In the study, the chessboard is set up.
Duke Ding and the Fourth Prince sat on either side, Duke Ding holding the black piece and placing it on the board, “How is the situation in the palace these days?”
The Fourth Prince took the white disc and followed suit, saying, “Father is not in a good mood, he even dispensed with the ceremony on the first day of the Lunar New Year, and has not come out from the Yonghe Hall.”
As the only remaining prince, he and his mother and concubines stood outside the Yonghe Hall for an hour on the first day of the Lunar New Year, but his father did not come out either.
At that time, his mother consort was very worried about his father’s health and asked Eunuch Huang if his father was sick, who told them quietly that his father was indeed angry and had not slept on the night of New Year’s Eve and was not in good spirits.
Duke Ding dropped another son, “The matter of the Second Prince is fishy, if it is really the Emperor’s doing, I think he has another purpose.”
If he only wanted to send the Second Prince away, it would have been enough to make him go mad at the palace banquet, there was no need to let him use his mouth to tell what happened back then.
Song Yin and Xiao Zheng and Xiao Qian were also present.
After they returned from the banquet, the Ding Guoguos had discussed the matter, but they could not guess the emperor’s purpose for doing so, so they could only ask the fourth prince to go back and tell Consort Xiao Xian that both mother and son should be careful.
“Mother Consort feels the same way. Therefore, no matter what is in the entrance or what is placed in the house, I will have people check it carefully, so don’t worry, Grandfather.”
Song Yin sat on the side and only then spoke, “If you guys feel in danger, get Sun Qi to help.”
“Sun Qi?”
The fourth prince was surprised.
Sun Qi had been the Commander of the Praetorian Guard for many years, and he was surprised that he didn’t know that he was also his cousin’s man.
Duke Ding Guo and Xiao Zheng and Xiao Qian also looked over. Sun Qi was an orphan. When his family died in a disaster in his hometown, he fled to the capital and somehow joined the Praetorian Guard, and then climbed to the rank of Praetorian Guard Commander step by step with his skills.
“My father had saved his life back then, I went to see him a few days ago and asked him to watch over his aunt and cousin some.”
The Duke of Ding nodded, “It is naturally better to have Commander Sun watching over you, but the Praetorian Guard cannot go to the harem after all, you still need to be careful.”
……
Inside the Yonghe Palace.
The Emperor sat on a soft chair, twirling a string of Buddhist beads in his right hand, half-closing his eyes, and asked coldly, “Huang De, do you think Xiao Qian has really been ill all these years?”
Eunuch Huang froze slightly, subconsciously glanced up and lowered his head again, “Your Majesty means ……”
The emperor did not speak.
Eunuch Huang puzzled over his thoughts, and did not dare to speak rashly.
After another half an hour, His Majesty spoke again, “Has the Fourth Prince returned yet?”
“In reply to Your Majesty’s words, not yet.”
A cold smile rose to the corners of the Emperor’s mouth.
Eunuch Huang looked scared and his head hung even lower.
“You go and prepare, tomorrow I will go to the Thousand Hills Temple.”
……
He stayed at the Ding Guo Gong Mansion until the beginning of the ten o’clock hour before the Fourth Prince returned to the palace, and was shouted to Yong He Palace just after entering the palace gates.
The emperor had a tired look on his face, “I have not been sleeping well these few days, tomorrow you accompany me to the Thousand Hills Temple, do not tell your mother consort about this matter, we will leave the palace quietly.”
“Yes.”
The emperor waved his hand and the fourth prince withdrew. When his figure disappeared at the door, the Emperor glanced at Eunuch Huang, who understood and immediately followed him out, instructing a young eunuch to say a few words, who immediately followed him.
He followed him all the way to Kunli Palace and watched the Fourth Prince enter. He watched for another two quarters of an hour before running back to report.
After listening, Eunuch Huang entered the palace, “Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince did not send anyone to deliver the letter.”
As if he had not heard, the Emperor continued to twist the Buddhist beads.
Eunuch Huang quietly retreated, closed the door and looked in the direction of Kunli Palace.
……
The following day, an ordinary carriage emerged from the palace and headed straight for the city gates.
Eunuch Huang sat on the front carriage board. Although it was after New Year, the cold wind was still very cold, and Eunuch Huang tucked both hands in his sleeves, his back bent.
Sun Qi, with six guards dressed as ordinary guards, protected the carriage.
Of course, this was only on the surface, and there were many other guards dressed as ordinary people following not far away.
The carriage was thickly padded with blankets, on which was placed a small table with a chess board, beside which were exquisite snacks and various kinds of melons and fruits, and a heater was burning on the other side, making it very warm.
On the chessboard, a number of pieces had fallen.
The emperor dropped a piece, “How is your mother consort these days?”
The Fourth Prince told the truth, “Mother Consort is fine, she says things she has not done and will not lose her heart.”
“It’s hard for her too, Consort Rong has always been scheming, she wants to ploy your mother consort even before she dies, to make me suspicious of your mother consort. I have been married to your mother consort for so many years, how can I not understand her? She is a soft-hearted person.”
The Fourth Prince softened his eyebrows, “Father, it is good that you trust your mother consort.”
“You are still too young, whatever you have in mind is on your face, I only said one good word about your mother consort and you are happy like this, how can I rest assured that you will be the crown prince?”
The fourth prince quietly raised his eyes to look at the emperor, deliberating his words, “Father is young and strong, he can teach my son for a few more years.”
His Majesty smiled and shook his head, “I am getting old and there are grey hairs on my head.”
“Father is not old, Father will always be young and live long and prosperous.”
The Emperor was amused by these words and laughed out loud.
Eunuch Huang tucked both his hands into his sleeves again and carefully sucked his nose a few times, it was so cold that snot was freezing out of his nose.
When the carriage stopped at the foot of the hill, Eunuch Huang carefully assisted the emperor down, and Sun Qi immediately escorted them with his men.
It was the fifth day of the Lunar New Year and not many people came to Qianshan Temple, so the group did not attract too much attention and quickly made their way up the mountain.
Before they could say a word, Eunuch Huang flashed his waistband, “Take us to see Master Jingfan.”
The little shamisen took them there with weak legs and knocked on the door of Master Jingfan’s room.
“Come in!”
Little Shāhmi pushed open the door, and the Emperor lifted his feet to follow, with the Fourth Prince following behind.
Master Jingfan was so startled that he stood up in a panic, “I didn’t know Your Majesty was coming, I’m sorry to have missed welcoming you, I hope Your Majesty forgives me!”
“No matter, I am here today in light clothes, there is no need to alert many people.”
Master Jingfan personally took the futon for the two of them and sat back down on his knees himself.
The emperor sat down cross-legged and twirled the Buddhist beads in his right hand, “I have not slept well these few days and am very tired, I wonder if the master has any good ways to make me sleep?”
Outside the room, Eunuch Huang gave a wink to Sun Qi, who understood and gave a few quick hand signals, and the guards disguised as ordinary people immediately dispersed.
Six of them went to the courtyard where Xiao Qian lived.
The courtyard was empty as Xiao Qian had gone back to celebrate the New Year with his boy.
The two stayed in the courtyard and the four entered the house, searched carefully and soon found the mechanism, “Go and report to the commander, there is a secret passage here.”
One of the forbidden guards who stayed in the courtyard darted back to report.