Lanzhi couldn't help but panic when he heard that Empress Zhang actually ordered Ruyun to go directly to Kunning Palace to invite Empress Zhou. After Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne, he established Princess Zhou as the queen of the main palace. Queen Zhou is not comparable to an expired queen like Zhang Yan.

Lanzhi was anxious, and his eyes were fixed on the palace guards who were searching everywhere, hoping to find the damn Guanglu Temple Qing Xu Liang earlier.

The original layout of Ciqing Palace was extremely simple, and nearly a hundred guards searched for it, and finally there was time to search it all. After a while, one after another, the guards returned to Captain Sha in despair, but the Assassin was not found.

Lanzhi's face turned a little pale, and he glanced at the gate of Ciqing Palace in panic.

The last group of guards returned to Captain Sha.

"Your Excellency, no assassins have been found."

Laneige's face suddenly turned as white as paper, and he stood and shook a few times, trying not to collapse to the ground.

Captain Sha couldn't protect himself, so he naturally couldn't take care of Laneige, and immediately embarrassedly saluted Empress Zhang: "Niangniang, all the guards have searched the Ciqing Palace inside and out, but fortunately no assassin was found, presumably the assassin took the opportunity to escape when he saw that the situation was not good." Ahem, since the Niangniang Palace is safe, the minister will go out and continue the inspection. ”

Empress Zhang's face was calm, and she snorted lightly and ignored it.

Captain Sha's face was even more embarrassed, and he retreated with a group of guards.

After the guards in Ciqing Palace were all gone, the palace maid Lanzhi gradually came back to her senses, she didn't want to make meritorious service at the moment but thought about how to protect herself, facing Queen Zhang, with a frightened look, patting her chest. Da breathed a sigh of relief, "I'm scared to death the slave...... It's good that the assassin is gone. It's good to go! ”

As he spoke, Laneige looked at Empress Zhang. said with a concerned face: "Niangniang, you weren't scared, were you?" ”

Empress Zhang snorted coldly, looked at Lanzhi, and sneered: "What can happen in this palace!" Laneige, the guards didn't catch the assassin here in the palace, you must be disappointed, right? I really didn't see it in this palace before, and you stayed by this palace's side, and you actually harbored evil intentions! ”

Lanzhi's face changed, and he said curtly: "What did Niang Niang say!" The slave was worried about the safety of the mother. It was chaotic for a while, and this was presumptuous. The mother wanted to punish the slave and the maid, and the slave and the maid had nothing to say. However, the slave and maid are loyal to the mother. ”

Empress Zhang blinked her eyes and said coldly, "Really?" ”

Suddenly, I heard a messenger from a eunuch outside the palace: "The queen mother has arrived!" ”

Empress Zhang listened, left Lanzhi, and walked out of the palace to greet Empress Zhou.

Empress Zhou was followed by several palace maids and eunuchs, and she strode in with a worried look on her face, and saw that Empress Zhang was safe and sound. With a relaxed tone, he stepped forward to take Zhang Yan's hand and said, "My sister hurried over as soon as she heard Miss Ruyun's report." The imperial sister-in-law is fine, and the younger sister is a lot more relieved. ”

Zhang Yan let Empress Zhou hold her hand. Apologetically: "I've caused trouble to the queen." Something happened in Ciqing Palace, and I had no choice but to work hard. ”

Empress Zhou said angrily: "The imperial sister-in-law is too outward. Originally, my sister was going to send more people to the imperial sister-in-law to wait. You always shirk. ”

Although Empress Zhou is now the mother of a country, she has never forgotten it. She was able to jump from an ordinary woman to Princess Xin, and then became the queen. All of this is due to the discernment of the former queen in front of her. It can be said that without Zhang Yan, there would be no Queen Zhou today.

Zhang Yan's kindness to herself, Queen Zhou has always remembered it in her heart, because no matter who has been before or after, Queen Zhou has always respected Zhang Yan and called her the imperial sister-in-law.

The two entered Ciqing Palace side by side, and as soon as they entered the palace, Queen Zhou couldn't help but be surprised when she saw the messy scene in the palace: "This, what's going on?" ”

Zhang Yan sighed lightly, pointed to the palace maid Lanzhi who was standing with her hands hanging down on one side of the hall, and said: "I was about to take a bath today, and the palace maid Lanzhi suddenly broke in with a group of guards, pointing out that an assassin had broken in and wanted to enter the palace to search for the assassin." I told me that there were no assassins in the palace at all, and she didn't listen, so she instructed the palace guards to forcibly search the Ciqing Palace. ”

Empress Zhou was even more surprised, and said dumbfounded: "Sister-in-law, what ...... Did the assassins find out? ”

Zhang Yan shook her head and said, "I've never seen any assassins. ”

At this time, Lanzhi, the palace maid who had been standing cautiously, knew that she couldn't pretend anymore, so she knelt down with a bang, prostrate at Zhang Yan's feet, and cried loudly: "Niangniang, the slave maid is doing this, she is worried about the safety of the mother, the slave and the maid are loyal to the mother, and they will definitely not harm the mother......"

Zhang Yan looked at her feet coldly, frowned, and said nothing.

When Queen Zhou heard this, she was already furious: "Shut up! How dare the wicked slave deceive his master! Everything in Ciqing Palace is decided by the imperial sister-in-law, where is there a lowly servant who speaks! ”

Empress Zhou glanced at the overturned objects in Ciqing Palace, and her anger was even more intense, pointing at Lanzhi, her face was like frost, and she scolded: "This palace has long heard that the subordinates in Ciqing Palace are unruly and neglect their masters. Now it seems that it is true! Such a vicious slave, how can this palace tolerate it! Come, take this evil slave out and beat him to death! ”

The palace maid Lanzhi was already frightened, hugged the corner of Zhang Yan's skirt, and begged bitterly: "The queen mother spares her life!" Mother, mother, save me...... I'm so loyal to my mother......"

No matter how she pleaded, Queen Zhou and Zhang Yan were indifferent. Ruyun, the palace maid behind Zhang Yan, had long been unpleasant to Lanzhi, and when she saw Lanzhi grabbing the corner of Zhang Yan's skirt and not letting go, she shouted to the two eunuchs who came to obey the order: "Don't drag her out yet!" ”

The two eunuchs stepped forward, pulled Lanzhi up, grabbed her from left to right, and dragged her away.

"Niangniang, spare your life, the slave doesn't dare anymore......"

The people in the Ciqing Palace watched the palace maid Lanzhi being dragged out, waiting for her fate, and there was only one way to beat her to death. The eunuchs and maids in the palace have long been accustomed to seeing those who make mistakes being executed on the spot, and most of them hung their heads and couldn't see the real demeanor.

Empress Zhou said to Zhang Yan: "Okay, I disposed of the evil slave, and I can be regarded as giving a sigh to the imperial sister-in-law." I see that it will take some time for this Ciqing Palace to be cleaned up, and the imperial sister-in-law will follow me to the outside for a walk. Then he said to the palace maid Ruyun: "Ruyun, you take someone to clean up this palace, and then go to the Internal Affairs Office to dial a few people with good intentions." ”

The palace maid responded like a cloud.

Zhang Yan looked at Queen Zhou. said: "Queen Mother, it's enough for me to wait here like a cloud." You don't need too many people. ”

Empress Zhou smiled and reproached slightly: "The imperial sister-in-law doesn't have to excuse herself. A huge Ciqing Palace. There are few subordinates guarding it, don't say that my sister I don't worry, if I let Your Majesty know, he will also blame me for neglecting the imperial sister-in-law. ”

When Zhang Yan heard this, it was difficult to excuse herself. Leaving the palace maid Ruyun to lead people to clean up Ciqing Palace, Zhang Yan and Queen Zhou slowly walked out of Ciqing Palace. After walking and chatting for a while on the gravel road outside, I saw Emperor Chongzhen coming over, followed by Zhou Yanru, the first assistant of the cabinet, and Wen Tiren, the minister of the cabinet.

There was such a big thing in the palace. Before Empress Zhou went to Ciqing Palace, she sent someone to report to Emperor Chongzhen. Empress Zhou and Zhang Yan stopped and saluted the emperor, and the two cabinet scholars also saluted the two maidens.

Chongzhen nodded at Zhang Yan and asked, "The imperial sister-in-law is frightened, how is the situation now?" ”

Zhang Yan owed a debt and said softly: "Your Majesty is worried, it's just a false alarm." ”

When Empress Zhou heard this, she said with a serious face: "The imperial sister-in-law is too soft-hearted. If you are stronger, you will not be bullied by a! ”

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, his face became serious, and he asked in a deep voice, "Who is so bold?" ”

Empress Zhou snorted lightly. said: "That cheap maid Lanzhi has been killed by the concubine's decree!" ”

Behind Emperor Chongzhen, Wen Tiren heard this. With a soft sigh, a hint of annoyance flashed across his face.

Chongzhen nodded slowly. Said: "The queen deserves to be disposed of like this." ”

Chongzhen also had to discuss the war in the northwest with the two cabinet ministers, and saw that nothing happened to Zhang Yan. Then he prepared to go back and continue to discuss state affairs.

Seeing this, Wen Tiren coughed lightly, and suggested to Chongzhen: "Your Majesty, the old minister heard that the Ciqing Palace where Yi'an Niangniang lives is located in a remote area, and there are not many people and there are not enough guards. Now that such a horrific thing has happened, the old minister thinks that for the sake of Yi'an Niangniang's safety, he should send additional guards to guard it in case of accidents. ”

When Zhang Yan heard this, her eyes flashed, and she looked at Wen Tiren inquiringly.

Chongzhen listened, glanced at Queen Zhou, and saw that Queen Zhou had no intention of objecting, so he nodded and said, "Yes!" ”

……

Zhang Yan accompanied Empress Zhou to walk in the palace, and when she walked around, Xu Liang was motionless above the roof beam of Ciqing Palace, breathing softly, listening to the clouds below shouting and directing dozens of temporarily transferred eunuchs to set up the tables and cabinets, clean the room again, and the dust swept up rose to the roof beams, which made Xu Liang suck a nose of ash.

Xu Liang secretly complained, scolding himself in his heart for being stupid and not alert enough, in fact, when the palace maid Lanzhi pretended to pass on the emperor's will, Xu Liang should have reacted: Passing the decree and running errands has always been the errand of the eunuchs of the celebrant eunuchs, when will it be the turn of the palace maids to do it?

Now it is good, although he reacts quickly, and he has practiced the Great Prajna Gong, his kung fu has improved a lot, and he is able to jump onto the beam of the house at a critical moment and avoid the search of the palace guards. It's just that...... How do you get out safely next?

It seems that they can only wait for those people below to completely clean up the Ciqing Palace before making plans.

waited until the evening, when Miss Ruyun was finally satisfied with the brand-new Ciqing Palace, and then let the dozens of eunuchs who were almost tired leave.

Then, the father-in-law of the Internal Affairs Office brought more than 20 eunuchs and palace maids over, lined up in two rows in the courtyard of Ciqing Palace, and Miss Ren Ruyun selected four palace maids and four eunuchs.

Soon after, Empress Yi'an Zhang Yan came back.

When night fell, Ruyun instructed the newly allocated palace maids and eunuchs to hang lanterns in the corridors of Ciqing Palace, making the entire Ciqing Palace a lot brighter.

Miss Ruyun looked at the lively Ciqing Palace happily, and suddenly saw the main owner, Zhang Yan, walking around room by room, looking east and west, as if she was looking for something.

Ruyun jumped up to Zhang Yan's side and asked with a smile: "Niangniang, what are you looking for?" But lost something? The maid will help you find it together. ”

As he spoke, he bent down and stared under the table.

Zhang Yan's face was slightly red, she pulled it up like a cloud, and scolded with a smile: "What are you fooling around!" I'm looking at a lot of changes in our palace, so I'm looking at it everywhere. ”

When Ruyun heard this, he became happy and said with a smile: "That's." Niangniang, the queen killed the annoying Laneige with a cane, and sent eight new subordinates to come over, speaking of which, our Ciqing Palace has not been so lively for a long time. ”

When Zhang Yan heard this, she also became happy.

Xu Liang was on top of the heads of the two, and after listening to the laughter of the two, he couldn't help but sigh: When can I go out? The whole body is sore and numb, and if you stay any longer, I'm afraid I'm going to be paralyzed!

And, I'm so hungry!

However, Zhang Yan and Ruyun are intimate master and servant, and the two of them stood at the bottom chattering for a long time.

Then the two palace maids brought dinner, and the master and servant were still unfinished to stop the topic, and Ruyun waited for Zhang Yan to have dinner.

Zhang Yan eats very slowly, chews slowly, and eats the dishes one bite at a time. Oh no, it's not accurate to say that she eats, she should be classified as tasting. The dishes in the palace are full of color and fragrance, and Zhang Yan's food is biased and very elegant......

Bite!

With a very slight sound, Zhang Yan took a small mouthful of rice in her mouth, and suddenly looked at a small plate in front of her, and her eyes slowly straightened.

On the inner wall of the white saucer, there is actually a small drop of shiny water, which can be refracted under the light of the candlelight.

At first glance, no one will only think that it is just a drop of vegetable soup. However, Zhang Yan is an extremely careful person, and she clearly knows that it is absolutely impossible to be vegetable soup.

Because the small plate was placed in front of Zhang Yan, before the slight dinging sound, Zhang Yan was sure that the wall of the plate was clean.

It's not vegetable soup! But...... A drop of saliva!

Zhang Yan suddenly lost her appetite, swallowed the mouthful of rice with difficulty, she gently put down her chopsticks, and said to Ruyun behind her: "Okay, I'm full." ”

Ruyun was surprised, she had been waiting for Zhang Yan for many years, how long Zhang Yan would have to eat a meal, she knew clearly, it seemed, compared with usual, less than one-third of the time.

"Niangniang, why did you eat so much today?" Ruyun asked with concern, "But you're not feeling well?" ”

Zhang Yan got up slowly, left the table quietly, raised her head slightly and glanced up, above her head, a large beam was horizontal.

Zhang Yan said lightly: "I'm sorry for today." ”

Ruyun listened and nodded in agreement: Also, Ciqing Palace was almost turned over during the day, as the lord of the first palace, Niangniang should indeed have no appetite.

So, Ruyun didn't ask any more questions and beckoned the palace maids to withdraw the meal.

Xu Liang listened to the busy work of the palace maids below, and then the fragrance of the vegetables wafting to the beams of the room gradually thinned, and finally disappeared, and he couldn't help but lament again: Zhang Yan, which Zhang Yan, you have no appetite, I, Xu Liang, have been hungry for a day!

Suddenly, Xu Liang's whole body was nervous, and he pricked up his ears and listened below.

"By the way, Ruyun, after I went out with the queen, has anyone been in our palace?" Below, Zhang Yan still asked the palace maid in an indifferent tone.

Ruyun thought for a moment and said affirmatively: "Niangniang, during the day, the maid has been standing in the middle of the courtyard outside, and no one has come except for the father-in-law of the Internal Affairs Office. ”

When Zhang Yan heard this, her eyes suddenly lit up, she looked at Ruyun, and a smile appeared on her face: "According to what you say, you haven't seen anyone go out?" (To be continued.) )