Chapter 79

In the imperial study room, Liu Jiushao, the commander-in-chief of the trip to Shanglinyuan, told the story in detail, and then said: "The right guard of the four guards has a total of more than 5,000 people. After leaving the city, the right guard secretly distributed and dispatched without authorization, which is Zhou Jin's preparation for the forced palace in case the assassination fails. Once the confession is completed, everything is complete, please long live the Holy Inquisition."

After he finished speaking, he saw the emperor staring at the candle in front of the case, his figure seemed to freeze, his face was pale and blue, he did not dare to look anymore, and lowered his head.

After a long while, I heard the emperor say: "Your dispatch this time is timely, your loyalty and bravery are commendable, very good, go down first, and I will give you a reward later."

Liu Jiushao thanked him and backed out. Seeing that Pei You was quietly waiting outside the hall, he hurriedly stepped forward and called out "Master Pei".

For Pei You'an, what he admires now is his five-body throw. This trip to Shanglinyuan, if it wasn't for him to take precautions in advance, and to use this assassination to force the palace to plan carefully, it is really hard to imagine what it would have been like at that time, just thinking of it at this moment, still have lingering fears.

Pei Youan nodded.

It is not allowed to stay outside the hall. Before leaving, Liu Jiushao whispered: "Don't worry, Lord, although Lord Shanglinyuan has not been with you, I dare not bury the merits of your Lord, and I have already told the truth."

Pei You'an smiled slightly.

Liu Jiushao left, he stood under the steps of the hall, raised his eyes, and looked at a row of beasts sitting on the ridge of the roof of the Liuli Hall.

The ridged beasts are neatly arranged, the beast faces are imposing, the eyes are like drums, and they are arrogantly looking down at everything under their feet.

The palace servant came out and bowed to him: "Lord Pei, long live the summons."

Pei You'an retracted his gaze, stepped forward, entered, and bowed to Xiao Lie.

Xiao Lie sat behind the case, his face still green, looked at Pei You'an kneeling in front of him, and didn't speak for a while.

Pei You'an didn't get up either, still kneeling on the ground.

"You'an, Liu Jiushao just told me, this trip to Shanglinyuan, has he received your advice?"

"How did you expect the prince's assassination plan? Since you have noticed it, why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"Look up and answer my words!"

Xiao Lie finally spoke, but his voice was unusually solemn, vaguely questioning.

Pei Youan raised his head, met the two glances cast by Xiao Lie, and looked calm.

"Long live, the minister could not say this before, but today, the minister can only say it. Without him, it is only because the prince has always expected the minister with the heart of the minister, and the minister has to take precautions."

There was silence in the imperial study, and after a while, Xiao Lie spoke again: "Why do you think that the prince can't tolerate you? I have taught the prince again and again, I and your father are brothers, and I wish you two..."

His voice gradually became a little hoarse, and he stopped, his eyes bleak.

Pei Youan slowly kowtowed to the ground.

"The minister is guilty and has not fulfilled his duty as a minister, so that the prince's heart is unresolved, and Long Live is so disappointed."

he said in a low voice.

Xiao Lie was silent.

Pei You'an stood up straight, called Sheng Gong Ren, and ordered him to take what he had just carried. The palace attendant handed it in, and Pei You'an unfolded it. It was actually a women's t-shirt. One sleeve was stained with dark stains and the color was yellow. It looked like it had been a while.

The emperor was startled: "What is this?"

"Long live, this is the clothes that my wife wore to the birthday banquet of the princess' mother. When my wife returned from the banquet that night, I told the minister that at that time, the princess received the wine and ordered the palace staff to pour wine for the guests at the same table, and it was my wife's turn to drink the wine glass. At that time, she saw that the palace servants were holding the pot differently. She didn't dare to drink it at that time, so she poured the wine into her sleeves quietly. I informed the minister about this matter. Long live also know that the minister has a little knowledge of medicine. He started to treat diseases when he was young, and he also dabbled in foreign medicines. I learned that it was actually a tantric drug, and after taking it, I looked like I was drunk, and my spirit was crazy."

Xiao Lie's expression slowly tightened.

"The minister still remembers the cold sweat and wet clothes at that time. If my wife drank the medicinal wine that night, the consequences are unimaginable. After that night, the minister had to take precautions. After the crown princess, Zhou Jin and Zhou Hou also killed themselves one after another. Long live, long live the heart of Yin Yin’s father, the fist can be seen, the prince will inevitably bring disaster to Chiyu. The minister speculates, and the prince is afraid of danger. As for the lucky ride to the forest garden, the clue starts from the Baihe Temple. The minister is Chi Han She was really sick, but her words were flickering, and her condition was repeated. On the eve of her departure, she was so ill that she fell into a coma, and the minister had to leave. The minister knew that Chi Hanzhen had a relationship with the prince earlier, and this illness was a little strange, and it happened again. When Wan Sui left the palace, I had doubts in my heart, and I was afraid that Wan Sui would make a mistake, so I reminded Mr. Liu that he must be comprehensive and take precautions."

Pei You'an raised his eyes and looked at the emperor opposite.

"The ravines can be blocked, and the greed is insatiable. People are born with spirit, but they are often driven by ambition and desire without knowing it. This is also a hardship. Long live, before the Shanglinyuan incident, everything was just the heart of the minister. It's just a bit of speculation. I don't believe it, the crown prince would make such a perverted act of self-denial from the ancestors of the clan, how could he dare to come to Wansui and openly alienate the relationship between the father and son of the heavenly family?"

"This is the whole reason for this, and there is no need to hide it. This minister is a bit selfish for self-preservation, disregarding the safety of Long Live, and the minister is guilty."

After Pei Youan finished speaking, he kowtowed to the ground again.

Xiao Liewan seemed to be in peace, sitting there with his eyes closed and silent, he stood up for a long time, walking a little heavy, and slowly walked to Pei Youan, who had been kneeling on the ground and had never raised his head, bent down, and lifted him up from the ground with both hands .

"You'an, why are you so guilty! I don't blame you. I should also reflect on myself. Over the years, I have been indebted to my personal virtues, and I have not been vigilant enough. . Although you have not been with you in the Shanglin Garden incident this time, your merit is not under Liu Jiushao."

"I think I sit in the world, and there is no one around..."

He suddenly tightened his fingers and held his arms tightly. His voice suddenly became trembling. Before he finished speaking, he stopped abruptly, staring at Pei You'an. For a moment, he seemed to realize his gaffe and let go. Holding Pei You'an's hands, he turned around for a moment, and sat back to the desk.

"You'an, since you came to me at the age of sixteen, I have trusted you. From now on, you and I will work together."

"Although the world is my world, I will never treat you badly in the future. Do you remember?"

Xiao Lie stared at Pei You'an, word by word.

Pei You'an hesitated, knelt down again, and kowtowed in thanks.

Xiao Lie asked him to get up: "I know that the Crown Prince has a cold and weak nature. I used to think that the Crown Princess was virtuous and virtuous, so I assigned her to the Crown Prince. I thought she would be able to assist the Crown Prince, but unexpectedly, she was also at odds with the Crown Prince, which really disappointed me. Originally, she was going to be sent to go with her this time and be imprisoned for life. It was only yesterday that someone from the East Palace came to report that she was pregnant, so they let her stay for a while, and then dealt with her separately after the delivery. She harmed Zhen Shi and dealt with it like this , you won't blame me for being partial, will you?"

Pei You'an said: "Long live if you handle it properly, even if your wife finds out about it, she will respect it."

Xiao Lie nodded: "I'm a little tired, so you should retreat."

Pei You'an withdrew, Xiao Lie stared at his figure, and when he reached the entrance of the hall, he called out again.

"What's your order?" Pei You'an stopped.

"Mrs. Tai passed away. As a great-grandson, I should have given you filial piety. It's just that state affairs are more important than family affairs. Mrs. Tai had a deep understanding of righteousness before she was born. On this day, the snowflakes came to the land of Jingxiang, and the disturbances continued. There are many things about the naturalization of the refugees. Although you have planned a big plan before, the local officials are lacking in ability, ineffective in implementing them, and there are conflicts with the people from time to time. I am afraid that this will lead to public resentment, and if there is trouble again, it will be a major event. Therefore, you took the lead in the incident, and the local people also believed in you. Therefore, the original intention of recalling you to the capital this time is to regain your official position, and I want to send you again. A trip to the southwest to implement people's livelihood on behalf of me, which will not only benefit the local area, but also prevent future troubles. What do you think?"

Xiao Lie's tone sounded like he was asking for his opinion.

Pei You'an's figure settled, and then he said, "The minister follows the order."

Xiao Lie stared at him: "In this case, I will order the officials to follow up tomorrow, and you will set off on another day..."

He hesitated and said, "You An, I know that you have been exhausted and worried for me all these years. Let you rest for a while. It's not easy for you."

"Long live the words are serious. The minister has only done his duty. The minister retire."

With a smile on his face, Xiao Lie called Li Yuangui and sent him off under the name Li Yuangui.

"Master Pei, please."

Li Yuangui said respectfully.

Pei You'an bowed to the emperor, turned her head down, and left the study without taking a few steps. The opposite Cui Yinshui hurriedly entered, looking a little frightened. Seeing Li Yuangui stopped and frowned, he hurriedly leaned over and whispered, "Godfather, Beiyuan. Something happened over there! Long live the Empress, but the palace servants set fire to themselves without delivering any news. Fortunately, it was discovered early and put out in time, without causing a major incident..."

Li Yuangui stopped.

Pei You'an smiled and said, "Eunuch Li, please stay, I can just leave the palace." After speaking, he turned and left.

He stepped out of the hall and down the steps, the smile on his face gradually disappeared, his eyes fixed on the front, and he walked along the palace road, gradually speeding up his pace.

...

In a palace garden in Beiyuan, Zhou's face was pale, his eyes were restless, and the soles of his palace shoes were stepping on the ground, walking back and forth in the palace constantly.

In the empty hall, the echoes of her empty and hurried footsteps continued to echo. Suddenly, she saw a tall figure walking from the dark depths of the entrance of the hall where the candles could not shine, casting a long dark shadow on the ground.

That man, standing there in the end, looked at him coldly, his eyes were indifferent, without the slightest emotion, and it seemed that even the disgust no longer existed.

Zhou shi ran towards him, but finally did not dare to approach, knelt on the ground a few steps away, tears streaming out, and kowtowed: "Long live, my concubine received the rebuke from Long live, and I am frightened. Of course Yintang committed a heinous crime. , but if it wasn't for Zhou Jin's instigation, my son, he would never have done such a thing! He was confused for a while, and the tiger's poison won't eat his son. I beg you, for the sake of your long-term husband and wife, please spare him this time. Bar!"

She kept kowtowing, her forehead touching the ground, making a thumping sound.

Xiao Lie said coldly: "You see me with death, I still think that you have a heart of remorse, considering the fact that you have been married for 20 years, you have also come, I didn't expect you to not reflect on your own upbringing, but you still keep talking. Putting the blame on others? The sheep have the grace of kneeling and the crow has the right to feed back, but what did your son do? After he ascended the throne, I made him the crown prince. What is his dissatisfaction? I have spared him not to die, and after the birth of the Zhang family, regardless of the income of the male or female, he will be brought up by the imperial heir. Over the past 20 years, I have asked myself that I have not owed you mother and son. You can do it yourself, I will go."

After speaking, he turned and walked away.

Zhou Shi's red eyes widened, staring at the back of the emperor's departure, and suddenly said sharply: "Long live, you said you didn't treat me and Yintang badly, you thought I didn't know, that half a year ago, you secretly cheated on me. Where did Yunnan go? You clearly sneaked into the capital, arrived at the Ci'en Temple, and were with Pei Wenjing, right or not? All these years, you have only seen the son that Pei Wenjing gave birth to you, why have you looked at Yintang more? He He is your righteous son, the heir to the throne! You are so biased, Yintang has gone astray today, and you can't get rid of it! What kind of virtue are you! You think that your precious son who can't see the light has nothing to do with you. Heart, if one day, let him know about your unhappiness, do you think he will recognize you as a father?"

Zhou's shrill voice echoed in the empty hall, as if there were echoes of his debut.

Xiao Lie stopped abruptly and turned his head slowly.

The candle flame jumped, reflecting on his face, his face was ashen, his facial muscles twitched slightly, and his expression was hideous, like a furious beast in an instant.

"What did you just say?"

He gritted his teeth and approached Zhou shi step by step, his eyes extremely gloomy.

Zhou Shi shrank for a moment, with a look of fear in his eyes, and suddenly seemed to have recovered his senses, jumped to his feet, and hugged Xiao Lie's leg: "Long live, long live the concubine, long live the concubine, just now the concubine is talking nonsense. Long live, spare Yintang and give him another chance..."

She cried with heartbroken, "I'm just such a son, what's the difference between treating him like this and killing him?"

Xiao Lie lowered his head and stared at the woman who was hugging his legs and feet and wept bitterly. After a long while, he sneered: "What is the righteousness? How can there be so much righteousness in the world? My throne is not something that is justified, so why should it be passed on? for your son?

Xiao Lie walked away without looking back.