What came into view was a group of people and horses, and the people on the horses were all wearing Dali Temple military uniforms.
Grandma had some concerns in her mind and quickly lowered the car curtain without saying anything else. Nowadays, the four words "Dali Temple" are the most unmentionable. The empress will definitely be flustered after hearing this.
But when she raised her eyes just now, Concubine Rong had already clearly seen the group of people.
He's from Dali Temple...
With such a dignified appearance, he was obviously on an errand -
This group of people is heading south...
Even though she has not been out of the palace for many years, she is very familiar with the place where she grew up... If she remembers correctly, Mingkangfang is not far south from here!
And when she left the palace, she heard the young eunuchs say that the emperor had ordered Dali Temple to take Xia Tingzhen into custody...
Therefore, these people must be going to Xia Mansion to get people at this time!
Concubine Rong frowned tightly.
This Chief Xia made no move for several days, not even trying to see the emperor - could he just wait to die like this?
She has thought about it carefully in the past few days. If she were alone, she could not think of any feasible solution. After thinking about it, she might have to borrow Xia Tingzhen's power...
After all, if we break it down, Yue Lang and the other party are now in the same boat.
But does this so-called chief assistant have just this ability?!
She hasn't really made up her mind on how to negotiate with the other party, but the other party is about to be taken into custody in Dali Temple!
Who knows that the reason why Xia Tingzhen has been able to stand firm in the court all these years is because he has obtained the Sacred Heart. But once he enters Dali Temple, it will be difficult to see the emperor again, and any method will become useless... so
Now, is there any room for redress in this matter?
It is better to seek help from others than to seek help from yourself. Now Xia Tingzhen's path is obviously dead...
Concubine Rong clenched her fingers tightly, her eyes full of anxiety.
No matter what, she must find a way as soon as possible...
As his mind raced, the carriage quickly arrived at the door of Rong's house in Tonghua Hutong.
After hearing the news, the Rong family quickly came out to greet him.
Concubine Rong entered the courtyard surrounded by everyone. What she saw along the way was both familiar and unfamiliar. She had never been back since entering the palace, and even some of the faces looked unfamiliar to her.
Accompanied by everyone in the Rong family, she went straight to Mrs. Rong's residence.
"Mother, look quickly... it's my second sister who is back to see you!"
In front of the hospital bed, the elder of the Rong family choked with sobs.
The person on the bed was already shockingly thin. Concubine Rong Gui held her mother's hand like dry wood, tears welling up in her eyes: "Mom, it's me, it's Han'er..."
Mrs. Rong's wife turned her head slightly with difficulty, opened her mouth, and made a whimpering sound.
Those eyes were filled with a turbid color, as if there was a layer of veil covering them, making it unclear where the eyes were falling and whether they could clearly see the person in front of them.
"Mom, it's Han'er who came back late..." Concubine Rong burst into tears.
After all, she was the mother who gave birth to her and raised her. Even though her mind was disturbed by other things, her grief at this time was not adulterated.
Mrs. Rong's wife seemed to nodded slightly, as if in response.
And a moment later, Concubine Rong saw that her eyes were open but no longer moving, as if the sun was sinking over the west mountain, losing its last trace of brilliance.
Concubine Rong suddenly thought: "...Mother?"
The doctor who was watching on the side stepped forward to feel his pulse, shook his head, and let out a long sigh.
"Mother!"
The elder of the Rong family cried loudly and knelt down.
The rest of the female family members also knelt down, and the whole room was filled with tears and sadness.
Concubine Rong held that hand tightly, her tears falling down one by one like broken threads.
She stayed by the bed for more than an hour.
"Han'er, your mother held on for a breath just to see you one last time. Seeing you coming, she can go there with peace of mind..." Mr. Rong raised his hand to cover his wife's eyes and said to his daughter in a dumb voice.
: "As for your mother's funeral, you don't have to worry, everything has been arranged by your two brothers."
Concubine Rong's tears flashed with sarcasm.
As a son of man, do you have to use it to claim credit for things that are your duty as a son of man?
"You guys help my wife go to the wing to rest for a while..." Master Rong turned to his daughter-in-law.
Without saying anything, Concubine Rong was helped to her feet by her mother-in-law, and left the bedroom accompanied by her two sisters-in-law and a younger brother and sister who had just entered the room.
When she reached the curtain, she looked back one last time at her mother, whose head and face were covered on the bed.
Mother is gone too...
If Yue Lang, like her mother, had to leave her, who else could she rely on in this world with her empty heart?
Concubine Rong felt a little weak at her feet, her eyes were filled with tears, and her head ached a little.
The young siblings supported one of her arms. As soon as the group came to the outer hall, five or six women who were wiping away tears hurriedly saluted.
These are the guests at home, most of them are women from official families who have good relations with Mrs. Rong. Recently, they have learned that Mrs. Rong is seriously ill, so they will visit her every few days.
One of the long-faced women, wearing a plain blue Ruyi buttoned fine silk cloak, bowed and stepped forward to hold Concubine Rong's hand: "Your Majesty, please refrain from mourning..."
Her hand was suddenly held tightly by someone, knowing that the other person's familiar appearance in front of others was just to take the opportunity to get closer to her. Concubine Rong felt disgust in her heart, and when she was about to withdraw her hand, she felt
Something cold suddenly touched between the fingers that were in contact with the other party——
Concubine Rong frowned slightly, and when she was about to look down, she saw the woman shaking her head almost imperceptibly at her, with a hint of reminder in her eyes.
"..." Concubine Rong's eyes changed slightly.
This is the wife of the Liu family...
She heard her mother say that the Liu family secretly climbed into the Xia family in the past two years...
During this gap, the woman had already stuffed the thing into her hand under the cover of her wide sleeves, and patted the back of her hand: "Birth, old age, illness and death are inevitable, so I must keep an eye on it."
Concubine Rong held the object, lowered her hand, and nodded slightly.
Several other women also came forward, either to offer consolation or to say some last words for Mrs. Rong's family today, saying that they would never leave Concubine Rong.
Concubine Rong didn't want to do much to deal with it, and the sisters-in-law of the Rong family had some eyes and quickly helped her to the side room.
"I would like to be alone for a while, so my two sisters-in-law and younger siblings can go and do their work."
Concubine Rong's voice was still somewhat mute, and several people nodded in understanding, and after a few words of persuasion, they all went out.
"I want to be alone——"
Looking at the nanny and the palace maid standing aside, Concubine Rong said again.
"Yes," Gong'e retreated.
Mammy then reminded hesitantly: "Madam, we must go back to the palace before dark."
The emperor's special permission to leave the palace was a gift, but the concubines could never stay outside the palace overnight.
"I know that I just want to sit here for a while..."
Mammy didn't say much, "If you need something, please call your maid, and your maid will stand guard outside the door."
"Um……"
Mammy stepped back doubtfully, and after closing the door of the wing, she did not forget to go around and close the window lattice tightly.
Gong E took another look.
Are you afraid that your mother's cries will be heard?
Little did he know that grandma was suffering in her heart.
The empress has so many tricks up her sleeve that she is even worried about people sneaking out to rob the prison...
Going out of the palace is scary, so you have to watch people closely at all times.
Now that she has completely seen through it, she can't persuade him. She can only watch. When she sees that Yue Pei is dead, everything will be fine.
Every day she hopes that that good-for-nothing man will die quickly——
The empress has been going to the small Buddhist temple every night recently. You don't have to think about it to pray for the peace of that good-for-nothing man.
She will also go, once in the morning and once in the evening.
In addition, she hasn't had any trace of meat or fish in several days.
In terms of sincerity, the empress is no match for her.
Concubine Rong knew nothing about this and was currently taking out the thing that had been hidden in her sleeve.
It was a moon-white porcelain bottle with a delicate and exquisite body.
Concubine Rong pulled out the cork of the bottle, and the first thing she saw was a ball of rolled up letter paper.
She took out the letter paper and unfolded it, and the dense handwriting on it came into view.
"..."
Concubine Rong's eyes fluctuated violently. Even though everyone in the room had been screened out, she still looked around nervously, even on the beams.
Her every move seems to be under the control of others...!
Xia Tingzhen expected that she would definitely leave the palace because of her mother's affairs, and also knew that her mother would be fine in a few days, so she arranged for Mrs. Liu to visit...
And thinking about it, even if she didn't leave the palace today, the other party must have some other way to give the things to her.
The other party really knew her secret...
It wasn’t that she was suspicious at first!
Concubine Rong didn't have time to think carefully about why the other party knew such secret things. When did she let the other party see the clues?
She was even frightened by the content on the letter. She had thought of many ways, but she had never dared to have such an idea!
She also thought that Xia Tingzhen would try to solve the predicament at hand, but she also never thought that the other party would dare to think...
She hurriedly put away the letter and wanted to burn it. However, there was no charcoal pot in early autumn, and it was not yet time to light the lamp. She hid the fluttering piece of paper in her sleeve and was afraid of accidentally dropping it. In fear, she could only start again.
Roll it up and stuff it back into the porcelain bottle.
It was also at this time that she saw that there was indeed something else in the porcelain bottle...
Concubine Rong's forehead was covered with beads of sweat. She clutched the porcelain bottle tightly, unable to calm down the turmoil in her heart for a long time.
She didn't know how long she had been sitting like this, tense, until there was a knock on the door.
The sound fell on her ears as if coming from outside the sky, causing her to wake up instantly. She suddenly raised her eyes and saw that the room had become dark at some point.
"Mother, it's time for us to return to the palace."
Grandma pushed the door open and reminded her softly.
Return to the palace...
Concubine Rong's eyes were uncertain, and she nodded: "It's time to go back..."
After saying that, he supported the chair with his hands and stood up.
Grandma stretched out her hand to help her, and during the contact, she felt that her palms were filled with cold sweat. Looking at her face, there was no blood, even her lips were white, and her eyes were full of indistinguishable emotions——
"Mother...what's wrong with you?" Grandma asked tentatively.
If this grandma really gets seriously ill at this time, it would be a blessing from God.
"...I'm fine, I just can't bear to leave my mother."
There are some things that only she can know.
After Concubine Rong returned to the palace, Yongfu Palace quickly served dinner.
Seeing her sitting there without moving her chopsticks, Grandma was about to say a few words of advice when she suddenly heard the sound of salutes from the palace maids and eunuchs coming from outside the palace——
"Slave, please see your Majesty..."
"Your Majesty, your Majesty is here." Mammy gently pushed Concubine Rong, who was as if she had lost her soul.
The emperor is here?
Concubine Rong's heart trembled and she quickly stood up.
Emperor Qingming walked in quickly.
"Why didn't your majesty send someone to announce his arrival? I was too slow to greet you in time. I hope your majesty will forgive me..."
"I didn't ask them to disturb my concubine." Emperor Qingming sighed slightly: "I have already heard about it... so I came here to see my concubine."
While he was talking, he glanced at the food on the table and saw that it was almost untouched. His tone sounded a little distressed: "You should use as much as you need. It's important for your health."
The idea that he could stabilize the situation quickly made him a little more patient - and he never lacked patience when it came to people who were still useful.
He also needs a concubine to give him a few more princes.
"I don't have much appetite, I really can't eat..." Concubine Rong forced a forced smile. She knew that everything about her body was strange at this time, but with her mother's death, the emperor should not be suspicious.
"If you really can't eat, then ask someone to stew some tonic." Emperor Qingming sounded doting and indulgent. He held her hand as he spoke and pulled her to sit down on the couch.
The moment her hand was held by the emperor, her body reacted faster than her thoughts, and she pulled her hand away almost subconsciously.
Thinking of Yue Lang's situation at this time, she became more and more able to tolerate any contact with the emperor.
Emperor Qingming's eyes flickered and he looked at her, seemingly puzzled.
Meeting those eyes, Concubine Rong's heart beat wildly and she hurriedly said: "I want to make a pot of tea for Your Majesty..."
Emperor Qingming then smiled and said: "Just leave these small things to the people below. My beloved concubine should have a good rest."
He shook her hand again.
Concubine Rong did not dare to break free this time.
At this time, she gradually calmed down.
Just for a moment, she did have the idea of "making tea" for the emperor.
Thinking about it now, it was too impulsive.
Not to mention whether she can succeed, even if she succeeds, something happens to the emperor, but what happened in her Yongfu Palace, some people will doubt her afterwards...
She is not afraid of death, but she can't make Xia Tingzhen's wedding dress in vain!
If she wants Yue Lang to live, she will naturally want to live too.
Therefore, we must choose an opportunity that is as comprehensive as possible and leaves no consequences...
"...My dear concubine, please remember to take good care of yourself. In three days, I will accompany my beloved concubine to the Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices."
Emperor Qingming's voice reached her ears, and Concubine Rong's eyes moved slightly.
Yes, every time during the Four Meng Periods, sacrifices are made to the Ancestral Temple...
It is now the month of Mengqiu.
On the day of the sacrifice, not only the concubines of the harem will accompany them, but also the clan, officials of the Ministry of Rites, and ministers of third rank or above...
There will be a lot of people there, and if she follows the emperor closely, she won't be afraid of not finding an opportunity!
Since Xia Tingzhen had this arrangement, she would not confess her guilt easily before she made a move... Yue Lang could still afford to wait for only a few days.
Concubine Rong made up her mind, nodded and said: "Your Majesty, don't worry..."
