Drunk Bamboo

As soon as Zhang Xinghe finished his court session, he went to Fu'an Palace in person.

Xun Shurui was already in the burned Bauhinia Garden.

When he saw Zhang Xinghe, he bowed and said, "Your Majesty has ordered the imperial soldiers to assist Lord Zhang in the investigation."

Zhang Xinghe had a serious face and looked solemnly around the burnt and messed up Bauhinia Garden.

"The fire near the rockery was particularly severe, and no trace of the mechanism can be seen. There is no trace of the snow lotus left. I checked it overnight last night. Has Commander Xun found anything today?"

Xun Shurui was not as surprised as he was last night. He just acted in a businesslike manner and said, "Master Zhang is a master investigator in the Ministry of Justice. If the scene has been inspected by Master Zhang, the imperial guards will naturally not be able to find anything."

Zhang Xinghe didn't ask any more questions and turned towards the Buddhist temple.

"The Buddhist temple was also the worst damaged. Let's go and take a look together."

The two of them walked into the Buddhist hall together. There was nothing in the hall and the fire was put out in time. Apart from being a little messy, only the curtains and the altar near the hall were burned, and everything else was fine.

Xun Shurui carefully inspected it again and said, "The temple is not big. There is only one Buddha statue in the temple. There is nothing else except the table and chairs."

Zhang Xinghe stood in front of the Buddha statue, looking at it carefully. "The maid Yue'er only burned these two places. She must have wanted to cover up something with the fire."

Xun Shurui understood immediately, "I'll have someone move the Buddha statue for a thorough inspection."

Zhang Xinghe didn't respond.

At this time, a tall figure appeared.

"Wuying, greetings to Lord Zhang and Commander Xun."

Wuying, the prince's bodyguard, only obeys the prince's orders.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has ordered me to ask if there is anything I can help you with? Or if you have found anything?"

Xun Shurui said nothing.

Zhang Xinghe said calmly, "Maybe I need the Queen's help. The maid Yue'er is dead, and I need all the information about this maid, including before she entered the palace."

"Yes, I will report this to Your Highness and ask the Queen to come forward."

Xun Shurui sent people to move the Buddha statue away, and before leaving Fu'an Palace, he looked at Zhang Xinghe again.

I really don't understand.

He seems to know everything, but he doesn't reveal it. He even dares to order the Empress Dowager around and is trusted by His Majesty.

This person is unfathomable.

Xun Shurui withdrew his gaze and planned to go to Qingning Palace to find Hua Qinfeng to report the situation.

……

Changle Palace

"Your Highness... Didn't Your Majesty forbid Your Highness to come to the palace to see her?"

Xuan'er chased after Hua Qinming, feeling a little uneasy.

Hua Qinming did not think much about it. He knew that his mother was strong-willed. Fu'an Palace was burned down for no reason, and her beloved Zijing Garden was destroyed. Now she was still living in the Queen's Palace. She must be extremely angry.

"I'm still a little worried about my mother, so I'll just take a look and leave."

Xuan Er stammered, "Your Highness... Gao Fengyu is checking the Queen's pulse."

"No need to report. I want to hear how my mother is doing."

Hua Qinming signaled Xuan'er not to follow him and walked into the main house.

Just as he was about to push open the door, he heard a conversation inside. He hesitated and stood there quietly.

It was the voice of Gao Yin and the Imperial Concubine.

"My lady, everything is ready, the plan can begin."

"The remaining Linhai Snow Lotus was burned. Are the refined ones enough?"

"Enough to send an entire city to hell."

"There can't be any mistakes this time. I want everyone dead."

Gao Yin said in a grim voice, "As long as Zhongdu becomes an empty city, Prince Jing will lead 100,000 generals to force the palace directly, and the queen and the prince will finally be reunited."

The Royal Concubine's tone was full of anticipation, "I have waited for so many years, and finally he succeeded in training his troops. Ten years, one hundred thousand private soldiers..."

Hua Qinming was stunned.

Prince Jing...

Force the emperor to abdicate...

Reunion...

It turns out that this is the reason why she doesn't love her father, the reason why she doesn't love him.

It turned out to be for another man!

It was not until today that Hua Qinming realized that he was just a puppet in the hands of his mother.

Xuan Er saw him coming out with a pale face and asked worriedly:

"My lord, what's wrong with you?"

"I'm relieved that mother is fine." He raised his eyes, a smile on his face, and gently held Xuan'er's hand. His voice was charming and pitiful, "Xuan'er, don't tell mother that I was here, lest she be unhappy and punish me again."

Xuan Er blushed and lowered her head, "Yes, I won't tell you. Your Majesty, don't worry."

Hua Qinming raised his head and his eyes immediately became cold.

He quickened his pace, trying desperately to get out of the oppressive palace walls.

When I returned to the palace, I felt like I was hollowed out.

Somehow he arrived at Biyao Garden.

"Get out, get out!"

He rarely lost his temper, and the servants all left.

Luo Qi put down her bowl and chopsticks and motioned Xiaolan to go out as well.

"Why did your Highness come back at this hour?"

Hua Qinming suddenly lay on Luo Qi's knees like a child.

"I don't want to be on duty today. I want to be willful for once."

Luo Qi was stunned.

I was nervous and scared and didn't dare to move.

"Your Majesty is tired. You should take a rest today and not be on duty."

Hua Qinming didn't say anything and just lay there.

Luo Qi has a faint fragrance and a natural gentleness and purity.

She is always gentle and her smile is always warm, which makes people feel comfortable.

She never asked too many questions or pestered him.

But as long as he turned around, she was always there, sitting there quietly embroidering, painting, playing the piano, reading...

"The ground is cold, lie down on the couch, it will be more comfortable."

Hua Qinming stood up obediently and let her support him as he walked to the couch.

He lay on the couch, his head still resting on Luo Qi's thighs.

His eyes were closed and his legs were bent.

When Luo Qi lowered her head, she could see his thin profile, unusually fair skin, and long eyelashes that looked like butterfly wings.

It is hard to imagine that a man as pure as a baby would beat Xiaozhan to death.

Maybe he really doesn't know.

Perhaps, it’s just that Nanny Li is strict in disciplining her servants.

She stroked his black hair gently and said softly, "My Lord, what happened? Or did you encounter something unhappy?"

"When I was little, I would eat sweet snacks whenever I was unhappy. Whenever my dad came home late, he would bring me some cakes. He knew that as long as I saw the cakes, I would not be angry and would smile."

"You are easily satisfied. You have a good relationship with Luo Xiang." Hua Qinming suddenly asked, "What kind of person is your mother?"

Luo Qi smiled, "My mother left early, but I know that she was a gentle and kind person. My father often said that when my mother followed him, he was just a poor scholar, and my mother had to wash clothes for others in winter to supplement the family income. But my mother never regretted it, and my father always felt sorry for her. But my father never let my mother down, and there was only my mother in his life."

"Since I was old enough to understand, my father has told me stories about my mother. Even though my mother has passed away, I still feel like she is by my side. Her portrait, her words and deeds seem to be engraved in my mind, as if she had grown up with me."

Hua Qinming slowly opened his eyes, "Your mother is so kind."

Luo Qi: "Father and mother love you very much, too."

His eyes suddenly became dull, and his tone was devoid of resentment, as if he had no soul. "Qier, don't believe them. Don't believe anyone in the palace."

Luo Qi suddenly understood, "So the prince didn't let outsiders know that I was pregnant. The prince was protecting me and the child."

Hua Qinming turned around and hugged her waist, "Qier, don't believe me, I'm not a good person."

Luo Qi opened her eyes wide.

A truly evil person will never admit that he is an evil person.

At this moment, a thought suddenly flashed through Luo Qi's mind. Even if he had done something terrible, it was not what he wanted.

She caressed his cold cheek tenderly, and felt even more heartbroken when she thought of the scars on his back that had accumulated over the years.

"My Lord, would you like some snack?"

He didn't refuse and took a light bite.

"Is it sweet?"

He looked up at Luo Qi.

"sweet."

"The prince doesn't like Zhongdu, so how about we go live in the prince's fiefdom?"

Luo Qi smiled and said, "Father favors the prince, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is kind and will not embarrass us."

Hua Qinming stared at her smiling face for a long time.

My heart was unusually calm.

"Okay, I'll think about it."