The brothers walked out of Tingyuxuan, and Xia Xing couldn't wait to look at Xia Qi and asked, "I just heard the meaning of the eldest brother's words that I don't seem to approve of the third sister's candidacy?" ”

Xia Qi slowed down and said carefully: "Although the fifth prince is the most beloved prince of the saint today, he is lazy by nature, mediocre in qualifications, loves to travel in the mountains and rivers, piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and never cares about political affairs, plus he is not a descendant, so he will not be the best candidate for the crown prince." Among the eleven princes of the emperor, except for a few who were still young last year, there are many ambitious and ruthless people. The emperor's favor for the five princes has already made the other princes very dissatisfied, and the jealousy is common to everyone, and it will deepen day by day. The third sister is not only outstanding in appearance, but also ice and snow smart, and the possibility of winning is great. But if Xue'er really becomes the fifth princess, she will be able to live a rich life of fine clothes and food during the reign of the saint, but once the saint dies, no matter which prince succeeds to the throne, without exception, the five princes will be belittled, exiled or even killed, and then the third sister will have to live a life of exile with the five princes, and the worry about her life is inevitable.

Xia Xing asked: "I heard that Concubine Jingxian is deeply liked by the emperor, is it possible that the crown prince will fall into the hands of the five princes?" ”

"In ancient times, there was a son who relied on his mother's nobility, but after Concubine Jingxian was not a famous family, there were not a few concubines in the palace who were born more noble than her, and many of them had princes, and the mothers of the three princes, the sixth princes, and the seventh princes were all born higher than Concubine Jingxian. Moreover, Concubine Jingxian has dominated the harem for many years, and she has become increasingly arrogant and domineering, don't look at the queen who doesn't say anything on weekdays, but in fact, she has already been resentful, if one day the power in the hands of the queen is threatened, do you think the queen will continue to forbear and give up? At that time, with the strength of Concubine Jingxian, she will definitely not be able to resist the queen's general trend, and how could the emperor turn against the queen's mother for a small concubine, and what is the role of pampering or not pampering at that time? ”

Summer was thoughtful after listening to it. Yes, any feelings in the royal family in front of interests are nonsense, the higher the power, the more heartless and ruthless, if Xue'er marries into the royal family, it will really be a blessing and a curse.

Xia Qi continued: "In all dynasties, who in the royal family can stand alone? What's more, it is a battle for the throne, and getting involved in it is not only a person's honor and disgrace, but also the rise and fall of a family. If even the main trunk is cut down, can we still survive these side branches? When the time comes, don't say it's to protect Xue'er, even we ourselves are unknown about life and death. ”

Thinking of Jiang Qingtian's sentence "As soon as you enter the palace gate and marry into the royal family, Xia Xue'er is no longer Xia Xue'er", I was very pleased, "I didn't expect that the third sister could see things so deeply at a young age, and she was more mature and intelligent than women of the same age." ”

After hearing this, Xia Xing also nodded and agreed: "Yes, I always feel that she is very different from the little girl before, not only in terms of behavior, but also in the feeling of giving people, sometimes just one look can also make people have a strong sense of security." I just don't know why I always want to die? ”

Xia Qi was startled, stopped his steps, looked at his brother incredulously, and asked, "Looking for death?" What's going on? ”

"My eldest brother was busy with political affairs all day long ago and was not at home, so it's normal not to know about it. It all started more than two months ago. The third sister fell into the blue lotus pond more than two months ago, and was in a coma for five days and five nights after being rescued, and the doctor did not wake up after seeing a few, so the emperor sent a doctor to come to diagnose and treat, but even the doctor said that there was no hope of survival, but who knew that on the morning of the sixth day, the third sister woke up! It's just that after waking up, the third sister seems to have changed as if she is a different person, not only forgetting all the things, but also talking nonsense, obviously living well, but she has to try her best to find death, what jumping into the lake, hitting the wall, hanging, climbing trees, rolling stairs...... As long as she can kill people, she has tried almost everything, and every time she gets injuries one by one, she doesn't feel painful, but fortunately, the third sister is deeply blessed, and she didn't die no matter how she tossed it. But she is really persevering, she has been defeated repeatedly, defeated again and again, and her mother's persuasion has been fruitless many times, so she can't stand it anymore and relentlessly grounded her in Tingyuxuan. Some people say that the third sister disturbed the water ghost when she fell into the lake, so she was so abnormal because of the ghost, but the divine doctor and Taoist priest have seen a lot, but they have not improved. ”

After listening to the description of Xia Xing, Xia Qi frowned. He didn't believe in any water ghosts, so naturally he didn't dwell on it, but the matter of falling into the lake was difficult to solve. Xia Xueer is his only sister, and he dotes on this eccentric sister very much. Before he entered the official career, it can be said that he was inseparable from Xia Xueer, and Xia Xueer loves lotus, likes small fish, and often swims by the Qinglian Pond, for her safety, his father specially invited a teacher to teach swimming, so he knows Xia Xueer's water nature very well. Moreover, since the Qinglian Pond is Xia Xue'er's favorite place in the mansion, she is also extremely familiar with the terrain and environment there, even if she is allowed to close her eyes, she can walk safely on the side of the Qinglian Pond, how could she stumble and fall in. Xia Qi faintly felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't say what it was.

"The third sister has loved to go to Qinglian Lake to play since she was a child, and she is extremely familiar with it, how could she fall into the lake? Besides, the third sister is not bad in water, so she won't be in a coma for five days! ”

Listening to the eldest brother's words, Xia Xing's originally quiet face was instantly filled with horror, as if he had guessed something, and asked tremblingly, "Could it be ...... Does the eldest brother suspect that someone has poisoned the third sister? ”

Xia Qi still frowned, shook his head and said, "I can't tell, but it doesn't feel as simple as falling into the lake." ”

The two of them made a special turn and walked to the Bishui Pavilion. Bishui Pavilion is a unique pavilion on the Qinglian Pond, which was built by Xia Xue'er when she was four years old, and even the name was taken by her when she was young. Sitting in the blue water pavilion, you can not only escape the heat and enjoy the coolness, but also enjoy the beauty of the lotus pond. Every summer, Bishui Pavilion will be a lively and lively place to enjoy the coolness.

Xia Qi stood in the pavilion with his hands in his hands, and after watching for a long time, he asked, "Can anyone accompany the third sister when she falls into the water?" ”

"No one to accompany you."

Xia Qi asked even more suspiciously: "No one accompanied!" Aren't the four of Meilan Zhuju inseparable from each other taking care of the third sister? How could the third sister be left alone in this green lotus pond? ”

Xia Xing explained: "That day was the second sister's birthday, and the two sisters had a good relationship on weekdays, so the four of them were sent by the third sister to give a congratulatory gift to the second sister." As we all know, the third sister has a peculiar mind, and she has read poetry and books since she was a child, she is a talented girl in the house, and she can't talk to other envoys in Yuxuan, and the third sister doesn't like them to follow on weekdays. As soon as this incident came out, the girls in Tingyuxuan were severely punished. ”

After hearing this, Xia Qi was puzzled, "Who first found the third sister falling into the water?" ”

"It's Young Master Zhuxuan, but when she rescued her, the third sister had already fallen into a coma and was unconscious, and the doctor said that it was because she had choked on water in her abdomen for too long, hurting her lungs, and the doctor also came to see it, and came to the same conclusion, for five days, she relied on ginseng to hang her essence."

"Too long overboard? What about the guards patrolling the house? Don't you even have a subordinate? ”

Xia Xing replied indignantly: "When the third sister fell into the water, it was the time when the guards changed, and that day was the second sister's birthday. ”

Xia Qi was also furious after hearing this, "I have never seen such a lively birthday for a concubine, and even the servants in my own courtyard are not enough to summon the subordinates of Qinglian Pond, so these three or four people are really missing?" What's more, in the summer of previous years, Bishui Pavilion was lively every day, how could it happen that the third sister fell into the water on the day it was deserted? Doesn't the second brother feel that this matter is getting more and more strange? ”

Xia Xing was also shocked when he heard what his eldest brother said, "I really didn't think much about it before, but now it's really strange to think about it." ”

After some understanding, Xia Qi had already confirmed the guess in his heart that Xia Xue'er falling into the water must be man-made, so he continued to inquire: "Is there any abnormality in the home after the third sister is in a coma?" For example, which lady is aunt or subordinate? ”

Xia Xing knew that his brother must have already had a suspicion in his heart to ask this, and after thinking about it, he said: "I don't care about family affairs on weekdays, and most of the time I come to the backyard is to go to the third sister's Tingyuxuan, basically don't walk around in other courtyards, and I really haven't paid attention to the words and deeds of the aunts and young ladies." After that, I suddenly remembered one thing: "By the way, the second night when the third sister woke up, I met a small maid sent away in Aunt Shen's room at the side door, saying that the old mother in the family died and wanted to rush home to guard filial piety, but at that time, I saw him sneaky and talked and slurred, so I took a look at it." ”

"Aunt Shen? The daughter of Shen Wanzhong, the secretary of the Guozijian Division? ”

"Yes, that's her. She has been in the house for nearly 20 years, and I heard people in the house say that when she married into the house, her father was not a Zhengliupin official, but a small county magistrate in a place, and later relied on the branches of the Xia family to serve in the capital, and was promoted step by step to the current Guozijian Division. ”

Xia Qi had already determined what he was thinking on his face, but because there was no evidence, he couldn't say much, and after thinking for a while, he looked at Xia Xing and said seriously: "Second brother, I have too many things at hand recently to get out of my mind, you should find time to check the little guy who was sent away, to see if it is true, and that Aunt Shen can't let it go, you must check it out!" ”

Xia Xing said angrily: "I know, even if I don't have the eldest brother to ask me, I will immediately send someone to investigate, if the third sister falling into the lake really has something to do with her, I will never let her go!" ”

The two brothers are not stupid, but they didn't think of framing before, after all, Xia Mansion has been calm and harmonious on the surface for many years, but after today's in-depth research, they suddenly discovered the cattiness. Xia Xue'er is a person who has been loved by thousands of people since she was a child, and Mrs. Xia is not only a noble family, but also a person who is in charge of the middle feed in the house, and also belongs to a high-ranking and powerful stream, if any aunt is jealous, it is not impossible, although it can't directly shake Mrs. Xia, the behemoth in the house, but it can get rid of Xia Xue'er, Mrs. Xia's most beloved daughter, and give Mrs. Xia a heavy blow. At present, all the spearheads are pointed at Aunt Shen, and that Aunt Shen is also thoughtful, quite loved by the master, and belongs to a higher status among many aunts, if she wants to get rid of Xia Xue'er to make Mrs. Xia collapse, and take the opportunity to take the position to grasp the power, not only for herself, but also for Xia Qiaoyun can improve her status, and she has become the only daughter in the mansion who can earn the favor of the master, which can be described as a lot of benefits.

Subsequently, Xia Qi walked out of the Bishui Pavilion, circled around Qinglian Lake again and again, and looked carefully, but did not find anything wrong, after all, more than two months have passed, and the traces of falling into the water have been wiped out. If you want to blame, you can only blame him, the eldest brother, for not being responsible, he was not at home at the time of the incident, and it took so long to learn the news that his sister fell into the water and almost died, which made her suffer so much in vain. If it was an accident, if it was really found out that someone did it on purpose, then he would definitely not forgive the murderer! The dragon has reverse scales, no matter who is the mastermind behind it, as long as he wants to murder his only sister of Xia Qi with ill intentions, he has already touched his reverse scales, and his crime is already unforgivable!