box of hearts

Chapter 77
Nanny Yao was reluctant at first, but she panicked when she was told so, she hurriedly held up an umbrella to accompany Xiangshou to Dongyuan quietly.The crime scene in front of the ancestral hall has been dealt with, and all traces of people and blood have been wiped out, as if nothing happened.Xiangshou looked around, stepped over the bricks and tiles on the ground and walked to the front of the bedroom.The sleeping hall is behind the Xiangdian used for sacrifices. It is the place where the ancestors are enshrined in the palace, and the room is full of yin.She took a deep breath, took out the little lamp in her pocket, "Nurse, light it up for me, you stay outside and keep watch."

A small flame flickered, and Xiangshou walked across the threshold alone holding a lamp.The hall was dark, and she held back her breath and searched meticulously. At the end, she leaned against the pillar covered in sweat, feeling uncertain.I clearly saw those people carrying them into a big brown box, but they couldn't find them everywhere. With such a small space, where can they hide?She raised the lamp to the top of her head, inspected the place where the light could reach again, her eyes lit up, and she settled on a rain cape at a deviating angle.Xiangshou immediately remembered that when the three of them first entered the hall, they all wore coir raincoats, but one of the two corpses that lingered in his mind was bald, and he must have taken it off while working in the hall and forgot to put it back on.

She walked quickly to the place, stomped the multicolored inlaid shoes on the ground, and when she heard the echo, she felt relieved.Immediately put the lamp aside, knelt down on the ground, and groped along the cracks of the ground with his hands. It didn't take long to feel a place that seemed to be loose. He picked it up two or three times with his bare hands, and picked out a shovel from the tools piled up in a corner. , after repeated attempts, finally pried open the floor with great effort, revealing the big box underneath.Xiangshou stretched out his hand impatiently, lifted the lid of the box, and brought the lamp closer.She blinked her eyes first, then shrank her head sharply, staring coldly at the terrifying thing inside the box, only one word echoed in her mind: Move!

"It can't be moved, of course it can't be moved." About an hour later, Xi He, the Empress Dowager, said this in the side hall of the Compassionate Ning Palace, "If you move this box, another box will fly in. "

The ground is covered with a velvet blanket with two dragons playing in the water, and Xiangshou stands in front of the velvet blanket.She wore a small silver leaf plug and a velvet flower on her head, and stared at the tip of her fish-scale skirt with lowered eyebrows, "I think so too. Since this group of people can carry this thing in and out The palace, there must be an internal response in the palace. It’s too much to scare the snake, and the slaves have put everything back as it was."

Xi He tightly squeezed the armrest of the colorful phoenix chair, and leaned slightly, "After you found out, why didn't you tell the second concubine, Zhan Shi, who was in charge of the affairs of the mansion, instead of running to the Palace of Compassion and Peace?"

Xiangshou squeezed his hands, and lowered his head even more, "I dare not hide from the Queen Mother. The second concubine has a deep prejudice against the slaves, and she is not allowed to serve the slaves on weekdays. Seeing that the situation is urgent, the slaves are afraid that the second concubine will not do it." I summoned the audience, and secondly, I thought that even if I told the concubine, the empress would definitely come to the palace to ask the queen mother for advice. This way, I will not delay the time, I am afraid that it will attract attention. It is better to be a slave than a humble person. Unknowingly, she came directly to the Empress Dowager Ming without knowing it. The current eunuch Ying Xi, the eunuch who is in charge of the internal affairs, is the old acquaintance of the servant, so the servant entrusted him to sneak into the palace before the lock was locked. The servant knew that it was against the law. Palace rules, please punish the Queen Mother."

"I heard that Ying Xi is your adoptive father?"

"No, no, the answer to the Queen Mother is all misinformation, Eunuch Ying is just—" Xiangshou's cheeks flushed, as if a dazzled flower shadow suddenly appeared when the green leaves in the fields were blown by the wind, "The matchmaker of the servant girl. "

Xihe said "Oh", raised his right arm and pushed the jade in the fairy hair bun to scratch his head, "Although you are the regent king and concubine, this is the first time you have entered the palace to see me in so many years. The affairs of the palace are the affairs of the world, and Everything in the world is tied to the 'Son of Heaven'. Today, the Holy Lord is young, and it is inevitable that some people will confuse the Sacred Heart and corrupt the discipline. A good minister who can uphold justice and serve the emperor faithfully, the model among them is your husband, and you are so clever People, I like them very much in my heart, not only will I not punish them, but I will also reward them. Yuming, take my box."

I said "box", but it took two court ladies to carry it in. It was a large leather case covered with gold at the four corners, and the room was full of splendor after opening.The box is lined with a yellow silk bottom, and it is divided into five compartments: one for precious stones, one for pearls, one for jade, one for gold and silver, and one for miscellaneous items: all kinds of jewelry and accessories.Xihe asked someone to take out the last box and put it on the table, and waved his hand, "You pick it yourself, and I will reward you as a meeting gift."

Xiang Shou was filled with anxiety and joy, and bowed his head, "The empress dowager's royal jewelry is unbearable for my servants, and my servants dare not."

The court lady Yuming glanced at her master, and said understandingly: "For the empress dowager's grace, the concubine just chooses according to her heart."

Xiangshou knew that there was no need to make further excuses, so she bowed again, "Then, the queen mother will forgive the shamelessness of this servant." She glanced at the treasure box, but finally smiled shyly, "Everything is rare. Zhen, the eyes are dazzled, but I can't pick any one, so I dare to ask the Queen Mother to help the servants."

Xihe nodded two points forward, "That red jade bracelet and that emerald sachet are both good."

A ray of light flashed in Xiangshou's eyes, and she picked up the latter without hesitation.The sachet is made of jade, with tassels of coral rice hanging on it, carved with brocade patterns, and the whole body is emerald green.

"Thank you, servant girl, for the reward from the Queen Mother."

A ray of light also flashed across Xi He's eyes, and a playful smile appeared on his lips, "You came here in a hurry, you must have not eaten dinner, I should have treated you well, but the uterus door has been locked for a while now." If you want the key again, you have to put it on file. It's not good to be quarreled. Since Eunuch Ying sneaked you in, let me tell you, ask him to sneak you out tomorrow morning. Tonight, you can just rest assured. I am in the Palace of Compassion and Ning. After a while, I will order the small kitchen to bring some delicate dishes to you, and you will be wronged in the backyard all night. You four will lead the way for the concubine, take good care of her, don't neglect her."

Xiangshou even said "I dare not", and returned Xiangxue with his sleeves, Chunyun in his clothes, and went down with the maids.

The smile on Xi He's face then subsided, "Yuming."

"The servant is here."

"Go and tell Zhao Sheng exactly what you heard just now, and tell him that the first thing to do tomorrow is to go to the Zhenfu Department to find Meng Zhongxian."

"The slaves obey."

Xi He shook her fingertips, and sank back into the chair, while Shenhun fell into long-term contemplation, until the sound of light footsteps woke her up again.

Between the silky golden scrolls, Yu Tea held a silver basin in her hand, and her knees were slightly bent, "Master, don't worry, everything has been done, please be kind and iron your hands."

She took off the nail covers, rings, and bracelets from Xihe's hands one by one, wrapped them in a cotton towel soaked in spices, and dipped them into a silver basin filled with rose petals.The hot water in the basin had a strong fragrance, and after the mist, Yu Tea lowered her eyebrows and said softly: "This Concubine Concubine is very well-behaved."

The heat caused Xihe's cheeks to glow slightly red, and she said with a slight smile: "I asked her to pick out jewelry, but she said she couldn't pick it out, because I didn't want to pick something that was my favorite. The ruby ​​bracelet and emerald jade sachet were pointed out to her as a test. Red is the color used by the first wife, and green is the color used by the concubine. It is always red over green, but she chose the green one, obviously because she was afraid of offending me. It's not taboo to be born in the middle palace. This little girl is not only beautiful and charming, but also rare to have such sharp ears and eyes, she is really a stunner."

Yu Tea gave a chuckle, "Master's words sound a bit sour."

"Little hooves!" Xi He replied with a smile and a sigh, "In the past year, the third master seems to have separated from me a lot. Although the second concubine Zhan and I are sisters of the same clan, they are not far or close , Leaving three points in words, making people unpredictable. Only then did I feel that it was time to put someone of my own in the Prince Regent’s mansion. If there is someone who is troublesome, it’s better to talk to me from time to time, so as not to keep me in the dark inside."

"I heard that this concubine made a big mistake when she was favored. Although she didn't lose her status, she still has no status in the palace. I'm afraid she is not a suitable candidate."

"Isn't it because she fell out of favor? The art of entrancing is not to add to the icing on the cake, but to give charcoal in the snow. If the proud concubine Ji is afraid that she will not accept my love. Anyway, such a beautiful and smart woman, no matter what she has done. Any heinous felony, a man will always forgive her. What's more, this time, she will definitely be able to pay off the crime. "

A trace of hesitation appeared on Yu Tea's face, "The East is really cunning. Recently, it looks friendly on the surface, but secretly resorts to such indecent tricks. Although it can be said that the news can be delivered, it is so hasty. I wonder if Mr. Meng has the ability to solve this situation in the east?"

"Since he has the ability to take over Fang Kaiyin and take charge of Zhen Fusi, he can not only fish out the third master, but also put Dong Bian himself into that box!" Xi He's eyes flashed, and he raised the water Stained hands.

Yu Tea unwrapped the cotton towels that wrapped her hands, took one from the rosewood tray with a stack of towels on the side, and gently rubbed it on the rosy white skin with all the pores, each twist Change a towel in two strokes.The towels are all lined with golden thread locks and embroidered with phoenixes. The phoenixes have different postures, either holding a sesame or looking at the moon.And there is always one who has to burn for the legendary rebirth.

(End of this chapter)