Chapter 299: Jingyang Palace

Chen Ji stood on Dong Yi Chang Jie. To his left was Zhong Cui Palace, and to his right was Jing Yang Palace. One street separated them, like a natural chasm.

He quietly turned his head to look. The red walls and grey tiles set off the girl's neck skin, which was as white as snow.

She wore a blue Daoist robe, plain like a swan and slender like a kite. Chen Ji looked at that figure, originally wanting to softly call her, yet feared that if he spoke, he would startle her away.

It was as if he had returned to that small Taiping Yi Guan, when the girl first peeked her head over the courtyard wall, carefully examining the medical hall courtyard, ready to run away at any moment!

Just then, someone in Zhong Cui Palace shouted a name: "Chen..."

Chen Ji's heart jolted. He saw the girl's hand in Jing Yang Palace pause, stopping in place like a stone sculpture!

She heard it!

Chen Ji lowered his head to examine his clothes, hurriedly smoothing the wrinkles on his body!

His mind raced, thinking about what expression he should use, and how to, amidst the Jie Fan Wei surrounding the Dong Liu Gong, silently convey the words he wanted to say!

Sign language she wouldn't understand!

Morse code was even less possible!

But after a long time, the girl did not turn back!

She simply carried the broom towards Jing Zhao Palace and disappeared into the deep palace, as if an invisible door closed behind her where she vanished!

Chen Ji was stunned, his hands that had been smoothing his clothes hanging down by his sides!

Yes, the last time they met was in the inner prison of Lu Cheng!

That day, Bai Long in the inner prison told everyone that Jing Wang had written a blood letter summoning the Qian Sui Jun to rob the prison, and fortunately Chen Ji had handed over the blood letter, preventing the Qian Sui Jun from making a huge mistake. Bai Li in the iron bars cried, her tears like falling pear blossoms after rain!

After that, Chen Ji robbed the prison and fled, but by then Bai Li had already been taken away, and no one knew!

More than two months had passed, it felt like something from a previous life!

He desperately wanted to explain that he hadn't betrayed Jing Wang, hadn't betrayed anyone, but at this moment, he couldn't explain!

Li Xuan came out of Zhong Cui Palace and followed Chen Ji's gaze towards Jing Yang Palace, but in front of the Jing Yang gate, apart from the two guarding Jie Fan Wei, there was no one else!

He asked curiously, "Why are you standing here and not walking?"

Chen Ji shook his head. "Nothing!"

Li Xuan said in a low voice, "Let's go, let's go into Zhong Cui Palace to rest a bit!"

After Chen Ji responded with a hum, he asked as if nothing were amiss, "Has Lord Li entered Jing Yang Palace before?"

Li Xuan answered casually, "Never entered before. The Yu Lin Jun are still relatively intact, they can only guard outside the Wu Men. Inside the Cheng Tian Men, everything is guarded by the Jie Fan Wei, to avoid spreading the scandal of the 'lewd palace'. His Majesty and the Nei Chen also trust the Jie Fan Wei more!"

He continued to instruct, "We should also come to Zhong Cui Palace often from now on! Furthermore, remember this: unless His Majesty has a decree, we must leave before nightfall! Otherwise, a light punishment is a hundred strokes with a cane for court officials, and a heavy punishment is beheading at the Wu Men! Also, inside Jing Yang Palace are all female relatives of the palace. You absolutely must not have any relations with them, even if someone speaks to you, you must avoid it!"

Chen Ji asked casually, "Isn't that place for cultivation? How did it become a place for female relatives of the palace?"

"These palace forbidden secrets, I'm telling you to listen, but you mustn't speak of them outside!"

Li Xuan turned his head and looked at him. "If there are princesses or county mistresses who deviate from tradition and rebel, ruining the heavenly family's reputation, the heavenly family will tell the outside world that they are dedicated to cultivation, and then gently imprison them here. There are also some concubines from noble families who can't be directly beaten to death, they will also be locked up here. They are gently imprisoned in Jing Yang Palace to cultivate, reciting scriptures nonstop every day. After a long time, some go crazy! Those imprisoned concubines are also not easy to deal with, they will harm each other. Only the Empress Dowager will occasionally come here to throw cups for divination; others won't go in!"

Chen Ji's hands suddenly clenched upon hearing these words!

Bai Li carried the broom back to Jing Yang Dian!

Jing Yang Gong is a two-part courtyard! Inside the main hall are enshrined the Yu Qing Yuan Shi Zun, the Shang Qing Ling Bao Tian Zun, and the Tai Qing Dao De Tian Zun. On the incense table are offered clear water, fragrant flowers, and long candles!

The back hall is the sleeping quarters for the Daoist nuns, with more than ten people living in one large room!

Inside the main hall, in front of the San Qing, Zhu Ling Yun knelt on the ground, wiping the bluestone floor with a cloth while silently shedding tears!

Bai Li knelt down beside Zhu Ling Yun, took the cloth from her hand, and said softly, "Ling Yun, you rest for a while, I'll do it!"

The girl kneeling on the ground was unexpectedly Zhu Ling Yun, the daughter of Jing Fei, who should have followed the Liu family relatives far away overseas!

Bai Li held the cloth and meticulously wiped the blue bricks until they were so polished they could reflect people!

Zhu Ling Yun wiped away her tears with her sleeve and said sadly, "Sister, I want to go home!"

Bai Li started, then said softly, "Ling Yun ah, where do we still have a home?"

At this moment, a fat Daoist nun emerged from the back hall. She saw Bai Li wiping the floor and Zhu Ling Yun crying beside her, and immediately said contemptuously, "You two are indeed sisters with deep affection, but I assigned Zhu Ling Yun to wipe the floor, you go sweep the floor! Do what you're assigned, it's not for you two to decide arbitrarily!"

Bai Li wiped the floor without saying a word!

The fat Daoist nun saw her stubborn appearance and anger rose from her heart! Immediately, she grabbed a ruler and fiercely struck Bai Li's back!

The smooth bamboo ruler hitting her back made a dull sound!

Bai Li first frowned, her lips trembling with pain, then she gritted her teeth and continued to wipe the floor!

The fat Daoist nun sneered, "Pretending to be so tough, put away your arrogance. In this Jing Yang Gong, who in the past wasn't raised in luxury, with noble identities? No matter how tough your bones are, Jing Yang Gong can grind you until not even ashes are left."

Bai Li still remained silent!

The fat Daoist nun saw this and turned to hit Zhu Ling Yun, "You can endure, your sister may not!"

Two rulers struck Zhu Ling Yun's arm. Zhu Ling Yun wailed and cried, "I was wrong, don't hit me!"

The fat Daoist nun sneered, "How many times have I told you, you must call me by my Daoist title."

Zhu Ling Yun hurriedly said, "Xuan Su Dao Zhang, don't hit me, I was wrong, I was wrong."

Xuan Su Dao Zhang struck down with another ruler. "Recite the Tai Shang Gan Ying Pian."

Zhu Ling Yun trembled, "Disaster and fortune have no door, only people summon themselves. Good and evil retribution, like a shadow follows a form. Therefore, heaven and earth have gods in charge of faults, according to the lightness or heaviness of people's deeds, to seize their lifespan..."

She stopped reciting here, trying hard to recall the rest!

Xuan Su Dao Zhang said angrily, "What's after that? Continue to recite."

Zhu Ling Yun cried again, "I can't remember, don't hit me..."

Before she finished speaking, Bai Li had already pounced on her, firmly protecting her underneath, letting the ruler hit herself!

Zhu Ling Yun sobbed soundlessly, "Sister..."

Bai Li covered her underneath and said calmly, "Don't beg for mercy!"

The ruler struck her back one by one until blood soaked the Daoist robe on her back!

Outside Jing Yang Palace, a eunuch's voice suddenly announced a decree, his voice loud: "His Majesty's oral decree summons Crown Prince Zhu Chun Wen, Yu Lin Jun Commander Li Xuan, Vice Commander Qi Zhe Mo, and others for an audience."

The voice came from outside the palace, but from the back hall of Jing Yang Palace came the sound of urgent footsteps. A disheveled madwoman ran out barefoot: "Yu Lin Jun... Yu Lin Jun, Brother Zhuo Yuan, it must be Brother Zhuo Yuan who has come to save me!"

Behind her, someone sternly scolded, "Hold her! Don't let her go outside and go mad!"

The madwoman ran past Bai Li and Zhu Ling. Xuan Su Dao Zhang reached out to grab her, but missed!

Following, more than ten Daoist nuns rushed out, chasing the madwoman towards the Jing Yang Palace gate!

Jing Yang Dian quieted down. Zhu Ling Yun cried and asked, "Sister, are you hurt?"

Bai Li hummed, "It hurts!"

Zhu Ling Yun said heartbrokenly, "Why don't you cry? Those wicked women just want to see us cry, to see us beg for mercy! As long as we beg for mercy and soften, they won't beat us to death!"

Bai Li wiped away the tears on Zhu Ling Yun's cheeks and said softly, "The tears have flowed dry, so I can't cry anymore!"

Chen Ji followed the Crown Prince out of Zhong Cui Palace, just seeing a group of Daoist nuns in blue robes pulling a madwoman, forcibly dragging her back to Jing Yang Palace!

The madwoman was still shrieking, "Brother Zhuo Yuan save me!"

A Daoist nun covered her mouth, and only then was there silence!

After all the Daoist nuns disappeared into Jing Yang Palace, a middle-aged Daoist nun wearing a green Luo robe and a golden lotus crown stood at the Jing Yang gate. Her waist was tied with a black silk belt knotted in a Ruyi knot, and she held a Yu Huang seal. Across the street, she bowed to the Crown Prince: "This person is possessed by evil spirits and rushed the Crown Prince. I hope the Crown Prince will forgive her!"

The Crown Prince cupped his hands in return, "Xuan Zhen Dao Zhang, you are too polite, there is no need!"

Xuan Zhen said no more and turned back into Jing Yang Palace!

Li Xuan turned his head to look at Chen Ji. "See? That place is evil!"

Chen Ji's face was solemn. "Who was that madwoman just now?"

Li Xuan said in a low voice, "She is the former emperor's younger sister, Princess Yong Chun! The former emperor once arranged a marriage for her, betrothing her to Zhuang Xian, a newly appointed Jinshi in the eleventh year of 'Tai He', as his consort! The result was that not long after the marriage was arranged, the eunuch party's secret spy department discovered that she was secretly communicating with Yu Lin Jun Vice Commander Zhou Zhuo Yuan and was pregnant with his child! The two intended to escape to the south together. They had just boarded a ship when they were sent back by Cao Bang. Zhou Zhuo Yuan was exiled to Ling Nan, and Princess Yong Chun entered Jing Yang for cultivation!"

Chen Ji asked again, "Who is that Xuan Zhen Dao Zhang?"

Li Xuan explained, "Xuan Zhen Dao Zhang is the former emperor's concubine. After the former emperor passed away, all the other concubines were buried with him. Only she was kept by the Empress Dowager and remains in Xuan Yang Palace to serve the San Qing.

Don't ask anymore. This has little to do with you and me, and cannot have any relation!"

Chen Ji hummed and followed behind the Crown Prince through the vast grey tiles and red walls!

At this time, the sun began to set in the west. The high palace walls were like a mountain, blocking the sunlight outside the palace!

They passed through Dong Yi Jie, passed Feng Xian Dian, and entered Ren Shou Palace!

The leading eunuch attendant led them to stand outside Ren Shou Palace and softly instructed, "Everyone, please wait outside the palace for a moment. The Nei Chen will go in to report. The cabinet elders and heads of departments are inside Ren Shou Palace discussing important matters with His Majesty. Everyone must not look around. Be careful of losing decorum before the emperor!"

Having said that, he took small steps into Ren Shou Palace!

The officials from Hong Lu Si on the side reminded them, "His Majesty may not see all of you later. At most, he will summon the Crown Prince and the two commanders in. But when you go out, you must not speak carelessly. No matter who you talk to, you must say that you saw His Majesty, and His Majesty encouraged you!

Also, everyone line up properly, don't be disorderly. Pay attention to decorum!"

Chen Ji again stood at the end of the line waiting. This wait was for an hour!

Everyone could even hear the cabinet elders and heads of departments in Ren Shou Palace arguing loudly, scolding, as if they were about to fight!

They didn't know what they were arguing about, only occasionally hearing words like "border army," "Jing Dynasty," and other words float out!

It turned out this world truly was a huge makeshift stage!

Chen Ji slightly raised his head to look over, and saw that in Ren Shou Palace, there were gauze curtains hanging from the arch. A person sat behind the gauze, their figure indistinct!

The Hong Lu Si official saw him raise his head and warned softly, "Be bold! Lower your head!"

Chen Ji lowered his head again!

Until the eunuchs and palace maids in the palace shuttled back and forth carrying lanterns, lighting all the candles and lamps, a burst of copper bell sound came from Ren Shou Palace!

The arguing sounds of the cabinet elders and heads of departments instantly quieted!

The sound of the copper bell was crisp and pleasant, as if it had some magic!

The next moment, a fair-skinned middle-aged man wearing a green python robe walked out of Ren Shou Palace and said in a steady voice, "Proclaim, the bastard son of the Chen family, Chen Ji, for an audience!"