In the dream, the fire was soaring.

Xiao Shuo stood outside the dormitory that was heavily wrapped in flames, and was held by many palace people, unable to step into the dormitory.

Aodi! Aodi!

In the midst of the heavy rain, he called Meng Yidi's name heartbreakingly. His Ah Di seemed to hear it, and finally looked up at him.

Just as the two of them were making eye contact, a beam of the house smashed down, completely cutting off his view.

"Aodi!" Xiao Shuo sat up from the bed suddenly, sweating coldly, as if he was immersed in water.

"Your Highness, you are awake," the attendant who was waiting on the side heard the movement inside and hurriedly came in to inspect it. Seeing that he was sitting on the bed gasping for breath, he couldn't help but say in surprise: "Your Highness, do you feel uncomfortable?" The servant asked the imperial doctor to come over and take a look at His Highness. ”

"Ah Di, where is she," Xiao Shuo turned his head to look at him, the light in his eyes was extinguished, as if there was a storm in it.

The palace people were stunned for a moment, and immediately realized that the prince was asking about the whereabouts of the crown princess. He was still exquisite, but he suddenly became dull and cowardly. He lowered his head and stood aside without saying a word.

When the prince saw that the palace people suddenly became like this, there was something he didn't understand, "It turns out that it wasn't a dream. ”

Xiao Shuo looked outside the main hall, and after muttering these words, he got up and walked straight out, his steps resolute and hurried, without a trace of pause.

"Your Highness, your body is not yet complete, where are you going!" The palace people followed him in a panic, neither daring to stop him, nor daring to let him spoil his body like this, so they had to persuade him bitterly, "You smoked a lot of fireworks in the East Palace before, and the imperial doctor has explained that you still have to rest in bed after you wake up." ”

"Where is the queen mother now," the word East Palace has become a thorn in Xiao Shuo's heart, and he can't touch or pull it out. Such a big fire burned the entire East Palace. If it weren't for the fact that it happened to be raining heavily, or because it would have affected other palaces. Even so, Xiao Shuo still had a trace of luck in his heart, he wanted to know the news of Meng Yidi.

"The queen mother, now resting in the dormitory. Your Highness, why don't you go back with the minions to rest, the minions have already sent someone to report to the mother when you wake up. It's late at night, and it's still raining outside, so you can't get cold anymore, Your Highness. ”

As soon as the palace people finished speaking, Xiao Shuo suddenly stopped. The palace people were overjoyed, thinking that Xiao Shuo had figured it out. When he looked up, he saw Xiao Shuo standing under the rain curtain with his face up, letting the cold raindrops erode his thin clothes.

The palace people were startled, and hurriedly held an umbrella to help him cover it, but was pushed away by Xiao Shuo, "Let's go, go to the queen's bedroom." ”

After that, he walked forward in the rain. During this period, anyone who wanted to come to shelter him from the wind and rain was pushed away by him. just tossed all the way, and by the time Xiao Shuo stood in front of the queen's bedroom, he was already soaked. Cold, damp clothes wrapped around his body, greedily sucking his temperature.

The palace maid who kept vigil didn't seem to expect Xiao Shuo to appear at this time, and she still looked so embarrassed. She was napping when she suddenly felt a cold air approaching, and when she opened her eyes and saw Xiao Shuo, she screamed in surprise.

"His Royal Highness the Prince," the two palace maids on duty hurriedly knelt down, trembling like chaff. I don't know if it's because it's too cold on this rainy night, or if it's too frightening.

"Go, report for the main palace." Xiao Shuo said coldly, he stared straight at the closed door, as if his gaze could pass through the heavy door, ignore the dark night, and go straight to Zhu Liangxin's bed.

The two palace maids kneeling on the ground secretly exchanged a look, hesitated again and again, and finally decided to do as Xiao Shuo instructed, "Please wait a moment, Your Highness, the slave maid will go to pass it on." ”

After the fire in the East Palace, Zhu Liangxin was in a very bad mood and didn't fall asleep until he was a child. If it weren't for Xiao Shuo's appearance to find the door, the palace people would never dare to disturb Zhu Liangxin's rest at such a time and touch this moldy head.

Not long after the palace people entered, the lights were lit in the room. After a while, the palace people who went to report came out and said to Xiao Shuo respectfully, "His Royal Highness the Prince, please come in." ”

Xiao Shuo walked in expressionlessly, and saw Zhu Liangxin sitting in the wind seat wearing a coat, without makeup. She held her forehead with one hand, as if she was closing her eyes to recuperate, and when she heard footsteps, she opened her eyes and looked at Xiao Shuo, "It's so late, you should rest in your room." ”

"Does Erchen still have his own room?" Xiao Shuo listened to Zhu Liangxin's words, and only felt very ironic.

His words were sharp, and his tone and demeanor were as cold as this rainy night. Zhu Liangxin stared at him for a long time, and then replied calmly: "The East Palace is gone, and it can be rebuilt." During this time you will live in the Prince's Mansion. ”

"Heh," Xiao Shuo sneered, this woman, as usual, could still be so calm and relaxed before she was in danger. She deliberately didn't mention Meng Yidi, who was under house arrest by her in the East Palace, as if as long as she didn't say it, Xiao Shuo could forget her, "This fire is related to you." ”

Zhu Liangxin lightly pressed his slender fingers against his forehead, "The emperor was frightened and began to talk nonsense." It's better to go back and rest early. ”

The palace people who were waiting in the hall were all trembling, wishing that there was a hole in the ground that they could get into, so that the pair of tense mother and son would not notice their existence.

"Whether I am talking nonsense or not, the queen mother knows very well in her heart," Xiao Shuo said through gritted teeth, his always cold and arrogant face was also a little angry because of anger.

Zhu Liangxin looked at him with burning eyes, and there was nothing but resentment in his shining eyes. No matter how cold and hard her heart was, she was still stabbed by this gaze, "Ever since you entered the main hall, you have been blaming the main palace for the fire in the East Palace. This palace will ask you, do you have any evidence? ”

In the same way, when the accident just happened in the East Palace, she also told Xiao Wusheng. At that time, that man, like Xiao Shuo, questioned her like this. For Xiao Wusheng, he didn't care whether Meng Yidi died in the fire or not. It's just that the fire in the East Palace touched his sensitive nerves, making him suddenly return to that blazing night many years ago.

Even, now Meng Yidi is missing, which is the same as at the beginning.

Thinking of this, Zhu Liangxin subconsciously curled up his fingers.

"What do you need evidence, since you put Ah Di under house arrest in the East Palace and did not allow me to visit her, I have been faintly aware of what you want to do, but I didn't expect ......" Xiao Shuo wanted to speak and stopped, unable to say any more.

He is remorseful, how ruthless the queen mother is, he knows it clearly. But why did he acquiesce in the actions of the queen mother? Xiao Shuo closed his eyes, only to feel that it was dark in front of him, and even Meng Yidi's appearance was a little blurry.

"Presumptuous!" Zhu Liangxin slapped a few cases heavily, "This palace will tolerate you again and again when it sees that you are suffering the pain of losing your wife." What kind of place is this, how can you talk so nonsense! This palace is your biological mother, Meng Yidi still has your biological flesh and blood in her belly, why did this palace do this? ”

He opened his eyes and looked up at Zhu Liangxin again, "Where has Mama Kong gone?" ”

When Zhu Liangxin heard this, a thin layer of sweat appeared on his back, but there was no abnormality on his face, "Mama Kong has been resting for a few days, and the palace has allowed her to go out of the palace to visit relatives for a few days." ”

"Oh, in that case, when the palace goes back to the prince's mansion, I will go to my uncle's mansion and ask to see how Mama Kong has arranged these days," Xiao Shuo saluted Zhu Liangxin with a smile, and when he got up again, there was no smile on his face at all.

Zhu Liangxin clenched his teeth and watched Xiao Shuo rush into the rain curtain with a negative anger, but he didn't make a sound to stop it. It wasn't until only the sound of falling rain sounded in her ears that she scolded with hatred, "Rebel!" ”

When the palace people who were waiting in the hall heard this, they knelt down one after another, lying on the ground and trembling.

"You all remember to the palace that the prince has not been here tonight."

"Yes," the palace people responded tremblingly, and their hearts rose to their throats, for fear that Zhu Liangxin would suddenly change his mind.

"You guys go down," Zhu Liangxin commanded in a cold voice, and when the palace people heard this, they were about to be amnesty. Hurriedly stood up and rushed out, leaving Yuerong alone to wait.

"Continue to investigate the whereabouts of Mama Kong, you have to see people in life, and you have to see corpses in death," Zhu Liangxin sat in silence for a long time in the quiet dormitory, and suddenly said.

"Yes," Yuerong lowered her eyes and replied softly. Zhu Liangxin sat on the phoenix seat, listening to the sound of the rain outside, and he was completely sleepless.

……

Ah Jiu knelt on the ground on one knee, Xiao Zhan didn't say anything, she didn't dare to get up without permission. Xiao Zhan listened to her report and didn't say anything for a long time, he just sat in front of Ah Jiu, listening to the sound of rain outside.

I don't know how long it was, but I heard Xiao Zhan say softly, "You get up." ”

Ah Jiu glanced up at Xiao Zhan in surprise, and quickly lowered his head, "Lord Xie." ”

"Your girl cherishes you very much and spares your life. In this case, of course I can't refute her face," Xiao Zhan's voice was still as warm as jade, without any ups and downs, but it made people feel no warmth in their hearts, only fear, "Besides, it's right for you to come back." If something like this happens, it's no longer fitting for you to stay with the queen. So be it. ”

"Ah Jiu has lived up to the expectations of the prince, and asked the prince to punish him." Ah Jiu still stood straight in front of Xiao Zhan with his waist straight, and he was not relieved because Xiao Zhan's net was open.

Xiao Zhan looked at her gently, "You don't have to think that I spared you because of your girl." If it weren't for your girl coming up with such a clever plan to kill two birds with one stone, whether you stayed in the palace or returned to me, it would have been a dead word. Go down and get some rest, and if there's anything you want to do, I'll tell you." ”

"Yes," Ah Jiu bit his lip and saluted Xiao Zhan before exiting the room.

It wasn't until he left that Feiyun, who had not spoken for a long time, suddenly spoke: "Miss Ah Jin was far-sighted, and she was able to come up with such a method at that time. The people in the rivers and lakes are called the little witch, and they really live up to their reputation. ”

"Master, are you praising her, or are you blaming her?" Xiao Zhan rarely laughed out loud, and was in a very happy mood, "If she doesn't do this, how can she make Zhu Liangxin anxious and have no time to care about Meng Yidi's life and death." Merely...... I don't think Meng Yidi will necessarily appreciate it. The master doesn't have to blame her for taking advantage of Aunt Aya, she is so anti-general, and it is convenient for us to act. ”

Despite this fact, Feiyun still did not dare to agree with Ah Jin's approach, so he could only remain silent. Xiao Zhan didn't care when he saw that he didn't say anything, and said to himself: "I don't know, how should she explain Meng Yidi's matter to Wen Yu......

……

It rained all night, and Song Wenyu also waited all night. It wasn't until the rain subsided that there was a slight movement at the door. Song Wenyu immediately sat up from the bed, and saw a slender figure quickly flash into the room and close the door.

He was silent with the man, quiet enough to hear each other's breathing. Suddenly, with a wave of his hand, the candlestick on the table lit up, illuminating their countenances.

"Ah Jin," Song Wenyu stood up, seeing that she was still wearing a rain-sheltering robe, her face was very pale, I don't know if it was because of the rain, or something else.

Ah Jin took off the hat he was wearing on his head and put it aside, "You must have guessed what I did." ”

Song Wenyu nodded with difficulty, "I just guessed it, but I didn't know...... Whether it relates to you. ”

"Yes," Ah Jin lowered his eyes, took out the Yushanzi from his waist, and handed it to Song Wenyu, "This is what she asked me to pass on to you." If you go out of town with me now, you might be able to see her one last time. ”

"You say...... What the? Song Wenyu was stunned when he heard this, Ah Jin's words just now contained too much content, which made him a little unacceptable for a while, "She ......" Song Wenyu looked at Ah Jin intently, and saw that he couldn't get the answer he wanted from her, so he set his eyes on the jade mountain again.

The white jade moist body glowed with a ghostly light against the candlelight, and after a long time, Song Wenyu's vision began to blur. He reached out and took the jade shanzi, rubbed it in his hand, and asked in a low voice, "How many injuries did she have." ”

"She was poisoned, and she was poisoned by the same intestinal poison as Concubine Liang back then," Ah Jin looked at Song Wenyu's lost soul, even if he was distressed and bitter. She only felt that her brain was groggy, her thoughts were gradually detached from her body, and she seemed to have turned into a wisp of soul, floating with the wind. Ah Jin propped his hands on the table without a trace, and his face became more and more pale, "I rescued her from the city, I could have detoxified, but the child is gone, and she has no will to survive." Now, the person is already in a coma, and he is all hanging on to a mouthful of ginseng soup. When she's conscious, let me give this to you. ”

"So, you made it to me to see her one last time?" Song Wenyu listened to Ah Jin's story, and suddenly raised his head to look at Ah Jin, his tone was a little indifferent, "You don't have to test me so much, I won't go." If I went, I was also causing trouble. ”

As he spoke, he put the jade mountain in his sleeve, stood up and said, "I'll call someone to serve you to bathe and change your clothes, you have a busy day, and you should have a good rest." ”

"Where are you going?" Song Wenyu's mouth opened and closed in front of Ah Jin's eyes, but she couldn't hear what he was saying clearly. It's just that when he passed by himself, he subconsciously grabbed him.

"Don't worry, I won't go to the crown princess. Besides, I wouldn't have seen her without you leading the way, would I? Song Wenyu turned his face to look at Ah Jin, he was in a rage, and he didn't care about Ah Jin's strange appearance at all.

“…… So that's what you think of me? Because the two were very close, Song Wenyu's angry words, Ah Jin heard them clearly. She only felt that her heart was like a knife, and suddenly a fishy sweetness spurted out of her throat. Staining the desktop also made Song Wenyu startled.

"What's wrong with you?" Song Wenyu hurriedly hugged her, and looked at Ah Jin, who was already dying.

Ah Jin held his eyelids and looked at Song Wenyu greedily, as if he was looking at him for the last time. She reluctantly stretched out her hand to touch Song Wenyu's cheek, but before her fingers touched Song Wenyu's face, she was already unable to hang down.

"Ah Jin, Ah Jin!!" Ah Jin, who had passed out, could still hear him roaring hoarsely, but Ah Zhen, who was guarding outside the house, heard the movement inside and hurriedly broke in.

"Uncle, don't hold the girl like this, it won't help if you hold her like this." Ah Zhen endured her temper, choked and pushed Song Wenyu away, and then single-handedly helped Ah Jin to the bed and lay down.

"How could she be? How did she vomit blood? Yes? Song Wenyu watched Ah Zhen skillfully wipe the blood stains from Ah Jin's mouth, and then put a few pills into Ah Jin's mouth to swallow, anxious like ants on a hot pot, but Ah Zhen didn't pay attention to her, "Ah Zhen!" What the hell is going on! ”

"What's going on?" Ah Zhen was blocked by him, and a pair of apricot eyes glared at Song Wenyu angrily with tears, "The girl doesn't let the slave and maid say, and the slave doesn't dare to say it." If my uncle really wants to know, I'll wait until the girl wakes up. ”

After that, she wiped her tears and bypassed Song Wenyu to twist a face towel for Ah Jin to clean her face. After doing all this, she looked at Song Wenyu again, and said earnestly: "Uncle only needs to know that the girl is like this now is all to save Miss Meng, it is enough." ”

After she said this, she didn't salute Song Wenyu, but went straight out of the room with a basin of water.

I don't know when the rain has stopped, and the sky is white. Huairen appeared at the door as usual, he glanced at Song Wenyu who was still wearing regular clothes in surprise, and saw that he had been standing in the room, looking at Ah Jin sleeping on the bed, he reminded softly with some doubts: "Young master, it's time to go to the court." ”

Song Wenyu came back from his stunned, he dragged his heavy steps to Ah Jin, lowered his head and kissed her cold forehead, and then went to change his clothes behind the screen. It's just that he didn't know that as soon as he left, tears overflowed from the corners of Ah Jin's eyes, and they went down the corners of her sideburns into the pillow, and there was no trace.

……

This fire in the East Palace caught everyone off guard.

Meng Ke lost his beloved daughter, and was unable to go to court due to illness, and even the saint has not appeared today, let alone the prince who has experienced the pain of losing his wife. The civil and military officials rushed to the Jinluan Palace, only to be told by the attendants that today's sage dragon body is not safe and cannot go to court.

Those who are well-informed know more or less about the affairs of the East Palace; Those who were kept in the dark did not think deeply. The officials who had been gathered together before dispersed in an instant, and walked down in twos and threes.

Luo Teng saw Song Wenyu at a glance among the ministers, and hurriedly walked to his side, seeing his gloomy face, he understood that he must have known about Meng Yidi, "You know everything?" ”

Luo Teng scratched his head, not knowing what to say, and asked a little lamely.

"Hmm," Song Wenyu nodded. At this moment, what he thought of was not Meng Yidi, but what Ah Jin looked like before he fell into a coma.

The look of disappointment and relief in his eyes made him very uneasy. Before he knew it, he quickened his pace, wanting to return home sooner.

"Meng Da Langjun didn't go to court today," Luo Teng said softly: "This matter, Meng Mansion seems to know about it yesterday." It was a letter from the palace people of Jichang Palace, saying that the East Palace had accidentally gone to the water, and the crown princess and the palace people in the main hall had not been rescued. ”

"Accident?" Song Wenyu asked rhetorically, and the coldness in his eyes made Luo Teng's heart tighten.

"Wen Yu, could it be that there are other hidden secrets?" In the end, he was born as a yamen official, and Luo Teng immediately grasped the key to the matter. His face changed several times, but he never dared to make his guess known.

"There's nothing to hide, let's talk another day." Song Wenyu's hand hidden in his sleeve clenched his fist and let go again. Suddenly, Xiao Zhan's figure appeared in his sight, he explained casually, and walked towards Xiao Zhan, "Your Majesty has something to discuss with the prince, and I ask the prince to take a step to speak." ”

Xiao Zhan was suddenly blocked by Song Wenyu, and after a short period of surprise, he immediately returned to his usual appearance. He nodded, and didn't let Feiyun follow him anymore, so he and Song Wenyu went to a corner next to him to stand still, "You are looking for me in such a hurry, is there something wrong?" ”

Song Wenyu looked at Xiao Zhan with a complicated expression. In front of him, he rarely regarded himself as a prince, and it was obvious that he had included him in his own people. For a long time, the reason why Song Wenyu was willing to overcome obstacles with Xiao Zhan was that he always believed that today's King Run would definitely be a Ming Jun in the future.

Now, he's a little unsure.

"Your Majesty is puzzled, the prince was aware of the fire in the East Palace early in the morning," Song Wenyu saluted Xiao Zhan and asked respectfully.

"No," Xiao Zhan replied succinctly, he didn't ask any more, and he didn't mean to say anything more.

Song Wenyu frowned slightly, "The fire in the East Palace can be related to those gossips." ”

"Things have already happened, what do you care about," the smile on Xiao Zhan's lips faded without a trace, and he looked at Song Wenyu with some warning, "Doctor Song's concern for the crown princess is inevitably a little too much." ”

"No, your subordinates just care, this matter can be related to the prince." As he spoke, Song Wenyu raised his head and looked at Xiao Zhan. said such a big rebellious thing, but he was still so calm, looking at the entire court now, the only person who dared to do this among the young talents was probably Song Wenyu.

"If that's all you care about, then you can rest assured. It really has nothing to do with this king. Xiao Zhan said, smiling habitually, as gentle as usual, but it didn't make people feel like a spring breeze. Xiao Zhan saw that Song Wenyu was still frowning, so he knew that he had already guessed a rough idea. So he sighed and looked at the hibiscus that was just right outside the corridor, "You should know what kind of person Zhu Liangxin is." In order to be able to keep the crown prince's position as prince, it is not surprising that she did anything outrageous. ”

Song Wenyu clenched his fists and stared at Xiao Zhanyun's breezy side face, "Your Majesty just wants to know if the prince has already received the news and knows that the queen will harm Her Royal Highness the crown princess." ”

"What if you know, what can you do, what can you do?" Xiao Zhan interrupted him in a cold voice, and the two looked at each other, and neither of them looked away.

"Why don't you save when you die? She drank intestinal poison! It's the same as the good concubine back then! Song Wenyu looked at Xiao Zhan sadly. He clearly experienced the tragedy more than ten years ago, and he clearly told himself that he didn't want the same thing to happen again. The past is vivid, and the promises of the past are still in my ears. Song Wenyu didn't believe that the friend of life and death who he helped with all his might would become so strange.

"Wen Yu," Xiao Zhan looked at him for a long time, and suddenly said in a deep voice: "Today you questioned me like this, is it because I am too ruthless in handling things, or is it because the person who had the accident was Meng Yidi?" If it's the former, I have nothing to say. But if it's the latter......"

He didn't say anything more, just turned the wrench on his thumb. He wanted to warn Song Wenyu not to let down Ah Jin. But when the words came to his mouth, he finally swallowed them.

"That's it, this place is not a good place to stay for a long time, and it is not a place to talk about things." Xiao Zhan closed his eyes and opened them again, and then left this secluded corner without looking back.

Song Wenyu turned his head and looked at the hibiscus flowers that were blooming just right outside the corridor. As a result of yesterday's rain, most of the flowers have lost their original shape, leaving only one or two standing proudly in the sun.

Song Wenyu stared at the surviving hibiscus flowers, and the uneasiness that was forced in his heart suddenly spread.