At the beginning of the night, Shangguan Yun, who was wearing a plain palace dress, was sitting on the couch and carefully wiping the sword in his hand. He looked at the tassels on it that had not faded at all and rubbed them with his hands cherishingly. Suddenly, a joyful voice came to his ears.

Voice.

As the glazed bead curtain was opened, Lu Qiao, who had a peach-like face, walked in. She stepped forward happily and saluted: "Madam, Your Majesty has sent many things to you. Madam, would you like to take a look?"

After hearing this, Shangguan Yun didn't even raise his head. He still wiped it carefully and said calmly: "Just put it away."

"yes--"

Hearing this, Lu Qiao was about to say something, but seeing that his wife was not moved at all, she did not dare to say anything. She just turned around and left, looking at the dazzling array of jewelry, her eyes were filled with an indescribable feeling.

something.

"Put them all away."

After waving away the palace maid, Lu Qiao walked in again and said in a low voice, "Madam, since your majesty has sent you a reward, you need to offer some snacks and soup as usual to express your gratitude for the holy grace."

"You can just do these things and send them away. There is no need to ask me."

After that, Shangguan Yun put the polished sword into the box and said, "Take a look at what I just sent. If you like it, as long as it conforms to etiquette, you can take it."

After Lu Zhu and Lu Qiao bowed gratefully, they went down to choose.

After waiting for a stick of incense, there was silence in front of the Zichen Palace. Along with the warm night wind, a figure happened to be wrapped in the light of the lights.

"It turns out that Lady Luqiao is here."

Hearing the voice of the little chamberlain in front of the palace, Lu Qiao nodded with a smile, and then said: "Concubine De ordered the servant to bring some midnight snacks. Please inform me."

"Madam, wait a moment."

Because now the Lord of the Lingqi Palace favors the Sixth Palace, Luqiao in front of him often brings soup and snacks to His Majesty for Concubine De. His Majesty is always very happy for this, so now they are the chamberlains of the Zichen Palace.

I have long been accustomed to it, and I never neglect this green bead.

When he heard the report from the chamberlain, Emperor Yuan Cheng, who was sitting behind the desk and reading a book, raised his eyes slightly, closed the page and said, "Send it over."

After the words fell, Lu Qiao from outside the palace quickly walked in, carefully bowed, and then got up at the sign of Chengde's eyes and walked to the imperial case in a familiar way.

Following the subtle sounds of dishes and cups, Emperor Yuan Cheng looked away from the book in his hand and only raised his eyes to look at the pretty woman in front of him.

Her eyes are full of water, her cheeks are as fragrant as snow, she is shy and timid, and the red jade hairpin on her temples makes her even more delicate than a flower.

"This hairpin complements you perfectly."

Hearing Emperor Yuan Cheng's meaningful compliment, Lu Qiao immediately lowered her head shyly, with a bit of light shining in her eyes.

Whenever the Zichen Palace gave out rewards, the Concubine De, who didn't like them, would always let her and Lvzhu choose first. After the emperor found out, instead of blaming them, he would always give her many things that were suitable for her and that she liked.

For this reason, others don't know it, but she always understands the difference.

However, every time at this time, she would also think that if one day, she could accept the gift of the emperor that only belonged to her openly, without being so sneaky and careful, that would be what she really wanted.

"This is what I made with my own hands. Your Majesty, can you try it?"

Seeing a cup of cheese cake being pushed forward, Emperor Yuan Cheng smiled warmly, the tenderness in his eyes almost making people sick of it.

"The food you made is enough to fill my mouth."

While he was talking, Emperor Yuan Cheng had already picked up one and put it into his mouth. It seemed extremely delicious.

"how?"

Seeing his daughter waiting coquettishly and expectantly, Emperor Yuan Cheng smiled on his lips, gently pulled Lu Qiao who was standing aside into his arms, and sat on his lap.

"His Majesty--"

Lu Qiao tried to stand up in shock and shame, but was tightly hugged by a pair of gentle hands behind her, and an intoxicating voice came from her ears.

"If not, I will bring you here from Lingqi Palace, so that I can eat your food every day."

Hearing this sentence, Lu Qiao's heart was already trembling, because she was excited and because she had been looking forward to it for a long time.

From the first time she saw the emperor standing high on the mountain, she felt envious of the concubine. She never cared about blessings when she was in them.

Today, she never imagined that such an emperor, who was like a beam of light, would become the moonlight that illuminated her.

"Why are you lost in thought?"

The tip of her nose was gently tapped with gentle force. Lu Qiao looked back with a smile, put her hands around Emperor Yuan Cheng's neck, and quietly asked in anticipation: "Is your Majesty true?"

As if he was amused by these words, Emperor Yuan Cheng pinched her face lightly, then held her waist tightly with his hands and said, "Do you know that the emperor's promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold."

After saying that, Emperor Yuan Cheng slowly approached, stopped by her ear and said, "The prerequisite is that you have to donate something."

As soon as these words came out, Lu Qiao couldn't help but lower her head in shame. The color behind her ears was already red, as bright as the sunset.

"Your Majesty, what do you want me to give you?"

Seeing the shy and timid look of the person in front of him, Emperor Yuan Cheng smiled in his eyes, but slowly leaned back and opened the distance between the two of them. The smile on his lips remained, but there was an indistinct seriousness and seriousness in his eyes.

"A map."

Almost at the same time, Emperor Yuan Cheng saw a flash of surprise and confusion on the face of the person in front of him.

"Since the late Emperor's dynasty, the Shangguan family has accumulated a lot of wealth by bathing in the emperor's favor, making accusations, suppressing aristocratic families, confining land, and selling officials and titles. Not to mention that they obtained a lot of things when they raided the homes of those aristocratic families.

Those surviving families also donated many rare and rare treasures to this end, so that they could survive. Even the Yang family of Hongnong and the Li family of Longxi, who are now famous, also gave many gifts back then."

Noticing that the figure in his arms was gradually trembling and becoming stiff, Emperor Yuan Cheng smiled and held her hand as if chatting, and the smile on his lips turned into lingering words.

It seems that they are really just a couple of lovers.

"These things were all hidden in one place by the minister's order. As a continuation of Shangguan's future life, they have been there for more than ten years."

Having said this, as if to remind him, Emperor Yuan Cheng squeezed the soft cat tightly and said: "I, what I want is this treasure map. If you can find it for me, not to mention the position of the ninth concubine, she will be the concubine.

It’s no big deal.”

Hearing the gentle words in his ear, Lu Qiao was completely stunned, her back was cold, and she could only say at a loss: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, I don't understand what you said, I have never heard of-"

"There is only Shangshu Ling's study in Shangshu Mansion. My people can't get in, so it doesn't matter if you don't know. But as long as you can find it in his study and give it to me, that's enough."

Hearing Emperor Yuan Cheng's calm words, Lu Qiao immediately stood up in a panic, knelt on the ground and bowed her head and said: "Your Majesty, slave, slave, how did a mere slave enter the study room of Shangshu Ling? I beg your majesty to forgive me. I take it seriously."

Can't-"

"Merely?"

Emperor Yuan Cheng smiled softly when he heard this, and suddenly came forward, raised his green chin, and said in her ear: "Aren't you the spy who was placed next to Concubine De by the Order of the Secretary since you were a child?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Qiao immediately held his breath, his face turned pale, and he looked at the emperor sitting on him almost in disbelief, as if he was a stranger to whom he had met for the first time.

"From the very beginning, the Shangguan family selected the most outstanding concubines and virtuous concubines from among the daughters of several families as the focus of training, because from the beginning, the Shangguan family wanted to use these two daughters to marry into the royal family and win over important ministers. In order to achieve absolute

In order to control the situation, Shangguanji also specially selected two details to be placed between the imperial concubine and the noble concubine, one is you and the other is Yuxiao who was by the imperial concubine’s side, right?"

Seeing the people at his feet gradually lowering their heads in fear, Emperor Yuan Cheng seemed to enjoy the feeling of controlling others. He gently raised his frightened little face and said softly with a smile: "The noble concubine is thoughtful and has discovered this secret a long time ago.

You secretly took Yuxiao for your own use, and only the current Concubine De is still kept in the dark by you."

After saying that, Emperor Yuan Cheng stroked the woman's dimples with his thumb lovingly and said: "If Concubine Jiao De knows your identity, will your existence still be meaningful? Will Shangshu Ling still keep you?"

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this slave is unjustly accused, and this slave is by no means the work of the minister -"

Emperor Yuan Cheng looked at the man begging for mercy at his feet, raised his eyebrows and said "Oh?", and then said: "These are all what Yu Xiao said, and there is also evidence of your secret dealings with Shangshu Mansion. I want Concubine De to come and take a look.

?”

Gu Wei

Like a thunderbolt in the clear sky, Lu Qiao's last hope was shattered. She only knew that Yuxiao committed suicide and was buried shortly after the imperial concubine passed away, but she did not know that she actually told the emperor this.

At this moment, she was really confused.

"Your Majesty, please save this slave. All slaves are forced. They have never harmed Concubine De. This slave is really——"

Seeing Lu Qiao humbly begging as if facing a saint, Emperor Yuan Cheng silently stroked away her tears with his thumb and said slowly: "You have to know that the relationship between Concubine De and Shangshu Ling is not good now, even if

You haven't had time to do anything yet. From the moment you inform the minister about her daily and nightly actions, Concubine De will not keep you."

"Concubine De doesn't want you. You're just a useless loser. Why does Shangguanji keep you?"

After that, Emperor Yuan Cheng said step by step: "So you have to listen to me and be my eyes and my arms. If you want to go to the palace in the future, I can give you wealth and land. If you want to stay, I can make you a prince."

A concubine is a female official."

"It's better than being a shady craftsman who can be manipulated by others, isn't it?"

Looking at this stiff and delicate figure, Emperor Yuan Cheng seemed to lean forward gently, but there was no trace of pity in his eyes: "I heard that your compatriot brother is Shangguanji's personal guard. As far as he is concerned, he is your best friend."

It’s not difficult to find this map.”

"When things are done, you can be crowned a concubine, and your elder brother can be recruited as a guard. Wouldn't this be the best of both worlds?"

This room is inside the Qingsi Hall.

"Madam, the nian slave next to Princess Yuling is here."

After hearing Lu Zhu's report, Shangguan Yun couldn't help but put down the scroll in his hand with slight doubts and said: "Please come in."

Within a moment, Nian Nu entered under the leadership of Lu Zhu and bowed to Shangguan Yun.

"I came here on a starry night, but what's the matter?"
To be continued...