Chapter 18 Chapter Seventeen

When the secret envoy from the palace came, it was even more serious. He only said that the emperor suddenly fell ill and urgently summoned the king to serve in Qianqing Palace. Yang Lian asked the secret envoy for Zhongzhi.The person who came took off the waist card of Qianqing Palace and shook it at him, urging: "The emperor is sick, how can he have time to write? He only gave an oral order to the servants and maids. Please get up quickly, Your Highness, if you delay any longer, you will be in protest." It's the purpose." "I don't even have the imperial edict," Yang Lian said, "how can I be considered as resisting the imperial edict?"

The inner officer was surrounded by him, and immediately blushed, raised his voice and said: "If you refuse to leave at this time, you will delay the important matter. In the future, when the emperor asks for his crimes, His Highness may not be able to bear it." Yang Lian then said to go back to the Qingfu Hall to change clothes, and asked the internal official whether he should wear men's clothing or a full armor, but the internal official said impatiently: "The matter is urgent, it doesn't matter if His Highness enters the palace." The more so, Yang Lian became more and more suspicious, and said: "Eunuch, is he confused? It is an expedient measure to enter the Qianqing Palace without a purpose. If you don't even change your clothes, it is not the act of a minister. If someone asks for a crime in the future, I will How will you defend yourself?"

The internal official had no choice but to follow his words and said, "Your Highness, please change to a public uniform." Waiting for Cheng Ning to send someone to Qingfu Hall to pick up clothes, everyone was silent and thinking for a while.Yang Lian looked at the person carefully, he was indeed seen by Qianqing Palace, probably Li Yan's confidant.This person gave birth to a round white face, which looked kind and gentle. In the cold weather in early October, there was a thin layer of sweat beads on his forehead. Looking back to the left and right, Yang Lian saw Xu Weichi was there, so he chuckled lightly and said, "Why don't you get a handkerchief for the eunuch?" Xu Weichi responded and dragged the eunuch out.

When the eunuch came back after wiping his face in panic, he saw that Yang Li had changed into his big clothes and was asking Qin Taiwei to wear the Yishan Crown for him.The inner officer was breathing a sigh of relief, but he heard Yang Lian casually whispering to Qin Taiwei's ear: "Over there at Qingning Palace..." The inner officer immediately turned pale: "Your Highness, this matter must not disturb Qingning Palace..." Yang Lian was surprised: "The emperor is dying, how dare you hide it from the queen mother, what is your intention!" The internal officer paused for a moment, and said solemnly: "Sacred Heart is pure and filial, and I dare not disturb the Empress Dowager's recuperation with a small ailment. Naturally, someone will report it in the morning."

Yang Lian had no intention of leaving at all, but slowly sat back in the armchair, stared at the inner officer, and said with a sneer, "Without evidence, how can I trust you?" The internal officer wanted to refute, and heard him say: "Eunuch ordered twenty people to come, right?" Speaking of this, he became more and more annoyed, the internal official thought that the arrangements were well-planned, and led people to block the front and rear doors of Qingfu Hall, and only quietly took away Zheng Wang, without telling anyone to leak any information.Unexpectedly, Yang Lian was still hiding in the Tianlai Pavilion in the middle of the night, and the palace roads on the island were not as orderly and easy to guard as the Qingfu Palace, and he was going back and forth to get clothes to delay time. His arrangement may have been figured out by the people of King Zheng. Right now, I don't know who is blocking whom.It's a small matter to offend King Zheng. If the job goes wrong, the emperor can't afford it.For a moment he was so anxious that he was sweating again.

Yang Lian saw that his face was loose, and suddenly said in a low voice: "If the father-in-law is in trouble... why don't you tell me the truth?" Xu Weichi and the others immediately wrapped up those who came from the Qianqing Palace and retreated. Cheng Ning personally guarded the door, as if he was ready for battle.The internal official held back for a long time, and finally couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Your Highness is too careful, it's not a big deal. Tomorrow is the day when His Royal Highness King Fu's vassal is on the road. The emperor promised to send him out of the city, so His Highness should know. King Fu tonight I came here to pay my respects, and said that His Highness King Mengzheng has taken care of me for many years, and I wanted to see His Highness again before leaving. The emperor was afraid that King Fu's heart would be chilled, so he agreed. Please leave the city with Shengjia tomorrow, and send a gift to King Fu , with full brotherhood."

Yang Lian nodded: "So that's the case, why didn't you tell them earlier, I asked them to prepare the guard of honor as soon as possible, and they must set off before dawn, and they will never delay the schedule." The internal officer hastily said: "Your Highness, don't worry about it." Yang Lian looked at him playfully. The internal officer bit the bullet and told the truth: "The emperor has ordered that Xiyuan may not be fully prepared in a hurry. Please use the guard of honor of the Qianqing Palace directly. They are all ready-made." Even a loyal elder like Cheng Ning couldn't help but turn pale with shock when he heard this.Qin Taiwei also stared at Yang Lian, only regretting that the words "Don't go" didn't appear on her face.

"My father-in-law's words are wrong," Yang Lian stared at, "That's a gift from the emperor, how can I overstep it." "This is what Grandpa Long Live personally ordered. Your Highness need not worry." The inner officer swallowed, and said quickly in a low voice, "I implore Your Highness to share your father's worries." "What if I don't go?" he asked in a low voice. The inner officer stared at him, but didn't answer——now that the words were out of the way, he calmed down a bit, and only looked at what King Zheng would do.

"Okay..." he said softly, as if he was laughing at himself again, "I can't let go of my father's worries." Seeing him get up, Qin Taiwei couldn't help calling out, but when the word "be careful" came to her lips, she didn't dare to say it, and didn't need to say it.Yang Lian stopped at the door, looked back at her, and suddenly said: "Tomorrow is the Cold Clothes Festival, I wanted to go to Chaotian Palace to burn incense for my parents, and I have everything ready - then you can go for me. If Mrs. Wen leaves If you have to move, you take her with you."

She didn't have time to think about the meaning of these words for a while, but she just silently agreed, and saw him take a few steps towards her, reaching out to her collar: "Where are your beads?" "Not wearing it." "Remember to wear it." He could not hide the unbearable meaning in his eyes, and lightly stroked her cheek with his finger, which was as cold as iron. After Yang Lian went with the internal official, everyone in the mansion was sleepless.The imperial decree came so strangely that people could not help but speculate about the emperor's intention of taking Yang Lian out of the city, but he refused to let outsiders know.Fortunately, the people in Qianqing Palace were afraid of leaking the news and did not dare to disturb the inner garden too much, and they quietly withdrew when the sky was about to dawn.Qin Taiwei immediately instructed Xu Weichi to report to Zheng Banshan, and found the big bead by herself, and she seemed to be in a trance.Cheng Ning prepared the carriage and horse etiquette, and was waiting to send her out of the palace to Cuiwei Mountain. Mrs. Lian Wen reluctantly stood up enduring the unhealed pain, and helped her servant out.

Qin Taiwei only said that Xu Weichi hadn't come back yet, and insisted on waiting for the letter.Cheng Ning smiled wryly and said in a low voice: "His Royal Highness's departure is more or less auspicious. This is to let you go to Chaotian Palace to avoid the limelight by burning incense." Qin Taiwei wondered: "Can we hide by going to Chaotian Palace? We are His Highness's people. If something happens to him, we will be caught wherever we go. If it's just for hiding, I don't think it's necessary." I'm going to Chaotian Palace, if something happens, I can adapt to the situation by staying in the palace." Mrs. Wen didn't take it seriously: "What's the matter, how can you adapt to the situation? Chaotian Palace is the former emperor's practice dojo, and no one from him would dare to disturb too much. It is always cleaner to go there. Besides, His Highness ordered gone." Qin Taiwei saw that she had no intention of nostalgia, so she said: "Please trouble sister to go to Chaotian Palace first, I will wait for news." Mrs. Wen nodded slightly, then boarded the car and drove away. Fortunately, Xu Weichi didn't go there for too long, but when he saw Qin Taiwei, he looked depressed: "Mr. Zheng was invited by the queen mother to get a pulse check last night, and he hasn't come back yet. I went to find my godfather again, and gave birth to him." I can’t get out even if I’m on duty today.” "Eunuch Tian have any ideas?" Qin Taiwei asked urgently. "Godfather can't guess what His Highness thinks." Xu Weichi said, "Just say that since His Highness has made arrangements for Mrs. Qin, she will follow suit. He will figure out other things." Qin Tai was stunned for a moment, and suddenly remembered that Yang Lian had clearly said last night, "One day I will make arrangements for you", and she immediately shuddered.She touched the pearl in her sleeve, glanced at He Zhunun unconsciously, and asked, "Go to your aunt and ask her to go out of the city immediately to find someone, is it possible?" He Zhunzhun was puzzled for a moment, but Xu Weichi immediately understood, and said: "The lady reminded me very well. It's just that I have to go to General Xiao Lu as soon as possible. If there is really a big mess, the city gate will be sealed in a while. No one can get out." Qin Taiwei was taken aback: "How do you know that General Xiao Lu—" Xu Weichi stomped his feet and said, "Your Highness already knew!" Qin Tai suffocated slightly, her face flushed immediately.Thinking of Yang Lian asking her where the beads were when she was leaving, she felt even more confident.At this moment, he didn't ask any more questions, and immediately pulled out the jewel in his sleeve, and stuffed it into Xu Weichi's hand: "Take this, go to Brother Lu, teach him...teach him to be..." She was so anxious that she couldn't speak clearly.Xu Weichi nodded and took the beads: "Teach him to save His Highness." Qin Taiwei nodded again and again, and shouted at Xu Weichi's running back: "Catch up with Mrs. Wen's car, follow them out!" The two masters and servants stood at the door of the empty Qingfu Hall for a long time, and they didn't realize that the sun was already rising.The glaring autumn sun hit the face but there was no warmth at all, the jacket was already drenched with cold sweat, until the bones of his body were icy cold.Presumably at this time, the imperial driver who saw him off had already set off from the Meridian Gate and headed straight for the Yongding Gate.Xiyuan was in a corner, and could not hear any news, as if everything inside and outside the imperial city was normal, without any signs of abnormality, no one could guess or predict what would happen in the next hour. He Zhunzhun was still worried: "Lady, what should I do if Your Highness can't come back?" Qin Tai trembled slightly: "Until your Highness comes back, don't mention this again." At this time of the day, news of Nanhaizi's mutiny came.Yu Jia personally sent Fu Wang out of the city, and he didn't know who he was fighting with. For a while, the soldiers rushed away, the nine gates were closed tightly, and there were different opinions in the city. From the very beginning, someone deliberately spread the news, saying that Zheng Wang Yang Lian colluded with Fu Wang to rebel and wanted to force the palace to seize the throne. Fortunately, Jin Yiwei swore to protect the lord to the death, and there was a scuffle outside the city.Soon everyone learned that Xu Jiajun stationed in Nanhaizi was also involved. Although the situation is unclear, the officials and people in the city can't help but think about it. Xu Anzhao has always supported Fu Wang Yang Xi.This time the emperor abolished the concubine Xian, demoted King Fu, and obviously slapped the Zhongjing Mansion in the face.The emperor has repeatedly suppressed Xu Dang over the years, and Xu Dang has little room to retreat. Xu Anzhao has always been bold, murdered the emperor before King Fu left Beijing, and helped King Fu ascend the throne. This was his last resort.As for why King Zheng was involved, there are different speculations. Some people accused Wang Zheng of being the son-in-law of the Xu family, and he must have joined the rebellion to get a share of the pie. However, some people pointed out that King Zheng had long been estranged from the Zhongjing Mansion, and even rejected the agreed marriage. He may not be willing to join forces with Xu Anzhao. Perhaps Xu Anzhao hijacked him to threaten the Queen Mother, lest the Queen Mother refuse to support him after the regicide. Fu Wang ascended the throne. At this time, it was naturally Feng Juefei's group who took the lead in speaking for Yang Lian.Tian Zhihui got the news from Xu Weichi, and quickly deployed manpower, before the chaos outside the city, he separately informed the party in the court. Because the emperor was out of the city, the morning court was cancelled.Feng Juefei got the news from Tian Zhihui, was shocked in a cold sweat, and hurried to Dai Lun's house.Dai Xueshi had just woken up, knowing that the matter was urgent, the old gentleman didn't care about etiquette, so he dragged Feng Juefei into the study with his hair disheveled for a secret discussion. "Xu Anzhao took up the title as a concubine, lest people say that his name is not right. Over the years, he has always shown his sharpness, and he is actually trying to win a miracle, and help King Fu to the position of heir. He can also stand in the Zhongjing mansion. Keep your feet on the ground." Feng Juefei said, "Now that King Fu has done something bad, he actually has the intention of plotting against him. It was just a hasty start, and we don't know what the result will be. If it were Xu Gongye himself, I'm afraid he wouldn't be so reckless." Dai Lun waved his hand, pondered for a moment and said: "Xu Anzhao has a heart of disobedience, I'm afraid the emperor already knows it. Otherwise, in the middle of the night, he secretly summoned the king, what is the plan?" Feng Juefei was stunned: "The teacher means that the emperor guessed that King Fu and Xu Anzhao were going to rebel—or did he just set up a trick to lure them to rebel, and then bring him on to King Zheng?" Dai Lun nodded. "The student made a mistake." Feng Juefei paused. "I always thought that the emperor would take three to five years to deal with the Xu family, and he would not do anything to His Highness. This time, it seems that His Highness and the Xu family are actually going to be killed." It's all done in one pot. It's not like the emperor's actions to be so impatient." Dai Lun said: "Don't worry about why the emperor is like this now. It seems that the emperor and the Xu family still don't know who will win and who will lose. If the emperor intends to make a game, I'm afraid Xu Anzhao has little chance of winning. If the emperor succeeds in quelling the chaos, the king and the Xu family will definitely conquer Xu Anzhao is accused of treason together. If Xu Anzhao succeeds, he will not let King Zheng go." Feng Juefei naturally thought of this, and couldn't help trembling: "Teacher, what do you think we should do now? According to Mr. Tian, ​​someone has already sent a message to General Xiao Lu, hoping that he can save His Royal Highness' life from the chaos. But help!" Easy, exoneration is hard." Dai Lun was still calm, and said: "Right now we can only hope that the emperor will successfully quell the chaos, or that His Highness will still have a chance. At least the emperor will not easily offend civil servants. After all, he is a scholar at heart, and other things are fine. What I care about is his face as a benevolent gentleman." Feng Juefei understood, and said: "No matter what the outside situation is, let's build momentum first." "Did any of our people go out of the city with Shengjia?" Dai Lun asked again. "No." Feng Juefei said, "But Qiao Changqing from the Ministry of Rites has always been to King Zheng, students can try to persuade him." Dai Lun frowned and said: "Your Highness was taken out of the palace by the emperor. I'm afraid that the emperor will not accept this account in the future, so I have to ask Eunuch Tian to think of a way from the palace. I just don't know what he will do when His Highness goes outside the city?" "The meaning of what Eunuch Tian said is that His Highness seemed to have noticed it before leaving yesterday. This is also what I am anxious about. Since His Highness knows it well, he will go out with him..." Feng Juefei was talking, and his heart became suspicious. But he said, "His Highness has always been cautious and careful, and he will never really follow Xu Anzhao to conspire against him." "Your Highness will never seek rebellion with the Xu family, he will definitely try to escape. But..." Dai Lun hesitated, and then sighed, "He was raised strictly by the prince since he was a child, although he is generally cautious and well-behaved, but I watch him act coldly. , is still impulsive and angry from time to time, after all, he is still young and self-willed. This time, I am really afraid that he will do something stupid. At this moment, his life and death are uncertain, and we can only do our best and obey the destiny." There was a mutiny outside the city, and the Xu Party in the city was about to move.Four of the commanders of the soldiers and horses of the five cities were missing, and only Shao Chi, the commander of the northern soldiers and horses, was left with a few soldiers, unable to resist.I don't know which way the men and horses in armor have surrounded the six yamen, and only the military department controlled by the leader of the Xu party, Zhao Chongxun, can still enter and leave.However, the Ministry of Rites and the Hanlin Academy, which were dominated by Qingliu, were turned upside down. The rebel party put a knife on the neck of the civil servants and forced them to draft an edict for King Fu's accession to the throne. Xie Fengge and his wife, Ding You, were away, while Xie Qian and his wife were in mourning at Yongning Temple, so they escaped the catastrophe.However, Xie Concubine's mansion was rushed in by the rebellious party after all, the servants were killed or injured, seventy-eight out of ten of the household belongings were robbed, and finally a fire was set in the courtyard, and the house was burned to the ground. Since the emperor was not in the palace, no one broke into the palace for a while to force the palace.The queen was still calm, she taught Lu Yi and others to arrange manpower, closed the palace gates tightly to prevent anyone from entering and leaving, while arranging manpower to keep a close watch on the movements of each palace, while sending people to inquire about the queen mother from time to time.Thinking that Xianyang Palace must be the target of the rebellious party, he felt his scalp tingle, so he simply asked Tang Qingqiu to bring the concubine Shu's mother and child to Kunning Palace, and let her watch it in person.Even if Xu Anzhao wanted to support King Fu and exterminate the emperor's three sons and one party, he could not let Concubine Shu's mother and son die unexplainably, and the crime fell on her, the empress. After staying like this until noon, Qiao Changqing, an official from the Ministry of Rites who had fled back, said that the royal driver was robbed, and Zheng Wang Yang Lian fought hard to protect the driver, but was defeated by Xu Anzhao and was stabbed in the back of the heart with a knife. As soon as this remark came out, the whole city was in an uproar.When Empress Dowager Xu of Qingning Palace heard the news, she fainted on the spot. Qiao Changqing was beaten to the ground, covered in blood, kneeling outside the Meridian Gate and weeping bitterly.At that time, the Meridian Gate was still in the hands of the forbidden army, and no one stopped him, and some small officials who had been hiding for half a day ran out to weep with him.Someone took the lead, and Feng Juefei led a group of young Hanlin and officials who had made good friends and immediately joined the army of crying spirits, calling for the emperor over and over again.The low-ranking officials nearby also joined the gang one after another when they saw it. First, they were encouraged to form a gang, and second, they also wanted to use the Meridian Gate to escape the military chaos.More and more people gathered, and the momentum became louder and louder. Gradually, middle-level officials who were not from the Xu Party also joined in. At one point, there was a loud cry outside the noon gate, which was actually the posture of Guoshang. After crying for the emperor once, naturally some people still remember King Zheng.Prince Zhuang Jing Yu Wei is still there, and King Zheng is known as a virtuous man, there are not a few Qingliu who secretly sympathize with him.At this time, the emperor is not there anyway, crying and conquering the king is also the result of love, and he follows the trend. At noon, the three commanding envoys in the central and western cities were rescued by the forbidden army and Shao Chi, and the deputy commanders of the soldiers and horses in the eastern and southern cities took over. Party, the chaos in the city gradually subsided. So noisy until the afternoon.Yuyin suddenly descended from the Meridian Gate tower.The nobles and nobles in the court who were pouring tears under the city were all dumbfounded at this moment. In the morning, Empress Dowager Xu fell into a coma after hearing the news of King Zheng's death. Fortunately, Zheng Banshan was in Qingning Palace and was treated immediately.After a few needles were inserted, Empress Dowager Xu woke up leisurely. After discussing with Zheng Banshan, she had some calculations in her mind, and immediately sent Zhang Chun and others into Kunning Palace. come.Li Yan greeted him in a hurry, before he could utter a word of dissuasion, Empress Dowager Xu slapped him loudly on the face. Empress Dowager Xu held back her breath, walked up to the throne and sat down, urging the eunuchs to serve her with pen and ink, and sternly said: "The country must not be without a king for a day, otherwise the world will be in chaos. The life and death of the emperor is unknown today, and King Fu and King Zheng are living outside. In order to emulate the story of Empress Dowager Xiaoduan, this Palace established Yang Zhen, the third son of the emperor, as the new monarch, in order to calm the situation, appease the hearts of the people, and rectify the court order." No one answered in the hall, Lu Yi, Zhou Lu and others all hesitated to go forward, Empress Dowager Xu sneered, and began to study ink and spread paper with the maids. Li Yan couldn't help but said: "If His Majesty comes back..." Empress Dowager Xu said: "After the new king ascends the throne, the Supreme Emperor can go to the Nangong Palace to spend his rest of his life." Nangong is the place where the deposed emperor was placed under house arrest.As soon as these words came out, Lu Yi and the others couldn't hold on anymore.Now that the situation is in chaos, Empress Dowager Xu may not have the ability to dethrone the emperor, but if she does write an imperial edict, things will be even more difficult. Li Yan wiped his neck and winked at Lu Yi.Empress Dowager Xu sensed that they were moved, and raised her voice again: "I don't want this, Yang Zhen is too young, he can't sit in this position. But if one of King Fanzheng and King Fu survives, I will immediately make him the new king. , Presumably the courtiers also support it." Everyone in Qianqing Palace didn't understand for a while, and they heard Empress Dowager Xu say quietly: "Now concubine Shu, mother and son are in the hands of me and the queen." There was a moment of silence in the hall, Lu Yi and Li Yan suspected that the Queen Mother was threatening her, but it was true that Concubine Shu was picked up by the Queen, they couldn't find out what is going on in Kunning Palace now.The queen mother sits on the dragon chair, with pearls and jewels, and the treasure is solemn.She had finished what she should say, and just waited quietly. After a long time, there was a sound of small footsteps behind the bright hall.The emperor came out helplessly, knelt down and kowtowed. "The son is unfilial, and the queen mother is worried." Empress Dowager Xu sneered, not surprised.She moved her lips, as if she wanted to ridicule the emperor, but she held back after all: "It's okay for me to worry alone. I'm afraid the courtiers are worried too much, and the emperor will find it difficult to explain to the world." The emperor's face was slightly cold, and he shook his head and smiled wryly, "I'm going out now." Empress Dowager Xu also smiled: "Next time there is such an arrangement, don't hide it from me. Even if the emperor wants to take King Zhongjing to seize the title and imprison the nine clans, I will never stop it. Of course, I know the honor and disgrace of Jiangshan Sheji and a surname." Whichever is more important." The emperor was so blocked that he had nothing to say, and said with a sneer: "How does the queen mother know that I have never left the palace?" "The emperor has never heard of it—knowing the child is better than the mother?" The Empress Dowager Xu glanced at the emperor, but looked at all the people in the palace one by one, as if she had insight into the secrets of each of them. The emperor's words to the ministers were that this morning, he suddenly got angry and couldn't go to the ground, so he didn't leave the palace.The one who sent King Fu out of the city was only the king. Rao is Feng Juefei who is used to adapting to changes, so he almost scolded the words "humble villain" at this time.At most, they only thought of the emperor's plan to lure Xu Anzhao to rebel and frame King Zheng. They never thought that the emperor could not do the trick thoroughly, and hid in the palace to let King Zheng go to death. "The rebels should be punished! It's a pity for my virtuous nephew..." The emperor's weak voice was drowned out by the wailing of the ministers, and for a moment he didn't know whether it was the emperor or the king who was crying. When Empress Xu learned that the emperor hadn't left the palace, she was startled at first, and then realized that the emperor had resorted to such tricks of killing two birds with one stone in order to lure Xu Anzhao into rebellion, and was so angry that she vomited blood.Xie Yili hurriedly stepped forward to help, but was pushed away by the queen, scolding: "...what kind of master is he? Why did he use such a villain's tricks for you, a lowly maid!" Xie Yili immediately knelt down and kowtowed again and again: "Your Majesty blamed me for making my concubine die without a place to bury her." Empress Xu regained consciousness slightly, and said with a sneer: "How come you have no burial place? There are emperor's heirs inside, and famous ministers outside echoing, it's not your turn to seek death and life. This time it is clear that the Xu family has no burial place." ! It is to make the Queen Mother and I have no place to be buried!" After the queen said this, everyone in Kunning Palace was in danger and cried into a ball.The queen didn't stop her, she just sat on the phoenix couch and watched the mourning people with cold faces. Xie Yili had to kneel and wipe away tears.Suddenly there was a baby's sharp cry, but the third prince was frightened, and he howled along with the adults without hesitation.Xie Yili wanted to pick up the child, but he didn't see the queen allowing her to lay down, so anxious for a moment, he had to watch Gui Yuchou take the child away.Suddenly remembering that Yang Lian also died in the rebellion, his heart felt like a knife was piercing him, he could only lower his head firmly, his clothes were soaked with tears.Such a commotion caused the emperor to return to the palace and sent Zhou Lu to the Kunning Palace to investigate, and everyone led the order to disperse. The emperor didn't have much to say to Xie Yili, he just took Gui Yuchou to the Qianqing Palace.Xie Yili hugged the third prince, only to feel emptiness from crying all the time.The current situation is not yet clear, and the news may not be true, but she no longer dares to think about the events of this day any longer, and a frightening blood wells up in her mind.Returning to Xianyang Palace in a trance, seeing the setting sun slanted into the small window, the Jinping mother-of-pearl is broken, the treasure tripod is as gray as snow, and the eyes are sad and lonely.The plum blossom picture on the Huali case was only sketched a few times yesterday, and the ink lines have dried up before the rouge is painted on.The baby next door was crying in the nurse's arms, and she was so uncomfortable that she didn't even have the strength to get up to take a look.Thinking carefully about the past years, taking risks like walking on thin ice, thinking about what the picture is, this day, everything will be shattered into dust and wiped out.It is said that those who go are irreversible, but she is still alive, and she has to live the rest of her life that can't see the end. It was dusk when the news reached Xiyuan.Qin Taiwei was burning incense and praying, when she heard Xu Weichi's report of King Zheng's death, she responded blankly, and ordered to close the door and the house to stop causing trouble, and then locked herself in the study to examine the manuscript, and did not fall asleep all night. The water in the lake in early October was already bitingly cold.His vision gradually blurred, and he could only see a thread of red extending gradually, like a red line lightly drawn from the end of a hair dipped in rouge, and then spread out on the paper, gradually dyeing the entire water surface red.It was really cold, even if I knelt on the jade steps in the mid-autumn night, it was never as cold as today, my limbs were as heavy as a rock, and it seemed that the last bit of heat from my heart was also gone.The river pond didn't seem to be deep, and he couldn't feel whether he was sinking in the mud at the bottom of the water, or floating with the waves on the water surface, or maybe floating in mid-air, as long as he lowered his head, he could see his broken body... The injury was on his right shoulder, probably a lute bone was broken, and his leg was also broken. He struggled a few times, but couldn't stand up from the water. Fearing that someone would catch him, he simply rolled into the depths of the aquatic plants. The pond is not deep, and it can almost flood to the chest.If this gun passed through the chest, it would be a pleasure.He used to fight against Xu Anzhao in Hangzhou, he always thought that he was not much worse than him, it turned out that the training in the martial arts arena was really not real. Has anyone come to put down the rebellion?I don't know what the commotion in the city is like, and what to do when I go back... At first he was so nervous that he couldn't breathe, but seeing the sky getting dark, the new moon gradually setting, the galaxy like frost, and the jackdaws dotted, he didn't realize that the east was getting white again, almost Waking up after fainting, someone rescued me in my dream, I woke up still in the water, almost desperately cold, my thoughts were scattered, I didn’t think about anything more, I just thought about a little warmth over and over again, not cold fish, Rough grass stalks, bitter lake water, all you need is a pair of soft arms... But there is only your own blood in front of you, entwined around your body like threads. Somehow, I think of the red silk on the wrist of the Dragon Boat Festival.When I was young, I loved the eight-treasure sweet rice dumpling wrapped with lotus seeds, pine nuts, candied dates, and longan. The wet nurse always let him eat half of it because she was afraid that he would overeat. very good.After returning to Beijing in the past few years, I didn't even eat zongzi seriously.Dimly thinking about the trivial things in her childhood, she suddenly understands why the sachets given by Qin Taiwei are always in the shape of rice dumplings. "Jingchu Sui Shi Ji" said that Chu people made rice dumplings and tied them with neem leaves and five-color silk, which can make dragons fearful.So that's what she meant. He smiled silently in his heart—he was really dying, and he was thinking about these nonsense.But is that sachet still on him?She gave herself the only intact jade ring, and it was Mrs. Xie's relic, so it goes without saying.In the future, when the body was sent back, she would probably be angry again when she found out that the jade ring was lost.When changing clothes, he deliberately tied the sachet to the belt of his coat. If he could raise his arm at this time, he could even touch it... The autumn sky is clear and blue, the clouds are light and the wind is clear.There was a pair of white cranes, fluttering as lightly as the wind and as clean as snow, a faint sigh passed through his heart. The twenty-four hours after Nanhaizi's mutiny were as long as a whole winter.After a bloody battle in the Shenji Camp overnight, the rest of Xu Anzhao's troops were pacified.Jin Yiwei cleared the streets and alleys overnight.All are waiting for the coming cleanup. At dawn, the rapid sound of horseshoes fell on the green bricks of the long street, crushing the dreams of countless people.Along the road, all the officials, big and small, saw this scene - a strong general of the Shenji Battalion rode into the palace and shouted along the road to clear the way.Everyone could see that the young man in his arms was covered in blood and his face was pale gold. He was clearly seriously injured and on the verge of death. Immediately, officials from the Ministry of Etiquette recognized that handsome face as Zheng Wang Yang Lian.One to ten, ten to a hundred, everyone exclaimed. Because of Yang Lian's sudden return to life, the morning court was postponed for a while.The emperor was so surprised that he didn't even have breakfast, so he hurried to Fengtianmen to meet his nephew who survived the catastrophe. Yang Lian fell down on the steps, barely answered a few words, and then passed out.Hundreds of civil and military officials gathered under the Fengtian Gate one after another, watching the emperor's uncles and nephews in a chaotic manner. Among them, a few loyal and upright officials began to sigh and wipe their tears, and some young and bold officials began to denounce Xu's numerous crimes. The emperor couldn't think of a countermeasure for a while, but with regret on his face, he kept urging Lu Wenjin to send King Zheng back to Xiyuan quickly, and then deal with the officials to discuss countermeasures. Zheng Wang's mansion got the news early in the morning, Cheng Ning and Qin Taiwei couldn't sit still, led the crowd to boil water to make the bed, needless to say, they simply prepared a stretcher and waited at the door.Lu Wenjin got the emperor's personal consent, and rode straight to Qingfu Palace.The crowd rushed to carry Yang Lian back to the room, calling for His Highness repeatedly, and he didn't even shake his eyelashes. Looking closely at the situation, he saw that he was dressed in rags, barely wrapped in a loose green robe, which probably belonged to Lu Wenjin.There was a stab wound on the chest and back. After being soaked in sewage for a long time, the silvery white muscles were turned out, and the appearance was extremely terrifying.The palace people were in a panic, and the palace was crying.Cheng Ning had no choice but to drink away the crowd, and personally cut off his middle coat with scissors, inevitably tearing the wound and gushing out new blood.He was just in a coma and couldn't even feel the pain.He couldn't take a shower at this time, Qin Taiwei wiped his body with a hot towel over and over again, only to feel that he was getting colder and colder, and after wiping, the blood stains and mud were all clean, but his jadeite body was still unable to keep warm as before . Zheng Banshan also rushed over.Rao is an old internal official who is used to seeing life and death, even after touching Yang Lian's veins, his expression changed, and he urged ginseng soup to continue his life.Cheng Ning had already prepared, and the ginseng soup was delivered in a short while.Yang Lian was already half dead, the decoction was fed to his lips and flowed away along the corners of his lips.Cheng Ning had no choice but to urge Qin Taiwei to feed the medicine.Regardless of her shyness, she swallowed half a mouthful of ginseng soup herself, then bit his lips, and swallowed the soup little by little.After repeating it several times, I finally poured down a bowl of ginseng soup, and my lips turned red slightly—maybe it was just warmed by the boiling hot soup. The ginseng soup was bitter and spicy, rushing straight to her nose, and she felt that tears were about to come down. She was afraid of being seen, so she just pushed it to change the hot water, and hurried outside. When he reached the door, he was grabbed by Xu Weichi who had been waiting for a long time: "Madam, General Lu asked me to bring this thing in." "What General Lu?" Qin was too puzzled. Xu Weichi said: "General Lu was at the door just now, saying that His Royal Highness passed out the sachet before he passed out. He only found this. I don't know if it is what His Highness wanted, so he told me to take it to my lady and put it away." It was only then that she remembered that it was Lu Wenjin who sent Yang Neem here just now.It's just that she was so busy looking after Yang Lian that she didn't even see Yang Lian's face clearly.The sachet was wet, the color was faded by the sewage, and the embroidery thread was broken, but luckily the jade ring was still there.She pinched the jade ring and was lost in thought until the tears on her face were dried by the cold wind, then she slowly returned to the room, when she heard Cheng Ning and Zheng Banshan sighing in a low voice: "He has always been able to bear it, how could he take it this time?" Fight for your own life..." He fell asleep for a while, and woke up in a daze for a while. He didn't know whether it was morning or night, and he couldn't distinguish between darkness and darkness. He pushes back.The woman was slender and teary-eyed. He thought for a long time who it was, maybe it was his mother. Later, I roughly knew that I was sleeping on my own bed, and the quilt was clean and soft.Some people came to ask for their pulse, some came to pour medicine, and some whispered something in their ears.He still remembered the earth-shattering turmoil before he was injured, and he couldn't let it go even in his sleep.The man seemed to know what was on his mind, and comforted him repeatedly.He gradually felt hungry and thirsty again, and water and thin porridge came in due time, and he ate the porridge with his eyes closed while pillowing on his warm arms, like being taken care of by a wet nurse when he was sick when he was young.The wounds on his body grew very slowly, and at one time festered and had a fever, and he could only feel better by rubbing his body with cold water.Occasionally, when I woke up in the middle of the night, I also found that my hands were squeezed between a pair of soft and slippery catkins.He couldn't speak, couldn't move his body, but felt that there was a faint fragrance in her breath that was different from the past. After being so dazed for an unknown amount of time, he finally felt sober, and immediately struggled to half-stand up and look outside the curtain.At that time, I don't know whether it is morning or evening, but the shimmer of gold leaf dust and snow falls between the bed curtains.The man was trying his best to reach something on the wall with a brush in his hand, one foot was slightly raised, and his waist was as soft as a willow. "Your Highness—" Cheng Ning just came in from the outside, saw this scene suddenly, and immediately shouted: "Miss Qin, quickly take it off - we don't need that here." It turned out that there was a picture of dispelling the cold on the wall.Every winter solstice festival, the director of ceremonies will print the "Nine Nine Cold Dispelling Picture" and send it to the palaces for posting. In the picture, there is a branch of white plum with nine flowers, and each flower has nine petals, which is exactly the number of ninety-nine. One petal is dyed every day. , When the branches are full of flowers, the winter will pass by counting nine.Today is the winter solstice, and Qin Taiwei has just hung up the map to dispel the cold.The first flower has not been lit yet, I never thought that Yang Lian would wake up.I don't know why Cheng Ning reacted so strongly, she stayed there for a while.Cheng Ning stepped forward to grab it, but seeing that Yang Lian didn't look annoyed, he lost his mind. Yang Lian murmured, "It's pretty pretty." Qin Tai breathed a sigh of relief, and then suddenly came back to her senses, repeatedly saying that His Highness is awake and able to speak, she dropped her pen and walked over, almost tripping over the blanket on the ground.Only Cheng Ning could hold his breath, and immediately asked someone to inform Zheng Banshan to go. Yang Lian held on for a while, still looking at Qin Taiwei with good eyes.Qin Taiwei felt a little embarrassed when he saw him, put her arms around him and asked softly: "Do you want some water? The palace rewarded fresh miluo tangerines, or should I cut a tangerine and eat it?" He was a little puzzled, seeing her leave with a smile, and immediately brought a small sweet white bowl, which contained golden mandarin flesh like honey.He took a few mouthfuls from her hand and asked, "You said...is this a reward?" Qin Taiwei said: "The winter solstice ceremony has been distributed in the palace." She glanced at him carefully, "There is a basket of fruits in it, which the emperor ordered Eunuch Zhou to send specially." He turned his face slightly.Qin Taiwei put down the porcelain bowl, thought for a while, and said: "The emperor taught you to contemplate behind closed doors for three months, and then signaled to Eunuch Zhou of Qianqing Palace to send a message, saying that Sacred Heart is very sympathetic, and he didn't want to punish, but he couldn't stop it The court discussions are going on, and you have to make a show. For these three months, please rest assured to heal your wounds, Your Highness." He didn't answer. Seeing him frowning, she said in a low voice: "I heard Eunuch Zheng's tone, and it's all right." Hearing this, he looked around and said again: "Help me up and walk around, after lying down for these days, all my bones are falling apart." After all, he was a long-term sick person, he only walked a few steps while holding Qin Taiwei's hand, then he felt dizzy, his eyes turned black, so he had to go back to bed and lie down again.甫一沾枕头，便觉得胸中一股腥甜上涌，他却硬生生咽了下去。 “太微……太微……”他轻声唤她的名字，“你还在？” “一直在的。”她忍着眼泪，替他拭去唇边的血迹。 他什么也看不见，仿佛重堕阿鼻地狱：“我还活着……” 杨楝陷入昏迷的这半个月中，程宁带着几个亲信侍从日夜巡视，把个清馥殿看得如同铁桶一般。他分不开身，便叮嘱琴太微定要看好了王爷的汤药罐子，防着有人趁机下手。琴太微自不敢怠慢，所有药材都对着郑半山的方子一一验过下水，亲自看着煎好了端到床边。一应的茶水粥汤也要仔细尝过，才喂到杨楝嘴里。 宫中是如此紧张，朝中更是闹得天翻地覆。福王杨樗不必再南下之藩，而被抹去爵位废为庶人，监禁于南宫之中。忠靖王世子徐安照则被投入诏狱看守起来。朝中上下徐党一脉，皆感到皇帝终于是对徐家下手了，惶惶不可终日。但皇帝命锦衣卫、大理寺详查南海子兵变的始末，却迟迟没有查出个结果来。 “皇上等着我这份自陈，那我应该写什么？”杨楝稍稍清醒些时，就知道这一关是无论如何躲不过，屏退耳目之后，叫琴太微拿纸笔来录自己的奏疏。 “殿下那一天，到底遇见了什么呢？” 他乘着乾清宫的銮驾出城，除了一队皇帝心腹的锦衣卫，连随行的礼部郎官都不知道车中并非皇帝本人。銮驾出了永定门，正要下车折柳，杨樗忽然跪在车前恳求，说自端午节后，他苦练射艺，只为是让“父皇”再看他射一次柳，如今父子分别之际，还望全他最后的心愿。 杨楝默示锦衣卫呈上弓箭。不出所料，杨樗一箭穿柳之际，周遭烟尘四起，数不清的兵马将銮驾团团围住。虽然兵士们全都换了盗贼的服色，但杨楝一眼便认出那个一马当先杀过来的猛将，正是忠靖王世子徐安照。 护驾的锦衣卫大抵是得了皇帝的密旨，虚作声势地格挡了一番，就让徐安照杀到了车前。长枪抵到辕门的一霎，杨楝猛然掀开车帘，趁着徐安照那一瞬间的愕然，他手中的佩剑也刺了出去。 “我遇见了什么不要紧，”他说，“这是要看事到如今，皇上打算要什么样的结果。” 徐安照全力支持福王承嗣，最后却惨淡收场，难免生出不臣之心来。皇帝故意称送杨樗出城，以诱其出手，而暗中却令杨楝行李代桃僵之计。以目今的局面，皇帝并无十分的把握能够一举端掉徐党，他打的如意算盘无非是——若能扑杀徐安照一支固是好事，若遭徐家反弹，则将杨楝推出去顶罪，以“谋逆之名”顺手除掉这个碍事的侄儿。 徐安照并不愚蠢，发现车中竟不是皇帝本人的那一刻，便知自己被暗算了。杨楝使的佩剑并非应手兵器，只划伤了他的脸。他立刻高呼“徵王谋反”“清君侧”，带着手下将御驾从人砍了个七零八落，竟是一个活口也不留。 这般情形，也没有超出皇帝的预期。他原指望坐山观虎斗，等城外闹够了才出面平息事态。不料神机营的一支兵马却提前到了，徐家将士虽有悍名，陆文瑾手下的人却也不是吃素的。到了这份儿上，徐安照亦不能跟官军硬战，唯有且战且退。而就在这时，徵王被杀的消息也传了出去。 “放出这个消息，是小陆的计策，不过我确实是差点死在徐安照的枪下……到底不是他的对手。”杨楝叹道。 陆文瑾心知皇帝不肯放过杨楝，唯有先传死讯令皇帝放心，才可能不予论罪，进一步将“残害亲王”的罪名扣在徐安照头上。这时朝中内应已起，奉天殿外群臣哭声震天。为平定人心，皇帝必须出来先给个说法。天子一言九鼎，他既然承认了徵王替他受难，待到杨楝死里逃生回到宫中，再要改口可就难了。 “他肯说这话，倒也难得。”杨楝道。 琴太微缓缓道：“说来还是小七机灵。那天晚上趁着乾清宫的那位内官洗脸的工夫，截下了他的腰牌，后来竟直接拿给他干爹了。田公公把这腰牌给了郑叔叔，郑叔叔亲自拿去还给了那位内官，却用这腰牌印了十来张拓片，立时传到宫外去。据说皇上已经把那位公公赶去伺候杜娘娘了。” “……郑先生说的？”杨楝问。 郑半山虽能时常过来问脉，却因杨楝人事不省，只能断断续续地将宫府内外各种情形讲给琴太微听，教她记下趁空转告杨楝。“郑叔叔说了，皇上这次做局没有做好，倒被太后及时识破，扳回一成。如今两边相持不下。太后的意思是既要保住殿下，也不能伤了徐家。忠靖王的请罪奏疏，前日也已经送到了。皇上仍在犹豫……” “皇后呢？” 琴太微摇头道：“事出之后，皇后娘娘在乾清宫脱簪除服，跪了一晚，皇上只劝她不必担忧。她……也就什么都不说，连斋醮都停了，不过曾也遣了女官过来问候殿下。” “既然犹豫，只怕终究是下不了手的。”杨楝道。 “郑公公也是如此说。说起从前，皇上也是靠着徐家才有今日，要翻脸哪有那么容易？就眼前来讲，今年的船税还没交上来，要是罢了忠靖王的官定然就没了。几千万银子的亏空，一时间哪里去找补？年底的岁寒钱都发不出来。” “抄了他的家，不就有了？”杨楝冷笑道。 “也不是没有人这么说。”琴太微道，“可是，偏偏潦海又打起来了。” 听见潦海二字，杨楝猛然支起身子，伏在她肩上剧烈地咳嗽起来，直咳出一口血沫子才停下。她连忙倒水服侍他漱口，忽然间眼睛就红了。他却笑道：“又不是痨病咳血，只是伤了肺，伤口长上就好了。”因这句话说得略长，又不免想咳嗽，拼命咽了下去。 琴太微叹道：“你别说了，躺着听我说吧。这回本来也可以一鼓作气拿下忠靖王府，可是，潦海打起仗来，水师还没有建成，眼下还得倚靠忠靖王，所以徐家还是动不得。六科廊的帖子快把乾清宫塞满了，有人历数徐家多年罪状，弹劾忠靖王谋逆，可是高阁老、沈学士他们，一直没有表态。我舅舅他们家是最得皇上倚重的，也是一点风声都没有，可见圣心摇摆。郑先生的意思是，倒徐之事，殿下不必推波助澜，更不可冲在前头。为殿下自身之安危计，倒是速战速决为好。眼下皇上是不论殿下的过错，朝中大臣亦多有同情殿下的，可是时日拖得长久了，难保不被人翻案，等徐家缓过劲儿来，全都算在殿下头上，那可就不好了。郑叔叔说，殿下这个奏疏若不好写，可以先认个诸如'应对失仪'之类的小错儿，给各方一个台阶下，也不必直指徐世子的罪证，只说福王……”说到这里，连她自己也连连摇头，勉强道，“郑叔叔讲，只消说是福王心怀不满……” “不行，”他轻声反驳道，“阿樗他……” 她怕他使力，立刻掩住他的嘴，恳切道：“你听我说。郑叔叔说，福王已然不成了，但他终归是皇上的儿子，不会有性命之忧。但徐世子一旦论了谋逆之罪，于徐家就是灭顶之灾，皇上尚且下不了手呢。郑叔叔请殿下千万慎重，殿下对徐家有再多不满，也不能伤了太后的心。无论怎样，太后是一心保全殿下的。殿下出事那会儿，太后都急病了。” 他侧过脸去，静静地望着她，忽然坠下一行泪水。 她俯身为他擦拭泪水，忽然见他嘴唇嚅动，仔细听来却是在问：“你家呢？” 她想了一下，才悟过来他说的是她的叔父。去年春天琴宗宪一家被查办，正是徐家的手笔。她叹息道：“……如今哪里论得到这个，只要你过了这一关，平安无事就好。郑叔叔说了，殿下心中再恨徐家，也不该拿自己的性命去犯险。那天晚上，殿下既然都识破了皇上的用心，就该咬死了不去，皇上也只能拿别人去顶缸。既然去了，早早向福王现身示警，他们心知计败，就不会惹事，多半也就敷衍过去。何必非要等到兵戈相见？皇上也是奇怪，竟算准了殿下会和徐世子动手。” 她其实心中猜测，杨楝这么恨徐安照，明知是陷阱也要往里闯，是不是为了林绢绢的缘故。然则她实在问不出口。“郑叔叔说，殿下往后，再不可意气用事，”她喃喃道，“殿下一举一动，有多少人望着你的，纵有天大的想头也要徐徐图之，绝不能以命相搏。” 他轻轻哼了一声，过了许久又说：“你写吧。” 意思是要她草拟奏疏，她虽从未写过，瞧着眼下情形也只得硬着头皮来：“写完了我念给你听，有什么不妥你告诉我。” He nodded. 她从前亦读过他一些文稿，此时学着他的语气，将郑半山的意思婉转陈述了一番。又怕熬他太久要速速定稿，又要仔细斟酌措辞。他见她臻首低垂，运笔如飞，倒不是特别为难的模样，忽想起从前她在清宁宫中被审问时种种惊惶不安孩子气，如今这份镇定竟像是换了个人…… 不过一支香的工夫也就写完了。杨楝听她念来，原来事情原委写得十分简单，毫无修饰赘语。他略修正了几句话，便命她誊清，再盖上自己的王玺。 按照郑半山的建议，奏疏中所陈事情起因，乃是福王心中怨恨而挑起事端，至于徐世子会卷入其中，当时受了福王的指使……杨楝听琴太微一句句念出，心中不是不难过的。 他的佩剑未曾重伤徐安照，但徐安照的长枪却堪堪对准了他的心口，致命一击无处可躲。若非杨樗在旁格挡了一下，又将他拉上一匹快马，他必定会在陆文瑾赶到之前就死于徐家军士的刀剑之下。 他从未想过杨樗会救他。也许在十五岁懵懂少年的心中，还认为兄长是不能够伤害的。但此时此刻，他看着杨樗陷入万劫不复的深渊，还要抽去他最后一把梯子。可是，就算他救了杨樗，谁又能来救他？ 琴太微并不知道杨楝心中的翻江倒海，她抄完了奏疏，又忙着拧了帕子为他擦脸。她襟袖间清甜的香气，是他一向喜欢却琢磨不定的味道。 灯下有一只琉璃天球瓶，瓶中用清水养着一红一黑两尾名贵金鱼，光影中游来游去，触在琉璃瓶壁上，晕乎乎打着转儿。这金鱼瓶也是乾清宫赏赐下的器玩，他盯着金鱼看了一会儿，心中闷闷的，又催她把瓶子拿了出去。