This man is in his forties, with a dark complexion, medium stature, wearing the green cloth shirt and pants of the inner house miscellaneous servants, the left arm is wearing a long green cloth hand towel, one end of the jujube wooden stick is inserted into the cuffs to the armpit, the other end is held in the palm, covered by a green cloth handkerchief, mixed in a group of internal servants into the thick gate, until he came to the north middle gate, look at the left and right sides, are the long Yongdao sandwiched by the high red wall, the inner servants and miscellaneous servants who came in from the thick gate either entered the Beizhong Gate or went to both sides of the Yongdao, talking and laughing, walking in a hurry, No one paid attention to the middle-aged man standing against the wall—the man waited for a moment on the left side of the North Middle Gate, and was tapped on the back shoulder, and a deep voice said, "Come with me." The person who spoke did not stop, and went to the left side of the road, and the man hurriedly followed, and looked from behind, the person in front of him was wearing a green cloth and a soap silk, not tall or short, not fat or thin, nothing special, walking very fast, to the wall of the Shangyi Prison and turning south, it was a long road, the right was a slippery wall, from the top of the wall you could see the top of Banzai Mountain, on the left was the Governor and the Seal Supervisor, at this time there were people in and out, at the end of the road was the moat of the palace city, there were two zhang wide, The river shimmered silver in the moonlight—"Follow." ”

The waiter who led the way turned around and drank softly, the man hurriedly walked a few steps, the two were only two steps apart, went straight south along the east side of the moat, walked about two miles, it was the Donghua Gate in the east of the palace, the soldiers of the Yanshan avant-garde and the Yulin avant-garde were changing shifts, the copper bell rang from time to time, it seemed that everyone was watching, the guards were the most, in fact, they were the most lax, the torches and lanterns were dazzling, they couldn't see people clearly, and the man followed the inner guard and passed through the Donghua Gate smoothly.

The waiter who led the way stood by the royal river in the Donghua Gate, and said to the man behind him: "Go north along the river, the gate due north, break in all the way, and if you dare to stop you, you will beat with a stick, just beat, we can save you." With that, he went out of Donghua Gate.

The face of the waiter who led the way was blurred, and the man never saw what he looked like, but even when he got here, he couldn't take care of much, and strode to the gate of Ciqing Palace, the palace gate was blinded by black lights and no one guarded it, the man took out the jujube stick in his left sleeve with his right hand, ran in quickly with the stick, and broke into the second door, and heard an old eunuch ask: "Who is it?" ”

The man waved the jujube stick in his hand and shouted: "Fight, fight." "Rushed over.

The eunuch hurriedly shouted: "Li Jian, someone broke into the palace and stopped him!" ”

A eunuch coughed and staggered out of the ear chamber, and stopped him with open arms: "Where did the madman come from-"

Before he finished a sentence, with a "snap", the eunuch Li Jian was hit with a stick on his left shoulder, and fell to the ground screaming in pain, and the man jumped over him, and rushed straight to the eaves of the hall in the screams of the two eunuchs guarding the door.

Three more chamberlains rushed over and shouted, "Catch the murderer, catch the murderer!"

The man jumped on the Danqi, while waving a stick to prevent the chamberlain from approaching, while retreating into the hall, there were a few palace lamps lit on both sides of the hall, the lights were dim, and the footsteps and shouts looked eerie and terrifying in the empty hall - at the end of the hall was Fengchen Palace, the eunuch Zhong Benhua heard the shouting of the hall side, and urgently led five or six young firefighters to block the exit of the hall and screamed: "Catch the assassin, catch the assassin, protect the master, protect the master." ”

Wei Jinzhong also ran over when he heard the news, holding a wooden staff in his hand, the man saw that there were many people here, and wanted to turn back, and there was also a group of attendants at the entrance of the hall, no matter how deserted the East Palace was, there were still dozens of attendants on duty.

The man waved the jujube stick "Huohuo" in his hand and shouted: "Hit, hit, kill." Looking forward and backward, the short sticks danced wildly, and more than a dozen attendants on both sides forced over, and the man couldn't help but retreat, and was pressed in the southwest corner of the hall.

Zhu Youxiao and Zhu Youzhen brothers also followed, holding a cane and stopping in a row, Zhu Youxiao didn't see the men who were surrounded, only heard shouting, and hurriedly asked: "Master Zhong, Wei Banban, what's wrong?" ”

Zhong Benhua turned his head and shouted: "Don't come here, go back to the palace quickly, Mama Ke, Mama Ke, take them out of here." ”

Zhu Youxiao had already gotten into the legs of the two little firefighters and looked inside, and shouted: "Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan-"

Zhu Youzhen, who was standing behind Zhu Youxiao, also shouted: "Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan-"

Ke Yinyue and a few palace ladies ran over to pull up the two imperial grandsons, and Zhu Youxiao was still shouting: "Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan is over there-"

Ke Yinyue half-dragged Zhu Youxiao and half-hugged him: "How can there be a little sister, go back, go back." He asked Eunuch Zhong: "Gonggong Zhong, there are assassins?" He tiptoed and glanced at the crowd - but at this moment, in the dim corner of the hall, a little girl of five or six years old walked out, wearing a red and white gauze skirt, her forehead hair was cut flat, relatively short, without pressing her eyebrows, revealing a white forehead, looking a little dull, her little face was pink, she was holding a small fan in her left hand, rubbing her sleepy eyes with her right hand, and said in a milky voice: "The two brothers have found Xiao Yan, why is it dark?" ”

This little girl is the third daughter of the prince Zhu Changluo, named Zhu Huixuan, Zhu Changluo's first two daughters died, and now there are several daughters Zhu Huiluo, and there are two more one who has just been weaned and one is still in infancy, Zhu Huixuan's mother Feng Shixuan is no longer alive, Zhu Huihui and Zhu Youzhen were raised by Dong Li together, although she is the daughter of the prince, but at this time she was not canonized like Zhu Youxiao and Zhu Youzhen, so she can't be called a princess - this is dusk, Zhu Huihui and Zhu Youxiao, Zhu Youzhen two royal brothers play hide and seek, Zhu Huiyan hid and let the two imperial brothers find her, she walked alone to the corner of the hall where no one was around, sat there quietly and waited for the two imperial brothers to find her, and fell asleep after waiting for a while, at this time she was woken up, and stood up in a daze, and saw so many people around, and a person wielding a wooden stick was close to her, she didn't feel afraid, and said: "Brother found Xiao Yan, that is Xiao Yan lost, Xiao Yan will never be bad, that box of ghee snails will be eaten by my brother." ”

Although there were so many people in the hall, there was only the voice of the little girl speaking quietly at this time, Eunuch Zhong and the others were so nervous that they didn't dare to make a sound, the little girl Zhu Huiyan was only a few steps away from the man who broke into the palace, if the man smashed down with a stick, Zhu Huiyan would definitely have a flowering head.

The man wielding the jujube stick was also a little stunned, and then shouted: "Don't come here, otherwise I will kill this girl." Step over, reach out and grab Zhu Huiyan's arm, and carry the little girl to the ground on one foot, crookedly, the little girl suddenly cried, shouting: "Brother, brother-"

Zhong Benhua's palms holding the staff were full of sweat, although he knew that there would be a break into the palace in the near future, he didn't know when and who he was, and now when he saw this man holding the little princess hostage, he couldn't help but be shocked, thinking about how this could be faked, and shouted: "Bold maniac, let go of that girl!" ”

Suddenly, the figure flashed, but it was twelve-year-old Zhu Youxiao who rushed up and pulled the man's arm hard, shouting, "Let go of my sister-"

Zhu Youxiao has always been very willing to care for his younger siblings, the man was about to hit with a stick, and the eunuch Zhong who was standing at the front was shocked, and he didn't think much about it, so he rushed over, hugged Zhu Youxiao with one hand, and went up with the other hand, "bang", the jujube stick hit him on his forearm, and then Wei Jinzhong and Han Ben, who followed, struck down with two canes, knocking the man to the ground.

Eunuch Zhong endured the pain in his right forearm, picked up Zhu Youxiao and Zhu Hui's brother and sister and retreated to the side, and saw Wei Jinzhong and several strong chamberlains waving their canes and beating the man, Eunuch Zhong calmed down at this time, and shouted: "Don't kill him, hand it over to the palace guards for disposal and interrogation." ”

At this time, Wang An accompanied the crown prince Zhu Changluo from Fengchen Palace, there were more than a dozen internal guards guarding, asking if it was an assassin who broke into the palace, Zhu Changluo, who was fat, was shocked and angry, his whole body trembled, and he couldn't speak for a while, Wang An hurriedly comforted: "Don't be angry, the assassin has been captured, and he will be handed over to the palace guards to deal with, I believe that the mastermind behind the scenes will be traced." ”

Wei Jinzhong and Han Ben used a few people to find ropes to tie up this man, Zhong Benhua asked Ke Yinyue and a few palace ladies to quickly take Zhu Youxiao, Zhu Youzhen, and Zhu Huihui away, a palace lady picked up Zhu Huixiao, Zhu Huixiao was still crying, Zhu Youxiao comforted his sister and said: "Don't cry, Xiaoxiao, you won, my brother lost you a box of ghee snails." ”

"Really!" Six-year-old Zhu Huiyan suddenly burst into laughter, but asked again: "Didn't my brother find Xiao Yan, why did Xiao Yan win?" The tone was still slightly sobbed, but the little face was already smiling.

Zhu Youxiao said: "My fifth brother and I have been looking for you for a long time, but we can't find it, it's the assassin who found you." ”

Zhu Huiyan let out an "ah", and shrunk into Gong E's arms, looking very scared.

Ke Yinyue took Zhu Youxiao's hand and said softly, "Don't talk nonsense." Looking back at the hall, Zhong Benhua and Wei Jinzhong had already escorted the eunuch to the palace.

Ke Yin Yue said in her heart: "Where did this assassin come from, such a useless assassin?" ”

…… Zhu Changluo, the crown prince wearing the palace, finally stomped his feet and scolded: "It's too much to deceive people!" He added, "I will go to see my father immediately." ”

Wang An said: "Don't worry, I am afraid to go to see the Lord Banzai this night, I am afraid of being disturbed, and it is not too late to hear about this matter in the morning, let the commander and the imperial history of the city patrol interrogate the assassin first, the matter is very important, forgive those people who dare not play favoritism and reverse black and white." ”

…… Eunuch Zhong and Wei Jinzhong, Han Benyong three people, as well as two ebony cards, two small firefighters, escorted the man who broke into the palace out of the second door, the two old eunuchs guarding the door, one rushed in to send a warning, the other went to Donghua Gate to report to the palace guard, Yanshan avant-garde commander Zhu Xiong hurriedly led people to come, in front of the gate of Ciqing Palace was met Eunuch Zhong and others escorted the assassin out, Zhu Xiong saluted and said: "Gonggong Zhong, what's going on?" ”

Eunuch Zhong's right arm became more and more painful, and he reached out to touch it, it was obviously swollen, and he didn't know if he had a fracture, and said angrily: "Commander Zhu is so leisurely, and he also asked the miscellaneous family what is going on, you see, the assassin broke into the palace and almost injured the Chitose Master." ”

Zhu Xiong was dripping with cold sweat, tonight was his Yanshan avant-garde rotation Donghua Gate, and the area around Ciqing Palace was also the scope of patrol, but there was an assassin breaking into the East Palace, and his commander made the guilt not small, while drinking the sergeant to escort the assassin over, he asked in a low voice: "Gonggong Zhong, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is not frightened, right?" ”

Eunuch Zhong sneered: "Such a murderer armed with a stick rushed into the palace and injured many attendants, do you think the prince will be frightened!" As he spoke, he lifted the sleeve of his right arm, and under the light of the torch, his forearm was red and swollen, and the stick marks were like sticks.

Zhu Xiong heard Eunuch Zhong say this, knowing that this assassin did not hurt the prince, he was a little relieved, and said: "Gonggong Zhong bravely captured the thief, so that the lower officials admire, this assassin will be immediately sent to the imperial history of the imperial city for interrogation, and he will definitely be traced——"

Before the words "mastermind behind the scenes" were spoken, Yan Shanwei commanded Zhu Xiong to shudder and be terrified.

Eunuch Zhong asked, "Who is the imperial history of the imperial city on duty tonight?" ”

Zhu Xiong said: "It's Liu Tingyuan, the superintendent of Shaanxi Province." ”

Eunuch Zhong nodded secretly: "Liu Tingyuan and Yao Zongwen are Zheng Guifei's party, it's really a coincidence, and it depends on how Liu Tingyuan tries this case." He said: "The prince ordered me and a few others to keep an eye on this assassin, and tomorrow morning I will hear about the saint." ”

Zhu Xiong said: "Yes, Gonggong Zhong, several fathers-in-law, please." ”

Eunuch Zhong asked Han Benyong and several other chamberlains to return to the palace to report to the prince, he and Wei Jinzhong followed Zhu Xiong to Donghua Gate, the imperial historian Liu Tingyuan rushed to hear the news, and escorted the assassin to Guanglu Temple for interrogation, but refused to let Zhong Benhua and Wei Jinzhong participate in the trial, Eunuch Zhong said: "Liu Yushi, the two of us are not involved in the trial, but to observe, and as soon as there is a result, it will be reported to the prince." ”

There was a shocking case of assassins breaking into the East Palace, Liu Tingyuan already felt that the situation was very bad, and now the situation was unclear, he naturally didn't want Zhong and Wei to be hindered by the two officials in the East Palace, and immediately invoked the laws of the Ming Dynasty and refused Zhong and Wei to observe, Eunuch Zhong said: "Okay, Liu Yushi enforces the law impartially, and the miscellaneous family has nothing to say, now this living assassin is handed over to Liu Yushi, don't try it to death after a few trials, the miscellaneous family and the Great Wei are waiting in front of this Guanglu Temple." ”

Liu Tingyuan remained silent, let the sergeant escort the assassin in, Eunuch Zhong and Wei Jinzhong sat on the ground in front of the gate of Guanglu Temple, Eunuch Zhong's arm hurt badly, Wei Jinzhong went to the imperial pharmacy to invite two attendants who knew medical skills to treat Eunuch Zhong's injuries, after pinching it, it was said that it was a crack in the forearm, that is, the right forearm of Eunuch Zhong was wounded and bound with a splint, and then the right arm and neck were hung with a cloth belt, and the image of Eunuch Zhong's loyal protector jumped out - Liu Tingyuan interrogated the assassin overnight, and only walked out of Guanglu Temple until dawn, Eunuch Zhong's right arm was painful, He hadn't slept all night, his expression was depressed, and when he saw Liu Tingyuan coming out, he hurriedly asked: "Liu Yushi, did the assassin confess?" ”

Liu Tingyuan said: "This official has written the preliminary trial recital, and now it will be presented to the Holy Emperor." ”

Such cases that occur in the palace do not need to be forwarded by the cabinet and can be handed over directly to the celebrant of ceremonies.

Eunuch Zhong asked, "Liu Yushi, what is the first trial?" ”

Liu Tingyuan ignored it and went straight to Donghua Gate.

Wei Jinzhong said angrily: "This is really contempt for our Donggong people, Gonggong Zhong, let's go back and report to the master." ”

Eunuch Zhong blushed, stared at Liu Tingyuan's back, deeply felt the humiliation of being despised by others, and said in his heart: "Liu Tingyuan, there will be a day when you want to look up to the miscellaneous family." ”

(To be continued)