The little lady in the dining room

180 Mist
After the emperor asked the imperial guards to take the sour plum and ebony away for trial, both of them breathed a sigh of relief.

But lying on the couch, Sydney still couldn't fall asleep.My thoughts couldn't stop flying to the north courtyard. For a while, I wondered if A Yuan would be too uncomfortable to sleep, and for a while, I seemed to hear him coughing.

She was disturbed, but she didn't even dare to turn over too much - it's okay if she wanted to vent, but Xie Zhao still has an early morning tomorrow.

He has much more to worry about than her, and she can't let her own temper disturb him to sleep at this moment.It's as if she still has to miss the other three children, and she can't let her own temper go to see A Yuan...

Many things must be restrained.

Sydney felt very tired, but her mind was getting clearer and clearer.When she vaguely heard the bell of Chou Shi, she finally decided to give up and fall asleep.

Get up and make porridge for Ah Yuan.

A Yuan likes to drink eight-treasure porridge.This porridge tastes good and is rich in ingredients, but it takes a long time to cook.So occasionally Ah Yuan told her that he wanted to eat, and she always stayed up at noon and served him as a supper at night. If he wanted breakfast, he had to let the maid do it.

She can't get up.When she used to work in Shangshi Bureau, she often got up in the middle of the night to prepare breakfast, but since she came to Yuqian... she hasn't woken up at this hour for many years.

Quietly moved to bed, Xue Li got dressed and opened the door to go out.The cold breeze in early spring woke her up for a while, she squinted and saw that Shi Zhan and another imperial guard were guarding the door.

"Two adults?" Xue Li walked over, the two turned their heads sideways, and Shi Zhan clasped his fists: "Lady, we are here with Lord Wei."

Xue Li was stunned, and before asking any further questions, she saw Wei Chen coming in from the door, rubbed her hands and said with a smile, "Wait and get sleepy, I'll go outside for a walk."

"Brother is in a hurry?" Xue Li said as she invited the three of them to sit in the side room next to her, quickly poured hot tea for them, and said, "I heard that His Majesty sent my brother out on an errand... "

"Yes, I heard about things in the palace just after I came back last night." Wei Chen took a sip of tea and warmed up, "I went to the prison to check... I knew that His Majesty must want to know the progress earlier, so I simply came here directly Waiting."

Sydney's heartstrings tightened slightly, and she shook her head, not showing too much worry.He asked Mizao to serve them some snacks, and then sat down himself: "Tell me first, I didn't fall asleep all night."

Wei Chen sighed: "How old are those two slave girls?"

Sydney thought for a while: "More than eight years old, less than nine years old. Both seem to be born in the middle of the year."

"Eight is more than nine years old." Wei Chen clicked his lips, "The way he talks and behaves looks a little older, but he doesn't look like a person with deep thoughts. Shi Zhan started the interrogation, and at first he killed both of them. The stool did not belong to their room, and later he could no longer bear the punishment, and admitted that it was something in their room, but still refused to admit that they were the ones who wanted to kill the prince Di Ji."

He said looking at Shi Zhan, Shi Zhan nodded: "I took the teacup and asked them if they recognized it, and they only said that they knew it was from Diji's study, and they didn't see any guilty conscience. changed."

Xue Li looked slightly stagnant: "Then brother means..."

"What I mean is, either it really doesn't matter to the two of them; or..." Wei Chen chuckled, "or the palace is really a big dye vat, which can force eight or nine-year-old girls to be thoughtful and pretend to be innocent." Pretending to fool us all."

Xue Li's heart sank, and she asked: "If you don't admit that you are harming the prince Di Ji, then what is the purpose of putting a stool outside the window?"

"They really didn't say anything about it." Wei Chen sighed, "I sent you back, you can continue the interrogation. But based on our experience, they probably really don't know about the eldest son of the emperor. We'll look into other areas."

"Thank you brother." Xue Li lowered her head, "Your Majesty won't get up until a while later, you should eat something first and take a rest, I'll make breakfast for A Yuan."

Wei Chen nodded: "You are busy with your work, we just have to discuss this matter again."

Sydney stood up and gave a blessing, then went outside.She told Peng Qizhong to watch over here, and if they wanted something to eat, they could just ask the kitchen to do it.

Then I went to the kitchen first, washed the lotus seeds, red beans and other things and soaked them, and called the palace man to say: "Look at the soaked things, don't let others touch them. Where are the sour plums and dark plums? I Go and see."

The palace man replied that Guan had gone to the firewood room at the back, and Xueli felt conflicted for a while, so she took out two bowls of freshly cooked millet porridge and put them in a food box to carry them over.

After the six-cell courtyard became the nine-cell courtyard, the firewood room was moved to the last courtyard.Xue Li went out through the small door opened in the back of the kitchen, walked through the alley between the two rows of courtyards, and before entering the next courtyard door, she heard scolding: "It's not fun to die! If you dirty the firewood again, you Two lives to pay for the next life!"

Xue Li frowned, stepped into the yard and went straight to the firewood room on the right, glanced at the people in the room who were shouting and shouting: "Get out."

"...Hi Ma'am." Yang Tao turned around and gave a hurried blessing, seeing Xue Li's expression was unkind, she slipped away without daring to say a word.

Xueli turned around and closed the door, blocking the cool wind outside, before looking at the sour plum and ebony plum.

Both panicked.They were originally leaning against the pile of firewood, but just now they were scolded by Yang Tao and moved to the other side, but they didn't expect Xueli to come here now.

The scene in the room was indeed ugly, the two little girls had only their middle dresses left, and the dresses were full of cut blood.Not only was the blood stained on the pile of firewood, but there were also dots of red on the walls and floors. After the door was closed for a short while, a faint blood was evident.

Xueli didn't dare to look at it for a while, she walked over with her head down, and put the food box on the ground.Both Suan Mei and Wu Mei huddled tightly, and Suan Mei said in despair: "My lady...wasn't made by slaves."

Xue Li was silent for a while, brought out the porridge, and said only: "Warm yourself first. I want to know something, and I will ask you later."

Her heart is complicated.She has always taken care of these two little girls deliberately. If it is true that the two of them hurt her children this time...

She may not be able to take their lives with her own hands, but she probably won't feel any pity for children who are not related in the future.

Sour plum and ebony plum tremblingly drank the porridge, staring at the blood splattered next to them.Xueli pretended not to know, took off the cloak and covered them, and said: "I heard from Mrs. Wei that you admit that the stool under the window belongs to your room, but you don't admit that it is to harm the prince Diji. What is it for? Why don't you say it?"

The shoulders of the two of them tightened, and they looked at Xue Li and dared not say a word.

Is this really hidden?

Daisy raised her eyebrows slightly: "Tell the truth. There is no crime that can be placed on you right now than poisoning the prince."

Wu Mei held the bowl with her head down and said nothing, and Suan Mei stared at Xueli without blinking, and said nothing.

"I usually treat you two... is it alright?" Xueli said again, and then sighed as if she lost her patience, "Forget it, I won't ask. I will tell His Majesty later, and you said it's no harm Ah Yuan, and he refused to say what the purpose of putting a stool outside the room is. Let him decide what to do."

As she spoke, she really didn't stay long, stood up and left.

Suanmei was agitated by her words: "My lady..."

Sydney pretended not to hear it, and the two were in chaos.Suanmei hurriedly put down the porridge bowl, gritted her teeth and got up to chase after Xueli. When Xueli walked to the door, she grabbed the skirt of her skirt, and Suanmei fell to her knees powerlessly: "My lady, slave... slave overheard Fu's mother's teaching. Go!"

Xueli was stunned and surprised: "What did you say?"

Suanmei knelt down on the ground, crying and said: "After the Lord Yi'an came in, he no longer accompanied the slaves and Wumei to read. The slaves know their identity, but, but..."

But she still wants to continue studying too much, the world in the book is different.Anyone can bully them on weekdays, even in the Jiuge Courtyard where Lady Ruan treats them very well, other court ladies and eunuchs can still look at them and vent their anger on them.

For example, the book says, "Be sensitive and eager to learn, don't be ashamed to ask questions."This was originally meant to let scholars put aside their arrogance and seek advice humbly, but in the eyes of sour plum and wumei, it has another meaning: it seems that even if they have learned knowledge, they can be respected by others.This is something I don't dare to think too much about, and I don't think there will be such a day in slavery.But this still more or less inspired them to give it a try. Even if the words "being respected" are far away, reading more books is also beneficial to them.

They knew that the slave maids who were not assigned to various palaces would work together as handymen, but those who could read and write could often help the maids and eunuchs in charge with things like keeping records.After a long time like this, the days will be more or less different. We can eat more meat during festivals and festivals, and we can wear more clothes in winter.Suanmei and Wumei couldn't help but think about this - they heard that Lady Ruan was going to be the queen in the future, and by then, whether they would be able to follow her was uncertain.In case they were sent back to do chores again, they would be on their own.

Suanmei dared not tell Sydney about these unavoidable thoughts in her heart.The palace is very strict with those who are slaves. It is another matter for those who can read the characters themselves, but those who were born in slaves dare to learn by themselves... Although there is no law that stipulates such details, one Putting the word "steal" here and making plans for herself behind the back of the master's family is enough for her to die once.

Sour Mei could only cry and beg Xueli: "My lady, I will never dare to serve you anymore! From now on, when Di Ji and the Lord Weng are studying, the servants will stay far away..."

Xue Li frowned and looked at Wu Mei: "Is that so?"

Wu Mei wiped her tears and nodded, and Suan Mei hurriedly explained: "The idea is from the servant girl, Wu Mei just followed!"

Up to now, they still want to protect each other, these two girls are not bad.Xue Li stared at the sour plums for a while, and Yang Yin called the palace servants to come in: "Let's tidy up a place for them in the back and come out. They are covered in injuries and don't go to the front, so as not to frighten Di Ji. Ask the nurse to come and see."

After giving the order, she looked at Suanmei again: "Take care of it with peace of mind. I will explain this to His Majesty for you. There is only one thing. If he doesn't believe me, there is nothing I can do."

If he didn't believe it, she didn't plan to force him to believe it, after all, she still had some doubts in her heart.Rationally speaking, no one can prove that what they are telling is the truth, she is only willing to believe it because she thinks she understands the nature of these two girls.

Sour plum bit her lip and nodded.The two kowtowed their heads to thank her together, and Sydney left early.

She went back to the kitchen to continue making eight-treasure porridge for Ah Yuan, and made red bean paste buns, shrimp dumplings and siu mai.After finishing the preparation, several things continued to be kept warm on the stove. After washing her hands, she returned to the main room. The emperor was already having breakfast.

Of course, Xie Zhao learned from the palace man what she was doing, and sighed when she saw her come in: "Come and eat quickly. A Yuan is sick, and if you make yourself sick again, I have no choice but to take the children to Zichen Palace to raise them." went."

Xue Li nodded and sat beside him, he signaled to the palace servants to serve her a bowl of fresh meat wontons, she said while eating that she saw sour plums and dark plums just now, and she thought they were not the ones who made them.

Xie Zhao thought about it and nodded: "Mr. Mingxuan just came to report, and he also said that he didn't think it was them. Since you are willing to believe it, just don't interrogate the two of them."

Xueli gave a "hmm": "They also said... put the stool outside to eavesdrop on Fu's mother reading to Ayao. As for the ones that are stepped on for easy listening, or are used to pad paper notes, I I didn't ask in detail, but it doesn't look like a lie."

"Eavesdropping on reading?" Xie Zhao frowned suddenly.

Xueli's heart trembled slightly, and she wrapped her arm around him and said softly: "Your Majesty, don't be angry, they said they won't do it in the future. Besides, I shouldn't say something, those two girls are accused of crimes committed three or four generations ago. I have only been in slavery, and I have not made any serious mistakes. Now I want to learn something secretly..." She pursed her lips, "If this is really too bad, I will punish them later."

"That's not what I'm thinking about." Xie Zhao put down his chopsticks and thought for a while, "Isn't it only since that day that the eavesdropping and studying started? The stool has been left behind? Even if there are few people going to that road, there must always be someone Go clean it up, no one saw it?"

So they lied to her?He doesn't believe them?

Xueli's heart sank, and she was about to ask someone to bring the sour plum and ebony to question, but Xie Zhao spoke first: "Go and spread the word that today's morning court will be postponed by two quarters, and it is said that it is for the eldest son of the emperor."

He wanted to ask more clearly about this side first.No matter who did it, it must be remedied as soon as possible now, and this person cannot be allowed to stay in Jiugeyuan anymore.

After breakfast, Xie Zhao went directly to the sour plum and ebony room.The two girls were covered with injuries, and were exhausted after drinking the medicine, trying to fall asleep, and had to get up from the couch again to salute.

Xie Zhao asked straightforwardly, both of them were taken aback, and then Wumei's face was full of doubts: "The servant took back the stool every day... Huh? That day... the servant also took the stool back after listening to it that day. .”

Xie Zhao and Xueli looked at each other, and Xueli said, "It's not enough to just listen to what you say, don't lie, if you find out afterwards that what you said was a lie..."

"Slaves don't dare!" Wu Mei hurriedly said.She unconsciously stroked the fresh wound on her arm, her whole body trembled, "If there are any lies, let the adults of the Imperial Guard beat me to death!"

But if this is not a lie, who planted the blame on them?
After Xue Li and Xie Zhao walked out of their room, they were silent for a long time, and the two went straight to the door of A Yuan's room, only to wake up from a dream when they heard A Yuan's voice coming from inside.

A Yuan's voice sounded good, and he recited the "Spring Dawn" he had just learned a few days ago, and yawned from time to time.

Xie Zhao hesitated for a while, then raised his hand and knocked: "Open the door."

"Father?" A Yuan was obviously surprised, but then said, "Nurse, don't go!"

Then there was a little silence inside, and when there was another sound, it was obvious that there was only one door away.

A Yuan said: "Father, don't come in, I don't want my father to be sick. You go to see your sister and younger siblings, ah... tell my mother for me, the bean paste buns are delicious!"

In an instant, Sydney's tears burst into tears!

What he heard through the Taoist gate, it seemed that A Yuan was extremely naive and sensible.He knew that he didn't want his parents to get sick with him, but he didn't know that his current illness was actually very dangerous.

For a short moment, Xue Li seemed to feel that this door had separated them from Yin and Yang, she couldn't help reaching out to push the door...

Xie Zhao hugged her: "Sydney!"

A Yuan: "...mother is there?"

Xue Li was stunned, raised her hand to wipe away her tears, and said with a smile, "Yes, mother is here."

A Yuan smiled happily: "Mom, I want to eat rapeseed porridge at noon!"

"Okay..." Xueli nodded in response, and suddenly there was a rush of footsteps behind her.

The two turned their heads together and saw Xu Shishui bowing behind him.

In fact, Xu Shiping usually doesn't need to salute like this, but thinking about the scene just now, his legs are weak!

He swallowed his saliva: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty... Your Majesty, Yuxiang it, it, it... hurts people!"

Sydney turned pale with shock: "What?!"

"On the north corner outside the courtyard, an eunuch was injured, but he was not from your Jiugeyuan!" Xu Shishui's tongue was knotted, and he took a moment to continue, "The carambola next to Diji happened to be there too, so I was so scared. Not lightly. There are guards patrolling nearby, so I surrounded Yuxiang first."

More and more troubles!

Xueli was in a mess, seeing Xie Zhao walking out, she couldn't help following him.As soon as he reached the north corner, Xie Zhao quickly took a step back, turned around and pressed Xueli into his arms.

Sydney: "...Your Majesty?"

"Don't look." He spit out two words.She unconsciously thought about what was going on in front of her eyes, and at the same time, she heard Yu Xiang's panting.

Xie Zhao looked sideways at the front, the eunuch's arm was pulled off and thrown aside, the blood between the man and the arm was dripping all over the floor.

He couldn't stand the pain, and Yu Xiang, whose mouth was full of blood, was right next to him, only half a step away.He screamed, Yuxiang didn't care, but the nearby guards moved a little closer to help him go, Yuxiang immediately glanced over with bared teeth, eyes full of warning.

The maid named Yangtao was not injured, she sat down by the wall with a bloodless face, trembling all over.

Xie Zhao tried calling out "Yuxiang".

Yu Xiang, who was so nervous that the hair on his back was blown up, didn't relax at all. He only glanced at him, and then continued to stare at the guards who drew their knives at him in a posture of fighting.

Xueli couldn't see being pressed in his arms, and felt that the atmosphere was not right, so he hesitated and called out: "Yuxiang?"

Yu Xiang's gaze shifted a few inches, and his eyes softened slightly.

Afterwards, it maintained its stance of not letting go of its vigilance towards the people around it, and walked towards Xie Zhao and Xueli step by step, with a terrifying look in its eyes.

Xie Zhao still hugged Xue Li, and stepped back step by step. After a few steps, he could no longer see the tragedy on the other side of the corner, but Yu Xiang was still walking forward.

He moved his hand carefully, and poked into the skirt of his shirt.

Seeing a ray of cold light, Xueli said in surprise, "What are you doing?!"

"It's wild, it will hurt people." He squeezed the silver dart between his fingers, and looked at Yuxiang, not daring to relax at all.

A few steps away, Yuxiang turned her head to look at the blood she had made, and at the two people who were obviously hiding from it, as if she had noticed something.

"Wow..." It let out a small cry, and sat down with its front paws back, and the last sound was obviously aggrieved, "Wow."

"Yuxiang!" Xueli broke out of Xie Zhao's arms, snatched the silver dart from his hand, and took two steps forward cautiously, "Yuxiang, you..."

The blood dripping from his mouth is terrible!The hair around the mouth is dyed red!

"Aww!" Yu Xiang howled, leaping lightly towards Xueli.Caught off guard, Xueli retreated subconsciously, and Yuxiang landed at her feet before she could dodge.

But when Xie Zhao cried out in surprise, Xue Li saw Yu Xiang biting her with her mouth open, but she didn't feel any pain, and only after she looked closely did she realize that she was just bitten on the hem of her skirt.

Yu Xiang dragged her towards the corner, Xueli was pulled so that her feet were unsteady, and after calling "Yu Xiang" three times in a row, the bloody scene finally came into view...

Xue Li was gasping for air, and stood there in shock, Yu Xiang pulled forward and saw that she couldn't move, she turned her head suspiciously?
"Woo." Yu Xiang walked around behind her, bowed her head and arched her calf, pushing her and wanting her to move forward.

"Yuxiang, you're scaring her!" Xie Zhao caught up with her a few steps and forgot about the wildness. He reached out and slapped Yuxiang on the head, "Sit down!"

"Woo..." Yu Xiang reluctantly sat down, raised her eyes pitifully at Xue Li who was standing still, then turned her head to Xie Zhao, "Huh!"

What is it asking them to see?
Xie Zhao lowered his head to look seriously at Yu Xiang with his brows furrowed. Yu Xiang was no longer hostile, and kept pushing his head against him and clawing him with his paws.

like a big cat.

(End of this chapter)