The prince's wife and concubine have three grades: princess, Liangdi, and Baolin, and Du Erniang and Du Yan are Liangdi, and the rank is three grades.

In the first month of this year, the crown princess Wei was forced to reconcile with the prince due to the Wei Jian case. In this regard, Du Yan was happy that she had the possibility of becoming the crown princess, but at the same time, she was also worried.

On this day, the prince was sent out, and the maidservant Qu Shui hurried to report: "The eldest mother asked people to bring the token and said that it was a big thing. ”

Du Yan knew that the dowry of the eldest sister had almost been sold out since she married Liu Tao, and only a jade pendant was still there, so she took it and hurriedly ordered someone to come in.

"Big deal?" She had a premonition that it was not good, and she shuddered, and said to herself, "Walking on thin ice, after all, she fell into the ice hole." ”

She adjusted her mood and rushed to the side hall, where she saw Xiao Langjun sitting on the futon with a calm bearing.

But when he turned around, Du Yan sensed a sense of being scrutinized.

She couldn't help frowning slightly, and asked, "Dare to ask who Xiao Langzi is?" ”

"Langzi" is a good name for a handsome young man, and adding the word "small" is her subconscious resistance to being scrutinized by Xue Bai.

"Xue Bai has received the favor of the Du family." Xue Bai went straight to the road: "Liu Lang's son-in-law sued the Du family for 'vainly claiming to be a plan, constructing the East Palace, and reprimanding the public opinion', and Jingzhao Mansion has taken Lingzun. Someone is behind this matter, and we have found evidence and want to present it to the prince. ”

Du Yan's face changed instantly, but she quickly calmed down.

"The prince is not here, can you show the evidence to the concubine first?"

Xue Bai took out the draft of the paper.

Qu Shui was about to step forward, but Du Yan had already leaned over to Xue Bai to take it, and a piece of white greasy came into his eyes.

The faint aroma wafted by, she took the manuscript paper and slowly knelt down on the thin ball opposite, looked at it carefully, beckoned Qu Shui, and said in a low voice: "Quickly let people go and ask the prince to come back." ”

Later, she asked Xue Bai for the details, and Xue Bai began to talk about everything from his coma and amnesia as a scholar in the Du family.

Du Yan heard this, patted her heart, showed a happy expression, and said: "Xue Langzi is running for the Du family, the concubine is slightly cold today and cannot be rewarded, and I will thank you again in the future." ”

Xue Bai said slowly: "Although I have lost my memory, I know that since I was beaten to death, I must have offended someone before." When I came over today, there were people watching outside, and these people might find out what happened before my amnesia and cause trouble for the prince? ”

Du Yan's eyes froze, and she heard the meaning of his words. said that he was afraid of causing trouble to the prince, but in fact he wanted the prince's protection.

Her tone changed slightly, and said, "If you get into any trouble, you can say it directly, and if the concubine can help, you will never shirk it." ”

Xue Bai said: "But I really don't remember. ”

Du Yan was slightly unhappy.

Xue Bai said again: "Qinglan said that I have a brand on the back of my neck and a strangulation on my leg, so I should be an official slave." ”

"Look at your appearance, but the rich and noble are not slaves?"

"I can't remember, but it's possible."

Du Yan is willing to return this favor, but the prince's current situation is not good. Without knowing whether Xue Bai's troubles were big or small, it was inevitable that there would be risks in rashly agreeing to shelter.

So she looked at Xue Bai carefully again for a while, thinking about whether this person was worth helping.

In the end, Du Yan nodded and said, "Okay, the concubine will keep you fine." ”

Xue Bai breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Can I meet the prince?" ”

"The prince is busy, so it's inconvenient to see you." Du Yan's eyes rolled and said, "If you have something, it is the same as the concubine, and the East Palace will never treat you badly." ”

Xue Bai looked at her and saw a very familiar look, and immediately understood-he was also doing things for the East Palace, and she hoped that he would help her.

It can be seen that although she and the prince are husband and wife, there are still some subtle differences between the two.

Xue Bai remained silent and said, "I heard about the Wei Jian case that happened at the beginning of the year, and I have been thinking, if the prince gives up the people around him again this time, it will not be good for people's hearts, right?" ”

He seems to have become a strategist under the curtain of Prince Liangdi, and considers the problem from Du Yan's point of view.

Qing Lan was shocked when she saw this situation, it has only been five days since the Du family saved Xue Bai, but he can reveal more strange things every day, which shows that the city is extremely deep.

Du Yan desperately needed such a person, so she couldn't help but smile and said, "Don't worry, I'm not Concubine Wei, and we have evidence that can prove the innocence of the Du family, this case is simple, and it is not difficult to overturn the case." ”

This smile is full of charm, she is indeed a beauty who is easy to make men desperate.

Then, she added softly and said, "Of course, I will also tactfully let the prince know about your words." The prince is the foundation of the country, not to mention prestige, the last bit of dignity must be preserved no matter what. ”

Xue Bai nodded approvingly and asked, "How does Erniang plan to use this evidence?" ”

He also called her "Erniang", not "Du Liangdi", Du Yan smiled again, and said: "The prince must consult with several attendants to come up with the most appropriate way." ”

This was not a question that Xue Bai could deal with, so he asked, "Who is behind the trouble?" ”

Du Yan sneered slightly: "Who else can there be besides Li Linfu, who else is the right minister?" ”

Xue Bai didn't speak, waiting for the following.

"Li Linfu's small character brother slave, because he is cunning by nature, his face is not harmonious, and his spirit is rigid, like a chicken fighting with a rope, and the Chinese scholar calls him 'a fighting', he strongly supported King Lishou as the prince, and he thought that he had no merit in the establishment of the crown prince, so he wanted to shake the East Palace. The Wei Jian case at the beginning of the year was the result of his unjust imprisonment......"

Du Yan's mouth was quite powerful, and she scolded Li Linfu for being incomplete, and finally concluded: "This person is jealous of the virtuous and powerful, and he is really a traitor." ”

Xue Bai was very serious when he listened.

He sat upright, occasionally shaking his fingers twice in a false grip position, as if he were pinching a piece of pencil and chalk.

Du Yan looked at it and speculated that he had the habit of taking notes when listening to people's conversations.

After talking about Li Linfu, Xue Bai pondered for a moment, and then asked, "Is there Yang Guozhong in the court?" ”

Du Yan thought for a while, shook her head and said, "I haven't heard of this person." ”

"It's Yang Guifei's brother."

"Yang Guifei only has three sisters and one brother who died young." Du Yan said: "It's a cousin who is out of tune this year, and it's a spittle." ”

"Spit pot?"

"But there is a story, if it weren't for that, the concubine wouldn't know about this person." Du Yan said: "This person's name is Yang Zhao, he is addicted to alcohol and gambling, and he is despised by his relatives, so he has to go to Xichuan to make a living. Looks like it's going to be a year, right? returned to Chang'an from Xichuan, gave gifts everywhere, and hooked up with Li Linfu. ”

At this point, the corners of her mouth twitched down, and she waved her sleeves before continuing.

"One day, Li Linfu came out of the imperial city, a mouthful of old phlegm in his mouth and nowhere to spit out, Yang Zhao was accompanied by him, hurriedly opened his mouth, and asked Li Linfu to spit in his mouth, so he was called 'spit pot'. A rope and a spit pot are all in the same stream. ”

Qing Lan was beside her, and she couldn't help but let out a "huh" in disgust, and there was a chill.

Xue Bai was also speechless for a long time.

I thought to myself, it seems that this Yang Zhao is Yang Guozhong, and he has not yet made a career.

Du Yan asked, "Why did you inquire about this person?" But Liu Tao has something to do with him? ”

Xue Bai remained silent and asked rhetorically, "Why does Erniang think so?" ”

"Liu Tao is the left Xiao guard Cao, and Yang Zhao is the right Xiao guard Cao, and they all hate to drown in the wine pool, and it is normal to have contacts." Du Yan said: "You mean...... Liu Tao was introduced to Ji Wen by Yang Zhao? What did the eldest sister tell you? ”

Xue Bai talked with Du Cheng for a long time last night, but Du Cheng didn't know these characters in the court, and only said that Liu Tao never said these things after returning home.

In comparison, Du Yan has been immersed in power and conspiracy for a long time, and her thinking is really much more flexible.

As soon as Xue Bai heard her, he instantly gained a lot, and said in a deep voice: "The ...... of this case"

At this moment, Qu Shui hurriedly ran back and said, "The prince is back." ”

"So fast?" Du Yan was a little surprised.

"The person sent by the slave maid has just gone out, and I think the prince must have heard some news before rushing back."

Du Yan nodded, got up to greet him, and at the same time explained to Xue Bai: "When the concubine sees the prince, she will welcome the eldest sister and Wulang, and you will wait here, don't move around at will." ”

~~

Du Yan treated people generously, and did not forget to order someone to prepare lunch for Xue Bai and Qinglan.

But after lunch, Xue Bai waited for a long time in the prince's courtyard, but she didn't come back.

Until a middle-aged man in a red round-necked narrow-sleeved robe trotted over.

This man was about forty years old, with a hunched back, an ugly appearance, swollen eyes, a protruding forehead, crooked buckteeth, and a bearded face...... It should be a eunuch.

"A certain is Li Jingzhong, the eunuch of the East Palace, dare to ask, but Xue Langjun is in person?"

Li Jingzhong's voice was strange, he should have been castrated before the voice change period.

Xue Bai hurriedly bowed and said, "Exactly." ”

Li Jingzhong stepped forward, leaned in front of Xue Bai, and said in a low voice: "Li Linfu sent someone here, obviously to visit, but actually to search. ”

Without waiting for Xue Bai to react, he raised his hand and said, "Hurry up and ask Xue Langjun to come here." ”

They walked out of the side hall and did not dare to go further to the front yard, but hurried down the corridor to the back yard.

At the end of the corridor, Li Jingzhong looked down and saw that Xue Bai and Qinglan's shoes were still left in the front yard, so he hurriedly summoned a few little eunuchs and ordered them to take off their boots and change them on.

Xue Bai didn't say anything, and glanced at the front yard.

Qing Lan flattened her mouth before putting on the little eunuch's boots, because the boots were bigger, she stumbled when she walked.

After passing through the courtyard, I saw that a carriage carrying swill had been set up at the side gate of the rear courtyard, with a large vat on it, and there were several men dressed as slaves standing next to the car, all of them tall and strong.

Li Jingzhong took them to the side of the tank and said, "There are people watching outside, please be wronged for the time being." This tank is clean, and the kitchen has a large water tank. ”

Xue Bai was reluctant to go in and said, "We have evidence to prove the innocence of the Du family. ”

"yes." Li Jingzhong said hurriedly: "But where did this evidence come from?" It can't be sent by the prince to get it, it has to be handed over to others to clear the wrongs of the Du family, and you have to hide it so that you can use this evidence. ”

"What about the Du family brothers and sisters?"

"I should have sent it over, but how can I take care of it now?"

"There are people watching outside, and if they are taken out, they can't explain it clearly." Xue Bai said: "Did the other party deliberately force us to show our flaws?" ”

Li Jingzhong was so anxious that he stomped his feet and said, "Don't worry, it's arranged...... Let's go, the prince's situation is not good. ”

He was really anxious, stretched out his hand to help Qinglan into the tank, and came to help Xue Bai again.

As soon as Xue Bai entered, Qing Lan saw him getting so close, so she quickly closed her eyes and covered her chest.

"Squat." Li Jingzhong kept urging, and picked up a log cover with his own hands and pressed it down.

In this way, the two people squatted in the tank and squeezed a little.

The darkness was shrouded, and only a faint light shimmered through the cracks between the wooden covers.

Li Jingzhong instructed outside: "Quick, move the swill bucket up, tie the lid and tie it, don't fall off...... What's going on out there? ”

"You can go."

The vat shook a few times, and then the sound of a reel sounded.

The car was bumpy and bumpy, Xue Bai and Qinglan were collided together from time to time, Qinglan was very flustered at first, but gradually got used to it.

It was a long, long time before the carriage stopped.

The vat was lifted and shook violently, and Qinglan fell into Xue Bai's arms with a "ah".

Xue Bai couldn't care about her, and reached out to push the cover, but the cover was tied with hemp rope.

Through the gap, he saw that he was in the wilderness.

"Let us out!"

There was no movement outside, and the vat shook a few times before being placed on the ground with a subtle rustling sound.

It was as if the rain was hitting the eaves.

Xue Bai thought of many of the previous details in an instant, and knew that this was to bury him and Qinglan alive.

He slammed into the cover above him, only to break open a little, and immediately a big man stepped on it.

Seeing that he couldn't push it out, he hurriedly shouted: "Killing us will not do your master any good, it will only bring trouble to him." ”

"Rustling ......"

"I can give you whatever you want! Believe me, I'm different from everyone else in this world, and I have a lot to offer you! Do you want money? How much money do you want to ask. ”

Qinglan also understood what was happening, and put her hands on the cover, crying, "Please...... Let us go...... Please......"

In the chaos, she suddenly felt Xue Bai's hands touching her feet, and she was even more frightened and screamed.

"Ahh Don't ...... like that."

However, the rustling continued, and became quieter and quieter.

Eventually, there was no more light in the gap between the cover and the cylinder port, and no movement outside could be heard.

Only complete darkness remains.