The First Empress - Chapter 69

Chapter 69 A Secret That Is Not Passed Down
Slow spring, warm jade, curling wind.

On Mount Li, there were palaces and palaces at the third and fourth levels of the Violet Palace. The third and fourth palace gates had already sealed off the news. Apart from the Emperor, Empress, and Linglong, no one else knew that Concubine Heshu had “committed suicide for fear of sin”. Concubine Heshu’s death was like a withered branch falling into the middle of a lake without any ripples.

Ying Ti was surrounded by beautiful flowers. The spring scenery outside the city was no different from that inside Zi Hua City. Spring was delayed, and Linglong had to rest at noon every few days. She didn’t know if it was because she was tired in spring and autumn or because her mental pressure was too great, but Linglong was suddenly like a withered branch and leaves, and she was extremely lazy.

On this day, the swallows around Liang flapped their wings into the Cloud Phoenix Palace, but after flying around Liang for a while, they were actually frightened to scatter and flee.

“Ah–”

Linglong cowered like a wounded little beast.

She didn’t know what Linglong was dreaming about, but she saw beads of sweat falling down from her forehead, dense and hurried.

Qin’er hurriedly helped Linglong clean the noodles. “Did Concubine dream of Concubine Heshu again? How can this go on?” Qin’er’s face was full of worry. Linglong took the scarf and wiped her hands. Only then did she nod in a daze. His entire body did not look as refreshed as before, instead, he did not look as refreshed as before.

At this time, Chen Chongyi also came over. Seeing Linglong’s appearance, she hurriedly walked forward and comforted her with a soft voice.

“What’s wrong with you? Look at you like this?” Chen Chongyi couldn’t help but be anxious. Linglong couldn’t say anything about Concubine Heshu, so she could only vaguely prevaricate. “It was just a dream that a tiger was pouncing on me, and a lion was chasing after me. Then, I landed in a dark canyon. Strange to say …” As she spoke, Linglong suppressed her hand, trying not to let her fingers tremble, trying not to let her panic spread to the surroundings.

“Tiger wolf? What did little sister do to offend others?” Chen Chongyi asked with a frown.

‘”Sister, you’re joking. Sister didn’t do anything to offend others. The left is just that He Shufei’s matter is a bit biased. However, He Shufei is also responsible for it! She is courting her own destruction. How can I stop the moth from putting out the fire?” Linglong looked at the swallows between the beams in disappointment.

Chen Chongyi nodded. Thinking about something, After a long time, Chen Chongyi pursed his lips and said, “When the emperor was in power, there was an old concubine who often had nightmares. At that time, it would be good if this concubine went to the temple outside to offer sacrifices to Buddha. However …” Chen Chongyi looked a little embarrassed. “Once she entered the palace, it was impossible for anyone to leave. Even if she walked left and right, it would still need to be passed on from layer to layer to layer to layer to layer.”

Linglong was not discouraged and asked, “Is there a temple outside?”

“Baohua Temple.”

“Not far from Zihua Palace?” Linglong gripped her handkerchief in a somewhat embarrassed manner. It had been a long time since she had left the palace, and she had forgotten all about the stories in the outside world.

“Baohua Temple is the temple of the Dali Dynasty. It’s not far from Baohua Alley.” Chen Chongyi closed his eyes and pondered for a moment.

“That’s good.”

After Chen Chongyi left, Qin’er walked over. Linglong secretly remembered what Chen Chongyi said and leisurely moved the Suanni Golden Incense Furnace in front of her.

“After dinner, find out where the Emperor is staying tonight. Remember not to let anyone know.” Linglong looked at the wisp of green smoke in the Suan Ni incense burner, her mood stifling like green smoke.

Qin’er nodded.

The food for dinner was naturally unsavoury. After the torment of those strange dreams, Linglong felt a little sick recently. On the outside, it still looked as clear as ever. Unfortunately, it was like a piece of Jun kiln porcelain inside, and it had already shattered into ice cracks.

Qin’er came over in a panic, and Linglong asked, “Can you inquire?”

“Ask around–” Qin’er panicked. “It’s not the Cloud Phoenix Palace, but Lan Zhaoyuan’s Changle Palace.”

After listening to it, Linglong thought carefully and said, “Give me the ink, paper and inkstone, and give me the sandalwood token from last time.”

Although Qin’er didn’t know what Linglong was going to do, she still agreed to go. Soon, these things were ready. Linglong wrote two prayers on the sandalwood sign, such as “eternal longevity”. She held the sign and went outside.

Although Qin’er did not know what Linglong was going to do, she still followed Linglong outside Yunluan Palace. It was already spring, and the flowers were red and willow threads were blowing in the wind, causing the hearts of the people to ripple. Another two hours before dusk arrived, it also echoed the poetic intent of Xia Mingxi and Yun Bian Song on the moon.

Linglong was surrounded by Royal servant. A group of retainers arrived outside. Outside was a tall acacia tree. Linglong carefully calculated the time and heard footsteps coming from behind her. Linglong hurriedly turned her head …

Her graceful figure was like a faint ink painting in the darkness of the night. Eunuch Lu was in front of them, so they naturally had to pass through Yunluan Palace to go to Changle Palace. Today, they had to go through Blue Zhaoyuan’s sign. All of this was considered exquisite, but the rest was left to the will of the heavens.

Linglong hung the sandalwood token on the treetop and folded her hands together like a pagoda. She closed her eyes piously, “Spring feast, a bottle of green wine and a song. Three more wishes. One wish for the husband to be a thousand years old, two wishes for my body to be healthy” As she chanted, she lowered her head, reverently reverent.

Eunuch Lu opened his mouth and walked to the front, ready to speak, but his bright yellow shoulders had already landed at the entrance of the Cloud Phoenix Palace.

Huiqi walked behind Linglong. Linglong did not notice and only opened her eyes after she finished reciting all the prayers.

‘”What are you doing? Seeing that it’s getting late, I wish you a long and blessed life. I wish you the beauty of the beauty of the HeGong woman. Do you wish yourself a little?” The drifting voice behind you sounded, “What are you doing? It’s getting late. I wish you a long and blessed life.” Huiqi gently looked at Linglong, her eyes widened. “This concubine, this concubine didn’t think of this.”

Hui Qi smiled faintly and looked at Ling Long in a leisurely manner, “Since I didn’t expect it, I’ll go to the palace and think about it. I also need to think about myself.” Linglong held the sandalwood sign, “This–”

“Where is the emperor going? Did I become an uninvited guest of the emperor? Looks like this concubine is blocking the emperor’s path. This concubine knows her crime.” Linglong bowed.

Huiqi gracefully smiled and held Linglong’s small hand. “Originally, I was going to Changle Palace, but when I saw you, I didn’t plan to go.”

“Your Majesty, you can’t do this. If others find out, it will be a storm!” Linglong was frightened, and her eyes widened with a bit of astonishment.

Hui Qi laughed loudly, and his heroic spirit instantly surged, “It doesn’t matter, where am I going? Could it be that there’s someone else who can take me hostage? Go inside and see if your body catches a cold.”

Linglong repeatedly charged inside, and the eunuch outside lifted his shoulder into Yunluan Palace.

On this side, Blue Zhaoyuan’s girl, Shaling, was inquiring about the Emperor’s whereabouts outside. She knew that the Emperor had entered after passing through Yunluan Palace and had actually ignored the one from Changle Palace. Naturally, she was so angry that she almost gritted her teeth and stamped her foot back.

Lan Zhaoyuan’s eyebrows curved in anger as she said, “She! Bu Linglong opposes this palace everywhere. It’s impossible to endure!”

On this side, Huiqi and Linglong had already arrived at the warmth pavilion. Although it was February, it was not yet the day when the water turned into ice. Naturally, there was still a cold wind outside, and the earth dragon in the room was warm.

‘”It’s frozen–” Huiqi stomped his feet and came over to cover Linglong’s hands. “Look at you frozen like this and you’re going out all the time. But be careful, it’s not good to freeze your body.” Linglong secretly nodded her head. Today, the Emperor was staying here, so the rest of the matters would be much easier to handle.

“This concubine does not feel cold. I am overjoyed to be able to add bricks and mortar to His Majesty’s Hongji. Moreover, hidden prayers under the tree will not be of much use. It is just the concubine’s opinion. Your Majesty should not laugh at me.” Linglong retreated timidly, and two small red clouds burned on her cheeks.

Huiqi touched Linglong’s face with a cold finger. “When it comes to prayers, Baohua Temple should be much better. Since I have not left the palace since I ascended the throne, naturally no one wishes me happiness.”

Linglong nodded. Her heart was cold to the point of her ankle, and she didn’t dare to say anything else.

After a while, Qin’er waited on Linglong and Huiqi to sleep. In the middle of the moon, Linglong suddenly shouted loudly. Huiqi hugged Linglong and said, “What happened to you? Did you have a nightmare when you saw how panicked you were?”

“This concubine, this concubine is afraid …” The corner of Linglong’s mouth stuttered.

“What are you afraid of? I’m here.” Huiqi patted Linglong on the shoulder and comforted her softly. Linglong said timidly, “This concubine dreams of a person, a disheveled woman in white. This concubine is scared. This is not the first time this concubine has dreamed of this woman. She is Concubine Heshu, and her clothes are ragged … This concubine is scared …” Linglong said incoherently, her shoulders trembling as she spoke.

Linglong had naturally contributed the most to this matter, and she had never experienced such a life-and-death parting before. She was naturally scared when she suddenly heard the tragic news of Concubine Heshu.

“There is no need to be afraid. I am the True Dragon Son of Heaven. Even if I have one or half vengeful souls, I am not afraid.” Huiqi took over Linglong, but Linglong’s body was stiff and the temperature was very low. Huiqi said, “Perhaps you came out today to pray for this, right?”

“This concubine is as cowardly as a mouse. She doesn’t dare to hide her selfishness. This concubine has already done it several times. Sometimes in broad daylight, sometimes at night …”

Hui Qi hugged Linglong and said, “You have dreams every day and nights. It’s nothing to worry about. You have a clear conscience. She was responsible for He Shufei’s death. I heard that you went to see He Shufei and made the jailers treat He Shufei well. Isn’t she repaying her kindness with vengeance?”

“This concubine dares to ask the Emperor to make the decision for this concubine. What exactly is going on in this matter?” Linglong pleaded with the Emperor, her big eyes gurgling. In the darkness, it was like two white crystals soaked in black crystals.

Huiqi hugged Linglong and thought for a moment before saying, “Go to the Shanggong Bureau and ask for a secret talisman-”

Is that enough?

“I heard that the Ministry of Rites has a Jade Box Chronicle. Can Sir Yu help me look through the Jade Box Chronicle? Could there really be a ghost of Concubine Heshu here?” Linglong kowtowed like garlic. Huiqi’s heart ached badly. “Get up and talk.” Linglong quickly stood up, her pleading eyes falling on Huiqi’s face.

“According to what you said, although Bo Ren didn’t kill him … after all, the Yin Qi in the harem is too heavy. If you can’t, you can go to the palace to avoid the bad luck.” After saying that, she helped Linglong up from the ground.