Xiangdong Palace.
The courtyard was as quiet as usual, but it was tense in a different way than before. Three gorgeous women in gorgeous clothes were sitting in Linshui Pavilion. They seemed to be chatting together, but there was no cheerful atmosphere at all.
Yuan Ming, who was sitting in the middle, was the first one to enter the mansion. Although she was no longer young, she was well-dressed. Without Zhao Pei, she was the tallest in the mansion. The woman on the left was wearing a crescent-shaped phoenix-tail silk skirt, with elegant and pure features. Her name was Wang Xuan. She gave birth to two sons, Fang Ju and Fang Lue. The woman on the right, wearing a colorful plum blossom gauze skirt, was Xia Qinglin. Her beauty reminded people of Xia Qingyao, who was very favored in the mansion a long time ago. She was Xia Qingyao's biological sister. Xia Qingyao was put under house arrest by the princess many years ago, and it was said that she had suffered from insanity a few years ago. Xia Qinglin was not as spoiled as her sister, and was well-behaved. Xiao Fangzhi, who was very favored in the mansion, was her child.
Now the three of them were facing each other, but each of them had their own thoughts. Yuan Ming endured for a long time, and finally spoke first: "Now that the prince is no longer in the mansion, and my sister is no longer in the mansion, all the big and small matters in the mansion fall on our shoulders. We must do our best."
Wang Xuan nodded and quickly responded: "Sister Ming is right, but speaking of which... Princess... has been gone for some time, I don't know how she is doing..."
Yuan Ming frowned, her face showing a worried expression. She was silent for a while before she said, "We are the only sisters here, so I won't hide anything. I'm afraid that if the princess goes there this time, she will be in danger."
Xia Qinglin was puzzled: "Hasn't the prince already sent troops?"
Before Yuan Ming could answer, Wang Xuan glared at her: "The prince did send someone, but the princess can't handle it alone in the palace. She's a weak woman..."
"Hmph." Xia Qinglin sneered, "How can the princess be a weak woman? Her talent and courage are extraordinary. Besides... the princess is born with a good temper, so many men like her... Even the housekeeper in the mansion is like this, not to mention the palace..." Xia Qinglin was somewhat resentful, probably because she thought of her insane sister.
Yuan Ming heard her words getting more and more outrageous, so he interrupted her with a stern voice. Yuan Ming was usually gentle, but this was the first time she acted so harshly. Xia Qinglin was stunned and dared not say another word. Yuan Ming stared at Xia Qinglin coldly: "Some things should not be said. Is it true that the discipline of your Xia family is so fond of gossiping? If the prince were here, you would lose your precious life."
Xia Qinglin's heart trembled, and she realized that she had almost made a mistake because of her hasty words. At this moment, her head was buried deeper and the atmosphere became colder.
Someone called out at the door: "Mother? Second Mother, Fourth Mother? You are here. We have been looking for you for a long time." The three looked up and saw two handsome young men standing at the door. The one talking in front was Xiao Fangju, and the one following behind was Xiao Fangzhi. Wang Xuan smiled back and raised her arm to call them over: "Is get out of class over? What did you learn today?"
Xiao Fangju walked over with a smile and leaned on Wang Xuan's arms: "The teacher has an exam today."
"Have you answered all the questions?" Wang Xuan asked again, and took out a piece of candied fruit to feed him. Xiao Fangju ate it and said proudly: "Of course, those are too easy for me."
Xiao Fangzhi said nothing, but walked silently to Xia Qinglin's side. Unlike Xiao Fangju, he did not stay in his mother's arms like that. Instead, he politely bowed to Yuan Ming.
"Oh, mother. My ninth brother and I just went to play with Sister Zhen. She had promised us that she would take us to explore the world, but she is not here." Xiao Fangju smacked his lips, with some residue still on the corners of his mouth that he had not wiped off.
Wang Xuan said to him coquettishly: "Don't go to your sister Zhen for no reason. Your sister Zhen will definitely not be happy with you these days." She seemed not to notice Xiao Fangju's last words.
Yuan Ming was stunned: "Zhen'er is not here? Then where did she go?"
"Yeah, I'm wondering too... I haven't heard anything from Hanzhen for a few days." Xia Qinglin nodded. Yuan Ming's brows tightened even more, hesitantly took a sip of the teacup, but heard Fang Zhi's calm voice: "Actually, I know where Sister Hanzhen went. She... disguised herself and followed my father to the war..."
There was a crisp sound, as if porcelain was breaking.
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"Everything is ready. Your Majesty, we can send out the troops." Chen Baxian opened the curtain and strode into the military tent, saying to the man in the black battle robe who was studying the map on the main seat. His sword-like eyebrows were tightly knitted, and his handsome face was slightly tired. At this moment, he looked up at Chen Baxian and saw that his eyes were red and bloodshot. It seemed that he had not rested for three whole days.
Xiao Yi put down the map and stood up, mumbling: "Hou Jing is getting more and more rampant now, and he doesn't take anyone seriously. I don't think we need to wait any longer. Baxian, you and Juncai lead the troops to attack. Hou Jing will make a feint to the east and attack in the west, and you can follow the clues to secretly cross Chencang."
Chen Baxian showed his white teeth and smiled: "I've been waiting for you to say this, Your Majesty. I'll go gather the troops now." Not long after Chen Baxian left, he suddenly heard a trembling voice beside him: "Your Majesty, the princess is still in Hou Jing's hands! Aren't you afraid of harming the princess by doing this?"
Xiao Yi was startled, then his brows knitted tightly into the shape of a "川" character. He looked in the direction of the voice and saw a soldier kneeling down in front of him. He buried his head in his arms and said tremblingly as if in tears: "My lord... you have to think twice... The princess and the emperor are your relatives, you will hurt them if you do this."
Xiao Yi stared at his figure, which seemed familiar to him. He couldn't remember anyone being so bold. A flash of lightning flashed through his mind, and he shouted in a stern voice: "Xiao Hanzhen, what are you doing here?"
This person was Xiao Hanzhen, who had secretly escaped and followed the army to camp here. After finally being transferred from the kitchen to serve Xiao Yi, she heard all of Xiao Yi's deployments and arrangements. Hanzhen looked up at this tall and handsome man, and tears immediately flowed down her face: "Father..."
Xiao Yi's heart softened: "I promise, the princess will be fine." He went forward to help her up, but Hanzhen stubbornly refused to get up. She knelt on the ground, gritting her teeth and crying, "But my lord... what about the King of Shaoling! He is your brother after all, why do you have to use the enemy's hands to eliminate him? Yuwen Tai has taken advantage of the situation and occupied Wuchang, but you still want to kill the King of Shaoling? He is your sixth brother, are you so cruel?" Hanzhen heard a lot of things along the way. Although she didn't know the inside story, she knew from the news she heard and the history she knew... Xiao Lun might die at the hands of his brother this time. But she was unwilling to give up. She was unwilling to give up. That elegant and handsome man... It can't end like this!
There were traces of tears on her face, but the hatred in her eyes remained unchanged.
Xiao Yi looked at her indifferently, a thin layer of ice suddenly formed in his eyes. He stood up straight and glanced at Han Zhen from a high position, and asked coldly: "It is better for you not to interfere in these matters."
Hanzhen saw him turning around and about to leave, so she grabbed the corner of Xiao Yi's robe without thinking and shouted, "Father! Don't let me hate you! Don't let mother hate you!" Xiao Yi paused, not knowing whether it was because of Hanzhen's hold or because of her words, but then he felt even colder. His deep and cold eyes absorbed everything, his thin lips tightly closed and he said nothing. After a long while, he threw his robe hard and strode away, leaving Hanzhen alone in the tent.
Hanzhen lost her balance and fell on the thick blanket, sobbing. But I... I love him. (To be continued)