"My Lady, the people in front of me have sent the news," Qiu Ci, the lady in charge beside Cao Yujun, whispered, "Guess who is that person in Qionghua Palace?"

Qionghua Palace is where Zhao Yuan lives . Next to the Ganlu Hall is the palace closest to Zhao Yuan's dormitory. At that time, Yingzong had a deep love with Queen Yang, and they had no luck in their lives. Queen Yang lived in the Qionghua Hall at that time.

A few days ago, Zhao Yuan ordered the Qionghua Palace to be renovated, and a woman was moved in. The palace people all said that His Majesty was the hidden beauty in the golden house, but Zhao Yuan ordered not to make it public and kept the matter tightly covered. In fact, no one except the people waiting in front of me knew who the woman was.

Although Zhao Yuan concealed the news, Cao Yujun kept an eye on him.

Qiu Ci came closer and whispered the name in Cao Yujun's ear.

"How is that possible?!" Cao Yujun was shocked, and his first reaction was to shake his head, "The Lord of Qinghe County is the wife and sister of Mr. Yuan Fu, the adopted daughter of the Empress Dowager Ciyi, and has been a sister to His Majesty since childhood. This is inconsistent with etiquette. "Wouldn't it damage her reputation in the future?"

"But did the empress forget that when Ye Meiren accepted the favor, some people in the palace said that Ye Meiren's appearance was similar to that of Qinghe County?"

Cao Yujun thought of the scene in Hushan. That night, Zhao Yuan read the name in a daze. Although she was frightened at that time, she thought that Xue Shiying was on Taihua Peak, and their identities were embarrassing.

Besides, there was Queen Mother Shengyi and Mr. Yuanfu here, so she thought that Zhao Yuan would never let Xue Shiying enter the palace as a concubine.

"Does Queen Mother Shengyi know about this?"

Qiu Ci shook his head, "Don't you know yet? Ever since Queen Mother Shengyi moved into Qingsi Courtyard, she has never cared about the affairs in this palace. What's more, His Majesty has intentional intentions this time. If you want to hide it, who would dare to talk to the Queen Mother?"

Cao Yujun frowned. Although she didn't know what happened, the Qionghua Palace was where the palace concubines lived, and Xue Shiying lived there. There, Zhao Yuan's intention was already expressed.

"Mom, there's more," Qiu Ci said again, "I heard that your Majesty had a dispute with Mr. Yuan Fu this morning. Although it was not a big deal, your Majesty respected Mr. Yuan Fu the most in the past. How has he ever done this? What do you think? "Is this also related to the Qinghe County Lord?"

"It is inconvenient for us to investigate this matter outside the palace. In this case, you can send a message back to the Cao family and ask your father to secretly investigate and see what happened in Jiang's house. Something?" Cao Yujun asked.

Yan Qing knew the news and heard it from Chen Min, saying that His Majesty was determined to keep County Lord Qinghe in the palace, and even had the idea of ​​making him a concubine. He must have gotten this news from Zhang Fang. Zhang Fang has been serving Zhao Yuan all day long, so this kind of news must not be groundless.

Yan Qing was startled by what he said, "Isn't this nonsense? The head of Qinghe County is the adopted daughter of the Empress Dowager Ciyi, what is he going to do?"

Chen Min sighed in a deep voice, "Mother, you don't know something. After the Qinghe County Lord went to Taihua Peak that year, in the past few years, His Majesty often asked the master to send people to deliver various items. Although Your Majesty and the County Lord were close, His Majesty's attention to the County Lord was really unusual. The servant thought, I am afraid that your majesty's love for the county master Qinghe is no longer just that of brother and sister."

If Zhao Yuan has been interested in Xue Shiying for a long time, it is not that there is no trace, but Yan Qing did not think about the relationship between men and women in the past. Pass.

That day Xue Shiying was ill, and Zhao Yuan secretly left the palace incognito regardless of it. Later, when she ran away from home, he helped her hide in the palace. At that time, there were already some clues, but Yan Qing thought that Zhao Yuan was being disciplined too much. Yan, so he developed a rebellious mind, and because he was young and ignorant, he was led by Xue Shiying like that.

But now I think about it, Zhao Yuan has never been interested in any woman until now. He is only caring and considerate towards Xue Shiying.

When Cao Dingzhen selected for him, he selected a bunch of fat and thin women to enter the palace for him to see. Later, Cao Yujun arranged the draft for him, but he didn't seem to be very interested. Hearing that he only looked at the portrait album of the beautiful women, he He randomly selected a few people, but the only one that caught his eye was Beauty Ye, who happened to look similar to Xue Shiying.

At his current age, when he was still a young man, he should have found someone he liked.

But any woman he likes is good. Xue Shiying is the adopted daughter of the Empress Dowager Ciyi. If he wants to keep Xue Shiying in the harem, he can imagine how fiercely the old ministers in the court who value the most important rules of etiquette will be. conflict.

Yan Qing thought for a long time and decided to go and persuade Zhao Yuan in person. Just as he was asking the palace servants to pass the chariot, Ayu came to report that Qinghe wanted to see the county master.

"The Queen Mother wants to see Your Majesty, right?" After bowing, Xue Shiying stood still and looked at Yan Qing and said, "I advise the Queen Mother not to go. Your Majesty will not see you. I can guess what you want to say, Your Majesty." You can guess it."

In recent years, Zhao Yuan's temper has become more and more paranoid, which is very different from when he was young. Xue Shiying said this, thinking that Zhao Yuan has made up his mind to have his own way.

Yan Qing's face remained calm and her expression was as usual, "Your Majesty will never miss the Ai family for the rest of his life, but I don't know how long County Lord Qinghe will be hiding in the palace this time." The

sarcasm in her words was obvious, and Xue Shiying did not take it seriously. , "This palace is pretty good, safe."

Yan Qing frowned slightly. The implication of Xue Shiying's words was that the palace was not safe. With Jiang Weiren protecting him outside the palace, there was nothing unsafe about it. Of course she didn't know that Xue Shiying's so-called "security" was guarding against Jiang Weiren.

"Have you heard what the rumors are saying in the palace now? Are you not afraid of damaging your reputation?"

"The rumors will only hurt your reputation if they are not true. If the rumors are true, then it doesn't matter."

Of course Xue Shiying would understand the temptation in Yan Qing's words, and her words were her answer.

"Xue Shiying," Yan Qing looked at her coldly, "What exactly do you want to do?"

"Shiying doesn't understand why the Queen Mother asked..."

"You were granted the title of Qinghe County Lord in the name of the adopted daughter of the Queen Mother Ciyi. Yuan calls you sister, how can you be with him?"

Xue Shiying smiled, "But when the Queen Mother can be with the First Assistant, how can I not stay with A Yuan?"

Yan Qing? His face turned pale, and after a pause he whispered, "But you don't love A Yuan at all. Why are you bewitching him like this?"

Why did Xue Shiying insist on going to Taihua Peak in the first place? Jiang Weiren has always refused to tell the truth. , but she was clearly of marriageable age, but she would rather go to a Taoist temple to practice meditation than get married. Others may not know the reason, but that night, she asked Yan Qing in pain and despair, how could Yan Qing not see through it? her thoughts.

She kept complaining about her sister, but she couldn't hide her feelings for Jiang Weiren.

"Hearing what the Queen Mother said, I thought that the Queen Mother and Your Majesty have such a deep mother-son love, and how much the Queen Mother cares about Your Majesty, but wouldn't the Queen Mother feel guilty? If the Queen Mother really cares about Your Majesty, why would she do that to the Queen Mother Ciyi? What happened?"

Yan Qing looked at her in shock. Seeing her like this, Xue Shiying smiled even more, "Is the Queen Mother wondering why I know the truth about the death of Queen Mother Ciyi?"

Yan Qing has calmed down now, " Is this the reason why you came to see me?"

"That's true," Xue Shiying nodded, "I guess Jiang Weiren didn't tell you that Wen Ying is in my hands now, and I am the only one who knows where she is. Don't worry. , I will not let A Yuan know her existence for the time being."

As she said this, she changed her voice, "But I am the adopted daughter of Empress Dowager Ciyi, and I must kill someone to pay for my life. Empress Dowager Ciyi treats me well, and I always think of her tragic death. , but the murderer is still at large, how can I not feel sad, I can't let the real murderer remain at large..."

Yan Qing looked at her, waiting for her next threatening words. Sure enough, she took a step closer and said slowly: "Yan Qing, do you really think you can fly away with him? Don't think about it, it won't be possible in this life. , even if you can find a way to escape from the capital, I will tell the truth to Your Majesty,

"If you don't want to implicate Jiang Weiren, just stay in this palace. Yan

Qing suddenly smiled and looked away, "You are afraid that he will leave, but you are wrong. If I wanted to fly away with him, I would have left long ago, and I would not be able to be threatened by you now."

"You're right. Kill someone to pay for your life. You can go and tell His Majesty everything now. I did it all, and no one else will be affected. I have nothing to be afraid of. You really can't do this, let alone take it. Yuan's feelings for you are used as a bargaining chip."

Her eyes were clear and calm, and her expression could not be more calm. Xue Shiying was stunned for a moment. After a while, he seemed to understand something, and looked at her and said, "I am using his feelings. Use it as a bargaining chip, but this bargaining chip is not only used against you.

"Brother-in-law is right, I will eventually marry someone. If I can't marry the one I love, then I will marry the most noble and powerful person in the world. What's more, Your Majesty treats me with sincerity. My sister once said that a woman is most fortunate to marry someone who loves herself more than she loves herself deeply. Now I deeply believe it. "

After leaving the Qingsi Courtyard, Xue Shiying saw a small yellow doorman who was usually on duty in front of the temple standing outside. When he saw her coming out, he stepped forward and said: "County Lord, Your Majesty is waiting for you in front. Please follow. The slave moved over. "

When he reached the edge of the wild goose pond, Xue Shiying saw Zhao Yuan standing with his hands behind his back.

"Why is your majesty here? "

Zhao Yuan turned around and smiled at her, "I'll pick you up, sister. After saying that

, he motioned to the palace attendants around him to step back. Xue Shiying came forward. He looked at the color of the lake in the distance and said, "Sister, you haven't been to Xi Nei for many years, have you?" Let's take a walk together today. "

Xue Shiying knew that he specifically stood here instead of going to the Qingsi Courtyard because he didn't want to see Yan Qing. He naturally knew in his heart what Yan Qing's attitude would be, and he would definitely persuade him earnestly. If he avoided seeing him, Yan Qing would have no choice. He persuaded.

"Okay, let's go for a walk together. "She replied with a smile.

Zhao Yuan looked at her smile, his expression was calm, but his eyes could not hide the joy. Not far ahead was the Lingbi Pavilion, which kept various rare and exotic animals, including those from the north. The deer that came include cranes from the west and peacocks from the south...

He remembered that he used to go to the Lingbi Pavilion with her, and there would always be a little deer that came close to her, and she couldn't drive it away, and she couldn't drive it away. Huan Xi was extremely reluctant to part with the little thing every time he left. At that time, she asked him to give the deer to her and asked her to take it to Jiang Mansion to raise.

At that time, he replied: "This deer is a tribute from the Yan Kingdom." , I heard from the envoy that they have been in the snowy mountains and dense forests all year round. It is difficult to feed them when they come to the imperial capital. They sent so many and now they can only feed these few. How could the servants of Jiang Mansion have fed these? If this little thing dies by then. , Sister will definitely cry. After hearing this

, she said: "Your Majesty is really stingy. He just doesn't want to give away things. He just makes these excuses..."

He smiled and didn't say anything. In fact, what she said was not wrong. He really didn't want to give things away. She If he liked that deer, he would always want to see it, so that he could accompany her here again.

When she calmed down a little, he said softly: "Sister, don't worry, I asked them to take good care of them. , whenever my sister wants to see them, they are all there. "

Sister," seeing the Lingbi Pavilion approaching, Zhao Yuan said, "Would you like to go in and see the deer that used to cling to you?" If you don't come for a few years, it may not remember you. "

At that time, he was young and ignorant. He hoped to see her often and hope that she could always be by his side, but he did not understand what such feelings meant. His mother said that it was because he had lacked brotherhood since he was a child that he was so unhappy with her. He felt that there was nothing special about such a close sister who was not related by blood.

He treated her just like his own sister. Since he was the emperor, he was naturally willing to fulfill her wishes.

Later, the queen mother began to choose a husband for her. The queen mother said that she would eventually get married and become the wife of a certain man in this world, and they would be in love with him for a long time. Even then, he was still thinking that if she could be happy, then she would be happy. It was also good.

Later, when she went to Taihua Peak, he often thought about it in his mind, but he didn't notice anything unusual until he was forced by his mother to marry a wife who

was different from her . When they were together, the kind of happiness that came from the bottom of his heart would never be found with any other woman in the world.

He didn't want her to be his sister. What he wanted was for her to be the one he would spend his whole life with. The person who stays with him is the person who allows him to stand in the highest and coldest place in the world and not be alone.

As Zhao Yuan said at the beginning, he asked the people in the Lingbi Pavilion to take good care of all the living creatures. Okay, what's even more amazing is that there is actually a deer approaching her again.

"Is that it?" "She identified it carefully and murmured.

"It still remembers you, but sister, you forgot it. " Zhao Yuan whispered.

"How could it still remember me? "Xue Shiying shook his head, "How can a deer have such a good memory..."

"Maybe that's not a memory," he stared at her profile, "That's a habit..."

The memory may fade away, habits Sometimes he just can't change it.

"Sister," he suddenly straightened his expression, looked at her and asked, "Have you thought about it? "

Xue Shiying was startled. Since she moved into the Qionghua Palace, there have been rumors in the palace, but in fact, they are still the same as before, and they have not done anything that exceeds the rules.

At most, it was the Manna Palace that night, he After drinking, he uttered the truth under the influence of wine.

It was a relief to finally express the thoughts that he had hidden for so long, but he did not want to force her to do so.

She suddenly tilted her head, and the smile on her lips disappeared. Minus, “I thought about it. "

Under Zhao Yuan's solemn and nervous gaze, Xue Shiying said slowly: "I am willing to stay..."