White Hedge Dream

Chapter 30 Difficult to mess with

The morning light is bright, but for Princess Jinyu's Mansion, it is the quietest time.

There was a banquet last night with more than a dozen talented people reciting poems and painting. Princess Jinyu didn't go to bed until dawn.

The palace maid Aju was sitting on the white jade steps, with a basket of flowers on her knees and looking around.

Once a bird flies in, the maidservants standing around like wooden stakes will wave their poles tied with colorful strips to drive them away.

Over the years, the birds have become accustomed not to fly here at this time.

Ah Ju tore apart the flowers with ease and scattered the petals in the dustpan.

Princess Jinyu likes to step on flower petals when she wakes up. It is said that this is a habit she developed when she was a child, when the late emperor held the precious daughter in his hands.

Now that her younger brother has become the emperor, Princess Jinyu has become the eldest princess, and many of her childhood habits have been picked up again.

The princess's temper got worse and worse, and more and more people came to the princess's court.

Aju thought about the beautiful boys she saw last night. Although the poems and paintings they wrote were not very amazing, the way they looked at the princess was really blushing.

However, Aju shook her head slightly. These people were beautiful, but they were not as good as Shangguan Yue.

It would be great if Shangguan Yue were the princess's son. The princess loves beauty and would be proud of him and hold him to the sky.

It's not like now that I can only hide in the dark night without seeing the light of day.

The sudden sound of footsteps interrupted Aju's reverie. She couldn't help but sit up straight and pointed at the sound.

In addition to the maids chasing birds, there are also strong slaves chasing people in the yard.

They hold thick sticks in their hands, and with one stick they can beat someone half to death.

If you dare to disturb the princess's rest, you will die unjustly.

Except for one person.

"Princess—the prince consort asks for an audience—"

But with this shout, the thick staff in the strong slave's hand stopped in mid-air and looked towards the princess palace.

There are layers of curtains in the Princess Palace, blocking out the sunlight, making it feel like late at night.

A corner of the palace lantern was lit, emitting soft light and illuminating the princess lying on the large bed.

Princess Jinyu is in her forties, with a slightly plump body. Even when she sleeps, she frowns, showing off her temper.

Aju knelt beside the bed, like a naughty child scattering flower petals on the princess. Unfortunately, there were not many petals, so the princess just raised her hand and swept them away.

"It's so annoying." Princess Jinyu closed her eyes and said angrily, "What's wrong with him?"

Aju whispered: "Princess, it's a happy event, but something happened to Shangguan Xiaolang."

Princess Jinyu immediately opened her eyes and asked: "He was beaten to death?" After saying that, she clapped her hands and laughed, "Which family is so bold? Go and beat them to death to vent their anger on the consort!"

Aju hurriedly said: "No, no, it was Lord Juro of General Li's family who had an accident on his boat."

Princess Jinyu's joy suddenly disappeared, her eyebrows, eyes, and corners of her mouth drooped heavily.

"Princess." Ah Ju said hurriedly, "General Li wanted to arrest Xiao Lang, but the consort stopped him and started a riot."

Princess Jinyu turned around and lay down motionless.

The princess dislikes Shangguan Xiaolang the most, especially since the prince-in-law still protects the concubine, so even the prince-son-in-law must be disgusted.

The princess probably hated the prince-in-law a long time ago, after all, the prince-son-in-law is no longer young and beautiful.

The court guests suggested more than once that the princess should divorce her consort and live happily in the name of a nun's crown.

A few years ago, the princess would scold them when she heard this, but these days, she just smiled.

After a few more years, the consort will grow old, and the princess will probably follow the advice.

Aju was quiet for a moment. Logically speaking, she shouldn't say anything more at this time, but thinking about the smile on the young man's face every time he saw her and called her name, she whispered: "This is also a good thing, that little boy Lang has provoked General Li, who is favored by the Li family and has great power. If he wants to be dealt with, even the consort can't stop him, so why not take this opportunity to kill him - "

Princess Jinyu sat up suddenly again and cursed the stupid slave.

"He, Li Chengyuan, is powerful? Am I losing power?" She shouted angrily, "Go and ask the imperial doctor. I'm sick. Let the consort come back to take care of me -"

Aju leaned over and answered yes.

…

…

Li Chengyuan, who was sitting in the General's Mansion, turned pale when he heard that the servants reported that the people from the Princess Mansion had taken Shangguan Yue away.

"This loser Shangguanxue will only rely on this face in his life." He sneered and reached out to touch his face. His tentacles were wrinkled, "Okay, I'll just wait and see when he loses this face. What will happen to them and their son?”

"Father, just let it go?" the second master of the Li family shouted, "Princess Jinyu doesn't hate the concubine the most. Father has a good talk with her, which can be regarded as getting rid of the hatred in her heart."

Li Chengyuan snorted coldly: "What Princess Jinyu hates most is being looked down upon by others. She lived like a dog in front of Empress Chiang all those years. Now she has regained the airs of a princess. She hates others being disobedient the most. Ignore her, this crazy woman."

With this crazy woman here, Shangguan's son will not end well.

"General, General." Another servant hurried in, and it was the man who was going to fetch the Wang family's son. Seeing that they also came in empty-handed, Mr. Li shouted angrily: "What? His Taiyuan Wang family is also a princess?"

The servant hurriedly said: "No, the Wang family asked people to take it, and said they could take it as they please, and opened the door, but..."

He glanced at Li Chengyuan.

"Then Wang Tong is not at home."

This was the name of the son of the Wang family who defeated Li Julang on the Hualou Ship.

Li Chengyuan looked at the servant and asked, "Where is he going? Did he put on his wings and fly?" He sneered again, "Even if he put on his wings and flies, he still can't fly out of my great Zhou."

The servant lowered his head and said, "No, I didn't fly out. I'm just in the capital, at the Holy Ancestor Temple."

View of the Holy Ancestor.

Li Chengyuan's face froze.

Emperor Gaozong of the Great Zhou Dynasty was a descendant of Taoist ancestor Li Dan. He was named Emperor Xuanyuan of the Great Saint Ancestor and was enshrined in the Saint Ancestor Temple in the capital.

The Holy Ancestor Temple is also a forbidden area for the royal family, guarding the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The owner of the temple was conferred the title of National Master by the emperor, so even the emperor's relatives cannot easily set foot in the Holy Ancestor Temple.

"Then Wang Tong was selected to attend the Holy Ancestor's viewing of incense candles this time..." The servant's voice became smaller and smaller, "The Wang family said, let us go to the Holy Ancestor's viewing of dignitaries, general, go, or not? go?"

There was a moment of silence in the hall, and a moment later Li Chengyuan gritted his teeth and said, "Go!"

Even if you don’t come, you can’t lose in terms of momentum!

But in fact, it’s not very impressive in terms of momentum.

Standing in the western suburbs of the capital, the tall gate of the Holy Ancestor Temple was knocked open for a long time. A young Taoist priest with slender eyebrows looked at Erlang of the Li family standing outside the door from bottom to top.

"Hurt someone?" His voice was shrill. "Who was hurt? The prince or the princess?"

Second Master Li looked at the little Taoist priest who was no taller than his own shoulders, but his attitude had to be respectful. He held up Li Chengyuan's post: "Taoist Priest Wangtong Changyuan, General Li Li Chengyuan -"

Before he finished speaking, the little Taoist priest slammed the door, leaving only a high-pitched voice coming from inside.

"We didn't open the door before the prince died, so who does Li Chengyuan mean!"

Mr. Li stood outside the Taoist temple, looking at the closed door, his face turned green with anger.

But I also know that this little Taoist priest didn’t say anything arrogant. Before the prince was surrounded and burned alive by the troops sent by Empress Chiang, he also asked for help from the Holy Ancestor Temple. The gate of the Holy Ancestor Temple, which was said to protect the Great Zhou, was not opened, so to the descendants of the Great Zhou Turn a blind eye to a tragic death.

Compared with the emperor's son and the prince, Li Chengyuan was really nothing.

Second Master Li gritted his teeth, looked at the Taoist temple, and cursed in a low voice with grief and anger, "These powerful people! Poor my nephew -" he waved his sleeves and walked away angrily.

…

….

There were many palaces in the Holy Ancestor Temple, and Mr. Li's voice could not be heard, but Wang Tong, who was hiding behind the door and heard it, passed through several palace doors and came to the front of a palace.

The doors and windows here are tall and claustrophobic, cutting out light and shadow. Inside the hall is a statue of the Holy Ancestor, and an alchemy furnace that is almost as high as the Holy Ancestor statue. A white-haired old Taoist is sitting in front of it in a small ball, as if sleeping.

"Ancestor, ancestor." Wang Tong knelt outside the door and called in a low voice, "Li Chengyuan's son is scolding you outside."

The old Taoist closed his eyes and flicked the whisk in his hand: "Get out."

Wang Tong knelt outside the door and said happily: "My disciple and grandson have told him to get out of here." He then said hurriedly, "Ancestor, when Li Shilang fell into the water, his disciple and grandson saw it with his own eyes. He must have been killed by a water ghost. Ancestor, there are monsters and ghosts in the capital, should we come forward to eliminate them?"

The old Taoist turned his head, his white eyebrows as long as his beard flew up, and said, "I'll tell you to get lost."

Wang Tong was stunned for a moment, then pounced forward, "Grandpa, you can't drive your grandson away. I have sworn since I was a child to be devoted to the Tao. My grandfather gave you a lot of money -"

Before he finished speaking, he was picked up by a middle-aged Taoist who came out and dragged out.

Wang Tong screamed in sorrow until the Taoist said with a smile, "My ancestor asked you not to disturb his purity, but I didn't drive you out."

Wang Tong's face immediately turned away from sadness and anger, and he patted his chest, "Scared me to death."

The middle-aged Taoist said with a smile: "Don't worry, my ancestor is very protective of his shortcomings. Even if he really wants to drive you away, he won't do it at this time. Wouldn't he be looked down upon by the Li family?"

Wang Tong nodded repeatedly: "That is, in the eyes of the ancestors, Li Chengyuan is nothing." He was very happy, "But is there really a female ghost in Jinshui River? Should we take action to eliminate demons, punish rapes and eliminate evil -"

"Where can the demons and monsters come from under the Holy Ancestor?" the middle-aged Taoist said disdainfully, and smiled again, "Even if there are female ghosts, it is none of our business, let alone female ghosts. When the prince died, the princes were almost slaughtered by Empress Chiang. Even so, the ancestors closed their eyes and didn’t ask.”

Wang Tong also heard about the chaos more than ten years ago and couldn't help but ask: "Then, what does the ancestor care about?"

The middle-aged Taoist smiled and looked ahead at the capital shrouded in morning light: "Great Zhou Luck."

Empress Chiang massacred the princes, but the ancestor did not care, because the late emperor was here, this was just a dispute between the emperor and his ministers, father and son. However, when Empress Chiang intended to take charge of the government, it was to interfere with the fate of the Great Zhou Dynasty. The ancestor rang the yellow bell and shattered the confusion of the late emperor. It shocked Empress Chiang and her followers and destroyed her soul, so King Changyang could march straight into the imperial city and return to the imperial court of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

A Li Julang, he died, it was just a trivial matter, and he dared to come to the Holy Ancestor to visit someone.

The middle-aged Taoist shook the fly whisk and looked at Wang Tong standing aside: "Why don't you go and keep the incense candle! It's a big deal if the incense candle goes out!"

….

….

For the Dongyang Marquis Mansion, it was not a trivial matter for Li Julang to lose his life, but it had nothing to do with him.

Not being able to hire the best doctor from the Imperial Medical Office would cause her mother-in-law to lose face, which was also a big deal. Mrs. Dongyang Hou immediately asked Mother Huang to hire Zhang Shilin, the most famous folk sage in the capital.

(End of chapter)