Hibiscus Tent: The Prime Minister’s palm is reborn

It was late at night, the candlelight in the dormitory was dim, and the gauze curtains embroidered with peony and laurel patterns hung low, revealing a little light. Faintly, a faint and graceful figure could be seen behind the gauze.

The maid raised her eyes to take a look, then tiptoed towards the emerald cloud-patterned lamp in the corner. With every breath she took, she could smell the faint fragrance wafting from the copper lotus burner, like the jade-like fingertips of a beauty, cool and alluring.

Liang Qian was lying on the bed, almost falling asleep in a daze.

As the lights went out, there was a thud and something fell down.

Liang Qian lay there without moving, and only slowly opened her eyes after a while.

The room was silent, so quiet that the only sound I could hear was my own breathing and my heartbeat in my chest.

Liang Qian covered her nose, sat up, lifted the gauze curtain, and walked barefoot towards the incense burner.

She carefully extinguished the incense, collected the remaining incense pieces, and gently pushed open the carved window beside her. With the moonlight coming in, she turned around and saw a person lying on the ground not far away.

She walked towards the unconscious maid step by step.

Just as I squatted down, there was a loud bang behind me and someone jumped in through the window.

Looking up, I saw a slender woman in a nightgown.

"Madam, let me do it."

Qingzhu's voice was very low.

Liang Qian went to help the person on the ground and said, "We can just carry her to the outer room."

The two men settled the maid before returning to the inner room.

Liang Qian didn't turn on the light, and sitting in the moonlight, she didn't feel it was dark.

"how?"

Qingzhu took out a map from her bosom and handed it over: "I have secretly visited many places in the past two days, and I have made all the necessary marks."

Liang Qian unfolded the map and looked through it carefully. Not finding anything unreasonable, she returned it to her: "Put it away and send it to him quietly. Also, be careful not to let anyone find out."

Qingzhu nodded and put it away: "Madam, don't worry, the master has sent my brother to pick you up."

Speaking of Mushan, Liang Qian had an idea in her mind. His skills were no less than Yuchi Yuan's.

Qing Zhu added: "According to my brother, the Lord will send someone to return the gift the day after tomorrow. The action will be carried out during the banquet. We will escort you away in advance."

Liang Qian thought for a moment and nodded gently: "Okay."

After the death of Emperor Xiao'an Gao Hao, Empress Wenxuan Liang unfortunately encountered a fire. Those who were supposed to go to Yuetai Temple, instead, took the evidence of Emperor Xiao'an's past conspiracy to usurp the throne and traveled thousands of miles to Pengcheng Prince Gao Lan, asking for help and hoping that he would restore order. There was also a secret letter that Liang wrote to Yong'an Prince Gao Huan as evidence.

In addition, it also reveals Gao Hao's various evil deeds during his lifetime, including assassinating the deposed emperor, killing loyal officials, and forcibly occupying Liang, who was then the empress dowager...

In order to avoid further humiliation, Liang first pretended to be crazy and stupid, and then cut her hair to become a nun. She lived in this way just to tell the world Gao Hao's true face one day.

Furthermore, it was revealed that the fire in Meilin was Gao Hao's last will and testament before his death, and it was not an accident, but was only intended to silence people and cover up the truth.

As soon as the news came out, the world was in an uproar.

Among the discussions, there were those who sympathized with Liang, those who supported King Pengcheng, and of course, those who had doubts.

After all, in such a chaotic time, how could a woman from the harem of the Liang family come to Pingwu safely from Jinye? Was there really no other conspiracy behind this?

Is Liang’s so-called request for help true or fabricated?

If it is true, why hasn't Liang shown up since she came to Pingwu for some time? Why has she only heard the one-sided words of King Pengcheng?

Gradually, rumors spread that Liang was kidnapped by King Pengcheng on the way to Yuetai Temple, and forced to say some lies to deceive her, just to make himself emperor...

Faced with many doubts, King Pengcheng vowed to let Liang appear in public and write a public declaration of condemnation to quell the doubts.

Liang Qian knew what Gao Lan had done.

What's more, before coming to Pingwu, she was waiting for the day after tomorrow.

Unexpectedly, I would meet Liang Jiao in Pingwu.

Liang Qian thought for a moment and asked, "Have I sent the letter I wrote to you?"

Qing Zhu said, "When I met my brother, I asked him about it. He said that the Lord had sent someone to deliver it to Jinye and give it to General Wang."

Liang Qian stared and nodded slightly.

Naturally, she didn't believe what Liang Jiao said to her.

On that day, she sent people to Pingtang to investigate the fire, and the people who came back to report also brought back items taken from the charred female corpse.

If she was really lucky enough to escape, why wasn't she found by the people I sent?

Since she was willing to come to me, why didn't she go back to Jinye directly instead of coming to Pingwu now?

Even if he came to Pingwu, why didn't he come directly to the Pengcheng Palace, but instead went to the residence of the Langya King?

Last year, the reason why Liang Jiao was able to find the exiled Wang Tingyue safely was because Song Tan helped her secretly. Now, Liang Jiao had to walk from Pingtang to Pingwu on her own. Liang Qian didn't believe anything he said.

Seeing Liang Qian frowning and saying nothing, Qing Zhu hesitated for a moment and asked, "Do you want me to kidnap him?"

Liang Qian raised her eyebrows, smiled and shook her head: "There must be someone behind her. In order to avoid alerting the enemy, you just need to keep an eye on her in secret."

Qingzhu responded: "Yes."

After saying that, she was about to bow and leave, but Liang Qian stopped her and said, "I'm sorry for having troubled you these past two days."

Qingzhu was stunned for a moment before he realized that what his wife was talking about was the cold glares and harsh rebukes he had shown in front of others these days.

She quickly shook her head: "What are you talking about, Madam?"

Liang Qian stopped talking and simply said a few words before watching Qingzhu leave.

The autumn moon is like a pearl, quietly adorning the night sky, and the moonlight it casts is as white as silk.

Liang Qian could see that in addition to a sense of responsibility, Wang Tingyue also had feelings for Liang Jiao.

No matter who is behind Liang Jiao, it is a good thing that she is lucky enough to survive.

Liang Qian sighed slightly, seeing that only a few days were left before Yue Xi.

She stood quietly by the window for a while before turning around and going to the bed.

*

After breakfast, Liang Qian had nothing to do and was too lazy to go to the courtyard, so she simply found some paper and ink, picked up her brush and sat down at the desk to paint.

Liang Jiao knelt beside him, grinding and handing him the pen.

A maid was sitting in front of a small table making tea for them.

When Liang Qian stopped writing, she glanced at the person who was bowing his head respectfully beside her and couldn't help but raise her eyebrows.

Liang Jiao is very silent now, which is very different from her past appearance of being cheerful and witty.

According to the maidservants, these days, Liang Jiao would wait at the door before dawn, waiting to be called.

Liang Qian lowered her eyes, waited until she finished the painting, stood up and looked at it, then chose another blank space and wrote stroke by stroke, reciting as she wrote:

"The branch of orchid, the boy wears a hairpin. Although he wears a hairpin, how can he not know me? He has a graceful appearance, and a sash is hanging down. The leaves of orchid, the boy wears a bracelet. Although he wears a bracelet, how can he not be my armor. He has a graceful appearance, and a sash is hanging down." After Liang Qian finished writing, the maid's tea was also prepared.

She put down her pen, held the teacup, and looked at Liang Jiao with a slight smile.

"Are you still going to tear it up today?"

The newly created scroll painting in front of him was exactly the same as the one that was sent to Wang Tingyue’s residence that day.

Liang Jiao's eyes turned red and she almost shed tears, with hidden hatred in her eyes.

Liang Qian lowered her eyes and smiled, took a sip of tea, and looked at her again: "A Jiao, if you can't even hide your hatred, how can you accomplish anything?"

Liang Jiao lowered her head and bit her lips tightly.

Liang Qian glanced at her indifferently and sent away the maid who was serving in the house.

She put down the teacup and sighed: "Do you think I will believe you?"

Liang Jiao still kept her head down.

Liang Qian was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "The reason why I kept you alive and didn't kill you is not because I believe in your nonsense about surrendering or redeeming your sins, but because... I wanted to help Wang Tingyue keep you. Of course, I also want to ask you, what exactly happened to the fire that night?"

Liang Jiao was stunned for a moment, then slowly raised her head, her expression changing again and again, her tone somewhat uncertain: "You, what did you just say?"

Liang Qian's eyes locked on her, and she said softly, "He is not dead. He is still alive, just like you."

Liang Jiao opened her mouth and looked at Liang Qian in disbelief, tears welling up in her eyes.

"No, it's impossible. You lied to me. He's dead. He died a long time ago! It's you. You hate us. You can't stand us getting better. You sent people to set fire and wanted to burn me to death. You are unwilling to accept this and want to monopolize him and make him work for you!"

Liang Qian frowned.

"Liang Jiao, you are so stupid. If I wanted to kill you, I could have done it in the prison that day. Why would I wait for you to go to Pingtang?"

Liang Jiao's eyes were red, and she no longer concealed it: "Don't think I don't know, you are pretending to let us go, you don't want to kill me in front of him, because you know he won't ignore me and watch me die. Oh, you are more afraid that if you kill me, he will blame you and destroy the beautiful image of you in his mind!"

Liang Qian frowned, chuckled, and didn't bother to argue with her. She just looked at her coldly.

"I sent someone to bring him a message the first day you arrived. He should get a reply in the next two days. In fact, for his safety, I didn't want to tell you so early, because I suspect that the person you are loyal to now is very likely the mastermind behind the arson that day..."

She sighed and continued, "Because I know how miserable you feel, so I don't want to hide it from you anymore. Besides, I know that even if you are determined to hurt anyone, you will never hurt him, right?"

Liang Jiao lowered her head, covered her mouth, and sobbed.

Liang Qian looked at her and sighed softly: "A Jiao, I don't know who you are working for, but if you still want to live a good life with him in the future, don't make any more mistakes. You have to know that it was not easy for Wang Tingyue to escape death, and you——"

She lowered her eyes and continued, "His happiness for the rest of his life can only be given by you. I hope he lives a happy life."

Liang Jiao choked and raised her red, tearful eyes.

Liang Qian looked at her seriously and said, "That night, after he finished his work at the government office and returned home, he found a big fire. He rushed into the fire to save you, but was seriously injured by the men in black. During the fight with the men in black, he fell into the water and was washed downstream. Fortunately, he was rescued and escaped. When he woke up again, many days had passed. Although he was seriously injured, he still insisted on returning to Pingtang to look for you. Those men in black wanted to kill him. How could they give up without seeing his body?

But he ignored the danger and insisted on going back to find you. The people who saved him couldn’t persuade him, so they had to go with him. In the end, he only saw your grave - he didn’t believe that you died like that, and wanted to dig the grave with his bare hands. The people who saved him couldn’t persuade him, so they had no choice but to knock him unconscious and forcibly take him away..."

Liang Qian pursed her lips and continued, "He felt that you died because of him, and he felt guilty. After he woke up, he did not return to Jinye to find me, but went to the front line... Later, when he returned to Jinye, in addition to knowing that I was in a difficult situation and came to help me, he also wanted to find the murderer and avenge you.

Of course, you also know that when two countries are at war, he will never save his life by hiding away and ignoring the situation.

Therefore, it was only when I saw him again that I knew he was not dead. Many of the things I just told you were not told to me by him, but what I heard recently from the people who saved him. "

Liang Jiao bit her lip and just stared with tears in her eyes.

Liang Qian smiled slightly: "Ajiao, do you know what he said to me before leaving Jinye?"

Liang Jiao looked at her and said nothing.

Liang Qian sighed: "He said that when the world is at peace, he wants to go back to Pingtang, because that's where your home is and you're still waiting for him at home. He said that he owes you too much in this life, but unfortunately, God didn't give him the chance to make up for it. If possible, he wants to stay with you for the rest of his life..."

Liang Jiao sat on the ground, unable to hold back her tears any longer.

Liang Qian also sat on the ground and just watched her cry silently.

It was not until Liang Jiao was tired of crying and gradually stopped crying that Liang Qian took out the silk handkerchief and handed it to her.

"Now, can you tell me the truth, who is this person who allowed you to get close to me?"

Liang Jiao lowered her head, took the silk handkerchief in front of her, and remained silent.

Liang Qian looked at her for a while and grabbed her wrist.

Liang Jiao was startled and tried to break free.

Liang Qian frowned and said coldly: "Don't move."

Liang Jiao stared at her and said hoarsely: "What do you want to do?"

Liang Qian pressed her fingers on Liang Jiao's pulse and stared at her in silence.

Liang Jiao saw that she was not going to attack her but was just checking her pulse, so she stopped struggling. "I don't need your fake kindness."

Liang Qian frowned and glanced at her.

He was not poisoned, but his qi and blood were severely depleted.

Liang Qian glanced at Liang Jiao again, and seeing that her complexion was not good, she said calmly: "Let's find a doctor to treat her."

After saying this, he let go of the wrist that was being pinched, stood up, and caught a glimpse of the scroll on the table out of the corner of his eye.

Liang Qian said bluntly: "Oh, there is something I think I should tell you. The painting that day was not handed over to you by mistake. I deliberately let you see it and deliberately led you to Zixiao Temple to cause trouble. As for the reason, in addition to wanting to find a chance to escape, I also wanted to take the opportunity to see who you have joined and whether it will implicate Wang Tingyue..."

She looked down at Liang Jiao with cold eyes: "The result is Princess Guangping."

Liang Jiao's eyes were red with tears, full of humiliation and shame: "Didn't you know this a long time ago? Are you scolding and humiliating me by saying this now?"

Liang Qian didn't look at her. She narrowed her eyes slightly and slowly looked out the window, as if she was looking at the clouds floating in the sky, or at the birds perched on the branches, or maybe she was not looking at anything, just staring at something and thinking about it. However, no matter which one it was, there was always a faint smile on the corner of her mouth.

Liang Jiao wiped her tears, raised her head and was about to speak, but she saw long eyelashes hanging down like curtains, and bottomless black eyes, emitting a faint cold light.

At this moment, Liang Jiao lowered her head again and bit her lips tightly.

No, she couldn't say anything.

Nian'er is still in their hands.

*

"Empress, I'm ready." The maid put down the ivory comb in her hand, lowered her head and stepped aside.

Liang Qian looked at the person in the mirror and stood up from in front of the bronze mirror.

"Let's go."