Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 560 The Truth Is Cruel
In the morning, Fan Ning's boat arrived at the Bianhe Wharf on the north side of Shuyuan Street. It was only a hundred steps away from here to the strange stone museum of the second uncle Fan Tiege. Today is the [-]th day of the holiday, and Fan Tiege’s Kistler Museum is closed. The janitor told Fan Ning that the shopkeeper went to Yingzhou to see the mine, and it will take two days. I just came back.

Helpless, Fan Ning had no choice but to ask Zhu Long to go to Zhu Yuanfeng's mansion. After a while, Zhu's family sent several flatbed carts pulled by five donkeys, and transported the carriage and wheels back to Zhu's house.

As soon as Fan Ning entered the gate of Zhu's house, he met Zhu Jie head-on, and she was waiting here for Fan Ning's arrival.

"I knew you would come to Beijing soon, and I want to talk to you!"

Fan Ning nodded silently. He knew that Zhu Jie must be talking about Gao Taotao. Even if Gao Taotao became the queen mother, she and Zhu Jie still had a good personal relationship. Gao Taotao's personal property was handed over to Zhu Jie. The Huangshang shop that Ning left in Xingang was actually reserved for Zhu Jie, and Gao Taotao is also investing in overseas trade personally.

Entering the guest hall, Zhu Jie served tea to the maids, and then dismissed all the maids. After a while, she sighed and said, "The queen mother died of illness ten days ago, and it was officially announced a few days ago."

"What disease did she die of?" asked Fanning.

Zhu Jie was silent for a while and said, "If I say that she died of a sudden illness, would you believe me?"

Fan Ning was stunned. Death from sudden illness has always been synonymous with abnormal death. What happened? Gao Taotao actually died abnormally. He looked at Zhu Jie in shock.

Zhu Jie sighed softly, "This matter can't be hidden from anyone. Although the palace has issued a password ban, many people know that the Queen Mother used tiger and wolf medicine to abort her abortion, resulting in her death from poisoning."

Like a thunderbolt from the blue, Fan Ning was completely stunned. Gao Taotao was pregnant and had an abortion. Whose child is it? Is it his?
Zhu Jie gave Fan Ning a meaningful look, and said slowly: "I know that you have an unusual relationship with Gao Taotao, but I don't know to what extent, but this incident should have nothing to do with you, so don't do anything stupid. "

"Sister-in-law, I don't quite understand what you mean. What do you mean has nothing to do with me? Can you make it clear?"

Zhu Jie sneered and said: "The diagnosis given by the imperial physician in the palace is that you are four months pregnant, and you have been away from the capital for at least half a year. Second, Tang Yi, the palace guard class, disappeared inexplicably. It is said that Gao Taotao was found in his room A beloved hairpin. Third, the imperial physician who prescribed the medicine for tigers and wolves to Gao Taotao was also executed. Fourth, all the confidants around Gao Taotao committed suicide by drinking medicine together before her, including her most trusted court lady Cai'e, This matter has been closed, so the news of the Empress Dowager's death was announced."

What Zhu Jie said made Fan Ning feel as uncomfortable as swallowing a fly. Are there other men around Gao Taotao?

Fan Ning also knew that Tang Yi was a man who followed Gao Taotao from the palace to the palace. He was very loyal to Gao Taotao. He was in his thirties and was tall and strong.

Although Gao Taotao had assured him that there would be no other men, it was hard to say. After all, she was only in her thirties and had a more enthusiastic and outgoing personality. If she left for several years, anything could happen.

For a while, Fan Ning was silent, and Zhu Jie said again: "Although the Queen Mother's death is unfortunate, it is a good thing for you. Your overseas economic envoy still has two years to serve. I hope you will seize the time to implement your ambitions." , You shoulder the hopes of the Fan family and the Zhu family, as well as the hopes of thousands of immigrants from the Song Dynasty, I hope you can go all out and put all your energy on the great cause."

How could Zhu Jie not know about it?She has always been very worried about Fan Ning and Gao Taotao playing with fire. Now that Gao Taotao was burned to death by her own fire, she was afraid that Fan Ning would have another accident, so she stopped Fan Ning at the first time, counseled him, and reminded him , to warn him.

Fan Ning sighed in his heart, the man is gone, let the past go!

"Thank you aunt, I know what I should do?"

Zhu Jie nodded in relief, "You have had a hard journey, go to rest early!"

That night, Fanning tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep, sobbing in his heart, he did not fall asleep until dawn.

In the morning, Fan Ning, who had only slept for an hour, got up early and rushed to the palace to pay homage to Gao Taotao. In the coffin shed, he met the emperor Zhao Xu who was guarding the spirit of his mother.

The appearance of Fan Ning really surprised and delighted Zhao Xu. He quickly invited Fan Ning to the back tent and sent the eunuch away. Zhao Xu's eyes turned red immediately, and tears couldn't stop rolling down.

Fan Ning didn't know how to comfort him, so he could only sigh and said: "Your Majesty, grow up early, do a good job, and comfort the mother's spirit in heaven."

Zhao Xu choked and said: "My mother often told me that Mr. Fan is the most trustworthy person and asked me to support you without reservation. Just the day before my mother's accident, she also said to me that Mr. Fan is the most trustworthy person. I have made great contributions to the society, so I should consider promoting it, but I didn't expect this sentence to be the last sentence I said to me after becoming a mother."

At the end, Zhao Xu was sobbing, and Fan Ning couldn't help comforting Zhao Xu with a sore nose.

After a while, Zhao Xu finally stopped crying, wiped away his tears, and said very firmly: "The imperial grandmother told me that as soon as I reach the age of 20, she will hand over the power to me. There are two more years, and I will endure for another two years." , I will definitely do something great to make my ancestors and queen mother proud of me!"

"My minister will also do my best to assist His Majesty to achieve a great cause!"

While the two were talking, an old eunuch appeared at the door of the tent and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager summoned Shijun Fan, please come over immediately."

Fan Ning nodded and said to Zhao Xu: "Your Majesty, I will go to see the Empress Dowager first, and then I will report to Your Majesty about Nanyang."

"Go! The imperial grandmother is also very concerned about Nanyang."

Fan Ning saluted, then hurriedly walked towards the inner palace with the eunuch.

Empress Dowager Cao did not meet Fan Ning in Qilin Palace, but in Ci'an Palace, which is also the place where she summoned ministers.

Empress Dowager Cao ordered the curtains to be removed, and she sat opposite Fan Ning, her eyes were cold and her face was expressionless.

"You all step back!"

Several personal maids agreed and retreated slowly, leaving only Empress Cao and Fan Ning in the small hall.

Fan Ning was a little uneasy. This posture didn't look like he was talking about military affairs, but rather like discussing some secret matter. What would Empress Dowager Cao want to say to herself?
"Do you know how Tao Tao died?"

"Weichen. Heard something!"

Empress Dowager Cao nodded and said: "Actually, the Ai family knows very well that you are the most suspicious child with a full belly!"

With a cold sentence, sweat dripped from Fan Ning's forehead, and he hurriedly said: "Why did the empress dowager say that, my minister and empress dowager Gao are in the relationship of monarch and minister, besides, the queen mother is only four months pregnant, and this minister left the capital It's been half a year."

Empress Dowager Cao sneered, "The so-called four-month pregnancy was written by Aijia's imperial physician, but she was actually six months pregnant. Not only that, the jade hairpin in Tang Yi's room in the guard class was also released by Aijia, and the surrounding guards accused Tang Yi The fact that Yihe Taihui got too close was also instructed by Aijia, Tang Yi took the blame, and Imperial Physician Yao ordered him to be executed, it was also Aijia."

Fanning's mind was buzzing. Gao Taotao was six months pregnant. She had nothing to do with Tang Yi. Could it be that the child in her belly was his own?Why?
His heart was in a mess, Empress Dowager Cao looked at him, still coldly said: "Tao Tao wants to give birth to this child, but Aijia told her that if you give birth to this child, the father of the child will be killed by Xu'er. You can only choose between the child and the child's father."

At this time, Fan Ning couldn't help but burst into tears. Empress Dowager Cao watched him silently, and said for a while, "Tao Tao is Aijia's niece and niece. In order to fight against Zhang Guifei, Aijia almost served her husband together. Fortunately, the officials are sober. After this incident, Taotao was always dissatisfied with Ai's family, until one night, she came to me and begged me to report a secret matter to the official. As a result, she exposed her husband. Although she sacrificed her husband, she kept her husband. She gave birth to her son, and made Aijia look at her with admiration from now on."

Empress Dowager Cao was immersed in memories, but Fan Ning was extremely sad. He wished that Gao Taotao's betrayal could relieve him of his guilt towards her, but when he knew the truth, he realized that Gao Taotao had never betrayed himself, and even killed the child in his womb in order to keep himself.

Empress Dowager Cao sighed again: "Taotao finally took Aijia's hand. She wanted to say something but couldn't say it, but Aijia knew what she wanted to say, so summoning you today is a fulfillment of the promise to her."

At the end, Empress Dowager Cao's tone became colder, and her gaze became colder. She looked at Fan Ning and said in a low voice, "This time, the Ai family saved you. You must remember that your fate has already passed from now on." In the hands of the Ai family, obey the Ai family, and have your glory and wealth. But if you dare to betray the Ai family, I will put you in a dilemma!"

Fan Ning didn't know how he got out of the inner palace, he found a secluded place to sit down, and looked into the distance with serious eyes. At this time, he had escaped from the grief of Gao Taotao's death.

The last few threatening words of Empress Dowager Cao made him suddenly realize the cruelty and viciousness of court struggle. Who said that Empress Dowager Cao was not in love with power, who said that Empress Dowager Cao was generous and kind? Tao Tao is more forbearing, she has already discovered the matter between herself and Gao Tao Tao, but she chose to remain silent and wait.

She was the one who persuaded Gao Taotao to have an abortion, and she was the one who executed the imperial physician in the end, so no one knew the real cause of Gao Taotao's death.

Changing Gao Taotao's pregnancy time and arranging Tang Yi to take the blame is not necessarily to keep himself, but to use this matter to control himself.

(End of this chapter)