After a moment's pause, he said again: "By the way, send me the Nine-curved Pearl as well, and also make everything I told you before easy."
"I obey the order." After Xiao Wu ordered his men to prepare their horses, Hongli rushed to Guangxiu Garden with He Shen and several close guards; Wei Xiuyan was standing under the eaves in a daze, and did not see him coming until she was covered with a cloak.
, just came back to his senses, "It's such a cold day, why don't you go out without adding more clothes, be careful of catching a cold."
Listening to Hongli's concerned voice, Wei Xiuyan's heart felt sour, and she immediately shed tears and choked with sobs: "I and my child almost missed the opportunity to see the emperor."
Hongli patted her on the back and said: "I heard what He Shen said. I really didn't expect that something like this would happen in the garden. But don't worry, Du Cheng has been arrested. The other servants, I will
Let Heshen carefully screen them one by one to ensure that the same thing will not happen again."
Wei Xiuyan nodded, and after wiping her tears, she said: "Master, have you found out the person behind Du Cheng?"
He Shen cupped his hands and said, "I haven't heard back from my wife yet."
"I have been living in seclusion since I came to Guangxiu Garden. After I became pregnant, I have never taken a step out. Logically speaking, I shouldn't have any enemies." After saying that, she said tentatively: "Your Majesty, yes
Could it be that someone who had a grudge against my sister in the past did not want to see me, a member of the Wei family, continue to live in the world, so he bribed Du Cheng to poison her?"
When Hongli heard this, his eyes flashed, and in an instant he returned to his previous appearance. He held Wei Xiuyan's cold fingers and said: "Where did you think you were? You have nothing to do with what Wei has committed. No one will want to
You die, not to mention that it has been so long."
"But other than that, I really can't think of anyone else who would be so vicious as to kill me. Looking back on what happened yesterday, it was really dangerous. If it was just me, that would be fine, but..."
She stroked her belly and said with tears: "Your Majesty, this child is my lifeblood, I cannot live without him."
Hongli comforted him: "I understand that I care about this child as much as you do, and I will never let anyone have the opportunity to hurt him again." After that, he added: "After I return to the palace, I will order Zhou Minghua to come to Guangxiu Garden.
He will take care of you until you give birth; he has superb medical skills and a thoughtful mind. With him here, I believe he can keep you safe."
Wei Xiuyan broke away from his hand and said calmly: "I'm afraid that Dr. Zhou can only protect me and my son for a while, but not for the rest of my life!"
Hongli heard something in her words and frowned: "Xiuyan, what do you want to say?"
Wei Xiuyan stared into his eyes and said, "I would like to ask the emperor something. If... the person who instigated Du Cheng to murder my mother and son was someone close to the emperor, would you tolerate it?"
"Who do you mean by someone close to you?" Faced with Hongli's words, Wei Xiuyan slightly raised her lips and said, "I'm sorry to be blunt, but whoever has the deepest quarrel with my sister is the most suspicious."
Hongli's seemingly silent eyes were full of waves, and he said coldly: "Do you suspect that he is someone from the palace?"
Wei Xiuyan did not deny it and said as she said: "Before the truth is unknown, anyone can do it, including the people in the palace."
Hongli stared for a moment and said slowly: "Under the truth, I will give you a satisfactory explanation."
The corners of Wei Xiuyan's lips curved slightly, and she bowed and said, "I would like to express my gratitude to the Emperor on my behalf."
Hongli personally helped her up and stroked her belly, "There is less than a month left, you must take good care of this child."
Wei Xiuyan smiled and said: "Your Majesty, don't worry, I will definitely protect our children to the death."
Hongli looked at Wei Xiuyan, who was shrouded in maternal tenderness, with a complex expression. For her, this child was her closest relative, but for him, this... was just a tool to extend his life forever; if one day
, Wei Xiuyan will definitely hate him to death if she knows the truth.
She was lost in thought until Wei Xiuyan called her several times before she came back to her senses. The latter asked doubtfully: "Your Majesty, what are you thinking about?"
"It's nothing." Hongli didn't want to continue talking about this matter, and instead said: "I have been busy with state affairs recently and don't have much time to accompany you. The weather is good today and the snow has almost disappeared. How about I accompany you to go sightseeing outside?
?”
Wei Xiuyan said in surprise: "Is it really okay?" Although she was well-dressed and pampered in Guangxiu Garden, she was ordered not to leave even a step. She was like a canary trapped in a cage. Now that she can go out, how can she be unhappy?
.
"Of course it's true." As soon as Hong Li finished speaking, He Shen said knowingly: "I will prepare the carriage right now."
When they got on the carriage and went out to visit the sights of the capital, Xiao Wu also selected rare things from the inner treasury and sent them to Yonghe Palace. It happened that the Hu family was also there. After bowing to the two of them, Xiao Wu
He said respectfully: "Your Majesty ordered this servant to come and deliver birthday gifts to the Queen."
Xia Qing smiled slightly, nodded and said, "Thank you, father-in-law."
"I don't dare." With these words, Xiao Wuming and the few little eunuchs who came with him opened the brocade boxes in their hands. Every time they opened one, they read out the names of the treasures in the brocade boxes, all of which were rare in the world.
Some rare treasures, the last one is particularly special, it is called the Nine-curved Pearl.
"Nine-curved pearl?" Mrs. Hu said in surprise: "I heard that this pearl is a rare thing from the Spring and Autumn Period. There are nine-curved pearls in the pearl, and only ants can pass through it. Could it be this thing?"
Xiao Wu smiled and said: "During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, it was too far away from us, and the Nine-curved Pearl has long been lost and can't be found anywhere. This is an imitation made by a skilled craftsman ordered by the Emperor. It is the same as the Nine-curved Pearl known to the Empress.
Nine tunes.”
Mrs. Hu took the thumb-sized pearl, stared at the bead hole in the center, and asked doubtfully: "Such a small bead really has nine curves?"
"It's absolutely true." After saying that, Xiao Wu added: "If you don't believe me, I can demonstrate it to you." After saying that, he turned his eyes to Xia Qing. After all, this thing was given to her by Hongli. If she
If he doesn't agree, he can't act rashly.
How could Xia Qing not understand what he meant? She smiled and said: "I am also very curious, so I asked the Fifth Eunuch to demonstrate on my behalf."
"Slave, I obey." Xiao Wu bowed and agreed, and then ordered people to get ants and gold threads thinner than hair. When the craftsmen made the nine-curved beads, in order to verify, Hongli specially asked people to prepare these.
Still there today.
This ant was slightly larger than the usual ones, almost the same size as the bead hole, and its body was dark red. The palace man carefully tied the gold wire to the ant, and then placed it next to the bead hole that had been smeared with some honey.
The ant was attracted by the honey and immediately crawled into the bead hole. As it crawled, the gold thread passed through bit by bit. After a while, the ant crawled out of the bead hole on the other side.
After ordering someone to take away the ants, Xiaowu asked someone to hold the lamp, took away the lampshade, placed the nine-curved bead on the high-lit candle flame, and then said: "Two ladies, please take a look."