Chapter 22 Luling

On the 18th day of the first lunar month, the mountain gate was bustling with activity early in the morning. Princess Taiping spent a lot of money to hold a night banquet, hoping to compete with the grand Lantern Festival in the capital. Unfortunately, a bloody incident occurred, and four people died in succession. The people in the villa were in a panic, and no one had the heart to attend the banquet.

After several days of agonizing waiting on the snowy mountain, the mountain road was finally open. All the guests heaved a sigh of relief and hurried to get their bikes down the mountain, fearing that they would be entangled in bad luck again if they were a step late.

At the gate of the manor, carriages and horses were like dragons, and servants from various families were shouting and scrambling to get through. The Ming family's servants kept loading things onto the carriages, and Ming Huashang, wrapped in a shawl, said goodbye to everyone.

Ming Huazhang said to Jiang Ling: "I am sorry to bother you, Prince Jiang, these days. Thank you very much!"

Jiang Ling sat in the carriage and waved his hand proudly: "It's not a big deal. It's a pity that the good wine I brought is still unopened. If you are free one day, why don't you come and..."

Ming Huashang quickly changed the subject when she heard this: "Look, there's an empty seat up ahead! Prince Jiang, hurry up and leave, or you'll be stuck in traffic again!"

Jiang Ling quickly stuck his head out and looked: "Quick, hold that empty seat, don't let anyone pass! I'm leaving now, and when we get back to the capital, you must remember to come to the Marquis Jiang'an's mansion for a drink!"

Ming Huashang nodded in agreement, not caring at all about what he said. Baobao poked his head out from beside Jiang Ling and looked back curiously. Ming Huashang's face was full of reluctance. She waved her hands vigorously, and after the Jiang family's carriage could no longer be seen, she still looked reluctant.

Ming Huazhang asked: "Are you really planning to go to the Marquis of Jiang'an's mansion?"

Ming Huashang looked at Ming Huazhang in surprise: "No. Second brother, why do you have such doubts?"

Ming Huazhang sighed: "A gentleman should keep his word. If you don't want to go, then why did you agree to do it?"

Ming Huashang wrapped herself tighter, her black eyes looking innocent: "If I didn't say that, would he leave?"

Ming Huazhang was speechless for a moment. The sound of horse hooves approached, and Ming Huachang and Ming Huazhang turned around and saw Ren Yao walking towards them on horseback.

Ren Yao was wearing neat Hu clothing, with his arms and calves tied up with protective gear, looking heroic and androgynous. She also acted very manly, holding the reins and bowing to the brothers and sisters, saying: "After a thousand days of feasting, we will eventually say goodbye. I'm leaving, goodbye!"

Ming Huazhang also clasped his fists in return, and Ming Huashang smiled and said, "Sister Ren, remember the steamed buns from Tangshiji!"

Ren Yao lifted his legs and flew onto the horse's back. He turned his back to Ming Huashang, waved his hand, and said nonchalantly, "I'll remember that."

After she finished speaking, she gave a loud shout and the horse she was riding galloped away like an arrow from a bow, not caring at all that the road ahead was covered with snow and blocked by carriages and horses, which was extremely dangerous.

I don't know if she did it on purpose, but Ren Yao's horse passed by Jiang Ling's car, just in time to throw a bag of snow into the car window.

Jiang Ling opened the car curtain and angrily shouted, "Who is it that splashed snow on my neck?"

Ming Huashang looked at Ren Yao riding his horse at a gallop, showing off with envy in her eyes.

She turned around, blinked her eyes, and asked tentatively: "Second brother, can I..."

"No." Ming Huazhang ruthlessly cut off Ming Huachang's delusion, "With your half-baked riding skills, you can't even ride a horse properly on flat ground, and you dare to ride on a snowy mountain? Go take a car."

"oh."

Ming Huashang agreed languidly. At this time, a chuckle came from behind, saying, "There are so many cars on the road. Except for a general like Madam Ren, other horses can't go fast. Second sister, you want to ride a horse, it's not difficult. My horse is very docile and can walk on the mountain road by itself. The person on the horse just needs to hold the reins tightly. If you want to ride, you can ride my horse. I will ride for you."

The smile on Ming Huashang's face froze slightly, and she was suddenly unable to do it.

Actually, it is not necessary.

Ming Huazhang glanced at Xie Jichuan with disdain and said, "Go away. You are so shameless to say that."

Xie Jichuan still smiled and asked, "I have known my sister for many years, but I still don't know her name. I wonder what her name is? Does she have a nickname?"

Ming Huazhang was too lazy to even roll his eyes at him this time. He lowered his head and said to Ming Huashang, "Second Mother, you go to the car first. We will set off soon."

Ming Huashang responded sweetly, smiled at Xie Jichuan, and then picked up her coat and walked into the carriage. After the carriage closed, the sounds outside were somewhat distorted, floating up like the sunlight today.

Ming Huazhang's tone was not very good. It was also true that a girl's name should not be spread outside. Xie Jichuan directly asked the name of a girl who had not yet left the house. To be honest, it was a bit abrupt.

But if it's not true, it's actually common. After all, there are only a majority of normal people in this world, not so many people who talk about etiquette every day. Many families form good relationships, and the ladies and husbands exchange names and call each other brother and sister. Xie Jichuan is Ming Huazhang's friend, and it's not unusual to ask his friend's sister's name in private.

Ming Huashang leaned against the carriage, listening to the shouts and the sound of wheels coming from afar, and was a little dazed.

They stayed in Feihong Garden for several days. When they were about to leave, Xie Jichuan asked her name. She could probably guess the reasons.

It was just that Xie Jichuan had not taken her seriously before, and was gentle and considerate to her only because she was Ming Huazhang's sister; but now he found that Ming Huachang was not just a delicate and weak lady, but had some good qualities. Xie Jichuan really took her to heart, and that was why her name was worth remembering.

Ming Huashang was in a daze. When she came to her senses, she found that the carriage had started moving. Xie Jichuan was standing by the road. He said to them with a smile: "Jingzhan, second sister, be careful on the road. We gods will see you."

Ming Huazhang could ignore Xie Jichuan, but Ming Huashang could not be rude. She opened the car curtain and saluted Xie Jichuan with her arms crossed: "See you later, Brother Xie."

Xie Jichuan smiled at her. The young man stood among the snow-covered pines and watched them go away.

The Ming family's carriage was getting farther and farther away, and Xie Jichuan's smile was getting fainter and fainter. He looked at the dark purple figure beside the carriage for a long time, and he suddenly thought of what he said that night.

Ming Huazhang wanted Princess Taiping to take action, but a princess would not care about the lives of common people. How could she lose face for her husband for the sake of a few maids?

If Ming Huazhang wanted to redress the injustice of the three women and bring the murderer to justice, he had to expose Prince Luling. Only when Princess Taiping knew that these things were directed at Prince Luling would she investigate thoroughly.

Once involved in the struggle between the Wu family and Prince Luling, Ming Huazhang could no longer remain immune.

They all understood such a simple truth. Xie Jichuan was silent for a long time, and then asked, "Jingzhan, once you get involved in these things, you can't get out of it. Do you really want to wade into this mess?"

Ming Huazhang also said calmly: "I have no choice."

The villa was getting farther and farther away, and Xie Jichuan's figure could no longer be seen. Ming Huashang let down the curtain and leaned against the carriage, feeling a little bored.

Zhaocai saw this and said, "Madam, are you hungry?"

Ming Huashang's eyes widened: "How do you know?"

"I've prepared it for you a long time ago." Zhaocai skillfully took out a box of cakes from under the seat and said, "This is the Eight Treasures Box, with various flavors. Madam, would you like to try it?"

Ming Huashang happily agreed. Zhaocai opened the box and held it in front of Ming Huashang. One of the coins was a white round shape with a black dot in the center. At first glance, it looked like an eyeball.

After experiencing the terrifying night at the villa, Zhaocai and Ruyi were both shocked when they saw this thing. Ruyi was about to throw the cake away, but Ming Huashang picked it out first as if she hadn't noticed it.

Zhaocai was about to open his mouth to remind her, but Ming Huashang had already bitten off half of the "eyeball". Zhaocai choked and closed his mouth silently.

Their girl really has a good appetite... Well, no matter how powerful a monster is, it is transformed from birds and beasts, so just eat it.

Ming Huachang ate the cake with relish. Actually, she was aware of the abnormality of the cake. She just felt that she couldn't bring bad luck home, so she ate it on the way.

But Ming Huachang didn't understand. Prince Wei and Prince Ding wanted to create a strange story. There were so many ways to encounter a ghost, why did they have to gouge out eyes?

What does digging out the eyes, or rather the eyes, represent?

Ming Huachang couldn't figure it out, so she took another bite of the eye-shaped pastry.

The sound of horse hooves rang out from outside the car, and then a clear voice rang out through the curtains: "Second Mother."

Ming Huashang responded, quickly wiped the cake crumbs from her mouth, and opened the car curtain: "I'm here. Second brother, what's wrong?"

Ming Huazhang reined in his horse with one hand and followed the carriage. Behind him were jagged rocks and snow-covered mountains. He was wearing a dark purple round-necked robe, which outlined his tall and slender figure, like the ink marks carefully drawn by God when he created the world. He glanced at the corner of Ming Huachang's mouth and said, "Second Mother, you must not tell anyone about what happened in the villa after you leave, not even your father."

Ming Huashang nodded: "I understand."

"And the matter of you feeling the murderer's mind." Ming Huazhang said, "I don't know why you have this ability, but it's not a good thing. Murderers are cruel and vicious. You are immersed in feeling their thoughts, which is definitely not the right way. From now on, you are not allowed to use this method."

Ming Huashang groaned twice, feeling a little regretful. But she thought that if she used this method again, it would mean that another murder would happen around her. In comparison, it was a good thing that she would never have to use it again.

Ming Huashang sighed slightly and nodded slowly: "Okay."

After she agreed, Ming Huazhang did not relax, and still had a serious face: "Even if there is no murder, you can't show it in front of others. Be careful with your words and actions, don't stand out, be careful of being targeted."

Ming Huashang thought that Ming Huazhang thought too highly of her. She was such an ordinary person, who would want to target her? She joked, "Second brother, don't worry about this matter. I am neither good at literature nor martial arts. I can't find a place to stand out even if I want to."

Ming Huazhang looked at her laughing and knew that she didn't take his words seriously. How could a young lady like her imagine that in addition to the Wanxiang Temple and the prosperous market, half of Luoyang was hidden in darkness?

Ming Huazhang sighed in her heart and thought, forget it, these things are not something she should worry about. She just needs to eat, drink, have fun, and hang out with friends all her life, that's enough.

·

Luoyang, Ziwei City, Da Nei.

After the empress finished reading the memorial at the top, she raised her hand. Shangguan Wan'er immediately stepped forward and helped the empress stand up.

The empress was old, and after all, she was not as strong and tireless as she was in her youth. After only half an hour of reading the memorials, she felt depressed and tired.

Shangguan Wan'er had served the Empress for many years and was very good at observing her expressions. She saw that the Empress was tired and said sympathetically, "Your Majesty, the plum blossoms at Lichun Terrace are in full bloom. Why don't you go there and relax?"

The Queen nodded calmly. Shangguan Wan'er served the Queen, and many palace ladies and court ladies followed behind her, accompanying the Queen to the Yu Garden.

A few days ago, there was a heavy snowfall in Luoyang. The eunuchs cleared the path for the nobleman to take, but the roofs, corners of the walls, and treetops were still covered with snow. Looking around, the palaces of Ziwei City were connected, like the world of heaven.

The empress walked on the tall white marble corridor, with flying eaves and arches on both sides and overlapping red pillars, and countless attendants followed her silently.

She was already seventy years old, an age at which most people would be senile and confused, but the empress was still strong and vigorous, with sharp eyes. She held the highest power of the empire, and no one dared to treat her as an old woman.

While admiring the snow, the empress casually mentioned, "I heard that a maid in the Luling Prince's mansion died a while ago?"

Shangguan Wan'er's heart trembled. She carefully looked at the empress's expression, but the empress was very calm, and even the grooves at the corners of her lips were so deep and unfathomable.

Shangguan Wan'er withdrew her gaze and thought quickly in her mind, but she did not dare to pause for too long. Finally, she replied nervously: "Your Majesty, it is true. The weather is cold, and there is a lot of snow this year. The palace ladies can't stand the cold, and it is not uncommon for one or two to fall ill."

The Queen nodded and asked, "Where's Taiping? Has he come back?"

These two issues are completely unrelated and seem to have nothing to do with each other, but Shangguan Wan'er thinks it is not a coincidence.

Their queen would never say useless words. After asking King Luling, the queen suddenly mentioned Princess Taiping. Was there anything written in Taiping's letter two days ago?

Shangguan Wan'er was unsure of what Princess Taiping had said, so she could only reply with care: "The Imperial Guard reported yesterday that the snow on the mountain had been cleared. I think the princess will return to the capital this afternoon at the latest."

The Queen hummed and said nothing more. Shangguan Wan'er was terrified. Why did the Queen ask these questions? Could it be that the Queen found out that she had passed a message to Princess Taiping?

That shouldn't be the case. She was obviously doing it very secretly. Could it be that the two Zhang brothers had a spy around her to report her?

For the rest of the journey, Shangguan Wan'er walked with a heavy heart, but she still had to put on a smile and make jokes according to the mood of her superior. The empress was old, and she felt tired after walking in the wind for a short time. In the end, they did not reach Lichun Terrace, but only looked around Guanwen Hall for a while before returning.

After returning to Xuanzheng Hall, Shangguan Wan'er did not have time to rest and immediately brought the empress some warm tea. The empress took the teacup, took a sip, and said, "Call Prince Luling over."

Shangguan Wan'er was surprised, and instinctively felt happy, but she quickly suppressed her joy and bowed solemnly: "Yes."

Everyone in the world knows that the empress now has only two sons alive. The youngest son, the crown prince, is imprisoned in the deep palace, and the third son, the Prince of Luling, is banished to Luling, living a life of confinement and uncertainty. But what they don't know is that just a few years ago, the empress secretly summoned Prince of Luling back to the capital.

Not many people knew about this, but Shangguan Wan'er was one of them. After she got the news, she immediately sent the maid who delivered the message to see Princess Taiping. Unfortunately, the maid died not long after.

Shangguan Wan'er was terrified for a long time. She didn't believe that the maid died accidentally, but she couldn't figure out why she died. She was always alert, waiting for the person behind the scenes to make a second move, but until today, she didn't see the other party's next move.

Shangguan Wan'er was unpredictable, but she didn't understand the Queen's thoughts even more.

The Queen's heart is deeper than a needle in the sea. She pulled her youngest son off the throne and imprisoned him in the palace, not allowing him to see outsiders, but she made him the crown prince. Now the same routine appeared on Prince Luling. The Queen secretly summoned Prince Luling to the capital, but she didn't see him for a long time.

This trick of true and false, real and fake, even Shangguan Wan'er, who had served for more than ten years, was confused. Fortunately, before Shangguan Wan'er was scared to death by her own speculation, the empress finally agreed to meet Prince Luling.