Nangong Lizhu's face was as pale as paper. Even under the bright red candlelight, there was no blood. She looked at me with a trembling trembling. After a while, she gritted her teeth and said, "No, it won't be like this!"

“…”

"He won't do that!"

“…”

"He, he just wants power, he just wants to protect himself, he won't do such a thing!"

I frowned slightly.

It’s already this time, and going around again is a waste of time. The “he” in Nangong Lizhu’s mouth is nothing else, but the object I doubt – her father, Nangong Jinhong!

But in fact, I was not sure. I just told Chang Qing that before I saw the other party, I could not determine who was so brave enough to encircle the imperial city, attack the Xuanwu Gate, and do such a rebellion.

Is it Nangong Jinhong?

Although his performance has always been not as strong, so ostentatious as Shin Gongyi, and even polite, anyone with a discerning eye can see that for him in the court that day, the right to assist in the government was almost at his fingertips, but was blocked by Pei Ji's sudden appearance at the last moment. For anyone, this is not a sip of anger that can be swallowed easily.

The question is, can this anger make him commit crimes and destroy the nine clans in this way?

I know his identity very well. He is already a veteran in the court, and his father-in-law of the emperor, and his daughter has always been favored by Pei Yuanhao. Even though there were conflicts with the emperor, or the new policy during this period, this may not necessarily lead to a veteran of the court to the point of being in opposition to the emperor and breaking apart.

At least in my opinion, it is not certain.

Opposition and breaking are no greater benefits for him than obeying the emperor.

People often say that why chase and beat wild dogs with gorgeous clothes? He is already the most powerful minister. Nangong Lizhu has not completely lost his favor. It is unprofitable for ordinary people to commit rebellion with such a wealth and life. Even if he succeeds, he will bear the whole world's siege and the bad reputation of betraying the master. Moreover, Nangong Lizhu has no children, and Nangong Jinhong has no other children and nephews. How to arrange it after usurping the throne is a big problem or hidden danger for them. If it fails, then it is said that the family will be confiscated and implicated the nine tribes. Even if Nangong Lizhu is favored, she will not be spared.

It is impossible for Nangong Jinhong to ignore this.

Nangong Lizhu said that he just wanted power and protected himself with power. He wanted to seize the interests in his hands under Pei Yuanhao's constant weakening. This is a completely different way to committing rebellion.

Nangong Jinhong would be so angry that he would go up to the latter?

I feel a little confused.

But no matter how chaotic it is, he is the only one I can doubt at this moment.

Secondly...

Nangong Lizhu was even more panicked than me. She stood up on the edge of the bed, but because of her kneeling for a long time, her legs and feet were numb. As soon as she stood up, she fell back, making her look particularly embarrassed. She climbed on the edge of the bed with both hands, barely trying to stop slumping down, and then looked up at me: "It's not his!"

I looked at her: "Can you be sure?"

“…”

When I said this, she hesitated again, and her eyes became flustered. She looked at me and looked at Pei Yuanhao behind her, and said incoherently: "I, I know he is dissatisfied with the emperor... Although he has never said it before, I can feel... it is not only power, but also interest... I know he has some ideas..."

“…”

"But, but he won't do that, no! And-"

At the end, the trembling traces in her voice became more and more obvious: "I'm still in the palace!"

I looked at her and couldn't speak for a moment.

Perhaps in my past memories, she was a tall and beautiful fairy standing by the clouds, but this time she entered the palace, she completely lost the nobleness and arrogance she had in the past. Even at this moment, when she was watching her kneel on the bed and struggling to say those words, I had the illusion of seeing her fall into the quagmire.

I was inexplicably reluctant, so I looked away and said calmly: "If you can completely trust your father, then I can completely trust you."

She was slightly stunned: "What does it mean?"

I turned around and looked at her and said, "If it was really not your father, then we would have stayed in Yihua Palace."

She was shocked: "Why?"

I said calmly: "There are not many people who know that the emperor is in Yihua Palace; it is not something that can be found in such a large place in the harem. Since I moved in, he has been secretly guarding this place."

“…”

"This is the third safest place in the entire imperial city."

Nangong Lizhu was obviously a little confused. I knew she subconsciously wanted to ask where the first two safe places were, but before she could ask, I continued, "So, if it was really not your father, Lord Nangong did this, then we can wait here. As long as the Imperial Guards fight effectively, it will not be so easy for them to find Yihua Palace."

"..." She looked at me in surprise: "Are you planning to escape?"

"Escape? Where to escape?"

“…”

"It is clear that the Meridian Gate is already under control," I said, and looked at the man behind her who had been lying on the bed, silently: "Where can you escape with him?"

Nangong Lizhu turned around, looked at Pei Yuanhao, and then took a deep breath.

"I'll stay with him no matter what."

“…”

"Protect him."

“…”

"Even if there is only one last breath."

“…”

Listening to her trembling voice but firmly said this sentence, I was silent for a moment and said softly: "It's good."

After saying that, I didn't say anything else, turned around and walked out.

The guards in the yard immediately came over and looked at me nervously: "Miss Yan, the emperor is still inside."

I nodded: "Yeah."

"Then those outside—— we must protect the Emperor's safety."

"I know."

"But--"

I turned to look at him and interrupted him: "Now that there is so chaos outside, do you know who the people who entered? How many of them are? What is the purpose? Without all this, any rash move may have given you your life and the emperor's life."

The man's breathing was suffocated.

"Stay here, don't open the palace gate casually until I allow it, just protect him."

The guard looked complicated, and he wanted to speak but stopped, but looking at my calm appearance, he didn't say anything after all. He just nodded and retreated.

|

Outside, of course, it was a mess, but in Yihua Palace, this small courtyard was extremely quiet.

Maybe, it’s not really quiet, but at this moment, I can’t hear the sound outside.

My heartbeat has become a noisy world.

However, it was not just mine, but the person in the room was also. Although I couldn't see her, I could hear her tense breathing, feel her restlessness, and even that anxious emotion had already enveloped the entire room.

Although only a short moment has passed, this moment is a torment for everyone here.

Listening to the more terrifying voices coming from outside the layers of palace walls, even the guards guarding at the door couldn't help but feel a little relieved. One of them came to me and asked in a low voice: "Miss Yan, are we really here to stay?"

I also listened to the voice outside and said, "Wait a little longer."

"Wait? What to wait for?"

"wait--"

Before I could finish my words, I heard footsteps coming out of the room behind me.

We all turned around and saw Nangong Lizhu taking heavy steps, holding the door frame with one hand, looking at me with a pale face.

I don't doubt that this is the first time she has stepped out of that door in the past few days.

When the guard saw her, he immediately frowned: "Empress of the Imperial Concubine?"

She seemed to have not heard or seen anyone else, pale, staggered down, walked down until I walked to me, and took a deep breath: "I think... we still can't stay here."

I looked at her: "Why?"

“Because, because here…”

"Don't you believe that Lord Nangong wouldn't do this?"

The guard next to him, and the eunuchs and palace maids standing in the corner waiting to arrange, were all so scared that they gasped.

Nangong Lizhu's face turned paler. She looked around in panic and then turned to me: "I, it's not that I don't believe him, I just think that it won't be safe for us to stay here."

“…”

"If the purpose of those people is really the emperor, then they will definitely find here!"

I still looked at her calmly: "If they can find this place, they can find it wherever we go."

"But it's better than sitting here and waiting for death!"

"It may not be awaiting death, maybe Gucheng is defending it?"

"No, this won't work!"

She became more and more panicked, or she was already a little crazy, and even grabbed my arm and pinched her hard: "We can't stay here, they will definitely be detrimental to the emperor!"

"Who are you talking about?"
To be continued...