As soon as Mingzhu entered the room, she looked back at me with a twinkle of fear in her eyes, as if she were a rabbit in a wolf's den. I thought about it, and closed the door open.

This time, she reluctantly let go of her heart and breathed a sigh of relief.

The doubts in my heart became deeper and deeper, but I still had a faint smile on my face, and walked over and said, "Sister Mingzhu, if you have anything to say, please sit down and talk about it." ”

"Thank you."

The two of them sat down at the table in the center of the room, and the etiquette should also be to pour tea for guests, but now I am inconvenient, so I can only give up, but I don't look like she is in the mood to come to drink tea, sitting there with her hands on the table and constantly twisting, her fingertips are red, as if there is some trouble in my heart that cannot be solved.

Seeing her like this, I calmed down.

Will the enemy retreat and I advance?

So, he looked at her with a smile: "I don't know if Sister Mingzhu came to the Humble House today, what advice do you have?" ”

"I—"

She looked up at me, and stopped talking, the fine and dense layer of cold sweat on her forehead had condensed, and it was sliding down drop by drop.

I vaguely felt that she seemed to have something important to say to me, but she still had some scruples in her heart, as if she was still considering the pros and cons and was undecided. After thinking about it, he smiled and said, "Since Sister Mingzhu has already come, you might as well say it if you have something to say." Even if it doesn't work out, there are no six ears here, and it won't reach the ears of the third person. ”

When she heard these words, she seemed to have a little bottom in her heart, and raised her head to look at me: "Okay, Lord Yue, I came here today because I want to sue you, but-" She hesitated for a moment, and whispered: "You must not sue others, if you let the concubine know that I came here to find you and tell you these things, I will definitely die a miserable death." ”

With that, her face turned paler than before.

Listening to her say this, I understood in my heart that she did seem to have something important to tell me. Although Shen Rou just used me to deal with Nangong Lizhu, her hatred for me, just like I did for her, must be eliminated for each other. If she knows that Mingzhu is dealing with me in private, I'm afraid that Mingzhu's ten heads will not be enough to cut off. So, I nodded and said, "Sister Mingzhu, don't worry, out of this room, no one knows that you have been here." ”

"That's good, that's good." She muttered two sentences, wiped her sweaty forehead with her sleeve, and turned her head to look out the window to make sure that no one was peeping, so she cautiously poked her head over and said softly: "Lord Yue, you Jixian Palace-especially that Lord Liu, be careful." ”

"What?"

As soon as I heard about the light cold, I was shocked: "What do you know? ”

She said cautiously: "Yesterday, Mrs. Shen sent someone into the palace to give the concubine Niangniang a spring gift, after the person came, I also had a secret conversation with the concubine for a long time, I was originally serving outside, I didn't hear much, but when I went in to serve tea, I heard them say something, like-"

"Seems like what?"

"It seems that this time the imperial examination of the Gongyuan Academy, and what weapons and spears of Yaowulou, Taifu Shen is very unhappy. I heard their conversation mentioning Lord Liu's name several times. ”

My heart lifted suddenly.

Sure enough, Shen Gongyi is really not so easy to dismiss, on the court of the Gongyuan Imperial Examination, Qinghan offended Ouyang Yu first, and destroyed Shen Gongyun and six fraud cases later; And that day in Yaowu Tower, he went to inform Sun Jingfei that his weapon was tampered with, and he had always had close contacts with those new young officials in the DPRK and China, so he could already be said to be a person in the hostile camp of Taifu.

Could it be that Shen Gongjun is going to make a move, and he has to deal with him first?!

Thinking of this, I hurriedly got up and said, "What else have you heard?" What are they going to do to Lord Liu? ”

Mingzhu shook her head: "I don't know about this, Niangniang didn't let us hear more about these things." ”

"......" I stood at the table, biting my lower lip.

If Shen Gongjun really wants to make a move against Qinghan, after all, he is just a newcomer in the court, how can he confront the powerful Taifu?

After Mingzhu said this, he got up and said, "Lord Yue, in short, you all should be careful." I'm leaving. ”

After speaking, she turned around and was about to walk out, and I hurriedly stopped her: "Sister Mingzhu." ”

"Huh?"

"You, why did you come to sue me?"

It's strange, she has always been Shen Rou's confidant, and she doesn't have much of a good face for the people of our Jingren Palace, and she has been with Shen Rou for so many years, it can be said that this pair of masters and servants should share honor and disgrace, why did she suddenly turn around and sue me about this matter this time, is there anything hidden in it?

Looking at my inquiring eyes, Mingzhu also hesitated for a moment, and said: "Lord Yue, your eyes are like torches, and I can't say anything else, I just hope that in the future, if Lord Yue, the Empress, and His Royal Highness will be able to give Mingzhu a way to go." ”

“……”

When I heard her words, my heart chuckled.

She's talking about me, the queen, and - Nian Shen? When it gets done?

What do you mean?

Nian Shen is still so young, and she has not been involved in these struggles at all, but she mentioned the day when Nian Shen's matter will be completed. And, even if it really involves these battles, it's hard to tell who loses and who wins, how could she throw herself on our side for no reason?

I said, "Mingzhu, isn't it - something happened to the Chonghua Palace?" ”

When she heard this, there was a trace of panic in her eyes, and she said more cautiously: "I, I can't say it." ”

“……”

"In short, please don't doubt what I said today, I won't lie to you."

“……”

"Farewell."

After saying that, she opened the door, poked her head out and looked around, and made sure that no one was around, so she walked out cautiously and walked to the side door.

I stood in the room and watched her back disappear outside.

Mingzhu, since Shen Rou entered the palace, she has also been in this palace for many years, naturally she can see through a lot of things, and she knows how to weigh the pros and cons, if she wants to turn her back on her master and come to the queen to join the queen, there is only one possibility, that is, there can be greater interests than Shen Rou here.

But now, before the matter starts, before the win or loss appears, why did she come over?

Also, she just mentioned that His Royal Highness had come to an end, this sentence is very strange, it seems that this is the real reason why she will turn around, could it be that she saw something in the Chonghua Palace? But Nian Shen is still so young, even if he really talks about the canonization of the crown prince, Pei Yuanhao is still in the prime of life, and even Taifu Shen is not in a hurry at this time, and the queen and I have not moved it to the agenda, how could she suddenly mention this?

If Nian Shen really came true, what does it mean?

Mingzhu is gone, but I can't sit down in this cramped room, no matter whether Shen Gongzhu really wants to attack Qinghan or not, I should sue him and let him beware!

As soon as I thought of this, I hurriedly got up and was about to go out, and as soon as I reached the door, the door was pushed open.

Shui Xiu stood outside the door, holding the door with one hand, but looking out, and when he turned around, he saw me standing at the door, and said suspiciously: "My lord, I seem to have seen the pearl just now, is she here?" ”

"Nope."

"But look at that back, it's very much like her."

"You must have read it wrong, how did she come here?"

"Well...... yes!" Shui Xiu was very coaxing, and immediately walked in with a smile, saw me standing at the door, and said, "What, do you want to go out?" The emperor and the queen have explained, and they won't let you run around. Your hand hurts again, but don't hurt it again. ”

“……”

"By the way, my lord, I just came from the Imperial Garden, and I saw that Master Fu also entered the palace. He doesn't usually come. ”

Fu Badai also entered the palace? I looked back confused: "What is he here for?" ”

"I don't know this, the emperor always asks him for a major national matter to discuss."

My heart moved-I can't go out to find Qinghan, but since Fu Badai has entered the palace, I quietly told him and asked him to remind Qinghan, which is also good.

I made up my mind, so I told Shui Xiu that I only went out for a walk, breathable, although Shui Xiu was not very relieved, but seeing that I had promised not to run around, I had to promise me, I did not go out of the main gate, walked out from the side gate, walked around the lake for a while, and then arrived at the side gate of the imperial garden, and happened to see Yu Gonggong standing there to explain a few little eunuchs to do things.

As soon as he saw me, he immediately greeted me: "Lord Yue, you are—"

I smiled and saluted, "Father-in-law Yu, I heard that Scholar Fu also entered the palace?" ”

"Well, talk to Banzai inside."

"Oh...... Can I go in? ”

Father-in-law Yu glanced at me with shrewd eyes, thought for a moment, and said, "Your words were originally said to be fearless, but you should always be careful." ”

I nodded and thanked him, and entered the arch, the weather has warmed up these days, the snow has melted, and the branches under the snow in the imperial garden have faintly emerged some new green, although it has not yet been connected, but there is a sense of prosperity that is not afraid of the cold of ice and snow.

I walked in, and when I passed through a corridor, I saw two people sitting in the pavilion in front of me.

It was Pei Yuanhao and Fu Badai.

However, Fu Badai's eyes - how can he play chess?

I was puzzled, and cautiously took a few steps closer, only to see that the chessboard was full of sunspots, and at this time it had formed a long dragon, entrenched on the chessboard, and there were no chess pieces in the other blank spaces.

Is this-?

Fu Badai sat opposite the emperor, facing me, brushed his gray beard with his eyes slightly closed, and said with a smile: "The right six is eleven." ”

Six on the right eleven? I frowned, and subconsciously wanted to step on my feet to look, but it was too far away to see which move it was, but according to him, it should be the position in the upper right corner near the dragon's head - it turned out that he was playing blind chess.

I looked at him, although he had a pleasant expression, but there was a clear light in his slightly closed eyes.

Pei Yuanhao picked up a sunspot, put it down, and said, "Five on the right, ten on the right." ”

When Fu Badai heard this, he immediately stroked his beard and smiled: "Your Majesty, this step has already been taken by the emperor before, if you go again, the long dragon will be in the trap." ”

“……”

Pei Yuanhao suddenly lowered his head to look, and I looked from a distance, only to find that the empty place on the chessboard was actually a set, and the emperor's long dragon seemed to be about to enter the set.

Pei Yuanhao smiled and threw the chess pieces back into the chess box: "It seems that it is going to be chess." Aiqing is really high. ”

Fu Badai also smiled: "It's the emperor's mind, not in this chess game." ”

He said the word "this" a little heavier, Pei Yuanhao listened, seemed to laugh again, stood up, I thought he was going to turn around, and hurriedly took a step back from the tree on the side, but saw that he just waved his sleeves casually, and walked a few steps towards the water corridor with his negative hand, suddenly "Hmm", stopped and paused, picked up a wooden board on the ground, there seemed to be a nail on it, and suddenly frowned and said: "It's really getting more and more unruly, and the wooden boards with nails are thrown everywhere!" ”

Fu Badai smiled, still sitting at the table, touching the chessboard with one hand very lightly, as if he was still pondering Pei Yuanhao's chess move just now, and said with a smile: "What annoys the emperor, but that nail?" ”

"......" Pei Yuanhao was stunned for a moment, and turned his head to look at him.

"Although this nail doesn't hurt people, it is nailed here and piercing the emperor, so the emperor doesn't want to keep him, right?"

Pei Yuanhao looked at him, looked down at the gaze in his hand, his gaze was calm, and said: "It's just that now I have to pull out this nail, and it's not time yet, I'm afraid that this pull will not only hurt people, but also destroy things." ”

"The old man understands that the emperor is unwilling to hurt the jade bottle in order to fight mice."

“……”

"Besides, rats are easy to fight, but tigers are not so easy to fight, so don't start the game of fighting tigers for the sake of fighting mice."

When I heard this, I suddenly chuckled in my heart.

Don't move the game of fighting the tiger in order to fight the mouse, that is to say, the game of fighting the tiger is already in the cloth?

Fu Badai held the crutch that Nian Shen sent, slowly stood up and groped his way to the emperor's side, stretched out his hand, Pei Yuanhao glanced at him, and handed him the wooden board in silence, Fu Badai carefully touched the wooden board, his fingers touched the nail, as if he had been pierced, he smiled: "Hehe, it is really a little pricked." ”

“……”

"Your Majesty, if you want not to destroy things and not let this nail hurt people, it's not impossible."

"Oh?"

He took the template and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, when I was young, I was in the market, and I saw many artists playing some tricks, among which there is a kind of one called chest crushing boulder, I don't know if the emperor has seen it." ”

"A boulder in your chest?"

"Well, on a wooden board, densely nailed with hundreds of nails, it looks very scary, and the artist lies down, puts a large stone slab on his chest, and hits it with a heavy hammer, and the slate is shattered into powder, but the back of the person is not damaged in the slightest."

"Oh?!"

Pei Yuanhao grew up in the palace since he was a child, although he has experienced many winds and waves, he may not have seen this kind of trick, and when he heard Fu Badai say it, he was a little stunned, Fu Badai smiled: "So, if the emperor wants this nail and can't hurt people, why not nail the same nail on the board again?" ”

"The same nails?" Pei Yuanhao groaned, stretched out his hand to take the gaze, looked at the nail, thoughtful.

"If you are still not at ease, for fear that he will hurt others, you might as well add a piece on top of him."

As he spoke, he reached out and tapped it over the plank.

A light flashed in Pei Yuanhao's eyes, and he suddenly seemed to understand something, looked up at him, and said with a smile: "The scholar really has great wisdom." ”

"Hehe, it's just some tricks to run the rivers and lakes." Fu Badai said with a smile: "The old man is entering the palace today to accompany the emperor to play chess, since the emperor has no intention of playing, the old man will retire first, so that the emperor will handle the state affairs." ”

Pei Yuanhao was still thinking about something, but when he heard that he was leaving, he said, "The scholar is leaving?" Then I asked people to send a bachelor. ”

"No, no. The old man still remembers the way he came, and he doesn't have to bother others. ”

With that, he saluted the emperor and turned to leave.

I had been standing not far away, and when I saw him walking towards the other end of the Imperial Garden, I didn't go over after thinking about it, but took a detour and walked that way, and my feet were faster than his, and I stood on the left side of the door and waited for a while, only to see him walking slowly towards this side with a wooden cane.

As soon as I walked past the side of the road, I heard him laugh and say, "It's been a long time." ”

I was stunned: "You know? ”

Fu Badai smiled, his thin face was full of gentle wrinkles, and said with a smile: "If your eyes are not flexible, and if your ears are deaf, it will really be difficult for you to walk old." ”

“……”

Although he was still smiling, I was really not in the mood to listen to him laugh, so I only stepped forward and said, "Recently, nothing happened to Jixian Palace, right?" ”

"Jixian Palace?" His gray eyebrows furrowed: "What's the matter?" ”

In this way, Shen Gongjun has not yet made a move.

I breathed a sigh of relief, and looked around again, originally he and the emperor were playing in the imperial garden, and Gonggong Yu must have made arrangements, and there should be no outsiders around, but I still looked at it cautiously before saying: "You, and him, should be careful." ”

"Him?" Fu Badai thought for a while, and lowered his voice a little: "You say-that kid?" ”

I nodded: "Although I'm not sure if someone really wants to attack him, it's just that he's been in the limelight too much lately." "Since the beginning of the imperial examination of the Gongyuan, he has been on the cusp, firstly, Pei Yuanhao intends to reuse and promote, and secondly, he is indeed too young and vigorous; Although after the exam, many people in the capital were talking about this young official who was not afraid of the powerful and did not bend the law for personal gain, but in the eyes of another group of old ministers, it was not the case at all.

Fu Badai heard this and sneered: "He's not, he can't say it, he has to go back and fight." ”

"Huh?"

When I heard this, I immediately became anxious: "Why do you still want to beat him?" ”

"What, how expensive is he, he can't beat?"

I know that Fu Badai has been teaching and educating people all his life, and he is known as the Great Confucian of Shudi, but no one is perfect, and he also has a problem that is ugly to say, that is, he loves to beat students, until now, the teachers of Xishan Academy are never soft when they beat students, and breaking tendons and bones is a trivial matter, which is a bad habit passed down from him.

Unexpectedly, he actually brought it to the capital.

"Anyway, he is also the emperor's canonized lieutenant of the light car, and he is a member of the imperial court, how can he still fight like he said in the academy?"

"Hmph, if you don't fight, can you tell right from wrong?"

After Fu Badai finished speaking, he didn't even seem to be in the mood to say a few more words to me, waved his hand, and turned around and left on crutches.

I stood where I was, originally full of anxiety, but at this moment I couldn't cry or laugh, and after a while, I sighed softly and turned around to go back.

As soon as I turned around, I saw the other end of the imperial garden, across the white cedar branches, Pei Yuanhao was standing there, looking at me silently.