Concubine, don't flirt: His Royal Highness is hiding something

"Ah Qi, how could you be so rude to your husband?"

Nangong Yan didn't come here alone, behind him stood Queen Nanzhao.At this moment, she was looking at Yu Qiqi with a straight face.

Her face that was full of vigilance a moment ago disappeared instantly, and she walked towards her queen mother with laughter and laughter, "Aniang, why did you come here with His Highness?"

"His Royal Highness was summoned by me. It's time for dinner, why are you still sleeping?" Queen Nanzhao treats her not harshly on weekdays, but now that Nangongyan is here, she must Show the majesty that a queen should have.

"Today my daughter came back after going out for a walk with her mother, and felt very sleepy, so she accidentally fell asleep." Yu Qiqi pursed her lips, not daring to look directly at her.

She frowned, "I'm still holding an animal in my arms, what's the point?!"

Hearing this, Yu Qiqi hurriedly put Ah Huang down and let him obediently enter the cage.

Afterwards, Empress Nanzhao's expression eased a little, she turned her face to Nangong Yan and said, "Your Highness, I made you laugh."

"It's not the first time he's seen me like this..." Yu Qiqi muttered, but she didn't dare to speak too loudly.

When Queen Nanzhao heard this, she turned around and gave her a hard look, and she immediately shut up.

Nangong Yan smiled, "Qiqi and I have stayed in the Eastern Palace for so long, and I have already seen all these things." There was relief in her words, as if she was very familiar with her.

"Really?..." This time, it was the Nanzhao Empress's turn to lose her face.

Not long after, the dinner was served, Queen Nanzhao and Nangong Yan ate well, but Yu Qiqi couldn't sit still, so she used it up in a few minutes.

Empress Nanzhao saw her embarrassment and didn't say much.

After dinner together, before she could say a few words to Nangong Yan, Yu Qiqi found a reason to drive him away.

He said that he was tired after walking around the palace today, and he should go back to rest earlier, if she didn't let him go, it would be her fault, so he had to put a smile on his face and let Nangong Yan go back first.

"What's the matter with you? Isn't it okay to be outside during the day?" After he left, Empress Nanzhao asked her.

Yu Qiqi took her hand and helped her to sit on the side of the soft bed. "Aniang, don't worry about your daughter. I'm on good terms with His Highness, but I'm really tired today, so I sent him away first, otherwise he will be arguing and clinging to me on weekdays!"

How could she tell her mother about her bitterness in the East Palace, so she can only boast that she has a good relationship with Nangong Yan, so that she can feel at ease.

Empress Nanzhao looked at her lovingly, with gentleness in her eyes, and it took her a while before she said, "Ah Qi, if you have suffered in the Eastern Palace, you can say it in front of A Niang. A Niang is crying in her arms, but if you don't say anything, A Niang will be really sad."

She doesn't want to hear other words, she just wants to hear her tell the truth.

Yu Qiqi was startled, and suddenly her eyelashes were stained with wetness, this subtle expression could not escape the eyes of Empress Nanzhao, "You are not a crying child, if you are really uncomfortable, you can cry. "She raised her hand, and the gentle palm touched the corner of her eye.

"Auntie..."

In an instant, Yu Qiqi threw herself into her arms.

Queen Nanzhao's brows and eyes loosened, she stretched out her hand to cover her back, and followed it gently. "Aniang knew that the East Palace in Yanjing is not so easy."

Although she had been married for more than a year, Nangong Yan saw that she was not very close to her.

"Actually, Your Highness, he doesn't like his daughter. He would marry her only because he was forced by his father." She faltered and said these words.

"Don't be afraid, although we have surrendered in battle, you still have me and your father supporting you, as well as your brothers."

Empress Nanzhao comforted her.

"Ah Qi knows that my father, mother and brothers are very concerned about me." Yu Qiqi was lying in the arms of Queen Nanzhao, you, tears glistening.

"Well, it's just that you are married to him, so you have to restrain yourself, and you can't blindly confront him. What men don't like the most is when their wives are hard on themselves. When it's time to be coquettish, you still have to act coquettishly." , you will spend your whole life in the East Palace."

She passed on her years of experience as a wife to her.

"However, brother Qing said that he will find a way to take me away from the East Palace, and I won't stay there for the rest of my life."

Yu Qiqi raised her head, there was still hope in her eyes, Yan Shiqing could always give her a sense of peace of mind, so she believed her words.

"Good boy, Auntie knows that Shiqing likes you, but you are His Royal Highness's man after all, no matter how capable he is, he can't beat His Royal Highness."

After all, her vision is more vicious. Although she only met Nangong Yan twice, Empress Nanzhao could tell that Nangong Yan was a person with a deep family background.

Therefore, the son of Concubine Xuanyu will naturally not be so bad.On the contrary, now that Nanzhao has become a war-surrendered country, and the Western Chu family is dominant, if Yanjing and Western Chu fight in the future, then according to Yanjing's strength, Yu Qiqi's chances of surviving safely in Yanjing will be even greater big.

But if he came back with Yan Shiqing, it might not be so.

"Why does Auntie have such admiration for him?" Yu Qiqi was puzzled. In her eyes, Nangong Yan was just like that, and she often treated her coldly. That's why she liked him.

"But I'm afraid that he will come..." Empress Nanzhao muttered, she didn't say all the words, she lowered her head, touched the back of her head, and smiled, "It's nothing."

Yu Qiqi blinked her eyes, and lay back in her arms again.

During the period when Nangong Yan accompanied Yu Qiqi back to Nanzhao, Yan Shiqing and Lin Chaofu quickened their pace, and when Nangong Yan came back, they asked Lord Lin Lao Hou to read him a book.

This time he is not in Yanjing City, it is the best time.

Many people in the court knew that Lord Lin was back, and the students he brought had visited him in private, and his prestige in the court was gradually established. Many people couldn't figure out why he suddenly returned to Yan. Beijing, but when I think about what happened back then, it gradually becomes clear again.

When he retired from his old age and returned to his hometown, he once said that as long as Nangong Yan sat on the throne for a day, he would never set foot in Yanjing City.Although there were few people who knew about it back then, as time went by, more people passed it on.The return this time is probably related to Nangong Yan.

On this day, Emperor Yan Jing and the ministers were going to the morning court when Lin Chaofu suddenly stood up from the ranks of ministers and said, "Report to the emperor, I have something to do with you."

Emperor Yan Jing was looking at the folder in his hand, and when he heard his voice, he raised his head, his eyes fell on him, and he said a word slowly, "Say."

It's really strange that Lord Lin Xiaohou, who never pays attention to the affairs of the government, has something to do with him.However, his eyes gradually turned cold.

"Weichen's grandfather recently returned to Yanjing City to avenge an old man from that year." Lin Chaofu lowered his head, his face calm and undisturbed.

Emperor Yan Jing's eyes froze, and he asked in a deep voice, "Which old friend?"

Lin Chaofu narrowed his eyes, "Xue Jingcheng, Old Prime Minister Xue."

"Presumptuous! Back then, he colluded with foreign ministers and deliberately plotted rebellion. It was a foregone conclusion. Where did he come from?!" Emperor Yan Jing patted the dragon table, and the name Lin Chaofu uttered annoyed him.

Immediately, Lin Chaofu knelt down on the ground, "Only the grandfather of the humble minister knows the inside story! I beg the emperor to let my grandfather come in for an audience!"

It stands to reason that Lin Lao Hou Ye has retired and returned to his hometown, so it is not appropriate to appear in the court.

"The case of Xue Jingcheng has been settled many years ago, and it is useless to call Lord Lin to come!" The flesh on Emperor Yan Jing's cheeks trembled slightly, and his whole face was gloomy.

The minister who had met Lin Laohou in private, saw that the two could not stand still, immediately knelt behind Lin Chaofu and interceded for him. "Your Majesty, Mr. Lin Lao Hou has been working hard for the Yanjing court all his life. It can be said that he has fulfilled his duties. When His Highness the Crown Prince ascended the throne, he hurriedly retired and returned home. There must be some inside story behind this!"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I beg your Majesty to let Old Master Lin go to court to see you!"

"I implore the emperor to let Lord Lin go up to the pilgrimage to see you!"

...

Several other ministers knelt behind Lin Chaofu and seconded the proposal one by one.

"You... are you trying to force me?" Emperor Yan Jing could tell that they were all courtiers who had been brought out by Lin Laohou. He didn't object to them wanting to trouble Nangong Yan, but he did. It is to dig out Xue Jingcheng's misfortune back then.

"Grandfather once threatened that if His Royal Highness was in power for one day, he would never set foot in Yanjing City. Now that he came back for the matter of Old Prime Minister Xue, it can be said that he values ​​love and righteousness. I hope the emperor can see that grandfather is so affectionate." For the sake of this, let him tell the inside story of that year!"

Lin Chaofu refused to give in, and knelt on the ground with his head buried low, but the words he spoke were resounding.

Facing down, nearly half of the courtiers had already knelt down. He should have called Old Master Lin to the palace when he learned that he was returning to Yanjing City. In this situation, they will not give up easily.

There was silence in the hall for a while, then he raised his eyes, glared at Lin Chaofu, and said sullenly, "Master Xuanlin!"

"Yes." The waiter at the side hurried down.

After a burst of summons, Lord Lin, wearing a straight black court dress and official hat, walked in calmly from outside the hall, "Old minister, see the emperor!" As soon as he walked to the court hall, he knelt down to Emperor Yan Jing Let's salute, this move is solemn and majestic, it must be a big move today.

"Old Hou, please get up."

Emperor Yan Jing spoke to him with a trace of respect, after all, he was the elder of the two dynasties.He still has to give the old officials who came down from the court the face in the court.

Master Lin nodded at him, and slowly stood up from the ground, "The old minister came here today to complain about Prime Minister Xue's grievances." Xue Jingcheng used to be his aide, and the two of them worked together for many years, and they were his good friends in court. , he appealed for him, but it was justified.

"I don't know, Xue Jingcheng's case has been settled for so many years, what evidence does Old Master Lin have in his hand, so he insists on overturning the case for him?"

Emperor Yan Jing had a sullen face, but there was a smile on the corner of his mouth, making it difficult to tell whether it was joy or anger.

"Back to the emperor, when the veteran resigned in a hurry, he insisted on resigning and returning to his hometown. In fact, he wanted to avoid being chased and killed." Master Lin raised his head slightly, his expression calm.

As soon as this remark came out, all the courtiers in court were in an uproar.

Emperor Yan Jing also frowned, "How do you say that?"

"Back then, Prime Minister Xue was accused of treason, but he was actually framed by someone. When the emperor ordered to punish Prime Minister Xue's family, he sent someone to find the old minister at the Lord Hou's mansion, and gave him something. Written in the blood on my body, word by word."

Old Lord Lin took out an old cloth strip from his cuff and presented it to the servant. He continued, "Later, someone chased him to Lord Hou's mansion, killed the person who came to inform him, and deliberately killed the old minister to silence him." , if the guards in the house hadn't come quickly, I'm afraid the old minister's life would have been gone long ago."

There was no trace of fear on his face, but more anger.Like him, Xue Jingcheng opposed Nangong Yan's ascension to the crown prince. He was framed, so he was naturally angry.

Hearing this, Emperor Yan Jing frowned even tighter. When he resigned, he only thought that he really felt that he was old, so he resigned.Looking at it now, the inside story is a bit scary.

With gloomy eyes, he asked, "Who sent the assassin?" At this time, the servant had already presented the blood book in front of him, and he opened the blood book and looked down.

After he saw half of it, Old Lord Lin said slowly, "I never imagined that the person I sent to chase after him was actually sent by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

This time, the uproar in the court hall was louder, and several courtiers were already pale with fright.

On the other side, the courtiers who supported Nangong Yan could no longer stand.Immediately stood up to accuse Lin Laohou, "As soon as Lao Hou came back, he came to the court to frame His Royal Highness, what is the intention?!"

"My lords, the old minister just exposed the true face of His Highness the Crown Prince, lest you support the wrong monarch in the future."

Lin Laohou turned around and smiled horribly.

"Back then, you opposed His Highness the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne. Now that His Highness the Crown Prince is not in Yanjing City, you take this opportunity to disrupt the court, and you will be punished!"

This point, all courtiers in the court can see it.

"That's right, what is the intention of the old Hou Ye?!"

"What's on your mind?!"

...

There was another commotion in the hall.

When the two sides were quarreling, Emperor Yan Jing had already read the blood book presented by Lin Laohou. The content on it was the words Xue Jingcheng appealed to him, and every word he said was touching. , He has worked hard for the court for many years.

One calamity, all of the prime minister's mansion was wiped out.

"shut up!"

After reading it, he patted the dragon table hard again, and the noise below fell silent, and they all lowered their heads and stood upright.

"I ask you, apart from Xue Jingcheng's bloody letter, what other evidence do you have to prove that what he said is true?" Emperor Yan Jing's hand holding the bloody book was tight, and his fingers were still trembling slightly.

The evidence above all points to Nangong Yan.

"Have."

Old Prime Minister Lin slammed the ground loudly, holding a purse in his hand, which contained the things that Emperor Yan Jing wanted.

Emperor Yan Jing's eyes were shocked, and all the courtiers below held their breath, watching him hand over the purse to Emperor Yan Jing's servants, especially the courtiers who supported Nangong Yan, they dared not show their anger. , Nangong Yan's position is very dangerous.

When the servant presented it to Emperor Yan Jing, his hand that was about to reach out froze for a moment. Finally, he took the purse abruptly and poured the contents onto the dragon table. There was a muffled "boom", and he He narrowed his eyes and saw that it was the jade ring finger that he gave Nangong Yan when he was seven years old!He remembers the carved dragon pattern on it most clearly!

Although he was dissatisfied with Concubine Xuanyu fighting for power and power for him, that was also his son, and he loved it when he was a child, and as the eldest son, the things he gave him were naturally more noble. This jade finger, he died in Xuanyu In that year, I never saw him wearing it!

And that year, Xue Jingcheng's family also had their entire family executed for the crime of treason!

"This is what Prime Minister Xue asked the informer to hand over to the old minister. For so many years, the old minister has been carrying it with him!"

Lin Laohou spoke uprightly, with a stern look on his face.

Emperor Yan Jing held the jade wrench tightly in his hand, with a serious expression on his face.He didn't say a word.

He continued: "Your Majesty, when Concubine Xuanyu's family was imprisoned, it was her own fault, but His Royal Highness, because of personal hatred, charged such a big crime on Prime Minister Xue, just to avenge Concubine Xuanyu's family. Tiilei, how can I be worthy of the crown prince?!"

What he implied was to let him dethrone the prince!

Immediately, the gang of courtiers who supported Nangong Yan were all terrified.If they lost the backing of Nangong Yan, their official positions would be lost.

After a long time, Emperor Yan Jing spoke slowly, "Now that the crown prince is not in Yanjing, I will carefully consider this matter."

Xue Jingcheng's case was settled by him all those years ago, and now Mr. Lin is going to overturn the case, so he is slapping him in the face by overturning the case.

"Your Majesty! The evidence for this matter is conclusive. You can't shelve this matter just because His Highness the Crown Prince is not in Beijing. You can send someone to bring His Highness back and confront the old minister in person!"

Lin Laohou was filled with righteous indignation, he knew what Emperor Yan Jing meant, he just wanted to slow down the matter for a while, and he would bring it out when there was a turning point, by then, the day lily would probably be cold.

"The prince is going to Nanzhao. I personally appointed him to protect the concubine and go back to see her mother who is seriously ill. Could it be that his filial piety will not be given up by the old lord?" Obviously, Emperor Yanjing rejected his request. .

"emperor..."

For a while, Old Master Lin didn't dare to speak with his back straight as he did just now.

"It's just a matter of waiting for a few days. His Highness will deal with it when he comes back. Old Hou can't even wait for these few days, can he?"

Seeing that things had turned around, the courtiers who supported Nangong Yan immediately teased him.

"You guys!..." Old Master Lin glared at them.

Lin Chaofu tugged on his sleeve quietly, and signaled with his eyes that he should stop arguing. Emperor Yan Jing's face was already extremely impatient, and the face he gave him was already big enough.

Lin Laohou was stunned for a moment, but lowered his head, "Old minister listens to the emperor."

this matter.That's the end of the curtain for the time being.

As soon as he stepped into the court hall, someone gave Nangong Yan the news secretly.

Not long after learning that Master Lin had come down from the court hall, Yan Shiqing quietly came to the mansion of Lord Hou. He still didn't know what was going on in the court hall.

When we got there, we only saw Lin Chaofu. As soon as Old Master Lin came back, he lay down on the bed. He was already old, and he had been fighting in the court for a long time. His body could no longer bear it.

Upon seeing Yan Shiqing, Lin Chaofu shook his head, and slowly uttered two words, "It didn't work."

Yan Shiqing's eyes dimmed immediately, and after thinking for a moment, he said: "It seems that Emperor Yan Jing still protects his son."

Otherwise, framing the current prime minister for the crime of treason would be enough to drag him down from the position of prince.

Lin Chaofu shook his head again, "You don't know him well enough, what our emperor loves the most is his own face."

"You mean, he didn't want to find out the case back then because he was afraid of hitting himself in the face?" Yan Shiqing narrowed his eyes, his face was full of shock.

Lin Chaofu nodded.

"Grandpa is asleep."

At this time, Lin Chaoge came out of the house and ran into two people who were talking on the corridor.

"I'm really sorry I couldn't take a look at Lin Laohou in person." Yan Shiqing nodded towards the two of them.

Lin Chaoge's eyes darkened, and he looked at them with worry on his face, "Brother, can you tell Geer, what are you doing? Why is grandfather so tired after going to court once?" She was worried about Lin Lao Lord Hou, he asked what he hadn't asked all along.

Lin Chaofu's face froze, and he only smiled to comfort her, "It's okay, my grandfather came back this time to avenge an old friend. The emperor didn't want to find out the case back then, so he scolded his grandfather twice."

"Since it is to avenge an old friend, why is Shizi Yan here?" She pursed her lips and asked in a low voice.

Yan Shiqing looked troubled, and his eyes were filled with embarrassment, "I admire the reputation of Lord Lin, so the number of visits has become more frequent in the past few days. If Miss Lin is disturbed, I will come less in the future."

Lin Chaoge immediately denied, "No, that's not what I mean, I just feel that you guys seem to be hiding something from me..."

"Ge'er, you're overthinking. Ever since you were a child, when has my brother lied to you?" Lin Chaofu grabbed her in front of him and took her down.

Afterwards, he turned his head and gave Yan Shiqing a look, and Yan Shiqing hurriedly turned and left.

Three days later, Nangong Yan received a message from courtiers, they told him not to rush back to Yanjing, but to stay in Nanzhao for a while.

It is said that Lin Laohou came back and participated in him in the court. It turned over the old case of Xue Jingcheng's rebellion, whether it was the blood book written by Xue Jingcheng himself, or the jade wrench handed in by Lin Laohou. All the evidence pointed to him, Lin Lao Hou Ye wanted to use Xue Jingcheng's case to let Emperor Yan Jing depose the crown prince.

"Damn it!"

Nangong Yan clenched his fists, and said these two words bitterly again.The guard who delivered the message was frightened by his anger, and hurriedly retreated.

Chu Peiyu looked at his receding figure, and then turned his gaze back to look at him, "Your Highness, it seems that Lord Lin has never planned to let you go. Moreover, it is better to take advantage of you when you are not in Yanjing City." Do it."

"I said why my jade ring finger disappeared back then. It turns out that he still has this hand." Nangong Yan sneered, his eyes were gloomy.

"Then shall we rush back?" Chu Peiyu felt a little worried.

He stopped it immediately, "No, His Highness wants to see what other tricks he can come up with."

"Um."

Chu Peiyu nodded slightly.

Outside, there was a sound of light footsteps and A Jian's muttering.

"Is Your Highness inside?" Yu Qiqi asked Chu Peiyu outside the door.

"Your Highness is inside." He replied softly.

"My queen asked me to bring it to you."

The next moment, Yu Qiqi had already arrived in his bedroom, and handed him a plate of pomegranates, full of grains, all of which were peeled by her.

It was already July at that time, and the pomegranate trees planted in her pomegranate garden were full of fruits.

She remembered that he didn't like sweet things, but since it was her mother who asked her to ease the relationship with Nangong Yan, she came up with such a way.

"I don't like to eat sweet things." As she thought, he said it the next moment.

However, Nangong Yan suddenly looked at her hand, and asked quietly, "You peeled this?" There was still a trace of stains on her fingers.

Yu Qiqi nodded, "I peeled it off."

"Then stay, I can't disappoint the princess's wishes." He immediately changed his words, and his attitude changed very quickly.

For a moment, Yu Qiqi's expression also changed. She clenched her hands, tightened them and then loosened them, and said with a smile: "Then His Highness must finish eating, don't let it go to waste."

"good."

He smiled and agreed.

Once out of his dormitory, not only Yu Qiqi, but also Ah Jian wanted to cry, but she still held her face and said, "Princess, my servant will pick it for you again."

In order to pick it for Nangong Yan, she had already climbed the tree all morning, and Yu Qiqi still fooled her, Nangong Yan didn't know how to eat it, and the two of them would separate when the time came, who would have thought that everything would not be as she expected like that.

"Good Ajian, this is what the queen mother meant. If you want to blame it, blame the queen mother." Yu Qiqi smiled. The pomegranates on the tree are very difficult to pick, and the little eunuchs in the palace are not willing to climb on the pomegranates. To pluck the tree, only Ah Jian can be at her disposal.

A Jian's complexion changed immediately, "How dare I blame the empress, my maidservant."

"That's it."

Yu Qiqi smiled and dragged her to the pomegranate garden.

For several days in a row, the court hall in Yanjing was extremely noisy, all arguing about the old case of Xue Jingcheng's rebellion, one sided with Lin Laohou, and the other sided with Nangongyan.

Emperor Yan Jing's head was about to be blown up by them.

Just as he was frowning in the imperial study, Concubine Yi came in from the outside, holding a bowl of soup in her hand, saying that she was going to make up for Emperor Yan Jing.

"Boom!"

With a wave of his hand, the soup in Concubine Yi's hand fell to the ground, splashing all over the floor.

"What is the emperor doing? Are you still afraid that your concubine will poison you?" Concubine Yi asked him with a cold look in her eyes.

"Are you here to see my joke?" Suddenly, Emperor Yan Jing raised his head and looked at her with vicious eyes, which made her feel a chill in her heart.

"That's not enough. When Xue Jingcheng's case is really overturned, then the concubine will really come to see your joke."

Concubine Yi covered her lips and laughed wildly.