Something big had happened in the Imperial Palace. Ordinary people did not know the reason. The common people only knew that martial law had been imposed everywhere in the capital. There were also bailiffs from Shuntian Manor and the Jingji Guards in the city patrolling everywhere. They spread out along the palace walls to search in all directions.
"Could it be that a spy entered?" Some people whispered.
As soon as this was said, someone immediately analyzed, "No, the Tatars have been completely chased out. Their Khans are dead. I heard that the Tatars are fighting among themselves for the position of Khans. How can they still have the mood to come to Da Zhou to cause trouble? "
"Then what do you think is going on?"
"I'm afraid that something has gone missing in the palace. Otherwise, they wouldn't be searching around the palace walls."
The people didn't know what was going on, but the Jingji Guards asked everyone they met. Soon, someone spread the news that these people were looking for a four-year-old boy.
Everyone began to guess which family's child would attract the attention of the Gyeonggi Guards.
Soon, someone guessed that it was a member of the imperial family.
"Could it be Your Majesty's nephew?"
"I've never heard of Your Majesty's nephew being this age. But the Prince …"
The person who spoke realized that something was wrong. His eyes widened and he instantly shut his mouth!
Everyone was guessing in their hearts. Could it be that the Prince had gone missing?
The palace was heavily guarded. How could the Emperor's son go missing so easily? Perhaps they were imagining things and guessing wrongly?
The people who didn't know the truth didn't dare to talk nonsense anymore. Instead, they began to worry about themselves. Those bailiffs were very overbearing. There was no guarantee that one of the bailiffs would take revenge on a private matter. What if they took this opportunity to harm their families …
The atmosphere in the capital, which was already oppressive, became even more tense. The nobles in the palace were frightened, and the people were not spared.
If it was like this in the capital, then what about the palace?
Within the walls of the palace, everyone's lives were thrown into chaos. In order to search for the Prince's whereabouts and any clues, countless palace servants were implicated, and many innocent people were taken advantage of to get rid of them.
Because of Li Helan's death, the Empress Dowager had fallen seriously ill. She had been clamoring for Li Qitian to avenge Li Helan, but Li Qitian had never responded. The Empress Dowager was disheartened. Now the palace was in chaos. Even if Li Qitian and the Empress didn't deliberately tell her, the Empress Dowager had heard it from the palace maids around her.
"What did you say? You're saying that the one who went missing was Hao 'er? "
Seeing that the Empress Dowager's face was livid, the palace maid knelt down in a panic. "I just heard it from the guards who were searching. I don't know what exactly happened."
The Empress Dowager's face was deathly pale, her eyes glazed over. It took her quite a while to catch her breath, and then she shouted, "Why haven't you called the Emperor here yet?"
The palace servants complained incessantly in their hearts. The imperial study used to be a cushy job, but now, everyone wanted to avoid it. If the prince really went missing, it would be lucky if the imperial study didn't get angry. What's more, the Empress Dowager had such an attitude. If they went to find the Emperor, wouldn't they be implicated?
Then Mammy Li, the personal servant of the Empress Dowager, comforted her, "Empress Dowager, don't be anxious. Your Majesty didn't tell you about it because he was afraid that you would be worried and hurt your health. The little prince is blessed by God. Nothing will happen to him. "
The Empress Dowager sat up with the big pillow. When she moved, the joints all over her body were cracking.
Holding her forehead, she felt dizzy for a moment. Her vision turned black, but the Empress Dowager didn't care about it at all.
"They are deceiving me, an old woman without real power! That wastrel Madam Zhang! Does she think that if she keeps it a secret, I won't punish her? Call Madam Zhang over! "
Obviously, the Empress Dowager was extremely angry, but she could still keep her reason. She knew that it was useless to make a scene in front of the Emperor. But the Empress was easy to control. If she wanted to ask something, it was easier to get a satisfactory answer from the Empress.
The palace servants breathed a sigh of relief. At least the Empress Dowager still had some reason and knew to avoid the Emperor.
Someone rushed to the Palace of Earthly Tranquility to invite the Empress.
At this time, the Empress was eating the bitter medicine in the small white porcelain bowl and snow-white spoon brought by the palace maids.
The chief palace maid, Ruo Lan, persuaded her softly, "Your Majesty, since the old mamas around you were sent out of the palace to recuperate, your health has been poor. Now you are anxious because of the prince, but you can't ignore your health. If you fall ill, who can wholeheartedly keep an eye on people to find the whereabouts of His Highness? "
The Empress lowered her eyes, and her eyelashes covered the emotions in her eyes. Her pale lips sipped the black medicine as if she couldn't feel the bitterness. She quickly took the medicine, took a bite of the blue and white carp, and almost rinsed her mouth. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and spat it into the lotus basket basin. Then she asked, "Is there any news? Did you find any clues near the Imperial Garden? "
"Your Majesty, the palace servants who were on duty in the Imperial Garden have been arrested. Your Majesty ordered people to interrogate them one by one. Your Majesty even arranged for people to search for the whereabouts of the several imperial concubines in the harem. Don't worry, the prince will be fine. "
The Empress nodded and lowered her head again with a worried frown.
The palace servants knew that the Empress lost her beloved only son and was sad. They also knew that their persuasion was useless, so they all quieted down.
At this time, the palace maid in front of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility came in to pass on a message, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager ordered people to invite you over. Perhaps the Empress Dowager found out about His Highness."
The Empress' heart trembled. She calmly thought for a moment before standing up, "I know. I will go immediately. "
The palace servants helped the Empress change clothes and comb her hair, but the Empress waved her hand and refused.
Her face was haggard, and her pale face had a waxy yellow color. In just two or three days, she had lost a lot of weight, and her cheeks were sunken. Just as she walked out of the Palace of Earthly Tranquility, the Empress felt dizzy and her vision darkened. Before she could step on the shoulder, she fell to the ground.
"Empress!" The palace servants were shocked, "Quick, call the imperial doctor! The Empress fainted! "
The Empress fainted, and the Imperial Institute of Medicine panicked.
The Empress Dowager was so angry that she beat the arhat bed, making the rosewood arhat bed sound.
"Aijia thinks she did it on purpose! She lost Aijia's good grandson and has no way to explain, so she pretended to faint to deal with it! Tell the Emperor for Aijia! If something really happened to Brother Hao, Aijia only wants them to pay with their lives for the child! What are they doing all day? Such a group of people, but they can't even keep an eye on Brother Hao! "
The palace servants didn't dare to say more and could only agree.
Li Qitian soon received the news that the Empress had fainted and the Empress Dowager was furious. The Prince had gone missing, and the city had sped up the search. However, Pang Xiao's army was about to reach the city in two days.
All the things that didn't belong to Ru Yi were put together, and Li Qitian was already in a terrible fix.
"Tell people to contact Duke Ding. No matter what, they must pass on my words! If they can't do it, they can bring their heads to see me! "
%
In Pang Xiao's camp, there was a lot of laughter.
As night fell and the sky darkened, bonfires were lit everywhere in the camp. Other than the soldiers on duty who were in charge of patrolling, the rest of the people were sitting on the ground beside the bonfires, roasting their dry rations or the game they had caught themselves.
Pang Xiao was very happy today. He drank a jar of wine with Ji Zeyu and Mu Jinghu, but he still didn't feel satisfied.
Qin Yining was already tired. She covered her mouth and yawned.
Pang Xiao smiled and said, "You're tired. Why don't you go to sleep first? The children have already gone to sleep with the wet nurse. You don't have to be too tired. Just have a good sleep first. "
Qin Yining nodded.
When she came to Pang Xiao's side, she no longer had to be on tenterhooks. Her safety was guaranteed, and her mind was completely relaxed. She didn't have to worry about the children, and she didn't have to worry about her own safety. Pang Xiao's suggestion was exactly what she wanted. She felt that she hadn't had a good sleep for a long time.
"Then I'll go back. Don't drink too much wine. " Qin Yining stood up and bowed to the others. Mu Jinghu, Ji Zeyu, and the others also cupped their hands to return Qin Yining's greeting.
When Qin Yining was far away, Ji Zeyu smiled and teased, "You're not going back to accompany your wife?"
Pang Xiao drank another mouthful of wine and smiled. "Drinking wine is more important. Today's in a good mood, so it's best to drink wine. Come, cheers! "
"Don't drink too much. That's all we have. Drinking wine will make things worse." Ji Zeyu persuaded.
Pang Xiao nodded and didn't argue further. He began to talk about the matters of the capital while drinking wine. At this time, many soldiers had gathered together to chat. There were even some who took off their shirts to show off their martial arts skills. Pang Xiao was excited to see this. He also went to wrestle with someone. His strength was astonishing and his movements were nimble, causing the soldiers to shout repeatedly.
Ji Zeyu got up and went to the surrounding forest to relieve himself. When he was about to return, he turned around and sensed a dark figure waving at him from the outermost camp.
Ji Zeyu was immediately alert. Just as he was about to warn him, the person hurriedly knelt down and said in a low voice, "Duke Ding, listen to me!"
This was an unfamiliar voice, and the person was kneeling in the shadows, so he couldn't see the person's face clearly.
Ji Zeyu didn't want to give this person any chance to turn the situation around, so he walked over with the horsewhip in his hand.
"Duke Ding!" The person spoke anxiously, but he still didn't dare to speak loudly. He only tried to persuade Ji Zeyu, "I'm here under orders to bring you a few words. I'm here alone, and I have no ill intentions."
Ji Zeyu raised his eyebrows. He was curious about how Li Qitai was going to persuade him this time.
Seeing that Ji Zeyu didn't immediately call for someone, the person in the shadows sighed in relief. He walked out a little and knelt down. "I'm Chen An, Your Majesty's secret guard. I'm here to deliver Your Majesty's message. You and Your Majesty are sworn brothers. Now that the world has just stabilized, it's really not the time for us to fight among ourselves. Duke Ding is a loyal man, so you'll naturally put the safety of the people first. I hope that Duke Ding can help settle this matter for the sake of our brotherhood."
"How do we settle it?" Ji Zeyu was curious.
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