Early morning, the coolest time of the day.
There is a Tang maple tree in the Furong Palace, and a group of palace maids are sitting on the stone benches under the tree doing needlework.
No one spoke, only the birds on the trees occasionally chirped.
The handy eunuch brought hot water back from the kitchen, and everyone got up and prepared to wash and comb their hair. After a while, it was time for the empress to get up.
When Xue Hengzhao walked into the room, he was gently called from behind.
She stopped and recognized a young eunuch carrying water.
"Sister Xue, little Eunuch Zhang asked me to send you a message." The little eunuch said, "He said that the weather has been fine recently and that the magpie has returned."
"I know, thank you very much." Xue Hengzhao knew that Eunuch Zhang had already brought back the lapis lazuli.
He also said before that if something happens, he will find a way to inform himself.
This must have sent his apprentice to ask someone to tell him something. Naturally, others would not understand it, but she could understand it as soon as she heard it.
"Hengzhao, what are you doing? Hurry up." Danyue said, "Otherwise we should use the leftover water from those girls."
"You are the one who can grasp the tip the best," Youzhu glared at Danyue with a half-smile but said, "I'll tell Hengzhao to wash it first and save you until the end!"
Xue Hengzhao walked over with a smile and went into the room with them.
As for Eunuch Zhang, after successfully retrieving the lapis lazuli, he found an excuse not to ask Pi Kun to go to Dragon Scale Pavilion again.
The fire yesterday was a strategy taught to him by Xue Hengzhao.
Light the cotton sprinkled with water. The smoke will be small and will not cause a fire. It is just used to create a battle.
Pretend that the situation is critical so that the box containing the Blue Sky Crown can be handed over to Piqun.
Of the people present, only Eunuch Zhang and Pi Kun knew that the lapis lazuli inside was missing, and Pi Kun didn't know that Eunuch Zhang knew.
During this period, Eunuch Zhang repeatedly told everyone to be careful, and also said that he would investigate them one by one later.
As a result, Pikun naturally complained secretly.
On the first day of the new year, I checked as usual and there were several people present.
If you check again at this time and find that the lapis lazuli is missing, the blame will be placed on you.
The terrible thing is that he really took this thing by himself.
And it's on himself, because he hasn't found a chance to give the thing away yet.
If he didn't put it back secretly, he would be found out if he was searched later.
So he took advantage of the cover of night to put the lapis lazuli back.
At this time, he was still feeling lucky, thinking that this thing probably shouldn't have been thrown away, so it caught on such a fire.
However, when Xue Hengzhao came up with this idea to Eunuch Zhang, he was preparing for three different outcomes.
The best thing to do is that Eunuch Zhang suspects the right person, and the lapis lazuli is still on that person.
Naturally, it will be returned to Zhao intact.
The trick was that Eunuch Zhang had suspected the right person, and the lapis lazuli was no longer in his hands.
Then it can be considered that he has been caught, and whether he is tortured, coerced or induced, it can be considered an explanation.
The worst thing to do is that Eunuch Zhang suspects the wrong person at all, so this person will definitely not be able to hand over the lapis lazuli.
But in this way, it can be considered as a support for Eunuch Zhang and a scapegoat.
Fortunately, it turned out to be the best solution.
As for the fire in Longlin Pavilion, firstly, there was no property damage, and secondly, it didn’t burn at all.
Even if you let the people above know, the punishment will be limited. Most of them will be just a warning and a small salary fine.
Compared with the loss of lapis lazuli, it is nothing to mention.
Eunuch Zhang naturally knows which one is more important.
He didn't make the matter clear. Firstly, he couldn't make Pikun jump over the wall, and secondly, he didn't want to alert the enemy.
Pikun is the grass and the person behind him is the snake.
Even if a young eunuch has unclean hands and feet, no matter how courageous he is, he cannot steal lapis lazuli.
This thing is so valuable that even if it were to be sold, no one would dare to buy it.
There must be someone behind him, and it's not for money.
And who is this person? Eunuch Zhang wanted to know.
The sun has risen, and the steam is steaming, making people feel depressed.
The weather is extremely dry, the likes of which it has not been in the past ten years.
Eunuch Zhang heard the emperor's roar at the foot of the steps: "These old people are relying on their old age! Instead of cultivating themselves at home, they have resorted to the trick of signing a petition!
How dare you say such obscene words about the anger of heaven and the resentment of people!
I sincerely practice Taoism, and I am not committing evil. How can I arouse the wrath of heaven and the resentment of people? ! "
"Your Majesty, please calm down," this was Shang Qiyan's voice. "It's just because the drought is so severe now that those old ministers were so impatient that they couldn't care less, so they said nonsense. I hope your Majesty will forgive me."
"Rong You? Their spit almost hit my face!
Just because I'm older, I talk nonsense, do you think I really don't dare to chop off their heads? ! "The emperor smashed the tea cup with a crash, as if he thought it was an old minister kneeling in front of the palace gate to petition.
Shang Qiyan always spoke softly in front of the emperor, and now he said soothingly: "Your Majesty, those old ministers are naturally confused. How could they talk nonsense and do stupid things if they are not confused?
But seeing that they still had a sincere heart to be loyal to the imperial court, and because the Holy One could not take their Taoism lightly, it was better to ask someone to carry them back!
Otherwise, in this kind of weather, if you don’t do it right, you might be overheated to death.
What I know is that they are old and confused and do not take their own lives seriously.
Those who don't know will inevitably spread rumors to slander His Majesty's holy name. The ancients said that the people's mouth is worse than that of Fangchuan.
Your Majesty's sage is so wise that you don't need your servants to babble endlessly to understand. "
"These old guys insist on forcing me to go to court on time. They also say that I am obsessed and will be a sinner in the history books in the future." The emperor's tone seemed to soften a little, but he was still bitter, "It's not raining, what does it have to do with me? ?
What's more, haven't I already ordered the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Works to provide emergency disaster relief? It is also said that on the fifteenth day of this month, the Infinite Heavenly Master will open an altar to pray for rain. What else? "
"Everyone knows that the Emperor is caring for the people. I believe it will rain soon.
It's just that those old ministers always like to use Confucianism as their dogma. They want His Majesty to be conscientious and diligent in writing documents, so that they can see him as a wise king. "Shang Qiyan said softly, "It's easy to seize such an opportunity, so naturally I will make a fuss about it. "
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm just angry that they bullied others too much." At this time, the emperor's anger was obviously calmer. "Go ahead and order people to carry them back. You can try to persuade them."
Now the previous dynasty has become a noisy mess. The emperor has not been in court for a long time. Ministers who want to see the emperor must report to him alone.
And even if you ask for instructions three or five times, you may not be able to see him even once.
Eunuch Zhang couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Looking at this situation, no one paid attention to the fire in Longlin Pavilion anymore.
Because in Gyeonggi Province, the sun is already scorching red and the water is dire.
Then Shang Qiyan came out and saw Eunuch Zhang outside, so he greeted him and said, "Follow me to Chongzhengmen and put down what you have in your hands first."
