Fingers of crossing

At nightfall, the entire palace was silent, only the crows perched on the slanted branches, neighing hoarsely.

Under the cold moonlight, a phoenix chariot was slowly moving forward on the empty road, and the bright yellow palace lanterns stretched the shadow cast by the phoenix chariot obliquely, creating a silence and solemnity all over the place.

There are still candles flickering in Fengyi Palace, and the palace lanterns are fluttering with the wind in the night sky, shaking the silent light and shadow all over the place.

Yan Yilan stepped down from the phoenix chariot, and the night wind blew her ink-like long hair flying with the wind. She looked up at the magnificent palace gate in front of her in silence, and stopped for a long time without saying a word.It was obviously not a long journey from Yeting Prison to Fengyi Palace, but it seemed to have exhausted all her strength, as if it took a century.

Biyuan walked forward silently, first she looked at Yan Yilan respectfully, then looked at the unfathomable expression on her bright face uneasily, and said in a low voice: "Your Highness, let's go into the hall."

Yan Yilan didn't answer, she stepped into the palace, her aloof figure looked especially deserted at this moment.As Bi Yuan looked at her, she couldn't help feeling sour. Yan Yilan hadn't been this lonely for a long time, but now that the Crown Princess had left like this, I'm afraid there would be no one person or event in this palace that could make her happy anymore.

In the Shenyan Pavilion, Empress Ning was sitting under the lamp drinking tea, with a bright yellow imperial edict in her hand, seeing Yan Yilan walk in, her expression didn't change at all, she just raised her hand and said, "You're back?"

Yan Yilan's eyes narrowed slightly, although she was not surprised by Empress Ning's uninvited visit, she definitely didn't feel very happy.Her eyes fell, and she looked at the imperial edict in Empress Ning's hand. The expression on her face changed with the flickering lights, making her more and more unpredictable.

Of course Yan Yilan knew the imperial edict, the bright yellow silk cloth recorded verbatim the crimes committed by Jiang Ningzui, just waiting for her to stamp the seal of the country and announce it to the world tomorrow. There is no chance of redemption.Jiang Ningzui will leave the palace under the guise of guilt, shed her former status, and become an ordinary woman from now on, living an ordinary but comfortable life.

Empress Ning naturally knew this well, she tapped the edict lightly with her fingertips coated with Kodan, then looked up at Yan Yilan, closed her eyes and smiled: "Do you know why the Ai family came tonight?"

"The mother hasn't asked about the affairs of the court for a long time, but recently she has been concerned about it frequently." Yan Yilan said, looking at the imperial edict in Queen Ning's hand calmly, and said with a smile: "I don't know if it's because the minister is incompetent and unable to govern well. Why is this country causing the empress to be so worried about state affairs?"

Hearing the displeasure in Yan Yilan's words, Empress Ning didn't care, she slowly sipped her tea, stretched her brows, and said, "You don't have to worry about the eldest princess's ability, but the eldest princess shoulders it alone. Dayan has been in charge for too long, and Ai's family is really worried, so I thought, it's time to choose some people to share the worries of the eldest princess."

Yan Yilan took a look at Empress Ning, and said, "When the crown prince is able to control the entire face in the future, he will naturally be relieved of the heavy responsibility of the son-in-law."

"It's a pity that when the crown prince ascends the throne in the future, there will always be a queen mother to honor the world. If there is no one in the harem to preside over the overall situation, how can the prince be able to benefit the world with peace of mind?" As she said, Empress Ning kept looking at Yan Yilan. , turned to the bright yellow silk cloth in his hand, and said: "This time, Aijia deliberately gave Jiang Ningzui a choice in the matter of the eldest princess. One is for the eldest princess, and the other is to borrow This is an opportunity to test her. There are many smart people in this palace, but there are very few people like her who can see the situation clearly and know how to weigh the pros and cons. The Ai family can see that being intoxicated with this child is indeed She's the perfect choice for a queen."

"You don't need to talk about the queen mother." Yan Yilan sat down with her sleeves brushed, her enchanting phoenix eyes were full of cold and sharp eyes at this moment, and every word she said was filled with murderous intent. "My son has already decided to expel Ning Zui from the palace. How can a person who has committed a crime sit on the throne of queen?"

When Empress Ning heard the words, she took a deep look at Yan Yilan with her calm eyes, and gradually understood in her heart.When she heard that Yan Yilan was going to chase Jiang Ningzui out of the palace, she still had a lot of puzzles in her heart. Even though outsiders could not understand the significance of Jiang Ningzui to Yan Yilan, she was a mother. She could see it clearly, so she still couldn't understand why Yan Yilan insisted on sending Jiang Ning out of the palace drunk.

Until this moment, she finally understood.I am afraid that Yan Yilan guessed her thoughts from the beginning, guessed that she intended to make Jiang Ningzui queen, so she overwhelmed the public opinion, even disregarding Jiang Ningzui's feelings, she insisted on escorting her out of the palace and away from the palace. This is a land of right and wrong.

It's a pity that no matter how cold-blooded and iron-fisted a person is, he is still a human being. Since he is a human being, he will never be able to escape the control of his emotions in this life.Just like Yan Yilan understands all the truths, but when she really wants to do this, she will never be as calm and decisive as she thinks.

"Since the eldest princess has this intention, why hasn't the edict been sealed and sealed for a long time?"

Yan Yilan's expression froze for a moment, the expression in her eyes flickered slightly with the candlelight, she tilted her head, and looked at the jade seal lying quietly beside the table, the candlelight shone on its transparent jade body, emitting a cold light, as if She was laughing at her indecision, at how the eldest princess who used to kill and make decisions would become so indecisive one day.

I can never forget Jiang Ningzui's eyes when she listened to her order without saying a word. It was full of reluctance and sadness, and it came out from those indifferent and calm eyes, which made people feel so heartbroken. Knife twisted.

I wish I could cover her eyes with my hand, cover all her helplessness, and prevent her from being hurt at all.

It was also that look that made her stare at the imperial edict for a long time, but she was unable to pick up the jade seal at hand, stamp the final seal, and make a break for them.

In the silent silence, Empress Ning looked at Yan Yilan's increasingly gloomy and desolate face as the candles flickered, and somehow she remembered something. Her brows slowly showed a trace of kindness, and she said slowly: "That day when I was drunk, I mourned." When the Yi'an Palace of the family left, the Ai family once asked her if she had any unfulfilled wishes."

Attracted by Empress Ning's words, Yan Yilan turned her head to look at Empress Ning. As soon as her eyes found her figure, her voice quietly rang in her ears: "She only asked Ai's family for one thing, and she hopes Aijia promised her that no matter what crime the eldest princess condemns her, she only wishes to continue to stay in this palace and beside the eldest princess, even if it is just to be a humble maidservant, an inconspicuous court lady."

The teacup in her hand trembled slightly, and Yan Yilan's phoenix eyes suddenly tightened. At first, she felt a burst of warmth at the tip of her heart, but gradually this warmth was replaced by the ensuing suffocation, and the pain intensified, even spreading to The hot and painful feeling in her whole body and limbs made her feel as if she was trapped in water and fire, as if she was trapped in nothing.

In the past, I always felt that Jiang Ningzui's temper was dull and boring, she never knew how to flatter and flatter her, and she never knew how to confess her inner feelings generously.That's why at this moment, Yan Yilan couldn't help but want to know what kind of expression Jiang Ningzui had when she said these words, and what kind of mood was she holding?

"It's a pity that I don't want to keep her by my side anymore..." When Yan Yilan said this, her gaze was set in the distance, and even her voice seemed ethereal and deep. "Her obsession will kill her sooner or later."

"The eldest princess should understand that it's easy to get in and hard to get out of this palace." Empress Ning said, she couldn't help smiling, and said earnestly: "Besides, although Ai's family is guided by it along this road, but walking step by step, everything It was her own choice. She did not hesitate to do so for the Eldest Princess, even if the Eldest Princess is unwilling to fulfill her own heart, wouldn't she even be willing to fulfill her little wish?"

The eldest princess closed her eyes, concealing the tangled and hesitant expression in her eyes, but still insisted on resisting: "Even if the queen mother is extra merciful, how can I stop the world's Youyou's mouth?"

"When Ningzui released Chi Wei privately, it seemed to outsiders that she acted recklessly and flouted the laws of the country, but the ministers knew in their hearts that she was just doing this eternal sinner for the eldest princess in order to preserve the prestige of the eldest princess. In this way, no matter What decision did the Ai family and the eldest princess make, and how could they have the slightest objection?" Empress Ning knew Yan Yilan's hesitation and concern, and she said clearly: "The reason for Ningzui's actions can be clearly seen by anyone in the world. It’s clear, but the only one who doesn’t want to understand—is you.”

Yan Yilan didn't say a word, she got up and walked to the window, her brows and eyes reflecting the night were exceptionally silent, even the moonlight couldn't warm her cold eyes to the bone.

Jiang Ningzui's mind, she is not a grass, how can she not understand that she cannot be shaken, but what she is more worried about is that Jiang Ningzui's infatuation will one day become a sharp sword against her chest, or The poisonous claws that strangled her throat put her in a place of burial.

No one knows how much she cherishes Jiang Ningzui, so no one can understand how afraid she is of losing her, or causing her to suffer even the slightest bit of harm.

Seeing Yan Yilan's hesitation, Empress Ning lowered her head and took a sip of tea, and said slowly: "The tea in your mouth is always bitter, and when it first hits the tip of your tongue, it feels bitter and unbearable. , just like people, everything is always bitter before sweet, and only you can understand the taste of it. Maybe your bitterness is nectar to her."

"Since when will the empress mother be able to understand her children with reason and affection?"

Hearing Yan Yilan's non-serious words, Empress Ning knew that she must have made a decision in her heart, so she ignored her joking words, but continued: "Although getting drunk violates the national law, but she will be a prince for a day. Concubine, I will still be a member of the harem for a day, and the Ai family is the head of the harem, so let the Ai family handle this matter."

Upon hearing this, Yan Yilan looked sideways and asked, "How does the empress plan to deal with the aftermath?"

"The Ai family has its own measure." Empress Ning said, her eyes turned, and she praised: "The eldest princess really saw it right at the beginning. Everyone in the Jiang family is loyal. Even this intoxication is becoming more and more serious. Her sister's demeanor back then."

Yan Yilan was slightly dazed, and then she gave a slight snort with a half-smile, and said as if she was lost: "What good is it like her sister?"

Saying that, Yan Yilan stood up suddenly, reached out and grabbed the shawl on the screen, turned around and walked towards the palace gate, and gradually disappeared into the vast night.

Seeing Yan Yilan walking farther and farther in the direction of Ye Ting Prison, Empress Ning contemplated for a long time. After a while, she shook her head and suddenly came back to her senses.

Originally looking at Yan Yilan, there was nothing left in her eyes, she sighed, and couldn't help but bend the corners of her mouth, but there was even a bit of bitterness in her smile unconsciously.Lowering her head and taking a sip of her tea, Empress Ning turned her head to look at Bi Yuan beside her, and sighed with a smile, "Your master is still in love after all."

I don't know if this is a blessing or a curse.

Inside Yeting Prison, the chief eunuch Li Yuhai rushed to the prison head outside the gate to flash his waist card. The prison head saw the words Yi'an Palace on it, and immediately ordered the guards to open the prison door, leading Li Yuhai all the way to Jiang Ningzui's house. In front of the cell.

The oncoming smell of decay made Li Yuhai frown again and again, until he saw the figure of the prison chief standing in front of a cell, he hurried up a few steps to follow.

Jiang Ningzui's clothes are thin, her pale face is immersed in a dark corner where the sun can't reach, and her long hair without decoration hangs down her waist. Even standing in the shabby prison, her figure is still aloof and arrogant. Li Moran's light faded to the extreme, and unexpectedly generated a force so cold that people dare not look directly at it.

Hearing the sound of the lock being unlocked, Jiang Ningzui turned her head, her gaze resting on Li Yuhai.

Jiang Ningzui's pale face made her dark eyes calm and deep. The coldness made people tremble. Li Yuhai's heart was shocked. A moment of panic.

With the help of the weak light, Jiang Ningzui recognized that the person who came was Li Yuhai, the eunuch next to Queen Ning. She was a little puzzled when she saw Li Yuhai walk a few steps into the cell, stood still in front of her, and looked from the little eunuch behind her. The eunuch took Yizhi in his hand and slowly unfolded it.

"Crown princess, the empress has an order."

Jiang Ning was drunk when she heard the words, concealed her doubts, and knelt down on one knee to listen to the order.

"Today's concubine, Jiang Shi, despises the king's law and releases criminals privately. She should be executed. The mourning family thinks that she has abided by her duties since entering the palace and practiced women's morals respectfully. She will not be held accountable for her crimes. However, death crimes can be avoided, but life crimes cannot be escaped. So he punished him with a stick for twenty, and was confined to the East Palace for three months. He thought about his mistakes and came out in regret.

Immediately announced to the world, in order to imitate others, so that people can hear about it. "

Jiang Ningzui kept her head slightly lowered, quietly listening to Li Yuhai read out the edict, until this moment, she raised her head and replied: "I thank my mother."

I have always heard that the punishment in Ye Ting Prison is harsh, but I don't know if the Crown Princess can bear it.Li Yuhai was thinking about it, but when he didn't want to, he saw Jiang Ningzui slowly raised his head. Under the shadow of the backlight, he saw that Jiang Ningzui's face showed no sign of fear at all. He smiled shallowly.

He blinked involuntarily, suspecting that this must be his own illusion.