Mu Ningxuan raised her head, picked up the tea bowl, took a sip of tea, and counted the days, there were still more than two months before she could leave the palace.

"County Lord, something big has happened in the palace." Xiaofu looked a little flustered.

"What's wrong?" Mu Ningxuan asked knowingly.

Xiaofu said: "The prince is here, it is the news from the Qinzheng Palace. ”

Mu Ningxuan asked Xiaofu to help her find a plain dress to put on, and prepared to go to the Funing Palace, the queen's mother.

However, Mu Ningxuan also knew that Mother Feng should be coming at this time.

As soon as Mother Feng entered the door, she saw Mu Ningxuan changing into plain clothes, and hurriedly asked, "County Lord, where are you going?" ”

Mu Ningxuan said slowly: "Funing Palace." ”

Mother Feng immediately put her mind at ease: "The county lord is wise, I am afraid that the death of the prince has not yet reached the ears of the queen mother, if you rush over, if you scare the queen mother, it will be a big crime." The old slave heard that the queen mother is sad now, and I won't see you anymore, but our heart of asking for condolences is still there. ”

Mu Ningxuan nodded: "Let's go." ”

There were many people standing outside the Funing Palace, mostly harem concubines and princesses.

Aunt Lian, who was beside the queen, stood at the gate of the palace and greeted the concubines, princesses, and ministers and officials who came to see the queen in a hurry from outside the palace.

Mu Ningxuan walked up to Aunt Lian and asked to meet the queen.

Aunt Lian said softly: "Lord Ning Xuan, the queen is very sad now, the imperial doctor is taking the queen's pulse, you go back first." ”

Mu Ningxuan said a few polite words to Aunt Lian, asking the queen to mourn, pay attention to her body and something, and then prepare to go back.

"Xuan'er." Princess Qingming walked over to Mu Ningxuan.

Mu Ningxuan curtsied at Princess Qingming, and said, "Sister Ming." ”

Princess Qingming pulled Mu Ningxuan aside and asked in a low voice, "Does the imperial grandmother know?" ”

Mu Ningxuan shook her head: "I'm afraid I don't know, I haven't gone to the Queen Mother yet." ”

"I can't hide it, I always have to tell it." Princess Qingming sighed softly.

"Sister Ming mourns, and the prince's brother will not be willing to make Sister Ming sad."

"Do you know how the prince's brother died?"

Mu Ningxuan shook her head and pretended not to know.

Princess Qingming's face sank instantly: "The prince's brother was killed by someone." ”

"Killed? Who dares to harm the current prince! Mu Ningxuan pretended to be surprised.

"Of course it's those wolf ambitions, look, my father will definitely investigate to the end, and he will definitely find out that person." Princess Qingming said coldly.

***

Early the next morning, before dawn, Mu Ningxuan was woken up by the noise outside~

Xiaofu hurriedly ran in, and said with a pale face: "County Lord, it's not good!" Just now, Aunt Su sent someone to say that the Queen Mother knew the news of the death of the crown prince, and fainted directly, and now the imperial doctors have gathered in Cining Palace to treat the Queen Mother, and she has not woken up yet, the Queen Mother is afraid that it is not good, you hurry up and take a look. ”

Mu Ningxuan got up and changed her clothes.

Xiaofu gossiped while dressing Mu Ningxuan: "The slave asked, saying that the Queen Mother had been unable to sleep well last night, and she didn't sleep in the second half of the night." When Aunt Su helped the Queen Mother out to breathe, she overheard the two little girls on night duty outside breaking their mouths, and she only knew about it. The two girls with broken mouths have been ordered by the official family to be pulled out and killed. ”

The inner hall of Cining Palace.

The Queen Mother was lying on the bed with her eyes closed, her face pale and blue, bloodless.

The concubines, princesses, and princes had already rushed over one after another, and the officials were pacing back and forth anxiously.

The queen knelt at the front, Mu Ningxuan knelt silently at the back, she was just called into the palace to accompany the queen mother's courtiers, at this time, it was neither the time to be in the limelight, nor the time to sneak away.

More and more people came, and there was a cry in Cining Palace, and the official family was upset, and scolded loudly: "What are you crying for? The Queen Mother is still there! Go out and kneel for me, don't disturb the Imperial Doctor's diagnosis and treatment here! ”

In an instant, the entire Cining Palace was silent, only the sound of the imperial doctors treating and treating, and the sound of the concubines, princesses, and princes gently moving their feet to exit the inner hall, and the air was filled with a tense atmosphere.

After a long time, Imperial Physician Zhang came out, knelt in front of the official family, and said slowly: "Back to the emperor, the queen mother has woken up, and her body is fine, but she is still a little weak and cannot be greatly stimulated." Weichen went to prepare some decoction to calm the nerves and replenish qi for the Queen Mother to take. ”

The official breathed a sigh of relief, nodded in agreement, and his brows gradually relaxed.

The queen saw that the official's house was dark and green, her expression was very tired, and she couldn't bear to say: "The emperor has approved the excerpts all night, and he has not rested, hurry up and go back to rest, the concubines will stay here and serve the queen mother wholeheartedly." ”

The official nodded slightly: "Okay, I'll go first to see the queen mother." ”

Seeing the official family, the Queen Mother was a little excited, and the official family hurriedly supported the Queen Mother, "Queen Mother, you have to take care of your body!" ”

"Chong'er... Is Chong'er really gone? "The Queen Mother struggled to speak.

The official nodded sadly.

The Queen Mother burst into tears: "Why didn't you do it?" ”

"Erchen is still investigating!" The official said truthfully.

"Be sure to check it out!" The Queen Mother said word by word.

"Yes, Erchen knows, the queen mother is resting, and Erchen will come to greet you later."

***

The Queen Mother's health improved in three or five days, and her spirit was still acceptable.

Mu Ningxuan, as usual, got up every morning to go to the Queen Mother's palace to say goodbye, and spent most of the rest of the time in Cining Palace to help the Queen Mother copy Buddhist scriptures.

Mu Ningxuan has been copying for six days in a row, and her arm is sore.

Finish breakfast.

Aunt Su said: "Queen Mother, Gonggong Song is back, and he has brought someone with him." ”

The Queen Mother said loudly: "Let's pass it in together." ”

After a while, Aunt Su led Gonggong Song and a middle-aged man dressed in ordinary clothes to walk in.

Mu Ningxuan knew in her heart that this middle-aged man was the original owner of Songhe Restaurant.

Gonggong Song knelt down, and the middle-aged man also knelt down when he saw this.

"Queen Mother, this person is the suspect who killed the prince caught in Dali Temple."

The Queen Mother had no expression on her face, and said coldly: "Dali Temple caught such a one?" ”

"No, Dali Temple is searching for suspects throughout the city, as long as it is someone who saw the prince that day, they have all been arrested." Gonggong Song said truthfully.

The Queen Mother frowned and said mockingly: "Dali Temple is really getting better and better at doing things. ”

Gonggong Song pointed to the middle-aged man and said: "Empress Dowager Qiyu, this person's name is Chen Song, the owner of Songhe Restaurant, the prince ate wine in this restaurant before returning home, because this Chen Song has alibi evidence, so Dali Temple let him go." ”

"In that case, why did you bring this man with you?" The Queen Mother's eyes fell on the middle-aged man and she wondered.

"Last night, the slave happened to meet this guy sneakily coming out of the back door of Songhe Restaurant, and the slave kept an eye on him, followed him, and went all the way to the Jin Palace."

"Jin Wangfu? The third child's mansion? ”

"Yes, Queen Mother. The guy went in and waited for an hour before coming out. On his way back, the minions took advantage of the fact that no one had arrested him, interrogated him, and immediately brought him over. ”

Gonggong Song said sharply to the middle-aged man beside him: "Chen Song, the Queen Mother is here, and she is not honest." ”

Chen Song lay on the ground and kowtowed to the Queen Mother a few times, and his voice trembled: "The Queen Mother spares her life, the little one is not a murderer, and the little one did not kill the prince."

The little one just privately helped the King of Jin to present a beautiful woman to the prince, and lied that the woman was the little distant cousin, but I really don't know where the woman came from. Last night, King Jin let the little one go over and gave the little one a lot of silver tickets to let the little one leave the capital quickly and not appear in the capital again. ”

"A beautiful woman?" The Queen Mother's voice was cold.

Chen Song's face was so frightened that his face turned earthy, and he stammered: "Yes, look... It looks very... Pretty weak, no... It's not like you can kill people with a knife... Appearance. ”

Gonggong Song saw Chen Song's nonsense, and continued: "Empress Dowager, Chen Song didn't tell Dali Temple that the woman was the king of Jin, and Dali Temple has no clue so far. ”

"Where is the woman now?"

"It's still locked up in Dali Temple, but she has evidence of an alibi, and the people of the Prince's Mansion can prove that she is not present, and she should be released soon." Gonggong Song replied truthfully.

The Queen Mother pondered for a moment and waved her hand.

Aunt Su understood and said to Song Gonggong: "This Chen Song is temporarily imprisoned, about the woman's matter, just find an irrelevant person to go to Dali Temple for a while." ”

"Yes." Gonggong Song got the order, so he took Chen Song down.

In this life, Mu Ningxuan still needed the secret book in the queen mother's hand, so she breathed a sigh of relief like in the previous life.

The Queen Mother glanced at Mu Ningxuan as if she was relieved, and couldn't help but ask curiously: "Xuan'er, what are you sighing for?" “

Mu Ningxuan explained: "Queen Mother, Xuan'er has been worrying just now. ”

"Oh? What are you worried about? ”

"After all, the owner of this restaurant is a suspect, Xuan'er is worried that he will have some fists and kicks and collide with the Queen Mother, which is terrible, so Xuan'er has been hanging a heart just now."

The Queen Mother smiled: "What if he really assassinates the mourning family?" ”

"Of course, Xuan'er will be the first to stand in front of the Queen Mother." Mu Ningxuan said without thinking.

The Queen Mother was slightly relieved: "Good boy, it's enough for you to have this heart, don't worry, the mourning family is surrounded by reliable people." ”

Mu Ningxuan nodded obediently.

The Queen Mother's eyes condensed slightly: "Xuan'er, you also listened to it today, what do you think of this?" ”

"Queen Mother, Xuan'er is stupid and doesn't dare to talk nonsense." Mu Ningxuan bowed her head and knelt down, this is a matter of government and politics, how can she, a fourteen-year-old girl, mess with her beak.

"It's okay, you grew up in this palace since you were a child, this is a family matter, just talk about your opinion, if you can't say it, the mourning family doesn't blame you."

"Yes." Mu Ningxuan raised her head and said, "Xuan'er thinks that woman is very suspicious. ”

Mu Ningxuan deliberately led the three princes, if the queen mother could directly solve the three princes, it would be really excellent.

"Why?"

"The third brother has always coveted the position of the crown prince, perhaps..."Mu Ningxuan said tentatively.

The Queen Mother's eyes were dark, and she only looked at Mu Ningxuan and didn't speak.

"The emperor has arrived!"

"The emperor is blessed." Mu Ningxuan asked An Dao.

"Get up." The emperor raised his hand slightly, and then bent down to the queen mother and said respectfully: "The sons and daughters visit the queen mother, there are many things in the court today, and it is a little late." ”

The Queen Mother bowed her head and said: "The emperor's breakfast is useless, no matter how many mundane things are, you must eat on time, and the emperor must be careful about his body." ”

"Yes, Erchen knows." The emperor walked to the couch next to the Queen Mother and sat down.

"The mourning family called the emperor today, originally to ask the emperor to listen to the results of the secret investigation. However, this case involves a wide range of confusion and needs to be carefully investigated. ”

The emperor said helplessly: "The early dynasty Dali Temple said that there were no clues. ”

"It's been a few days, and I haven't found any clues, Dali Temple is going to be well organized, and there is no one available." The Queen Mother was visibly displeased.

The emperor muttered: "Does the queen mother have any recommended candidates?" ”

"It's not appropriate to make temporary substitutions at the moment, so it's better to find someone to help manage it, and it should be experienced."

"The queen mother means to be chosen among the princes?" The emperor was a little surprised, but then he understood, thought about it, and said: "Then let the King of Jin assist in the management, he is the oldest among the princes, and he is also familiar with the courtiers, so it is easier to deal with." ”

The Queen Mother interrupted: "The third child is useless, he once sent a woman to the prince, and the woman has not been released before she is suspected, he is suspicious, and it is not appropriate to send him to investigate." The emperor is chosen among the five and sixth. ”

"Then the fifth." The emperor said casually.

In the eyes of the emperor, except for the crown prince and the third prince, the fifth prince and the sixth prince could not enter his eyes.

The queen mother had no objection to the emperor letting the five princes assist in managing this matter, and continued: "In addition, the emperor has time to go and see the queen. “

"The queen is sad and depressed, her sons can't bear to see her, every time she sees her, she will mention Chong'er, she cries sadly, and her sons can't bear it." A trace of exhaustion flashed in the emperor's eyes.

The Queen Mother sighed, "The emperor decides for himself, okay, the mourning family is a little tired, the emperor should go back." ”

The emperor owed himself and withdrew from Cining Palace.

The Queen Mother withdrew from the palace and left Mu Ningxuan behind.

"Xuan'er, do you know why the mourning family let you know these things?"

Mu Ningxuan naturally knew, but at this time, she could only shake her head and say like in the previous life: "Xuan'er doesn't know." ”

The Queen Mother smiled faintly and said: "There are many children and grandchildren around the mourning family, but all of them have selfish intentions. So the mourning family chose you, you are smart and alert, and your father is a Muhou of the Pingchang Marquis Mansion, and your identity is also the most suitable. The mourning family now asks you seriously, are you willing to swear allegiance to the mourning family. ”

Mu Ningxuan immediately knelt down, "Queen Mother, Xuan'er grew up beside you since she was a child, and her life is yours of the Queen Mother, so she should be loyal." ”

The Queen Mother nodded: "There are two things that the mourning family wants to hand over to you, one is to hand over a secret book to you for safekeeping, if there is a major change in my dynasty, you must stand up and publish the secret book to the world." ”

Seeing that Mu Ningxuan's expression was the same, the Queen Mother continued: "The other thing is to pass on to you a book of incense, and the mourning family will teach you hand in hand during this time." After you leave the palace, you will take over all the shops outside the palace of the mourning family, and you must promise the mourning family that half of the money earned each year must be handed over to the state treasury, and the remaining half will be your own.

As for why the mourning family has this incense book, you are never allowed to trace it back to the source. In the future, if anyone asks about it, you can't say that it was given to you by the mourning family, can you agree? ”