Chapter Four
The cold wind howled by, and the yard was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. Only the dull blows came from outside, accompanied by the painful pleading and shouting, but the pleading gradually became smaller and smaller, and finally became silent.
All that was left was the guard's quiet and indifferent counting voice: "Twenty-two, twenty-three..."
Listening to this voice, all the maids in the courtyard felt like their souls were being locked away, and they were trembling even when they were kneeling on the ground.
Xie Lingyu stood quietly, listened for a long time, and then suddenly said: "Mommy."
It was still a soft and calm tone, but this time it sounded like thunder in Aunt Hua's ears, and she didn't dare to show any hesitation.
Aunt Hua knelt on the ground, moved forward two steps, and said respectfully: "I'm here, old slave."
"I heard Xue Gui call you sister just now?"
Aunt Hua lay on the ground and nodded: "Your Highness clearly knows that this old slave has nothing to do with that damned Xue Gui. He is the one who caress about me at will. Your Highness treats this old slave so well, how dare I do this?" That's a stupid thing."
Xie Lingyu lowered his eyes and looked at her pleading look, but he didn't feel any sympathy.
But now is not the time to touch her.
Xie Lingyu looked at the maidservants kneeling in the courtyard: "Xue Gui, as the steward of Shangyang Palace, bullies men and dominates women. He is extremely vicious. When his responsibilities are over, he will be expelled from Shangyang Palace forever, regardless of life or death. As for his private life The evidence of the crime of stealing palace items to enrich one's own pockets is conclusive. I know that he did not do this alone, but he is the chief culprit. I am issuing an order to anyone who is willing to surrender, return the stolen goods or money, and let bygones be bygones."
When everyone heard this, although they didn't dare to raise their heads, they felt somewhat relieved.
"It's just that if anyone dares to commit the crime again, the fate will be the same as Xue Gui's."
There was finally a hint of coldness in Xie Lingyu's voice, which fell on everyone's ears, and a thin layer of sweat broke out on their backs.
At dinner time, Tinghe, who was sent to re-count the items in the Shangyang Palace, came back.
She couldn't help but gasped: "His Highness is really powerful. If you don't take action, you will catch so many thieves."
Xu Xue Gui's tragic situation made everyone dare not take any chances.
Although he had endured thirty strokes, it was said that he was no longer alive as soon as he was dragged home.
Besides, Xie Lingyu still has Xue Gui's account book in his hand, so who dares to take chances.
Fortunately, she said that only the first culprit would be punished.
So everyone involved took out the stolen goods or returned the stolen money.
"Your Highness, you didn't see the situation. There were people stealing and everything. When these people came back to return things, there were many piles in front of the warehouse. Master Qiu had been writing so hard all afternoon that his hands were almost numb from writing."
"It seems that the results of the battle are quite fruitful," Xie Lingyu said thoughtfully.
Tinghe saw that she was still joking, and couldn't help but said angrily: "Your Highness, why are you not angry at all?"
angry?
After experiencing life and death, such a trivial matter was not worth getting her angry about.
Xie Lingyu said calmly: "If one person makes a mistake, he is still responsible. Now that so many people have made mistakes, it can be seen that I am too indulgent in normal times. If they are wrong, I am also wrong."
"How can your Highness take the blame on yourself? Your Highness's forgiveness is for the sake of your slaves. It's those people who don't know what's good and what's good."
Chunxi was the first to disagree.
Tinghe nodded: "That's right, your highness is a merciful servant. Even those who make mistakes are never severely punished. This makes those people gradually become bolder. How can you blame your highness?"
After finishing speaking, Tinghe whispered: "Your Highness, I heard that Grandma Hua had a high fever after she returned the things."
"Have you called the doctor?" Xie Lingyu asked.
Tinghe shook his head: "No one dares to call her."
Although Xie Lingyu didn't get to the bottom of it, everyone could see that Aunt Hua was deeply involved. She might be exposed one day. Who is still involved with her, let alone call a doctor for her.
Xie Lingyu said calmly: "Let a doctor take a look."
The two maids behind him looked at each other, and Chunxi said softly: "Your Highness really has the heart of a Bodhisattva."
Xie Lingyu rested her chin on her hands: "After all, it was my mother who rewarded me. I can't let her die."
She is not a kind-hearted person, but Grandma Hua will be of some use in the future.
*
Early the next morning, Dr. Cao came to check Xie Lingyu's pulse again. Even he himself couldn't figure out why this person's pulse condition could recover to such an extent in just a few days.
After further questioning, Xie Lingyu drank the decoction he prescribed.
Doctor Cao lowered his eyes and thought to himself, could it be that his medical skills have improved to such an extent.
What a wonderful rejuvenation.
After sending Dr. Cao away, Xie Lingyu finished his breakfast and saw Ting He coming in: "Your Highness, Helan has returned from joining the army."
"He Lanfang?" Xie Lingyu looked startled when he heard this.
It's not surprising that she was surprised, because before she was imprisoned in her previous life, He Lanfang had become a border war god famous in the Great Zhou Dynasty. He broke into the enemy's formation alone and took the enemy general's head, and ran thousands of miles to capture the Beirong King. The glorious achievements of the court were spread throughout the world.
But no one knew that this young general was originally from the Yongning Palace.
He was the official recorder of the palace and joined the army.
When He Lan became famous all over the world and everyone wanted to make friends with him, Xie Lingyu turned him away.
Not only did she explicitly order people in the palace not to discuss the relationship between Yongning Palace and He Lanfang, but she also refused to see He Lanfang.
Just because she was afraid of being criticized by outsiders, she made friends with important ministers who held military power.
Xie Lingyu thought about it now. If she hadn't been so decisive, even considering that He Lanfang was once her retainer, the new emperor would not have dared to confine her so casually.
"Let him in," Xie Lingyu said immediately.
He Lanfang quickly entered the palace. He was wearing a silver-grey round-collared floral robe, but he walked upright. Although he was not very old, he had the heroic spirit of a sergeant.
"Jiang He Lanfang, I have met His Highness. General Mo didn't get back in time during the curfew yesterday, so please forgive me."
Xie Lingyu took the opportunity to carefully look at the person in front of him and asked: "It's very hard for you to travel between two places. How can I blame you?"
A few days ago, Xie Lingyu fell seriously ill, so Helan was sent back to Chang'an to report back.
Only then did Dr. Cao come back for her.
In the past two days, he was traveling back and forth between Chang'an and Shangyang Palace.
When He Lanfang heard this, he suddenly raised his head and looked straight at Xie Lingyu with a pair of black eyes, with a look of surprise in his eyes.
When Xie Lingyu looked at him like this, not only did she not feel guilty, but she looked back with a smile.
It has to be said that He Lanfang is indeed a talented general, but he can notice even a small change in detail.
In the past, Xie Lingyu would never call himself the king.
But now the rules have to be changed. She wants everyone to know that she, the King of Yongning, is worthy of her name.
Fortunately, He Lanfang suppressed the surprise in his eyes and quickly replied: "This time His Highness is ill, the concubine is very worried and asked the general to bring back a good tonic."
Hearing this, Xie Lingyu hummed in a moderate tone, making it impossible to guess her mood.
He Lanfang, who was standing there, thought for a long time, took a deep breath and whispered: "There are also things that His Highness asked the general to ask before, and the concubine also responded."
"Oh?" Xie Lingyu raised her eyebrows inquiringly, seeming to be very interested in the answer.
God knows, she simply forgot what she asked He Lanfang to ask.
After all, she had returned to many years ago. She had been seriously ill these past few days, her mind was groggy, and her memory of many past events was blurred. How could she still remember such small things.
But He Lanfang had no doubts and said in a deep voice: "The concubine asked Your Highness not to be anxious. Now is not a good time to return to Chang'an."
This time, Xie Lingyu had some impression.
It turned out that before she fell ill, she asked Helan to be returned to the palace and asked her mother and concubine when she could return to Chang'an.
Not a good time?
Xie Lingyu asked somewhat self-deprecatingly: "When is the good time that the concubine said?"
He Lanfang's face changed slightly, and he could certainly hear the disapproval in Xie Lingyu's words. In fact, many people in Shangyang Palace thought the same way. Like His Highness, they seemed to be trapped in this remote and lonely corner.
After thinking about it, He Lanfang spoke again: "Although I didn't ask, I have seen that the palace has been very busy recently."
"Is there something big going on in the palace?" Xie Lingyu was really surprised this time. He Lanfang wouldn't have said such a thing suddenly.
"The mansion is preparing for Miss Zhang's wedding banquet."
Miss Zhang?
Zhang Hanning.
Xie Lingyu almost forgot about this person.
Speaking of Zhang Hanning, to be honest, she should be Xie Lingyu's cousin. Her biological mother was the concubine sister of Princess Han of Yong'an. Her parents died, so she came to Chang'an to join her mother's family.
Princess Yong'an was born in the Han family of Nanyang. Although she was not comparable to the top aristocratic families, she should not be underestimated.
Naturally, the Han family would not ignore this little orphan girl.
But no one expected that not long after Zhang Hanning settled in the Han family, he would fall in the eyes of Princess Yongan.
At this moment, Xie Lingyu was too much criticized by the courtiers for inheriting the title of king, so he took refuge in Shanghua Palace under the pretense of poor health.
Therefore, others said that the concubine Han missed her daughter too much, so she took Zhang Hanning back to the palace to live permanently.
But only Xie Lingyu knew that the mother-in-law's regard for Zhang Hanning was not because of her.
After all, in her previous life, even she had wondered why her mother-in-law was so kind to Zhang Hanning, so much better than anyone else, even her.
Zhang Hanning's marriage was arranged by her mother-in-law herself, and she was the legitimate son of a wealthy family.
When she got married, her dowry was extremely generous.
You should know that when Zhang Hanning arrived in Chang'an, he only had a small baggage with him.
These dowries were all paid by the royal palace. If it was just that, it would be fine. Later, something happened to Zhang Hanning's husband's family, and her mother-in-law even forced her to plead with the saint.
It seems that if she doesn't plead, she will break off their mother-daughter relationship.
It's just that Xie Lingyu has always been cautious and never participated in court affairs, so naturally he will not make an exception for Zhang Hanning.
Mother and daughter have been at odds with each other since then, and Pei Jingan even persuaded her why she should be so unhappy with her mother because of an outsider.
Later, Zhang Hanning reconciled and her mother-in-law took her back to the palace.
Perhaps this is why after her accident, the mother-in-law did not want to save her, but wanted to adopt a step-heir.
It would be better to have an obedient son than her uncontrollable daughter.
Now it seems that everything has always been traceable.
She was so ill that she needed someone from the Imperial Medical Office for diagnosis and treatment, but her mother and concubine did not come in person. Instead, the entire palace was busy with Zhang Hanning's hairdressing.
How ironic.
When Xie Lingyu thought of this, his expression was calm and almost numb.
The silence in the palace was a bit excessive. The two maids Chunxi and Tinghe looked at each other, feeling secretly annoyed for His Highness.
The two even secretly said in private that His Highness' illness was probably caused by anger.
This New Year, the Queen Mother wanted to call Her Highness back to Chang'an for a reunion, but unexpectedly, she was blocked by a letter from the Dowager, asking Her Highness to be patient and not to show off.
Unexpectedly, news came from Chang'an that it was not only the New Year's Palace banquet, but also the Lantern Festival Lantern Festival, and the concubine was taking Mrs. Zhang with her.
Although His Highness didn't say anything, they, the maids, saw it in their eyes.
Not only is the young girl living alone in a lonely and remote place, but Aniang is holding other young ladies in her hands as her treasures. No matter how broad-minded His Highness is, he cannot bear this kind of thing.
"Chunxi, Tinghe, you two should leave first."
After hearing this, the two men immediately replied: "Yes, Your Highness."
After they exited the hall, only He Lanfang was left in the hall.
Xie Lingyu had already sat upright at this time. She put her long and slender fingers on the tea cup and rubbed it little by little. After a long time, she seemed to have made up her mind: "He Lanfang, I have something that I need you to do."
Originally, she wanted to find someone else to do this. After all, the people in Shangyang Palace were so savvy that anyone could be an informant.
But Shangyang Palace is located in a remote place, and even if she wants to bribe wealthy people, she has no good way to do it.
But when Helan let this person go, she had some understanding.
Moreover, the fact that he just told what happened in the house shows that he is not the mother-in-law's wife.
"Your Majesty, please give me your orders. I will not give up until I die." He Lanfang immediately knelt down on one knee and said loudly.
Xie Lingyu raised her lips and smiled: "It's not a matter of death. I only need you to find one person."
He Lanfang really didn't expect that it was such a simple thing.
Until Xie Lingyu said: "Xiao Yanxing is from Cangjun."
Sure enough, He Lanfang showed a slightly confused look. He thought that the person His Highness asked him to find was a famous figure all over the world, but he had never heard of this name.
Xie Lingyu was not surprised by his confusion.
Most people in this world have never heard of this name at this time, but in the near future, this name will be resounding throughout the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Xiao Yanxing became famous when he first entered the officialdom, and soon he held great power at a young age.
The most important thing is that during the next transition of imperial power, he took the lead and helped the sixth prince Xie Ling ascend the throne. He even personally led troops to suppress the rebellion and swept away the rebels.
When Xie Lingyu was imprisoned, everyone had heard about his deeds.
After all, he helped Sixth Prince Xie Ling ascend the throne and was the accomplice who caused her to be imprisoned.
It can also be said to be her enemy.
But sometimes enemies can also become helpers.
She wanted such a person.
