Five days later. Lu Zhi's body was sent back to Shengjing.

Emperor Yuan'an gave a funeral, posthumously awarded the general Fuyuan as the Marquis of Jian'an, the title was hereditary, and his wife Qiu's seal was pleasant. And personally inscribed the general's epitaph.

Everyone in the world sighs, the saint is benevolent!

On this day, Qiulan entered the palace. The first is to thank Huang for his grace, the second is to bring back Lu Zhi's body, and the third is to take the three daughters of the Lu family back to the house to handle the funeral.

Changqing Palace.

The slave was dressed in plain clothes, and her long hair was casually draped over her shoulders. She holds her cheek in one hand and her son in the other. Engrossed in watching the black-and-white chess game in front of him. The white son in his hand has not fallen for a long time.

"Courtiers see the lord of the county." Qiulan was dressed in a commanding suit and saluted.

"Here we are." The slave didn't raise his head, and the white son in his hand simply fell neatly, cutting off the black child's way of life. Then he raised his hand, "Sit down." ”

Qiulan sat down in an orderly manner, "Lord Xie." ”

"I haven't congratulated you on getting the seventh grade." The slave said lazily.

"The county lord is really a tormented courtier. The courtier was originally a lowly slave, and she was able to climb up step by step, all thanks to the blessings of the county lord and Mrs. Wei. I will record Mrs. Wei in the family tree, and place the spirit tablet with the general to offer incense. ”

The softest place in the slave's heart is probably Mrs. Wei, and it is precisely because she understands this that Qiulan disregards the opposition of the elders in the clan and insists on raising the late Aunt Wei as a lady and recording it in the family tree. She wants her slaves to show her faithfulness.

She took a wooden box from Miaochun's hand behind her, "This is what the general has been holding before leaving, and I always feel that I should show it to the county lord." ”

The slave glanced at it and looked away, "I don't want to see it." ”

Qiulan didn't care, she opened the box, pushed it in front of the slave and said, "This is the magnolia hairpin left by Mrs. Wei." ”

A sour feeling suddenly came to her heart, and the slave's hand clenched unconsciously, her nails embedded in the flesh, and the pain eliminated the strange sadness that suddenly appeared in her heart.

Nu'er slowly stretched out her hand to pick up the hairpin and put it in the palm of her hand, and gently rubbed her fingertips on the magnolia flower. She doesn't understand, why do two people who love each other have such an ending?

After a long time, the slave sighed and handed the hairpin to Qiulan, "Bury this hairpin with your father." ”

"One more thing." Qiu Lan took it and put the hairpin back in place, her expression became serious, "I'm afraid the death of a general is not as simple as dying in battle. Zuixiaolou received the document, and on the night the city was broken, someone deliberately opened the city gate to let the enemy enter the city. Moreover, the enemy troops in the city disguised themselves as our soldiers, and ambushed a thousand people, so it is impossible for so many people to go unnoticed. Unless there is a spy covering. This is the general coming. ”

"There is a mix of forces in the military. There must be someone in the court who can't tolerate the general, so he doesn't hesitate to let the barbarian army win, and he also wants to put the general to death. The more Qiu Lan spoke, the more excited she became, and she almost knocked over the tea cup in her hand. She put down the teacup and continued with a sigh of relief, "Now there are rumors in the market that there is an account book in the General's Mansion that has evidence of corruption among the princes and ministers. I think it was because of this rumor that the general was killed. ”

Books!

Nu'er's eyebrows jumped, and she remembered the thing she found in Lu Zhi's study.

Qiulan didn't notice the change in the slave's mood, she was still talking, "It's not sure whether the rumors are true or not. But once such rumors come out, those in high positions may not be able to sit still. According to the investigation, since the rumors in the account book came out, several princes have sent letters to the front line, and several people in the court have also taken action. ”

"Having said so much, I still don't know who is behind it." The slave frowned, her mother's affairs were not over, and her father was assassinated again. Even if she hated Lu Zhi, she still didn't allow anyone to do anything to her biological father.

"Childe has been investigating, and I'm afraid this matter has nothing to do with the Xiao family."

Xiao Jia...... It is the mother's family of Emperor Rong's concubine and the maternal grandfather's family of Dongli Yuyang.

The Xiao family is also considered to be the top in Daxia, the head of the family, Xiao Zhengqing, is the governor of Jiangnan of the second grade, and the younger generation of Xiao Miaoyun is in the position of the imperial concubine, and the son-in-law Xiao Chong is the martial champion a few years ago, and now he is the second-class guard of the fourth grade in the palace. The annual income of the treasury, Jiangnan area has contributed a large part of the force, and Xiao Zhengqing can be regarded as a holy heart if he governs well. Xiao Chong also received heavy rewards for his meritorious service in escorting. Therefore, the Xiao family also has some say in the court.

What's more, King Jin's biological mother, Shen Guiren, has always been unfavored because of her humble background and is attached to the imperial concubine. After King Jin married Li Danchen, Emperor Yuan An gave him the position of town guard, which allowed him to mobilize troops slightly. If it is really the Xiao family, then Dongli Yuyang and her ......

Nu'er got up, "Father's funeral will be held for half a month, and everything will be discussed when I go back to my house and see Tong'an." This matter must be investigated. ”

Qiulan nodded and said, "It's natural. When I came, someone went to Changmu Hall to invite the county lord of Huashang and Miss Lu Er to Yonghemen, and after counting the hours, we should also pass. ”

As soon as he walked to the fork in the road outside the Changqing Palace, he happened to collide with the oncoming concubine's step. The eunuch stopped, and the new eyebrows said below, "County Lord, it's Concubine Niangniang." ”

The slave lifted the curtain and said, "Get out of the way." ”

The step slowly moved to the side, and stopped for a moment, but the step of the concubine in front of him did not move. Through the curtain, the slave vaguely saw that a palace maid was hurrying over to the concubine. It seems to be the eldest palace maid in the palace of the concubine.

"County Lord, Niangniang heard that you are going back to your house today, so I came to say goodbye." Xinran said loudly, she stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Concubine Shu Niangniang wants to talk to the county lord alone. ”

Nu'er thought for a moment, Lu Zhi was defeated, the prince went on the expedition, and the situation was delicate. Concubine Shu will not be simple here. Nu'er raised her voice and said, "The lady concubine came to say goodbye, and the slave naturally stepped forward to thank her in person." New eyebrows, please go first, I'll be there later. ”

A slender jade hand stretched out from the yellow veil, the new eyebrows were not there, and Youruo hurriedly stepped forward to stroke the slave. The slave slowly walked towards the concubine's step, and at this time, the concubine also stepped down from the step.

"How is Lord Mingjia doing?"

"Concubine Lao is worried, and the slave is fine."

Concubine Shu and the slave looked at each other and smiled, and Concubine Shu raised her hand, "This palace wants to say a few words to the county lord." Stand down, all of you. ”

The crowd withdrew. Concubine Shu wanted to say a few polite words, but unexpectedly, Nu'er spoke first, "Nu'er's two sisters and Qiu Yiren are still waiting at Yonghemen." Why is the mother here to talk to me bluntly. ”

"Since that's the case, then the main palace won't go around the corner." Concubine Shu paused, and then said, "This palace has no children under her knees, but she knows that the orthodoxy of Great Xia is in His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the whole lineage. Now that the prince is on the expedition, Concubine De is different, and the queen mother is closed. The palace wants to ask for a phoenix face and it is not lawful, the county lord has accompanied the queen to worship the Buddha in Zhengyang Palace, I don't know if I can pass a word? ”

"It's a small matter to pass the word, and the slave is naturally happy. But everyone in the harem knows that the queen has always been in poor health and is unable to take care of palace affairs. I'm afraid that even if these words reach the ears of the queen, the mother will be powerless. ”

Nu'er pretended to shake her head helplessly, and then she changed her words and spoke again, "Instead of wanting to invite the queen mother who has always been refuge from the world, it is better to think about how to help the prince." ”

Seeing that Concubine Shu was at a loss, the slave smiled again, "Niangniang has lived in the deep palace for a long time, and the prince is far away at the border, and I know that the whip is incomprehensible." People in the world are most afraid of rumors, and rumors can sometimes come true when they are passed on. Why don't you think about it? ”

In the final analysis, the queen did not form a gang in the palace, and Concubine Shu's high position did not indicate which side she was on. It's just that the prince is benevolent, if the prince really has any accidents, then the most likely is the six princes, but the six princes are respectful on the surface, but secretly they are ruthless. Concubine Shu naturally hoped that the crown prince would be the last to ascend the throne.

But then again, it's not her own son in the end, the situation is changing rapidly, and she can't show her mind. So she wants to take care of this matter, but she can't control it. The best way to do this is indeed the rumor that the slave mentioned. If she spreads the news of Concubine De's assassination of the prince in Beijing, rumors will spread, and Concubine De's party will always have some scruples.

In an instant, a thousand thoughts had flashed through my mind. Concubine Shu came back to her senses and nodded at Nu'er with a smile, "The county lord is really smart. No wonder he is favored by His Majesty. ”

"Niangniang praises falsely, the slave is just a casual talk, and it is just a common thing to talk to you." Nu'er looked at the sky, "The sun is getting bigger, Niangniang should go back to the palace early." The slave then retired. ”

Concubine Shu returned to the step, and the cloud sideburns on her head swayed gently with the step. She reached out and took it down and played with it in her hand, thinking about the slave's words, a little distracted. I didn't even notice it when I arrived at Yanxi Palace.

Xiao Linzi sent Xinran away, and personally helped Concubine Shu out of the sedan chair, "What is Niangniang thinking?" It's so distracted. ”

Seeing that Concubine Shu hadn't answered for a long time, Xiao Linzi said to herself, "Niangniang, Lord Mingjia is a clever person. ”

Yes, if he wasn't a clever person, how could he pass the prince and princess with the identity of a concubine.

"Remember Qin Guiren? Don't look at the young man in Changqing Palace, his mind is calm. Concubine Shu finally spoke.

At the mention of Qin Guiren, Xiao Linzi gradually frowned. That Qin nobleman's mother's family was only average, and after trying his best to enter the palace and gain favor for a few days, he got a little carried away. In the imperial garden, he collided with the lord of Mingjia, and I don't know what the lord of Mingjia said in front of the saint, and the next day, the Qin nobles who were victorious were reduced to promise, and they were demoted to the Xinzhiku to work as coolies.

God knows how this Mingjia influences His Majesty's preferences and favors.

Yonghemen, the slave hurriedly stepped on the incense car, "Pleasant wait." ”

"Just come." Qiulan nodded and shouted to the coachman outside, "Let's go." ”

The sun is setting and the sunset stretches endlessly. The carriage drove slowly on the palace road, and in two years, Nu'er returned to the general's mansion again.

The moment she stepped into the door, everything was still the same, but Nu'er stretched out her hand, but she couldn't catch the familiar shadow.