Chapter 19 Chapter 19

Li Tan was imprisoned in a side room at the back of the Taiji Palace. Although it was summer, the room was still filled with a mildewy smell that made people sick.Xuanzong was really angry this time, and he was under strict supervision, even the crown prince was not allowed to see him. Li Chu went back to the palace to beg for half a day, but Xuanzong reluctantly agreed because of their brotherhood. Li Tan lost a lot of weight, and in the afterglow of the setting sun, looking from afar, half of his profile face was clear and half dark.Hearing the sound of the door lock, he stood in front of the window without looking back.Jiangtou palace locks thousands of gates, for whom are the new willows green.Outside the window, the palace willows are dense and green, forming tight patches of shade, solemn and serene.

Li Chu walked slowly and asked, "How did you come here?" Li Tan smiled lightly: "It's my own fault. Back then I abandoned Lin Zhi, but now the world has abandoned me." Li Chu laughed and patted Li Tan on the shoulder: "I didn't abandon you. I interrogated the witnesses present. Although the testimony was against you, I still don't believe that you will kill old man Dou." "Dou Ruzhi is picky and talented, shameless and corrupt. I have had several quarrels with him. It is not a secret in the court and the opposition. It is not surprising to stab him to death after a momentary dispute. Although it shocks the world. place."

"It's because Dou Ru knows this filth that I believe you—you don't bother to pollute your three-foot Longquan with this person's blood." Li Chu said, "Come on, tell me about the situation at that time. Is it possible that you want to live forever?" Shut up here?" Li Tan breathed a sigh of relief, with a pained expression on his face, and said: "That day, Dou Ruzhi invited me to the banquet. I didn't want to go, but you know—His Majesty has privately appointed her daughter to be mine. The new concubine. You must have seen that woman before. She is beautiful and vulgar. I really don’t want to marry him. I just want to refuse him at the banquet and cut off his thoughts.” Such a face-to-face refusal to marry is a shame. , Only Li Tan's willful and reckless behavior could do it. Li Chu thought to himself, that His Majesty was so angry this time, maybe it was not only because Li Tan was suspected of assassinating the courtiers, but also because Tan violated his will.

Li Tan recounted what happened that day. It was a day more than three months ago, he did not bring any attendants, he went straight to the Dou Mansion with a sword in his hand, when he arrived, it was already getting dark, the Dou Mansion was built with utmost luxury, comparable to his Jianning Prince's Mansion Let more.After Dou Ruzhi got the pass, he personally welcomed him in, prepared a banquet and drank wine in the back garden, and there were several court and Chinese ministers who were close to Dou Ruzhi. Li Tan was in a bad mood, he neither toasted to others nor received a toast from others, he just drank one cup at a time.Just when he was getting drunk, a minister jokingly mentioned the marriage between the Dou family's daughter and him, and summoned the Dou family's daughter to serve him wine.Li Tan pretended to be crazy by drinking, and deliberately dropped the wine glass served by Miss Dou's family. With red eyes, he swayed and squinted and said: "Miss is unparalleled in glamour, and she has no talent to match."

Being so humiliated, the young lady of the Dou family was so angry that she almost jumped into the peach blossom pond on the spot.Dou Ruzhi was even more annoyed, and immediately drew out Li Tan's saber to fight him desperately. The banquet was chaotic, the candles fell to the ground and went out, guests and maidservants ran here and there, melons, fruits, refreshments and wine were messed up everywhere, and the guards didn't know how to stop them. Dou Ru knew that there was no way to wield a sword, so he just slashed back and forth randomly. Li Tan first dodged and leaped, just like a mouse playing with a cat.When he felt that he had played enough, he saw him slashing at him with another sword, Li Tan turned his wrist upside down, and the tip of the sword turned backwards, facing Dou's heart.At that time Li Tan smiled contemptuously, and was about to snatch the sword to end the game, but he was pushed hard on the back, unable to support his body after drinking, and the sword was sent forward, and the icy sword was released by Dou If he knew that the chest did not come out, Dou was killed on the spot.

"Who is the person pushing you from behind, can you see clearly?" Li Chu asked. Li Tan smiled wryly: "It was dark at that time, I turned around immediately, only to see a figure flash into the trees in the garden, and then disappeared in an instant. I wanted to chase, but the group of courtiers and attendants surrounded me and took me down." Li Chu thought about it: "In this way, the person who cast the black hand behind the back should not be the courtier present. I have also been to the back garden of the Dou Mansion, where there are dense flowers and trees. It is not difficult to hide one or two people in the garden. In this way, not only the attendants and maidservants who were present at that time were suspicious, but also all the guards, maidservants, and servants in the Dou Mansion were suspicious. ?”

Li Tan thought for a long time, then frowned and replied: "I can only be sure that that person is definitely not a woman - he pushed me violently and powerfully, and his palms were thick, and his figure... Looking back now, I always feel a little familiar, it seems Where have you seen..." The two discussed it again, but couldn't think of anything else, so Li Chu had no choice but to go back to the government office and check them one by one from the personnel list of the Dou family. Before leaving, Li Chu said to Li Tan: "You will be wronged here for a few days. Two days later is the imperial concubine's birthday. I will try to plead with your majesty again. Maybe your majesty will be happy, so I will release you first."

Li Tan nodded silently, and asked, "Sister-in-law is back? How are you?" Slight joy climbed up Li Chu's eyelids: "She's fine, but she's a little thinner, and she needs to take good care of her body." Li Tan looked out the window, weeping willow Yiyi, swaying in the wind, said: "Don't you care about everything about her in Huihe?" Li Chu smiled slightly, and said: "The suffering she suffered is all because of me, and I will only love her more. Why bother with other people's rumors! Besides—" The corners of his mouth are slightly raised, and a sharp look flashes in his eyes , "After a few days, look around the palace and the market, and no one will gossip again."

Li Tan was stunned, and at this moment, he realized that his elder brother had gradually become truly powerful, both in strength and aura.Over the years, he has been forbearing and self-sufficient, secretly accumulating strength, accumulating without releasing it, hiding without showing it, but he can wrap the person he wants to protect in his arms, and will not allow others to hurt him.All of these are far behind him, Li Tan.He couldn't bear Murong Linzhi's infidelity, and he was powerless to protect her from harm.A love affair ends in bitterness.The so-called eternal life, a lifetime, and deep love are not worth the ruthlessness of reality.That's all, that's all, let go from now on, the best things in life are all in the past.If he can get out of the prison this time, what should he do?What can we do?

Li Chu returned to the palace from the palace, hurriedly turned around the bend, and then entered the inner mansion, with a "boom", he bumped into a person head-on.Taking a few steps back, it was Li Ruo who was blushing. He frowned and said, "My son, what are you doing? You're being reckless." Seeing that it was him, Li Ruo blushed and refused to speak, but still turned her head. Run outside the house. "Quick, stop her!" Li Chu was in a state of astonishment, but saw Shen Zhenzhu running over while calling from a distance, and hurried forward, seeing her panting, he said hurriedly: "Stop her, she is going Fan Yang!"

Li Chu was secretly surprised, turned back to the guard and said, "Why don't you go quickly?" Well, it doesn't matter if you fight—as long as you get the princess back." The imperial concubine's birthday is approaching, and the birthday rituals of the princes, grandchildren, princes and ministers are all being transported into the palace in an endless stream. Li Chu also prepared a gift—it is a four or five-foot-high white jade Guanyin, which is delicate and moist in texture, and the Buddha statue is solemn and peaceful, with smooth lines Refined.Shen Zhenzhu, Cui Caiping, Dugu Jing and others were amazed, but Zhuzhu said: "Forgive Zhuzhu, this thing is very good, but—" At this point, he made a strange gesture and raised his right hand Point to your own hair.Li Chu immediately understood that Avalokitesvara is a Buddhist object, but the noble concubine had become a monk and made a "yellow crown" in honor of this object, fearing that it would be ironic and offend taboos.He also became anxious at the moment, time was running out, what kind of birthday ceremony should he prepare? Shen Zhenzhu seemed to have an idea, and said: "I heard from Su Ci that there is a shop specializing in instrumental music in Dongshi, and it is said that there are rare piano scores privately kept, maybe you can try it." Li Chu said: "It's just that the case is still under trial, and I'm going to the government office immediately." Shen Zhenzhu laughed, "Why do you need Master Shangshu to go in person, now that you have two younger sisters in the mansion, it's fine to keep me company, and you can relax by the way, right?" Cui Caiping pouted her lips, with a very reluctant look, Shen Zhenzhu is not reluctant, after sending Li Chu out, she only rides with Dugu Jing and heads towards Dongshi. Near noon, the streets were full of people and traffic, Shen Zhenzhu was in a good mood, and from time to time he commented with Dugu Jing on the pedestrian girls on both sides of the street, but Dugu Jing was still as respectful as usual.When they arrived at Dongshikou, the two got off the shoulder car, accompanied by Su Ci and several guards, and walked into the market. Because Su Ci led the way, I soon found a very inconspicuous small shop, which only scattered a few musical instruments.The owner of the store was not at home, and the boy who guarded the store was in a state of fear. He had never seen such a noble lady who turned into a fairy. When he asked why he came, he said: "Madam is looking for the music score, but I really found the right place. How many pieces did the owner collect?" This book is excellent, and it’s up for grabs. It’s just...the owner of the shop is out on business, and I’m afraid he won’t be back until a while.” "It doesn't matter." Shen Zhenzhu sat down nearby and said, "We'll just wait for him." The hot pot of tea was drunk, and the wait was more than an hour. The shop owner hadn't come back yet, and Shen Zhenzhu gradually became restless.Dugu Jing saw it in his eyes and couldn't help asking: "What else is there for the princess?" "It's not very important, just wait a little longer." Just as Shen Zhenzhu finished speaking, Su Ci beside her reminded her in a low voice: "The eldest son and madam may wait for a long time." "Eldest son?..." Dugu Jing realized, "Could it be that the concubine's brother and sister-in-law want to come to the palace." Shen Zhenzhu chuckled lightly and said, "I said I came here this afternoon, but I didn't expect to waste so much time here." She asked the boy in the shop, "What time is it now?" Answer: "Fang Zhishenshi moment." It's getting late, Shen Zhenzhu had no choice but to say to Dugu Jing: "I'm afraid brother and sister-in-law Zhuo are almost at the palace, please wait here, my sister, I'll go first?" Dugu Jing seemed to be in a very difficult situation, and replied: "How dare the servant refuse to follow the order of the princess. But the servant has little knowledge, how can he know the quality of the piano score!" Shen Zhenzhu said with a smile: "Don't be modest, I heard the melodious sound of the piano yesterday morning, it came from your Xiuyun Pavilion, it wasn't you playing, could it be someone else?" Only then did Dugu Jing bow his head to agree, as if shy: "The princess is laughing." Shen Zhenzhu brought Su Ci and two guards out of the East City, went up to the shoulder, something was on her mind, her eyes just looked around casually, suddenly she shouted: "Stop, stop!" The shoulder paused, she stared blankly Looking forward, the figure of a person disappeared around the corner in a trance, as if he was familiar with him, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him, his lungs seemed to be choked by a foreign object, and he felt strangely uncomfortable. Back at Qingyi Pavilion, Li Chu had been waiting in the room for a long time.Asked: "How?" Shen Zhenzhu said: "She only stays there with two guards, the rest depends on your ability." Li Chu said: "She has always acted cautiously, and she has been deliberately on guard these few days. She doesn't leave the door, and she doesn't go through the second door. It's really thanks to you that you came up with this trick to lure the enemy and create an opportunity for her to go out." Holding her waist, With a low smile attached to his ear, "You are somewhat talented as a general." Shen Zhenzhu said with a smile: "That's just right, isn't your Majesty intending to let you lead the governor of Liangzhou from afar, and then you can give me the commander-in-chief seal of the governor for a few days, how about it?" Li Chu couldn't help laughing, but Shen Zhenzhu said seriously: "I don't know if Dugu Jing will fall into the trap, let's find out some clues. I will bid farewell to Lin Zhi this morning, and she—" At this point, she was a little choked up. That night, beside her pillow, she finally couldn't help asking again and again.Li Chu stroked her narrow shoulders softly, his long hair fluttering casually, and slowly said: "You know, Dugu Jing, originally belonged to Li Linfu." Just this one sentence was enough to make her shudder. He spoke eloquently, as if telling a distant story that had nothing to do with them.Talk about when Dugujing entered the mansion, how he became suspicious of her, how he saw through her true identity, and how he took her as his own.When it came to the fact that Shen Zhenzhu's father was trapped by Li Linfu, he hesitated in his words. What a shocking secret it was - Li Linfu's death was actually a chronic poison that Dugu Jing ordered Li Chu to administer. Hid the world.However, Dugu Jing is smart. To do this, she put forward a condition, that is - title.He gave her the title she wanted, and that was all. It turned out that he was wrongly blamed from beginning to end.Everything started by himself, he didn't need to be so eager, Li Linfu and Yang Guozhong, two tigers fighting, one must be hurt, he could sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, there is no need to kill one of them, let the other go endlessly sit big. After finishing talking like gossip, she was still in a daze, and he had fallen asleep quietly at some point.She lightly touched his cheek, and he actually lost a lot of weight, even in his sleep he looked exhausted.He has too much burden on his shoulders.She still doesn't understand how many of the things he is carrying are what she wants and want to fight for; how many are illusory and empty... she does not know.But at that moment, she made up her mind: she is his wife, in this life, whether she enters or retreats... But Li Chu changed the subject and said: "I have found the biggest suspect in Tan's case." "Oh, who is that?" "It's a gardener in Dou's residence. After Dou Ruzhi was killed, this gardener suddenly disappeared." Shen Zhenzhu said: "The gardener hides among the flowers and plants, and it is reasonable for the waiter to use Tan's hand to kill someone; but why do you want to kill Dou Ruzhi? It is unreasonable. Don't rush to exonerate Tan, it's wrong." others." "I picked up a flower hoe at the scene. Besides, Dou Ruzhi is cruel by nature, and he is harsh to his servants. Although the gardener has been in Dou's residence for less than a year, he has been beaten many times because he didn't like Dou Ruzhi's taste at all. It's reasonable to say that it's just a matter of selfish revenge. Otherwise, there are hundreds of people in the Dou family, why is he the only one who fled in fear of crime?" Li Chu seemed to have a plan in mind. Shen Zhenzhu smiled and said: "It seems that the investigation of this case is only in front of us, Master Shangshu must have posted his portrait everywhere to arrest the gardener." Recently, Shen Zhenzhu often used the title of "Master Shangshu" to make fun of Li Chu, Li Chu couldn't do anything about it, and said with a smile: "It is not difficult to arrest and bring to justice, but this gardener's face seems to have been burned, and his appearance is extremely ugly. None." Shen Zhenzhu really didn't have much interest in Li Tan's case, and always blamed Li Tan for being ruthless and unjust to Murong Linzhi, and felt that Li Tan should be punished after being detained for a few days, after listening to Li Chu's words, But joking around, I didn't take it very seriously. While speaking, a servant came to report that Shen Jiefu and Gongsun Erniang had arrived at the main gate of the palace.Shen Zhenzhu was overjoyed and went out first.