However, Fang Xiaoru refused to bow his head no matter what. Cheng Zu was annoyed and angry, and said to Fang Xiaoru: "You are so stubborn, aren't you afraid that I will punish your nine clans?" ”

Fang Xiaoru replied: "I am not afraid of you punishing my ten clans!" ”

Cheng Zu was furious, and pulled Fang Xiaoru's family and proud disciples to him one by one to torture and kill, Fang Xiaoru did not bow his head, but pointed at Cheng Zu while crying and scolding. Cheng Zu ordered the corners of his mouth to be cut off to the root of his ear, and his fingers were chopped off, but Fang Xiaoru was still scolding endlessly. In the end, Fang Xiaoru was beheaded in the city, and more than 800 of his relatives, teachers and friends were executed.

After Fang Xiaoru's death, his poems became banned books, and anyone who dared to copy and collect them would be beheaded. However, the story of Fang Xiaoru is widely spread among the people, and it is often interpreted into various legends by adding oil and vinegar, and some people say that Fang Xiaoru became a god after death.

Cheng Zu did not shy away from letting his descendants know about this past, because he wanted his successors to understand that they must work hard to be a good emperor, so as to block the mouths of the people of the world.

Cheng Zu himself is a very dedicated person, often working late into the night, and the next day he goes to the morning court as usual. Several of his later emperors also tried to emulate him. But none of his children and grandchildren were as strong as he was, and they died before him.

For example, Chen Jianjun's grandfather died at the age of 38, and his father Chen Huaishen was also 38 years old. And his uncle died even earlier, at the age of Chinese New Year's Eve.

Chen Jianjun is 37 years old this year. Although he had never discussed this with anyone, the closer he got to the age of thirty-eight, the deeper the anxiety in his heart became, wondering if he would be able to live longer than his grandfather and father.

When Zhang Weizhao said that he had the same symptoms as his ancestors, he was furious, because it meant that he would have the same short life as his ancestors.

He even doubted that Zhang Weizhao said that they had been like this since they became ancestors, whether they were insinuating that Chengzu was not in the right position and that the yin owl was at a loss, so future generations would not be allowed to live long.

At that time, he was so angry that he wanted to immediately pull out the demon who cursed him and cut it with a thousand knives. But after Zhang Weizhao and Huai En went out, his anger disappeared a little, and his fear became more and more. He suddenly thought, why does Zhang Weizhao, a young Taoist doctor, know so much? Why do you dare to speak out and say things that many imperial doctors dare not say? Could it be that she is really a good man, able to see what others have not seen, and know what others do not know?

He wanted to summon Zhang Weizhao back to inquire about it, but he couldn't save face for a while. He first asked Zhang Weizhao to be locked up, and then summoned Wang Zhi.

Chen Jianjun opened the picture scroll presented by Wang Zhi, looked at it for a long time, and then handed it to Huai En beside him: "I have no impression of this palace maid, have you seen it, but what it looks like in the painting?" ”

Wynne looked down and replied respectfully: "What is painted in this painting is indeed the appearance of the palace maid Begonia. She used to be the palace maid in charge of clothes in Changle Palace, and died of illness in Anle Hall the year before last. This painting is very Xiao-like. ”

Chen Jianjun took back the painting to study, and said to himself: "In fact, even if you haven't seen a real person, find a person with a similar face, draw a general outline, and then slowly modify some details, you can draw a general appearance, but it won't be so detailed." Although I don't know how to draw Western paintings, I can see that this technique is very skillful, and it definitely doesn't look like a beginner's technique. After a moment's silence, she asked, "How does she explain how she has this kind of painting?" ”

Wang Zhi said: "It is said that when she was a child, there were Western monks walking around in the family, so she taught her many Western techniques. Including medical skills, it is also a mixture of Chinese and Western. Before she entered the palace, she followed the medical skills of a Taoist doctor in the capital nicknamed the Crazy Dao Man. This Taoist is a master who does not hesitate, and he was once sued for cutting the corpse of zero. ”

"Zero cut ......," Chen Jianjun said in surprise.

"I said that it was to study medicine and figure out what things are in people's stomachs."

Chen Jianjun frowned for a long time, and then asked, "What else did you ask?" ”

"There is a palace maid who tells her that she knows spiritualism. If someone misses their deceased relatives, she will set up a formation, find someone who can represent the deceased, and let the deceased speak through the mouth of the living. ”

"Isn't this a ghost?" Chen Jianjun's brows furrowed even tighter.

"She resolutely refused to admit that it was a ghost, saying that everyone's life left a special mark in the Heavenly Dao, and this formation was to let this mark be sensed on the living person." Wang Zhi replied truthfully.

"Because she didn't admit it, you pulled out her nails?"

"Yes." Wang Zhi bowed his head and replied.

"What else has she done?"

"I've done a lot of weird things, like two or three hundred dolls, weird shapes, everything, a big plate of sand, and people can play with these dolls on the sand when there's nothing to do."

"What is this for?"

"She said that it can make people return to their childlike innocence, eliminate depression, and strengthen their body and mind."

"Who has been there?"

"Listening to the little palace maids of Changle Palace, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the two little princesses often go to fiddle with the sand. She also made a number of other strange things for the little princesses. ”

"Are the princesses anything unusual?"

"Not really."

In this response, Wang Zhi did not dare to add oil and vinegar to Zhang Weizhao's crimes. He has always known that Chen Jianjun is sensitive and suspicious, and it is not good to talk too much.

"Okay, let's go down." Chen Jianjun saw that he couldn't ask more, so he called back.

Wang Zhi respectfully retired.

Retreating to the door, he suddenly remembered something, and bent down again and said, "By the way, she said something to me at the end." ”

"What?" Chen Jianjun asked casually.

"She said I wouldn't live to be thirty."

"What?" Chen Jianjun sat up straight, "Why did she say that?" What did she see? ”

"The minions don't know either."

Chen Jianjun was silent, and waved his hand to let Wang Zhi out.

Wang Zhi's last sentence was like a thorn in Chen Jianjun's heart. He stood up and walked around. Suddenly stopped and asked Huai En: "You said this Zhang Weizhao, is it really good at summoning spirits and witchcraft?" ”

Wynne thought for a moment and replied cautiously, "Maybe it's not witchcraft, but Taoism?" ”

"Oh? How so? ”

"This, according to the old slave, whether she paints the dead, lets people talk to the undead, or makes dolls with sand, it is all to help people, not to harm people."

"Didn't you say that a little palace maid was cursed to death by her, so she was denounced?"

"That little palace maid died with a blue and black body. This symptom is not necessarily caused by a curse, but may also be caused by poisoning. Wynne said cautiously with his head down.

As soon as these words came out, Chen Jianjun thought about it for a while, and understood that Huai En was hinting that someone poisoned the little palace maid in order to frame Zhang Weizhao. He thought for a moment and said to Wynne, "You personally take someone to examine the corpse." ”

Wynne took the order and departed. After a while, he turned around and said: "The body of the palace maid has been burned and thrown into the mass grave, saying that it is afraid that the filth will infiltrate the palace." ”

"Who arranged this?"

"Wang Zhi."

Chen Jianjun wondered, the incident just happened yesterday, and today's corpse has turned to ashes, how can this smell of disappearing the corpse? But Wang Zhi and Zhang Weizhao can't have anything to do with each other, why can't they get along with her?

"Actually, a little palace maid died this morning, who was also in the Queen Mother's palace, and it is said that she was Zhang Weizhao's apprentice." Wynne said cautiously again.

"How did you die?"

"Died in the Inner Torture Hall during the trial."

Chen Jianjun's face became ugly: "Why is Wang Zhi getting more and more out of order now?" Before the matter could be clarified, the person was killed first. ”

Chen Jianjun couldn't figure it out for a while. He originally summoned Wang Zhi over to ask things clearly, but it turned out that it was still a mess when he asked. The sides of his forehead suddenly ached again, and he pressed his hand against his forehead, holding back a fire in his heart.

At this moment, a voice suddenly sounded outside the door: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince asks to see you." "It's the little eunuch who came to report the news.

Chen Jianjun was uncomfortable in his heart, and suddenly heard the news that the prince asked to see him, and he felt even more upset. The prince has never been close to him, and the father and son rarely face each other alone, so why did they suddenly come to see him this evening. Chen Jianjun just wanted to say that he should come back tomorrow, but suddenly remembered something and asked Huaien: "What day is today?" ”

"Back to Your Majesty, it's the first day of the sixth month." Wynne replied.

Chen Jianjun paused for a moment, sighed, and said to Huai En, "You go and invite the prince in." ”

Wynne took the order and departed.

Chen Youcong usually doesn't go to the Qianqing Palace to see Chen Jianjun if he has nothing to do, but he must come at this time of year. Because the second day of the sixth month is the death day of his biological mother, Concubine Shu.

Chen Youcong came in and saluted Chen Jianjun. He was dressed in a pale gray shirt and wore a jade crown on his head, but there was no decoration on his head.

After the ceremony, he respectfully said to Chen Jianjun: "Father, tomorrow is the death day of the concubine." The sons and daughters asked for an order to pay respects at the Fengci Temple. ”

The Fengci Hall is the place where the concubines are commemorated. Because these concubines are not the original match, they cannot enter the ancestral temple and enjoy the incense of the descendants with the ancestors of the past dynasties, but they have a noble status, such as giving birth to a prince or a favored prince, they can enter the Fengci Palace.

"Accurate!" Chen Jianjun said.

"Erchen also has a wish, thinking of the longevity palace where Concubine Shuniang lived before her death."

"Accurate!"

"One more thing." Chen Jianjun raised his head as he spoke.

Chen Jianjun was a little surprised, Chen Jianjun usually didn't talk much, especially he wouldn't ask more, but today is very different.

"What's the matter, you say."

Chen Jianjun took out a scroll from his arms and presented it with both hands: "A few days ago, Erchen asked Zhang Daoyi in the Empress Dowager's palace to draw a posthumous portrait for Concubine Shu. Erchen wants to hang this portrait in the Longevity Palace, and offer fragrant flowers and fresh fruits every day to comfort the children with a heart, and ask for the father's permission. ”

As he spoke, he knelt on the ground. Bow your head and hold the scroll in both hands and hold it high above the top.

Another pair of scrolls.

Chen Jianjun's hand suddenly began to tremble slightly, and he motioned for Wynne to take the scroll, and he took it in his hand. It took a long time to open the scroll.