Yao Duran said: "Queen Mother, the concubine sincerely pleads to you, and she accepts the death of the princess, and the concubine has already figured it out. It turned out that the concubine was preconceived and confused, but she forgot that Niangniang dared to kill Princess Cheng in front of Her Majesty, and if Niangniang really did this, why didn't she dare to admit it? Therefore, it was the concubine who misunderstood Niangniang, and I hope Niangniang forgives. ”

The queen looked at her for a while, and the corners of her lips finally hooked up a smile: "You can figure it out, get up." It's November, the lotus flowers in Shanglin Yuan are about to bloom, and tomorrow morning I will go to enjoy it with the palace, and you can also scatter your heartache. ”

Yao Duran listened to it, and breathed a sigh of relief in her heart, appreciating the lotus flowers was fake, and it was true to forgive her.

"Thank you for the queen's care, it is a blessing for the concubine to be able to accompany the mother to enjoy the flowers." Yao Duran got up slowly, and the queen said: "Come and take a look at this bird raised in this palace, its beak is coincidental." ”

Yao Duran came to her side and asked softly, "Niangniang, the concubine wants to ask you something. ”

The queen put a slender spoon into the cage to feed the birds, and said, "What's the matter?" ”

Yao Duran said: "Did Niangniang talk about the Flowing Immortal Hall again?" What the concubine said was that Princess Cheng seduced His Majesty, and Niangniang summoned the concubines to kill Princess Cheng together. ”

The queen was stunned for a moment, withdrew the spoon, thought for a while, and said, "It is true that we have talked about it, but this palace is just talking about such secrets when I mention them with Ruomei." ”

And so it was! The guess in Yao Duran's heart was confirmed, and her eyes were covered with a thin layer of frost. What a Ning Wanshu who overheard the secret but was in her heart! It's a great way to sow discord! The peace that had been slowly built between her and the queen was almost ruined!

After thinking about it, Yao Duran said meaningfully: "Niangniang, Princess Cheng was not killed by you, but it was not killed by the concubine." The concubine thought, your Fenghuan Palace, not only has ears on the wall, but also has a master inside. ”

When the queen heard this, she immediately turned her head to look at her, and the two looked at each other for a moment, and the queen finally came back to her senses, sneered and nodded: "Hehe, yes, yes, this palace has forgotten her as a person......

......

In the afternoon, Fuquan returned to the palace and said that everything was safe and smooth about the burial of Yuan's mansion. Yao Duran listened, depressed and speechless.

Fuquan hesitated for a while, and suddenly said: "Niangniang, Xianghui said that I want to enter the palace to follow you and serve you." ”

Yao Duran thought for a while and said, "Fuquan, now that I'm on the cusp of the storm, it's really hard to make any more outrageous moves." Besides, if I bring Xianghui into the palace, Your Majesty and the Empress will inevitably think that I am still unwilling to give up on the matter of Lu Yan, and I want to plan something with the maids of the Yuan Mansion, so I ......"

After hearing this, Fuquan suddenly knelt on the ground, and said in a sonorous tone: "Niangniang, Fuquan has not asked you for anything, but Xianghui's entry into the palace, Fuquan is here today to open this mouth to you seriously, and I ask Niangniang to be fulfilled!" ”

When Yao Duran heard this, he couldn't help but be surprised, and blurted out: "Fuquan, you ...... Love fragrant flowers? ”

Fuquan lowered his head and said in a low voice: "Xianghui she...... Very good. ”

Yao Duran thought for a while, and finally said, "That's it, it's just a matter of His Majesty's words, I'...... I'll talk to Your Majesty again. Hurry up. ”

Fuquan raised his head at this time: "Slave Xie Niangniang!" ”

When Fuquan left, Bi Ya hurriedly came in again, and said with great interest: "Niangniang, there is movement over there in Fenghuan Palace!" ”

Yao Duran raised her eyes to look at her: "What movement?" ”

Bi Ya said: "Niangniang, the queen made a decree, saying that Fenghuan Palace should be fixed in the morning and dusk every day, and the concubines and concubines come and go, I am afraid that it will disturb Ning Zhaoyi's injuries, so the queen ordered someone to clean up a Simian Pavilion in a remote place, and ordered Ning Zhaoyi to move over to recuperate, and exempted her from the morning and dusk of the province, and did not allow her to leave the Simian Pavilion!" ”

After hearing this, Yao Duran felt a burst of joy in her heart, and the corners of her lips were filled with a mocking sneer: "Ning Zhaoyi can't live because of her own sin, she dares to play tricks under the eyes of the queen, and it is the queen who calculates, but she is really a heroine among women, except for her." Now I moved to that remote dwelling, and let's go and play with the thirty-six tricks again. ”

Biya echoed: "Yes, then Simian Pavilion is biased, Simian Simian, a good place to sleep, quiet and uninhabited." When Ning Zhaoyi moved there, let alone see His Majesty's Long Yan in the future, it was difficult to see a living person. ”

Yao Duran said: "She has too many thoughts, this time, let's spend that beautiful heart." ”

......

In the imperial study, Huo Jingcheng was discussing with the Shangshu of the Criminal Department, Taichang Siqing, and the Imperial History of the Inspectorate.

Taichang Siqing said: "Your Majesty, we have found clues from the arrows made by the assassins, those arrows are all from the arrows of the Royal Military Department, and they are all newly made at the beginning of this year. ”

The Inspectorate said: "Yes, so we have ordered the arrest of all the officials who have received this batch of arrows, and then interrogate them slowly." ”

After a long time, Huo Jingcheng said: "It's okay to be arrested, but without an order, no torture can be used!" ”

"Yes."

Huo Jingcheng asked, "Are the Duan family and the Yu family among them?" ”

Taichang Siqing said: "Yes, both families are among them. ”

Huo Jingcheng's face turned cold and snorted coldly.

At this time, the Shangshu of the Criminal Department sounded again with a hesitant voice: "Your Majesty, as well as the Xiao family, have also received this batch of arrows, Wechen didn't dare to be alarmed, but Wechen thought, in order to convince people, should we treat everyone equally......"

As soon as the words fell, Huo Jingcheng's face changed, and he pointed at the three of them and said angrily: "Presumptuous!" Your Excellency, you dare to do this?! I tell you! At any time, don't give me the idea of beating the Xiao family!! Otherwise, do you three want me to dismiss you from your post and investigate you? ”

The three of them hurriedly knelt on the ground in panic.

"Wechen don't dare! Wechen is just to take care of this matter, treat it fairly, and have no selfishness! I hope that Your Majesty will be able to see clearly! ”

The atmosphere was solemn, Huo Jingcheng paced back and forth for a few steps, calmed his mind, and said calmly: "However, what you said is reasonable, since you want to take down all the officials who have received this batch of arrows, you really can't lose fairness and treat the Xiao family specially." ”

The Ministry of Criminal Affairs Shangshu said: "Then Your Majesty means ......"

Huo Jingcheng said: "You still have to be pretty, but Lord Guozhang is old and can't stand the pain of prison." Forget it about taking down my wife and brother, it should be fair and convincing, and block the mouth of Youyou. ”

The three of them said in unison: "Your Majesty is wise! ”

Huo Jingcheng raised his hand to a few people: "Remember, my brother-in-law is only tried." ”

The three of them looked at each other and said yes again.

Before retreating, the criminal department Shangshu suddenly stopped and didn't leave, and the other two looked at him puzzled, but saw that he slowly went back a few steps, knelt on the ground again, and said in a solemn tone: "Your Majesty! Weichen has a sentence, even if His Majesty immediately beheads Weichen, Weichen must say it as soon as possible! ”

Huo Jingcheng's handsome eyes were like an eagle, staring straight at him: "What words?" ”

Shangshu of the Criminal Department gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, in fact, why doesn't the Xiao family have a motive to assassinate?" His Majesty prefers Concubine Chen, and it is not impossible for the Xiao family to attack Concubine Chen in order to stabilize the queen's mother's position. ”

After saying that, the other two adults were already in a cold sweat, and Shangshu of the Criminal Department also quietly pinched his sweat and observed Huo Jingcheng's expression with his spare eyes.

However, Huo Jingcheng was not angry, but calmly silent. The atmosphere froze for a long time, and he finally said, "Let's check those officials first, okay, let's all go down." ”

Huo Jingcheng didn't say a word about this, but sent it lightly, no one knew what the sacred heart meant, so he returned in vain, and bowed and retreated.

The bamboo curtain fell, closing the room quietly. Huo Jingcheng sat down after coming to the imperial case, called Qin An, and ordered: "Qin An, you go to Xiao Mansion in person and tell Lord Guozhang that I take my wife and brother just to convince people fairly, and make a show, so that his old man can rest assured." ”

Qin An said: "Yes." ”

......

At this end, the three adults were far away from the imperial study, and then they all breathed a sigh of relief.

Taichang Siqing said earnestly to the Shangshu of the Criminal Department: "Lord Liu, Lord Liu, Your Majesty has been persuaded by us to take down the brother-in-law, we will accept it if we don't see it, why bother to say more?" What you said before leaving, did you really dare to lead the dragon and saw the horns? ”

The Imperial History of the Inspectorate echoed: "Yes, where is the Xiao family sacred?" That is the queen's mother's maiden family, not to mention that His Majesty wants to protect the Xiao family for the queen's mother, even for the sake of the eldest prince, it is impossible to move a finger of the Xiao family. It is self-evident that the eldest prince is a grandson or an elder, and his status is extraordinary, how could His Majesty let the eldest prince's grandfather's family become a criminal clan? ”

Shangshu of the Criminal Department snorted coldly: "You two just don't understand my hard work." There are some things that are clear to onlookers, so there are some things that we have to dare to call Your Majesty. And my speculation about the Xiao family is not unreasonable. You know, one more guess in this case is equivalent to one more clue and one more direction, in case we don't find out anything from those officials in the end, and the really suspicious Xiao family doesn't allow us to investigate, then how are we going to hand over this errand? ”

Taichang Siqing said: "Speaking of speculation, then I might as well make a bold guess." Actually, have you two thought about it, there may be no mastermind behind this case at all, and the real master is only Concubine Chen. ”

When the other two heard this, they understood the mystery and turned to him in unison.

Shangshu of the Criminal Department said: "You mean that this case is a bitter plan planned by Concubine Chen herself?" ”

Taichang Siqing said slowly: "The appearance of this case is indeed a bit like this. But Concubine Chen is more clever, and she didn't target anyone, maybe she just wanted to give the former dynasty a dismount, so that everyone knew clearly that as long as she Concubine Chen was unhappy, His Majesty would be able to turn over the sky in the capital for her, so her move was not only to dismount the horse but also to set an example for the monkey, to alert the remaining officials, and to abandon the dark and cast the light for her use as soon as possible. This is her first move, intimidating people, forcing people to take refuge, and establishing a party. Secondly, this is also a trick to explore the way, to test the weight of the Xiao family in His Majesty's mind, so as to make a decision. ”

The Imperial History of the Inspectorate said: "Yes, you must know that Concubine Chen is a favored concubine, and the favor of the Son of Heaven can stimulate the ambition of the concubine the most." Therefore, it is natural for Concubine Chen to cultivate this way. ”

After being silent for a moment, Shangshu of the Criminal Department slowly shook his head: "No, I don't believe that she can have such far-reaching scheming as a woman." According to me, the most reliable guess is still the Xiao family. ”

Taichang Siqing said: "Lord Liu, don't say that I didn't remind you, it's better for you to say less." Today's luck is a fluke, Your Majesty is not to blame, but once this word reaches the Middle Palace, then the queen will not spare you. ”

Hearing this, the Imperial History of the Inspectorate felt a little troubled in his heart, and waved his hand and said: "That's it, these speculations will be put aside first, and first follow the holy will, start with those officials, if there is a result, it will naturally be better, if there is no result, then think about it in the long run." ”

A few people stopped the topic and drifted away on the palace road.