Author: Sigui Beihong

When the sky was slightly brighter, wisps of black smoke were still rising from the Zichen Palace. The eunuchs and guards in the surrounding area were holding ropes to prevent anyone from approaching.

Concubine Zhu sat in front of the dressing table early, looking at her graceful face in the bronze mirror.

As usual, Princess Zhu had a gentle smile, and she still looked so beautiful and charming in the mirror.

Even if she is over forty, her skin is still fair and wrinkles are rare. Especially her pair of pink and phoenix eyes are still so charming.

However, the two maids standing behind her combing her hair had stiff faces and their hands were trembling.

Accidentally, a maid shook her hand and pulled a strand of Princess Zhu's hair. The hair was broken at the root, and the strands were entangled in the maid's hand.

"Ah?" The two of them turned pale with fright, and both knelt down on the ground. "You are so reckless, Princess, calm down... calm down."

Concubine Zhu still looked at herself in the mirror and said calmly: "Look, is this pavilion beautiful?"

The two maids looked at each other and replied quietly: "The princess is as beautiful as she was then."

Concubine Zhu grinned and said: "This pavilion is so beautiful, but it has to be sprayed with blood. Wouldn't it look bad?"

When the maid heard this, she burst into tears.

Last night, just last night, although the fire in Zichen Palace was successfully lit, Zhao Ji had a chance to escape. When Princess Zhu learned all this, she had already predicted her own ending.

At this time, a burst of hurried footsteps came one after another. Concubine Zhu didn't look away, still looking at her exquisite makeup in the mirror.

A group of guards rushed in, their armor scales reflecting the dazzling light. The two maids raised their heads and saw that the leader was a young internal official. This person was none other than Zhang Di, Zhao Ji's personal servant.

The two of them also retreated to the corner of the dormitory, huddled around each other and trembled.

Zhang Di's eyes were bright, he took a step forward and shouted sternly to Concubine Zhu: "Concubine Zhu! Do you know your guilt?"

Concubine Zhu slowly turned her head and asked in her still gentle voice: "What crime does this pavilion have?"

"Isn't it a crime to assassinate the king and kill the driver?" Zhang Di said.

"I don't understand what it means to assassinate the king and kill the king." She trimmed her nails with a smile: "I am just a mother who cares about her breasts. I just want to get back what originally belongs to my prince.

"

Of course Zhang Di knew what she meant, so he snorted coldly and said: "The position has been established, how can you allow you to confuse right and wrong! You have violated the law of the country with your personal affair, and you are adding to the crime! You still dare to talk and make noise here!"

Concubine Zhu smiled coldly and said: "What a great position. Did Prince Duan teach you this? Why didn't he dare to come to see me in person?"

Concubine Zhu never recognized Zhao Ji's status as emperor and still addressed her as "Prince Duan".

However, Zhang Di did not give in and said loudly: "The official family has so many things to do, how can I find time to meet you, a witch! At this moment, the official family is going to Dali Temple Prison to visit your precious son!"

After hearing this, Princess Zhu's expression changed, and there was a trace of uneasiness in her eyes. "What do you want to do to Si'er? This matter is our own decision and has nothing to do with him. Don't get involved at will!"

"King Jian also has a record of betrayal, how can we say that he is arbitrarily implicated?" Zhang Di smiled proudly and said, "The official is here to convict your precious son!"

"Ah! You..." Concubine Zhu's psychological defense finally collapsed. She stood up tremblingly, pointed at Zhang Di and said: "You are bullying people too much. In any case, Si'er is also a descendant of Shenzong and a bloodline of Taizong! I am going to court

Since the founding of the country, he has never killed a scholar, let alone a member of the royal family! How dare King Duan dare to violate the family law!"

"Humph! It's King Jian who doesn't know what's important!" Zhang Di retorted: "If he had just kept to himself, how could the officials be murderous? If those who conspired to rebel and assassinate were not severely punished, then of what use would the national laws of the Song Dynasty be!"

After he finished speaking, he picked up a piece of Bai Lian from the tray of an attendant beside him and said, "Princess Zhu, I also advise you not to be brave. I think you have served Shenzong with merit, so I will give you a piece of Bai Lian and make your own decision."

"

Concubine Zhu raised her eyebrows and said in a trembling voice: "Death! Even if I die and become a ghost, I will never let you go!"

As she spoke, she rushed towards Zhang Di. Zhang Di was caught off guard and was thrown to the ground by her. Concubine Zhu's face was ferocious, and she pinched Zhang Di's neck fiercely with both hands.

Who would have thought that this seemingly weak woman could burst out with such terrifying energy? The guards were stunned for a moment, and then swarmed up and pulled Concubine Zhu away. Concubine Zhu struggled hard and was still shouting randomly: "Zhao Ji"

!I will never let you go even if I die..."

"What a naughty temptress!" One of the guards cursed, picked up a rag and stuffed it into her mouth. The other two people had already put Bai Lian around her neck. Although she struggled desperately

But how could she break free from the shackles of these men with her weak body?

Zhang Di stood up with the help of a young eunuch. He coughed and ordered: "Let her go."

All the guards were stunned when they heard this, and Princess Zhu was also stunned. All eyes were turned towards him, especially the eyes of Princess Zhu who was gagged and whose eyes were sharpest.

"Get out of the way." Zhang Di waved his hand, and the guards had no choice but to retreat to both sides.

Concubine Zhu collapsed on the ground, panting heavily while watching him approach step by step.

"After all, she is the biological mother of the late emperor. How can she be humiliated?" Zhang Di glanced at her and said to the guards: "Everyone, please go out. Concubine Zhu and I will have a few words alone."

"Zhang Neiguan, I'm afraid it's inappropriate." The captain of the guard said, "This woman is extremely fierce. If she does anything bad to you again, we won't be able to explain it to the officials."

Zhang Di's eyes widened and he said, "I'm just a woman, can't I handle it?"

"But just now..."

"I was careless just now." Zhang Di waved his hand and said, "Go quickly and take them both out as well."

As he spoke, he pointed to the two maids in the corner.

The captain of the guard had no choice but to respond, waved his hand and led everyone back outside the hall.

Concubine Zhu's clothes were messy, and her delicate makeup was faded. She lay on the ground, looking at Zhang Di panting, and asked: "What else do you want to do?"

Zhang Di came to her, knelt down and said, "Concubine, didn't you just ask me why the official didn't come? Originally the official came to see you, but when it was time to set off, he regretted it."

"Humph! He has a guilty conscience, so naturally he dare not come to see me!" Zhu Taifei said arrogantly.

Zhang Di did not answer her words, but just paused and said: "The official family lacks the spirit of killing and decisiveness. Concubine, the official family has always felt guilty in his heart. Therefore, he does not resent you, nor does he

I hate King Jian."

"Huh! I'm already waiting to die. You can say whatever you want." Concubine Zhu was very disdainful.

"There is one more thing I want to tell you." Zhang Di said: "The official has personally promised that he will not take the life of King Jian."

Concubine Zhu's eyes lit up, but she didn't say much.

Zhang Di continued: "When I came, the officials told me that in terms of closeness, the throne should go to King Jian. It's just that the courtiers were dissatisfied, and they didn't want to see the Queen Mother. Your two sons became emperors one after another. That's why

Let the officials benefit from it. The officials said that this was not his original intention, but the battle for the throne has always been bloody and cruel, so this is something that can be done."

"Don't be pretentious here!" Concubine Zhu asked: "If Zhao Ji really feels guilty, he should abdicate and make my son the emperor."

Zhang Di shook his head and said: "When the late emperor passed away, it was Zeng Bu who contacted the ministers in the court to urge the official to ascend the throne. Therefore, even if the official wanted to abdicate, the ministers would never agree, let alone support Jane.

king."

Concubine Zhu felt disappointed and asked: "Why is this?"

"King Jian behaved badly and was known as the 'dragon among flowers' among the people." Zhang Di explained: "He searched for beauties everywhere to satisfy his selfish desires. Those women who were slightly dissatisfied would be tortured and humiliated by him. Such a person,

How to become an emperor?"

Concubine Zhu's body was trembling slightly and she couldn't say a word.

Zhang Di also sighed softly and said: "The officials know very well that you, concubine, do such things because you love your son so much. The officials also said that he envied King Jian very much because his own mother died very early.

He has never tasted the love of his parents."

Concubine Zhu couldn't bear it any longer, and with a "wow" sound, she fell to the ground and burst into tears.

Looking at Concubine Zhu who was crying bitterly, Zhang Di also had mixed emotions. But at this moment, he had nothing to say and no need to say more.

He stood up and quietly walked out of the palace.

Almost at the same time, Zhao Ji was sitting in front of the trial desk in Dali Temple Prison, with a small oil lamp flickering and dancing, emitting a flickering light. Sitting opposite him was the down and out Jian Wang Zhao Si.

Zhao Si was sitting on a chair, his hands and feet were chained with iron chains. He lowered his head, and his long hair covered his face that was no longer handsome.

The Dali Temple Prison was cold and damp, so Shaoqing put on a downy cloak specially for Zhao Ji.

At this time, there were only two people, Zhao Si and Zhao Ji, in this small and cramped room.

"Last night, your mother-in-law, Princess Zhu, set fire to the Zichen Palace. Do you know about this?" Zhao Ji said gloomily.

Zhao Si said coldly: "The mother and concubine must know that the official family is also in the palace."

Zhao Ji showed a smile and said, "Yes, I am indeed in the palace."

Zhao Si raised his head and glanced at Zhao Ji, then shook his head and sighed, "It's a pity that you won't die after being burned."

"I was rescued." Zhao Ji leaned forward and said, "Do you want to know who the person who rescued me is?"

"Could it be Mo Yunxiao?"

"Yes, it's Mo Yunxiao." Zhao Ji replied.

Zhao Si's facial muscles twitched slightly, and he stiffened his neck and said: "Mo Yunxiao is a civilian girl, how can she enter the palace? Even if you accept her as your concubine, she will never appear in the Zichen Palace."

"I invited her here." Zhao Ji said, "I asked her to disguise herself as a palace maid and sneak in."

Zhao Si's relaxed facial muscles tensed up instantly. He took a long breath and said, "You are a noble person and have all the beauties in the world, but why do you always miss Mo Yunxiao?

"

"Aren't you still obsessed with Mo Yunxiao?" Zhao Ji asked back.

"Huh! I'm different from you." Zhao Si's eyes widened and he said, "I paid a lot of true love for Mo Yunxiao. But you are just insatiable!"
To be continued...