Chapter 172 Chapter 172 There are so many people here, they have to eat...
The Nine-Bend Yellow River Lantern Array is a long-standing custom within the palace. In autumn, 365 lanterns are adorned throughout the palace, arranged along a path based on the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams of the I Ching. Each lantern symbolizes a deity, mimicking the nine bends of the Yellow River to form a maze. Within the maze are two gates: the "Gate of Life" and the "Gate of Death." The emperor, holding a lantern, leads the imperial court into the maze. If they manage to exit through the Gate of Life, it signifies prosperity for the nation and harmony with the will of Heaven.
At that time, the people of Beijing were in a state of panic, and rumors were rampant. One string of coins could buy a pound of oil one day, but not two eggs the next. Refugees were already fleeing the city, and despite repeated attempts by officials and soldiers to stop them, the emperor was desperate to appeal to the gods and appease the people.
Therefore, at this moment when the situation was turbulent and about to break out, the palace was busy with decorations and was extremely festive.
——Although, at this time, the lantern display is partly to understand God's will, and partly to indulge in joy for the last time before disaster strikes, everyone knows it, but no one says anything.
Emperor Jiaqing became increasingly anxious and sleepless, observing strict fasting and hoping day and night that the lantern display would appeal to the gods and soothe the people.
The fifth day of September was an auspicious day calculated by Gu Huaijin.
At the beginning of the You hour, the "Zhonghe Shao Music" was played loudly, and Emperor Jiaqing led his clan members to worship the Three Emperors' shrines. Taoist priests recited the "Beidou Sutra" together, lit the wicks of lamps with cinnabar, and lit the lamps in the offering formation.
It was the hour of Xu, the night was already pitch black, but the palace was brightly lit, dazzling the eyes.
A lantern array was set up in the imperial garden. Three hundred and sixty-five bronze pillars stood amidst the shrubs and flowers, each crowned with a five-colored lantern. The colors shimmered brilliantly, dazzling the eyes, and a flood of colorful light flowed everywhere. Concubines and ministers bowed their heads in formation at the entrance of the lantern array, their court robes and gowns all colored by the lights.
The lantern array is surrounded by colorful banners and gauze to block the wind.
Eunuchs and palace maids were everywhere, shaking copper bells to protect the formation.
Nan Qiongshuang held a phoenix-tail lantern in her hand and stood side by side with Mao Linyan, who also held a lantern.
The emperor held a lantern at the head of the procession, followed closely by the imperial concubines, and the civil and military officials followed closely behind. The passage in the procession was narrow, only wide enough for two people to pass, so although the two men would raise their eyebrows and glare at each other when they saw each other, they still had to get along peacefully.
As Emperor Jiaqing's most trusted confidant, Gu Huaijin followed the two of them.
To be exact, behind her.
The Regent did not arrive for a long time.
Li Xuanbai's personality was the most casual and unrestrained. Although this complicated ceremony was a bit entertaining, it was still a hassle for him. He finally arrived two quarters later.
Emperor Jiaqing stood at the head of the team, not daring to utter a single word of complaint. Upon seeing Li Xuanbai, he smiled apologetically and said, "Royal brother, come quickly, come quickly."
Li Xuanbai walked closer without even glancing at Nan Qiongshuang.
Ever since Gu Huaijin committed suicide, he had figured out something from her reaction and refused to deceive himself anymore. He hadn't spoken to her for days and never summoned her again. When he saw her, he would pass by her without even glancing at her, as if she were a speck of dust.
Nan Qiong Shuang didn't know whether he was pretending not to care or really didn't care, but no matter what, she could no longer treat him the same way as before - Gu Huaijin really cared a lot.
She also kept her eyes down in silence, pretending not to know and not to see.
Emperor Jiaqing led him to his side, and even pulled him with a smile on his face, pushed him to the right, and stood on the left side himself, side by side with Li Xuanbai.
Qi and Song respected the right, which was an obvious flattery as they gave up the honorable position.
Li Xuanbai smiled contemptuously and accepted it.
Not long after, the eunuch leading the way shouted, and Emperor Jiaqing and Li Xuanbai finally stepped into the lantern array.
Everyone followed closely behind.
There is a brilliant scene among the lights.
Nan Qiong Shuang didn't care at all which direction to go, and it was not up to her to go in that direction. She just looked at the endless lights in front of her, her mind wandering.
Emperor Jiaqing and Li Xuanbai had never gotten along, and during the ceremony, they didn't say a word. Since these two didn't speak, the rest of the people had no choice but to remain silent. The only sounds around them were the sounds of the copper bells and the wind blowing on the windproof gauze.
The silence made her more dreamy.
As I was thinking, I raised my eyes.
Emperor Jiaqing and Li Xuanbai, one dressed in bright yellow, the other in apricot yellow, were almost indistinguishable under the brilliant lights. Both wore gleaming imperial crowns, their waists cinched, hands clasped behind their backs, and they walked slowly in sync. Seen from behind, the two men looked practically identical.
Only then did she realize that the two men looked somewhat alike.
Looking more closely, Li Xuanbai's temples were sharp and neat, his sword-like eyebrows slanted into his temples, and his facial features were tall, straight and deep as if they were carved with a knife. As for Emperor Jiaqing, although he was not as handsome as him, the ups and downs of his forehead and nose were somewhat similar, but there were many subtle differences. When put together, they looked different.
She blinked in surprise.
Under the light, from a distance, it is really hard to tell them apart.
Suddenly, she staggered for a moment and almost sprained her ankle.
Mao Linyan curved her lips and stole a glance at him, smirked a little, then obediently retracted her foot.
Nan Qiongshuang rolled her eyes in annoyance.
There are so many people here, with nothing to do, and they are trying to trip her up in such a situation!
Hundreds of officials followed behind her, but she ignored them at first.
Unexpectedly, Mao Linyan would never let her go easily today - after hearing that Emperor Jiaqing had obtained the deer blood pill, the first person she thought of was Concubine Zhen. She was so angry that she almost wanted to set the Handan Palace on fire - after a moment, she took advantage of the turn and shrugged her shoulders.
She was really annoyed and glanced away.
Mao Linyan suppressed the corners of her mouth proudly.
Gu Huaijin saw it, but with all the officials behind him and in public, he had to think twice before speaking out to stop it.
But Li Xuanbai turned around.
He glanced at Mao Linyan quietly.
Mao Linyan immediately held her breath, covered in cold sweat, and stopped her movements obediently.
Li Xuanbai only turned halfway around and then went back as usual. He only turned halfway around because he couldn't stand anyone messing around with him under his nose, but he also disdained the person behind him.
He doesn't care, he doesn't forgive or redeem.
Gu Huaijin also sneered slightly.
This cool kid, despite all the pretense, really cares.
Nan Qiong Shuang walked silently, and suddenly she felt the person behind her took a few steps forward. The long handle of the green lantern in his hand almost brushed her sleeve. He followed her step by step. She put down her left foot, he put down his left foot, she took out her right foot, he took out his right foot.
At such a close distance, his lamp was about to set her clothes on fire. What, do you still want to stick close to her?
The rumored lover is in front, the lover is behind, and the husband who is supreme is in front.
He wanted to turn around and glare at him, but then he thought about the officials being present and the fact that they were sworn enemies in public, so he gave up.
Gu Huaijin followed her, staring at her without blinking. She had her eyes downcast, her eyelashes were very long, and the pearls under her ears swayed with every step. She was slender and soft, and as he looked at her, he couldn't help but want to hug her.
Suddenly, Li Xuanbai said, "Why do I feel like I'm going in circles?"
Nan Qiong Shuang had been daydreaming with her head down, and only then did she realize that she seemed to be going around in circles.
Such a simple array of lights, even with eunuchs guiding the way from time to time. How could Emperor Jiaqing get lost in it?
Emperor Jiaqing was sweating profusely. Watching the lantern array today was linked to the country's destiny. If a dignified emperor couldn't even walk out of the lantern array, it meant that heaven didn't want him to be the monarch, so what was the point of talking about the country's destiny?
He said, "I think this is the way. What do you think, my Royal Brother?"
"What do you think? The Emperor ordered the Nine-Bend Yellow River Lantern Array today. I'm just following along." He knew the feng shui implications of the lantern array, and he tried to distance himself from it. "If the Emperor wanted me to pay close attention, he should have told me earlier."
Emperor Jiaqing was speechless and his face turned red.
He was worried from the beginning that he would appear weak in front of everyone, so he specially arranged a few more eunuchs to lead the way. However, after walking around, he was still trapped in the formation and couldn't get out!
A gust of wind came, and the wind-blocking veil made the flowers and trees outside the formation dim and hazy. In the dazzling array of lights on all sides, the eunuch held up a colorful banner and waved it in a certain direction on the left.
Emperor Jiaqing did not dare to let anyone see that he had lost his composure, so he gritted his teeth and took a step to the left.
There were three narrow paths on the left. He was afraid that the officials behind him would become suspicious, so he pretended to be confident and picked a path at random.
He took only two steps before he stopped.
At the end of the narrow path, there is a single unlit lamp.
The lamp is not on. It is called the "distress lamp", which means a dead end. After going around in circles, I have reached another dead end!
The concubines and officials all witnessed it and were completely silent.
Emperor Jiaqing stood at the head of the crowd, without looking back, but he could feel the gazes of all the officials gathered on him alone, as if a huge wave was rising behind him, the crest of the wave was high enough to hang over his head, testing him, ready to swallow him up at any time.
If you cannot win the support of the masses - and walk ahead of them, you will only be swallowed up by them.
In this position, he has no way to retreat or hide.
He turned around with a numb scalp.
The eunuch leading the way shrilled, "Your Majesty, once you're in the Yellow River formation, you can't turn back. Our ancestors said, 'Heaven's will is unchangeable!'"
"It's already a dead end, how can you still say 'fate is unchangeable'?" Li Xuanbai scoffed, turning around. "Since it's already a dead end, it's fate to turn back as soon as possible. If you just throw yourself at the wall—"
Turning around, Nan Qiongshuang was dressed in gorgeous makeup, and her eyes, bright as gems, stared at him intently.
The formal attire of a favorite concubine is so magnificent and luxurious that it is shocking.
Li Xuanbai sneered at her and looked at her, "Hit the wall and still not turn back—that's what stupidity is."
He was hinting at something, but Nan Qiong Shuang didn't want to confront him, so she fluttered her eyelashes and lowered her eyes.
She didn't respond, and Li Xuanbai sneered.
Behind her, there was someone else confronting him.
Gu Huaijin stood behind her, wearing a black silk binding, wearing black clothes and with black hair as pale as snow, she looked at him calmly.
The bright lights all around her were like a sea, and she was naturally enveloped in his broad figure, as if she were enveloped in it by his black clothes.
For some reason, in front of everyone, he felt that the two of them were very close and natural.
He sneered in hatred. This hypocritical man, tied with a black silk ribbon, seemed to have cut off all human feelings, but what was he doing behind the scenes? Adultery!
A beast in human clothing, shameless and sanctimonious!
"Turn around, everyone. Look at me—"
“The Regent—!”
The next second, everyone's faces twisted as if they were possessed. She also looked panicked and pale, and she rushed forward to grab his arm.
He had no idea what was happening. In an instant, he felt that everything became extremely slow, as if everyone was frightened by something behind him, and he was the only one who was in great danger and had no idea.
Suddenly, there was a whistling sound behind me.
A gust of wind came quickly.
All the officials and concubines in front of him burst into wailing:
"emperor!"
“Your Majesty, you—!”
"Protect the emperor! Protect the emperor! Someone, come! Protect the emperor!"
Emperor Jiaqing's legs were shaking like a candle in the wind, and there was a bloodstain on his neck, not too deep or too shallow.
Gu Huaijin barely closed his sleeves and withdrew his hands.
Emperor Jiaqing had collapsed to the ground with a dazed look in his eyes, and was surrounded by the crowd.
"Catch the assassin! Someone, come! There's an assassin! Catch the assassin!"
The Imperial Guards and Flying Fish Guards waiting outside the formation all rushed out. The figure outside the wind-blocking veil ran away in a hurry. A man wearing a brocade robe with a flying fish pattern came over, stepping on branches and leaves, and fell to the ground and knelt on one knee:
"The passage within the lantern array is narrow. Your Majesty and the nobles, please evacuate the lantern array for shelter!"
No one cares.
A group of people were wailing in a hurry, old ministers and civil servants fell to the ground crying, and the two concubines also threw themselves on the ground and hugged the emperor and cried. The huge crowd was moving around, swaying from side to side.
Everyone was shocked and everyone cried.
There were only two people standing face to face in the sea of people and the bright lights.
Li Xuanbai looked at the frightened Emperor Jiaqing who was lying limp on the ground, and after a while, he sneered coldly.
——“Regent”.
Everyone was concerned about the life and death of the mad emperor, but she was the only one who cared about his life or death.
How about it?
Li Xuanbai admired the man's uncertain expression, feeling so satisfied that he couldn't move. After a long moment, he finally glanced at him with a smile, then approached him with a smug and arrogant look, raised his eyebrows, and said:
"Did you hear that?"
After saying that, he stepped over the heads of the crowd without looking back, and walked out of the light array leisurely.
Gu Huaijin stood there, wearing black clothes, black hair, and a black silk ribbon, his face as pale as a ghost, and he said nothing.
*
Inside the Zichen Hall.
"Someone is trying to kill me! Help! Someone is trying to kill me!"
Behind the veil of a bed covered in golden gauze, the Jiaqing Emperor howled at the top of his lungs. Gu Huaijin sat beside him, quietly feeling his pulse. Beneath the bed, the imperial physicians knelt with their heads buried. Wang Maoxing, desperate to protect his master, refused to leave no matter how others tried to persuade him, pacing the hall in circles with tears streaming down his face.
Li Xuanbai was also watching in the Purple Palace, but he was too lazy to get close and join in. He sat under the carved window and sipped his wine with relish.
Chang Zhong did not leave either - Chang Da was seriously injured and had not yet recovered. Today he entered the palace on behalf of his father to attend the lantern array blessing ceremony.
Nan Qiongshuang and Mao Linyan, one on the left and one on the right, sat together beside the dragon bed, covering their faces and crying.
"Sir! Someone wants to harm me! Sir, please save me!"
"Your Majesty," Gu Huaijin said patiently, "Don't worry, just focus on recuperating. I deflected the arrow as soon as it came. I believe your health will be fully recovered in a few days."
"But...but..." Emperor Jiaqing choked twice, "But someone wants to take my life! The evildoer even sneaked into the palace! How did he sneak into the palace? Feiyuwei go to investigate, the Imperial Guards go to arrest him, and sir, go to investigate!"
"Gu will stay here with you for a while. If the dragon is not seriously injured, Gu will go and check it out immediately."
"The world is going to change, sir, sir!" Emperor Jiaqing slapped the bed with his sleeves, tears streaming down his face. "The world is going to change again!"
Everyone in the hall was silent for a moment.
First it was the Regent, then it was Chang Da, and now, it is finally the turn of Emperor Jiaqing sitting on the throne.
Rumors were already swirling in the capital: Prince Ding had dispatched troops outside the city to mobilize hundreds of thousands of elite troops from outside Shanhaiguan. The Regent had also dispatched troops to the military camps outside the capital to stockpile food and fodder, sharpen their weapons, and prepare for battle. Prices in the city were skyrocketing, and the markets were practically empty. Everyone was hoarding food for their own use, and the wealthy and powerful had already hurried south, bringing their families with them.
Everyone is panicking and everyone is in danger.
A few days ago, Prince Ding was assassinated in his own mansion, and now rumors that Prince Ding is going to rebel are spreading all over the capital.
At this critical juncture, something happened in the Zichen Palace again.
In this situation of two tigers perched on one mountain, the Jiaqing Emperor, though the weakest, held the most sway. Anyone who dared to touch the Jiaqing Emperor would first be labeled a traitor, betraying orthodoxy and losing the support of the people. The Dragon Throne was the last remaining concern for the two tigers, the final layer of window paper preventing their peaceful coexistence.
Now, this layer of window paper is finally about to break.
The two sides no longer have to treat each other with respect.
Something is really going to happen, there is going to be chaos, a disaster is about to happen.
Nan Qiongshuang lay on the bed, covering her face and crying. Listening to Emperor Jiaqing's wailing, her heart felt cold.
The order for her to close the net hadn't even come down yet! Did she have to wait until Chang and Li fell out before she could escape?
Gu Huaijin's identity is so sensitive, how can he deal with it, how can he escape?!
The future was too uncertain. She felt like she was walking on a tightrope, forced to move forward and not daring to think too deeply.
Today—she must wait in the Purple Palace. Who knew if that group of assassins were still lurking in the palace? If they suddenly emerged, if they succeeded, her mission would be over. Both Chang and Li were probably already prepared. The Forbidden City would be in turmoil tonight!
But--
She suddenly remembered the image of Emperor Jiaqing and the Regent walking side by side in the lantern array.
Similar stature, similar bearing, identically holding their hands behind their backs. One bright yellow, the other apricot yellow, the dazzling light all around them making the two shades of yellow so subtle they were difficult to distinguish.
The four sides were covered with a hazy wind-blocking veil.
At the moment the assassin shot the arrow, Emperor Jiaqing had just walked into a dead end, and the two of them turned around together.
and--
The Regent is on the right.
In order to please him, Emperor Jiaqing gave his throne to Li Xuanbai.
Nan Qiongshuang's mind flashed with energy.
The assassin did not want to kill Emperor Jiaqing.
The real target of the cold arrow is someone else.
Suddenly, goose bumps crawled all over her body, and she felt creepy and cold all over.
He slowly raised his head and looked into the hall. Through the bed curtain, he could see the man's unruly outline, but he seemed unaware of it, drinking by himself and enjoying himself.
Did he really not realize this, or was he so clear-headed that he didn't take it seriously?
A pulse pillow suddenly appeared in front of her, blocking her view.
She followed it and looked.
Gu Huaijin's face was as gloomy as he placed the silver needles one by one on the brocade cloth, neither hurried nor slow.
Slowly and calmly, as if without any emotion at all.
Nan Qiongshuang somehow understood his deep meaning.
He is jealous.
Why be jealous at this time?
She sighed and looked around. Wang Maoxing sighed and stroked his beard, turning in circles. Emperor Jiaqing sank into his soft pillow, wailing. Mao Linyan lay sprawled on the other side of the bed, weeping so hard that the golden brocade sheets were soaked. Li Xuanbai sipped wine contentedly in the hall.
She looked calmly at the place she had just been looking at, one hand still twisting the handkerchief to wipe her tears, and the other hand slowly slid onto the brocade cloth where the silver needle was placed.
Gu Huaijin paused for a moment, his face, wrapped in black silk, still facing Emperor Jiaqing.
The other hand, however, rested on the brocade as if nothing had happened.
The two people's little fingers were only two inches apart.
Both of them had their little fingers hooked in the air.
Want to hold hands?
Let’s hold hands.
She had just reminded the Regent in a hurry, and she was afraid that he would be heartbroken again.
Without waiting for her to move.
His slender fingers had already brushed against her knuckles.
He rubbed it gently twice and hooked his little finger with hers.
Gu Huaijin rummaged through the medicine box with a cold expression, still looking dignified and composed.
She felt a tingling sensation all over her body.
There are so many people here, you have to be jealous.
"There's something fishy about what happened today." She was afraid he would misunderstand her glance at Li Xuanbai, so she looked at Emperor Jiaqing, but in reality she was explaining to him, "I'm afraid the thief's target wasn't the emperor, but my cousin."
Emperor Jiaqing, who had been pounding the bed with his sleeves, was stunned when he heard this, tears streaming down his face. "Why do you think so?"
"There's a wind-blocking veil outside the lantern formation. You two happened to have turned around when the assassin released his arrow. From behind, you two appear to be of similar stature, and the bright light reveals the colors of your clothing. You two also switched positions when entering the formation. I'm afraid the assassin couldn't tell you apart and accidentally struck the Emperor."
Gu Huaijin picked up a silver needle and looked at the needle tip in the light.
Emperor Jiaqing was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized something, and pointed his fingers, "Yes! Yes! I switched places with the Regent at that time! If you say so -"
Emperor Jiaqing paused in the middle of his words, and the rest of his words seemed to be stuck in his throat like a piece of iron.
Everyone looked towards Chang Zhong silently.
Chang Zhong sat under the carved window. Wang Rang served him a cup of tea. He was staring out the window in a daze when he suddenly felt that the whole hall was quiet. He turned around and found himself being stared at by everyone.
He swallowed with a gulp and held the scalding cup of tea tightly.
He was sweating coldly, but he smiled and flattered, "Good fortune will come to those who are lucky! I wonder who is so audacious as to dare to be so presumptuous in the palace?! The Emperor is a lucky star, the Lord of Heaven, who can turn misfortune into good fortune. Those traitors, be careful to be struck by thunder!"
Everyone just looked at him quietly without responding.
There was an awkward silence in the Zichen Hall for a moment.
After a moment, it was Emperor Jiaqing himself who led the way in clapping his hands and laughing. "Indeed, it is indeed so! I am very pleased to hear your words, General!"
Nan Qiongshuang twisted the handkerchief and wiped away the tears on her face bit by bit, then raised her eyes and looked at Gu Huaijin for a moment.
The two of them understood and glanced away.
If the thief's target is the Regent, then who is the thief?
No need to think too much, it is about to come out.
Prince Ding met with misfortune in his own palace, and the timing was right after Concubine Chang cursed the Regent at the palace banquet and attempted to assassinate him with a small crossbow. No one would not think too much about it.
Even she suspected that the mastermind behind this was the Daming Palace, and Prince Ding must have guessed the same.
Revenge for revenge, hatred upon hatred, that's all.
Emperor Jiaqing was made the scapegoat of the Regent. He was not unaware of this, but both sides were arrogant and powerful generals, so he did not dare to provoke them. Even though he knew that the mastermind behind this was Chang Zhong, he still had to put on a smile and give him a way out.
Li Xuanbai heard someone inside talking about his name. He put down his wine cup and walked over nonchalantly, leaning against the door with his shoulders folded. "I do suspect that the emperor took the arrow on my behalf. But I want to ask, who exactly sent this arrow in? The Imperial Guards? The Flying Fish Guards? The Golden Spear Guards?"
He sneered coldly, and leisurely walked to the side of the dragon bed, walked to Gu Huaijin's side, and half-closed his fox eyes and looked down:
"Or who?"
Gu Huaijin picked up the silver needle slowly and said, "Prince Regent, if you have something to say, just say it."
Li Xuanbai hated his mysterious look the most, and sneered when he heard this:
"A few days ago, the three Fuyu guards under Prince Ding's command plundered the Duke of Qi's mansion. The Duke of Qi, now in his seventies, was so frightened by this disaster that his teeth fell out. He spent the whole day cradling his treasured crickets, paranoid. The Jurchens are brutal and brutal, and their lack of respect for laws and morals has caused widespread resentment in the capital. I wanted to order this group back outside the Great Wall, but unexpectedly, you, Master, tried to obstruct me in every possible way."
"If this group of people in the capital cause any trouble, can you afford it, sir?"
Gu Huaijin smiled but said nothing.
If Prince Ding was indeed the mastermind behind the assassination, then the Jurchens might have also been instrumental in the assassination.
The Prince Regent wanted to expel the Three Guards of Fuyu from the city, but Mr. Gu refused to allow it, causing widespread uproar. The people of Beijing also did not want the group to remain in the capital, and even signed a petition with their blood seals. Emperor Jiaqing also worried that the group would endanger the Forbidden City. Despite public outcry, the Three Guards of Fuyu ultimately did not leave the capital.
Gu Huaijin ignored the opposition and stood with Prince Ding to protect this group of elite soldiers.
No one knew what his intentions were. Even when Nan Qiongshuang asked, Gu Huaijin remained silent.
Emperor Jiaqing always followed Gu Huaijin's lead, and finally nodded and kept this group of people.
However, if the arrow today was really shot by the three guards of Fu Yu, no matter what Gu Huaijin's plan was, his position would be very delicate from now on.
Wang Maoxing put his sleeves together and bowed to smooth things over:
"Regent, this matter may not be related to Prince Ding and the Three Guards of Fuyu. The Emperor, the Regent, and Prince Ding have agreed to 'never invade or deceive each other, be open and honest, and never suspect each other.' Without any evidence, you are suspecting Prince Ding and blaming Mr. Ding as well. I'm afraid this is inappropriate."
Li Xuanbai rolled his eyes in annoyance.
Chang Zhong was on pins and needles, waiting for someone to rescue him. Upon hearing this, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and bowed repeatedly to Wang Maoxing, with his cheeks puffed up.
Everyone in the hall was thinking their own thoughts, and no one spoke for a while.
It was already late at night. The lantern array was supposed to start at the hour of Xu, and he had been wandering around in the array for a long time, and then he encountered a thief who was trying to assassinate him. By now, it was almost midnight.
Li Xuanbai yawned lazily and glanced at Nan Qiongshuang who was still lying on the side of the bed, silently shedding tears.
How long will this act last? She pretends to be unfamiliar with her sweetheart, and even pretends to feel heartbroken for this lunatic, while actually staying by his side all the time.
This man always stayed by her side, never leaving her side.
He was extremely annoyed and snorted coldly.
Chang Zhong sat alone by the window, his palms almost white from sweat, and his clothes were soaked even deeper with sweat.
Despite such a serious incident, he refused to leave. Wang Maoxing repeatedly urged him to return home, but he stayed put, determined to personally observe how things would develop.
And there is another meaning.
He didn't dare go back home.
These people guessed correctly, he was indeed aiming for the position of regent, but who would have thought that such a big mistake would occur.
Not only did he fail, he even narrowly avoided hurting the wrong person.
If something happens in the Purple Palace, the tripartite alliance will be just a piece of waste paper, and the Daming Palace may send troops to attack the Chang family army outside Shanhaiguan at any moment.
Chang Da was seriously injured and had not recovered yet.
Daddy would not want to see Emperor Jiaqing get into trouble at this time.
Having made such a huge mistake, what would happen if he took the throne in the future? Would he be able to keep even a little bit of it? I'm afraid it would all go to that pretentious kid!
His father has such a violent temper, who knows, he might even hit him on the head with the inkstone again!
He exerted force with his palm, creating several cracks on the white porcelain teacup.
At this moment, two loud voices suddenly came from outside the hall:
"Your Majesty, the assassin has been caught!"
Everyone in the Zichen Hall stood up at once.
The man who came was wearing brocade clothes with flying fish patterns and a long sword at his waist. He was a Feiyu Guard.
Gu Huaijin closed the medicine box calmly: "Throw him into the Imperial Prison and I will personally interrogate him."
"Wait." Li Xuanbai opened his palm, glanced at him with a smile, casually put down his small wine cup, and waved to the man, "Bring it up. While everyone is here, let's take a look at what it looks like."
Chang Zhong held his breath suddenly.
After a while, Feiyuwei carried a man in black who was covered with bruises and brought him into the Zichen Palace.
The man had his face covered with a black cloth, was panting, and one of his legs was broken. He was dragged up by the Feiyu Guards like a dead dog, with two Feiyu Guards holding his shoulders tightly.
Mao Linyan screamed in fright, and Nan Qiongshuang also lifted her sleeve with her arm across her body, peeking from behind her sleeve with trembling lips.
Emperor Jiaqing: "Tear off his black cloth for me!"
When the black cloth was removed, a face was revealed, with a flat face, high cheekbones, squinting eyes, thin lips, and a thin and straight nose.
Exotic face, no need to say more.
Nan Qiongshuang's heart suddenly felt like it fell into an icy cave, and she looked at Gu Huaijin quietly.
Gu Huaijin's expression remained unchanged, unmoved by anything.
However, she found it uneasy.
Apart from her, everyone in the Zichen Palace looked at him silently, without saying a word.
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