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The emperor let out another snoring sound, and the imperial doctor stepped forward to check the pulse, and he actually had a judgment in his heart, but in front of the Empress Dowager Cining, he had to do something.

"Your Majesty seems to be improving, but his pulse is still disordered, and he rarely sleeps in his weakness, which is not a good thing."

"Is it poisoning?" Empress Dowager Cining immediately asked.

The imperial doctor shook his head cautiously, "Wei Chen doesn't think so, if you can call your colleagues from the Tai Hospital, you may be able to find out the reason." ”

Empress Dowager Cining pondered for a while, "Which imperial doctor is needed to enter the palace, you make a list, they are the same as you, they can't go out until Your Majesty improves." ”

The imperial doctor's body trembled, and the response was, stepping back and considering which imperial doctor should be called into the palace to suffer with him.

"I still think Your Majesty wants to say something." Empress Dowager Cining stared at the emperor, and only after a while did she turn to Jing Yao, who was standing aside, and said, "Is Cishun Palace worried about your retaliation?" ”

"The Queen Mother is clear." Jing Yao smiled bitterly.

"How did you answer?"

"The old slave said, 'The Empress Dowager Cining is the chief of Cishun Palace, this is the biggest guarantee, not to mention that the old slave is such a half-waste eunuch, looking at the entire palace, who dares to touch Cishun Palace? The old slave has been a eunuch in the palace for many years, and the ups and downs are not once or twice, every time he is degraded, he can only retreat and think about it, thinking about how to make up for his mistakes and omissions, and better serve His Majesty and the Queen Mother, and there is no hatred in his heart. ’”

The Empress Dowager Cining called the Empress Dowager Shangguan "Cishun Palace", and Jing Yao also used this name.

Empress Dowager Cining smiled slightly, "You can speak." After a pause, "You're busy today, aren't you?" ”

Jing Yao had expected this question, and immediately told him who had found him and what had happened throughout the day, and he didn't dare to omit anything, and by the way, he also said that someone had invited him out of the palace to discuss.

Empress Dowager Cining really cared, "Hey, someone has won over Gong Jing so soon, which minister is it?" ”

"The intermediary would not disclose it."

"You're so experienced, you're sure you can guess."

"Hmm...... The old slave felt that it was Lord Zong Zhengqing. ”

Empress Dowager Cining's eyebrows moved slightly, "In retrospect, when Duke Jing talked about the concubine's pregnancy, Lord Han didn't seem to be very happy. You were introduced to the palace by him, why should he help you? And why would you be surprised by what you say? ”

Jing Yao waited for this sentence for a long time, and immediately knelt down, "The old slave didn't dare to hide it, the old slave wanted to enter the palace to meet the Queen Mother, but he couldn't do it, so he had to go to Han Zongzheng for help." Han Zongzheng had taken in an assassin, fearing that he would be suspected, and hoping that the old slave would say a few words for him. ”

"What you said about the King of the East China Sea is false?"

"It's all true, how dare the old slave lie in front of the Queen Mother? His Majesty did summon the King of the East China Sea and the old slave to let us secretly investigate Han Zongzheng, and the King of the East China Sea did express the meaning that it was more convenient to plant a false accusation than to investigate. ”

Empress Dowager Cining pondered for a moment, "What did you investigate about Han Chou?" ”

"His Majesty summoned the two of us to be assassinated in Cui's Mansion the day after he was summoned, and the old slave has not yet started to investigate, as for the situation on the side of the King of the East China Sea, the old slave has no contact with him, and I don't know the details."

Jing Yao carefully guided, he did not have direct evidence of Han Chou's collusion with the assassins, as for Han Chou's various corrupt behaviors, they could not arouse the interest of the Empress Dowager Cining, so he simply did not mention it, and only used a casual sentence to arouse the suspicion of the Empress Dowager Cining, and the rest of the matter was natural.

Empress Dowager Cining didn't show any signs of taking the bait, and hummed flatly, "Very good, Gong Jing should go and get busy, no matter what, you have to keep the child in Concubine Tong's belly." ”

"Yes, Queen Mother." Jing Yao didn't step back immediately, there was one thing he had to solve as soon as possible.

"What else is the matter with Jing Gong?"

"The Queen Mother has always felt that His Majesty seems to have something to say, and the old slave thinks it makes sense, but the old slave is not always by His Majesty's side, and he can't figure out what he means, so it is better to recall Zhang Youcai back to the palace, maybe there is a way."

"Recalling Zhang Youcai will make people doubt the emperor's condition, this is your exact words."

Jing Yao kowtowed, "The old slave came up with an idea, please ask the Queen Mother to consider it: don't just summon Zhang Youcai to return to the house alone, in the name of interrogation, call a few more people back, it will not arouse suspicion." ”

The Empress Dowager Cining was silent, Jing Yao didn't dare to be too anxious, waited for a while, and said: "The old slave is stupid and shallow, back and forth, please forgive the Queen Mother." ”

Empress Dowager Cining glanced at the emperor on the bed again, and finally made up her mind, "Your idea is good, you have to figure out what Your Majesty wants to say." But I don't know much about the people around Your Majesty, so you propose a few people. ”

"Zhang Youcai must be counted as one."

"Hmm."

"Cai Xinghai and Wang He are both close ministers, responsible for internal and external defense, and they should return to the palace for trial."

"Hmm."

"There was also a palace maid named Meng E, who was also at the scene of the assassination and killed one of the assassin's accomplices, and should also be tried. These four are enough. ”

Empress Dowager Cining frowned, "Meng E? I've heard the name, and the origin seems complicated. ”

"She is a native of Yishi Island in the East China Sea, her real surname is Chen, she is said to be a descendant of the old King of Qi, and her brother Meng Che entered the palace as a guard of the East China Sea, first serving Cishun Palace, and later Meng Che participated in the rebellion of Qi State, Meng E has always stayed with His Majesty, but from a guard to a palace maid."

Empress Dowager Cining's brows furrowed even tighter, "I remember Meng Che." How could His Majesty keep such a person by his side? It is also said that she also had a problem killing her fellow assassins in the Cui Mansion, which was more like killing people and killing people - do you still need to be interrogated? Just let her bow down and forget it. ”

Jing Yao didn't dare to defend Meng E, and replied: "If only three people are summoned, it will be less, then add a Cui Teng, who is often by His Majesty's side, and he was also at the scene at the time, which is the most suspicious." ”

Empress Dowager Cining shook her head, "The Cui family wants to interrogate together, and one person cannot be summoned alone." Your Majesty trusts Meng E so much, or there may be a reason, call her back first, you will interrogate her personally, and present the results to me immediately. ”

"Yes, Queen Mother."

Jing Yao exited the room, his heart tightened for a while, and at the same time he felt proud, he had really returned to the palace, not only ***** but also participated in the most secret conspiracy.

He went to the dormitory of the four concubines to inspect the palace, and after confirming that everything was fine, he returned to his residence, and a eunuch happened to send the queen mother's decree, and he could go to Cui's mansion to ask for someone.

It was already dark, Jing Yao didn't dare to delay, now he must be more energetic than a twenty-year-old young man, he can't tolerate the slightest slack, immediately ordered ten eunuchs and fifty guards, left the palace with Yi Zhi in hand, and went straight to Cui's mansion.

Cui's mansion was surrounded by the Su Guard Legion, and those who came were inspected one street away, and they could not enter the mansion, and the battalion general in charge carefully looked at the edict under the lamp several times, and only returned it to Jing Yao after confirming that it was correct, and asked him to wait for a while, and he went to the mansion to pick up people himself.

The cold wind was bleak, and although there were many soldiers around, they all kept quiet.

Cui's Mansion has now been divided into separate temporary "prisons", and the people inside can't move around at will, and it will take a while for the battalion general to go in and pick up people, so Jing Yao can only wait silently.

Han Chou came at this time, he was very well-informed, and not long after Jing Yao left the palace, he also set off from home, just in time.

He didn't wear an official uniform, he was dressed in civilian clothes, like a big-bellied businessman, and many soldiers obviously saw him running panting, but they didn't stop drinking, let alone stop it, as long as they didn't enter the Cui Mansion, they could be accommodating.

Jing Yao took a few steps forward and stepped into the shadows, and the eunuchs and guards who followed him all stayed where they were.

"'Shibei should be impressed in three days', it's only been a day, and I have to gouge out my eyeballs." Han Chou said with a smile.

"Han Zongzheng's words are serious, I finally live up to Han Zongzheng's trust, I hope Han Zongzheng remembers my benefits."

Han Chou laughed a few times and exhaled a stream of white steam, "Remember, I will always remember." After Jing Gong returned to the palace, everything was okay? ”

"Wandering son, let alone me, an old eunuch who has lived in the palace for decades?"

"Hehe, Gong Jing is now a big celebrity in front of the Empress Dowager Cining, and he has a lot of ideas, right?"

"Just doing what you are told, not daring to say a word."

"Didn't say a word?"

Jing Yao smiled: "Han Zongzheng still doesn't know who I am? I will never say or do things that I am completely sure of, but I will never dare to hide things that are certain, such as Han Zongzheng's visit, I can't hide it, and I must report it to the Empress Dowager Cining after returning to the palace. ”

"Of course, so many people are watching, as long as nothing else is said. I'm relieved, Jing Gong is also relieved, I have already chosen a house for you, it is in Xicheng, not far from the palace, the place is big, the location is hidden, you will be able to move in soon, and it is good to go out of the palace to rest occasionally. ”

Jing Yao didn't shirk, and said with a smile: "Let Han Zongzheng break the bill." ”

"In the matter of making friends, Han has always been willing to pay his blood."

Han Chou said goodbye with a smile, and Jing Yao watched with a smile.

The camp will bring out four people and send them into different carriages, Jing Yao checked them one by one, and confirmed that they were Zhang Youcai, Cai Xinghai, Wang He, and Meng E, the four of them had different expressions, Meng E was the calmest, Zhang Youcai was the most nervous, and asked about the emperor's situation as soon as he saw Jing Yao.

Jing Yao didn't say anything and took people back to the palace.

Meng E and the others were locked up in different rooms, and Jing Yao only took Zhang Youcai to report to the Empress Dowager Cining.

Zhang Youcai was one of the very few people who was trusted by the Empress Dowager Cining and was allowed to come to the emperor's bedside.

Zhang Youcai knelt down and kowtowed first, then got up and looked at the emperor, his heart was terrified, he couldn't help crying, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, it's me, Zhang Youcai." ”

The emperor seemed to recognize him, and snorted a few times, but Zhang Youcai was puzzled.

The Empress Dowager Cining didn't have much hope for Zhang Youcai, so she sighed lightly, "Zhang Youcai, since you are back, stay and serve Your Majesty." ”

"Yes, Queen Mother, thank you for your great kindness." Zhang Youcai couldn't hold back, tears still flowed out.

Empress Dowager Cining didn't rush to summon Zhang Youcai back to the palace, she just felt that this little eunuch couldn't afford a big deal, but she wasn't worried that he would harm the emperor, nodded, turned around and left, Jing Yao followed.

Out of the emperor's room and into the main hall, the Empress Dowager Cining took a seat and stared at Jing Yao for a while.

Jing Yao was stared at so much that he hung his head and was silent.

"There is a person named the Holy Army Master, have you heard of it?"

Jing Yao was stunned for a moment, "I've heard that this person is one of the assassins, he has a very high status in Yunmengze, he used to be known as Yunxiong, and he lived in Han Zongzheng's house. ”

"Well, that's good, this Holy Army Master confessed in prison, saying that he also knew Jing Gong and had sent someone to contact Jing Gong in the East China Sea Kingdom, are you willing to confront him face to face?"

Jing Yao was shocked, and knew in his heart that something had happened in such a short period of time since he left the palace, and it must have something to do with Han Chou. (To be continued.) )