Chapter 134
In the lonely night, a long dragon of torches lit up the night sky. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a long line of people entering the palace and stopped at the palace gate.
It was late at night and the palace gates were locked. Gong Yinai's carriage was parked outside the palace gates, and there was another carriage in front of it.
Gong Yinai lifted the curtain and looked forward. The carriage ahead was vague. Gong Yinai asked the attendant standing outside the carriage, "Who is in front?"
The attendant whispered back, "It's the Fourth Prince."
At that moment, someone got off the carriage in front. Seeing that the palace gate had not yet opened, the Fourth Prince walked to Gong Yinai's carriage, a little flustered, and asked, "Sixth brother, can I get in?"
The coachman lifted the heavy carriage curtain, and Gong Yinai's voice came, "Fourth brother, come in."
The Fourth Prince's face was filled with confusion. He climbed onto the carriage and whispered, "What does Father mean by this? Why are you summoning me to the palace so urgently in the middle of the night?"
Gong Yinai shook his head, "I don't know either."
The fourth prince had a look of disbelief on his face. He and the fifth prince had basically faded out of the court, living their lives behind closed doors every day, for fear that others would remember them and write poems and articles to criticize them. Recently, his father was seriously ill, and he wanted to attend to him, but he was prevented from entering the palace. His second brother had just died, but his father summoned him urgently. He heard that his second brother's coffin was still at home. Because his second brother was the former crown prince, his status was demoted and he was now a commoner. According to etiquette, he could not enter the imperial mausoleum. His status did not match, and there was controversy in the court. Now he didn't know what the emperor was up to. His right eyelid twitched, and he always felt that entering the palace this time was ominous.
Gong Yinai was in the court after all, so he knew more about the news than him.
It's just hearsay. You should know something. It's impossible that you know nothing. It's just that you can't say it and you don't want to say it.
Everyone in the palace was very suspicious, and the Fourth Prince quickly analyzed some things from Gong Yinai that made him feel terrified.
The palace gates were finally opened, and the Fourth Prince returned to his carriage. Gong Yinai waited behind because she was the sixth in line and her brothers were older than her. She had to let her brothers pass first so as not to mess up the hierarchy.
Several princes' carriages entered the palace one after another. After getting off the carriages, Zhou Li saw that the third prince had also arrived, but the eldest prince was nowhere to be seen.
There are eight princes and three princesses in the palace.
The eldest prince is now in the imperial guards, the second prince is the former crown prince, who drowned in a pond a few days ago after getting drunk, the third, fourth and fifth princes are all in front of Gong Yinai, who is the sixth, and the seventh and eighth princes are still young.
The eldest prince was led by the palace maid to his father's bedroom. He came over to take a look. The chief eunuch in front of his father said a few words to him. The eldest prince went back to stand guard. It turned out that he was on duty in the Imperial Guard today. Gong Yinai's eyelids twitched. She had just seen the third prince and the eldest prince flirting with each other. She didn't understand when these two had hooked up. She had never seen the eldest prince and the third prince have a good relationship.
"Please follow me, my princes. His Majesty has been waiting for a long time."
Gong Yinai followed at the end and approached his father's bedroom. The palace was filled with a strong bitter smell of medicine. When the palace servants lifted the curtain, the smell of medicine spread out, and everyone frowned.
Footsteps echoed in the hall. Gong Yinai saw that the doctor was still kneeling on the ground, with his head knocked on the ground, not daring to get up. A bowl of medicine was smashed in front of his head. The saint was lying on the bed, being waited on. As someone approached, she did not dare to peek at the saint's face and lowered her head.
"Are they all here?"
"Your Majesty, everyone has arrived."
The emperor's eyesight was dim. He glanced at his sons and said with his eyes closed, "Your eldest brother is on guard duty today. Third son is the leader. You will serve first. The rest of you may leave for now."
"Yes, father." The princes responded.
After being summoned, they did nothing but were placed in the side hall of the emperor's bedroom. Several princes watched as the palace maids spread four quilts on a large kang in the side hall. The fourth prince divided the seats and said, "Today is the first time for the three of us brothers to sleep together on the same quilt."
The fifth prince sighed: "Can you sleep?"
The Fourth Prince smiled innocently: "I really can't sleep."
The three of them sat at the table, speechless.
This is the emperor's bedroom, and I was afraid that there were ears on the other side of the wall and what I said might reach the emperor's ears.
The key to survival in the palace is not to listen, not to watch, and not to believe, otherwise it is easy to get into trouble.
It was cold in the depths of winter, Gong Yinai's feet were almost numb from the cold, and the tea on the table was also cold.
This is just a side hall next to the emperor's bedroom. Naturally, the conditions are not as good as the emperor's sleeping place. The only source of heat is the heated kang.
Gong Yinai opened his mouth and said, "Brothers, why don't we stay on the kang bed to keep watch all night? Who knows, someone might call us in the middle of the night."
Everyone couldn't sleep, so they moved to the kang bed and covered themselves with quilts. Only then did Gong Yinai feel hot.
The Fourth Prince was usually the most reckless, and this time he was no exception. He lowered his voice and asked, "Fifth Brother, do you know why Father summoned us to the palace? Is it simply to attend to his illness?"
Who among the people around the emperor didn't need the care of his sons? Even if they were there, they would just watch others take care of their father and at most chat with him.
"Shh." The fifth prince said, "If you are tired, go to sleep. We will call you if there is anything."
The Fourth Prince sighed inwardly, pulled up the quilt and lay down.
Gong Yinai leaned against the wall and looked at the Fifth Prince whose eyes fell on her. She smiled at him and he nodded. They both seemed to be waiting for something.
In fact, Gong Yinai knew some information, and the fifth prince must have known it as well, because this time the third prince asked for the appointment to attend to his father's illness. He had submitted memorials many times saying that he was worried about his father's illness and wanted to attend to him. His father declined many times, but suddenly agreed after the death of the former crown prince. He even urgently summoned all the princes to attend to him together in the middle of the night. There must be some hidden story here.
Gong Yinai leaned his head against the wall, feeling drowsy from the smoke from the kang, and waited quietly.
In the emperor's bedroom where they could not see him, the third prince held a bowl of medicine and served it to the emperor.
"Father, please don't be angry. Anger is harmful to your health. Your son will serve you medicine."
The emperor was wearing a yellow nightgown, holding a string of Buddhist beads in his hand. He was leaning on a pillow raised by the palace servants, his eyes fixed on the beads in his hand. The third prince held the medicine for a while, but saw no response from his father. He raised his head boldly, only to see his father's dark eyes staring at him.
The Third Prince was startled when he heard the Emperor ask, "Do you know why I was angry just now?"
The third prince suppressed his surprise and shook his head, saying he didn't know.
The emperor sneered, "Because that quack doctor actually said my son was poisoned! He's a prince, even if he's not the crown prince, he's still my bloodline, and someone actually dared to attack my son right under my nose! Don't you think this world is scary? I'm not even dead yet!"
The Third Prince lowered his head and bit his lip, saying, "I didn't know that my second brother was poisoned to death!"
"Second brother? You still recognize him as your second brother?" The emperor swung his hand, and the Buddhist beads in his hand hit the third prince. The rope broke, and the beads fell to the ground, rolling and scattering in all directions. "I'm afraid you don't even want to recognize me as your father!"
The Third Prince was still holding the Emperor's medicine. When the Buddhist beads came flying at him, he subconsciously raised his hand to shield his face. He lost his grip on the medicine and it instantly spilled all over his sleeve. The Third Prince's face turned cold. He stood there, looking at the Emperor with an uncertain expression. Suddenly, he burst into crazy laughter, "Since you know it was me! Why bother questioning me!"
Throwing the medicine bowl to the ground, the Third Prince raged, "You old bastard! I've put up with you for so long! I told you to appoint a crown prince, but you refused! And you even let me catch you visiting your second brother. What's so great about that loser? He's just the eldest son!"
"Are kings, princes, generals, and ministers of different races? Are all the people in this palace mine now? I demand you pass the throne to me immediately!"
The emperor sat up and remained motionless, his chest heaving.
"I actually raised a thing like you who has such evil intentions!"
"The throne belongs to the capable. You are too old, you old man! It's time to give up the throne!" The Third Prince stood there, and the shouts of killing had already begun outside. He threatened sinisterly, "I don't want to kill you. If you just abdicate immediately and give me the throne, I will spare your life!"
The emperor looked at him with his cloudy eyes without saying a word.
The third prince knew that the old emperor had not given up yet, so he was not in a hurry. He just stood there and enjoyed listening to the sounds of weapons clashing outside.
After a while, the door was kicked open, and the third prince couldn't wait to ask, "Is everything under control?" But his smile was frozen on his face. The person who came was not the eldest prince, but Prince Yi Xiongfei of Southern Liang.
Gong Yixiongfei, clad in armor and holding a gleaming light in his hand, entered the palace and ignored the Third Prince. He knelt before the Emperor and said, "Forgive me for being so late in coming to your rescue!"
The emperor was surprised at first, "Why is it you?" Then he felt relieved. He looked at his unfilial son and asked Gongyi Xiongfei for the sword, "Give me the sword!"
Gongyi Xiongfei looked at the emperor worriedly and handed over the sword without hesitation. The emperor stabbed the third prince with the sword, "Rebellious son!"
By the time Gong Yinai and other princes arrived at the palace, the rebellion had been quelled. The masterminds were the third and eldest princes. The emperor angrily accused his sons of being unfilial and was so angry that he almost fainted.
A night passed, and Gongyi Xiongfei was guarding the gate for the emperor himself. However, the emperor could not sleep and asked him how he knew to enter the palace. Gongyi Xiongfei then said, "Sixth brother passed me a letter. He said that the atmosphere in the palace was not right and asked me to be prepared at all times."
The emperor sighed, "He is a good boy."
"My son also praised him to me, saying that the world is so cruel and indifferent. After being demoted, Xiaoliu was the only one who showed brotherly love and still cared about him."
Gongyi Xiongfei looked at his brother like this and said hesitantly, "Brother, do you regret it?" After changing the address, the emperor's shoulders slumped. He sighed and said nothing.
Actually, I regret it, I regretted it a long time ago.
He was the one who raised the former crown prince, how could he not regret it?
The incident ended in the early morning. The third prince was stabbed by the emperor and was locked up to heal his wounds. The eldest prince was imprisoned, and the emperor had not yet given orders on how to deal with them.
At the morning court, Gong Yinai, the Fourth Prince, and the Fifth Prince all had dark circles under their eyes. There had been a mutiny in the palace last night, and some families who had received the news in advance were all terrified, especially the ministers who were usually on good terms with the Third Prince, who were trembling like sieves. The atmosphere in the hall was depressing.
The emperor sat up there and could see everyone clearly. One night was enough for him to find the third prince's accomplices. He only had to say "go", and many ministers were dragged out, blood splattered on the spot. Gong Yinai lowered her eyes. She used to be scared by the bloody scene, but now she had no expression on her face.
The emperor said, "This world belongs to the Gongyi family, and it is also mine. I am only old and sick, but I am not dead! Gongyi Xiang and Gongyi Huan are guilty of unforgivable crimes! They should be executed!"
When the Fourth Prince and the Fifth Prince heard their father's order, they were almost frightened to death, but neither of them dared to speak out to beg for mercy for their brother. Anyone who spoke out would be mistaken for an accomplice.
"Who has any objection?!" The emperor was so intimidating without even getting angry that no one dared to respond.
All the ministers knelt down and shouted, "Long live the emperor!"
Gongyi Xiongfei guarded the emperor's door for a month. The emperor couldn't sleep in the palace, and he didn't let his several adult sons out. He began to take care of him. However, the emperor was sick. Due to mental illness and poor health, he lay in bed more often than he got up.
The Third Prince was quickly executed. That day, the Fourth Prince was on duty tending to the sick. He was timid to begin with, having been frightened into bed by the imperial examination cheating scandal. Lately, his demeanor had become increasingly dispirited. The Fifth Prince had even begun praying to the gods, mumbling incoherently every day. Gong Yinai took over the Fourth Prince's duties, saying to him, "I'll do it. You go and rest."
The Fourth Prince looked at her gratefully.
More than ten days had passed, and the emperor did not allow them to leave the palace, but he allowed the palace to send someone into the palace. The fourth prince's wife and the fifth prince's wife came for several days before the sixth prince's mansion finally sent someone. The person who entered the palace was Madam Li.
Gong Yinai and Zhou Li had already met, and Zhou Li said, "I'm afraid Concubine An is dying. There's no one in the mansion, so I asked her family to take her away."
Gong Yinai's mood was completely different from An Qinan. She whispered, "A few days ago, my father suddenly asked me what I thought of Gong Yixiang."
Gong Yixiang was already dead, so why was the emperor suddenly asking about him? Did he regret it? Gong Yinai pondered over it, but could not figure it out. Finally, he waited until Zhou Li entered the palace.
Zhou Li opened his eyes wide and asked, "Then how did you answer?"
Gong Yinai said, "To be honest, I say Gong Yixiang is a good father, but not a good son."
Zhou Li laughed: "You passed the test, get ready for a surprise."
Gong Yinai didn't understand. A few days later, the fourth and fifth princes left the palace, and the emperor asked her to move to the Yangxin Palace.
The Hall of Mental Cultivation is usually the residence of the crown prince.
On the eve of moving to the Yangxin Palace, the emperor heard that Gong Yinai was being cared for by a concubine. He even met Zhou Li specifically. Seeing Zhou Li's pale face, he asked in front of Gong Yinai if he had frozen over. He then gave Zhou Li a bowl of ginseng soup like an elder.
Zhou Li looked at the bowl of ginseng soup and accepted it with a smile. The atmosphere was very good at that time. The saint also asked Gong Yinai about his experience of wandering with his mother. Gong Yinai told him everything. The saint recalled and said that he was wrong at that time. Gong Yinai and his father almost hugged each other and cried bitterly.
Zhou Li was at the scene at that time and felt that the father and daughter of the Tian family were all good actors. How much sincerity was there in their tears?
The 39th day of Daqing, spring.
Just after the Chinese New Year, a major event happened. Emperor Qing took down the imperial edict that was hanging on the beam and chose the sixth prince Gong Yinai as the crown prince. Gong Yinai moved into the East Palace, and An Qinan also brought him back to host the East Palace banquet, with Zhou Li assisting him.
It snowed just as spring began, and Zhou Li went from his own yard to the concubine's.
Gong Yinai has been very busy recently and has been sleeping in the study to sort out important matters. Today, the Princess of Nanliang will come over to instruct the Eastern Palace on how to host the Prince's banquet.
Originally, this matter was to be handled by someone from the harem, but ever since the emperor killed his two sons, the empress and the queen mother in the harem stayed indoors, worshipping Buddha all day long, so this matter was handed over to the Princess of Nanliang.
Zhou Li was supposed to arrive early, but on the way she was dazzled by a wintersweet. She had always liked wintersweet, so she stood under the tree, wearing a white cloak, looking up at the wintersweets blooming on the snow-covered branches.
"Fu'er?" A hesitant voice fell into Zhou Li's ears. She subconsciously turned her head and saw the Princess of Nanliang. Only then did she come to her senses and quickly bowed, "Greetings, Princess."
"It's Hong...you..." The Princess of Nanliang was sad. Fu'er had passed away, but when she saw Zhou Li just now, she felt like she had seen Fu'er. After all, she had been with Fu'er for a long time.
The Princess of Nanliang walked over, held Zhou Li's hand, and asked, "Are you doing well in the palace?"
Zhou Li nodded, a smile spreading across the corners of her lips, "I'm fine."
"If it doesn't go well, I will ask the prince to let you go home." The Princess of Nanliang couldn't bear to see such a smart and intelligent woman like Liu Yingzi trapped in the deep palace.
Zhou Li felt the deep motherly love, and she said in a hoarse voice, "I chose this path, and I'm almost done with it."
Princess Nanliang looked at her with pity, "The road has an end, I hope you will cherish yourself."
Zhou Li's eyes were a little red. She supported the Princess of Nanliang and slowly walked to the concubine courtyard on the south side.
In the evening, Zhou Li was reading a book when the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside. Gong Yinai walked in excitedly, "Mrs. Li?!"
Zhou Li looked at the door with a smile and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Today I asked my father for an imperial decree to confer you the title of Consort Li! From now on, you and her will be on equal terms!"
Zhou Li's smile grew, "Thank you, Prince."
Gong Yinai felt a little guilty, "I heard that you had a conflict with Concubine Nan recently. It's all my fault. I forgot to promote you."
Zhou Li coaxed a child and said, "You know I don't care about these things. Position is not important, food and clothing are not important. I just hope that you, the prince, will not forget the agreement between us."
Gong Yinai looked at Liu Yingzi's beautiful eyes, pursed her lips and said yes, but her previous mood disappeared.
Gong Yinai felt that this was not a good idea. How could she be happy or sad because of Zhou Li's words?
Ever since she reached an agreement with Liu Yingzi and followed her advice to ascend the throne of the crown prince, she has become more and more dependent on Liu Yingzi. She now has many counselors around her and can completely do without Liu Yingzi. What's more, Liu Yingzi knows about her identity as a woman and deserves to be killed!
Gong Yinai was filled with murderous intent, and Zhou Li stuffed a cup of hot tea into his mouth.
"You must be tired from today's work. Take your time."
Gong Yinai felt as if someone had rubbed her hair, and the murderous intent in her heart gradually subsided. She put down the teacup, leaned on Zhou Li's shoulder, and muttered, "I'm so tired. I never knew being a crown prince was so busy."
Zhou Li taught her: "You are the crown prince, and there are many people around you who can be used. You must learn how to distribute things, otherwise you will be exhausted."
Gong Yinai rested his forehead against Zhou Li's shoulder, "You're right, I can't be so tired, even with you..."
Gong Yinai grumbled in his heart that they had no time to spend together anymore.
Although she was busy before, she could still have a meal with Liu Yingzi. Now she doesn't even have time to eat. Even if she does, An Qinan will interfere. Gong Yinai is so annoyed with her that she wants to die. She thinks that the imperial physician said that An Qinan would not live beyond this year, but she didn't expect that happy events would happen one after another, and An Qinan survived until now.
Seeing that it was late at night, Zhou Li made the bed for Gong Yinai.
Recently, she has become more and more fond of doing her own things, probably because she was too idle in the backyard. Gong Yinai thought that Zhou Li was doing it himself because of her coming, and she felt even happier.
At night, the two of them lay on the same bed, covered with quilts and chatting about trivial matters in and outside the palace.
Gong Yinai discovered that Liu Yingzi was not like an ordinary woman in the harem. Her broad vision amazed her. Even some places she could not see could remind her. With a wife like this, what else could a husband ask for?
Gong Yinai listened to Zhou Li, carefully crossed the line, and finally put his body next to Zhou Li and covered himself with the same quilt with her.
Feeling someone touching his arm, Zhou Li asked, "Is it cold in the room? Should I ask the palace maid to add some more charcoal?"
Gong Yinai said no, and fell asleep holding Zhou Li's arm, like a tired bird returning to its nest.
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