The Eternal Beauty of the City of Wealth

Three days later, Zixuan was going to the outskirts of Shangqiu for two days, and at night she teleported to Xianhe's side.

"Xianhe, I'm going to go play in the suburbs for a few days. Would you like to come with me?"

After hearing this, the crane flapped its wings vigorously and said, "Yes, yes!"

Good! Zixuan waved his hand, and the crane was immediately taken into the space.

The cranes looked at the strange and fresh environment and flew happily...

"City Lord Zixuan! Can I follow you from now on? I don't want to go back!"

“Even though I have delicious food and drinks, I don’t have freedom!”

"Your place is so nice, with beautiful scenery and fresh air. It's really a paradise!"

"That won't do. If the king knew I had stolen you away, he would be furious."

"If I don't go out, he won't know."

"Haha, little guy, how can you be so smart? Well, if I don't save you, you will be burned to death."

"Then you should stay in the space. By the way, do you have a name?"

The crane shook his head and said, "No, please give me one, my king."

"Okay! Are you a male or female crane?"

"Female."

"Well! Then you can be called Bai Ya."

"That's really awful. Well, you saved my life after all, so just keep singing along."

The next morning, Zixuan's motorcade slowly left the city and headed straight for the suburbs...

Seeing the convoy going away, several men hurried to Ji Zi's mansion.

When Ji Zi heard that Zixuan had left the city, he immediately ordered his subordinates to take action immediately if Zixuan did not come back at night.

In the middle of the night, several men in black sneaked into the palace.

Thanks to the crane's reminder, Duke Jing of Song had already made arrangements and there were many more guards patrolling than before.

The man in black was almost discovered several times on the way to Duke Jing of Song's bedroom.

After much difficulty, they reached the vicinity of the sleeping palace and saw that there were three layers of soldiers outside.

The torches lit up the entire bedroom as bright as day, and not even a fly could fly in, let alone a person.

A man in black said, "Brother, this mission is impossible to complete. Why don't we go back and report?"

The man shook his head: "Master said that if you don't complete the mission, you don't have to return alive!"

"Then! What should we do? Look at how heavily guarded Zi Luan's bedroom is. We'll be caught before we even get close!"

The man thought for a moment and said, "How about this? Let's set fire to the palace closest to Li Zi Luan."

"If the fire is big, it might spread over there and burn everything else."

"If we don't do this, it will be difficult for us to report back!"

A few people nodded. This was the only way for the time being, so they quietly went to the palace next door and got in through the window.

Pour the kerosene you brought with you on flammable items such as tables and tents.

He opened the fire and threw it up. In an instant, the fire engulfed the entire hall, and several people quickly fled the scene.

This palace was where the old concubine Song Boji lived, and she was sleeping at this moment.

Suddenly I felt a pain in my body and my throat was choked by the smoke and I was coughing.

When I opened my eyes and saw the fire, I was not afraid or anxious.

I have had enough of living, staying in this dark palace for years, doing nothing but eating and sleeping.

In addition, as people get older, they often feel pain here and there.

She has lost faith in life and wishes to die soon so as to escape the pain of being a human being.

The palace maids and servants in the hall were also awakened by the thick smoke, and when they saw the fire, they immediately screamed in fear.

They all ran out of the hall. The patrolling guards saw that the old concubine's palace was on fire and ran over shouting.

He only saw a group of maids, but no concubine, so he immediately ordered everyone to go in and look for her.

The maids and palace servants had no choice but to run back, but as soon as they entered the palace they were engulfed by flames.

The noise outside also woke up Duke Jing of Song: "Come here! What's going on outside? Why is it so noisy?"

A eunuch came running over in a panic: "Your Majesty! The palace where the old concubine lives is on fire!"

What? Zi Luan sat up in shock: "Quick, change my clothes!"

“Yes!” the eunuch agreed and tremblingly helped Ziluan put on his clothes.

Zi Luan ran out and saw that the fire was out of control.

The soldiers were still desperately pouring buckets of water into the hall, but it was no use.

Zi Luan looked around the crowd with a frightened look: "Where's the Concubine Dowager?"

A guard clasped his fists and said, "Your Majesty, the maidservants and the palace maids went in to rescue him, but he hasn't come out yet!"

What! At this moment, a fire man rushed out from the palace and plunged into the water tank.

The fire on his body was extinguished, and he climbed out of the jar. When he saw Duke Jing, he burst into tears:

"Your Majesty! The Concubine refused to come out and has passed away!"

After he finished speaking, his body tilted and he fainted. Zi Luan's body tilted and he almost fell down. The guards quickly supported him.

Then, he suddenly remembered something: "Quick! Go and see the crane!"

A guard came over and said with a sad face, "Your Majesty!"

"Because the Crane House was too close to the palace, it was also burned down!"

Ouch! Zi Luan slapped his thigh and said, "My beloved crane! It's gone just like that..."

Three days later, Zixuan returned to Shangqiu. He heard that there was a fire in the palace two days ago, so he hurried into the palace to find out what happened.

When Zi Luan saw Zi Xuan, tears immediately fell from his eyes: "Sister, the Concubine Dowager and the Crane are hiding in the sea of ​​fire!"

"It seems that the crane saved my life. If it hadn't reminded me, I might have been burned to death!"

Zixuan hurriedly comforted them, "The Concubine Dowager and the crane have passed away. The dead cannot be resurrected. Your Majesty, please accept your condolences."

As the two were chatting, a guard rushed in in a panic: "Your Majesty, Xiang Tu has been defeated and returned to the capital!"

What! Zi Luan stood up suddenly: "Xiang Tu was defeated? Where is he?"

"Your Majesty, I am waiting outside the palace."

"Let him in!"

"Yes! The king has ordered! Summon... Sima Xiangchui to come in..."

After he finished speaking, Xiang Tui walked in in a disheveled state. When he saw Zi Luan, he immediately knelt down and kowtowed:

"Your Majesty! I have failed to live up to your grace and have been defeated. I beg for your punishment!"

Zi Luan glanced at him and said, "My dear, you have been exhausted from the battle. Go back home and rest first!"

When Xiang Tui saw that the king did not blame him, he was delighted. He kowtowed to express his gratitude and went home happily to sleep.

After Xiang Tui left, Zi Luan asked Zi Xuan, "Sister, do you think I should punish Xiang Tui?"

To be honest, Zixuan really disliked Xiang Tui, because a few horses had caused discord between brothers and led to fighting.

Seeing Zi Luan asking her questions, she said seriously, "Xiang Tu should never be entrusted with important tasks again. If he is, the State of Song will suffer from him sooner or later."

Zi Luan nodded repeatedly: "My sister is right!"

The next day in the court, an imperial censor reported Xiang Tui.

He said that the prince's rebellion was caused by him, and now the country has suffered losses due to his defeat. He asked the king to punish him.

Zi Luan took advantage of the situation and immediately removed Xiang Tu from his position as Grand Marshal and replaced him with his brother Xiang Chao.