humble minister

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"The reason why the queen and the head of state came here in person, if it's not a big deal, let's talk about it later." The expressionless emperor looked at the two people in front of him who were secretly suppressing their anxiety, and said that it was the order to evict guests.

It can be said that the current Shi Yu has no such thoughts at all, nor does he have the time to listen to what the two people in front of him have to say.

"Your Majesty, the ministers and concubines deeply feel that there is something wrong with your lord's affairs, and the fact that they came here this time is..." Duanmu Xiwei spoke first, since the emperor was impatient, she could only get straight to the point.

"The empress is going to give birth soon. It's important to go back to the palace to rest at this time, and don't worry about these court affairs that have nothing to do with you." The other party was interrupted by Shi Yu before he finished speaking. Then he turned to Duan Muliang, who was about to speak, "So is the king, I heard that the king is not feeling well recently, why don't you go back with the queen and let the imperial doctor take a good look at it?"

Although it was a question, the two listening people didn't think they could refute at all.

"Your Majesty..." Duanmu Xiwei and Duanmu Liang took a step forward at the same time, looking unwilling to let go.

"Liu An, send the two of you back to Yiren Palace, and then invite an imperial doctor to take a look." Shi Yu ordered with a sullen face to Liu An who was standing respectfully by one side.

"Hey." After Liu An responded, he walked towards the father and daughter of Duanmu's house bitterly, "Your Majesty, my lord, please go with the servant."

Duanmuxi glanced coldly at Liu An, who was smiling obsequiously, knowing that he might really have nothing to say this time, when he was about to leave, he heard a "boom", and turned his head to see her father knelt down.

"Your Majesty, I have the audacity to call myself 'subject' again. May Your Majesty promise me something based on the achievements of the Duanmu family in the past and the loyalty and patriotism that I have always cherished." Duanmu Liang earnestly said, Also every sentence is so pressing that people can't refuse.

"Oh, then I have to listen to what the former Prime Minister is asking for." Shi Yu let go with a gloomy face, but Duanmu Liang's words are all on this point, can he not let go?

"I implore Your Majesty to re-investigate Lianxiang's matter thoroughly, and make Lianxiang innocent!"

"According to what the abbot said, I still wronged him in the case of Lian Ying."

The emperor was angry, why didn't the officials submit to him, but Duanmuliang couldn't control so much at this time, how could his son still refuse to save him?

"Whether wronged or not, Duan Muliang implores His Majesty to conduct a thorough investigation again. If it is really Lian Xiang's actions, I will not say much; if it is not Lian Xiang's actions, please let Your Majesty let Lian Xiang go and let him stay away from the officialdom. , to regain freedom."

"Hey, when will ministers have the right to make conditions to the emperor?" Shi Yu was still very impatient at first, but Duanmuliang's words at this time made him a little curious. a day of pleading

Lian Ying, Lian Ying, how did your identity get connected with the Duanmu family, a big family in the Northern Dynasty? It seems that the things that the dark guards checked before are not enough.

"I want you to answer a question for me, what is your relationship with Lian Ying?"

"This..." Duanmuliang hesitated for a moment, not knowing where to start and how to explain it briefly, but in Shi Yu's eyes, it was a gesture of refusal to speak clearly.

"As long as you answer me honestly, I will agree to your request and do as you say."

"Then I just said it bluntly, and please forgive me for concealing it all the time." Duan Muliang didn't have any scruples when he heard what Shi Yu said. Now, nothing is more important than saving his son's life, isn't it?

"Actually, besides the daughter of the empress, I have another son. He is Lord Lian... I was confused and drunk with his mother... I have been ashamed of this all these years, so no one knows that Lord Lian is actually The son of the minister. It was more than a year ago that the minister and Ying'er truly recognized each other, and now it is impossible for the minister to ignore such a matter. Please forgive me for being so abrupt."

"Lian Ying is your son" It is impossible not to be surprised at all, but Shi Yu accepted it quickly, so it is not difficult to explain why Lian Ying went to and from Yiren Palace at the beginning, and why the queen fell ill in Lian Ying. During those days, a lot of supplements were sent.

"Even what should have been committed was the crime of collaborating with the enemy and traitorous country, and the princess died because of him. All these crimes are well-documented. The king wants me to investigate further. I'm afraid it's just that the king wants to protect his son." He spoke again. , Shi Yu still seemed very cold, making people wonder what the king who loved and loved each other so much before was thinking now.

"I never believe that Gouzi would do such a thing. There must be a misunderstanding, Your Majesty!" Duanmuliang said urgently with a pale face.

"Your Majesty, I don't believe my younger brother will do this either. I would like to use the child in my stomach to guarantee that even the adults are innocent." Duanmu Xiwei, who had been silent all this time, also said at the right time.

"Okay, now everyone has learned to threaten me." After a long time, the emperor let out a "puchi" laugh, making it even more puzzling.

Duanmu Liang and Duanmu Xi looked at each other slightly, they really couldn't figure out what the emperor meant, whether they agreed or not.

"You don't need to talk about this matter anymore." Shi Yu made the final conclusion, and at the same time got up and walked to Duanmu Xiwei, "Let's go, queen, I will send you back. When you leave the gate of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, what do you say?" Don't talk about it anymore, and don't make it public."

The emperor's words... did he agree?

The two remained silent, the conversation had come to this point, and it was probably the only way to go, and as far as Duanmu Xiwei thought, she thought that Shi Yu would not give up on Ah Ying.

"Queen, this jade pendant is"

As soon as Duanmu Xiwei came back to his senses, he found that Shi Yu was fascinated by the jade pendant hanging around her neck, and the words he asked were solemn.

"Someone gave it to me, what's wrong?" Duanmu Xiwei was puzzled.

"Who sent it?" Shi Yu, who seemed to be trapped in an unknown memory, regained his senses instantly, and asked Duanmu Xiwei's shoulder tightly.

Enduring the pain on the shoulder, Duanmuxi's light-colored eyes flashed a faint light, but he still replied truthfully: "Ah Ying."

In the dungeon, the dark and damp ground and walls were covered with moss, clumps of moss, wet, as if a puddle of water could be squeezed out.

Lian Ying tightened the thin torn cotton quilt on his body, the harsh environment made him feel very uncomfortable at the moment, and the most important thing was the feeling of depression in his heart that made him a little out of breath.

The whole dungeon was very dark, not to mention even this remote corner, there was no place where light could penetrate except for the small iron window on the high wall.

The whole dungeon was still very oppressive and quiet, basically there was no sound of conversation, not to mention the sound of quarrels and fights that Lian Ying originally thought might be possible.

In fact, it’s normal, isn’t it? The people who are thrown into the sky prison are usually the most sinful people. They can’t even eat enough, and there is a big knife hanging over their heads at any time. Who would have the heart to fight for most of them? They all chose to wait for death in desperation and numbness.

Lian Ying has not been dismissed yet, so those small number of unscrupulous jailors dare not exploit him, but even so, life here is definitely not easy for Lian Ying.

Not to mention the desperation and depressive atmosphere here, even the harsh environment, the intermittent coughing and inmates who don't know when they will die or whether they have infectious diseases are unbearable, even if they are not in good health. .

It's just that Ying didn't even say anything, and he didn't clamor to see the emperor again. He had expected this situation as early as when he was "pleading guilty" in the court, so he accepted it calmly, without making any noise.

"My lord, please this way, this is the cell where Lord Lian is in."

The flattering voice and unusual footsteps from the door made Lian Ying slightly open his closed eyes, and then he heard a familiar voice.

"Understood, you go down."

It was Jiang Bailang.

The jailer may have received a lot of silver, and when he spoke again, there was joy in his tone.

"Hey, okay. But my lord... This is a prison in the sky, and you can't stay for long. You have to come out in a quarter of an hour at most, or you can't afford it."

"Understood, long-winded."

Jiang Bailang replied impatiently, and then there was the sound of the jailer's footsteps walking away.

"A Ying!"

As soon as Jiang Bailang came in, he saw Lian Ying, who was wrapped in a torn quilt with a pale face leaning against the corner of the wall, and the dry grass under him seemed damp, and his heart ached instantly.

"Ah Ying, you...are you alright?" Jiang Bailang hurriedly took off his coat and covered Lian Ying with it. He wanted to slap himself as soon as he asked the question. Is this okay?

"I'm fine, but you shouldn't have come to see me." Lian Ying smiled weakly, but he didn't refuse the robe Jiang Bailang put on him.

"How could I not come to see you? Don't you want us friends to watch you suffer?" Jiang Bailang said half distressed and half blamed, and then thought of something to complain: "If it weren't for the guards of the prison It’s too strict, I can bring you some quilts, food and other things to make your life easier, but in this situation, you really don’t want to bring anything but money.”

"If the guards in the sky prison were really so strict, they wouldn't have let you in." Lian Ying joked with a smile, and then saw Jiang Bailang digging in his arms, and took out a bag of things.

"Hey, that's not to say that nothing can be mixed in. I still brought a pack of things in. However, the amount I brought was limited. In order not to waste space, all I brought were some pills or herbs that could be chewed dry. I heard that child Guan Xing said that you and Yao Li have learned some medical skills, then you can secretly take these medicines when they are useful, at least it will make you feel less uncomfortable and try not to get sick."

After Jiang Bailang finished speaking, he looked around and saw that no one was paying attention, so he stuffed the tightly packed things under the haystack where Lian Ying was lying.

"It's also my fault that Yao Li is not here at this time, otherwise I might not be able to help." Jiang Bailang complained, and seeing Lian Ying's expression change slightly, he couldn't help comforting in a low voice, "But don't worry, we all feel that Your Majesty will not let you do nothing, even if he does, we will definitely save you."

"I trust Your Majesty."

Even Ying's faint words and that indifferent smile made Jiang Bailang a little impatient, and at the same time he was a little distressed.Although they felt that His Majesty would not give up on Ah Ying, Shi Yu's deeds were enough to chill people's hearts no matter what.

But Ah Ying, you still trust him so much...

Perhaps deep love is the only way to have such pure and firm trust.

"There is not much time, I have something to tell you, and I hope you, Xiao Lang, can pass it on to His Majesty." Before Jiang Bailang could sigh enough, Lian Ying said with a solemn expression.

"What, tell me." Jiang Bailang immediately moved over to make the conversation more convenient and private.

"Let Your Majesty send two waves of people, one wave of people to look for Yao Li. I suspect that his departure may not be the order of the teacher. It is very likely that someone pretended to be his master and tricked him to leave. The reason is that I am alone now. Witness."

Jiang Bailang's unintentional words just now made Lian Ying suspicious. Think carefully, if Yao Li hadn't left, as long as he revealed his identity and confirmed it, then they slandered the rumors that he had contacts with people from the Southern Dynasty. It will break without attacking.But now that Yao Li was transferred away, no one would testify for him.

"Another wave of people... Let them search and search the palace carefully. I suspect that the mastermind behind the scenes may still be hiding in a corner of the palace and manipulating all this. As for the most important thing to search... is Concubine Rou's brocade." Yugong."

Lian Ying spoke and said it with certainty.In fact, when the court was interrogated before, when the evidence was presented, he was completely sure that there was something wrong with Han Zhirou, and even suspected that the black hand behind the scenes was still in the palace.

"Okay, don't worry, we will definitely find out that person and avenge you!" Jiang Bailang responded confidently with his fists clenched.