In Baohe Palace, a long-waited new life was born safely. Although he came in haste and came over too many unpredictable dangers, his loud cry still uttered in this world at night.
Listening to this very loud cry, Emperor Jingxiao lighted up. He straightened his back and raised on his feet, looking far into the distance with his hands behind, and let out a long breath.
Around him, officials' deferential congratulation was loud and clear,
"Congratulations to Your Majesty! Congratulations to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Gu Yunxi was slightly relaxed at this moment.
On the way here, Gu Yunyao and she had got a general picture of the assassination this time from the maid.
Gu Yunxi's thought was simple. After the safe labor of Concubine Xu, the Emperor would no longer be angry and would have the tolerance to look into the assassination. Leng Qingtang won't b
An imperial banquet ended in a bloody way with fear.Emperor Jingxiao went to the elixir chamber, while Leng Qingtang and Gu Yunxi were dragged out of the palace by Ming Lan's subordinates for flogging.The rest officials in Baohe Palace knelt there, all at sea.It was quiet and awkward.Empress Qian sighed. Dim-faced, she looked at the kneeling officials and said in a tired tone,"The Spring Banquet this year is over. What has happened needs further investigation. You can go back now."Commander-in-chief of the Eastern Depot was a rank-second official of the government. It would have hurt his face if other officials had watched him being flogged.Empress Qian felt pity for Leng Qingtang. She had just drawn him over to her alliance when this accident occurred.What she could do for him now was to simply protect his last dignity.Empress Qian's order came as a timely r
The elixir chamber of Yu Xuanji, the High Priest, was located in the Imperial Garden behind Emperor Jingxiao's residence Qianfu Palace.After five hundred steps past Qianfu Palace and about a hundred meters southeast in the Imperial Garden, there stood a tower.This three-floor building was made up of gold bricks and Nanmu wood pillars. Its outer layer was covered with green bamboo, and its roof was built with colored glazed tiles.To see from a distance, the green building, surrounded by a long red wall, was partly hidden in trees and flowers. The exquisitely decorated spire shone in the first and last rays of the sun, displaying the royal family are solemn and magnificent in this quiet place.On the gate of the first floor of the Elixir Chamber hung a cedarwood plaque, on which wrote striking two golden words: Sixiang Chamber.Fine carving of Taoism immortals, birds, and flowers on the gate post looked sumptuous. Aft
When Emperor Jingxiao settled himself in Xiaoye Chamber, the cruel punishment of flogging outside Baohe Palace finally ended.The eunuchs who conducted the flogging held a part of the big sticks on the ground, gasping for breath. They were all exhausted.During the punishment, the two strapping eunuchs could not remember how many sticks they had inflicted after Ming Lan's several repetitions of calling a halt and recounting from beginning to end.As soon as the punishment ended, Gu Yunxi was pushed down to the ground by the eunuchs, holding her arms and her weak body.Without fully feeling the pain, Gu Yunxi stumbled to the bench.On the bench, Leng Qingtang had fainted, and the corners of his mouth were covered with the blood that gushed during his torture. The garment was soaked with blood and sweat, wrapping his flesh stickily.The worst thing to see was his lower body.Due to the long exec
Youzhu Garden.In the middle of the night, a squad of Honor Guards broke in and searched around.The head of the Garden, Nanny Gu, was awakened in a hurry and found herself fearfully amidst a courtyard of soldiers.A few hours ago, something went wrong in the Palace, but the Garden had been kept in the dark because the information had been closely guarded that the Palace had been infiltrated by enemies posing damsels who tried to assassinate Emperor Jingxiao.The damsels lighted oil lamps and saw many solemn armed soldiers when they opened the door. Hearing the cold and sharp scraping of heavy armors, all the girls were frightened. Stunned, they stood in the courtyard, hugging each other for comfort.Nanny Gu did not know the men's purpose, but she had to greet them. Even without the foundation, her old face was paler than any makeup.She curtsied to the officer and then stuttered,"Si... Sir,
Court of Judicial Review's prison.Because the cell was damp and dirty all year round, soon after Leng Qingtang came in, his wounds festered. A month ago, he just recovered from the internal injury he had in Qiling county of Jiangan. Now Leng Qingtang had more wounds. They gave him a fever in the cell. He once again fell into a coma.Gu Yunxi sat on the dirty cushion made by grass all day, holding the Master.There was no light in the cell, so she couldn't tell what time it was. She only knew that this torn body in her arms was burning. His fever was already too high.The only thing she could do for him was holding him tightly, protecting him with her arms, and warming him with her body.Leng Qingtang was dizzy in sleep. It felt like he had drowned in an endless nightmare. In his dream, he saw the former Emperor of Dayi and Noble Concubine Lan, his parents. Yet all of a sudden, they disappeared in front of his eyes.
Empress Qian was shocked by the chief maid's vivid description. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest. Two shocking lights shone out of her squinted eyes.After carefully going through her memories, Empress Qian mumbled,"I remember ten years ago, the former Master's case happened after the massacre of the Zheng family. There were rumors in the Palace that Master Bian's apprentice volunteered to take the case. He put Master Bian in prison and tortured him to death. Because His Majesty didn't like to hear these old things, no one dared to mention it later."Sulian angered without any expression. She folded her hands together and said to the Empress,"So it is an old rumor. But we have stayed in the Palace for long. Everyone knows that some rumors are the truth. You see, Leng Qingtang took charge of the Eastern Depot anyway, and later the Imperial Ceremony Office, Imperial Guards, and the Garden."Empress Qian nodded
In the Master's room, Yanwan was stared at by a young maid with icy eyes. As if she had been frightened, her face changed drastically.Taking two steps backward, her eyes were watery, reddish, and brimming with tears. Anyone who looked at her could tell that she was about to cry and hence their heart would melt with pity.The air was awkwardly frozen for a while.Leng Qingtang's face darkened. He remained silent and turned his deep gaze to the side, away from Yanwan and Gu Yunxi.Gu Yunxi irritatedly rushed to pull Qinger away and scowled her."You should have behaved better. Now get out!"Being scolded by her Lady in front of the person she disliked, Qinger felt embarrassed and aggrieved.Pressing her plump lips together, she sobbed,"I... I'm the one who cares for you the most!"Looking at the back of Qinger, who was running away, Gu Yunxi felt sorry as well.
After sending off Cheng Wanli, Gu Yunxi went to the kitchen to prepare dinner for the Master.A figure flashed outside, preceding a graceful woman wearing perfume and a flowing gown.Slender as a willow, Gu Yunxi was standing before the large wooden chopping board and cutting vegetables. Her fair and long fingers grasped a giant kitchen knife as if it was not a clumsy and heavy chunk of iron.In the blink of an eye, a handful of sour beans were sliced up and neatly lay into a green row on the chopping board.As soon as she looked up, Yunxi found Yanwan standing next to her. Tilting her head, the woman was watching her cutting vegetables with interest.Gu Yunxi was taken by surprise, so she stopped immediately."Lady Yanwan, why are you here?""The imperial doctor in the Palace came over to change the dressing of the Master's wound. It's inappropriate for me to stay. The servant told me you are