Chapter 10 Chapter Fifty-six: Deeper Than the Darkness

Su Zong stared at Shen Zhenzhu for a moment, and said: "You can think about it clearly—you are the wife of Zhenguo, who I proclaim, if he—" he waved his sleeves and pointed at Li Chu, "If the evidence of his crime is convincing, you In the name of Mrs. Zhen Guo, there is no need to be punished with him!" Without thinking, Shen Zhenzhu was about to answer "I've thought it over clearly", when Li Chu stopped and said in a low voice: "Pearl!" Shen Zhenzhu turned her head and raised her eyes. At that time, she stepped forward and knelt down in front of Suzong. Li Chu, who just stood behind him, could clearly see the expression.However, he saw that he seemed to be hesitating and uneasy in his anxious expression, his expression was changing, he knew that there must be many kinds of thoughts in his heart, complicated and difficult to understand, and only a person who knows him like Shen Zhenzhu can perceive him Various subtle changes in expression.Shen Zhenzhu thought, no matter what kind of plans he makes, in this life, I will finally depend on him, calm my mind, and softly said to Li Chu: "Your Highness, have you ever heard of this poem written by the people at that time—— Ning Tong Wan died with broken wings ..."

Li Chu was obviously touched, and only thought about the next sentence—— Ning Tongwan died to shatter the wings, and couldn't bear to split the clouds. Suzong sighed: "Chu'er, you are really a blessed person!" Even Li Mi and Concubine Zhang Shu were slightly moved.Said to Shen Zhenzhu: "Okay, if you have any excuses for him, I will come up with them one by one!" Only then did Shen Zhenzhu show a slight smile, and calmly replied: "My father, from what I have seen, any excuses are not worth making Xue Song confront His Highness. What His Highness has not done, naturally can be done immediately." See black and white and make sense!"

Suzong "humph" said: "It's the same rhetoric again, Xue Song has been taken away, what else can I do?" After a pause, suspicion appeared on his face again.Knowing that he was suspicious again, Shen Zhenzhu believed that Li Chu had instructed him to do it, and hurriedly said: "Father, this Xue Song was definitely not robbed by His Highness!" Su Zong said: "How can you see it!" "Father can analyze it from two aspects, and know that His Highness will never rob Xue Song. First, if His Highness has really done what Xue Song pointed out, he is afraid that Xue Song will come to confront him and reveal the truth and send someone to rob him. His martial arts skills can kill Xue Song immediately, so why bother to take him away? Second, if His Highness did not do what Xue Song pointed out, he would only hope that Xue Song would come to confront him and make it clear, let alone take him away. Already!" In fact, this is a very clear truth, but Su Zong was hindered by his own suspicion, so he couldn't think of it for a while.

Shen Zhenzhu's explanation, Li Mi also repeatedly agreed. Su Zong believed in Li Mi very much. Seeing Li Mi like this, he said slowly: "Although what you said is reasonable, it can only prove that Xue Song was not robbed by this unscrupulous son, and he cannot be cleared of his suspicion of committing treason!" Shen Zhenzhu had expected that Emperor Suzong would say this, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, and said: "I beg my father to issue an edict quickly, and the son-in-law will immediately go out of the palace and arrest Xue Song." "You?" Concubine Zhang Shu interjected with a smile, seeming to comfort her softly, "Pearl, you are out of your mind, right now Dali Prison and Jingji Left Guards have dispatched no less than a thousand people to arrest Xue Song, but have not heard back yet, you are delicate and weak Why are you going to arrest people for demanding daughter!"

Shen Zhenzhu was anxious in her heart, thinking that Xue Hong had kidnapped Xue Song for a while now, she didn't know where she was now, if she didn't find it sooner, it would be too late once she left Chang'an City, but she didn't dare to show her anxiety easily , gritted his silver teeth, and said in a broken voice: "Father, if Xue Song cannot be arrested within three days of Pearl, I am willing to receive any punishment, even if I die without regret!" If Xue Song cannot be found within three days, then he must have escaped In Chang'an City, everything is over!

As soon as he stepped out of Jianfu Gate, Yan Ming had already received the news and was waiting for Shen Zhenzhu outside the palace gate.Shen Zhenzhu's expression was dignified, although Emperor Suzong agreed to her request to arrest Xue Song, the only forces she could rely on were Yan Ming and the attendants of Shujing Palace, although she knew that Xue Hongxian did it, but Yi Ren Why, she didn't have any confidence in the end, but she knew that if she didn't go out, it would be unreasonable to search for Dali Prison and others without a clue. "I have already inquired about it," Yan Ming said in a low voice, "Since the robbery of the prison, all the gates in the city have been closed immediately. The gate is more than nine feet high and heavily guarded. Leap over, although the defenders of the city cannot be captured, there is absolutely no reason not to be discovered!"

"This means that the prison robbers have not left Chang'an City yet?" Shen Zhenzhu was slightly happy. "The whole city is searching door to door, but there is no news yet." Yan Ming nodded. "Search from house to house," Shen Zhenzhu thought slowly, and walked up to a nearby horse. Although this was the most stupid way, finding two people in Chang'an City with hundreds of thousands of households was tantamount to finding a needle in a haystack. However, this also seems to be the most effective way at present. Where is Xue Hongxian now?She probably doesn't have any relatives in Chang'an, she only knows herself and Zhang Hanruo.At this time, will she?

With this thought, Shen Zhenzhu tightened the reins and wanted to get on the horse.Yan Ming grabbed the reins in a panic: "Princess, I have prepared a carriage for you!" Shen Zhenzhu said: "No need!" Turning the horse's head, he ran towards Zhang Hanruo's residence. Zhang Hanruo lived in the Prince's Bieyuan back then, Suzong rewarded her for her meritorious service, and rewarded her with special intentions.This road was covered with thick snow, riding a horse through the cold wind, the horse's hooves burst into snow and flew all over the place, her whole body was bitingly numb from the cold, Shen Zhenzhu was very anxious, wishing she could reach it in one step or two.

After finally arriving at the Prince's Bieyuan, I saw the lanterns at the gate of the mansion, brightly lit, but solemn and silent, unlike some rich and powerful princes' mansions where the singing and singing, the singing and swallowing, I think Zhang Hanruo is a woman, and even leads the soldiers Although the general was deeply favored by the emperor, he was different after all. Yan Ming dismounted and knocked on the door himself.The person who opened the door was an old man in his mid-fifties, with amiable facial features. Hearing that Princess Guangping was visiting, he hurriedly went up to meet him, and said slightly apologetically, "Missy is still in the military camp in the western suburbs and has not returned to the residence." Shen Zhenzhu listened He had a Youzhou dialect in his accent, and called Zhang Hanruo differently, so he chatted with him casually. Sure enough, this old man was Zhang's housekeeper for many years, and he watched Zhang Hanruo grow up since childhood.Shen Zhenzhu asked again: "Then Miss Xue has been here in the past few days?"

The old man replied: "Come here, Miss Xue and my lady have always been very good, and they have been staying in the mansion for a few days." Shen Zhenzhu was overjoyed: "Where is Miss Xue's family now?" The old man said: "At noon today, she specially resigned from my husband and has already left." It was like falling straight down from the clouds, Yan Ming became impatient and cursed: "Old man, you are deliberately playing tricks on us!" The old man waved his hands again and again, terrified: "I don't dare, I don't dare!" Shen Zhenzhu raised her eyes slightly, stopped her cursing, said a few words of comfort to the old man, said goodbye and rode back.

Yan Ming followed behind and said in a low voice: "Wangfei, do you really believe what the old man said?" Shen Zhenzhu smiled: "You don't believe it either, didn't you just quietly deploy troops and order them to check the people entering and leaving the Prince's Bieyuan?" Yan Ming was a little shy: "It turns out that the princess has seen it." Shen Zhenzhu slowed down, thoughtfully, "I don't think Xue Hongxian and Xue Song may be in Zhang Hanruo's mansion, it's just strange—since Zhang Hanruo is not in the mansion, why are there so many lights in the mansion?" Yan Ming couldn't figure it out, scratched his head and said: "Yan is stupid and can't think of the reason." Shen Zhenzhu deeply felt that Yan Ming was upright and cute, she smiled slightly, and was about to say something to comfort her, but suddenly stars appeared in her eyes, dizziness, the horse seemed to be in a sense, there was a long hiss for no reason, and the horse's head jumped up! Yan Ming was shocked, seeing that Shen Zhenzhu was unable to hold the rein firmly, he let out a loud cry, jumped off his horse, and rushed straight at Shen Zhenzhu's horse.But it was said that it was too late and then so fast, a black shadow flashed in front of him, and there was a person who rushed ahead of him, the broad horse and golden knife stood still like a rock, holding the rein tightly with one hand, and supported Shen Zhenzhu's body with the other. Shen Zhenzhu was weak for a moment, but recovered in an instant, seeing the person who rescued her was covered in black clothes, only her eyes were exposed.She was too familiar with this person, and said happily, "It's you." The visitor loosened his hands, cupped his fists and stepped forward and said in a low voice: "Feng Shengyi has offended the concubine." Shen Zhenzhu breathed a long sigh of relief, and said softly: "It's good to have you here." Thinking of the misunderstanding of him in the past, she felt even more ashamed. Feng Shengyi lowered his head slightly, not looking at Shen Zhenzhu, but said in a deep and firm voice: "Princess, don't worry, no matter where you live, this life and fate are tied to Your Highness... and Wangfei." Leading the way by Feng Shengyi, Shen Zhenzhu and Yan Ming brought only a few of Li Chu's confidants and attendants, bypassed several streets and alleys, and arrived at a deserted courtyard. Feng Shengyi stripped off the candle and said: "This is placed by His Highness, we will discuss matters with His Highness, and we often stay here. Today, I have to ask the princess to be wronged, and discuss together the matter of Xue Song's robbery." Time was running out, and Shen Zhenzhu didn't make many polite excuses. Not long after, Chen Zhou also arrived here, and the four of them started discussing immediately. Shen Zhenzhu first shared his knowledge and doubts, Feng Shengyi spread out the map of Chang'an city, and analyzed Xue Hongxian's hiding place with everyone, but at this moment, he knew that the most troubled place was not where Xue Hongxian was hiding, But if you know where it is, how can you catch Xue Song——Xue Hong's high martial arts skills are really unimaginable.Feng Shengyi was sweating profusely, he paced back and forth and said, "What to do, what to do!" Chen Zhou stamped his feet and scolded: "Damn, such a strange thing happened, Your Highness's move is really—" Shen Zhenzhu was stunned, just thinking that Chen Zhou's words were a bit weird, when he heard the crisp sound of "nails", a silver light burst out from Feng Shengyi's hands, piercing through the roof tiles, he murmured "Who is it", people are already like apes Leaping out of the window with such dexterity, the sound of weapons and blades on the roof suddenly rang out. Shen Zhenzhu, Chen Zhou and Yan Ming rushed into the courtyard.On the roof, Feng Shengyi was fighting fiercely with a person.Feng Shengyi was dressed in black clothes, while the person he was fighting with was completely white and covered his face with a white gauze.Both of them held long swords and wrestled and wrestled. The two figures, one black and one white, were like charms. Yan Ming watched from the sidelines first, but saw that Feng Shengyi hadn't taken down the man after nearly a stick of incense, so he couldn't hold back, he slapped the long sword on his waist, and said: "I'll help him!" Chen Zhou shot like lightning, grabbed his arm, still staring at the two fighting each other, said: "Wait a minute, it's a little weird—look, the moves of the two of them——" Yan Ming hummed impatiently, so he had to stand still and watch again, and after a while, he really saw the clue: the man in white made moves as fast as lightning, and his moves went straight to Feng Shengyi's vital points, and his martial arts skills were definitely first-class One of the masters.However, what is strange is that the moves that Feng Shengyi used to restrain himself were exactly the same as the moves that the man in white used, but the moves that Feng Shengyi used were always half a beat slower than the man in white. At first glance, it seemed that Feng Shengyi had intentionally Imitating the moves of the man in white is common.However, it was this calm "slow half-beat" who restrained the attack of the man in white every time without haste, and stood in an invincible position.Chen Zhou murmured: "It's strange, it's strange, this Feng man can win at any time, but he never comes out to kill and gives way to others. It's so strange!" Shen Zhenzhu asked: "Is this woman's martial arts inferior to Master Feng?" Chen Zhou was puzzled: "What did the princess say? You said...the man in white is a woman?" Shen Zhenzhu said: "Although I don't know martial arts, this man in white has a soft and graceful figure. If he is not a woman, can he still be a man?" If you want to distinguish between men and women, martial arts like Chen Zhou cannot compare with Shen Zhenzhu. While speaking, Feng Shengyi and the man in white jumped from the roof to the courtyard one after the other, the man in white thought he had been fighting for a long time, so he let out a coquettish cry, and swung his long sword violently, instantly rolling up thousands of layers of sword flowers , Throwing himself into the rain of thousands of swords, like a sharp sword, attacked Feng Shengyi with all his strength!Chen Zhou changed color: "No, that woman is probably going to do her best!" Feng Shengyi remained motionless, but his expression became more dignified, and when the sword energy hit his face, he finally raised his sword to respond to the move.With Chen Zhou's ability, he didn't see clearly how Feng Shengyi's sword was released and how it stopped.Just listening to the "wow" sound of the veil being torn, the sword energy scattered, and everything came to an abrupt end. The man in white was less than five steps away from Feng Shengyi, the veil on her face was torn from the middle, like a piece of floating cloud, flying away with the scattered sword energy, revealing her delicate face, with long black jade hair flowing down , Flying around in the cold wind, there is a beauty of independence from the world for a moment.Her face was as white as jade, and the sadness in her voice could not be concealed: "It has been fifteen years, and I will never win you once!" Feng Shengyi put the sword back into its sheath, and slowly let out a long sigh, in this breezy and moonlit night, the world seemed to be able to hear this helplessness: "Junior Sister, is it so important to lose or win?" Yan Ming yelled: "He Lingyi, why is it you!" Then he said to Feng Shengyi: "Brother, what's going on, when did she become your junior sister again?" The woman in white is indeed He Lingyi, the female official in charge of Shujing Palace. He Lingyi turned his head and only smiled at Yan Ming, who was so choked that he couldn't speak anymore.He never thought that He Lingyi, who is usually well-behaved and gentle, can have such a smile that cuts ice and jade. Feng Shengyi sighed slowly: "I guessed correctly, you were the one who assassinated His Highness that day. I saw you in the Shujing Palace, and I was always surprised, so..." He Lingyi sneered: "What's so strange! You can serve King Guangping, why can't I serve Concubine Shu? Let's see whose master will win in the end!" As he spoke, he raised his hand, shining brightly like a rainbow filling the sky, that is Specially made pyrotechnics for the escape of the enemy.The distance between the two was too close, Feng Shengyi hesitated a little, and finally came back to his senses in a ten-thousandth moment and clasped her wrist: "Junior Sister, you can't leave. You can't make the same mistake again!" In the blur of fireworks, He Lingyi's expression could not be seen clearly. She clasped her wrist and slid it away gently. She said, "I must win you!" She was already far away. Feng Shengyi sadly said to Shen Zhenzhu: "Princess, everything is Feng's fault, and I would like to be punished." He and He Lingyi grew up together since childhood. Over the years, they have competed in martial arts and strategy, and they have not given in to each other.And he knew that He Lingyi was determined to win him, but he refused to make a little concession to let her make her happy again and again, and in the end, each had his own master and had different paths in life. Shen Zhenzhu never thought that Feng Shengyi and He Lingyi were brothers and sisters of the same school. Hearing the conversation between the two, he could vaguely speculate that He Lingyi was eager to win Feng Shengyi, and he did not hesitate to join Concubine Zhang Shu, and then sneaked by her side. After the matter of sipping the letter paper, He Lingyi was very suspicious, but now it has been confirmed that she must have told Dugujing the secret!Sighing in my heart, I said: "Don't blame yourself. In fact, my junior sister has a good nature. Although she has some plans by my side these days, she has indeed helped me a lot. Besides, she hasn't caused any consequences yet. Aren't you and His Highness on good terms? It's not too late to get lost, if you have the opportunity, just try to persuade her once." Feng Shengyi sighed: "My junior sister, if I can listen to my persuasion, I won't be here today. I don't know how much she has heard about our secret research today. Feng is really a death penalty!" Shen Zhenzhu said: "No matter how much you listen to, it won't be as good as we can find Xue Song in time. Now we can only rely on the help of the three of you." The four of them brought up the topic again, very distressed. Shen Zhenzhu thought about it, and said: "I have a clumsy method, I don't know if it is feasible? Today we visited Zhang Hanruo's mansion, and saw that there was no one from Zhang Hanruo in the mansion, but the lights were brightly lit. Before I left, I casually asked the old gatekeeper why , the old man replied that it is the custom of the Zhang family." Yan Ming said: "Princess, don't listen to that old guy's nonsense, there is a problem with such a custom." Shen Zhenzhu smiled lightly: "At the beginning, I thought the same as you. But just now, I suddenly recalled the same old thing about Zhang Shougui, and then I realized that what the old man said was not nonsense. In the past, Zhang Shougui was the governor of Youzhou, and once encountered a 50,000 Turkic army. Invasion. At that time, there were less than 30,000 defenders in Youzhou, but the leader of the thief was captured and the Turks were defeated. Do you know what happened?" Chen Zhou was the most familiar with such things, his eyes lit up, and he said: "I remember! When the news of the Turkic invasion reached Youzhou, the whole city was in panic. Zhang Shougui knew that the reinforcements from the imperial court would not arrive at least half a month later, so he had to think about it on his own." Defeating the enemy. He has a clear understanding of the habits of the leading generals of the Turkic army—the leader of the army, Tong Yeli, and the three deputy commanders are all greedy, and the generals are discordant and suspicious. Work carefully and release news that gold mines have been opened in Youzhou City in recent months. Soldiers secretly dig gold mines every day and transport them to Chang'an. When the gold mines were exhausted, they abandoned the city, and the real guards were less than 5,000 soldiers. The Turks also worked carefully in Youzhou City. The so-called gold mines could not be mixed in to see what happened. However, Zhang’s house was lit all night and the warehouses were strictly guarded. Inquiry, after the news spread to the marching Turkic army, many generals believed it to be true. Fifty thousand people were marching at an extremely slow speed. As soon as the generals heard the news, they each had their own thoughts of stealing gold. Yeli first sent his confidants The favorite general led five thousand soldiers to kill Youzhou quietly; the other generals also had their own confidantes, two thousand and three thousand of you, rushed to Youzhou City. Zhang Shougui had already ambushed ten to twenty thousand elite soldiers outside Youzhou City, The strength of the Turkic army was scattered, broken into pieces, and Zhang Shougui led the troops planned in advance to beat them to pieces, and they were completely defeated." Shen Zhenzhu said: "This battle made Zhang Shougui famous and he is always proud of it. It is twenty years ago today. No wonder Zhang Hanruo's house is brightly lit tonight. If you want to come to Zhang's legacy, every year on this day It has to happen like this." To Yan Ming, he said: "Speaking of which, we misunderstood the old man of the Zhang family." Yan Ming lowered his head and remained silent, thinking he was a little unconvinced. Shen Zhenzhu said again: "Back then Zhang Shougui could do what he liked and set up traps to attract the Turkic soldiers. We can do the same now."