Lizhi Gate, City Gate Tower.

Because every time it is said that the jade spring will be transported to the palace. Water. Here four times a year, the city gate must be opened once in the early morning. Although it is the second day of February, it is already the early spring climate, but the wind is strong at night, which still makes people feel cold.

When the time came to open the city gate, the two Chengyue Colonels went downstairs with a team of soldiers to open the city gate.

As soon as the gate of the city was opened, a procession of men and horses was seen outside. Among the centaurs, someone held a torch, and the shadow looked like several horses.

, the fastest torches on both sides of the city gate are lit. The shining city gate is also bright.

A small colonel was just about to step forward to ask a question, but one of the horses had already come out of the team, holding a sign in his hand. Shake in front of the school. The school only saw that it was written on it (second class", but the back one was not real.

However, looking at the dress of this person, Xiao Xiao can also recognize it, this is the color of the palace guards.

Naturally, he didn't dare to do much, and he had already bowed down and stepped aside.

When the group rode into the city, the little school couldn't help but look at everyone in a daze. Okay?

This is not n guards, there are more than a dozen guards accompanying them, and there are a few horsemen behind, dressed in the uniform of the Eight Banners Guard Battalion.

Those who can travel with this person are designated as nobles. But the nobleman didn't make sense, and he hurried in the middle of the night, and the little school couldn't help but be confused.

The one who entered the city in time at Chouzheng (two o'clock in the morning) was the twelve elder brothers who returned from the Tangquan Palace.

Thinking that after listening to his kneeling, the eyes of the imperial father who hated to tear him apart, he only felt cold in his hands and feet.

After making him kneel for half an hour, the emperor's father spoke, ordering him to return to the palace immediately and ...... Bring it to you. Even if he listened to his son's own words, he was afraid that the imperial father couldn't believe that his harem had given birth to a "demon".

The look in his eyes seemed to be scolding him and confusing the crowd.

(Master, there are still two hours before the palace door is opened, do you want to go back to the kitchen to rest first?) , The elder of the twelfth elder brother saw that the master directly led people to the palace, and urged the horse to step forward and ask.

The twelfth elder brother shook his head and said: (No need, wait at the gate of the palace.) , Looking at the black and slimy road ahead, the twelfth elder brother was a little afraid. If Concubine De and Concubine Yi make a move, they will ...... If you change to an ordinary baby, then your own royal pre-announcement will really become (bewitching the public", and it is also, ignoring the monarch's father,. Disloyalty and unfilial piety.

Immediately, he knew that he was multi-minded, and if he was the elder brother of other princes, maybe the two palace concubines would still calculate; His reputation is not obvious and his foundation is insufficient. The status of the prince can be described as the lowest. The two palace concubines, how could they bother to calculate him.

There is no calculation, but I really want to take it to the front of the king. You will have to bear the thunderous wrath of the imperial father.

When the twelfth elder brother thought of this, he only felt infinitely hopeless, "Concubine De and Concubine Yi, although they went back to various dormitories to settle down, they always cared about this matter in their hearts. They have been in the palace for more than 40 years, and they are familiar with Kangxi's temper.

As the Ninth Five-Year Honor, the pride in his bones is beyond the reach of ordinary people. If you haven't seen it with your own eyes. He wouldn't believe it.

Therefore, they all instructed the chief eunuch of the inner court. If the twelfth elder brother enters the palace, he will notify the two palaces.

One less time" The twelfth elder brother was at the gate of Jingyang Palace, and when he waited for Concubine Yi and Concubine De, the sky was already bright.

The three of them entered the apse of Jingyang Palace together, and there were many tall eunuchs standing at the door, who seemed to be ordered to guard. At the entrance of the side hall, there were also guards, and there was a sound of crying inside.

This is a low-grade palace person who lives in Jingyang Palace, who was affected and was also placed under house arrest.

The house in the apse is full of filth.

The twenty or so minions on the ground have been tied up for a day and night. When they saw the royal secrets, and saw a few masters react like this, they already knew that there was no way to live.

During this day and night, twenty or so servants did not eat or drink, but they did not starve to death; But people have three urgencies. Coupled with fear and despair, this incontinent person is not one or two.

In the delivery room, there was no heat at all.

The little nobleman who gave birth today, but at the age of sixteen or seventeen, was tied to the kang and stuffed with walnuts in his mouth. The mattress beneath her was soaked in blood.

In the delivery room, there was a thick smell of blood.

When everyone went in, the little nobleman was open-eyed, looking at everyone, and at the swaddling clothes on the kang next to him, his eyes were full of pleading.

Concubine Yi entered the house and did not look at the swaddling clothes. Turning sideways, he pointed and said, "Twelve masters, take it." , The twelfth elder brother didn't make a move, and said in a low voice: (Concubine Yi, this is all watching, it's not good to go to the ** palace like this.) As soon as she said this, Concubine Yi also understood. When he arrived at the door, he called a palace maid to come over and whispered a few words.

After a while, I saw the palace maid carrying a food box and returning it, and Concubine Yi went to the door to pick it up in person.

The twelfth elder brother didn't dare to look at the swaddling (demon), rubbing his hand, wanting to hold him and put him in the food box, so he listened to Concubine De say on the side: (Twelve elder brother is slow.) ”

When the twelfth elder brother heard this, his hand hurriedly moved away from the swaddling clothes, and with a little puzzlement, he looked at Concubine De and said (Mother De?) ”

said that it was swaddling, but because of this (demonic" appearance, bluffing the palace people was just a random package.

Concubine De took a new quilt from the side, put it in the food box, and took out another blanket. Hand it to the Twelve Elder Brothers.

Seeing Concubine De like this, the twelfth elder brother thought of his three sons who died one after another, and his heart was touched, although he still didn't dare to look at the swaddling (demon), but he was a little less afraid.

If it weren't for such a terrifying appearance, it would also be the son of the imperial father, his half-brother.

Thinking like this, he moved much more gently, carefully resting his swaddling clothes in the food box. He took out the dagger at his waist again, and opened a ventilation hole on the side of the food box, and the blanket in the center was covered on the food box, which could be regarded as a protection for the weak little life inside.

The newborn baby was left unattended for a night and wanted to come to the mountain to the extreme. Only when you are just picked up. A kitten barked, and then Koichi said, "Yes."

Listening to this, the twelfth elder brother hoped that the baby would breathe as soon as possible. It's just that he has nothing to do with this world, otherwise, even if he barely supports it for a few hours, the result of waiting is just that, I'm afraid it will be," Wei Zhu didn't sleep well this night.

, the fastest Yesterday, the twelfth elder brother hurriedly came to see His Majesty. I don't know what I told the emperor, no one was left in front of the emperor, only the father and son were left.

When the twelfth elder brother left, the emperor's expression was a little wrong, and even the royal concubine who came to serve the sick with a decoction was reprimanded. Wei Zhu, on his side, is used to looking at his face, so he becomes more and more cautious.

Rao is like this, Wei Zhu was also found in a wrong place. And then there's fifty boards.

Fortunately, due to his prestige this year, he has not completely lost power, and no one dares to offend him. These fifty boards have moisture, and they don't hurt their muscles and bones. But this skin trauma is indispensable.

This night, Wei Zhu was just thinking about why the emperor was angry and what taboo he had committed. is on an errand by the emperor's side, if you don't know this in your heart, how can your little life last long.

filtered all the things of yesterday, and finally fell on the twelve elder brothers.

He still hesitated, or he would make a henchman and inquire about the twelfth elder brother, what could happen, and he heard the little eunuch come to report.

This little eunuch is also an errand boy in the Qianqing Palace, and he is Wei Zhu's apprentice, named Chang Qing, fifteen or six years old. Spirit. As for his master, Wei Zhu's apprentice, he had died of an emergency two years earlier.

The twelfth elder brother came to the palace, and he saw him in front of the palace, and then he didn't know what fault he had made, which made the emperor angry. The emperor has ordered him to be detained. It seems that there is also a royal doctor, some say that the twelve elder brothers only have the serum on their bodies, and some say that the emperor asked for a brazier, and he doesn't know what to burn.

The more Wei Zhu listened, the more frightened he became, and the curiosity in his heart had long been sealed.

has been on an errand in the palace for many years, so he naturally knows what he can inquire about and what he can't.

Thinking of this, Wei Zhu already had a straight face, Dao Qingzi, you only took a decoction for grandpa this morning, and the rest of the kung fu was waiting in grandpa's house, but remember! ”

Chang Qing Shangniu did go out in the name of helping Wei Zhu get medicine, Chang Qing hesitated for a moment, and said in a low voice (Grandpa, although the grandson is avoiding people, but Uncle Zeng came down from the palace, I don't know if I saw my grandson. , what he said in his mouth ((Uncle Zeng, another apprentice of Wei Zhu, Zeng Quan, who was also on an errand in the Qianqing Palace. He is not a few years older than Chang Qing, but he is not as sleek as Chang Qing Songling, so he is in front of Wei Zhu. It's not as decent as evergreen.

Wei Zhu glanced at him and picked the corners of his mouth. (He won't speak, don't get in the way.) ”

When Chang Qing heard this, he only felt discouraged and wanted to say a few more words, but he felt that the glance of the master ancestor was terrifying, like seeing through his little Jiujiu. He replied curtly, drooped his head and said, "It's noon, and Ju'er is going to get medicine for his grandfather. , Wei Zhu had already closed his eyes and waved his hand when he heard the words.

After Changqing retreated, Wei Zhu opened his eyes, snorted coldly, and said in a low voice: "Monkey cub, the hair has not grown yet, so you know the eye medicine"

On Cao Mian's side, even if he was worried about the sixteenth elder brother in his heart, he also knew that the one who made the sixteenth elder brother do it like this would never be a trivial matter. The sixteenth elder brother did not let himself enter the palace to explore the disease, he must not want to wade into this troubled water, so as to save the jealousy of others.

Cao Mei was not an eventful person, but he also made a special trip to call Cao Song and explained it. Let him be cautious in his words and deeds in the palace, and don't make a special trip to the sixteenth elder brother.

Although Cao Song didn't understand the deep meaning, since it was his brother's request, of course he nodded and agreed.

The Queen Mother, "Qiqi" has passed, but it is not yet the day of the funeral, and the funeral in the palace is still being done.

There is no leading twelfth elder brother, and there is no sixteenth elder brother in charge of the internal affairs office, and all kinds of trivial matters fall to Dong Dianbang and Yi Duli.

The two of them were so busy that they hit the back of their heads, and they had to inquire about the situation of the two princes and elder brothers. They faintly heard all kinds of rumors,3 and they were uneasy in their hearts.

Fortunately, for the national funeral, there are already rules on the part of the Ministry of Rites. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is responsible for all related trivial matters.

Therefore, the two of them did not leak too much arsenic.

Until the sixth day of the second lunar month, the previous rumors seemed to be getting more and more shadowy.

Three things, there are the first day of the harem to give birth to the prince, that is, it is called Xu, unnamed; The sixteenth elder brother held the funeral, overworked, weak and fell, fortunately there was no major problem: the twelfth elder brother in front of the palace (lost the etiquette", in the palace "grounded,.

This is said openly, and in private, it is a sixth elder brother who disobeys Concubine Yi and Concubine De for some reason. The bow brings trouble; On the twelfth elder brother's side, it was said that because of the queen mother's funeral, she leaked, but the emperor was angry.

Regardless of whether it is true or not, the more you say, the more people believe.

There is another piece of news that not many people know. That is, on the second day of the second month of February, the palace disposed of several chamberlains. When Cao Wei heard the news, the first thing that came to mind was Wei Zhu.

Accompanying the king is like accompanying the tiger, this sentence is not only remembered by the courtiers, but also by the inner servants around the emperor. Because of their close service, they see and hear more than anyone else.

When he heard that Wei Zhu was just beaten by the board and his surname was fine, Cao Zhu was relieved. There have not been many interactions over the years, but the two have developed a tacit understanding. Cao Qiao had in his heart, in addition to making use of him. There is also a bit of affection.

The sixteenth elder brother also had news that he would let Cao Mian enter the palace after the meeting.

This is said to be a small dynasty, Cao Yi followed the Manchu Han Jiuqing to the Tangquan Palace. Among them, there is also a sense of peace. From last month, please establish the prince". In the past, there was also a small half month, and there was no reply. There is no news of the emperor seeing the courtiers, so many people have no bottom in their hearts.

Kangxi didn't have a ......, a ......, a "............, one" ............, a ............, and a fourth, but just let Wei Zhu stick his hand and read it in public. Among them, he did not hide his illness like the old child, and told the truth that he was slow to deal with government affairs due to foot pain (difficult walking), and the accumulation of children gradually increased. It is also mentioned that (and one by one the lawless bandits have been punished and exempted from death, they have discovered the joint disease, formed a party, and plotted to release the second elder brother", and also mentioned that there is no shortage of rebellious ministers and thieves.

Everyone could only kneel down and listen, Kangxi had already said to this point, if anyone dared to talk about Lichu at this time, "I'm afraid I have to weigh my own weight, whether I can afford to wear the hat of (rebellious ministers and thieves").

In Cao Yi's heart, he already looked down on those ministers who were worried about the country and small (worried about the monarch).

A few of these clamoring for the establishment of the reserve are selfless.

Perhaps only a nerd like Zhu Tianbao, who has read too many sage books, firmly believes that there is a difference between the concubines and the princes of the Yuan Dynasty is a well-deserved candidate. Others, even if they think about it, are disloyal and unfilial. Even if the second elder brother was abolished twice and confined in Xianyang Palace, he was framed by the villain.

In any case, Cao Mei has no interest in meddling, and with his current official resume, he is not qualified to meddle.

Back in the city, it's already a thousand. Cao Yu thought about the sixteenth elder brother, did not return to the yamen, and went directly to the palace to go to the elder brother's office.

On the sixteenth elder brother's side, someone happened to be probing. The ones who came were the ninth elder brother and the fourteenth elder brother. The sixteenth elder brother wrapped a cloth around his head, put on his clothes, and leaned on the couch, accompanying him to talk about the rules in the palace, and the fire began to go out on the first day of February. Even if there are a few charcoal basins in the house, it is difficult to reduce the cold.

Cao Liang went in, and he had to ask An to see it.

Although Brother Jiu is lukewarm, he does not mean-for-tat; The fourteenth elder brother was much warmer on the side, and said with a smile: (The master is still hurrying up, he hasn't stopped all the way, and he has just arrived in the palace.)

Cao Zhen, you are Wenchen, and you came back so soon, it seems that you are in a hurry to see the sixteenth brother, it is difficult for you to have this heart. ”

Cao Po's side, it's not good to respond, it shouldn't be good, and it can only be vague. However, he was strange in his heart, listening to the meaning of the fourteenth elder brother, since the sixteenth elder brother was injured, he was still the first time to explore the disease, and the ninth elder brother was good to say, people outside the palace, it is not good to say that they entered the palace. After all, the current Queen Mother, Qiqi "has passed, and there is no need for the princes to say that they are on duty in Ningshou Palace."

The fourteenth elder brother is the same as the sixteenth elder brother, living in the elder brother's house, and the residence is not far from the sixteenth elder brother.

There are fewer than a thousand cups of wine for a confidant, and there is no speculation for more than half a sentence.

The ninth elder brother and the fourteenth elder brother and the sixteenth elder brother said a few polite words, but they didn't have anything to say, and after a few words, they said goodbye and left.

(How's that?) Does it still hurt? What did you hit with your head? After the two left, Cao Mian couldn't wait to ask.

The sixteenth elder brother touched his forehead, and his face immediately showed color. He waved his hand, sent Zhao Feng to guard outside the door, pointed to the cabinet on the ground, and said to Cao Xi: (Cabinet, pineapple cabinet.) ”

Cao Wei lowered his voice and said: "If it is a sixth master who does not (falls", is it a sixth master who is now detained in Tangquan? , The sixteenth elder brother nodded, showing hatred. Tao (Among them, there is a private palace hereafter, but if you know that it is harmful or unbeneficial, I will not be verbose.) only hates the two of Yonghe Palace and Yanxi Palace, and hides bad intentions. Deliberately hurt me. Over the years, I have never quarreled for anything, just because there are more people who are stammering outside, and I have provoked their eyes. ”

Yonghe Palace is Concubine De, and there are fourteen elder brothers standing behind her; Yanxi Palace lives in Concubine Yi, and the fifth elder brother and the ninth elder brother are involved in the back.

The sixteenth elder brother has not yet divided the mansion, and if he is really hated by the two palaces, it is also worrying.

(Is there a solution?) Cao frowned.

The sixteenth elder brother sneered: (I have to drink half a month of medicinal soup, the two of them, it's not much better.) Huang Ama is now in a rage, and after this time he has figured it out, he naturally understands the calculation of the two of them. Now, like me, they also have to bear a reputation. If I dare to do it, I have no lord, no name, no wealth and no power, I am barefoot and not afraid to wear shoes. ”

I don't know when Concubine Yi died, but there is a ninth elder brother who is not treated by the fourth elder brother, and the fate of her old lady is not much better; Concubine De's side. It seems that she hasn't been the queen mother for a few years.

Thinking of this, Cao Yi doesn't have much. took out a skillful, palm-sized copper box from his sleeve and sent it to the sixteenth elder brother.

(What is it?) The sixteenth elder brother asked as he took it and opened it.

Seeing the things inside, the sixteenth elder brother couldn't help laughing, looked up and said (peach? Okay, just use this to explore the disease, and be a child to coax it. ”

(You know that you don't eat what is made in the palace, but you buy it outside.) It may not be reassuring. This is from our Zhuangzi, and Ping Su Tianhui used this medicine. Cao Yi said.

The sixteenth elder brother lowered his head in the box of preserved fruits, took a piece, and brought it to his mouth, but said without looking at it (wordy, "Inside the Anding Gate, Prince Yong's Mansion.

Before the fourth elder brother arrived at the study, he saw Dai Jin waiting at the door. He entered the study, and Dai Jin followed him in.

(Something?) , the fourth elder brother asked.

(If you go back to the master, the news will come back from the palace that the emperor has circled the chief examiner.) , Dai Jin bowed.

(Well, who?) The fourth elder brother then asked.

(The main examiners are Zhang Pengli, the secretary of the Ministry of Officials, and Zhao Shenqiao, the secretary of the Ministry of Households, and the deputy examiners are Li Huazhi, the left waiter of the Criminal Department, and Wang Yixiao, the right waiter of the Ministry of Works, as the deputy examiner.) , Dai Jin replied.

When the fourth elder brother heard this, he couldn't help frowning. These two Han Shangshu have been reprimanded a lot in recent years, and they have already handed in their resignations several times, but because the emperor did not allow it, they were still in the same place, but they have been seized of real power,"

(To be continued)