After returning to the Jiaofang Palace, Teng Ling beckoned the palace maid to serve hot tea, and softly tested Yifang's emotions.

"Tengling, you don't have to be so careful, this palace is fine." Yifang saw her thoughts at a glance and explained to her directly, lest they keep treating themselves as overly frightened.

"Is Niang Niang really okay? The slave maid saw that the mother's face was not very good all the way. Tengling still can't rest assured.

"This palace is really fine, it's just ......" Yifang sighed, not knowing if this matter should be mentioned to them.

"Is there anything on Niangniang's mind? If there is something, talk to the slave and maid, if the slave and maid have an idea, it is good, if not, the mother will be more comfortable to say what she has hidden in her heart. ”

Teng Ling said a little bit of truth, and Yi Fang still opened his mouth: "This palace once mentioned to you that this palace originally entered the palace to find the missing younger brother. Originally, after so many years, I didn't have any hope, but today I suddenly saw him and recognized him. ”

"That should be a happy thing for everyone, why is the mother so worried?"

Yifang sighed heavily: "He is now the leader of the Righteous Ranger, that is, the mastermind of tonight's assassination. ”

As soon as these words came out, Teng Ling and Zili were taken aback, they glanced at each other, and felt that this matter was very serious.

"Sneaking into the palace to assassinate the emperor is a big crime to kill the head......" Teng Ling muttered.

"Yes, so this palace is very worried, just recognized his long-lost brother, but found out that he had committed such a heinous crime. As the queen, how can this palace protect it? Yi Fang said this, and became more and more sad.

"Then the queen is going to let the emperor deal with those assassins?"

"It's supposed to be like this, but this palace can't ignore it." Yifang's face was full of sorrow, probably swaying between family affection and national law, and he was very annoyed in his heart.

"Niangniang, maybe there is still room for this matter to be turned around." Zili, who had not spoken for a long time, suddenly spoke, "The slave maid has heard some things about the righteous rangers, and knows that they are fighting violence and peace among the people, robbing the rich and helping the poor, and doing things that are beneficial to the people, but I don't know why they came to the palace to assassinate them." If this can be clarified, it may not be deadlocked. ”

These words reminded Yifang that even if she hadn't seen her for so many years, she still didn't believe that Shaojun would risk assassinating for no reason. Since he is the leader of the righteous rangers, he must not be threatened or bewitched, maybe there is some misunderstanding in it. Even if the assassination has been done, if there is a misunderstanding, and the righteous ranger can be used by the court in the future, maybe Liu Heng will open the net.

"Zili is right, there is still room for things to turn around." Yi Fang made up her mind, and of course the sooner the better, so she immediately planned to go to Weiyang Palace.

"Niangniang, it's so late now, why don't you go again tomorrow morning!" Teng Ling was worried that she had just been taken hostage, and now she was running to Weiyang Palace, and her body would be unbearable.

But Yi Fang shook his head: "If it's any later, Shaojun will be even more dangerous." ”

When I arrived at Weiyang Palace, it was still brightly lit, and Liu Heng was still dealing with tonight's affairs. But Yifang paused at the door, if she went in now, and Mrs. Shen was with her, then her own words would not be easy to say.

"The queen is really here, and the emperor is waiting for you inside!" Wu Ping saw Yifang hesitating at the door, and hurriedly stepped forward.

"The emperor is waiting for the palace?" Yifang thought it was very strange.

Wu Ping nodded in confirmation: "If Niangniang doesn't come again, I'm afraid the emperor will have to send someone to invite him." ”

Yifang walked in at this time, and sure enough, he saw Liu Heng sitting in it with his eyes closed, but he was not the only one in this palace. Yi Fang saluted first, and then turned to look at Mrs. Shen who was kneeling on the ground, and there were two guards guarding her. Yi Fang looked at her trembling legs, it seemed like some time had passed.

"Your Majesty, what's going on?" Yifang asked blankly. The scene in front of her surprised her so much that she pushed back everything she was supposed to say.

"Geng Shushen, originally known as Lu Yixiao, is an important figure in the Yu Party of the Lu family, and has always wanted to lurk by my side since she was in Daiguo, but she failed to achieve her goal at that time, and now I just need it, so I gave her this opportunity."

As soon as Liu Heng's words came out, Mrs. Shen, who was originally kneeling on the ground and didn't say a word, also raised her head in surprise: "It turns out that the emperor already knew?" ”

"Of course, otherwise what reason do you think you can be so favored in the palace?" Liu Heng looked at Mrs. Shen in his eyes, there was no longer the same affection as before, and the only thing left was cold.

"So all this is a trap set by the emperor in order to catch them all?" Yifang sat next to him at Liu Heng's signal.

Mrs. Shen looked at the two people in front of her, and suddenly felt that she was a joke, they sat together like a match made in heaven, and she used to think that the pride of winning the favor was just a trick like a clown. She smiled a little miserably, and even Yifang couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for her.

According to Liu Heng's meaning, he originally wanted to dig out the answer he wanted from Mrs. Shen, but he had already asked before Yifang arrived, and Mrs. Shen never said a word about the things related to the Lu clan. Liu Heng knew that it would be embarrassing to ask any more, so he simply asked her to be taken down, put in prison, and wait for the verdict to be announced.

"Yifang, when you were held hostage just now, there was only disappointment in your eyes when you looked at me." After Mrs. Shen was taken out, Liu Heng suddenly said such a sentence.

Yifang smiled indifferently: "This was indeed the state of mind at that time. But now the concubine knows that the emperor has secretly designed everything, and the concubine is not smart enough to think of this. ”

"I originally arranged for someone to guard you, just to protect you from injury, but I didn't expect them to hold you hostage."

"The emperor doesn't need to say much, the concubine has already figured everything out later." Yi Fang answered, suddenly remembering the purpose of his trip, and continued, "Your Majesty, the leader of those assassins, the concubines want to see him. ”

Liu Heng's brows furrowed, and he recalled the situation just now: "But I remember that when the arrow was shot just now, you actually threw that person away." If you don't save him, that person will probably die by this time, why is that? ”

Yifang originally planned to tell Liu Heng the whole story, so he no longer hesitated at this time: "Your Majesty, the concubine once mentioned to you that there was a younger brother who was lost when he was a child. ”

"I remember, but what does this have to do with today's Assassins?"

Yi Fang said solemnly: "The leader of the assassins of the Righteous Ranger is the long-lost brother of the concubine. There was a button-shaped birthmark on his wrist, and the concubine would never admit it when she saw it when she was being held hostage. ”

"Is that true?" Liu Heng was taken aback.

"Absolutely." Yi Fang said seriously, "Your Majesty, although the concubine has been separated from her younger brother for many years, she never believes that he will do such a rebellious thing, and there must be some misunderstanding in it. He also asked the emperor to allow his concubines to meet him, to find out the reason, and if there was any trouble, the emperor would not kill a good person by mistake. And if they really have bad intentions, they should let the concubine go to see the younger brother for the last time! ”

Liu Heng hesitated for a moment, probably thinking that these people were really dangerous, but looking at Yifang's determined eyes, he still nodded.

When she arrived at the prison, Yi Fang smelled the dark and damp smell again, she covered her mouth and nose slightly, and after entering the cell where Shaojun was held, she ordered the guards who followed behind to retreat.

"Eldest sister." Shaojun's voice was a little at a loss.

"Shaojun." Yi Fang stroked Shaojun's cheek, but she immediately buried the family affection in her heart, now is not the time to speak, she must hurry up and ask the truth of this matter.

"Shaojun, the eldest sister has a lot to say to you, but now that the situation is urgent, in order to save your life, whatever the eldest sister asks, you must answer truthfully."

Shaojun naturally believed in Yifang, so he nodded.

"Why did you sneak into the palace to assassinate the emperor?"

The answer to this question was not a secret, and even if it wasn't for Yifang, he felt the need to hide it. The young monarch replied truthfully: "Today's emperor is no different from the past, the people are rampant with corrupt officials and corrupt officials, and the people are not happy, but he is looking for joy in the palace. Eldest sister, why did you become his queen? ”

Yi Fang shook his head: "Shaojun, you misunderstood, those are just appearances. ”

"Eldest sister, what do you mean?"

"It is precisely in order to lure you out that the emperor deliberately ignores those corrupt officials, but in fact, he secretly collects the list of these people, and only waits for your affairs to be resolved, and then nets all these people."

"Our business? Is it wrong for us to deal with those corrupt officials? ”

Yifang sighed: "Naturally, it's right, but the way you take is too extreme. Recently, the emperor has been vigorously searching the remnants of the Lu family, and what you have done will inevitably make people contact you with those people. But it's okay, if you're just fighting for the people, that's okay. ”

But after Yifang said these words, Shaojun's eyes were a little evasive, and he seemed to be hesitating to say something.

Yifang's heart suddenly tightened: "You ...... It can't really have anything to do with the Lu family, right? ”

“...... Some connections. Shaojun hesitated for a moment, but still said truthfully, "It's just that they have the intention of cooperating with us, but I didn't fully agree." This time, I got some help from them. ”

"Shaojun, you have been used." Yi Fang took a deep breath, "The Lu clan has always wanted to overthrow the current imperial court and regain power in the hands of the Lu clan, they don't care about the lives of the people at all, just to seize power. ”

"I thought the same way, so I didn't agree to their cooperation for a long time, just using each other and taking what they need."