Ling Ruo nodded, then asked a few more questions about the situation in the imperial garden, and then said to Haitang who was kneeling on the ground: "Haitang, this palace remembers that since Concubine Qian entered the palace, you have been following Concubine Qian, right?" ”

Haitang didn't know Ling Ruo's intention to ask, so she glanced up and whispered, "Yes, the slave has been by Niangniang's side since the second year of Yongzheng." ”

"It's the sixth year of Yongzheng, in other words, you have been with Qian Concubine for at least four years, four years is not a short time, and you are a close person of Qian Concubine, you should be more sensible, why did you secretly take the sixth elder brother out of the palace to play, this, this palace is really a little curious?"

Hearing such a question, Haitang's heart was slightly relieved, and said: "The slave and maid grew up watching the sixth elder brother, and these days I saw that he has been reading and learning words, and when he is not playing, he is very distressed, so he took advantage of the master's absence, took him to the garden for a walk, and caught a few summer cicadas to play by the way, who knew that he would encounter this incident, the slave and maid are really damned!" ”

"It's not as serious as damning, after all, no one can predict what will happen, but you have always listened to Concubine Qian's words and been cautious in your words and deeds, why are you so bold this time, aren't you afraid of Concubine Qian's blame?"

Haitang lowered her head and said, "The slave maid originally planned to quietly bring the sixth elder brother back after playing for a while, so that the mother would not find out." ”

"Really?" Ling Ruo whispered softly and raised his eyes to look at Liu, "Where did Concubine Qian go at that time?" ”

"Back to Niangniang's words, the concubine was worshipping Buddha in the Buddhist hall at the time, and she didn't know that something had happened to Lu Dao until Haitang came back with Hongzhan in her arms." Without waiting for Ling Ruo to speak, she said again: "If Niangniang still wants to know about Lu Dao, let's ask it together, so as not to keep interrogating the concubine and the others as prisoners." ”

Ling Ruo didn't speak, but Xu Shi on the side said: "Don't be angry, the concubine Niangniang has asked again and again, and I don't want to wronged others." Anyway, she said with some self-reproach: "It's also because the concubine didn't see it clearly at the time, otherwise there would be no need to ask like this." ”

Her words reminded Ling Ruo, "Xu Yu was also in the Imperial Garden at the time, didn't you see it at all?" ”

Xu hurriedly said: "If you go back to your mother, the concubine was far away at that time, and she didn't pay attention to it, so she didn't see what happened. ”

Ling Ruo stroked Hongzhan's small shoulders and sighed lightly, "It's a pity. ”

As they spoke, the rain outside gradually became heavier, rustling on the leaves, and watching the rain get heavier and heavier, a subtle cold smile appeared on Liu's lips.

After waiting for a while, Caidie rushed back in the rain, and when she entered the hall, she didn't care about drying the rain on her body and said: "Master Qiqi, the slave and maid walked around the northeast corner of the imperial garden, and did not find any trace of Xia Cicada. ”

Without waiting for Ling Ruo to speak, Liu Shi had already said: "On this rainy day, if the cicada really keeps screaming, it will be really strange." After Ling Ruo let Caidie retreat, Liu said again: "Niangniang, forgive the concubine for talking too much, how long will it take for you to be willing to deal with Qi Jia's family?" ”

Ling Ruo didn't hear her words, and after lowering her head and contemplating for a while, she said to Hongzhan again: "Sixth Elder Brother, did you feel anything other than being pushed down, such as where did it hurt?" ”

Zhou Minghua said that according to common sense, the injury on Hongzhan's forehead was not enough to make him unconscious, and it was likely that there were other reasons, such as misty incense, but Hongzhan said that he had not eaten anything or smelled the abnormal aroma, so there was only one possibility left, directly into the bloodstream, but in this way, Hongzhan would definitely feel it.

"Pain?" Hongzhan frowned slightly, trying to recall the situation at that time, and at this time, Liu's face had become difficult to look at again, and he paid nervously attention to Hongzhan, and the hands on his lap were covered by his sleeves, and he twisted so hard that his knuckles turned white.

At this time, Hongzhan put his hand back behind his back and touched it, and said uncertainly: "It seems to be ...... It was a bit of a pain ......."

Ling Ruo's spirits perked up, and he hurriedly said, "Then think about it carefully, what kind of pain is it?" ”

This time, without waiting for Hongzhan to speak, Liu Shi had already gotten up and said, "Niangniang, what do you want to ask, you might as well say it directly, and save us from guessing one by one." After that, she beckoned to Hongzhan and said, "Come here, come to Eniang." ”

Hongzhan wanted to go down, but was firmly hugged by Ling Ruo, "Sixth Elder Brother, what kind of pain do you tell this palace, can you ask someone from the small kitchen to blow a candy man for you?" ”

Hongzhan was a child after all, and as soon as he heard this novelty, he was immediately attracted and looked at Ling Ruodao curiously: "Sugar man? What is that? ”

"It's a person who makes sugar, not only people, but also all kinds of animals, such as tigers, monkeys, and so on, just like the real thing, and you can also make bird cages!"

Hearing this, Hongzhan couldn't hold back, and hurriedly shook Ling Ruo's arm and said, "Concubine Niangniang, I want it, I want a sugar man, I want a tiger." ”

Ling Ruoxiao stroked his head and said, "Okay, as long as you tell Bengong about the matter, Bengong will let the small kitchen make you a tiger, and make two good, okay?" ”

Hongzhan nodded hurriedly, lest he would lose the candy man if he slowed down, "It hurts a little, but it's not very painful, like being bitten by a mosquito." ”

Liu has been forcibly enduring and trying not to lose her temper too much, but when she heard this, the constant fear made her unable to hold back any longer, and she lowered her eyebrows and said, "Hongzhan, didn't you hear that the palace asked you to come over?" Such a big person still thinks about what to play like all day long! ”

Being drunk like this by Liu, Hongzhan lowered his head in fear, quickly slipped out of Ling Ruo's arms, ran to Liu's side in small steps, grabbed her hand and said, "E-niang, don't be angry, Erchen doesn't play." Seeing that Liu didn't speak, he seemed to have made some major determination, and said: "Erchen doesn't want sugar people, Erchen goes back to learn calligraphy and memorizes the three-character scripture!" ”

Hearing this, Liu's face turned slightly pale, and he said to Jin Gu: "Take the sixth elder brother back to Yongshou Palace, watch him learn calligraphy well, and don't let him walk around." ”

"Yes." Jin Gu picked up Hongzhan and was about to leave, Ling Ruo said loudly: "This palace still has something to ask the sixth elder brother, and don't leave yet!" ”

Liu said: "Niangniang, you said that everything must be verified carefully, and no one should be wronged, the concubine can understand, but the concubine has been sitting here for so long, and after watching it for so long, all she has seen is that Niangniang is interrogating the people around the concubine, but she ignores Qi Jia's person, who should be interrogated the most, and even lets her sit here in a grand manner." Dare to ask the mother, what does this mean? ”

Ling Ruo stared at the angry Liu and said, "Is Concubine Qian questioning this palace?" This palace said that it would find out about this matter, and you should believe that this palace is. ”