Chapter 20 Chapter Twenty

When it was time for dinner, Dugu Jing returned home in time.Li Chu made a banquet for Shen Jiefu and his wife. She did not dare to attend the banquet, so she only presented the piano score she had bought. The name of the tune is prefixed with the name of the tune, which is the only qin music that has been seen. It is extremely rare, and it has gradually been lost in recent years.When asked about its value, it turned out not to be expensive, only ten thousand dollars. Shen Zhenzhu's father, Liang Zhi, had resigned last month and returned to Wu Xing. The visit of Shen Jiefu and his wife was not only a visit to Shen Zhenzhu, but also a farewell.Gongsun Erniang had a deep prejudice against Li Chu, she didn't look good at the table, she only talked to Shen Zhenzhu.Rarely did Li Chu not mind, he frequently persuaded Shen Jiefu to get drunk, and even had to drink again, Shen Zhenzhu was so anxious that he secretly tugged at his sleeve, then put down Jin Ou with a smile, and see you later Although Shen Zhenzhu only drank half a glass of wine, she has plain skin and is slightly dizzy from alcohol, her face is even more beautiful, and she can't take her eyes off her.

"My lady, it's getting late, we have to... have to take our leave..." Shen Jiefu, who was lying on the desk, murmured.So drunk, Gongsun Erniang gritted her teeth and stared, went to pick up his right arm, staggered and dragged it out. "Plop", the stool was dragged down, Shen Jiefu's legs were weak, and he was about to fall, Li Chu swiftly passed by and supported him.Shen Jiefu grabbed Li Chu's hand in a daze, opened his eyes half awake and half drunk, and slapped the back of Li Chu's hand heavily, "My only sister... I leave it to you..." Before he finished speaking, the soft sedan chair of the palace Already in the courtyard, Li Chu pulled out his hand and waved slightly, several attendants had helped to carry Shen Jiefu onto the sedan chair.

It's been years.The night in early summer is as cool as water, the crystal curtain moves with a breeze, and the whole frame is full of roses.Shen Zhenzhu still remembers that early summer was her favorite when she was a child, the stream in the suburbs was gurgling, the frogs were croaking, she was barefoot, and her brother carried a small lantern, and the green field ridges in the daytime were now covered in darkness.With sharp eyes and a careful heart, she let out a soft "hush", pointed at the black spot by the pond, and said, "Quick, here!" Her brother handed her the small lantern, approached step by step on tiptoe, and jumped on it with a "boom", then The frog screamed strangely, kicked and kicked, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.My brother struggled for a long time before getting up, and when he got closer, his face and body were covered in mud, and he was very embarrassed. She couldn't help but "giggle" and laughed...

My brother is leaving, and will take away all her past, her childhood, her youth, all her past happiness, her past sorrow, this life is gone forever, and tears are in my eyes unknowingly. Li Chu stood behind her, casting many shadows under the corridor, she looked back at him, his eyes were soft and clear, as if life was always so calm, as if mist, mist, forest ravines, only two or two Look at the smiling face in palmistry.The distance between heart and heart, from shore to shore, is so far away yet so close. Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu joined hands, there was no attendant accompanying them, they seemed to be strolling casually, passed through many long corridors, walked past Qingyi Pavilion, pushed open the study room, and closed the door again.This study room is huge, it is not the first time for Shen Zhenzhu to come in, and he entered the inner room with a bed for resting.Shen Zhenzhu couldn't help but her cheeks flushed slightly, but Li Chu didn't notice it, and went forward to grope around the head of the bed for a while, hearing a creaking sound, the outer bookshelf slowly moved away, revealing a deep black door.It turned out that there was an organ on the bedside.Li Chu lit a palace lantern, led Shen Zhenzhu down a dozen steps of stairs, touched the switch on the wall, and the stone door opened in front of the ground, the lights in front of him were bright, the candles were brightly lit, one person was wrapped in a mask, half kneeling to salute : "Muwei see Your Highness." It turned out that he was Muwei, Shen Zhenzhu looked at him, but he just lowered his head, his eyes were mature and calm, where did he meet, courtier?Chamberlain?Presumably his true identity is extremely secretive, far better than Feng Shengyi, since Li Chu doesn't want her to know, there must be a reason for it, why should she ask more.Dugu Jing is not something ordinary people can handle, and today he has to go to trial again, Feng Shengyi can't get away, so only Mu Wei comes out to deal with it.

Sure enough, Mu Wei reported: "Since the princess left from Dongshi today, Dugu Jing has not moved." Li Chu said: "Oh, she is very cautious, today you have been stationed all day in vain." But Mu Wei said: "It's fortunate that my subordinates did not disgrace their lives, and they have gained a little. When she was leaving Dongshi, she seemed to have accidentally lost a handkerchief." "Huh?" The corners of Li Chu's lips sank slightly, "I knew that she didn't have such rules. What happened next?" "The handkerchief was picked up by a young girl, she was extremely clever, she followed her all the way, and her subordinates carefully covered her up, fortunately, she followed her where she was going." Mu Wei's tone was flat and expressionless after he had made a great contribution.Li Chu stared at him with gloomy eyes, waiting for him to say the "where to go".

"Where to go..." Mu Wei hesitated to speak, Shen Zhenzhu saw cold sweat dripping from his forehead, Shen Zhenzhu's fingertips trembled, and fine sweat broke out from his palm.Hearing Mu Wei gritted his teeth, "It's...the Prince's Garden." Li Chu took a heavy step back, there was no surprise on his face, only the gloom after guessing was confirmed. Prince's Garden.The prince has always lived in the East Palace, and there is no other garden outside the palace.In the year of Li Chu's coronation ceremony, His Majesty presided over the coronation ceremony, Long Yan was very happy, and bestowed the residence of Princess Anle, Zhongzong Xian, in Xiuxiangfang as a separate garden for the prince.Before Xuanzong, the princesses of Taiping, Anle, and Changning were favored, and they spread all over the houses in Chang'an City, and they were extravagant.Later, these mansions were regarded as haunted houses, and most of them were abandoned and no one cared about them.The Prince's Bieyuan is only based on the original foundation, with a little renovation, and the Prince lives temporarily when he travels.However, since Wei Jian's incident happened, the prince avoids the taboo and never stays outside.On the contrary, the crown prince, Concubine Zhang, often goes out of the palace to live temporarily when she has nothing to do.Concubine Zhang's grandmother, Dou Shi, is the younger sister of Xuanzong's biological mother, Empress Dowager Zhaocheng. After Empress Dowager Zhaocheng was killed by Empress Wu, she raised Xuanzong with her own hands. Dou Ruzhi is the cousin of Concubine Zhang.

Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu looked at each other, and immediately understood: the person behind Dugu Mirror is Concubine Zhang!Concubine Zhang has a son, who is still young, and the position of Li Chu's grandson is unshakable. King Jianning is also loved by His Majesty, and the two of them have long been thorns in her eyes.The future will be long, if the second king is old and full-fledged, she will become a queen one day, and she has no choice but to start with the concubine first, which will not only dampen the reputation of the second king, but also take the opportunity to install the daughter of the Dou family as Jianning The concubine took advantage of Aqina's hatred and Dugujing's jealousy, and she stayed out of the matter, but she was the biggest beneficiary, and her methods were extremely clever!As for the matter of Xiangmingju, Dou Ruzhi, who is in charge of the national market and trade, must have contributed a lot.

Suspicion suddenly arose in the hearts of the two: who killed Dou Ruzhi, and was there anyone who ordered him?Dou is the general of Concubine Zhang's thigh and arm, and he has no intention of killing.And since the current emperor has been in power for a day, it is difficult to shake Concubine Zhang easily, not to mention, everything is inferred by Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu, and all the evidences are almost completely destroyed. Such a powerful Dugujing, such a powerful Concubine Zhang! While still thinking about it, he faintly heard a noisy sound from above, as if many people were shouting and running, Li Chu's face changed slightly, Mu Wei bowed and said "this subordinate will leave", and went out through another door.

Walking to the stairs, the shouting was already very clear. "Water—!" "Water—!" Li Chu walked out of the study room, only to see flames blazing on the east side, and smoke rising, which reflected the dark night particularly ferociously.Asked: "Where is the water?" The guards didn't know the whereabouts of Li Chu and Shen Zhenzhu, so they looked around in a panic. The guards next to the study answered, "It's Xiuyun Pavilion." From far away I heard a maidservant crying loudly: "Mrs. Dugu is still inside—" The fire dragon team in the palace arrived quickly after receiving the letter, but the fire at Xiuyun Pavilion was so intense that the fire dragon team did not dare to approach, even more afraid that the fire would spread, so they demolished several houses connected to the left and right of Xiuyun Pavilion to block the fire. After the third watch that day, Fang put out the fire in Xiuyun Pavilion.The fire caused a great stir. Not only Jingzhao Yin Cui Guangyuan came to the scene to direct, but Xuanzong also sent Gao Lishi to greet him.

On the second day, the fire scene was cleared, and four charred corpses were brought out. There happened to be four people in the Xiuyun Pavilion, including the servants, and none of them disappeared after the fire. Wu Zuo sweated through the back of his clothes and kowtowed: "There is no soot or charcoal in the throats of the four of them. Yes, yes..." Stealing Li Chu's face, he saw that he was still, and Feng Yu coughed lightly while writing the record. Terrified, he changed his mouth and said, "It was caused by fire." "Is it possible to check the identity?" What Li Chu really cares about is this.

"The face of the corpse has been ruined, and the young man has little talent and learning..." Wu Zuo observed the words and expressions, and told the truth tremblingly. "I feel that Dugu Jing is not dead." On the second day, Shen Zhenzhu looked at the ruins of Xiuyun Pavilion, and faintly uttered a sentence. Li Chu hugged her shoulders, his brows were tightened, although he didn't speak, he actually agreed with Shen Zhenzhu's words.Let alone escape by death, Dugu Jing will never die easily - she will neither let others kill her to silence her, nor will she kill herself.Where is she fleeing to?She has great potential strength, but also has an unyielding fighting spirit.Although she couldn't take away the business run by Li Chu, she took away a month's income, which was a terrifying amount, enough to make waves. Such a woman will never admit defeat, and will always leave behind, terrifying and terrifying.She has been hiding in the dark since then, and no one knows when and how she will make her next move.Shen Zhenzhu didn't know whether to hate or admire such a woman. Several maidservants cleaned up the remnants of the courtyard, and the trampled flower pots and plants in the process of putting out the fire were scattered all over the place, which was horrible.The maidservants whispered, one of the maidservants spoke a little louder, and it fell into Shen Zhenzhu's ears: "It's a pity, this pot of June Snow is the favorite of Manager Liu, and it used to be served every day, but now it's completely ruined." The maidservant said: "People are not here, what are you talking about flowers, if there is no fire, sooner or later you will go, who can pay more attention to flowers and trees than Mr. Liu?" The air is fresh in the morning, listening to them talk is like watching the light wind and drizzle, high sky and flowing clouds, the imprints that were originally blurred in my heart, at this moment Shen Zhenzhu suddenly understands. It was him, it was him! Liu Run's tomb is in a deserted place in the western suburbs.Shen Zhenzhu got off the horse and tied the reins, and there were only four characters "Liu Runzhi's Tomb" on the stele. She stood in front of the tomb, the sun was setting and the clouds were gone, and the mountains and haze were blowing by the breeze. "The old slave kowtowed to see the princess." The long-awaited voice finally sounded behind her.He really didn't die. She took a deep breath and turned around.Liu Run's face was distorted, with intertwined scars and undulating veins. If it wasn't for his voice, he would have been hard to recognize.She had too many questions in her mind, but she didn't know where to ask them.Liu Run chuckled, and said: "The princess has something to ask, but the old slave will answer them one by one." With a smile, his face became more ferocious and terrifying. Shen Zhenzhu blurted out and asked: "Why is your face like this?" "That's because I burned my noodles with charcoal fire and disfigured myself." "Just to get into Dou Ruzhi's house?" "The old slave's feigned death and disfigurement have only one purpose - to enter the Dou's residence. His Highness has eliminated the first culprit who killed Concubine Wei's family, and only the old slave did it himself." "Dou Ruzhi?" "That's right, it was Dou Ruzhi who secretly informed Li Linfu about the affair between Lord Wei Jian and Huangfu Weiming. I have been in the mansion for nearly a year, but it's a pity that Dou Ruzhi knew that he had committed a serious crime and took strict precautions. .” "It's just that your random push dragged King Jianning into the game. Now that he is in jail, how can he get out?" Liu Run knelt down and kowtowed heavily: "This old slave is really confused. Seeing the chaos in the crowd at that time, he thought he had a good opportunity. He thought that King Jianning would at most suffer the crime of missing his hand afterwards. It is expected to be fine. Now this old slave does not dare If I plead guilty, I am afraid that the crown prince and His Royal Highness Guangping will be implicated. This old slave cannot atone for his sins with a hundred deaths." Shen Zhenzhu pondered: "So when His Highness was about to hear the case, you took the opportunity to escape?" Liu Rundao: "Yes. Your Highness is extremely alert. Although I have ruined my face, if he interrogates, he will definitely recognize me." This is indeed a difficult task.According to Li Chu's thinking, if he catches the "gardener", he will be able to rescue Li Tan from his crime.However, Liu Run is the "gardener". He has followed the prince and Li Chu for many years. Even if he is willing to plead guilty, how can others not suspect his purpose? If His Majesty knows, how can he not be suspicious of the prince? what to do?what to do? She looked at Liu Run carefully again, and the ugly face became less and less ugly the more she looked at it, and it was even better than many people she had seen who were strong in the outside but incapable of wealth, such an eunuch was full of chivalry, loyalty, and courage Admirable.Suddenly he bowed to him and saluted: "Mr. Liu, Pearl has something to ask." Liu Run hastily kowtowed and returned the gift, saying: "My concubine's gift, how can I accept it, my concubine, please tell me." Shen Zhenzhu said: "Tomorrow at this time, Zhenzhu is waiting here, and then I will tell you about the entrustment." The four guards were anxious at the gate of the city, and when they saw a light blue horse galloping from a distance, they put their beating hearts back to the original place.The leading guard took the reins of the horse and said in a low voice: "I beg the princess not to do this again. Anyway, if there is something wrong, let the subordinates follow--His Highness ordered me to follow the princess every step of the way. If there is anything wrong, the lives of the subordinates will be lost." " Shen Zhenzhu snorted and said: "After returning to the mansion, if you dare to tell His Highness the whereabouts of this concubine today, then your lives will be in danger!" The guard's expression changed, and he kept silent and answered "Yes". It was almost late at night when Li Chu returned home from the palace.Shen Zhenzhu and her clothes were leaning on the couch, her slightly closed eyelashes trembling, she was quiet and peaceful, her breath was full of fragrance.He stared at her for a long time, bent over and gently picked her up, put her on the bed, and carefully covered her with a thin quilt. The second day is the imperial concubine's birthday.Li Chu, Shen Zhenzhu, and Cui Caiping got up early and put on their makeup before dawn.Entering the palace city, hundreds of people including princes and grandchildren, concubines, princesses and princesses were waiting outside the Xingqing Hall. They were noisy, but when the servants yelled, "King Guangping, the concubine is here", they all stopped talking and their eyes widened. Sweeping towards Shen Zhenzhu in unison, suspicion, curiosity, surprise, contempt, contempt... There are as many pairs of eyes as there are people's hearts. Shen Zhenzhu's feet trembled slightly, Li Chu had already held her hand, and walked hand in hand and said: "It took half a year to go back and forth to Wu Xing, Your Majesty and Concubine must miss us very much." The voice was neither high nor low, between the words His eyes swept across the people on both sides, his aura was compelling, and he subdued the eyes of others to the ground. Only then did Li Chu smile slightly, and Shen Zhenzhu walked up to the prince and concubine Zhang: "My child sees the father and mother." The crown prince smiled slightly, nodded and said: "It's good to be back." Concubine Zhang held the young son in her arms, her expression was as usual, she helped Shen Zhenzhu up, and her tone was full of love: "Dare to be tired from the journey, and the pearl has lost weight." Behind Concubine Zhang was Li Ruo who was tied up by Li Chu's guards and sent back to the East Palace that day, she pursed her lips tightly and said nothing, thinking she was angry with Li Chu. "Boom—" the palace door opened.The servant of the third rank held the ceremony, and the fly whisk came out from the corner door next to the hall, and sang in cadence: "The auspicious time has come, the crown prince, prince, county king, princess, princess, concubine, and married woman enter the hall to congratulate—" The congratulatory rituals are extremely complicated, and after the ceremony is over, His Majesty is happy for the noble concubine, and has set up many places to play in the palace, so that the princes and grandchildren, the concubine's wife, the princess and the princess, and everyone in the harem can have fun with the noble concubine.The lotus flowers in Xingqing Pond are in full bloom, and there are delicious wines and delicacies for tasting; Linde Hall rehearses songs and dances made by noble concubines. Thousands of dancers and singers, dressed in neon clothes and feathers, float into the clouds. The banquet in the hall is spread out, delicious and rare, There is everything you need; polo can be played in front of the Hanyuan Hall, and two teams of eunuchs are fighting fiercely... Li Chu was surrounded by a group of emperors and grandchildren, Shen Zhenzhu quietly retreated from the group of concubines and princesses full of jewels, and came out from the most secluded Fanglin Gate. The guards had already prepared their horses. Riding the horse and whipping the whip, the setting sun was shining, Liu Run's figure was originally a black dot, and as he approached, he realized that his back was slightly bent, and he was already showing signs of aging. Zhu Ma said, "Uncle Liu, Concubine Wei is in Sanli The pavilion outside is waiting for you." Liu Run seemed to be swallowed by someone suddenly, and Shen Zhenzhu had already handed him a heavy package full of gold and silver, and said: "Pearl's mission is to ask Liu Bo to take care of Concubine Wei—the empress doesn't want to leave her." Living in the confinement, I only want to wander the world and make the world my home. Only you are the most trustworthy person, the responsibility of protecting your mother, please Pearl!" After finishing speaking, he bowed to him. Returning to Miyagi from the western suburbs, it was getting dark.The sound of playing the shengxiao, drums and music in the palace can be heard in all the lanes, and the sound can be heard for several miles. Li Chu stood at the highest point of Hanyuan Hall with his hands behind his back, heard the sound of clothes behind him, frowned and fixed his eyes, and after a long time, slowly stretched out his hand to her... Nine days are closed and the palace is opened, and the clothes and crowns of all nations worship the crown.Daming Palace, Hanyuan Palace, prosperous and prosperous, tonight, endless. Looking up, the sky is gloomy, the clouds are light black, and the dull thunder rolls faintly. (End of Volume 1)