No. 1 Girl in the Imperial City

Chapter 187 Poisonous Scorpion + Kneeling Begging (two chapters in one)
Night had already fallen, and lights were lit everywhere in the palace.

In the queen mother's bedroom, the queen mother Zhu has not rested yet.

The palace maid carefully brought ginseng tea and put it on the table beside her, and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, it's getting late, you should go to bed earlier, and tomorrow you have to go to the Empress Dowager to serve her sick."

Although Empress Dowager Zhu is already the empress dowager of a country, she is still the daughter-in-law of the empress dowager.Now that the Empress Dowager is seriously ill, the daughter-in-law can't be idle.

Empress Dowager Zhu took a sip of tea and asked, "Is Ah Cheng asleep?"

The maid nodded and said: "The people around His Majesty have been talking back and forth, and His Majesty fell asleep not long after he came back. I didn't eat two bites of dinner, I think I was scared today."

Empress Dowager Zhu snorted with some dissatisfaction, "But I was scared after spitting out a mouthful of blood? Your Majesty is so timid, how can he become a big weapon in the future?"

The palace maid was taken aback, and quickly lowered her voice to persuade: "Your Majesty, I can't say that."

The Empress Dowager Zhu has always been a docile daughter-in-law in front of the Empress Dowager, but they, the maids around the Empress Dowager Zhu, know that the Empress Dowager has been dissatisfied with the Empress Dowager for a long time.

It's just that in the past, Empress Dowager Zhu's dissatisfaction was mostly revealed by her expression and behavior. It's rare to see an empress dowager who talks about her serious illness in a nonchalant tone like now.

Empress Dowager Zhu glanced at her coldly, and the maid immediately lowered her head and dared not say any more.

Only then did Empress Dowager Zhu lean back into the chair lazily, raised her hand to press the center of her eyebrows, and said, "You said... Zhifei and Second Miss Luo just got engaged, and the Empress Dowager became seriously ill suddenly. Isn't Fei's fate a bit off-putting?"

The palace maid's heart skipped a beat. The fates of Miss Luo and the Prince Regent were calculated by Qin Tianjian himself, so how could there be a conflict?
She is Empress Dowager Zhu's personal maid, and she has been with Empress Dowager Zhu for seven or eight years.There are some things that others don't know, but she knows.

She glanced at the Empress Dowager Zhu who was resting with her eyes closed, and said in a low voice, "Your Majesty... still want to match His Royal Highness the Prince Regent and the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Cheng En?"

Empress Dowager Zhu said coldly: "That girl, Ajin, is useless at all. What else can I do except help her? If the Luo family and Zhifei are really married, where will the Zhu family have a place in the future? We are afraid I don't know when, I can't keep my family and life! Damn... the empress dowager didn't even talk to me about such an important matter? Did she want to kill her only grandson?"

Xie Yan's request for marriage was too fast, and the dust had already settled before she had time to do anything.

Empress Dowager Zhu is not a fool either, she does not want Xie Yan to marry the Luo family, but it is impossible for her to personally offend Luo Yun.

That being the case, it can only think of other ways.

Fortunately, the Empress Dowager was suddenly critically ill at this time, which gave them room to manipulate.

"Your Majesty." A servant hurried in from outside, Empress Dowager Zhu glanced at him and said coldly, "What's the matter?"

The servant said in a low voice: "The Imperial Palace was secretly sealed off by the Suppressing Army. Over the Empress Dowager's bedroom... I heard that several dead people were pulled out."

Empress Dowager Zhu's complexion changed slightly, she stood up abruptly and asked, "What's going on?"

The servant shook his head, "The Regent ordered that no entry or exit is allowed in the Empress Dowager's palace, and General Gu of the Zhen Guojun will personally guard it. Our people can't enter or come out."

Empress Dowager Zhu frowned, and anxiously paced back and forth in the palace, "Why did Zhifei suddenly seal off the palace? Could it be... What else is hidden about the Empress Dowager's illness?"

The Empress Dowager suddenly fell down in front of her today, and the Empress Dowager Zhu was not really sad.

She has been the empress dowager's daughter-in-law for so many years, although the empress dowager did not feel sorry for her, but since the death of the first emperor, she felt that she was being constrained by this mother-in-law everywhere, and she never had the idea of ​​hoping that the old woman would return to the shadows as soon as possible.

But she really didn't expect that someone would dare to attack the Empress Dowager in the palace.

After pondering for a while, Queen Mother Zhu turned and walked outside.

"I gonna go see."

"Your Majesty!" The servant hurriedly stopped her, and said in a low voice: "My Lady, the regent has sent someone to deliver a message, please rest early, Your Majesty, there is no need to go there."

Empress Dowager Zhu's face darkened, she gritted her teeth and said, "What does he mean?!"

The servants and maids quickly lowered their heads and did not dare to speak, for fear of offending the empress dowager.

There was a long silence in the hall, before Empress Dowager Zhu said: "Since the regent said that there is no need to go there, then that's all. I'll go and see Ah Cheng. The child was frightened during the day, so he can't sleep well at night."

"Yes, ma'am."

In the morning, Luo Junyao sat up from the bed and rubbed his dry eyes.Last night, I spent a lot of time discussing with my father and brother about the Empress Dowager in the study, and I was a little worried after I came back, and I didn't fall asleep until the middle of the night.

Woke up now, still feeling a little tired.

"Girl, why did you wake up so early?"

Luo Junyao asked, "What time is it?"

"It's just now."

It was quite early, and she only slept for less than four hours.

Lan Yin said: "Miss went to bed late last night, and this servant thought she would sleep a little longer today. Miss, do you want to rest a little longer? I don't have anything to do today."

Luo Junyao had already got off the bed, and said, "If you wake up, you don't need to sleep."

Lan Yin replied yes, turned around and went out to call other girls to wait on Luo Junyao to change clothes and wash up.

After Luo Junyao got dressed and washed herself, she sat in front of the dressing table and let Lan Yin dress her up.

The girls close to Nuanxinyuan have long been used to the temperament of the second girl who likes to do everything by herself, so they have to do some water and pouring, cleaning and tidying up the room is easy.

"Did daddy and elder brother go out?" Luo Junyao looked at himself in the mirror, raised his hand and rubbed his face a few times to make his complexion look better.

Lan Yin said: "There is no court meeting today, why did the general go out so early?"

Luo Jun shook his head and said, "Then Lan Zhen will go to Daddy and elder brother and tell her, I will go to Daddy's to have breakfast."

Lan Zhen responded and went away with a smile.

Lan Yin was a little puzzled, "Miss stayed late in the study last night, do you still have something to say to the general this morning?"

Luo Jun shook his head and said, "Can't we have breakfast together without words?"

Last night, I told my father about Qin Tianjian and Master Mingguang, and my father looked a little unhappy. Since she was fine in the morning, she would naturally go to see her.

When Luo Jun shook his way, Luo Yun had just finished practicing. He was very happy to see his daughter come to accompany him to have breakfast.

Not long after, Luo Jinyan also came over, and the servants quickly served breakfast and left, and the family of three sat down and began to eat.

The father, daughter, brother and sister don't have any rules of not talking about food, Luo Yun looked at his daughter with emotion for a moment, "I don't know how many times Yao Yao can have breakfast with me."

Luo Junyao naturally understood what it meant, and said softly: "If Daddy likes it, I can come and have breakfast with Daddy every day."

Luo Yun shook his head, "It's free every day. When you get married, you can come back to see Dad from time to time, and Dad will be satisfied."

"Daddy!" Luo Jun shook his head and said angrily.

Luo Yun sighed: "The girl has grown up, she can't keep her."

Luo Jinyan put down the spoon in his hand, picked up the handkerchief beside him and wiped the corners of his lips before saying, "Father intends to agree with the Empress Dowager?"

Luo Yun's hand holding the chopsticks also paused, and after a long silence, he said: "The Empress Dowager's consideration is not unreasonable, but this is just a grievance."

They have already been hired, saying that retiring the engagement is unlikely.Once the Empress Dowager passed away, the wedding must be postponed for at least three years.

Ordinary people can say that they get married during the hot filial piety period, but the death of the empress dowager is a national funeral, and there is no such thing as a national funeral.

Xie Yan was raised by the Empress Dowager, he had to keep his filial piety for at least 27 months, plus some other things, three years is a conservative estimate.

It's not that Luo Yun is unwilling to raise his daughter for three more years, but that there will be too many accidents during this period.

The marriage between the Luo family and the Prince Regent's Palace did not arouse too many people's opposition, and the most important thing was to be quick.Before everyone could react, the marriage had already been decided, and with the full support of the Empress Dowager, others had nothing to say.

But if it is delayed for another three years, it is difficult to say what others will do in secret if they don't say anything on the surface.

In addition, Luo Yun sincerely respects the Empress Dowager.

When he was still an inconspicuous young general before Gaozu, the Empress Dowager took great care of him.Now that the Empress Dowager is worried about Xie Yan and her daughter's marriage, Luo Yun really can't bear to let her go away with her worries.

Luo Jinyan frowned and said, "It's not known how many days the Empress Dowager can last. If the Empress Dowager can't keep up..."

"Then there's nothing to say." Luo Yun naturally thought about this issue, "It doesn't matter if Yao Yao stays at home for a few more years."

Luo Jinyan nodded and said: "My son understands, let's see what news there will be from the palace. Mother has been taking care of Yaoyao's dowry these days, if she really wants to... hurry up, there should be time. However, Yaoyao felt wronged. "

Congratulations, after all, is not a good thing, even if it is for the Empress Dowager.

What's more, if the empress dowager passed away after celebrating, it would be even worse for Yao Yao.

Luo Junyao looked at his elder brother and said, "Elder brother, don't worry about me, I'm not afraid of these things."

Luo Jinyan sighed, and said: "I knew this, I shouldn't have settled the marriage so quickly." He even forgot to include the empress dowager's physical condition.

But... If Yao Yao definitely only likes Xie Yan, then it doesn't matter if it counts or not.If the empress dowager can't survive this catastrophe, Xie Yan will still have to keep his filial piety sooner or later.

"Report to General, the Regent is here." The chief outside the door came in and reported.

The head manager of the Luo family didn't know about the important event that the Empress Dowager was critically ill, but felt that the regent had just made an engagement with his second daughter, so it was very considerate of him to go to the Luo family early in the morning.

Luo Yun and his son looked at each other, stood up and said, "Please invite the regent to the study."

"Yes, General."

When the manager went out, Luo Jinyan frowned and said, "I'm afraid it's..."

Luo Yun nodded silently, stretched out his hand to hold his daughter and said, "Go and see him."

Xie Yan hadn't slept all night, but he had deep inner strength and was in the prime of his life, but he couldn't see any tired and haggard look on his face.

Seeing the three members of the Luo family coming in, Xie Yan got up immediately, "General, I'm here early in the morning, I'm sorry for bothering you."

Luo Yun waved his hands and said, "Your Highness, you are welcome, just sit down and talk."

The four of them took their seats, and Luo Junyao sat next to Luo Jinyan.

Xie Yan met her concerned eyes, and nodded slightly to her to indicate that he was fine.

"My lord, how is the situation of the Empress Dowager?" Speaking of the Empress Dowager, Xie Yan's expression became a little serious, and he said in a deep voice, "The imperial aunt woke up at the end of Yin Shi."

Luo Junyao was a little surprised, "Didn't Master Xue say that the Empress Dowager won't wake up for two days?"

Xie Yan lowered his eyes and said: "It was only found out last night that the Empress Dowager is suddenly critically ill this time, and the medicine and food have been tampered with. Doctor Xue has already found the root cause, and with the help of King Xueyu, the Empress Dowager can advance wake up."

Hearing that the three members of the Luo family were shocked, the Empress Dowager's medicine and food were tampered with?
Not to mention how many guards there are in the Empress Dowager's Palace, the medicines and food used every day have undergone numerous inspections, and there are many female doctors and imperial physicians who are proficient in both medicine and poison.

Just like that, how could you still send the problematic things to the Empress Dowager?

"Why didn't Miracle Doctor Xue find out before?" Luo Junyao asked.

Xie Yan said: "The other party is not poisoning, it is a tonic that slightly stimulates the heart. Ordinary people will not have any reaction after using it, but the Empress Dowager is currently very weak, whether it is daily prescriptions or meals. It was carefully considered by the Tai Hospital, and there must be no difference."

Luo Jinyan asked: "Where are the people who do it?"

"Dead." Xie Yan said.

Luo Jinyan raised his eyebrows, "Even if there is no suspicious object, the lord should have taken control of the Empress Dowager's bedroom immediately, right? Can people die in this way? Suicide?"

Xie Yan shook his head and said: "He killed, Qi clan, poisonous scorpion."

As soon as these words came out, Luo Yun and Luo Jinyan's expressions became a little more cautious, and Luo Yun asked, "Your Highness, are you sure it's a poisonous scorpion?"

Xie Yan raised his hand and turned it over, and there was a small dart with a strange shape lying in his palm.

Luo Junyao leaned over to take a closer look, only to realize that it was in the shape of a scorpion.

"Who is the poisonous scorpion?" It sounds like a poisonous person.

Luo Jinyan frowned and said, "Yao Yao, be careful these days. Poison Scorpion is the number one master poisoner of the Qi clan, and he is also Bai Jingrong's confidant. Ordinarily... this person will not leave the royal court of the Qi clan easily."

Xie Yandao: "During this time, Bai Jingrong's people have been making frequent moves in Shangyong, and they definitely don't just want to cause trouble for us. I'm afraid there is some big move. What they are doing now is just to divert our attention."

Luo Yun said: "The Qi people shouldn't want to fight with us now, isn't Bai Jingrong and the people of the Qi people on the same mind?"

Luo Jinyan was not surprised, "Bai Jingrong and the Qi clan have never been of the same mind. This time the Qi clan's disastrous defeat could not even save the royal court. The Qi clan must blame Bai Jingrong for this matter. If it wasn't for this, Ji Rong would not value Bai Jingrong any more. He will not be pushed out as a proton."

Tiger poison doesn't eat protons, so being a proton is not a good job.

Luo Yun said: "Could it be that Bai Jingrong and Ji Sui also had a rift?"

Xie Yan shook his head slightly, and said, "This king thinks that Bai Jingrong's control over Ji Sui may be stronger."

"How?" Luo Yun asked.

Luo Jinyan was also slightly taken aback, but soon after he figured it out, his expression changed slightly, "My lord thinks that Bai Jingrong controls Ji Sui now?"

"Perhaps." Xie Yan said: "Even if Ji Sui is infatuated with Bai Jingrong, he is still the king of the Qi clan, and he must consider the entire Qi clan anyway. But now...Bai Jingrong has repeatedly provoked, but Ji Sui has not made any statement, unlike him. style."

Although both Dasheng and the Qi people believed that Ji Sui was bewitched by Bai Jingrong, that's why he invaded Dasheng wantonly.But in fact, both of them knew that Ji Sui would be encouraged by Bai Jingrong. In the final analysis, it was he himself who was ambitious and wanted to annex Dasheng and even take control of the Central Plains.

In the past, the Qi tribe acted in such a way that there was no problem, but now it is obvious that the Qi tribe is the weaker party that needs to breathe, and it seems extremely stupid to act like this or even intensify the provocation.

Both Xie Yan and Luo Yun knew that Ji Sui was not a fool.

"What does Bai Jingrong want to do?" Luo Yun asked.

Xie Yan shook his head, "I don't know."

The study room became quiet for a while, Luo Jin said: "Since you don't understand it, let it go for now. The most important thing right now is to find the poisonous scorpion, and don't let him leave Shangyong."

A master of poison, sometimes causing considerable trouble.

Xie Yan said: "Although the poisonous scorpion is powerful in poison, he is self-willed and arrogant and only obeys Bai Jingrong's words. He should not be in the palace now. Except for poison, he is mediocre in other aspects, and his characteristics are too obvious. Unless someone Protect him otherwise it won't be too hard to find."

Luo Jinyan murmured: "I'm afraid someone is protecting him, Xiewoyun hasn't been found yet."

They haven't been in Shangyong for too long, there are really all kinds of monsters and ghosts in this huge imperial city.

Luo Yun frowned, and said, "Your Highness hasn't informed you yet, how is the Empress Dowager doing?"

Luo Jinyan and Luo Junyao were also taken aback for a moment, and then they remembered that they were so focused on thinking about the poisonous scorpion that they forgot to care about the Empress Dowager.

Xie Yan said: "Master Xue is still dispensing medicine, and the Empress Dowager fell asleep again when I left the palace."

Xie Yan stood up, lifted his clothes and knelt down in front of Luo Yun.

Luo Yun stood up abruptly, "What is the meaning of this, my lord?"

Luo Junyao and Luo Jinyan were also taken aback, and both stood up.

Xie Yan said respectfully, "I want to marry Jun Yao as soon as possible, and please father-in-law to make it happen."

As soon as these words came out, the study fell into silence again, and Luo Yun didn't react too much.

From the moment he heard of Xie Yan's visit, Luo Yun vaguely understood why he came.

only……

Luo Yun remained silent, and Xie Yan said in a deep voice: "I know that I have been wronged by this matter, but I just... beg my father-in-law to do it. Xie Yan hereby swears that he will never disappoint Yaoyao in this life."

After being silent for a long time, Luo Yun finally sighed, stretched out his hand to help Xie Yan up and said, "Yang Yao told me about this last night."

Xie Yan said: "Xie Yan doesn't believe in the words of Chongxi, but the emperor's aunt has always been thinking about this marriage, and as a junior, I really can't bear to let her go with regrets. Please rest assured, father-in-law, the words of Chongxi are just nonsense. No matter what, it won't affect Yaoyao. Besides..."

Xie Yan looked back at Luo Junyao, and said, "I also want to marry Yaoyao as soon as possible."

Luo Yun glanced at the children in front of him, and said: "Jinyan, you take Yaoyao out first, and I will talk to the prince alone."

"Yes, father." Luo Jin said that even his elder brother couldn't get in too much words on this occasion, bid farewell to Luo Yun and Xie Yan, and pulled Luo Jun away.

In the yard outside the study, Luo Junyao walked back and forth worriedly.

Luo Jinyan stood under the eaves and looked up at the sky with his hands behind his back. It took him a long time to turn his head to look at his sister, "Yao Yao is worried?"

Luo Jun shook his head and said, "It's not that I'm worried, it's just..."

She couldn't tell what it was like, she knew that her father would not embarrass Xie Yan at this time, but it seemed that she couldn't sit still if she just sat and waited peacefully.

Luo Jinyan waved to her, and Luo Junyao quickly walked up to him, "Brother."

Luo Jinyan raised his hand and patted her on the head, lowered his head to look at her seriously, and said softly: "It's only been two months, and Yao Yao is about to leave the cabinet."

"Brother, I..."

Luo Jinyan said: "Brother knows that Yao Yao is actually very smart. If it weren't for that, no matter how much you like Xie Yan, brother Xie Yan would not agree. You must know that the position of regent princess is not so easy to sit. Shake, brother will ask you one last time , are you really ready, are you sure it's Xie Yan?"

Luo Junyao looked at him seriously, nodded solemnly and said, "Yes, brother, I'm ready, I'm not afraid."

Luo Jinyan smiled, raised her hand and pulled her into his arms, "Brother knows you are not afraid, Yaoyao is the bravest girl I have ever seen."

Luo Junyao whispered: "Don't think I don't know, elder brother told daddy that I was brave and foolhardy."

Luo Jinyan said: "So, read more books."

"..." So, do you really think I'm foolhardy?

Luo Jinyan sighed again, and said softly, "Since it's been decided, my eldest brother will send you a beautiful marriage."

　Sorry fairies, it was a little later today.mwah
　　
　
(End of this chapter)