slave like jade

Chapter 163 An Shi's Death
Hearing from Yu Ruyan that Qiu's mother was the only witness to prove the fire in Qinxianglou, Brother An understood the seriousness of the matter, and quickly turned around and ordered the hidden guards to find Qiu's mother.

Yu Ruyan stood alone in front of the window, looking at the dark rainy night outside, secretly praying in her heart, she must find Mother Qiu, she is her last hope!
After a sleepless night, Yu Ruyan leaned against the window and listened to the sound of wind and rain all night, her heart was filled with bitterness and darkness!

I thought that if I broke through with Mu Lingzhi, I would no longer have to hide my identity, and I would love and accompany him with my true self, and I would have no worries in this life, but I didn't expect that when I returned to Daliang, I would face even more difficulties and obstacles. More and more difficult.

Seeing her reluctance to go to rest for a long time, Brother An was a little puzzled, and asked suspiciously: "Hasn't the princess found out the clues? I believe that as long as Mother Qiu is not dead, the hidden guards will be able to find her and bring her back. If she comes out to identify Yu Mingzhu, the princess's grievances can be washed away, so what else does the princess have to worry about?"

"The Qin Xianglou incident is not a problem, but what really worries me is the evil star incident." Yu Ruyan sighed secretly, her eyes were cold, and she said in a deep voice: "The lives of 27 prostitutes are very important to King Liang. It's not a big deal, but Daliang's thousands of miles of country are very important to him, not to mention that he broke his trust in his family, committed crimes against his superiors, and risked being scolded as a traitor and a traitor and left a stain on history. He believes in slander, and believes that I am an ominous person who wants Daliang to destroy the country, do you think it is possible for him to keep me?"

Brother An's whole body trembled when he heard the words, and then he realized the seriousness of the matter, his face turned pale, and his voice trembled: "But...but princess, how can you believe the evil star? Besides, even if there is such a thing as the evil star to disrupt the country , They can't just assume that the evil star is the princess without reason and evidence..."

Brother An was impatient, and said again: "The princess is also King Qi's Princess Heshuo. No matter how suspicious King Liang and the others are, they can't just convict the princess regardless of everything. Princess, should we write a letter back to Da Qi?" , let King Qi send envoys to come forward..."

"Have you forgotten what I have encountered in Qi since I was a child?" Yu Ruyan interrupted her with a sigh, and said with a bitter smile: "Isn't there a saying in the world, 'I would rather kill a thousand by mistake than let one go'. Father, because I have no tears and bad luck, has already murdered me, and threw me into the snake cave in the deep mountain, if my own father treats me like this, how can I expect King Liang to be extra merciful to me?"

"What's more, I'm a married princess. My father once told me that the moment my feet set foot on the land of Daliang, I was a native of Daliang, and everything in the future has nothing to do with Qi. So, don't expect too much." Royal Father will stand up for me, and the only one I can rely on now is myself besides Your Highness."

Hearing her words, Brother An felt even more desperate, couldn't help crying, stepped forward to hug Yu Ruyan sadly and said with heartache: "Princess, you obviously didn't do anything, why, why does everyone in the world want to do this?" It's so unfair to treat you so unfairly..."

"Silly girl, there has never been a truly fair thing in this world." Yu Ruyan's heart was cold, but she still gritted her teeth to comfort Brother An, helped her wipe the tears from her face, and said with a wry smile: "Don't be sad, things are still going on." It has not reached the point of no return, at least His Highness is protecting me now, and I myself will not admit defeat easily, so you don't have to be too sad."

While the master and servant were talking, the sky had already brightened, and Yu Ruyan was about to go to the soft couch for a rest after a sleepless night, when the guard outside came to report that she had found Mother Qiu and brought her back to the other garden.

Hearing this, both the master and the servant were overjoyed, Yu Ruyan's boredom was swept away, and she quickly asked the hidden guards to bring her in, but when she saw Qiu's mother, Yu Ruyan was overjoyed. My heart sank again.

Qiu's mother is a well-known procuress in the capital. She is shrewd and powerful, and her eyes are also very poisonous.

But at this moment, Qiu's mother, who was brought into the house by the dark guards, walked in by feeling her way. Her eyes were obviously unable to see, and her expression was dull. The proprietress of the No. [-] brothel in Beijing is so far apart that they don't look like the same person!

Yu Ruyan believed that the hidden guard would not arrest the wrong person, and she could still recognize Qiu's mother, so she looked at the hidden guard who brought her in suspiciously, and asked him what was going on?

The hidden guard told her that Qiu's mother's eyes were blinded by the smoke in the fire, and she was hit on the head by a heavy object, she was also stupid!
Hearing this, Yu Ruyan's whole body was icy cold, she sat there dumbfounded and couldn't speak——

God is going to kill her!

Brother An heard that he was very happy to find Ms. Qiu, but now seeing her acting like a fool, he couldn't help but feel cold, and he was about to cry again——

Such a person who is insane and can't see with his eyes can't prove it even if he finds it!

After the hidden guard retreated, Brother An couldn't help crying: "Princess, what should we do now? How can she testify for us in this state? No one believes it!"

When Yu Ruyan thought of the three-day period she had promised to Mu Lingzhi, she felt miserable. She gritted her teeth to suppress the panic in her heart, and asked the little girl to invite Doctor Wu over.

After Dr. Wu came to help Qiu's mother look at it, he came to the same conclusion as what the dark guard said, but Dr. Wu also said that Qiu's mother's eyes were blinded by the thick smoke, and there should be a chance of recovery.

But Yu Ruyan's time is only three days, but Qiu's mother's eyes don't know how long it will take to recover?
Dr. Wu went down to prescribe the medicine, and only Yu Ruyan, Qiu’s mother, and Brother An were left in the room. Yu Ruyan tentatively talked to Qiu’s mother, but no matter how she guided her, Qiu’s mother kept saying something. The answer she said was completely devoid of logic and thought.

Yu Ruyan sat in a daze at a loss, staring blankly at Qiu's mother who had a dull face opposite her, racking her brains to think of any other way to testify against Yu Mingzhu, but at this moment, Mu Lingzhi pushed the door open and entered .

After Mu Lingzhi listened to the words conveyed by Yu Ruyan on behalf of Yu Ruyan, it took him all night to get Liang Wang's consent, and he gave them three days to find out the real culprit. They couldn't produce any evidence and couldn't find the real culprit. At that time, Yu Ruyan was formally convicted of arson and murder.

Xiaodao was also there at the time, and after hearing King Liang's words, he couldn't help pleading for Yu Ruyan, only saying that there were still five days before his seal-granting ceremony, so it's better to postpone this matter until the ceremony.

After thinking for a while, Liang Wang nodded and agreed.

After receiving King Liang's permission, Mu Lingzhi hurried back from the palace. When he entered the room and saw Yu Ruyan, he couldn't help asking her if she had any clues to the real murderer.
Yu Ruyan asked An Ge to go to the kitchen to bring him breakfast, while pointing to the three names on the rice paper on the desk, and told him the same thing she said to An Ge last night. Qiu's mother who stayed in the house with a silly face said: "Unfortunately, although I already know who the real culprit is behind the scenes, and I have found the most powerful witness, but she is also blind and stupid, and she can't come forward at all." Testify for me, so..."

Mu Lingzhi knew what she meant, and looked at Qiu's mother in front of her in surprise, but she still comforted Yu Ruyan and said, "It's nothing, since we already know who did it, there is always a way to reveal the real culprit. The emperor has promised I, the matter of Qin Xianglou will be investigated after the Crown Prince's seal ceremony, so don't worry too much, first let Dr. Wu try to heal Mother Qiu as much as possible, and hope she can recover in a short time."

After finishing speaking, he said reproachfully: "You say you want to make me feel at ease, but you don't rest all night long. How can you make me feel at ease like this?"

Looking at the haggard look on his face, and remembering the pressure he had endured for herself, Yu Ruyan felt sore in her heart, she couldn't help stepping forward and gently leaning on his arms, wrapping her hands tightly around his waist, sniffing greedily. Looking at the faint ambergris on his body, she rarely acted coquettishly and said: "His Highness is not by my side, I can't sleep well."

Mu Lingzhi knew that she had been frightened too much recently and felt insecure in her heart, but he had to be busy with the affairs of the palace, so he couldn't be by her side to support her, so he felt more and more guilty, and couldn't help but heartbroken: "I'm sorry, It's my fault that I didn't take good care of you, didn't protect you well, and caused you to suffer too much."

Yu Ruyan's heart ached even more, she pulled him to the edge of the bed and sat down, lifted his trousers, looked at the bruises on it, ordered An Ge to bring hot water and cotton towels, and helped him carefully compress his swollen knees, eye sockets famous.

Mu Lingzhi was about to pull her up, but when he saw her red and swollen eyes, he realized that she felt sorry for him, so he couldn't help but joked: "Did I tell you that when I was young, I always endured the anger of my master because I was too naughty?" , Father often punishes me to kneel to read and write, so this little kneeling is nothing to me."

Yu Ruyan didn't think so, thinking of him kneeling in the rain to plead for herself, she felt sad and distressed, Liu Guang's watery eyes flushed red, and she said in a choked voice: "Before you met me, Your Highness was Daliang The most heroic and majestic third prince, no one can threaten you, and nothing can trouble you, but now for me, you have to brave the heavy rain and kneel outside the palace to beg to see your father... For me, His Highness has worked hard , and suffered a lot of grievances, and was criticized by the world..."

"Don't say that!"

Mu Lingzhi kissed her red and swollen eyes with heartache, and blamed himself: "It's all my fault. When I took you away from Daqi, I personally promised your mother and concubine that I would protect you well, but I didn't do it." .”

Yu Ruyan raised her head and looked at him intently, with tenderness in her eyes, she smiled softly at him and said, "No, Your Highness did it. Do you know that whenever I am afraid of being helpless, as long as I think of His Highness by my side? With me, I will feel extremely at ease, and I will not be afraid of any difficulties and dangers, Your Highness is my last and best support."

Hearing her words, Mu Lingzhi was moved. He put his arms around her and smiled, "When did your mouth become so sweet? Well, since you said so many nice things today, I'm going to cook for you today. You cook delicious Qi national cuisine."

After all, regardless of the pain and fatigue on his knees, he just did what he said, rolled up his sleeves and went to the kitchen.

Yu Ruyan went to the kitchen with him, Mu Lingzhi was busy before the case, she lay on the side and stared at him bewilderedly.

I don't know when, she has become more and more dependent on him and inseparable from him.

She asked him, "Why is Your Highness so busy today? Have you finished your work in the palace?"

Mu Lingzhi stopped moving, smiled at her, and said with shame: "Since I returned to Daliang, I haven't been with you well, and I always leave you alone in the mansion, so I deliberately told my father The emperor asked for leave for two days, and I will accompany you well in these two days, and I will not go there, and I don’t care about anything, just live the life of the two of us."

Hearing such news, Yu Ruyan showed a joyful expression on her face, she wanted to ask him if the prince's seal ceremony could be arranged properly, but she swallowed the words, she said to herself in her heart, these two days God, she wants to be selfish for a while, let go of everything, stay with him well, give herself a vacation, and give him a vacation, no matter what happens outside.No one or anything can bother them.

She stepped forward and hugged Mu Lingzhi from behind, unwilling to let go. Mu Lingzhi's whole body was shaken, and tenderness was in his deep eyes. Never leave me, why are you so in love with me now."

Yu Ruyan buried her face on his back, and said with endless affection in her voice, "I've been in love with you for the rest of my life."

Mu Lingzhi's subordinates froze, and his expression was greatly affected. He put down the things in his hands, turned around and looked at her firmly, and said word by word: "Is this life only? I made up my mind to spend with you all the time." Go on, live forever and ever."

Yu Ruyan stared at him blankly, with a happy smile on her face, but she was moved to the point of tears in her heart, and said, "His Royal Highness, do you know? Brother An and his relatives, you are the first person who doesn't dislike me, doesn't regard me as an ominous person, and is so kind to me. When people all over the world regard me as a monster and call me a broom star, it is you who always Never leave me. You are so good to me, who else can I marry besides relying on you in my next life. "

Feeling her fiery gaze, Mu Lingzhi's face turned red which was rare, and his expression was moved. Thinking of the injustice and suffering she had suffered since she was a child, her heart was filled with love and pity.

The next second, he suddenly pulled her to kneel in front of the stove, and said to her, "Do you know that there is a Kitchen God in the kitchen, and the Kitchen God heard what we both said just now. So, I hereby ask the Kitchen God to give us Be a witness, in this life, in this life, and in eternity, we both will be together, you will be my wife all your life, every life, I will engrave my mark on your heart, and I will also engrave your mark on my heart, When we reincarnate in the next life, we can find each other with the mark. What do you think?"

Yu Ruyan's eyes shone with a moving brilliance, her voice choked up, "Okay, everything is up to my husband!"

The two of them solemnly bowed down to the hearth together, and the burning firewood in the hearth reflected their pious faces. At this moment, the haze suppressed in their hearts completely dissipated...

In just two days, the two of them really abandoned all their affairs and troubles, closed the yard and lived their lives to their heart's content. Yu Ruyan played chess with Mu Ling, he took her for a walk, and took her up to the other garden. At the back of the mountain, Yu Ruyan discovered that the back of the villa was actually leaning against a steep cliff, and there was a river bank above the cliff. The accumulated rainwater from the rain for the past few days rushed along the river bank to the cliff, forming a There was a majestic waterfall.

Standing by the waterfall, watching the rolling river finally merge into a waterfall, Yu Ruyan said with emotion: "The end of the water is a waterfall."

"When a person reaches a desperate situation, he is reborn!"

Mu Lingzhi took her words in a tacit understanding.

Hearing this, the two looked at each other and smiled, Mu Lingzhi said in a deep voice: "Tomorrow, I will enter the palace again and start to get busy again, you must remember, don't leave the other garden during this time, stay at ease, everything else will be done I."

Yu Ruyan nodded seriously, and said: "Doctor Wu told me yesterday that Mother Qiu's blindness is only temporary, and I believe she will recover soon, and as long as the blood on her head dissipates, she will gradually recover. I've come to my senses, so now I really don't have to worry, as soon as she recovers, she can expose Yu Mingzhu and her gang and make me innocent."

"Don't worry about the evil star. As long as there is nothing wrong with the ceremony of granting the seal, and the disaster situation in the south is no problem, the emperor will not make things difficult for you anymore. Then I will have a way to make Qin Tianjian change his mind."

Mu Lingzhi's words completely dispelled Yu Ruyan's last worries. She was still worried about the evil star, but now hearing what Mu Lingzhi said, she felt relieved.

As long as it is what he says, she will believe it, unconditional trust!

Early the next morning, when it was still daylight, Mu Lingzhi got up quietly and entered the palace without waking up Yu Ruyan.When Yu Ruyan woke up from the nightmare, she found that he was no longer on the pillow, and felt a sense of loss in her heart.

When Brother An entered the room with the washbasin in his hands, he saw Yu Ruyan sitting on the bed in a daze with cold sweat on his face, he quickly put down the basin in his hand and went over, touched her forehead, and said with concern: "Master, what's wrong, her face is very bad Looks good, would you like to invite Dr. Wu to come and have a look?"

After finishing speaking, she went to call the little girl outside the door to invite Dr. Wu, but was stopped by Yu Ruyan, she got out of bed and walked to the basin and sighed: "It's just a nightmare, nothing happened."

Brother An twisted the cotton towel and handed it to her, and asked curiously, "What did the princess dream about? She was sweating all over from fright."

Hearing this, Yu Ruyan was stunned, and couldn't help but think of the horrible scene in her dream just now, and felt a chill in her heart——

The dream is not only terrifying, but also extremely real, as if it really happened.

Knowing that Brother An was always timid, Yu Ruyan didn't intend to tell her. After washing up, the little girl served the blood swallow that Mu Lingzhi specially ordered the kitchen to cook for her.Yu Ruyan picked it up and was about to bring it to her mouth, when she couldn't help thinking of that nightmare scene again, she shook her hands, and the porcelain cup fell to the ground with a bang, and fell to pieces!
Brother An was taken aback, and hurried forward to check if she was scalded by the soup, while Yu Ruyan sat there in a daze, inexplicably flustered, feeling like she couldn't breathe, and felt bad in her heart premonition.

However, at this moment, a little girl ran into the courtyard in a panic, and stood at the door timidly, not daring to come in. Yu Ruyan was startled when she saw her, and recognized her as Yue Yaer, the maid beside Huaying, and quickly asked Brother An to call her. Come in.

Yue Ya'er came in and knelt on the ground with a trembling voice, trembling: "Princess... something happened to the palace, my aunt asked the servants to come and ask the concubine to return to the mansion to preside over the overall situation..."

Yu Ruyan's mind suddenly remembered the nightmare she had just now, and she couldn't help asking eagerly: "But what happened to Concubine An and Mrs. An?"

"Exactly!" Yue Ya'er looked at Yu Ruyan in a daze, wondering how she knew about An's accident.

The next moment, Yu Ruyan couldn't care about the soup being spilled on her body, and she didn't have time to change into clean clothes, so she rushed out in a hurry.

Brother An was in a hurry when he saw it, and hurriedly chased after him to persuade him: "Princess, Your Highness has ordered you not to leave the garden during this time."

Yu Ruyan walked out and said: "Something happened to the palace, Your Highness is in the palace, what will happen if I don't show up to the palace?"

Hearing what she said, Brother An naturally wanted to follow. Yu Ruyan suddenly thought that if the two of An's were really as terrifying as she had dreamed about, if Brother An saw it, she would be scared to death directly.So he said to her: "Don't follow me, stay here and help me look after Qiu's mother, and don't let her have any accidents."

After all, she stepped into the carriage without looking back, and left Bieyuan with Yueya'er back to the palace.

Watching the carriage leave, Brother An stood there feeling lost. She felt an inexplicable emptiness in her heart. She never expected that this time when she said goodbye to Yu Ruyan in a hurry, it would be...

In the carriage, Yu Ruyan seized the time to ask about the affairs of Yue Ya'er's palace, and when Yue Ya'er turned pale and told the story of the okra yard in horror, Yu Ruyan couldn't say anything in shock——

Not only was she shocked that An Lan would choose such a tragic way to die with An Lirong in the end, what shocked her even more was that everything Yue Ya'er said to her was exactly the same as the nightmare she had just had.

In her dream, she dreamed that An Lan tricked An Lirong into the okra yard, poisoned An Lirong to death, and after she died, cut open her stomach and stuffed deliciously fragrant meat into her stomach. The chicken was sewn with a needle and thread, and finally a sack of mice was poured into the house, the doors and windows were closed, and the hungry mice rushed to An Lirong's corpse after smelling the smell of meat quietly from the window On the ground, bit her corpse to pieces...

An Lan laughed wildly while watching from the window, her expression twisted and ferocious, and she burst into tears. In the end, she committed suicide by taking poison beside a small cradle in the next room. Clothes made by dead children...

Even though it was in a dream, Yu Ruyan seemed to be able to hear An Lan's desperate and frantic laughter...

When they arrived at the Okra Courtyard, there were already people on the third floor and the third floor outside. An Lirong's natal family also came. Mrs. Yushi couldn't bear the shock after seeing her daughter's death and fainted. And when Yu Ruyan gritted her teeth and walked into the room, even though she had dreamed of An Lirong's horrific scene in her dream, she was still trembling from the shock of everything in front of her, and couldn't help but vomited out...

(End of this chapter)