In the study, there is a chessboard.

The Duke of Dingguo and the Four Princes sat on both sides, and the Duke of Dingguo held the sunspot and put it on the chessboard, "How is the situation in the palace these days?" ”

The fourth prince held the white son, and then followed, and replied, "My father is in a bad mood, and he was even exempted from the ceremony on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and he stayed in the Lama Hall and didn't come out." ”

As the only remaining prince, he and his mother led a group of concubines to stand outside the Lama Hall for an hour on the first day of the New Year, and his father did not come out.

At that time, the mother concubine was very worried about her father's health, and asked Huang Gonggong if his father was sick, and Huang Gonggong quietly told them that the father and emperor were indeed angry, and they did not sleep at night in the Chinese New Year's Eve, and their spirits were not good.

Dingguo Gong left another son, "The matter of the second prince is very strange, if it is really done by the emperor, I think he has other purposes." ”

If you just want to send the second prince and let him go crazy at the palace banquet, there is no need to let him talk about the events of the year through his mouth.

Song Yin, Xiao Zheng and Xiao Qian are also there.

After returning from the palace banquet, Dingguo Gong and several people discussed it, and they couldn't guess the emperor's purpose in doing this, so they could only ask the four princes to go back and tell Concubine Xiao Xian that the mother and son should be careful.

The mother felt the same way. So, whether it's the things at the entrance or the things in the house, I will let people check them carefully, so my grandfather can rest assured. ”

Song Yin sat on the side before he spoke, "If you feel the danger, ask Sun Qi for help." ”

"Sun Qi?"

The four princes were surprised.

Sun Qi has been the commander of the Praetorian Guard for many years, and he didn't even know that he was also his cousin's person.

Dingguo Gong, Xiao Zheng and Xiao Qian also looked over. Sun Qi is an orphan, when there was a disaster in his hometown, the whole family died, he fled all the way to the capital, somehow joined the Praetorian Guard, and then climbed step by step to the commander of the Praetorian Guard.

"My father saved his life back then, and I went to him a few days ago and asked him to take care of his aunt and cousin."

Dingguo Gong bowed, "It is naturally better to have Commander Sun to take care of it, but after all, the Praetorian Guards can't go to the harem, so you still have to be careful." ”

……

Inside the Lama Palace.

The emperor sat on the soft chair, twisted a string of Buddhist beads in his right hand, half-closed his eyes, and asked coldly, "Huang De, did you say that Xiao Qian was really sick for so many years?" ”

Gonggong Huang was slightly stunned, subconsciously glanced up, and lowered his head again, "What does the emperor mean ......"

The emperor didn't speak.

Huang Gonggong didn't understand his thoughts, and he didn't dare to speak rashly.

After another half an hour, the emperor spoke again, "Have the four princes returned?" ”

"If you go back to the emperor, you haven't yet."

A sneer appeared on the corner of the emperor's mouth.

Huang Gonggong was frightened, and his head hung even lower.

"You go and prepare, and tomorrow I will go to the Thousand Mountains Temple."

……

Staying in the Dingguo Mansion until the beginning of the unitary time, the four princes returned to the palace, and as soon as they entered the palace gate, they were called to the Lama Temple.

The emperor looked tired, "I haven't slept well in the past few days, tomorrow you accompany me to Qianshan Temple, don't tell your mother about this, let's leave the palace quietly." ”

"Yes."

The emperor waved his hand, and the four princes withdrew. When his figure disappeared at the door, the emperor glanced at Huang Gonggong, Huang Gonggong understood and immediately followed out, and ordered a little eunuch to say a few words, and the little eunuch immediately followed.

I followed him all the way to Kunli Palace and watched the four princes enter. He watched for another quarter of an hour before he ran back to give the report.

After hearing this, Gonggong Huang entered the palace, "Your Majesty, the four princes did not send anyone to deliver the letter. ”

The emperor didn't seem to hear it, and continued to twist the Buddhist beads.

Gonggong Huang quietly retreated, closed the door, and looked in the direction of Kunli Palace.

……

The next day, an ordinary carriage came out of the palace and went straight to the city gates.

Huang Gonggong sat on the front car board, although it was the New Year, the cold wind was still very cold, Huang Gonggong put his hands on his sleeves, and his back was bent.

Sun Qi led six Praetorian Guards to protect the carriage in the form of ordinary guards.

Of course, this is only on the surface, and there are many Praetorian Guards disguised as ordinary people who are not far away.

The carriage was padded with a thick blanket, on which was placed a small table, on which was a chessboard, on which were placed delicate snacks and various melons and fruits, and on the other side there was a stove, which was very warm.

On the chessboard, there have been a lot of chess pieces.

The emperor left a son, "How is your mother these days?" ”

The fourth prince told the truth, "The mother concubine is fine, she said that she has not done anything, and she will not be sorry." ”

"It's also embarrassing for her, Concubine Rong has always been scheming, she wants to pit your mother when she is dying, so that I will be suspicious of your mother. I have been husband and wife with your mother for so many years, how can I not understand her? She's a soft-hearted person. ”

The fourth prince softened his eyebrows, "It's good for the father to believe in the mother concubine." ”

"You, you're still too young, you have all your thoughts on your face, I just said a good word to your mother, and you are happy to be like this, how can I rest assured that you will be the prince?"

The fourth prince quietly raised his eyes to look at the emperor, and considered his rhetoric, "My father is in the prime of life, and he can teach his sons and ministers for a few more years." ”

The emperor shook his head with a smile, "I'm old, and I have gray hair on my head." ”

"My father is not old, my father is always young, and he will live a long life."

The emperor was pleased by these words and laughed out loud.

Huang Gonggong put his two hands into his sleeves again, and carefully sniffed a few times, it was so cold that his snot was about to freeze out.

When the carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain, Gonggong Huang carefully carried the emperor down, and Sun Qi and others immediately escorted them.

Today is the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, and there are not many people who come to Qianshan Temple, and the group did not attract much attention, and quickly went up the mountain.

A little novice greeted him, and before he could speak, Huang Gonggong showed his waist card, "Take us to see Master Jingfan." ”

The little novice led them over with weak legs and weak feet, and knocked on the door of Master Jingfan's room.

"Come in!"

Xiao Shami pushed the door open, the emperor raised his heels, and the four princes followed.

Master Jingfan was so frightened that he hurriedly stood up, "I don't know that the emperor is coming, the old man has missed the welcome, and I hope that the emperor will forgive the sins!"

"It's okay, I'm here today, so I don't need to alarm many people."

Master Jingfan personally brought a futon for the two of them, and he knelt down and sat back.

The emperor sat down cross-legged and twisted the Buddha beads with his right hand, "I haven't slept well these days, I'm very tired, I don't know if the master has any good way to let me sleep?" ”

Outside the house, Gonggong Huang gave Sun Qi a look, Sun Qi understood, and quickly made a few gestures, and the Praetorian Guards dressed as ordinary people immediately dispersed.

Six of them went to the courtyard where Xiao Qian lived.

Xiao Qian took the little maid back for the New Year, and the courtyard was empty.

The two stayed in the courtyard, and the four of them entered the house, searched carefully, and soon found the mechanism, "Go and report to the commander, there is a secret passage here." ”

One of the Praetorian guards who had remained in the courtyard hurried back to report it.