In the East Palace, the crown prince received the news that the king of Chu was dead, and he laughed out loud in a very good mood.

"Hahaha, good! Good! Good! It's really great! Finally dead! ”

Lu Cong heard that the King of Chu's heart was finally dead, and he was also happy for His Royal Highness the Prince.

"Your Royal Highness, the slave maid said that His Royal Highness the King of Wei will definitely try his best to get rid of the King of Chu." His Royal Highness the King of Wei still has the ability.

The crown prince shook his head and said, "This time it was not the eighth brother who got rid of the king of Chu, but the people from Jinling who made meritorious contributions. ”

"Isn't it His Royal Highness King Wei?"

"The eighth brother didn't take credit, and the letter said that Li Dao and they sent someone to get rid of the king of Chu, so I must reward them again." The prince said with a smile on his face, "Li Dao, they have made such a great contribution this time, and they want to reward them well. "It's not in vain that he has been reusing Li Ji and them, and this time he finally helped him solve the big problem of the fourth child.

"The slave maid thought it was His Royal Highness the King of Wei, except for the King of Chu."

"The eighth brother was seriously injured, and he was in Pengcheng again, and he did not return to Jinling to get rid of the king of Chu." The crown prince thought that the letter said that King Wei's injury was very serious, his eyebrows wrinkled slightly, and his face unconsciously showed a worried look, "Although it was not the eighth brother who got rid of the king of Chu with his own hands, but Li Wei and they were able to get rid of the king of Chu, and thanks to the eighth brother, they seriously injured the king of Chu in Pengcheng." ”

"Your Royal Highness, His Royal Highness the King of Wei asked you to reward Li Dao and them, and he also wanted you to appease Li Dao and them, after all, King Jing and the Song family have been dealing with them."

"I know that Eighth Brother is in this mind." Speaking of this, the prince showed a pleased smile on his face, "The eighth brother has always thought about me, I think everything is thoughtful, and he never causes me trouble." This time he was seriously injured and hid it from me, so that Peng Cheng Taishou didn't tell me. ”

Lu Cong echoed: "His Royal Highness King Wei has always been careful and considerate, and he has always been full of gratitude to you. ”

"Yes, the eighth brother is considerate of me, but the seventh brother." At the mention of King Jing, the prince's face immediately became gloomy, and his eyes were full of resentment and cruelty, "He is the closest brother to Gu's blood, but he wants to replace Gu as the prince, and everything is against Gu." ”

"Your Highness, the Queen Mother and King Jing are both white-eyed wolves. If the queen hadn't asked the emperor to marry her as a successor before her death, the emperor would not have been able to marry her. Compared with the acting king, the queen mother and King Jing are even more hateful, "If it weren't for the first queen, where would their mother and son be today." Also, Your Highness, you are so kind to their mother and son, but they stab you in the back, it is really hateful. ”

Thinking of Empress Xie, the prince's eyes were gloomy, and his expression became distorted.

"The queen mother shouldn't have let her father marry her back then. If the queen mother knew that her good sister was treating Gu like this now, she would definitely regret it. ”

While he was talking, a little eunuch walked in and respectfully said to the prince: "Your Royal Highness the prince, the queen mother is sick. ”

When the prince heard this, he raised the corners of his mouth and smiled meaningfully: "It's good to be sick." ”

Lu Cong said very cleverly: "His Royal Highness the Prince, the queen mother is sick, you, as a junior, should send someone over to take a look." ”

The prince understood what Lu Cong meant, and said to him, "You help Gu go and have a look." After speaking, he gave Lu Cong a look, and Lu Cong immediately understood.

"Slave and maid, go now."

Lu Cong rushed to Zhaoyang Palace, and happened to meet the imperial doctor who had just come out of Zhaoyang Palace, so he grabbed the imperial doctor and asked, "Imperial doctor, how is the queen's mother, is it serious?" ”

The imperial physician said to Lu Cong politely: "Father-in-law Lu can rest assured, the queen mother is just occasionally feeling cold, and there is nothing serious, just rest for a few days." ”

When Lu Cong heard this, he said with a relieved face: "That's good, there is Dr. Lao." ”

"Gonggong Lu is polite." After speaking, the imperial doctor left Zhaoyang Palace.

Lu Cong naturally didn't see Queen Xie, but saw Jiang Chuan, the palace maid beside Queen Xie.

Jiang Chuan told Lu Cong that Empress Xie was fine, so His Royal Highness the Crown Prince did not have to worry.

When he returned to the East Palace, Lu Cong told the prince what the imperial doctor said.

The prince sneered, "This is just the beginning. "Uncle will never let Queen Xie simply suffer from wind and cold. He will make Empress Xie's condition slowly worsen, and in the end, she can't afford to get out of bed or do anything. When King Jing dies, Queen Xie will also die. "You send some tonics."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Lu Cong took some tonic medicine and sent it to Zhaoyang Palace, as for whether Empress Xie ate it or not, it was not his concern.

The concubines in the harem learned that Empress Xie was sick, so they naturally wanted to pay a visit. Concubine Ying and Concubine Rong, as well as Concubine Shu and Concubine De, did not come to Zhaoyang Palace in person, but sent the palace maids around them to come over. The other concubines came in person.

Jiang Chuan saw that Concubine Ying and Concubine Shu did not come, and he was very indignant and dissatisfied in his heart.

Concubine Li, as the highest-ranking concubine among the concubines who came, naturally took the lead in asking about Empress Xie's condition.

Jiang Chuan said that Queen Xie's condition was not a big deal, and it was not a matter of bothering the mothers, and then asked the mothers to leave.

Concubine Li was just about to leave, but was stopped by Jiang Chuan.

Concubine Liang glanced back at Concubine Li, and then walked away.

Jiang Chuan led Concubine Li into Empress Xie's bedroom, and Empress Xie sat on the bed, her face looking good.

Concubine Li hurriedly saluted Empress Xie, and then inquired about Empress Xie's physical condition with concern.

Empress Xie said that there was nothing going on in her body, and she would just rest for two days.

Concubine Li knew that Empress Xie had called her in, and she must have something to order.

"Queen Mother, do you have something to tell your concubines?" With the queen's temperament, there is nothing to look for her, and she will never see her alone.

Empress Xie smiled slightly: "This palace doesn't tell you something, but there is something to tell you." ”

When Concubine Li heard this, her heart sank, but she didn't show it on her face. Her expression became more and more respectful: "Please make it clear to the queen mother." ”

Queen Xie likes Concubine Li's concubine the most, who understands the rules and never assumes her bearings.

"The palace received news from King Jing that the King of Chu had an accident in Jinling."

When Concubine Li heard this, her face immediately changed. She asked anxiously and uneasily, "What happened to the King of Chu?" ”

Empress Xie said: "The king of Chu was assassinated by the prince's people and died on the Jinling River. ”

With a bang, Concubine Li stood up suddenly, and the stool under her fell to the ground.

"Queen Mother, your words ......"

Empress Xie knew what Concubine Li wanted to say, and said to her in a firm tone: "This palace didn't lie to you, the prince's people were chasing and killing the king of Chu two days ago......" She told Concubine Li in detail about the process of the murder of the king of Chu.

After hearing this, Concubine Li staggered and almost fell to the ground, but fortunately, Qiu Sang reached out in time to help her.

"Mother, are you okay?"

"I ......" Concubine Li's face turned pale, her eyes were full of horror and worry, and her body trembled slightly. The king of Chu really ......"

Empress Xie was very satisfied with Concubine Li's reaction, and she continued to add fuel and vinegar: "I heard that when the King of Chu fell into the Jinling River, he dyed the river red. ”

Concubine Li's eyes were red, and her face was full of tears.

"Queen Mother, King Chu ......" she wanted to say something, but because she was too sad, she couldn't say a complete sentence.

"King Jing said that he sent someone to salvage the body of the King of Chu but did not find it, but he was afraid that the body of the King of Chu would be washed away by the river." Empress Xie sighed heavily, "Until now, the body of King Chu has not been found. ”

Concubine Li's eyes went dark, and the whole person fell backwards and completely lost consciousness.

Jiang Chuan and the palace maid Qiu Sang beside her hurriedly supported her, and the two exclaimed in unison: "Niangniang......"

Concubine Li fainted because of excessive grief, and woke up in less than half an hour. After waking up, Empress Xie not only did not comfort her properly, but also asked her to go to the emperor to ask for clarification.

After leaving Zhaoyang Palace, Concubine Li turned pale and stumbled to the imperial study.

In the imperial study, the emperor was reviewing the recital, and Sun Kui walked in with a hunched waist.

"Your Majesty, Concubine Li asks to see you."

The emperor was holding the pen and writing something on the fold, and when he heard Sun Kui's words, the pen in his hand couldn't help but pause. He raised his eyes to look at Sun Kui, and said in slight surprise: "Concubine Li? Concubine Li rarely came to the imperial study to look for him, especially at this time, she knew that he was the busiest at this time.

"Yes, Concubine Li's face is pale and she looks very sad, I'm afraid something has happened."

The emperor frowned slightly and said, "Let her in." ”

Sun Kui led Concubine Li, whose face was pale and bloodless, and her face was sad.

The emperor waved his hand to Sun Kui, then walked up to Concubine Li and reached out to help her up.

Sun Kui walked to the door and stood at the door with his apprentice Sun Doudou.

"Master, what's wrong with Concubine Li, she looks like the sky is falling?" In Sun Doudou's impression, Concubine Li has always been dignified and decent, and she has never lost her temper. This was the first time he had seen Concubine Li so out of shape.

Sun Kui shook his head lightly and said, "I don't know." ”

Sun Doudou leaned into Sun Kui's ear, lowered his voice and said, "Master, Concubine Li Niangniang came from Zhaoyang Palace. ”

When Sun Kui heard this, a stunned look appeared on his face: "From Zhaoyang Palace?" ”

"More than half an hour ago, the ladies in the palace all went to visit the queen, and then the queen left Concubine Li alone and said for half an hour." Sun Doudou pouted in the imperial study, "Concubine Li's appearance just now, it is estimated that the queen mother said something." ”

Sun Kuideng thought of something and whispered, "It may be related to the King of Chu." ”

In the imperial study, I don't know what the emperor and Concubine Li said. When Concubine Li came out of the imperial study, she looked lost and depressed, as if she had suffered a huge blow. If it weren't for Qiusang's support, I'm afraid she wouldn't even be able to walk.

Sun Kui and Sun Doudou: Concubine Li, what's wrong?

"Niangniang, do you need a slave to help you go back to the palace?" Sun Doudou stepped forward and asked.

Concubine Li didn't react, as if she hadn't heard.

Qiu Sang shook his head at Sun Doudou: "Thank you, little grandson, I can help my mother back to the palace." ”

Sun Doudou didn't follow anymore and retreated to Sun Kui's side.

"Master, this ......"

Sun Kui guessed that something big should have happened, otherwise Concubine Li would not have looked so grief-stricken.

"Don't ask anything." After speaking, he turned around and walked into the imperial study, and saw that the emperor had reviewed the folds as before, and his face was calm, as if nothing had happened, and he felt strange in his heart. He didn't have the guts to ask, though.

Concubine Li cried silently all the way back to the palace, and many eunuchs and palace maids in the palace saw it.

After Jiang Chuan heard this, he immediately reported to Queen Xie.

After hearing this, Empress Xie smiled proudly: "The Li family will never let go of the prince." ”

"If you offend the Li family, you are equal to most of the scholars in the world, and now the prince has good fruits to eat." After Qiu Sang finished speaking, he hurriedly helped Queen Xie to lie down, "Niangniang, you need to rest now." ”

"Hongu's head hurts, and I really need a good rest."

Empress Xie occasionally felt a cold, and she and the people around her didn't take it seriously.

After Concubine Li returned to her palace, she put away the sad look on her face, but her expression was still solemn.

Qiu Sang saw that Concubine Li's face had changed so much before and after, and she was very puzzled in her heart. She hurriedly asked: "Niangniang, what did the emperor tell you, is it that His Royal Highness has not had an accident?" ”

"The emperor told me that the king of Chu did not go to Jinling. He also said that he sent the king of Chu to Pengcheng, not Jinling. ”

"The emperor means that His Royal Highness didn't go to Jinling, so His Highness is fine." Qiu Sang looked thankful, "It's really good." ”

"It's not that simple." Concubine Li was a very smart person, and Empress Xie would not tell her about the assassination of the King of Chu for no reason. Presumably, King Jing in Jinling really received the news of the accident of the King of Chu. But the emperor's reaction was very strange, he didn't seem to know about it. Although Jinling and the capital are thousands of miles apart, if something really happens to the king of Chu, it is impossible for the emperor not to receive the news.

Before his son left, he told her that no matter what she heard about him, she should not believe it. Also, it's good news that he didn't send the news back. If someone tells him the news of his accident, let her take it seriously on the surface, but don't believe it in reality.

"Did the King of Chu send news back to Beijing?"

"Nope."

Concubine Li was not at ease, thought for a while and said, "Go and call Dou Le." ”

"Yes."

Soon, Qiusang brought Dou Le to see Concubine Li.

As soon as Concubine Li saw Dou Le, she asked him if he had received any news from the King of Chu today.

Dou Le told Concubine Li that he had not heard from the King of Chu since he left the capital. I didn't receive it today, as before.

Hearing Dou Le say this, Concubine Li felt relieved.

It seems that today's situation, the son has long expected it.

Qiu Sang saw Concubine Li's face change around, and felt a little uneasy in her heart, and asked nervously, "Niangniang, are you okay?" ”

"I'm fine." After Concubine Li finished speaking, she instructed Qiusang to serve with pen and ink. She wrote a letter and asked Dou Le to leave the palace and send it to Li Fuju.

"Niangniang, is there really something wrong with Your Highness?"

"Probably not."

"Then the queen mother said that Her Royal Highness was killed in Jinling, did she lie to you?"

"She didn't lie to me, but the person who was killed was not necessarily the king of Chu." Concubine Li guessed in her heart that the King of Chu should have found the whereabouts of the stolen copper by now. The king of Chu let "himself" be assassinated in Jinling, in order to paralyze the prince's people, so that the prince and they really thought he was dead, so that he could return to the capital safely and smoothly.

Qiu Sang was confused by Concubine Li's words, "Niangniang, the slave doesn't understand what you mean. ”

"From today onwards, we will pretend that the King of Chu has been assassinated, understand?"

"Understood." Although Qiusang didn't understand what was going on, he still knew how to act.

Soon after, the entire palace knew that the king of Chu had been assassinated in Jinling and his whereabouts were unknown. It didn't take long for it to reach the ears of the ministers, and it set off a stormy wave.

In the palace of the acting king, after the acting king learned the news that the assassination of the king of Chu was unknown, he first felt very happy, and then felt a little pity.

When Xuanping Hou learned the news, he hurried to find the acting king.

"Your Highness, the death of King Chu is not a good thing for us." The Marquis of Xuanping didn't want anything to happen to the King of Chu, and he was still waiting for the King of Chu to bring back the evidence of the prince's theft of copper back to Beijing. Now that the king of Chu has an accident, then the prince and the prince of Zhenguo will not be gone without stealing copper.

"He's dead, what else can we do." For the acting king, the king of Chu is also a non-fuel-efficient lamp. The death of the king of Chu is not a bad thing for him. However, the king of Chu is dead now, and it is indeed a bit of an inopportune time. However, the king of Chu is dead, and they are helpless.

Seeing that the acting king didn't care, Xuanping Hou couldn't help but feel a little anxious in his heart.

"My good highness, the king of Chu must have found evidence of the prince's stealing of copper, if he can return to Beijing safely, we can bite the prince to the death with this matter. Even if the emperor will not abolish the crown prince for the time being, but the prince's reputation is completely ruined, and then we can tear the prince off the throne if we add more fire. ”

"Uncle, what's the use of you talking about this now, the fourth child is already dead." The acting king said angrily, "Who would have thought that the fourth child would be so useless." ”

"Your Highness, although the King of Chu is dead, we can still operate some things."

When the acting king heard Xuanping Hou say this, his eyes lit up and he looked at his uncle.

"Uncle, what do you want to do?"

Xuanping Hou stroked his beard and said with a smile: "We can cooperate with the Li family." ”

"The Li family cooperates?" The acting king didn't understand it at first, but he quickly reacted, "The fourth child is dead, the Li family will definitely not give up, and will definitely avenge the fourth child." ”

Xuanping Hou nodded lightly and said, "That's right, we can work with the Li family to get rid of the crown prince and Zhenguo Gong." ”

"Is the Li family willing to cooperate with us?" The acting king was not very optimistic, "The Li family has always looked down on me, a rude general, how can they cooperate with us?" ”

"At this time and that time, the Li family is definitely willing to cooperate with us at this time, because only by cooperating with us can we get rid of the prince and the prince of Zhenguo." Xuan Pinghou is very confident.

The acting king felt that what Xuanping Hou said was right, and said with a smile: "Then we will cooperate with the Li family." ”

"I'll go talk to Li Fuji."

The acting king said: "I will let the mother concubine talk to Concubine Li." ”

"Yes, let Concubine Guifei have a good chat with Concubine Li." Xuanping Hou said with a smile, "The Li family has the support of most of the scholars in the world, and it will be very possible for us to cooperate with the Li family to pull down the prince and the prince of Zhenguo." ”

The acting king stood up and solemnly saluted the Marquis of Xuanping: "Then it will be troublesome uncle." ”

Marquis Xuanping hurriedly got up and helped the acting king: "Your Highness, rest assured, I will definitely persuade the Li family to cooperate with us." ”

After many ministers who supported the king of Chu learned of the assassination of the king of Chu, they hurried to find Li Fu.

Li Fushu had just received Concubine Li's letter and learned that the King of Chu had not had an accident, and his heart was at ease. Knowing that many ministers were coming to him, he immediately put on a heavy look.

In the palace, after Concubine Liang heard about this, she was shocked and hurriedly went to find Concubine Li. Not only her, but the other concubines went, and even Concubine Rong also came to visit Concubine Li.

Qiu Sang told Concubine Liang that Concubine Li was too sad and needed to rest.

After Concubine Liang heard this, they didn't stay to disturb, and after Concubine Li rested, they came to visit again. And Concubine Rong did not leave.

Back at the Kunde Palace, Yu Mei and Pan Cairen asked, "Sister, did King Chu really have an accident?" ”

Concubine Liang didn't know the situation in Jinling either. However, seeing Concubine Li sad and sick, the guess is very likely to be true.

"I'm afraid that something really happened to King Chu."

The faces of the poppy and Pan Cairen changed drastically, and their faces showed uneasy looks.

"Sister, is there anything wrong with Yaoyao?" Yu Meiren was the first to think of Zhao Yao.

Concubine Liang comforted Yu Meiren and said, "Yao Yao is fine. ”

"That's good." Although the accident of the king of Chu frightened the poppies, they were not too sad. If something happens to Zhao Yao, they will be the same as Concubine Li. "How could something happen to the King of Chu?"

"It's not something we can discuss." Concubine Liang didn't want anything to happen to King Chu. If the king of Chu really has three longs and two shorts, Yao Yao is afraid that he will not be able to accept it. The most important thing is that the sky in the capital is about to change next.

Seeing Concubine Liang's solemn face, Yu Mei and Pan Cairen hurriedly closed their mouths, not daring to ask anything more.

"Next, the capital and the palace will not be peaceful, we must be cautious in our words and deeds."

The poppies' hearts tightened, and then a look of panic appeared on their faces.

Concubine Liang comforted the poppies and them again, and then they returned to their house with a little peace of mind.

After the poppy beauties left, Gui Xing said happily: "Fortunately, His Highness went to Yangzhou." If His Royal Highness stays in Yangzhou, with the relationship between His Royal Highness and the King of Chu, I am afraid that His Royal Highness will not be able to accept it. ”

Concubine Liang furrowed her brows, her face a little calm: "If Yao Yao learns that something happened to the King of Chu, I'm afraid that he will rush to Jinling immediately." ”

Zhao Yao, who was forcibly sent to Yangzhou by the King of Wei, naturally heard about the assassination of the King of Chu in Shenjiang and his whereabouts are unknown.

"Your Royal Highness, His Royal Highness the King of Chu is really ......" Tongxi couldn't believe that something really happened to the King of Chu.

"With the fourth brother's ability, how could he let Li Dao kill them." Zhao Yao didn't believe that the king of Chu was assassinated, "It is estimated that the fourth brother has found the whereabouts of the copper that the prince stole from them." ”

Tongxi was surprised: "Ah, fake? ”

Zhao Yao bowed slightly: "The fourth brother arranged a scene in order to paralyze the prince." ”

Tongxi breathed a long sigh of relief: "It's good that His Royal Highness the King of Chu didn't have an accident." ”

"Pack up, let's go to Jinling immediately."

"Huh? Your Highness, we just came to Yangzhou, why do we want to go to Jinling again? Tong Xi asked in surprise, "His Royal Highness King Wei would be very angry if he knew that you had gone to Jinling again." ”

"The fourth brother has an accident, if I, the younger brother, stay indifferent in Yangzhou, isn't it too weird?" Zhao Yao smiled and said, "I have to cooperate with the fourth brother and perform this scene well, so that the prince and the others will believe that the fourth brother is really dead." Of course, I have to go back to Li Dao to settle accounts. (End of chapter)