Volume 5: Fellow Traveler Chapter 790: It's hard to accept
When Hua Qi hurried back to the palace and went straight to the Qianqing Palace, he found that the emperor was not there. He was desperate and planned to go to the Zhaoren Hall in the back to find the third prince, the crown prince, in case the situation really turned upside down, so that there would be someone who could go to the Qingning Palace to persuade him. However, he saw a person who should not be there outside the Zhaoren Hall, at the Longguang Gate leading to the east six palaces.
The emperor was dressed in casual clothes and was walking slowly with his hands behind his back. There was no one around him. Facing this astonishing scene, he realized that the emperor had spotted him and was looking at him with a smile. He thought that even if he was good at fighting, he couldn't avoid it. He could only move forward helplessly.
After the ceremony, Hua Qi simply told the truth: "Your Majesty, you had someone stop the young lady from entering the palace, and she was almost worried to death! I finally got my son-in-law and Ah Liu to stop her and rush her back, and I thought you went to Qingning Palace."
"I have been there." The emperor uttered four words, and then said calmly, "The Queen Mother originally intended to issue an edict saying that it was she who ordered the death of the deposed Queen and the eldest prince, but I said that if she dares, I will seal the Qingning Palace from now on."
Hua Qi couldn't help but want to wipe his cold sweat after hearing these few casual words. The Queen Mother's attitude was predictable, and the Emperor's toughness was also predictable, but when the mother and son collided, it was really like a hammer hitting a steel knife, with sparks flying everywhere, making it difficult to predict! Even if he was as bold and stubborn as he was, he didn't dare to ask the Emperor what would happen after he said this, and simply shut up and pretended to be dumb.
The emperor didn't care that Hua Qi was pretending to be deaf and dumb. He walked forward slowly and said without turning his head, "I'm going to Yonghe Palace to see Concubine Yu now. You can come with me."
This was of course completely against the rules, but at this moment, Hua Qi no longer cared about the rules. As long as he could get out of this awkward situation between the emperor and his subjects, he would never say no even if he was asked to accompany the emperor out of the palace to visit some unspeakable places for pleasure. However, as he quietly followed , he couldn't help but glance behind him.
However, the emperor seemed to have eyes behind him, and said calmly: "Sanlang must have been tipped off by someone, so he realized that something was wrong and went to Qingning Palace to persuade them. I left him there, letting this filial grandson accompany the empress dowager for one night instead of my unfilial son."
This time, Hua Qi was so confused that he almost lost his pace. Fortunately, he reacted very quickly and said in astonishment, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is not so quick to report things, right? Uh... Could it be that Chu Kuan tipped off?"
"Who else but him? He's so quick-witted and so nosy!" The emperor cursed , and then suddenly stopped, just in time to face Hua Qi. Seeing this person who he had known since childhood looking at him innocently, he said solemnly, "He is like you, good at pretending, and can understand people's hearts the best. Do you think Sanlang will be controlled by him?"
This was a very serious accusation. Although Hua Qi and Chu Kuan did not have a very deep friendship, he immediately said righteously: "Although the Crown Prince is young, he has his own opinions and persistence. Not to mention Eunuch Chu, I am afraid that even Master Zhang can only persuade him in some aspects. It is absolutely impossible to blackmail him or do anything else."
He wanted to add, "Your Highness the Crown Prince should be purely filial..."
"Alright, alright, it's all the same old stuff, no need to say more." The emperor interrupted Hua Qi impatiently, and then snorted, "I was just trying to get those so-called wise men outside, and those guys who are watching them, to think carefully about the questions I raised, and Zhang Shou also took the opportunity to launch his research project, but I didn't expect you to come up with this result."
"You have sorted out and screened all the people in the imperial farm, and interrogated them with both kindness and force, but you didn't find any suspicious people. It is obvious that the person who did it either escaped or hid very deep. Therefore, it is right to round up all the people there."
"Although Dalang is hateful and has brought disaster upon himself, even if he dies, he shouldn't die in such an unclear way! The Queen Mother doesn't care about her own reputation and just wants to get things over with, thinking that this way my reputation can be preserved. But she should know that I have never cared about this! What reputation? I don't care what people say after I die!"
"As long as the third son I choose to inherit the throne is outstanding enough, how can he allow some people to confuse right and wrong! And as long as the person he chooses in the future is capable enough, he can also suppress those who talk nonsense. As for the future... As long as the Ming Dynasty can last, my reputation will at least be acceptable. If the Ming Dynasty is gone in the future, will my reputation still have any meaning?"
Clearly not caring about her reputation during her lifetime or after her death, the emperor pointed at Hua Qi and said, "You can choose the people yourself, I want an outcome. Not an outcome that will fool others, but an outcome that will let me know what happened. Not only that, you should also investigate the death of the deposed queen. If she didn't commit suicide or died of illness, I also want an answer."
"If it is really related to my mother, I must at least see the evidence. Otherwise, even if she wants to admit it, I will not agree!"
Well, this is really the expected result...
Hua Qi thought to himself that the meal at the royal palace was indeed worse than that at the Duke of Zhao's mansion. Each of these things was troublesome and difficult, but he could not afford to shirk them, so he simply agreed very readily, but he also made a request to the emperor.
"Borrow Chu Kuan?" The emperor was slightly stunned for a moment, then he laughed dumbly and said, "He is now the manager of Wan'an Palace. You can either go to the Imperial Concubine or go to the Crown Prince Sanlang. In short, you don't need to ask me to lend him. Of course, whether he is willing to go with you, who is always good at seeking benefits and avoiding harm, is another matter."
"I feel relieved when your Majesty says that." Hua Qi grinned, revealing a set of well-maintained white teeth. "Even if I have to tie him up, I will tie him up and ask him to go with me to investigate. For a difficult case like this, we should share the good and the bad, right?"
The emperor didn't care about what Hua Qi said, nor did he care whether the two would fight over this matter - if they really fought, he would probably move a chair to the side and watch the fight with great interest, and then applaud and cheer without any bias.
Because no one was sent to pass the message to Concubine Yu in advance, when the emperor and his ministers arrived at Yonghe Palace, the palace gate was already closed. Although according to common sense, they should always knock on the door, but Hua Qi watched coldly, but he had no intention of stepping forward to do it for him, because he was sure that according to the emperor's temper today, he might do something weird.
Sure enough, the emperor looked up at the low palace wall, then reached out and patted the wall, then suddenly stepped back a few steps, and with a nimble leap, he easily climbed onto the top of the wall. Seeing this, Hua Qi could only follow suit.
As a result, in this cold winter weather, the emperor and his ministers just squatted on the wall, and no one took any follow-up action. Hua Qi himself would certainly not jump down casually. Following the emperor was a good reason for him, but how could he jump into the courtyard of a noble concubine without permission?
Even though most people in the palace now call her Concubine Yu by the old name, this pot-bellied concubine is the one who is actually in charge of the palace affairs. She is not like the current Imperial Concubine, who was like Concubine He in the past, and was like a bodhisattva. Even if she had to give in to others in many things, she would not dare to act recklessly!
However, seeing the emperor intently looking at the empty courtyard and the main hall with lights on, he finally couldn't help but whispered, "Your Majesty, now that you are here, are you going to stay on the wall all night?"
"I'm here, Concubine Yu didn't notice? She used to be very sharp-eyed and sharp-eared." The emperor shook his head thoughtfully, ignoring Hua Qi and talking to himself, "Could it be that the baby in her belly is bothering her again?"
Why are you asking me this question when I have never had a child? There is no way I know the answer!
Hua Qi, who had been treated with affection in Zhang Garden before and was now hit on the head by the emperor, had never thought about having a wife, but was more willing to find some beautiful but brainless women in some places to satisfy his physical needs. For the first time in his life, he could not help but consider whether he should also get a wife.
At least, when I feel angry outside, I have a place to vent to others.
The emperor's hesitation only lasted for a short while, and he jumped down from the high wall. As he took two steps forward, a noise finally came from the quiet room. Soon, the thick door curtain was lifted, and several palace servants came out in a hurry. Of course, Concubine Yu was not among them.
The due date was approaching, and it was a cold day. Not to mention that the emperor usually didn't talk about etiquette with his beloved concubine, even if others wanted to talk, they would be scolded back by the emperor. At this moment, he ignored the panicked greetings of the palace servants, waved his hand and walked straight in, as if he had walked in through the main gate in a dignified manner, instead of climbing over the wall at this time of night.
As for Hua Qi, who came with the emperor, he thought about it and finally squatted on the wall. Seeing that the palace servants tried their best to pretend not to see him, he couldn't help but pull the thick cloak on his body, but he couldn't help but pray in his heart.
I just hope the emperor won’t linger here for too long, otherwise… otherwise he’ll just slip away! This is too cold!
But just as he was thinking this, the emperor, who had already entered the main hall, suddenly turned back and shouted impatiently: "Now that you are here, why are you still standing there? Come in quickly, of course you have something to say."
Hua Qi wanted to point at his nose and ask the emperor, "Are you sure you're not joking?" However, under the emperor's serious gaze, he had no choice but to get off the wall. Then, under the fearful yet curious gazes of several palace servants, he reluctantly followed the emperor into the main hall.
As a result, as soon as he entered the room, he sneezed because of the hot air, and undoubtedly received several reproachful glances. He knew that women who were about to give birth hated getting sick the most, and he was very embarrassed for a moment, but then he heard a light laugh.
"Don't make such a fuss. It's not like I haven't given birth before. Hua Qi is not an outsider."
Concubine Yu had no worries about leaving her fate to fate. Perhaps because she had taken good care of herself and had exercised as much as she could, although she had gained a lot of weight, her complexion looked very good.
Even though the emperor didn't go through the main gate but climbed over the wall, and even discussed with people on the wall whether her hearing was as good as before, she just ignored it, and didn't care that the emperor didn't come alone, but brought an outsider like Hua Qi. She nodded slightly, and saw the palace people busy serving tea to the emperor and seated him. She smiled again after washing and changing into her daily clothes.
"The Emperor is walking around the palace with only Hua Qi at night. Isn't he afraid of scaring a lot of people to death?"
"I have been doing things that scare people to death since I was a child." The emperor shrugged and laughed indifferently, then nodded to signal a few palace servants who were obviously not well prepared to serve hot tea to Hua Qi and move a brocade cushion. When they were done, he waved his hand and told them to leave for the time being.
After all the strangers had left, he said calmly, "Hua Qi found out that Da Lang did not commit suicide, but was drugged. He spent ten days investigating and wiped out all the clues. The people were more innocent than each other, so he could only lock them up in the imperial farm and then come back to report to me."
Concubine Yu did not ask the stupid question of why the emperor told her this. In the past, the emperor had talked to her about the affairs of the court more than once. In most cases, she just had to be a quiet listener, but if it was just listening, then there were many concubines in the palace who could do this. She was better than them because she was willing to think and speak.
"Did the Emperor have a quarrel with the Queen Mother because of this?"
Although Hua Qi pricked up one ear to listen to the noise outside in case someone approached and eavesdropped, he did not ignore the emperor and Concubine Yu. Therefore, when he heard Concubine Yu speak so directly, he could not help but secretly raised his thumb and shook it. He thought Concubine Yu could not see it, but he did not expect that she actually saw it and smiled at him.
"It should be that the Empress Dowager has taken it upon herself again, right?" Seeing that the Emperor did not say anything, Concubine Yu smiled again, and then said calmly, "For the Empress Dowager, the late Emperor and the Emperor are the most important people, so she is willing to do her utmost to protect them, and everything else doesn't matter. But the Emperor has always only wanted the truth, not reputation."
"You got it all right." The emperor touched his chin in annoyance, and then said irritably, "I had a big quarrel with the Queen Mother, and even left Sanlang there to accompany her. I also said something very excessive, but I don't want to take it back. Although these cases will continue to be investigated, I am not sure what the truth will be in the end."
"What's hateful is that next year's imperial examination is imminent, and a large number of people have gathered in the capital for the crown prince, Sanlang, so I originally had a lot of things to do. But these miscellaneous things have tripped me up!"
Seeing the emperor's angry face, Concubine Yu hesitated for a moment, and finally laughed: "Bind hands and poison kill, the more you try to cover it up, the more obvious it is. If you say it is not to confuse the public, I don't believe it. If the emperor wants the truth, he can let Hua Qi and Chu Kuan and others to investigate, but others don't need the truth. The emperor just needs to keep it secret. Why would he go against me, the queen mother, and even the prince for those three people?"
