Chapter 102 (10,000 words) Special Imprint, ...
Hot winds floated, and green lotus leaves fluttered and swayed. The lotus pond in front of me was vast, with crisscrossing waterways. It was almost impossible to see the traces of a small boat when it waded into it.
Yin Xing took a deep breath to calm his mind and decided to ask Xuan Yizheng after returning to the palace. After all, his identity was no longer that of the Yin family of the Marquisate of Xizhou, which would only make people suspicious.
Besides, there were more pressing matters at hand. Yin Xing turned and said, "That alligator was terrifying. Ordinary swords and knives can do little to harm it. Perhaps we need to find some more powerful weapons."
The previous swift attack of the giant monster was too frightening. Yin Xing vaguely remembered that there were many scratches on its skin, but they were all very shallow. It seemed that it was too thick, so the power of the sword was greatly reduced. He couldn't help but sweat for Jiang Yun and the others.
"You saw the crocodile in the lotus pond with your own eyes, how come nothing happened to you?" The third princess asked after seeing Yin Xing recover as usual. She saw that her wet eyelashes looked particularly thick in the light, and even her eyebrows and eyes had a girlish expression. She thought to herself that she was really confused at the time!
"I don't know either. It seems to have a targeted target and may even track and attack us on purpose." Yin Xing remembered that he had been sitting very close to Jiang Yun before, but the other party's purpose was very clear.
Now Yin Xing had to suspect that it was deliberately taking revenge for Jiang Yun's arrest, so it remembered Jiang Yun.
The third princess was stunned, then came to her senses and said as if nothing had happened, "A beast so cunning, I'm afraid it will be difficult to catch."
Yin Xing looked at the setting sun in the sky with a serious expression, knowing that the situation might get worse when it gets dark.
As the sunset light gradually dimmed, the deep part of the lotus pond became a little dark, and many small boats returned to the shore one after another.
The leading palace guard stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, apart from two abandoned boats, there is no trace of anyone."
Hearing this, the eldest princess held her head high and said, "Your Majesty, that woman is spreading evil and misleading the people. She deserves to be killed!"
"I didn't." Yin Xing tilted her head and looked at the person sitting high up with hope, but her brows were dull and she didn't even raise her eyes, her mood became cold and lonely.
"But Captain Jiang and Shangguan Sheng did disappear in Guangbai Garden. The eldest princess should give an explanation." The third princess spoke slowly with an arrogant look.
The eldest princess looked at the third princess who was looking for trouble in a bad mood and was about to say something.
Unexpectedly, the Second Princess spoke slowly, "Crocodile species are very cunning. They are said to be able to lie dormant in the water for hours, until their prey suffocates to death. This lotus pond, besides the waterway for boats, also has large lotus fields, so there are bound to be areas that small boats cannot enter."
"Then according to what the two imperial sisters said, this crocodile has become a spirit?" The eldest princess sneered with contempt.
After she finished speaking, the Fourth Princess didn't dare to utter a word. It was really rare to see two imperial sisters targeting the eldest imperial sister at the same time. She glanced at the wide pool outside the pavilion with a little fear.
At this time, a clear voice rang out from the pavilion. Yin Xing said, "I suspect the place where we were attacked earlier is the crocodile's lair, so please allow me to lead a group there. If we don't find it again, we can do whatever we want with it."
Hearing this, the third princess frowned, thinking that she must be crazy.
In the silence, Yin Xing looked at the person in the high seat. His expression was unclear because he was facing the setting sun, but his words were indifferent and nonchalant. "Okay, I'll give you one chance."
After saying this, Yin Xing did not hesitate and walked out of the pavilion.
The third princess looked at Xuan Yizhen on the high platform and thought that she was really cold-blooded and heartless.
Alligator, such a ferocious beast, if Yin Xing encounters it, he will be seeking death.
As Yin Xing was about to paddle his boat, another group of men suddenly approached from the shore. Each of them had a strange box hanging from their bodies. The Third Princess, standing at the railing of the high platform, held a short blade in her hand, adorned with jeweled chains. She looked down at him arrogantly and said, "These are my palace soldiers. I'll lend them to you for once."
After saying that, the third princess threw the short blade at the light boat that Yin Xing was riding. The sharp blade sank into the wooden boat, emitting a sharp cold light.
"Thank you!" Yin Xing raised his hand and drew out the short blade. He never expected that the arrogant Third Princess would be willing to help.
Yin Xing looked towards the pavilion on the high platform again, but did not see Xuan Yizheng. He felt a chill in his heart, thinking that it was too abnormal.
In the past, Xuan Yizheng would never allow herself to take risks, but just now she didn't care at all.
By the time the boats were once again sailing deep into the lotus pond, the afterglow of the setting sun had gradually faded away, leaving only the faint light of torches.
The Second Princess approached the Third Princess and jokingly said, "Third Princess, you are so generous."
The Third Princess withdrew her gaze, thinking of Yin Xing's earlier smile, which was slightly dry with tears. She felt that Yin Xing was very foolish, not even raising her eyelids. She said arrogantly, "Isn't it that Second Princess wants to see this excitement?"
"That's true. I'm afraid the eldest princess will be very uneasy."
"You must have known about Guangbai Garden for a long time."
The second princess smiled without saying a word, fiddling with the ruby zen beads with her fingertips, and looked at the vast lotus pond under the afterglow of the setting sun, which gradually turned dark.
The bright moon rose high, and its light fell on the water, staining it with mottled silver-white. The croaking of frogs gradually faded away, as if avoiding the existence of fear.
There is a piece of hanging land in the depths of the lotus pond, which is shaded by lotus leaves and piled with water plants, forming a natural nest.
In the dark mud, a giant creature was lurking, breathing heavily, and where its long tail was curled up, there were piles of white eggs.
At this time, there was another giant creature among them. It slowly raised its huge body, as if it had sensed something. It held its breath and left the nest, slowly and flexibly disappearing from the water.
Jiang Yun grumbled as he clung to the slippery and flexible water plants, his face covered in mud, and made silent gestures towards Shangguan Sheng.
Shangguan Sheng's face was not in a good state at the moment, because he was not used to the mixed smell of water plants, vines, blood and flesh debris in the nest, and his clothes were oozing with blood, so he knew that the situation was not good.
One cunning and ferocious crocodile is already difficult for two people to deal with, let alone two.
Now that one of the crocodiles has finally left its nest, we must find an opportunity to leave this place and seek help.
Under the moonlight, large lotus leaves were cut down one after another. Yin Xing sniffed lightly and raised his hand to signal the people accompanying him to move deeper to one side.
Unexpectedly, a huge object suddenly rushed out of the water and overturned the leading light boat. Some people fell into the water and the scene became chaotic.
The flames flickered and there was a loud bang. Yin Xing lowered his body by supporting the boat with both hands. There was a buzzing in his ears. He looked at the soldiers of the Third Princess in surprise, only to find that they were carrying firearms!
Only then did Yin Xing remember that the third princess was originally very good at developing fireworks, so she should be a genius in mathematics, physics and chemistry.
The trembling of the water in the distance was too noticeable, startling everyone in the pavilion. The Third Princess chuckled with pride, saying, "It seems the crocodile is nothing more than that."
The eldest princess looked embarrassed and said nothing. She just looked at the empress sitting on the high seat. Her expression was indifferent, and her eyes were deep, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking. Instead, she looked in awe.
In the depths of the lotus pond, many wreckages of light boats soon emerged from the water, with blood and flesh flying everywhere. Of course, many people were rescued.
The light from countless torches danced and fell on the dark, turbulent water, which was not clear to see clearly and made people even more panic-stricken.
Things that are invisible are far more oppressive and intimidating than things that are visible.
Yin Xing, still apprehensive, held the boat tightly, not daring to stand up too straight. He said, "Continue, move this way."
Soon, the soldiers moved in an orderly manner, with serious expressions, not daring to be careless and guarding against any movement in the water.
Under the light of the water, in the deep pool, a giant creature swam slowly, stirring up a bloody undercurrent.
After a long time, Yin Xing clearly saw the bulge in the deep nest, and he felt happy.
However, the soldiers who entered first were attacked immediately. They screamed and heard the sounds of broken flesh and bones, which made everyone shudder!
Then Yin Xing saw that there was actually a giant creature among them. The palace soldiers on the light boat were about to set fire to them together, but another giant creature in the water suddenly attacked and collided with them. This time, several boats overturned in succession, splashing water everywhere.
This type of firearm will become ineffective once it gets into water, and the person who falls into the water will immediately become a prey to be slaughtered.
The other soldiers were so frightened that they fired ammunition indiscriminately, causing chaos.
The two giants under the water cooperated perfectly, and soon only the light boat where Yin Xing was was left.
Yin Xing's face was covered in cold sweat and he didn't dare to make a sound. The palace soldier holding the firearm beside him was so scared that he was trembling all over.
The soldier immediately ignored everything else, put down his firearms and other items, and just rowed the boat, trying to escape from the terrible scene.
Yin Xing reached for the heavy firearms and the bag full of ammunition to prevent them from getting wet, and said, "Don't panic, we've found the nest, it's very...!"
But the giant creature in the water suddenly jumped out and bit the upper body of the soldier, dragging him into the water fiercely, and gradually staining it with blood.
Yin Xing was almost pressed against the boat, holding the firearm tightly in his palm, his heart beating like thunder. He listened to the movement under the wooden board and felt that his life was in danger.
When undercurrents surged in the water and the mutilated corpse emerged, Yin Xing had just loaded the bullets and was ready to fight to the death.
Who would have thought that the surrounding water surface would return to calm, and the giant creatures in it would swim towards the nest, their huge bodies blending into the dark color, which was frightening.
Not far away, Jiang Yun and Shangguan Sheng were each holding crocodile eggs in their clothes. They were covered in dirt, but they were still breathing.
Yin Xing looked at them in disbelief, his nose felt sore, and he was so moved that he almost used a tinder to light the fuse, but he quickly calmed himself down!
Jiang Yun and Shangguan Sheng had not expected such a big commotion outside, and their entire army was wiped out in a moment!
Without hesitation, the two of them quickly stepped on the lotus to gain leverage and landed on the boat. The giant in the water suddenly changed direction and attacked from both sides. The situation was serious.
At this moment, the people on the platform were unaware of the situation, but they all felt a strong smell of blood in the wind and endless danger in the dead silence.
The fourth princess looked at the third princess hesitantly and said, "Third sister, could those people have been eaten by alligators?"
The Third Princess raised her brows slightly, pinching the jeweled ring between her fingers. She said in a deep voice, "That depends on how many alligators the eldest princess has raised."
"You need evidence to speak, words alone are not enough. Who knows if it was the Third Princess's people who deliberately made a noise?" The eldest princess was originally worried about being exposed, but now that she didn't see anyone returning, she felt fearless.
The atmosphere was tense. The second princess fiddled with the ruby beads on her wrist with her fingertips and looked at Xuan Yizhen on the high platform, feeling that his reaction was too cold.
Thinking back, Xuan Yizheng came to him in person just to take Yin Xing's jade pendant, but now he just watched her go to her death with cold eyes. It really shows that people's hearts are fickle.
There was a loud bang, accompanied by a dazzling flame, and everyone's attention was immediately shifted to the movement in the depths of the lotus pond.
Yin Xing, who was sitting in a small boat, felt his ears buzzing. It was also the first time that Jiang Yun and Shangguan Sheng saw modern weapons. The air was filled with gunpowder smoke, which was a bit pungent.
"Ahem, what is this?" Jiang Yun shook the oars and retreated from the waterway. Shangguan Sheng picked up a bow and crossbow to be on guard, not daring to be careless.
"The firearm was given to me by the Third Princess, and I just learned how to use it." Yin Xing didn't dare to touch the hot part of the firearm. He raised his hand to load the bullets. His ears were still a little unreliable, and he spoke in a loud voice.
Jiang Yun was amused by Yin Xing's overly loud voice and was about to make a joke when he suddenly heard Shangguan Sheng say, "Here we go again!"
Jiang Yun immediately restrained his expression, held the oar in his hand, and was ready for battle.
There was another bang, waves splashed on the water, the boat was overturned, and three people fell into the water.
The water was pitch black. Yin Xing waved his arms and stuck his head out of the water. He didn't see Jiang Yun and the others, but he noticed the light of torches coming from afar and a large ship approaching, led by the female official Chun Li.
But the female official next to Xuan Yizhen before was not this female official Chunli.
"Someone, come and save him!" The female official Chunli was shocked when she saw Yin Xing in the water.
Why is this little ancestor coming to Guangbai Garden today!
Yin Xing was brought onto the boat almost exhausted. He turned his head and saw Jiang Yun and Shangguan Sheng were also taken out of the water, and then he breathed a sigh of relief.
Jiang Yun glanced at the unconscious Shangguan Sheng. It was obvious that the pile of crocodile eggs had saved his life.
The aggressiveness of these two alligators is really terrifying.
After a while, the group came ashore, and Yin Xing discovered that there were many ships larger than light boats gathered on the shore. The soldiers on them were not palace guards, because their weapons had sword tassels with red and blue flying feathers.
The female official Chun Li said, "The emperor has ordered that Guangbai Garden be closed from today. The eldest princess must reflect on her mistakes in seclusion. The other princesses should go back and rest early. It's not safe here."
"Yes." The eldest princess looked at the soldiers coming forward, her face pale and no longer as arrogant as before.
The fourth princess retreated quickly, not wanting to cause trouble or be attacked by the crocodile.
The second princess glanced at Gong Yangluo and the palace guards who were leaving with Xuan Yizhen, and then looked at Yin Xing next to the female official. She always felt that there was an indescribable weirdness, and walked out of the pavilion on her own.
The night wind fanned the firelight. The third princess looked at Yin Xing's pitiful appearance, all wet. However, she only stared at the direction where Xuan Yizheng and Gong Yangluo left. She sneered and walked away from the pavilion in dissatisfaction.
After everyone walked away, Yin Xing couldn't believe that Xuan Yizheng was just watching him in this situation coldly and didn't do anything.
"Captain Jiang and Lord Shangguan have been sent for treatment. You should also leave Guangbai Garden and rest." Female official Chunli said without saying much.
"Well, thank you." Yin Xing responded dejectedly, looking dazed and without any energy at all.
When Yin Xing stepped out of Guangbai Garden, he was about to take Xiaoguai's hand, but unexpectedly saw Xiaoguai tied to a carriage.
This carriage does not look luxurious, but rather ordinary.
But there was a yellow light on in the carriage, and a dignified figure was sitting quietly inside, which was naturally very familiar.
"If you don't leave Guangbai Garden again, I will think that you have forgotten the punishment for not returning home overnight." The curtain of the carriage slowly opened a corner to reveal the beautiful and graceful jade-white face. Her expression was calm, and her quiet eyes were no longer cold and hard as before. Instead, they were filled with a bright glow, soft and gentle.
Yin Xing stared in a daze at Xuan Yizhen, whose beautiful features were highlighted by the flickering candlelight. Thinking he was seeing things, he subconsciously took a step forward, but then stopped and muttered, "Yizhen, didn't you leave with Gong Yangluo a long time ago?"
"Why, you don't like me waiting for you?" Xuan Yizhen asked instead of answering, looking at the disheveled Yin Xing, and gently beckoned with her jade hand, "It's windy tonight, come up."
Originally, Yin Xing was filled with grievances and unhappiness, but when he saw Xuan Yizhen acting as if nothing had happened, his feelings were magnified. He turned his head away from her gaze and said angrily, "I don't want it."
After he finished speaking, Xuan Yizhen paused in his beckoning gesture, his gaze fixed on Yin Xing's distant and indifferent expression. His dark eyes gradually darkened, but his thin lips remained stiffly raised as he spoke softly, "Don't make a fuss. If anything happens, I'll explain it to you when I return to the palace."
Yin Xing avoided Xuan Yizhen's scorching gaze and replied sullenly with a sour nose, "I don't want to believe your lies anymore."
After saying that, Yin Xing turned around and walked to the side in a hurry, not wanting to look back.
The night wind was not cold, but carried the heat of a summer night, with the sound of horse hooves behind him.
Yin Xing thought Xuan Yizheng was sitting in the carriage, but he didn't expect that his wrist was suddenly held tightly. He turned his head and saw Xuan Yizheng's cold face, feeling a little scared.
"Where are you going alone?" Xuan Yizheng frowned, his long eyelashes trembling, and he pursed his lips and said coldly.
"The world is so big, there are many places I can go. Anyway, I don't want to go back to the palace." Yin Xing responded with lowered eyebrows, his eyes fell on Xuan Yizheng's hand holding his wrist. The ring was shining and a little dazzling.
Xuan Yizheng pursed his thin lips, suppressed his anger, raised his hand and pulled Yin Xing into the carriage.
Yin Xing didn't expect Xuan Yizheng to be so strong, and he was almost pulled into the carriage.
In the silence, only the sound of horse hooves echoed in his ears. Yin Xing felt that his wrist was about to be crushed. He tried to struggle, but it hurt so much. He felt so wronged that tears rolled down his cheeks.
As the hot tears fell on the back of Wenliang's hand, Xuan Yi's blank eyes were hollow. After a little recovery, he gently rubbed her wrist with his fingertips. Seeing that her clothes were already soaked and cold, he said stubbornly: "Even if you cry yourself blind, I will not let you leave the capital."
"I hate being indecisive the most. Why did Yizhen hide her relationship with Gongyang Luo?" Yin Xing looked angrily at Xuan Yizhen who had a calm expression.
"I have nothing to do with Gong Yangluo. They are all pawns and spies of the aristocratic families. Everything is just being used." Xuan Yizheng stubbornly clamped Yin Xing's wrist, refusing to loosen his grip. With his other hand, he wiped the crystal tears from her face and explained patiently, but a dark vortex appeared in his eyes, surging and dangerous, leaving no room for doubt.
Xuan Yi would never allow her to leave. Even if Yin Xing died, she would never be able to escape from him.
Yin Xing dodged Xuan Yizhen's outstretched hand and questioned with a grievance, "But Yizhen watched me being questioned by the eldest princess today and remained indifferent. Isn't that taking advantage of me?"
"What do I want to use you for?"
"Who knows? I can no longer tell the real from the fake!"
Seeing Yin Xing crying with red eyes and sobbing, Xuan Yizhen put his thin lips close to the corner of her eye, tasting the bitter tears, and sighed: "The person you met today was not me, didn't you find anything unusual?"
After he finished speaking, Yin Xing paused for a moment, and looked at Xuan Yizhen in front of him with wide eyes, not knowing whether he should suspect that he had misheard or that she was too seriously ill.
"Have you forgotten that person who looked so much like you?" Xuan Yizhen wiped Yin Xing's tears with a handkerchief. Seeing how dirty she was, he could only wipe the duckweed and water plants that had stained her fair cheeks. "To guard against various forces, I found a substitute. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Yin Xing was about to nod when she saw Xuan Yizhen untying her belt with her fingertips. She raised her hand and hurriedly stopped her movements, wondering, "What are you doing?"
Seeing Yin Xing's suspicious look, Xuan Yizhen could only say, "Your clothes are soaked. If you don't change them, you'll catch typhoid fever."
Yin Xing then noticed the clothes prepared on the side. He didn't refuse Xuan Yizhen's care, but he still couldn't believe it. He said, "That person looks too much like Yizhen."
His expression, words, manners, and even the way he does things are very similar to Xuan Yizheng.
Xuan Yizheng usually treats others with such indifference and distance.
"If she doesn't look like that, then I wouldn't be using her in such a high position." Xuan Yizhen untied Yin Xing's layers of beautiful clothes, looking at the faint bruises on her skin. He frowned and said, "What are you doing in Guangbai Garden?"
Those secret guards were unable to enter Guangbai Garden, and Xuan Yizhen had no way to show up, but he did not expect such a situation to occur.
Yin Xing shuddered when he was touched, and his eyes met Xuan Yizheng's clear and beautiful eyes. Thinking of the danger today and his own misunderstanding, he lowered his head guiltily, his cheeks burning hot.
"Come to think of it, how did you get into Guangbai Garden without much money on you?" Xuan Yizheng asked curiously as he slowly changed Yin Xing's clothes.
"I, A-choo!" Just when Yin Xing was worrying about what to say, he sneezed and his whole head started buzzing.
Xuan Yizhen frowned, raised his hand and placed it on Yin Xing's forehead. Seeing her cheeks flushed, he said solemnly, "You're not going to Guangbai Garden with Jiang Yun and the others to catch that alligator, are you?"
Yin Xing was frightened and didn't dare to answer. He hunched over, lowered his head and rested it on Xuan Yizheng's neck, trying to pretend to be sick and get away with it!
At this moment, Jiang Yun in the palace medicine room was also using the same trick. Liu Ci raised his hand to sew up the hideous wound on her arm and said coldly, "You want to die, don't you?"
"Ouch, I don't want to die, it hurts!" Jiang Yun yelled, sticking to Liu Ci's knees, closing his eyes and not daring to look at her face.
The innocent little girl raised her hand and touched Jiang Yun's head, then fed her a spoonful of bitter medicine, muttering in a childish voice, "Sister Jiang, drink the medicine and the pain will go away."
"..." Jiang Yun was so miserable that he doubted his life, thinking, what kind of filial daughter is this?!
The next morning, the news that a fish monster had been raised in the royal garden spread like wildfire in the capital's market.
The eldest princess was confined to her room, which caused a lot of criticism.
It was hot in the midsummer, and Yin Xing, who had contracted typhoid fever, felt hot and uncomfortable, with a blocked nose and a bitter throat, but he dared not utter a word.
Xuan Yizhen held the medicine bowl and looked at Yin Xing, whose face was flushed redly as the handkerchief rested on her forehead. He blinked his beautiful eyes and fed her the medicine without any pity. He said, "Do you still have the guts to blame me for being fickle?"
Yin Xing didn't dare to say anything after drinking a mouthful of medicine, and just shook his head obediently.
"You still say you don't want to go back to the palace with me? Then where do you want to go and who do you want to go with?" As he spoke, Xuan Yizheng fed another spoonful of medicine soup into Yin Xing's mouth. Seeing that her eyes were red with bitterness and her facial features were wrinkled, he showed no pity.
"No one, that was just angry words." Yin Xing replied with a heavy nasal tone.
Seeing Yin Xing's obedient appearance without any temper, Xuan Yizhen continued to nag, "But you can't even tell the difference between me and others. I guess you only care about the appearance."
Yin Xing blinked, not daring to say a word, his gaze fixed on Xuan Yizheng's cold and distinguished face, because he really couldn't see any difference!
Xuan Yizhen allowed Yin Xing to look at him directly, then changed the subject and asked, "I heard that you and the Third Princess were alone in the Guangbai Garden house. I wonder what you did?"
Yin Xing felt a chill on the back of his neck, as if a sharp blade had been scraping across his skin. He couldn't help but flinch and replied, "I didn't do anything, really!"
If there really was something going on, Xuan Yizheng would have noticed it long ago when he changed his clothes.
"Why are you so nervous? When you came to the imperial study to catch me having an affair, you weren't so guilty and nervous?" Xuan Yizhen now understood Yin Xing's thoughts and it was not difficult for him to find the reason for her unusual behavior.
"I was wrong." Yin Xing felt that if this continued, Xuan Yizheng would feed him even the medicine spoon.
Xuan Yizhen raised his eyes casually, glancing at Yin Xing seemingly casually. He blew gently on the brown medicinal soup and said, "The Third Princess treated you very well and even gave you a group of palace soldiers to catch crocodiles. How come I didn't know you were so brave?"
Yin Xing felt so sick he wanted to fall asleep after hearing this, so he had to bite the bullet and explain, "No, I was scared too. The situation was too dangerous, and the stand-in didn't trust me, so I could only borrow the Third Princess's troops. But those firearms are very powerful."
"A substitute, I've never seen you before, let alone your true identity. Wouldn't it be even more strange if I rashly trusted you?"
"Yizhen is right. I shouldn't have acted on my own. Don't be angry."
As he spoke, Yin Xing just curved his eyebrows and tried to smile ingratiatingly, but Xuan Yizheng's medicine soup had already been put into his mouth, and it was so bitter that it made him want to vomit!
Xuan Yizhen said with a serious expression: "I think you are still too free. It would be better for you to stay in confinement in the palace."
Judging from the injuries of Jiang Yun and Shangguan Sheng, the crocodile's ferocity is beyond imagination. If Yin Xing hadn't been lucky, she would have died for sure!
Seeing that Xuan Yizheng was very angry this time, Yin Xing thought of the angry words he had said and couldn't refute them at all.
After all, recognizing the wrong wife is a very serious matter!
So in the next few days, Yin Xing basically did not leave the inner hall.
However, Yin Xing was worried about Jiang Yun's condition, so he asked the female official Chun Li to inquire about it. He was relieved to learn that there was no serious problem.
"Haven't those two alligators been caught yet?" Yin Xing asked quietly.
"No, there is really no way to find it unless the water in the lotus pond is drained out." The female official Chun Li responded while presenting the medicinal food.
Not long after, the master returned to the palace after the court session. The female official looked at Yin Xing and stopped talking, laughing in her heart.
She is not afraid of such a ferocious crocodile, but is afraid of her master's anger. I really don't know whether she is brave or cowardly.
Xuan Yizhen stepped inside and sat down on the couch by the window. He glanced at Yin Xing, whose complexion had recovered considerably, and then at the gauze wrapped around her wrist. He asked, "Does your hand still hurt?"
"It's okay, it doesn't hurt now." Yin Xing responded, holding the medicine bowl, tilted his head back and drank it all without hesitation.
"The weather is getting hotter and hotter. I plan to take you to the summer palace outside the capital." Xuan Yizheng said while drinking tea.
Yin Xing asked curiously, "What about the alligators in Guangbai Garden?"
Xuan Yizhen met Yin Xing's clear, innocent eyes, raised his hand and pinched her ear, saying, "You're so obsessed with catching alligators that you don't plan to go with me to escape the summer heat?"
"No, I just think that if we catch the alligator sooner, the people in the capital will live in peace. Otherwise, no one will dare to go near the water source." Yin Xing leaned towards Xuan Yizheng and explained.
"This matter will naturally be decided by the court officials and generals. You, a patient, don't need to worry about it." Xuan Yizheng rubbed Yin Xing's soft earlobes with his fingertips and played with them. Considering that she was sick, he didn't care too much.
Seeing that Xuan Yizhen had made up his mind, Yin Xing didn't ask any more questions and instead asked, "Will that stand-in also go to the summer palace?"
To be honest, Yin Xing wanted to compare the differences carefully.
Xuan Yizhen saw through Yin Xing's thoughts and said helplessly: "Not only will she be there, but Gong Yangluo and the others will also be accompanying her, so don't be so stupid as to reveal your true identity."
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone!" Yin Xing responded confidently, knowing that Xuan Yizheng must have her arrangements, and if it was leaked, there would be trouble.
As the two of them snuggled together and talked, the light outside the window was extremely bright, and the branches and leaves of the imperial garden were drooping in the morning sun.
Jiang Yun in the medicine room had to behave more properly because of his injury. He raised his hand and touched the scar on his arm, which was a little itchy.
Liu Ci raised her hand and slapped Jiang Yun's hand away. She looked at her wound with a slightly purple-blue gaze and said, "Those two crocodiles were fed Gu, so there is residual poison in their wounds. We can't be careless."
"Don't worry, I haven't even stepped out of the courtyard yet." Jiang Yun felt that he was almost bored to death.
"This is the only way to rest and recuperate. Fortunately, this poison is not as fierce as rabies, otherwise you would not be able to save your arm." Liu Ci raised his hand to replace the ointment for Jiang Yun.
Seeing Liu Ci's seriousness, Jiang Yun stopped joking and said, "The eldest princess doesn't look like someone who knows Gu magic. How could she raise such a ferocious Gu creature?"
Liu Ci pondered, "Judging from the crocodile's appearance, it must have been fed Gu since childhood. They are long-lived, so a hundred years is not a problem. Perhaps it's not the Gu raised by the eldest princess."
After he finished speaking, Jiang Yun thought of the late emperor. However, Guangbai Garden used to be the territory of the eldest princess. Perhaps he wanted to put the blame on Lord Shangguan's death.
Just like the dispute between Empress Dowager Du and Empress Wanqi back then, the late emperor was very good at sowing discord, hiding in the dark, and manipulating others.
It is said that the eldest princess and Empress Wanqi had a feud in the past, and the death of the eldest brother of the Princess Xinyang also shocked the capital at that time.
However, most of these people have died now, and Empress Wanqi is also seriously ill, but the harm they left behind is still taking effect.
"Ayun, I don't want you to catch alligators again. It's too dangerous." Liu Ci tied the gauze with his fingertips and looked at Jiang Yun lying on his knees, speaking with uneasiness in his eyes.
"Okay, I'll pretend to be sick and ask for leave." Jiang Yun met Liu Ci's soft gaze and responded with guilt.
Jiang Yun had clearly promised Liu Ci that he would not take risks again, but he did not expect that catching a crocodile would be related to old events.
After he finished speaking, Jiang Yun leaned forward, kissed Liu Ci's frown, raised his arms to hug her, and coaxed her humbly: "I will listen to whatever you say, don't cry."
Liu Ci leaned against Jiang Yun's shoulder, her eyes moist. She raised her arms to hold her slender figure and spoke softly, "Don't you think it's annoying that I always restrain you?"
"No, I know you are worried that something might happen to me." Jiang Yun tilted his head and looked at Liu Ci seriously, kissed her lips, and his fingertips slipped into the hem of her clothes, feeling a little itchy.
"Hmm..." Liu Ci opened her eyes sensitively, but did not reject Jiang Yun's flirting.
The two of them were unbuttoning their skirts and clothes with disordered breathing, but outside the house, there was an inopportune sound of brisk footsteps. A little girl, holding a bamboo windmill high in her hand, called out in a childish voice, "Sister Jiang, the windmill is flying!"
After he finished speaking, the two people in the room froze in their movements. Jiang Yun curled his lips, looking very unhappy.
Liu Ci raised her hand to tie the belt at her side, removed Jiang Yun's hand, touched her face comfortingly, and said warmly: "Let's wait until nighttime. The child is in high spirits now."
After she finished speaking, the little girl crossed the threshold of the corridor and her eyes fell on Jiang Yun, who was leaning against Liu Ci. She tilted her head and asked, "Sister Jiang, are you sleepy?"
"Yeah, I'm very sleepy." Jiang Yun ignored Liu Ci's pushing and insisted on staying with her.
"Sister Liu, do you want to play with the windmill?" the little girl asked enthusiastically.
Liu Ci raised his hand to wipe the sweat off the little girl's forehead and said, "Well, but let me wipe your face first, don't disturb Sister Jiang's rest."
As they were talking, Liu Ci took the little girl out of the room. Jiang Yun collapsed on the bed in despair, unable to believe it. Such a great opportunity had just flown away like that?!
The sun was even brighter outside the window, there was not a breath of wind, and the eldest princess's mansion was dead silent.
The female official Chun Li was ordered to issue an imperial edict, which she read aloud: "Your Majesty, by your grace, will not pursue the matter of the fish monster being kept at Guangbai Garden. However, the related old accounts must be promptly settled and deposited. Otherwise, Guangbai Garden will be repossessed, and the numerous murders caused by the fish monster will be severely investigated and punished. From now on, the management of Guangbai Garden will be transferred to the officials. Please consider which of these priorities should be prioritized."
After that, the palace guards stood guard at every doorway. After the lady-in-waiting left, the eldest princess threw down her teacup with a dark face, and the maids did not dare to respond.
I originally thought that running Guangbai Garden was a profitable business, but who would have thought that Xuan Yizheng actually had such thoughts.
During those years when the princess was in charge of Guangbai Garden, the amount in the account books was not proportional to the silver in the treasury. Now Xuan Yizhen wants to make up the huge amount of silver himself. Isn't this just a disguised way of raising funds for disaster relief?
The teacup was broken, and tea splashed all over the floor, creating spots of light, like the reflection of a flowing lake.
The Empress had ordered all officials and royal relatives to accompany her to the Mountain Resort.
Yin Xing rode in a carriage with Xuan Yizheng out of the capital, and was a little curious about the summer palace.
However, when he arrived at the palace between mountains and rivers, the wind blew and the waves surged, and the summer heat subsided, Yin Xing found that it was not inferior to the palace at all.
Yin Xing looked at the lake view outside the window, felt the breeze, and ate lychees, feeling very comfortable.
"If you like, you can accompany me to go boating on the lake some other day." Xuan Yizheng raised his hand to tidy up the hair on Yin Xing's face. His eyes fell on the scar on her forehead and lingered for a moment, with a complicated look in his eyes.
"No, I don't feel safe in the water now. It's better to stay on the shore." Yin Xing responded, looking away.
Xuan Yizheng's brows relaxed, he smiled, and without saying anything, he picked up the document and started to read it.
Yin Xing leaned aside and looked at Xuan Yizhen's face. Her skin was as white as ice, her hair was black, her skin was white as snow, her eyes were misty and beautiful, and she was ethereal. She asked curiously, "Come to think of it, the stand-in's voice is also very similar to Yizhen's. I wonder how they did it?"
"Of course, you need to study and imitate diligently, but this aspect probably requires a bit of talent."
"I see. It's like ventriloquism, you can never learn it."
Xuan Yizhen paused flipping through the documents, his eyes meeting Yin Xing's sparkling gaze. He raised his hand to embrace her in his arms, lowering his eyes and speaking, "What are you looking at?"
Yin Xing was a little embarrassed to snuggle up to Xuan Yizhen. He listened to her heartbeat and said vaguely, "I don't want to be unable to recognize Yizhen and the substitute in the future."
He couldn't even recognize the person next to him. Yin Xing felt that Xuan Yizheng must be very angry and sad.
"It's not your fault. She was taught by me. You could say she is my shadow." Xuan Yizheng held Yin Xing tightly in his arms with his slender arms and whispered to her.
"But how can one person be so like another person?" Yin Xing felt that apart from the appearance, the person must know Xuan Yizhen very well, so his temperament and expression were so realistic.
Xuan Yizheng saw that Yin Xing was different from others in her cruelty, so he didn't say anything more to her.
Those shadows were carefully selected by the elders of the Wanqi family.
Because initially, Lady Ji felt that Xuan Yizheng's condition did not make him suitable to be the head of the family, but she did not want any chaos to occur, so she made such preparations.
Xuan Yizheng had always known about these shadows following and observing him, but he didn't care because his condition was very serious at the time and he had no time to take care of her.
"There are many people in this world who are willing to sacrifice themselves, and you are an exception." Xuan Yizheng looked at Yin Xing's pretty and fair face, kissed her earlobe with his thin lips, and murmured.
Thinking back to that night when Yin Xing dared to disobey him as the emperor, Xuan Yizheng felt that she was not always obedient and timid, on the contrary, she could be very stubborn sometimes.
Back then, Yin Xing never thought of staying in the capital. She was like a swimming fish, free and unrestrained.
Yin Xing shivered and tried to hide, but ended up exposing more of her body. The warm and cool lips, mixed with the ravages of the teeth, were soft and strong, itchy and painful.
Yin Xing felt like Xuan Yizheng's prey. If she was just a little cruel, she would die with a broken neck.
"Don't, don't bite." Yin Xing's cheeks were as red as persimmons, and she raised her hands to cover her ears. It was not difficult to imagine that it would definitely leave shameful marks.
"Okay." Xuan Yi pursed his lips and fiddled with Yin Xing's belt with his fingertips, very casually.
Yin Xing was a little surprised to see Xuan Yizheng was very cooperative, but when he saw her with her eyes downcast and a gentle and submissive demeanor, he felt that he didn't seem to be very interested.
Because of typhoid fever, Yin Xing was worried about being infected, so he didn't get too close to Xuan Yizheng.
It’s actually normal for Xuan Yizheng to want to get close to her now.
Thinking of this, Yin Xing leaned in and kissed Xuan Yizhen's thin lips. Seeing her eyelashes tremble, like ripples on a lake, he couldn't help but tease her gently, retreating with disordered breathing and saying, "I found a good way to distinguish Yizhen from her substitute."
Xuan Yizhen's gaze fell on Yin Xing's rosy lips, as if he could taste the sweet fragrance of lychee flesh. He spoke in a slightly hoarse voice, "What?"
"Hehe, I know a special mark on Yizhen, the kind that no one else knows about." Yin Xing smiled with curved eyebrows.
"This sounds interesting." Xuan Yizhen pinched Yin Xing's soft hand with his fingertips and slowly placed it on his lips. "Here, or here?"
Yin Xing looked at Xuan Yizheng pulling her hand, which was changing freely and with an unnatural rolling in her throat, only to realize that she seemed to have misunderstood her!
Because Yin Xing was referring to the patterned tattoos on the two of them, while Xuan Yizheng was obviously referring to something else.
Xuan Yizhen looked at Yin Xing's increasingly red face and teased him slowly, "It seems that this place won't work either. We need to be more secretive."
Yin Xing stared at the gentle and beautiful Xuan Yizhen in shock. He couldn't believe that she would be so direct!
Outside the window, the sound of wind mixed with the sound of waves echoed. Yin Xing watched Xuan Yizhen's luxurious golden skirt slipping down pitifully and swaying in the wind. His gaze met her dark eyes that were filled with a gentle expression, and he could actually still notice some changes.
The substitute's eyes were even colder and harder, like frozen, sharp ice, indifferent and unmeltable.
And when Xuan Yizheng's eyes looked at him, there would always be soft ripples in them, like a silent and lingering spring rain, wetting Yin Xing's heart and also Yin Xing's fingertips.
-----------------------
The author has something to say: Thank you to the 23 lovely readers who quietly clicked on the collection to support you (≧▽≦)
Thanks to the 27 lovely readers who followed the update and left comments and rewards for their support (≧▽≦)
New article recommendation collection: The fate of accidentally flirting with the paranoid queen (through the book)
A sweet story about a beautiful ambitious paranoid and a pure love silly little white rabbit. I hope you can click on the new article collection to support it (≧▽≦)
The author has many more completed works, please click on the column to read them, please (≧▽≦)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
