many worries

When Jing Yan woke up, it was already afternoon.

He got up from the couch, but he was neatly dressed in a linen robe, and he casually combed his loose long hair, and walked to the half-opened window.

In the past, such careless things would never happen, but now there are only a few maids left in the Prince's East Palace, so there are naturally some things that cannot be taken care of.

It was still raining heavily outside, the palace was deserted and deserted, there was no one there, the sound of the pattering rain filled my ears, the wide banana leaves were hanging weakly, and the pomegranate flowers in full bloom fell to the ground, soaked in muddy water, rubbed to pieces No more bright colors.

Jing Yan didn't care much, pursed his thin lips slightly, and pushed a little harder, the window was fully opened, and he could see farther places clearly.The palace guards in golden armor guarded every part of the East Palace tightly, not to mention people, not even a fly could fly out.

Those golden yellows are so bright that they seem to burn people's eyes.

Jing Yan lowered his eyes slightly, and stopped looking at these.

Today is the midsummer of Yuande's 17th year, and the eventful autumn.

In the first half month, a major case occurred in the imperial court. Chen Xun, an important minister and military general, was read by the censor, saying that he had the intention of treason. In the general's house were found several letters with illicit relations with the enemy country, two dragon robes and crowns, and countless gold and silver treasures.More than 100 members of General Chen's family were imprisoned. Emperor Yuande was furious and ordered to be beheaded on the spot for half a month later.Everyone in the court is in danger, for fear of being involved in this big case.

This is a matter of the previous dynasty, and has nothing to do with the harem. It is a pity that the empress of Emperor Yuande is also surnamed Chen, and she is the daughter of the rebel who conspired this time, and Jing Yan is the grandson of the rebel .

The daughter of a guilty minister cannot bear the heavy responsibility of the empress. Empress Chen was deprived of her title by Emperor Yuande that day and imprisoned in the cold palace. She kowtowed to Emperor Yuande yesterday to admit her mistake, and hanged herself at night.

She won't get the slightest honor even after she dies, and even her corpse can't enter the imperial mausoleum, so she has to find a place to bury it casually.

Jing Yan will no longer be the prince. How much honor and favor he had in the past disappeared when the Chen family was taken down and ceased to exist.

Everyone in the palace understood that the direction of the wind had changed long ago.

Jing Yan walked out of the bedroom, and Zhou Mingde, the chief eunuch in Empress Chen's palace, stood outside the door of the bedroom, blessed him respectfully, and whispered softly: "Your Majesty's funeral has been settled, Your Highness can rest assured."

Jing Yan's body shook slightly, he closed his eyes, and stayed in the same place for a long time before asking in a hoarse voice, "Mother, where was she buried?"

Zhou Mingde's back collapsed, and he seemed to be unable to straighten up anymore, and he had no energy at all. He forced himself to answer word by word: "The servant asked someone to find a place on the hill next to the lake. That place There are mountains and rivers, and there are rhododendrons all over the mountains and plains in spring, the empress should like it." He is an old man in the palace, and there are many disciples and grandchildren under him. Also willing to help a little.

Jing Yan no longer asked any more, and only responded.

He continued to walk forward, sitting on the soft floor of the cold main hall.As expected, the emperor's order on dealing with the prince should have been delivered this afternoon.

The surroundings were silent, Zhou Mingde took a cup of hot tea, finally put it safely, then knelt down with a plop, and kowtowed three times.

"The empress has been in the palace for 16 years, and the servant has accompanied the empress from a small eunuch in the clothing bureau to the present. Now that the empress is gone, there is no one to take care of her below. Even if there is, it is not as easy as using our family. The servant is only looking forward to an early end and to go down to serve the empress."

Jing Yan took a sip of hot tea, and after receiving his obeisance these few times, there was not much intimacy in his words, he just said politely, "Then please trouble the father-in-law to take care of the queen mother."

Zhou Mingde smiled, watching Jing Yan, who he saw big when he was a child, grew up from such a small group to what he is now. He is only 15 years old, and he has not yet reached the age of the crown, but he has to go through all these.

The heavy curtains blocked the light outside, and only a few candles were lit inside the palace. Jing Yan's expression was obscured by the faint light, and no one could see clearly.

He thought of something, and asked lightly, "By the way, has the child been sent out?"

Zhou Mingde was taken aback for a moment, and then realized that Jing Yan was referring to Qiao Yu, the former prince's attendant.

Two days ago, the Imperial Guard sent out all the maids in the East Palace.Jing Yan secretly asked Zhou Mingde to change Qiao Yu into the clothes of a young eunuch, hide his identity, and put him among the palace people.But time was short, Jing Yan only had time to say a few words, and he didn't see him being sent out with his own eyes.

Qiao Yu's background is complicated, she has deep ties to the Chen family and the palace, and has always been hidden by the crown prince in the East Palace, rarely coming out.Zhou Mingde hadn't had much contact with Qiao Yu, and he didn't have a good impression of him just after hearing about his parents and relatives.

He said: "Your Highness, why bother to miss him? His aunt is that Feng thief. With the current situation, he will probably be like a fish in water and have a bright future in the future!"

That Feng thief refers to Concubine Feng Gui, who has been favored in recent years, and has given birth to two princes and a princess, who has always been interested in the Phoenix seat, and has been eyeing her.Her father is also a general, but Chen Xun has been oppressing him all the time, the credit has not been shown, and there have been complaints for a long time. The Feng family did not know how many hands and feet were involved in this matter.

Jing Yan supported his forehead, and said unhurriedly: "Qiao Yu is a child after all, and he doesn't understand these things. Besides, if that child is still in the East Palace, do you think he can still live?"

Zhou Mingde thought for a while before he understood.Concubine Feng Gui sent Qiao Yu to the East Palace back then, and she did not intend to bring the child back alive.The current situation in the palace is like this, Qiao Yu's death in the East Palace actually suits Concubine Feng's wishes, and it happens to sue the crown prince before the imperial court.

In fact, it's okay for Yu Jingyan to do more or less of this matter, anyway, there are enough crimes and taints on him.But he still arranged for Qiao Yu to leave safely in spite of his busy schedule, and he also asked him to reveal the identity of Concubine Feng's nephew to others after three days, and he must be in public, and Concubine Feng would not be tolerated. It can be said that Qiao Yu's consideration for Qiao Yu couldn't have been more thoughtful.

Jing Yan and Qiao Yu first met three years ago.

It was a summer night, when Jing Yan came back from studying outside the palace, Empress Chen told him with a smile that there was a new attendant in the palace, who was quite naive and cute, childish and endearing.

Jing Yan had no interest at all, but was urged several times by Empress Chen to ask the child to come back for some snacks, so he carried the lantern and walked along the gallery in the backyard looking for it. I saw a dumpling wearing a maroon dress hidden among the flowers not far away.

Jing Yan frowned slightly, walked down the steps, and took a closer look.

It was an extremely beautiful and delicate child, only eight or nine years old, and his facial features could already vaguely tell that he would be a beauty in the future, with red lips and white teeth, and two round dimples when he smiled.Coupled with the snow-white skin, lined with maroon red, it looks like pearls and jade, and it seems to be able to give birth to a shining light in the dark night.

It's a pity that with such a beautiful and quiet appearance, he was naughty in the fireflies in the flowers, and after a long time, he was covered in mud, but there was no light in the paper cage.

Clumsy and caught none.

Jing Yan walked to his side, holding the lantern, Qiao Yu raised his head, tears filled his eyes, as if they were about to fall out immediately.

He softly begged the person in front of him who had never met before, "Little brother, can you catch some fireflies for me?"

That night, Jing Yan played outside most of the night, caught many fireflies, and filled Qiao Yu's small cage.

Finally Qiao Yu burst into laughter.

Jing Yan understood that he didn't want to see Qiao Yu cry because he couldn't ask for something.

In the three years since then, Jing Yan has put too much thought into Qiao Yu, and this last point is not missing.

But only once.

It is best for them not to meet again in the future, if they do...

Jing Yan's heart froze suddenly, he didn't think about Qiao Yu anymore.

About half an hour later, the emperor's will really came.

Liang Changxi, the chief eunuch who delivered the decree, walked over from the rain and fog. He was tall and thin, dressed in an azurite robe, black boots, with gold threads rolling around the hem of the robe, holding the imperial decree in both hands, followed by two attendants. The little eunuch who waited on him held black umbrellas on the left and right, and not a drop of rain could leak on the golden cloth.

Liang Changxi stepped over the threshold, and the two or two young eunuchs hurriedly put away their umbrellas, and followed his footsteps, the black umbrellas were dripping water, which could be heard clearly in the silent main hall.

Liang Changxi frowned, turned his head and scolded, "Which school do you guys follow the rules, dare to bring a dripping umbrella into the master's place?"

The two young eunuchs on the left and right trembled after being scolded, and hurried out to pack the black umbrella.It's not that they don't understand the rules for the master, but they understand the rules of stepping on the ground and admiring themselves better in this palace. The prince is almost not a prince, so who should take Jing Yan seriously?

But Liang Changxi did not. He had been beside Emperor Yuande for more than twenty years, and his seat was very stable. Jing Yan has any irregularities.

As expected, the decree was indeed to abolish the prince.There are only a few reasons. It is said that the crown prince Jingyan is dull in talent, lacks knowledge, treats people dishonestly, forms a party for private interests, cannot be responsible for all people in the world, is unworthy of being a reserve, and is neither filial nor fraternal. Can't take a step.

Having experienced so much wind and rain, Zhou Mingde didn't dare to listen anymore, and only glanced at Jing Yan's back from the corner of his eye.Jing Yan didn't move, knelt for a while, and then kowtowed to thank him.

Emperor Yuande gave another order, saying that no matter whether it is father and son, or monarch and ministers, they have nothing to say to Jing Yan, and there is no need to meet each other again.

There is really no need to meet again.

After Liang Changxi finished the matter, the golden-armored guards walked in mightily, wanting to take Jing Yan to the Taiqing Palace, they couldn't even wait for a moment.

Jing Yan's face was cold, his phoenix eyes were slightly closed, there was no light in his eyes, he turned his head and looked at Zhou Mingde who was kneeling beside him, this was probably the last time.

He thought for a moment, and said: "At the end, when you see your mother, please say something for Gu. Just say, the emperor's grace is great, so you don't have to worry about Gu anymore."

Zhou Mingde couldn't help trembling after hearing this, grabbed Jing Yan's wide sleeve, got up and wanted to say a few more words to the prince, but the leader of the guard with the knife was getting closer and closer, and his momentum was overwhelming. Impressive, close at hand.

Jing Yan turned his head, and his voice was so soft that it was almost nothing, "One more thing, those people, one by one, will go down to accompany her, so don't worry too much about the mother."

When he said this, he showed the only smile in these days, as light as a ray of wind in early spring, his words were full of coldness and coldness, but Zhou Mingde, who was listening, could not help but tremble.

Zhou Mingde was startled, he couldn't help but think, this is their prince.If you wait for a few years, the prince will be older and able to intervene in the affairs of the court, how could the Chen family and the empress come to this point.

The imperial guards surrounded Jing Yan, and left the East Palace with their arms in the dazzling golden.

Zhou Mingde could only vaguely see Jing Yan's tall and thin figure, he didn't stay for a moment, and gradually disappeared into the rain and fog.

Taiqing Palace is the most remote place in the palace. According to legend, after Taizu came to rule the world, there was a prince who coveted the throne.Since then, the Taiqing Palace has become a place to imprison the princes and grandchildren. In just over two hundred years, countless dragons and phoenixes died here.

The battle for the throne has been like this since ancient times, and there is no room for warmth.

When the group arrived at the Taiqing Palace, it was almost dark in summer, but the rain hadn't stopped yet.The Taiqing Palace has always been a bad place, the wall is extremely high, more than twelve feet long, and it is slowly covered with three-inch long slender iron needles to prevent people from climbing over it.Other than that, there wasn't even a single tall tree around, so if you looked up, you could see everything at a glance if there was any movement.The fence and iron needles were well repaired, but the bricks and tiles were worn out, and the steps were broken, and half of them collapsed.

Jing Yan put away the umbrella and was about to push the door open when he heard Liang Changxi say: "The eldest prince has entered the Taiqing Palace today and needs a young eunuch to serve him. The slave has already sent someone to the eunuch's office to find a young, obedient Only when you are sensible, strong, and loyal to the royal family can you accompany you for the rest of your life."

The usual rules are the same, once the prince enters the Taiqing Palace, he is not allowed to take a step for life, and those trivial matters in life are all run by the accompanying eunuch.

It's a lifetime thing.

Jing Yan leaned to the left side of the eaves to avoid the rain, as if he didn't care much, and only agreed, "Please make arrangements for my father-in-law."

This waited for a long time.Because he came in such a hurry, it seemed that there was a mistake in the selection of the young eunuch. Liang Changxi couldn't bear it any longer, so he sent someone to urge him once, and got the news that the eunuchs were carefully selecting the young eunuchs, and they would come right away. Come.

It was already dark, and there were black shadows around, and I couldn't see anything clearly.Jing Yan was tall, but the eaves of the Taiqing Palace were low. He raised his hand and took off the lantern hanging in front of the door.

This lantern is probably made of red paper, but after so many years of wind and rain, not only is almost half of the skeleton exposed, but even the color has faded, leaving only a pale white.Jing Yan asked for a fire, but the candle wick inside was still not rotten, so he managed to ignite the big lamp, and the candlelight swayed and danced on the cold iron gate with the wind.

Finally, a short and fat servant led a little eunuch who was about three feet tall to brave the wind and rain. He first kowtowed to Liang Changxi, and then quickly pushed out the shivering child behind him.

The little eunuch was only in his early ten years old, his clothes were wrinkled and did not fit well, the trousers and the hem of his robe were covered with muddy water, and they fell wet on the ground, as if they were going to fall heavily on the child's feet, Mai Ye Can't move.

The short and fat servant patted the little eunuch's back hard, and shouted loudly: "Come and see your ancestor, Grandpa Liang, and your future master!"

He just managed to take a few steps forward, and raised his head in fear.

Jing Yan then moved the white lantern, which happened to illuminate that small area.

Just one glance made Jing Yan's pupils constrict, and he almost missed the handle of the lamp in his hand.

Just like three years ago.

Under the darkness of the sky, there are only bright lights here, and there is a beautiful, vivid and extremely familiar face inside.

It was Qiao Yu who was red-eyed, desperately holding back the tears and not daring to speak out.