Xianfu Palace has a Buddhist hall in the side hall.
Concubine Duan was kneeling on the futon, banging wooden fish in her hand and reading scriptures.
Since the zombie outbreak, she has made a new rule, chanting sutras for half an hour every day.
The purpose of chanting sutras is to pray for Zhao Yanxun, who is far away in Longyou, and to pray to the Buddha to protect his son's safety.
In the past, Concubine Duan would always remain calm when doing this, and half an hour would pass quickly.
But today, she couldn't calm down, but she still knelt on the futon seriously.
At this moment, Lingsu appeared outside the Buddhist hall and wanted to report the situation, but did not dare to disturb Concubine Duan.
The sound of wooden fish suddenly stopped, and Concubine Duan's voice was heard from inside the Buddhist hall.
"What's up?"
"Mother, something big has happened!"
"What's the matter?"
"Just now, my servant heard outside that something happened to the prince, and everyone from the hospital rushed over!"
After hearing this, Concubine Duan said: "The prince is the foundation of the country. If he gets sick, the people in the imperial hospital will be overly concerned, but it is not surprising!"
"Yes!" Lingsu didn't say much.
But she was very confused at the moment and felt strange about Concubine Duan's reaction. She always felt that something was wrong.
"Don't bother me to pray for my son due to such trivial matters as the prince's illness. Please step aside!"
Lingsu nodded. Concubine Duan's back was facing her at the moment, so she couldn't see her expression clearly.
After Lingsu left, the silence inside and outside the Buddhist hall returned, and Concubine Duan was the only one here.
As long as you stand where the Buddha statue is, you can see the smile on Concubine Duan's lips.
Then the sound of wooden fish and chanting began again, and it was still an ordinary day for Concubine Duan.
Outside the palace, in the study room of Uncle Tao Yang's back house, Uncle Tao Yang, Cao Jiasheng, was sitting on a chair.
Although he was holding a book in his hand, he was in a daze at the moment and didn't know what he was thinking about.
All the servants and maids serving in the study were driven out by him, and he was the only one here.
I don't know how long it took, but the sound of footsteps outside the study made Cao Jiasheng put away his books and glanced towards the door.
The person who came in from the door was a young man, Cao Yunhui, the eldest son of Cao Jiasheng.
After entering the door, just as Cao Yunhui turned around to close the door, Cao Jiasheng said: "Don't close the door!"
Upon hearing this, Cao Yunhui paused, and then he understood the deeper meaning of the words.
Then he walked straight to Cao Jiasheng and whispered: "Dad, the matter has been settled!"
Cao Jiasheng's eyes were blazing and he said slowly: "You have to know that the lives of our whole family are at stake at this time. Think about it carefully... are there any omissions?"
Cao Yunhui couldn't help but smile bitterly. The assassination of the prince had nothing to do with the Cao family. They were just taking advantage of the situation. No matter how much they were investigated, they could not be found.
But unfortunately, his father is still more cautious and more cautious.
Of course, this is definitely not a bad thing, so Cao Yunhui found a chair and sat down, and then thought hard about it.
The two racked their brains and thought for a long time, but finally came up with nothing.
"From last night to now, my father has not even closed his eyes!" Cao Jiasheng sighed.
Picking up the teacup on the side, Cao Yunhui took a sip and said, "Dad, there are two things... my son doesn't understand!"
"you say!"
"Why do we have to do this kind of thing? If we refuse, no one can force us!" Cao Yunhui said with a gloomy face.
"Reject? Without your aunt's support, our family would not be what it is today. She can take back everything she can give to us!"
Speaking of this, Cao Jiaxun became more and more helpless and said: "Don't you still know who your aunt is? I'm really going to make her anxious. She doesn't even recognize her relatives!"
Hearing what his father said, Cao Yunhui could only nod helplessly. In fact, he was very afraid of Concubine Duan, so he wanted to encourage his father to "rebellion."
Sensing his son's thoughts, Cao Jiasheng added: "The things we have done over the years have offended many people... so we have no way out!"
There was no way out, so naturally he had no choice but to follow Concubine Duan.
"Why does Auntie have to do this?"
This is Cao Yunhui's second question, and Cao Jiasheng has also been thinking about it.
"Back then, the fourth prince died young, and now we don't know whether the ninth prince is alive or dead. Your aunt has hatred in her heart... a deep hatred!"
"You mean, aunt is just venting her anger?"
Cao Jiasheng nodded and said: "If we really allow the prince to ascend the throne, we will never end well. Your aunt is doing this... but she is not just venting her anger!"
After thinking carefully, Cao Yunhui said frankly: "We have no way out, and my aunt has no way out. Now this move... is to risk death and survive!"
"I hope she can find a way out, otherwise our whole family will be in catastrophe!" Cao Jiasheng sighed.
The Cao family has been walking a tightrope since they were granted the title of Uncle. When their father died, Cao Jiasheng took over, and now Cao Yunhui has also joined in.
Sometimes Cao Jiasheng thinks that it would not be a bad thing if he could give up his wealth and live an ordinary life.
It's a pity that I got on the boat of fighting for the power of the direct descendant, and it will be extremely difficult to get rid of it.
The study was quiet for a while, and then Cao Yunhui said: "I don't know if Third Uncle and the others have arrived in Longyou now!"
"I'm afraid your third uncle will be in trouble!" Cao Jiasheng was very pessimistic about this.
Going to Yuanyang by water means just sailing against the current. It’s nearly two thousand miles one way, and we don’t know how many dangers we will encounter along the way.
"Well, if my aunt hadn't forced Third Uncle to go, what would happen to Third Uncle's family..."
Before Cao Yunhui finished speaking, he was interrupted by Cao Jiaxun: "There is no need to talk about these things again!"
…………
The father and son of the Cao family were chatting here, but Xianfugui in the palace welcomed a distinguished guest at this moment.
When no one informed him, Emperor Zhao Yongcheng came to the outside of the Buddhist hall, where Concubine Duan was banging wooden fish and chanting sutras.
"Wonderful sound..."
Miaoyin is Concubine Duan's maiden name. No one has called her that for a long time, so the sound of wooden fish suddenly stopped.
Concubine Duan stood up quickly and saw the emperor outside the Buddhist hall.
After walking out of the Buddhist hall, Concubine Duan said with a smile: "Why is the emperor here? Why are you here so that no one can tell me? I am far away to greet you!"
Her smile was natural and her expression was full of joy.
But this time, the emperor was not infected by the smile, but sat on his chair.
While Concubine Duan was pouring tea, Zhao Yongcheng said calmly: "Something happened to the prince... did you know?"
Concubine Duan's action of pouring water did not stop. At this time, she had to hold tight, otherwise things would inevitably turn upside down, even as a beloved concubine.
"I just heard Lingsu say that everyone from the Imperial Hospital seems to have gone. What disease did the prince contract?" Concubine Duan handed the teacup to Zhao Yongcheng.
But Zhao Yongcheng did not answer, but stared into Concubine Duan's eyes and said: "I suspect...that someone wants to harm the prince!"
Concubine Duan was slightly startled. At this moment, huge waves were stirring in her heart, but she still had to maintain her calm appearance.
At this moment, there were only Concubine Duan and the Emperor in the room, and the scene was completely silent.
Looking at each other with Zhao Yongcheng, Concubine Duan said slowly: "Your Majesty...is he a suspicious concubine?"
Zhao Yongcheng's expression became more and more serious, and he asked in a deep voice: "Is it you?"
"That's right, I have always been unhappy with my concubine and the prince, so it's only natural for the emperor to be suspicious of my concubine!"
Speaking of this, Concubine Duan said firmly: "If I plead guilty, the emperor can give an explanation to the world, then it can be considered as my concubine's doing!"
"I'm asking if it's you?" Zhao Yongcheng banged the table and said angrily. This was the first time he had been so angry with Concubine Duan.
Concubine Duan was startled, but she still suppressed her inner anxiety and asked: "I said it was not the case. Do you believe it, Your Majesty?"
A good move is to retreat in order to advance. Concubine Duan understands the heart of the man in front of her better than anyone else.