Happy Spring Every Year

Lady Anyang raised her head and burst into tears.

"Mom, I have no other choice. If this plan fails, I can only go down to see Xun'er and confess to him."

"lady!"

Upon hearing this, Mother An's face turned pale and she hurried forward to comfort him, "Madam, please don't say such things. You are going to make me so heartbroken."

Upon hearing this, Lady Anyang cried even harder.

Over the past ten years, everyone thought she was insane, but only Mother An always believed in her and stayed with her.

"Mom, whether it's true or not, I have to try it, even if it's just to let me talk to Xun'er, just to say a few words..."

Lady Anyang stroked the paulownia doll in her hand, repeating the last sentence over and over again, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably, and her persistent look made her look as if she was "possessed by a demon."

When Mother An saw this, her gaze fell on the gray head of Lady Anyang. There was pity and guilt in her eyes, but they were quickly replaced by greed.

The Lady of Anyang slowly stood up, her steps slightly unsteady, and stared intently at the sun setting outside.

According to the monk, all he had to dot the eyes of the paulownia tree with red ink, then paste Xun'er's birth date and time on it, and finally add a drop of her mother's fingertip blood, was to drive away the evil spirit.

When her thoughts reached this point, Lady Anyang couldn't help but shake.

“Mother…Mother…Mother…”

He was so restrained. No matter how she beat or scolded him, he always looked calm and called her mother softly.

Over the years, she has tried countless methods.

They made him drink talisman water, immersed him in a cage, and even invited a witch to exorcise ghosts, who whipped him repeatedly with a wet whip.

No matter how tortured he was, he still called her mother after opening his eyes.

That time, he was beaten to death by the whip. She grabbed him and shook him, crying and asking him why he refused to lie to her.

If he said that he was Xun'er, she might soften her heart and learn to deceive herself.

But he was so stubborn and refused to say a word against his will.

Tears rolled down Lady Anyang's cheeks as she murmured, "Evil Spirit, he is the evil spirit."

She didn't need to be soft-hearted, he was just an evil spirit that had taken over Xun'er's body...

"Madam, the time is almost up."

At this time, Mother An came forward and gave a gentle reminder.

That year, Jiang Xun had a high fever for three days and woke up at the beginning of the evening on the third day. According to the monk, the "evil spirit" took over Jiang Xun's body at that time.

Therefore, when performing the ritual today, the eyes of the doll must be painted at the beginning of the You hour.

Upon hearing this, Lady Anyang shuddered all over, clenched the doll tightly in her hand, and pressed it against her chest.

After standing there for a moment, she finally nodded.

----

Today is the anniversary of the death of Crown Prince Xianhuai. Emperor Sheng set up a table in the Qin'an Hall to offer sacrifices in person. Jiang Xun was by his side, and all the members of the royal family were present.

Zhao Yuanye stood beside Emperor Sheng, holding his grandfather's hand tightly, his eyes red.

Emperor Sheng is already forty-five years old. He is tall and his posture is still as straight as a pine tree. Although there are some traces of time on his face, it adds to his imperial majesty.

At this moment, tears welled up in his eyes and his face was full of grief.

Emperor Sheng had three sons. Crown Prince Xianhuai was gentle but weak. His Royal Highness Prince Xiang looked more like his biological mother, Concubine Chun, with delicate eyebrows and eyes. On the contrary, His Royal Highness Prince Rui was the most similar to Emperor Sheng.

At this time, King Rui was going up to burn incense.

He was dressed in plain clothes, his long black hair tied up high with a white jade crown. When he looked up, his eyes were slightly red, and he called out softly: "Big Brother..."

When Prince Xianhuai was alive, the three brothers were always in harmony, at least that was the view of outsiders.

Privately, Prince Xiang and Prince Rui always called Prince Xianhuai "Big Brother" instead of "Royal Brother".

When Emperor Sheng heard his second son's murmur, his eyes became more sore. To this day, he still often dreams of Huaiji.

Zhao Huaiji, this is the name of Prince Xianhuai, carrying Emperor Sheng's infinite expectations for him.

Sadness spread in the hall. At this moment, the chief eunuch Deshun looked anxious and peeked outside the hall.

Jiang Xun stood aside and soon noticed the strangeness of Eunuch Deshun. A cold light flashed in his eyes, and he knew that he had finally arrived.

That person didn't even want to let go of the prince who had passed away long ago, and he chose today as expected!

Thinking of this, his eyes swept across the entire room indifferently, but the sadness on everyone's face in the hall was just right, and there was no flaw to be seen.

Eunuch Deshun was anxious. He received a report from the front that Censor Zhang had come with a letter requesting a meeting, saying that there was an extremely urgent matter and he must see the emperor.

He has served His Majesty for more than thirty years and knows His Majesty's temper best. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is so important in His Majesty's heart that even he dare not disturb His Majesty at this time.

Eunuch Deshun felt embarrassed and suddenly met Jiang Xun's gaze at this moment.

He was suddenly delighted and quickly bowed and gave Jiang Xun a look.

Lord Jiang is a new upstart in the court. His Majesty admires Lord Jiang very much. Also, because His Royal Highness the Crown Prince repeatedly praised Lord Jiang in front of His Majesty in the past, His Majesty has valued Lord Jiang more and more over the years.

If we can get help from Lord Jiang, perhaps the emperor will not be angry.

Just as Eunuch Deshun was thinking this, another young eunuch suddenly came hurriedly, with an anxious look on his face, and whispered something into his ear.

When Eunuch Deshun heard this, his face changed and he was immediately frightened.

It turned out that Censor Zhang had waited too long and asked someone to report back, saying that the person he wanted to impeach was none other than Lord Jiang Xun, and that the matter involved Crown Prince Xianhuai!

Eunuch Deshun immediately sensed something unusual and dared not delay any longer. He tiptoed into the hall, walked to the side of Emperor Sheng, and whispered in his ear.

Everyone in the hall was drawn to him. Even Zhao Yuanye raised his head and looked at his grandfather with a puzzled look.

He was still young, and at this moment he shook Emperor Sheng's hand and asked in confusion, "Grandpa Emperor, what's wrong?"

At this moment, Emperor Sheng turned his head and glanced at Jiang Xun.

----

"The Emperor has given his orders, all outsiders, please retreat immediately!"

A team of imperial guards, dressed in bright armor and holding weapons, galloped past Chengtian Street with a sound like a loud bell.

"Back off! Back off!"

The pedestrians on the street panicked and dodged to the sides. Some people in the shops stuck their heads out when they heard the sound, but then shrank back with a look of horror on their faces.

The Royal Guards had murderous expressions on their faces and disappeared around the corner of the street in an instant, leaving only dust on the ground.

Everyone was shocked and looked at each other. Soon someone brought back the news that the Imperial Guards had surrounded the Anyang Earl's Mansion on Jingtian Street!

If you mention the Anyang Marquis' Mansion, many people don't know it, but when they hear the name Jiang Xun, everyone suddenly understands it.

It turned out to be the home of Lord Jiang, the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple!

The Imperial Guards surrounded the palace on the emperor's orders, and they came with great force. Could something have happened to Lord Jiang?

The Earl of Anyang bought a lot of cakes and pastries, and then went to Baohuaxuan to pick out a hairpin. Now he was sitting in a carriage, and he could reach the Earl's Mansion by just turning a corner.

He was playing with the newly bought hairpin in his hand, and pretended to be nonchalant as he said:

"After you go back, send someone else... No, Fugui, you go in person and deliver some cakes to the Lin residence. That kid can take them if he wants!"

"This hairpin...just send it to the West Courtyard along with the cakes, and don't say I bought it—"

"Master...Master..."

Fugui suddenly turned around and lifted the curtain of the car, his face full of panic.

The Earl of Anyang frowned, and before he could open his mouth to teach Fugui a lesson, he saw the imperial guards standing solemnly with swords in hand at the door of the Earl's mansion out of the corner of his eye.

His eyes widened, the blood drained from his face in an instant, and the hairpin in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.