Zhang Yanling came out of Kunning Palace and walked out of the palace along the snow-covered avenue between the palaces. Passing by the Qianqing Palace Square, he saw that the Qianqing Palace was brightly lit and seemed to be a bit noisy and lively.
Zhang Yanling wanted to go to Qianqing Palace to meet Zhu Houzhao. On the one hand, she wanted to talk to Zhu Houzhao about Empress Dowager Zhang and to resolve the tension between mother and son. On the other hand, she also wanted to talk to Zhu Houzhao. After all, Zhu Houzhao was already the emperor, and she had to To further build a good relationship with him, it is extremely important to strengthen communication.
So Zhang Yanling took a few steps towards the Qianqing Palace. In the cold wind, the silk and bamboo music in the palace floated into his ears, and the drums and silk and bamboo music were melodious and beautiful. However, Zhang Yanling stopped and stood still.
It seemed that Zhu Houzhao was not affected by the quarrel between him and Empress Dowager Zhang just now. Listening to the sound of drums, silk and bamboo, and seeing the figures swaying in the palace and the lanterns and colorful decorations, he had already started the happy moment tonight. I went to see him at this time. , in fact, there is nothing to say. And in this situation, maybe disturbing him by yourself will cause him displeasure.
Zhengde is indeed Zhengde, not to mention that he just had a dispute with the Queen Mother Zhang, and his mother was still secretly feeling sad in Kunning Palace. Even if there was no dispute, he should not have a carnival with lights and colorful decorations at this time. Everyone in the world Many people are mourning for their father. Many people do not light red lanterns or wear colorful clothes during the New Year because of the death of their father. In fact, the one-month mourning period has long passed, and they no longer need to do that.
As the son of a human being, Zhu Houzhao should have a mourning period of at least one year. He could not drink, have fun, or do festive things. Even if it was not so harsh, at least he could not start a carnival with lights and colorful decorations just over a month after his father's death. .This really makes people don’t know what to say.
Zhang Yanling wandered around for a moment, and when he turned around and was about to leave, a figure suddenly appeared from the shadow of the flower trees on the roadside, which startled Zhang Yanling.
"Your Majesty, you are polite!" The man spoke in a deep voice and bowed in salute.
Zhang Yanling heard his voice and said in surprise: "Eunuch Liu? Why are you here?"
Liu Jin walked forward with a smile and said in a deep voice: "Our family arrived here before Mr. Hou. We have been standing in the pavilion over there, but Mr. Hou didn't see me. But I saw Mr. Hou hesitate to move forward. , you planned to go to see the emperor, but gave up your mind, right?"
Zhang Yanling heard it, and Liu Jin stood in the shadows and watched him. He was afraid that he would see her hesitating. This guy was sneaky, and he didn't know his purpose.
"Why is Eunuch Liu standing outside in this cold weather? Don't you have to serve the emperor?" Zhang Yanling said with a smile.
Liu Jin chuckled and said: "Your Majesty, you don't need me to serve you at this time. Didn't you hear the sound of silk and bamboo songs? At this time, our family doesn't need to serve you. We are not interested in melodious songs and can't listen to them." I understand. Our family is here specially to wait for the Marquis."
Zhang Yanling said in surprise: "You are waiting for me specially?"
Liu Jin nodded and said: "Exactly."
Zhang Yanling said: "I wonder if Eunuch Liu has anything to do with me?"
Liu Jin said: "We are talking in the pavilion over there. It is a bit inconvenient to stand here at the intersection due to the wind and snow. Please come with me, Mr. Hou."
Liu Jin turned around as he spoke. Zhang Yanling thought for a moment and followed him. The two of them entered the flowers and trees on the roadside and walked along a narrow and winding path to a small dark pavilion.
The small pavilion has drafts from all sides, and usually nothing comes from it. Half of the ground is covered with snow, and the other half is still dry. Standing in the pavilion, you can see people holding lanterns, food boxes, and dishes under the corridor of the side hall of Qianqing Palace. The palace maids and eunuchs shuttled back and forth, extremely busy.
Liu Jin turned around and said with a deep smile: "Master Hou, our family has always wanted to have a few words with Mr. Hou. We have been extremely busy for the rest of the month, and you and I have no time to spare. Today is New Year's Eve, it's not easy. You and I both have free time, so we took this opportunity to wait for the Marquis here and want to talk to him."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "I see. Indeed, the rest of the month has been quite busy. The former Emperor Bintian and the Crown Prince ascended the throne. It takes time for everyone to adjust and adapt. The affairs are complicated and it is indeed very busy."
Liu Jin nodded and sighed: "Everything in the world is unpredictable. Who would have thought that the late emperor would die so young when he was in his prime. It is really sad and sad."
Zhang Yanling nodded and said: "Yes, it happened so suddenly. No one was mentally prepared for it. As I said, there are always accidents in the world."
Liu Jin nodded and suddenly asked: "What does Mr. Zhang think of the sudden death of the late emperor?"
Zhang Yanling said: "Didn't we find out the cause? It was caused by the negligence of the imperial doctor in dispensing medicine. He really deserves to die. The Taiyuan Hospital has such a heavy responsibility, but it made such a low-level mistake."
Liu Jin said: "So Master Hou also believes this statement?"
Zhang Yanling was surprised and said: "What does Eunuch Liu mean by this? Is it possible that Eunuch Liu doesn't believe this reason?"
Liu Jin pondered for a moment and said in a low voice: "Master Zhang, our family is dull, but our family is honest. If you have something to say, say whatever you want, and say whatever you think. Today I am talking to Lord Marquis. , Our family doesn’t want to beat around the bush. If there is anything wrong in the words, we will say it right now, but it is only in the ears of a third person. What do you think, Lord Marquis?"
Zhang Yanling said: "What do you want to say, father-in-law? If father-in-law is worried that I, Zhang Yanling, am not strict with my words, there is no need to say it."
Liu Jin smiled and said: "Of course I can trust Mr. Zhang. Then I will tell you straight. Mr. Hou, our family always murmurs in our hearts that the death of the late emperor is not as simple as Li Dongyang said. The two imperial doctors from Tai Hospital The doctors didn't even admit that they made the wrong medicine until they died, and there was nothing wrong with Liu Wentai's prescription. Li Dongyang and the others were eager to close the case, and Xu Hao and Gao Tinghe died inexplicably. Isn't all this suspicious?"
Zhang Yanling's heart moved and she said in a deep voice: "What father-in-law means...could it be that..."
Liu Jin whispered word by word: "Our family suspects... that the late emperor was murdered."
Zhang Yanling looked at Liu Jin in shock. In the dim light of darkness, Liu Jin's fat face was covered with shadows, and his facial features and expressions could not be seen clearly. But Liu Jin's eyes shone brightly, like the fierce eyes of a wild beast. .
"Eunuch Liu, you can't say things like this casually. Could it be that Eunuch Liu has some clues or evidence?" Zhang Yanling whispered.
Liu Jin laughed heartily, shook his head and said, "No. If there were evidence and clues, wouldn't our family bring them out to severely punish the murderer? There is no evidence, it's just our own wild speculation."
Zhang Yanling stretched out her hand and put it on the stone table in the small pavilion. The stone table was bone-chilling, as cold as a piece of ice. Zhang Yanling did not take back her hand, tapping her fingers lightly on the stone table.
"Based on Eunuch Liu's guess, who do you think is responsible? Who has such courage to murder the emperor?" Zhang Yanling said solemnly.
Liu Jin waited for Zhang Yanling to ask the question and immediately replied: "Master Hou, I suspect that it was the outside court. I suspect that it was Li Dongyang, Liu Jian and the others."
Zhang Yanling stared at Liu Jin without saying a word. Liu Jin said in a deep voice: "Don't ask me, we have no evidence, we are just guessing. But our guess is definitely not random guessing. When the Marquis hears our reasons, he will know that our family is not