In the morning, Fanning's boat arrived at the Bianhe Wharf in the north of Shuyuan Street, from here to the second uncle Fan Tiege's strange stone hall is only a hundred steps away, but at this time the whole capital is immersed in the sadness of the death of the queen mother, closed for five days, closed for five days, the city is wrapped in mourning, today is the fourth day of the market closure, Fan Tiege's strange stone museum is closed, the doorkeeper told Fan Ning that the big shopkeeper went to Yingzhou to see the mine, and it will take two days to come back.

Helpless, Fan Ning had to let Zhu Long go to Zhu Yuanfeng's mansion, and after a while, the Zhu family sent several flatbed carts pulled by five donkeys to transport the carriage back to the Zhu family along with the wheels.

As soon as Fan Ning walked into the gate of Zhu's house, she met Zhu Jie, who was waiting for Fan Ning here.

"I knew you would be in Beijing soon, and I wanted to talk to you!"

Fan Ning nodded silently, he knew that Zhu Jie must be talking about Gao Taotao, even if Gao Taotao became the queen mother, her personal relationship with Zhu Jie was still very good, Gao Taotao's private property was handed over to Zhu Jie to take care of, and the imperial shop that Fan Ning stayed in Xingang was actually left to Zhu Jie, and Gao Taotao's private was also investing in overseas trade.

Walking into the guest hall, Zhu Jie let the maids serve tea, and then dismissed all the maids, and sighed for a while: "The queen mother actually died of illness ten days ago, and it was officially announced a few days ago. ”

"What disease did she die?" Fanning asked.

Zhu Jie was silent for a moment and said, "If I say that she died of a violent illness, do you believe it?" ”

Fan Ning was stunned, dying of violent illness has always been synonymous with unnatural death, what happened, Gao Tao actually died unnatural death, he looked at Zhu Jie in shock.

Zhu Jie sighed lowly, "This matter can't be hidden, although the palace has issued a ban order, in fact, many people know that the queen mother used the medicine of the tiger and wolf to have an abortion, resulting in poisoning and death." ”

It was like a thunderbolt on a sunny day, Fanning was completely stunned, Gao Tao was pregnant and had an abortion, whose child was it, is it his own?

Zhu Jie glanced at Fan Ning meaningfully, and said slowly: "I know that you and Gao Tao have an unusual relationship, but to what extent I don't know, but this incident should have nothing to do with you, don't do anything stupid." ”

"Sister-in-law, I don't quite understand what you mean, what is called has nothing to do with me, can you make it clear."

Zhu Jie sneered and said: "The diagnosis given by the imperial doctor in the palace is that you are four months pregnant, and you have been away from the capital for at least half a year, second, the palace guard Ban Zhi Tang Yi disappeared inexplicably, it is said that Gao Taotao's beloved hairpin was found in his room, third, the imperial doctor who prescribed the medicine of the tiger and wolf to Gao Taotao was also executed, and fourth, the henchmen and palace maids around Gao Taotao all committed suicide by drinking medicine together before her, including her most trusted palace maid Cai'e, this matter has been closed, so the news of the death of the queen mother was released. ”

Zhu Jie's words made Fan Ning feel as uncomfortable as swallowing a fly, are there any other men around Gao Taotao?

Tang Yi's Fan Ning also knew that he followed Gao Taotao from the palace to the palace, and he was very loyal to Gao Taotao, who was in his thirties and grew very tall and strong.

Although Gao Taotao assured him that there would be no other men, it was difficult to say, after all, she was only in her thirties, and her personality was more enthusiastic and outgoing.

For a while, Fan Ning was silent, and Zhu Jie said again: "Although the death of the Queen Mother is unfortunate, it is a good thing for you, your overseas envoy still has a two-year term, I hope you will seize the time to implement your ambitions, you shoulder the hope of the Fan family and the Zhu family, and also bear the hope of thousands of Song immigrants, I hope you can go all out and put all your energy on the grand cause." ”

How could Zhu Jie not know? She has always been very worried about Fanning and Gao Taotao's playing with fire, and now Gao Taotao was burned to death by the fire she was playing with, she was afraid that Fanning would have another accident, so she intercepted Fanning at the first time, guided him, reminded him, and warned him.

Fanning sighed in his heart, the Si people have passed away, let's pass the past!

"Thank you, sister-in-law, I know what I have to do?"

Zhu Jie nodded with satisfaction, "You've had a hard journey, rest early!" ”

That night, Fanning tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and sighed in his heart, until it was almost dawn.

.........

Early in the morning, Fan Ning, who had only slept for an hour, got up early and rushed to the palace to pay homage to Gao Taotao, and in the mourning shed he met Zhao Xu, the son of heaven who was guarding his mother's spirit.

Fan Ning's appearance really surprised and delighted Zhao Ji, he hurriedly invited Fan Ning to the back tent and sent the eunuch away, Zhao Ji's eyes suddenly turned red, and tears couldn't stop rolling down.

Fan Ning didn't know how to comfort him, so he sighed and said, "Your Majesty, grow up early, do something big, and comfort your mother's spirit in the sky." ”

Zhao Ji sobbed and said: "The queen mother often said to me before her death that Fan Yuanjun is the most trustworthy person, and asked me to support you unreservedly, just the day before the queen mother's accident, she also said to me that Fan Yuanjun has made great contributions to the society and should be considered for promotion, but I didn't expect this sentence to become a ..... It became the last words of the queen mother to me. ”

In the end, Zhao Ji couldn't cry, and Fan Ning couldn't help but have a sour nose and appeased Zhao Ji.

After a while, Zhao Ji finally stopped crying, wiped away his tears, and said very strongly: "The imperial grandmother told me that as long as I reach the age of twenty, she will hand over the power to me, and there are two more years, and I will endure for two more years, and I will definitely do something big, so that the ancestors and the queen mother will be proud of me!" ”

"Wechen will also do his best to assist His Majesty in achieving a great cause!"

While the two were talking, an old eunuch appeared at the door of the tent and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager summoned Fan Yuanjun and asked Fan Yuanjun to come over immediately." ”

Fan Ning nodded and said to Zhao Ji: "Your Majesty, Weichen will go to meet the Empress Dowager first, and then report to Your Majesty about Nanyang." ”

"Go ahead! The imperial grandmother also cared about Nanyang. ”

Fan Ning saluted, and then hurried to the inner palace with the eunuch.

Empress Dowager Cao did not receive Fan Ning in the Qilin Palace, but summoned her in the Ci'an Palace, which was also the place where she summoned the minister.

Empress Dowager Cao asked the curtain to be removed and sat opposite Fan Ning, her eyes were cold, and there was no expression on her face.

"You all stand down!"

Several personal palace maids agreed, and slowly retreated, leaving only Empress Cao and Fan Ning in the small hall.

Fan Ning was a little uneasy in his heart, this posture was not like talking about military affairs, but like discussing some secret matter, what did Empress Dowager Cao want to say to herself?

"Do you know how Talking died?"

"Wechen..... I've heard of it! ”

Empress Dowager Cao nodded and said: "Actually, the mourning family knows very well in their hearts that you are the most suspicious child!" ”

With a cold word, the sweat on Fan Ning's forehead came down, and he hurriedly said: "Why did the Empress Dowager say this, Weichen and Empress Dowager Gao are monarchs and ministers, and besides, the Empress Dowager is only four months pregnant, and it has been half a year since Wechen left the capital. ”

Empress Dowager Cao sneered, "The so-called four-month pregnancy was written by the Mourning family to let the imperial doctor, she is actually six months pregnant, not only that, the hosta in the guard class Zhi Tang Yi's room is also let go of the Mourning family, and the surrounding guards accused Tang Yi and Taihui of getting too close, and it was also instructed by the Mourning family, Tang Yi carried this black cauldron, and Imperial Physician Yao, who ordered him to be executed, was also the Mourning family." ”

Fanning's mind was buzzing, Gao Tao was six months pregnant, she had nothing to do with Tang Yi, could it be that the child in her belly was her own? Why is that?

His heart was in a mess, Empress Dowager Cao looked at him, and still said coldly: "Tao Tao wants to give birth to this child, but the mourning family told her that if you give birth to this child, the child's father will inevitably be killed by Xu'er, and you can only choose between the child and the child's father......"

At this time, Fan Ning couldn't help but burst into tears, Empress Dowager Cao looked at him silently, and said for a while: "Tao Tao is the niece and nephew of the mourning family, and in order to fight against Zhang Guifei, the mourning family almost served her with a husband. Fortunately, the official family was sober and did not accept her, after this incident, Tao Tao has been dissatisfied with the mourning family, until one night, she came to beg me, there is a secret matter to report to the official family, as a result, she exposed her husband, although she sacrificed her husband, but kept her son, so that the mourning family has been impressed with her since then........."

Empress Dowager Cao was immersed in memories, but Fan Ning was extremely sad in his heart, he wanted to think that Gao Taotao's betrayal could relieve his guilt for her, but when he knew the truth, he knew that Gao Taotao had never betrayed himself, and even beat the child in his womb in order to save himself.

Empress Dowager Cao sighed again and said: "Tao Tao finally took the hand of the mourning family, she wanted to say something, but she couldn't say it, but the mourning family knew what she wanted to say, so summoning you today can be regarded as fulfilling the promise to her." ”

In the end, Empress Dowager Cao's tone became cold, her eyes became cold, she looked at Fan Ning and said in a low voice: "This time it was the mourning family who kept you, you have to remember that your fate is in the hands of the mourning family from now on, obey the mourning family, and have your glory and wealth." If you dare to betray the mourning family, I will make you a dilemma of life and death! ”

Fanning didn't know how he got out of the inner palace, he found a secluded place to sit down, and looked into the distance with heavy eyes, at this time he had been freed from the grief of Gao Tao's death.

Empress Dowager Cao's last few threatening words made him suddenly realize the cruelty and viciousness of the palace struggle, who said that Empress Dowager Cao is not in love with power, who said that Empress Dowager Cao is generous and benevolent, she gave up power at the beginning but to retreat into advance, she is more forbearant than Gao Taotao, she has long found out about herself and Gao Taotao, but she chose to be silent and wait.

She was the one who persuaded Gao Taotao to have an abortion, and she was also the last doctor to execute him, so no one knows the real cause of Gao Taotao's death.

Changing Gao Taotao's pregnancy time and arranging Tang Yi to carry the black pot is not necessarily to protect himself, but to use this matter to control himself.