There are three levels of wives and concubines of the prince: Crown Princess, Liang Di, and Baolin. Du Erniang and Du Jin are Liang Di and are of the third rank.
In the first month of this year, Crown Princess Wei was forced to divorce the Crown Prince due to the Wei Jian case. Du Jin was happy about the possibility of becoming the Crown Princess, but at the same time she was worried.
I had just sent the prince off that day, and my maid Qu Shui hurried over to report: "My aunt sent someone to bring a token, saying something very big."
Du Jin knew that her eldest sister's dowry had been almost sold out since she married Liu Ji, but only one jade pendant was still there. She took it, took a look, and quickly ordered someone to come in.
"What a big deal?" She already had a premonition that something bad was going to happen. She trembled and said to herself, "It's like walking on thin ice and eventually falling into an ice hole."
She adjusted her mood and rushed to the side hall, where she saw a young man sitting upright on a futon with a calm demeanor.
But when he turned around, Du Jin felt a sense of being scrutinized.
She couldn't help but frown slightly and asked, "May I ask who the young man is?"
"Langzi" is a good name for a handsome young man, and adding the word "小" is her subconscious resistance to being scrutinized by Xue Bai.
"Xue Bai, I have received favors from the Du family." Xue Bai said straight to the point: "Liu Lang's son-in-law sued the Du family for 'falsely claiming prophecies, constructing the East Palace, and criticizing Cheng Yu'. Jingzhao Mansion has already taken your father's name. Someone is behind this matter." Manipulation, we have found evidence and want to present it to the prince."
Du Jin's expression changed instantly, but he quickly calmed down.
"The prince is not here, can you show me the evidence first?"
Xue Bai took out the draft of the paper.
Just as Qu Shui was about to step forward, Du Jin leaned over to Xue Bai to take it, and a white greasy look came into his eyes.
A faint aroma drifted by. She took the manuscript paper and slowly knelt down on the thin ball on the opposite side. She looked at it carefully, turned to Qu Shui, and whispered: "Hurry up and ask the prince to come back."
Afterwards, she asked Xue Bai about the detailed story, and Xue Bai told him in detail everything from when he became a book boy in the Du family when he was in a coma and lost his memory.
After hearing this, Du Jin patted her heart and said happily, "Xue Langzi has worked hard for the Du family. I have no repayment for my cold body today. I will thank you again in the future."
Xue Bai said slowly: "Although I have lost my memory, I know that since I was beaten to death, I must have offended someone before. There were people watching outside when I came here today. These people may find out what happened before I lost my memory." Will it bring trouble to the prince?"
Du Jin's eyes narrowed and she understood the implication of his words. She said she was afraid of bringing trouble to the prince, but in fact she wanted the prince's protection.
There was a slight change in her tone, and she said: "If you cause any trouble, you can tell me directly. I will never shirk if I can help."
Xue Bai said: "But I really don't remember."
Du Jin felt slightly unhappy.
Xue Bai added: "Qinglan said that I have a brand on the back of my neck and a strangle wound on my leg. I must be an official slave."
"Looking at your appearance, are you from a wealthy family and were you considered a slave?"
"I can't think of it, but it's possible."
Du Jin was willing to return the favor, but the prince's current situation was not good. Without knowing whether Xue Bai's troubles were big or small, it would be risky to rashly agree to asylum.
So she looked at Xue Bai carefully for a while again, thinking about whether this person was worth helping.
Finally, Du Jin nodded and said, "Okay, I will keep you safe."
Xue Bai breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Can I meet the prince?"
"The prince is busy, so it is inconvenient to see you." Du Jin's eyes turned, and he said: "If you have something to do, it's the same as my concubine. The East Palace will never treat you badly."
Xue Bai looked at her, saw a very familiar look in his eyes, and immediately understood - he was also working for Dong Palace, and she hoped that he was doing things for her.
It can be seen that although she and the prince are husband and wife, there are still some subtle differences between them.
Xue Bai said calmly: "I heard about the Wei Jian case that happened at the beginning of the year, and I have been thinking, if the prince abandons the people around him again this time, wouldn't it be bad for people's hearts?"
He seemed to have become a counselor under the crown prince Liangdi, considering the problem from Du Jin's perspective.
Qing Lan was shocked to see this situation. It had only been five days since the Du family rescued Xue Bai, but he showed more strange things every day, which showed that the city was extremely deep.
Du Jin desperately needed such a person, so he couldn't help but smile and said: "Don't worry, I am not Concubine Wei, and we have evidence that can prove the Du family's innocence. This case is simple, and it is not difficult to reverse the case."
This smile is so charming, she is indeed a beauty that can easily make men ignore everything.
Then, she added softly and said: "Of course, I will let the prince know your words tactfully. The crown prince is the foundation of the country, not to mention the prestige, and the last bit of dignity must be preserved no matter what."
Xue Bai nodded in agreement and asked, "How do you plan to use this evidence?"
He also called her "Second Mother" instead of "Du Liangdi", but Du Jin smiled knowingly again and said: "The prince must discuss with several ministers to come up with the most appropriate solution."
This was not an issue that Xue Bai could deal with, so he asked: "Who is causing trouble behind this?"
Du Jin sneered slightly and said: "Who else can there be except Li Linfu, the right minister of the court?"
Xue Bai did not speak and waited for the next sentence.
"Li Linfu's nickname is Ge Nu. Because he has a ruthless nature, an unkind face, and a violent spirit, he is like a fighting chicken. The Chinese people call him the 'fighting chicken'. He strongly supported King Rishou as the crown prince, and since then
He believed that he had no merit in the appointment of the crown prince, so he wanted to shake the East Palace. The Wei Jian case at the beginning of the year was the result of his large-scale unjust imprisonment..."
Du Jin opened his mouth very powerfully, scolding Li Linfu for his personal incompetence, and finally concluded: "This man is jealous of talents and has brought disaster to the world. He is really a traitorous minister."
Xue Bai listened very seriously.
He was sitting upright, and occasionally his fingers would unconsciously tremble twice, as if he were holding a piece of pencil to record.
Du Jin looked around and guessed that he had the habit of taking notes when listening to people talking.
After talking about Li Linfu, Xue Bai pondered for a moment and then asked: "Is there Yang Guozhong in the court?"
Du Jin thought for a while, shook his head and said, "I have never heard of this person."
"He is the brother of Concubine Yang."
"Concubine Yang only has three sisters and one brother who died in infancy." Du Jin said: "But this year, a cousin who is not famous comes here. He is a spitting pot."
"Spit pot?"
"There is a story. If not, I don't know this person." Du Jin said: "This person's name is Yang Zhao. He is addicted to drinking and gambling. He is despised by his relatives, so he had to go to Xichuan to make a living. It seems to be the last year? From now on?
Xichuan returned to Chang'an, sent gifts everywhere, and flattered Li Linfu."
At this point, she turned down the corners of her mouth, waved her sleeves, and then continued.
"One day, Li Linfu came out of the imperial city with a mouthful of old phlegm in his mouth and nowhere to spit it out. Yang Zhao was accompanying him, and he opened his mouth quickly and asked Li Linfu to spit it in his mouth, hence the name "spit pot".
One is asking for a cockfight, the other is complicit in the evil."
Qing Lan was nearby, and she couldn't help but said "Eh" in disgust, feeling a chill.
Xue Bai was also speechless for a long time.
I thought to myself, it seems that this Yang Zhao is Yang Guozhong, who has not yet made a fortune.
Du Jin asked, "Why are you asking about this person? But Liu Ji has some dealings with him?"
Xue Bai remained calm and asked: "Why do you think so?"
"Liu Ji was appointed as Zuo Xiao's Guard Cao, and Yang Zhao was appointed as Right Xiao's Guard Cao. They both have the temper to drown in the wine pond, so it's normal for them to have contacts." Du Jin said: "You mean...Liu Ji was appointed by Yang Zhao.
Introduced to Ji Wen? Did the eldest sister tell you?"
Xue Bai had a long talk with Du Po last night, but Du Po didn't know these people in the court. She only said that Liu Ji never talked about these things after returning home.
In comparison, Du Jin has been immersed in political intrigue for a long time, and his thinking is indeed much more flexible.
Xue Bai listened to her and gained a lot in an instant. He muttered and said: "The key to this case..."
At this time, Qushui hurried back and said: "The prince is back."
"So fast?" Du Jin was a little surprised.
"The people sent by this slave have just left home. I think the prince must have heard some news and rushed back."
Du Jin nodded and stood up to greet him. At the same time, he told Xue Bai: "I will greet the eldest sister after I see the prince in person. Wulang, please wait here and don't move around at will."
~~
Du Jin was kind to others and did not forget to order lunch for Xue Bai and Qing Lan.
But after lunch, Xue Bai waited for a long time in the Prince's Courtyard, but she did not come back.
Until a middle-aged man wearing a red round-neck narrow-sleeved robe trotted over.
This man was about forty years old, with a hunched back and an ugly appearance. His eyes were bulging, his forehead was protruding, his teeth were crooked, and his face was beardless... He should be a eunuch.
"This is Li Jingzhong, the eunuch of the East Palace. May I ask if this is in person to Xue Langjun?"
Li Jingzhong has a strange voice. He must have been castrated before his voice changed.
Xue Bai hurriedly bowed and said: "Exactly."
Li Jingzhong stepped forward, leaned in front of Xue Bai, and whispered: "Li Linfu sent someone here, apparently for a visit, but actually for a search."
Without waiting for Xue Bai to react, he raised his hand and said: "Please come here quickly, Mr. Xue Bai."
They left the side hall and did not dare to go back to the front yard. Instead, they hurried along the corridor to the back yard.
At the end of the corridor, Li Jingzhong looked down and saw Xue Bai and Qinglan's shoes were still left in the front yard. He quickly called a few eunuchs and ordered them to take off their boots and put them on.
Xue Bai didn't say anything and glanced at the front yard.
Qinglan sighed before putting on the little eunuch's boots. Because the boots were too big, she stumbled when she walked.
After walking through the two yards and entering the courtyard, I saw a carriage carrying swill has been hitched by the side door of the back courtyard, with a large vat on it. There were also several men dressed as slaves standing beside the carriage, all of them tall and strong.
Li Jingzhong led them to the tank and said, "There are people watching outside, so please forgive me for a moment. This tank is clean, the big water tank in the kitchen."
Xue Bai was reluctant to go in and said: "We have evidence to prove the Du family's innocence."
"Yes." Li Jingzhong said anxiously: "But where did the evidence come from? It can't be sent by the prince to get it. It has to be left to others to clear the Du family's grievances. It has to be hidden from you before it can be used.
This is the evidence.”
"Where are the Du family siblings?"
"I should send it there, but how can I take care of it now?"
"There are people watching outside. If we are caught, we won't be able to explain it." Xue Bai said: "Is the other party deliberately forcing us to reveal our flaws?"
Li Jingzhong stamped his feet anxiously and said: "Don't worry, the arrangements have been made... Let's go quickly, the prince's situation is not good."
He was really anxious. He stretched out his hand to help Qing Lan into the vat, and then helped Xue Bai.
As soon as Xue Bai entered, Qing Lan saw that he was so close, so she quickly closed her eyes and covered her chest.
"Squat down." Li Jingzhong kept urging, picking up a log cover and pressing it down with his own hands.
In this way, it would be a bit crowded for two people to squat in the tank.
The darkness was shrouded, leaving only a small amount of light shining through the cracks between the wooden covers.
Li Jingzhong ordered from outside: "Quickly, bring the swill bucket up and tie the cover up so it doesn't fall off... What's going on outside?"
"You can go."
The big vat shook a few times, and then the sound of a drum was heard.
The car was bumpy, and Xue Bai and Qing Lan were bumped into each other from time to time. Qing Lan was panicked at first, but she gradually got used to it.
After a long time, the carriage stopped.
The big vat was lifted up and shook violently. Qinglan fell completely into Xue Bai's arms with a "yeah" sound.
Xue Bai ignored her and reached out to push the cover, but it was already tied up with hemp rope.
Through the gap, he saw that he was in the wilderness.
"Let us out!"
There was no movement outside. The large vat was placed on the ground after shaking a few times, and there was a slight rustling sound.
It's like rain hitting the eaves.
Xue Bai instantly thought of many details from before, knowing that he and Qing Lan were going to be buried alive.
He slammed against the cover above him, and then it opened a little, and immediately a big man stepped on it.
Seeing that he could not push away, he quickly shouted: "Killing us will do no good to your master, it will only bring trouble to him."
"Swish, swish, swish..."
"I can give you whatever you want! Believe me, I am different from everyone else in this world, and I can give you a lot of things! Do you want money? Just ask for as much as you want."
Qinglan also understood what happened. She put her hands on the cover and cried: "Please...let us go...please..."
In the chaos, she suddenly felt Xue Bai's hands touching her feet. She became even more frightened and screamed.
"Ah! Don't be like this..."
However, the rustling sound never stopped and became smaller and smaller.
Finally, there was no more light in the gap between the cover plate and the cylinder mouth, and no movement outside could be heard.