The ceremonies of sacrificial rites are the old process, and even Sikonglin, who is stupid and easy, knows that this kind of occasion cannot be taken lightly. Standing obediently in the center of the altar according to the guidance of the courtesy officer.

The whole altar was decorated with silver paint, with golden dragon patterns carved on it, and the ceremony proceeded step by step.

Empress Wei stood on the side of the altar, and Yuan Luo stood beside her, staring not far away.

Donghai King seemed to notice her gaze, turned her head, Yuan Luo quickly withdrew her gaze.

Halfway through the ceremony, Yuan Luo suddenly heard a roar from a distance.

it has started!

She instantly lifted her spirits and looked into the distance.

The Temple of Heaven is built on Gongshan in the north of the city, surrounded by vast mountains in the distance. I don't know what means the East Sea King deployed on the top of the mountain can make such a roar.

In the ear, it is really similar to thunder in the sky.

A smile appeared at the corner of Donghaiwang's mouth. Involuntarily glanced at the altar. The ceremonial officer on the side of the high platform received the hands-on signal, and took advantage of the effort of leaning, and quietly bounced a little flame from his fingertips to him.

It was as if sparks fell into the dry straw, and suddenly a ball of flames rose. However, the ceremonial officer was surprised that the fire light did not spread inward along the silver paint, but all the way outward, suddenly rushing to Lian's feet like lightning.

The ceremonial officer couldn't avoid it, and flame enveloped instantly. Also shrouded in flames is the King of East Sea. He was standing on the periphery of the altar, originally waiting for the fire to rise, but saw that the fire was completely contrary to what he expected, and it flew at his feet.

He was full of shock, and without waiting for the fire to approach, he exerted force under his feet and rose from the ground.

The smile at the corner of Yuan Luo's mouth suddenly froze.

Hey, East Sea King is actually capable of martial arts? Why did no one tell her before!

The fire exploded, sparks splattered everywhere, everyone was shocked. The location of the Temple of Heaven was empty and there were not many places where the fire spread, but this is an altar! It is the most sacred and solemn place, and the center of the fire shrouded in the most noble blood of the empire.

For a while, I don’t know which official shouted "Guardian!"

Miao Zifang rushed up with the guards long ago.

Yuan Luo seemed shocked to see Queen Wei in front of her, stretched her hand to hold her, and stepped back.

Empress Wei staggered back to a safe place, and only when the guards gathered around did she gradually wake up.

"What's the matter?" She couldn't help but turn back to ask Yuan Luo.

The ceremony was solemn, their maids did not come up, and the guards around them were inconvenient to talk, so they could only ask Yuan Luo in panic.

Yuan Luo caught a glimpse of Miao Zifang's safe operation of Sikonglin from the altar. Then, she turned around and said, "Maybe the courtesy officer acted carelessly and ignited something. Don't panic."

She looked calm, and Empress Wei gradually settled down and retreated behind the guard following her strength.

Pulling Queen Wei's wrist, Yuan Luo clearly heard the prompt sound of favorability +20, and Yuan Luo was surprised. It turned out that the trick to using favorability was here.

Concubine Zhuo Shu interrupted next to him: "Don't be surprised, the concubine, it seems that I heard the sound of thunder just now, is it not fire from heaven?"

Concubine Zhuo Shu was obviously not the only one who had this idea.

All the officials in the audience were talking and panicking.

As the center of the crowd's attention, Donghai King's face flushed red, because the center of the fire and explosion just now was where he stood. How could this be? The bright flame thunder powder is mixed with silver paint and smeared on the altar.

All this is of course Yuan Luo's design. After prying through the East Sea King's conspiracy, he ordered people to clean the silver paint on the altar secretly, and then replaced it with truly safe and reliable silver paint.

And the scraped off the mixed silver paint, mixed with a bit of carbon powder, made it into a dusty appearance, and sprinkled it along the edge of the altar near where the East Sea King was standing.

Treating the other body by the other's way, the effect is the scene you see before you.

It's a pity that you can't kill people, but just think about it. The purity of the chemicals in this era is not enough. Although the sound and light produced are loud, the lethality is limited, and in an open place like the altar, surrounded by guards. It is impossible to kill people.

At the beginning, the King of East China Sea didn't think that he could kill the emperor, just relying on this trick to win people's hearts and gain the advantage of public opinion.

Because of the thunder and fire from the sky, this year's ceremonial offering to heaven came to an end in a hurry.

Si Konglin returned to the capital with everyone.

***

On the East China Sea Palace.

Sikongyan slammed the tea cup in his hand to the ground. None of the trusted advisors and subordinates around dared to speak up.

Du Wang, who was in charge of this matter, knelt on the ground and repeatedly cried out injustices: "The lower officials are loyal to His Royal Highness every day and we can learn from them. There is absolutely no difference."

Sikongyan didn't speak, and another courtier asked, "In that case, why does the flame explode on the soles of His Royal Highness's feet? There have been no flaws after repeated tests before obviously."

Du Wang cried bitterly: "The minister does not know why."

Another counselor thought for a while, then hesitated: "Could it be that the last time the imperial concubine went there, the woman's body was filthy, so she broke the game."

"Tianlei powder is a thing of the sun. It is smashed by a woman, and it is possible to have an abnormal state."

The corners of Han Changwen's mouth twitched, what a woman's body is filthy, it really means they are using a Taoist method to lead thunder.

The counsellors in the study talked and talked, people in this era do not have a deep understanding of chemistry, and only use silver powder as a medium of magic.

Sikongyan lowered his gaze, concealed his unpredictable expression, and stepped forward to help Du Wang personally.

"This king does not doubt Du Qing's meaning, but this matter is strange and needs to be investigated in detail."

Du Wang's eyes flushed with emotion, "The prince, the minister will definitely pursue the matter strictly, and get to the bottom of the matter."

Sikongyan nodded, then turned to look at Han Changwen: "This matter has to bother Mr. Han to cooperate."

Han Changwen bowed and saluted, and in response to this incident, he reminded by the way: "Master, those craftsmen responsible for making fire and thunder powder must be cleaned up."

Du Wang nodded again and again: "Leave this small matter to the next official."

Several people discussed the next move, and each went busy.

Sikongyan sat back in the chair, his expression dejected and cold.

Soon, a maid in a crimson dress served tea.

She is a very beloved maid recently. Although she has not officially closed the house, she is already a concubine in the house.

Seeing that the prince is in a bad mood today, she gently put down the tray, picked up the tea cup, and presented it to the owner, softly saying: "The prince has spoken for a long time, drink tea to moisturize your throat."

Sikongyan took it absently.

The maid looked at the handsome lord, her heart full of sweetness. Sikongyan seldom favored the maid. She didn't know what kind of **** luck that day she got such a gift. If you can give a name in the future, you can even promote it as a side concubine...

The attendant in the front hall hurriedly entered, "Master, there are rumors in the capital."

Sikongyan's face sank. The "Tian Lei" didn't hit Sikonglin before, but instead aimed at him. After returning to the capital, he immediately ordered the withdrawal of the manpower who was preparing to spread the rumors. Where are the rumors now?

"What rumors?"

The guard hesitated again and again, and finally courageously said: "There are rumors outside that you...coveted the throne and you did something that hurts the heavens and reason, so you were struck by the ancestors."

After finishing speaking, he quickly added: "The subordinates have arranged to capture the villains who spread rumors."

Sikongyan's brows burst into blue veins. This was originally their plan, but now that the evil force is giving back to him, it is extremely unbearable.

Sure enough, someone moved their hands and feet. As for who was the person who did the hands and feet, only the woman went to the altar during this period of time. She is the only one who can mobilize enough manpower to change the day under her nose. I really underestimated her, and quietly bought his people. The plan of the altar this time, everyone involved was confidant. Who is the one who leaked the secrets, you have to clean yourself carefully.

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Sikongyan thought bitterly, and suddenly laughed again, but there was a frosty hostility in his smile.

The moody face made the maid who had been staring at him trembling, and she had never seen such an angry look on the face of the prince.

Perhaps she moved too much, Si Kongyan noticed, and his eyes swept away.

"Drag out and kill." He ordered in disgust.

The maid was like a bolt from the blue, before she waited to call her injustice, two attendants from outside the hall rushed in, gagged her mouth, and dragged the person out.

***

Listening to Lian Yanqiu coming to report the latest rumors in Beijing, Yuan Luo felt extremely comfortable.

After the fire incident of the imperial tomb, although the court publicly stated that it was a small accident caused by the carelessness of the attendants around the altar, igniting the sacrifice. But anyone with eyes could see that the sudden burst of light was definitely not an ordinary fire, and the roar of thunder from the distant horizon.

Thousands of pairs of eyes were staring, and soon the saying that fire and thunder fell from the sky began to spread.

Yuan Luo arranged for someone to go to the neighbourhood to guide him, and the rumor that the East Sea King's crimes caused the sky to thunder and pierce immediately spread.

The King of the East China Sea did not simply admit his fate. He made a list the next day and pointed out that accidents such as a fire during the sacrifice to the heavens were an ominous omen. There may be natural and man-made disasters in the coming year.

He even tried to pull the entire Tianyu Dynasty down to carry this pot.

Yuan Luo immediately arranged for someone to play, indicating that the bad omen had come to the world, implicitly referring to it, and it was self-evident who caused this natural and man-made disaster.

In the past few days, the court's upper lip and tongue were quarreling fiercely. But Donghaiwang thanked guests behind closed doors these days, saying it was too frightened.

Do you want to take advantage of his illness to kill him, arrange for the assassin to pretend to be an imperial doctor to visit or something?

After thinking about it, I gave up the idea of ​​adventure. After all, in addition to the East Sea King, there are also a group of nobles and nobles represented by Webster, which is an even greater power.

The method of assassination is not advisable, but another method can be tried.

Yuan Luo picked up a memo on the table case, which she had previously drawn up secretly. The memorial pointed out that the signs of the sky must be guarded against. The royal family should fast, bathe and pray to heaven. However, the emperor is not yet in power and is busy studying. You can invite a valuable clan to live in the palace as the emperor's stand-in to be responsible for this glorious and great work.

Yuan Luo's goal is to find a fair chance to ban the East Ocean King. This dangerous guy can't let him return to the fief, nor can he let him jump around outside the palace.

Thinking carefully, Lian Yanqiu lifted the curtain and entered the hall.

"Niang Niang, today the imperial doctor sent by the imperial hospital spent another day on the cold bench."

In order to show his concern for the King of East Sea, Yuan Luo has arranged for the emperor to visit the emperor every day in the name of the emperor. Sagong Yan was very troubled. He had to deal with it a few days ago, and he did not even see him today.

Yuan Luo snorted and put aside the memorial.

"I will hand over this memorandum tomorrow, and then send Miao Zifang with soldiers and horses to'invite' people."

That night, Yuan Luo was playing games with Si Konglin, pointing to the newly made picture book to tell stories to older children, and heard a faint noise outside the door.

After she finished telling a story, she looked up and asked, "What's the matter?"

Liu Xiuchun hurriedly entered the door and bowed and said: It was the person from the city secretary who had just come to report that the Chongwen Pavilion in the North Palace had gone through the water.

Yuan Luo went out of the main hall and looked up, the northern sky was blazing into the sky.

Chongwen Museum is the place where the books are stored in the palace, and it is also the largest library in Beijing. This kind of place is different from ordinary houses, which are full of historical materials of various colors, burning in a fire, but heavy losses.

Yuan Luo looked ugly, and Liu Xiuchun quickly added: "Don’t worry about the empress, the palace staff is fighting for the rescue. Commander Miao has already dispatched manpower to carry twenty water dragons to help out, and even the admiral has dispatched many people from the Jinlin Division. , I must be able to suppress the fire soon."

Yuan Luo nodded, and went back to serve Si Konglin.

Finally, Sagong Lin fell asleep. Yuan Luo went to the warm pavilion to rest, and just removed the hairpin, and suddenly realized something was wrong.

The king of the East China Sea closed his door to thank guests, but the imperial doctors couldn’t see anyone at the door. Tonight’s fire in Chongwen Hall, Jin Linsi’s people were dispatched to support...

Yuan Luo suddenly woke up and the King of East Sea was leaving!

He didn't want to die, even if he had fallen to this point, even if every moment of his life was the pain of death.

The grievances suffered by the family, the tragic death of his father and brother, and the countless comrades who shared the joys and sorrows... His eyes are full of red blood. He clearly remembers that day, he led two thousand elites, waiting for the orders from the front to step into the battlefield to support, wait For three full days, only a messenger covered in blood was seen, sending news that the main force was in an ambush and the entire army was wiped out.

He was full of energy and blood, and was anxious, wishing to take the soldiers and horses to the front immediately to pick up his father and brother. But what followed was the Northern Rong cavalry over the mountains and plains.

In that battle, they fought so hard that he finally broke through with less than a hundred elite riders, and several cities in the north fell.

Soldiers and horses were urgently transferred from the rear to take over the defense. As a general of the defeated army, he could only leave the border non-stop, head south to return to the capital, waiting for his defeat.

He was unwilling to die like this, bearing the grievances of his father and brother and the blood of his comrades in arms.

If he were to die, he would rather die on the border with his father and brother in a grand battle that day. Rather than exhausting the last ray of life in this aggrieved place.

That woman... can only be hateful. She had a chance to start that day, but she fell short in the end.

The high fever made his mind confused, as if the door was open and someone came in. In the confusion, a hand fell on his forehead and then on his neck. It was cool and comfortable. He groaned reflexively.

Yuan Luo feels complicated.

The place where Gu Yi was placed was in a hut at the far northwest corner of the Zichen Palace. It was originally the residence of the sweeping servants, but it looked like it had long been abandoned.

Fortunately, the room is quite spacious, but the internal facilities are a bit rudimentary.

Seeing the young man lying on the bare wooden bed, there was not even a bedding in the cold weather, Yuan Luo felt a little sad.

She reached out and tried Gu Yi's forehead, which was terribly hot. Putting down his hand, thinking of the goodwill degree again, he touched his neck again.

Favorability -54.

Haha, it really dropped again. Yuan Luo was speechless and put her hand down.

But she didn't know how much she shocked Sixi and Tian Pan with a few simple actions.

Concubine, this is...

Yuan Luo was self-contained and rarely had contact with others, but he touched the little General Gu on the bed.

The two of them felt as if they had an insight into an incredible secret, and they bowed their heads in unison.

Yuan Luo didn't notice the little Jiujiu in the two of them, and turned around and said sharply: "Take good care of the injury, I don't want to see people killed in Zichen Palace. If he has a problem, you only ask!"

Out of a subtle mentality, Tian Pan said that this time he accurately understood the spirit of instructions from the superiors.

The next day, when Yuan Luo came to visit the sick number again, she found that the simple hut was greatly changed.

The whole room was cleaned spotlessly, the bed was covered with clean and refreshing bedding, and the corner of the room was burned with a copper stove. It was finally a suitable place for healing.

Even the teenager who was half dead on the bed yesterday still has energy today.

Tian Pan's medical skills and abilities are worthy of recognition. Yuan Luo nodded again and again.

At this time, she saw Gu Yi's face clearly for the first time. She was an extremely beautiful boy with fair skin and delicate features. When her eyelashes were drooped and she didn't speak, she was as cute as a doll. Yuan Luo vaguely remembered that Gu Liangyong was a poor fellow from the border regions, and he was of Western descent, and Gu Yi was also considered a mixed-race. No wonder he was so beautiful.

About she had been staring for too long, Gu Yi's whole body was tense, like a small animal in a territory invaded by wild beasts, he raised his head and stared back at her. His eyes are alert, with determination, or the killing intent is more appropriate.

Yuan Luo had no doubt that if it hadn't been for this kid to be dying of illness, she would definitely rush to bite her neck.

"How is the injury?" She turned to ask Tian Pan.

However, when he turned his head, he found that Tian Pan had actually retreated. Even Sixi, who originally followed her, automatically stayed outside the door.

what's the situation?