"But still remember what you told me about Concubine Rong before?"
Concubine Rong?
Xu Mingyi never thought that he had paid attention to matters related to Concubine Rong.
Seeing the confusion in her eyes while she was thinking, Wu Chao coughed lightly: "Didn't you say before that the little prince born to Concubine Rong might not be the emperor's biological child?"
"What did you find out?" Xu Mingyi's eyes lit up.
Looking at the expression of the girl in front of him who couldn't wait to hear some exciting enough news, Wu Chao breathed a sigh of relief - he was originally worried that she would think that he was secretly pondering such gossip, but now it seems that it is really gossip.
The person was right in front of him.
After Xu Mingyi blurted out the question, he felt that he seemed to be too enthusiastic.
But who can resist such gossip?
Especially related to the Dog Emperor——
"We did find some coincidences." Wu Chao said: "The little prince was born at full term. I carefully confirmed to Xiao Qi what full term means, so I can infer from this that Concubine Rong should have been born in February last year.
There is something pregnant inside.”
Xu Mingyi nodded, Xiao Qi was indeed all-powerful.
"On the seventh day of February last year, Concubine Rong accompanied the holy concubine to Guangming Temple to pray for blessings. She was accompanied by my aunt and the Queen Mother."
Xu Mingyi's eyes moved: "Last February... was it to pray for rain?"
Wu Chao nodded: "It was that time."
She still remembered that there was a severe drought in Beijing that lasted from the end of the year before last to March of the following year.
Guangming Temple is a royal temple. If there is an unfavorable year, the emperor will go to pray for blessings in person. This blessing is not only done by burning incense, but also requires performing Buddhist services in the temple, observing pure fasts, and making offerings to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for seven weeks.
day.
Since Concubine Rong also went, it means that Concubine Rong stayed outside the palace for at least seven days in February last year...
As for the royal temple, when the emperor prays for blessings, it must be heavily guarded. During this period, ordinary pilgrims cannot be allowed to enter and disturb. If Concubine Rong was really pregnant at that time, then those who had an affair with her must have been among those praying for blessings.
middle!
However, even so, the scope is not small.
Leaving aside monks and nuns, the accompanying people include officials from the Ministry of Rites, large and small officials, police officers, and other guards and soldiers...
"Have you found any suspicious people? Or a general scope?" He was very purposeful in his actions. If he was secretly investigating something, he would only talk to her after he had already obtained the results or had some clues. If there were any clues, he would not tell her.
If not, they rarely mention it proactively.
Guo saw that he nodded and said: "There is a person in the retinue who had some interactions with Concubine Rong before she entered the palace, and he has not yet married or married -"
"who?"
"Yuepei."
"Yue Pei...?" Xu Mingyi frowned, as if he had heard this name somewhere before...
"You mean - the Qianzong of the Beijing Camp who accompanied Zhou Shilang to Dongyuan this time?!" She quickly reacted and mentioned in Mingshi's letter that this person once again treated her grandfather on his way back to Beijing.
He killed him and was detained by his grandfather that night.
Wu Chao nodded: "Before Concubine Rong entered the palace, she was secretly entangled with this person. Very few people know about this matter. I am afraid the emperor has never paid any attention to inquire about it."
Xu Mingyi was a little surprised when he heard this. According to this, maybe they were still in love, but they were beaten up because they allowed the concubine to enter the palace?
However, Wu Chao's words quickly made her give up this fantasy: "But this Yue Pei is not a very clean person secretly. Although he is not married, he has several unknown maids at home, and there are even some maids outside.
Raising a woman who was ransomed from a brothel——"
When the young man mentioned this, his flat tone was mixed with a hint of disgust.
It seems like just mentioning it makes me feel dirty.
Xu Mingyi also frowned slightly.
In this way, the other party obviously has nothing to do with the word "special affection".
And he is so lustful, but he has never married a wife...
If the other party really had a secret affair with Concubine Rong, it would be hard not to make people suspect that this single behavior up to this point was deliberately staged.
As for who to show it to—it was obviously Concubine Rong who was in the deep palace.
"The reason why Yue Pei was able to go with Zhou Shilang this time was because he was indirectly recommended by Xia Tingzhen." Wu Chao said: "I used to find it strange that Xia Tingzhen had no shortage of available people, so why did he put such an important person in the position?
The opportunity is left to a Beijing-based president Qian who is not outstanding in all aspects——"
Now I feel like I have a reasonable explanation.
"You mean that Xia Tingzhen is very likely to know about this person's relationship with Concubine Rong?"
That's why he promotes the other person, and uses this to control him, Concubine Rong, and even the next prince and emperor in the future...
This does seem like Xia Tingzhen's style.
This man is so scheming, and the current emperor is so unbearable and suspicious, how can he rest assured that his entire retreat will depend on such an emperor?
The road ahead is quite long...
But if it was found out and Emperor Qingming knew about it, it would not only destroy his escape route - he might even destroy his way of survival as well.
"Everything is just speculation now." Wu Chao said: "But after Yue Pei is escorted back to the capital, clues will most likely surface, and I will have people keep an eye on this matter secretly."
Xu Mingyi nodded.
Grandfather will arrive in Beijing in three days, and the news of Yue Pei's situation will soon spread to Concubine Rong.
A person who is willing to take such a big risk, put himself and even his whole family's wealth and life on the line, and have a secret entanglement with the other party, cannot even think about it and just sit by calmly and watch what happens to his lover.
After talking about this, Wu Chao took a sip of tea and asked casually: "By the way, why did my aunt send you a letter?"
The matter about the young eunuch she mentioned just now was informed by a letter from her aunt - for such matters, her aunt should have sent a letter to him.
Of course, it's not because of this that he feels offended. He wishes that everyone around him prefers and trusts Zhao Zhao more. Even if he really ignores him, it doesn't matter.
He just felt that his aunt would not send a message to Zhaozhao just because of this matter. Could there be other important matters?
"The Queen sent someone to send a message inviting me to come to the palace tomorrow to talk. The letter came along with it."
"Aunt invites you to the palace?" Wu Chao frowned: "I'm afraid there is something fishy in this. The palace is no better than other places. Zhao Zhao, you can't go there."
Seeing the solemn look on his face, Xu Mingyi couldn't help but smile: "Of course I know, the empress also asked someone to remind me, it was the emperor's order and I had no choice but to do it. I have already declined politely because of my illness. No matter what his intentions are.
Well, who cares about him now?"
Wu Chao's expression relaxed, and he nodded with a smile in his eyes: "Well, don't pay attention to him."
As long as he and Duke Zhen are here, they can support her even if the sky falls.
What's more, his family Zhao Zhao himself is also a person who can hold up a whole sky——
"Although I refuse, this move has failed. I'm afraid the emperor will not give up. He still needs to be cautious in everything." Wu Chao said: "From today on, I will let...Xiao Qi follow you."
Xiao Qi is not good at anything else, but he is undeniably smart and sharp in his work.
"That's not necessary. Now that Uncle Zhu is back, there is no shortage of people around me." Xu Mingyi said: "Before my grandfather comes back, I don't plan to go out easily. To recuperate, I should have the way to recuperate."
"Then I will ask Xiao Qi to stay near the Duke's Mansion and keep an eye on him secretly."
Xu Mingyi refused again. If she didn't even agree to this, he was afraid that he would not be able to let go and would end up running to her house to guard her.
Seeing her nodding, Wu Chao asked, "It's still early, can I go back after dinner?"
Xu Mingyi felt a little hungry, but was not polite to him: "That's fine."
Wu Chao asked Xiao Qi to come in.
Tianmu, who was sitting in the chair next to Xu Mingyi, raised his head and called out. His sitting posture and eyes were very cute - don't forget to prepare his portion!
Looking at the big bird that became energetic when it came to eating, Xu Mingyi scratched the big bird's hairless head: "Can I ask you to go back hungry?"
…
The next day, it was already noon.
Emperor Qingming couldn't help but frowned as he listened to the palace attendant's reply in the Yangxin Hall. He immediately got up and drove away from the Yukun Palace.
The queen was having lunch when the palace people sang "The Emperor has arrived".
He could only put down the bowl and chopsticks, took the slightly wet handkerchief from Gong'e's hand, wiped the corners of his mouth and hands, and stood up to greet him: "I didn't know that Your Majesty was here, but I am rude to you."
"It doesn't matter, I just passed by here and came in to see the queen." Emperor Qingming glanced at the palace as if unintentionally, and then asked casually: "The Xu family girl has gone back?"
"Your Majesty, the girl from the Xu family has not come here today." The queen explained: "It is said that she has contracted the wind and cold, which is quite severe, and she needs to be raised at home. I thought that she would wait for a few days to recover.
Now, it’s not too late to invite you into the palace.”
Why not too late?
Emperor Qingming frowned almost imperceptibly: "Caught by the wind and cold? It's a coincidence."
The queen nodded slightly: "Yes."
What a coincidence.
If it was unlucky, could it be that you planned to send it to your door like this?
"I know about this." Emperor Qingming glanced at the dining table behind the queen and said, "I have other things to do, so I won't disturb the queen's meal."
"Yes, I respectfully send you off to Your Majesty."
Emperor Qingming nodded slightly and left with the inner prisoner.
The queen sneered in her heart.
The Dog Emperor is acting less and less attentively now. He is obviously very worried.
"Your Majesty, I have just asked someone to inquire... According to the young eunuch who went to the Zhenguo Palace yesterday with the maid from Yukun Palace who delivered the post, the Xu family girl was indeed infected with the cold, and the whole house was busy.
Please ask the doctor to change the prescription."
Li Jisui stood on the side of the dragon chariot and whispered.
Emperor Qingming sneered and said: "It's just a disease, I don't mind you either way."
Li Ji didn't know how to answer this, so he just smiled.
She is the most beautiful woman in the capital, and His Majesty certainly does not dislike her...
Maybe it’s a cute little girl...
"Prepare the edict." Emperor Qingming looked forward and ordered in a low voice.
The Duke of Zhenguo’s government is no longer worthy of his praise——
But in this current situation, Xu Qiwei must be stabilized first, and everything must be settled after obtaining the military talisman...
The autumn sun gradually moved westward, its thin rays of light swaying between the sky and the earth, then floating and dispersing, blending into the night.
However, the stars seemed to be covered with a layer of light gray gauze before, and even the moon had its clear brilliance hidden, becoming a small ball, like a dusty bead hidden behind the cloud gauze.
Early the next morning, Xu Mingyi was halfway through practicing his arrows when raindrops started falling down.
Once the rain started to fall, it continued continuously and fell all day long.
At night again, Xu Mingyi leaned on the couch with his Tianmu in his arms, listening to the sound of rain falling, and thinking in his heart that if the rain was so heavy, he wondered if it would delay his grandfather's journey and delay his return home.
Has it been a day or two?
But thinking that her grandfather would soon return to Beijing, she still slept very peacefully that night.
When I got up the next day, I saw the sky was already dark outside the window, and I felt even better.
This good mood lasted until after breakfast. Ah Li came back from outside and sent a message: "Girl, there are many eunuchs at home, and there are two adults in official robes. They are all waiting in the front hall at this time. Please come over."
Got the order!"
deliver an imperial order?
Xu Mingyi frowned, feeling something was wrong.
If you want to urge her to enter the palace again, an oral edict is enough. Why should you send an edict? And be accompanied by officials?
Xu Mingyi vaguely guessed a possibility, stood up from the chair and said: "Let's go."
Ah Li hurriedly asked: "Receiving an order is a big deal. Does the girl want to change her clothes?"
Xu Mingyi didn't stop, and sneered: "It deserves it."
Ah Li opened her mouth - who is he?
Your Majesty?
But if the girl says she's not worthy, then there must be a reason why she's not worthy - bah, you fool!
Ah Li didn't care so much, she cursed in her heart first to correct her stance as a member of the Xu family.
When Xu Mingyi came to the front hall, Mrs. Cui had already arrived. She said she was receiving the order, but Ms. Cui did not follow the rules and ordered her to wear a dress - it would take at least two quarters of an hour to put on her clothes and jewelry from head to toe.
Just keep fussing here, I'm afraid it's too late.
Now that she saw her daughter coming so quickly, Mrs. Cui couldn't help but secretly sigh that she was really wise.
And looking at the girl who was wearing a jade green double-breasted Luo Yi uniform, with only a pair of white jade hairpins in her hair, striding into the hall. Although her clothes were casual to the point of being rude, she still couldn't hide her bright appearance. The two etiquette ministers
The mood of officials can be described as very complicated.
"Miss Xu is here." Li Ji didn't care about the girl's clothes, and said with a smile on his face: "Today, we are under the orders of His Majesty, and we are here to announce the good news to your mansion -"
Xu Mingyi sneered in his heart.
Annunciation?
Could it be that the Dog Emperor is dead?
"Mrs. Prince, Miss Xu, hurry up and take the order." Looking at the mother and daughter standing there motionless, Li Ji reminded with a smile.
Only then did Cui kneel down with Xu Mingyi.
Li Ji slowly unfolded the imperial edict in his arms.
"The Emperor, who has been blessed by Heaven, has issued an edict: The pillar of our dynasty, Duke Zhen Guo, is brave and loyal. Today he has performed extraordinary feats in the battle against the Li clan. I heard that Xu Mingyi, the eldest granddaughter of his family, has a gentle nature, is diligent, cautious, diligent and respectful.
She was named a noble concubine, given her name, given a title, and given a residence in Linhua Palace. On July 18th, she entered the palace to perform the canonization ceremony. I appreciate this!"
The eunuch sang loudly and then there was a moment of silence in the hall.
Mrs. Cui's expression has completely changed.
The emperor actually wants her family Zhaozhao to enter the palace?!
What serious illness is this?
Her family Zhaozhao and Wang Shisun of Dingnan are in love with each other and they are a perfect match. What is wrong with such a bad old man!
