turmoil

The conspiracy of the Shangshu Mansion continued until late at night, and seeing that the curfew was approaching, a group of people waited to leave one after another.Fortunately, Jin Yiwei You Yunwei was busy searching for Zhang Jingche, and he was at a loss for time. Fortunately, Emperor Xinglong in the palace was caught up in the grand ceremony and funeral ceremonies, so he couldn't concentrate, so the conspiracy of such a big battle was quietly covered up , did not reveal the slightest wind.

Fang Zhen delivered the moon photo to the carriage in person, with a respectful expression on his face: "Eunuch Yue, we will all rely on you from now on."

Yuezhao nodded politely: "It's easy...as long as Fang Shilang doesn't forget what you promised our family."

When he put forward the conditions, Fang Zhen not only did not get angry, but felt relieved-the conspiracy is illegal, and the fear is that the allies have nothing to ask for, and if there are conditions, they will have a handle, and if they have a handle, they will be able to handle each other. Grasshoppers on the rope, the alliance is naturally unbreakable.

"Eunuch Yue, don't worry," Fang Zhen said solemnly, "Saburo Duan is my cousin. When the Duan family was in trouble, my sister died in love, and it was heartbreaking to be dismissed from office! Today's temperament is mostly like that of the late emperor, mean, ungrateful, and self-willed. , after another day, the next official will definitely advise the new emperor and ask him to avenge the Duan family's grievances."

Yuezhao smiled meaningfully: "So, I will trouble Mr. Shi Lang."

The carriage rolled over the bluestone slabs, like a cunning fish, slipping silently into the depths of the stagnant night.Half an hour later, the outer house was close in front of him, the moonlight lifted the curtain, and he jumped off the carriage without anyone helping him.

The courtyard was very dark, only the study room was brightly lit, and the moon shone through the door, and there were actually crowds of people inside.Su Rina, who was the leader, took the lead, pinching the dagger at her waist with one hand: "How?"

Yuezhao closed the door and nodded to her: "Don't worry, everything is going well."

The Beile people all heaved a sigh of relief.

At the same time, a black figure waited for a moment at the alley of Yuezhao's outer house. Seeing that the owner of the mansion had no intention of going out at night, he left as lightly and swiftly as when he came.

Zhang Jingche's intelligence network planted in the capital played an unexpected role. The emperor in the palace was still unaware of it, but he already knew about the plots that took place in the Minister's Mansion and the foreign residence.When You Yunwei reported that the Beile people lurking in the middle of the capital were hiding in Yuezhao's outer house, Zhang Jingche and Yang Fan looked at each other, but they were not surprised at all.

"It seems that this kid is determined to hang out with the people of Beile," Zhang Jingche sneered, "Revenge is revenge, and he has to rely on foreign forces... His father and grandfather have been loyal and good all their lives. It's a pity that this famous name has been ruined. In this kid's hands!"

Yang Fan couldn't believe it: "He is really a descendant of Duan Shibo? Duan's family discipline is very strict, how could... how could he teach such a foreigner!"

Zhang Jingche didn't know Uncle Zhongyong, and he didn't have any friendship with him. Although he lamented that his family was full of loyalty and goodness, he was not as heartbroken as Yang Fan: "The court has a negative Duan family, so he naturally hates the court of the Central Plains. Besides, don't forget Well, when I returned to Beijing from northern Xinjiang, I clearly brought back the evidence of Zhongyong being framed by others, but now I am concerned about the situation in Beijing and China, and refuse to reverse the case for the Duan family. Later, when the news came out, the late emperor was furious and ordered today to thoroughly investigate the rumors The source, we checked for a long time, but we didn't find out who leaked the news, so we can only push it to the head of Beile. Now it seems that this news is probably released by Yuezhao, and the purpose is very clear, just to Create an atmosphere of public opinion and force the court to vindicate his father."

He paused, then sighed again: "Unfortunately, this wish was destined not to be fulfilled when the late Emperor was alive, but nowadays he has always shown others with benevolence, love and pure filial piety, so he may not be willing to take the risk of being accused of unfilial piety to resolve this case for him. "

Dingbianhou is a good player in battle on the battlefield, but it is really too much to be involved with these ghosts and scheming.Hearing this, Yang Fan lowered his head and rested his chin on Zhang Jingche's neck. If he had a pair of vertical ears, they would have drooped by now.

The people below had no shortage of eyesight, seeing the delicate atmosphere, they hurriedly retreated.Zhang Jingche calmed down, raised his hand and groaned on top of Yang Fan's head: "What's wrong? If you feel sorry for the descendants of the Duan family, I will think of a way to help you save his life as much as possible?"

Yang Fan shook his head, lowered his eyes, like a listless big dog: "Don't worry about me, just do whatever you want... If Duan Shibo is still alive and knows that he has become a lackey of the Beile people, he will definitely not be tolerated! "

Having said that, Zhang Jingche knew it well, the more Yang Fan said that, the more he cared about it.He was a little distressed for a while, and couldn't help comforting him softly: "When this matter is over, you go back to the northwest with me, if you want to go for a walk and drink, or go out to find someone to fight, it's up to you, and you don't have to suffer from these things anymore." Endless idleness."

Yang Fan grabbed his arm and didn't let go, wishing he could twist it into a stick of candy, sticking to his body greasy and crooked: "Senior brother, I feel uncomfortable..."

Zhang Jingche clearly knew that this kid was making use of the situation, so he chose to do so: "Then what do you want?"

Yang Fan rubbed against his cheek, and said in a low voice, "If you let me do it again tonight, I won't feel bad..."

Zhang Jingche said helplessly, "...Get lost!"

Time flies, and it is the end of the year in a blink of an eye.Early in the morning on the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month, the Taihe bell rang in the fasting palace, and Emperor Xinglong got up and drove to the Circular Mound Altar, followed by a mighty civil and military official.

Naturally, the guards were the Imperial Forest Army, and the leader Jian Zhaoting, wearing armor and hanging a knife, stood by the emperor's side in person.Liu Yanzhao changed his sacrificial clothes from outside Zhaoxiang Gate, entered the Circular Mound Altar from the left door, lifted his clothes and walked up the [-]-level white marble steps, and made his final gift to the Hall of Prayer for Harvests on the top of the altar.

The road is blocked and long, and all the officials are waiting at the bottom of the steps. Only the Minister of the Ministry of Rites and the Minister of Guanglu Temple accompany him.Liu Yanzhao was wearing the emperor's mian suit, and it was not easy to climb the nine hundred steps. The sole of his foot slipped accidentally, and he almost fell to the ground in embarrassment.

The Minister of Guanglu Temple quickly supported him, and hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, be careful."

Liu Yanzhao took a breath, raised his eyes to look at the towering Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, and wiped away the sweat from his temples.

The Minister of Guanglu Temple was not sure about Emperor Xinglong's intentions, so he could only flatter him with a smile on his face: "The empress is so generous, I heard that your majesty is guarding the spirit day and night, and is deeply saddened. It's just that you are the Ninth Five-Year Supreme after all. , the country and the country are tied together, no matter how sad it is, you still have to take care of the dragon body."

Liu Yanzhao gave a faint "hmm".

The relationship between Emperor Xinglong and Empress Jian may not be very deep, but he remembered the past many years ago from the words of Minister of Guanglu Temple.At that time, Liu Yanzhao had just been awarded the East Palace, and he was listening to lectures in the Hanlin Academy. Most of the people who accompanied him were the children of well-behaved families. There was only a Dingbian Marquis, Yang Fan, who grew up in the northwest. side.

Liu Yanzhao didn't know what was going on with him, he ignored so many scholars with profound knowledge and good etiquette, and preferred to hang out with Yang Fan.During those two years, under the protection of Empress Wu intentionally or unintentionally, the prince and Marquis Dingbian did a lot of outrageous mischievous things, and made up for all the naughtiness they owed from childhood to adulthood.

Liu Yanzhao once thought that this youthful friendship would continue unbreakable, who knows that the world's wind knife, frost sword is too sharp, but in just a few years, the original young man has been cut beyond recognition.

He sighed slightly, on this extremely solemn day, a cavity of unbearable loneliness was born out of thin air.

All the matters of the ceremony were prepared early in the morning, and the procedure was memorized. After Emperor Xinglong presented his title, he knelt down three times and prostrated nine times to the sound of "Chapter of Qingping".Immediately afterwards, the sacrificial offerings prepared in advance were thrown into the cauldron, and they were instantly engulfed by the raging fire. The flames were raging, and accompanied by the endless sound of ceremonies and music, they went up to the clouds of the Nine Heavens.

The ceremony went smoothly, and Liu Yanzhao's gloom these days finally dissipated a little in the praises of his subjects.He held the hand of the Minister of Guanglu Temple and walked up the nine hundred steps without moving. Before he stepped on the ground, there was a strange commotion in the distance.

The Circular Mound Altar is located in the outskirts of Beijing, and the Imperial Forest Army closed the road to clear the place early in the morning, so the people nearby could not get close.But there were so many officials in the entourage, it was unavoidable to bring the guards with them. These people were originally waiting outside the hall, but when the ceremony was over, they somehow broke through the defense line of the Imperial Forest Army and came straight to the Hall of Prayer for Harvests.

Those who are eligible to accompany them are all important officials of the court, their servants and guards, and the Imperial Forest Army would not dare to be cruel.Who would have thought that this group of people were so skilled, the Imperial Forest Army just hesitated for a moment, but was torn open by them, with a cold light flashing in their hands, they actually brought weapons!

This scene happened so suddenly that the accompanying civil and military officials were taken aback, they were used to being pampered, how had they ever seen such a battle?There was a mess immediately.

The commander of the Imperial Forest Army, Jian Zhaoting, was not in a hurry. While commanding the Imperial Forest Army to stop the assassin, he stepped forward in three steps at a time. He lifted his clothes and knelt in front of Liu Yanzhao, hissing: "Your Majesty, there are thieves sneaking in here. Just in case, Wei Chen escorts you to leave first!"

Liu Yanzhao frowned, looked up and glanced at the direction of the commotion, and then stared at Jian Zhaoting coldly: "You are in charge of the matter of escorting the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, so how could you let Xiaoxiao's people easily sneak in? How did you, the commander of the Imperial Forest Army of!"

Jian Zhaoting was terrified and kowtowed: "This minister deserves to die! This matter is due to my negligence, but this place is really dangerous. I also ask the emperor to take shelter with me. I am willing to bear the responsibility."

Liu Yanzhao raised his head, seeing that the commotion was getting closer and closer to the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, he said in a deep voice, "Let's go!"

Jian Zhaoting calmly breathed a sigh of relief, and gestured behind him, a group of Imperial Forest Army rushed forward, guarding the center with Emperor Xinglong, Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites, and Minister of Guanglu Temple, and headed for the north gate.

The Imperial Forest Army moved very quickly, and before the civil and military officials recovered their senses, they had already kidnapped Liu Yanzhao and left.At the same time, the Empress Dowager in Miyagi didn't know the chaos in front of the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests. The day was sunny and the wintersweet in the courtyard was in full bloom. She simply called the high-ranking and favored concubine into the Palace of Compassion and Ning to enjoy tea together. flower.

Since the death of Empress Jian, the palace has been gloomy. It is rare for the Empress Dowager to be interested, and the concubines who were invited were happy to join her.Among them, the most favored concubine is naturally the concubine Xian who has just entered the palace for a few months. Although her qualifications are still low and her background is not noble, she has the support of the queen mother and the favor of Liu Yanzhao. Enviable.

However, this concubine who is loved by three thousand people is not high-spirited, but rather absent-minded.She sat in the middle of the concubines, silent like a shadow without presence, she would never speak unless someone took the initiative to talk to her, she carefully discerned, there seemed to be a lot of worry hidden in her finely crafted eyebrows and eyes.

The Empress Dowager noticed her strangeness, but didn't say anything, she just thought that the Empress had passed away, and Liu Yanzhao didn't pay attention to the Jiuhua Palace for a while, and ignored the newcomers who had just entered the palace.She sighed without a trace in her heart, and said with a smile: "Concubine Xian."

The Empress Dowager called twice, and Concubine Xian came back to her senses, with a flustered look on her face, she forced a smile and said, "The Empress Dowager... what are your orders?"

The queen mother looked at her expression, and said jokingly: "What are you thinking? But you don't want to talk to an old woman like me?"

Concubine Xian regained her composure and calmed down the strangeness between her eyebrows and eyes: "How could it be? The Empress Dowager is so kind and gentle, it makes people forget the commonplace. The courtiers and concubines are looking forward to seeing each other every day so that they can receive more care."

The queen mother was amused and laughed: "Look at Concubine Xian's mouth, she can make people happy... No wonder the emperor loves you so much, even my wife loves you so much!"

The concubines are all human beings, and accompanied the empress dowager, they laughed in sympathy, but there was a reserved edge hidden in their soft eyes, and they glanced at the concubine Xian calmly.

Concubine Xian turned a blind eye, raised her head without any trace, and just looked at the entrance of the Palace of Compassion and Ning——I don’t know if it was an illusion, but she actually felt the sound of hurried footsteps coming from the gate of the palace, listening to the movement, it seemed that the huge Palace of Compassion and Ning was surrounded heavily stand up!

Soon she knew that this was not an illusion, because even the queen mother raised her head, showing a displeased expression: "What's going on outside? It's a mess... Yuxiang, take someone to see it!"

Aunt Yuxiang agreed, and walked out of the hall with two maids. As soon as she reached the door, a row of men in scarlet python suits came in, with embroidered spring knives on their waists. in the center.

The female family members in the palace are used to enjoying wealth and peace, and have never seen such a scene, they panicked immediately, and the teacups fell one after another.The Empress Dowager was frightened and angry, and she jumped up against the table, only to hear a "swipe", the guards guarding the Palace of Compassion and Peace drew out their long knives at the same time, and confronted the Jin Yiwei who broke into the palace.

Yu Xiang yelled sharply: "You are Jin Yiwei? You are so brave, you dare to disturb the Queen Mother Fengjia... It will be impossible!"

Jin Yiwei stood in place, standing still, a figure turned from behind the crowd, and bowed to the empress dowager on the main seat: "Queen queen, calm down, ladies and gentlemen, don't panic, slaves and servants are here to protect the safety of your masters with the order of the sage." .”

This person is Yuezhao, he is one of the number of servants around Emperor Xinglong, he came forward to say such words, the concubines who were still panicked just now calmed down immediately.The Empress Dowager was a little suspicious: "The Holy Majesty's will? Where is the decree? The Holy Majesty went out of the palace to sacrifice to the heavens. It's very good...how could you make such a decree?"

Yuezhao gave another salute, speaking humbly: "The empress dowager doesn't know that the aristocratic family in Beijing is plotting to do something wrong, and she wants to take advantage of the year-end ceremony to commit trouble... The emperor has insight into the opportunity, and plans to use it. He set up a plan to wipe out all the young people in the court. Your Majesty Fearing that the aristocratic family will jump over the wall in a hurry and enter the palace and endanger the safety of the Empress Dowager, so I plan ahead and order my servants to come here to protect the Empress Dowager."

He took out a roll of bright yellow silk from his sleeve and presented it to the Queen Mother respectfully.The Empress Dowager watched him act like a fool, and believed in her heart. She unfolded the silk scroll casually, but a white powder sprayed out from it, and it came straight to her mouth and nose.The queen mother was defenseless, she inhaled several mouthfuls in a row, and fell limply backwards.Yuxiang screamed, and threw herself on desperately, taking the Queen Mother into her arms.

The concubines just breathed a sigh of relief, they never expected the change to come so quickly, the screams that were ready to go were stuck in their throats, only to hear the sound of sharp weapons breaking through the air one after another, the Jin Yiwei who looked like a wooden sculpture made of clay made a sudden move, blood spattered one after another, The guards fell to the ground.

The concubines were caught off guard and witnessed the scene of the murder, and their screams broke the century-old peace in the vermilion glamorous room.