Bongjun's Life and Death Tribulation

Chu Xiran worked all night, stopped to take a break, and it was already light in the morning, and was about to take a nap, when someone reported outside: "Eunuch Lin is asking to see you."

"Why are you here?" Seeing Xiao Linzi walking in, Chu Xiran's eyelids twitched, and asked, "Could something happen to the emperor?"

Xiao Linzi had heard a little about the prince's poisoning at night, and seeing Chu Xiran's tired face, he hurriedly comforted him and said, "Return to the master, the emperor is fine, but the emperor is going to court today."

Chu Xiran let out a sigh of relief, a little confused: "The prince is still awake, I want to guard the prince."

"Master..." Xiao Linzi hesitated for a long time before he said bravely: "The emperor asked the servant to tell the master that you will not be accompanied to court in the future. As for the memorial, he will send someone to Yonghe Palace after reading it."

After Chu Xiran squinted her eyes and listened, she suddenly snorted coldly and said, "Is it an idea from the imperial concubine?"

Xiao Linzi said with a mournful expression: "I don't know about this servant. Recently, the emperor doesn't let his servant stay by his side very much. He is always serving the concubine's personal maid, and there are rumors..."

Seeing Xiao Linzi's face turning blue and white, Chu Xiran guessed that he had something to do but didn't dare to say it, so he beckoned him to come and asked softly, "What's wrong with him?"

"Master, the emperor's temperament has changed drastically. Not only is he getting tired of being entangled with Concubine Xiang every day, but he is also messing around with the maids around Concubine Xiang, and even let them serve together.

"But according to the slave's observation, the emperor is indeed himself, no matter the facial features, body shape, voice, feet size, or even the scars on his body, there is no deviation. The slave has been by his side since he was the prince, absolutely not I will admit my mistake! So the slave is really confused, it is obviously the emperor but not like the emperor, what should I do if I am called a slave?"

"You don't have to be confused, the emperor may have been poisoned." Chu Xiran sighed helplessly, "or there may be other things we don't know about. In short, stay by the emperor's side and watch him."

"The slave knows."

"Concubine Xiang will keep you by the emperor's side, there must be her reasons, so you have to be careful in everything, Mingli should try to talk to the people in Yonghe Palace as little as possible, and the palace will send shadow guards to contact you every two days."

"Yes."

"By the way, did he know about the poisoning of the crown prince?" Chu Xiran asked.

"Understood, the emperor only said that Jin Yiwei should investigate thoroughly, but he didn't mean to visit the prince."

"Well, you send a message to the emperor, I asked the prince to move to Yonghe Palace to live temporarily. You go, don't make the emperor wait too long."

"Slave retires."

After resting all morning, Chu Xiran had just woken up from a nap when someone reported that the emperor was reviewing memorials in the imperial study with Concubine Xiang.

According to the rules of the harem, except for the queen, other concubines are not allowed to interfere in the government affairs, let alone enter or leave the imperial study.

As soon as Chu Xiran heard this, she immediately changed into formal clothes and rushed to the imperial study room, without waiting for anyone to tell her, Kuangdang pushed open the two doors.

Inside the door, He Lan Ruoming leaned crookedly and was reading the memorial, snuggled up to A Duo in his arms, passing a mouthful of soup and food from time to time.

Chu Xiran glanced at it, and said sharply: "Come here, take the imperial concubine Xiang!"

"Who dares!" He Lan Ruoming was taken aback when he saw Chu Xiran's sudden appearance, but quickly recovered and protected Xiang A Duo with one hand.

"Your Majesty, have you forgotten the rule that concubines in the harem are not allowed to enter the imperial study?"

"It was I who insisted on bringing the noble concubine here, and has nothing to do with the noble concubine." He Lan Ruoming said coldly, "Does the queen want to punish me?"

"Since Xiang Guifei has already entered the palace, she should know the rules of the palace. Whether it is the emperor's decision or not, she will not escape punishment. Besides, all the concubines in the harem are under the care of the concubine, and the concubine cannot excuse the concubine because of the emperor. Just pardon the noble concubine, this is a precedent, how will you manage the harem in the future?"

"You!" He Lan Ruoming pointed at Chu Xiran angrily, his face turned red with anger.

"Please forgive me, Your Majesty!" Chu Xiran took a few steps forward, waved his hands and ordered, "I will drag Xiang Guifei out, and I will punish you with a staff of thirty slabs."

"Your Majesty, save me!" cried He Lan Ruoming to Aduo, "The concubine has just entered the palace, so I don't know the rules, those who don't know are innocent!"

"When you enter the palace, you should study the palace rules and regulations. It's your fault if you don't know!"

Chu Xiran winked, and the guards beside him immediately rushed forward, but He Lan Ruoming stopped him.

"Are you planning to rebel!"

"Your Majesty, please get out of the way!" Chu Xiran walked up to He Lan Ruoming, and looked at him without fear, "From now on, my concubines will still come to the imperial study room to review the memorials with the Emperor on time, and stay with the Emperor The courtiers and concubines will never compromise on this point. In addition, if the emperor does not want to see the ministers and concubines, there is no need to come to Yonghe Palace! The concubines will never complain to the emperor!"

After finishing speaking, Chu Xiran suddenly grabbed Xiang A Duo's wrist, and before He Lan Ruoming could react, he dragged her out and threw her aside, shouting: "Take it!"

As soon as he gave an order, the guards who had been at a loss for what to do immediately suppressed Xiang A Duo.

"Let me go!" Concubine Xiang struggled desperately, just screamed, then suddenly fell silent, actually passed out.

"A Duo!" He Lan Ruoming saw the pain in his eyes and felt pain in his heart. He wanted to rush up and hug Xiang A Duo. When he looked up and saw Chu Xiran standing in front of him, he suddenly became angry and slapped him without thinking. On Chu Xiran's right cheek.

With a slap, the clear and crisp slap stunned everyone in the room. Everyone stared blankly at the two glaring at each other, and was at a loss for a moment.

Even He Lan Ruoming was stunned, there was a faint tingling sensation in the palm of his hand, but he thought the slap was hard, and looking at Chu Xiran's red and swollen right cheek, an inexplicable heartache penetrated into his internal organs, which was worse than that of Chu Xiran. It was even more uncomfortable to see Xiang A Duo fainted before.

Chu Xiran was the first to wake up. Feeling the burning pain on his cheeks, he didn't feel angry at all. Seeing He Lan Ruoming blankly looking at his palms and then at himself, he actually curled up his mouth and smiled. up.

"I really don't know, are you hitting me or yourself." He said casually, his voice was so soft that only the two of them could hear.

He Lan Ruoming's expression was shocked at first, and then he became more confused.

"Tell the imperial doctor." Chu Xiran calmly turned around and instructed Xiao Shunzi.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, Concubine Xiang is happy!" the imperial doctor congratulated He Lan Ruoming with a smile on his face.

"My dear concubine, you are happy!" He Lan Ruoming jumped up with joy, couldn't help laughing, and repeatedly ordered: "Quickly pass on my order, and from today onwards, you must be careful to serve the noble concubine. Put the noble concubine first in everything. After discussing with the hospital, we will prescribe some anti-abortion medicine for the noble concubine."

"I obey the order." The imperial doctor took the order and exited the imperial study.

At this moment, He Lan Ruoming remembered that Chu Xiran and a group of guards were still by his side, so he said with a serious face, "Queen, Xiang Guifei has a dragon heir, do you still want to punish her? If there is a mistake, can you bear it?"

"The concubine dare not." Chu Xiran's eyes froze when he heard that Xiang A Duo was pregnant, and he felt as if he had gone back to the past. As a concubine, he was waiting and looking forward in the Yonghe Palace, but the last one who came was He Lan Ruoming told herself which concubine was pregnant with full expectation.

In a trance, he heard He Lan Ruoming talking to him, and then turned to look at the two people in front of him. Their tightly clasped hands pierced Chu Xiran's eyes, soreness spread from his nose, and his throat Also unable to speak as if he was suffocated, he tried his best to swallow his saliva, trying to keep his voice as steady as possible, "Congratulations to the emperor, congratulations to the noble concubine Xiang."

"Hmph!" He Lan Ruoming glanced at him disdainfully, only to realize that his face had turned pale, only his right cheek was swollen and swollen, and he felt uncomfortable for some reason , he had no choice but to turn his eyes away from him, and continued: "I want to accompany my concubine back to recuperate, A Duo, let's go."

"It is true that Concubine Xiang should go back to the palace to recuperate, but the emperor can't go yet." Chu Xiran pointed to the papers piled up on the desk, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, you have neglected the government affairs for several days in a row, today's papers are the least Half of it has to be approved, so it is most appropriate for the noble concubine to go back to the palace first. It will not be too late to go back to visit the noble concubine after the emperor approves the memorial in the evening."

"What..." He Lan Ruoming was about to lose his temper, but when he saw Chu Xiran's deep black eyes, his anger suddenly disappeared, and he said to the eunuch and maid who was waiting outside: "You send the noble concubine back first. Gong, serve carefully, if something happens, be careful with your heads!"

"Yes!"

Several eunuchs and court ladies serving Xiang A Duo surrounded and left towards A Duo with unwilling expressions on their faces. Chu Xiran only breathed a sigh of relief at this time, and said to Xiao Shunzi who was following him: "You are waiting outside the palace. , if something happens, my palace and the emperor will call you."

"The slave obeys the order!"

He Lan Ruoming saw Xiao Linzi looking at him hesitantly, and waved his hands helplessly, letting him leave with Xiao Shunzi.

The door to the imperial study was closed from the outside, and He Lan Ruoming stared at Chu Xiran in front of him, and said in a cold tone: "Queen, don't think that you can do whatever you want with a broken jade pendant, one day I will kick you down!" This back seat!"

After uttering a harsh word, He Lanruo sat back at the table angrily, and picked up the topmost booklet casually.

"The concubine is waiting for that day. I just hope that the emperor will not regret it." Chu Xiran shrugged, ignoring He Lan Ruoming's gaze staring at him, and moved a pile of memorials from his desk, and put them on the table. On the small table he used at the bottom right, he picked up a book and said while reading:

"I heard that you have changed the system. Now the cabinet first drafts the handling opinions, which saves us a lot of trouble. Therefore, it is still the old rule. I will read it first. After reading it, I will send it to you for approval. After the approval, I will send it to the sixth department for proofreading. Do it. If you can’t decide for a while, you can invite cabinet scholars to discuss in the imperial study, okay?”

Chu Xiran spoke fluently, but he didn't even lift his eyelids. Logically, He Lan Ruoming should think that the queen who puts "you, me" on her lips is too contemptuous, but he unexpectedly took it for granted. , and even this kind of solitude gave him a subtle sense of familiarity with the queen in front of him.

He Lan Ruoming was puzzled and silent for a while, until Chu Xiran looked away from Zhezi in front of him and glanced at him curiously, then he nodded, and replied with some embarrassment: "Okay." Seeing the sunset, it won't be long before It's time to hold the lights.

Chu Xiran twisted her stiff neck, and was about to hand over the folder in her hand when she saw He Lan Ruoming lying on the desk with her eyes closed, holding the folder in one hand, as if she was asleep.

He sighed, looking at the gradually dusky sky outside, he walked up to He Lan Ruoming, picked up the cloak hanging by the side and covered him, then took the folder in his hand, folded it neatly and put it aside.

The person who fell asleep on the table let out a shallow breathing sound. Chu Xiran stared at his side face, his eyes gradually softened, he stretched out his hand to touch the fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and murmured: "In the blink of an eye It's been four years."

When he first entered the palace, Chu Xiran was only sixteen years old, but now he is thirty. In the past 14 years, he has exhausted his years and lost his feelings. When he stood by this person's side again, he He was no longer the young and arrogant emperor back then.

"Don't worry, I won't leave you this time." Chu Xiran bent down, brushed He Lan Ruoming's cheeks with his lips, and pointed his eyebrows with his fingers, and whispered: "But today's day I will remember the slap, when you get better, see if I don’t count with you!”

After muttering, Chu Xiran quietly walked out of the imperial study room, and took Xiao Shunzi back to Yonghe Palace.

As soon as Chu Xiran walked away, He Lan Ruoming opened his eyes, touched the kissed cheek with his right hand, but tightly clutched his throbbing heart with his left hand, and it took a while before he calmed down.

Picking up the herbal tea on the side and drinking it to the end, he took a deep breath, suddenly thought of Xiang A Duo, and hurriedly shouted: "Xiao Linzi, go back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation!"

The Hall of Mental Cultivation is located in the south of the Sixth West Palace. He Lan Ruoming took a soft sedan out of the east gate of Qiongyuan, passed through the imperial garden and then entered the west gate of Qiongyuan, walked along the long alley, and turned right into Zunyi Gate. We arrived at the gate of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

After getting off the sedan chair and stepping into the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he went straight to the Tishun Hall in the apse.

The round table in the room is already covered with gold dishes and jade wares, filled with various dishes and snacks, and there is a jug of small wine beside it.Xiang A Duo was sitting at the table, when she saw He Lan Ruoming coming in, she got up quickly and said, "Welcome to the Emperor."

"My concubine, get up, you are pregnant now, so save the red tape in the future." He Lan Ruoming stepped forward to help A Duo, his eyes full of concern.

"The emperor came back so late, the food is cold." Xiang A Duo smiled coquettishly, covering the back of He Lan Ruoming's with his slender hands, and said coquettishly: "Even if the concubine is not hungry, the child in the concubine's belly will also be hungry." hungry!"

"I told you to eat first, why do you still have to wait for me?" He Lan Ruoming hugged Xiang A Duo pitifully, let her sit on his lap, gently stroked her stomach with one hand and said, "If my little one is hungry, Prince, I will not spare you!"

"How does the emperor know that it must be the little prince? Maybe it's the princess?"

"Whether it's a prince or a princess, I like them all!"

"The concubine still hopes to be a princess!" She lowered her eyes to A Duo.

"Oh? Why?"

"If it's a prince, I'm afraid that my concubine will worry about his life day and night."

"What are you talking about?" He Lan Ruoming looked puzzled.

"Your Majesty, you also know about the poisoning of the crown prince last night. It just so happened that the concubine was pregnant with a dragon heir today. Now everyone in the palace is saying that the concubine poisoned the prince so that his child could sit on the crown prince. Although it is only These gossips, but if the prince hears them, it will definitely cause misunderstanding, and in the future, the concubine will definitely hate the concubine. If the concubine gives birth to a prince, I am afraid that the prince will harm the concubine’s child in order to protect the position of the crown prince, so the concubine would rather give birth to a princess to keep the future safe."

"Bastard! Who is talking! I will investigate thoroughly!" He Lan Ruoming was furious, and slammed the table hard.

"Don't get angry, be careful not to be angry." Xiang A Duo caressed his chest, "As long as the concubine can give birth to a princess, it will be fine."

"Hmph! If it's really a prince, so what? I can abolish the prince, and change the prince of my concubine to be the prince!"

"The emperor is talking nonsense again!" Xiang A Duo said so, but his eyes were bright, and the maids and eunuchs who were accompanying him retreated, and then said: "If the emperor's words reach the queen's ears, The concubine will suffer again!"

"You are pregnant, how dare he do anything to you?" He Lan Ruoming said disdainfully.

"The emperor doesn't even think about it. If the empress hears that the emperor wants to abolish the prince, can the concubines live a good life after giving birth to the prince? Besides, abolishing the prince is such a big deal, how can the emperor say it in front of so many people? "

He Lan Ruoming twitched his eyes and said with a sinister smile, "Isn't that simple?" After finishing speaking, he stood up and opened the two doors with his own hands. Looking at the crowd kneeling on the ground, he said with a dark face, "Xiao Linzi."

"The slave is here." Xiao Linzi ran up as soon as he lifted his clothes, "What is the emperor's order?"

"The eunuchs and maids who were serving in the house just now, except for the personal maid Xiao He who entered the palace with the noble concubine, everyone else will be executed!"

"What?" Xiao Linzi thought he heard it wrong, and raised his head to look at He Lan Ruoming in horror.

"Do you want me to repeat it a second time?" He Lan Ruoming had a flash of violence in his eyes, "Or, you don't want to live anymore?"

"Please think twice, Your Majesty!" Xiao Linzi shuddered, and Gu Lu immediately knelt on the ground, and the other maids and eunuchs were also frightened. Your Majesty is merciful!"

"What is the emperor going to do?" Xiang A Duo followed to the door, looked around at the weeping maids and eunuchs, and then cleared his throat: "Your Majesty, are you going to be in the concubine's Ti Shun Hall?" Are you killing people? If it spreads, it will be the concubine’s fault again.”

"Aifei wants to beg for mercy for them?"

"Your Majesty, just be a concubine to beg for them, and save their lives, but..." Xiang A Duo curled his lips, and said in a still sweet and gentle voice: "Cut off their tongues!" gone."

Several court ladies fainted from fright when they heard this, and the rest still knelt on the ground, trembling and beckoning.

"Listen, if I hear something you shouldn't hear in the future, it's not just as simple as not having a tongue! Xiao Linzi, you can do it." Xiang A Duo glanced at Xiao Linzi's pale face mockingly, He casually said, "It's a good thing you weren't in the temple just now, otherwise your tongue would be gone."

"Your Majesty..." Xiao Linzi still wanted to beg for mercy for those people, but He Lan Ruoming had already turned and entered the room impatiently.

"Ah!" Xiao Linzi gritted his teeth, closed his eyes and ordered, "Come on, take them down."

"What? The emperor issued an order to cut off the tongues of seven or eight court ladies and eunuchs?" Chu Xiran's hands trembled, and the silver chopsticks between his fingers fell to the table and rolled around a few times, "What did they do?"

"The slave doesn't know either, I only heard that it was a sudden order. Now, people in the Hall of Mental Cultivation are panicking, for fear that they will accidentally offend the emperor and lose their lives."

"I managed to get him to start reviewing memorials and dealing with government affairs again. I didn't expect this kind of thing to happen again! He tortured court ladies and eunuchs for no reason. Could he be a tyrant!"

"Master, do you want to go to the Hall of Mental Cultivation?"

"It's too late to go now!" Chu Xiran said helplessly, "I'll ask him in person when I review the memorial tomorrow."

"Then tomorrow's morning meeting with the master?"

"Of course I'm going! With his current uncertain personality, if I don't stare at him, I might do something absurd to kill the minister!" Chu Xiran thought for a while, then said: "And Qi'er The matter of poisoning must also be investigated! You send someone to Jingren Palace to pass a message, saying that this palace invites Zhuang Concubine to go to Yonghe Palace after dinner."

"Is it not good to summon other concubines at night?" Xiao Shunzi carefully reminded.

"It's okay, I just want to send Concubine Zhuang over at night. I want to see, besides Xiang A Duo, who else dares to make trouble in this harem."

"Yes."

"By the way, how is the prince now?"

"The servant just went to Tongshunzhai to ask Xiao Dezi, and the prince has already gone to bed after eating a bowl of porridge."

"Come with me to see him." Chu Xiran stood up after speaking.

"But the master hasn't finished his dinner yet?"

"I can't eat it, let's withdraw."

"Your body won't be able to bear it if you go on like this!" Xiao Shunzi stood in front of Chu Xiran stubbornly, "Master, at least eat a few more bites, even if it's for the emperor, you have to take care of yourself."

"Your mouth is getting stronger and stronger, just like Xiao Linzi, you are not too big or small!" Chu Xiran thought of seeing Xiao Linzi and He Lan Ruoming bickering, couldn't help but smiled and took a picture of Xiao Shunzi , Said: "Okay, I'll eat some more, don't stand still, sit down and eat with me."

"The servant dare not."

"Shun'an, the young master asked you to sit down and eat, did you hear?" Chu Xiran stared, pretending to be angry.

"Yes, yes, Shun'an listens to the young master!" Xiao Shunzi moved a bench and sat down, while serving Chu Xiran's vegetables, he also took a few bites by himself.

After Xiao Shunzi fed his young master satisfactorily, he carried a lantern and accompanied Chu Xiran to Tongshun Zhai in the back hall of Yonghe Palace.

The crown prince Helan Ruoxi was fast asleep, his originally pale face turned rosy, it seemed that the mandala poison had been cleared.

Chu Xiran explained a few words, and not long after, a young eunuch came to the front hall to pass the news, saying that Concubine Zhuang had arrived and was waiting in Xinuang Pavilion.

After entering the Xinuang Pavilion, she saw Concubine Zhuang sitting upright in the lower seat. As soon as Chu Xiran came in, she quickly got up to greet her: "All blessings, Queen!"

"Why are you so far away? Sit in front of me, there are not so many rules." As soon as Chu Xiran sat down, someone brought over two cups of hot tea. He lifted the lid and blew on it. Looking up, she saw Concubine Zhuang sitting across from him awkwardly, she didn't know how to move her hands and feet.

"It's really inappropriate to call you here so late. If you feel uncomfortable, go back first."

Chu Xiran said something casually, and Concubine Zhuang raised her head, which had been lowered all the time, and she blushed a little embarrassedly and said: "The queen must have something to call the concubine over, please give the queen orders."

"Oh? Aren't you afraid of people gossiping?" Chu Xiran smiled at Mimi, making it hard to guess what he was thinking.

"That's just right, this concubine wants to know who has the guts!"

"It's the same as I think!"

"Huh?" Concubine Zhuang's eyes flashed, and she immediately understood what Chu Xiran meant, she smiled sweetly and said, "The Queen said so."

"I ask you, do you have any opinion on the poisoning of the crown prince?" Chu Xiran finally got to the point.

Concubine Zhuang just opened her mouth but closed it again, then dipped her index finger in the tea in front of her, wrote the word "Huo" on the table, and then quickly erased it.

Chu Xiran pondered for a while, then waved and said, "Xiao Shunzi is guarding the door, everyone else should step back."

"Yes." Four or five eunuchs in one room left the room in the blink of an eye.

"Let's talk." Chu Xiran leaned on the back of the chair, crossed her legs, lazily propped up her chin with one hand, and knocked on the table with the other hand.It was just a change in posture and expression, which instantly made the queen's airs he was carrying before disappear, and he became a big man who was playing around.

Concubine Zhuang froze for a moment, and once again realized that she was alone with a man in the harem late at night, her face burned even redder.

"Why don't you say it?" Chu Xiran felt more amusing the more she looked at Concubine Zhuang, and her tone became a little more cordial.

"The prince was angry and punished by the emperor for his insulting remarks to the imperial concubine. Once something happened to the prince, he would be the first to suspect that it was the imperial concubine. But if the emperor would think that someone was trying to frame the imperial concubine, then he would be suspicious." People are naturally arrogant and domineering concubines Li, who once suggested to the queen that the concubine be killed. Based on the concubine's understanding of the concubines in the harem over the years, she is the only one who can be so careful and thorough without revealing any traces, and intends to kill two birds with one stone. .”

"Then why are you sure it wasn't your concubine who did it?"

"Your concubine is impulsive, not that scheming. Besides, if she really did this, it will only irritate the upper body. No matter how stupid she is, she can't be like this."

"Could it be someone else?"

"Liang Concubine and Shi Jieyu, who entered the palace in the same year as the concubine, are both peaceful people. As for Concubine Hui and Su Meiren, I believe the empress knows about it, so there is no need for the concubine to say more."

"You missed one person?" Chu Xiran said slowly.

"Who?"

"And Concubine Zhuang yourself." Seeing Concubine Zhuang's stupid look, Chu Xiran couldn't help laughing, "Why are you so surprised? You are also the emperor's concubine, and you have given birth to a princess for the emperor. , during the years when I have not returned to the palace, you have always been the head of the six palaces, and you are thoughtful and intelligent. Although last time you kept saying that you only regarded the emperor as your confidant and respected me, but this palace How can I believe you based on your words alone?"

Concubine Zhuang suddenly stood up and knelt down, looked at Chu Xiran without fear and said, "Does the Empress still remember Nalan Qi?"

"Nalan? Ben Gong remembers." How could he forget the woman who was kind to him?In this harem, Nalan and Shen Qingjun were like two warm currents, always warming his heart.

"She is my cousin. I lost my mother when I was young, and I was always taken by my aunt when I was young. My cousin loved me very much and taught me how to be a girl, draw and write. I also treat her as my own sister. I remember the year she entered the palace. I was only eight years old, and I was very reluctant. Later I heard that my cousin was named a noble concubine, and I was really happy for her.

"However, when I was 16 years old, there was news that she had invited herself to Daci Temple as a nun. I went to Daci Temple to ask my cousin without telling my father, and she told me about her before and after entering the palace. My cousin said that she The one I can't let go of is the crown prince, and then you are the queen.

"In the 12th year of Meiji, I received an invitation to enter the palace for a draft. At that time, I thought, I must go to the palace to see the person my sister mentioned, and I must protect her only child for my sister. So, even if the queen doesn't believe it A concubine, a concubine is absolutely impossible to harm the prince."

"Are you Nalan's cousin?" Chu Xiran thought of Nalan Qi who was a nun in Daci Temple, and felt bitter again, "How is she?"

"After entering the palace, the concubines were not able to visit her. But according to my father, my cousin is doing well."

"Does the prince know?"

"The prince doesn't know, the emperor has been lying to him that his biological mother is dead in order to avoid the prince's sadness."

"Yeah." Chu Xiran nodded, leaned over to support Concubine Zhuang, and said, "Get up, even if I don't trust anyone, I will trust Nalan. Since you are her cousin, I will treat you as her cousin." You are on your own. You should have explained it to Ben Gong last time, and it won’t scare you today.”

"It was the first time I saw the queen last time, so I was always a little nervous, and I was also afraid that the queen would think that I was getting close with an excuse."

"Your advantage is that you are thoughtful, but your disadvantage is that you are too thorough and procrastinate."

"Queen..."

"You don't need to call me Queen when no one is around. It sounds awkward. I used to call Nalan my sister. If you want, you can call me Big Brother."

"It's not very good." After all, Concubine Zhuang was only 22 years old, seeing that Chu Xiran was suddenly getting closer to her, she was inevitably shy, and she refrained from screaming.

"Forget it, I'll give you some time to get used to it." Chu Xiran took a closer look at Concubine Zhuang, only then realized that her eyes were indeed very similar to Nalan's, no wonder he couldn't help but want to tease her.

"It's late at night, you should go back to the palace first."

"Yes, the queen also rests earlier." Concubine Zhuang bowed slightly and was about to exit.

"Zhao Yueru, remember to change your mouth next time!" As soon as Chu Xiran's teasing words fell, Concubine Zhuang who walked to the threshold knocked her foot, almost hitting her head on the door panel, and then heard Chu Xiran's loud laughter, she Fei Ye escaped from Xinuang Pavilion.

Xiao Shunzi who was standing at the door poked his face into the room in surprise, and asked, "Master, what's wrong with Concubine Zhuang?"

"Xiao Shunzi, I suddenly have an appetite, bring some snacks in!"

"Hey, good!"

The news that the queen saw Concubine Zhuang at night spread throughout the harem early the next morning, and it was described vividly.

Some said that the empress flirted with Concubine Zhuang in Xinuan Pavilion, and Concubine Zhuang escaped from the Yonghe Palace unbearably humiliated; After returning to the palace, he began to hook up with Concubine Zhuang, and the two had been in the harem for some time.

When the news reached Chu Xiran's ears, he just smiled and asked the shadow guard to secretly record the list of people who had spread the news.

On the other side, Concubine Zhuang also heard these gossip very quickly, she just snorted coldly, and then ran even more diligently to Yonghe Palace.

Three days passed like this, on this day Chu Xiran accompanied He Lanruoming to the court, and in the afternoon the two of them reviewed the papers together in the imperial study, who knew that within an hour or two, someone from the imperial concubine's palace came to report, saying The imperial concubine was not feeling well, so He Lan Ruoming immediately dropped the folder in his hand, and ran to the Hall of Mental Cultivation without looking back.

Chu Xiran watched his back leave, shook her head helplessly, arranged the folders on the table and put them aside, and had to go back to Yonghe Palace.

Accompanying the crown prince Helan Ruoxi to practice swordsmanship for a while, the father and son had dinner together, and after the crown prince returned to Tongshun Zhai, Concubine Zhuang came to Yonghe Palace with her personal maid.

"My concubine pays my respects to the queen." Concubine Zhuang walked into Dongnuang Pavilion, seeing Chu Xiran in clean and simple men's casual clothes, her eyes lit up first, and then she said with a smile: "If someone else sees the queen's attire, what will happen?" Gossip."

Chu Xiran put down the book in his hand, waved away the eunuchs in the room, looked at Concubine Zhuang with a smile and said, "Yueru, are you ready to change your mind today?"

"Isn't the empress embarrassing my concubine?"

"You're not as good as Nalan in this regard. He talked so freely back then, and he didn't see his birth at all!" Chu Xiran muttered dissatisfied.

"Tell me about my cousin again!" Concubine Zhuang was used to Chu Xiran's teasing, and she gradually became casual, sat down on the other side of the imperial concubine's couch, and casually flipped through a few pages of the book Chu Xiran was reading.

"Why are you reading this kind of book?" What Chu Xiran was reading was a book about Miaojiang witchcraft, which was strictly forbidden in the harem.

"After the emperor returned to the palace, do you think there is something strange about him?"

"What does the empress mean?" Concubine Zhuang turned her eyes around those books, and then said in a low voice, "Could it be related to witchcraft?"

"The emperor was poisoned by the peach blossom Gu, and I suspect he was also subjected to other witchcraft!"

"Actually, I also doubted whether the emperor has been poisoned by Gu, after all, Concubine Xiang comes from Miao Village." Concubine Zhuang thought for a while, and said, "I don't know much about this, but I know that there is someone who can help. "

"Who?"

"Brother Zhao Yuening. He has a weird personality since he was a child, and he loves to read some strange books. When he grows up, he likes to make friends with all kinds of people in the world. In the end, he ran away from home. My father was so angry that he said that he would sever the father-son relationship with him.

"Because my father was seriously ill the year before last, he went back to the capital once. The emperor pardoned me and let me go home to visit my relatives, so I met my brother. He has an inseparable friend who is a wizard from the Gu Miao village. It's just that my father is ill. After recovering, they left the capital again, and they don’t know where they are now.”

"Do you have a picture of your brother?"

"have."

Chu Xiran excitedly said: "That's easy, as long as he is alive, I will definitely dig him out."

At this moment, Xiao Shunzi broke in suddenly, and shouted at Chu Xiran: "Master, the emperor and the imperial concubine are almost at the Yonghe Gate!"