Red rouge, my heart is unspeakably strange.
Suddenly, the Empress Dowager raised her head to look at me, her eyes filled with disbelief. In the end, her body suddenly trembled and blood spurted out. His entire body fell back heavily.
In an instant, the atmosphere in the entire hall froze.
The Empress Dowager lay silently on the soft couch. Her pale face was covered in gray and blood was flowing out of her seven orifices. She was already dead.
Nanny Tian's face suddenly turned pale, and she fell heavily to the ground." The Empress Dowager is dead?”
Zhu Xi's eyes were filled with shock. Her body had already begun to tremble uncontrollably. She turned her head and grabbed me, saying in disbelief," Young Master An, the Empress Dowager has passed away?”
I glanced at Zhu Xi's hand. She was holding my arm tightly. Her strength was so strong that her joints were turning white. Even someone as calm as I was, my God still underwent a subtle change at this moment.
At this moment, the corners of Granny Tian's mouth curled into a cold smile. Suddenly, she shouted loudly," Someone come quickly! Empress Dowager, Empress Dowager was poisoned by someone, Empress Dowager was poisoned by Young Master An!”
Everything happened so suddenly that it could be said that we were caught off guard. Bamboo Breath Granny and I were stunned. We let Granny Tian run out and shout loudly.
Soon, a group of guards rushed in. Granny Tian pointed at me and Granny Bamboo Breath in the hall and exclaimed," It's-it's them, it must be them!”Her kind face was almost fierce as she shouted," What are you guys still standing there for? Hurry up and take them down!”
Zhu Xi's face was pale, and a chill rose from the bottom of her heart. She staggered back, and she tripped on something, almost falling to the ground. She was in a sorry state, and she angrily said," You... you..." She was shocked by this sudden change and suddenly lost her original calm.
A hint of understanding flashed through my heart. So that was the case. However, who was this Granny Tian's subordinate?
Zhu Xi suddenly stood up and stared at the group of guards. He fiercely said," I am the Empress Dowager's personal servant. I want to see the Emperor!" You can't accuse me of my crimes like this! This has nothing to do with me, it's Granny Tian! She killed the Empress Dowager!"
At this time, the Empress gracefully and elegantly held onto Lu Yi's hand as she gracefully walked over from afar. She looked down at Zhu Xi and said coldly," Bamboo Xi Nanny, An Wanyi! Do you think the emperor will forgive you if he finds out?”
The current Empress did not look haggard at all. Her black hair was thick, her forehead was full, her skin was fair, and her scarlet lips were like a demon that was urging her to die!
Bamboo Breath looked at the guards holding sharp blades and then looked at the Empress in disbelief. It was as if she had seen a ghost. Her voice was already broken. Empress, so it was you who did it! So you were the one who arranged everything! So it turned out! " You…" Lu Yi was already standing behind Zhu Xi, and a cold sharp blade had stabbed into Zhu Xi's back. In an instant, hot blood spurted out, and Zhu Xi spat out a mouthful of blood. He looked at Lu Yi in disbelief, and under his smiling face was a twisted and ferocious expression. He was no longer as naive and innocent as he used to be. Her red lips moved closer to Zhu Xi's ear and coldly said,"Zhu Xi Nanny, you and Little Lord An secretly plotted to poison the Empress Dowager. What was your intention?"”
The Empress fiddled with her golden armor, and her firefox cloak made the once peaceful and gentle Empress even more enchanting. The Empress raised her eyebrows slightly, her white teeth gleaming as if she was telling a joke." Ah, An Lingrong, murdering the Empress Dowager is a capital crime! You've already murdered the Empress Dowager before. Now that there are witnesses and evidence, what else do you have to say?”Her purple smokey makeup was cold and heartless, and her eyes were sharp and fierce.
I suddenly laughed coldly. The Empress couldn't help but look at me in shock. Perhaps she didn't think that now that everyone in the palace was her people, why would I still be able to laugh?
I walked steadily towards the Empress under her half-smiling gaze. Before anyone could react, I calmly pulled out the Glazed Begonia Flower Shaker from my hair and quickly stabbed the sharp hairpin into the Empress 'throat. Scarlet blood splattered all over my face, and warm red liquid continued to seep out from my throat.
The Empress didn't expect me to be so ruthless and bold. Her eyes were filled with shock. She didn't even have the time to shout for help before she fell to the ground.
Everyone was shocked by my weak appearance and my unexpected actions. Quickly kill this witch!" The group of guards came back to their senses and immediately rushed over to kill me. After all, the Empress Dowager was already dead. Now, even the Empress was dead. If An Wanyi was still alive, the next person to die...
I smiled coldly and ran out while shouting," Help! Help! Murder! Murder! Help!" The flustered beauty stumbled all the way, desperately escaping under the ferocious guard's knife.
In the wind and snow, Xuan Ling, dressed in an exquisite and gorgeous dragon robe, brought Bao Juan, Xiao Shunzi, Li Chang, and the others over quickly.
Xuan Ling's black eyes were filled with worry. Under the steps of the Eternal Longevity Palace, Xuan Ling shouted in fear,"Rong 'er!" Rong 'er, how are you? Rong 'er!" As he spoke, he ran over and hugged me without caring about his image. His chest heaved up and down violently. At this moment, I felt that even if I died, it would be worth it. Even the fear of killing someone for the first time was drowned by his warmth.
"Emperor, they want to kill me!" Clear tears flowed down her cheeks. Rong Yan was heartbroken. Her trembling hands hugged Xuan Ling tightly, and she was terrified.
Xuan Ling felt his blood freeze. When he saw the woman he loved the most fleeing under the cold knife, with her face covered in blood, he prayed for the first time in his life. He prayed that those cold blades would not hurt her. He could not accept losing her a second time!
Xuan Ling's handsome face was calm, but his eyes were burning with anger. Xuan Ling said without a trace of emotion," Kill them all!”When the emperor was angry, corpses would float for hundreds of miles. At this moment, it was obvious.
Granny Tian saw that the Emperor was already scared witless and quickly knelt on the ground to beg,"Emperor!" This servant was wronged! It was Bamboo Breath Granny and Young Master An who poisoned the Empress Dowager. Later on, Young Master An even killed the Empress!”
Xuan Ling's expression suddenly changed as he roared," Shut up! Do you think I don't have eyes? Would I believe a stupid old woman like you?”My Rong 'er, my Rong' er, I almost lost my life! If I had been a step later, my Rong 'er-boundless panic would have spread in his heart. He only felt that in the sky full of snow, his hands and feet were already cold. He could only tightly hug the person in his arms to feel that he was alive!
Granny Tian's eyes widened in horror. Her green lips trembled, and she did not dare to speak again.
At this moment, a delicate and pretty internal supervisor came out from the crowd. He knelt heavily on the ground and wailed," Your Majesty, please be clear! This servant is the Little Blessing of the Everlasting Longevity Palace. The Empress Dowager was clearly poisoned by the empress! Granny Tian was actually the Empress's woman! Moreover, Bamboo Breath Granny had already died under the maid Lu Yi's knife. However, for some reason, the Empress suddenly ordered the guards to kill Lu Yi. When Lu Yi dodged, the guard's knife slashed the Empress's neck. The Empress was already dead!”
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone's expressions changed. It could be said that they were colorful, but my heart sank little by little. This Little Blessing came at the right time!
Xuan Ling tightened her grip on my hand. Her expression was complicated and her eyes darkened. She pondered for a moment and said coldly,"Investigate clearly."”As he spoke, he ignored everyone else and carried me as he walked away.
I couldn't help but stare at this man in a daze. For him, I would do anything.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。