Ci Jinzhi

Beizhen Fusi was not idle because of the Mid-Autumn Festival. As more and more officials were arrested and imprisoned, the people in Beizhen Fusi were walking in such a hurry that it was like a gust of wind.

He Qingxiao received the summons and rushed to the palace quickly.

These days, the monarch and his ministers are closely connected, and they often see each other two or three times a day. Emperor Xingyuan's tone is more casual. As usual, he asked about the status of the case and mentioned the purpose of conveying congratulations to Qingxiao for entering the palace.

“Xin Mu has to guard the mausoleum for his mother, so that’s all. Today’s Mid-Autumn Festival is really a bit deserted. Qingxiao, you and Xin Mu share the same sorrow and have a good relationship, so go and see him on my behalf.”

He Qingxiao hesitated for a moment.

This hesitation was certainly not because he was unwilling to see Xin You, but because he was a little surprised by Emperor Xingyuan's attitude towards Xin You.

The emperor valued Miss Xin more than he imagined.

With six princes and three princesses in his dynasty, Emperor Xingyuan did not give the impression of a loving father to all officials.

 Miss Xin was special in the emperor's heart - this discovery made He Qingxiao feel happy for Xin You.

As a close minister of the emperor, he knew only too well the importance of having the emperor's favor.

Emperor Xingyuan misunderstood He Qingxiao's hesitation and said warmly: "I know that Beizhen Fusi is busy, but no matter how busy you are, there is no rush for this day. I see all your hard work, and I just want to take a rest."

"yes."

So He Qingxiao took the gifts from Emperor Xingyuan and rode quickly to the imperial mausoleum in light clothes.

Autumn is high and the air is crisp. The imperial mausoleum, located among the rolling hills on the outskirts of Beijing, feels even more autumnal. Xin You wore thick plain clothes, offered incense to Queen Xin, Aunt Xia and others as usual, and walked out.

It is quiet all around. What you can see is a forest of trees, mostly pines and cypresses. In the distance, you can see mountains and mountains, and white clouds covering half of the sky.

Xin You didn't speak, and Qian Feng and Ping An, who were following her, were as quiet as shadows. Xiaoba was so panic-stricken that his eyes rolled around and suddenly lit up: "Sir, look, someone is coming!"

Xin You recognized him at a glance: "Master He."

"Master He is here?" Xiaoba poked his head and clapped his hands, "It's really Master He!"

As he spoke, a man and a horse approached.

Xin You walked over quickly, with a smile on his lips: "Master He, why are you here?"

He Qingxiao came alone, striding over with something in his hand: "I am thinking of Xin Taizhao today, please ask me to send you something."

 The things given by the emperor are not about their preciousness and richness, but their significance. One of the two food boxes He Qingxiao brought was filled with fresh fruits, the other was filled with reunion cakes, and a pair of exquisite lanterns.

Xinyou called Xiaoba, who quickly took the things and put them away.

He Qingxiao first went to offer incense to Queen Xin, and then walked with Xin You in the imperial mausoleum.

The imperial mausoleum is large, empty, and quiet. The autumn wind unbridledly rolls up people's clothes, and the fallen leaves dance like dead butterflies.

He Qingxiao looked at the people walking beside her.

 In the past month, he has been busy with matters in Beizhen Fusi. This is the first time the two of them have met since that time. Miss Xin looked calmer, as if the gurgling clear spring flowing from summer to autumn had lost its dryness little by little.

"Didn't Xin Daizhao bring more people here?" The two walked side by side, and He Qingxiao's tone was less polite than when Qianfeng and others were standing aside.

"The imperial mausoleum is already guarded by officers and soldiers, and all affairs are managed by dedicated personnel. There is no need to bring more people." Xin You gently brushed away the dead leaves that fell on his sleeves, "When will Master He go back?"

He Qingxiao paused and said, "I'll be back early tomorrow morning." Xin You had something unexpected in his eyes: "Master He, do you want to stay?"

He Qingxiao tried his best to act as if nothing had happened: "I will accompany Xin Daizhao after the Mid-Autumn Festival before returning."

Xin You lowered her eyes slightly, looking at the fallen leaves being chased by the wind, and silently swallowed the words that reached her lips.

She originally wanted to ask, is it just an order from the emperor? Now that I think about two people who can't commit to each other, it's so boring to ask.

“It’s more lively when there are more people watching the moon. I’m just sorry, Master He, but you want to accompany me on a vegetarian diet.”

He Qingxiao smiled: "I used to be a vegetarian."

Xin You asked again about the follow-up to Deng Gelao’s case.

“This case has already involved hundreds of people, and there is a tendency to expand...”

Xin You listened carefully and asked, "What did Deng Chongjing say about the imprint of the word 'Jun'?"

"He said he was unclear." He Qingxiao paused and added, "He still persisted after being tortured. Judging from Deng Chongjing's quick admission that he was the one behind the murder of you with poisonous snakes, he is not a tough person."

“In other words, Deng Chongjing is not on Zhou Tong’s line.”

Zhou Tong was the **** who killed Queen Xin. The investigation went all the way to Pei Shilang, but was interrupted due to Pei Shilang's arrest.

"Don't be anxious, it will surface sooner or later." He Qingxiao's words were not pure comfort.

Nearly all of the veterans the emperor asked him to investigate came from wealthy families with deep roots in the south. Few of these people followed Emperor Xingyuan to conquer the country from the beginning. Most of them came to see Emperor Xingyuan's power and defected to him. They may have political differences, conflicts of interest, or personal grudges, but they also share common interests. This benefit is not even something that an individual can give up if he wants to. Behind him is a century-old family business and countless descendants.

 Now, Miss Xin is their common enemy. As long as Miss Xin is active in the government and the public, they will not be at ease.

Night soon fell. Unlike the imperial palace, which was wrapped in red, green and surrounded by flowers, this side of the imperial mausoleum was quiet and plain, and even the moonlight seemed brighter and deserted.

Xin You bowed to the moon, invited Xiao Ba and others to share the reunion cakes, and then climbed up to a high platform with He Qingxiao to enjoy the moon quietly.

 The lonely moon casts frost and snow all over the ground.

He Qingxiao quietly glanced at the person looking up at the moon, and suddenly thought of the poem she had murmured with enthusiasm that day: It's a pity that in the clear moon, no one is leaning on the building together.

 In fact, this is not the case. At least at this moment, during the Mid-Autumn Festival of this year, they were admiring the moon together.

 The negative emotions that He Qingxiao had accumulated due to his constant arrests and interrogations over the past few days quietly dissipated, leaving only joy and satisfaction.

The wind picked up, blowing their robes high, bringing with them the coldness of the mountains.

"It's a bit cold, go back to the house and rest early." Although he hoped that time could stop here, He Qingxiao's reason did not allow him to do so.

Xin You didn’t drink, didn’t have a fever, and was as sane as the men around him: “Well, it’s time to rest.”

As for where He Qingxiao would rest, there were many vacant houses here, so Xinyou asked Xiaoba to arrange them and didn’t bother with them.

 Early the next morning, Xin You sent congratulations to Qing Xiao and left, accompanied respectfully by the mausoleum superintendent in charge of the imperial mausoleum. Before the group of people had gone far, they saw a person riding a horse and galloping towards them.

 He Qingxiao frowned slightly.

The person who came was Jin Linwei. It was so early and in such a hurry. It seemed like something big had happened.