Chapter 135 136: Lightning strike
Busy and busy, the weird and weird day suddenly entered March, and the whole February was full of business affairs. The number of times the emperor entered the harem plummeted. Even the beloved concubine Song Yunzhao only saw the emperor five or six times.
Song Yunzhao concentrates on writing story books. Recently, he especially likes to write the plot of the young lady's sweet love. She doesn't know whether the emperor will read it or not. Anyway, he has written a lot, and the emperor can always read one.
Song Yunzhao didn’t know that Zhang Maoquan was very concerned about the book coming out of Yuquanlou. As long as a new book came out, he would definitely buy it into the palace and send it to the emperor’s imperial table. As for whether the emperor read it or not, he didn’t know.
Song Yunzhao’s words are in full swing, and the Xie family has given more and more money. Now it is not a single buyout money for her, but a dry stock. She is also a person who can get dividends from the shares. Years and years, only the Xie family has given more than three thousand taels of silver, which is really a huge sum of money.
Song Yunzhao earned it by his own ability, and put it in his small private treasury happily.
She is a person who always leaves a way out for herself. If one day she breaks up with the emperor, she can live comfortably in the palace with these money.
For example, the few concubines in Qingyan Palace who fell out of favor but had a good family background, with the support of their families, even if they were not favored, they could live in the palace.
Just a few days into March, the wind suddenly picked up, lightning and thunder, and a heavy rain fell in the capital without warning.
Pedestrians on the street ran away one after another, mules and horses neighed, animals ran around, and bean-sized raindrops fell, and it didn't take long for the rain to pour down.
Song Yunzhao was startled by the thunder, and all the words in her hand fell to the ground. She immediately stood up and stood in front of the window. Lightning tore through the sky, and the wind whizzed past. The sky that was bright just now was instantly covered with dark clouds.
Wangyou Palace was sweeping the courtyard. The busy palace people had no time to escape, and they were instantly chilled. The palace people scattered to hide from the rain, the thunder continued, the lightning roared, and the day was like night.
Xiangxue came in and lit the palace lantern, looked at the master standing in front of the window, and immediately said: "Master, it's better to close the window, lest you catch the cold."
Although it is spring, but the heavy rain fell, and the weather suddenly became cold again.
Song Yunzhao stretched out his hand to close the window, and looked back at Xiangxue, "The palace servants who got caught in the rain told them not to work on their errands, go and change their clothes first, and dry their hair."
Xiangxue smiled and said, "Master is kind-hearted, so I'll go and talk about it."
Song Yunzhao thought to himself, what kind of kindness is this, it’s just that the servants in the palace didn’t say anything, even if they were drowned, they wouldn’t dare to leave their posts without permission.
Through the window, I could still hear the sound of thank you from the palace servants. Song Yunzhao smiled, and picked up another book, and didn't bother to read it.
"In the first month there is a thunderstorm on the pile of human bones, in February there is a thunderstorm on the pile of ox bones, and in March there is a pile of rice.
"Yeah, it's really God's blessing. There were many disasters last year. I hope this year will be smooth."
It was the first time Song Yunzhao had heard such a proverb, but the year in the book was indeed smooth and rainy. The emperor was either on the way to provide disaster relief or disaster relief. It was a rare smooth year.
It rained for a full hour, the sky cleared up, the rays of the sun peeked out from the thick clouds, and the dark clouds dispersed, making people feel refreshed just watching.
But she always felt that she had forgotten something, but when she thought about it carefully, she had nothing to do recently, except that the emperor was too busy, and the two of them met a little less, and she was thinking about something else that she didn't think of.
"Master, Feng Xiaoyuan is here."
Feng Yunjin?
Song Yunzhao said: "Please come in."
Feng Yunjin came in a hurry, with a very ugly expression on his face, and a lot of water droplets splashed on the hem of the skirt, which showed that he walked in a hurry.
Song Yunzhao looked at her with a bad look, and had a bad feeling, "What's the matter?"
Feng Yunjin was too impatient to salute, looked at Song Yunzhao and said, "The side hall of Shouci Palace was struck by lightning."
Song Yunzhao:…
No wonder she felt that there was something she couldn't remember, how could she forget this one.
"How is the situation?" Song Yunzhao was not in a hurry, because there was no serious problem in the book, except that a few tiles fell off the corner of the eaves. It was mentioned in the book that the queen mother knew that she was a little displeased after she came back, and she found a reason to punish several palace servants of Shouci Palace.
She can’t be blamed for not remembering it, because it wasn’t considered a major event in the book, it was just a small matter that the queen mother took advantage of when she came back. She didn’t even get into the ring with the emperor, and she just found a few palace officials to vent her anger.
Feng Yunjin looked at Song Jieyu's normal expression, and said solemnly, "The eaves corner of the West Side Hall has been split."
"What?"
Song Yunzhao was stunned. The problem with the corner of the eaves cannot be compared with a few tiles.
Feng Yunjin sighed slightly, "I went to see it in person, and a corner of the eaves was missing and fell on the ground. The tiles were scattered on the ground, and no one dared to clean them up. Concubine Zhuang has already gone to see Her Majesty in person."
Song Yunzhao:…
It is clearly not so serious in the book.
"Why did this happen?" Song Yunzhao looked at Feng Yunjin and asked.
Feng Yunjin shook her head, and then said: "I'm not very clear, but I heard from the people of the Shouci Palace that the roof of the Xibei Palace was inspected yesterday, so logically speaking, such a thing shouldn't have happened. Some people said..." She hesitated and lowered her voice, "Also said that the empress dowager was not sincere in guarding the tomb of the first emperor, so heaven sent a punishment."
Song Yunzhao was stunned, warning the heavens was indeed the favorite method of the ancients.
Now it's troublesome.
She didn't want the queen mother to come back, but if something like this happened, the courtiers might think that the emperor had done something wrong.
This is obviously to intensify the conflict between the monarch and his ministers.
Song Yunzhao's expression became serious, and he looked at Feng Yunjin and asked, "Where is the palace man who inspected the roof yesterday? Who arranged it?"
Feng Yunjin shook her head, "I don't know about this concubine, but I heard that Qin Wanyi is helping Concubine Zhuang to interrogate this matter."
Song Yunzhao shut up.
Seeing that Song Jieyu's expression was very bad, Feng Yunjin said softly: "This kind of thing happened before the Queen Mother returned to the palace. I'm afraid someone will cause trouble. Fortunately, Jieyu never went to Shouci Palace during this period."
Song Yunzhao's eyes fell on Feng Yunjin, "If I didn't go, I might not be able to get away. You and I have made friends. You have been to Shouci Palace a lot these days. In order to drag me into the water, you may be attacked. I think you should go back first to see if there is anything wrong."
Feng Yunjin's eyebrows frowned, and her face became serious, as if thinking of something, her eyes sharpened, "Concubine, I'll go back now."
"You don't have to be afraid. If something really happens, send someone to deliver the letter." Song Yunzhao urged.
Feng Yunjin hurriedly responded and left in a hurry.
Song Yunzhao is suffering from a headache. The emperor is afraid that it will be a headache right now. She shouldn't come forward now, so we'll wait and see.
Song Yunzhao was right. As soon as Concubine Zhuang asked the emperor to explain the matter, Feng Yi's expression changed on the spot, and he immediately got up and went to Shouci Palace.
It is one thing for him not to like the empress dowager returning to the palace to cause trouble for him, but it may not be a good thing for him, the emperor, when this kind of thing happens now.
It is not a good thing to put the warning from heaven in the front court or the harem. Look at the examples that have appeared in history books, which one is not miserable.
Song Yunzhao had a weird sense that this matter should be aimed at her, but there was no evidence, so now, to be on the safe side, she would never show up at Shouci Palace unless the emperor summoned her.
I don't know how long it took, Xiangxue hurried in, "Master, the emperor has sent away all the people who were guarding the Shouci Palace."
Song Yunzhao looked up at Xiangxue, "Everyone?"
"yes."
Song Yunzhao pursed his lips, "Is there any news from Feng Xiaoyuan?"
"Not yet."
Before Song Yunzhao could say anything, she suddenly heard footsteps coming from outside, her heart skipped a beat, she got up and walked outside, and within a few steps, she saw the brocade curtain was raised, and a figure stood in front of her.
The dragon robe was tightly attached to Feng Yi's body, with broad shoulders and long legs, a bee waist and ape arms, and a few strands of hair stuck to his forehead, making his gloomy face even more cold and intimidating.
"The Emperor."
Song Yunzhao was startled when he saw the emperor Wuqing's face. He couldn't care less about anything else. He immediately took a step forward and held the hand of the visitor. It was icy cold, whether it was because of the cold weather or the cold body.
"Get my hand stove quickly." Song Yunzhao ordered quickly.
Shizhu hurriedly delivered the hand stove, Song Yunzhao reached out to take it, and stuffed it into the emperor's hand, she waved her hand to make people retreat, and then said slowly: "It's cold in spring this year, and it's still very cold at this time of year, Your Majesty, go ahead and warm up."
Feng Yi looked at Yun Zhao's gentle face and stared at her, with deep worry in his eyes, the tone he had been holding in his heart disappeared instantly, he nodded slightly, and walked into the inner hall.
Song Yunzhao followed in, and the two sat down on the couch before she said: "Your Majesty, what's wrong with you, who made you angry?"
Feng Yi looked up at Yun Zhao, "You still don't know about the Shou Ci Palace?"
"Understood." Song Yunzhao couldn't hide his ignorance, Feng Yunjin's matter could not be suppressed, and he could find out after checking, "Is the emperor angry because of this?"
Feng Yi looked at her, "What do you think?"
Song Yunzhao frowned, and said softly: "If you ask me what I think, I really have no idea. I just think that the Shouci Palace is very lively these days. Fortunately, I didn't get involved."
Feng Yi:...
This is really merciless, she can say it.
Seeing the emperor's pale and pale face, Song Yunzhao felt that he might have poked his heart, so he asked in surprise, "Is it true?"
Feng Yi looked at her, "Not far from the side hall of Shouci Palace, I found an iron rod."
Song Yunzhao was shocked, "Lightning needle, people these days are really good at playing, but ordinary people don't know the relationship between iron rods and lightning. She hesitated to act like she didn't understand, but after thinking about it, she decided to forget it. With her current relationship with the emperor, she felt a little guilty.
Organized his thoughts, and was thinking about how to speak, when Feng Yi said again: "The noble concubine of the late emperor once used an iron rod to lead lightning to strike the empress's main hall. This matter was suppressed by the late emperor at that time, and few people knew about it."
"All the people involved in the incident were killed with sticks, and very few people knew that iron bars can lead to thunder."
Song Yunzhao heard the meaning behind the emperor's words, and his heart sank suddenly. He raised his head and looked at the emperor, only to see that his eyes were cold and cruel, and she clenched her hands tightly, and her heartbeat gradually accelerated.
"Your Majesty, what do you mean?" All the palace officials who knew about it at the beginning were killed with sticks, but not all the insiders died.
Although the queen mother is not favored, she gave birth to a prince and her status is much higher than that of the palace people. Since the emperor knew about this secret matter, the queen mother might also know about it.
If the Empress Dowager and the people in the harem get together and intentionally make a lightning strike to the Shouci Palace, then what is she planning?
Song Yunzhao's face was as dark as the emperor's, it couldn't be darker, if his conjecture is true, the queen mother will be really shocked this time!
Feng Yi saw Yun Zhao's face suddenly changed, and knew that she must have guessed it, "Don't interfere with the affairs of Shouci Palace, I will handle it."
Song Yunzhao nodded, "The concubine is nothing more than a Jieyu, so how can she get involved in the affairs of the Shouci Palace? The emperor thinks highly of me."
Feng Yi knew that Yun Zhao was deliberately coaxing him with such witty words, so he sighed softly and said, "After the new year, things in the court will be one after another, how can the harem take care of it."
So it is impossible to say that the harem has no owner, but Feng Yi is even more unwilling to choose one of the three concubines to be in charge of the harem. So, now that something like this happened, he had to re-examine the current situation.
"What do you think, who should be in charge of the harem?"
Song Yunzhao:…
Of course it’s me.
But how dare she say that?
As far as her position is concerned, the emperor can be a foolish emperor, and the courtiers can overthrow the court and impeach her.
However, judging from what happened this time, the emperor felt that the harem could not go on like this. If this matter really has something to do with the queen mother, then who will the queen mother join hands with? And how was the agreement reached? Who is this move aimed at?
These questions have to be thought about.
This time, the emperor made a decisive decision and did not let the matter continue to ferment. He directly cleaned up all the people in the Shouci Palace, which was equivalent to cutting off the way to ferment, but this was not the final solution to the problem.
In the final analysis, if there is no person at the helm in the harem, it means that there is no backer, and the emperor has nowhere to vent his anger.
Thinking about it this way, she will never take the blame.
"The concubine has no good way. I can only listen to the emperor, and I can do whatever the emperor says." Song Yunzhao decided to gou Yibo.
Feng Yi looked at her angrily and smiled, but he didn't make things difficult for her, he just said to her: "I think it's better for the three concubines to help each other manage the palace affairs in the palace."
Song Yunzhao immediately raised his hands in agreement, "What the emperor said is very true, and my concubine also thinks this is a very good move."
It is still the three concubines who check and balance each other, so she can breathe.
However, this matter has both advantages and disadvantages for her. The world cannot have both, and there is no better way now.
Feng Yi looked at Yun Zhao, "The courtiers wrote to invite the Queen Mother to return to the palace. I plan to take the Queen Mother back to the palace in mid-April."
Song Yunzhao thought it didn’t take long, the emperor had to leave in a few days after saying this, “The emperor wants to go in person?”
Feng Yi slightly nodded, "Originally, I sent the Ministry of Rites to go there, but what happened today, I'd better go there myself."
Song Yunzhao understands, the emperor is going to wrestle with the queen mother.
As expected of the hero, he has the courage to think and act.
"The concubine wishes the emperor all the best for this trip." Song Yunzhao laughed.
Feng Yi held Yun Zhao's hand without saying a word. He knew that Yun Zhao already knew what he meant, but there were some things that she couldn't say even if she knew it.
"The eaves of the Shouci Palace will be renovated in the next few days, so it must be true if you saw you in the Wangyou Palace."
Song Yunzhao understood what the emperor meant, and looked at him sideways. This direction is a bit wrong. The emperor shouldn't let her, a garbage sweeper, pull out the people involved this time. Why did he trap her in Wangyou Palace instead?
Feng Yi looked at Yun Zhao's suspicious eyes, and didn't know what to say for a while. According to the earlier plan, Yun Zhao should be allowed to stand up, but now he is a little bit reluctant.
Porcelain can touch earthen jars, whose injury is it?
As for what you thought at the beginning, it doesn’t matter. It’s the beginning, it’s the beginning, and now it’s the present.
Feng Yi got up and left after telling Yun Zhao. The affairs of Shouci Palace had not been dealt with yet. Before leaving, he watched Yun Zhao hesitate to speak, and finally turned and left without saying anything.
Song Yunzhao was puzzled, and always felt that the emperor's eyes were like those of an ignorant child, what a ghost.
Song Yunzhao knew that this was not a good thing, so he decided to close the palace as the emperor said, and did not receive any news from Feng Yunjin that day. Song Yunzhao was a little uneasy, but thinking about Song Yunjin's temperament, if something important happened, he would definitely come to him, so let's sleep peacefully for now.
Getting up early the next morning, she called Xiangxue over and asked, "How's the matter with Shou Ci Palace?"
Xiangxue and the others kept staring, and when the master asked, he immediately said: "Last night, Director Meng took away many people. I heard that all the concubines who went to Shouci Palace during this period were questioned. The maid asked Shizhu to go to Yanqing Palace, and Feng Xiaoyuan was also transferred, but fortunately, no one has gone back."
Song Yunzhao nodded slightly, "What about the others?"
"There are no surprises for all the concubines who went to Shouci Palace, but a few palace attendants never came back after going out, and a palace attendant beside Feng Xiaoyuan also disappeared."
Song Yunzhao groaned and remained silent. Her guess yesterday was indeed correct, and the people around Feng Yunjin might have been bribed.
No wonder the emperor told her not to get involved. There should be testimony against her here, but because he reminded Feng Yunjin in advance, Feng Yunjin must have reacted immediately, so the matter was pinned on Feng Yunjin and could not extend to her.
This is really not very happy.
"How about Concubine Zhuang?"
"The gates of Zhaoyang Palace are closed, and the servants only found out that two people were missing by the side of Concubine Zhuang." Xiangxue shook her head and said, but didn't know anything more specific.
Concubine Zhuang has been running the palace for many years, and it is not easy for her to inquire about the affairs of Zhaoyang Palace.
Song Yunzhao nodded, "Is there any movement from Concubine Wan and Concubine Shu?"
"Concubine Shu's side is business as usual. Concubine Wan said she was ill, Roufu Palace indeed invited an imperial physician to take a pulse." Xiangxue replied.
Song Yunzhao chuckled, it seems that Concubine Wan is not very courageous, Concubine Zhuang is as usual, she is sick here.
"You guys pay attention to the movement outside and be careful."
"Master, don't worry."
Song Yunzhao thought of the scriptures mentioned by the emperor again. How could she still be in the mood to read the scriptures now? Her mind was all about the Empress Dowager's affairs, and there was such a big commotion before returning to the palace.
Suddenly, she called Xiangxue back, "Do you know what's going on with Qin Wanyi?"
Xiangxue was stunned for a moment, and then said: "I will ask you, servant girl."
Xiangxue left quickly and came back quickly. Looking at her master, she said, "I have asked about it, and Qin Wanyi is also ill. She said she got caught in the rain and was frightened. However, some palace officials from Huayang Palace did not come back after being questioned. I don't know the specific situation for the time being."
Song Yunzhao thought about it, not only the people in Shouci Palace were dealt with by the emperor, it seems that although the people involved in this matter are fine, but the palace people suffer, this is their loyalty to the master.
So from here it can be seen that Concubine Zhuang and Qin Xiyue should be the masterminds, Concubine Wan was probably implicated, Feng Yunjin was plotted against, Concubine Shu avoided the catastrophe by not getting involved, and she even hid far away. Fortunately, Feng Yunjin reacted quickly and she was not dragged into the water.
With the renovation of the eaves of the Shouci Palace, this matter seems to end in an accident, but the truth is not.
When it came to the Queen Mother, Feng Yi still saved the face of the royal family under his rage, and didn't want to make things big and give the courtiers a chance to impeach him.
Swallowing this grievance, not only the emperor panicked, Song Yunzhao also felt his throat pulling.
"Master, Concubine Han Gui is here."
Song Yunzhao looked at Qingfeng and said, "Please come in."
"Yes." Qingfeng retreated in response, and soon led Han Guibi into the palace.
"The concubine has seen Jieyu." Han Jinyi stepped forward to salute.
"Sit down quickly." Song Yunzhao smiled at her, "There are no outsiders around, so why bother with these vain rituals."
Han Jinyi sat down with a forced smile, and after sitting down, he said under his breath, "The palace servant beside Feng Yunjin was killed with a stick."
"Only her?" Song Yunzhao asked coldly.
Han Jinyi shook her head, "Not only that, those who have not returned after being questioned this time..."
Song Yunzhao looked at Han Jinyi's pale face, which was a bit scary, but this is not the time and space where everyone is equal in later generations, this is the dynasty, where life and death can be decided by one word.
"The matter of the Shou Ci Palace is not a trivial matter. Anyone who is involved in this matter, without Zhu Jiu Clan, is His Majesty's favor. We can't ask for too much."
"I know, I'm just a little scared. I went to visit Yunjin before, and she was also shocked. She looked a little sleepy. Let me tell you something, so you don't have to worry. She won't come here these days, so as not to be eye-catching." Han Jinyi said.
Song Yunzhao nodded, "This matter should end here, unless the Queen Mother returns to the palace and uses this matter as a raft."
"Does it really have something to do with the Empress Dowager?" Han Jinyi covered her mouth and her face turned even paler.
Song Yunzhao said: "There is no evidence, just speculation."
Han Jinyi knows Yun Zhao's temperament, and she is not sure that she will not say it. Although it is a guess, it should be more or less the same.
If Han Jinyi had something to do with the queen mother, Han Jinyi's face would not only be ugly, but it would be a disaster.
Happy May Day, cuties, here comes the 6,000-word update, okay?
(end of this chapter)