Mountains and rivers pray for peace

The stars have changed, and in a blink of an eye it is already a slight summer heat, and the heat of the south has also drifted into the capital.

After three days of rest, Huo Qi went to the Shangyi Bureau for duty as usual. As soon as he entered the door, he saw the palace ladies who had no work to do, gathered around the stone table in the courtyard, chattering about the death of the concubine.

A round-faced palace maid put her hands on the table and said in surprise: "It's really a wicked sect. It's such a big Shuchun Pavilion, but no one stayed vigil on the day of the flood."

Someone quickly responded: "That's right! When the eunuchs rushed over, the fire shot into the sky! When Gong Zhengsi's people arrived, they searched the house and found a few bones of the empress. It was really terrible. .”

"I know a little bit about this matter." Another long-faced palace maid said "hiss", she hooked her hands, and a group of heads came over curiously, "I heard from people in Shuchunxuan before, that Concubine Zhen's Ye was in a bad mood, so he sent all the servants away."

The round-faced palace maid was puzzled: "The empress was in a bad mood that night? Not many empresses in the palace have ever held such a grand birthday banquet, and they are the only ones with dignity and honor. Why should they not be willing to accept it?"

The long-faced palace maid continued: "Hey! That night during the birthday banquet of Concubine Zhen, Your Majesty stayed at Concubine Shu's place. This master has always been proud and arrogant, how can he bear this kind of grievance?"

Some people couldn't help but sigh: "This is such an unpredictable world. Who would have thought that the person who set the fire was actually Ling Shuang. I heard that the dowry brought into the palace by the empress was also found in her house. No wonder it was directly attacked by Shao Sizheng Killed with a stick and thrown into a mass grave to be fed to the dogs. Some people secretly went to look at it, and their faces were bloody and bloody. He couldn't even look like a person..."

There was a light cough, and all the palace maids were frightened to death, and the heads gathered together quickly dispersed.

When they saw Huo Qi standing at the door, they didn't know how long they had been listening. They hurriedly gathered their skirts and saluted, hiding the panic on their faces.

Huo Qi just pretended not to hear, but couldn't help but sigh in his heart. In Shu Fei's eyes, Ling Shuang found all the dowry of his master Zhen concubine in Ling Shuang's house and did a lot of dirty things for her. She was the most suitable person to replace her. Zhang Rang took the blame. Ling Shuang's inexplicable disappearance was no longer important to Concubine Shu. It is unknown where Shao Zhen found a corpse to replace Ling Shuang.

But these are not important anymore, there are more important things waiting for her to do.

Huo Qi smiled at the palace maids and went into the room where official business was usually done. He saw Yang Shangyi casually flipping through the official documents she usually handled, and Usluo sorting out the desk debris.

Yang Shangyi is usually busy with official duties. If it is not important, he will not come to see Huo Qi in person.

Huo Qi naturally knew this. She mustered up her energy and saluted Yang Shangyi's back: "I've seen you, sir. I wonder why you came here in person today?"

When Yang Shangyi heard the voice, he put down the things in his hands, with a rare warm smile on his face: "I have already seen these things. The reward items in the palace are complicated, but you divided them into categories and recorded them clearly. This is rare.”

Huo Qi lowered his eyes and said, "Your Excellency, you are so complimentary."

"Okay, young people don't have to be too modest." The appreciation in Yang Shangyi's eyes was not adulterated.

At first, she was not very fond of this batch of prostitutes who entered the palace, and thought they were all young ladies who came to the palace to enjoy the blessings. But these days, she has noticed Huo Qi's diligence. Except for three days of rest, Huo Qi almost stayed here in Shangyi Bureau.

Thinking of the purpose of today's visit, Yang Shangyi's expression returned to seriousness: "I am here this time to tell you something."

"My lord, it's okay to say so."

"Princess De'an has been praying for the country in Taizhenguan for more than half a year, and now it is time for her return. The palace should send a female official to greet her. Today, Concubine Shu personally told me that you and Princess De'an had a childhood relationship when they were young. Friendship is the most important thing, and it is most appropriate to send you there this time. What do you think?"

Huo Qi lowered her head, revealing a small section of her white neck. When she heard the words "Qingmei Zhiyi", she almost laughed.

When did Dean fall in love with her? In her last life, Yuan Shao had caused many obstacles for her, but even though she didn't have so many difficulties in this life, De'an still disliked her. Concubine Shu's stupid move made it clear that she was a weasel paying New Year's greetings to a rooster. She would be a fool if she went.

She was looking for a reason to refuse, but unfortunately Yang Shangyi did not give her a chance to refute: "I understand that it will be a difficult journey to Suiyang. But Concubine Shu personally pointed you out because she values ​​you. If we can successfully welcome the princess back, , it must be a top achievement, and the reward must be indispensable..."

Huo Qi thought about it.

Are you actually in Suiyang?

Seeing that she seemed to be in a trance, Yang Shangyi felt dissatisfied: "Did you understand what I said?"

Huo Qi came to his senses and said with a faint smile: "I will obey Jun's order. I will definitely welcome the princess back safely."

Seeing that she agreed, Yang Shangyi's dissatisfaction immediately dissipated: "That's good. You can leave the affairs of Shangyi Bureau aside for now. The princess is very particular, so you should prepare in advance to welcome the princess." After saying that, Shi Shiran left the house. .

A bright light flashed in Huo Qi's eyes, and he pulled out the map of Daqi on the bookshelf on his desk. He sat down in front of the desk, dipped his pen in ink, and circled two locations.

One is Jiangyang and the other is Suiyang.

Wang Shouli most likely returned to Jiangyang, while Princess De'an was in Suiyang.

Jiangyang and Suiyang are adjacent to each other, only a punch apart.

Huo Qi put down the wolf hair, got up and walked around.

She knew De'an's temper very well, he was easily angered, arrogant and arrogant. Although this kind of person likes to torture others, he is also easily led by others. By then, she might be able to find an opportunity to slip away to Jiangyang and look for Wang Shouli's whereabouts...

Only by finding Wang Shouli would we have the opportunity to uncover the secrets of the Jiangyang Township Examination.

Just as she was thinking about it, Usnea approached her quietly and whispered to her: "Sir, I have something to report." Huo Qi came back to his senses and smiled lightly: "Just tell me if you have something to say."

Usnea took out an exquisite wooden tube from her sleeve: "This was given to me by a guard just now. It was said to be a home letter from General Huo. I specifically asked me to deliver it to you personally. I don't know about this letter either." You can see if it’s true or false.”

Huo Qi took it and his eyes were filled with surprise for a moment.

Huo Xian had always been calm, so how could he take the risk of sending a palace guard to deliver a letter from home to her? Could it be that something happened at home?

Thinking of this, Huo Qi's heart slowly sank. When he opened the wooden tube, he saw that there was only a small rolled up piece of paper stuffed inside.

As soon as she unfolded the note, she confirmed that the letter was genuine.

Her and Huo Xian's calligraphy were both taught by Huo Ruhai, and they were very similar. Most importantly, the signature is drawn with a scimitar. She and Huo Xian played with making paper kites when they were young. She drew green bamboos on the paper, and Huo Xian drew just such a scimitar.

The handwriting on the note was scrawled and uneven, with no unnecessary greetings. It said: Huo Qinglan drowned in the carp pond of Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion the day before yesterday. He should take good care of himself in the palace.

Although there were only a few simple words, Huo Qi was so dizzy that he couldn't spell a complete sentence.

Huo Qinglan is dead?

Huo Qi looked at Usnea calmly: "Is there any news about the Crown Princess of Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion recently?"

Seeing her inexplicable and terrifying expression, Usnea quickly replied: "I have never heard of this."

Huo Qi crumpled the note into a ball and gradually tightened his grip. Various scenes from the previous life flashed through his mind at inappropriate times.

At that time, the eldest and second bedrooms were not separated, and there were no other sisters in the family. She and Huo Qinglan got along like real sisters. There is a very impressive persimmon tree planted in the house. Every October, there will be small, heavy, yellow lanterns hanging from the branches, big and round.

When he was six years old, Huo Qi still showed the naughty nature of a child, not as dignified and dignified as he is now. There were no adults watching at home, so she ordered Tingyu to move the wooden ladder and secretly climbed up to pick the persimmons. At that time, she was not tall and could not stretch her arms long. No matter how hard she tried, she could not reach the persimmons hanging on the tree.

Just when I was sweating profusely from anxiety, a soft voice came from under the tree: "Sister, come down and Qinglan will help you pick it."

Huo Qi looked down and saw Huo Qinglan standing softly under the persimmon tree, waving to her, cute and cute. At that time, Huo Qinglan was not as charming as she is now. She was still a little girl who looked like a dumpling.

Huo Qi gritted her teeth and got off the ladder. She measured the persimmon tree with her eyes and looked at Huo Qinglan worriedly: "The tree is too high, can you do it?"

At that time, Huo Qinglan was thinner and smaller than her, and he had always been timid and humble. When bullied outside, he often hid behind her. But that time, Huo Qinglan was much braver than her.

"I can do it." Huo Qinglan gave her a firm look and climbed up without hesitation, step by step, tremblingly.

When she finally climbed to the top step of the wooden ladder, Huo Qinglan couldn't reach the persimmons, but she swung on the branches and used her strength to climb up the tree. The moment he picked the persimmons, Huo Qinglan raised the persimmons in his hand, lowered his head and grinned at Huo Qi: "Sister, look, I picked them!"

Huo Qi held the wooden ladder for her, raised his head and smiled happily: "It's amazing!"

But it was at this moment that happiness gave rise to sadness. Huo Qinglan loosened his grip and failed to hold on to the branch, falling solidly from the persimmon tree.

Huo Qi was so frightened by this incident that she ran over and saw the two yellow persimmons in Huo Qinglan's hand. One was smashed on the ground, and the other was tightly protected by her chest.

She went to hug Huo Qinglan, but she felt that her palms were full. When she looked down, she saw a yellow persimmon. Huo Qinglan smiled with satisfaction and said, "Sister, here you go."

Then, he just fainted.

Later, Huo Ruhai and Huo Rushan both came back. After knowing the whole story, Huo Ruhai scolded Huo Qi severely. She didn't speak, she just held Huo Qinglan's hand in a daze, and shed tears in front of the bed. The adults thought she was wronged. After all, Huo Ruhai had never said harsh words to her since she was a child. But only she knew that her tears were filled with self-blame and emotion. She made up her mind at that time to protect her sister in the future.

Huo Qi couldn't remember clearly since when their hearts became farther and farther apart.

She only remembered Huo Qinglan seeing her off for the last time in her last life, with a strange and proud smile on her face. In fact, to a certain extent, Huo Qinglan's betrayal caused her more pain than Yuan Shao's departure.

In this life, she simply fulfilled Huo Qinglan's wish and let her marry into the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion to be the beautiful princess she longed for, but she didn't expect that she would die so easily.

But she knew how to swim, and Huo Qinglan also learned it with her, so how could she drown? And he died just when Princess De'an was about to return to Beijing?

Huo Qi shook hands into fists.

Most likely, she will give way to a new person, just like she did in the previous life.

Huo Qi scolded and laughed: "Useless thing!"

Usnea rarely saw Huo Qi speaking harshly, so she was frightened when she saw it: "Sir, are you okay?"

Huo Qi closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the sadness had disappeared: "It's okay."