Emperor Renzong of the Great Song Dynasty

Bao Zheng put down the teacup in his hand, and said to Fan Zhongyan: "Fan Xianggong, that's the way it is."

Fan Zhongyan was in a trance: "You mean, the official family is not the biological son of the Eight Sage Kings, but the eldest son of the first emperor, and his biological mother is Concubine Li. It is only because the queen mother is jealous that she traded the civet cat for Concubine Li when she gave birth. Abandoning the crown prince, leaving Concubine Li in the cold palace?"

Bao Zheng said: "Indeed."

Fan Zhongyan said: "Later Concubine Li discovered the truth by accident, and the Empress Dowager intended to kill Concubine Li. Concubine Li took advantage of the fire in the Leng Palace to leave the palace by feigning death, and lived among the people for several years until she stopped your car a few days ago. Ma, confessed her identity and asked you to avenge her?"

Bao Zheng said: "Yes."

Fan Zhongyan thought for a long time, and said with a wry smile: "Xi Ren!"

His fingers trembled: "This is no joke!"

Bao Zheng said: "It's absolutely true, it's definitely not a joke."

Fan Zhongyan said: "The royal blood is involved," or the emperor's own blood, "If you are not careful, it will be..."

He made a gesture: "It's going to be beheaded!"

Guochao did not kill scholar-bureaucrats, but it was just a nice word.The royal family is willing to pretend to rule the world with the scholar-bureaucrats and give some small favors.But this does not mean that scholar-bureaucrats are really on an equal footing with the royal family and are qualified to intervene in the succession of the throne.

People who are emperors don't like you, and want you to die, do they have to kill you with great fanfare?

You don't even know how you died!

After Emperor Taizong came to the throne, even the eldest son of the Taizu ancestor was squeezed by a sarcastic remark and killed himself. As a foreign minister, can you compare with other people's sons and phoenixes?

"So," Fan Zhongyan looked at Bao Zheng seriously: "Master Bao, you must produce solid evidence to prove what you said."

Fan Zhongyan knew Bao Zheng's intention.Bao Zheng wanted to let himself assist him to help the Queen Mother return to court.

If the evidence is solid, he doesn't mind helping Bao Zheng.Beheading is not terrible. Human beings are inherently mortal, either heavier than Mount Tai, or lighter than a feather.Liu E's murder of the emperor's heir is beyond the tolerance of heaven.Li Shi is the queen mother, but she was framed and gave birth to a monster, and she was living among the people. It is really pitiful.

He would be willing to die even if he wanted to avenge the empress's mother's injustice and make the emperor's mother and son reconcile.

But he couldn't just bet his own life for nothing.

He needs to see evidence.

Bao Zheng's evidence, if he can't convince him, let alone convince the emperor and the world.

Bao Zheng said: "We have evidence."

Fan Zhongyan said: "What is it?"

Bao Zheng said: "It is a nine-curved night pearl wrapped in a golden pill. The golden pill can be opened and closed, and engraved with the words of Concubine Li of Yuchen Palace. It is the concubine Li and...the empress dowager who were pregnant at the same time. The treasures given to the two empresses at the same time. It’s just that the empress dowager’s golden pill is engraved with the words Concubine Liu of Jinhua Palace. Later, after Concubine Liu was conferred, Jinhua Palace became Fengchen Palace today.”

"Concubine Li of Yuchen Palace?"

Fan Zhongyan was thoughtful: "I seem to have heard of this name somewhere..."

Bao Zheng hurriedly said, "Where did you hear it?"

Fan Zhongyan said: "It seems that the current residence of the official family is the Yuchen Palace..."

As a courtier, you should not talk about the emperor's residence.He hurriedly changed the subject: "That golden pill, have you checked the authenticity?"

Bao Zheng said: "I don't know what a nine-curved pearl is. I only know that the pearl is big and bright, and the golden ball is exquisitely made. It is not something that folk craftsmen can make."

Fan Zhongyan nodded slightly: "Whether the golden pill is real or not, we have to find a trustworthy skilled craftsman to take a look. However, even if the golden pill is real, it can only prove that the old lady may be the Li Concubine back then. Palace. But it can’t prove that she is the emperor’s biological mother.”

Bao Zheng said: "It's not difficult. Since Baxian Wang's family has raised the officials and parents all these years, they must know the truth. Li Niangniang also said that she and Princess Di have been handkerchiefs for many years. As long as they can call When she saw Princess Di, everything became clear."

Fan Zhongyan nodded: "This is a feasible solution. How about this, I will first find a capable person to inspect the golden pill. If the golden pill is really made by the inner palace, let's find a way to get Li Concubine and Di Wang to meet. one side."

Bao Zheng said: "Thank you, Prime Minister."

He asked again: "I don't know which capable person Fan Xiang plans to find to inspect the golden pill?"

Fan Zhongyan smiled: "Naturally, it is the old Xia who Master Bao brought back from Yingtian Mansion. Old Xia spent his whole life comprehending the magic tricks, and naturally studied the exquisite traps built by skilled craftsmen from all over the place. Is Jin Wan an insider? He made it, and he knew it when he saw it."

Bao Zheng also laughed: "It turned out to be him. Speaking of which, I haven't seen Senior Xia for a long time. Is Senior Xia still living in Nanqing Palace?"

The smile on Fan Zhongyan's face darkened: "He has moved out of Nanqing Palace. Sigh..."

He looked at Bao Zheng: "You just came back from outside, maybe you don't know what happened in the court recently?"

Bao Zheng said: "After a little inquiry, it seems that the Eight Worthy Kings have some differences with the officials?"

Fan Zhongyan nodded: "Yes, there are some differences."

So the emperor appointed Di Qing as a privy envoy, and the eight wise kings swore to die, and now they went to the Chongzheng Hall to hand over the letter to the emperor and told Bao Zheng in detail.

After finishing speaking, he sighed: "In fact, the Eight Wise Kings also have a heart for the country, but it's a bit too..."

The Baxian King didn't know Di Qing's ability and loyalty, nor did he know the emperor's intentions.

Fan Zhongyan wanted to persuade the Baxian King to relax, the emperor was willing to trust Di Qing, and Di Qing would not disappoint the emperor's trust.

It's just...he is now Di Qing's prospective father-in-law, so it seems like he is justifying himself when he says such words, even to those who are interested, it seems to be a sign of forming a clique for personal gain.

So Fan Zhongyan could only hold back his words, pretending not to feel the angry eyes of the Eight Sage Kings behind him every time he met.

Alas, it is difficult to be a prime minister.

Bao Zheng said: "So that's how it is."

He also sighed: "Then we'd better not alarm the Eight Sage Kings, and just gain Di Niangniang's trust first."

Fan Zhongyan nodded: "That's exactly what it should be."

"By the way, where is Jinwan now?"

Bao Zheng said: "The golden pills are kept by Mistress Li, and Zhan Yishi is guarding Mistress Li at home."

Fan Zhongyan said: "Alright, I'll go to Qingbei University to invite Senior Xia. You go home first and explain the situation to Concubine Li. I will visit with Senior Xia later."

Bao Zheng should have left the gate of Fan Mansion and returned to his home by car.

At home, his newlywed wife, Li Shi, was waiting for him in the front hall. Seeing that he had returned, she hurriedly stepped forward and asked him in a low voice, "What did Mr. Fan say?"

Bao Zheng also replied in a low voice: "Fan Xiang said, after a while, invite a trustworthy old man to come and take a look at the golden pill. If the golden pill is real, I will find a way to let the empress and Princess Di meet."

Mrs. Li nodded: "Okay, I'll go and talk to my aunt."

Mrs. Li knew the truth about the replacement of the civet cat for the crown prince—Bao Zheng was a man and could not directly contact Concubine Li. Concubine Li's daily life was taken care of by Bao Zheng's wife, Mrs. Li.Bao Zheng simply told his wife the truth, and also said that Concubine Li was Li's natal aunt.

Bao Zheng said: "Thank you very much."

Li Shi pursed her lips and smiled, and pinned a strand of hair behind her ear: "There is no need to say thank you between you and me."

Concubine Li sat in the inner room, facing the bronze mirror, and carefully looked at the face in the mirror.

The wind and frost are tormenting, and the years are ravaging.The woman in the mirror is no longer Concubine Li who was crowned in the harem back then, but the old and blind old lady Li Shi who has been living among the people for many years.

Of course, her blindness has long since recovered, and it was cured by Bao Zheng's wife, Li Shi, with the dew inherited from her dowry in ancient and modern basins.

Concubine Li didn't know what ancient and modern pots were, but she only knew that Mrs. Li had cured her eyes.

She is a person who knows how to repay her kindness. After returning to the court, she will accept Li as a righteous daughter to repay her kindness.

only……

She sighed.

Blind eyes can regain sight, but can the lost youth come back?

Look at this person in the mirror, his hair is gray and white, his skin is blue and yellow, and his forehead, eyes and lips are full of wrinkles.

How can there be half of the beauty of the year?

Back then, she was also young, even younger than Liu E.Liu E was 40 years old when she gave birth, and she was still young at the time, not yet twenty.

But, but...

Who would have thought that 17 years later, it would end like this.

She stroked her rough, slack face with trembling hands.

All these years, she should have been a queen, a queen mother, pampered and pampered, and she would not have suffered such hardships at all.

Think about what Liu E looked like when he was 40 years old!Well-maintained and charming, the late emperor had so many [-]-year-old concubines, but Liu E was able to stand out among them, making the late emperor dream of her.

Why!

Concubine Li clenched her fists bitterly.

She hates Liu E!

Obviously she should be the empress, the empress dowager, Liu E has stolen her post for so many years, so she should return it to her!

There was a light knock on the door, and someone asked, "Auntie, are you there?"

It is Bao Zheng's wife, Li Shi.

Concubine Li gathered herself together: "Come in."

Mrs. Li pushed the door open and entered.

She was wearing a lotus-colored dress, with a smooth face, fair complexion, slim figure, and a youthful look.

Concubine Li looked away: "It's my niece. What's the matter?"

Mrs. Li closed the door, walked up to Concubine Li, and whispered: "Auntie, the master has returned from Mr. Fan's mansion. Mr. Fan will bring an old senior here in a while, please take a look at Auntie's Jinwan. Afterwards, aunt can go to Nanqing Palace to meet Princess Di."

Concubine Li nodded slightly: "Yes. Let them come and see."

Li Shi said: "I'm here to accompany my aunt. After Mr. Fan arrives, my aunt will go to the main hall with me."

Pointing out of the window again, he said softly, "Scholar Zhan will also go together to protect the safety of my aunt. When I go to Nanqing Palace, I have to trouble Martyr Zhan to accompany me."

Concubine Li's safety is of the utmost importance. Before she truly recognizes the emperor, she must be guarded by knights with strong martial arts skills.

Zhan Zhao moved his toes on the roof and made a little noise, indicating that he was there.

Concubine Li is a female family member and has a noble status. He cannot enter the house for protection, and can only stay on the roof all the time.

The roof has a wide view, and you can have a panoramic view of the entire mansion, and even a little trouble can't be hidden from his eyes.

Concubine Li nodded lightly: "Yes."