White Hedge Dream

Chapter 290 Deserted

With the announcement of the new emperor, the anxious atmosphere in the capital also dissipated.

Although officials are still under investigation, there is no bloodshed like when Empress Chiang was killed, and the person responsible for arresting and interrogating is not the Supervisory Board, but the Dali Temple Jingzhao Mansion of the Ministry of Punishment.

Although it would be terrible to be caught and questioned, at least he would not be framed.

And this is indeed the case. Some officials who were arrested were released after three or five days.

In addition, the house of the Shangguan family of the Li family that was surrounded was indeed ransacked, but the seal of the Dongyang Marquis Mansion was removed. Although Zhou Jingyun has not released it yet, saying that the case is still under investigation, it has been found that no family members are involved.

It can be seen that this time the court is in turmoil, and it will not kill three or nine clans as often as before.

After all, Zhang Ze was arrested.

Seeing this situation, the people not only were not afraid, but even privately celebrated the good turmoil in the court.

In early autumn, the capital city gradually returned to bustle.

In early autumn, the Board of Supervisors became deserted.

Because he did not participate in the investigation, and because there were many officials here who were arrested in connection with Zhang Ze's case, there were not many people in the yamen, and the cell was empty. Even the jailer could not be seen until meal time.

There was a dead silence in the dark cell, and even the alternation of day and night seemed to have stopped.

When the sound of tiny footsteps came from the stagnation, Zhou Jingyun, who was sitting on the bed, opened his eyes. In the dark cell, day and night, the dim lights on the walls swayed, and his vision became more blurry, like the sparkling waves on the lake. Suddenly someone walked across the lake.

Her dress is fluttering and her figure is graceful, like a lilac flower floating on the water.

When you suddenly see this scene in this dark cell, you are either dreaming or seeing a ghost. How can a normal person not be in a trance?

Zhou Jingyun thought to himself that fortunately he was used to it.

"Didn't you come yesterday?" he said, slightly reproachful.

Bai Li put down the food box in his hand: "I know, I didn't plan to come here today. I came to see the madam. But I have to go to the Marquis Mansion. The madam is eating mutton rice dumplings. I thought you would like it too, so I will give it to you." Bring one."

Zhou Jingyun watched Bai Li put out the utensils from the food box and said, "Mother likes to eat this." He smiled again, "It seems that my mother is in a good mood when she can think of eating this."

After saying that, he looked at Bai Li and thanked him sincerely.

"Thanks a lot."

On the day he was taken away, he saw Bai Li coming. Although he stopped Bai Li from getting close to him, and she was not allowed to prevent him from being taken away, after he was taken away, Bai Li did not leave, but went to the Hou Mansion.

That night Bai Li came to the cell in the Supervisory Court to tell him about the situation at home.

"Don't worry, I told Madam the whole story. His Majesty is angry right now, so he doesn't care. After verification later, he will know that you were forced."

"When I passed by, Madam was in good spirits and still had the energy to scold you, saying she knew this would happen sooner or later."

"I asked Chun Yue to talk to my aunt, so that she wouldn't be anxious at home and don't know what's going on."

Then he told Mrs. Dongyang Hou about his condition in the cell, and he was imprisoned in the Supervisory Court, but he was not tortured to extract a confession, waiting to be interrogated and verified.

She was running back and forth, delivering messages and telling them all to take it easy.

Why isn't she in a hurry?

Ten days later, there was finally good news that made everyone breathe a sigh of relief.

The emperor abdicated and Li Yu became the new emperor.

The seal of the Hou Mansion was removed and freedom was restored.

Yesterday Bai Li came to tell him immediately, and today he went to the Hou Mansion to tell him the latest situation.

"The Marquis left the Marquis Mansion by car that day and went to another courtyard. Madam asked the kitchen people to buy fresh vegetables and meat early in the morning, and ordered the family to eat and drink to replenish their strength after being frightened for the past few days."

That’s why we have fresh mutton rice balls.

Zhou Jingyun listened and sighed softly: "I have caused them trouble."

Although the seal at home has been removed, the people at home must still be on tenterhooks as he is locked in a cell.

Bai Li put the rice in a bowl and handed it to him: "You have to wait a little longer. It's a case of the Criminal Department, and the investigation is very slow."

"I know, don't worry." Zhou Jingyun said, taking the bowl and chopsticks.

Bai Li laughed: "You live in the cell, but you advised me not to worry."

"When something happens, the people who are most worried are the people who care about me." Zhou Jingyun said, looking at her.

Bai Li also glanced at him: "That's because you did that because of me."

"That was my own choice and has nothing to do with you." Zhou Jingyun interrupted her, "I chose to do this and I bear the consequences. I can't blame anyone else."

Bai Li was about to say something, but suddenly smiled again: "That's right, you and I don't need to differentiate between you and me like this."

It means that she and him are indistinguishable between you and me. Zhou Jingyun also smiled and did not continue the topic. He motioned to Bai Li: "You also serve a bowl of rice." He said with a smile, "Mother didn't let you eat, right?"

Bai Li curled his lips: "I didn't give in. He was very angry with me and said he couldn't entertain the Queen."

Zhou Jingyun smiled and pointed at the food box: "Although I won't entertain you, the food box contains food for two people."

Bai Li smiled: "Madam, you have a sharp mouth and a soft heart."

Zhou Jingyun saw that she had filled up the rice and ate it with big mouthfuls, and couldn't help but smile: "The Queen seems to have not had enough food in the palace."

Bai Li raised his head: "What Queen, you know it's fake."

Isn't that teasing? Mrs. Dongyang Hou can tease her about this, but he can't? Zhou Jingyun thought to himself, seeing Bai Li frowning, he smiled, put his hand to her lips, and used his fingers to wipe away the rice grains that had fallen in his hurry to speak.

"I know," he said, and repeated, "I know."

The fingers on his lips touched suddenly. Bai Li paused and looked at Zhou Jingyun, who was slightly closer because he stretched out his hand.

When his finger touched the corner of his mouth, Zhou Jingyun came back to his senses and was stunned.

But when their eyes met, the atmosphere in the dark cell became very strange.

In order to break the weirdness, the two spoke at the same time.

"That"

But as soon as they started speaking, they stopped, as if they didn't know what to say.

This opening seemed even weirder.

Bai Li suddenly smiled, his bright eyes shining in the dimness.

"Do I still have it on my face?" she asked.

Zhou Jingyun gently slid the finger that was still at the corner of Bai Li's mouth over her face and took it back.

"No more." He laughed.

Bai Li curled his lips and lowered his head to eat.

Zhou Jingyun didn't speak anymore and just lowered his head to eat.

The cell fell into silence again, and the lights flickered softly in the dark night.

A rustling sound resounded in the cell, and someone shook the railing vigorously.

"Zhou Jingyun, Zhou Jingyun."

Zhou Jingyun, who was lying on the bed, did not open his eyes and said, "Zhang Ze, if you need anything, just call the jailer loudly."

In the cell next door, Zhang Ze grabbed the railing and stood up, his eyes shining in the darkness: "The queen is here, right? The queen is here, right?"

Zhou Jingyun said lightly: "Zhang Ze, your empress Bai Ying is dead." Zhang Ze sneered: "She is not my empress, Zhou Jingyun, you know who I am talking about!"

He looked around hard and sniffed hard.

"The queen must be here."

"I smell it, it smells so good."

"Your Majesty must have come more than once."

"Why, why doesn't the queen see me?"

He shook the bars hard and the cell door lock rattled, his voice growing angrier.

"I've done so much for your Majesty, why doesn't your Majesty come to see me?"

Zhou Jingyun sat up suddenly and shouted: "Zhang Ze, no matter which empress is dead."

Zhang Ze sneered: "Your Majesty is not dead, I saw it with my own eyes."

"Is what you saw real?" Zhou Jingyun said, got up and walked over, looking at him through the railing, "Zhang Ze, you are just lost."

"Zhou Jingyun, when you say this, haven't you seen her before?" Zhang Ze said.

Zhou Jingyun nodded: "Yes, I have seen it, but people will inevitably have hallucinations due to obsession. What is real is real, and what is fake is fake. I will not regard hallucinations as reality."

Zhang Ze grabbed the railing and looked at him fiercely: "It's you! If you don't miss the empress, the empress can't appear, why don't you die? I have testified that you colluded with Bai Ying to kill the queen, why doesn't His Majesty kill you!" "

Zhou Jingyun smiled: "Will your majesty still believe what a villain like you says?" After saying that, he turned and walked towards the bed, "Don't have any more delusional thoughts. When a person dies, he is dead. If he does evil things, he will do it." If you do evil things, you are only doing it for yourself.”

"Of course I am doing it for your Majesty, your Majesty has seen it, so I am alive now." Zhang Ze said, looking around and laughing, "I know it was your Majesty who saved me, it was your Majesty who kept me from dying, your Majesty— Empress—"

he shouted loudly.

"I live a good life and do things for you."

As he spoke, he paced back and forth in the cell, his voice cheerful, sometimes laughing, sometimes mumbling to himself.

Zhou Jingyun sat by the bed and looked at him. This was not the first time that Zhang Ze had done this. When he was transferred here from the prison of the Ministry of Punishments, Zhang Ze was already here.

Zhang Ze is asleep most of the time, and occasionally wakes up. When he wakes up, he looks awake. He recognizes him and knows what happened, but he doesn't look awake because -

"Ah! Who is this!"

Zhang Zelue's somewhat frightened shout suddenly came from next door.

Zhou Jingyun looked over and saw that he stopped and stared at a corner. It seemed that there was someone in the corner, but in fact there was no one there under the dim light.

Zhang Ze clenched his hands, walked slowly over, leaned over and took a look, and immediately his voice stopped being frightened and instead sneered.

"Master Gao, what do you want?"

He seemed to be talking to someone in the corner and then burst into laughter.

"Seeking revenge on me? Am I afraid of you? Yes, I killed your whole family, so what? Who gave you bad luck—"

As he spoke, he waved his hand violently and seemed to pull out a knife.

"I can kill you once, I can kill you twice!"

As he spoke, he slashed with the knife and the lamp flickered. Zhang Ze stood there with an arrogant look on his face and looked around the cell.

"Monsters, am I afraid of you? I, Zhang Ze, am not a timid person!"

He held his waist and walked around the cell, slashing and killing, and sitting on the ground laughing cheerfully, as if he was receiving praise from everyone.

Zhou Jingyun watched quietly, Zhang Ze couldn't tell the difference between reality and fiction.

Compared to reality, he may prefer to live in fantasy.

"You—" Zhang Ze, who was sitting on the ground, suddenly stiffened and looked in one direction, his voice hesitant, "Dad?"

As he spoke, he stood up, frowning with displeasure.

"What are you doing here?"

He said and threw his hands away in disgust.

"Don't pull me, I'm busy."

"Your leg hurts? Your leg hurts. Just lie down and don't move. It won't hurt anymore if you lie down."

"What's the big deal if you're missing a leg? You can just live like this if you have both legs intact, but it's different now."

"Dad, your son, I will enter the capital and become an official, and then rise to the top. When the time comes, I will be rich, powerful, and majestic."

"Let go, don't pull my clothes, dad, you-"

As he spoke, Zhang Ze suddenly reached out and grabbed his neck, his face turned pale.

"You're choking me, let go—"

He struggled as if someone was crawling on top of him. He swung around, but he couldn't get away from the person who was choking him. Until he could no longer speak, he coughed, and he fell to the ground suddenly.

Zhou Jingyun quickly stood up and walked over quickly. Wouldn't Zhang Ze strangle himself to death?

Bai Li said that Zhu Shan was immersed in dreams and killed himself.

He looked at Zhang Ze lying motionless on the ground. Just when he was about to call someone, Zhang Ze's stiff body twitched, curled up, and murmured indistinctly.

Still alive.

I don’t know what kind of dream I have been immersed in again.

Zhou Jingyun shook his head, living in illusion may not necessarily lead a good life.

He turned around and touched the carvings on the wall. Although there was no difference between day and night in the cell, he would carve a mark every time the white fence came.

Since he arrived in this cell, Bai Li has visited him every day.

So he clearly knows that today is today, today has passed, and tomorrow will come together with Bai Li.

Zhou Jingyun smiled crookedly, and the next moment his eyes flickered and he saw a figure sitting beside the bed.

The figure gradually became clearer.

The man is holding the teapot and pouring tea into the teacup on the table.

The tea water is clear, the fragrance of tea, and the scent of incense and candles are mixed.

"Your Majesty," Xuanyangzi said, "Since you have come to my temple, you can have a taste of my tea."

Zhou Jingyun looked at him, his body stiffened for a moment, and he suddenly stepped forward to grab the tea cup, but Xuan Yangzi blocked his hand first.

"Your Majesty, tea is for drinking." He said, "Don't always think about splashing people in the face."

Zhou Jingyun held Xuanyangzi's wrist. He felt that he was exerting force, but he could not feel any strength at all.

Ah Li said that he could neither feel pain nor strength when he was dreaming.

He fell asleep.

Why?

There was such a big thing in the palace before, and he guarded Xuanyangzi for a day, but Xuanyangzi didn't even sleep. Now that the emperor abdicated, King Chu ascended the throne, and everything has settled, why did Xuanyangzi—

Zhou Jingyun held Xuanyangzi's wrist tightly.

"What happened in the palace?"

What happened to Ah Li?

Did something happen to Ah Li?