The boat was swaying leisurely, and when it was still some distance away from the shore, the boatman jumped on the shore first, tied the cable firmly to the bollard, and laid the pedals on the bow.
Ruyu walked down first, then supported Princess Annan and slowly stepped on the pedal.
Han Changmu followed closely behind, looking at Annan County Princess's movements with a faint feeling of strangeness in his heart.
The Princess of Annan County walked on the unstable pedal, her posture was a little stiff, and she walked unnaturally, as if she was very afraid of the sparkling waves under the pedal.
Han Changmu felt something was wrong. The princess of Annan County was from Yangzhou and was born and raised by the water. Even if the water quality is not good, she should not be afraid of water.
His gaze fell heavily on Princess Annan, and he became even more suspicious as he watched her cautiously take every step.
He followed quietly off the boat.
A neat garden has been set up on the island in the center of the lake, with various flowers, plants and trees planted. Flowers change in four seasons, and the grass and trees are evergreen in the harsh winter. Where the gardens are connected, a path is paved with bluestone slabs that can accommodate four people walking side by side. It winds all the way to the depths of the island in the middle of the lake.
Han Changmu stood on the steps and raised his head, pavilions and pavilions looming in the lush greenery.
Climbing up the stairs, a two-story building with pink walls and black tiles appeared in front of you, with its eaves and corners like a bird flapping its wings.
There are vermilion carved windows on the whitewashed wall on the first floor. The color is bright and there is no sign of age or peeling. It makes the whitewashed wall look cleaner. Clusters of tender green wild grass grow close to the root of the wall, swaying in the wind.
The second floor is covered in vermilion on all sides, with hollow carved windows on all sides. Green sunlight pours in from the hollow carved windows, creating mottled light and shadow.
When Han Changmu traveled to the south of the Yangtze River, he often saw this kind of pavilion. After the windows on the second floor were removed, it became a viewing platform. It was used to enjoy the moon and cool down in the summer, which was very comfortable.
The group of people walked into the building, and the wooden floor creaked softly under their feet.
The small building is surrounded by green trees on all sides, and the sunlight passes through the dense gaps in the leaves, filtering out mottled and dark light and shadow on the dark yellow wooden floor.
"The Romance of Fairy Wood"
The building without lights was slightly dim. People walked in suddenly and couldn't see anything. It took them a while to get used to it before they could clearly see everything in front of them.
Han Changmu wiped it on the door frame calmly. His fingertips were clean and not stained with any dust.
He raised his eyebrows slightly. It seemed that this place was cleaned every day, but along the way, he did not see any servants or maids serving him.
Princess Annan ordered people to serve fragrant tea and snacks, and raised her chin: "Your Excellency, you can speak now."
Han Changmu took a slow sip of tea, and the slender leaf tips floated in the slightly yellow tea soup. This was the tribute Maofeng, and it was true that there was a crouching tiger, hidden dragon in the Annan County Prince's Mansion.
There was a hint of ridicule in his eyebrows, and he said casually: "I wonder how long the prince has to live, so that the princess can slowly test me?"
The smile on Princess Annan's face slowly solidified, and her expression was solemn: "What do you mean by these words, Sir?"
Han Changmu stared at Princess Annan indifferently without saying a word.
When their eyes met, the Princess of Annan County was worried, and finally defeated, she gritted her teeth and said slowly: "Yes, the prince is indeed poisoned and needs an antidote, but now the poison is unknown, so I don't know what the antidote is. She tilted her head and looked at Han Changmu, with resentment after being threatened and confusion in her eyes: "Since Sir Shi has come to the door, he naturally has a way to save the prince. Whatever you want, Sir Shi, you might as well just say it."
Han Changmu said three words calmly: "Four beautiful pictures."
Princess Annan's face suddenly changed, and she was so angry that she almost bit her silver teeth. After a while, she calmed down and said bravely: "I don't quite understand what the Commander-in-Chief is talking about."
Han Changmu sneered, with a sarcastic smile and cold eyes.
The Princess of Annan County was so frightened by the laughter that her whole body became hairy. Thinking of her current situation, her face was so ugly that she couldn't describe it in words. She weighed the pros and cons for a long time, and finally said in despair: "The four beautiful pictures were lost a few days ago."
After hearing this, Han Changmu stood up, stretched out his sleeves and said, "The sincerity of Princess Annan is nothing more than this." After saying that, without even looking at Princess Annan, he walked towards the door with his legs and pushed He opened the door and showed no intention of stopping.
The Princess of Annan County was immediately frightened by Han Changmu's determination. This was not the hard-to-get game she thought she was. She couldn't help but stand up in a hurry and shouted in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, please stay!"
An urgent voice came over, but Han Changmu didn't stop and walked straight across the threshold.
The Princess of Annan County panicked. In her panic, her body shook slightly, and she shouted sternly: "Yes! The four beautiful pictures are still in my hands, but, but they are ominous, no, they are very dangerous things." , does Prince Han really want it?"
Han Changmu turned his head, suppressed his slight smile, and said expressionlessly: "Whether it's bad or good, you won't know until you get it."
The Princess of Annan County looked at Han Changmu's desperate look and knew that she had jumped into the trap prepared by Han Changmu. She just didn't know what he had done in the poisoning of the crown prince. She thought that it would not be possible. It was his push, otherwise how could he have the confidence to come to ask for help.
She calmed down, watched Han Changmu sit back, and said slowly: "Si Mei Tu," she paused and changed her title: "Since Prince Han wants Si Mei Tu, he must have checked Si Mei Tu. Where did it come from, right?”
Han Changmu actually knew nothing about the four beautiful pictures. He just learned that Emperor Yong'an wanted them, and Princess Annan would rather suffer the huge humiliation than hand them over, so he became interested in them.
Something that everyone is flocking to must have benefits that everyone wants.
He was thinking this, but his face didn't show anything, he just looked at Princess Annan inscrutably.
Princess Annan County looked at Han Changmu's face, and the last trace of luck in her heart was shattered. She said dryly: "The four beautiful pictures contain the secret about Emperor Ming's treasure."
A shocking statement. Although Han Changmu knew that there must be a secret in the four beautiful pictures, he never thought that this secret would be related to Emperor Ming's legacy.
No wonder, this is the only way to make sense. With such a huge treasure, who can resist this temptation.
But he looked indifferent and said vaguely: "Continue."
The Princess of Annan County really couldn't figure out the details of Han Changmu, and she didn't know how much he knew. However, the prince's life was at stake, and she couldn't allow her to think carefully about the secrets, so she simply told the whole story frankly: "There is something hidden in those four beautiful pictures." The method of the Ming Emperor's treasure trap, this mechanism is also the last one. Once this mechanism is opened, the Ming Emperor's treasure can be pocketed. As for what the method is, and how to unlock the hidden secrets of the four beautiful pictures, I have to Only when you see that the prince is safe and his life is not in danger can you tell the prince Han."
This condition was very reasonable, and Han Changmu had no reason to refuse. He did not ask further questions, but simply asked with an indifferent expression: "In that case, would you like to ask the princess to perform a play with me."
"Acting?" Princess Annan was stunned for a moment.
Han Changmu looked at Princess Annan, with a hint of sarcasm in his careless expression: "The princess wants me to block the knife for you, so I have to pay something. I can't put myself in danger while the princess enjoys the benefits, right?"
Princess Annan County was really panicked at this time. The calm expression she had been barely maintaining was shattered. She stood up in panic, her voice was trembling and broken: "You, what do you know?"
Han Changmu said casually: "I know everything that I should know and what I shouldn't know." He leaned forward slightly, and the threat in his words was clear: "The princess has a good plan, what will happen to me?" We have to let the princess get what she wants."
Princess Annan's face turned pale, and she completely gave up the idea of dealing with Han Changmu. No matter how stupid she was, she knew in her heart that this person could quietly insert his spy into Prince Annan's palace without alerting Emperor Yong'an's people at all. It's his method.
In comparison, she couldn't cut off so many of Emperor Yong'an's spies in the mansion despite all her efforts, or she couldn't tell which ones were his spies. How stupid she was.
Thinking of this, she gained confidence and felt that the matter had turned around. She couldn't help but relax a little, and her decision to join forces with Han Changmu became more determined: "Okay, since Prince Han has made this promise, I will not be tied down. Prince Han, just tell me how to do it."
Han Changmu put on a questioning attitude and asked expressionlessly: "But, how can the princess prove that what she said is true?"
The Princess of Annan County's face changed back and forth uncertainly, and she finally made up her mind and sighed, saying slowly: "I wonder if Prince Han knows the two concubines of the Ming Palace?"
"Two sisters of the Ming Palace?" Han Changmu was stunned for a moment. These were the two daughters of the former Emperor Ming. They were famous for their stunning beauty. Later, the former dynasty was destroyed and Emperor Ming died in the palace fire. After the fire was extinguished, Emperor Taizu After entering the palace city of the previous dynasty, he ordered people to arrest the remnants of the previous dynasty, but in the end nothing was found. As for the famous "Ming Palace Twins" who moved the world, their whereabouts are also unknown. I don't know whether they were reduced to beauty and bones by the fire, or whether they were finally Living among the people, lost to everyone.
At this time, this past incident, told by the princess of Annan County, sounded a bit strange.
The two sisters of the Ming Palace became famous twenty years ago. At that time, the Ming Emperor was ignorant, the officials were corrupt, and the people were in dire straits. Outside there were Turks, Tubo, Tuyuhun and many small countries in the Western Regions harassing the borders, burning, killing and looting. Inside, Emperor Taizu led Yong'an. The adult princes like the emperor fought everywhere, conquering cities and territories, and the previous dynasty was retreating steadily, and the situation was precarious.
Although the Ming Palace twins were very famous at that time, in those years when their lives were in danger, even if they had two legs to escape, who would think about what the beauties looked like and how beautiful they were?
Han Changmu looked carefully at the face of Princess Annan County. He felt that the appearance of Ruoming Palace's twin sisters who had grown into Princess Annan County was indeed worthy of the reputation.
"Of course I have heard of the twin sisters from the Ming Palace in the previous dynasty. What is the relationship between these two people and the Four Beauties?" Han Changmu asked lightly.
Princess Annan's eyes darkened, and a faint sense of sadness filled the air. She made a startling statement, and her words were even more shocking than before: "In the four beautiful pictures, the two girls with their backs to the picture were the Ming Palaces back then. The twins, and I am the elder sister of the twins in the Ming Palace."
"What?" Han Changmu screamed, his hands shook in shock, and the tea in the cup spilled all over the floor. His face was complicated: "You, you are the two concubines of the Ming Palace, the daughter of the former Emperor Ming?"
His mind was shaken. This matter was so unbelievable that he subconsciously felt that it was impossible. Prince Annan was the youngest son of Emperor Taizu. Even though his mother's family was mediocre, no matter how mediocre and useless he was, he had never had high hopes for Emperor Taizu. Nor would he allow his son to marry a remnant of the previous royal family.
"Yes, I am the daughter of Emperor Ming." The princess of Annan County looked calm, but her eyes were blurry, as if she was immersed in the past and couldn't extricate herself: "When the country was broken, my mother found two palace servants who were similar to my sister and me. I took the place of death and gave me four beautiful pictures. The guards protected my sister and I and escaped." She raised her head slightly, with a sad glimmer in her eyes: "There are dead people and rebels everywhere. , the guards were also dead and wounded, my sister and I were scattered, my feet were broken, I don’t know what happened, I was kidnapped and sold to Qiuci with the convoy." She stretched out her hand. , gently wiped the corners of his eyes, and smiled with his front lips. The endless painful past memories disappeared in the smile: "The flower house in Qiuci is full of aliens who look like ghosts. I am afraid and would rather be beaten to death." , later, later, the county prince came, and he was the only person I saw who looked like a human in those few months. I begged him to redeem me, and the prince really obliged me, and he redeemed me, He brought me back to Chang'an. He treated me well, gave me a new identity, and gave me a status. I thought that my motherland would only be in my dreams. I thought that life would go on slowly like this. "She took a deep breath and looked out the open window with watery eyes: "But not a few years later, the late emperor died, that beast," she held her hands tightly, hating and He whispered in fear: "That beast, he sat in that position, he, he knew my origin, he coveted me, and even coveted my father's treasure, he, he threatened me with the life of the prince, I can only Follow him."
Princess Annan suddenly cried and covered her face with her hands, tears overflowing from between her fingers.
She didn't dare to cry loudly. Emperor Yong'an's spies were everywhere in this mansion. Only the island in the middle of the lake had mute servants who could be trusted, so she dared to cry.
She covered her face and sobbed in pain: "I thought I had seen enough ghosts in Qiuci, but who knew, who knew, I obeyed him, but he still refused to let the county prince go, and he killed the county prince. ! No, no, it’s me, it’s me who killed the county king, Simeitu, Simeitu and I are both ominous!”
Her mind was teetering on the edge of collapse, and sobs swirled in the empty building.
Han Changmu didn't say anything for a long time. He didn't know what to say. To be precise, although he also felt sad, he couldn't truly empathize with it.
In those troubled times, any common person was more miserable than the princess of Annan County.
After an unknown amount of time, Princess Annan finally calmed down, took out the handkerchief from her sleeve and wiped her face.
She didn't put on makeup, and her face looked fine after crying so much, but her eyes were red and swollen.
The old things have been buried in her heart for too long and have gradually become overwhelming. Although it will make her heartbroken to reveal them again, she can feel more relaxed after letting them out.
Han Changmu then said calmly: "The past is indeed tragic, but please take care of yourself, princess. After all, the prince is young, and the princess doesn't want the prince's bloodline to be cut off, right?"
The princess of Annan County was no longer as sad as before, and her expression was somewhat dull: "I understand what Prince Han means. Since I have told the truth, I want to join forces with Prince Han, just to protect myself and save the prince's life."
Han Changmu was naturally suspicious. Even though Annan County Princess had told all the facts, he did not completely trust her. He still had doubts and asked lightly: "Have you ever seen your sister while the Princess of Annan County is in charge? "
"Yan Yan?" Annan County Princess was stunned for a moment, showing a trace of panic. She lowered her eyes, obviously trying to hide something. After a while, she raised her head again, arched her eyebrows, and a smile slowly flowed in her eyes: "Yan Yan is very Smart, smarter than me, she will definitely live a better life than me and be more comfortable than me."
Han Changmu caught the slightest change in Princess Annan's expression. He didn't believe her next words at all, but he probably couldn't get anything out if he pressed her now. He said thoughtfully: "In other words, you will never Never seen that one, Yan Yan?”
Princess Annan's expression stiffened unnaturally, and she said dryly: "Yes, I have never seen her again."
Suspicion suddenly arose in Han Changmu's heart. The twins from the Ming Palace were sisters from the same mother. It was logical that they had a deep relationship. How could they be so calm and indifferent when talking about the missing sister.
