Early in the morning, most of the women in the Xuanyuan Imperial Harem got up.
It was very early in the morning — the end of the Chou period.
It couldn't be helped, because the new Empress had decreed that she had to get up to exercise at the Chou period. After that, she would have to take a bath and rest. She would probably rest at the usual hour of the Chou period. That wouldn't do. It was more important for her to sleep. So, concubines, don't sleep. Anyway, you've slept enough in the days without the Empress.
Thus, the concubines, who were used to waking up when the sun was high in the sky, struggled painfully. They had to get up at the Chou period, and it would take two hours to dress up. It was equivalent to not sleeping all night.
Of course, just as there was no lack of brainless and rebellious people in any era, the Xuanyuan Imperial Harem naturally had a unique and unconventional pioneer.
The pacesetter of this era was Concubine Xian, who was the most favored before the new Empress entered the palace.
Consort Xian was a descendant of an important minister who founded the Xuanyuan Empire. She was the daughter of the Commandery Prince of Xiping, a prince with a different surname. This prince was known for his deep sense of justice and his keen insight. As the trusted aide of Crown Prince Wen Yi, he was in charge of all the important affairs of Crown Prince Wen Yi.
The regent naturally favored the Gao family. Even Consort Gao Xian was like the mistress of the six palaces in the palace. She could do whatever she wanted and look down on others. The palace maids around her were replaced like cutting leeks. Those who were replaced were either dead or sent to the laundry department and other poor places. As a result, when the palace maids and eunuchs heard that they were going to enter the Jingchun Hall, they quickly held hands with their friendly companions and looked at each other with tears in their eyes, saying goodbye forever.
The palace had been bullied by Concubine Xian for a long time. When the new Empress entered the palace, she naturally took the opportunity to vent her anger, hoping that the new Empress, who was said to have a fiery temper, would take action. The new Empress seemed to be asleep, and lightly answered, "Oh."
Everyone was disappointed — it turned out to be a decoration.
When meeting the Empress for the first time, she should have crawled, but the day before, Concubine Xian sent a palace maid to say that she was not feeling well and would come another day to pay her respects to the Empress.
At that time, Meng Fuyao laughed and said, "Tell your master that if he's sick, he should be treated. Go."
The palace maid went back and repeated what she said. Consort Gao Xian, who was dressed up, was standing in front of the window and enjoying the flowers. There was a special greenhouse in her palace. The top gardeners in the country went to the palace every day to cultivate the flowers. The flowers that bloomed in different seasons often bloomed in front of her silvery red silk window paper, competing with the beautiful flowers in the room. Consort Gao Xian didn't need to get up. She could smell the fragrance of all kinds of flowers in her bedroom that couldn't be smelled in the cold winter.
But today she was not in a good mood. Her favorite peony, the gardener could not make it bloom. So in a rage, she used the gardener as fertilizer and ordered the eunuchs to find another good gardener. '
When the palace maid relayed the Empress' decree, she raised the corner of her lips and smiled coldly. She stretched out a finger wearing a sapphire glove and gently pinched off a chrysanthemum that she had painstakingly cultivated.
She slowly tore the precious chrysanthemum petal by petal until it was bare. Then she said, "She knows how to adapt to circumstances."
Then she went to sleep. She planned to wake up at the end of the morning, as usual.
At the end of the morning, all the concubines had arrived at the Empress' Chongxing Palace. Those who were above the rank of concubine had a seat in the outer hall. Those who were below the rank of concubine could only kneel in the courtyard. The winter night was heavy, and the sky was about to snow. Kneeling in the hall against the cold wind made a group of pampered women in the harem shiver.
In the outer hall, although the fragrance of pepper and the warmth of the charcoal fire were unbearable, Meng Fuyao would not let them relax. There were other sufferings. The noble women sat stiffly. Consort Jade, Jian Xue, lowered her head uncomfortably. Her position was arranged in a strange way. On the left was Tang Yiguang, on the right was Consort Virtue, Hua Zhirong. On the left was her, and on the right was Consort Virtuous, Situ Linyun.
It was … a mess.
According to the order of the four concubines, except for Tang Yiguang's position, the other three were wrong. She should have been third on the left, but now she was sitting in Consort Xian's position.
If Consort Gao Xian knew about this, it would be another storm. Jian Xue thought to herself, 'Who said that the new Empress is a pushover?' She had not even appeared, but the seat arranged by the servant had already pushed her and Hua Zhirong to the opposite side of the crowd, and even pushed her to the front of Consort Gao Xian.
At this moment, she was shrouded in the strange gazes of the concubines. Her whole body felt like it was being pricked by long needles. Seeing that Hua Zhirong did not care and Tang Yiguang only cared about the snacks in her sleeves, she could not help but sneer. 'How reckless!'
Then, she thought of the day when she sent supplements to Yuwen Zi. After that, she inexplicably sneezed during the empress selection and missed the positions of the Empress and the four concubines. 'Could it be … that it was not a coincidence?'
Jian Xue could not help but shiver at this thought.
Suddenly, Consort Shu smiled and said, "Sister Jian, are you cold? Be careful not to freeze in this cold weather. "
Jian Xue reluctantly raised her head and smiled, "Thank you, Consort Shu, for your concern. Sister, please take care of your body."
Honored Consort Shu carelessly examined her exquisitely maintained nails under the light. She said lightly, "I am a coarse person and have always been patient, unlike Sister Jade Consort. You are a person made of real jade and cannot take a chill. I heard that on the day of the empress selection, sister caught a cold?"
Jian Xue's expression changed. Sneezing on the day of the empress selection was the shame of her life. As expected, these women would not let it go!
"Jade Consort is such a delicate person. No wonder His Majesty dotes on her. I heard that His Majesty did not get angry when her snot hit His Majesty's palm." A concubine covered her mouth and smiled.
"That is because of Jade Consort's virtue and words. His Majesty dotes on her. If it was you or me, not to mention snot, even if we speak, we would not be able to."
"… Not everyone can be a snot Imperial Consort …"
"…"
Everyone was talking and laughing. The women in the harem had always been the most boring group of creatures in the world. Other than studying how to make themselves more beautiful, they also studied how to make their opponents more embarrassed. Their tongues were gentle, their tongues were sharp, their words were piercing, and they only picked the softest part of the enemy to stab.
Jian Xue was in the center of the attack. Seeing the mockery pouring out, she could only tremble in anger. She then looked at Hua Zhirong watching the show coldly and Tang Yiguang stupidly eating snacks. She felt bitter in her heart. The three of them had fallen into the Empress' trap at the same time, but the other two did not know to help each other. She was left to fight alone. Why bother!
Looking at the hostility around her, the two stupid people who had entered the palace with her, and then thinking of the Empress who had used a seat to force her into danger and was still missing, Jian Xue felt a chill in her heart. She suddenly remembered what her knowledgeable grandmother had said before she entered the palace. "Don't be stupid and get involved in the struggle in the palace.
Xuanyuan's struggle in the palace is more dangerous than the struggle in the palace of any other country because it is no longer about women fighting for favor, but it involves the imperial power of a country. The situation is turbulent now, and His Majesty is not as helpless as you think. Every consort is connected to a family, and their glory will be destroyed in an instant. Don't fight. If you are forced, you must fight. Choose the most ruthless one to follow! "
Choose the most ruthless one …
In an instant, Jian Xue had already made a decision in her heart.
She slowly raised her head and said with a smile, "Speaking of which, it is quite embarrassing. Sister caught a cold that day, but it was intentional."
"Hmm?"
Jian Xue stood up and solemnly bowed to the throne. She said, "Since Jian Xue saw the Empress in the primary election, I felt that the Empress was graceful and dignified, and the mother of the world. Jian Xue did not dare to fight with the Empress for the throne, so I voluntarily gave up."
She said it solemnly and sincerely, but the consorts all showed a look of disdain and disbelief. Bah, they had seen shameless flatterers, but they had never seen such a shameless one!
Jian Xue smiled and sat down. Her expression did not change — it was not for them to hear.
Although there was a fierce battle of words in the outer hall, it was a different scene in the inner hall. The weather was too cold, and there was no energy to talk. The consorts knelt for a long time without any movement. Those nobles and beauties saw that there was no one in the hall, and they all began to move. The timid ones put their hands on the cushions and moved their legs. The brave ones directly climbed up and held the wall to stretch their legs. The sound of stomping feet could be heard in the hall.
"It's so cold, it's tormenting!"
"At least give me a charcoal stove to warm myself."
"Come on, she wants you to kneel, and you still want a charcoal stove!"
"I heard that this master was not favored in the Chang Ning Mansion? She must have knelt too much when she was young. Now that the tables have turned, let us have a taste! "
"Sister, you're too polite. I'm worried that this master doesn't know about charcoal stoves? Could it be that she still hasn't recognized all the things used in the palace? Hee hee … "
"Hee hee …"
…
"Hee hee."
A sudden voice suddenly joined their discussion with great interest, asking: "Charcoal stove, I heard that the north doesn't use charcoal stoves, it's used to heat the kang."
"That's right," Concubine Liu was the most active. Although her father's official position was not high, he was a person with real power in the court. He was the assistant minister of the Ministry of War, in charge of the military warehouse, and was considered a trusted official of the regent. Naturally, Concubine Liu's status also rose. She closed her eyes and rubbed her waist while leaning against the wall. She said casually: "I heard that in the north, it's all big kang, one room to the side. Men and women sleep together and roll all over the floor."
"Ah … really, there's such a way to sleep?" The person continued to ask with great interest.
"Yes," Concubine Liu curled her lips in disdain, "I wonder what kind of people would sleep on the kang that our Empress Niangniang sleeps with? Brother? Younger brother? Uncle? Haha. "
She laughed happily, not noticing that the surroundings had gradually quietened down. The chatter just now had disappeared, and the atmosphere was strangely quiet.
"I think it's okay to sleep with younger brother, but it's not good for uncle." The person expressed her opinion very sincerely.
"What do you know?" Concubine Liu curled her thin lips, "Uncle, uncle is still polite. Father-in-law even burrows into his wife's quilt! Didn't the third young master of the Chang Ning Mansion's Yuwen Family commit suicide because of this? Haha, "She put down the hand that was massaging her waist with a smile, turned her head and said:" Your sister is so naive and cute … "
She suddenly choked, and her eyes slowly widened.
Behind her, all the concubines in the courtyard had already obediently returned to their original positions. However, there was one person who did not put on any makeup. Her long hair was simply tied up high, and she was wearing a simple and strange short dress. Steam was rising from her head, and she was looking at her with her hands behind her back and a smile.
Seeing her turn her head, the man smiled and said, "Go on, go on, why don't you continue?"
Liu Pin's lips trembled. She figured out the identity of the woman in front of her from the surrounding gazes and the accessories on the waist of the woman in front of her. And just now … just now … just now under the seduction of the Empress, what did she say?
Slowly recalling the words that she had blurted out earlier, Liu Pin felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She swayed and her legs went soft. She knelt down and tears streamed down her face, "Your Ladyship … Your Ladyship … This servant is ignorant … spoke nonsense … This servant … This servant will slap her own mouth!" She hardened her heart and raised her hand to slap herself. The crisp sound of flesh hitting flesh caused the concubines to bow even more. Concubine Liu trembled and looked up at Fuyao pitifully.
With her hands behind her back, Fuyao slightly leaned forward and looked at her with a smile, not saying a word.
Liu Pin had no choice but to slap again. Fuyao remained motionless, smiling and not saying a word. Only when Liu Pin's face was swollen did Fuyao speak unhurriedly, "Sister Liu, why are you so frightened? I just ran one round and haven't even adjusted my breathing. I didn't even have time to speak before you slapped me … What's the point? "
"…"
Liu Pin lay on the ground, tears gushing out of her eyes. She heard the man say heartlessly, "Aiya, look at this soft and tender skin. It's so ugly to be beaten up like this …"
Liu Pin did not even have the strength to cry anymore. She lay on the ground, resentful but not daring to show it on her face. Hearing the Empress's footsteps, as if she was about to leave the courtyard, she could not help but feel relieved. However, the Empress leisurely paced around the courtyard and stood down slowly. She said, "Aiya, I didn't get down to business."
While the ladies were at a loss, Fuyao asked the female official beside her, "What's the charge for slandering the Empress?"
The female official bowed. "Your Highness, I'm sentenced to suicide. My mother's family will be demoted."
She spoke calmly, but the concubines trembled in fear. Liu Pin suddenly turned around.
Fuyao met her gaze with a smile and said gently, "That's why I said that you're too proactive, Sister Liu. Whatever crime you've committed, there will naturally be laws to punish you. Why are you in such a hurry to slap me? Look, didn't you slap me too much? "
Suicide …
Concubine Liu's faces turned pale. She had never expected that a few words of hers would bring disaster upon herself. She raised her head in disbelief and looked up at Meng Fuyao in horror. Her heart sank to the bottom when she met Meng Fuyao's calm and cold gaze. She opened her mouth, and her whole body began to tremble like a sieve. She was like a flag in the wind, undulating beneath Meng Fuyao's feet.
Fuyao only looked at her with a smile. It was said that Assistant Minister Liu doted on this daughter of his and was unwilling to send her to the palace. Who knew what he would think now?
"No …" Liu Pin finally recovered from the huge blow and scrambled over to Fuyao. With tears streaming down her face, she grabbed the corner of Fuyao's clothes and kowtowed repeatedly. "Your Highness, Your Highness, I've sinned. Please spare my life, spare my life …"
"Who said I want you to die?" Fuyao's casual words stunned Liu Pin again. The sudden loosening and tightening of her hands had long made her lose all strength. She knelt on the ground in a daze and listened to the Empress' compassionate voice. "What kind of kindness is this? The heavens have the virtue of cherishing life. Although your words were disgraceful and insulting to my family, taking someone's life just because of a few words is not good … not good …"
Liu Pin looked up at her blankly. She wanted to rejoice but did not dare to. Who knew what kind of terrible things would come out of that mouth of hers?
"But your mouth is really not good. Very bad. I heard that you used to joke about things in the palace and the relatives of the empress?" Fuyao did not look at her. Instead, her eyes swept across all the trembling concubines. "You talk too much, and disaster comes from the mouth. Sooner or later, you will be killed. I can't bear to see you walk the path of death. How about this, I'll help you …"
She flicked her sleeves lazily and said, "Sew up her mouth."
The entire hall was silent. Some of the more timid concubines were so frightened that they started crying. Liu Pin slowly raised her head and looked at the smiling Fuyao. Her body swayed and she immediately fainted.
Fuyao kicked her away and swept her gaze across the hall. She beckoned a lady over. "Yang Chongrong, come over."
The lady who was summoned turned pale and did not dare to get up. She crawled over on her knees and bowed her head. "Your Highness …"
"I'll have to trouble you to sew up Liu Pin's mouth." Fuyao said it as if it was as simple as eating a meal. "You have a good relationship with your sister, so you will naturally know the severity of the situation. Otherwise, the servants' rough hands and feet will hurt Sister Liu's face."
Yang Chongrong's expression was even worse than Liu Pin's. She crouched on the ground and struggled for a long time before saying, "… Yes."
"Go to the room over there. Don't scare the sisters." Fuyao nodded in satisfaction and gestured for the eunuch to bring them over. After some thought, she said, "It's not easy to sew raw lips. You can brand them before sewing them."
With a wave of her hand, a eunuch carried a red-hot branding iron into the room. The bright red hot object flashed in the dark courtyard like a bloodthirsty ghost's eye. All the concubines bit their lips tightly, as if their lips were being pressed by that horrible thing. It burned from their lips all the way to their hearts.
They held their breath as they watched the eunuch close the door. After a while, a blood-curdling scream could be heard from the room.
It was a blood-sobbing, heart-wrenching scream. The immense pain was like a horrifying black hole that sucked in one's mind and made them lose their sense of self. The air was filled with the stench of urine, mixed with the faint smell of blood.
There was dead silence. Neither did Meng Fuyao nor the people of Chongxing Palace. They remained absolutely silent and listened with appreciation. They left the bloody, suffocating, oppressive, and heaviness of the moment to the concubines, who had lived like princes and had never been troubled by anyone in the past.
The concubines knelt with pale faces and kept quiet out of fear. Some of them fainted immediately, while others began to ooze from their lower bodies.
"Bang!"
The door of the room that was screaming in pain was suddenly pushed open. Yang Chongrong's hair was disheveled, her eyes were bloodshot, and her clothes were messy. She shouted, "I can't — I can't — spare me — spare me —"
She did not bow to Meng Fuyao, nor did she look at anyone else. Her eyes were staring straight ahead as she ran out. Along the way, she knocked over the courtyard doors, flower pots, and water jars. Her face was bruised and swollen, and her body was covered in injuries. Yet, she did not seem to realize that she was still stumbling and running for her life.
"Yang Chongrong is too timid. Send her back," Meng Fuyao said with her hands behind her back. She doesn't have to come out anymore. "
All the concubines listened with their heads buried in the dust. The two concubines below guipin were the most powerful and had the best relationship with their maiden families. They were the two who were the closest to their maiden families and entangled with the Emperor the most. Today, they were solved by the Empress. The meaning that the Empress wanted to express could not be clearer.
Meng Fuyao stood at the top of the stairs, watching Yang Chongrong run away. She furrowed her brows without anyone noticing. She did not intend to be so vicious. She had merely let An Mei watch the situation and scare them. Could he have really done something terrible?
She glanced at the courtyard full of concubines. They were all stunning beauties, definitely worthy of the title of concubine. They were definitely not like the pictures of the concubines in the Qing Dynasty's harem, where a field of sweet potatoes made people want to destroy the world. When the regent had chosen Xuanyuan Min's concubines, his only standard was that they had to be beautiful. It would be best if they were so beautiful that the emperor would be addicted to their gentleness. These women were, after all, pitiful people. They were sacrificed to maintain the prosperity of their families. They could not conceive children, and their only remaining joy was to gossip and become secret agents.
Xuanyuan Min wanted her to be the fake empress because he didn't want a real emperor to come and tie him up. As for other things, it would be best if he could control the legs and mouths of these concubines and stop these spies everywhere. Actually, it didn't matter if he didn't do anything.
He did not know King Meng's background, so he did not have high expectations of her. However, he did not know that Meng Fuyao was someone who could be used. You use me, I use you, and the world is united. Let's see who is the true undefeatable person in the political arena. Coincidentally, she wanted to use this empress identity to change the political situation in Xuanyuan.
'Mess things up, but not too much. Otherwise, it would be troublesome for Zong Yue in the future …' Chicken Granny Meng frowned as she pondered.
She looked down from above and lazily said, "Sisters."
The concubines hurriedly kowtowed.
"The women in the harem should be role models for the world and help the emperor. It's fine if you were a little lax when I wasn't around, but now you have to set the rules. From now on, sisters will come with me to embroider and weave with your own hands every two days. This will be given to meritorious officials, and it will also be an additional favor from the royal family. "
The crowd groaned inwardly. Do the work personally? Every other day? Embroidery was fine, but weaving? These concubines were born in the mansions of various officials in the Xuanyuan Imperial Court. They were pampered and served at home, so when had they ever done such menial work? However, the empress's reason was just and honorable. Not to mention that they could not disobey, even if the Prince Regent came, he would not be able to interfere in the affairs of the harem.
Looking at the obedient concubines, Meng Fuyao nodded and said, "Disperse." She turned and went straight into the inner hall. 'Those few must have finished their fight, right?'
A few high-ranking concubines had already seen what had happened in the courtyard. The arrogance on their faces had long been gone, and they looked at Meng Fuyao in fear. They were shocked by the empress's cruel methods, but Meng Fuyao was as warm as a spring breeze, greeting them along the way. Suddenly, she called out, "Hua Guipin."
Hua Guipin, who had been very proud of mocking Jian Xue, trembled in shock and hurriedly left her seat to bow.
"Yesterday, I heard from His Majesty that your father was in charge of the Ministry of Revenue during the flood of the Southern Border at the end of summer. He allocated silver for disaster relief and other affairs in an orderly manner. He is indeed an important minister of the country. As a reward, it is time for you to be promoted." Meng Fuyao smiled. "You can also be promoted to a concubine, with the name Hua."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Hua Guipin was pleasantly surprised and quickly thanked her.
Meng Fuyao raised her hand and smiled. "It is said that the demotion and promotion of a concubine is related to the honor of the family. In fact, the concubines also benefit from the family's contributions to the country. All of you are descendants of important ministers, so there will be opportunities in the future."
Everyone agreed. A trace of anger flashed across Yao Guipin's face. Her father, as a scholar, had always been political enemies with Hua Guipin's father. Now that Hua Guipin had been promoted and became a concubine, she was still a concubine. How could she take this lying down?
Concubine Hua's promotion caused all the concubines to have different expressions. The situation in the Xuanyuan Dynasty was complicated, and the Regent was in charge of the overall situation. He also played the art of balancing the situation. The two factions in the court attacked each other, while the Regent watched from a commanding position with a smile on his face. Thus, the daughters and granddaughters of the court officials were naturally divided into different groups.
Meng Fuyao pretended not to see anything and drank her tea leisurely. Suddenly, she asked in surprise, "Why isn't Concubine Xian here?"
The concubines were stunned. 'Didn't Concubine Xian ask for leave from you? How could you forget so quickly? '
Someone was about to speak, but Jian Xue immediately took over Meng Fuyao's words. She looked around and said, "Yes, sister, why do I feel that someone is missing? So Concubine Xian is not here. Perhaps … you forgot?"
Meng Fuyao glanced at her and said, "Oh," but did not say anything. She continued to drink her tea and put down her cup.
The concubines stood up and left, with Jian Xue at the back. Meng Fuyao sat on her seat and slowly drank her tea without looking at her. When the crowd had dispersed, Jian Xue suddenly turned around and threw herself at Meng Fuyao's knees.
Meng Fuyao lowered her eyes and looked at her.
After a while, she smiled.
= = = =
The new empress entered the palace and made some moves.
Concubine Liu and Chongrong were both punished. Concubine Liu was still in Chongxing Palace and Chongrong was unconscious.
Concubine Hua was promoted.
The concubines were to go to Chongxing Palace to work the next day.
Concubine Xian was bestowed with Gao's famous medicine and jewelry.
Her actions naturally caught the Prince Regent's attention. Xuanyuan Cheng listened and thought for a while. "She's really a vicious woman."
His advisor said, "A ploy to fight for favor in the harem."
Xuanyuan Cheng thought about it and felt that it was true. It was hard to tell what the new empress wanted to do. If she was said to clean up the six palaces, she would let go of the most unruly Concubine Xian. If she was said to want to monopolize power and fight for favor, Concubine Hua was promoted again. Xuanyuan Cheng was not bad at politics, but he was not good at understanding women's thoughts. His advisor laughed. "Your Highness, you don't have to worry. Empress Yuwen is your relative, and she's usually well-mannered. Besides, she's alone in the palace, what can she do?"
Xuanyuan Cheng laughed and let it go. Yes, the imperial court and the palace were his world. After more than ten years of operation, his power was deeply rooted. How could a little girl move it?
Besides, if there was really anything wrong with this Yuwen Zi … he still had one last move to prepare to kill her, and he was waiting for her.
= = =
While Meng Fuyao was dealing with the long-mouthed women in Xuanyuan Palace, Xiao Qi was knocking on the door of the Tie Family Alley near the palace gate.
The yawning young eunuch opened the door and scolded, "Why are you disturbing me so early …" He was startled when he saw Xiao Qi, and a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes.
Xiao Qi handed over the list, and the young eunuch was even more surprised. He sized up Xiao Qi's clothes, his gaze landing on Zhan Beiye's black fox cloak, and then on the ragged clothes under the expensive cloak. Shaking the list, he smiled and said, "Oh, you're going to the palace to be an odd-job servant? It's not easy, and it's hard to get into the palace. "
Xiao Qi looked up and saw his shifty eyes. After some thought, he took off the cloak and stuffed it into the young eunuch's hands.
The eunuch received it with a smile and pinched Xiao Qi. "Little Brother, you're obedient. You'll have a meteoric rise in the future." Xiao Qi slapped his hand away, but the eunuch was not angry. He raised his thumb and middle finger and said, "I'll send a message for you."
After a while, he came over and said, "Eunuch Li is calling for you." He then called out to a side door, "Knife Wang, get up, there's work to do."
Xiao Qi followed him into the courtyard in silence. Eunuch Li was happy to see him and held his hand. "Come, sign your name here."
Xiao Qi retracted his hand and pursed his lips. "I don't know how to write." He casually drew a circle. "I always draw circles."
When he was a general, he did draw circles on all documents.
Eunuch Li did not mind. He kept the document and told Xiao Qi to take a bath. After the bath, he gave him a loose robe and Xiao Qi put it on. Just as he was done, Knife Wang came in with a bunch of things. He glanced at Xiao Qi and said, "Follow me."
Xiao Qi saw him carrying a white cloth, ashes, and boxes. She thought that he was going to work, so she followed him silently. She followed him into a room. It was empty, and the windows were tightly papered, so not a single trace of wind could enter. There was a narrow bed in the middle, and there were some scattered ropes.
Knife Wang passed him a bowl of soup and said, "Drink it first."
The soup was black and smelled a little bad. Seven had been wandering for a long time and was a little wary. He had a silver needle in his sleeves and no matter how poor he was, he didn't sell it. He took it out and carefully tested it.
Knife Wang laughed loudly, "Ha! There's even someone who uses a needle to test marijuana soup! "
There was no poison. Xiao Qi was thirsty and gulped it down.
When the soup entered his stomach, it was warm and had a strange taste. It seemed disgusting but it was not. His body started to feel light. Xiao Qi suddenly felt dizzy and his eyelids were heavy.
His hand loosened, and the soup bowl fell to the ground. Wang Daozi caught it skillfully. Then, he heard the door open, and a few people came in. Wang Daozi took out a shiny machete from her bag and warmed it by the candlelight. She ordered, "Take off his clothes and put him on the bed …"
After that, he did not know what happened.
= = =
The door of the Palace Attendants Department opened with a squeak.
A young eunuch came out sneakily. He had a bulging bag wrapped in cloth under his armpit. The tip of the cloak could be seen through the gap.
He touched the cloak with satisfaction. He was very pleased with himself. He had earned a lot today. When he pawned it at the pawnshop, he could exchange it for money and gamble again.
There were very few people on the winter morning. The ground was covered with a thin layer of ice. The little eunuch walked along the outer palace wall, carefully avoiding the frozen areas. However, because he had worn his double-beam cotton shoes for a long time, the soles were thin and slippery. As he walked, he still tripped with a bang.
The bag flew out and the cloak rolled out. The young eunuch panicked and went to pick it up. Suddenly, a person came over and picked up the cloak.
The young eunuch shouted, "That man, he belongs to my family!"
"Yours?" The other person looked up. He had a straight nose and a square mouth. His expression was strange. "Yours?"
"Of course!"
The man stretched out his hand and punched him on the head. "Say it again, it's yours!"
The punch was like a hammer. The young eunuch's head buzzed. He felt that his head was being knocked into his neck. The stars he saw last night all flew in front of him.
"I …"
"Bang!" Another punch.
"Say it again if you dare?"
The young eunuch wailed … I don't want to say "mine." I want to say "I don't want to say it" ah ah ah …
The man looked at the cloak over and over again. He kicked him impatiently. "Tell me where it came from."
The young eunuch had tears in his eyes. He shrunk his neck and pointed to the Palace Attendants Department behind him. "A young eunuch who is going to be a servant gave it to me …"
"Nonsense!" The man shouted. The young eunuch was so shocked that he peed his pants. "Who is he to give it to you?"
"What identity?" The young eunuch was stunned. "A poor boy. What identity?"
"Poor boy?" The man asked in surprise. "What does he look like?"
The young eunuch said while sobbing. The man's expression became heavier. After a while, he murmured, "Xiao Qi?"
He raised his head and looked at the palace wall behind him. He had been thrown away by his unscrupulous master. He had been wandering around the Prince Regent's Residence for a long time. Yesterday, he received a message from his master that he had gone to the palace to become the Empress. He was thinking of a way to enter the palace, but he didn't want to see Zhan Beiye's cloak here. Zhan Beiye's clothes were different from other people's. There was a flame-shaped dragon totem on the inside of his clothes. No one could imitate it. It was too strange to see Zhan Beiye's clothes in the hands of a young eunuch. Naturally, he had to ask.
Tie Cheng's mind buzzed. He naturally knew about Xiao Qi's banishment. He could guess the reason why Xiao Qi wanted to enter the palace. But if he really entered the palace in this way, the consequences would be too tragic. He didn't care about Zhan Beiye, but his master would definitely have nightmares for the rest of his life.
Silly Xiao Qi! You're not atoning for your sins. You're harming others!
Tie Cheng grabbed the young eunuch.
"Where is he? Take me to him! "
= = =
Time went back to ten days ago. Fanny Hua was floating on the distant mountains of the Secluded Realm. Three days and nights had passed after the conversation between master and disciple.
The nine winding corridors were filled with winding and deep fog. No one knew where they came from or where they were going. In the midst of the fog, a figure in plain clothes knelt silently and didn't get up.
The figure suddenly flashed and appeared on the eaves above the kneeling figure. Tai Yan flicked her finger and a red light hit Zhangsun Wuji's back. She shouted, "The one who is being punished, why are you sleeping! This is blasphemy against Uncle-Master's will! "
Zhangsun Wuji was shocked. He raised his head and was about to say something when Tai Yan suddenly turned around and disappeared. At the same time, a misty green figure appeared silently in the fog.
Zhangsun Wuji lowered his head.
"Wuji, you still haven't figured it out?" The old man's face with the tall hat was blurry in the fog. His expression still didn't show any sadness or joy.
Zhangsun Wuji didn't move and didn't speak. His robe was spread out. There was snow under his knees and there was frost between his brows.
The old man stared at him silently. After a while, he sighed and said, "I used to like your character. Now …" He turned around and said, "Get up."
Zhangsun Wuji bowed and said, "Thank you, Honored Master." But he didn't get up immediately. The old man didn't look back but knew that he couldn't get up for the time being.
It was extremely cold on the top of Jade Mountain. If a normal person knelt for three days and three nights, they would have died.
With a flick of his sleeve and a surge of air, Zhangsun Wuji used his fingertips to support himself and slowly stood up. He held onto the pillar behind him.
"Why?" The old man's tone was a bit tired.
"Father's health is not good." Zhangsun Wuji said lightly, "As a son, I have to serve father on his sickbed."
"The elders have already given in to you and allowed you to come and go in the secular world. You only took over this position, but it won't stop you from fulfilling your filial duties in the secular world. In the future, whether you become an emperor or not, they won't interfere. What else do you want?"
"Honored Master is still young and healthy. I dare not overstep your boundaries."
"I have reached the Earth Immortal Realm. After going through the last tribulation of the secular world, the Endless World is the place I should go. If it weren't for the endless fight between your Uncle-Master Taiyan's lineage these years, the position would have been passed to you long ago. Now I have finally convinced the elders, but you are so stubborn. Wuji, you … can't you fulfill your Honored Master's wish and take over the position in advance?"
Zhangsun Wuji was silent and said after a while, "Honored Master, this position is not something I can take."
The old man's fingers trembled slightly. He turned around and a golden light suddenly appeared in his eyes. In an instant, it was as if the sun rose above the sea of clouds. The radiance seemed to shoot into Zhangsun Wuji's heart, "Wuji … what are you afraid of?"
Zhangsun Wuji's expression didn't change. He answered, "Wuji is afraid that because of himself, I will bring disaster to the sect and make the sect divided. I will be the sinner of the sect for all eternity."
"Is that so …" The old man looked at him deeply and sighed after a while, "It's not easy for me to come out of seclusion. I originally wanted to solve this matter, but because of your pestering, I can't have peace … forget it … you can go."
He no longer paid attention to President Zhangsun Wuji. He sat down cross-legged on the ground and waved his five fingers. Countless transparent airflows suddenly appeared in his palm. The clouds and flowers in the sky seemed to be attracted by the rising true power in his palm. Layers of clusters rotated and approached his five fingers, and finally turned into a huge door.
Heaven and earth as the curtain, the sea of clouds as the barrier, the heavy door was deeply hidden, and no trace of immortals could be seen.
He went into seclusion again.
Zhangsun Wuji breathed a silent sigh of relief. His body softened and fell backward.
Someone behind him supported him with some cold fingers. That person also let out a sigh of relief but faint helplessness.
Zhangsun Wuji looked at the hands that supported him and turned his head with difficulty. He looked at a distant place under the lonely mountain in Jade City.
Fuyao …
= = = =
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