After the ministers retreated, Pan Yingying carried the ginseng soup into the imperial study. When she saw the memorial on the floor, she picked it up and took a quick look. After giving birth to the prince, her status suddenly rose. Although she competed with Zhang Yingying and others for favors, she often made Zhao Deji angry. But she still had the aura of a queen. She never paid attention to the servants in the palace. She always only wanted to bribe Eunuch Kang. She knew Zhao Deji's whereabouts well and knew that Hua Rong now lives in a house just across the wall from the palace. In a small courtyard, it was also known that he had gone incognito and forced Hua Rong to sleep with him, but Hua Rong refused.
She has served Zhao Deji for a long time and understands that a woman who dares to disobey him can still live well. Hua Rong's position in his heart can be imagined. Especially in the king's mind, the more he cannot get, the more he wants it.
This made her feel very uncomfortable, and she vaguely felt that Hua Rong posed a greater threat to her than Zhang Yingying and others. Now that the opportunity had come, she smiled: "The official family, it turns out that this is the case. From Yichen's concubine's point of view, Since Jin Wushu appointed Hua Rong, why not let her go as an envoy?"
Zhao Deji looked gloomy: "You asked me to give her to Jin Wushu?"
"What's wrong with this? This woman doesn't know what's good or bad, and she has let down the government's wishes. I once heard that the officials saved her life, but she doesn't want to repay her. Now, it is the time to contribute to the country. In ancient times, Zhaojun also went out to the fortress. Princess Wencheng comes to Tibet, and it is her honor to be able to get married."
When Zhao Deji heard this, he became furious and threw the ginseng soup to the ground: "Bitch, who do you think I am? Do you know that she also saved me twice with her life?"
Pan Yingying was not as scheming as Wu Jinnu. She originally thought that Hua Rong was under house arrest, and this suggestion would be in line with the official's wishes. Unexpectedly, he became furious and immediately knelt down in fright: "I made a mistake, please forgive me."
On this day, it was windy and rainy. It was only mid-July, and it seemed like autumn had entered. The weather was chilly.
Sitting quietly unaware of external affairs, Hua Rong did not know that not long after the expedition, the old Master Zongze died of illness in Kaifeng due to long and hard work. As soon as Zongze died, it was like a building about to collapse, and the new empire was like a boat on the rocks. When the Kingdom of Jin heard the news , immediately sent more troops to the border of Song Dynasty, using the peace negotiation as a cover, but in fact they wanted to capture Zhao Deji's head.
Hua Rong couldn't go out, so he read for a while, took out a ball of loose tea, and boiled it with a tea set. After boiling the tea, he filled two cups and drank one by himself. Then he looked at the cup opposite and sighed, when will it be ready? Can I sit and drink tea with Pengju like this again
There was a knock on the door, and she asked, "Who is it?"
It was the voice of a eunuch: "I was ordered to bring a tea group to Miss Hua."
"Please come in."
As soon as the door opened, three people serving the eunuchs filed in. Hua Rong just saw Wang Yuan, then looked at the two tall people beside him, his expression changed drastically, and he stood up: "Wang Yuan, you dog slave..."
Before her voice fell, someone had already covered her mouth and pushed her down into a chair. Wang Yuan had already seen the opportunity to exit and immediately closed the door.
Hua Rong was pressed on the chair, unable to move, and said angrily: "Jin Wushu, how dare you come here?"
Jin Wushu let her go, and his bodyguard Wu Qimai also retreated behind. He has been hiding in the post house these days, because although he is tall, his Jin characteristics are not obvious, and he speaks fluent Chinese and is highly skilled. He was so bold that he walked around Yingtian wearing Han clothes without anyone noticing. Now, relying on Wang Yuan's leadership, he actually arrived at the outer city of the temporary "imperial palace" of the Song Dynasty.
"Jin Wushu, do you know that no matter how powerful you are, if I shout, you will die."
He sat down directly opposite her: "Hua Rong, you are haggard."
Hua Rong didn't expect that he would say such a sentence, so she was startled and said nothing.
He took a closer look at her and saw that her face was very pale, and her eyes were sunken and bloodshot due to many days of insomnia.
"Hua Rong, do you think this prince is right? Zhao Deji is this kind of person."
"What kind of stuff?"
"The prince sent an envoy to negotiate peace and specified that he would like you to be a hostage. He has agreed."
Hua Rong was extremely angry: "You are talking nonsense."
"How could I lie to you? Otherwise, how could I get in here?"
Hua Rong sat slumped on the back of the chair, feeling weak all over. Although Ying Tian could not be said to be invulnerable, but if Jin Wushu barged in in such a disguise, how could he defend himself
Jin Wushu saw her sitting on a chair, her face full of anger and despair, and her face slowly turned from crimson to pale. When he wanted to prod her a few more words, he thought about it and endured it.
He looked around, and then he smelled the aroma of tea filling the room. He saw that the tea set was still warm, and she was obviously making tea with her own hands. He also saw her holding the armrest of the chair tightly with both hands, her fingers were green and as white as jade, and suddenly Said: "Hua Rong, have you learned how to make tea? Can you let me have a cup of tea?"
Seeing that Hua Rong didn't respond, he took the teacup opposite her and was about to drink. Hua Rong suddenly jumped up and knocked the teacup out of his hand: "I only make tea for one person in my life, you gold thief. How can you deserve to drink my tea?”
Jin Wushu changed his color suddenly, fully understanding that she was "only for one person" - for whom!
He glanced at the books and deserted room, and sneered: "You are just Zhao Deji's slave, how can you imagine marrying Yue Pengju?"
"Even if I can't marry him, I will never marry you!"
He caught the loophole in her words and his eyes lit up: "So, you haven't married Yue Pengju yet?"
"none of your business?"
"Yue Pengju regretted his marriage to the princess in April. Since then, you have been in Yingtian's army. After Zhao Deji ascended the throne in May, you never had the chance to be alone with Yue Pengju. Now that you are imprisoned here, how can you get the chance to marry him? "
Hua Rong snorted. He knew so well that the traitor Wang Yuan must have told him.
"What do you Song people have a saying about people like Yue Pengju? It's called 'Don't deceive the dark room', right? If he likes you, he will definitely marry you openly!"
She was shocked. The current emperor's official family had known her sister and brother for a long time, but once they heard that she and Yue Pengju were getting married, they immediately accused Pengju of being shameless. His understanding of Pengju was far inferior to that of the enemy on the other side!
"My first defeat was when I met Yue Pengju! It's a pity that a hero like him assisted Zhao Deji."
Hua Rong said loudly: "The new emperor didn't do anything to me!"
Jin Wushu sneered again and again: "Hua Rong, you think I don't know? Why are you under house arrest here? Was my warning wrong at all? Zhao Deji is as shameless and immoral as his father. Your sister and brother worked hard for him, in exchange for What did you get? You risked your life to assassinate this prince, so what did you get in return?"
“…”
"Don't say you don't obey him. Even if you obey him, as long as the prince asks for it, he dare not refuse to give it. A villain like him, as long as he can keep his throne, he will not even save his parents, brothers, wife and children. What’s more, you’re just a girl. Hua Rong, look at what kind of life you’re living as a slave! Instead of doing this, it’s better to leave with this prince, at least you can be free...”
Hua Rong was speechless.
Jin Wushu stopped and sighed: "Hua Rong, the Song Dynasty will definitely fall. It's useless for you to stay here. Why don't you leave with me? Don't you like me at all?"
"If I don't stay here, I will leave, but I will leave with Yue Pengju, not you!"
"The Emperor of the Zhao family can't protect you, let alone little Yue Pengju!"
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly heard a cough outside the door, and Wu Qimai hurried over: "Fourth Prince, get out of here quickly, someone is coming..."
He didn't care to say anything more, and the two of them hurriedly grabbed the door and left. Hua Rong looked at his back and left indifferently. She knew that no matter how powerful Jin Wushu was, as soon as she opened her mouth, the guards outside would catch him and arrest him. The commander-in-chief of the Jin Dynasty was given to the Emperor of the Zhao family as a bargaining chip. She opened her mouth slightly, but she neither shouted nor made any announcement, she just sat slumped on the chair motionless.
It was Xu Caizhi who came, with a look of uneasiness on his face.
She said calmly: "What's important, Mr. Xu?"
Xu Caizhi blushed: "Miss Hua, the Jin envoy negotiated peace, and the Jin Kingdom has specified that you should go."
She sneered: "Really? Is this what the officials mean?"
"No, the official family committee will never be replaced. However, the Jin State has specified that you must be the one. Many candidates have been changed, but they are not satisfied."
Hua Rong sat slumped on the chair, the last fantasy about the "Nine Princes" in her heart disappeared without a trace, humiliation and grief filled her heart, and she didn't know whether her brother and sister fought bloody battles, and what their original ideals were. What did you get in exchange
She sat in silence for a while and then laughed: "Master Xu, my husband Yue Pengju was fighting outside, which made the captives frightened, but his wife was sent to please the golden man and was abused by the captives in return for his numerous scars and pain. Blood and sweat, that’s it, right?”
Xu Caizhi had known her for a long time and was reluctant to come. After hearing her words, he wanted to dig a hole and crawl in.
Hua Rong continued to press: "Master Xu, when do the officials want me to set off?"
"I didn't ask you to go, Rong'er!"
A voice sounded from behind Xu Caizhi.
Hua Rong knew it was Zhao Deji, so he didn't get up to salute. He still sat there without saying a word.
"Rong'er, how are you these days?"
"Your Majesty is overly worried. Hua Rong has been doing nothing these days because he has been eating so much and has wasted an unknown amount of food in the Song Dynasty. In order to repay the favor of the officials, he might as well serve the prisoners in exchange for their withdrawal."
Seeing her cold tone, Zhao Deji no longer addressed her as an official, but called her "Your Majesty" with a distant tone as if it was the first time they met. He sat down on the chair opposite her.
Hua Rong looked at him: "Your Majesty, when will you give me as a gift to Jin Wushu? He is the commander-in-chief of this southern invasion, right?"
"Rong'er, I don't want to send you away."
"oh?"
Seeing the mockery and anger in her eyes, he couldn't help but stand up: "Rong'er, who do you think I am? Even if the situation is critical and the negotiation fails, I will never give you to Jin. Wushu. I came today just to see if you are okay."
After he finished speaking, he turned around and left.
Hua Rong stood up and chased after him. He and Xu Caizhi had already left the entrance of the small courtyard.
She stopped and didn't pursue him any further. She just watched as the sky turned completely dark little by little.