No matter how the wind and clouds change outside, the inside of Hokke Temple is always solemn and quiet.

Long after the queen's phoenix left, Ling Qingsong rode out of the back door and rode back to Shangdu City.

When he returned home and dismounted, he stumbled and fell without standing firmly. The attendant hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, found that his palms were cold, and asked with concern, "Is the young master okay?" ”

He shook his head a little dazedly, with a bit of banter in his expression, and said in a low voice: "It's not good, I'll go to Zhongshu Province later, and I'll take a few days off from the imperial court." ”

The attendant looked at him but his face was inappropriate, thinking that he had fallen lightly and injured his tibia, and asked urgently: "But do you want to ask for a doctor?" ”

Qingsong shook his head and said, "It's okay, don't let people come into the house and disturb me." With that, he broke free of his attendant's hand and walked forward slowly.

The attendant frowned, always feeling that his young master was very abnormal.

On the other side, in the Nine Thoughts Hall of the Shangqing Palace in Luojing, the incense is soothing, and the room is quiet.

The Empress Dowager Yuan closed her eyes and turned the Buddhist beads in her hand, and Du Qinniang, who was standing in the hall, lowered her eyes, but stood straight.

"I hope the Queen Mother will be gracious." She spoke softly.

Empress Dowager Yuan opened her eyes slightly and sighed: "You should know why Tingmeng was punished to come to the Shangqing Palace." The mourning family knows that she is Liulang's person, and they also know that Qin Niang is your protector. However, the mourning family is not afraid to tell you that now that the prince is not in good health, let alone lock her up, even if he deals with her, no one will say a word. ”

Du Qinniang's complexion froze, but she didn't know that the Queen Mother locked up Tingmeng for this reason.

Since the Queen Mother moved to the Shangqing Palace, this originally quiet palace has gradually become different. In recent days, the people of the Shangqing Palace, from the palace maids to the inner servants, have begun to discuss the affairs of the Shangdu Palace.

Du Qinniang thought that the Empress Dowager would return to Shangdu, but Empress Dowager Yuan's daily life was still as usual, and she didn't seem to care about everything outside the Shangqing Palace.

But what she just said showed that she was not as ignorant as she appeared.

Du Qinniang stabilized her mind and said calmly: "What Niangniang said, the slave and maid really didn't know before, and when they came out of this house, the slave and maid didn't know it after that. I heard that I had been in the Qing Palace for some time, and I had some friendship with the slaves, so I came to beg the mother to open up. But the mother said so, and the slave and maid couldn't intercede for her, so she only begged if the mother could allow the slave and maid to see her, and also full of mutual friendship? ”

Empress Dowager Yuan looked at her and nodded: "It is worthy of being the person personally arranged by the first emperor to take care of Zhao Suhua, who is alert and calm." ”

Du Qinniang was shocked. Empress Xiaoyi's name is Su Hua, which may not be a secret thing in the palace, but Empress Dowager Yuan directly said that her surname is Zhao instead of Chen, which means that she knows Empress Xiaoyi's life experience.

The royal family of the previous dynasty was surnamed Zhao.

Empress Dowager Yuan got up and walked in front of her, and said softly: "You don't have to be surprised, the mourning family has been by the emperor's side for decades, if you don't even know who the person on the tip of his heart is, you will become the queen in vain." ”

Du Qinniang's heartbeat was accelerating, and she kept her head down, which also hid her slightly flustered look.

"I'm afraid Du chose to come to the Shangqing Palace not just for himself, right?" Empress Dowager Yuan's tone was very gentle, as if she was chattering.

Du Qinniang's alarm clock quickly calculated how much she knew, and what was the intention of confessing this to herself?

Seeing that Du Qinniang didn't speak for a long time, Empress Dowager Yuan smiled and said, "I might as well tell you that the mourning family didn't come to this Shangqing Palace completely for themselves. ”

Du Qinniang's hand hidden in her long sleeves was held tighter, she took a deep breath, and replied: "The slave doesn't know why the maid came to the Shangqing Palace, and this is not something that the slave should know." And the slave maid came to this Shangqing Palace to enjoy her old age in peace, and she had no other intention. ”

Empress Dowager Yuan chuckled, then sighed again: "It's okay if you don't say it." The mourners will not embarrass you. Go and see what you dream. ”

Du Qinniang quietly saluted and retired. When she walked out of the Nine Thoughts Palace, a cool breeze blew, and she shuddered and exhaled deeply.

She went to see and hear the dream.

Listening to dreams seems calm. She is currently under house arrest in her own house, deprived of her freedom, and the Queen Mother has done nothing else to her.

"Mama, is Your Highness in danger?" The first thing she said when she saw Du Qinniang was worry.

Du Qinniang frowned slightly, rolled her eyes, and shook her head slightly, reminding her that she might be separated

The wall has ears.

Hearing the dream, he was immediately silenced, and looked at Du Qinniang as if asking for help.

"Listen to the dream, you should reflect here. Don't worry about things out there. She said as she stepped forward and patted Yumengdi on the shoulder as if to soothe.

Tingmeng grabbed her hand, trembling slightly, and said in a volume that only the two of them could hear: "After the Queen Mother said that the princess is a criminal minister, Mama must find a way to inform His Royal Highness of this matter!" ”

Du Qinniang's hands tightened, her eyes widened, and her surprised expression was undisguised. She was about to blurt out and ask her what the Queen Mother had said to her, but after thinking about it, she endured it.

She was silent for a while, withdrew her clenched hand, and said in a deep voice: "I know that you care about Your Highness, but you don't care about the outside affairs." Find a way to keep yourself safe and sound, and remember my words. ”

With that, she turned and walked out of the house.

Two days later, Qingxi rushed to the Shangqing Palace.

Because Jiang Lian and Xie Zhi were originally cloth clothes and their identities were embarrassing, Qingxi did not let the two follow.

Jiang Lian refused to allow it at first. "If the princess is placed under house arrest in the Shangqing Palace, the situation will be very passive."

Xie Zhi is also worried: "Although the Queen Mother has a reputation for being generous, but in the current situation, if the princess is detained, it will be very difficult for Her Royal Highness in Shangdu City to do it." ”

Qingxi smiled: "I asked you to help me go to Beisu that day, and you also said the same." ”

Xie Zhi paused, thinking of the past.

Qingxi looked at Jiang Lian again: "Brother Jiang, didn't I leave you outside the palace just in case?" If they are all trapped in the palace, that is the worst-case scenario. And I have to go to see the Queen Mother. She looked at Xie Zhi again and continued: "There is another point that must be emphasized: we are not trying to calculate the throne, and the Heng King of Shangdu City will not rebel. The purpose of our trip was only to make sure that he was safe and that he could get out of the way. So, what can the Queen Mother use me to blackmail him? He didn't have the throne in his hands. ”

Jiang Lian and Xie Zhi knew her style of acting and knew that they couldn't stop her. Besides, what she said was right, and she couldn't refute it.

So, the two stayed at an inn near the Shangqing Palace and waited for news from Qingxi.

After Qingxi entered the Shangqing Palace, the first thing he saw was not the Empress Dowager Yuan, but Du Qinniang.

The Queen Mother's will is that Princess Heng will work hard all the way, so let her settle down and rest first.

This will was also unexpected by Qingxi.

She thought that the Queen Mother would be surprised by her arrival, but because of this surprise, she would summon her as soon as possible.

She had all the words of persuasion ready.

However, Empress Dowager Yuan did not seem to be in a hurry.

In confusion, Du Qinniang entered the house.

"Mama Du?" Qingxi was slightly surprised when she saw her, and immediately got up and said hello: "How is Mama Du?" ”

Du Qinniang smiled kindly, and after greeting him, she nodded frequently. "It's good, it's all good."

The two exchanged pleasantries for a while, and Qingxi slowly put away her smile and asked, "Mama came to see me on the order of the Queen Mother, right?" Although, I don't know yet, what the Queen Mother asked you to do. ”

When she saw Du Qinniang, she already knew that this was what Empress Dowager Yuan meant, otherwise how could a lady in charge get the news as soon as she got the news and came to ask for peace.

Du Qinniang was not surprised by her question, but tilted her head slightly, as if consciously avoiding Qingxidi's gaze.

Qingxi saw that she didn't speak immediately, so she smiled again and said, "If Mama doesn't come to me, I'll ask Mama about something." ”

"Oh? Is there something wrong with the princess? Du Qinniang asked.

Qingxi looked a little hesitant, but after taking a deep breath, he asked calmly: "The effect of the prescription that Mama prescribed that day regulates the body and helps you conceive, right?" ”

Du Qinniang's expression was stunned, and then she nodded.

"My body isn't fertile easily, is it?"

Du Qinniang nodded again as if it was extremely difficult.

Qingxi smiled slightly, and said softly: "It's hard for him to take care of my mood, so he has so much intention to hide it from me." ”

"Your Highness, he ......" Du Qinniang's voice was extremely low, as if she wanted to say it, but she didn't seem to want to say it.

"So Mama, is my body natural or man-made?" Qingxi put away his smile and asked seriously.

Du Qinniang lowered her head slightly and was silent.

"Mama?" Qingxi frowned and called her.

"Artificial." Du Qinniang

Low low return.

Qingxi took a deep breath. She had already guessed the answer: "Does Mama know what's going on?" ”

Du Qinniang closed her eyes, and when she spoke again, her voice was a little vain: "I only know that His Royal Highness found me that day and told me that you had taken forbidden drugs in the palace before, and it was not easy to conceive. However, at this time, I was able to prescribe a prescription to regulate the body and remove toxins. ”

Qingxi thought in his heart: "He always knew? Can you do it at this point? What is the meaning? ”

Du Qinniang shook her head: "Your Highness didn't elaborate. ”

"And who drugged me?" Qingxi asked.

"Your Highness won't even say it."

Qingxi breathed for a while, his back was cold, and his complexion was gloomy.

After a while, she asked, "Mama came today to talk to me about this, right?" ”

Du Qinniang did not deny it, took a deep breath, got up and knelt down and said: "Don't dare to deceive the princess, because the slave maid is the old person of Shangdu City, the queen mother often invites the slave and maid to talk after coming to the Shangqing Palace." Niangniang knew that when His Royal Highness came to Luojing, she took the slave maid to see the princess, and she guessed what happened, so she asked the slave maid, and the slave maid had to tell the truth, and the maid asked the slave maid to tell the princess. ”

Qingxi looked at Du Qinniang kneeling in front of her, frowning and silent.

Du Qinniang kept kneeling and didn't look up.

Quiet room.

After a long time, Qingxi said in a deep voice: "Since this is the case, take me back to the Queen Mother, and say that I understand the Queen Mother's hard work, but there are still many things I don't understand, and I know that the Queen Mother will definitely solve my doubts."

Du Qinniang kowtowed again, got up and prepared to withdraw.

Qingxi said softly again: "Mama, you should be waiting for someone in Shangqing Palace, right?" ”

Du Qinniang paused and did not deny it. She thought that Xiao Yizheng would tell her about this.

"Mama must not know who she is waiting for. Therefore, before the person who is waiting arrives, Mama must protect herself. ”