The eunuch bowed and retreated, and after a while, he reappeared, and said: "Your Majesty, the commander of Mongolia has a sentence to order the servants to take it on his behalf, saying that he took down a foreign minister Sima Lei who trespassed outside the Zhaoren Palace, and asked His Majesty to send it down." ”

As soon as these words came out, the whole hall was shocked. But after being taken aback, his expressions were different.

Concubine Yue's face was tense, the prince's color was like earth, King Jing and the county lord were thoughtful, the queen and King Yu were secretly happy, and His Majesty the Emperor, who was on the throne, was full of clouds, and he seemed to be in a very complicated mood.

After a long silence that was almost suffocating, Emperor Liang raised his somewhat heavy arm and motioned for the eunuchs who had come and gone to retreat.

"Concubine Yue...... What else do you have to say? Different from the previous voice, this sentence is unusually gentle and tired, but in the ears of people, it is particularly terrifying.

Concubine Yue's gorgeous makeup could no longer hide the pale of her background, and after glancing back at her son, she rushed to the throne and knelt down, hugged Emperor Liang's legs, and shouted in a trembling voice; "Wronged ......"

"At this time, you still want to cry out for injustice?"

"The concubine knows that she is not wronged," Concubine Yue raised her head, her eyes were full of tears, and her expression was extremely sad and moving, "But the prince has been wronged!" ”

"What did you say?"

"All of this is the plan of the concubine, the arrangement of the concubine. The prince didn't know anything...... It was the concubine who lied and wanted to see it, telling him to bring Sima Lei into the palace, but he just obeyed his mother's orders. You know, the emperor, Xuan'er has always been filial, not only to the concubines, but also to the emperor! ”

"If the crown prince is completely innocent, why hasn't he dared to defend you since he called you into the palace?"

"Your Majesty, how do you want Xuan'er to argue? Do you want him to put all the blame on his mother in front of so many people? Xuan'er is pure and filial by nature, he can't do this kind of thing! The concubine is because he doesn't know how to protect himself, and he is always accidentally bullied by people with ill intentions, so he will worry so much about him, and he will want to give him more support around him, so that he will not be plotted ......"

"Nonsense!" Emperor Liang was furious, and knocked Concubine Yue to the ground with one palm, "The crown prince is the prince of the prince, how can anyone plot?" As his mother's concubine, you should have taught him to be good at cultivating virtue and government, to be diligent and responsible, to share the worries of the emperor and set an example for his subjects, so that it was really for his good! But what do you see? Can you do such a despicable thing? If Nihuang loses today, I'm afraid that you will die and not redeem it! Even the prestige and status of the crown prince will be affected by you, it is really stupid, stupid! ”

This scolding can be said to be a thunderbolt monarch, shaking like thunder, which is enough to make people tremble and scatter their souls. But Rao scolded him so badly, but a sneer flashed across Nihuang's face, and the queen and King Yu also showed a slight disappointment.

Because no matter how hard he scolded, he was just scolding the concubine, especially the last sentence, which had already made it clear that he wanted to take off responsibility for the prince. In this situation, it doesn't matter whether the emperor really believes that the prince is innocent, the important prince is facing the big crime of "trapping the ministers with the king, helping the mother * the county lord, trying to shoot the brother to kill the mouth", and if he really wants to deal with this crime, I am afraid that his position will be shaken. As for Emperor Liang, he didn't want to abolish the crown prince just because of such a thing, so that the current relatively stable court situation would bring big shocks. So after Concubine Yue took the blame for herself, he could just go down this step first.

After scolding, Emperor Liang breathed a sigh of relief, and did not rush to deal with Concubine Yue first, but ordered someone to pass Meng Zhi in.

After a while, Meng Zhi entered the palace to salute, and Emperor Liang asked him a few words about how to capture Sima Lei, and Meng Zhi replied that he had encountered it during the routine inspection of his subordinates, and after he was caught, he knew that he was the son of Taiwei, and he did not dare to deal with it without authorization, so he came to ask for an order. Emperor Liang didn't hear anything abnormal, he only felt that people were not as good as heaven, so he couldn't help but sigh and asked, "Where is Sima Lei now?" ”

"Temporarily detained in the compound where the guards are resting, and sent someone to guard it."

Emperor Liang snorted, thinking that this case was related to the county lord's daughter Qingyu, and it was impossible to hand it over to Yousi for trial, so he ordered a small yellow door next to him to send a message to bring the prisoner over, and prepared to personally inquire about the confession. Who knew that the little yellow gate had been gone for a long time, and ran back in a panic and said: "Sima Lei was beaten and his face was bruised and very miserable, and now he is fainted on the ground, and he really can't see the driver." ”

Emperor Liang frowned, and glanced at Meng Zhi sternly. The commander of the forbidden army was stunned and said: "It's impossible, the minister's subordinates won't beat people casually without permission......"

"No," said the little yellow door busily, "it wasn't the guards, I heard it was...... It's ......"

"What is it to say quickly!"

"It's Mu Xiaowangye, I don't know what letter I heard rushed in, and the guards didn't dare to stop him, he personally punched and kicked him, and broke one of Sima Lei's arms......"

Emperor Liang sighed, and swept the tail of his eyes, wanting to see her reaction. In fact, before the verdict was made, Mu Qing rushed into the forbidden garden and lynched the suspect. But when His Majesty the Emperor's gaze swept over, the southern handsome woman was still sitting expressionless as she was, unmoved, and didn't even stand up and say perfunctorily "Little brother is reckless, please forgive your majesty" or something like that, but Emperor Liang was a little sneering, and scolded the little yellow door: "If you interrupt, you will interrupt, and anything important will go back and forth, go down quickly!" After scolding and sweeping the tail of his eyes, the Nihuang County Lord still had a cold face, and he didn't mean to thank him at all, and he was afraid that there were not even a few men among them, so that Emperor Liang not only did not feel displeased, but instead gave birth to a feeling of appreciation, and secretly admired in his heart.

Although Sima Lei can't be tried now, but in fact, he is very easy to deal with, it doesn't matter whether he is tried or not, Emperor Liang hurriedly ordered that he be sentenced to exile for the crime of "foreign ministers trespassing into the forbidden garden", and his father Sima Taiwei was also sentenced to a demotion and fine, and no one expressed the slightest objection.

But for Concubine Yue, Emperor Liang was a little difficult. This woman entered the palace at a young age, and she has been favored for many years, second only to the queen in grade, and is the biological mother of the prince. What's more, with so many pairs of eyes watching, the word "fairness" has to be considered. Just as he was hesitating, the prince fell to the ground and cried: "The son is willing to make amends to the county lord on behalf of the mother, and beg the father and the emperor to take a light ...... for the sake of the mother's many years of service."

"Evil Barrier!" Emperor Liang lifted a kick and kicked the prince to the ground, "Your mother did such a foolish thing, why didn't you dissuade it?" Where has your filial piety gone? ”

The prince hissed and cried, got up again and hugged Emperor Liang's legs, bursting into tears.

Looking down at the person lying on his knees, Emperor Liang suddenly felt that his mind was in a trance, and his chest felt as if it had been crushed by something, and the pain was like a twist.

A figure that has been deliberately forgotten for many years swept through his mind, that upright posture, that handsome face, that cold and arrogant and stubborn expression, and that pair of fierce eyes that seemed to be burning with a majestic flame.

If that person is willing to lie on his knees and cry like Jing Xuan is now, will he soften his heart and take him into his arms again?

It's a pity that time is like water, and there is no return. Perhaps it was because of Huafa's birth and Twilight's dying of age that she was shocked to realize that the harsh handling of the year not only destroyed others, but also became a hidden wound engraved in her heart, and no one could detect it.

Emperor Liang's trembling hand finally touched the back of the prince's head, and Concubine Yue's heart was relieved, and she fell to the side softly, barely supporting her body with her arms.

"The Yue family has no virtue, the behavior is despicable, it is difficult to be tolerated by the palace rules, from now on, the title of the concubine will be deprived, and the concubine will be reduced with the courtesy, and the courtesy will be reduced, and the Qingli Courtyard will be thought about, and no will will be allowed to go out without permission." Emperor Liang said slowly word by word, and finally moved his gaze to Empress Yan, "What does the queen think?" ”

According to the queen's wishes, of course, it is best to enter the secret court. But she is also an understanding person, since the prince is fine, then the mother is more expensive than the son, and it is impossible for Emperor Liang to humiliate Concubine Yue too much, at this time it is useless to say anything, it is better not to say it.

Seeing that the queen was speechless, Emperor Liang turned his gaze to Nihuang again: "Does the county lord have any objections?" ”

Nihuang Mianjun appealed, but for the sake of his own justice, he actually knew in his heart that it was impossible to really abolish it because of this matter. Now although Emperor Liang has a little protection, after all, he has deposed the prince's biological mother for himself, a concubine, and he has done his best, if he doesn't give up, he will be a little inferior, so he didn't say much, only shook his head.

"And you," Emperor Liang glared at the crown prince fiercely, "you also have to be grounded in the East Palace for three months, study hard, and think about what the way of the prince is." If you want to get involved in such a thing again in the future, I will never spare it! ”

"Erchen...... Obey the will of my father......"

"Get up." Emperor Liang's face was slightly pale, he raised his head, and his penetrating gaze made a circle in the room and fell on King Jing's body.

"Jing Yan ......"

"The son is here."

"Are you guilty?"

King Jing took off his clothes and knelt down, "The son is guilty." ”

Emperor Liang snorted coldly and said, "I ask you, how did you know that the county lord was in trouble, and you happened to break in and save her?" ”

In fact, King Jing had been thinking about how to answer when Emperor Liang asked this, but when he really asked, he still didn't think of the best answer, and he hesitated for a while. came to save the county lord because Mei Changsu called him, but how did Mei Changsu find out that the county lord was in trouble, but he didn't know at all, so he didn't dare to confess him rashly.

"What? Can't you answer this question? Emperor Liang waited for a moment, and his tone turned slightly stern.

"No...... Erchen is ...... Erchen is because ......"

"Back to my father," a steady voice suddenly sounded, "it was the son who asked King Jing to go." ”

"You?" Emperor Liang frowned, "How do you know?" ”

"That's the case," King Yu took a step forward and said respectfully, "The son entered the palace to ask the queen mother for peace, entered from Puqingmen, passed through the Zhaoren Palace, and ran into the county lord's maid in a panic and rushed out for help, saying that the situation inside was not right. Erchen knew that this matter was not trivial, and he would rather mistake himself for the crime of colliding with his mother than mislead the county lord because of hesitation. However, Erchen knew that his martial arts were too poor, and he was afraid that he would be stopped and delayed if he could not enter the inner courtyard, so King Jing happened to pass by at this time, and Erchen begged him to take the first step, stabilize the situation, and go to invite the queen himself. King Jing was heroic, and immediately agreed to his son, but he didn't expect the concubine to ...... Uh-no...... Concubine Yue Niangniang was so frustrated that she ordered the prince to be shot to kill her, and this is what happened later. Although it was not the son who instructed King Jing to threaten the prince, he was entrusted by the son after all. If the father wants to condemn the crime, the son is willing to share the crime. ”

He talked eloquently, but there was nothing unconscionable about him. Of course, Concubine Yue's mother and son knew very well that it was impossible for the maid to move to King Jing only when she asked for help, but at this time, they were no longer qualified to open their mouths, and they couldn't change anything by entangling these details, so they didn't speak. Although Emperor Liang understood that King Yu was not as noble as he boasted, most of the time he was very happy when he heard that there was a handle of the prince to grasp, he still believed what happened, nodded and said, "So that's the case." However, Jing Yan committed the following offenses and threatened the prince as a hostage, and should be severely punished according to the law. ”

The Nihuang County Lord's face had just changed color, and Emperor Liang continued: "But I thought about it, after all, there is a reason for the incident, and King Yu is willing to share the guilt for you, and besides, you have saved the county lord, and this merit is offset, so you will not be rewarded or punished." King Yu can be sensitive to abnormalities, make decisions in time, I am very relieved, and I will be rewarded with 100 brocades, 1,000 taels of gold, and a tin king pearl to reward. ”

"Son-in-law, thank your father, Emperor Longen."

"I'm tired, let's get out."

Emperor Liang closed his eyes tiredly, and leaned back weakly on the pillow. Everyone in the hall did not dare to say more, and quietly withdrew.

Queen Yan is naturally the executor of punishing Concubine Yue, and the prince is helpless, seeing his mother being taken back to the harem, he can only throw a few resentful glances at King Yu with hatred.

So far, King Yu, who has not come forward much, has become the biggest winner, not only showing his face to win the emperor's praise, but also because of his appearance to protect King Jing, he has gained a great favor, and because he has become the benefactor of Yunnan Mufu because of running to save the county lord, the only disadvantage is that most of the prince's resentment is taken on him, so that the feud between the two families is deeper. However, he and the prince have long been incompatible, pinching each other to the death, and there is no difference between this one, so the only disadvantage seems to be not a disadvantage, it is simply a transaction that only wins and does not lose, so he can't help but be happy in his heart, and secretly admire that the unicorn genius Su Zhe is really insightful. Fortunately, I happened to meet him on the way to the palace after receiving the queen's notice, and fortunately, Corporal Lixian revealed this matter to him for advice, otherwise I really didn't expect to take advantage of the opportunity to protect King Jing and snatch all the credit into my own hands. However, speaking of King Jing, he is really bold, but unfortunately he is too reckless, and he is not a person worth dealing with. This time, he protected him so much in front of his father, and he must have been grateful. As for the Nihuang County Lord, of course, it is even more ......

As soon as he thought of this, the county lord of Nihuang had already come over, bowed as a courtesy, and said with a smile: "Thanks to His Royal Highness King Yu for saving him today, Nihuang is hard to thank, and if he has the opportunity in the future, he should repay him." ”

King Yu hurriedly returned the salute, and said with a smile on his face: "The county lord is polite, what is the identity of the county lord, this king should do his best to serve." ”

A perfect smile floated on Nihuang's face, and he was about to say a few more polite words, when he saw King Jing walking away silently out of the corner of his eye, he was slightly anxious in his heart, but he didn't show anything on his face, and he still said slowly: "I am really angry with the Yue family, but it is not good to watch the queen mother treat her, I don't know how you ...... Your Highness."

"Don't worry, the county lord, leave this matter to this king. The king went into the inner palace to tell the queen that he would definitely let the county lord breathe a sigh of relief. King Yu let out a long laugh, turned around and walked quickly in the direction of the inner palace. Seeing that he had gone far, the Lord of Nihuang County hurriedly caught up with King Jing.

Hearing Nihuang calling him behind his back, Xiao Jingyan stopped and said, "Is there anything else to do with the county lord?" ”

"When I was thanking King Yu just now, didn't you really want to come over and tell me that it wasn't his business?" The Nihuang County Lord smiled wisely, "Why didn't you say it?" ”

King Jing lowered his head slightly, silent.

"Actually, you're going to save me more and more because of Mr. Su, right?"

Xiao Jingyan was taken aback by what she said, "How did the county lord know?" ”

"Because Mr. Su also warned me in advance to be careful of the conspiracy of the harem, but unfortunately I said it vaguely, I only watched out for the queen, and I didn't guard too much against the concubine Yue......"

King Jing's eyebrows moved, and doubts suddenly rose in his heart, and he asked slowly: "Didn't he explicitly say that he wanted to beware of Concubine Yue?" But when he asked me to enter the palace, he clearly pointed out that Zhaoren Palace was coming. ”

"Oh, we were interrupted in the middle of our conversation, he may not have had time," Ji Yue, who was born in the heart of the Nihuang County Lord, didn't care about it at all, and still smiled, "But although I was saved by him, I can't thank him publicly." Instead, I can only go to Xie Yuwang, and not only thank you just now, but also prepare to take my young brother to thank you tomorrow. ”

King Jing was a little puzzled, "Why is this?" You know ......"

Nihuang smiled faintly and turned his head to look in the direction of the East Palace: "Although Concubine Yue has been convicted, the prince is still the prince, and his power is still strong." The more I thank King Yu with great fanfare, the more hatred the prince will put on him, and naturally he will not have the heart to trouble you for the time being. After all, you can't be a head-on enemy with the crown prince now, and push King Yu in front, isn't that good? ”

For these trade-offs, King Jing didn't understand, but he didn't want to think about it, Nihuang explained it slightly, and his heart immediately brightened. I couldn't help but stare ahead, shake my head and sigh. The two walked out of the palace side by side, and did not continue the topic just now along the way.

As soon as he stepped out of the Shenwu Gate, he heard someone shouting "sister", Mu Qing rushed over, and stopped his feet in front of the Nihuang County Lord, shouting one after another: "Sister, are you okay?" Scared the hell out of me! ”

"You're an adult, and you're still so unstable, what big thing scared you to death? There are more big things in the world than this! Nihuang scolded in his mouth, but he lovingly combed his brother's messy hair.

"I'm afraid that my sister will suffer," Mu Qing said coquettishly, "The palace is not a good place, you will not enter the palace in the future." Although the house in the capital is not as big as Yunnan, it is enough for my sister to live, let's go back quickly. ”

The Nihuang County Lord smiled and nodded at him with his hand, and turned around to invite King Jing: "Is Your Highness going back to the house too?" Let's go together. ”

"No need, I won't go back for the time being," Xiao Jingyan thought about it, and finally told the truth, "I'm going to go to the Marquis Ningguo's Mansion first." ”