Still waiting for Zhaoyang

Chapter 8 You Should Find This Way to Xiaoxiang (2)
Before the truth came out, Ningzhu disappeared out of thin air, the empress was in the most awkward position, and even the entire royal family became delicate in the court.

In this case, Empress Dowager Xu is on the left, Empress Wang is on the right, and the emperor is in the front. Either side is a hot potato.Dali Temple is divided into two groups, one group is afraid of avoiding it, and the other group is eager to take a chance and take the opportunity to climb a high branch.Unexpectedly, the Queen Mother finally spoke and ordered Tingwei Sima Lin to preside over the investigation.This Sima Lin was originally a military officer stationed in the Western Regions in the previous dynasty, but later he was transferred back to the Imperial Capital because he was shot in the back during the war to suppress the mutiny in the Western Regions and could no longer go to the battlefield.Because Sima Lin is just, strict and upright, he has repeatedly advised the Queen Mother not to allow his relatives to monopolize power, and has always been disliked by the Queen Mother. The position of Tingwei is almost emptied, and everyone thinks that he will not be able to be a few days.But I don't want Empress Dowager Xu to look down on him alone in this case.

In the few days after Sima Lin received the decree, he never let go of any clues.After detailed questioning and inquiry, it was found that all doubts were concentrated on Ningzhu.

This Zhao Ningzhu has been in the palace for seven or eight years, her net worth is clean, and she has been by the queen's side since entering the palace.

Unexpectedly, on the second day after the condensation beads disappeared, Zhao Ren also disappeared.

Sima Lin also sent people to thoroughly investigate his brother's daily life, and found that Zhao Ren usually behaved decently, he didn't drink, sex, or gamble, and he couldn't find fault at all.Unexpectedly, one of Zhao Ren's colleagues suddenly went to Dali Temple to inform him that he had raised a woman outside, and now this woman has also disappeared.Sima Lin went around to inquire about this woman's background, and found that she was actually the singer of the Xu family a few years ago.

Following the clues, Xu and Wang's families were involved in this treasonous case at the same time. If it were someone else, I probably wouldn't know what to do, but Sima Lin showed no sign of stopping.

When you get the news, go to Qiantai Hall and report back.

After listening to the progress of the case, Shang Rui smiled slightly and said, "You continue to send people to find Zhao Ren's whereabouts, but you also need to find out how the poison entered Jinde Palace and how Zhao Ningzhu disappeared from prison."

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this Zhao Ningzhu did not disappear out of thin air, but was picked up by someone with a handbook."

"Whose handwriting?" Shang Rui asked again.

Even Sima Lin felt his liver hurt from this question, so he answered bravely, "It's the emperor...your handwriting."

"Zhen?" Shang Rui couldn't help laughing "puchi", "Zhen's letter?"

"That's what the jailer said in his statement."

"Then show me that."

Sima Lin wiped his sweat and replied, "It's gone."

Shang Rui waved his hand when he heard the words: "That's all. Since the Queen Mother and I have entrusted this matter to you, it is inconvenient to ask more questions."

Sima Lin was about to kowtow and retreat, but he heard Shang Rui say again: "I remember when I was still the prince, once King Huai saw a piece of land in the capital and wanted to build a garden, but they refused to sell him, so he insisted on buying it, and everyone else was dumbfounded." With one eye closed, you directly read his book, so that he could not step down in public, and ended up with you. Later, before the emperor was ill, he gave you the word "loyalty and integrity", I think Ai Qing would not easily humiliate you. If this court Among them, who is most worthy of the trust of our Wei family, then you, Sima Lin, must be one of them."

Although some of the poison had been removed, Shang Rui's body still hadn't recovered. He was pale and powerless, and after the long series of words, his exhaustion was evident.

Seeing this, Sima Lin's heart felt hot, and he kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my best to investigate the real culprit, and I will not hesitate to die."

After Sima Lin left, He Lanxun and Tian Yuan, who were originally in the hall, also left together.

On the broad white marble platform outside the Qiantai Hall, the spring breeze blowing in front of you makes the five-clawed dragon carving on the stone pillar, which symbolizes the highest status, come alive.

"Brother He Lan, what do you think about this matter?"

"You mean the poisoner?" He Lanxun narrowed his eyes.

"I think there are three suspects." Both he and He Lanxun are Shangrui's confidantes, and they are on good terms, so they didn't shy away from speaking.

"Oh? I'd like to hear about it."

"First of all, it should belong to the Empress Wang's family, but it is unlikely. The empress has not given birth to a son yet, and the present Grand Highness Ran Jun is only being raised by her temporarily. The emperor's illness will not do her any good."

He Lan Xun said: "Perhaps, there is something in her heart that we don't know, and such the most stupid poisoning method is the most effective and the most unpredictable. She knows the emperor."

Tian Yuan said again: "The second is the Xu family, needless to say. The third may be Duke Huai. You know his recent movements. If something happens in the palace and there is chaos, he will naturally find a good time. "

He Lanxun didn't refute him, he twirled his beard and smiled: "What Brother Tian said makes sense, but Xun is thinking that maybe there is one person left for you to ignore..."

"There is another one?" Tian Yuan was completely at a loss.

He Lanxun smiled slightly.

three

Among the three princes back then, Taiwei Xu Huiyong was the father of the Empress Dowager Xu, who controlled half of the military power in the world.When the young emperor of Yong'an first ascended the throne, the prime minister Wang Ji married his only daughter Xiaoxiang into the Jinde Palace. Although it was a marriage with the royal family, it was a signal that the Xu and Wang families secretly joined forces to control the government.

Ten years later, Xu Huiyong passed away, the emperor's uncle Xu Jingye inherited his father's position as Taiwei, and Wang Ji was still in power, but it became a delicate relationship.

Ironically, the whole thing ended in a very peculiar way.On the second day of March, Empress Dowager Xu's [-]th birthday, the world amnesty, under Shang Rui's proposal, she will not even be held accountable for poisoning and killing the king.

The intermittent friction on the border between the Western Regions and Wusun Kingdom did not seem to disturb the wedding banquet.The Jialan Temple in Jianzhou was finally built to celebrate the Empress Dowager's birthday.

The princes from all over the world followed the Queen Mother's order to return to Beijing, and all of them arrived as scheduled with rich gifts, except Huai Wang Shangren.The one who came to celebrate his birthday instead of his father was Duke Huai's daughter, Jingtan.

When Shang Rui got the news, the corners of Shang Rui's mouth slightly raised. The old fox, who was so distracted that he didn't dare to go out, sent a daughter here.

Jingtan is the only daughter of Princess Huai, Xu Shi, who was the cousin of the Empress Dowager when she was in her natal family.Back then, one of the two entered the palace and became the emperor's concubine, and the other became the second prince's wife. They became mother-in-law and daughter-in-law from sisters, but they were not surprised when they were used to it in the Wei Dynasty.When Shang Rui ascended the throne, he was the second prince, King Huai, who was the first to kowtow and was ordered to return to the fief, so he was most valued by the Queen Mother.Now, if Duke Huai is unable to come due to illness, it is most appropriate to come to Jingtan.

As soon as Jingtan arrived in the imperial capital, she first went to Chengfu Palace to greet the Queen Mother, and then went to the emperor's Qiantai Palace.When passing by the peach grove in the central landscape garden, she saw a man in the nearby pavilion.

The man stood with his hands behind his back, happily watching the court ladies throwing crumbs to tease the carp in the pond.Seen from behind, he was wearing a narrow-sleeved regular dress, which was extremely simple in style without a trace of gaudyness, in stark contrast to the pretty and colorful spring shirts of the maids around him.Even though he was looking down at the fish, his back was still straight, his waist was thin, and his skin color was not as fair as the emperor's nobles who went in and out of the palace, it was a sun-baked color.

The man seemed to be aware of the gaze behind him, turned his head, and was stunned for a moment with a smile in his eyes: "Jingtan?"

At that time, Jingtan called sweetly: "Uncle Nine—" The excitement in his tone was uncontrollable, and he ran towards Shangrui in three steps at a time, covered his mouth after walking a few feet, "ah!" stopped with a sound.

He stopped at a place three steps away from Shang Rui, straightened his hair accessories and clothes, cleared his throat, knelt down and kowtowed: "Prince Huai, Princess Yanqing pays her respects to the emperor, and wishes your majesty long live long live."

Shang Rui suppressed a smile and helped her up: "Forget it. Haven't you seen the queen yet?"

After being reminded by Shang Rui, Jingtan found the young woman in the gazebo.The woman's face is not very good, the golden phoenix walk in her hair swayed slightly with the lotus steps, like a phoenix about to spread its wings, just like the smiling face below is neither plain nor extravagant, neither thick nor light, at this moment it is just a slight clasping of hands In front of her, she is the graceful and elegant Mother of the Dynasty.

"Jingtan has met the empress."

"The princess is free." Xiaoxiang bent down to help, and when he was about to touch Jingtan's hand, he gently withdrew it.The face is still amiable, but in this support and acceptance, the two of them are restrained with due courtesy.

The queen bowed to Shang Rui, and said: "Since the princess is here, the concubine will go back to the palace to rest first."

As soon as the figures of Jingtan and other queens disappeared, they threw themselves into Shang Rui's arms: "I haven't seen you for so many years, Uncle Jiu wonders if Jingtan is there, is there any concern?"

This action of hers made those who accompanied her from the Southern Territory very ashamed, and Shang Rui waved his hand to stop her when she was about to speak out.

Shangrui has loved her since she was a child, because of the relationship between their mothers, the two have always been close, and the age difference between the uncle and the nephew is not big, so it is not polite.

"I thought about it before, but I didn't think about it later."

"Why?" Jing Tan frowned.

"Because I still remember that you used to have missing front teeth and you couldn't even speak easily. Later, you felt that your teeth should have grown back long ago, but you didn't know what it would be like to be a big girl, so you simply didn't want to think about it."

She pouted: "Then why did Uncle Jiu recognize Jing Tan at a glance just now?"

Shang Rui tilted his head and thought for a while, then said with a smile: "I heard that you entered the palace today, and a beautiful girl whom I don't know suddenly appeared in front of me, so I guess it's probably you."

Jingtan was overjoyed, and smiled happily: "Does Uncle Jiu really think that Jingtan has become more beautiful?"

Shang Rui nodded, his mind had already flown thousands of miles away.Facing such a clean smiling face, how could he tell her that it was because he was plotting against her father, guessing why the old fox sent his own daughter to the imperial capital, so when she appeared, he couldn't help but blurt out the word "Jingtan" .

Walking under the winding corridors by the lake, Jingtan chattered non-stop.She has a very good memory, and can recall one by one what she experienced in every corner and under every tree in the imperial garden when she was a child.Some are about Shangrui, some are about other people.Speaking of excitement, I can't help but grab Shang Rui's arm and shake it intimately.Shang Rui responded while patting the back of her hand.

"Uncle Jiu, do you still remember, on the first day of that year, Brother Yu slipped into the pool from this place, and you were the one who picked him up."

Shang Rui was taken aback for a moment: "Who are you talking about?"

"Brother Yu, it's just..." The words stopped abruptly.

She made a slip of the tongue and forgot the taboos in the palace for many years.

Shang Rui looked at the place where Cai Jingtan pointed. It was originally a gravel path around the lake. The corner facing the shore of Liubo Lake became a gap. If it was a child, it would be easy to slip down when running.Now that place has already been built with stones.

After a moment of silence, Shang Rui asked, "How did he fall?"

"The grown-ups are all in the Qiantai Hall to say hello. I don't know which brother brought the dog and put it in the imperial garden to let the beast run wild. When he saw... he barked fiercely when he saw him. He seemed to be afraid. He passed by here and let the dog run wild. That beast accidentally slipped into Liubo Lake. At that time, it was just me and them, and the eunuchs and maids were not there, so I was so scared that I cried. When you heard the movement, you ran over and jumped down without blinking your eyes."

Jingtan's eloquent narration evoked some memories in Shang Rui's heart that he deliberately sealed up.

That child... A sigh rose in his heart.It turns out that their lives still intersect.

Jing Tan didn't say what happened later, but he remembered it too.

In the icy cold water of the first month, he lifted the child out of the water. While the child opened his dark eyes in horror and took a deep breath, he clung to his shoulders tightly for fear of losing his life support.

At this moment, Shang Rui suddenly remembered what he said to the child at the moment of life and death.Now it seems that this sentence has become a great irony, Shang Rui laughed at himself, and then led Jingtan to another place.

At that time, he said to the child: "With me here, it's all right."

four

All of a sudden, it was April in the imperial capital. It was late spring and the weather was pleasant.

The afternoon sun falls on the ground through the gaps between the branches and leaves, and there is a kind of indescribable laziness and comfort when viewed from other places.

"It's better in Beijing! The spring in southern Xinjiang keeps raining, and the kite can't even fly. Besides..." Jingtan glanced at Shangrui with those glass-like black eyes, and said playfully, "Besides, Beijing There is Uncle Jiu here. Nowhere can compare to this, I really don’t want to go back.”

When the queen heard this, she and the little maids behind her couldn't help laughing.Such a cute little girl, how can anyone not like her.

Shang Rui was uncharacteristically, just staring into the distance, wondering if he heard what Jingtan said, and what was he thinking in his heart.He is usually very talkative, and also likes to make jokes. Rarely, when his face is sullen and he doesn't smile, his expression will naturally reveal a kind of indifference.

"emperor?"

He turned around when he heard Xiaoxiang's reminder.

The queen said: "The princess is saying that the imperial capital is good, and she doesn't want to go back."

Shang Rui said: "Since Tan'er likes it, I will let you stay in the palace for a few more days. Let them tidy up the leaning pavilion and leave it to you."

Jingtan's face beamed with joy: "Uncle Jiu still remembers my favorite little pond in Pinglanxuan." In a blink of an eye, she pouted again, "But when I was going out, my father told me that I'd better go back early, lest my mother miss you. "

Shang Rui's thick black eyebrows were raised slightly, and the corner of his mouth curled up into a smile: "I plead with your father and king on your behalf, how about you staying a little longer?"

The female officer behind Jingtan froze for a moment, and then reminded: "Princess, thank Your Majesty quickly."

"Oh." Suddenly, Jingtan bowed happily, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for not driving me away, and for moving me to such a good place."

On one side, Wang Xiaoxiang's face was as calm as water, and he even nodded with a smile, but he was extremely astonished in his heart.With Jingtan's thanks, this became an irreversible decree."Stay longer", five vague words, if Shang Rui didn't speak again, it would become a restraint that could imprison this girl.

Her husband might want to make this Princess Yanqing a bargaining chip at a critical moment.

She originally thought that he loved Jingtan from the bottom of his heart.

Perhaps, everything is just a pawn in his heart, just like their marriage back then.

I don't know what Jingtan said while thinking, which makes Shang Rui laugh heartily.

Jingtan stared at Shang Rui's smiling face bewilderedly, and said happily, "Can Uncle Jiu agree to Jingtan's request?"

Shang Rui picked up a cherry and put it in his mouth comfortably: "What's the matter?"

"Uncle Jiu agree first."

Shang Rui raised his eyebrows slightly, and teased: "You know that you are not joking. If I promise you first, if you want me to kick your head like a shuttlecock, then I will have to admit it."

Jing Tan hurriedly said: "No! No!" She blushed suddenly and waved her hands to explain.

Seeing it in his eyes, Shang Rui even laughed out loud.

The queen persuaded: "The emperor is the master of the world, so you can't make such a joke."

Shang Rui was not annoyed, he smiled calmly, and said to Jing Tan: "Speak up. I will give you Jinshan if you want it." His eyes were full of indulgence.

"Can Jingtan not use Uncle Jiu to address the emperor?" Jingtan hesitated.

"Then what do you want to be called?" Shang Rui was a little confused for a moment.

Jingtan looked at the people around her, and swallowed what she wanted to say.The queen understood and said: "The concubine feels that the wind outside is a bit cold, please allow the concubine to leave." After speaking, she gave a deep salute and was about to get up and leave.As a woman, how could she not understand the princess' mind.

Shang Rui was curious about Jingtan's request: "Tan'er, tell me, the queen is not an outsider." Then he gently grabbed the queen's hand.The queen's face turned red.

Even in her own Jinde Palace, she rarely acts so intimately with Shang Rui in front of people, let alone in the imperial garden where people come and go now.It's a pity that she is not good at defying the emperor's intentions in front of everyone, so she is in a dilemma.

Looking at Shang Rui's leisurely and contented expression, it is clear that Xiaoxiang's mentality is accurate.

In fact, he has a difficult heart in his heart. Ever since he was poisoned, Xiaoxiang has been avoiding him. If she hadn't used the excuse of seeing Jingtan today, she probably wouldn't have come.

(End of this chapter)