outside the imperial city

The ninth day of the Lunar New Year was supposed to be the day when the rested people went back to work and the whole country resumed operation.However, the streets and inns are still deserted.

Yao Fanglan opened her eyes and woke up, got out of bed, and opened the window.Not only were there no shops setting off firecrackers to celebrate the reopening on the street, but there were not even many people.

"I always feel," Yao Fanglan frowned, "it's kind of weird."

He looked back at Jing Shuo and said, "Do you know something, but you didn't tell me?"

Jing Lingshuo sat up and yawned: "Yao Yao, it's better to wait for Bei Qianling to tell you about these things in person."

"You really know." Yao Fanglan quickly dressed and went downstairs.

Only then did Jing Shuo wake up completely from sleep, realizing that what he said might offend someone, he hurriedly got out of bed and got dressed.

"Hey, buddy," Yao Fanglan called to Xiaoer who was pouring water for him, "What happened in this city? Why is it so deserted after the eighth day?"

"Guest officer, you really don't know?" Xiaoer put the teapot on the table, "It's not our Insang who had the accident, but Jingyang, the capital of the emperor."

Yao Fanglan was not calm anymore: "What happened to Jingyang? When did it happen? What happened?"

Xiao Er didn't pretend to be mysterious: "The emperor has been missing for half a month. On the first day of the new year, the queen mother announced the regent with the support of Prime Minister Ye Daren. Everyone said that there will be turmoil in the country soon. How dare you go out?"

"Empress Regent?" Yao Fanglan crushed the cup, "Where are Prince Qin and Prince Li?"

In order to win over Jing Lishuo and show his sincerity, the job of writing a letter to Emperor Shaoxuan to report the situation was entrusted to him from the very beginning.Even if there were no red horses to help him communicate, he must have known about the abnormality of the emperor, but he didn't even tell himself such a big thing.

Xiaoer said: "Prince Li was dispatched by the emperor to outside Jingyang City a few months ago, Prince Li's mansion was also sealed, and many people died."

"Dead? Someone from Prince Li's Mansion?" Yao Fanglan recalled Bei Qianling's frustrated face on the night of parting, "Why?"

"It seems to say that more than half of the ministers in the court have jointly signed a letter, saying that Prince Li is trying to seek power and usurp the throne."

"Where is Lord Qin?"

"Prince Qin was accused of seeking pleasure, and Prince Li was put under house arrest not long after he left Jingyang."

"Understood." Yao Fanglan clenched her fist with the cup shards, "Thank you."

Jing Shuo sat beside him, and pushed his fist away: "Yao Yao, I'm sorry—"

"It's not your fault." Yao Fanglan pulled out the fragments from the wound, "This is something I can find out by myself, but I rely too much on the spies of Prince Li's Mansion. If I knew earlier, I—— "

"What about you?" Bei Qianling appeared at the door of the inn, "You rushed to the queen and killed her? Take me back to Jingyang? Or kill those civil and military officials who support the queen?"

"Bei Qianling?" Jing Lingshuo stood up.

Yao Zanglan didn't speak, but clenched her fists even tighter.He couldn't do what Bei Qianling said.In other words, there is nothing he can do about the current situation.

"Brother, you are very strategic, but you lack calmness in some places." Bei Qianling bowed to Jing Shuo, "My lord. Congratulations, my lord, for getting what you want."

Jing Shuo felt that he must have heard wrong: "Brother?"

He sat down opposite Yao Fanglan, and patted Yao Fanglan's bleeding hand lightly with the folding fan: "Let go, stop the bleeding."

Yao Fanglan loosened his fist as he said: "Qianling." Then he explained to Jing Lishuo: "Qianling is my cousin."

"I'm not going to tell you," Bei Qianling waved his folding fan leisurely, "it's because your actions are more useful now. For example, if you were in Qianyuan, killing Mrs. Wang is equivalent to taking Qianyuan out of the Queen's hands." rescued."

Yao Fanglan calmed down: "So, your original intention was to let us go through ten cities and turn all the cities under Liu Wanwan's control upside down? But, you didn't expect her to be so bold as to be regent in person? That's why you came here to find Me?"

"The one who knows me is Mo Ruodi." Bei Qianling nodded, "At present, in the court, except for those who belong to the Li Wang Party, all of them are loyal to the Queen. My people, I also let them pretend to be friendly to the Queen. Crack down on my Zhezi , It was basically their hands in the later stage. Our fault is that we always think of a pot, and we didn't eradicate the queen's power in time."

"That idiot Qianxiang, I just thought he was too kind and dull, but I didn't expect that he was still a stupid pig, and let the queen's power infiltrate him." Jing Yanshuo shook his head helplessly, "And that Ye Chengwei , actually turned towards the queen."

"It's probably not Ye Chengwei who is facing the queen, but the Ye family." Yao Fanglan said, "The Ye family is already very powerful, and it is impossible for Ye Chengwei to go against the family's will."

"Jianshuo, go and call Junxi down." Yao Zanglan put medicine on her hand, "We have to take action."

Seeing Jing Shuo obediently going upstairs, Bei Qianling smiled and said, "Then, what are you going to do?"

"You know what I will do, but he probably won't agree." Yao Zanglan pointed to her abdomen, where the scar had not completely faded.

"Ahhh," Bei Qianling said, "Love that is too affectionate is also a burden."

"This is the same for you."

When Jing Junxi came down, he first gave Yao Fanglan a good morning respectfully.After that, although he was reluctant, he still saluted Bei Qianling: "Your Majesty Li."

"Oh?" Yao Fanglan looked at Bei Qianling with interest, "What did you do?"

"It's nothing." Bei Qianling smiled, "It's just a lesson for him."

Jing Shuo cut to the point: "What are you going to do?"

Yao Fanglan didn't answer and asked instead: "What is the prince planning to do?"

Jing Yushuo said: "Our troops are divided into two groups. My troops, which can be mobilized now, are basically on the border of our country outside Huatu City. I will go to Huatu and transfer part of the army back to the imperial capital. Yao Yao and I Together, Prince Li went back to Jingyang to mediate secretly with the empress for a while, and found the emperor. He must still be in the palace, but he was put under house arrest by the empress."

"No." Yao Fanglan said, "This plan is not perfect. It is true that Chaohe outside of Huatu no longer poses a threat to us, but you still cannot mobilize too many troops."

Yao Fanglan took a look at Jing Junxi and saw that the latter was normal, so he continued: "Now the imperial guards and small barracks in Jingyang City are in the queen's hands, and there may be other generals who support her. You have the advantage." Not much. It would be even more troublesome if there was a real fight."

"So?" The storm is about to come.

"So..." Yao Fanglan hesitated, "So, my brother is going to persuade our allies to put pressure on the officials. And to go to the imperial city, mediate with the queen, and find the emperor is..."

"No!" Jing Lingshuo slammed the table.Fortunately, there was no one in the inn.

Yao Fanglan had a look of "I knew it", but she still finished speaking: "It's me and Junxi."

"Me?" Jing Junxi pointed to himself, "What can I do if I go?"

"You can't go, and neither can Junxi. Jingyang is too dangerous now." Jing Yushuo couldn't help but say, "I'm already very worried if you're not by my side. To persuade the allies."

Bei Qianling: "..."

Yao Fanglan supported his forehead: "No one in Jingyang City has ever seen Junxi, as long as his surname is not revealed, he is safe. I took him there for my own reasons. I believe in his ability, and he can also be like you." Guaranteed, I can protect him."

After hearing this, Jing Junxi hurriedly said, "I'll go!"

"You protect him?" Jing Yanshuo sneered, "You can't even protect yourself, so you protect him?"

Yao Fanglan persuaded patiently: "It is because Jingyang is dangerous that Qianling cannot be allowed to go. He is the next emperor, and nothing will happen to him. Few people in Jingyang have seen me, even if the queen puts my portrait on the street. If I go, I can also disguise myself. If I go, it will be more effective than him."

"Besides, I'm a commoner, how can I be as persuasive as Chu Jun?" Yao Fanglan said, "Only by doing what I say, the chance of winning is the greatest."

"'No accident'? 'Prince Prince'? 'Odds'?" Jing Lishuo's eyes showed anger, "I said, compared to you, I don't care what happens to this country at all. You are not allowed go!"

Yao Zanglan was also angry: "If protecting this country is my wish, you don't care about my wish, right? The King Jinyuan I know is a good man who would rather put himself in danger and try his best to save more people. How can you still look like a prince like this?"

"I am me, not some King Jinyuan." Jing Yushuo's lips were trembling, "For the first time in so many years, I have something I really want to protect, and I want to protect everyone. Then, Don't like me anymore? Want to leave me? Let me tell you, if you agree, you agree, and I won't let you go!"

"Husband and wife quarrel, and everything can be emotionally involved." Bei Qianling looked at them with a smile, "You two, I suggest you go back to your room before arguing."

Jing Lingshuo panted heavily, and looked around.The shopkeeper and the store clerk had already cast strange glances, and if the quarrel continued, the few residents would probably also look at it.Without looking at Yao Fanglan, he went upstairs and slammed the door of the room.

"Acting like a baby?" It was the first time Bei Qianling saw Jing Lishuo like this, and said in surprise.

Yao Fanglan nodded helplessly, and followed her upstairs.He actually liked Jing Lingshuo's acting like a baby to him very much, but he had to admit that acting like a baby was a bit difficult this time.

Yao Zanglan was ready to enter through the window, but Jing Lishuo didn't lock the door.

Fortunately, I am not so angry that I lose my mind.It seems there is room for negotiation.

Yao Zanglan walked up to Jing Lingshuo and touched his chin: "Why are you doing this, you didn't say you didn't like you. How old are you, little prince?"

"Sorry, I lost my temper." Jing Shuo seemed to be reflecting on himself, "I just don't want to, I don't want to go through it again."

"I know." Yao Fanglan stopped, "but I can't think of any other way."

"You don't know," Jing Lingshuo reached out and tapped his forehead, "You don't know how important you are to me."

That's the culprit.Yao Fanglan sighed in his heart.

And no matter where all the feelings come from, without that kiss, it would be impossible for Jing Lingshuo to realize this kind of affection.

"I know," Yao Fanglan said, "I won't die."

Jing Lingshuo sighed, "Do as you say."

There was a coldness on the neck, Jing Lingshuo lowered his head: "What is this?"

"Bai Zeyu." Yao Zanglan walked behind Jing Shuo and helped him adjust the length of the hanging rope, "It is the second heirloom of the Yao family. Before my grandfather, it was worn by the mother of the Yao family."

"Mistress?" Jing Lingshuo's face was distorted.

Yao Zanglan chuckled, put the jade pendant to his lips and kissed it, and then tucked it into Jing Lishuo's lapel: "Bai Zeyu and Shengdan have been handed down from generation to generation, and they are inseparable. If you bring the jade pendant with you, it means that you will bring me the jade pendant." I have my heart on me. If it is not broken, I will be fine, so you can rest assured."

"Is it really that magical?" Of course Jing Yushuo didn't believe it, but it was comforting to put it on his body.

"Remember, you must be more careful." Jing Shuo didn't mean to be joking at all, "If you die or suffer such a serious injury again, no matter who is in power, I will lead my troops to arrest you. The whole of Jingyang has been captured."

"..." He cursed him without saying anything, and made such a poisonous oath.Terrible, it turns out that King Jinyuan's heart is darker than his.

"Remember, remember." Yao Fanglan pointed to the sky and the ground, "I will never forget."

"The quarrel is over?" Bei Qianling seemed to be very happy watching.

"Yeah." Yao Fanglan rolled his eyes at him, "That's it, I'll take Junxi, first go to Bailu to find Mr. Cao, and ask him to take us into Jingyang. Qianling will go to the allies. The prince will go to Huatu."

"Lord Cao? Will he help you?" Jing Shuo was worried.

Bei Qianling said: "My face is also useful in front of the old officials."

What the two of them did the most was to win over officials of the older generation.Some of them have retired and returned to their hometowns, and although some have retired from the front line, they are also highly respected among the ruling and opposition parties.

Ten years, will never become empty talk.

"Jianlan," Bei Qianling held up his palms, "When I return to Jingyang, I hope to see you safe and sound."

Yao Fanglan stretched out his hand and shook hands with him: "Brother, worry about yourself rather than me. If you can't convince the allies, no matter how many tricks I set up, it will be useless."

"It smells so strong of vinegar, Master." Jing Junxi said quietly.

"What are you talking about?" Jing Yanshuo looked at him, "Jun Xi, protect yourself."

Jing Junxi patted his chest: "Don't worry, Master, I'm fine!"

Several people got on their horses, and Yao Fanglan pulled Jing Junxi in front of him.

Bei Qianling stretched out her fan between the three of them: "Then, this time it's true—"

"See you in Jingyang."