Lord Prime Minister

The queen was walking along the long corridor leading to Ruiben Palace. The news that the emperor was personally assassinated yesterday was spread all over the palace in less than an hour, followed by the news that the fifth prince was escorted and sent to the palace for treatment. .It took less than a quarter of an hour for mixed feelings to hang on his face, and another news quietly spread into the palace. The weapon used by the assassin to assassinate the emperor was engraved with Prince Minqing's family crest, and the assassin might have been sent by the Fifth Prince himself.

Although the emperor issued an order not to let the news spread, but the queen can receive the news herself, then other people must have their own means, such as the one from Chengqian Palace.

Yesterday, the fifth prince was seriously injured and sent directly to Ruiben Palace where the previous princes lived, and no one was allowed to visit him.It wasn't until this morning that the news of the fifth prince's awakening came, and the emperor lifted the ban. Then the empress took a bunch of tonics and medicinal materials and went to Ruiben Palace.

The words of the second prince Huangfu Renhao seemed to be still in his ears, his lips were dead and his teeth were cold, his nest was destroyed and his eggs were broken.

He brought four or five court ladies to Ruiben Palace, and before he walked in, he heard a sharp female voice.The queen's face was slightly gloomy, and she stepped in one step, only to see the fifth prince half lying on the bed, Concubine Lan, wearing a red dress, sitting beside the bed with a pleasant smile, holding the fifth prince by the hand with the hollow chiseled tortoiseshell armor. Pat lightly.

"So energetic, it seems that it will be cured in a few days. When the time comes, eat some of those ginseng antlers to nourish your body."

Huangfu Yunhua smiled on his pale face after losing blood, and his voice sounded weak. "Concubine Xie Lan is concerned."

The queen took two steps forward after hearing this, but before the two of them saw themselves, they lowered their eyes and said softly, "Why did Yunhua get up? Didn't he just wake up? You should lie down, sitting like this will hurt your wound." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand to help the Fifth Prince to lie down.

Huangfu Yunhua lay down obediently, then looked at the queen and said: "Mother's queen..." But he only yelled and stopped, his eyes fell on the corner of the quilt where the four-clawed golden dragon was showing off.

"Needless to say, just take good care of your wounds." The queen stretched out her hand and made a gesture to cover her mouth, and asked the maid to put away the medicinal materials and supplements she brought. No, so I sent someone to bring supplements, saying that I will come to see you in a few days."

Huangfu Yunhua nodded, his slightly drooping eyes felt a bit self-blaming. "Let my brother worry."

Concubine Lan's big Danfeng hanging eyes circled the two of them, she stood up and said with a smile: "My sister is here, and the Fifth Prince also wants to have a heart-to-heart talk with my sister, so my sister will leave first and come back the next day." Visit His Royal Highness."

After saying blessings, he withdrew.

The queen turned and sat down by the bed where Concubine Lan had been sitting just now, raised her hand, and the father-in-law who had been by her side called all the maids and eunuchs out of the room, and closed the door before leaving.

The queen took Huangfu Yunhua's hand and gently stroked it, then raised her hand to straighten the hair that fell on his forehead. "The assassin yesterday..."

As soon as the words started, Huangfu Yunhua panicked and grabbed the queen's hand tightly. "Mother, it's not me, it's really not me."

The queen let him hold her, and even though she was a little hurt by his grasp, she didn't struggle. Although her face was not kind and kind, it was not indifferent or disrespectful.

"It's not you." You don't have the guts to do such a death-seeking thing.The queen didn't say the last sentence, but comforted: "It's not you, but someone wants to frame you and put you to death."

"My son knows that it's my son who has caused trouble to my mother and elder brother." Huangfu Yunhua blamed himself, "My mother will definitely save me."

Seeing him looking down and pitying himself, the queen was not only a little annoyed, but the second son was weak and fun-loving, and he didn't know how to recover from disasters, and would just roll up his sleeves and mourn.

"Don't worry, since you didn't do it, the queen mother will definitely find out the real culprit, but can you send someone to inform Hong Shaoqing of Dali Temple?"

Huangfu Yunhua was taken aback for a moment, as if he just remembered now. "No……"

Empress Kong sighed, and said patiently: "Although Dali Temple is the deputy judge, it can still get a lot of news. You can ask someone to let you know."

"Yes."

Seeing that he was in a bad mood, and worried that he would make a fuss out of control, the queen softened her voice, patted his hand and comforted him: "You will stay in the palace for a few days and rest at ease to recover from your injuries. Your Majesty is willing." Allowing you to live in the East Palace does not convict you, so rest assured."

Huangfu Yunhua nodded obediently, suddenly remembered something, and raised his voice slightly: "If the father condemns me, my son will take all the crimes together, and I will never drag my brother down."

Upon hearing this, the queen threw Huangfu Yunhua's hand away, stood up and looked down at him with cold eyes. "Do you think that the emperor will not be held accountable for doing this? Assassinating the emperor, punishing the nine clans, even the relatives of the emperor. Do you dare to admit this crime?"

"Mother," Huangfu Yunhua got up in a panic, the corner of his mouth twitched from the pain of the wound. "I was talking nonsense, my brain was flushed, and I was confused."

Seeing his anxious look, the queen had no choice but to soften her tone. "You didn't do this in the first place, so naturally you can't admit it."

Huangfu Yunhua nodded, and lay down again with the queen's help.

The queen tucked the quilt up for him, "It will take a hundred days to hurt your muscles and bones, you just need to rest well, don't worry about anything else."

Huangfu Yunhua smiled, and dared to speak after thinking for a while. "Mother, may I see someone?"

"Who?"

"Mu Zihuai."

The queen's delicately sculpted eyebrows frowned, "What do you see him for?"

"He may also know that my son is injured now, so seeing him can make him feel at ease." Huangfu Yunhua raised his eyes to look at the queen, his pale face made it impossible to refuse.

"Not for a few days, wait for a while." The Queen compromised.

"Thank you, Queen Mother." Huangfu Yunhua's face was full of excitement, as if he couldn't wait.

Seeing his appearance, the queen was even more dissatisfied, but there was nothing she could do. She knew in her heart that most of the reasons why the fifth prince became like this was because she was deliberately used to it.If you don't want to see brothers killing each other, then only one party is too weak to shake the imperial power. Only in this way can the two be preserved.

The queen stood up with complicated emotions, took out one of the boxes she brought and opened it. "This is the thousand-year-old ganoderma lucidum that the emperor bestowed on me. If you drink it, it can stimulate the meridians, invigorate the blood and restore vitality."

Seeing the fifth prince nodding obediently, the queen said again: "In this case, I will leave. Remember, you must not act rashly."

When he went out, he told the maids to take care of him, and then he left with a group of maids.

The maid who got the queen's order came in, spoke to Huangfu Yunhua, and took the thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum to decoct the medicine.

It was rare for the room to be quiet, and Huangfu Yunhua was thinking about what to do next when a string of crisp silver bells came in.

After ringing for a while, I saw a fiery red cloud-head brocade shoes stepping into the door, and then Miao Tong in red dress and red shirt walked in, with a few exquisitely crafted small bells hanging on her waist, no wonder she walked with her as she walked. With a crisp sound.

"Fifth Brother, I'm here to see you." Miao Tong walked in lavishly, leaning in front of Huangfu Yunhua to look and look. "Does the wound hurt? I heard from the imperial doctor that the injury is not serious, but I'm worried to death."

Huangfu Yunhua lay on the bed and looked at her, pretending to be dissatisfied. "You're worried about me, why are you here now?"

Miaotong pouted and sat down beside the bed. "My concubine didn't let me come over, and even locked me up, and didn't let me out until just now."

Huangfu Yunhua nodded understandingly, Miaotong's mother concubine Xianfei was attached to the empress, so she did not dare to deal with the assassination sloppily, and had to wait for the empress to express her opinion before daring to respond.

"Then your concubine mother will allow you to leave the palace now?"

"No, it's best to come to your place, how can I go out." Miao Tong shook the bell on her waist, making a crisp sound.

As expected, Huangfu Yunhua lowered his eyebrows in thought, then asked again: "What about Long Qianhu? Do you know where he is now?"

Miao Tong's eyes widened suddenly, and she looked at Huangfu Yunhua. "How do I know... he should be living in the palace. Father said that he had done something to save him, so let him stay in the palace temporarily... I don't know..."

Seeing that her face was a little pink, Huangfu Yunhua couldn't help but fooled and said: "I don't know, that's all I know. I haven't seen you care so much about your fifth brother when I was injured."

Miao Tong's face turned even redder. "I already said that it was my concubine who didn't let me come over, brother...why did brother say that again?"

Huangfu Yunhua laughed, the wound on his back hurt and his face turned pale. "Go to Long Xiu and ask him to go out of the palace and help me bring something to Mu Zihuai."

"I can't even get out of the palace, how can he get out?" Miao Tong raised her head slightly, the red light on her face became redder and redder.

"He can just go out." As he said, he took out something wrapped in a white cloth from the bed, "Give this to him and ask him to show it to Mu Zihuai. Be careful, don't let anyone see it, you Don't open it either."

Huangfu Yunhua's mysterious words ignited Miaotong's curiosity, she took the thing and was about to open it, and after listening to the last sentence, she had to hold it in her hand. "What is this? So mysterious?"

"You just send it, why do you care so much?"

Miao Tong curled her lips and put away the things. "If you don't watch it, don't watch it, and I don't want to watch it."

Huangfu Yunhua nodded, with a serious expression on his face. "Send it quickly, before it's too late."

"Let me run errands again." Miao Tong complained, but said goodbye, and walked to the outer city where Long Xiu lived temporarily.

After walking out of the East Palace, Miaotong looked left and right to see if there was no one there, and then quietly took out the thing wrapped in the white cloth just now.After touching it through the cloth, I didn't know what it was. The more I thought about it, the more curious I became, so I opened it.

The white cloth was untied, but there was a string of small copper beads inside. When I picked it up, I found that the inside of the copper beads was hollow and the surface was smooth, but I don't know what they were.

Miao Tong was surprised, looked back and forth several times but couldn't find the way, thinking that it might be a gift from Fifth Brother to Mu Zihuai, so she rewrapped it and took it in her arms to find Long Xiu.

After leaving the Qianqing Gate and going south, you will arrive at Waichao, and then walk through a gravel road to Nanyuan.The two guards at the gate saw Miaotong and stopped her quickly.

"Princess, this is Nanyuan where the guards live, you..." A guard on the right fell silent as he spoke, for fear of offending Princess Seven.But there are big men inside, and it is true that female relatives are not allowed to enter.

Miaotong stood at the door and stretched her neck to look inside, and she didn't feel too embarrassed. "Okay, then you call Long Xiu out."

"Yes." The guard on the right winked at the other person, who immediately bowed his head and trotted away.

After waiting at the door for less than half a stick of incense, Long Xiu came out, dressed in black brocade, followed by the guard just now, stepped out of the door and saluted, "Why is the princess looking for the next official?"

Miaotong stared at his face for a while, then realized that she was impolite and quickly moved away, taking out the things Fifth Brother gave him. "Brother Wuhuang asked me to give it to you, saying it was for Mu Zihuai."

"For Mu Zihuai?" Long Xiu took it with his hand and squeezed it secretly. He only felt a round bead, and it was not just something.

"Yes, I don't know what it is." After speaking, he looked up at Long Xiu. "Last time we didn't know whether to win or lose. Now that you're in the palace, when are you competing with me? It's about winning and losing."

Long Xiu wondered what the fifth prince's purpose in giving this thing was, could it be related to the assassination of the royal family?Where can I hear what the seventh princess said, she just nodded perfunctorily.

Seeing that he was absent-minded, Miaotong felt a little annoyed, and said angrily: "Then you go to the martial arts field tomorrow, and we will have a competition."

Only then did Long Xiu raise his head abruptly, looking at Miaotong with piercing eyes. "No!" After speaking, I felt that my tone was a bit harsh, and I really offended the princess, so I softened it slightly. "Tomorrow the emperor ordered me to enter the inner court. I'm afraid I won't be able to practice martial arts with the princess. Another day, I will accompany you to the end."

"That's about the same." Miao Tong smiled with satisfaction, thinking of going back to return to Fifth Brother's life, and left after making an agreement with Long Xiu.

Long Xiu stood on the spot with the thing wrapped in white cloth and pondered for a long time, finally ordered the two guards and walked towards the palace gate.

In Prince Minqing's mansion, Ren Danfeng crumpled the letter from Hong Shaoqing into a ball, after thinking about it, he set fire to it and burned it clean.Sitting in the study with his back straight, his head slightly raised, he was thinking about what to do next.Suddenly there were three knocks on the door, followed by the butler's voice.

"Mr. Ren, Long Qianhu is visiting."

Ren Danfeng's somewhat hazy vision became clear again, and he looked at the closed door. "Take him to the front hall, I'll be right there."

After the housekeeper left, Ren Danfeng stood up, flicked his slightly wrinkled clothes, and walked to the front hall.Long Xiu was already sitting in the lower seat on the right. A cup of tea had just been served on the table, and the slightly closed cup was steaming.

Seeing Ren Danfeng coming in, Long Xiu quickly got up and saluted.

Ren Danfeng returned the salute and sat down on the left chair. "I don't know why Long Qianhu came to the door?"

Long Xiu glanced at the door, "Is Mu Zihuai here?"

"The work of the Hanlin Academy is said to be quite short. These days are just busy times. Long Qianhu may have to wait until dusk to find him."

"Then I may have to bother you for a while longer." Long Xiu smiled, picked up the tea on the table, and prepared to wait forever.

Ren Danfeng didn't mind smiling. "Sitting here and waiting is too boring, why don't you let me take you around?"

Long Xiu laughed dumbly, "Mr. Ren..."

"Yes, I forgot about it." Ren Danfeng patted his leg, "Longqianhu has lived in this palace for two years, so I'm confused."

"But I haven't been back for three years. If Mr. Ren doesn't mind, can you show me the way?" Long Xiu put down his teacup and raised his head with a smile.

"I'm so happy." Ren Danfeng stood up with a smile on his face, and led Long Xiu out of the front hall.

At the time of You, Mu Zihuai came out of the Imperial Academy and returned to the palace. Just as he sat down in the room, Qingyi came in with warm soup. "Sir, you are back. Long Qianhu has been waiting for a while."

Mu Zihuai took it and drank it holding his breath, twisted a candied fruit and put it in his mouth to relieve the bitter taste. "Long Xiu? Are you looking for me then?"

Qingyi nodded, put away the empty bowl again, and replied: "I came in the afternoon, and I'm chatting with Mr. Ren now."

Mu Zihuai raised his eyebrows slightly. He stayed in the Hanlin Academy for a day today. The prince's situation in the palace is unknown. Although Ren Danfeng told him to wait at ease, how could he calm down at such a juncture? This day is like a torment.When Long Xiu came here at this time, he should be able to bring out news from the palace, at least he could know how the prince is doing now.

Coming to the front hall, Mu Zihuai saw Long Xiu and Ren Danfeng talking and laughing at a glance. They both raised their heads and laughed loudly.Stepping in, Mu Zihuai rushed to Long Xiu and said, "Long Xiu, are you looking for me?"

Looking back, Long Xiu saw that it was Mu Zihuai, his eyes lit up slightly. "That's right."

Ren Danfeng looked the two of them over and stood up. "Since Zihuai has arrived, I'll leave first, you guys talk." After saying that, he called the housekeeper and left together.

Mu Zihuai sat down on the chair beside him, a little impatient. "What are you looking for from me?"

Long Xiu took a closer look at his facial features by candlelight, and the light in his eyes just now had disappeared. "Why did you say you couldn't leave the palace? The prince threatened you? Or..."

Mu Zihuai's face changed drastically, he didn't think that Long Xiu dared to say such a thing in such a place, he quickly covered his mouth with his hand, and looked around, fortunately, when Ren Danfeng left just now, he also took his servants away.

"What nonsense are you talking about! I have been in the palace for a day, and I can't come out easily. The Hou family is as deep as the sea, don't you understand?" There was no one around, and Mu Zihuai dared to lower his voice.

"But now that the prince is already like this, are you willing to move to the Dragon Mansion?" Long Xiu didn't care about Mu Zihuai's worries, but asked calmly.

Mu Zihuai took a deep breath, his eyes widened, and he didn't speak for a long time.

"The assassin who assassinated the emperor yesterday was most likely sent by the prince. Now he has been grounded and cannot leave the palace."

Listening to him, Mu Zihuai's eyes flashed, his face darkened, and he shouted: "Long Xiu, the prince will not do such a thing. Since I have entered the palace, I will live and die with the palace. If you say this again Such words, don't blame me for turning my face."

Long Xiu's eyes flashed with injury for a moment, he lowered his head, and the aura just now dissipated in an instant. "I won't say it anymore. I'm confused. Just pretend that I never said that."

"This is the best." Mu Zihuai flicked his sleeves, stood up and came to Long Xiu. "You came to me for this?"

Long Xiu bowed his head and thought for a while, then slowly took out the thing wrapped in white cloth and handed it to Mu Zihuai. "The prince asked the Seventh Princess to ask me to bring it out for you."

When Mu Zihuai heard that Long Xiu's trip was really related to the prince, his face was shocked, and he snatched the thing as if snatching it, but he was not in a hurry to open it. "What else did the prince bring?"

Long Xiu shook his head, "Not anymore."

Touching the things inside through the cloth, he felt that there were some round beads. Mu Zihuai put the things away and looked up at Long Xiu again.

"Since the things have been delivered, it's getting late, you should go back first, don't worry Long Lei." After finishing speaking, he suddenly found out that he was arranged by the emperor to live in the palace because of his meritorious service in rescuing him, so he added bluntly . "Go and see Long Lei, I'm afraid he has been worried for a day today."

Long Xiu opened his mouth, but he still didn't say anything in the end, a few unnoticeable injuries appeared on his cold face.

Half pushed and half pushed Long Xiu out the door.

"The next time you have something to do, call someone to come and tell me. I can go to you. Since you have already gone out, don't come back." Mu Zihuai stood at the door, raised his head slightly, and a gust of evening wind blew past his eyes. He couldn't help but lower his head and rub his eyes.

"If," Long Xiu looked at the top of his head, moved and stood in the wind, his heart softened in a mess. "One day you are willing, the gate of Dragon Mansion will be open for you at any time."

Mu Zihuai raised his head and smiled when he heard the words, like a candle in the dark. "Don't worry, I'll take care of myself."

Long Xiu's breath was stagnant, looking at his eyes with dark tides, an indescribable feeling lingered in his heart, so full that it was about to overflow.

Mu Zihuai was still looking up at him with trust and a little smile in his eyes.Long Xiu pulled him into his arms, tightened his arms as if to rub him into his arms, and he breathed a sigh of relief when he knew that Mu Zihuai was in his arms.

"Be careful."

Mu Zihuai patted him on the back as comfort, leaned into his ear and whispered: "Now you are a thousand households, you have to know that there are some things you can say and some things you can't say. Impossible. Be careful in the future, no matter how young a prince is, he is still a prince, and he can't relax even at home, let alone here."

Long Xiu's eyes froze, and then he saw the black shadow moving in the door, and immediately blamed himself for being too impulsive. Back then, his father was unprepared and framed, but now he still doesn't have a long memory. "I see."

After hearing Long Xiu's assurance, Mu Zihuai was relieved and broke free from his embrace. "You go back."

Long Xiu nodded, feeling a chill in his empty arms, he clenched his fists and turned to leave.

Mu Zihuai stood there with his hands behind his back until Long Xiu's back disappeared into the darkness, then he turned and went back to the house. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the person who had been with them leaving quietly, and walked towards the prince's study.

The prince's study room was lit by candlelight at this moment, across the bamboo forest, Mu Zihuai walked over slowly and opened the door, and sure enough, he saw Ren Danfeng sitting inside.

"How? Is it the news from the prince?" Ren Danfeng asked after seeing Mu Zihuai.

"Not bad." As he spoke, he took out the things and put them on the table. "The prince couldn't come out of the palace, so Long Xiu brought him out."

Ren Danfeng leaned forward, stood up and came to the table, looking at the roll of white cloth. "What is this?" As he spoke, he reached out to uncover the wrapped cloth.

In the middle of the white brocade cloth are small copper beads, and some are even smaller, only as big as broad beans.The interior is hollow and contains smaller round beads.Not knowing what it was, Mu Zihuai picked it up and looked at it, not knowing why.

Ren Danfeng raised his hand to stop him, but in the end he held back, and saw Mu Zihuai put it under his nose and sniffed, with a smile on his face. "How does it taste?"

Mu Zihuai sniffed it seriously and shook his head. "No." Looking at Ren Danfeng's deep smile again, he felt strange. "What? Brother Ren knows this thing?"

"The body is thin and small, and the inside is exquisite. It can be easily borrowed by others, and it turns like a cicada. It relieves the heart trembling of a beautiful woman, and it can help the kidneys. Known as the pioneer of the golden face, the first in battle and surrender, and the name of Mian Ziling." Ren Danfeng smiled. Said, did not understand deeply, and blinked his eyes after speaking.

Mu Zihuai was wondering why he suddenly read the poem, and after carefully considering the sentence, his face suddenly changed, and he threw the string of beads backhanded, and took two steps back, the hand that touched the beads just now Rubbed hard on the clothes.

"Why did the prince send this kind of thing out?"

Ren Danfeng reached out and picked up the string of beads that Mu Zihuai was avoiding, and lifted it up to look at the candlelight. "My lord won't go through all kinds of hardships to send out just one of these things, there must be some deep meaning behind it."

Mu Zihuai frowned, and cautiously moved closer, looking at the bunch of lewd things.

"My lord, what do you want to tell us?"