The third young master of the Di family, Di Guangzhao, timidly walked to the front of the palace and hesitantly looked at the pitch-black city gate as if it was a prehistoric beast that would swallow him alive the moment he walked over.
He did not bring any rain gear and his robe was already drenched in the rain, making him look somewhat disheveled. Di Guangzhao hesitated for a long time before hesitantly moving forward. He was slightly surprised to see a young woman holding an umbrella and wearing the uniform of a noblewoman. However, he only stole a glance before turning to the palace gate.
A guard went up to him and asked sternly, "Who are you?"
When Di Renjie's robes were sent home, his family was at a loss. When they heard the news from the servant who delivered the meal, they knew that Di Renjie was a thrifty person, so they thought that he was worried about the court clothes. They wanted to follow his instructions and clean the court clothes, so that they could bring a few more sets of clothes when they delivered the meal tomorrow.
However, Miss Chan Juan, who was serving Di Renjie, became suspicious. Ever since Di Renjie had been captured and imprisoned, his family had not seen him at all. They had no way of knowing what was going on inside and had no way of making the appropriate rescue measures. What kind of situation was this? Once the evidence was confirmed, he would be beheaded. It was true that Di Gongzi was a thrifty person, but he would not go so far as to pity a piece of clothing at this time, right?
The more Chan Juan thought about it, the more suspicious she felt. She took the initiative to clean the court robe. Then, she carefully checked the robe from top to bottom, not letting go of a single inch. Finally, she found the blood letter that Di Renjie had hidden.
Since there was a blood letter, he could cry out for justice. Of course, the Di family would not be so stupid as to bring the blood letter to the Luoyang prefecture, the Supreme Court, or even the Imperial Censorate. This blood letter had to be sent directly to the Emperor to have a chance of survival. However, who was going to deliver this blood letter? One of the Di family's eldest and second sons was an official in another city and had yet to return. The other had also been implicated and imprisoned. The only male descendant was the third son, Di Guangzhao.
Although Di Guangzhao was greedy and lustful, he still had feelings for his father, brother, and family. Furthermore, even if it wasn't for the sake of family, if his father and brother were convicted, his future would be over. This was for the lives of his father and brother, and also for his own future. No matter what, he had to fight for it. Di Guangzhao clenched his teeth, picked up the bloody letter, and ran towards the palace.
But now that he was here, he couldn't help but feel afraid. After hesitating for a long time, he gathered up his courage and walked over. When the guard asked, Di Guangzhao hurriedly saluted and said, "I am Guangzhao, the son of the Assistant Minister of the Prefectural Official, Duke Di of the Phoenix Court. My father is innocent and was imprisoned unjustly. I am here to avenge my father to the Sage."
The Imperial Bodyguard glared at him and shouted, "If you have any injustice, you can go to the Supreme Court, the Censorate, the Ministry of Justice. A sage is not a judge. How would he have the time to go to court and ask questions? Mind your own business! Go away, go away, go away! "
Di Guangzhao hurriedly said, "My father is the current Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has been wronged, and this is a serious matter. I'm afraid that even the Three Law Division will not be able to resolve this case. I believe that the Sage is very concerned about this case. I'll have to trouble you to report this to Guangzhao. Perhaps the Sage will be willing to see me."
"Go away, go away! You really can think. Who will bear such a big responsibility for you? If I offend the Sage, will you bear it for me? Are you leaving or not? If you don't leave, I'll arrest you and hand you over to the Luoyang government for punishment! "
Di Guangzhao was shocked. He didn't want to leave, but he also didn't dare to stay. While he was hesitating, Xiao Man heard the conversation between him and the Imperial Bodyguard. She walked over and said, "This Langjun, are you the third young master of the Di family?"
The Imperial Bodyguard still wanted to scold him, but suddenly saw Xiao Man rushing over. He hurriedly stopped and lightly took two steps back. Xiao Man was originally one of the female Imperial Bodyguards in the palace. She often went in and out of the palace, so of course the Imperial Bodyguard knew her. Di Guangzhao saw this beautiful young woman in the palace dress asking him a question. He couldn't help but be confused and said, "Yes! It is me. Madam is? "
"You come!"
Xiao Man called out to him, turned around and walked a few steps away. Di Guangzhao hurriedly rushed to follow. Xiao Man walked to a secluded place and stood still. She said to Di Guangzhao, "Do you have any evidence to complain about Duke Di's injustice?"
Seeing Di Guangzhao's hesitant expression, Xiao Man hurriedly said, "I am the wife of the Yulin Forest's Left Officer Yang Fan. My husband was also imprisoned because he was wronged. I came here to complain to the Emperor. Third young master can believe me! "
Di Guangzhao looked at her up and down and said, "So it is Madam Yang. I have also heard about Yang Lang Jiang's matter. I believe you. "
Xiao Man said, "Now that the palace is strictly guarded, you can't enter easily. You openly complain about your father. These soldiers are not willing to meddle, and they are also afraid of offending the Imperial Censorate. They definitely won't be willing to report for you. If you trust me, if you have any complaints or things you want to say, why don't you tell me? I will send them to the Emperor for you. "
Di Guangzhao hesitated and said, "This … Madam Yang, this matter is very important. Are you sure you can see the Emperor?"
Xiao Man smiled slightly and said with certainty, "Of course!"
Xiao Man's expression moved Di Guangzhao. Perhaps in his heart, the blood letter was a hot potato. He couldn't throw it away, but he couldn't keep it either. Now that someone was willing to take it, he couldn't wait to quickly hand over this responsibility.
Di Guangzhao lowered his voice and said, "Madam Yang, my father wrote a letter in blood in prison. He hid it in a change of robe and sent it home. I found this letter in blood and wanted to go to the palace to complain."
Xiao Man's eyes lit up and said, "Is young master willing to give this letter in blood to me?"
Di Guangzhao hurriedly said, "Thank you, Madam Yang!"
He glanced left and right and sneakily took out a folded piece of cloth from his sleeve. It was inconvenient for Xiao Man to look at it in detail in front of the palace gate. She hurriedly took it and put it into her sleeve. After the letter in blood was put into her sleeve, Xiao Man's heart felt a bit more at ease.
Xue Huaiyi returned in failure, Wu Sansi refused to show up, and Princess Taiping also said that Yang Fan would die. The last hope in Xiao Man's heart was only Shanghai Wan'er. However, if it was just to ask what Shanghai Wan'er did and whether she could save Yang Fan, there was no need for her to insist on going to the palace.
Xiao Man came today because she knew the background of Shanghai Wan'er. Xiao Man didn't dare to say that she completely understood Shanghai Wan'er, but she had a general idea. After all, she was not only a female guard in front of the Emperor, but also a good sister of Shanghai Wan'er for more than a year.
Shanghai Wan'er had a high status and power, but her power was mainly in the palace. In the palace, she and Wei Tuan'er each occupied half of the palace. Wan'er's power was relatively greater, but her power was limited to this and almost never left the palace. Wan 'er had no ambition. She only wanted to ensure her own safety by making connections and recruiting confidants.
Her power came from the Emperor, and her safety also depended on the Emperor, so she paid great attention to making friends with people in the palace. Almost no one in the court was under her command. Most of the foreign officials she made friends with were Scribes. They gathered together to talk about romance, songs and essays. At this time, their help was very limited.
Xiao Man felt that Wan'er's greatest ability was that she served the Emperor, so it was convenient for her to speak. If she wanted to speak, she needed an opportunity. It was not good to mention it rashly, or it would inevitably arouse the Emperor's suspicion. So she came this time to help Shanghai Wan'er create an opportunity to speak.
She also wrote a letter in blood, which was a suicide letter.
If the Emperor was willing to see her, she would go to the Emperor to complain. It would be best if she could move the Emperor. If not, Sister Wan'er could also take the opportunity to speak for her, and her Langjun might have a chance to live. If the Emperor did not want to see her, she would commit suicide in front of the palace. It was unprecedented for a woman of the court to commit suicide in front of the palace. It was enough to attract the attention of all parties.
The letter in blood she hid would certainly be found by the Emperor. Such a tragic act of complaining of injustice, no matter how hard the Emperor's heart was, he should be moved, right? If not, Wan'er could still use this matter to cleverly exert influence on the Emperor. This was the only way Xiao Man could think of.
She wanted to use her own life to exchange for a chance to live for her Langjun.
Unexpectedly, Di Guangzhao brought Di Renjie's letter in blood. Xiao Man was very happy. "With the Prime Minister's letter in blood, there must be a little more hope."
…
On Lichun Terrace, Wu Zetian walked slowly along the white jade railings, quietly admiring the flowers and plants under the thin rain.
These days, Wu Zetian's mental and physical strength were not very good. It was not until today that she slightly recovered. Looking down the corridor, all kinds of rare and exotic flowers, such as pomegranate red, white phoenix, lantian jade, and jade-green jade, were in bloom. The rain was like dew, condensing on the petals, appearing delicate and beautiful. Wu Zetian couldn't help but show a long-lost smile on her face.
However, Shanghai Wan'er, who accompanied her, frowned, faintly covered with a touch of worry. Like the curtain of rain in the distance, she seemed to have a lot on her mind. But every time Wu Zetian turned her head to talk to her, she had to quickly change her expression so that Wu Zetian wouldn't see through it.
At this time, Fu Chen came to Lichun Terrace. He whispered a few words to the little eunuch standing on the stone steps, and then he came over with the little eunuch. Wu Zetian focused on the fresh flowers in the garden and lightly asked, "What is it?"
Fu Chen crossed his hands in salute and said, "Holy Sage, today the wife of Yang Fan, the Left Minister of the Yulin Forest, is outside the palace gate asking for an audience!"
Wu Zetian thought for a moment and slowly said, "Is it Xiao Man?"
She turned around and stared at Fu Chen, saying, "We have said that unless it is the most important matter of the country, or if an official above the rank of assistant minister asks for an audience, we will not see anyone. Why did you come to report?"
Fu Chen bowed even deeper, "Holy Sage, Xie Duwei said that she … she came this time not for national affairs, but for a private matter!"
Wu Zetian raised her eyebrows and slightly sneered, saying, "What private matter? Is it to plead on behalf of her rebellious husband? What kind of place does she think we are? Does she want us to go to court and interrogate her? "
Fu Chen said in a low voice, "Xie Duwei said that the Holy Sage is her matchmaker. She thanked the Holy Sage for bestowing her with a good husband. Today, she is here to 'thank the matchmaker', and … and she has brought a matchmaker gift. "
Hearing this, Wan 'er's eyes slightly flashed. She suddenly smiled and said, "This girl Xiao Man is quite interesting. She clearly wants to save her husband, but she still finds so many excuses. She wants to thank the matchmaker, and then she wants to give gifts. She really put in so much effort. Unfortunately, can her little tricks hide from the Holy Sage's pair of wise eyes? The Holy Sage will definitely not see her. Go tell her not to waste her efforts. "
"Wait!"
Wu Zetian originally did not want to see her, but hearing Wan 'er say this, she stopped Fu Chen and said, "Bring her to see me!"
Shanghai Wan 'er put on a surprised expression and said, "Everyone, you …"
Wu Zetian faintly smiled and said, "This girl's intentions can't be hidden from me. However, I am very curious, what gift does she have for me, the big matchmaker, and what excuse does she have to absolve her husband. Ha, let's go back to the hall and rest for a while. I will wait for her to come! "
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