Having decided to return to Beijing with Gu Changjin, Rong Shu went to the General's Mansion the next day to find Mu Nijing and tell him about it.

Mu Nijing frowned: "Why are you in such a hurry? You have only arrived in Datong a few days ago, and I haven't even taken you to horse racing yet!"

She had agreed with her brother that after Rong Shu had rested in a few days, she would find a Chance asked him to teach Zhao Zhao how to ride and shoot.

Thinking of his brother who was full of evil thoughts, Mu Nijing felt heartbroken for a moment.

When the Mu family died, he was the only male left. He wanted to carry up the family's foundation and keep the foundation of the Mu family in Datong, so he put his feelings for Zhao Zhao after the family business. She could understand this.

But now the foundation of the Mu family is stable. He also said last year that he would express his feelings to Zhaozhao when she came to Datong.

Unexpectedly, the identity of Gu Yushi of the Metropolitan Procuratorate changed, and he hesitated again.

Mu Nijing understood what he was worried about. Wasn't it because the future emperor also liked Zhaozhao, and he was afraid that his affair would bring the emperor's jealousy to the Mu family?

Mu Nijing really couldn't see how his brother was so hesitant.

When Rong Shu came that day, she said to Mu Rong: "I made an appointment with Zhao Zhao to go horse racing and archery in a few days. If you are not willing to give up, then come and I will create an opportunity for you. You can explain it to her face to face." Your intention. If you dare not come, then you will never mention Zhaozhao again, and you will never want to marry her again. You don’t even have the courage to express your feelings to her, so you are not qualified to marry her

! Jing has a straightforward temperament and hates seeing others dragging their feet when it comes to relationships.

When interruptions continue, isn’t this delaying Zhaozhao? Does he have to wait until the prince marries someone else and has no interest in Zhao Zhao before he dares to express his feelings to Zhao Zhao?

If this is true, he will never say that he is the son of the Mu family in the future.

There is no such timid person in the Mu family!

Fortunately, his brother still had some backbone. After listening to her words, he smiled and said, "Why don't you go? If I don't dare to go, you will laugh at me forever."

Mu Nijing glanced at him: "That's right! You Do you think girls as good as Zhao Zhao and I are so easy to find? "

It's a pity that my brother finally made up his mind to compete with the prince, and he had to go back to Beijing if he didn't want to.

Mu Nijing didn't know whether to lament that his brother's relationship was rough, or that he and Zhao Zhao were destined to have no connection, and were always one step behind.

Rong Shu didn't know what she was feeling, so he explained to her with a smile: "I have a reason to go back to Shangjing. Besides, it's not like I won't come back. Once the matter of staying in Shangjing is resolved, I will come back to Datong to live for a while." Day."

The implication is that he will live in Datong soon and will leave sooner or later.

Mu Nijing didn't ask Rong Shuna why she had to go back to Beijing. After all, she would naturally say what she wanted to say. If she didn't want to say it, there was no need to ask.

"Brother's lieutenant told me just now that His Highness the Crown Prince has postponed his return to the capital for a day. Will you go back to the capital with him tomorrow?"

Rong Shu smiled and said "yes" and said truthfully: "I asked him to postpone his return to the capital for a day. Wait for me to come back to Beijing together."

That's true.

Mu Nijing looked into Rong Shu's bright and dazzling eyes and said: "Luoyan said that when you were in Yangzhou, the prince saved you several times, and once he almost died. I guessed it then, sooner or later You have to be tempted again."

Rong Shu was used to this kind of temperament, and she remembered the kindness of others to her. When Luo Yan said that the prince would risk his life for her, Mu Nijing knew that his brother could not waste any more time.

If he kept looking forward and backward, Zhao Zhao's heart would be stolen by Gu Changjin again.

But it was still a step too late.

Mu Nijing was not surprised either.

Others may not know it, but she and her brother both know that the prince should have been in Liaodong at this time, and he came all the way to Datong for Zhao Zhao.

In this regard, his elder brother is not as good as Gu Changjin.

Therefore, there is nothing to regret.

Even if the elder brother didn't take a step late, he still couldn't steal the crown prince.

"I thought I wouldn't be tempted again."

Rong Shu pinched a piece of lotus pastry and put it in her mouth, remembering the night she woke up in Song Si Yuan. At that time, she had really planned to meet Gu Chang Jin one and two wide.

At that time, a heart was like stagnant water, unable to generate any affection at all.

Who would have thought that one day he would resurrect, and the fire burning in his heart would be even stronger than before.

"Ni Jing."

"I think I like him even more than before."

Mu Ni Jing looked at Rong Shu's star-like eyes, patted the pastry crumbs on his hand, and said with a smile: "Follow your heart. Let’s do it.”

Three years ago, this girl once held a star-catching lantern and said that she fell in love with someone. At that time, her eyes were as calm as they are now.

Now, she has become the girl with crooked eyebrows and smile holding a star-catching lantern.

While Mu Nijing felt happy for Rong Shu, he also had a rare emotion.

Look, a person who truly loves you can always make you live in your best years for the rest of your life.

Even though your hair is gray, you can still smile like a cardamom girl.

She has the same temperament as Rong Shu. If she likes someone, she will open her heart passionately and tell the person clearly that she likes him.

But her luck was a bit worse, Cui Si didn't even want to take that step.

That being the case, why should she wait any longer?

Mu Nijing picked up the tea cup, took a sip of the tea soup, and said to Rong Shu: "I thought I would find an opportunity to talk to you in a few days, but you have to leave early tomorrow morning, so I just happened to talk to you today. Cui Si and I have already terminated our engagement. Don't worry, I am the one who wants to terminate it. I, Mu Nijing, have decided not to want him anymore."

Rong Shu was stunned for a moment.

When the two parted in Shangjing last year, Nijing also said that when she came to Datong, he would take her to Cui Si, saying that he would let her see what the man chosen by the Danzhu County Lord looked like.

Ni Jing has liked Cui Si for many years and has been waiting for him. She thought she would hear the good news of their marriage this year.

Rong Shu did not ask why they broke off their engagement, but only asked: "Are you happy?"

Mu Nijing was startled for a moment, then smiled broadly: "It's very happy."

She put down the tea cup, stood up, Said: "Let's go to the street to buy some cakes and fruits for you to eat on the road tomorrow. I know Aunt Shen will prepare snacks for you on the road, but since you have come to my land, the county master How can I let you leave empty-handed?"

Mu Nijing has always been poor, and Rong Shu did not forget to bring her last year's dividends from Jinlou and Silk Satin Mansion. Now she feels like she is alone. The nouveau riche speaks with great pride.

Rong Shu didn't save money for her, so he bought two large boxes of goat cheese, steamed milk cakes, and two large oil paper bags of dried meat.

When setting off on the second day, she specially gave a paper bag to Chang Ji and Hengping, and handed the remaining bag to Gu Changjin.

Sui Guan'er from Fuyu Mountain likes to eat preserved meat the most.

When he was young, he didn't have any good snacks in Fuyu Mountain. What he ate the most was dried meat, such as venison, wild boar, and pheasant. Not only did he like it, but Ah Zhui also liked it.

"Although it's not the familiar flavor from Fuyu Mountain, it comes from a famous preserved meat shop in Datong Prefecture." Rong Shu shook his fan and said with a smile, "It's not cheap. This is the money paid by the county owner."

Chief Gu Jin fed a piece of dried mutton into her mouth and said, "When we go back to Fuyu Mountain, I will personally hunt a wild boar for you and cook it for you."

Rong Shu smiled and responded, "It's a deal."

She said I used a fan to open one side of the car curtain. The snow that had been falling for several days finally stopped. The sky was clear outside and the sun was shining. It was a beautiful day.

Thousands of miles away in Shangjing, today is also a good day.

Gui Zhong couldn't care less about being dusty and quickly entered the palace with the letter from Gu Changjin.

When he arrived at Qianqing Palace, Wang Dehai stopped him, lowered his voice very low, and said: "Guizhangyin, please do me a favor and tell the truth to our family. Is the news brought today good or bad? Do you know? After you sent someone to deliver the news to the Qianqing Palace, the Empress and the Emperor had a big quarrel inside, and the entire Kunning Palace was closed for half a month! "How

has Queen Qi ever had such a quarrel with Emperor Jiayou? Wang Dehai remembered it very clearly. On that day, the queen not only threw something violently in the Qianqing Palace, but also had tears on her face when she came out.

Although the emperor did not quarrel with Queen Qi, his face was not good-looking. He even coughed up a few mouthfuls of blood during the night, which frightened Wang Dehai half of his life.

He was really afraid of Guizhong sending news.

Only then did he change his previous indifferent style and stop people in advance so that he could inquire about them.

"If the news you brought today is bad news, then let's go to the Taiyuan Hospital to invite the envoy Sun, lest the emperor will cough up blood again later."

Guizhong looked embarrassed, and he also didn't know the content of the letter. It’s unclear exactly what was written.

However...

when the prince handed him the letter, he looked calm and calm, and told him to rest assured that the emperor would not be angry after reading the letter.

Guizhong thought about it for a moment and said, "It shouldn't be bad news." Wang Dehai

breathed a sigh of relief and patted his chest slowly. He heard Guizhong say again: "One more thing, Rong... Miss Shen, there was no accident. "His Royal Highness has found someone and personally escorted her to Datong."

Wang Dehai paused slightly and said, "Is this true?"

Although he couldn't hear clearly about the quarrel between the emperor and the empress outside the palace half a month ago, according to him. The few words captured were guessed to be related to the former eldest daughter of Marquis Chengan.

After Kunning Palace was closed, Wang Dehai quietly sent someone to inquire, only to find out that the young lady encountered an avalanche when passing by Longyin Mountain. She fell into the cliff with the carriage and disappeared completely.

Wang Dehai vaguely felt that the girl's death was strange, but he didn't understand why the Queen was so sad about the girl's death.

It shouldn't be said that he doesn't understand. It's just that after many years of ups and downs in the palace, Wang Dehai knows what things can be inquired about and what things cannot be inquired about, so he doesn't dare to think about it deeply.

Since Kunning Palace was closed, the emperor took medicine, approved memorials, and went to bed as usual, without seeming to be affected at all.

But Wang Dehai knew that the emperor was actually not happy at all, and his coughing at night became more and more severe.

Wang Dehai could clearly see the emperor's attitude towards Queen Qi.

The Queen had a falling out with the Emperor because of that girl, so if she knew that she was safe and sound, she wouldn't have any more trouble with the Emperor, right?

Thinking of this, Wang Dehai hurriedly said to Guizhong: "Go in quickly and report to the emperor. I will send someone to wait outside Kunning Palace."

Although Queen Qi has been closed for half a month, she still knows everything about the harem.

That day, Guizhong entered Qianqing Palace and within a moment of burning incense, Nanny Gui came back with news.

Aunt Gui poured tea for Queen Qi and said earnestly: "Mother, how long are you going to be angry with the Emperor? No matter how sad you are, you can't fight with the Emperor like this!"

Queen Qi didn't seem to hear anything and just held on to her hand. Aunt Gui asked with her hand: "Auntie, can you find out why Guizhong went to Qianqing Palace?"

Aunt Gui said: "It's not like I don't know that Qianqing Palace is the emperor's property. Who in this palace dares to ask about what's going on inside ?" What's the matter?"

Even though Emperor Jiayou was gentle and gentle, his methods of governance were extremely harsh.

Queen Qi pursed her lips and said, "Mom, please send someone to guard outside. Let's see if Wang Dehai has sent anyone here?"

Aunt Gui hesitated: "Instead of waiting here, I would rather go to Qianqing Palace and serve with the Emperor." Is it possible that the emperor can still be angry with you?"

"This is not a question of whether to accept the softness or not." Queen Qi rubbed her brows and said, "Mammy, just do what I say. People are here, I think what Gui Zhong brought this time is not bad news."

Grandma Gui had no choice but to go out.

Kunning Palace has been closed for half a month. There are countless people waiting for the emperor to depose the queen, so she has to keep a close eye.

At this time in the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Jiayou had been silent for a long time after reading the secret letter.

Guizhong didn't dare to breathe, and waited silently for Emperor Jiayou to speak.

"I'll let you do what I asked you to do. From now on, you will come back to the palace to serve me."

As the prince said, the emperor did not get angry after reading the letter. He could not be more calm.

Guizhong bowed and said "yes".

Emperor Jiayou said again: "Let Wang Dehai go to Kunning Palace to invite the queen."

Guizhong took the order and left.

As soon as he left, Emperor Jiayou couldn't help but put his fist to his lips and coughed again.

He coughed until his face turned red and he was panting, and the entire inner hall was filled with his muffled cough.

After a long while, he finally put down his hand and pulled out the portrait that was pressed at the bottom from the thick memorial.

The girl in the painting has bright eyes and picturesque features. When she smiles, she is as beautiful as a spring flower and as quiet as the autumn moon.

That day Qi Zhen brought this portrait to Qianqing Palace and asked him if he had sent someone to do the avalanche.

"This is your own flesh and blood, how can you be so cruel?!"

"You also praised her, saying that her righteous deeds in Yangzhou were like my grandfather's patriotism and caring for the people." Queen Qi took his hand and held the child Putting the portrait in his hand, she cried and said: "Look at her, Xiao Yan, look at her! How beautiful she is, she looks like you and me! How can you bear it? She is our only child , How could you do this!"

Queen Qi burst into tears.

The vase and incense burner were smashed to the floor by her.

Emperor Jiayou remained silent and acquiesced in the news of the girl's death.

The news from Guizhong was that the child had just been rescued from the carriage, and before her injuries could be checked, she was snatched away. He didn't know who had snatched her away, or whether she was still alive.

Therefore, he would rather let Qi Zhen and the prince think that she was dead.

That's what he planned, wasn't it?

The prince knew that she was his cousin, but he still never gave up on marrying her.

How could the future king of Dayin have the scandal of incest with his clan sister?

Qi Zhen was right, he was indeed cruel. Between the prince and the child, he chose the prince.

But now things have changed again.

Emperor Jiayou looked at the letter in his hand and couldn't understand. How could the prince dare to write this letter?

Isn't he afraid of being beheaded as soon as he returns to Shangjing?

Feeling an itch rising in his throat, Emperor Jiayou opened the tea cup and slowly took a sip of the tea soup.

Qi Zhen is coming soon, she can't let her hear him coughing.

The tea soup was boiling hot. After a few sips, the throat was numb from the heat, and the itching lingering in the chest and lungs was slowly suppressed.

Not long after, Wang Dehai's high-pitched voice came from outside.

"Your Majesty, the Queen is here."

Wang Dehai did not dare to enter the palace. After informing Emperor Jiayou, he bowed and let Queen Qi in.

Emperor Jiayou put down the portrait, looked at Queen Qi for a moment, and said warmly: "Come and talk to me." After

half a month of absence, Emperor Jiayou lost a lot of weight and his complexion became increasingly gray.

She was obviously angry with him and hated him, but seeing his terminally ill appearance, Queen Qi felt sour and desolate in her heart.

She sat down next to Emperor Jiayou, "What does the emperor want to say to this concubine?"

Emperor Jiayou said, "The child is fine. The prince has sent her to Datong."

Empress Qi raised her eyes and said anxiously: " Is she... okay? That corpse is not hers?"

"Well, that is the female corpse arranged by Guizhong."

Queen Qi looked at Emperor Jiayou for a while, her eyes were red and she said: "Xiao Yan, why are you lying like this? Me? "

For the past half month, she really thought that the child was dead!

Emperor Jiayou was silent.

He looked at Queen Qi, suddenly held her cold hand, and said, "The Queen still remembers the Xie family in Taiyuan Mansion?"

How could Queen Qi not remember?

The Xie family was an ordinary military household in Taiyuan Prefecture. They relied on their widowed mother, Mrs. Zhen, to raise their five sons.

When Emperor Jiayou was forced to revolt in Taiyuan Mansion, all five adult men of the Xie family died in the battle, leaving only the widowed mother who had been doing needlework all year round and was almost blind, and the youngest son left by the eldest son.

The Zhen family lost four sons one after another within one year. The last son, who was only sixteen years old, died in the spring of the following year in order to deflect a poisonous arrow from Emperor Jiayou. He was not even married yet.

On that day, it was Xiao Yan who personally delivered the news of her youngest son's death to Zhen.

"The old man's eyes were already suffering from old diseases. In just two years, she lost her five sons one after another, and her eyes went blind from crying. That day, she didn't know that the soldier who sent her the message was me." Emperor Jiayou said in front of Emperor Jiayou. A few hints of memories surfaced, "I asked her if she hated it."

She hated the injustice of the sky, the injustice of the world, and the incompetence of this prince.

The old lady hugged her youngest son's bloody shirt tightly and said with a trembling voice: "I hate it! How can I not hate it! I hate that I, Dayin, will never have peace all year round!"

Her father and brother died in the war, and her husband died in the war. He died, and now the five children he had worked so hard to raise also died in the battle! Year after year, the smoke on the battlefield never stops!

"Don't you hate the seventh prince? If you hadn't followed him, the fifth son of the Xie family wouldn't have died in battle, and you, the youngest son, wouldn't have to die trying to save him."

The seventh prince has no support from his mother's family, and is not valued by the emperor, so he has the weakest military strength.

Every victory is won by countless brave soldiers paving the way with their blood.

Xiao Yan looked at the people who died for him one after another, and often thought: Is it worth it? Is it worth it for a weak and incompetent person like him?

"After listening to my question, the old man threw the bowl angrily and didn't even give me the tea to eat." A smile appeared on Emperor Jiayou's lips, "She said that her sons are willing to do it for me. I died because they believed that I would be a wise king."

Qi Zhen looked at Emperor Jiayou.

No wonder that that day, after he returned from Xie's house, he stayed alone in the house for a long time.

The people of Taiyuan Prefecture loved him.

Those who are willing to die for the Seventh Prince Xiao Yan, some do it to gain a better future, but most of them just look at the brothers of the Xie family and do it for him.

She, Qi Zhen, didn't she even give up her family for Xiao Yan?

"That night, I said to myself, try Xiao Yan, try to be what they call a 'Mingjun'."

Emperor Jiayou gradually dissipated the smile on his face, looked at Empress Qi and said seriously: "I When I made up my mind to form an alliance with the Xing family and take the daughter of the Xing family as my concubine, I already knew that you and I, Qi Zhen, would no longer be the seventh prince and seventh princess of Taiyuan Palace. "

He needs power.

It is necessary to use the power of the Xing family to win over the power of civil servants to contain the ambitious Qi family.

If he only accepts the woman next to him, he will gradually lose her and become separated from her day by day.

He had foreseen all these, but even so, he still chose to form an alliance with the Xing family.

How many people died during Dayin's Demon Dao Rebellion, and how many people like Zhen had white-haired people sending black-haired people away but still didn't blame him or hate him.

He couldn't let these people down.

Qi Zhen lowered her eyes slightly and said with a smile: "The emperor has always been a wise king. The only stain in these years is probably that he let the Qi family and his concubines go."

With Xiao Yan's ability, how could he not know this? The Qi family colluded with other generals, so how could they not know what Xiao Yu had done behind his back? It was just because of his old relationship with her and her contribution to killing Prince Qiyuan that he turned a blind eye.

Until Lao Shangshu decided to die, forcing him to take action to eradicate the Qi family.

Just as the death of the youngest son of the Xie family made him choose to form an alliance with the Xing family, his mentor, who gave up his posthumous reputation and had a century-old reputation with the Fan family, also made him determined to eradicate the Qi family.

Emperor Jiayou was decisive in killing, but the only one who was indecisive was Qi Zhen.

Qi Zhen knew why he said these words today and why he mentioned the past.

He was explaining to her why he had to let the child disappear.

He wanted Xiao Yan to be a wise king, a wise king without any stain.

He was also worried that Xiao Yan would be like his biological father and go completely crazy for a woman, without caring about human relations and the country.

How innocent is that child?

It was their fault that she became a pawn of Xiao Fu's revenge from the moment she was born.

Just because she is the child of Qi Zhen and Xiao Yan, does she not even have a chance to live?

How unfair is this to her?

"I'll take her away." Empress Qi said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I won't let her come back to Beijing. I will accompany her in Datong. The prince...will agree after thinking about it."

If Xiao Yan really likes her, he should let go at this time . Detachment to her.

Unless he doesn't even want the throne or his life!

Emperor Jiayou did not comment, but handed over the secret letter from Guizhong and said, "This is the letter that the prince asked Guizhong to send."

Empress Qi became suspicious, took the letter, read it at a glance, and immediately He raised his eyes in disbelief.

"What does this mean? Isn't he Xiao Yan?"

Emperor Jiayou said "Huh": "How dare you write this letter? How dare you say such nonsense, saying that as long as he is emperor for ten years, he can protect Dayin Forty years of stability? "

How frivolous!

Does he know how difficult it is to govern a country well and balance the forces in the court?

But Emperor Jiayou didn't feel angry, and even wanted to know how he had the confidence to make such a promise!

"Is what he said in this letter true?" Queen Qi's breathing became increasingly urgent, and she pinched the letter in her hand carefully, "Is he really not Xiao Yan?"

"I have sent people to Fuyu Mountain to look for Xiao Yan's identity. According to what he said in his letter, Xiao Yan was buried in a valley in Fuyu Mountain after suffering from an epidemic. Xiao Yan was also buried there when he was young. As long as Sun Yuanzhi takes a look at the bones, he will know whether the corpse is Xiao Yan. In this way, he can also know whether what the prince said is true or false. "

Qi Zhen knows this.

At that time, Xiao Yan was less than two years old. After his leg bone was broken, Prince Qiyuan killed more than ten palace people in succession. It took Sun Yuan envoy a long time to cure Xiao Yan's broken bone, and he didn't scream. Xiao Yan became lame.

"If he is really not Xiao Yan, then he and the child are not brothers and sisters of the same race..." Empress Qi murmured, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she held Emperor Jiayou's hand with her backhand, pleading with her eyes, "Xiao Yan, in the future Their children are also descendants of the Xiao family!"

Emperor Jiayou looked at Queen Qi's sad eyes, his Adam's apple slowly sank, and he did not respond.

Time flies by like water, and more than ten days have passed in the blink of an eye.

It was the Peach Moon, and the spring rain had washed away the dust. The plum blossoms in the East Palace gradually faded, but the peach blossoms gradually took on the color of tea.

By the middle of the month, the peach blossoms in the small peach forest are already blooming like clouds and mist.

Lan Xuan went to fold peach blossoms again today. When she came back, she couldn't help but said to Mr. Zhu, "It would be great if the girl were here. She will definitely like the peach blossom branch today."

Mr. Zhu laughed at her: "Girl, you have only been gone for a long time, so you can just say this ." It's not over."

The two talked for a long time, and suddenly the chief of the East Palace came into the Zichen Palace and said: "Hurry up and pack up His Highness's bedroom! His Highness is back!"

Hello, servants in the East Palace ! After a while of busy work, they were ready to prepare. Unexpectedly, Gu Changjin and Rong Shu failed to return to the East Palace at all.

As soon as the carriage they were riding in entered the city gate, it was stopped by the Imperial City Army.

Gu Changjin had already expected this. He looked at Rong Shu and said with a smile, "Let's go into the palace together."

Rong Shu smiled back at him, nodded and said, "Okay."