When he arrived at the East Room and saw the shadow behind the screen, Jiang Wenfeng bowed and went straight to the point: "May I ask the empress if there is any mystery in this note? Is she sure that you will go to the appointment?"
After a moment of silence behind the screen, Concubine Pei's voice sounded: "To be honest with Mr. Jiang, this trace is similar to that of an old friend."
Jiang Wenfeng nodded and did not ask about the inner story. He just said: "So, the other party deliberately imitated this person's handwriting to lure the queen to the appointment?"
"Maybe."
Jiang Wenfeng handed the note back to the emperor and reported: "Your Majesty, I thought that the palace servant who delivered the news to the empress might have been purged. It will not be a matter of overnight to track him down. But this note may be used as a clue."
Look at this paper. It is as smooth as jade, strong and white. It is a tribute paper from Runzhou. Apart from the palace, only a few princes have it. Look at the ink, which has a faint fragrance. It should be specially made by Yubaozhai.
Melting ink, this ink is not only expensive, but also very rare. As long as you trace it a little, you will know where it is."
The emperor nodded slightly and said: "Secret guard."
Jiang Wenfeng only felt his vision was dazzled when a figure appeared in front of him. The man was wearing a guard's uniform, which was slightly different. He bowed and said lowly: "Yes."
After the secret guard left, Jiang Wenfeng said again: "Last point, to set such a trap for the empress, the other party needs to meet two conditions. First, he knows that this person is an old friend of the empress. Second, he has the conditions to find this person.
Handwriting."
The emperor understood and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Jiang Qing. You should go check the palace official who sent the news first."
"Yes." Jiang Wenfeng retreated.
The emperor stared at Concubine Pei walking out of the screen and asked for a long time: "Is this writing from A Jing?"
Concubine Pei lowered her eyes and responded softly.
The emperor raised his lips, not sure if he was smiling: "No wonder you fell into the trap."
Concubine Pei looked up at him and said softly: "Your Majesty, can you understand how I feel when I see the note? A dead person, and suddenly something related to him appears..." She sighed and said quietly,
"I feel guilty for him! We promised that we would grow old together, and he died protecting me, but I... these days are like stolen ones. The happier I am, the more guilty I feel."
At the end of the sentence, Concubine Pei's eyes flashed with tears and her voice was sad.
Seeing her like this, the unhappiness in the emperor's heart disappeared.
How could a young couple forget easily? The imperial concubine had always been so open-minded in front of him, never hiding her care and guilt.
"Don't cry." The emperor held her hand and his voice softened, "It's not because you didn't keep your oath, it's because God gave you an extra life. If A Jingquan knew better, he would also wish you happiness for the rest of his life."
The emperor's words made Concubine Pei even more uncontrollable. She held his arm and cried: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." she cried intermittently, "when I saw his handwriting, I couldn't help but think
Let’s go and find out. In fact, I should know that he is no longer here, so it can’t be him. Halfway through, I thought of His Majesty again, and then I stopped. I almost fell into someone else’s trap. If the other party really succeeds,
Not only did she lose her moral integrity, but she also ruined His Majesty's reputation. All this is due to my own weak will, which allowed others to take advantage of her..."
When the emperor heard what she said, he felt at peace in his heart, and said softly: "Why do you blame me? It is human nature to feel agitated for a moment when I saw his handwriting. In that situation, you still remembered me, what's so strange about it?"
Yes? It’s just that if something happens in the future, don’t be so impulsive. If something happens to you, what should I do? I just think about the result and I shudder."
When he said the last sentence, his eyes became cold.
After appeasing the imperial concubine and telling her to rest, the emperor summoned the secret guard and handed over the note: "Go to the East Palace and find the person who wrote this note."
"yes."
...
Nearing the second watch, the emperor, who had left the banquet in the middle, came back, drank a final glass of wine, and announced the banquet was dismissed.
The royal relatives and relatives who had stayed in Taiyuan Palace for seven days left the palace and returned home one after another.
Mingwei was stopped by the palace attendant next to Concubine Pei, saying that it was the empress who invited her.
Mrs. Boling Hou said with a pleasant look: "Since the queen has invited me, you can go."
Mingwei responded, bowed to her and thanked her, and then followed the palace servants to see Concubine Pei.
In the bedroom in the back hall, Concubine Pei had taken off her makeup, her eyes were reddish, and she looked unhappy. The emperor was sitting next to her, whispering something.
After Mingwei saluted, the emperor showed a smile without much smile: "Get up. The imperial concubine is in a bad mood, and I happen to have something to do. Would you mind if I could trouble Miss Mingqi to accompany her?"
Mingwei replied: "Your Majesty is serious. Your Majesty loves you so much. My little girl is so flattered that she doesn't dare to be a bother."
The emperor smiled, and when he stood up, he told the imperial concubine: "My beloved, don't think too much, chat with Miss Mingqi for a while, then rest early, and leave the rest to me."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Concubine Pei watched him leave.
Mingwei came closer and said, "Your Majesty, your face doesn't look good. Are you too tired? I know some massage techniques. Why don't you give your Majesty a massage? It might help you sleep."
Concubine Pei smiled weakly and said, "Then there is Miss Lao Mingqi."
"Don't dare."
The palace servants brought a brocade stool, Mingwei cleaned her hands, sat down in front of the couch, asked Concubine Pei to turn sideways, and then pushed her up one by one.
Concubine Pei let out a few comfortable hums, and after a while she said: "Miss Ming Qi is here, you all can go down."
"yes."
The palace attendants bowed their knees and bowed before filing out.
Mingwei focused on massaging, and Concubine Pei hummed from time to time, and the two of them exchanged a few words. Mingwei asked her if her strength was moderate and if she had any discomforts, and Concubine Pei answered them one by one.
Sounds perfectly normal.
The palace man guarding the door quickly became sleepy and nodded unconsciously.
Concubine Pei was so comfortable being massaged by Mingwei that she almost fell asleep, but suddenly she woke up with a jolt.
Mingwei had already withdrawn her hand and said with a smile: "Empress, you can talk now."
Concubine Pei slowly sat up, her eyes gradually became clear, she stroked her chest and held her hand: "Fortunately, I have you, otherwise I would have fallen into this trap full of loopholes today."
Speaking of this, Concubine Pei laughed at herself: "I thought that I had gone through all the troubles and looked down on that little brat, but in the end I was almost plotted by him. I couldn't see such a simple trap. I really feel ashamed of myself."
Mingwei said softly: "Your Majesty, care will lead to chaos. Although this trap is simple, it hits people's hearts directly. His Highness has always been mediocre in intelligence, but this move was an unexpected one. You didn't fall on him, you fell on yourself."
In love."
Concubine Pei gave a wry smile: "Yes, caring leads to chaos. I obviously watched him pass away with my own eyes, but I still can't get out of my memory..."
She closed her eyes, opened them again, and her tone became firm: "No matter what, there will never be a next time." (To be continued)