Chapter 426: Straightforward
He didn't think much of it when he came here, but now that Su Qingqing said that the Great Yan Kingdom had not even started preparing for this matter, Su Heng immediately realized that something was wrong.
"He also arranged for Mo Duo?"
Su Qingqing shook her head.
Moduo’s biggest goal now is to regain the status of the Crown Prince of Da Qi, or to directly replace the current Emperor of Da Qi.
How could he choose to rely on a minister of Zhao State instead of relying on Su Qingqing?
Rubbing her fingers together, Su Qingqing thought for a while and asked Su Heng, "How did you and Mo Duo meet?"
Su Heng touched his nose awkwardly and said, "I saved someone on the way here, a little girl whose family was in trouble. She was chased by a group of bullies, and I helped her out. The girl was grateful to me, and she didn't dare to stay there any longer, fearing that the bullies would cause trouble for her once we left. She begged me to take her away, but she refused to follow me and asked me to take her to a nearby city so that she could find a job to support herself.
I didn’t think much about it at the time, so I just kept her and let her follow our team.”
Su Qingqing frowned, "In Zhao State or in Dayan State?"
"Zhaoguo." Su Heng sighed, "That girl really looked pitiful at the time. She was beaten all over, thin and short. When I asked her age, she was only ten years old. Later, I took her with me all the way. The people who accompanied me said that she was smart, so I kept her as a maid. The girl was willing, so I kept her.
But when I arrived in the Kingdom of Yan and had just crossed the border, I met Mo Duo in the inn over there.
At that time, Mo Duo recognized the little girl at a glance. Without saying a word, he captured her himself.
Because of this, my guards had a fight with Moduo's men. Later, Moduo said he knew you, so the fight didn't get too serious.
Later, Mo Duo told me that the little girl was a spy of Da Qi. She looked to be in her teens, but was actually already in her thirties. Because she had been fed medicine since she was a child, her body had always remained thin and weak in her teens. She was a spy specially trained by the princess of Da Qi.
At first I didn't believe what Moduo said, but then he told me about you and what happened to you in the northwest."
Su Qingqing raised her eyebrows, "And you believed it?"
Su Heng shook his head. "I didn't completely believe it. It was only after my guards interrogated the girl and forced her to reveal her identity as a spy that I believed it. But she only admitted that she was a spy, but didn't tell me her purpose. Later, my guards failed to keep a close watch on her, and she committed suicide.
Later, Moduo started traveling with me.
He told me his identity, and said he hoped that I could use my identity to cover it up for him, so that he could attend the banquet as my close follower. "
It's not that Su Qingqing trusts Mo Duo, but she knows that Mo Duo has no reason to attack Su Heng. To attack Su Heng would be equivalent to making an enemy of her, Su Qingqing, and Mo Duo would not do that.
At least, not yet.
"Where is he now?" Su Qingqing asked.
"My people have settled down in the former Prince's Mansion, so he is naturally there too." Su Heng sighed, "Sister, is it a big problem? I suddenly brought people to attend this banquet that you haven't even started preparing for yet?"
Su Qingqing shook her head, "It's not a big deal, but one thing is, you are not allowed to be so rude to the emperor again. What happened between us was a joint decision made by our husband and wife, so don't make malicious assumptions about him.
Your malice towards him will hurt our relationship and will also hurt me.
I love him very much, so I naturally want to live in harmony with him."
Su Qingqing was not unaware of Su Heng's feelings towards her, and because she knew, she said it bluntly.
Su Heng was stunned, with sadness in his eyes, "Do you like him so much? Do you like him so much that you don't care about your own life?"
Su Qingqing nodded, "Yes, so, if you really want to do good for me, you should think about how to make Zhaoguo stronger. When Zhaoguo becomes stronger, you will be my greatest support, and I won't have to work so hard when I encounter problems in the future.
Instead of accusing him of being right or wrong, you should know that any decision I made was a unanimous decision made by both of us after consulting with him."
Su Heng lowered his eyelids.
Su Qingqing raised her hand and rubbed his head. "Okay, do you want to have breakfast here or go back home?"
Su Heng lowered his head and said in a muffled voice: "I'll go back to eat, what about Mo Duo?"
Su Qingqing asked, "How many people on your side know about his affairs?"
Su Heng said, "I'm the only one who knows. When he told me that, all my followers were sent out. I'm not a three-year-old who doesn't know the seriousness of the matter."
The last sentence was said with a hint of anger.
Su Qingqing didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and said that she was not a three-year-old child.
Just a little better than a three-year-old, a four-year-old.
"You should keep his affairs as secret as possible and don't let him make a fuss about it. It's not easy for him too."
"I know." Su Heng said sullenly, "Then I'll go back. You should have more rest."
After saying this, without waiting for Su Qingqing to reply, he turned around and walked away, walking with big strides, as if there was a vicious dog chasing him.
Just as he left, Jixiang came back after setting up breakfast. "Hey, why did His Highness leave?"
Looking at Su Heng's back as he left, Su Qingqing sighed, "Did the people who followed the old man we arrested in Guangdong and Guangxi send back any news after we released him?"
Jixiang shook his head. "No, maybe there was some news, but we were in the northwest so the news didn't reach us."
Su Qingqing nodded, turned back to the house, washed up, and sat down to eat breakfast.
"You arrange for someone to go back to Zhao State quietly and tell the emperor to be on the lookout for the Shen family. The time Shen Ye saved him, it might not have been a coincidence."
"Shen Ye saved His Majesty?" Jixiang was stunned for a moment because he hadn't heard what Su Heng said before.
Su Qingqing explained succinctly, "When you arrange the personnel, pick two who are good at martial arts and smart. After delivering the message, you don't have to come back immediately. Keep a close eye on Shen Ye over there."
Jixiang accepted the order. As it involved the safety of the Emperor of Zhao State, she could not wait a moment longer. She did not even serve Su Qingqing breakfast and rushed out.
After breakfast, Su Qingqing was worried about the banquet being spread out, so she took Xiaorui to the imperial study.
"My queen, during the time you were in the northwest, the Second Prince came to the palace several times." Xiao Rui supported Su Qingqing's arm as the master and servant walked along the palace path. She lowered her voice and replied, "I always feel uneasy. After all, he is the nephew of the Duke of Zhenguo. The Duke of Zhenguo's mansion has ended up like that. Now the Queen Mother and the others are still under house arrest. The Second Prince was determined to seize the throne. How could he be so willing to run errands for Your Majesty?"
Ever since the Second Prince entered the Buddhist monastery and returned to secular life again, Rong Que has never given him a clear identity.
So when people in the palace mentioned him, they still referred to him as His Highness, the Second Prince.
