Xiao Wu walked slowly following the scent. Because the entire Yongshou Palace was filled with the same scent, it was difficult to distinguish the source of the scent, so he walked very slowly. He often walked a few steps and then walked back to another place for a long time.
When he arrived at the harem courtyard just now, he saw the fragrant powder scattered on the ground and asked, "What is this? Who sprinkled it here?"
Mao Gui pretended to be surprised and said: "When I was sweeping in the morning, I didn't have these things. I don't know where they came from, and there is no powder with this fragrance in Yongshou Palace."
Xiao Wu said doubtfully: "According to what you say, this fragrant powder is not from Yongshou Palace?"
"Yes, I'm sure." Listening to Mao Gui's categorical words, Xiao Wu frowned and said nothing. After a while, he took off the money bag from his arms, took out the broken silver inside, and then carefully put the powder in it.
.
Mao Gui said tentatively: "Fifth Eunuch, what's the problem with this fragrant powder?"
After carefully twisting the fragrant powder into the money bag, Xiao Wu said: "We don't know, let's wait until we get back to the emperor to talk about everything." After saying this, he went around Yongshou Palace and counted all the crow corpses.
Mao Gui followed him and said anxiously: "Fifth Eunuch, you guys have no choice but to hurt these sacred crows. It's not intentional. Can you please forgive me?"
"If you say this, we won't be able to come back to your family. You... just wish for your own happiness." With that said, Xiao Wu turned and left, leaving behind an uneasy Mao Gui.
Early at the same time, Wei Jingxuan and Li Jifeng were standing in the Hall of Cultivation of the Heart with their eyes lowered and holding their breath. They had been standing here for almost a stick of incense, but there was still no sound from Hongli, only "rustling" turns.
The sound of books.
After an unknown amount of time, Wei Jingxuan heard the sound of the palace door opening, and then Xiao Wu's voice rang in her ears, "Your Majesty, it has been clearly stated that a total of seventy-five sacred crows were killed, all with stab wounds.
"
"Bah!" The sound of books being folded sounded in Wei Jingxuan's ears, making her feel frightened. After a while, she finally heard Hongli's voice again after more than half a year, "Do you know why the divine crow went crazy for no reason?
?”
"The servant asked Mao Gui, the eunuch of Yongshou Palace, and he said that the divine crow suddenly went crazy and did not know the specific reason; but the slave smelled a strange aroma in Yongshou Palace, and later found a broken bottle of fragrant powder in the harem courtyard.
, Mao Gui said that he had smelled this fragrance before the divine crow went crazy. The servant doubted whether it was related to this, so he put the fragrant powder back." After that, he took out his money bag and handed it over respectfully.
As soon as Hongli opened the money bag, his expression changed with horror, and he said in a cold voice: "Fragrant lily of the valley?"
He hates this kind of fragrant powder that Mingyu used to kill Changle, and he will never forget this orchid-like and musk-like fragrance even after a few years, let alone a few years.
The next moment, he stared at Wei Jingxuan and said in an unkind tone: "Why is there such a thing in Yongshou Palace?"
Wei Jingxuan hurriedly shook her head and said: "To tell you what the emperor is saying, I am indeed the same as Mao Gui. I smelled this fragrance before the divine crow went crazy, but I don't know where the fragrance comes from, let alone what lily of the valley fragrance is."
Speaking of this, she murmured the fragrance of the lily of the valley several times, and then said in shock: "The fragrance of the lily of the valley... I remembered that it was this thing that killed Princess Changle. Could it be that the divine crow went crazy because of this?
?”
Hongli stared at her coldly and said, "This thing has long since disappeared in the palace. Where did you find it?"
"For more than half a year, I have been trapped in the Yongshou Palace, unable to leave. How could I go looking for lily of the valley incense? Besides, what are you doing to find this kind of thing? Is it harming yourself? This... this is too ridiculous.
." At this point, she raised her head and said: "If this thing is really found in Yongshou Palace, then someone must want to harm me."
Hongli gave the lily of the valley incense to Sixi to put away so as not to attract any snakes, insects, rats, or queen ants, and said coldly: "Then tell me, who wants to harm you?"
Wei Jingxuan shook her head sadly and said: "From the first day I stayed with the emperor, there were many people who didn't like me. If you want to be suspicious, I'm afraid everyone in the palace is suspicious, including..." She
After a pause, he said slowly: "Queen!"
Hongli's expression changed and he shouted: "How outrageous! You dare to destroy the queen with a small promise? How brave you are!"
Wei Jingxuan knelt down and said: "I don't dare, it's just that...the queen has never liked me. She feels that I have a humble background and is not qualified to serve the emperor."
Hongli snorted coldly, his eyes falling on Li Jifeng, "As a third-class guard with a sword, you should know the rules in the palace. The divine crow once saved the ancestors in danger, and no one in this palace is allowed to harm the divine crow.
You killed seventy-five in a row, do you think you are guilty?!"
Li Jifeng quickly knelt down and said: "I know my crime and I am willing to accept any punishment from the emperor!"
"Okay!" As soon as Hongli finished speaking, Wei Jingxuan said hurriedly: "Your Majesty, Guard Li killed those crows to save his concubine. It was not intentional. Please be magnanimous and spare his life."
Li Jifeng tilted his head slightly and said: "Whether it's saving others or saving ourselves, my subordinate did kill the divine crow and deserves to be punished. Wei promised that there is no need to intercede on behalf of his subordinate."
Wei Jingxuan ignored him, kowtowed to Hongli and said: "Your Majesty, although I am from a humble background, I still know the principle of repaying a favor with a drop of water, not to mention that what I have received is life-saving."
If you just watch Shi Wei Li die because of me, I will become an ungrateful and despicable person. If the emperor wants to punish me, I am willing to accept all punishments. I just ask the emperor to forgive Li Wei Wei."
She said this not because she was worried about Li Jifeng, but because she wanted to win Hongli's favor. She knew that Hongli was a person who valued affection and filial piety. The more kind and affectionate she showed, the easier it would be to impress Hongli. Opportunity,
This was the opportunity she had talked about with Mao Gui. Although it was a bit thrilling, it finally came to her and she must seize it firmly.
Li Jifeng didn't know Wei Jingxuan's thoughts and thought that she really said that because she was worried about him. He was greatly moved and became more determined to take on everything by himself and prevent Wei Jingxuan from getting hurt. He kowtowed and said: "Your Majesty, one person does the work for the other.
Of course, please don’t blame the innocent, Your Majesty."
Seeing Hongli's silence, Wei Jingxuan said: "Actually...it was not Guard Li who really killed these sacred crows, but the person who used the lily of the valley fragrance to make them go crazy. That person is the one who really deserves to die. Please tell me, Your Majesty."
Hongli sneered and said: "You two have a close tacit understanding, and each of you fights to take the blame. Why, do you think I won't punish you if you do this?"
Wei Jingxuan lowered her eyes and said: "I don't dare, I just want to live my life without any debt, and have a clear conscience. Besides..." She smiled sadly and said: "I have been trapped in the Yongshou Palace for many years. It seems that there is only that part of the world.
, and death... basically
There is not much difference, even... It can be said that it is better to die. At least if you die, you will not be worried, sad, and sad." With the last sentence, tears streaked across the delicate and picturesque face.
On ink gold bricks.
Hongli's eyes moved slightly and he said coldly: "Are you complaining about me when you say that?"