Chapter 92: Domineering White Moonlight 11: One wave after another
On the way back to Beijing after the spring hunt, Ali was unusually silent.
Lan Xin noticed that her master was in a very bad mood, so she carefully observed her expression and served her even more attentively.
The Spring Hunting procession headed south, moving much slower than when they came.
Ali supported his forehead with one hand, his eyes were quietly lowered, and there were some dark circles under his eyes.
She had been sleeping uneasily these past few days, and her dreams often returned to the day when she was killed by Xie Jingchuan. The pain and fear of the sword piercing her heart lingered for a long time.
Seeing her eyes fall on the table, Lan Xin brought the cakes over and said, "Princess, it will be a while before we reach the post station. Please have some cakes first. These were sent by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince this morning."
After saying that, Lan Xin retreated outside the carriage and stopped disturbing her.
Ali came back to his senses and saw five or six exquisite snacks on the small jade plate.
Spring hunting is different from hunting in the palace. The ingredients are limited and there are not many palace servants to serve the imperial meals. However, this plate of pastries is still made with great care into the shapes of various flowers. The aroma is fragrant and whets people's appetite.
Ali picked up a piece in his hand and looked at it for a long time.
Xie Jingchuan is the Crown Prince of Jin State, second only to the emperor and above everyone else. There is nothing in the world that he cannot obtain.
Although she had the title of princess, it was just a castle in the air. The emperor had bestowed it upon her with just one word, but later, Xie Jingchuan issued an imperial edict and she became nothing.
She and Xie Jingchuan have never been equal.
As the crown prince, Xie Jingchuan has enjoyed the most noble identity and status since childhood, so he naturally regarded Ali as his property.
He protected her wholeheartedly, pampered her, and solved all her troubles, but he would never allow her to have the idea of escaping from him.
Regardless of whether it was Chen Li or Ali, they were trapped in the circle he drew, unable to walk out or break free.
Ali unconsciously touched the mole on her palm. In the original book, she had no contact with Chen Yizi and always believed that Xie Jingchuan loved her. Xie Jingchuan's reaction a few days ago made Ali more convinced that the plot of her being locked up in the Demon Locking Pavilion would come ahead of schedule.
Suddenly, there was a sound of horse hooves outside the carriage, and Chen Yizi's voice rang out: "Miss Lan Xin, is the princess in the carriage?"
Lan Xin hesitated for a moment, and when she didn't hear any sound from the carriage behind her, she knew that the princess didn't want to see him. "Master Chen, the princess is not available at this moment. I can pass on your message."
A trace of regret flashed across Chen Yizi's eyes, and he handed the box in his arms to Lan Xin: "I don't have any words, but please pass this on to me, young lady."
Since that day, the princess seemed to have been avoiding him, and he couldn't understand why.
If he waited to return to the palace, he would have no chance to see her, so he took this opportunity to come here to ask for clarification, but he didn't expect that the princess still refused to see him.
Lan Xin accepted it and turned to get into the carriage.
But before he could turn his horse around and leave, Lan Xin came out again holding the box, saying apologetically, "Master Chen, our princess said that you have wasted your money and she cannot accept this. Please do not send me anything in the future."
Chen Yizi was riding on a horse, watching Ali's carriage gradually go away, and he couldn't help but clench his fists.
After a long time, he finally opened the box, revealing the horsewhip inside.
Chen Yizi looked over dejectedly, but his hands suddenly stopped moving.
Ali in the carriage lifted the curtain and saw a thriving scene with lush grass and singing birds outside.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, her eyes flashing.
According to the book, in the near future, Chen Yizi will rise rapidly from a minor military officer to the top military officer of the State of Jin.
but……
Ali glanced at Lan Xin standing beside her. After observing her for these days, she was almost certain that Lan Xin was Xie Jingchuan's woman.
On the surface, it would be best for her to have no further contact with Chen Yizi, so she could only quietly put what she had written in advance into the box.
Chen Yizi is a way out that Ali found for herself. Maybe one day in the future, he can help her a lot.
Ali's other escape route is now in the palace.
*
The spring hunting team arrived at the capital before sunset, but as soon as they entered the city gate, the entire team stopped moving.
Ali felt strange because she had something hidden in her heart. She had never wanted to return to the palace so much before. After waiting for a while, she urged Lan Xin to go to the front to take a look.
But who knew that he would bring back bad news.
This morning, the body of a palace maid was found in Shou'an Palace. She had died in a tragic manner and her face was hideous. After hearing about this, the Queen Mother fell ill and died instantly.
As night falls, Shou'an Palace is brightly lit.
The emperor, the imperial concubine and the crown prince were all guarding the bedside of the unconscious empress dowager, and Ali was also standing by her side with a serious expression.
The people from the Imperial Hospital knelt on the ground, and the entire palace was silent.
Doctor Zheng's expression was serious, and he withdrew his pulse-taking hand tremblingly. "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's illness came on suddenly, and it will take some time for me to determine the cause. I have already used silver needles and ginseng soup to calm her breathing, and her life is not in danger for the time being."
Looking at the unconscious empress dowager, the emperor's face was filled with coldness: "All of you go down, find out the cause of the empress dowager's illness as soon as possible, and make her wake up. I will reward you handsomely."
After the imperial physicians left, the emperor glanced coldly at all the palace servants in Shou'an Palace and ordered the palace to be closed and a thorough investigation.
Concubine Xiao was startled and said slowly, "Your Majesty, the matter of sealing the palace is a serious matter. I hope Your Majesty will think twice."
The emperor raised his hand to stop her, his eyes dark. "My mother has never been ill, and her sudden illness must be related to the servants in Shou'an Palace. Only a thorough investigation can uncover the person behind this as soon as possible."
Seeing that he was determined to do so, Concubine Xiao had no choice but to lead the palace maid in charge to make arrangements.
The emperor was going to stay in Shou'an Palace tonight to take care of his illness. Although Ali had some doubts in his heart, he couldn't stay any longer, so he got up and left with everyone else.
When coming out of the Queen Mother's bedroom, Ali spotted a familiar figure. Su Yue, who was standing beside the Queen Mother, was standing in the corner of the courtyard and looking over here.
Xie Jingchuan was walking behind Ali and was about to call her, but she turned and walked in another direction.
He frowned, his eyes deep.
"Sister Su Yue." Ali walked closer softly.
Su Yue bowed to her, her eyes red and swollen, obviously she had just cried: "Greetings, Princess."
Ah Li looked at her expression and asked slowly, "Why are you crying, sister?"
Su Yue wiped her tears embarrassedly and looked towards the bedroom not far away: "I have followed the Empress Dowager since I entered the palace. The Empress Dowager suddenly fell ill this time. It's all because of our poor care..."
As she spoke, her voice choked with sobs. Ali's face was also filled with sorrow: "The Empress Dowager is blessed by heaven, and nothing will happen to her."
Su Yue nodded. The princess grew up under the empress dowager's care, so she must be feeling even worse at the moment.
She helped A Li sit down on the corridor beside her. "My princess, you must have traveled hard today. Why don't you go back and rest early? You can come visit the Empress Dowager tomorrow."
Ah Li shook his head and said, "Sister Su Yue, I have some doubts about the Queen Mother's illness. I hope you can help me understand."
Su Yue was stunned for a moment and stood aside: "This servant knows what the princess wants to ask. The Queen Mother's meals have always been prepared by the small kitchen in Shou'an Palace. The people in the small kitchen have been with the Queen Mother for many years. There will be no problem."
"There's nothing special about what Her Majesty the Queen Mother has been eating and drinking lately. They're all the same dishes she usually eats."
She pursed her lips, her face full of worry. "My princess, you know that the Queen Mother doesn't like to socialize with others. She usually either reads or writes in the palace, or goes to the small Buddhist temple to worship Buddha. There is indeed nothing unusual about her these days."
After hearing this, Ah Li lowered his eyes for a moment and asked, "What about the palace maid who died today?"
The Queen Mother was smart and capable when she was young, and she came from a prominent family. She had been in the palace for decades, and used her own means to strongly support her only son to ascend the throne. She had seen all kinds of storms, so how could she be frightened to fall ill by a dead palace maid?
Either there is something wrong with this palace maid, or the empress dowager's illness has been going on for a long time and has only broken out today.
But she had been in Shou'an Palace for so many years and had never noticed the empress dowager's illness, so it was very likely that there was something wrong with this palace maid.
Su Yue didn't expect her to ask this, so she replied, "The body of the palace maid has been handed over to the Dali Temple."
That can't be seen now.
Ali thought for a moment, then looked at her again: "Sister, do you still remember what that palace maid looked like when you found her?"
Speaking of this, Su Yue's eyes flashed with fear. She looked around and spoke with difficulty, "That palace maid was a gardener in Shou'an Palace. Others saw her last night, but this morning they couldn't find her anywhere. They finally found her in the flowers in the back hall."
"When she was found, her eyes were wide open, almost bursting out, and her body below the neck was empty. A brave palace maid went to touch her, but only felt a thin layer of skin..."
Ali's eyelashes trembled suddenly, and he said uncertainly: "...sucked dry?"
The two were standing under the shade of a tree. The night was dark. The bright yellow palace lanterns in the corridor swayed. A gust of night wind blew from nowhere, shaking the branches above their heads and casting a fierce shadow on the white wall beside them.
Su Yue was like a frightened bird, her face turned pale with fear, and she could only nod.
Such a death is not something a human could do.
Ali's pupils suddenly tightened and his expression became even darker.
*
As one crisis arose, another arose. The former dynasty was not at peace at the moment. Several border towns in the north were disturbed one after another, and the major tribes that had originally surrendered were all ready to move.
Candles were lit in the Qinzheng Hall every night until dawn, and the emperor summoned Xie Jingchuan and a group of civil and military officials to the hall to discuss matters every day.
The Empress Dowager still had not woken up. The Emperor was too busy to attend to her and was reluctant to let Concubine Xiao go to take care of her. Seeing this, Ali asked to go to Shou'an Palace to serve the Empress Dowager medicine, which would be convenient for her to confirm some things.
Because in Shou'an Palace, except for a few people who served the empress dowager personally, all other palace people were replaced, and it was a busy and chaotic time. Ali did not live in Shou'an Palace, but returned to Qingluan Palace late at night every day.
After the meeting in the Qinzheng Hall ended that day, it was already three o'clock in the morning. Xie Jingchuan was the last one to come out of the hall after the emperor had gone to bed.
The night was deep, and the lanterns in the Qinzheng Hall gradually went out. Only a few lonely candles flickered in the corridor, reflecting his slender figure.
The cold dew condenses on the steps, and the cold moon is like frost.
Xie Jingchuan looked up at the moon in the sky and said to Mo Wen, who was holding the lamp in front of him, "Let's go to Qingluan Palace."
The palace path was long and dark, his footsteps were steady and lonely, his black brocade robe fluttered slightly in the night wind, making his features look even colder.
He had walked this road from Qinzheng Hall to Qingluan Hall countless times, and even with his eyes closed, he could still reach the door of Qingluan Hall without any mistakes.
The Qingluan Palace was quiet and the lights were off. Xie Jingchuan stood in front of the palace gate, his dark robe blending into the night. Only his eyes reflected a faint light, deep and gentle.
Mo Wen held the palace lantern and stood beside him silently.
During the past half month, no matter how late it was, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would come to Qingluan Palace to take a look. However, every time they arrived, the princess had already gone to bed. He wanted to knock on the door, but was stopped by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Under Mo Wen's puzzled gaze, Xie Jingchuan did the same every night. He would just stand quietly in front of the Qingluan Palace for a while before returning to the East Palace to rest.
Mo Wen raised his eyes slightly and looked at the prince who had been silent for a long time. There was a lingering tiredness between his brows, and the corners of his robe were wet with the night dew.
"Your Highness, it's getting late and the dew is heavy. You'd better return to the East Palace early. His Majesty is in poor health now, so you must take care of yourself." Mo Wen couldn't help but advise.
Upon hearing this, Xie Jingchuan looked at him. The eyes of this palace servant who had served him since childhood were full of concern and admiration. Just like most people in the world, he was full of admiration and praise for him.
But only he himself knew that the flesh and bones beneath this skin had long since rotted away.
He didn't know when his feelings towards Ali had changed. He used to just like being with her and hoped that she could always be with him.
But before he knew it, he became less and less content, greedily wanting more, wanting her to belong to him completely, wanting to keep her by his side without any regard for her, never leaving her for a moment.
Especially when he saw that she had changed some of her old habits and that she was interacting frequently with Chen Yizi and having a great time talking to him, the darkness in his heart seemed to swell, and he was almost going crazy with jealousy.
The sound of patrol guards' footsteps came in a distance, in unison, approaching and then gradually fading away.
Xie Jingchuan raised his eyes as if waking from a dream, with a dark color surging in his eyes, and looked towards the direction of Ali's bedroom.
He could almost imagine how peaceful she looked when she was sleeping, and he knew clearly that if she discovered his true face, she would definitely leave him.
By then, his only connection in this world would be completely severed.
Therefore, he used the few remaining bits of rationality to hold on, trying his best to keep the two of them together, preventing Ali from always thinking about escaping, and preventing her from seeing his evil.
The slender fingers touched the cold palace door, and then withdrew after a moment.
Xie Jingchuan took one last look at the door and turned to leave.
The moonlight stretched his shadow very long, casting a lonely shadow on the towering palace wall. The jade pendant on his waist gently tapped with each step, appearing particularly clear in the silent night.
*
It was late at night again. Mo Wen met Xie Jingchuan in front of the Qinzheng Palace. Without any further instructions from the prince, he walked towards the Qingluan Palace as if he was familiar with the place.
Xie Jingchuan couldn't help but laugh: "You are quite clever."
Mo Wen bent down and led the way with a smile: "After being with His Highness for so long, even a piece of wood can become a talent."
The master and servant walked forward, talking and laughing softly, but saw that the palace in the distance was illuminated by the sudden fire. However, in the blink of an eye, thick smoke rolled up into the sky, dyeing half of the sky blood red.
Xie Jingchuan stopped and said in a frighteningly cold voice: "Where is the flood?"
Mo Wen's heart skipped a beat. After carefully identifying the place for a while, he came to a terrifying conclusion: "Your Highness, that seems to be the Qingluan Palace..."
Before he finished speaking, the dark figure rushed out.
Mo Wen's shouts mixed with the sharp and chaotic voices of the palace servants. The night wind whistled in his ears. Xie Jingchuan had never felt that this journey was so long.
After turning the last palace wall, the flames rising into the sky stung his eyes. The entire Qingluan Palace was engulfed in flames.
The chaotic sound of palace servants putting out the fire filled my ears, and the heat wave hit me in the face, burning my skin painfully.
Xie Jingchuan quickly looked around but didn't see A-Li. He quickly walked over to the frightened Lan Xin and Ming Shuang and asked sternly, "Where's the princess?"
Lan Xin shuddered with fear, tears streaming down her face: "The princess, the princess is resting in the bedroom, but she hasn't come out yet. I don't know where the princess is..."
It’s all their fault. They didn’t take good care of the princess!
The princess hadn't slept well recently, and even the slightest noise they made in the hall would wake her up.
In order to allow the princess to have a good rest, they have been on duty outside the palace these days. The fire tonight started from inside the palace. When they found out and wanted to go in to save people, the entire bedroom was engulfed in flames and they couldn't get in at all.
Xie Jingchuan's heart sank completely, and he took two steps back in a daze.
Thick smoke blurred the vision and the heat wave distorted everything in sight.
With a wet cloak draped over his shoulders, Xie Jingchuan rushed towards the sea of fire without hesitation.
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