Clear and Muddy Loss of Love

Chapter 279

It's just that it was lost at the time

An hour later, the Youzhou sergeant descended the mountain with a group of monks and dozens of corpses of black-clothed masked men.

The Youzhou army threw the body of the man in black to one place, and the lieutenant general knelt in front of Nangong Jingnu, and replied, "Your Majesty, these assassins are all 'black mouths', the last general is incompetent, and he failed to leave a life alive. Please, Your Majesty." Condemnation."

Nangong Sunu explained: "Your Majesty, the so-called 'Black Mouth' is a professional killer whose tongue was pulled out and a poison bag was stuffed between his teeth. After the mission failed, they would bite the poison bag and die on the spot."

Nangong Jingnu: "In this case, even if they are caught alive, it will not be of much use. You can load all their corpses into a carriage and send them to the Ministry of Criminal Justice to see if you can find any clues."

Youzhou Army: "Yes."

Nangong Jingnv turned her head to take a look, and saw Nangong Shunv holding Qi Yuxiao in her arms, covering her eyes.

Nangong Jingnu: "Second Sister, take Yu Xiao to the carriage and wait for a while."

Nangong Shunv nodded, and carried Qi Yuxiao into the carriage. Nangong Jingnv searched among the crowd again, and saw that many courtiers were in a state of distress, and some of them were also injured, but the faces she was familiar with could not be seen. Still, I felt a little comforted in my heart: "Have you ever seen King Linjiang?"

Nangong Bao squeezed out from the crowd and called out "Your Majesty". Nangong Jingnv's eyes lit up and she waved: "Old Ba, come here."

Nangongbao walked up to Nangong Jingnv, who supported Nangongbao's arm and looked at it carefully, then heaved a sigh of relief: "It's fine."

Nangongbao's smile was a bit stiff, and he turned his eyes away: "Thank you for your concern."

Nangong Jingnv didn't think deeply about it, she just thought it was the grievances between her siblings. She believed that with the passage of time, the old eighth would definitely reconcile with herself. The old eighth is still young, so she needs some time to think about it .

Nangong Jingnu: "Come, climb the mountain with me to worship the heavens."

Nangong Sunu: "Your Majesty, please think twice, maybe there are assassins on the mountain!"

Nangong Jingnu: "Eldest sister, if I haven't burned a book to pay respects to the world, I'm still not a real emperor. It's enough to have soldiers from Youzhou to accompany me. You and the second sister wait at the foot of the mountain, and I will go up with the eighth."

Nangong Sunu made an explanation, and appointed dozens of people to escort Nangong Jingnv Mountain.

This time it was a hike up the mountain, accompanied by all civil and military officials, the assassins on the mountain had disappeared long ago, Nangong Jingnv entered the Vientiane Temple safely, burned a memorial to heaven and earth, offered three sacrifices and went down the mountain.

The monks of Vientiane Temple were all brought back to the Ministry of Justice. This ancient temple that stood for thousands of years may end today.

When Nangong Jingnu came down from the mountain, it was past noon, she looked up at the sky, thinking about Qi Yan, she boarded the carriage and ordered to drive back to the palace.

In the carriage sat the three sisters and Yu Xiao who was already sound asleep. The little guy barely slept last night, but was coaxed by Nangong Shunv so that he fell asleep with his pillow on his second aunt's leg.

The carriage started, and Nangong Sunu asked softly, "Does Your Majesty know who appointed the assassin?"

Nangong Jingnv nodded, and replied in a low voice: "If I'm not mistaken, the mastermind behind it should be the former princess."

A trace of astonishment flashed across Nangong Sunu's eyes, she was stunned for a moment and only sighed.

Nangong Jingnu: "Eldest sister?"

Nangong Sunu: "Oh, as expected, Your Majesty has worked hard to rule the country, and the courtiers and common people are very satisfied with His Majesty. She is the only one who can do this kind of thing... and has the ability to plan such a big thing."

Nangong Jingnu: "Elder sister knows the former princess?"

Nangong Sunu: "There was... a relationship on several occasions."

Nangong Jingnv remembered that she had mentioned the matter of the former princess to her eldest sister before, and the eldest sister's expression at that time was a look of shock, but Nangong Jingnv didn't think deeply about it. It is indeed shocking to have a former princess, but Nangong Jingnv suddenly reacted to a question when she saw her elder sister's behavior at this time.

The previous dynasty had perished when I was born, but my eldest sister was already [-] years old at that time, as the eldest daughter of the prime minister's mansion...would you not know the princess of the previous dynasty?

Nangong Jingnv cast her eyes on Nangong Shunv, who shook her head slightly, expressing her ignorance.

All the way in silence, back to the capital Nangong Jingnv found Gongyang Huai, and after confirming that there was nothing abnormal in the inner court, she was relieved a little. Nangong Jingnv could not wait to see Qi Yan immediately, but today she was delayed too much, and she still had too much something to do.

After coming to the Taimiao and finishing the sacrifice, the Secretary of the Inner Court took out the last decree promulgated by Nangong Rang and read it out again. The relatives of the emperor and all civil and military officials knelt down to pay homage, shouting long live.

Linjiang Wang Nan Gongbao knelt in a conspicuous position in the front row, looked down at the ground, and there was a trace of gloom in his eyes...

Back in the court hall, Nangong Jingnv promulgated an imperial decree for the whole world, amnesty for the whole world, and the enthronement ceremony was finally completed at dusk.

Nangong Jingnv had long since returned home, and wanted to go to Ganquan Palace to see Qi Yan, but she was stopped by Princess Qionghua Nangong Sunu just as she walked out of the hall.

Nangong Sunu: "Your Majesty, please stay."

Nangong Jingnu: "Is something wrong, big sister?"

Nangong Su Nu sighed softly, and replied: "This is not a place to talk, let's talk in Your Majesty's Palace."

Nangong Jingnv thought for a while and agreed, the two sisters went all the way to Ganquan Palace, but they didn't see any servants on the way, it was very deserted.

Nangong Sunu couldn't help sighing: "Don't look at those palace people who are usually inconspicuous, this huge inner court is much deserted without them."

Nangong Jingnu: "I've been busy all day, and I forgot that all the palace people are under the supervision of the Inner Court Department... I will send someone to go there in a while to lift the ban on them."

Nangong Sunu: "Presumably at this time... Lord Gongyang has already left the palace. After speaking with His Majesty, I would like to ask His Majesty to give you a handbook. I will go there myself."

Nangong Jingnu: "Then there will be Sister Lao."

……

The two sisters entered the bedroom of Ganquan Palace, and Nangong Jingnv poured tea for Nangong Sunu herself: "Eldest sister, there are only two of us sisters, so please speak up if you have anything to say."

Nangong Sunu took a sip of the tea cup, pondered for a while and replied, "Last time you said... about the former princess, is there any conclusive evidence?"

Nangong Jingnv understood it in her heart, and replied: "Naturally, when Li Qiaoshan made the first announcement last time, he stole many letters from the former princess and Yuanjun, and they have been compared by Hongwen Library, including seals and handwriting. It's definitely her."

Nangong Sunu's complexion became a little ugly: "I didn't expect..."

Nangong Jingnu: "Elder Sister, you have also seen today that the princess of the previous court wanted to put me to death, and the civil turmoil was somewhat related to her. If Elder Sister knows something, just say it, and it can be regarded as helping me." .”

Nangong Sunu sighed softly, her pupils were far apart, her eyes drifted away, and she said leisurely: "If you had told me last time that the case of the former princess had solid evidence, maybe today's incident would not have happened... Bengong, I... ...I thought that the matter of the former princess was just, just a gimmick, and it was just that someone pretended to be a deceased person to make trouble."

Nangong Jingnu: "Eldest sister recognizes her?"

Nangong Sunu nodded: "She... is a few years older than me, she can be regarded as my close friend when I was not out of the court."

original……

In the first year of the Showa era of the previous dynasty, that is, the year when Emperor Shang ascended the throne... Nangong Sunu, who was only 14 years old, attended the palace banquet as a family member of the prime minister's mansion, and it was there that Nangong Sunu met the princess of the former dynasty for the first time.

That year, the princess of the former dynasty, Emperor Shang of the former dynasty was 16 years old.

Emperor Shang was young, and it was up to His Royal Highness the Princess to accompany him all the way to deal with the officials.

In order to avoid suspicion and not to take away her younger brother's demeanor, before the banquet that day, the princess covered her face with a light veil, only showing half of her face.

In the few months before this, the courtiers had had several unhappiness with Emperor Shang because of the posthumous matter. Since the old emperor passed away without warning, Emperor Shang had not yet married the crown princess when he ascended the throne, and there was only one crown prince in the mansion. Concubine Liang was later the "famous concubine" who was called the demon concubine: Concubine Wan Gui.

Emperor Shang and Concubine Wan Gui had a very close relationship, and after ascending the throne, he intended to confer Concubine Wan Gui as empress, but was strongly opposed by his officials.

Crown Prince Liang Di is a concubine among the people. There are clear provisions in the laws and regulations of Wei State that concubines cannot become wives in most cases. Carried into a wife.

Besides, Concubine Wan Gui has no heirs, and Emperor Shang is still young, and if he marries any woman, he may give birth to heirs, but this Emperor Shang is an infatuated kind, and because of this matter, many courtiers were offended, and he insisted on making Concubine Wan Gui his queen. .

In the end, no one knew who invited the eldest princess to come out of the mountain, and some way of lobbying was used, so Emperor Shang let go of this idea.

However, as soon as Emperor Shang killed four veterans of the former court, the political situation was unstable for a while, and people were panicked, so the princess of the former court appeared at this banquet to mediate between the courtiers and Emperor Shang.

Nangong Sunu remembered that the princess came out silently in the middle of the banquet, ordered someone to spread three scrolls on the table, rolled up her sleeves and swished ink to make paintings, and it took only a stick of incense to create a picture of "Mountain and River" that swallowed mountains and rivers in full view. "Sheji Map" was completed.

Before Nangong Sunu could fully appreciate it, she saw that the former princess ordered someone to move the table under the scroll, and in the blink of an eye, the "Mountains, Rivers and Sheji Map" was divided into three parts...

Amidst the exclamation of the crowd, Nangong Sunu rubbed her eyes, and was surprised to find that the separated painting turned into three paintings magically, each of which was also a masterpiece.

When the ink was completely dry, the princess of the previous dynasty gave two of the volumes to Prime Minister Nan Gongrang and General Lu Quan respectively, and the last one to Emperor Shang.

Coincidentally, Nan Gongrang's pair had "mountain" written on it, Lu Quan's pair had "river" written on it, and Emperor Shang's pair had "Sheji" written on it.

Afterwards, the princess of the previous dynasty solemnly performed a Wanfu ceremony, took off the veil covering her face, and revealed that peerless and alluring face, which amazed everyone.

The former princess smiled, and the candlelight dimmed a little. In those watery and flowing eyes, there was no word to express affection, and the look was bright.

The originally lifeless dinner party seemed to be eased a lot because of the existence of this person. Such a beautiful person seemed to be unable to bear any more quarrels just by looking at it.

At that moment, the hall was extremely quiet, and even the sound of silk and bamboo seemed to have disappeared. The former princess said softly: "Since ancient times, the mountains and rivers have been safe in the Sheji, but have you ever heard that the Sheji is far away from the mountains and rivers?"

Who can believe it?

A painting by a skillful hand and a few words in one sentence have made the previous dynasty last for another five years...

It wasn't until the fifth year of Emperor Shang's ascension to the throne that the princess of the previous dynasty was angered by Emperor Shang and Concubine Wan Gui so that she wandered out of the palace.

Even so, Nangong Rang did not dare to ascend the throne for 49 days after the death of Emperor Shang. Instead, he advertised to the world, sent heavy troops to search everywhere, and respectfully invited the eldest princess to return to Beijing to preside over the overall situation...

It wasn't until 49 days later that she got definite news that Her Royal Highness Princess Chang died in a fire, and her body was burnt to black, Nan Gongrang ascended the throne.

Nangong Sunu patted Nangong Jingnu's hand, and said in a low voice: "Afterwards, another thing happened... That year, you and your second sister were not born yet, and it happened not long after the palace banquet. Has the emperor mentioned to you..."

Nangong Jingnu: "Father, he never mentioned about the former princess."

Nangong Sunu sighed, and hooked the corners of her mouth: "People go out of the tea, and people die like a lamp goes out, who will remember?" After a pause, Nangong Sunu continued: "Not long after the palace banquet, my aunt ...that is, the empress dowager, who suddenly had a high fever and fell into a coma. The doctors in the mansion were helpless. After guarding for a day and a night, the father went to the palace to face the saint, begging Emperor Shang to give the imperial doctor to treat the empress dowager, but the imperial doctors were exhausted. I tried all the methods and couldn't cure it, and I also concluded that the Empress Dowager is suffering from a terminal illness, which can't be cured..."

Nangong Jingnv exclaimed, and looked nervously at Nangong Sunu, who continued: "The imperial doctor said that the disease is contagious, and suggested that the emperor seal the courtyard. The imperial father was so angry that he drove away the imperial doctor. That afternoon... Here she is."

Nangong Jingnu: "She? Is...the former princess?"

Nangong Sunu nodded: "Well, she is here, still wearing a light veil and wearing a regular dress. After seeing the Queen Mother, she told Father that the imperial doctor's hospital is not bad, but she can try this disease."

Nangong Jingnu: "Father...why never mentioned it to me?"

Nangong Sunu smiled bitterly: "Will I still lie to you? It's an old story, so why should I?"

Nangong Jingnu: "That's not what I meant... what happened later?"

Nangong Sunu: "Later? Later, she persuaded my father to send the Empress Dowager to the meditation room on the back mountain of the Vientiane Temple. As the eldest daughter of the mansion, I voluntarily went up to the mountain to serve the sick. The three of us lived in the back mountain of the Vientiane Temple. For a whole hundred days, I watched her heal the Empress Dowager step by step with my own eyes. For countless nights, because the disease always had a fever in the middle of the night, she took care of the Empress Dowager's bedside in plain clothes until dawn. One hundred days, a whole hundred days...until the Empress Dowager recovers from her illness."

Nangong Jingnv was speechless for a long time after listening.

Nangong Sunu: "It was only then that I found out that she was in poor health when she was a child. Guan Tiansi said that she was a star in the sky who sneaked into the world to experience all kinds of situations in the world. If she can't stay in one place for a long time, her spiritual platform will become unstable. It was suggested that she go to the temple to smoke incense, so when she was a child, she went to the Buddhist temple on the back mountain of Vientiane Temple for three years. She is also a lay disciple of Vientiane Temple, and the only female disciple. She was accepted as an exception because the host said she had a predestined relationship with the Buddha. I once spent a hundred days with her day and night, and then became a close friend in my boudoir. Last time you said... the mastermind behind the scenes is probably the former princess. The reason why I didn't say this is because I don't believe it, and it would only add to my troubles... After the accident that year, not only the father, but also all parties in the court Powers, including me... have secretly used their own means to search for her traces. She was indeed burned to death in the other courtyard of Jinyang's palace... If you were lucky enough to see her even once... She will definitely not be associated with the current 'behind the scenes'. She is a person who... picks up a sparrow with a broken wing and tries her best to heal it."

Nangong Sunu pursed her lips, turned her head away, turned around after a few breaths, sniffed and continued: "If she is really an enemy of the imperial court, you have to be careful... It is not easy to catch her." Easy, because of Guan Tiansi's assertion, the old emperor of the previous dynasty gave her a gold medal, allowing her to travel around the world unimpeded, so...she has been to many, many places, Luobei, Fujian, and even... overseas fairy islands... She had been there before, and she didn't return to Beijing until the old emperor passed away. She stayed in the capital for five years, until... Concubine Wan Gui and Emperor Shang were so angry that she left Beijing. Her other courtyards are located all over the world, and she has made countless connections in her life. , friends are all over the world, from all walks of life... She herself is proficient in everything from piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and has quite a lot of savings, you..."

"Tuk Tuk Tuk"

A knock on the door interrupted Nangong Sunu's words, and dispelled the strangeness in Nangong Jingnu's heart.

Nangong Jingnu: "Who?"

Nangong Bao: "Your Majesty, it's me."

Nangong Jingnu: "Old Ba?" Nangong Jingnu glanced at Nangong Sunu, who nodded.

Nangong Jingnu: "Come in."

Nangongbao pushed the door open and entered, seeing that there was still Nangong Sunu in the hall, a trace of astonishment flashed in her eyes, and her expression was a little unnatural.

Nangong Jingnu: "Old Ba, come quickly."

Nan Gongbao: "Eldest sister is also here...then, the younger brother should not bother you."

Nangong Jingnu: "Come here, are you frightened today? Why are the family restrained?"

Nangong Bao hesitated for a while, but sat down at the round table, opposite to the two sisters.

Nangong Jingnv looked at Nangongbao for a moment, then asked with concern: "I think you are injured today too? I have been too busy to ask, is it okay?"

Nangongbao pressed his left arm subconsciously, and said falteringly: "It's nothing...just a scratch, the imperial doctor has checked it, it's all right."

Nangong Jingnu: "Is it serious? Let me see?"

Nangong Bao covered his arms: "No need, it's not serious."

Nangong Sunu also pressed Nangongbao's left forearm, and Nangongbao immediately jumped up: "What are you doing?!"

Nangong Sunu's heart tightened, she touched a hard object just now, and seeing Nangongbao's tense expression at this time, Nangong Sunu's heart rang alarm bells, she understood Nangongbao's real intention, and she was here to assassinate!

It's just a pity that I am here too, what should I do now?If you are in a hurry, will you jump over the wall in a hurry?

Nangong Jingnu: "What's wrong? But did you touch a wound?"

Nangong Bao took half a step back and stretched his right hand to his left cuff. Nangong Sunu's heart trembled, and she called out, "Your Majesty, I suddenly remembered that I have something to do...Let me go!"

After finishing speaking, without waiting for Nangong Jingnv to speak, she got up and went straight to Nangongbao, and grabbed his left arm: "Let Lao Ba go with me."

Nangong Sunu cast a warning look at Nangongbao, her lips quivered and silently said three words "Follow me"

Nangong Jingnu: "Eldest sister, eighth... who are you?"

Nangong Jingnv was also vaguely aware of the strangeness, but seeing her eldest sister smiling, holding Lao Ba's arm affectionately, she said to Nangong Jingnv: "Isn't Your Majesty worried about that person? Presumably he is also very worried about Your Majesty. Come on."

Nangong Jingnv frowned slightly, but the other party didn't mention Qi Yan's name after all, Nangong Jingnv didn't want to say much, she just nodded: "I'll go later."

Nangong Sunu: "It's getting late, I'll let Lao Ba see me off."

……

Nangong Sunu helped Nangong Bao to leave. Nangong Jingnv always felt that there was a slight disobedience, but Nangong Sunu's behavior afterwards was too natural, so she had to let go of this idea.

Moreover, another thing distracted Nangong Jingnu's attention, that is, when Nangong Sunu was telling about the princess of the previous dynasty, she tried her best to cover up but still revealed a trace of affection.

This kind of sentiment is very familiar to Nangong Jingnv. When she was an ignorant girl, when she thought of the outstanding Qi Yan, she would reveal... longing and pride.

In any case, such an expression on the face of the eldest sister who has always been bold and unruly is too disobedient, but out of respect for the elder sister, Nangong Jingnv dare not think deeply, and can only face her face with many doubts. Caring got up and left the bedroom, came to the secret door and entered the forbidden area of ​​Ganquan Palace.

Ru Ruolan insisted on her health regimen and went to rest early, Qi Yan stayed alone in the bedroom, staring at the night pearl on the table in a daze, and didn't even hear the door open.

Seeing Qi Yan sitting there motionless, Nangong Jingnv tiptoed to the table with tenderness in her heart.

Covered Qi Yan's eyes from behind, leaned into Qi Yan's ear and whispered: "What are you thinking? So engrossed?"

Qi Yan's body froze at first, as if she had been frightened, and then gradually softened after hearing Nangong Jingnu's voice, she raised her hand to caress the back of Nangong Jingnu's hand, and said softly, "I'm thinking of Your Majesty."

It was rare to hear Qi Yan's straightforward answer. Nangong Jingnv smiled brightly and took away the hand covering Qi Yan's eyes: "How are you doing today?"

Qi Yan pulled Nangong Jingnv to sit next to her, and looked at Nangong Jingnv for a while: "Today I heard the drumming of the Inner Court Department summoning the palace people, what happened?"

Nangong Jingnv took Qi Yan's hand: "I told you, don't worry, don't think too much, I'm fine."

Qi Yan: "Yes."

Afterwards, Nangong Jingnv told Qi Yan what happened today, and also repeated what Nangong Sunv said to Qi Yan.

After hearing this, Qi Yan pondered for a moment, then replied: "The talents and medical skills are comparable, so it shouldn't be faked by others, but... the temperament is indeed quite different, and they are completely different from before."

Nangong Jingnv also let out a long sigh, not knowing how to answer.

Seeing Nangong Jingnv's tired face, Qi Yan felt distressed, and took the initiative to say: "The matter of the princess of the previous court... It will not be resolved overnight. If you are too eager for quick success and quick profit, it will only be your majesty. Why don't you take precautions and wait for her to come back again?" With her temperament, she can carry out assassinations that expose her traces, which shows that she has become impatient. I think that as long as your majesty governs the country well, everyone in the world will be fed and clothed, no matter what prestige the former princess had in the past, she will be killed. Gradually disintegrating, Your Majesty must not worry too much."

Nangong Jingnu: "I know, but I just didn't expect that she had saved my mother's life. Thinking about it like this, my mood is inevitably a little complicated."

Qi Yan raised her hand to take off the imperial crown for Nangong Jingnv: "Your Majesty is kind, and I understand it. It's just...fate has played tricks on others, and everyone has too much involuntary control."

Nangong Jingnv looked at Qi Yan, and sighed in her heart: Yes, why are you and Yuan Jun not the same?After all, they were not direct participants in this enmity between Wei and Wei, but they have suffered from the hatred left by them in the past ten years.

Nangong Jingnv couldn't help caressing Qi Yan's face, and said softly: "These years...you have also suffered."

Qi Yan smiled slightly: "Your Majesty must be tired after a busy day, right? This court dress is cumbersome and looks very restrictive. Why don't you go to the hot spring for a dip to get rid of fatigue?"

Nangong Jingnu: "Okay."