Return to the rumor

The extremely familiar yet unfamiliar handwriting, the fragrance of ink is still fresh, as if a cold fragrance is thrown into the nostrils.In just a few lines, the emperor held it in his hand, looked and looked, tasted and tasted, and between the lines, there seemed to be a shadow of a beautiful woman lingering in his dreams.He has forgotten the joy, the excitement, the ecstasy, after 13 years of waiting, 13 years of spring and autumn, in exchange for a handwriting—an ordinary handwriting, the words are peaceful but not humble, the language is reserved and lacks intimacy .The curling agarwood from the Suanni censer drifted in, and the deep sadness in the emperor's heart still couldn't be resolved under his concentration.

Concubine Ning was serving at the side, her ten fingers were covered with peach-colored Danko, her thumb and index finger were together, and she gently pinched a piece of homemade pastry, intending to feed it to the emperor.

The palace dress she is wearing today is cut from newly imported fabrics, bright and beautiful, with a delicate and complicated bun. On the bun is inserted the phoenix hairpin bestowed by the emperor, and the red bird holds a pearl hanging on her forehead.

The emperor glanced at the pastry, his brows were still furrowed, and with just one look, Concubine Ning naturally saw that the emperor didn't want to talk to her at the moment, so she put down the pastry resentfully, and pinched his shoulders and legs for him.

Concubine Ning's hands were stronger than ordinary women's, and her skills were also good. The emperor who sat quietly for a long time gradually let go of his energy, and his body and heart seemed to be slowly getting alive, and he no longer felt oppressed.

After a long time, he patted the back of Concubine Ning's hand—to signal her to stop for a while, then called Li Shunde, and said, "Go to the Ministry of Punishment to send a message and release Tang Ci."

Li Shunde bowed his eyebrows and bowed his eyes, and he retreated obediently. He was calm in his heart. As early as today, when the soldiers outside the palace sent a letter from the soldiers guarding the backyard of Biyun Temple, he knew the resignation Sure enough, auspicious people have their own celestial features.

After watching Li Shunde step out of the hall, the emperor lowered his head again, looking at the light letter in his hand that easily shook his heart.

It was a long time before he carefully folded the letter—according to its original creases, folded it exactly, and put it back into the envelope. On the envelope was written "Second Emperor's Dear Brother" in willow style, This 13-year-old title gave him a sense of frustration after a long absence and a reunion.

He is the Son of Heaven, the monarch of the Great Jin Dynasty, and the man who has ruled this vast country for 13 years. As long as he gives an order, no matter whether it is Saibei Jiangnan or a young woman with a beautiful appearance or a beautiful heart. Being happy under him is very close to flattery.But the only person he cared about in his heart, no matter 13 years ago or 13 years later, turned a blind eye to him.

He has always been obedient to her, only once, against her will - seized the throne, forced the elder brother to death, but also invisibly drew a gap between the two of them, like a very old man. The twelve crowns I wore at the canonization ceremony—heavy, heavy, red, white, blue, yellow, black, five-color jade beads, swayed slightly when walking, and made a tinkling sound under the sun, In the interlacing of light and shadow, he went to the pinnacle of power, but also sat on the lonely throne.

It was the first time Concubine Ning had been treated so coldly since she was entrusted by the emperor. It was just a handwritten letter, and she was defeated before starting a battle.

She wanted to be like in the past, with a delicate voice, to coax the emperor's favor, but the emperor took a step ahead of her, slapped the golden dragon armrest on the dragon chair, stood up with a gloomy face, and called the deputy director Zhang Ji, after giving several orders, seems to want to leave the palace in a subdued manner? !

But it was cold today, Hu Laiyan returned home after morning court and stayed in the warm room to play with the birds and enjoy the flowers, and the task of interrogating Tang Ci fell on Lu He's shoulders.

Stepping into the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, Lu He first went to the place where the Huzhou rice merchant was imprisoned——

Only separated by the wooden fence, the smell of blood and rancidity was strong and smoky, and the jailer who was following her handed her a wet hand towel.

Lu He took the towel, only covered his mouth and nose, squatted down, and carefully looked at the middle-aged man who collapsed on the dry grass with the aid of a pine torch. His hair was disheveled, his face was covered with blood, his hands were Holding the withered yellow straw tightly, the dark black bloodstains had already dried up. The large swaths of bloodstains were messy and heavy, and it could be deduced what kind of cruel punishment he had received.

Lu He's heart was full of silent condemnation of herself. She knew that if her husband was still alive, she would be extremely disappointed in herself, but...she really had nowhere to go.A few days ago, a good friend who had made hard labor in Qianzhou sent a letter. According to the letter, her mother had been tortured until she was skinny and thin. Accurately grasp his seven inches from time to time, and win with one blow.

The birds and animals in the dense forests in the mountains may kill each other if they have no food to eat.What is the difference between those who are in extreme distress?

"Lord Lu, this untouchable bastard signed the bond with his own hands yesterday, admitting that his son committed suicide, and has nothing to do with Young Master Han or Mr. Xie. It's getting late, let's hurry up and interrogate Lord Tang according to His Excellency's instructions. "

"……it is good."

Lu He stood up and walked forward. After walking a few steps, he staggered and held onto the wall, retching for a while.

If it is the first time to visit a prisoner in the prison of the Criminal Ministry for the first time, it should be like this, but Lu He has been in and out here for a long time, which is unreasonable.

While the jailer was wondering, a person came hurriedly from the corridor, and he took a closer look, but it was Hu Laiyan with a livid face, and his tone was not very comfortable when he spoke: "Where is Tang Ci? Let her out! No more trials!" "

Yu Xiaoyu and Qin Rongyue haven't seen Tang Ci for two days in a row, Rou Ke rarely comes to the Shangshu Mansion to play with her two as in the past, Qin Yan and Liu Shi also have bitter faces all day long, frowning .Because of the message from Qiaoqing early in the morning, Mrs. Liu is a woman who has been in charge of the middle school for decades. Even though there is still a huge stone hanging in her heart, she orderly ordered the servants in the mansion to boil hot water and prepare clean water. Clothes and towels.

He was also afraid that the two immature little ghosts would cause any trouble, so he sent the two of them to the nurse in the courtyard and took them to the busy market on the street.

Liu Shi and Qin Yan waited for a while in front of the Shangshu Mansion, and saw a silver-decorated carriage approaching from a distance, and the horseshoes rattled on the bluestone bricks all the way.

The door curtain was lifted, and Rou Ke snuggled up the unconscious Tangci in her arms, tightly wrapped in a snow-white and warm fox fur, with her two arms hanging down feebly, a few bloodstains were clearly visible.

Liu exclaimed, tears welled up in her eyes, and pushed Qin Yan complainingly: "I told you earlier, why don't you go to do some work, how can a person like Hu Laiyan be so light-hearted? Do not listen……"

Qin Yan didn't respond, his cloudy eyes suddenly narrowed slightly, Liu followed his line of sight, exclaimed again, and hurriedly knelt down tremblingly to salute.

Jing Ci, who was walking behind Rou Ke, supported her, and said with a smile: "I haven't seen you for many years, how is Madam?"

Last night at Biyun Temple, Jingci only hesitated for a moment, then entered the room to write a handwritten letter.

People always have the ability to muddle along and indulge themselves.

Lying on the bed without sleep all night, after thinking about it, since she had lowered her head to beg the emperor, it should be understandable to make an exception and go down the mountain to visit Tangci's child.

Originally, there was no need for Rou Ke to beg, she felt sorry for Tang Ci in her heart, although she had only known her for three years, she liked her to the bottom of her heart.

Qin Yanzao invited a female doctor with excellent medical skills from the capital to wait inside.

The female doctor glanced at the people in the room, and issued the order to evict the guests: "What are you doing in this circle? Everyone, go down, and it won't be too late for you to come and visit me after my pulse diagnosis and prescription."

Everyone left, only Rou Ke stayed where she was, her eyes fixed on Tang Ci who was lying on the bed with her eyes closed.

It was not the first time for a female doctor to check Tang Ci's pulse, so Rou Ke put her finger on Tang Ci's wrist to take the pulse carefully.

There are stone tables and chairs in the courtyard, where Jing Ci and Qin Yan and his wife sat there quietly waiting and reminiscing about the old days.

When they said they were sitting, Qin Yan and his wife trembled and did not sit securely.

Jingci saw it, but she didn't know how to live for the better. In 13 years, she said it was not long, but it was not short. She had long forgotten how to boss people around and how to use power to suppress others. There was only a pool of peace in her heart. The water is neither deep nor cold, but it is hard to find in the secluded forest.

After a long time, Jing Ci thought of something, and joked with a smile: "Why don't you leave the medical officer of Prince Yu's Mansion unused, and invite a female doctor from outside?"

After walking this way, Mrs. Liu was still a little dazed, as if stepping on a cloud, it was like a dream, and blurted out after hearing the words: "Your body is covered with bruises, how can you hire a man who is big and rough?"

Qin Yan's face changed, and he kicked her under the stone table, and Liu's face turned pale and he closed his mouth.

Jingci was also taken aback, thought for a while, then smiled and said: "Master Qin valued his apprentice so much, could it be that he was really coveted by some Longyang Lord before, so he has lingering fears?"

After all, Qin Yan is an old official who has experienced ups and downs in the officialdom. He quickly calmed down and talked with Jingci with a smile. Seeing that she had no doubts, he was relieved.

Although the whiplash was severe, it hadn't hurt the internal organs.After a while, the doctor came out.

Qin Yan and Liu took the prescriptions for internal and external application, and followed the doctor to the pharmacy to get the medicine.

Jing Ci secretly thought that when she saw Rou Ke last night, the child was not in good spirits, her eyes were red and swollen, she should persuade her to come down and rest, and leave her to do the rubbing of medicine.

Pushing open the door, there was a faint smell of blood.

Rou Ke was not there, and the copper basin on the basin stand was missing—she must have gone to wash the wound and change the water.

Broken clothes covered with bloodstains were scattered on the ground. Looking at the deep red bloodstains, Jingci's heart suddenly twitched, unreasonable distress and bitterness surged into her heart in an instant. A burst of sourness.

She walked closer, her steps seemed to weigh a thousand catties.

Tang Ci's small head was resting on the jade pillow, her face was turned sideways, her lips were moving, and she was talking about something in her sleep.

She was lying on the bed, with half of her clean and tidy undershirt stripped off, revealing half of her back, densely packed with two-finger-thick whip wounds, mild bruises, redness, and heavy rolls of flesh, which could be hooked with just a slight movement of her in her sleep. Blood foam that stings the eyes.

Jingci watched all the way, her fingertips felt cold, she walked closer, sat on the edge of the bed, raised her hands to fan the wind, as if this would relieve her unbearable pain.

Jingci fanned the wind while thinking, fortunately, fortunately, she wrote the handwriting, only a child who has been doing well for a day has been tossed like this, if she stays there for a few more days, she will not know if she is still alive.

"...Mother Empress..." Jingci's heart skipped a beat, and she only wondered if she had listened.

Tang Ci fell silent and stopped talking.

Jingci chuckled, she was getting closer now, and she could see it more clearly than before. There was a thumb-sized red mark between the criss-crossing welts. It was light red and crescent-shaped, like a new crescent in the sky. moon.

Jingci froze for a moment, the red seal was just right under the neck and between the shoulders, no difference.

"...the queen mother...the thunder is so loud...my son is afraid..."

——I never took it seriously, you... are the most gentle and kind... mother in the world, how could you beat someone?

——Did I tell you that?I have a daughter who was very courageous and fearless since she was a child, but she was afraid of the dark and thunder and lightning.During thunderstorms in midsummer, I must be by my side to comfort me before I can fall asleep obediently, otherwise the tears will flow into the basin and the flowers will be watered the next day.

Jingci's fingers were slightly stiff, and she murmured the name deep in her memory: "... Ah Yue..."

Behind her, with a sound of "Boom--", Rou Ke knocked over the copper basin in her hand, and the water spilled all over the ground, and it was difficult to take it back.