In just three days, with Zhou Yao's confession as a breakthrough, the surging waves disturbed the water surface. Under the actions of all parties, pieces of evidence accumulated on Dong Lingjiu's desk.
　　The Qilin Guards guarded Li Zhuo's mansion day and night, waiting for the imperial decree to immediately arrest people and punish them. The court and the public were in a state of panic, and everyone was trembling with fear to inquire about the news. In this situation, they all felt incredible.
　　Who is that? Mr. Li Zhuo, not only has many students all over the world, but he is also the former prince's tutor of the current emperor. He has a clean character and is famous for his virtue. Some people almost dare to beat their chests and use their heads to guarantee that this retired master will never do anything corrupt!
　　But the other one is the current queen mother. Dong Lingjiu's skills and vision really make people have to believe her judgment.
　　While the civil and military officials of the whole court were surprised and suspicious, no one knew that Mr. Li was no longer in the palace, and the Qilin Guards around him were just pretending.
　　It was cold in the autumn. On the second night after Dong Lingjiu issued the secret order, she wore a fine woolen coat and took medicine with a jade bowl in her hand. In the quiet Cining Palace, an elderly man, dressed in plain clothes and a simple hat, was supported by several eunuchs and sat opposite her.
　　It was Li Zhuo himself.
　　Dong Lingjiu "invited" him from the palace.
　　Zheng Yuheng was standing aside, watching the queen take medicine. When he took the jade bowl, his eyes accidentally swept over and suddenly realized that Mr. Li was the white-bearded old man who spoke to calm the discussion at the prince's wedding banquet, and the only elder who convinced the "old man Han" at the table.
　　Li Zhuo looked at Zheng Yuheng, and after a moment, he moved to Dong Lingjiu.
　　He did not salute, but looked up at Dong Lingjiu who was in the upper seat, and actually smiled and called out: "Tan Niang, come here, uncle hasn't seen you for a long time."
　　Only her biological parents and a few family elders can call Dong Lingjiu by this name. Li Zhuo is a close friend of Master Dong, and is her "uncle".
　　Dong Lingjiu looked at his kind face and actually stood up and sat down opposite Li Zhuo from the upper seat. She did not regard herself as the queen mother of a country, but took a seat with her sleeves drawn up, and ordered Ruixue to set up the chess.
　　When the small case was placed on the chessboard, Li Zhuo pushed the black piece to Dong Lingjiu and smiled: "I am so much older than you, I can't bully you."
　　Dong Lingjiu glanced at the chessboard, did not accept the handover, and said casually: "Uncle forgot that my chess skills have been improved a long time ago."
　　"Yes," Li Zhuo said, "Tan Niang has been so well-educated a long time ago."
　　The two set up the chess formation and placed the pieces one by one, and the crystal clear black and white colors spread out on the chessboard.
　　After an unknown amount of time, Li Zhuo spoke first: "Are you very disappointed in your uncle?" Dong
　　Lingjiu's hand paused. Because playing chess was in the way, she took off a bracelet on her wrist and lowered her eyes: "I will execute Censor Zhou because he made a mistake that he must not make. I will also execute you, my uncle, even if it involves blood and gore."
　　Li Zhuo said: "All over the world, people will suspect you, accuse you, and insult you because of this."
　　Dong Lingjiu said: "Even if all over the world remain silent, Tan Niang's heart can be as calm as still water and she can look up and down with no regrets."
　　Li Zhuo stared at her face: "Do you have enough evidence?"
　　Dong Lingjiu was silent for a while and said: "Almost."
　　"Not enough," Li Zhuo said, "no matter how much more, it won't be enough."
　　Dong Lingjiu did not refute because this was right. Li Zhuo's reputation had reached this point in his life. No matter how much evidence there was, it would not be enough. There would always be people who would stand up for him and question the authenticity of the matter and whether this was a power-grabbing tactic to eliminate the old party.
　　Li Zhuo asked again: "Aren't you going to ask me why?"
　　Dong Lingjiu finally looked up at this loving, gentle and peaceful face: "Why... Uncle, didn't you come here at the same time as us?"
　　The cold sound of chess pieces stopped.
　　Li Zhuo said: "You mean, when the finances were poor and people's livelihood was in decline?"
　　At this moment, Dong Lingjiu still could not see any anger or regret in his expression.
　　Li Zhuo said, "Some people can share hardships but not happiness. This is true for me, and it is also true for the late emperor. I also thought that I cherished my reputation throughout my life, but at that time there was nothing to be greedy for and no profit to be made. I went through a difficult period of wind and rain, and endured the more than ten years of the late emperor's reign. Then I realized that as long as I moved my fingers, so much gold and silver would flow into my hands--"
　　Dong Lingjiu closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then said, "I thought you would know and understand..."
　　"I understand." Li Zhuo said, "But some people's noble character is cultivated. Some people are forced out. When I was in the court, as long as I enjoyed wealth and honor a little, the censors would talk about me in private. If I indulged in my selfish desires a little, students would come to me to give me advice. I was put in that position, and was praised and required to stand so high."
　　Dong Lingjiu stroked the cold chess piece without saying a word.
　　Li Zhuo smiled again and said, "If I had a choice, I would like to be like the saints before me and die of illness in the old years of Xining, so that I can preserve my good reputation throughout my life."
　　Instead of letting him realize that he is not that great
　　. "Duke Zhou was afraid of rumors, Wang Mang was humble before he usurped the throne... If I had died at the beginning, who would know the truth of my life." Dong Lingjiu murmured a poem in a low voice, and felt it was extremely absurd.
　　Li Zhuo said, "Empress Dowager."
　　He suddenly became respectful, raised his hand to salute Dong Lingjiu, and then said, "This old minister has only one last wish. Before you execute me, please let the emperor sort out all the charges, evidence, and confessions."
　　Dong Lingjiu said, "He has no ability to save you."
　　"Of course," Li Zhuo looked at her and said, "But does the Empress Dowager want to protect him under her wings for the rest of his life? Let Your Majesty open your eyes and see how many hypocritical villains there are in the world, how complicated people's positions are, what is for the family, what is for the country, and what is just for himself."
　　Li Zhuo was Meng Cheng's teacher, so he naturally knew the character of the new emperor.
　　Dong Lingjiu was stunned for a moment.
　　"The quality of a person cannot be defined by mere 'good or bad'." Li Zhuo looked at her with a smile, "You didn't teach His Majesty anything, so let me, the teacher who failed in my duty, do my best in the end."
　　Dong Lingjiu sighed with mixed feelings and said, "Is the actual account book in the mansion of the uncle?"
　　"It has been burned." He said, "In fact, after doing this, I have been worried day and night, fearing that it would be exposed, and I did not hesitate to make all kinds of cruel arrangements for this, but regret - is the most worthless thing in the world."
　　Because no matter how much he regretted it, when he found that with his identity, he could easily intercept the military pay, steal and replace it, and pocket the money, he was moved by the huge number and did it.
　　Even if he did nine hundred and ninety-nine things right, this last one would be enough to lose everything.
　　"There are not so many true gentlemen in this world," he pointed at Dong Lingjiu, "Tan Niang, you and your father are both true gentlemen. The rest of us… even the late emperor was hypocritical at one time.”
　　Perhaps because he was about to die, Li Zhuo actually indulged in talking about the past.
　　"The pearls presented by the vassal states were sewn into colorful clothes by Concubine Shu... Actually, you like it too, don't you? Who wouldn't like such a symmetrical and moist pearl? But the late emperor knew that you were very righteous, so he didn't consider giving it to you."
　　Dong Lingjiu said, "I don't like it anymore."
　　It's hard to tell whether he was talking about the colorful clothes or the late emperor.
　　This is just the least worth mentioning of many dusty old things.
　　Li Zhuo said sincerely, "When you were the queen, you were a role model for the whole world. Now..."
　　His eyes suddenly passed through Dong Lingjiu's shoulders and looked at Zheng Yuheng behind her. His eyes stayed on the face of the doctor Zheng for a moment: "If this child can take care of you, that would be great. He should be the most precious thing in your palace."
　　Compared with the word "beloved thing" that Dong Lingjiu thought of, Li Zhuo's description seemed to be closer to "thing". Like all the court officials, he thought that Doctor Zheng was a precious thing that the queen mother found in memory of the late emperor.
　　No matter how precious a souvenir is, it is just an object. Seeing an object reminds you of someone, nothing more than this.
　　Dong Lingjiu frowned slightly.
　　But she did not show her true feelings, but just finished the game of chess with Li Zhuo quietly. When it came to the endgame, Li Zhuo lost the game by only one and a half points. He stood up to salute, but Dong Lingjiu refused to accept it, and only said lightly: "Thank you."
　　Behind Li Zhuo, several eunuchs had been waiting by his side, observing his movements at any time. A hint of white appeared in the sky, and the sound of the armor of the Qilin Guards colliding could be heard faintly around, outside the tightly closed palace door.
　　Li Zhuo stood up and said goodbye to the girl he watched grow up, even though the daughter of his good friend who listened to books in the corridor in the past had sat in this position under the tempering of worldly affairs. She stood so high, still bowed her head for the pity of all living beings.
　　He walked out.
　　The light outside only reflected for a breath, the moonlight faded, and the tender morning sun poured in a handful of rosy clouds, which dissipated as the eunuchs closed the palace door.
　　Dong Lingjiu only had one chess game left in front of her.
　　She stood up, and as Li Zhuo had said, she ordered people to compile all the evidence into a book on the desk and send it to Guiyuan Palace, and asked the emperor to issue a corresponding decision-making edict, so that the imperial edict could be passed on to Zhongshumenxia, ​​the six departments, and even the entire capital.
　　Li Zhuo's long and prosperous life is about to end today.
　　From now on, his life will only have these two debate topics: true and false gentlemen. There will be countless descendants who will fight for him in the torrent of history, and have countless feelings, doubts, and myths about this life that failed.
　　But at this moment, Dong Lingjiu didn't want to care about it anymore.
　　She dismissed everyone and sat on the chair in the main hall, without even the strength to wash and change clothes. She supported her forehead with her hand and closed her eyes, trying to find a little peace in her chaotic thoughts.
　　The breath of peace approached.
　　A gentle force covered her body.
　　Dong Lingjiu opened her eyes and saw the hand of Doctor Xiao Zheng approaching.
　　"Didn't I say that you all should go down?" she said softly.
　　"Does that include me?" Zheng Yuheng held her drooping hand and supported her delicate fingers with his palm. "The queen won't drive me away."
　　Dong Lingjiu thought to herself, what a spoiled person.
　　She stared at Zheng Yuheng's face. To be honest, she didn't realize that Yuheng was a little like Meng Zhen at first. She just liked the breath of the breeze and the pure eyes. In her heart, a man who abandoned his family background and broke with his father's clan for her was many times more passionate than the sparks with the late emperor that had disappeared.
　　Zheng Yuheng let her gaze.
　　Suddenly, Dong Lingjiu grabbed his hand, then pulled him into her arms and wrapped her arms around Zheng Yuheng's waist.
　　The pearl crown and hairpins on her bun made a tiny collision sound, and her hot and long breath swept over his neck, with a fragrance like orchid.
　　Dong Lingjiu pressed against his shoulders and hugged his thin and strong body tightly.
　　Zheng Yuheng was hugged by her and had almost no time to resist - he didn't even think of resisting. He felt her stand up and press him against the desk, with his lower back pressed between the stacked files on the desk.
　　Dong Lingjiu's hand loosened a little, pressing on the edge of the desk, but raised the other side, and the wide sleeves slid down from her wrist, revealing a white and delicate wrist.
　　Her hands were not very strong, so light and slender, but she bent her fingers to lift his chin, and her fingertips stroked Zheng Yuheng's smooth chin line.
　　Dong Lingjiu stared at him.
　　Staring at him so intensely and directly. Zheng Yuheng almost felt suffocated by this.
　　She held his face and whispered, "Look at me."
　　Zheng Yuheng didn't dare to look at her, and kept suppressing his gaze, his eyelashes trembling slightly. After hearing this, he slowly raised his eyes and saw the surging and deep desire in her eyes.
　　Zheng Yuheng wanted to retreat again, but he had nowhere to retreat. He even bumped into a pile of memorials in the corner and fell to the ground.
　　Dong Lingjiu said, "Don't shout. There are palace servants outside the pearl curtain."
　　Although he said he would dismiss everyone, the palace servants in Cining Palace would not leave too far, so that the Empress Dowager could summon them at any time.
　　Zheng Yuheng lost his composure and bit his thin lips nervously, leaving a shallow tooth mark. His eyes were a little red, and his ears were burning. After a long while, he hesitated and replied in a low voice, "Your Majesty...Your Majesty obeys your order..."
　　Dong Lingjiu covered his teeth mark with a kiss.
　　It was so fragrant.
　　Zheng Yuheng had never felt such a strong fragrance in Cining Palace.
　　Just like the first time he approached the Empress Dowager, the surging and unexpected fragrance seemed to fill his soul and mind in an instant, like a hand pinching his spine and holding his fate in its hands.
　　He accepted it immaturely, accepting her tired and irritable desire for destruction without any resistance. Until the tip of his tongue was numb, and even the corners of his lips were filled with a faint smell of sweet blood.
　　Dong Lingjiu suddenly paused, raised his finger and swept across the corner of his lips, and said, "It's bitten."
　　Zheng Yuheng took a long breath, his dark eyes were moist and bright, and his eyes swept from her body. This time, he dared not look at her again no matter what.
　　Dong Lingjiu touched the wound and called out, "Yuheng."
　　"Your servant, your servant is..."
　　"Are you afraid of pain?"
　　Zheng Yuheng was stunned for a moment, and didn't know how to answer. Then, he felt that the other party was deliberately rubbing the tiny scar, making it congested, red, and oozing with light blood.
　　He hissed and bit the root of his teeth. His voice was very low, but he was still shaking: "Empress Dowager..."
　　She immediately restrained herself, as if those wanton and arrogant desires for destruction only appeared for a moment, like fireworks that disappeared in a flash.
　　Dong Lingjiu asked: "Are you afraid of me?"
　　"...No." Zheng Yuheng replied, "I am not, not afraid of you."
　　Dong Lingjiu couldn't help but smile. She wiped the blood from his lips, blew on the wound very gently, then gently held him in her arms, closed her eyes and whispered: "Good boy...Why do you always come to my door?"