The winter night is silent, the wind is blowing, the grass and trees outside the window are sloppy and the leaves are falling, the eaves of the house are crunchy, and the curtains in the hall are flying like waves, and the lights and shadows are jumping on the paper like water. I closed the book and instructed Yunxi, "It's windy, go and close the window." ”

At this time, he saw Li Fei hurriedly enter the hall and said, "Niangniang, Your Majesty has returned from Baolin Temple, and I heard that Your Majesty was attacked on the way to Baolin Temple. ”

"Snap", the book in his hand fell to the ground, and just as he was about to speak, Yunxi was even more than me, and said anxiously: "Then how is Your Majesty, are you injured?" ”

"With the protection of the Yulin Army, His Majesty is safe and sound, only some guards have been injured."

I didn't have the heart to explore Yunxi's strangeness, thinking of a person, I almost blurted out, "Then Master......" Thinking that Master's affairs can't be leaked, I changed my words again, "Then do you know who has been killed or injured?" ”

Li Fei replied truthfully: "The slave maid only heard that some guards were lost, and the rest is unknown. ”

For some reason, my heart was pounding, and I always felt a sense of foreboding.

In the middle of the night, I couldn't sleep on the bed, holding a blue jade wrench in my hand, and looked at it carefully.

What is Master's purpose in secretly handing over this wrench to me? Could it be related to the map of the heavens and the earth?

How could it be so coincidental that Chen Qian was attacked at the moment when he took his master to Baolin Temple? Is Master safe and sound now?

As soon as it was dawn, I hurried to the Jardine Palace, and when I went there, I bumped into Xiao Liangzheng, the commander of the guards, who sent people to search the hall vigorously, as if he was looking for something.

I was both surprised and puzzled, so I rushed over and asked, "Commander Xiao, where is Master?" ”

When I asked, Commander Xiao's voice became a little low and sad, "During the attack yesterday, Zuo Qing had a heart attack and died. ”

"What? Heart disease? I was shocked and incredulous, "What the hell is going on?" "Why is the person who was good yesterday gone?

"Zuo Qing has always had a heart disease, and he has relied on pills to hang his life until now. But yesterday, for some reason, he didn't bring the life-saving elixir......"

I tried to force myself to calm down, accept the suddenness of the facts, and keep my head awake and asked, "Who was it that attacked you yesterday?" ”

"The subordinates have already found out, it is Zhou Guo's hidden work in Jiankang, and they are coming for Zuo Qing. But they didn't expect Zuo Qing to suddenly have a heart attack and die, and he was busy in vain, and he was completely annihilated by the Yulin Army. ”

I was heartbroken and dazed when I heard it, I don't know if it was my delusion, I seemed to see a trace of inexplicable grief hidden in Xiao Liang's eyes.

I vaguely feel that Chen Qian knows something, and it was not an accidental idea that he took his master to Baolin Temple, but it was premeditated, and this matter was by no means so simple.

But I was soon overwhelmed with grief and no longer had the heart to think about anything superfluous. I looked at the master lying on the bed with a bloodless face and a cold body, and as soon as I opened my mouth, my voice was hoarse, "Master, Master......"

There was no response, and I trembled and wept as I reached out to probe his snort, and fell to the ground, crying bitterly.

Chen Qian didn't know when he came, and suddenly hugged me, not like he used to possess strongly, but like a wounded little beast that needed comfort.

"Qing'er, Brother Zuo is dead, I didn't expect him to die, I didn't think I wanted him to die." Chen Qian's voice was full of sadness.

I pushed him away fiercely, and I had no intention of hiding it in grief, cold and angry, "Get out, get out!" ”

Chen Qian looked at me nervously and scared, "Qing'er, you heard me say that Zuo Qing's death was an accident, and I never thought that he would have a ...... of death."

"Shut up!" I was cold and scathing, and hissed hard, "You killed my master, it's you who are you!" You murderer, I don't want to see you again, you get out, get out! ”

I cried angrily, and smashed everything I could in my hand in a frenzy, but I still couldn't force Chen Qian to retreat. Finally, he hugged me tightly and whispered in my ear, "Qing'er, it's okay, it's okay." You still have me, and I will never leave you. ”

I was so weak that I cried blood in my heart, so I could only lie in his arms and cry bitterly, irrepressibly.

——

After Chen Qian was attacked from Baolin Temple, he was in a very bad mood, and as soon as he came back, he killed more than a dozen palace people with the charge of "poor service and disrespect to the superiors". For a while, everyone in the palace up and down the six palaces was panicked, for fear that one would accidentally offend Tianyan and lose his life.

"Niangniang, the slave feels that this matter is probably not so simple."

When Qinglan reported this to me, I was combing my green silk in front of the rhombic mirror, the wooden comb in my hand was put down heavily, and I smiled coldly, "Of course it's not that simple, Lan Yao's matter has let His Majesty know that there are Zhou State spies hidden in this palace, and their target is Zuo Qing." The matter of entering the incense in Baolin Temple was planned by him a long time ago, and he deliberately released the rumors to let people know that Zuo Qing would accompany him, leading out those Zhou State spies who were hiding in Jiankang, and secretly set up an ambush on the way to catch all those fine works, and at the same time to find out whether there was a cooperation between inside and outside, and pull out the hidden fine works in the palace in one fell swoop. Most of the palace people who were disposed of by him were meticulous. ”

What I haven't said yet is that Master knows that Chen Qian's letting him accompany him is just a premeditated plan, and he will do it. He also knew that he was dead like this, and that thing was missing, and the first thing Chen Qian suspected was me, who was the closest to him during his lifetime, so he deliberately gave me that painting as a trick to confuse Chen Qian, eliminate Chen Qian's suspicions, and divert his attention. That way, the wrench in my hand is safe.

The painting was taken away by Chen Qian, but he was afraid that he would not be able to make a reason from that painting in his life. He never imagined that this was just a false trick of the master before he died.

I don't know what Master meant by giving me this wrench, but it must have something to do with that thing. Master suffers from heart disease, and I am afraid that he will not be able to support him to fulfill his last life, so he has entrusted me with such an important token, wanting me to replace him to complete his unfinished mission.

Master, you have freed Chen Qian from the shackles by dying, what about me, why did you leave me alone?

Time passed, and the Shangyuan Festival was spent in a festive atmosphere throughout the year. It is said that on the first day, Zhou also sent envoys to send gifts to congratulate, as for the situation, it is not for us harem concubines to know.

The sky is lonely, the snow is gargling, the rain and snow continue to fall for several days, the clouds and snow in front of the steps are deserted, the snow is projected from the lattice window, and the blue brick stanley in the hall is unusually bright and clear, full of light, even people seem to be in the morning light of displacement, hazy and hazy covered with a layer of soft light, graceful and elegant.

The hall is extremely quiet, the charcoal block in the charcoal furnace burns brightly like jade, "crackling" sounds, the heat is like clouds and fog, and the whole inner hall is warm and melting. I held a book in my hand and quietly placed it in front of the bookcase to read it, but I heard the news from Yunxi that Jiang Yu was coming, so I got up and put down the scroll.

Jiang Yu's expression was unprecedentedly solemn and serious, my eyelids jumped suddenly, and there was an inexplicable uneasiness in my heart.

"Your Majesty invites Niangniang to visit the Xianyang Palace."

Although I was uneasy, I still asked Li Fei to get an umbrella and rushed to the Xianyang Hall in the face of the wind and snow.

Walking into the main hall of Xianyang Palace, I saw that all the palace concubines in the palace had arrived. The emperor and queen sat on the main seat, and their complexions were not very good, especially Chen Qian, the twilight was dull, as if the wind and rain under the accumulation of dark clouds could pour down at any time.

In the inner hall, there was a person kneeling abruptly, it was Wang Guifei. I thought it was strange, but I still saluted the emperor and queen as usual.

The queen didn't look at me, but stared at Wang Guifei, her face was cold, "The crime of slandering the palace concubine is not small, Wang Guifei should be cautious." ”

Wang Guifei glanced at me, her eyebrows and eyes were indescribably cold, and her voice was as crisp as a bead, "What the concubine said just now is true, Hua Shurong took abortion pills and miscarried, pretending to frame and blame Yan Shuyuan, Yan Shuyuan was wronged, and the concubine implored the queen to make decisions for Sister Shuyuan." ”

With a "snap", the teacup in Chen Qian's hand was thrown at Wang Guifei, and said angrily: "Hugh is talking nonsense!" ”

The teacup was shattered and scattered, and the water splashed on Wang Guifei's face, Wang Guifei didn't care about wiping off the water droplets on her face, and said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, listen to the words of the concubine, and you will know whether what the concubine said is true or false." The concubine believes that with His Majesty's wise and holy judgment, His Majesty has his own judgment whether Hua Shurong is guilty or not. ”

At this time, Wang Chonghualing's lips opened, and he said in a clear voice: "Wang Guifei has always been upright and generous, if it weren't for the big things, why would Wang Guifei be like this?" Maybe there is some misunderstanding, why might as well listen to it. First, the truth can be ascertained; Second, you can also use this matter to prove Hua Shurong's innocence! ”

Chen Qian didn't speak, but the queen was moved, and asked Wang Guifei: "Since you said that Hua Shurong framed the palace concubine, do you have a certificate?" ”

"Hua Shurong selflessly takes abortion pills, and only the palace maids close to her know about it." Wang Guifei looked at the Danzhu in the hall, "Yunxi beside her is a witness." ”

When I heard Yunxi's name at first glance, my palms shook uncontrollably, but I saw a palace maid with a beautiful complexion slowly walking out behind Danzhu, who was undoubtedly Yunxi.

Chen Qian knew that Yunxi and I had always had a close relationship, and his face suddenly became suspicious, and he asked: "Yunxi, if you know something, just say it and listen to me, and you must not have half a lie." ”

Yunxi has been lowering her eyes since she entered the hall, and then she looked at Chen Qian, her eyes were full of water, "At the beginning, when Niangniang heard that she was pregnant, she was in a very bad mood, she said that she wanted to leave the palace and didn't want to stay here. Once, the slave saw that the mother was privately fiddling with a bracelet, and actually broke a pill from the bell on the bracelet. The slave maid thought it was strange, so she took off her bracelet while she was napping, took the pill and went to the imperial doctor for advice, and the imperial doctor said that it was an abortion pill! ”

After Yunxi finished speaking, Chen Ji's surprised gaze fell on me.

Yunxi continued: "The slave maid was very panicked, and she wanted to inform Your Majesty about this, but the maid cried and begged me to hide the matter, and the maid cried so pitifully that the slave couldn't bear to ......."

Exegesis:

(1) The title comes from Cao Zhi's "Seven Miscellaneous Poems" of the Two Han Dynasty Cao Zhi "High Platform and Sad Wind"