Poor monks do not break the precepts

Parting is always sad, especially for those in the palace, who are locked in the cage with red walls and green tiles, and it is difficult to get out once in a lifetime.Being as honorable as a noble concubine has too many constraints. It is extremely difficult to announce a man into the harem, even if everyone knows that that man is his nephew.So this time we say goodbye, it is hard to predict when we will see each other again.

After having dinner in a harmonious atmosphere, Concubine Ji stayed in Huai Mingmo to take a walk in the courtyard to digest food, her words were filled with caring instructions, as if she had completely forgotten the differences of recent days.

With a sad heart, Huai Mingmo's expression was a little downcast, but he was relieved at the thought of parting.The mother and son kept their distance and walked around the yard for several times. There were guards inside and outside the yard. There were so many eyes and ears, it was really inconvenient to talk, so Concubine Ji proposed to put two leaf cards in the study.

After listening to Aunt Tang's reminder, Huai Mingmo rested his hand on the long card, and his voice was as soft as his lips, "Is it really what Qin Chiyan said this morning at the behest of his concubine, or did he make up his own mind?"

Concubine Ji was silent for a moment, her smile gradually disappeared, "Why do you ask like that?"

"I got the news that Tan Chiyan has been bribed." Huai Mingmo sighed, "He is currently He Huan Zhai's spy in the palace to monitor you."

Concubine Ji put down the cards in her hand, stared closely at Huai Mingmo, and said in a low voice: "It is true that Tan Chiyan has been a little reckless in his actions recently, but it is not surprising that he has always acted impulsively. Besides, I did suspect Xu Sheng this morning. It's not an exaggeration to say that." She asked back: "I know all the things you have investigated by Xuanji Pavilion in recent years, and there is no investigation of Tan Chiyan, so how do you know about his rebellion?"

Unable to bear the gaze cast by Concubine Ji, Huai Mingmo lowered his eyes slightly, and said frankly: "My son heard it from Xu Sheng."

Concubine Ji asked calmly: "What else did he tell you?"

"Mother, have you ever heard of a Jianghu organization called Hehuanzhai?"

"Zhang Kaijing mentioned to me a while ago that you were investigating this organization in Paixinli recently." Ji Guifei thought about it, and then said: "Hehuanzhai has never appeared in Jianghu before, and you know ?”

Huai Mingmo knew that he couldn't hide it, so he simply replied: "It's also Xu Sheng who mentioned one day that my son asked Xinli to investigate secretly these days, and the results of the investigation are almost the same as what he said." Fist, he said with guilt, "My son is incompetent, he didn't find the trace of Hehuanzhai, so he let him take advantage of it, and almost destroyed Xuanji Pavilion."

The leaf card under her palm was pinched into a ball, Concubine Ji changed color slightly, and when she didn't want to say goodbye, she would only increase the conflict, so she suppressed the rising anger, and said softly: "It's that monk of Xusheng again, do you really trust him like that?"

Huai Mingmo suddenly raised his eyes, and the candlelight reflected in his black eyes, which made his bright eyes more clear, like the moonlight.Opening his fist slightly, he replied without thinking, "Yes, my son believes in him, and believes that he will not deceive himself."

Concubine Ji Gui had never seen Huai Mingmo like this before, she was stunned for a while, then she came back to her senses for a while, leaned forward slightly, and said word by word: "How do you know that he didn't lie to you? Don't forget, it was he who came to steal the fake sword manual, which caused the Ji family to get into so many troubles. He was able to hide many things from everyone, and made the Ji family and the four major factions Playing in the palm of your hand, how difficult it is to deceive you. He said that Hehuanzhai was controlled by Lianxin Huiji, and you believed it. Maybe these are all deceiving you? Or is it all a joint game between him and Lianxin Huiji? , wait until you completely believe in him, and then set you up again?"

"Yes, he has concealed many things and deceived many people. But I believe what he said, and I also believe that he never deceived me." Huai Mingmo stood up slowly, and bowed deeply again, "Son I already have my own heart, I implore mother and concubine, don't give marriage to my son again."

"You..." Ji Guifei opened her mouth and couldn't say anything, her heart was so stuffy that she couldn't breathe, she took a long time to breathe and said: "Do you know what you are talking about?"

Huai Mingmo nodded heavily, and did not answer in a daze, only bowed lower.Concubine Ji raised her face slightly, instead of looking at him, said coldly: "What if I don't agree."

Tang Yun took two steps forward, bent over to support Huai Mingmo, "Your Highness."

"The minister has no choice but to resist the order." Huai Mingmo murmured softly as he struggled away from Tang Yun's hand to help him up.

Feeling at a loss, Concubine Ji slowly closed her eyes, and said sadly, "Forget it, get up." Seeing that Huai Mingmo was still stubborn, she slumped her shoulders, as if compromising, and said weakly: " Don't worry, I won't order him to die. First, it won't kill him, but the crown prince's. Second, if he dies, I'm afraid you won't survive either. "

Huai Mingmo was stunned for a moment, his throat was dry and aching, "Mother Concubine..."

Concubine Ji Gui smiled bitterly and said: "Princess Pingning's child, it was my lack of thoughtfulness that caused her to be married to a poor family. I thought she liked you, and I thought that Duke Ning is an important minister of the country. If you and the princess When we get married, Duke Ning’s mansion will definitely be the crown prince’s help.” There was a pain in her heart like being torn apart, and Concubine Ji’s eyes showed sadness, “I didn’t expect that after more than 20 years of husband and wife, he would suspect me so far. That’s his closest relative Bone and flesh."

Tang Yun caressed Concubine Ji Gui's back lightly to help her calm down, the corners of her eyes were moist, she burst into tears and said, "Mother, don't do this, be careful not to hurt the phoenix's body."

Huai Mingmo frowned and asked, "What happened in the palace?"

Supporting her body with difficulty on her arms, Concubine Ji held back her sore tears and spoke with resentment, "Xian'er has been imprisoned by his father. The East Palace is like a wall of iron and steel, and not even an ant can get out."

Huai Mingmo was startled, "Why was the elder brother detained? What happened?"

"The second prince suddenly entered the palace secretly a few days ago, and handed over a stack of letters to the emperor." Tang Yun wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, "It's all letters about the prince's conspiracy with Xishu. A prince and grand tutor. Without checking the authenticity of the letter, he directly asked the guards of the imperial forest to surround the East Palace and ground the prince. After getting the news after returning this morning, the empress fainted for a while."

"Is mother and concubine alright?" Huai Mingmo asked nervously, and was concerned about people outside the house.Although the group of guards stood a little far away from the study room, they couldn't hear the whispered conversations in the room, but in this brightly lit candle, if he made some outrageous actions, he would definitely be seen by others.

Tang Yun supported Concubine Ji, who was on the verge of collapse, and felt that her wrist was lightly pinched. Seeing the look in her eyes from her master, she hurriedly said with a sad face: "The imperial doctor said that the empress is caused by exhaustion. The empress has recently taken care of the prince. Don't think about it, it's hard to sleep at night." Letting go of Concubine Ji's arm, she walked quickly to Huai Mingmo's side and held his arm, "My lord, I know that you always have a way, let's find a way to save the prince. "

Huai Mingmo couldn't pull his hands away, because he said: "Auntie, please get up, I will not stand by and watch the prince's affairs."

Immediately, Concubine Ji regained her spirits, swept away the distress on her face, beamed with joy, and said expectantly: "Have you found a way to clear the crown prince's grievances?"

Huai Mingmo slightly pursed his lips and bit his inner lip, his heart sank, he had already guessed Ji Guifei's plan.Silently breaking away Tang Yun's hand, he lowered his head and said, "Mother and concubine should be very aware of the situation of elder brother, and I will definitely do my best to save the prince's life."

"Then what about your elder brother's crown prince?" Concubine Ji Guifei was no longer usually dignified, showing the vulgarity of a woman in the market, and said with a gloomy face: "Yes, you have no choice. Then let Xu Sheng think about it, don't worry about it What method, in short, we must keep your elder brother's crown prince."

"Forgive me, it's hard to obey." Huai Mingmo replied decisively: "Xu Sheng's temper is weird, and my minister is incompetent, I'm afraid it will be difficult to persuade him."

Concubine Ji slapped the table on the couch with her palm, her gaze was as sharp as a knife's edge, her cold light swept across Huai Mingmo, her anger could not rest, she clenched the edge of the table tightly, her nails were almost embedded in the wood.Just when Concubine Ji was about to have a seizure, there was a knock on the door outside the house, Tang Yun opened her mouth to ask, and it was Mr. Ji's voice that came.

Concubine Ji motioned Tang Yun to open the door, looked at the son who had been sent out of the palace after his first birthday, and sighed helplessly: "You go down first."

When Huai Mingmo walked past Mr. Ji, he suddenly felt a palm firmly pinch his left shoulder. He shook his head with a smile at Mr. Ji, and said with his lips: "Mother, don't worry, my son is fine."

Looking at the two people walking slowly to the Wanting Pavilion from a distance, Xu Sheng sat on the roof of the main house and played the phoenix dance feather song leisurely, with one leg bent and trembling with the rhythm.Seeing that Huai Mingmo had entered the courtyard, climbed onto the roof and sat beside him, Xu Sheng slowly put down the emerald water flute, and said with a smile: "Your complexion is very bad."

Huai Mingmo tightly grasped the wrist of the person beside him, and pulled it towards him, with a gloomy expression, "Did you know about the letter?"

Xu Sheng nodded slightly, and replied honestly: "Yes, do you still remember that King Dingxi sent envoys to send congratulatory gifts. At that time, I knew that Meng Guangheng colluded with Shu Emperor and wanted to frame the prince's conspiracy." Looking at Huai Mingmo, probably Guessing that he was blaming himself for concealing it, Xu Sheng withdrew his hand and lay down on his back, "I intend to hide it from you, so as not to cause unnecessary complications and unnecessary disturbances. If you blame me, I can't help it."

Xinli stood by the wall and snorted coldly, raised his head and said, "Be good, you know my young master will never blame you."

Xu Sheng smiled, and said to Huai Mingmo: "In future, you also heard about it from Xin Li. Now, you can rest assured, right?"

Huai Mingmo thought of being kept in the dark, so he pinched the people around him angrily, "Don't worry? I'm still trembling with fear. Who knows if you're telling lies again."

Xu Sheng yelled that he was wronged, lay on his back looking at the winding moon, raised his hand to the sky, and swore with three fingers.Hearing his oaths became more vicious, Huai Mingmo hastily pressed down Xu Sheng's hand, angrily, and scolded him for being heartless and swearing indiscriminately.After reprimanding Xu Sheng, Huai Mingmo's complexion was slightly pale, and he slowly talked about the conversation with Concubine Ji just now, the more he talked, the tighter his hand was, Xu Sheng hummed in pain, and then he let go of Xu Sheng's wrist .

After pondering for a long while, Xu Sheng smiled without saying a word, and then chuckled softly for a long time, "Leave aside what is on your mind, what do you think?"

Huai Mingmo lay sideways beside Xu Sheng, in order to understand Xu Sheng's emotions more clearly, he simply reached out and touched Xu Sheng's face, "I was kicked out by my mother's anger."

Letting his hands act rudely, Xu Sheng said with a smile: "Even my own son is unwilling to help me."

"It's not that I don't want to help her." Huai Mingmo realized that Xu Sheng was in a good mood, so he withdrew his hand, resting his arm under his head, with a solemn expression, "I know you have a way to save my elder brother's life, but you have to keep his reserve , is easier said than done. Even if you really use means to keep his throne, you can imagine the price you have to pay."

The corners of Xu Sheng's lips were raised, he moved slightly closer to Huai Mingmo, and changed the subject: "Your Majesty still thinks that the marriage was cut off by Emperor Meng?"

Huai Ming Mo turned his head, slightly confused: "Could it be that there is something else hidden."

Xu Sheng tapped Huai Mingmo's forehead with his fingers, grinning lightly, his brows and eyes seemed to hide a sea of ​​stars, shining brightly, and his tone was full of doting tenderness, "It's a good thing you have been dealing with those old foxes for so many years. Still can't see through that little bit of thought. Are you really the only one who doesn't want the Ji family to get married with Ningguo Duke?"

As soon as the words were spoken here, Xin Li rushed up to the roof and saw the two people leaning very close on the tile. He curled his lips, sat a little far away, and couldn't help interjecting: "The Duke has always liked my son. I once wanted to get married, and I often asked Princess Pingning to enter the palace to accompany the empress to relieve boredom. The empress also received hints from the Duke's wife, and after careful consideration, she acquiesced in allowing Princess Pingning to come to the Hermitage Villa to play. So, how can the Duke Will you hope that this matter will be given to Huang?"

Xu Sheng stood up, put his hand lightly on Huai Ming's black hair, and smiled happily, "He wanted to disturb the truth of Huang's verbal marriage, but unexpectedly, he was swayed by Emperor Meng."

"How to say?" Huai Mingmo moved his head to Xu Sheng's lap, knocked his eyes, and listened to the spring breeze.

She gave Xinli a wink, and asked him to go to the room to get the flip-collar cape.Xu Sheng carefully covered Huai Mingmo, and put the hand stove that Xin Li brought into Huai Mingmo's hand.After waiting for Xu Sheng to answer for a long time, his curiosity was aroused by others, and Huai Ming Mo's heart felt uncomfortable like a cat scratching, and he urged him repeatedly.

Xu Sheng couldn't help it, he shook his head and said: "That old fox Ning Guogong, who has been in the officialdom for many years, can't see Mengdi's thoughts? I used to want to get married and curry favor, but now I see that the prince is about to die, so I regret this decision. Otherwise, what do you think the will is? Will it come so soon? I guess the imperial concubine's request has just arrived in the palace right now."

Huai Mingmo thought about it, and laughed in surprise: "You mean, you mean that Ning Guogong himself handed over this matter to the emperor?"

Xu Sheng frowned, nodded and said: "Probably, even if he didn't enter the palace by himself, he must have leaked the news."

Xin Li put his fingers to his lips, laughed out loud, and said with joy in his heart, "Who is Emperor Meng? How can he not see the careful thoughts of the Duke of the country. So he deliberately married Princess Pingning Give it to the children of the poor family, so as to punish Duke Ning for his disobedience, and to win over these poor rookies, it can also be used as a warning to the monkeys. Kill three birds with one stone! It's a pity that Princess Pingning married so lowly." He said in his mouth Although there is sympathy, there is no regret in the tone and expression.

Huai Mingmo disagreed, and said with a gentle smile: "Although marrying in Gaomen is beautiful, those inner houses are very complicated. The emperor's gift of marriage this time may not be a bad thing for Princess Pingning, it may be a blessing in disguise. Unknown."

"You care about her." Xu Sheng said casually, but Huai Mingmo struggled to get up and hurriedly wanted to explain.After finally comforting Huai Mingmo, Xu Sheng said again: "You and the imperial concubine seem to..."

Knowing what Xu Sheng wanted to say, Huai Mingmo interrupted and said with a smile: "I was sent out of the palace when I was a baby, and in the past 20 years, I have only met my mother and concubine more than ten times. "Being kind is more important than raising kindness, and I really can't get close to this noble concubine's mother."

This is something that has been inquired into for a long time. Xu Sheng knew that the relationship between the mother and the mother was very weak, and he knew the intention of Concubine Ji to act like this back then. He couldn't help but feel sorry for Huai Mingmo and admire his generosity. I am afraid that I have already formed a hatred on myself.

While thinking wildly, gradually thinking about what happened to him, his expression became a little dark immediately, like a rainy day, and he inadvertently sarcastically said: "These loving mothers will always think about their children."

As soon as this remark came out, Huai Mingmo's face immediately changed, and Xin Li's expression was also somewhat indignant.

In fact, Huai Mingmo didn't know what Concubine Ji was thinking. When he was young, he was still ignorant and could be deceived by lies. He naively thought that Concubine Ji was worried about him, and it was difficult for him to gain a foothold in the palace because he was blind.But as he got older, the more he learned about the past, he understood that Ji Guifei sent herself out of the palace and found a baby corpse to replace herself, the main purpose was to attack the hostile concubines in the palace.

And for the next twenty years, her status as a concubine mother has indeed stood firm in the palace.As for the plans and worries for him, maybe there will be, but they are pitifully few.

Huai Mingmo silently lay his pillow on Xu Sheng, feeling a little sad in his heart, and even more difficult to calm down.Taking a closer look at his profile under the soft moonlight, Xu Sheng regretted his slip of the tongue, stretched out his hand under the cloak, and gently stroked Huai Mingmo's back until his breath gradually calmed down.