Kou Ji stared at Chen Lin suspiciously, "Who is Xiao Linzi?"
Chen Lin was stunned for a moment and said hurriedly: "The little eunuch who followed our family's orders..."
Kou Ji looked sideways at Chen Lin, curled his lips and said, "You sent him to keep an eye on the officials. If the officials find out, they will naturally replace him."
When Chen Lin heard this, her old face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
"How could our family send people to keep an eye on the official family..."
Chen Lin glared at Kou Ji and gritted her teeth.
Kou Ji snorted and said: "You don't dare to send people to keep an eye on the official family when you are near the water. I am outside the palace, so you dare to send people to keep an eye on the official family? I don't know what the official family is doing. I don't know what the official family is doing."
Why should I change my family to a new eunuch? How should I know?"
Chen Lin was stunned, realizing that she had asked a stupid question, and looked embarrassed.
Kou Ji said calmly: "If that little eunuch had really angered the officials, he would have been buried in the imperial garden and become manure. The fact that he is still alive means that he has not angered the officials. He should have said
If you are wrong, the officials are not willing to let him follow you anymore, so they asked you to replace him."
Chen Lin took a deep breath after hearing this, "That's good..."
Kou Ji was stunned for a moment and said unexpectedly: "Are you a relative?"
Chen Lin glanced at Kou Ji and said, "Our family has neither father nor mother since we were young. How can we have any relatives?"
Kou Ji looked at him suspiciously.
Chen Lin sighed and said: "He is our godson... Our family is determined to support him, so we let him serve the official family. Now it seems that he does not have that vision and needs to be trained."
Kou Ji curled his lips and said, "Don't form cliques in the palace, otherwise I will definitely impeach you."
Chen Lin rolled her eyes and said nothing.
Kou Ji looked at the Korean beauty's tightly guarded bedroom and asked, "Is there anything wrong?"
Chen Lin said sternly: "We are watching, who dares to do anything under our noses?"
Kou Ji sighed: "You are confident, but once someone makes a move, even a slave like you can't stop them."
Chen Lin's expression changed slightly. She glanced left and right and saw that no one was paying attention. She moved closer to Kou Ji and lowered her voice and said, "Is this related to those three people?"
Chen Lin is also a smart person. After Kou Ji reminded her a little, Chen Lin immediately noticed the problem.
Kou Ji said in a deep voice: "I didn't plan to tell you originally, but the other party has a lot of hidden power in the palace. I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to investigate her. Although the officials have temporarily left the people of Wude Division to my disposal
, but the people of Wudesi have not been in the palace for a long time. As soon as they make a move, they will be discovered by the opponent immediately.
So we still need help from your people."
"hiss……"
Chen Lin took two breaths of cold air and said, "She...she did it again?"
Kou Ji narrowed his eyes slightly, "Have you guessed who it is?"
Chen Lin looked at Kou Ji and whispered: "When Taizong was in court, our family had already been cleansed. Our family knew very well some unknown things in the palace."
Kou Ji pondered: "You seem surprised?"
Chen Lin nodded slowly and said in a deep voice: "She has no reason to assassinate the royal heir of the Guan family... She raised the Guan family with her own hands..."
Kou Ji narrowed his eyes and said, "So you have never doubted her before?"
Chen Lin nodded and said: "She loves the official family more than anyone else... Our family will naturally not doubt her."
Speaking of this, Chen Lin looked at Kou Jida and said, "Have you found evidence that she did it?"
Kou Ji slowly shook his head, "No evidence has been found, but she is the only one in the palace who has the scheming and strength to do this."
Chen Lin gritted her teeth and said, "What if someone framed her?"
Kou Ji said quietly: "She is not weak. There should be her spies everywhere in the palace. Who can frame her under her nose?"
Chen Lin's face suddenly became very ugly.
"But she has no reason to assassinate the royal heir!"
Chen Lin said firmly.
Kou Ji nodded and said: "So I guess she is probably just an accessory, and there is a principal behind her. The principal should have some information about her, so she has to obey the principal's orders."
Chen Lin's face became a little gloomy, and she gritted her teeth and said: "If this is really the case, our family will have to have a fight with her."
Kou Ji was stunned for a moment and reminded: "She is the adoptive mother of the official family. Do you dare to go against her?"
Chen Lin said coldly: "In this palace, our family only recognizes officials."
Kou Ji said in a deep voice: "If she does something bad, I'm afraid the officials won't let you go."
Chen Lin glared at Kou Ji and said, "As long as everything goes well with the official family, our family doesn't care even if we risk our lives."
Kou Ji sighed and said, "You are loyal..."
Chen Lin took a deep look at Kou Ji and whispered: "If our family doesn't support the government, there won't be many people in the world who will support the government."
After Chen Lin said this, without waiting for Kou Ji to speak again, she continued: "Since you are back, the affairs here will be left to you. Let's go meet her for a while and see if there is anything behind this matter.
There is her."
Kou Ji was slightly stunned.
Chen Lin did not explain any more and hurriedly left the Korean beauty's palace.
After walking a few steps, he suddenly turned around, walked up to Kou Ji, and said in a deep voice: "If there is really a mastermind behind this matter, it must be an old man who knows many things in the palace.
She always does things cleanly, leaving almost no tricks, so the person who can grasp her handle must be someone who knows her very well.
Nowadays, there are not many people alive in the palace who know her well.
We will make a list for you later, and if you check it, you should be able to find something."
Kou Ji nodded slowly.
Chen Lin didn't speak any more and took steps to leave Han Meiren's bedroom.
After Chen Lin left, Kou Ji walked to the door of Han Meiren's bedroom.
The guards and eunuchs guarding the door of the palace all saluted Kou Ji when they saw him.
Kou Ji found a leader and asked, "How is the situation inside?"
The leading eunuch bowed and said: "I told Privy Councilor Kou that people inside are panicked and a little confused, but nothing serious has gone wrong and no one has died. Three meals a day are provided, and people are allowed in but not allowed out."
Kou Ji nodded slowly, "No big mistake happened...but I can stay calm..."
Kou Ji ordered the leading eunuch: "Go down and provide them with only one meal from today on."
The leading eunuch was slightly stunned.
Kou Ji asked: "Is there a problem?"
The leading eunuch hurriedly said: "I don't dare..."
Kou Ji nodded slowly and said, "Find a place and let me sleep for a while."
The leading eunuch didn't say anything more. He found a wing next to the Korean beauty's palace and arranged for Kou Ji to stay there.
After Kou Ji entered, he fell down and fell asleep.
After waking up, it was already evening.
After waking up, he saw a young eunuch guarding the door of his room.
Kou Ji went out, looked the young eunuch up and down, and asked, "Did Chen Lin send you here?"
The young eunuch nodded and said, "If you want to reply to Privy Councilor Kou, Chen Daban will send a slave to deliver a letter to you."
Kou Ji spread his hands, and the young eunuch immediately took a letter from his arms and gave it to Kou Ji.
Kou Ji got the letter, waved his hand to the young eunuch, and said, "You go down first."
The young eunuch bowed and left the door of the room.
Kou Ji took the letter back to his room, opened it, took a look at it by candlelight, and was stunned.
I saw that the letter Chen Lin gave was headed by four words.
Princess Du.
Kou Ji had already excluded Mrs. Du from the list, but the letter given by Chen Lin listed Mrs. Du at the top of the list. Kou Ji was very surprised.
Kou Ji took the letter and muttered: "What is the basis for Chen Lin to list Princess Du first?"
Kou Ji muttered while continuing to review the letter sent by Chen Lin.
After reviewing the letter, Kou Ji finally understood why Chen Lin listed Princess Du first.
Kou Ji put away the letter and smiled bitterly, "This old guy is probably crazy."
Chen Lin not only listed Princess Du among them, but also several other concubines of the late emperor who stayed in the palace to take care of their old age, as well as some old ladies in the palace.
In addition, Zhao Zhen’s biological mother Li Taifei is also among them.
Chen Lin made the list in the order of her knowledge of Princess Yang.
And all people are listed in it, whether they are good or bad.
The leader, Mrs. Du, should be considered one of the people in the harem who knows Mrs. Yang best.
Why does Kou Ji think he is one of them?
Because according to the rules of Chen Lin's list, Chen Lin should be tied at the top of the list with Princess Du.
Chen Lin may even replace Princess Du at the top of the list.
Chen Lin definitely knows more about some of the internal affairs in the palace than Mrs. Du.
Chen Lin, an old guy, is obviously acting recklessly now because she would rather kill the wrong person than let him go.
The list he provided can only be used as a reference, but cannot be trusted.
Kou Ji put away the letter, walked out of the room, stood at the door of Han Meiren's bedroom and listened for a while, then returned to the room to sleep.
…
The next day.
early morning.
As soon as Kou Ji got up, he heard footsteps outside the door.
Kou Ji opened the door and saw the young eunuch who delivered the letter yesterday appeared at the door of the room.
Before Kou Ji could speak, the young eunuch took the lead and said: "Privilege Kou, Chen Daban asked my servant to come and tell you that a female official died in the dressing room last night. Her death was extremely miserable. The murderer has not been caught yet. I am afraid that the palace
It’s not safe, please be careful.”
Kou Ji nodded slowly.
The young eunuch said no more and hurriedly left in front of Kou Ji's room.
Kou Ji understood what Chen Lin meant by sending the eunuch here.
The female officer in the dressing room must be from Mrs. Yang.
It should be Chen Lin who killed her.
Chen Lin used this to tell Kou Ji that he had already taken action.
"This old guy usually looks kind and has good intentions, but when he does evil things, he is really unambiguous."
Kou Ji murmured in a low voice and ordered someone to prepare some water for washing. After a simple wash, he ate some food and gathered outside Han Meiren's bedroom to listen for a while. Then he left Han Meiren's bedroom and went to Mrs. Du.
Go to the palace where the concubine lives.
With facial recognition, he walked safely to the outside of Princess Du's palace. After passing the notice, the female officer in Princess Du's palace led Kou Ji into Princess Du's palace.
There were not many people in Princess Du's palace, only three or five maids waiting on her.
The palace is very quiet, with flowers and plants planted everywhere.
There is still a faint scent of sandalwood floating in the yard.
The closer to where Mrs. Du is, the stronger the scent of sandalwood becomes.
But it's not pungent.
It was obvious that Mrs. Du had a firm control over the spices when burning incense.
The female officer led Kou Ji to the door of Concubine Du's room and called out.
Mrs. Du invited him into the room.
The furnishings in the room are very simple.
A bed, a bookshelf, a Guanyin statue, and three futons.
There was only one quilt on the bed, which was very simple.
The bookshelves are filled with Buddhist scriptures.
The three futons have been pressed into a thin layer due to sitting for a long time.
The only valuable thing in the room is the Guanyin statue.
It was a pure gold statue of Guanyin, dazzling under the candlelight.
The curls of green smoke drifted past in front of the Guanyin statue, adding a sense of mystery.
Princess Du was dressed in plain clothes, kneeling on one of the futons, facing the Guanyin statue.
Concubine Du looked more like a hermit than a concubine.
Kou Ji entered the door and bowed, "Your Majesty, Kou Ji, please see Princess Du..."
Concubine Du heard Kou Ji's voice, stood up slowly, turned around, nodded slightly and said with a smile: "Privy Minister Kou, there is no need to be polite."
Kou Ji stood up.
Concubine Du ordered the female official: "Xiang'er, go and prepare some refreshments to entertain Privy Councilor Kou."
The female officer agreed, bowed and exited the room.
As soon as the female officer left, the smile on Mrs. Du's face faded, she let out a long sigh, stared at Kou Ji and asked, "Privilege Kou, has the Ai family mother and daughter done anything to offend you?"
Kou Ji was slightly stunned, "Why did the concubine say this?"
Concubine Du sighed: "The Ai family tried their best to drag Xu'er out of the quagmire. Let her stay away from the disputes between the government and the public and live a worry-free life. But you still let her get involved in the quagmire in the end.
If Xu'er becomes a monk, she may not be able to get married in this life, and she may not be able to marry the person she likes the most.
But at least she can avoid the fate of being married and doesn't have to marry someone she doesn't like.
Xu'er had already had the idea of becoming a monk before. Everyone inside and outside the palace, the government and the public knew that Xu'er was about to be born, so no one mentioned Xu'er's marriage.
But ever since Xuer went to your house, revealed her true nature, and was noticed by others.
Some people have already started to mention Xuer's marriage.
If Xu'er is given a marriage to someone she doesn't like because of this, tell me whether you have harmed Xu'er."
After listening to what Concubine Du said, Kou Ji stood there blankly, not knowing what to say.
After a long time, Kou Ji stared at Concubine Du and said in a deep voice: "Don't you think that letting Xu'er become a monk is the greatest injustice to her?"
Concubine Du glared at Kou Ji and said, "Privy Councilor Kou thinks it is the greatest fairness to Xu'er to let her marry someone she doesn't like?"
Kou Jizheng said solemnly: "We, the Song Dynasty, do not need to make peace with any foreign countries now, and there are no powerful officials in the court who need to win over. So Princess Xuer can choose whoever she wants to marry at will. There is no need to worry that the officials will marry her at will.
She gives it to others.
The official loves Princess Xuer very much, and he will never see Princess Xuer marry someone she doesn't like."
"There are no more powerful people in the DPRK that the officials need to win over?"
Concubine Du stared at Kou Ji and said sarcastically: "Does this include you, Mr. Kou?"
Kou Ji looked stunned.
The royal family and relatives have been eliminated.
Almost all the warriors were crushed to the ground.
The Kou Mansion is now considered one of the top wealthy families in the Song Dynasty.
Naturally, the officials do not need to win over the Kou family.
But the official family is closest to him, the head of the Kou family.
According to custom, the royal family will turn the people closest to them into children and in-laws.
The fact that Zhao Zhen mentioned Kou Tianci's marriage three times before is proof of this.
Kou Ji stared at Concubine Du and said, "What do you mean, Concubine Du, by someone suggesting that Xu'er be betrothed to Tianci'er?"
Concubine Du did not hide anything. She nodded slowly and said, "Not only the God-given son, but also you."
The corners of Kou Ji's mouth twitched and he said, "Isn't this nonsense?"
"Nonsense?"
Concubine Du snorted coldly and said: "If this matter is spread to the court, will the civil and military officials in the court regard it as nonsense? Some people who hate you wish you could become a relative.
It should be noted that I, Taizu of the Song Dynasty, have established the ancestral system, and relatives are not allowed to interfere in politics."
Kou Ji frowned and said, "I already have a wife. If Princess Xuer marries me, do I have to be a child? How can a princess be a child? Isn't this nonsense?"
Concubine Du said coldly: "Princess can't be young, but Xiang Yanneng can."
Kou Ji frowned for a moment and said in a cold voice: "While Mr. Xiang's body is still cold, someone is plotting against his granddaughter. Aren't you afraid that the old ministers who have resigned will be disappointed?"
Concubine Du shook her head and said: "So what if I feel cold? Who would open their eyes for a dead person?"
Kou Ji said bluntly: "I already have a wife, so there is no way I can marry again. The official family will never see such a ridiculous thing happen. As for the marriage between Tianci'er and Xu'er, the official family has mentioned it before.
But I declined the offer."
After hearing Kou Ji's words, Princess Du was a little unhappy, "Privy Councilor Kou thinks that the daughter of the Ai family is not worthy of your son?"
Kou Ji solemnly said: "I don't dare. I just feel that Tianci'er is the godson of the official family, and Xu'er is the biological sister of the official family. There is a gap in seniority between the two, so we cannot mess up the seniority."
Concubine Du's face softened a bit when she heard this, "You know what's going on..."
Kou Ji said in a deep voice: "I will talk to the officials about this matter. No matter who brings it up, as long as the officials don't nod, it will all be empty talk."
Concubine Du nodded slowly and whispered: "In addition, if the Ai family is dealing with it, there is no need to worry too much about Xu'er's marriage."
Speaking of this, Mrs. Du stared at Kou Ji and said: "In the final analysis, you are doing it for Xu'er's good, so the Ai family won't care about this matter with you. But you came to the Ai family palace and dragged the Ai family into trouble.
I can’t let you go so easily.”
Kou Ji raised his brows slightly and said thoughtfully: "Does the concubine know what happened in the palace?"
Concubine Du glanced at Kou Ji and said angrily: "Although the Ai family devotes themselves to worshiping Buddha, it does not mean that the Ai family is blind to what is happening outside the window. There is such a big commotion in the palace, and the Ai family doesn't even want to know.
Disaster."
Kou Jidao: "The purpose of listening to the concubine is to understand some of the details."
Concubine Du glared at Kou Ji, "Isn't this why you came to the Ai family?"
Kou Ji nodded slowly and said: "Not bad..."
Concubine Du sighed, "You went to the laundry room, there was a fire in the laundry room, and Aunt Mei was killed, but you didn't know how to be alert, and you even went to the Ai family palace to harm the Ai family.
If the Ai family tells you what they know, I am afraid that after you leave, the Ai family will be killed."
Kou Ji hesitated and said: "Who dares to hurt the concubine in the important place of the palace? Isn't that asking for death?"
Concubine Du rolled her eyes, "Who you are, you know better than the Ai family. When the late emperor was in court, the Ai family did not fight or rob. After the officials came to the throne, the Ai family had no fight with the world.
Aijia doesn't want to care about anything and won't say anything.
I let you into the palace today mainly for the sake of taking care of Xu'er.
You leave quickly and don’t kick on the door of Ai’s house again.”
Kou Ji said in a deep voice: "Is the concubine just watching helplessly as the gangsters commit crimes in the palace?"
Concubine Du said calmly: "What can the Aijia do if they don't watch? Even if the Aijia tells you some truth, it's just an old thing, and you can't find out anything. In the end, you are fine, but the Aijia has a chance of life."
worry."
Kou Ji sighed and said: "That's the case, I won't bother you anymore..."
Concubine Du waved her hand, "Go quickly..."
Kou Ji bowed and exited Princess Du's bedroom.
After Kou Ji left, Princess Du sighed and said, "What an injustice..."
Kou Ji left Concubine Du's bedroom, glanced back at Concubine Du's bedroom, turned around and rushed to the next place.
Kou Ji planned to visit every name mentioned on the list given by Chen Lin.
Concubine Du didn't want to speak, but there was always someone who was willing to speak.
Even though everyone is reluctant to speak, Kou Ji is not without success.
Kou Ji followed the list given by Chen Lin and wandered around the palace, finally arriving at Concubine Li's bedroom.
When Kou Ji arrived at Concubine Li's bedroom, Concubine Li was taking a nap in the palace. Kou Ji did not disturb her and stayed outside the palace for a long time.
After Concubine Li woke up, she ordered the female officials to lead Kou Ji into the palace.
In comparison, Concubine Li's palace is much more gorgeous than Concubine Du's.
Kou Ji entered the palace gate of Concubine Li's palace and saw Concubine Li sitting on the soft couch in the palace.
Kou Ji walked up to Concubine Li, bowed and saluted: "Your Majesty, Kou Ji, see the Queen Mother..."
Zhao Zhen had already consecrated Concubine Li as the Queen Mother in front of the civil and military officials of the court.
The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty have been ordered to discuss the title.
Concubine Li is now the empress dowager recognized by the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, and now she has to express her will to the world.
Although Kou Ji was not in the palace before, he knew the news in the palace.
So when Kou Ji met Concubine Li, he naturally had to address her as the Queen Mother.
After Kou Ji saluted, Mrs. Li said calmly: "Why are you looking for the Ai family?"
Kou Ji bowed and said, "I am looking for the Queen Mother just to ask about some past events."
"past?"
Concubine Li was stunned for a moment, then widened her eyes and said, "Did you come here specifically to expose the pain of the Ai family?"
Kou Ji slowly shook his head, "I don't dare... I was ordered to investigate the murder case that happened in the palace, and found out that the matter involved some past events in the palace. However, I am still new to the court and don't know some of the past events in the palace, so
I’m here to ask the Queen Mother for advice.”
When Mrs. Li heard this, she hesitated and said, "Is the murder of the Han family related to the past events in the palace?"
Kou Ji replied: "Maybe there is also the late Zhang Guifei..."
Concubine Li raised her eyebrows and said in a deep voice: "You mean, Mrs. Zhang might have been murdered?"