Tianlao Tianlao, the side of the emperor, the prison of imprisonment.
In the most remote corner of the Royal Palace of Yaoguo, there is a majestic and majestic building two feet high. When Bai Qige saw it for the first time, she thought it was some kind of palace, but later she learned that it was actually a prison where important prisoners were held.
And now, Zhan Ting is inside.
With Yi Chenjing's status as the prince, it was not difficult to enter the prison. Bai Qige, who had stayed up all night, brought some food and water. Before dawn, she and Yi Chenjing came to the prison to see those who were taken away the evening before.
Zhan Ting. No matter how majestic and majestic the appearance is, it is still a prison. The sky prison is dark and cold. Bai Qige gets chills all over as soon as he enters. Thinking of the many prisoners who the emperor cannot kill or let go, he has been imprisoned here for many years. He can't help but think about those people.
Is life worse than death? Why linger on?
"Your Highness, Princess Qi'an!" Seeing the two of them appearing, Zhan Ting hurriedly walked from the corner of the cell to the gate, feeling guilty and grateful, "How could you come to a place like this? It's wet and cold, Princess Qi'an.
My body won’t be able to bear it!”
"It's okay, I'll just say a few words to you and then leave." Bai Qige shook her head and forced a smile, looking at Zhan Ting's body imperceptibly, and finally stopped at the wrist with whip marks.
Despite spending a lot of money, Zhan Ting was still not immune to the pain of flesh and blood. It seems that money is not everything, especially in the deep palace where money is not enough to fight for power. Bai Qige felt tight in her chest and wanted to sigh, but she couldn't.
Afraid of offending Zhan Ting, who wanted to blame himself, he had to endure it and pinched his palm with his fingernails.
Zhan Ting is a wanted criminal. Yi Chenjing can see him but cannot let him go. Even meeting him has to be through a gate. Prince Dayao, who also noticed Zhan Ting's injuries and was still angry, said in a low voice: "They beat you."
Who did it? Hu Dianjiu or Qi Dianjiu?"
"Your Highness, don't ask. They are also acting under orders and cannot disobey the emperor's will." Zhan Ting knew very well that Yi Chenjing had a character that was determined to take revenge. Seeing that he was interested in implicating others, he quickly shook his head and waved his hands, but refused to say that he would be punished.
person's name.
Previously, Concubine Jin was trying to kill Bai Qige by pushing her into the water, but Yi Chenjing still remembered it a year after the incident, so she found an opportunity to order someone to push Concubine Jin into the freezing cold pool; and she had also heard about it before.
Former Crown Princess Wei Chi Lianrong's bed was frightened half to death by a nest of scorpions and snakes, which seems to be related to her slapping Bai Qige in the back hall of the East Palace. With these two things as a warning, how could Zhan Ting dare to say anything casually?
One less thing is another thing, Yi Chenjing, who has just established himself as the crown prince, cannot be allowed to make too many enemies, especially for a humble subordinate like him, it is not worth it.
Seeing that Zhan Ting refused to say anything, Yi Chenjing had no choice but to give up and took out two bottles of wound medicine from the bamboo basket Bai Qige brought and stuffed them into Zhan Ting through the gate: "Fortunately, I prepared the wound medicine. I will find time to apply it myself.
By the way, let me ask you, why did your guard token appear near Hexiang Palace? My father asked the officials to check the token that was picked up. It was of size A, and there are only other guards with size A besides you.
Everyone outside has taken good care of the token, and the suspicion just fell on you."
"I couldn't find the token a few days ago. I was afraid that His Highness would scold me and I didn't dare to say anything. I planned to report it to the Secretary's Mansion in the next few days, but who would have thought that this happened halfway." Zhan Ting scratched his head depressedly, with a look of regret on his face.
.
"Your token must have been stolen by someone, and it was no coincidence that you appeared in the Hexiang Palace that night. You were so dumb all day long that you were finally plotted against." Bai Qige deliberately used a complaining tone to cover up her worries.
A basket of fresh water was placed on the ground in front of the gate. "I asked Yu Che to make some simple food. The cell leader will be accommodating. You will probably have to stay here for three or two days to take care of yourself."
Zhan Ting thought the matter would be easily solved, and nodded with a silly smile. There was no hint of darkness in his honest expression, as if the wounds on his body didn't hurt at all, as if no one had ever hurt him.
He has always been like this, so kind that he is almost stupid.
"Let's go back first, don't think too much...forget it, you can't even think about it in your head." Yi Chenjing teased Zhan Ting with a smile, and quietly squeezed Bai Qige's cold palm tightly.
It's cold, her hands are cold, and her heart is even colder, right?
Bai Qige remained silent after leaving the prison. She walked far away and was suddenly almost pulled down by Yi Chenjing who stopped suddenly.
"For three or two days... I'm not sure I can rescue Zhan Ting in such a short period of time. What do you want to do?"
"Three or two days is long enough. Haven't you seen the wounds all over his body? He has made countless troubles in the palace. Once there is a chance to bully him to please the emperor, how can those ruthless jailers be soft-hearted?"
All the excitement stored in her heart burst out. Bai Qige turned around to face Yi Chenjing, her eyes blazing with anger, "There are all the witnesses and material evidence, and the emperor made it clear that he wanted to find an opportunity to get rid of Zhan Ting, even if he knew that the matter was caused by Yan Hu.
Why don't you pretend to be gone? If you drag on any longer, how can Zhan Ting still have his life waiting for you to save him?"
"So you want to accept the queen's conditions and ask her for help?" Yi Chenjing took a deep breath, feeling a dull pain in her forehead.
However, the answer that shocked him even more was yet to come.
"I have agreed." Bai Qige suddenly became calm, so calm that Yi Chenjing was panicked for no reason. A quiet smile appeared on her lips, Bai Qige lowered her head slightly, stared at the two people's toes who were far apart, and said calmly: "I have agreed
The Queen borrowed her power to first save Zhan Ting, and then fight for the position of Crown Princess, relying on the power of the Queen's faction as a backer."
When Bai Qige returned to Lianchenxuan in the middle of the night, she told Yi Chenjing about the queen's threat. Yi Chenjing thought that the queen would give her time to think about it, but she didn't expect that Bai Qige had no choice but to accept the conditions. For him, this kind of helplessness
The useless feeling of protecting anyone is worse than death.
Dusting off a few scattered snowflakes on her thin shoulders, Yi Chenjing stared at Bai Qige for a long time without saying anything. When the sky started to fall with heavy snow, she took the cold and trembling body into her arms, hugged her tightly, and gave her warmth and tenderness.
"There must be other ways. You and Zhan Ting..." suddenly choked up and couldn't continue.
After being held hostage for ten years, he returned to his country. He had a mother and concubine who was abandoned in the cold palace. She also had the burden of her uncle being executed for taking power. Yi Chenjing had not been able to endure these years easily. Even when he became the prince, he had to work hard alone without a backer.
To shake the Queen's deep-rooted power before he has grown up is nothing more than a dream. Now the life of Zhan Ting is hanging by a thread, and Bai Qige is forced to do nothing. All he can do is stand by and watch. Neither his close friends nor the woman he loves are strong enough to save him.
How is it different from ordinary people?
The melancholy Yi Chenjing made Bai Qige feel sad for a while. She shook his hand and her voice was so soft that it didn't sound like hers at all: "Actually, there is no need to be too conflicted. I have never seen the overt and covert fights in the harem. What should be done and what should not be done is in my mind.
It has its own measurement and cannot be completely controlled by the Queen."
"What do you mean, you're doing what you want and you're doing it in vain?" Yi Chenjing was a little relieved and frowned, "The queen is such a shrewd person, I guess she won't let you go freely."
"Whether we let him go or not is a matter for the future. The most important thing now is to protect Zhan Ting's life. You and the emperor are not close to each other. After your mother's death, there are even fewer people you can trust. Zhan Ting and you have been friends and loyal for many years.
Fuji, there is no difference from family members. There are also Li'er, Fu Chu, Xiao Zizi, Yu Che... We are a family in the palace, isn't it natural for us to give up some in order to save our family?"
Bai Qige's words spoke to Yi Chenjing's heart. For a long time, he had regarded Zhan Ting as a very good confidant rather than a simple subordinate. It really felt like a family. There was no betrayal or betrayal.
Betrayal, do everything you can to protect your family. The palace is indifferent, how many people can you trust after stepping out of Lianchenxuan? Only they will never give up and persevere.
"Okay, it's ridiculous that two people are here to mourn the spring and autumn. People who don't know see it and think I'm going to remarry." Bai Qige pushed Yi Chenjing away and stood up, her face returned to its usual bright and confident look, "
The Queen should have taken some action. I will go to Huanqing Palace to inquire about it. You should pay more attention to what is going on with the Emperor and get through these two days first."
At this point, there was no other way. Yi Chenjing blew a bit of the crystal snow off Bai Qige's eyebrows, and reluctantly left her cool skin with her fingertips. Just as she was about to show off her strength as a man, she spat out a few heroic words when a figure suddenly burst into view.
"Jin Zhaoyi?" Yi Chenjing looked at the hurried woman who was about a dozen steps away and said in confusion, "The concubine's palace is completely different from here. What is she doing here? She is not still talking to the eldest brother.
Are you in touch?"
Bai Qige turned sideways and followed Yi Chenjing's gaze. Sure enough, it was Jin Zhaoyi who was getting closer and closer with her head lowered. She didn't know what she was thinking, but she almost walked in front of her before she noticed the two of them. A slight cough attracted Jin Zhaoyi.
Emperor Yi Zhang raised his head and looked around, but Bai Qige blocked his way: "Why are you so lost in thought? You're not afraid of bumping into someone."
Jin Zhaoyi was about the same age as Bai Qige. She had been favored by Bai Qige before and had taken care of the concubine Jing together with Su Yan, Yu Che and others. They had experienced ups and downs together. She was very close to Lianchenxuan and the others, so she rarely talked about it in private meetings.
The etiquette of seniority is more like that of best friends.
Looking up, he saw Bai Qige blocking the way. Jin Zhaoyi patted his chest with fear, his cheeks turned crimson: "I don't know if I bumped into someone or something I shouldn't have seen. You two are not in the room on this snowy day."
Stay inside and go outside to stare at people walking?"
"Whoever blushes has something wrong in his heart." Bai Qige joked. Looking at Jin Zhaoyi's coat and skirt and fox fur, she couldn't help but wonder, "Where are you going? Are you meeting the eldest prince?"
Jin Zhaoyi nodded gently, with a hint of wonderful happiness in her smile: "I haven't seen him for a long time, and today I can finally meet him. In the future, I don't have to worry about other people's gossip... Qi Ge, come with me,
If we say goodbye today, we may never see each other again."
Bai Qige and Yi Chenjing looked at each other and said in unison: "What do you mean?"
Looking carefully at the people around him, Jin Zhaoyi's face turned even crimson, her pink face looked like that of a young girl in love, and her soft voice was full of sweet longing.
"The emperor has already discussed with Chen Yu the matter of making him the king. Early next month he will leave the imperial capital and go to the fiefdom of Xiangyang County. At that time, I will also leave with him - as his wife, Princess Xiang."