The Tiantai is located in the east of Kyoto City. When it was first built, all residential buildings within three miles of the surrounding area were moved away and trees and tall stone statues were planted. This not only blocked the invasion of wind and sand, but also maintained solemnity and tranquility.
The Sixth Princess Zhu Yueyao, disguised as a palace maid, walked all the way from West City to East City through streets and alleys. At this time, her beautiful face was faded from exhaustion, her hair was disheveled, and she was panting.
Zhu Yueyao was hiding behind the base of a stone statue of a general. Her heartbeat was so fast that it seemed like it could jump out of her throat at any time, and her lungs were also burning with pain.
While breathing calmly, she stuck her head out to look at the situation around her. No patrolling Feiyu Guards were found in her sight. Zhu Yueyao took out the firecracker from her arms and pointed it at the cloudy sky, following the method Rong Fei gave her. Pull the trigger.
Rumble…
boom!
Thunder and gunshots sounded almost simultaneously.
A puff of green smoke shot out from the gun's mouth along with tongues of fire. The huge recoil shook Zhu Yueyao, who was caught off guard, and fell backwards to the ground.
But Zhu Yueyao couldn't care less about the pain in her buttocks at this moment. She stared blankly at the sky, then lowered her head to look at the blunderbuss that fell to the ground.
This thing is actually a magic weapon that can trigger thunder!
"Who's over there?"
A group of Feiyu guards didn't know whether they heard the gunfire or saw the green smoke and flames, and rushed towards this direction with a roar.
Zhu Yueyao cursed Rong Fei in her heart for not telling her earlier that this thing would make such a big noise, so that it was discovered by Fei Yuwei at this moment.
While hurriedly getting up, he picked up the firecracker and randomly searched for a direction to escape.
But after running away, Zhu Yueyao did not dare to run far.
Women were not allowed to enter the rooftop sacrifice platform, so Rong Fei handed the fire blunderbuss to Zhu Yueyao and told her that he only needed to find a place near the rooftop sacrifice platform to fire a shot. Yu Qingzhi would definitely come after hearing the sound. At that time, he only needed to hand over the jade seal to Zhu Yueyao. Yu Qingzhi can just bring it in.
Therefore, Zhu Yueyao could only delay time by running back and forth among the trees and stone statues, while secretly praying that Yu Qingzhi would arrive soon.
…
"Stop those who come, and those who trespass on the rooftop of the sacrifice platform will be killed without mercy!"
The Feiyu guards stationed on the west side of the sacrifice rooftop forced the two galloping horses to stop with guns and crossbows, and shouted sharply at the two people on the horses.
"Liu Qi, the son of Liu Chuanfang, the chief assistant of the cabinet, has been ordered to participate in the heaven-sacrifice ceremony on behalf of his father. If you are wise enough to get out of the way, if the ceremony is delayed, eight of your heads will not be enough to chop off."
Liu Yingrong raised her whip and pointed at the sergeant blocking the front and scolded him.
The sergeant was stunned for a long time after hearing this. He stared at Liu Yingrong from left to right for a while, and then asked doubtfully.
"Are you a woman?"
"I am Liu Yingrong, the eldest daughter of Liu Shoufu. I am accompanying my eldest brother on this trip."
After saying that, Liu Yingrong stepped back from her brother beside her. Seeing the timid look on his face, she felt annoyed and pinched his waist fiercely and whispered.
"If the eldest brother doesn't show his courage, our family will be executed."
Feeling pain and fear, Liu Qi puffed up her chest, but she was still speechless because of the fear in her heart, so she could only widen her eyes and pretend to glare fiercely at the sergeant blocking the road.
well! Why am I not a man?
Seeing Liu Qi's stern look, Liu Yingrong hated herself so much that she almost bit her silver teeth into pieces.
"No one is allowed to enter the sacrificial platform without the order of His Majesty or the commander. Mr. Liu, please forgive me."
The sergeant who blocked the road replied without buying it.
"This little sergeant is so arrogant that even the chief minister's legitimate son dares to stop him. My eldest brother will go in now to see what you dare to do to him."
Liu Yingrong also became fierce, raising her riding whip and lashing the butt of the horse Liu Qi was sitting on. The horse was in pain, neighed and hit the sergeant who blocked the road.
The sergeant hurriedly flashed past, shouting at the same time.
"Fire the arrow! Fire the arrow!"
"Brother lean over."
Liu Yingrong also shouted loudly.
Rumble…
boom!
Dull thunder rolled from the sky. Sergeant Feiyuwei was startled by the sudden thunder, but he forgot to pull the trigger of his crossbow and allowed Liu Qi to ride his horse into the Tiantai Square.
Liu Yingrong was also startled by the God of Thunder, but she also heard the explosion that was obviously different from thunder.
Looking towards the direction where the sound came from, a towering stone statue could be vaguely seen among the lush trees, but not a single figure could be seen.
Could it be the sixth princess?
This thought flashed through his mind, and Liu Yingrong galloped away without hesitation.
The horse quickly passed through two bushes, and the branches and leaves slapped across Liu Yingrong's face, leaving bright red blood stains, and the beard attached to his upper lip was also knocked off.
But Liu Yingrong didn't care at all. She had a hunch that the sound just now must have been made by the Sixth Princess.
Sure enough, after the horse rushed out some distance, Liu Yingrong vaguely heard the woman's exclamation.
This voice was very familiar to Liu Yingrong. It was none other than the Sixth Princess Zhu Yueyao.
"drive!"
The riding whip was whipped hard, and the horse under his crotch neighed mournfully, and suddenly accelerated like an arrow from the string, rushing towards the direction of the sound.
Zhu Yueyao was currently surrounded by ten Feiyu guards with a small banner.
The forest here was deep and quiet, and there was no one else around. Fei Yuwei, who came after hearing strange noises, felt malicious when he saw the beautiful Zhu Yueyao.
Ten people formed a group of two and formed a five-sided encirclement, trapping Zhu Yueyao between a few thick trees. With a lewd smile on his face and a nasty mouth.
"If you don't serve your husband properly at home, why are you here? Could you be secretly meeting your lover?"
"You damn little lady. Seeing as she is wearing the palace's clothes, I'm afraid she stole the palace's treasure and ran away. Also, seeing as her chest is swollen, the treasure must be hidden there."
"I guess the hidden treasure is not one, but a pair. Hehehe, let the military master check it."
"You...you are so presumptuous. I...I am the Sixth Princess's personal maid. If anyone dares to touch me, the Sixth Princess will cut off his claws."
Zhu Yueyao tried her best to avoid the sergeant's grasping palm while yelling and threatening.
"Hehehehe, in a place like this, you only need to dig a hole and bury it after playing, and no one will know that it was our brothers who did it. Little lady, don't waste your energy. When you scream, hahahaha. "
At this time, Zhu Yueyao had no way to retreat or escape, and twenty devil claws were grabbing at her body.
Zhu Yueyao was unwilling to be humiliated. In desperation, she closed her eyes and wanted to hit herself with her head against a tree. She still regretted in her heart that she could not deliver the jade seal to the emperor's brother.
At this moment, there was the sound of horse hooves, followed closely by a shout.
"Mei Yao, let me save you!"
…
"What's so noisy outside?"
In Kunning Palace, Queen Tang Youer asked the chamberlain.
"Just now, Concubine Xian from Jingyang Palace came to send a message, saying that there was a thief in the inner court and Fei Yuwei was arresting her. The Queen Mother was worried that the nobles would be frightened, so she asked Fei Yuwei to temporarily close the harem. Concubine Xian I also told you that if there is nothing important at the Queen’s side, just go and sit with her.”
Upon hearing this, a flash of panic flashed in Tang You'er's eyes, and she quickly lowered her head slightly to hide it.
"That being the case, let's go over and sit down. I haven't visited him for a few days, and I really miss him."
The concubine was the late emperor's concubine. Logically speaking, the queen was the master of the harem. Even if the late emperor's widow was the queen's elder, there was no reason for the queen to visit her.
But this Concubine Xian was different, because she was Zhu Sheng's biological mother and Tang You'er's mother-in-law.
Because she was only a concubine when the former emperor died, and the former emperor's wife, who is now the Queen Mother, was still alive, so she could only take the title of concubine.
The mother-in-law misses her daughter-in-law, so she asks her daughter-in-law to accompany her and chat with her. This is a matter of ethics and is not subject to the many rules of the harem.
Tang Youer traveled in a simple carriage, taking only one confidant and two personal maids to the Nuanfeng Pavilion in Jingyang Palace where Concubine Xian was staying.
"My slaves welcome the Queen."
Outside the Nuanfeng Pavilion, Concubine Xian's confidant, the Third Marquis, stood outside the gate. Seeing Tang You'er's arrival, they quickly bowed and saluted.
"Hou San, take them to the side room to rest and entertain. Don't be stingy."
After walking into the courtyard of Nuanfeng Pavilion, Tang Youer waved to the chambermaid who followed him, and then smiled at Hou San.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I will treat you well."
Seeing Hou San leading people into the side room, Tang Youer lifted up her skirt, walked to the door of the main room where Concubine Xian lived, and pushed the door open.
"Is it You'er?"
Concubine Xian's voice came from the inner room.
"Mother, it's me."
Hearing that Concubine Xian's voice was as calm as usual, Tang Youer's heart, which had been hanging around, calmed down a little.
Previously, the chamberlain mentioned the content of the message sent by Concubine Xian, and Tang Youer was keenly aware of the danger.
When His Majesty and all the civil and military officials went to the heaven-sacrifice ceremony, a thief broke out in the palace by coincidence, to the point where the Queen Mother personally ordered the harem to be closed.
You must know that although the position of the Queen Mother is noble, the Queen is the master of the harem. Tang Youer was unaware of such an important decision as closing the harem.
Moreover, it was strange for Concubine Xian to let her come to visit.
The fact that Zhu Sheng's biological mother can be named a virtuous concubine is enough to prove that she is a virtuous person who knows etiquette and propriety. She will never act like a mistress based on her status.
So, something big must have happened.
As for what kind of big thing happened, Tang Youer was guessing along the way.
Is it over there on the rooftop?
The Queen Mother was the biological mother of King Yong. Before the death of the late emperor, everyone believed that King Yong would definitely inherit the throne. After her husband ascended the throne, the Queen Mother sought death and survival, and tried every means to force King Yong to stay in Kyoto.
The more Tang Youer thought about it, the more frightened she became. When she just entered the courtyard and crossed the threshold, she almost tripped because she was distracted.
Until then, after hearing Concubine Xian's calm and calm voice as usual, her mood finally calmed down a little.
After answering, he walked towards the inner room.
There are always thick dark clouds in the sky these days, and the weather is extremely hot and muggy, but a thick curtain is hung on the door of the inner room where Concubine Xian lives.
Tang You'er felt strange. She reached out and was about to lift the door curtain, but her eyes saw a small stain on the door curtain.
At the same time, the nose also smelled a faint smell of blood.
A terrible thought flashed through Tang You'er's mind, causing her hands and feet to become cold and she stood frozen on the spot.
