Gongliang Yanqing couldn't figure it out for a while, so he had to say: "It's late, girl, rest early, I'll deal with it on the imperial brother's side, you don't have to worry." ”

Ye Xuemei listened to the chirping summer insects outside the window, and sighed: "I can cope with it for a while, but I can't cope with it for a lifetime." You'll have to find a way to get out. ”

As soon as he heard this, Gongliang Yanqing suddenly became anxious, "Where can these three watches go in the middle of the night?" What if the forbidden army finds out? ”

Ye Xuemei also knew that she had nowhere to go for a while, but she knew even better that staying in King Mu's Mansion would definitely bring endless disasters to Gongliang Yanqing, and even ...... Killed.

"But ......"

"Nothing but that." Gongliang Yanqing interrupted her, "Anyway, the girl will stay here in peace." If you wait for the fifth brother to come back and know that I didn't take good care of the girl, you have to peel off my skin. ”

Ye Xuemei was amused by him, and said helplessly: "Since this is the case, it will bother the Seven Kings." ”

Seeing her agree, Gongliang Yanqing's expression relaxed, "If the girl has anything, just tell the people in the courtyard, they are all my confidants for many years, and they will never leak half a point." I'll have someone bring you a change of clothes later. ”

Zhang Hua came all the way to Xingde Hall by moonlight, and Xiao Shunzi, who was guarding outside the hall, saw him coming, and hurriedly greeted him, seeing that there was no one behind him, he wondered: "Lord Commander, what about Ye Cairen?" ”

"It's hard to put into words." After Zhang Hua dealt with it briefly, he said, "Your Majesty is inside?" ”

Xiao Shunzi nodded and said, "Your Majesty said, just go in directly after the commander comes back, and there is no need to pass it on separately." ”

"Thank you, Grandpa Shun!" Zhang Hua hurriedly arched his hand and walked in quickly. Gongliang sat in the chair with his eyes closed, and the fragrance of ambergris filled every corner of the hall.

"The minister knocks to see Your Majesty, Your Majesty is blessed and saintly." Zhang Hua's voice made Gongliang Rongruo slowly open his eyes and said indifferently: "Bring people in." ”

Zhang Hua lowered his head and said in a trembling voice: "The minister is not effective, please punish Your Majesty." ”

Gongliang Rongruo sat up straight in an instant, "What's the matter?" ”

Zhang Hua told all the things in front of King Mu's mansion, and then said: "King Mu used the will of the first emperor to pressure his ministers, but the ministers really had no choice. ”

Gongliang Rongruo said angrily: "Are you sure Ye Xuemei is there for Lao Qi?" ”

Zhang Hua replied: "The minister has never seen Ye Cairen enter King Mu's mansion with his own eyes, but if the seven kings have no ghosts in their hearts, why don't they let the ministers enter the mansion to search." After that, he said eagerly: "Your Majesty, rest assured, the minister has asked people to guard the front and back doors of King Mu's mansion, unless Ye Cairen has wings, he will definitely not be able to escape." ”

Gongliang Rongruo's face softened slightly, and he said coldly: "How could she go to the Old Seven Mansions?" ”

"According to what the maid in the Ye Mansion said, Ye Cairen only left a quarter of an hour earlier than the minister, and the minister was thinking about ......" Zhang Hua boldly said his guess in his heart, "Could it be that someone leaked this arrest and gave her a chance to escape." ”

With his words, Gongliang Rongruo stared at him without saying a word, which made him more and more frightened, "As soon as the minister received the command from the head of Shun, he immediately brought someone over, and he definitely didn't say a word to others!" Ask Your Majesty to learn from it! ”

Gong Liangrong Ruo naturally did not doubt him, but thought of another terrible thing.

After a long time, Gongliang Rongruo said to him: "When you leave this palace gate, you must not talk to anyone about this matter." If I hear a word...... You don't have to be the commander of the forbidden army anymore. ”

"Your Majesty's orders!" Zhang Hua hurriedly agreed, and after a while, he said again: "Your Majesty, ...... over there in King Mu's mansion."

"I have my own plans for this matter, step down." Hearing this, Zhang Hua hurriedly bowed down and retreated.

Xiao Shunzi saw him come out, and hurriedly grabbed him and asked, "Lord Commander, didn't Your Majesty let you arrest Ye Cairen?" Why don't you see anyone? ”

Zhang Hua replied: "She fled to the Seven Kings' Mansion, and the Seven Kings refused to hand over people, and I couldn't do anything." ”

Xiao Shunzi was surprised: "As far as our family knows, this Ye Cairen is a weak female streamer, how can he escape under the nose of Commander Zhang?" ”

Zhang Hua was just about to tell the truth, but suddenly remembered Gongliang Rongruo's confession, and quickly changed his words, saying that he forgot to guard the back door, so that she could take advantage of it.

Xiao Shunzi nodded, "Then what did Your Majesty say?" ”

Zhang Hua replied: "What else, if you are in the Seven Kings' Mansion, you can only ask the Seven Kings to ask for someone, but I think Your Majesty has quite scruples." ”

Xiao Shunzi sighed: "The Seven Kings are the first among the kings, and his palace has a holy decree from the first emperor, even if it is Your Majesty, it is not easy to directly issue an order to search the mansion." It's a tough thing to do. ”

"That's not the case!" Speaking of this, Zhang Hua asked curiously: "My father-in-law is a person close to Your Majesty, do you know why Your Majesty wanted to arrest a female streamer overnight?" ”

"Your Majesty's business, our family doesn't dare to say. We can only tell the Commander that this woman is far from being as simple as we seem. ”

Zhang Hua knew that Xiao Shunzi was strict-mouthed, and since he refused to say it, he could only give up, so he left after saying goodbye.

After he left, Xiao Shunzi turned around and stared at the six doors of the Jiaohua Hall and the light inside, thoughtful.

In the middle of the jade fast, Chen knelt quietly in the main hall, and she had maintained this position for two hours. Behind her, there were the subordinates of Shuyuzhai, the candlelight flickering, reflecting the pale faces.

Empress Dowager Wan sat on her head and said slowly: "Don't you still want to say?" ”

"The concubines know everything they have already told the Queen Mother, I really don't know what else to say." Chen lowered his eyes and whispered, his expression as deferential as ever.

Empress Dowager Wan looked at her silently, and after a long time, she suddenly said, "Shui Yun, how long have you and I known each other?" ”

Chen replied: "When the concubine first followed the first emperor, it was the seventeenth year of Yongle, twenty-six years ago, and it was twenty-six years since I met the queen mother. ”

Empress Dowager Wan bowed slightly, "In the past twenty-six years, how has the mourning family treated you?" ”

Chen said respectfully: "The queen mother treats her concubines like a mountain, and all kinds of care in the past, the concubines have never forgotten it. ”

"A good sentence in my heart." As she spoke, a seemingly tranquil and quiet smile appeared on Empress Dowager Wan's face, but it made Dongmei, who was peeking at her, feel cold, and she involuntarily lowered her head.

"Among the many concubines in the harem back then, the mourning family and you were the most close, and they have been like sisters for many years, never separating each other, and asking themselves if there is no place that can't live with you, but what is the result?" Empress Dowager Wan shook her head with regret on her face, "For so many years, you have been deceiving the mourning family, and you have never been sincere, and now you want to seize the emperor's throne." Chen Shuiyun, you have really disappointed the mourning family. ”

Chen lowered his head and said: "When the first emperor was seriously ill, it was indeed his concubines who took care of him, but from beginning to end, the first emperor did not mention the matter of the dark night camp. Moreover, Yu Zhi's qualifications are dull and unbearable, how could the first emperor hand over the Dark Night Camp to him. The concubine doesn't know who said this to the Queen Mother, but this person must have bad intentions, and the Queen Mother must not follow his way! ”

Sanbao sneered: "Concubine Chen is really good at arguing, but unfortunately the facts are ironclad, even if it is a lotus flower, it is useless." The slave advises you, tell the truth quickly, and maybe there is a glimmer of life. ”

Chen Shi looked at Sanbao and said calmly: "You said that the evidence is ironclad, where is the evidence?" ”

Sanbao opened his mouth, but he couldn't speak. What he said just now was just to scare Chen into telling the truth, where is there any evidence.

"Water Cloud!" Empress Dowager Wan's eyes were cold, "You confess the truth now, the mourning family can still remember the friendship in the past, spare you and Yu will not die, otherwise...... You're forcing the mourners to do it! ”

Dongmei heard the killing intent in her words, hurriedly stepped forward on her knees, bowed her head and said: "Empress Dowager Qiyu, when the concubine served the first emperor in Xingde Palace, the slave maid was also there, and the slave maid can testify, the first emperor did not mention the dark night camp, please check the queen mother!" ”

The Queen Mother ignored her and just looked at Chen silently. After a long time, she sighed and said, "Stubborn, it seems that the mourning family's hard work has been in vain." Well, Ruoqiu! ”

Ruoqiu bowed to the side and said, "The slave is here." ”

Empress Dowager Wan took away the last trace of temperature in her eyes, and said indifferently: "Carefully search Shuyuzhai for the mourning family, don't miss a place." ”

Empress Dowager Wan knew that Gongliang's words were cold on the outside and hot on the inside, and her mind was not deep, but it was Chen's, who only felt that she knew how to measure herself in the past, and she did not fight or rob. Now that I think about it, I have never really seen through her. If Emperor Ming really left an edict, it must be in her hands.

"Obey the Empress Dowager's decree." Ruoqiu solemnly agreed, and led the seven or eight people brought by Ningshou Palace to search Shuyu Zhai inside and out, and did not even let go of the lower room.

Ruoqiu walked in with a gloomy face and said in a low voice: "Empress Dowager Qi, nothing has been found." ”

When she heard this, a trace of relaxation flashed under Dongmei's eyes. Although it was only for a moment, she was seen by the Empress Dowager Wan, and she said quietly: "Is Xiao Xuanzi back?" ”

Before coming to Shuyuzhai, she sent someone to King Ning's mansion. Although it is unlikely that something will be in the hands of Gongliangyuzhi, even if there is only a 1 in 10,000 chance, it cannot be let go.

"Not yet, it should be time to calculate soon." As soon as the words fell, an inner eunuch saluted at the door, it was the little Xuanzi that the Empress Dowager Wan had just mentioned, he walked to the Empress Dowager Wan and whispered a few words.

"Got it." After waving her hand to signal Xiao Xuanzi to retreat, Empress Dowager Wan stared at Dongmei for a moment, and said in a cold voice: "Take her to Ningshou Palace." ”

Chen was taken aback, and hurriedly said: "Queen Mother, Dongmei doesn't know anything, please don't embarrass her." ”

The corners of Empress Dowager Wan's lips raised slightly, "As long as she answers truthfully, the mourning family will not embarrass her." ”

No matter how unwilling the Chen family was, they could only watch Empress Dowager Wan take Dongmei away.

In Ningshou Palace, Ruoqiu walked to the red sandalwood after helping the Empress Dowager Wan to sit down, scooped a spoonful of heavy sandalwood and put it into the incense burner. Soon, wisps of green smoke rose from the incense burner.

Empress Dowager Wan took the tea handed by Xiao Xuanzi but didn't drink it, just looked down at Dongmei, who was kneeling on the ground motionless. After a long time, she said, "Do you know why the mourning family brought you to Ningshou Palace?" ”

Dongmei lowered her head and said indifferently: "The slave doesn't dare to guess the queen mother's holy will. ”

"Don't dare?" Empress Dowager Wan smiled in a low voice, raised her eyes and said, "You dare to help the Chen family deceive the mourning family, what else don't you dare." ”

"Whether it is a concubine or a slave, they all respect the queen mother like a god, and they dare not deceive at all. The Queen Mother must not be deceived by those villains with bad intentions. ”

Empress Dowager Wan smiled lightly: "Who deceived the mourning family, the mourning family knows very well in their hearts. ”

Gradually rich sandalwood wisps burrowed into the nose. For some reason, the sandalwood that should have been calm made Dongmei impetuous.

"Dongmei!" These two familiar words made Dongmei shudder, and she couldn't help responding: "The slave is here." ”

"A while ago, I heard from Concubine Chen that your younger brother has been married for many years and has not come out, and only gave birth to a pair of dragon and phoenix fetuses this year. Counting the days, it's almost a full moon now, right? ”

Dongmei put aside her chaotic thoughts and said cautiously: "If you go back to the Queen Mother, it was just a full moon yesterday. ”

Empress Dowager Wan smiled warmly, "It's not uncommon to have children, but there are very few people who can give birth to dragon and phoenix fetuses." Most of these people are ancestors who have accumulated virtue and blessed their descendants. ”

Dongmei couldn't guess the intention of Empress Dowager Wan to say these words suddenly, so she lowered her head and didn't speak. The hall was unusually quiet, and after a while, the Empress Dowager Wan continued: "After several generations, there is today's good fortune. Although you have entered the palace, you are still a descendant of the Ning family, if because you are alone, the Ning family will be cut off from children and grandchildren, under the nine springs in the future, what face do you have to see the ancestors of the Ning family? ”

Dongmei's face turned blue, when it came to this, how could she not understand, Empress Dowager Wan was clearly using the lives of the Ning family to threaten her to confess to Concubine Chen.

"The mourning family knows that you are loyal to Concubine Chen, and in order to serve her, you have never been married. But you also have to think about yourself and the Ning clan. As long as you tell the truth, the mourning family will not only forgive you, but also ensure that your Ning family is rich for at least three generations. ”

Sanbao answered on the side: "The Queen Mother remembered that you were forced by the Chen family, so she was merciful to give you this grace, you don't have to bear the Queen Mother's painstaking efforts." ”

Dongmei bit her lower lip tightly, on the one hand, she was the master who had followed her for more than 20 years and treated her like a sister, and on the other hand, she was a relative who was connected to her blood, and the palms and backs of her hands were full of meat, what should she do?

Ruoqiu sighed and said, "I know that Concubine Chen treats you well, but it's enough for you to wait for her for so many years, do you really want to see the Ning family exterminated?" ”

Dongmei bowed her head and was silent, but she was struggling fiercely in her heart.

Empress Dowager Wan didn't urge, and took the tea on the side and drank it slowly. Human nature is selfish, and she believes that Dongmei will make a right choice.

Time passed bit by bit, and when Empress Dowager Wan gradually lost her patience, she spoke: "How? Have you thought about it? ”

Listening to these words like a talisman, Dongmei leaned over and kowtowed, "The slave maid's family has nothing to do with this matter, please ask the Queen Mother to be merciful and not implicate them." ”

"It is never the mourning family that decides whether to be implicated or not, but the ......" Empress Dowager Wan got up, stretched out her hand and pressed her shoulder, and said softly: "You! ”

Dongmei's body shook and said astringently: "If the slave can be the master, why kneel here." After a short pause, she seemed to have made up her mind, met the eyes of the Empress Dowager Wan, and said slowly: "Three generations of wealth and nobility are naturally good, but the wealth obtained by wronging the concubine against her will, please forgive the slave and maid for not being blessed." ”

Empress Dowager Wan's smile froze on her lips, Sanbao's face changed, she walked over and slapped Dongmei hard, and shouted: "What a cheap maid who doesn't know how to lift, do you really think that the Queen Mother won't dare to kill you?" ”

The corners of Dongmei's mouth that were beaten by him oozed blood, and she smiled sadly: "The queen mother holds the power of life and death, and killing slaves and maids is just a matter of one sentence, how can there be the word 'dare'." But as the slave maid just said, even if it is death, the slave and maid will never wronged the concubine. ”

Sanbao was about to say more, but was stopped by the Empress Dowager Wan, she stared at her and said slowly: "It's the Mourning family who underestimated your loyalty to the Chen family." Since you want to be a faithful servant of the Lord, then the mourning family will fulfill you. After a pause, she said again: "Ruoqiu, go to Jingzhao Mansion to spread the decree of the mourning family, Dongmei cooperated with the Chen family to plot rebellion, and the crime affected the three clans, and all the people in the three clans of the Ning clan were escorted to the execution ground and immediately executed." No man, woman, old or young, should be spared. ”

Empress Dowager Wan's cold and emotionless words made Dongmei tremble, and she fell to the ground and kowtowed, "All the mistakes are the fault of the slave and maid, and the slave and maid are willing to be punished in any way, and they only ask the queen mother to raise her noble hand, they ...... They don't know anything. ”

Just as Ruoqiu was about to walk out of the palace gate, Empress Dowager Wan suddenly called her. She stopped in surprise, "What does the Queen Mother command?" ”

Empress Dowager Wan's cold gaze spread over Dongmei, without a trace of pity, "Take her to the execution ground and kill someone every other hour until she tells the truth!" ”

Dongmei raised her head suddenly, with a look of horror on her face, "No, you can't do this. ”

Empress Dowager Wan fiddled with the Buddha beads on her wrist and smiled: "Why not?" ”

Dongmei looked at her as if she was looking at a demon crawling out of hell, "That's a living life, they didn't do anything wrong, how can you say kill and kill?" ”

"There's nothing wrong with them, but you're wrong. Therefore, it is not the mourners who really kill them, but you! ”

Dongmei said excitedly: "The first emperor didn't pass the dark night camp to His Royal Highness King Ning, let alone leave anything for the concubine, why didn't the queen mother believe it?" ”

Empress Dowager Wan raised her sleeves and said with a cold expression: "You can keep this and say it to the people of the Ning clan who were killed by you." ”

"Don't!" Dongmei rushed over and grabbed the corner of the Empress Dowager's skirt, crying bitterly: "Empress Dowager, you have mercy and let them live." ”

Empress Dowager Wan leaned over and pulled her up, her voice low and seductive, "As long as you tell the mourning family where the things left by the first emperor to the Chen family are, they will all be alive and will have endless glory and wealth from now on." ”

Dongmei raised her tear-stained face and looked at her in a daze. Just when she thought that Dongmei was moved by her own words, Dongmei suddenly grabbed the Buddha beads on her wrist and pulled hard, and countless Buddha beads polished from agarwood instantly fell to the ground.

No one expected Dongmei to do this suddenly, and they were all stunned for a while. She wiped the tears from her face and said coldly: "You kill innocents so indiscriminately, no matter how many Buddhas you worship and recite more scriptures, you will also go to eighteen layers of hell!" ”

Ruoqiu was shocked and angry, staring at Dongmei who got up without permission, "The Queen Mother is tolerant of you in every way, you dare to curse badly, you really deserve to die!" ”

"Over the years, in order to compete for favor and win the heir, she has killed many people and how much innocent blood she has stained her hands, don't you know? Tolerance...... That's just a false and wrongful snake, once she asks what she wants to ask, she will not hesitate to kill me and kill everyone. What kind of forgiveness, what three generations of wealth, is just a lie that deceives people. Dongmei took a few steps back and stared fiercely at the gloomy Empress Dowager Wan, "Over the years, you have really treated the concubine well, but in the final analysis, it is because you feel that the concubine and King Ning cannot threaten you, otherwise, they would have already become the two unjust souls in your hands." Queen Mother, you killed so many people, don't you feel half uneasy and guilty? ”

"Cheap and presumptuous!" Ruoqiu said as she went up and slapped Dongmei hard. Annoyed, Ruoqiu's strength was extremely strong, and with just one palm, the corners of Dongmei's mouth were cracked, oozing a fine red. However, Dongmei didn't realize it, and just sneered.

"Ruoqiu." Empress Dowager Wan's voice made Ruoqiu's body tremble, and she withdrew her hand and turned back, "The cheap maid is talking nonsense, it's not worth the Queen Mother's anger for her." ”

Empress Dowager Wan didn't respond to her, got up and walked towards Dongmei step by step. The Buddhist beads scattered on the ground have not been picked up, and it is easy to slip when stepping on them, but she walks very steadily, no matter how many Buddhist beads she steps on, her steps are not a little messy.

Empress Dowager Wan stopped at a distance from Dongmei, and said in a cold voice: "That is the case, then I can only pity you Ning Family, especially the newborn baby." ”

Hearing her mention her innocent family, Dongmei gritted her teeth with hatred, "The Heavenly Dao cycle, it's not that you don't report it, it's just that the time has not yet come!" ”

"Heavenly Dao?" Empress Dowager Wan smiled lightly and removed half of the silk thread remaining on her wrist, "In this Song Kingdom, the mourning family is the way of heaven." Whether it is circular or not, it is all in the hands of the mourners. ”

Dong Mei sneered, "That being the case, why are you so afraid of the Night Camp and what the first emperor left behind?" ”

Her words made Empress Dowager Wan's expression stiffen slightly, and she quickly returned to her original state, and said indifferently: "Whether it is the dark night camp or the things left by the first emperor, the mourning family will find it and destroy it, and no one will want to stop it." Dongmei, you are so smart, why do you have to go against the mourning family? She raised her hand to caress Dongmei's cheek, but Dongmei avoided it with a look of disgust.

Empress Dowager Wan was not angry, she withdrew her hand as usual, and said to Ruoqiu: "Take her away, when did you change your mind, bring her to see the mourning family again." ”

Dongmei glared at her angrily, "Wan Ziqing, on the Huangquan Road, I'm waiting for you!" ”

Empress Dowager Wan turned around and didn't look at Dongmei again.

The voice gradually faded away, and Ningshou Palace returned to its original tranquility, but this tranquility was only maintained for a moment and then it was broken again, "Queen Mother." ”

Empress Dowager Wan turned around in surprise, and what caught her eye was a pale face under the cover of the night, "Emperor? ”

It was a long night for many......

Gongliangrong was finally afraid of Emperor Ming's will, and did not dare to forcibly send troops into the palace to search. After all, that would have to carry a reputation for disobedience, and he would not take this step until the last minute.

After thinking about it several times, he summoned Gongliang Yanqing into the palace, and made a side knock and coercion, hoping that Gongliang Yanqing could get acquainted and take the initiative to hand over Ye Xuemei.

It's a pity that no matter how openly and secretly he says it, Gongliang Yanqing just pretends to be stupid and stunned, and talks about other things. After holding his breath for a while, he finally let Gongliang Yanqing go. But he also sent hundreds of forbidden troops to his mansion on the grounds of protecting the personal safety of Gongliang Yanqing.

After Gongliang Yanqing left, Yingyi walked out from behind the screen, "Your Majesty, do you want the slave maid to send someone to infiltrate King Mu's mansion?" ”

"No need, Ye Xuemei must be in King Mu's mansion. There are so many forbidden guards, and it is difficult for her to fly with her wings. Gongliang Rongruo took a sip of strong tea and said coldly: "Have you done everything I told you?" ”