The rumors of the hunting in the Mulan enclosure could not tell the identity of the assassins, and completely ruined the emperor's interest in hunting. The only thing that can be known is that the wild horse galloped into the forest, and it was the mare's body fluids rubbing against the grass and trees that caused the wild horse to go crazy. And the cold arrow was already placed in the hidden woodtops, pulled by silver wires, and it was about to explode. The officials of the forest farm repeatedly told him to forgive, but I really don't know whether someone planted a bow and crossbow to shoot a horse to endanger the emperor by mistake, or if someone really arranged this conspiracy carefully. But there is no doubt that someone trespassed on the royal hunting ground to set up all this. The emperor was shocked and angry, and sent Fu Heng to investigate carefully. However, in a hurry, this turmoil finally ended with the disappearance of the caster of the cold arrow.

Since then, the emperor's heart has been more hurt, and he occasionally has a few frightening dreams, and he dreamed of the scene of the cold arrow whistling by that day, but he didn't know who the assassin was, only the feeling of a sharp blade on his back. Ruyi had to hug the emperor's shoulder tightly to comfort the anger and uneasiness after this inexplicable thrill.

When the news reached the palace, Rao is Queen Mother had been in turmoil for a long time, and she was also shocked to lose her color, and held Fujia's arm for a long time without saying a word.

Fujia said softly: "The Queen Mother is at ease. The slave and maid carefully inquired about it, and the emperor was fine, and the queen mother could rest assured. The slave maid also passed the word to show the queen mother's love for the emperor. It's just this thing...... Does the Queen Mother want to investigate thoroughly?"

The Queen Mother pondered for a moment and said categorically: "No! The emperor will investigate this matter himself, and on the cusp, everyone is afraid of causing trouble, and the vigilance is the highest, and it is difficult to find out the reason. Now that the rumors are loud, when the emperor is most suspicious, if the mourning family asks rashly, it will make the emperor unhappy. ”

Fujia was distressed and a little resentful: "The Queen Mother also cares about the emperor, but she is afraid that the emperor will be too careful, but she is estranged." ”

The Queen Mother stroked a handful of lapis lazuli inlaid coral Ruyi in her hand, and the slight coolness of the tentacles always made people wake up in comfort. Just like this royal mother and son filial piety, they are all prosperous and prosperous on the surface, but under them is the cold and hard diaphragm that cannot be touched. After a while, she sighed gloomily: "After all, it is not her own child, and there is always a suspicion." The emperor has been a man of ideas since he was a child, and he hates constraints even more when he gets older. The mourning family can be persuaded in everything, and never be forced. And if you look at how cautious he is in selecting concubines now, you will know that our previous emperor is aware. The mourning family only wants their daughter to be stable, and the rest should be regarded as an old woman who only knows how to have fun. ”

Since Mulan returned to the palace in the paddock, the aftermath of the turmoil gradually faded, but there was a kind of excitement. In addition to Ling Yunche becoming a second-class guard in front of the emperor and winning the trust of the emperor, the one who benefited the most was Yuyan's fourth elder brother Yonghui. First of all, the emperor's frequent visits to Yuyan, and then the special care for Yonghui's studies and riding archery, which must be inquired about every three days. This year, on the emperor's longevity festival, the envoy of the Li Dynasty came to congratulate, and the emperor ordered Yonghui to wait. And Yonghui was also very competitive, and won the praise of the messenger. And what shocked the harem and the government and the opposition the most was that after Chongyang, the emperor named Yonghui Baylor.

This is tantamount to a boulder entering the water, attracting everyone's attention. Because the third elder brother Yongzhang, who has married an adult, has not yet been knighted, but the fourth brother who is not yet an adult has taken the lead. As for the fifth elder brother Yongqi, although the emperor was doubly merciful and rewarded, he did not treat Yongqi so seriously, so Yongqi was inevitably overshadowed.

After Ling Yunche returned to the palace, he was more cautious in his words and deeds than before, and because he lacked the habits of the children of the family, the emperor relied on him very much.

On this day, the emperor wanted to punish the people in the enclosure for the incident of Mulan's autumn hunting, and it happened that the third elder brother Yongzhang came to ask for peace, and when he heard that the emperor Long Yan was angry and wanted to implicate many people, he persuaded him: "Erchen thinks that the culprit cannot be found out in this autumn hunt, and it is also because there are too many people serving in the enclosure, and it is difficult to investigate thoroughly for a while." If the emperor is punished, who can continue to be the emperor and the people? ”

This was also reasonable, however, after this incident, the emperor was more suspicious than before, and immediately said angrily: "You are the longest among my sons, and you should have been the one who saved the driver!" First, there is an omission in the paddock, and your eldest son is suspected of poor trusteeship; second, if he comes late to save the driver, he is unfilial and disloyal, and his ability is mediocre, not as good as his two younger brothers; Thirdly, if you make a mistake afterwards, you can't share the worries of your father, but for your own good name, forgive lightly, and don't think about the safety of your father! What's the use of me wanting a son like you? ”

The emperor was so thunderous and angry that he scolded Yongzhang so sweaty that his clothes were heavy and his head was covered with cold sweat, so he had to retire.

The emperor then asked Ling Yunche, who was accompanying him, "Look at Yongzhang's request for forgiveness from the Mulan enclosure like this, will the matter of the cold arrow that day have anything to do with him?" ”

Ling Yunche said respectfully: "The third elder brother is the emperor's son. ”

The emperor shook his head and breathed heavily: "The father and son of the Heavenly Family are not ordinary people. It can be a father and son, a monarch and a minister, or an enemy! The matter of the Holy Ancestor Kangxi's nine sons seizing the heir in his later years, I was shocked when I thought about it. ”

Ling Yunche said: "The emperor is young and strong, no one dares or has the ability to murder the emperor!" ”

When the emperor heard this, he was slightly relieved: "Then the people in the Mulan enclosure, do you think it should be punished?" ”

Ling Yunche lowered his eyes obediently, feeling the light and calm texture of the peacock feathers on the back of his head, remembering the days in the Mulan paddock when he looked at Leng Yue and endured humiliation and was blinded, and said: "If there is a mistake, it should be punished, and if there is merit, it should be rewarded." The emperor's rewards and punishments are clear, and he has his own decision in his chest, how dare Weichen speak falsely. ”

The emperor smiled and drew Zhu Pi and said approvingly: "Very good." ”

I don't know if this sentence is the emperor's praise of his own actions or praise Ling Yunche's cautious words. Ling Yunche was secretly thinking about it, and the emperor suddenly smiled and said, "You are over thirty years old, you have not yet started a family, and you don't look like you." With a casual gesture, he called a little palace maid in Tsing Yi in front of the palace and said, "Mao Qian, you are also twenty-five, and you are about to leave the palace." How about I give you to Ling Guard as a wife? ”

The palace maid was stunned, then knelt down, and said with a smile: "The slave has thanked the emperor." ”

Ling Yunche was stunned, his mind was blank, and he didn't know how to react. Until Li Yu pushed his arm on the side, he smiled and said, "Look at Lord Ling, this is Huanxi stupid, right?" Thank you! ”

Only then did he come back to his senses, and when he saw that the emperor was already smiling impatiently, he knelt down blankly and saluted to accept this sudden grace.

At this point, Yongzhang's fall from grace is a foregone conclusion. And Yongqi was instructed by Ruyi and Hailan to concentrate only on his studies, and if he was not summoned by the emperor, he would not go to the emperor much.

On this day, Ling Yunche sent Yongqi back to Yikun Palace by the Palace of Self-Nourishing Heart, and came by the way to ask Ruyi for peace. Ruyi was watching the maid play with the osmanthus nectar under the porch. She stood quietly under the cornices, her skirt brushing the ground, and the lilac bloomed like magnolias. The beautiful light of the sunset is behind her, spreading out the magnificence of a day and a place, and it reflects her elegance like snow, surging open.

Ruyi smiled when she saw him: "Shibei for three days, you should be impressed." ”

Ling Yunche bowed his knees and said, "The queen mother once asked Weichen to walk back in a dignified manner, and Weichen did not dare to live up to the expectations of the queen. ”

Ruyi looked at him for a moment: "My face was blackened by the wind blowing from the north." However, it would be nice to be able to come back in such a beautiful way. This palace is even more grateful to you for saving the emperor. ”

Seeing her joyful look, Yun Che unconsciously lowered his head and said, "This is Weichen's duty. ”

"Only by merit and not forgetting one's roots can one stay in front of the emperor for a long time. You're good. She smiled, "You are so embarrassed in front of the emperor, it is time to marry and start a family." The emperor personally gave the marriage, which is the supreme glory, and others can't ask for it. ”

Ling Yunche's heart trembled, and suddenly his heart drifted to the days of Mulan paddock, in the lonely cold night, what he often remembered was Ruyi's smiling face.

That was the only thought, and in connection with her instructions, he was led all the way back to the Forbidden City at all costs, and walked back with dignity.

Such a thought only turned in his mind for a moment, and he pressed it down, and said lightly: "Weichen knows what he wants, not a woman." ”

Ruyi's eyes fell faintly, and she looked at him with a little regret: "Is it because she hurt you?" ”

Yun Che turned his face away and pursed his thin lips: "Weichen doesn't want to remember anymore." ”

Ruyi's smile became more and more gentle, as if the bright glow of the sky was reflecting: "It's okay if you don't want to remember." The palace maids in front of the emperor were of noble origin, and they were all daughters of the full military banner, and you have such a wife, which is also beneficial to your origin and lintel. By the way, does anyone in your family help you with the happy event? ”

Yun Che was a little distracted, and said, "My parents died a few years ago, and no one arranged it. He smiled slightly bitterly, "Weichen can finally return to the Forbidden City and live up to his mother's expectations, but the unexpected joy of the emperor's marriage is really too unexpected." ”

Ruyi looked at him meaningfully: "Whether it is an accident or not, the emperor's gift does not allow you to have a trace of displeasure and shirk. Mao Qian is the person in front of the emperor, you have to treat her well. She smiled warmly, "As for the fact that there is no one in your family, Jiang Youbin and Xinxin are in Beijing, and the palace will let them help you with something." ”

Yun Che smiled reluctantly, cheered up and agreed: "Thank you for the kindness of the queen mother." He looked at the baby in the arms of the nurse beside Ruyi, and there was a trace of sadness in his heart, "Although Weichen is in the paddock, I also heard that Niangniang is happy to win Lin'er, and Weichen has congratulated here." ”

Ruyi said: "I have a heart." ”

Yun Che knows how to say: "Living well with each other is the most heartfelt." What else did he want to say, Li Yu, who was beside the emperor, had already come to deliver the decree, and the emperor would come to accompany Ruyi for dinner. He immediately realized that his existence was out of place, just like all the mandarin ducks, dragons and phoenixes depicted in Yikun Palace were in pairs, with wings and necks, and the patterns were dominated by lotus flowers and acacias.

When the dusk is still known, the mandarin duck does not sleep alone. How could he not understand this truth, and wouldn't he be like this even for himself soon? He had no choice but to bow down and respectfully withdraw.