in the world of murder

The weather just got warmer, and a sudden cold rain knocked the newly bloomed pear and apricot blossoms into mud.The cold weather in spring turned back to winter all of a sudden, making the little eunuch outside the palace shivering after putting on his spring clothes.

Tang Zhi led the imperial physician into the East Palace, the little eunuch saw it, and immediately stood upright, saying: "Hello, Eunuch Tang."

Tang Zhi didn't have time to pay attention to him, he was focused on leading the way for the imperial physician, and said: "Yesterday it rained suddenly, His Highness stood outside for a long while, and felt a little unhappy at night. You also know our Highness's temperament, we always don't put our body Seriously. I'm just afraid that it will reach His Majesty's ears in the future, and we servants will not be able to please us."

The imperial physician Tang Zhitong entered the sleeping hall, and the incense of aloes was burning in the auspicious golden stove.It was raining outside, and the lamps were lit early in the hall, and the aloe incense dispelled the dampness in the hall, even a little too strong.

Behind the rosewood screen, on the carved arhat couch, sat a lazy figure.

Prince Chongming was wearing a black gold-painted robe, layered on top of each other, revealing a cold white skin.His appearance is similar to that of His Majesty, with distinct bones and deep eyebrows.

Imperial Physician Ye didn't dare to look up at the Prince's face, so he fell on the ground to greet him, then sat down on a drum stool, and asked the Prince's pulse in a polite manner.

Eunuch Tang asked from the side: "Doctor Ye, how is His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Imperial Physician Ye put away the pulse pillow and said, "Your Highness is still in good health, but the wind and cold enter the body, and a few doses of medicine will dissipate, and it will be fine."

Tang Zhi said: "That's good."

He led Imperial Physician Ye to the side hall to write a prescription, and then ordered the little eunuch to get the medicine for decoction.

Not long after, Tang Zhi came back with a decoction exuding a bitter fragrance, and searched around the bedroom, but he did not see Prince Chongming.He thought for a while, then turned to the apse.

The corridor of the apse is tortuous and built on the flowing water. There are strange rocks beside the corridor. Fine water flows out of the stone, and various fish swim in it.

Prince Chongming stood on the corridor, holding a jade bowl containing fish food in his hand, grabbed a handful of fish food with his slender fingers, and sprinkled it into the gurgling water.Looking at it from a distance, it naturally reveals a noble and undisciplined look.

Tang Zhi stepped forward and brought the medicine up.

The prince glanced at it lightly, picked up the medicine bowl and drank it down in one gulp.

Tang Zhi brought clear water for gargling again, waited for the crown prince to drink the medicine, and then sent a greeting card with a black background sprinkled with gold.

"The new direct disciple selected by Jiuyi Mountain is the young master of the Xi family in the middle of Sichuan. This is the invitation from them." Tang Zhi presented the invitation to the crown prince.

The prince took the invitation card, his calm and deep eyes fell on the word "Xi Zhen" on the invitation card, and he did not speak for a long time.

Tang Zhi said: "This Mr. Xi is currently being visited by all the big families. Your Majesty wants you to make a post to invite him to Beijing."

With a sound of "snap", the greeting card from Jiuyi Mountain was thrown back on the lacquer plate, and the prince looked at the fish swimming in the flowing water again, with a look of indifference.

Tang Zhiwei said: "If His Highness is not willing, His Majesty will write a post for you."

The prince opened his lips and said in a low voice, "He has already made arrangements, but he still asks me what to do."

Tang Zhi didn't dare to say anything, he just stood by the prince's side.Prince Chongming lowered his eyes, and in the stream, there was a bright red carp swimming freely in the water.

When Xi Zhen entered Chang'an, it was almost early summer, and the weather was getting warmer. Begonia flowers were soft and white like rouge, and they were very beautiful.He was invited to Chang'an by the prince of the East Palace himself. Eight people carried a sedan chair, followed by dozens of Habayashi soldiers.

There are light veils hanging on the four sides of the sedan chair, and Xi Zhen is sitting in it. He is dressed in a plain robe and black gauze, and he is sitting upright in the sedan chair.His complexion is gorgeous, but his eyebrows and eyes are cold, and he can only be seen from a distance, not to be despised.

The people in Chang'an have long heard that Xi Zhen has a stunning appearance. On the day he entered Chang'an, everyone rushed to watch him.

Xizhen was housed in a courtyard on Xinghua Street, which was also the place where Prince Chongming rewarded him.When Xi Zhen entered the mansion, everything in the mansion had been tidied up. Dozens of maids and servants performed their duties, and everything seemed to be in order.

Xi Shan led the way and welcomed Xi Zhen to the main hall to rest.

"The young master has worked hard all the way." Xi Shan served tea and said, "Please take a rest first."

Xi Zhen took the tea, moistened his mouth, and asked, "Is the central capital settled properly?"

Xi Shan went to Beijing before Xi Zhen, and when he heard him ask, he said, "Everything has been settled, it's just..."

Xi Zhen raised his eyes, "What?"

Xi Shan hesitated for a moment, and said: "I was ordered by the young master to send a letter of worship to the East Palace, asking to see Prince Chongming. But the East Palace did not accept our invitation letter, and the letter was returned."

Xi Zhen frowned, and returned the greeting card, which was clearly not to be seen.

"Prince Chongming invited me to Beijing, but he didn't see me, what do you mean?"

Xi Shan said: "Your Majesty has inquired about it. His Majesty wrote the post for Prince Chongming, and this courtyard was also given by His Majesty. His Highness the Crown Prince did not express anything."

Xi Zhen understood, "It seems that Prince Chongming is not very satisfied with me as a direct disciple."

Xi Shan looked at Xi Zhen and said, "Young Master, what shall we do then?"

Xi Zhen turned the ring on his hand and said, "I have my own way."

In the East Palace, Tang Zhi ordered someone to put a few hibiscus flowers in the corridor, and at the same time carried a box into the hall.

Prince Chongming leaned on the couch and flipped through a book, saw Tang Zhi coming in, and asked, "What's the matter?"

Tang Zhi said, "Master Xi ordered this to be delivered."

Prince Chongming paused and said, "What is it?"

Tang Zhi paused, and said: "It's the accounts of the Cai family in Jiyang over the years, including the evidence that they bought and sold official positions, embezzled and accepted bribes, and imposed heavy taxes on the people. Also, this spring because they seized a family's [-] mu of land, Burned a family of twelve* alive."

Prince Chongming turned a page of the book and did not speak.

Tang Zhi said: "Young Master Xi's action is to send a certificate of nomination to His Highness. Your Highness, shall we..."

"Where did the hibiscus flowers outside come from?" Prince Chongming suddenly asked.

Tang Zhi was taken aback, and said: "Your Majesty saw that His Highness liked hibiscus, so he ordered people to raise these out-of-season hibiscus flowers in the greenhouse, and gave them to His Highness to enjoy."

"I don't like hibiscus flowers," Prince Chongming said, "Let's move away."

Tang Zhi didn't understand, so he said, "Yes."

Prince Chongming buried his head in the scroll again, and Tang Zhi asked, "Your Highness, how should we deal with this criminal evidence?"

The prince said casually: "Leave it to His Majesty to decide."

Tang Zhi responded, and asked tentatively: "Then Mr. Xi..."

"not see."

Cai's criminal evidence was sent to the East Palace, and it didn't take long before this matter broke out in the court.His Majesty personally ordered the ministers to take care of this matter, but within a month, thousands of members of the Cai family were all imprisoned, and the Jiyang family and dozens of houses in various places were all confiscated.A hundred-year-old family was cut into pieces by Emperor Yan so quickly, and disappeared in an instant.

The aristocratic family was shaken, frightened by Emperor Yan's actions, they all united to fight against Emperor Yan's decree openly and secretly.Even Xizhen was also affected, all the families who had hosted banquets for him before were silent, and secretly called him a traitor to the family.

However, despite this, Prince Chongming still did not see Xi Zhen.

It rained early in the morning, Xuan Yunhuai sent a message asking Xizhen to go out.

At the beginning, the Xuan family led people to ambush Xizhen in the mountains, and formed an endless hatred with Xizhen.Later, Xizhen repeatedly targeted the Xuan family, and I don't know what he did. Not long after, the head of the Xuan family passed away.But he never expected that the new Patriarch's seat would be cheaper for Xuan Yunhuai.

Speaking of Xuan Yunhuai, this person is also quite legendary.At first he was only the Xuan family's concubine son, but was forced by his aunt to go to Jiuyi Mountain to save his life.He offended Xizhen on the mountain, and was removed from the name of his disciple. When he returned to the Xuan family, he was in a more difficult situation.It's only been a year now, after his father passed away, he became the head of the Xuan family as a matter of course.

The drizzle fell on the lake, Xuan Yunhuai stood in the pavilion, waiting for Xizhen.

Xi Zhen left late, and when he saw Xuan Yunhuai, he didn't have a good face, so he asked directly: "What's the matter?"

Xuan Yunhuai said with a smile: "You are a big showman these days, it is very rare for me to see you."

Xi Zhen looked at him indifferently, the drizzle covered the black veil on his coat with steam, and said: "Is this all nonsense you can talk about?"

Xuan Yunhuai pursed his lips and said, "I just want to remind you that you have become a traitor to the family by helping His Majesty deal with the family."

"So what?" Xi Zhen said, "I'm not in the same way as you."

"It's too early to say." Xuan Yunhuai said with a smile: "Don't think that His Majesty is taking down the Cai family now, but in fact, this incident has reminded the aristocratic family that the situation of His Majesty will only become more and more difficult in the future. .”

Xi Zhen was silent for a moment, and said, "Is it finished?"

"It's over." Xuan Yun said with a smile.

Xi Zhen turned around and left without any intention of staying.

"I heard that Prince Chongming hasn't seen you yet?" Xuan Yunhuai said: "This Prince Chongming has always lived in seclusion and is very mysterious. I wonder if he met the senior brother back then and had some friendship with the senior brother. See you now You are the direct disciple, so I am a little dissatisfied."

Xi Zhen paused, Xuan Yunhuai looked at Xi Zhen's back, and said, "If you still have contact with senior brother, why don't you ask senior senior brother to help you?"

Xi Zhen turned his head, gave Xuan Yunhuai a cold look, and said, "There is no need to probe anymore, Xie Li is dead, I watched him fall off the cliff with my own eyes."

Xuan Yunhuai stopped talking and watched Xizhen walk into the rain curtain.

On the way back, Xi Zhen sat in the carriage.The cries of the bazaar came from outside, and the lively sound entered Xizhen's ears.Xi Zhen opened the car curtain and looked at the market along the way.People on the street are all holding umbrellas, there are monotonous oil paper umbrellas, and there are also bamboo bone umbrellas painted with various ink paintings, which complement each other and are very beautiful.

Here is worthy of being the foot of the emperor, the people live and work in peace and contentment, full of vitality.

Suddenly, a white figure appeared in the crowd.The man was holding an umbrella, his figure was tall and straight, his black hair hung like satin behind him, like a person walking out of a painting.

"Stop, stop!" Xi Zhen jumped out of the car, ignored the shouts of Xi Shui and others, and rushed into the crowd after the figure of that person.

He walked against the crowd, stumbled after the man, and shouted: "Xie Li!"

The figure paused, then turned its head, but it was a completely unfamiliar face.

Xi Zhen was taken aback, "Sorry, I admitted the wrong person."

The man nodded, turned and left.

Xi Zhen stood in the middle of the crowd in a daze, and people passing by him held umbrellas.The rain became heavier and wet his clothes. He looked around, not knowing where to go or what to do.

The author says:

thanks for reading