National Division

The appearance of the phoenix in the Zhaoming Palace caused an uproar in the palace and even in the capital. It is said that many people even went to the outside of the palace wall to look around, hoping that the phoenix would fly to the top of the wall for the big guys to have a look at.As for the palace people in the palace, they often take a few steps around to take a look outside the garden of the Zhaoming Palace on the basis of running errands.In the end, Emperor Jing'an was afraid that they would disturb the Luan Niao, so he issued an order not to allow anyone to go again, and the excitement was over.But in this way, the newly-appointed talented Zhou's Palace has many more guests, and compliments seem to cost no money.

Zhao Yue also sent someone to deliver a congratulatory gift, but the maid Xiangyao came back with a bad face.Zhao Yue glanced at it and said: "But someone is talking gossip again?" How could there be no gossip?Emperor Jing'an was still able to have a son at forty, and the East Palace has been married for more than a year, but there is no movement at all.

Xiang Yao didn't dare to speak, Zhao Yue wanted to lose her temper, but thinking about the women's history lectures she had heard these days, she suppressed her anger and continued flipping through the booklet in her hand.This is the account book of the Eastern Palace. Qi Jun has already told her that she should manage the entire Eastern Palace, and don't just think about what clothes to wear, jewelry, and makeup every day.She didn't learn these things when she was at home. Mrs. Zhao passed away when she was 13 years old. On weekdays, a concubine of Zhao Di was in charge of the housekeeping. As an only daughter, she naturally had enough food and clothing, so she learned it every day. They are all pointing at the red needles of the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting girls, and they go riding horses with their father when they are free, but they have never asked about the housekeeper's affairs. Now when I look through the booklets of the Eastern Palace, I realize that it is very complicated here, and she can't even understand the account books. What about stewardship?

"Where's Your Highness?" Zhao Yue finally threw the account book aside, "But where did you go?" There are palace people in the palace, why should she do these trivial things?That's all, but she still has to take care of the food, clothing, housing and transportation of the two Liang Dies. Could it be that she has become a servant and let the two Liang Dies just enjoy life?

"Your Highness hasn't returned to the palace yet..." Xiang Yao hesitated for a moment, then murmured, "Your Highness went down to the Star Observatory."

"Going to the Observatory again?" Zhao Yue frowned, "Your Highness is really close to Immortal Master Xiuming."

Xiang Yao hesitated to speak, Zhao Yue frowned again: "Say what you have to say, what do you hesitate to do?"

Xiang Yao twisted her handkerchief with her fingers, almost breaking it into pieces: "I am afraid that I am disrespectful, but if I don't say it, I am afraid that the Crown Princess will be kept in the dark, and I will suffer in the future... ..."

"Zhao Yue looked around. There were only two masters and servants in the inner palace. The little maid who was serving in the room just saw Xiang Yao's expression and retreated with great interest. Everyone in this palace is full of human sperm. It is the ability to observe colors.

Xiang Yao went to the entrance of the hall to have a look, and made sure that no one came back, she lowered her voice and said, "Have you heard of the Crown Princess—Longyang is good?"

Zhao Yue was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly raised her hand and slapped Xiang Yao on the face: "You are bold!"

Xiang Yao was so frightened that she plopped and knelt down: "Your servant knows that this is disrespectful, but, your highness and the immortal master are really handsome. Before the master was in the southeast, men in Fujian had a habit of marrying younger brothers." , there is no woman in the army, and the servants have heard the boys talking in private, how many things happen in the army..." She spoke in a confusing manner, but Zhao Yue understood everything, and her face turned pale: "Nonsense, nonsense... ...Your Highness and I, Your Highness and I are obviously the same, obviously we have had intercourse, and those two Liangdi..."

"However, Your Highness now sleeps alone for eight out of ten days, and the two concubine Liang have not attended bed for some days. The slaves have heard that some men can also guard daughters, but, in fact, it is men who are happy in their hearts. Your Highness I have no heirs so far, how can I know that it is not..."

"Nonsense, nonsense!" Zhao Yue would only say this sentence repeatedly, as if she could refute Xiang Yao's absurd remarks by saying a few more words, but the more she said, the less confidence she had, and the weaker her voice became. "Go, go and ask someone to invite His Highness to come back!"

Seeing that her lips were turning white, Xiang Yao didn't dare to say anything, got up and went outside the palace and called the little maid: "Go to the observatory, if His Highness is fine, please come back and say that the Crown Princess is not feeling well. "

Qi Jun was talking to Zhibai at the observatory: "The imperial doctor said that the cold air is getting a little heavy on the body, and the national teacher offered a golden elixir. The emperor felt better after taking one. I'm afraid the golden elixir will have to be taken again." This is the only thing that is not in harmony with the joyful atmosphere in the palace these days.Emperor Jing'an had been taking golden pills for a long time, and it was precisely because of these golden pills that he trusted Zhenmingzi so much. It was not easy for him to stop using the golden pills. Gain power.

"Is there any way you can get another jade chip rice?"

Zhibai smiled and shook his head: "This matter is rare, but if ordinary people can easily go to the moon, the Moon Palace will not be called Guanghan Qingxu House."

"But taking golden pills is not a good thing after all..." Qi Jun frowned, "The old imperial doctor in the palace once said that the lifespan of the father may only be two or three years, and now I'm taking it again... "

Zhibai pursed his lips, lowered his head and did not speak.Qi Jun himself was lost in thought, and he didn't pay attention to his expression. It took him a while to come back to his senses, and suddenly remembered something: "I heard you want a fox fur cloak?" Zhibai never wears any fur. They were all cotton robes, and in summer it might be considered a luxury to wear cocoon silk robes, but it was a bit strange to suddenly ask for a fox fur cape this time.

"Oh, that's not what I want to wear, it's for His Highness."

"Me?" Qi Jun was surprised, "I don't wear fox fur." ​​In this dynasty, water virtues were respected, and black was respected, so high-ranking people mostly wore mink, or black lamb fur, while fox fur was only black fox. It can be worn, but the color is too light.In the palace, only concubines wear fox fur. Emperor Jing'an, empress, prince, and even concubine Ye Gui and Qi Zhang don't wear fox fur.

Zhibai smiled, his eyes were crooked, and he looked a little like a little fox again.Qi Jun suddenly felt itchy, and wanted to pinch his face, he couldn't help lowering his voice: "What's your purpose?" He didn't know that his eyes lit up, knowing that The smile must be something.

"That day in the garden of the Zhaoming Palace, did His Highness notice that the colorful bird wanted to land on the ground, but it was too scared to land because there were too many people on the ground?"

Qi Jun thought about it carefully, and nodded slowly: "Indeed."

"Then Your Highness, can you notice where the colorful bird wants to fall?"

Qi Jun thought about it carefully again, and his face gradually became gloomy: "Is it - Zhou Cairen's place?" Emperor Jing'an just arrived at Zhaoming Hall, and Zhou Cairen hurriedly followed him. Looking back now, the luan bird seemed to be He wanted to go down to Zhou Cairen, but the palace guards around Zhou Cairen were screaming, and surrounded Zhou Cairen tightly, and the luan bird never passed by in the end.

"Could it be that you also want to say that the fetus in Zhou Cairen's womb has auspicious omens?" Qi Jun's face became extremely ugly, "Since the phoenix is ​​here and the world is safe, why is the father feeling unwell instead? The emperor is unwell, how is the world safe?" ?”

Zhibai smiled and shook his fingers: "Your Highness, you are confused. If you are confused, you will not understand, and if you are disordered, you will not understand."

"Chaos leads to incomprehension, chaos leads to incomprehension?" Qi Jun murmured and repeated this sentence, seeing Zhibai Zhuniao's expression, he suddenly reached out and grabbed his shoulder, threatening in a low voice, "Don't play tricks anymore, say it quickly! Otherwise — Otherwise, His Highness will not allow you to eat!"

"I'm so scared, I'm going to starve to death—" Zhibai playfully tilted his head and stuck out his tongue, pretending to be dead, "Pindao is starving to death, he can't talk."

Rao Qi Jun was full of thoughts, so he couldn't help laughing out loud. It was during this laugh that he suddenly discovered one thing - since Zhibai just started, it has always been the singing of colorful birds, never Said the word luanniao.

"That ostrich—no, that bird, that bird—" isn't it a ostrich?

Zhibai sneered and laughed: "Although it is said that when the Holy Lord comes out, he will see auspiciousness, but there is also a phoenix that responds with the same voice and seeks each other. The phoenix comes out on Nvchuang Mountain. Its song is in harmony with the five-tone festival. Its shape is like a chicken, and its color For example, Zhai has five colors, most of which are red, and is the bird of Huoli in the south. Emperor Yao has been in power for seventy years, and he is always worried about work. He is also the essence of Mars, so he inspired the phoenix to descend. Your Majesty— —Because of the great fortune and fortune, he is the son of heaven, and the world is peaceful when he is alive. This is luck, not his own merit." Apart from his deep belief in Buddhism, Emperor Jing'an didn't pay much attention to state affairs, and how did the people flatter him? , There is no comparison between him and Yao and Shun at all, "And your Majesty respects the virtue of water. How can a person of water virtue inspire the bird of Huoli?"

"So that's not a luan bird at all?" Qi Jun's eyes lit up, "That's right, although the bird has five colors, it's not mostly red, and although its song is clear and clear, it's hard to say it's in tune with the five tones—that's right. What is it?"

Zhibai nodded meaningfully and chuckled: "There is a bird in the east, named Jianke. It is a bird, with tattoos and red feet, hates birds but loves foxes."

Qi Jun suddenly remembered: "That day in the Zhaoming Palace Garden, Zhou Cairen wore white fox fur! It was they who teamed up to deceive the emperor!"

Zhibai curled his lips: "Although Jian Ke is not a phoenix, it is also rare. It is just a coincidence that it can fly here. And I think that the national teacher doesn't know any phoenix at all. He just read a few words in the classics and took them out of context. That's all. I'm afraid in his heart, he really thought it was a ostrich descending."

"Then you asked someone to make a fox fur cloak for me because you wanted to..." Qi Jun figured it out in an instant. If the luan bird descends and doesn't go around him, wouldn't it prove that...

"That's right, the cloak should be almost ready, Your Highness just needs to go to Zhaoming Hall—"

"No hurry!" Qi Jun suddenly stretched out his hand to press Zhibai's hand, a cold light flashed in his eyes, "Although Jian Ke was not summoned by Mrs. Ye, I always feel that it is wrong for Ma Mingzi to suddenly propose offering sacrifices to heaven. Jian Ke If you want to use it, you can’t just use it casually. After the Wanshou Festival, Ye’s flags and drums stopped, and they must be planning to recover in the future. Now that the Luan bird has descended, it is helping the fetus in Zhou’s womb, and they must take advantage of the situation to start again. In fact, Zhou’s The fetus in the womb is nothing to be afraid of. Firstly, I don’t know the gender, and secondly, my second brother and I are both adults. How can there be any reason to abandon the adult prince and choose the youngest son? Unless the father can live until the youngest son reaches adulthood!"

He suddenly stopped, and looked at Zhibai in a blink of an eye: "Father, the life expectancy is still twenty years?"

Zhibai shook his head slowly: "Your Majesty will not be able to live long if you take the golden elixir."

Qi Jun looked slightly sad.Emperor Jing'an couldn't be considered a good father to him, but he was a blood relative after all, or he also hoped that he could inherit the great treasure as soon as possible in his heart, but when he really heard that Emperor Jing'an's life was not long, he couldn't help feeling a little uncomfortable.

"In this case——" Qi Jun took a deep breath, suppressing the soreness in his heart, "Ms. Ye is holding the fetus in Zhou Cairen's womb like this, it is probably a cover-up, and it is trying to lure my mother and I to deal with Zhou Cairen. Otherwise, Ye has his own son, and there are two more, how could he hope Zhou Cairen's son will succeed? No matter how dependent he is, he is not as good as his own son."

Zhibai blinked his eyes: "Your Highness, what do you mean, the imperial concubine is making a fuss?"

Qi Jun said coldly: "At least I can confirm that Mrs. Ye's heart of killing me has never stopped for a day!" She never stopped when Mrs. Ye was on the head of Zhonggong before, not to mention the fact that the East Palace is flourishing and Liangyi is now. The palace fell out of favor?If Mrs. Ye didn't make a move at this time, wouldn't he be able to see him fail to ascend the great treasure?

"Could there still be assassinations?"

Qi Jun shook his head: "Assassination can be done once and never again. Besides, if I die at this time because of the assassination, my father will be suspicious of Mrs. Ye. In this way, Qizhang will also be abolished. Don't forget, there is still a concubine Xian." There is a brother of the Three Emperors." The fight between the snipe and the clam has always been a fisherman's profit.

Zhibai scratched his head, really couldn't think of any other way but to assassinate.Poison?This method is actually the same as murder.Nightmare?With him around, no one can succeed, let alone Ma Mingzi may not really have this ability.

"None of these things will work." Qi Jun sneered, "If you want me to die, you have to die in a clean and aboveboard manner, otherwise Mrs. Ye will never be able to get away with it."

Zhibai became even more puzzled when he heard this: "Upright?" He looked carefully at Qi Jun's face, and said hesitantly, "Although His Highness's lifeline is no longer traceable, but the Yintang is rosy right now, and the luck is good, and it is by no means a sign of sudden death."

Qi Jun rolled his eyes at him angrily: "Do you think that the so-called death is just because I can't die myself? Do you know that this sacrifice to the sky is even more grand than previous years because of the descending of the phoenix in the present world of Lilong. Among them- —" There was a bit of sarcasm in his voice, "The National Teacher has contributed a lot and proposed many new rules. Now the Ministry of Rites has no evidence to test, so I have to let the National Teacher arrange the altar."

Zhibai was still confused: "How do you do things under the watchful eyes of everyone? Besides, isn't it your majesty's business to worship heaven?"

"Father, the wind and cold have gotten worse recently. What if I can't personally sacrifice at that time?" Qi Jun sneered, "If the national teacher proposes a substitute sacrifice, can I let Qi Zhang go up to the altar?" He was alone.

"What mechanism will there be on the altar?" Zhibai couldn't think of it.As for how to kill and harm others, his head felt that it was not enough.

"I'm just guessing..." Qi Jun looked up at the window, which was in the direction of Zhaoming Palace, "Do you still remember the lightning strike in Zhaoming Palace?"

Zhibai was startled.On that day, he collected the remnant soul of the little man and questioned him with the method of holding up a spirit, and only then did he find out the truth about the lightning strike.Although because he was just a broken soul, the words he helped out were fragmented, but it was unmistakable that the lightning strike was the method of gunpowder. The little man was blown to death when he went to light the gunpowder. He didn't understand himself until he was dead. But it was a sacrifice.

"Your Highness means—on the altar...where can gunpowder be buried on the altar?"

"You don't know the rules of offering sacrifices to the heavens." Qi Jun waved his hand. Zhibai just arrived in the palace last year. Although he surprised everyone by prolonging the life of the queen, his foundation is still shallow, and he didn't participate in the sacrifices to the heavens. Naturally, he couldn't see it, "Jie Bai The platform is made of white marble, so there is nowhere to bury gunpowder, but the nine tripods are needed for worshiping the heavens. The main tripod of the nine tripods is as high as half a person, and most of them are surrounded by incense ash. It is really hard to bury some gunpowder. It’s not difficult.” What’s more, most people don’t know that charcoal and sulfur are gunpowder when combined, and even if they see it, they may not be able to see through it. Once it’s blown up, who cares what’s inside?

Zhibai fought a cold war.He has seen corpses. He used to practice in the mountains. He has seen the corpses of wild beasts. He has also seen corpses torn and devoured by wild beasts in the mountains.The so-called inhumane way of heaven treats all things as dogs. Although people claim to be the spirit of all things, they are no different from plants, insects and ants in the eyes of heaven.In the eyes of practitioners, all things are equal, and life and death have their own destiny. They can't help it at all. Even if they see a rotten corpse, they just scoop up some loess and bury it. In my heart, I have never been disturbed by this.The so-called compassion is just the word compassion. He can expend his cultivation base to save the middle-class maids who died in vain, but in his heart, he doesn't feel much at all—it is unfair to die here and now. , but in the eyes of heaven, it is fate, no different from those who are dying.

But at this moment, thinking that Qi Jun would be turned into a scorched corpse with a bang, he suddenly felt uncomfortable.At the Zhaoming Palace, when he saw the little man who was blown to the point that half of his body was charred, he could only sigh a bit, but now that he thinks about it again, as long as he thinks for a moment that half of his scorched face will be replaced by Qi Jun's... …

Qi Jun talked for a long time, only to realize that Zhibai's eyes were straightened and his expression was blank, so he couldn't help but stop talking: "What's wrong?"

"Ah?" Zhibai seemed to come back to his senses suddenly, and couldn't help shivering again, "Then what should we do? If there is really gunpowder buried in the cauldron, what should we do?"

Qi Jun was inexplicable: "You didn't hear what I said just now? Have you lost your mind?"

Zhibai responded with an even more inexplicable look: "What did Your Highness just say?"

He seldom showed such a blank expression, Qi Jun couldn't help feeling a little worried, and reached out his hand to touch his forehead: "Why are you sweating so much?" Although the ground dragon was on fire in the hall, it was never so hot.Touching his palm again, there was also a layer of cold sweat, Qi Jun couldn't help but panicked: "What's the matter? Why is he covered in cold sweat? Send the imperial doctor!"

Only then did Zhibai realize that his back was already drenched with sweat, and the soft satin jacket was stuck to his back, feeling cold for a while.He let Qi Jun pick him up and push him to the bed in a daze, and he was still a little confused——are you afraid?He has only experienced this feeling once, when he was seven years old and ran out to play with his master on his back, but met a wolf head-on.It was the middle of winter, and the wolf was so hungry that his ribs were all exposed. When he saw him, his eyes glowed green, and he stared at him firmly.And he hid his body behind a dead tree, watching the wolf approaching step by step, the cold war on his body never stopped, until the master arrived, he realized that his clothes were soaked with sweat.However, Qi Jun is obviously not a wolf, why is he so scared at this moment?