There were dead people in the alley.

The person died a miserable death, the skin of the whole body was peeled, and a hand was taken away by a wild dog, I don't know how long he died, there was a faint smell of corpses, and the crime was only one street away from Su Li's ready-to-wear shop.

Zhao Hanzhuo and Gu Yuanfeng rushed over first, Su Li asked Zhang Zhizhi to escort Wen Ling back first, and when she and Chu Huai'an went over again, there were already many people around.

Chu Huai'an pushed aside the crowd with a cold face and brought Su Li in, and looked away after just one glance at Su Li.

The man's death was too bloody and miserable, and not long after, Lin Zheng hurried over with an official errand, and to Su Li's surprise, Gu Zheng came with Lin Zheng.

Did he really decide to help Lin Zheng solve the case?

Su Li was surprised, Gu Ji didn't look at her, she walked straight to the corpse and squatted, and even Zhao Hanzhuo was waved aside by him.

Gu Jiong's gaze swept over the bloody corpse, and then he raised his hand and pressed lightly on the corpse, as if he was touching the bones of the corpse.

Touching and touching, he said in a deep voice: "The female corpse, fifteen or sixteen years old, died about three days ago, was cut off her tongue and cut off her skin alive. ”

Gu Jiong's voice was flat, almost indifferent, and everyone present who heard his voice shuddered.

What kind of deep hatred does this take to be so ruthless as to chop a person alive?

A single corpse, and no other information could be seen, Gu Zhi got up and walked around the alley.

There are shops in this vicinity, and there are a lot of people coming and going, but there are a lot of sundries piled up in the alley, which can just block the sight of outsiders, and there is a faint smell in the alley, which looks like a temporary residence for a down-and-out beggar, and it is unlikely that people will go to the alley.

"What about the beggars in the alleys?"

Gu Zhi asked, the only eye that was still black and bright swept sharply over the people around him, and seeing the lively people take a few steps back, Lin Zheng hesitated to speak: "Before, the county lord of Su said that the behavior of these beggars was a little suspicious, and I asked people to bring those people back to Jingzhao Yin Mansion for questioning." ”

"When did you bring it back?"

"Seven...... Seven or eight days ago. ”

Lin Zheng replied hesitantly, and his eyes looked at Su Li uncontrollably.

How could it be so coincidental, Su Li just woke up with Lin Zheng and arrested the beggar, and this place became a no-man's land, and a murder occurred.

Gu Ji didn't look at Su Li, and saw a few messy footprints on the ground, and his jaw was slightly tense, showing that he was not in a good mood: "Bring back the person who found the body at the beginning for questioning." ”

He didn't accept the appointment given to Gu Ji by Chu Lingzhao at the celebration banquet before, but he was very convincing when he was talking at this time, and Lin Zheng sent someone to arrest him without thinking about it.

"How did you get that information?"

Zhao Hanzhuo suddenly asked, not to provoke in public, but to ask seriously, wanting to know the answer.

"Women's body structure is different from men's, and the size of the bones has a lot to do with age, as long as you look closely, you can see it."

Gu Jiong said it easily, as if this was common sense that anyone who handled the case should have, but in fact, even the most experienced man could not judge the gender, age and time of death of a corpse by touching the bones.

"This is the Gu family's ancestral secrets?"

Zhao Hanzhuo asked, very interested in this, Gu Zhi glanced at him, did not answer, turned his head to look at Su Li: "Why do you think those beggars have a problem?" ”

His tone was cold, and although there was no obvious malice, it did not make people feel kindness.

Chu Huai'an pulled Su Li behind him and blocked Su Li in front of her with an absolutely protective attitude: "Since she thinks there is a problem, then there is a problem, as for where the problem is, you should check it yourself!" ”

Chu Huai'an's tone was not very good, no one knew how much anger he had accumulated in his heart, he knew very well that it would not be long before he could protect Su Li behind him like he was now, no matter what happened.

He didn't know what Su Li would face, and if she would cry when there was no one to rely on.

Gu Zhi looked at Chu Huai'an for a while, then pushed aside the crowd and went elsewhere, cold sweat broke out on Lin Zheng's forehead, and he opened his mouth to say something, but Chu Huai'an directly pulled Su Li away.

He didn't know what he was sulking, he was in a hurry, Su Li was dragged and stumbled and almost fell, and couldn't help but be a little angry: "Chu Huai'an, you scratched me!" ”

Su Li roared, Chu Huai'an stopped suddenly, and after Su Li hit her headfirst in his arms, he tightly clamped her: "Now that the city is unstable, I will take you away secretly, and no one will find out." ”

In broad daylight and in full view of everyone, what kind of system is it to hug and hug like this?

Su Li was a little anxious, wanting to push him away, but he hugged him tighter, and then heard his frantic heartbeat and weak whisper: "Ah Li, I'm afraid ......"

Su Li was stunned.

The little overlord who walked sideways in Kyoto when he was a child, when he was a child, he even dared to climb up the dragon chair to do it, and now he told her that he was afraid.

The heart was hit hard.

"I'll be fine." Su Li assured that she felt that it was not convincing enough, and gave an example to support the evidence: "I have experienced many battles at the border pass, and I am fine this time when the Hu army presses the border, no matter what happens, I will take care of myself and wait for you to come." ”

"I'm not here, what if someone bullies you?"

Have I been bullied less over the years?

Su Li replied in her heart, but there was nothing on her face: "It depends on the situation, if I can fight back, I will definitely pay it back tenfold, if not, then wait for you to help me take revenge." ”

She deliberately showed dependence, picking what he liked to say.

"Aren't you afraid that I won't change my mind?"

Chu Huai'an asked in a dumb voice, Su Li was really stunned at this moment, she didn't think that Chu Huai'an would ask herself this question.

After a moment of silence, Su Li relaxed her body and leaned on Chu Huai'an's chest, and said word by word: "If you don't come, I will never step into Yuanzhao again, find a wild place to die alone, and pray every day to wish you and your beloved to grow old together." ”

Su Li said casually, but every word was heartfelt, Chu Huaian turned his head and bit her lip: "I am a crawler with missing arms and legs, and I want to climb in front of you!" ”

"Okay."

Su Li bowed her head and let Chu Huai'an take her hand and walk forward.

After walking not far, someone from the Xiaoyao Hou Mansion said that Chu Liu's family had returned to the house, and asked him to go back quickly, Chu Huai'an originally didn't want to go back, and the little girl reminded him with an ugly face that today is a special day, and he must go back.

Chu Huai'an couldn't think of anything now, but Su Li reacted first: "Today is the death day of the old Hou Ye, Hou Ye should go back first." ”

Chu Huai'an's face froze, and then he returned to normal, insisting on escorting Su Li home first.

Su Li stood at the door and watched Chu Huai'an leave, and after a while, a eunuch came out with a whisk: "County Lord, Your Majesty is invited." ”

Su Li was not surprised by the people in the palace, and obediently followed him into the palace.

After entering the palace, Su Li was taken to the Weichen Palace.

I haven't been here for nearly a year, and the weeds outside this hall are almost one person tall, and the hall is quiet, as if the people inside have died.

Su Li stood at the entrance of the hall for a while before entering, and the inside was already barren, and when she got closer, through a door, Su Li heard a loud sound in the hall, like the sound of a heavy iron chain mopping the floor.

Su Li actually didn't want to see Su Bangyue again, the second half of this person's life had been ruined, and the sin she committed at the beginning had now tasted ten times and a hundred times the consequences.

Whether she lives or dies, Su Li doesn't care for a long time.

"Who's out there?"

The people inside suddenly shouted, the voice was hoarse and old, like the roar of an old man in a dry well, Su Li was a little surprised, and Su Bangyue seemed to have regained her senses.

Su Li shook her head and didn't answer, just like that, Su Bangyue had already guessed her identity, and shouted bitterly: "Su Li! I know it's you! You come in! Come in and see me! ”

Wow!

Su Li pushed open the door of the hall, the sunlight poured in, and Su Wanyue subconsciously raised her hand to block her eyes.

For a moment, Su Li didn't recognize Su Wanyue at all.

Her limbs were bound by iron chains, and the whole person was thin and out of shape, leaving only bones, and the original delicate and full skin and flesh were crumpled and crumpled against her body, like old roots after drying, hideous and terrifying.

After getting used to the light, Su Wanyue finally put down her hand.

Su Li saw that there were countless criss-crossing scars on her face, as if they had been left by her own digging, and she no longer had her original beautiful face, only those eyes, filled with burning hatred, were amazingly bright.

"Su Li!"

Su Bangyue roared from her throat, and Su Li was so calm that there was no trace of waves: "It's me." ”

"Slut! Bah! ”

Su Bangyue scolded and spit out a mouthful of saliva from Su Li.

The distance was far away, and Su Li avoided it at once.

Su Bangyue's eyes were red from anger, like a soldering iron.

After being stared at by her for a long time, Su Li's heart swelled with a trace of compassion, and she once again realized Chu Lingzhao's terrifyingness.

If Su Wanyue was so bad that she died, she might be able to escape the tragedies that had happened, but Chu Lingzhao didn't let her go crazy, cured her, and let her live soberly, and every moment of every day clearly knew that she was worse than a dog.

In the past, she was so beautiful as an imperial concubine, but now she is so depressed and pitiful.

"Happy?" Su Bangyue glared at Su Li and asked, revealing a mouthful of calm teeth: "Su Li, are you happy to see me like this?" ”

"Happy."

Su Liyan replied insincerely, at this time, apart from saying happy, she didn't know what else she could say.

Hearing this answer, Su Bangyue giggled.

The laughter was extremely eerie, ghostly, and sent chills down people's backs.

"I heard that you pleaded for the evil seed I gave birth to?" Su Bangyue asked in a fluttering voice, no need for Su Li to answer, and laughed coquettishly: "That evil seed was born unknown, he killed his grandmother, and I fell into this field now, you have to raise him, and he will kill you in the future!" Neither the one you love nor the one who loves you will die well! ”

Speaking of the back, Su Bangyue became excited again, screaming and saying the most vicious curse.

Su Li listened indifferently, and after a while, a palace maid came in from outside, and offered a bowl of black and slimy medicinal juice to Su Li with both hands: "County Lord, Your Majesty asks you to send Niangniang on the road." ”

At the beginning, the Zhao family was sent on the road by Su Li himself, and now it is Su Bangyue's turn, which can be regarded as having a beginning and an end.

Su Li stretched out her hand to take the bowl, and Su Wanyue stood there without moving, staring directly at the bowl of medicine.

Tears flowed down my eyes as I watched it.

She remembered a long time ago, when she first married Chu Lingzhao, he treated her very well, but he thought of her whenever there was anything good.

Mother told her that the emperor's favor is only temporary, and only the position is real, so she climbed all the way from the prince's side concubine to the position of the concubine.

For five years of sharing the same bed and accompanying each other day and night, did she really treat Chu Lingzhao with no sincerity?

She had fallen in love with him unknowingly!

She's just greedy, greedy for another secret beauty.

At that time, when she was in the boudoir, the most desirable and undesirable thing, the defect touched her heart from time to time, and finally evolved into an irreparable mistake with the help of Su Li.

"Your Majesty! The concubine knows that you are outside, you come to see the concubine! The concubine has something to say! ”

Su Bangyue shouted heartbreakingly, staring at the door of the hall with wide eyes, wishing that her eyes could turn and cross the palace walls to see the figure of the original person.

Chu Lingzhao hadn't seen her since she was thrown here, and now he wanted her to die, and he wouldn't even give her the last face.

How affectionate he was at the beginning, how ruthless he is now.

"Hongyi, you come out!"

Su Bangyue shouted without giving up, knelt on the ground, and wanted to climb to the door of the hall despite the restraint of the iron chain.

His wrists and ankles were immediately grazed with chains, and his ten fingers were scratched with blood on the shiny floor tiles, which was extremely miserable.

Su Li didn't want to look at such a picture anymore, so she looked away, but saw the palace maid standing quietly with her head down, looking at Su Wanyue with a smile in her eyes.

The people in the palace are all high and low, Su Bangyue has fallen to the point where she is now, not to mention being looked down upon, even if she is bullied by these palace people behind her back, it is probably not unusual, but the eyes of this palace maid make Su Li extremely uncomfortable.

Su Li still had to take a closer look, and the palace maid noticed her gaze, lowered her eyes to hide her emotions, and reminded gently: "Please hurry up, county lord." ”

Su Li pursed her lips and squatted down in front of Su Bangyue.

"Do you want to drink it yourself, or do I want to drink it to you?"

Su Li asked indifferently, seeing Su Bangyue's performance today, she actually felt a sense of happiness that drinking this bowl of medicine could help her get free.

"I don't drink! I want to see Your Majesty, I ......"

Su Wanyue was still dying, and the palace maid on the side suddenly stepped forward and pinched her cheek, telling her to stop talking.

"Your Majesty is still waiting for the county lord."

The palace maid urged, Su Li poured the medicine into Su Bangyue's mouth, she stared at Su Li deadly, her eyes were full of resentment, as if she was about to turn into a ghost to peel Su Li's bones and skin, and there was a gurgling sound in her throat, I don't know if it was abuse or curse.

The bowl was highly poisonous, the toxicity attacked quickly, Su Bangyue's eyes protruded, and gradually stopped moving, the palace maid let go of her hand, Su Bangyue lay on the ground and didn't move, Su Li put down the bowl, and was a little dazed in her heart.

She killed Su Bangyue with her own hands, and the corpse was at her feet, and she looked at it without sadness or joy, extremely indifferent.

Then she remembered Chu Huai'an, the woman he had sincerely liked like that, was wiped out by her, and he didn't even have a chance to say a dying goodbye.

He...... Will you be angry?

As soon as he thought of this, a layer of shadow suddenly hung on his head, and he turned his head, Chu Lingzhao stood at the door of the hall wearing a bright yellow dragon robe, his body was as long as jade, standing tall, but in the year of his establishment, the emperor's prestige had reached its peak, and it was the most prosperous years, which was in stark contrast to Su Bangyue, who was lying on the ground and dying.

After a long time, he finally spoke: "Dead? ”

There are only the two shortest words, and there is no joy or anger to hear.

Just in case, Su Li reached out to probe Su Bangyue's snort and replied, "Hmm." ”

"Su Guifei suffered a serious injury after giving birth, and was seriously ill for nearly a year, and died today, her son Chu Shen was congenitally deficient and weak, so he was sent out of the palace for recuperation from now on, and then sent back to the palace after he recovered."

He said word by word, these words were something he had thought about a long time ago, and after speaking, someone from the palace came in and opened the iron chain, and wrapped Su Bangyue with a straw mat and carried it out of the Weichen Palace.

At this point, the Weichen Hall was finally empty, and it was no longer what it was.

Chu Lingzhao stood at the gate of the Yunchen Hall for a full quarter of an hour, and no one knew what he was thinking in that quarter of an hour.

A quarter of an hour later, he turned his head to Su Li and said, "Let's go." ”

Su Li stepped up to follow, looking at his back, he inexplicably felt that he was sitting in the world at the age of his prime, but he was alone and had nothing left.

Stepping out of the gate of the Yunchen Palace, Su Li saw a woman standing at the door, she was not dressed like a palace maid, nor did she look like a favorite concubine, standing with her head slightly bowed, her demeanor was excellent, and her appearance was even more beautiful, but the skin on her neck and hands had aged and slackened, especially the green silk was so white.

Chu Lingzhao walked to the woman's side, with a hint of warmth on his face, and held the woman's wrist and said softly, "Ah Shang, let's go." ”

He called her a look, and his voice was extremely gentle.

Su Li was stunned, and remembered that the late queen's name was An Ruoshang, and her name was Ah Shang.

“…… The Queen? ”

Su Li called out in surprise, An Ruoshang turned her head to look at her, and gently bent her eyes: "Ah Li is really smart." ”

In a word, it can be regarded as an indirect recognition of his identity.

Su Li was still in shock, she wanted to ask An Ruoshang how she came back from the dead, and wanted to ask her where she had been all these years, but in the end she only grasped the most critical question and asked: "Niangniang used face swapping to change faces with people?" ”“”

An Ruoshang raised her hand and touched her face, her eyes were a little gloomy, but she couldn't make any expression on that beautiful face: "Changing my face is not what I want, when I woke up in a coma, my face has become like this." ”

Su Li pursed her lips, she didn't ask who stunned her, and she didn't ask how many twists and turns there were in it, since she could return to Chu Lingzhao's side again, presumably Chu Lingzhao had already investigated her bottom clearly.

Looking at her now, I'm afraid she is affected by the face swapping technique, and the limit is approaching.

"I'll talk to Ah Li about something, you go and rest first."

Chu Lingzhao asked An Ruoshang to leave and took Su Li to the imperial study.

The imperial study was an important place for courtiers, and Su Li couldn't remember how many times she had entered here.

She is a woman, not a courtier, but she is always involved in such things, which is really not like words.

"Did I tell you?"

Chu Lingzhao got straight to the point, Su Li nodded, his expression was calm, just like when he first faced the saint, he had the ability to change color even before Mount Tai collapsed.

"What do you want for this trip?"

Chu Huai'an asked, he was ready for Su Li to ask him for money, and he also knew that her current body was not as good as before, and if something happened, she wouldn't even have the ability to protect herself.

However, unexpectedly, Su Li's answer was: No.

She didn't have any requirements for him, she didn't want the guards to protect him secretly, and she didn't want anything else.

"You've thought about it, don't want anything?"

Chu Lingzhao once again confirmed that it was impossible to say that he did not feel guilty about Su Li in his heart, but as a monarch, many times he was more involuntary than ordinary people.

What he bears is the life and death of countless Li Min, not the love and hate of two people, if he can exchange the greatest benefits for the smallest price, he must be interested in the first place.

Therefore, for the sake of Yuanzhao's Xiangning in the next three years, he can sacrifice his brotherhood with Chu Huai'an for many years, or he can sacrifice Su Li.

When the first emperor was dying, he said that when people live for a lifetime, all they want is to be honest and honest, and they are worthy of their hearts, but even if the ancient and modern sages are kings, they will never be worthy of it.

At that time, he didn't understand this sentence, and always felt that the first emperor was wrong, and only now does he understand how difficult it is for the first emperor to be worthy of it.

The first emperor couldn't do it, he ...... Can't do it either.

"Since Kutar only asked His Majesty for me, then only I can step into Hudi with him, why does Your Majesty want to lose troops for me again?"

Su Li can see it clearly, now that the Tartar is in Yuanzhao, the Hu people have been defeated again, and they can only listen to Chu Lingzhao everywhere, once they return to Hudi, it will be his world, even if Chu Lingzhao gives her a few hundred secret guards, it will be useless.

Chu Lingzhao pursed his lips and didn't speak, Su Li thought for a while and said: "Your Majesty will comply with Kutar's request, and specially asked the Hou Ye to convey this news to me, explaining that Kutar doesn't want my life, and the courtiers want to ask Your Majesty what Kutar's intentions are." ”

"He wants you to be a widow for Kuke for three more years."

“……”

Su Li suspected that something was wrong with her ears, what did she have to do with Ku Keduo, why should she be widowed for Hu Keduo? Is it a sudden convulsion of the brain?

Su Li was speechless, Chu Lingzhao was not surprised by her reaction, after all, when he heard the reason that Ku Tatar said, there were more questions swirling in his mind than Su Li.

"Kutar promised me that I would not hurt your life, and I would send a secret guard to infiltrate Hudi to ensure your safety." Chu Lingzhao paused after speaking, and his eyes deepened: "If there is any change in the Hu people, Ah Li can also convey the message in time." ”

"Kutar is not a fool, what is Your Majesty thinking, he is not completely unaware, how could he let me know those confidential things?"

Su Li asked rhetorically, no matter why Ku Tar asked her to be widowed by Hu Ke, Su Li's life when she went to Hudi would not be too easy, and it was too difficult to listen to information in this situation.

"I know that this trip is difficult, and I have never thought of forcibly asking Ah Li to investigate the news, no matter what Kutar wants, the battle between Yuan Zhao and Hu Ren is inevitable, Ah Li is going, it is a self-sacrifice, but also a whipping and tempering of Jinzhi, I actually have only one request for Ah Li."

"What?"

Su Li had already vaguely guessed what Chu Lingzhao wanted to say, but she still asked unconsciously.

"I hope that no matter what you encounter, you will work hard to survive, and when you lead your troops to level Hudi, I will marry you back to Beijing!"

The battle between Yuan Zhao and the Hu people is inevitable, after this battle, Lu Xiao's body is not as good as before, and it is really hard to rely on Lu Ji to fight against the Hu people alone, and from the perspective of the power of soldiers and horses, it is inevitable that he will be dominant.

Chu Lingzhao needs strong troops, and he also has to quietly contain Lu Ji's troops, and Chu Huai'an's rise has become crucial.

Su Li was not only a nail given to Ku Tar by Chu Lingzhao, but also a rib that he removed from Chu Huai'an.

If you don't get into the bone marrow first, how can you grind out a strong iron bone?