Chapter 80: The sound of shattering jade. Jiang Yun is cautious and does not allow any further advances. ...
It was a letter from the Guardian newspaper bribed by Cui Yiluo.
Nearly two months ago, the guards of the Jiang Mansion escorted Cui Qi and his three companions to Ningzhou. Cui Qi had been stupid and idiotic ever since he was frightened last time, so he would not even be able to be an official when he returned.
Yao and Cui Jun were unwilling to be implicated by Cui Qi, and they made a lot of noise along the way. They either cursed Cui Yiluo or clamored to see Jiang Yunjin and Old Madam Jiang, but were all suppressed by the guards.
Ten days ago, the usually noisy courtyard suddenly fell silent. The guard at the door saw that the breakfast that had been delivered to the bedroom door had not been moved, so he unlocked the door and took a look.
Cui Qi and Yao, along with Cui Jun's family of three, were all killed with a single blow, a quick and clean death.
After hearing this, Cui Yiluo was silent for a long time.
After her birthday at the beginning of the year, she was now nineteen. She had only left the Cui family for Shengjing when she was eighteen. The first eighteen years of her life had been spent under Cui Qi's indifference, Yao's poor treatment, and Cui Jun's bullying. And then, suddenly, they were all dead.
It wasn't that Cui Yiluo hadn't considered killing them. But after they were sent away, she didn't bother to think about it. When she heard the news of their deaths, it took her a long time to recover. She even confirmed it with Lilan again.
"Tell your men to go to Ningzhou to arrange funeral arrangements."
Having said that, the Cui family passed away suddenly. She could send someone to arrange the funeral, but some things had to be handled by her personally. She would have to go back to Ningzhou in a few days.
On the day Cheng Yi caused trouble, Li Lan was also present. She asked, "Miss, was it the eldest master who did it?"
Cui Yiluo shook her head, "It's not him."
The guards standing outside did not hear any sound of fighting, which was enough to show how powerful the people sent by the other party were, as they could kill people without them even noticing.
And there is only one person in the world who can achieve this level.
Cui Yiluo lowered her eyes to look at the small calligraphy on the book, but her gaze was not focused on any one thing. She whispered, "It's the emperor."
It was just that she had reached a consensus with Concubine Qiong. Concubine Qiong pretended to have amnesia in front of the emperor and could not have told the emperor about this. Why did the emperor send people to kill the Cui family? Moreover, the Cui family had already returned to Ningzhou. The emperor did not choose to take action on the way or when they just arrived in Ningzhou.
Coincidentally, more than 20 days ago, she went to see Concubine Qiong and told her that she would not reveal her relationship with her. If the person was sent at that time, arrived in Ningzhou from Shengjing, and then killed, the time interval would coincide exactly.
Cui Qi was the only witness to prove Concubine Qiong's identity, so Jiang Yunjin sent so many people to escort her, but now he was easily killed by the emperor's men.
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After Jiang Yunjin finished his shift and returned home on time, he asked the servant where his wife was as usual. After learning that Cui Yiluo was still in the room and had not gone to the dining hall, he strode into the room.
The door opened and closed, and he lifted the embroidered curtain, but instead of seeing Cui Yiluo sitting by the window reading a book or looking at the account books as usual, he bumped into someone face to face.
Cui Yiluo stood behind the embroidered curtain, expressionless, and it was impossible to tell what she was thinking. But even so, her beautiful watery eyes turned to look at him, still captivating.
He restrained himself from going forward to be intimate with her. These days, Cui Yiluo said that she had to abide by his rules. Except on the couch, no intimate behavior was allowed, not even touching hands.
"Waiting for me?"
Cui Yiluo looked at the smile in his eyes because she was waiting for him, and couldn't help laughing in her heart, but she had something serious to discuss, so she straightened her expression and said, "Do you know about the Cui family's affairs?"
In fact, she had already received the letter, and Jiang Yunjin must have received it a long time ago.
Jiang Yunjin hummed, the smile in his eyes disappeared, and he straightened his expression and said, "I'll go back with you in a few days."
There was no trace of guilt on his face.
Cui Yiluo nodded, ending the topic. She straightened her scarf and prepared to go out. "Let's go have dinner."
Jiang Yunjin was obviously stunned for a moment. He had already prepared to answer her, but she didn't even ask.
There was even a hint of nervousness in his expression, as if he was not sure about her attitude.
Cui Yiluo naturally knew why he reacted like this, but she pretended not to know. After all, she had not regarded Cui Qi as her father for a long time, and she also believed that Jiang Yunjin would never hurt her.
She took the initiative to hold his hand, "Aren't you going?"
He obviously hadn't expected this, and his fingers stiffened for a moment, but he quickly reacted. He quickly wrapped his hands around hers as if he was afraid of being late, and then inserted his fingers between her fingers, clasping theirs tightly.
After completing a series of actions smoothly, Jiang Yunjin coughed softly and looked at her with his deep eyes. "Didn't you say we should follow the rules?"
He hadn't held her hand for a long time.
Cui Yiluo scoffed softly, "My husband is right. Ah Luo should still follow some rules."
After saying that, she was about to shake off his hand, but the man held it tightly and she couldn't move at all.
Jiang Yunjin said righteously, "Blame me for breaking your rules."
These words sounded very familiar. They were clearly what she used to say often, but now they were spoken by the man who used to stick to the rules. Cui Yiluo couldn't help but curl the corners of her lips. With her other hand, she boldly stroked his Adam's apple with the tip of her index finger, then moved it down to circle around his heart, causing a tingling sensation.
Jiang Yunjin's Adam's apple rolled slightly, his eyes suddenly became dark, and he held her hand involuntarily tighter.
"I am truly flattered to hear your words, my husband."
Cui Yiluo's eyes, filled with autumn water, seemed to contain a curved hook, which hooked his mind in an extremely aggressive manner, making him want to knock the mist away.
The man's eyes became darker, and he took a step forward, his handsome face about to fall.
Cui Yiluo uttered a cry, and immediately opened her palm, which was circling his heart, and placed it on his chest.
She put on a serious face and said, "Jiang Yunjin, don't push your luck."
The dagger on his waist was already against her lower abdomen, jumping with great presence.
Jiang Yunjin stared at her for a few moments, like a beast staring at its prey and never letting go. When Cui Yiluo almost thought that he was about to break the false facade of courtesy he had maintained for some time, he withdrew his body.
He calmed his breathing and tried to withdraw the dagger. In the meantime, Cui Yiluo stood beside him and watched him with interest.
Only after the heat had reduced to half and was no longer noticeable did he hold her hand tightly and walk out.
"Let's go."
-
In the eyes of outsiders, the death of the Cui family was an accident. Robbers broke into the house late at night and were accidentally discovered by three members of the Cui family, so they killed them to silence them. The Ningzhou County Magistrate has arrested this group of thieves.
The Cui family only had one daughter left who married into Shengjing. However, when the Cui girl heard the news of her parents' death, she was heartbroken and bedridden. She was far away in Shengjing and could not rush back, so she just sent people to arrange the funeral and bury her parents and younger brother with great honor.
The Cui family suddenly lost its members, and for a moment, the local people in Ningzhou were all sighing.
The matter seemed to be resolved just like that. But when a stone is thrown into a lake, although it may not seem to create ripples, there are actually undercurrents surging beneath the surface.
Late at night a few days later, Cui Yiluo was reading a book in her room. The candlelight flickered slightly from time to time, making her heart and soul jump along with it, making it difficult to find peace.
The snow outside the window has melted, and it is the time when all things come back to life, but the night is still chilly.
Behind the screen where birds were playing with flowers, a figure in a snow-white brocade robe suddenly appeared and walked hurriedly towards the bedroom.
Cui Yiluo's hand suddenly trembled, and the book fell on the couch, but she ignored it and stood up to meet it.
Seeing the dark eyes between the man's brows, like thick ink that could not be dissolved, Cui Yiluo's heart skipped a beat. She knew that after the beginning of spring, the emperor, who had always been in good health, had caught a cold for some reason. Since then, he had been bedridden from time to time. Sometimes he even skipped court and could only discuss state affairs with his ministers behind a screen in his bedroom.
After the death of Cui Qi and others, Xiao Zheng seemed to have no scruples and acted more and more erratically. The issue of the succession was brought up again frequently, until the emperor got very angry, and then the issue calmed down for a while. However, it was difficult to conceal the turmoil in the court.
And tonight Jiang Yunjin is in a hurry...
The next moment, Jiang Yunjin really heard him say, "Something happened in the palace. I need to go there."
After he said that, he went to the cabinet to get a black robe and changed into it behind the screen.
Before leaving, he couldn't help but hold her in his arms and bury his head in the crook of her soft neck, seeming to be attached to her but also worried: "A Luo, I left all the guards behind, take care of yourself."
Cui Yiluo immediately said, "What could I possibly do in the mansion? Ask the guards to follow you."
Jiang Yunjin just kissed her lightly on the lips without saying anything, obviously determined, and then he was about to turn around.
Before he stepped out of the room, Cui Yiluo suddenly spoke: "Husband, I made your favorite lotus seed porridge for breakfast tomorrow. I'll wait for you to come home for dinner."
Jiang Yunjin paused and seemed to turn around and walk back for a moment, but he restrained himself.
He responded softly, "Okay."
Cui Yiluo watched his figure disappear in the yard before lighting the glass lamp in front of the bed.
She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
Jiang Yunjin rarely wore dark clothes, and he only wore them when he went to Ningzhou, because dark was the color that was hardest to see after being stained with blood.
As night fell, Cui Yiluo sat in the room all night without reading a book. She just stared at the glass lamp. Her eyes burned, so she looked away to rest for a while, gently touching the glass tassel with her hand.
After the night had sunk to its darkest, the sunrise slowly and laboriously arrived. As the morning light faded, there were noises in the courtyard again.
Cui Yiluo almost crashed into the man's arms, and Jiang Yunjin was even shaken by her. After he reacted, he quickly pushed her out.
Cui Yiluo's nose was filled with the smell of blood, and she could also feel the blood on his clothes that had not yet dried on her clothes, but she still ignored his resistance and hugged him tightly with such strength that she didn't know where she got it from.
Her eyes were sore and she was about to cry. She felt for the wound on his body and said, "You are hurt."
"No, it's all other people's blood."
Cui Yiluo finally stopped crying after hearing this, but her voice was still nasal and muffled: "I don't believe it. Take off your clothes."
A very light chuckle came from the man above the head, "Okay."
As if he saw that she was really worried, he was no longer as uncomfortable as before when taking off his clothes. After returning to his room, he quickly took off his clothes, revealing the muscles that were still tense underneath.
Jiang Yunjin practiced martial arts, so naturally he had some old injuries on his body. Cui Yiluo turned him over and over carefully to confirm that he was indeed not injured. His skin was cold and white, and if he was injured, it would be particularly obvious, just like the scratches she had left on his body before.
The blood on his clothes was indeed someone else's. The strong smell of blood was enough to show how intense the situation was last night.
It was from Jiang Yunjin that Cui Yiluo finally understood the whole story of what happened last night.
Xiao Zheng claimed that Xiao Jing had secretly poisoned the emperor, and, in collusion with Concubine Qiong, launched a coup under the pretext of purging the emperor's entourage. Jiang Yunjin no longer assisted Xiao Jing, but remained a key official, duty-bound to protect the emperor. Chaos descended upon the palace, and peace only returned just before dawn.
Both factions wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to kill the emperor and take the throne. But unexpectedly, it was the third prince, who had always kept a low profile, who led his men to rescue the emperor.
The winner takes all, and the outcome is decided. The other princes are too young or too weak to take the throne, so it seems the emperor can only pass the throne to the third prince.
"So, Your Majesty's illness..."
Jiang Yunjin replied, "It was Concubine Qiong who poisoned her. But Xiao Jing also knew about this."
The emperor's most trusted person was Concubine Qiong, and only Concubine Qiong could poison the emperor. Xiao Jing's silence was simply a desire to wait for the emperor's health to decline so he could seize power.
Xiao Zheng and Xiao Jing had been imprisoned, facing possible execution or exile. Concubine Qiong, however, remained imprisoned in her own palace, heavily guarded and watched, with some even suggesting she might be spared. For a moment, it was unclear how the Emperor would deal with this beloved concubine, favored for nearly twenty years but who had poisoned him.
Cui Yiluo felt heavy in her heart.
Jiang Yunjin pursed his lips. He didn't want to talk about this, but he respected her opinion. "Noble Concubine Qiong said she wanted to see you."
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The author has something to say: This chapter is mainly about the transition of the plot, and the next chapter will be all about xql being sweet [yellow heart]. The plot progresses quickly because this book is mainly about xql falling in love, so the palace coup will not be described in detail.
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