The snowy winter day turned dark in the blink of an eye, and a lantern was lit above the vermilion lacquered and copper-nailed gate of the Cining Palace, a rare sight.

In the heavy snow, Zhao Tong, holding a lantern, escorted Emperor Yongxing into the Cining Palace.

Emperor Yongxing was shocked.

The eunuch in charge of the Imperial Pharmacy was escorted by two eunuchs and knelt in the corridor.

He had obviously been beaten; his cheeks were swollen and there was blood at the corners of his mouth.

Upon seeing Emperor Yongxing, the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Pharmacy started crying: “Your Majesty, please save me! The Queen Mother wants to kill me.”

Emperor Yongxing’s face turned pale and he asked, “What did you say?”

The eunuch in charge of the Imperial Pharmacy said: “What can I say? I know nothing and did nothing. I am wronged!”

Emperor Yongxing breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at the two eunuchs who were kneeling on the ground but still tightly holding the arms of the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Pharmacy: “Let him go.”

The two eunuchs looked at each other and let go of their hands.

Emperor Yongxing: “Take two hundred-year-old mountain ginsengs and send them to the Duke of Zhenguo’s Mansion tomorrow morning.” After saying that, he walked straight into the hall.

The door of the bedroom was closed tightly, and Dai Quan and the eunuch in charge were guarding it on the left and right.

Seeing the emperor coming, Dai Quan and the eunuch in charge knelt down immediately and said, “Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you.”

Emperor Yongxing: “I heard that the Queen Mother did not have dinner that night, is that right?”

Dai Quan: “Yes.”

Emperor Yongxing was silent for a moment, then said, “We don’t need you here anymore, wait outside the palace gate.”

“Yes.” Dai Quan and the eunuch in charge answered, kneeling there motionless.

Emperor Yongxing frowned: “What’s wrong?”

Dai Quan was also silent for a moment, then replied, “In reply to the emperor, the queen mother said that she would not see anyone.”

Emperor Yongxing was stunned for a moment: “Isn’t the prince in there?”

Dai Quan: “The Queen Mother said that she won’t see anyone right now.”

Emperor Yongxing’s face suddenly turned red, and he was so angry that he turned around and walked out without saying a word.

Zhao Tong hurriedly chased after him.

Dai Quan and the eunuch in charge both had complicated expressions.

Emperor Yongxing didn’t know that the Queen Mother was standing behind the door of the bedroom at this time.

When she heard the sound of the outer hall door closing, the empress dowager trembled all over and tears flowed down her face.

The little prince came over and took the Queen Mother’s hand: “Grandma! Grandma, don’t cry! Grandma, don’t cry.” As he shouted, he started crying too.

The Queen Mother burst into tears at the cry of the little prince.

Outside the door, Dai Quan and the eunuch in charge looked at each other and retreated.

After a while, the Queen Mother adjusted her mood and wiped the tears for the little prince. Suddenly, Li Yuanzheng’s voice rang in her ears: “Once you take this kind of elixir, you can’t stop. The emperor’s health is not good, and the elixir contains aphrodisiacs.”

Little Prince: “Grandmother”

The Queen Mother came back to her senses and looked at the little prince: “My Royal Grandmother will only be able to rely on you from now on.” As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes again.

The little prince nodded very sensibly: “Don’t worry, Grandmother, I will definitely live up to your expectations.”

“Good! Good!” The Queen Mother excitedly took the little prince into her arms, stroked his head and said, “The future of our ancestors’ country depends on you!”

At this point, she suddenly remembered and let go of the little prince. “Tomorrow, you will go to the Duke of Zhenguo’s mansion on behalf of the Empress Dowager and see how the Duke of Zhenguo is ‘wiping the ass’ for your father.”

The little prince said “hmm”. The Queen Mother sighed, “Zhenguogong Mansion is the maternal grandfather’s home of the Royal Grandmother. If even they are separated from the Royal Family, who can we, an orphan and a widow, rely on!” As she spoke, her eyes turned red again.

The young prince: “And the Duke of Lu.”

“Him?” The Queen Mother was stunned for a moment, then shook her head and smiled bitterly, “Your Royal Grandfather said that Li Hu is overbearing and needs someone to check and balance him.”

The young prince: “But Duke Lu is very good to his grandson.”

The Queen Mother: “You are still young, you will understand later.”

The little prince wanted to say something when the clock in the corner rang.

The Queen said: “Okay, it’s time for your grandfather to take his medicine.” After saying that, she opened the door of the bedroom and walked out.

The little prince walked to the bedside, tightly grasped Emperor Yongchang’s hand, and cried, “Grandpa Emperor, when will you wake up?”

Looking at the unresponsive Emperor Yongchang, the little prince stood there feeling wronged and uncomfortable, and kept wiping away tears. Suddenly, his eyes widened! Then, he stared at the big hand in his palm, and his little finger moved!
The little prince swallowed and said, “Grandpa Emperor, can you hear me?” As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on his little finger.

I don’t know how long it took, but just when the light in his eyes was about to dim, his little finger moved again.

The little prince was surprised and happy. Just as he was about to call the empress dowager, he suddenly remembered something and hurriedly covered Emperor Yongchang’s hand under the quilt. Then he leaned over to Emperor Yongchang’s ear and whispered, “Grandpa Emperor, father is the emperor now. We can’t let anyone know that you’ve woken up. Grandpa Emperor, grandmother made father cry again.”

The heavy snow made the world chaotic. Several large fires outside the gate of Tuobi Villa were dim in the snow, while the lights inside the villa were bright.

A melodious flute sound floated from the villa.

Four large pots of open fire were burning with sandalwood on the platform in front of the hall. Two incense burners were also added to the hall, and open fires were also burning with sandalwood inside. Although the door was open, it was not cold.

Amber, Xiangling, Zijuan, Xueyan, Qingwen and others sat together, cracking melon seeds and listening to the flute and Xiao ensemble of Wenguan and Lingguan.

On the other side, Lin Daiyu stood beside Li Hu and watched him paint with a brush.

Li Hu put down his pen, and on the piece of rice paper was written: Kill one person every ten steps, leave no trace in a thousand miles. When the work is done, leave, hiding your identity and name.

Lin Daiyu blinked her eyes: “The Duke is so murderous!”

Li Hu smiled and said, “My tenderness will always be reserved for you.”

Lin Daiyu was embarrassed. She laughed and patted Li Hu: “You are shameless!” Then she looked at the heavy snow outside the door and said, “Let’s go out for a walk.”

Li Hu nodded, put a thick fur coat on her, and then put on the crane cloak with a bright red feather gauze and white fox lining on the outside. He covered his head with a hat, and also put on a thick fur coat himself. Then he put his arm around her waist and walked out.

Amber and the others smiled at each other.

It was almost curfew and it was snowing heavily, and Gulou Street was dead silent.

Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves and wheels crushing snow came from deep in the street. A torch emitting a dim light in the heavy snow floated over.

A dozen cavalrymen escorted a carriage as it rolled in from the depths of the street.

Although it was snowing heavily, the name of “Nan’an Prince’s Mansion” could still be vaguely seen through the lanterns on the carriage!

Inside the carriage, the Prince of Nan’an was obviously drunk. As the carriage swayed, his eyelids drooped involuntarily.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped abruptly, and the inertia caused the prince of Nan’an County to lean forward suddenly, hitting his forehead on the baffle of the carriage, causing a sharp pain. He was furious, and just as he was about to open his mouth to scold, he heard the captain of the guards shouting, “Who!”

Immediately afterwards, clattering sounds were heard from the front and back of the carriage.

“Prince!” The captain of the guard’s voice trembled.

“What’s wrong?” The Prince of Nan’an lifted the thick car curtain and took a look. His whole body was immediately shocked. It was a musket!
He was stunned for a moment, then realized that the other side was the government army!

After knowing the other party’s identity, the panic in his heart disappeared, and he immediately shouted loudly: “You are blind. Can’t you see such big words on the lantern? Get out of here!”

What answered him was the sound of gunfire. (End of this chapter)