Hibiscus Tent: The Prime Minister’s palm is reborn

Liang Qian clenched the bamboo flute music score in her hand, staring blankly at the bricks and stones that were slowly moving away in front of her. In the corner where the jade flute was originally placed, a black hole of unknown depth appeared.

She glanced at the bulge that she accidentally touched in the secret compartment beside her, then glanced at the long white jade flute on the table, and slowly squatted down.

This is clearly a secret passage.

I just don’t know where this secret passage leads to.

Liang Qian looked at the dark cave entrance and remained silent for a long time.

And the entrance to the cave was like someone's eyes, staring back at her solemnly.

*

Gao Jun, who was sitting opposite, turned his eyes and roughly scanned the room. He couldn't help but reveal a look of surprise, as if he had never expected that the wooden house would be so simple.

Finally, he fixed his eyes on Liang Qian, shook his head and sighed.

"Let's not talk about the fact that my brother stripped you of your title as empress dowager. Let's just talk about this residence. After all, you are still Empress Wenxuan to the outside world. How can you live in a place like this with only a palace maid at your service? The rumors outside only say how much the emperor values ​​the empress dowager, but I never thought that my brother would treat her so harshly!"

Gao Jun looked indignant, as if he felt sorry for her.

Liang Qian had a blank expression on her face and did not respond, she just laughed secretly in her heart.

It wasn't too surprising that Gao Jun suddenly came to find her.

Not long ago, Gao Hao accidentally fell off a horse. Although his life was not in danger, he was seriously injured. It is said that his right leg is still unable to move.

When Gao Hao woke up, he was naturally furious and was determined to severely punish everyone involved, from the Minister of the Imperial Household to the little horse slaves.

However, just as the emperor was about to order the execution of everyone, someone stepped forward to report it, and also pulled out a horse slave, saying that he had seen this horse slave in private contact with a sneaky person...

The emperor was shocked and immediately sent someone to investigate. After some examination, he indeed found something unusual.

Therefore, the emperor's fall from his horse was no longer an accident, but a pre-planned rebellion.

……

Compared to Gao Jun's angry expression, Liang Qian seemed much calmer, as if she didn't care at all.

"Hard treatment?"

Liang Qian shook her head and disagreed: "Prince Nanyang is wrong. Don't say I am cultivating with my hair uncut. Even if I am not, you just said that I am only Queen Wenxuan now."

She paused for a moment and continued, "To be honest, ever since I recovered from my illness and saved my life, I no longer have any desire for fame and fortune."

Gao Jun looked carefully at the person with a plain face, wearing a crepe gauze dress, and his hair was tied up with only a wooden hairpin.

She is indeed completely different from the glamorous empress dowager of the past.

Gao Jun thought for a moment and said, "Whether you care or not, you have a distinguished status and deserve the proper treatment. But look at this—"

He paused, sighed, and changed the subject.

"How did my brother get the throne? Even if others don't know, I know it best. If it weren't for the Queen Mother's help, he might not be where he is today. But what I didn't expect is that he was not only on guard against me, but he was also so ruthless to the Queen Mother."

After Gao Jun finished speaking, he lowered his head, sipped the tea in the cup, and looked bitter.

Liang Qian glanced at him inconspicuously, as if taking off her disguise, and sighed with emotion: "He spared my life because of our old friendship. What else can I be dissatisfied with?"

Hearing her say this, Gao Jun immediately put down the cup and sat up straight.

He glanced at the door and said, "Does the Queen Mother really think that he is detaining you here because of the old relationship?"

Liang Qian was a little confused: "What else?"

Gao Jun shook his head helplessly and lowered his voice to say, "You are the Queen Kehedun who was canonized by the late emperor before he went to war. When the late emperor was dying, he ordered people to read out the will in public, allowing you to rule the country. Also, have you forgotten that there are many Xianbei generals behind you? Even in normal times, my brother would not dare to ignore you, not to mention that now is wartime. Keeping you in the palace and keeping you under his nose is not only easier to control, but also can borrow your strength at critical moments."

……

The tea on the table grew cold, and Liang Qian stood quietly in front of the pearl window.

She only stared at the person walking on the path in the distance, watching the departing figure slowly disappear at the end of the path.

Gu Ya packed up the cups and plates used by Gao Jun, stood up and looked in the direction Liang Qian was looking. She saw only the deserted road and the intertwined branches of wintersweets, and she couldn't help but feel worried.

"I never thought that the Prince of Nanyang would find this place. I have been standing guard at the door in fear, fearing that the palace servants who delivered rice and grain would come today. If someone saw us, wouldn't it cause you to be suspected by the emperor?"

Liang Qian narrowed her eyes and smiled slightly: "He is really being pushed into a corner."

I thought the emperor's fall from his horse could be thoroughly investigated.

Who would have thought that just one day later, the informant and the horse slave died in prison for unknown reasons.

The newly discovered clues are related to King Nanyang...

Gu Ya walked forward holding the jade tray, feeling very uneasy: "You rejected him so rudely, I just hope he doesn't hate you and do something bad behind your back."

Liang Qian pursed her lips and tilted her head to look at her: "Yesterday, didn't you say that the emperor had injured his leg bones and was in unbearable pain every midnight?"

Gu Ya paused for a moment and nodded: "Yes, I heard that three imperial doctors have been killed."

Liang Qian closed the window, walked to the piano table, sat down, and put her fingers on the strings.

"The incense under the plum tree can be dug out and sent to Gong Yang Jing, who will pass it on to Wang Tingyue."

Gu Ya frowned, very surprised.

I wanted to ask more, but I saw Liang Qian lowering her head, concentrating on playing the piano.

Gu Ya had no choice but to hold the Yaopan and retreat to the outer room.

These days, the Queen Mother has not played chess much, but instead plays the piano whenever she has free time.

Gu Ya put down the plate and when she stood up she inadvertently glanced at a string of crystal clear water droplets falling from the eaves outside the house.

She stood up and took another look. The ice and snow outside had melted.

Before we knew it, winter had passed.

*

After lunch that day, Liang Qian leaned against the window and read a book. When her eyes felt sleepy, she looked out the window. The wintersweet forest in spring was full of bright warm yellow, layer upon layer. Even the gentle breeze blowing into the house carried the fragrance of wintersweet.

According to the news from the front, after the fall of Yancheng, the Zhou army was unstoppable and captured more than 20 cities in succession. They thought they could advance straight into the city, but they ran into a snag at Lujiao Island.

The two armies fought for nearly half a month but failed to capture Lujiao Island. Hejian King Gaozongyou even led 8,000 troops to seriously injure Zhou Jingning Hou's son Xiao Jingnan.

On the other hand, Hulu Qiguang suffered several defeats and was severely criticized in a letter by Gao Hao. In a fit of anger, Gao Hao replaced Hulu Qiguang and promoted another general Anato to lead the army.

In the court, some people even encouraged Gao Hao to take part in the battle himself.

Liang Qian knew clearly that Gao Hao would never agree at this moment. While she was thinking, she saw Gu Ya jogging towards them with a small bamboo basket.

She had just put down the book and had not had time to stand up when Gu Ya ran in, looking panicked.

"Queen Mother, the exit of Meilin is guarded by imperial guards and no one is allowed to enter or leave. It looks like something has happened in the palace."

She panted, took a breath, and asked again: "Do you want me to ask Lord Gongyang?"

Liang Qian frowned and looked out the window. "No need."

For many days, just as Gu Ya said, Merlin was surrounded by the imperial guards.

Liang Qian didn't care.

When the news came that the King of Nanyang was executed in the palace, Liang Qian did not react much. She just put down the book in her hand, walked to the table, and placed the chess piece that had not been played for a long time.