Chapter 81 [81] Fate is determined by heaven, fortune is created by oneself...
【81】/First release
Eight hundred miles express?
Yun Ran did not dare to delay any longer and quickly handed the box to Qing Ling and took the letter himself.
"You get up first."
Yun Ran opened the letter and said, "Thank you for your hard work on the journey. Have a cup of tea later..."
Before he could even utter the word "rest", his eyes were shocked by the contents of the letter -
"On the evening of April 26th, at midnight, His Royal Highness Prince Jing was assassinated and fell into the water near the Xunyang River. After three days of searching, his whereabouts remain unknown."
The letter was signed by Chang Chun and sent on the 29th.
Was assassinated and fell into the water?
Missing?
In an instant, my head felt like it was hit by a heavy hammer, my ears were buzzing, and my vision went black.
"Madam, madam?"
Seeing her stagger, Qing Ling hurried forward to support her. Then, looking at her snow-white face, which had suddenly lost its color, her heart tightened. "What happened? What did the letter say? Please say something! Don't scare me!"
Yun Ran still couldn't believe it. He held the thin paper tightly, trying to stay calm and read it again.
It's a simple line, but it's so heavy, like a huge rock pressing on your chest, making you feel dizzy and breathless.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible..."
She clutched Qingling's arm tightly, trying to stand upright, her chest heaving violently from her rapid breathing. "He clearly told me in a letter a few days ago that everything was going well and he would be back soon. He also brought so many imperial guards with him. How could he be missing?"
"Can't three hundred people protect him?"
Yun Ran couldn't figure it out, and looked at the messenger anxiously: "Are you from Xunyang? Do you know what happened?"
The messenger hurriedly said, "Please understand, Princess, I am only responsible for the section from Luoyang to Chang'an and am not aware of the previous situation."
The implication was that he was just one of the messengers delivering the letter and he had no idea what was in the letter.
Yun Ran also knew that it was impossible for one person to deliver the letter over 800 miles, but this letter was so out of the blue that it came too suddenly.
For a moment, I felt chest tightness, shortness of breath, and my heart was in turmoil.
Seeing this, Qing Ling hurriedly supported her and said, "Madam, calm down for a moment. Let's go find the Marquis and his wife and work with them to find a solution."
"Yes, yes, and also Daddy, Mommy, and my brother..."
Yun Ran suddenly felt fortunate that he was in the Marquis' Mansion and could find his family to discuss things with.
She grabbed the letter and stumbled straight to the backyard.
In Chunxuan Hall, the whole family sat together in the hall, talking and laughing.
When she saw that bright green figure running into the hall eagerly, Zheng smiled and said, "Don't worry, don't worry. We won't set off until everyone is here."
Yun Shang, who was sitting at the back, also raised his eyebrows and joked, "Look at you, you're sweating all over. Even A Zong isn't as impatient as you."
It was Sanlang Yunze who noticed something was wrong and stood up with a frown: "What happened?"
"Third brother..."
Yun Ran was running out of breath, his face pale, and he stuffed the crumpled letter into Yun Ze's hand.
Yunze took it quickly.
Qian Sijin, who was standing by, supported Yun Ran and asked her to sit down: "You're out of breath. Have a cup of tea first."
Yun Ran shook his head, gasping for breath, and looked at Yun Ze.
Yunze looked at the letter and his face suddenly darkened.
Facing the gazes of the rest of the people in the hall, he simply said in a deep voice, "Please leave first, everyone who is outside."
The Hanlin scholar, who had just entered the officialdom, already had an aura of majesty without even being angry.
The servants quickly left, and only the Yun family remained in the huge hall.
Yunze turned around and closed the door. Yun Shang couldn't help but wonder, "What happened? Why is it so serious?"
Yunze glanced at him indifferently, then walked forward, presented the letter to Marquis Changxin and Zheng, and dictated the contents again.
As he finished speaking, the hall, which had been filled with laughter and joy just now, suddenly became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Yun Shang was dumbfounded. After a long while, he mumbled, "How is this possible? How is this possible..."
Zheng was also shocked, but she was older and had experienced a lot, so she quickly calmed down.
She walked quickly to Yun Ran and gently embraced her pale-faced daughter: "It's okay, Ran Ran, don't be afraid. Your Highness is blessed by heaven, and everything will be fine."
Yun Ran felt his head and heart were empty at this moment.
In her short sixteen years of life, she had never encountered such a cruel blow.
Now all that remains is confusion, helplessness, and disbelief.
How could something happen to Sima Jing?
You clearly said you would come back safely...
She leaned dazedly on Zheng's warm and soft belly, and the familiar fragrance and warmth made her feel a little stronger.
She raised her hands and hugged her mother, her dark eyes confused, her lips whispering: "Mother, what should we do now?"
She didn't believe anything would happen to Sima Jing.
But now the situation is very difficult, what should she do and what can she do?
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid."
Zheng hugged her distressedly. "The letter only said that his whereabouts were unknown. As long as they haven't found him, the Changchun General Manager and the local officials in Xunyang will continue the search. As long as they keep searching, there is still hope."
Li Wanrong also came over, put her arm around her sister-in-law's shoulder, and said gently, "The local authorities would certainly not dare to conceal such a serious matter. I believe His Majesty and the Empress Dowager have also received the news and will definitely send more people to search and rescue."
"Yes, yes, yes. Your Highness is a prince. The government will never dare to neglect him."
Qian Sijin echoed: "It's been a few days since this letter was delivered. Maybe tomorrow we'll receive another letter saying that His Highness has been found and everything is fine!"
Yun Ran was of course also looking forward to what his third sister-in-law would say.
But now, thousands of miles away, with no news, she seemed to be anxious and unable to do anything.
She hated this feeling.
He regretted it again in his heart. If he had known this would happen, he should have gone to Jiangnan with Sima Jing.
In any case, after being comforted by everyone in the family, Yun Ran gradually calmed down from his initial shock and helplessness.
But she was afraid that she would not be able to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival today.
"Father, Mother, I plan to go to the palace."
Yun Ran couldn't just sit there and wait. She had to do something, otherwise the torment of passive waiting would drive her crazy.
Marquis Changxin and Zheng Shi saw that her face was pale but her eyes were extremely firm, and they knew that although the child looked delicate, her heart was as tough as weeds. She was not the delicate flower raised in a wealthy family and could not withstand the wind and rain.
"Go ahead."
Marquis Changxin looked at her with a gentle expression: "Don't force yourself. Come home when you are tired."
Yun Ran nodded: "Yeah."
Looking at her daughter's petite and lonely figure, Zheng was even more worried and stepped forward and said, "Mother will accompany you."
Yun Ran thought that after entering the palace, Zheng would have to kneel down and pay her respects to the Queen Mother and serve her carefully, so she refused.
"Don't worry, mother. I'll go into the palace and find out how they plan to deal with it. I'll be back soon."
As she spoke, she held Zheng's hand in hers, her bright eyes showing a calm expression: "And I believe that His Highness will be fine."
She didn't know where her confidence came from.
But she just felt that Sima Jing had suffered so much and was tortured by Rongdi for many years without any problem. Now that all the suffering had ended, how could he lose his life on his own territory?
If it was really so absurd and cruel, she would have to curse and say, "Damn God!"
Seeing Yun Ran insisting on being alone, Zheng suppressed her worries and said, "Then take it easy."
He then glanced at Qingling and told her, "Take good care of the young lady."
Qing Ling nodded hurriedly: "Yes."
When the master and servant put down the box of colorful silk filled with blessings and left in a hurry, everyone in Chunxuan Hall looked at each other, unable to hide their sorrow.
"How could this happen on such a good day?"
Qian Sijin has always been unable to hold back her words, especially since this matter involves her favorite sister-in-law.
She is also worried to death!
Yunze frowned and said nothing.
It was Li Wanrong who took over the conversation and looked at Qian Sijin with a serious face: "My sister-in-law is still pregnant, don't worry too much."
After a pause, she stepped forward again: "Let's go, I'll take you back to Yingziyuan."
Qian Sijin was surprised: "Ah? No, no, I can go back by myself..."
But the usually gentle Li Wanrong was particularly strong today. She took her arm without saying anything and took her and A Zong away together.
The rest of the Yun family sat down in silence.
After this incident, no one has the heart to celebrate the festival.
"Father, Mother, who is so audacious as to assassinate the current prince?"
Yun Shang frowned. "Prince Jing has lived in seclusion for many years since returning to the throne, so he shouldn't have many political enemies. Could it be that during this salt inspection, he uncovered some corrupt officials and, fearing exposure, killed them to silence them?"
Wherever there is huge profit involved, there are bound to be some extremely vicious people.
What Yunshang said is indeed a possibility.
The Marquis of Changxin and his wife, Yunyi, and Yunze looked at each other and all thought of another possibility.
Meanwhile, at the palace.
When Yun Ran rushed to Shoukang Palace, he found nothing.
The palace maid of Shoukang Palace said, "The Queen Mother is currently in Zichen Palace."
Purple Palace, the residence of the emperor.
Yun Ran had been to the palace many times, but had never been there.
But this time, she really didn't have the patience to wait any longer. She took a deep breath, turned around, grabbed her skirt and headed straight for Zichen Palace.
At that time, in the Purple Palace, Queen Dowager Zhao was confronting Emperor Wenxuan.
"Do you dare to swear by our ancestors and Yu'er that it was not you who did it?"
Queen Mother Zhao, dressed in a dark purple phoenix robe, was no longer as calm and composed as before. Her phoenix eyes were as sharp as knives as she stared at her eldest son in front of her: "Emperor, answer me."
Emperor Wenxuan was already upset when he received the urgent news from Jiangnan. Now seeing his biological mother rushing over and questioning him, he couldn't help but clench his hands in the sleeves of his dragon-patterned robe.
His usually gentle and handsome face turned pale. He looked back at Queen Dowager Zhao and said in a hoarse voice, "Are you questioning me, Mother?"
Queen Mother Zhao frowned and said, "I just want an answer."
"As expected, in the Queen Mother's heart, Jing always comes first."
Emperor Wenxuan scoffed, "For him, you're even willing to threaten me and swear on my only son?"
Emperor Wenxuan looked at Queen Mother Zhao, his hoarse voice tinged with mockery: "Is Yu'er not your grandson? Or has your mother also believed those rumors and doubted Yu'er's bloodline?"
Queen Mother Zhao choked, and when she saw the disappointment in her eldest son's eyes, her heart ached slightly.
"That's not what I meant."
Queen Dowager Zhao suppressed her worries for her young son, exhaled deeply, and raised her eyes again, her gaze deep and deep. "It's just that your previous actions forced me to ask this question."
Emperor Wenxuan's eyebrows moved slightly.
Queen Mother Zhao looked him straight in the eye and said, "Those three noble ladies who proposed marriage to A Jing earlier were yours, right?"
Her tone was very indifferent, as indifferent as when she was discussing whether today's tea was a little strong.
"And all the slander and gossip against Jing over the years were also instigated by you, right?"
“…”
Emperor Wenxuan's throat felt dry and rolled up and down.
Seeing him acquiesce, Queen Mother Zhao pulled her lips into a wry smile and said, "I watched you grow up, and I taught you all those tricks. How could you possibly hide them from me?"
"I just didn't expect..."
She closed her eyes in pain, and when she opened them again, her eyes were filled with pain: "I didn't expect you to be so cruel and crazy that you actually killed your own brother!"
"You can do whatever you want to do, and I can turn a blind eye to it, but you should never, ever, touch A Jing's life! He is your brother from the same mother, and he has never thought of competing with you—"
"He's so smart, do you think he doesn't know what you did behind your back? But he's never once blamed you, let alone thought of targeting you or taking revenge on you! We owed him so much back then, causing him to suffer so much hardship and hardship in Rongdi for so many years. I don't ask you to be kind to him, but why can't you even spare his life?"
"Emperor, you disappoint me so much."
Queen Mother Zhao's eyes were red, her voice was hoarse, and she looked at Emperor Wenxuan with a distant and unfamiliar gaze.
Emperor Wenxuan unconsciously clenched his fingers on his knees even deeper.
disappointment.
It disappoints her so much.
From childhood to adulthood, this seems to be the sentence he has heard the most.
It seemed that no matter how hard he tried or how well he did, he could never satisfy her.
But no matter what Sima Jing did, she thought it was good.
They were both children born from her womb, so why could she be so partial to them?
"Sima Ji, speak up!"
The sudden rise in tone was like a sharp blade, ruthlessly cutting through the silence in the hall.
Emperor Wenxuan raised his eyelids and saw his mother's face was stern and her eyes were as cold as ice. She was staring at him as if he were an enemy. "Answer me, is it you?"
It felt like he had swallowed a knife in his throat. Emperor Wenxuan's Adam's apple rolled with difficulty, and the knife fell straight down and pierced his heart.
After a long while, he pursed his lips and said, "If I say yes, what will the Queen Mother do?"
He smiled and asked, "Kill me to avenge Ajing?"
Queen Mother Zhao's heart was almost broken.
But.
She looked at the face in front of her with a cold smile, and became more and more sad: "He is your brother, and he is also my bottom line for you..."
At this point, her voice choked, and tears welled up in her eyes: "Ji'er, you should never, ever hurt your brother."
So even if she really killed him, you can't blame her.
This child really disappointed her.
Emperor Wenxuan smiled when he heard this.
At first he chuckled, then lowered his head, supported himself on the table, and laughed uncontrollably: "Hahahaha bottom line..."
"He's your child too. He's your bottom line, but what about me?"
"I've been filial to you for many years, and I know I've been meticulous and careful in every way. Even if I were to raise a dog, I'd have tamed it. Wouldn't you have some compassion? But Queen Mother actually wants to kill me for Sima Jing..."
He laughed too hard, his face flushed, and he looked like a madman, but his eyes were wet.
Queen Mother Zhao was frightened by his appearance. She stood up and took several steps back, her red lips tightly pursed, her eyebrows raised: "Emperor, are you crazy?"
Crazy.
Probably.
Emperor Wenxuan only felt a dull pain in his chest, as if a pair of hands were tearing at it, trying to rip it open. Even a faint fishy and sweet taste rose in his throat.
Just as Queen Dowager Zhao was about to summon the imperial physician with a sullen expression, a eunuch cautiously reported from outside the palace: "Your Majesty, Queen Dowager, Princess Jing is outside requesting an audience."
The hall was suddenly silent.
After a while, Queen Mother Zhao glanced at Emperor Wenxuan's chaotic appearance and said, "You take a rest. I'll go out and deal with it."
The moment she turned around, a hoarse voice rang out from behind her: "It's not me."
Queen Mother Zhao paused.
Her brows were still furrowed, and she turned her eyes slightly to look at the emperor beside the couch, whose face was abnormally blue and red.
Emperor Wenxuan suppressed the sweet taste rising in his throat, his dark eyes serene. "Whether you believe it or not, since he came back, I have never thought of taking his life."
It's enough to do something you regret once.
He was unwilling to kill him unless it was absolutely necessary.
Queen Mother Zhao had a tense face and stared deeply at Emperor Wenxuan with a dark and unclear look.
After a long while, she sighed and said, "You should have said it earlier."
Her tone softened, as if to comfort him: "You don't look well. Rest for now. I'll call the imperial physician to see you later."
After saying this, Queen Mother Zhao turned and walked out, instructing calmly, "Take good care of His Majesty and don't let him get tired."
The eunuch outside the palace hurriedly bowed his head and replied, "Yes."
The early summer sun was shining brightly, and the door of the bedroom slowly closed with a creak, covering the loneliness in the hall.
***
Yun Ran met Queen Dowager Zhao in a side hall of the Zichen Palace.
Upon learning of her purpose, Queen Mother Zhao remained calm and said, "Don't worry. I have already mobilized the Plum Blossom Guards and sent them to Xunyang. If you are alive, I want to see you. If you are dead, I want to see your body."
"If anything were to happen to Ah Jing, I would never let the person who harmed him go. I would track him down, tear him into pieces, and exterminate his entire clan."
Before coming, Yun Ran had guessed that this would be the response.
Now that I've heard it with my own ears, I feel a little more at ease.
But it's just some.
It's like pouring a spoonful of water into a dry pond, but the heart still feels empty.
Queen Mother Zhao saw her daughter-in-law's distraught appearance, and although she felt sorry for her, she had a lot of things to do herself and didn't have much time to comfort her. She just said, "Go back home and rest first. When there is news from A Jing, I will send someone to tell you immediately."
Having said that, Yun Ran knew it was time to step down.
"Thank you, mother."
She bowed her head and knelt: "Mother, please take care of yourself and don't worry too much."
"Well, go ahead."
Yun Ran left the Zichen Palace, thought for a while, and then returned to the Changxin Marquis Mansion.
Since she left in the morning, no one in the mansion went out again. They just returned to their respective courtyards, contacted all available forces and connections, and went to Xunyang for reinforcement.
Upon learning that Yun Ran had returned from the palace, everyone hurriedly gathered in the main courtyard to inquire about the palace's response.
Yun Ran told the truth, and then asked Marquis Changxin: "Are the Plum Blossom Guards very powerful?"
Marquis Changxin pondered for a long time before saying, "The Plum Blossom Guards are the most secretive elite force under the control of every emperor. No one knows how many of them there are, or where they are located. They are loyal only to the emperor."
However, it was unexpected that after Emperor Wenxuan had been on the throne for many years, the Plum Blossom Guards were still in the hands of Queen Dowager Zhao.
Back then, when the new emperor ascended the throne, he was still young, and Queen Dowager Zhao ruled the country from behind the curtain. It was not until the new emperor married the empress that she removed the curtain and returned power to the emperor.
Normally, the Plum Blossom Guards, which belonged to the emperor, should be handed over to Emperor Wenxuan...
They are mother and son, yet they are so cautious and have a backup plan?
Thinking of this, all the Yun family members felt sympathetic and couldn't help but sigh at the coldness of royal family affection.
Yun Ran didn't think about these things. She was only concerned about Sima Jing's whereabouts.
Knowing that the Plum Blossom Guards were very powerful, even more powerful than the Emperor's Imperial Guards, she felt a little relieved.
But when Zheng advised her to eat something and wait patiently for news in Chang'an, she suddenly realized clearly that she was an impatient person.
She couldn't sit still, couldn't wait, she had to do something.
Even if her power is insignificant.
So the next morning, just after daybreak, Yun Ran carried a bag, left a letter, and returned to Prince Jing's mansion, took her horse Snow Plum, and headed straight for the Chang'an city gate.
But before he could even leave the house, he was caught up by his three brothers.
The eldest brother said, "Ranran, don't be impulsive. The palace and the local area have sent people to search, and we have enough manpower."
The third brother said, "Yes, you can't help us much if you go there, and you make us worry instead."
Fourth brother also said: "Yes, just stay in the mansion and wait for news."
The three of them couldn't understand why the younger sister was so bold as to run out alone, on a horse, and with only a bag.
Yun Ran didn't think there was anything wrong with this. She used to go up the mountain to chop firewood and go down the mountain to buy medicine alone, and she did it here too.
You can't, after a year of good life, turn into a delicate glass figure who can't be carried on the shoulders or lifted in the hands.
"I brought money and a knife."
Yun Ran patted the dagger in his boot and pointed at his washed-out blue Taoist robe. "If I really have no money, I can still go to a Taoist temple and register. Even bandits and bullies wouldn't rob monks."
Three brothers: "..."
"If I wait in Chang'an, I might go crazy before His Highness returns. Anyway, I have made up my mind, and you can't stop me—"
Yun Ran gripped the reins tightly, his face determined: "Even if I can't help, I want to do my best to get closer to him."
She is never the kind of person who would sit and wait for death when trapped in danger. Even if there is little hope, she will fight hard.
When you are poor, you must change. When you change, you will get through. When you get through, you will last long.
Seeing how persistent she was, the three Yun brothers looked at each other in bewilderment.
But he couldn't really tie her up and take her back. After all, the person in front of him was not only his sister, but also the princess of the current dynasty.
Finally, the three of them thought about it and pushed Yun Shang out: "Your fourth brother will go with you, so you can take care of him on the way."
Upon hearing this, Yun Ran frowned and looked Yun Shang up and down.
Yunshang: “…”
What's that look?
She still looks down on him?
"After all, I am a man of eight feet tall, strong and sturdy, strong enough to lift a tripod..."
"Okay, Fourth Brother, stop bragging and get out of the city quickly!"
Yun Ran waved his hand, pulled his mask back, and tightened the bag on his back: "You don't have to pack your things. I'll buy you two sets of Taoist robes later. You can wear them as you please. I'll provide you with enough money."
After saying that, without wasting a moment, he clamped his legs around the horse's belly and rushed out of the city gate with Xuedianmei.
"Hey, wait for me——"
Fearing that his sister would look down on him, Yun Shang said no more, jumped on his horse, and quickly chased after him.
Sanlang Yunze looked at Yunyi and frowned: "Brother, are you really willing to let them go like this? I'm afraid it will be difficult to explain to my parents when I go back."
Yun Yi glanced at him: "What else, can you stop him?"
Yunze: “…”
Their sister looks well-behaved, gentle and easy to talk to, but in fact she is a little hedgehog with deep secrets and hidden gems. She is not someone you want to mess with.
"But can they really do it?"
Yunze thinks it is unreliable.
Especially that guy Shiro, he seems even less reliable than my sister.
"If the fourth one is unreliable, there will always be someone reliable."
Yun Yi lowered her eyes calmly: "Let's see if the two of them can hold on to that point."
Yunze: “……?”
Yun Yi didn't explain, turned around and led the horse away.
The climate in early summer is cool and the days are long and the nights are short, which is very suitable for traveling.
In addition, Xuedianmei was a rare steed, docile and agile, with outstanding speed. After five days of traveling under the stars and sleeping in the open air, Yun Ran and Yun Shang had already traveled one-third of the distance to Xunyang.
Just as Yun Shang was begging his sister to go to his second brother's home in Yuzhou to stay for two days, and Yun Ran was thinking about how to avoid Yuzhou and take a shortcut, a group of people came to the brother and sister who looked like down-and-out beggars like gods descending from heaven.
Even though Yun Shang complained all the time that Yun Ran was a desperate woman who valued women over brothers, when something really happened, he still drew his sword and protected Yun Ran at the first moment.
When the leader took off his hat and mask, dismounted and walked over, Yun Shang was surprised: "Second, second brother?"
Yun Rui, the second son of the Yun family, looked at his tanned and dirty brothers and sisters and grinned, revealing his big white teeth: "Hahahaha, now I'm finally not the darkest one in our family!"
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The author has something to say: Ranran & Fourth Brother: ...Dirty buns x2.
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I've been working very hard on writing orz, see you tomorrow!
This chapter also draws a small red envelope [Please] [Please]
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