The moonlight was like a wash, the autumn wind was strong, Zhong Ziyuan and Fu Siyuan watched the vermilion door in front of them slowly close. Inside the gate, there was obviously the sound of complicated footsteps when the soldiers and horses were mobilized, the sound of swords, gold and iron colliding, and the restless neighing of the war horses.

Fu Siyuan frowned, and said clearly: "Your Majesty, this is going to clean up the portal." ”

Zhong Ziyuan sensed the urgency of the situation, and she said uneasily: "So fast? There was no preparation at all. ”

Fu Siyuan sighed and said, "I'm not ready!" If everyone is ready, the delay of this disaster will make the entire court and beyond. In this way, the impact will be minimized by solving the problem behind closed doors. ”

He looked back at Zhong Ziyuan and said kindly, "Let's go!" We can't stay here any longer. ”

Zhong Ziyuan pursed her lips, and after hesitating for a while, she still honestly followed Fu Siyuan out of this land of right and wrong. The chaos in the palace, the fighting, she is beyond the reach of the whip. The only thing she can do is to try to protect herself and wait for Guo Chenghe's triumphant return.

"Late?"

In the Hongde Palace, Zhu Yi's eyes stared at Guo Chenghe, who was unashamed opposite, like a breath of fire. Under his forced gaze, Guo Chengsi shrugged his shoulders and said without shame: "The prince is familiar with the art of war, and he must know what is the secret way of cultivating in the open and the dark. Just when the prince ordered his subordinates to hunt me down, the account book had already reached the emperor through the side channels. So it's too late for you to tell me anything! ”

After speaking, he simply took out the fake account book that he had been hiding on his body and placed it firmly in front of Zhu Yi. Zhu Yi's expression was finally no longer so complacent and determined. He immediately pounced on the account book and took it in his hand, and flipped through a few pages casually. Sure enough, what was recorded in it was ordinary firewood, rice, oil and salt, which was just an ordinary account book that Guo Chengsi took from a certain mansion to record daily expenses.

The muscles on Zhu Yi's face began to tremble violently. Flames of anger burst out of his eyes. Faintly, there was a trace of fear in the monstrous anger. He tore the account book in his hand into countless pieces, and those fragments were like butterflies with folded wings hovering mournfully on the cold bluestone floor of the Hongde Palace.

Seeing his gentle and elegant appearance, Guo Chengsi suddenly met his distorted face like a wild lion, Guo Chengsi felt so strange, so strange that he never seemed to really know him.

Zhu Yi's angry gasps echoed in the Hongde Hall of Nuoda, after a long time. He suddenly shouted, "Someone! As soon as he finished speaking, a dozen men dressed in chamberlain clothes with swords in their hands quietly broke in.

Guo Chengsi pursed his lips and sneered. Zhu Yi complained to himself about his warmth here, but secretly he had already buried the killer, and it seemed that he had already prepared for the fish to die and the net to be broken.

I heard Zhu Yi say coldly: "Take General Wu Xian down." After a pause, he said obscurely: "Dead or alive!" ”

"Yes!" Guo Chengsi's tall figure was instantly overwhelmed by the crowd that rushed up. Zhu Yi didn't look back. Lift your legs and walk out. As he walked, he shouted loudly: "The rest of the people, take the good guys and go to the Qianqing Palace with this king."

The milky white smoke in the furnace drifted quietly in the dormitory, and at this time, the gauze tents in the hall were overlapped, and the whole dormitory was as silent as the still water in a deep pool. The dim light reflected on Concubine Li's sleeping face with her eyes slightly closed. She was already sleeping very lightly, and the sudden noise of people outside woke her up instantly.

"Durian joy, durian joy" Concubine Li's star eyes narrowed slightly. A sleepy-eyed whisper called. Who knew that she didn't even hear the sound of Durian Xi after a few calls, and she frowned slightly. He simply turned over and sat up, brushing away the gauze tent hanging in front of him. But seeing that there was silence in the hall, not to mention the durian who was supposed to sleep under the collapse, even the two little palace maids who were usually responsible for adding lamps and oil and tea also ran away.

Concubine Li frowned, so she had to get up in her clothes and come to the table by herself. I touched the wall of the pot, but fortunately, the tea inside was still warm. She poured herself a glass and took a sip in her hand.

After a while, there was a sound of messy footsteps outside the hall, and after a while, Durian Xi returned to the dormitory with his coat and hair disheveled. Seeing that Concubine Li, who was supposed to be sleeping on the bed, actually got up and sat down at the table, she was suddenly startled, and hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Niangniang, why are you up?" ”

Concubine Li's slender eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she said lightly: "Why is it so noisy outside?" ”

Durian Xi paused, then cautiously peeked at her face and said, "Father-in-law Zhao Quan just sent someone to spread the word, saying that there are thieves in the palace, and the Praetorian Guards are arresting them. Let us be careful in each palace. ”

"It's just a little thief, the Praetorian Guards are going to make such a big move, and that Wu Qifeng is too useless." Dropping the teacup, Concubine Li got up lazily and sat back on the couch.

Durian Xi quietly exhaled and said, "Niangniang, it's still early, you can sleep again!" ”

"Hmm!" Concubine Li supported her with one hand, leaning on the honey-colored cocoon flower ten-spice soft pillow, and a pair of bright starry eyes gradually closed. Durian Xi hurriedly stepped forward to put down the gauze tent hanging on the golden hook for her. Suddenly there was a noisy footstep outside the hall, and a palace maid recklessly broke in, calling out in a panic: "Niangniang, Niangniang, it's not good, something big happened in the palace"

This palace maid is the second-class palace maid who is in charge of Concubine Li's refreshments, and she is usually silent, but she didn't expect to be so brainless tonight.

Durian Xi was startled, and hurriedly turned around and shouted fiercely: "Taoyao, didn't you see that Niangniang wants to rest?" Wait until tomorrow morning to talk about any major things, and retreat! ”

"Tomorrow morning? Wait until tomorrow morning, the world will be in chaos" Tao Yao not only did not retreat, but took a step forward and said quickly: "The emperor asked people to block the four palace gates, and let the Praetorian Guards search for Prince Rui's whereabouts all over the palace!" ”

Durian Xi didn't expect Tao Yao, who was usually quiet and silent, to be so quick tonight, she hurriedly shouted: "Shaohun said, the emperor and Prince Rui are brothers who broke bones and tendons, what are you doing to arrest him?" Hurry up and retreat, if you talk nonsense again, let Gonggong Zhao send you to the Internal Affairs Office to eat the board tomorrow. ”

Tao Xiaose shrank for a moment, finally closed her mouth obediently, and turned around to leave. Concubine Li had already turned over and sat up. She frowned and shouted coldly, "Stop! Tao Yao hurriedly stood on her feet and timidly pulled the corners of her clothes. Raise her eyes to look at the concubine whose face was hidden in the shadows of the tent.

Durian Xi hurriedly said: "Niangniang, Tao Yao is full of nonsense!" You should not pay attention to it, but it is better to rest early! ”

"Shut up! If there is anything to say, this palace will ask itself! Concubine Li's cold scolding made Durian Xi's face turn pale in an instant, and she closed her mouth unwillingly.

Concubine Li breathed rapidly, and after half a sound, she slowed down her tone and asked, "Tao Yao!" You speak slowly. What's going on out there? Why did the emperor want the Praetorian Guards to arrest Prince Rui? ”

Durian Xi stared at Tao Yao, angry and anxious. Tao Yao didn't seem to notice her gaffe, and still quickly described what happened outside the palace. After speaking. She exclaimed again: "I didn't expect Prince Rui to look gentle and elegant in the past, but he actually had a secret antipathy in his heart, if it wasn't for an account book that made him show his ambitions, I am afraid that the emperor and the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty will be kept in his bones." Tonight, the emperor asked people to secretly arrest him, just to take advantage of him before he had time to react. Wipe him out with his henchmen. ”

Concubine Li grabbed the placket of her chest violently. said in a trembling voice: "What about the Queen Mother?" What was the reaction of the Queen Mother? Could it be that her old man just watched her flesh and blood kill each other? ”

Tao Yao said with a grin: "The Queen Mother's Cining Palace is personally controlled by the Queen Mother, and there is no news at all, I am afraid that only after the Queen Mother wakes up from a night's dream, she will be forced to accept the subsequent news." ”

Concubine Li stood up abruptly when she heard this, her pretty face was snow-white and snow-white, which made her eyes even darker. Durian Xi said in a panic: "Niangniang, what do you want to do?" Tao Yao pinched the corners of her clothes, and peeked at Concubine Li's face in disbelief.

Although Concubine Li's face is as white as paper. Panic, fear, swelled up in my chest. Fear, worry, and other abnormal emotions made her almost faint. After calming down a little, she said very firmly: "Dressing up for the official, such a big event happened in the palace, how can you hide it from the Queen Mother?" The palace is going to Cining Palace to explain everything to the Queen Mother! ”

Durian Xi's face froze, and he said in a trembling voice: "Niangniang, at this very moment, everyone is afraid to avoid it." You really shouldn't show up at this time, please think again! ”

It's a pity that Durian Xi's bitter heart was exchanged for a cold face from Concubine Li, and she saw that Durian Xi didn't need to move, so she simply raised her voice and called: "Tao Yao, you come to help the palace freshen up." ”

"Yes!" Tao Yao didn't say a word, she squeezed out the durian happily, and neatly stepped forward to change her clothes and dress up for Concubine Li. Duxi looked at it in a daze, and suddenly felt that his whole body was as if he was immersed in ice water, cold and biting.

Tao Yao's hands and feet were very nimble, and after a short while, Concubine Li took off her bed clothes and put on an ordinary blue cardigan skirt, and put on a dark green cloak embroidered with a peacock pattern. Tao Yaoshun carried a hydrangea oil lamp with a bright tile in her hand, and said tentatively: "Niangniang, are we really going to Cining Palace at this time?" If the queen is to blame."

Concubine Li was already anxious, and she said angrily: "What are you afraid of? If the queen is to blame, there is naturally this palace in front of her. ”

Tao Yao walked briskly in front with a lantern to illuminate the dark winding path for Concubine Li, and the helpless Durian Xi helped Concubine Li to follow closely behind. They came out in a hurry to avoid people's eyes, so they didn't bring other palace people.

An autumn moon sprinkled clear light all over the vast land without hesitation. It was already autumn, and the grass and trees were bleak, and the thin palace shoes made a small sound when they stepped on them, and after a while, the dew on the grass and trees wet the toes of the shoes. Concubine Li didn't care, she just lowered her head and walked away. Durian Xi could feel that Concubine Li's hand was unusually cold, and she couldn't help but sigh slightly in her heart.

"Wait!" Tao Yao suddenly stood still, listened cautiously for a while, and said, "There seems to be a team of Praetorian Guards coming over in front, Niangniang, what should we do?" ”

Concubine Li and Durian Xi also listened quietly, and sure enough, they faintly heard the dull sound of cowhide boots stepping on the bluestone floor. Concubine Li's eyebrows frowned slightly, and she said in confusion: "Will the Praetorian Guards block our way?" ”

Tao Yao looked panicked and whispered: "When the father-in-law came to deliver the word before, he said that the doors of the palaces should be closed and not allowed to go out at will, otherwise they will be punished with the same crime as the thief." ”

Concubine Li cast her inquiring eyes on Durian, and Durian nodded helplessly. Tao Yao was not alarmist, and the little eunuch who came to pass the word did say so.

Concubine Li's face became more and more sad, and she couldn't help but raise her eyes to look ahead. The clear moonlight reflected the branches and leaves of the ancient trees on the winding bluestone path, swaying, like the skeleton claws of lonely ghosts secretly stretched out, and the insects and frogs chirping in this silent night seemed more and more poignant and lonely.

Frog crowing? Concubine Li's eyes couldn't help but light up, there was a lotus pond on their left, although it was late autumn, the lotus flowers in the pond were already in full bloom, and most of the lotus leaves that stretched for miles were decadent, but this was an excellent hiding place. What's more, the Empress Dowager's Cining Palace is not far from the lotus pond. If you can row over, you can not only avoid people's eyes and minds, but also save a lot of time.

When she saw that there were still a few boats tied to the shore that the palace maids used to pick lotus pods and catch residual lotuses, Concubine Li hurriedly asked, "Do you know how to row?" ”

Durian Xi shook his head blankly, and Tao Yao smiled like a meritorious smile: "Niangniang, the slave can row." Yesterday, I rowed a boat to pick a lot of lotus pods in this lotus pond and boiled lotus seed soup for you! ”

"Good! Let's row over. ”

There was a light mist on the surface of the lake, and Momo Yao handed the lantern in her hand to Durian while she went to the lake to untie the rope tied to the tree. The sound of the Praetorian Guard's cowhide boots was getting closer and closer, and Durian was flustered and confused, and his heart was almost jumping out of his chest. She quickly blew out the lantern in her hand and hurriedly helped Tao Yao untie the rope.

The boat swayed gently on the surface of the lake, rippling layer after layer of fish scales. Finally, the rope was untied, and Durian hurriedly helped Concubine Li onto the boat. Tao Yao picked up the bamboo pole and held it hard, and the boat quietly left the shore a few feet away, and disappeared into the remnants of the lotus.

Durian looked up with his heart pounding, and just in time to see a group of Praetorian Guards with guns and swords and armor walking past the shore. They didn't seem to notice anything unusual on the surface of the lake, so they walked straight over. Durian Xi quietly exhaled a long breath, and a beating heart slowly stabilized.

Concubine Li didn't seem to notice Durian Xi's panic, she frowned, and urged very coldly: "Tao Yao, hurry up!" ”

Tao Yao pursed her lips and held the bamboo pole in her hand hard, and the boat quickly slid into the depths of the residual lotus like an arrow. Durian Xi said in surprise: "Tao Yao, your strength is so great!" ”

The lake gently shook and was refracted by the cold moonlight, the slender shadow of Concubine Li was reflected on the surface of the lake, Tao Yao's face was hidden in the cold moonlight, and the speed that was originally as fast as an arrow slowly slowed down.

Concubine Li urged anxiously: "Tao Yao, why did you stop?" ”

Tao Yao smiled lightly, and said in a manly voice: "The incense is sold in the green leaves, and the west wind is worried about the green waves, if you can be buried here, it must be extremely beautiful." Do you say? Concubine Li! (To be continued.) )