Chapter 783: The Demon (Part 2)

Xizhimen, city gate tower.

Because we have to transport Yuquan mountains and rivers to the palace every day, the city gates have to be opened every year and in the early morning. Although it is February 2nd and it is already early spring, the wind at night still makes people feel cold.

When it was time to open the city gate, two small schools in the city gate led a team of soldiers downstairs to open the city gate.

As soon as the city gate opened, a group of people were lined up outside. Among the people, some people raised torches, and the shadows seemed to be dozens of riders.

The torches on both sides of the city gate hole were already lit, illuminating the city gate hole, which was also considered bright.

A small school was about to go up and ask a question, but there was already a person in the horse team. He held a sign in his hand and waved it in front of the small school. The small school only saw the words "second class" on it, but the one behind it was not real.

However, looking at the man's outfit, the school could recognize him. This was the color of the palace guards. Naturally, he did not dare to do anything, and had already bowed and retreated aside.

When the group rode into the city, the school couldn't help but stare at everyone in a daze. OK? This was not a guard, but there were more than a dozen guards accompanying him, and dozens of cavalry behind him were dressed in uniforms of the Eight Banners Guardians.

Those who can take these people to travel are designated as noble people. But there is no reason for noble people. They are rushing to the middle of the night, and the school is confused.

The one who entered the city at Chouzheng (two o'clock in the morning) was the twelfth prince who returned from Tangquan Palace.

Thinking about the emperor's father's eyes that he wanted to tear him apart after hearing him kneeling down, he felt cold.

After he was asked to kneel for half an hour, the emperor's father spoke and ordered him to return to the palace immediately and take... over to face the king. Even if he heard his son's words, the emperor's father would not believe that his harem had given birth to a "monster".

The look seemed to be scolding him for "confusing the public."

"Master, it's still two hours before the palace gate is opened. Should I go back to the mansion to rest first?" The twelfth prince's Changsui saw his master taking people directly to the palace and urged him to pull the horse back and ask.

The twelfth prince shook his head and said, "No need, wait at the palace gate."

Looking at the dark road ahead, the Twelfth Prince was a little scared. If Concubine De and Concubine Yi were tampered with each other and replaced that... with an ordinary baby, then his report in front of the emperor would really become "spoken words to deceive the public", and he would "ignor the king and father", unfaithful and unfilial.

Then he knew that he was very careful. If it were other princes, perhaps the two palace concubines could still calculate the calculations; if he was not famous, his foundation was insufficient, and his identity was the lowest among the princes. How could the two palace concubines bother to calculate him?

Without planning, if you really want to take that... to the front of the emperor, you have to bear the thunderous anger of the emperor. When the twelfth prince thought of this, he felt infinite despair...

Although Concubine De and Concubine Yi returned to various bedrooms to settle down, they were always concerned about this matter. They had been in the palace for more than 40 years and were familiar with Kangxi's temper.

As the pride of the nine fives, the pride in his bones is beyond ordinary people. If he had not witnessed it with his own eyes, he would not believe it.

Therefore, they all ordered the eunuch in charge of the inner court. If the twelfth prince enters the palace, they would inform the two palaces.

After a while, the twelfth prince was at the gate of Jingyang Palace. When Concubine Yi and Concubine De were about to be bright, it was already dawn.

The three of them entered the back hall of Jingyang Palace together, and there were many tall and strong eunuchs standing at the door. It seemed that they had to be ordered to guard. There were also people guarding the door of the side hall, and there were whimpering crying sounds from inside.

This is a low-level palace maid who lives in Jingyang Palace. He was affected and was also under house arrest.

The back hall is full of dirty rooms.

The twenty or so slaves on the ground have been tied up for a day and night. When they saw the royal secrets and saw several masters reacting like this, they already knew that there was no way out for life.

During this day and night, twenty servants would not starve to death without eating or drinking; but people had three urgent needs, coupled with fear and despair, there were not only one or two people with incontinence.

There was no heat in the delivery room. The little nobleman who gave birth was only sixteen or seventeen years old, tied to the kang and stuffed walnuts into her mouth. The mattress under her had been shattered by blood.

There was a strong smell of blood in the delivery room.

When everyone covered their noses and entered, the little nobleman was open with his eyes open, looking at everyone, and then at the swaddling clothes on the kang next to him, his eyes full of prayer.

Concubine Yi entered the room and did not look at the cradle. She turned her body and pointed and said, "Twelve Master, please carry it."

The twelfth prince did not take action and whispered: "Mother Yi, it's not good to take it out of the palace like this."

As soon as he said this, Concubine Yi understood it. When she arrived at the door, she called a palace maid over and whispered a few instructions.

After a while, the palace maid took a food box and returned it. Concubine Yi went to the door to take it personally.

The Twelfth Prince didn't dare to look at the "monster" in the cradle. He rubbed his hands and wanted to hold him in the food box. Then he heard Concubine De say, "Twelfth Prince, wait."

Upon hearing this, the twelfth prince quickly moved his hand away from the cradle. With some confusion, he looked at Concubine De and said, "Mother De?"

It was said to be a cradle, but because of this "monster" look, it scared the palace servants, and it was just a random package.

Concubine De took a small quilt with unknown clusters from the side, put it in the food box, took out a blanket, and handed it to the twelfth prince.

Seeing Concubine De like this, the twelfth Prince was moved when he thought of his three sons who died one after another. Although he still didn't dare to see the "monster" in the cradle, it also reduced a little fear.

If he hadn't been so terrifying, he would be the son of the emperor and his half-brother.

Thinking of this, his movements were much lighter, and he carefully placed the scrubbing in the food box. He took out the dagger from his waist and opened a ventilation hole on the side of the food box. The blanket was covered on the food box, which could cover the weak little life inside.

The newborn baby was left unattended for a day and night, and he thought he was extremely weak. He only screamed like a kitten when he was picked up, and then there was no movement.

Listening to this voice, the Twelfth Prince was hoping that the baby would die sooner. He just felt that he had no chance of being in this world. Otherwise, even if he could barely hold on for a few hours, he would be afraid that the result would be...

That night, Wei Zhu did not sleep well.

Yesterday, the twelfth prince came to meet him in a hurry. He didn't know what he said to the emperor. No one in front of the emperor was left, only father and son were left.

When the twelfth prince left, the emperor looked a little wrong, and even the concubine Wang who came to serve the medicine was scolded. Wei Zhu was used to seeing her expression, so he became more and more cautious.

Even so, Wei Zhu was found a mistake, and then there was fifty boards.

Fortunately, due to his accumulated power over the years, he has not completely lost power, and no one dares to offend him. These fifty boards have moisture and no damage to their muscles and bones, but this skin trauma is indispensable.

That night, Wei Zhu was thinking about why the emperor was angry and what taboo he had made. If he was working with the emperor, how could his life last forever if he didn't know this in his heart.

I filtered everything yesterday and finally fell on the Twelfth Prince.

He was still hesitating, otherwise he would ask for a confidant to find out what could happen to the Twelfth Prince, and then he heard the eunuch come to report it.

This little eunuch was also a member of the Qing Palace. He was Wei Zhu's disciple, named Changqing, fifteen or sixteen years old, and was the most clever. As for his master, Wei Zhu's disciple, he died of "acute illness" two years ago.

The Twelfth Prince came to the palace. When the Emperor of the Imperial Palace saw him, he didn't know what was wrong, which made the emperor angry. The emperor had already issued an order to arrest him. It seemed that there was also a prophecy from the imperial doctor. Some said that the Twelfth Prince had blood stains on his body, and some said that the Emperor wanted a brazier and didn't know what to burn.

The more Wei Zhu heard it, the more frightened he became. The curiosity that arose in his heart had long been blocked.

He had been working in the palace for many years, so he naturally knew what he could inquire about and what he could not.

Thinking of this, Wei Zhu was already stern and said, "Xiao Qingzi, you only got the medicine for grandpa this morning. You are waiting for grandpa's house for other kung fu, so remember!"

Changqing did go out in the morning under the name of helping Wei Zhu get medicine.

Chang Qing hesitated for a moment and whispered: "Grandpa, although the grandson is avoiding people, Mr. Zeng has just come down from the imperial court. I don't know if I see my grandson."

The "Uncle Zeng" he mentioned was Wei Zhu's other disciple, Zeng Quan, who was also a member of the Qing Dynasty. He was no older than Changqing, but he was not as clever and sleek as Changqing, so he was not as decent as Changqing in front of Wei Zhu.

Wei Zhu glanced at him, picked the corner of her mouth, and said, "He doesn't know how to say it, it's okay."

Chang Qing felt discouraged when he heard this. He wanted to say a few more words, but he felt that the Master's eyes were shocking, as if he had seen through him. He responded embarrassedly and drooped his head, "It's noon, my grandson will go to get medicine for his parents."

Wei Zhu had closed her eyes and waved her hand when she heard this.

After Changqing stepped out, Wei Zhu opened her eyes, snorted coldly, and whispered: "Monkey, you know you have eye drops before you have grown your hair..."

Even though Cao Yong was thinking about Prince Sixteen, he knew that it would never be a trivial matter to get Prince Sixteen to do this. Prince Sixteen did not allow him to enter the palace to explore the disease, so he would not want to trek into the palace and avoid attracting others' hatred.

Cao Yong was not a troublesome person, so the next day he made a special trip to call Cao Song and explained it to him. He told him to be cautious in his words and actions in the palace and not to go to the Sixteenth Prince.

Although Cao Song did not understand the profound meaning, since it was my brother's advice, he nodded and agreed.

The Empress Dowager "Qi Qi" has passed, but it is not yet the funeral date, and the funeral in the palace is still underway.

There was no leader in the twelfth prince, nor the sixteenth prince in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. These trivial matters fell on Dong Dianbang and Yiduli.

The two of them were so busy that they could not find out about the situation of the two princes. They could vaguely hear all kinds of rumors, which made them feel uneasy.

Fortunately, the Ministry of Rites had already ruled in the country's funeral, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs was responsible for the relevant trivial matters. Therefore, the two of them did not make any major mistakes.

Until the sixth day of the second month, all the rumors before seemed to be increasingly visible.

Three things were: the prince was born in the first day of the harem, and he died on the same day and was not named; the sixteenth prince was in charge of the funeral, exhausted and weak, and fell down, but fortunately he was not seriously injured; the twelfth prince "lost his etiquette" in front of the imperial court and "confinement" in the palace.

This is said in public, and in private, that is, the Sixteenth Prince disobeyed Concubine Yi and Concubine De for some reason, causing trouble; the Twelfth Prince said that the Empress Dowager made a mistake in the funeral of the Empress Dowager, which made the emperor angry.

No matter the truth or lies, if you say too much, you will trust more people.

There is another news that not many people know, that is, on the second day of the second month, the palace dealt with several eunuchs. When Cao Yong heard the news, the first thing he thought of was Wei Zhu.

To be with the king is like being with a tiger. This sentence is not only necessary to remember the court officials, but also the eunuchs around the emperor. Because they were close to serve, they saw and heard more than others.

When Cao Yong heard that Wei Zhu was just beaten and his life was fine, he felt relieved. He didn't date many times over the years, but the two had developed a tacit understanding. In addition to making use of him, Cao Yong also had some old love.

The Sixteenth Prince also made news that Cao Yong's little dynasty would come to the palace after the meeting.

This day was the little day of the court. Cao Yong followed the nine ministers of Manchu and Han to Tangquan Palace. Among them, there was also a wish for peace. Since last month, "please establish the crown prince", it has been a few months since the past, and there has been no reply, and there has been no news from the emperor that he has seen the court officials. Many people are unsure.

Kangxi did not show up, but only asked Wei Zhu to hold the handwriting and read it in public.

Among them, I did not hide my condition like before. I told the truth that I was "hard to walk" due to foot pain, and my government affairs were slow to handle, and the accumulation was increasing. I also mentioned that "a few illegal bandits had punished those who were exempted from death, discovered my illness, formed a clique with them, and planned to release the second prince." I also mentioned that "there are still many traitors."

Everyone could only kneel down and listen. Kangxi had already reached this point. If anyone dared to "discuss the appointment of a crown prince" at this time, they would probably have to consider their own weight and whether they could afford to be the "discreet minister".

In his heart, Cao Yong looked down on those ministers who were "worrying for the country" and "sharing the worries for the king".

How many of these people who are clamoring to become the crown prince have no selfish intentions?

Perhaps only a nerd like Zhu Tianbao, who read too much books on sages, believes that there is a difference between legitimate and illegitimate illegitimate. The legitimate prince produced by the Yuan Dynasty was a well-deserved candidate for the throne. Even if others think about it, they are unfaithful and unfilial. Even if the second prince was deposed twice and was banned in Xianyang Palace, they were framed by villains.

No matter what, Cao Yong was not interested in interfering, and with his current official resume, he was not qualified to interfere.

It was already afternoon when I returned to the city. Cao Yong thought about the Sixteenth Prince's side, and did not return to the yamen, so he went directly to the palace to go to the prince's house.

There was someone on the side of the Sixteenth Prince, and the 14th Prince came. The Sixteenth Prince wrapped his head, put on his clothes, tilted his couch, and talked with him.

The palace rules are that the kang starts to turn off on the first day of the second month, and even if there are a few charcoal basins in the house, it is difficult to reduce the coldness.

Cao Yong went in and was bound to greet him.

Although the Ninth Prince was not lukewarm, he had no intention of being tit-for-tat; the Fourteenth Prince was much warmer and said with a smile: "I'd better rush and never stop all the way. I just arrived in the palace. Cao Yong, you are a civil servant. If you can come back so quickly, it seems that you are in a hurry to see your sixteenth brother, and it's hard for you to have such a heart."

"If you are the master, you will be sent back from the palace. The emperor has already encircled the examiner of the examination." Dai Jin bowed and said.

"Well, who?" the fourth prince continued.

"The chief examiner is Zhang Pengheng, Minister of Personnel, and Zhao Shenqiao, Minister of Revenue, Deputy examiner is Li Huazhi, Left Minister of Justice of the Ministry of Justice, and Wang Yi, Right Minister of Works, and Deputy examiner." Dai Jin replied.

When the fourth prince heard this, he couldn't help but frown.
Chapter completed!