Pei Wenxuan and Li Rong fooled around in the middle of the night, so he jumped out of the window and secretly left.
Li Rong wanted to keep him, but he smiled and said, "I have something important to do tonight. Give me your token, I have to go see Hong De again."
"What do you want to do?" Li Rong frowned. Pei Wenxuan stretched out his hand, "Just give it to me."
Li Rong hesitated for a moment, but in the end, she handed the token to Pei Wenxuan.
Since the two of them were already together, there should be no grudges between them and trust each other. She didn't want to destroy the foundation of this relationship just because it was there.
Pei Wenxuan took Li Rong's token, kissed her, and left in a hurry.
Li Rong lay on the bed and closed her eyes in response. After a long time, she raised her hand to cover her eyes in self-loathing.
Her trust in a person had reached its limit.
The incident of the meeting hall being flooded shocked the entire imperial court. During the morning court session the next day, everyone was discussing what exactly was going on.
During the morning court, everyone was waiting for Li Ming to say something. After all, Li Ming had personally inspected the scene of the fire last night. He should have some news about such a big incident.
However, Li Ming didn't mention this matter from beginning to end. When the morning court ended, he said lightly, "Last night, the lecture hall caught fire. Many memorials are missing. Those of you who submitted your memorials, go to the officials in the lecture hall to register them. If the memorials were burned, then make a new one. If not, then forget it."
As he spoke, Li Ming looked up and swept his eyes over the crowd. He seemed a little tired, "Is there anything else?"
No one in the court answered. Li Ming waved his hand, "Then the court is dismissed."
As Li Ming spoke, he stood up. Fu Lai went forward to support him. He seemed a little tired. When he walked down the stairs, he seemed a little strained.
Not long after he left, a little eunuch came in front of Su Yongqing and said respectfully, "Lord Su, His Majesty invites you."
Su Yongqing's expression was normal, even a little gentle, "Daren, do you know why His Majesty wants me to go over?"
The little eunuch shook his head and said, "This servant doesn't know. Daren can go over."
Su Yongqing nodded and thanked him, then followed the eunuch to the imperial study.
As soon as he left the main hall, Li Rong subconsciously looked at Pei Wenxuan, who was talking to someone. Pei Wenxuan also happened to look over. He nodded at Li Rong from afar, indicating that she didn't need to worry. Then Pei Wenxuan chatted and laughed with others, then turned and walked out.
The ministers left one after another. Li Rong also walked out. She deliberately walked slowly. Before she reached the palace gate, she waited for the eunuch sent by Li Ming. The eunuch was in time. When he saw Li Rong's figure, he hurriedly shouted, "Your Highness, please wait!"
Li Rong stopped and looked at the eunuch. The eunuch panted and trotted to her, panting, "Your Highness, fortunately you didn't leave the palace."
"Daren, this is …" Li Rong was puzzled and pretended not to understand. The eunuch took a deep breath and bowed, "Your Highness, His Majesty wants you to go to the imperial study. He has something important to tell you."
Li Rong nodded and smiled at the eunuch, "Daren, I've troubled you."
"I'm just doing it." The eunuch's breath almost calmed down. He raised his hand and said respectfully, "This servant will lead the way for Your Highness."
Li Rong followed the eunuch to the imperial study. When they arrived at the imperial study, Su Yongqing was kneeling on the ground, and Li Ming was sitting high. The atmosphere between the two was a bit tense. Li Rong came in and bowed to Li Ming. Li Ming raised his hand to let her stand and let her sit. Li Rong looked at Su Yongqing, then turned to look at Li Ming, "Imperial Father asked me to come, this is …"
"Didn't you join Su Yongqing?" Li Ming looked at her and said directly, "Now that your memorial was burned in the palace hall, I simply called you here and confronted you face to face. Lord Su said that he doesn't know Hong De's master. Ping L E, what do you say? "
"What do you need to say?" Li Rong laughed, "Whether he knows or not, let Hong De's master come and see him. Do you need me to say this?"
Li Rong looked at Su Yongqing with a smile that wasn't a smile, "Let's see if Lord Su dares."
"I have a clear conscience," Su Yongqing's face was cold, "Your Highness's conclusion must be that someone instigated Your Highness. I also want Hong De to come and ask clearly."
"Then let him come."
Li Rong didn't show any fear on his face. He gently waved his small fan and looked at Su Yongqing, "Whether he's pretending to be mysterious or really innocent, we'll know when he comes."
Su Yongqing didn't speak. He didn't look at Li Rong. It wasn't clear if he didn't dare or didn't want to, but he just lowered his eyes and looked at the ground.
Li Ming waved his hand and asked someone to summon Hong De. Li Rong sat in his seat and waved his fan. His heart was beating fast.
The confession was false. If Hong De came, it was very likely that he would be exposed. After all, his son's life and death were still unknown. He couldn't help him at this time.
If Hong De entered the palace, everything would be over.
She was scared to death. Her palms were sweaty. The only thing she could believe now was that Pei Wenxuan wouldn't harm her.
She restrained herself from waving her fan and pretended to be indifferent. The three of them waited for a while. Li Ming turned his head and looked at Li Rong, "He hasn't arrived yet. Tell me what happened first. You said that Su Yongqing's family instigated Hong De to frame you. What happened? "
Li Ming asked. Li Rong stood up and vividly described Pei Wenxuan's false confession with what she knew. Su Yongqing went to Hong De at Huguo Temple and threatened him with the life of Hong De's illegitimate son. He framed her for helping Li Chuan postpone the marriage. Then, he secretly contacted Consort Rou and sent Hong De to the palace.
Li Ming and Su Yongqing listened quietly. Li Ming looked at Su Yongqing, "What do you say about Su Yongqing's family?"
"Your Highness's words are full of loopholes." Su Yongqing's expression was calm as usual. Li Rong laughed, "Oh? Lord Su, why don't you tell me where the loopholes are? "
"According to Your Highness, since I wanted to falsely accuse Your Highness, why did I let Hong De accuse Your Highness of helping Crown Prince postpone the marriage? Wouldn't it be better to say that Your Highness asked about the rebellion in private? "
"I have to ask you," Li Rong slowly waved his fan, "Why didn't you say that? How would I know? But you're right. If you didn't frame me and I wanted to frame you, why would I find such a ridiculous reason? And from another point of view, why would I do such a thing? Crown Prince isn't young anymore. Choosing a consort is an urgent matter. If I really thought about him, I should help him quickly marry a girl from a prestigious family. Why would I postpone the marriage? You can't possibly say, "Li Rong laughed," that I, as his older sister, want to harm him? "
If she really wanted to harm Li Chuan, then Li Ming wouldn't have to be so worried.
"You should ask Your Highness about this." Su Yongqing pushed the topic back. Li Rong looked at him with a smile and didn't answer. It was meaningless for them to kick the ball around like this.
While the three people waited, Hong De's sedan chair was lifted from the Inspector's Department and escorted into the palace by layers of imperial bodyguards.
At this time, Pei Wenxuan was kneeling in the room. He was holding a chess piece and playing chess with the person sitting across from him.
The youth sitting across from Pei Wenxuan was wearing a black robe. It was obvious that he had secretly come. Looking at Pei Wenxuan's leisurely posture, he frowned: "According to what you said, now that Su Yongqing has burned down the lecture hall, it's the same as not having a confession. They must now let Hong De enter the palace. Once Hong De enters the palace, won't he be exposed?"
"What if he can't enter the palace?" Pei Wenxuan chuckled. The youth looked at him in surprise.
As Pei Wenxuan spoke, he turned his head to look out the window. He couldn't help but sigh: "Clouds are rising. I'm afraid it's going to rain."
While the two of them were talking, the palanquin carrying Hong De continued to move forward. Neither of them noticed that when the wind blew, the bottom of the palanquin was dripping with blood.
The sedan chair was carried to the palace gate. The imperial bodyguard rolled up the curtain and said unhappily: "Your …"
Before he finished speaking, the imperial bodyguard froze in place. Everyone was attracted by the imperial bodyguard's shock. Their eyes fell on the inside of the sedan chair. They saw the monk's kasaya stained with blood and a dagger nailed him to the sedan chair.
"Dead … Dead!"
After a long time, the imperial bodyguard finally reacted. He turned his head and shouted to the people behind him: "Quickly go and report to His Majesty. Master Hong De is dead!"
The messenger quickly turned his head and ran all the way to the palace. One by one, the imperial bodyguard passed the message to the imperial study at the fastest speed.
At that time, Li Ming was drinking tea. He saw the eunuch rush in and kneel on the ground. He said anxiously: "Your Majesty, Master Hong De was assassinated on the road!"
Hearing this, Su Yongqing, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened his eyes. Li Rong suddenly stood up. He was surprised and a little angry: "What did you say?!"
After a moment, Li Rong immediately walked out and said anxiously: "Quickly, take me to see."
Li Rong walked out. Su Yongqing also immediately said: "Your Majesty, please allow me to take a look."
Su Yongqing was an official of the Ministry of Justice. This kind of case indeed belonged to him. However, Li Ming stopped them: "Don't leave. Let the coroner do the autopsy."
The two were forced to return to their seats. Li Ming raised his hand to let Su Yongqing sit down. Su Yongqing respectfully bowed and sat down.
No one said anything. Li Rong looked worried, but his heart was relieved.
Su Yongqing still made a move. Hong De was dead, so there was no evidence. However, in Li Ming's heart, Su Yongqing could not be cleared.
"Hong De is dead. There is no testimony or witness."
On the other side, in the princess's residence, Pei Wenxuan's voice was very light. The young man shook his head and said: "No, there is no evidence. Imperial Father will not convict Su Yongqing. He is suspicious. When he suspects Su Yongqing, he will also suspect you and sister."
"So," Pei Wenxuan laughed, "It's about to reach the third step. His Majesty will start to investigate the truth in Her Highness' words. Now, what he can investigate is where Hong De's son is. "
Pei Wenxuan placed a chess piece on the chessboard: "This investigation will be interesting."
In the inner palace, Emperor Li Rong and Su Yongqing were waiting for the news. Li Ming thought for a while, then seemed to remember something. He turned to Li Rong and said: "You said before that Hong De has a son?"
"Yes."
"In Beloved Su's hands?"
"Yes."
"Fu Lai," Li Ming turned and called Fu Lai. He waved his hand and said: "Go investigate."
Fu Lai respectfully complied and retreated. The three people sat in the imperial study and continued to wait for the results.
"His Majesty may not be able to find out where the child is, but he can still see how the child was taken away. After doing so many things, there will always be oversights. For example, "Pei Wenxuan looked at Li Chuan, who was sitting opposite him," It's common for a neighbor to see a child being taken away and recognize the Su family's symbol, isn't it? "
Thunder rumbled, and it seemed like heavy rain was about to pour. Pei Wenxuan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and looked into the distance.
He thought for a while, and couldn't help but say: "Do you think I should go to the palace to pick up your sister?"
"You … … didn't you want to pretend that you have a bad relationship?"
"Although we appear to be in harmony, we are actually divided." Pei Wenxuan said, stood up, and went to find an umbrella.
Li Chuan saw that Pei Wenxuan was about to leave, and hurriedly said: "Then what? Even if Imperial Father knows that the child was taken away by the Su family, so what? "
"Since His Majesty already knows that Hong De was sent out of the palace by someone and that the child was taken away by the Su family, who do you think His Majesty will believe even if there is no evidence?"
Pei Wenxuan put on his coat and walked out: "When the time comes, His Majesty will investigate strictly. As long as there is a crack in the egg, the follow-up will be easy to handle. Your Highness, I'm going to pick up the princess. "Pei Wenxuan turned to Li Chuan and smiled:" Your Highness, please do as you wish. "
Pei Wenxuan finished speaking and walked out.
At this time, the coroner's report was almost out, and the attendant took the coroner's report to the inner palace.
Outside the palace, the soldiers investigating Hong De's youngest son also found an old man. After the old man gave a brief description, the soldiers immediately had someone ride a horse back to the palace to deliver the news.
At the same time, a young man rushed into the palace in the rain.
The coroner's report was the first to arrive. After Li Ming finished reading the coroner's report, he looked up at the two people waiting for the results and said with a cold face: "It's suicide."
Li Rong repeated in disbelief: "Suicide?"
Li Ming responded, and then someone came in and whispered in Li Ming's ear for a while.
Li Ming suddenly raised his head and looked coldly at Su Yongqing.
Su Yongqing still pretended that he didn't know anything and pretended that he didn't understand Li Ming's gaze. Li Ming stared at him for a moment and suddenly shouted angrily: "Su Yongqing, quickly hand over Hong De's child!"
Su Yongqing was calm when he heard this, and he only said firmly: "This humble subject doesn't know what Your Majesty is talking about."
"If you don't want people to know, don't do it in the first place. You had people kidnap other people's child, do you really think that no one knows?!"
"This humble subject is innocent!" Su Yongqing immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, where did you hear this news? You can have people come out. This humble subject can confront them."
"Confront? Confront what? Hong De pointed you out, and the testimony was delivered to the lecture hall. The lecture hall was burned down. He entered the palace to testify, but died on the way. He even committed suicide. If someone didn't threaten him with his child, why would he commit suicide? Now they are investigating the child, and it's related to you. One thing can be said to be a coincidence, but can there be so many coincidences in this world?! "
"Your Majesty is right," Su Yongqing said coldly, "This humble subject also doesn't think it's a coincidence. This action must be a trap."
"Bullshit!"
Li Ming was so angry that he grabbed a cup and threw it over. Su Yongqing didn't dodge and still let the cup hit his head. The tea splashed all over his body, and his forehead bled. However, he didn't move at all. He knelt on the ground and only said: "Your Majesty, please investigate thoroughly."
"Good, very good." Li Ming raised his hand and pointed at him, nodding: "Investigate, investigate right now. Come, take Su Yongqing away and put him in prison. Thoroughly investigate him and Hong De … "
Before he finished speaking, a eunuch's voice came from outside: "Your Majesty, Deputy Department Head Su requests an audience."
Hearing this, Li Rong looked outside uneasily. Li Ming frowned. After hesitating for a moment, he said impatiently: "Let him in."
After Li Ming finished speaking, Su Ronghua walked in quickly. He knelt down respectfully and said with rare seriousness: "This humble subject Su Ronghua greets Your Majesty."
Li Ming was very irritated. He restrained his emotions and raised his hand: "Rise."
"This humble subject doesn't dare."
Su Ronghua knelt on the ground and said calmly. Li Ming looked up at him. The room was silent for a long time. Li Rong instantly guessed the purpose of Su Ronghua's visit.
He came to confess to his crimes!
Li Rong's mind was working quickly, thinking about the consequences of such an unforeseen event.
If Su Ronghua admitted to all the crimes, then the confession that named Su Yongqing would become extremely suspicious. However, Su Ronghua's arrival was too coincidental. Li Ming probably wouldn't believe it, and at the same time, it would shake the credibility of all the previous evidence.
In this way, even if Su Yongqing couldn't completely turn the situation around, at least they would be evenly matched.
The only sacrifice in this process was Su Ronghua.
Li Rong reacted for a moment and wanted to say something. However, as soon as she opened her mouth, she heard Su Ronghua respectfully say: "Your Majesty, please dismiss your attendants."
Li Ming stared at Su Ronghua. After a long time, he waved his hand: "All of you can leave."
Everyone didn't move. Su Yongqing stared at Su Ronghua, but Su Ronghua ignored him. Li Ming saw that everyone didn't move and couldn't help but get angry: "What, even I can't order you to move?!"
Hearing Li Ming get angry, Li Rong took a deep breath, stood up, saluted, and walked out.
Li Rong and Su Yongqing walked out one after the other. After walking out of the door, the two of them each stood on one side and watched the heavy rain fall on the ground, forming a curtain of rain. It seemed like gongs and drums were beating and a big play was about to be staged.
Far away from the curtain of rain, the palace door slowly opened. A young man wearing a blue robe embroidered with orchids and holding an umbrella walked out of the palace door in the rain.
Li Rong and Su Yongqing both looked at the person coming from afar. A shout came from the imperial study.
Li Rong listened to the shout and couldn't help but laugh.
"I heard that Lord Su and Eldest Brother have a very good relationship. Seeing you today, it's true."
As she spoke, she turned her head and asked curiously: "Don't you feel guilty?"
Su Yongqing didn't speak. He only looked into the distance.
In the distance, the young man walked through the palace square, becoming the only light in the curtain of rain.
"Your Highness," Su Yongqing's usual clear voice was a bit hoarse: "Sometimes, people can't tolerate guilt. People who walk on the road of no return can only walk forward. "
"I used to think that people were forced to walk forward," Li Rong laughed and looked at the person getting closer and closer: "But now I know that the road is made by people. If you don't walk forward, you will never know whether there is a road in front of you. "
"Maybe there is a cliff in front of you."
Su Yongqing's voice was cold. Li Rong turned to look at him. There was a bit of brilliance between his eyebrows: "That depends on whether you will be smashed to pieces and walk forward."
Hearing this, Su Yongqing finally looked away from the rain. He looked at Li Rong: "Your Highness, are you willing to be smashed to pieces for this so-called road?"
"Maybe," Li Rong thought, "I'm just going to take one step at a time."
"Your Highness, you are not such a person."
"Rong Qing," Li Rong suddenly called him by the name from his previous life. Su Yongqing was stunned. Then he heard Li Rong say: "People change."
As they spoke, Pei Wenxuan had already arrived in front of them.
The rain fell down the umbrella like falling pearls. The young man raised his handsome face under the umbrella. He had a smile on his face, and his bright eyes had a bit of a unique gentleness.
When he raised his head, only Li Rong fell in his eyes. His clear voice was respectful with a bit of teasing: "Your Highness, I heard the rain and came to welcome you."
As he spoke, he looked at Su Yongqing.
Su Yongqing looked at him calmly, and he looked at Su Yongqing with a smile.
Their eyes met through the curtain of rain. In an instant, they talked about decades of disputes and disputes, love and hatred.
"When I was still a student, I heard about Lord Su's talent. You and I have been the leaders for three years, but we have never confronted each other directly. Now that I have met Lord Su, "Pei Wenxuan nodded slightly," it is a pleasure to meet you. "
Su Yongqing looked at him coldly. He understood what this "pleasure to meet you" referred to. He was not talking to the young Su Yongqing, but to Su Yongqing, who had secretly fought with him for decades and had returned.
This "pleasure to meet you" was his greeting, and also his declaration of war.
He clearly told Su Yongqing that he knew he was back.
It was because he knew he was back that he quickly found a target and decisively carried out the plan. Pei Wenxuan had always been careful and set traps everywhere.
Su Yongqing couldn't help but laugh. He looked at Pei Wenxuan seriously and said calmly and seriously: "It is a pleasure to meet you."
Pei Wenxuan's smile became brighter.
This battle, which had been delayed for thirty years and separated by a lifetime, finally began.
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