outside the imperial city

"Mother, there are so many people on the street." A five or six-year-old girl stuck her head out of the window, excitedly pointing at the officers and soldiers passing by on the street.The middle-aged woman standing behind her quickly hugged her back.

"Mother told you, don't look around." The middle-aged woman scolded a few words, then turned to her husband and asked, "Officer, why are there so many officers and soldiers on the street?"

Her husband took off his official hat and said: "It's none of your business, just take care of Shao'er."

The servant came in: "Master, the guests have arrived."

The man nodded, changed his official uniform, and followed his servants to a secret room in another courtyard.

"Thank you, sir." Yao Fanglan got up to greet him.

Seeing that he was safe and sound, Xie Ce felt relieved and said with a smile, "What? You don't wear white shirt today?"

Yao Fanglan poured him a cup of tea, then smiled and said, "Master Xie, don't make fun of me. There are more and more officers and soldiers patrolling outside every day, how dare I wear white clothes to show off in the market?"

Xie Ce waved his hand to let the servant go down, took a sip of tea, and finally suppressed all the exhaustion and worries along the way. "Do you know why I don't hesitate to put you and me in danger to see you?"

"I know." Yao Fanglan said ashamedly, "There are many doubts about my plan, and it remains to be confirmed whether the letter is really from me."

"It's best if you understand that." Xie Ce said, "I, Xie Ce, am not a person who is greedy for life and afraid of death, and Lord Li has the kindness to me, so mountains of swords and seas of fire are nothing to worry about. But I don't want to die in vain, just die, And die worthwhile."

Yao Fanglan was even more ashamed: "I am very sorry, thank you sir. My actions will put you in great danger."

"Mr. Yao, where is it?" Xie Ce said with a hearty smile, "When the country is in crisis, everyone is in danger. Sooner or later, you will die. You have provided me with a good home. I thank you before it's too late. What are you apologizing for?"

Yao Fanglan calmed down a little.Xie Ce was right, now is a critical moment, and it is inevitable to sacrifice one or two people.including myself.

"I will never leave you alone" is really a lie.

"Other things, I won't say more." Xie Ce said, "I want to confirm your thoughts again."

Yao Zanglan nodded: "I plan to go to the yamen tomorrow to beat the drums to avenge my grievances, and shout out what I know about the Queen's crimes in front of the people in the market. Please protect me from death, and then wait for the opportunity to take me to the hall and tell me again."

"I know this," Xie Ce asked, "but, do you have evidence?"

Yao Fanglan showed bitterness on her face: "I'm very sorry. I had a letter written by Princess Jingyang's brother before, but in order to prevent King Jinyuan from acting impulsively after learning the truth, I burned the letter. I am really sorry. Now, there is no need for you to take risks. I don’t have direct evidence in my hands now, but I know where to find those evidences.”

"Where, you were also afraid of King Jinyuan's rebellion." Xie Ce was very generous and didn't mean to blame Yao Fanglan.

This is a very good excuse for my self-willed behavior, Yao Fanglan thought.But seeing Xie Ce's forthright look, he also understood why the six doors were managed by this person.

"Without evidence, your chances of success are very small."

"I know. This move is only used to sway all the officials and delay time." Yao Fanglan said, "If I want to overthrow the queen, I can't do it with my own words."

"Okay." Xie Ce put the lid on the teacup, "I see. I will do my best to keep you safe. You can go back."

"Master Xie for your great help, Yao Fanglan will always remember it in his heart." Yao Fanglan stood up, "Please also thank you, Sir, to be careful and take care of yourself."

Yao Fanglan jumped and left Xie's mansion from the wall.Seeing him leave completely, Xie Ce said loudly, "Come here, invite Madam over here. Let her come alone."

Cao Zhong is playing chess again.But this time, it was under He Jingjunxi.

Pointing to the chessboard, Yao Fanglan asked, "This chess, could it be Mr. Cao brought it from home?"

Gongsun Liu was watching the chess from the sidelines, and when he saw that Cao Zhong was playing seriously, he replied, "That's right. He is a man who will play chess whenever he is not at ease."

Just as he was talking, Cao Zhong suddenly put the chess piece in his hand back into the chess box: "I lost, and the next generation is awesome."

"If Grandpa Cao didn't let my third son go, I wouldn't be able to win." Jing Junxi said modestly, "It's done."

"Jun Xi, when did you learn chess?" Yao Fanglan wondered.

"This is my court..." Jing Junxi realized that there were two people in front of him who didn't know his background, "He was educated at home."

"At home?" Cao Zhong put the chess pieces back into the chess box, "Where are your parents?"

"When Master picked me up, the two of them had passed away." Jing Junxi hurriedly helped him clean up.

Jing Junxi answered quickly, so there was no need to say words of comfort.Cao Zhong then turned the topic into a serious matter, and said to Yao Fanglan, "You went to see Xie Ce, what happened?"

Yao Fanglan replied: "Master Xie agreed. The reason for asking to see me is to confirm the authenticity of the letter and the content of the request."

"Poor thing," Gongsun Liu sighed, "The empress will not let him go, unless King Li succeeds in ascending to the throne."

"If he doesn't succeed," Yao Fanglan said, "I will die too. However, I believe he will succeed. There is no one more suitable than him."

What he said was correct, Gongsun Liu did not refute: "There are more and more officers and soldiers patrolling the streets, you have to be more careful in your actions, and don't get caught before you reach the yamen."

Cao Zhong frowned and said, "You crow mouth, do you want to curse him?"

Gongsun Liu immediately found fault and went back: "That's not what you said. The increase in officers and soldiers is probably because your precious student told the queen about our arrival in Jingyang, right?"

As soon as Ye Chengwei was mentioned, Cao Zhong lost his temper.He held his breath in his chest and said nothing.

Yao Fanglan came out in time to be a peacemaker: "I don't think Mrs. Ye would do such a thing, but that woman expected that I would arrive in Jingyang at this time. By the way, Mr. Gongsun, what are you going to do today? gone?"

Gongsun Liu snorted childishly: "Who do you think I am? How could there be something wrong with me? Fortunately, the captain of the imperial forest army stationed in the palace has not changed. He promised me to concentrate most of the troops on the east side of the palace tomorrow." The kid can enter from the west."

"The captain hasn't changed?" Yao Fanglan dragged his chin, "Strange."

For some reason, Cao Zhong was fiddling with the chess pieces again: "It's not surprising. For those guys, as long as they protect the palace, it doesn't matter who the owner of the palace is."

"What!" Gongsun Liu said angrily, "Xiao Tan is not such a person."

"Then tell me, why hasn't he been replaced?" Cao Zhongdao, "Don't you want him not to be replaced because he is facing the queen?"

Gongsun Liu couldn't answer.After finishing the last piece, Cao Zhong took out a piece of paper from his sleeve, spread it beside the chessboard, and said to Jing Jun, "Son, come and take a look. This is the map of the imperial palace. You compare the pieces of paper and put them on the map." Write them all down."

"Oh." Jing Junxi looked at the chessboard, then at Cao Zhong's drawing, and said happily, "Looking at it this way, it's so clear. Thank you, Grandpa Cao!"

Yao Fanglan was still thinking about this matter, but seeing that Cao Zhong had already solved it for him, he quickly thanked him, "Master Cao, thank you very much!"

"It's nothing, that's all I can help you with." Cao Zhong pointed to the white stones, "This is where I think the emperor might be. If the emperor is in the palace, he will definitely be in these places .You start from the westernmost Queen's bedroom."

"Oh." Jing Junxi responded, and began to memorize the map.

"Okay." Cao Zhong said, "I'll go back and rest first."

"Lord Cao," Yao Fanglan called to stop him, "as well as Lord Gongsun. Please don't leave this house at will when I'm not around. This is another part of Prince Li's mansion. No one knows about it, and there are spies nearby. .You are absolutely safe inside."

"Another part of Prince Li's Mansion?" Gongsun Liu asked, "Why did Prince Li build another courtyard here? Does anyone usually live there?"

"Yes," Yao Fanglan showed nostalgic look, "This is where I live. The reason why it is so remote is to prevent the queen from finding me."

Jing Junxi's memory is very good, and when it's time to go to bed, he has almost memorized the layout of the palace.According to the agreement, Yao Fanglan left him to sleep in his room.

"Young master Yao, is this the room you lived in before?" Jing Jun asked.

"No," Yao Fanglan smiled, "My room is very big, and it's in a certain corner of this house. When the dust settles on these things, I'll show you."

Jing Junxi was silent for a while, and then said: "Young Master Yao, are you hiding your house and rooms because you are afraid of the queen? Are you also afraid of her?"

Jing Junxi thought he would not answer, but Yao Fanglan replied decisively: "I am afraid, of course I am afraid. If I am not afraid, I will not avoid the world for 18 years. Not only afraid, but also hate. I hate so much that I lose my mind. Lost myself."

He grabbed Jing Junxi's hand and said, "Junxi, remember, there is nothing more important than being alive in this world. You will succeed, but don't be impatient. Once you notice something is wrong, just hide , when the limelight passes, you can continue to act."

"Yes." Jing Junxi nodded obediently, "Remember, Mr. Yao."

"I won't be able to come back tomorrow night. If you are afraid, you can go and sleep with Grandpa Gongsun." Yao Zanglan touched his head, "The day after tomorrow, Grandpa Gongsun will send you to the west of the palace. I will also go to the palace .”

"Young master Yao, what are you going to do?" Jing Junxi said anxiously, "You must remember that you promised my master would not die."

"I'm not going to die." Yao Fanglan patted his forehead smartly, "I haven't had a good life yet. Don't think too much, go to sleep."

"Yeah. Good night, Mr. Yao."

Yao Fanglan hugged him: "Good night, Jun Xi."

"Good night, Junxi."

Jing Lingshuo whispered to the full moon.

Afterwards, he reached into his clothes, took out the Baize jade pendant, examined it carefully under the moonlight, and confirmed that it was intact, then put it to his lips: "Good night, Yao Yao."

Juechen's horseshoes stirred up dust on the road.Jing Lishuo wore a red and black general uniform, and looked back at the tens of thousands of troops following behind him.

"Don't let anything happen to you." Jing Shuo turned his head and looked straight ahead, "I'll be right there."