After repeated assurances that there would be no danger in front of him, Wen Liunian was finally relieved for the time being. After leaving Yun Duanhun's residence, he didn't go back to Wen's mansion, but wandered outside the city alone, and sat alone for more than half an hour, staring at the scenery in a daze.
The palace guards were dismissed by the people from the Chasing Shadow Palace before, and they also came to find him this time. Seeing him sitting and moving, he didn't know whether he should go up and ask. After much hesitation, one of them went back to the palace and told Chu about the matter. deep.
"Sitting in a daze?" Chu Yuan put down the notebook in his hand.
"Yes." The guard said, "It seems that there are many things on his mind."
"Where is Master Zhao?" Chu Yuan asked again.
"Not by my lord's side." The guard said, "My lord hasn't returned home since the morning court, and has been sitting in the outskirts of the city lost in thought."
Chu Yuan frowned slightly.
"Emperor?" The guard looked at him tentatively.
"Secret protection is it." Chu Yuan said, "Go down."
"Yes." The guard took the order, bowed his head and left the imperial study. But I couldn't help thinking in my heart, according to the degree of love between my lord and Master Zhao before, I would have to look for them even after a short separation. If we want to separate for such a long time this time, it may not be able to recover in half a year.
Time passed little by little, and the sky gradually darkened. Wen Liunian rubbed his eyes, just as he wanted to go home, there was a sound of footsteps behind him.
Thinking it was Zhao Yue who came to find him, Wen Liunian turned around innocently: "I'm going back now... Your Majesty?!"
"Think it's Master Zhao?" Chu Yuan smiled and sat beside him.
"Why is the emperor here?" Wen Liunian was a little surprised.
"I'm afraid that Aiqing will complain about me behind my back." Chu Yuan handed him a small packet of peanut candy, "So come and have a look."
Wen Liunian murmured, "I don't dare."
"What are you afraid of?" Chu Yuan tapped him on the head, "If you can hang out with Qin Shaoyu, it's not uncommon for you to sell me someday."
"I don't dare." Wen Liunian repeated.
"He said he wasn't angry." Chu Yuan smiled and shook his head, "Want to go to the East China Sea?"
"En." Wen Liunian nodded immediately.
"Then go." Chu Yuan patted him.
Wen Liunian opened his eyes wide in surprise, "Huh?"
"Why, you don't want to go again?" Chu Yuan laughed.
Wen Liunian was a little uncertain.
"I want to keep Aiqing in Wangcheng." Chu Yuan said, "But it seems that there is something difficult for others."
"The emperor's words are serious." Wen Liunian shook his head, "I have promised the emperor, and I will do everything." It is one thing to want to go to the East China Sea, but another thing to be able to go. An official should naturally fulfill his duties as a courtier, and he can't just follow his will in everything.
"Go to Donghai and help me keep an eye on Duan Baiyue." Chu Yuan said.
Wen Liunian was a little dazed: "Staring at the King of Southwest?"
Chu Yuan nodded.
Wen Liunian became more and more puzzled: "But..." Duan Baiyue's wolf ambition is indeed true, but judging from what the emperor did before, it is obvious that he has more trust in him—or at least a certain agreement has been reached in secret. That's why he let it go. Then why now that the Southwest Army has advanced to the coast of the Great Chu East Sea, why did they send themselves to watch secretly
"I know that Palace Master Qin left someone to protect you." Chu Yuan said, "It's just that the East China Sea is not stable, so you should pay more attention to yourself."
"For what reason and in what capacity do I want to go?" Wen Liunian asked.
"I will issue an imperial decree myself." Chu Yuan said, "Now that the patriarchs in the southwest drive straight in, saying that they are going back to their hometown to worship their ancestors, but they have not retreated. It is also reasonable for me to send Ai Qing to negotiate with them."
"Your Majesty." Wen Liunian hesitated, "I have something to say."
"Speak." Chu Yuan nodded.
"What kind of agreement has been reached between the emperor and the Southwest King?" Wen Liunian said, "Although there are some things that I should not ask about, but since I am going to the East China Sea, I would like to ask the emperor to make it clear." Wushui went forward, and even Duan Baiyue couldn't tell whether Duan Baiyue was an enemy or a friend, so what would he do then
Chu Yuan frowned.
Wen Liunian looked at him eagerly.
"Wen Aiqing." Chu Yuan said.
"Yes." Wen Liunian had an ominous premonition in his heart.
"Follow me into the palace later, let the imperial dining room make a meal of memory of bitterness."
…
In Wen's residence, Zhao Yue was busy with the work at hand, and no one came back after waiting for a long time. Previously, he thought that something might be wrong with Chu Yuan, but it was almost dinner time and there was no one around. Just as he was about to go out to look for it, he saw Wen Liunian walking in listlessly, sitting on the stone bench without speaking.
"What's the matter?" Zhao Yue squatted in front of him and held his hand, "Which adult did you quarrel with again?"
"There is no quarrel." Mr. Wen was angry.
"Then why are you so angry?" Zhao Yue picked him up, "The emperor's side?"
Wen Liunian nodded desperately.
Zhao Yue took him to the back room: "What did he ask you to do this time?"
"Eat cold batter." Wen Liunian said angrily, "And old pickles!" That's the imperial palace, and I don't know which tank the imperial chef dug it out from. It's black, dry and sour. Eat, because the emperor has a decree!
Zhao Yue frowned: "How can I make you eat these things!" What to do if you eat a bad stomach.
"Because the emperor wants me to go to Donghai." Wen Liunian complained, "I asked a few more questions, and I was fined!"
"You want to go to the East China Sea?" Zhao Yue paused.
"Yes, to the East China Sea." Wen Liunian realized it later, and jumped at him happily, "That's right, the emperor wants to send me to the East China Sea!"
"Really?" Zhao Yue was ecstatic.
"Yeah." Wen Liunian nodded desperately.
"Come with me?" Zhao Yue held his hand.
"It's going to the East China Sea together, but I can't go to the island." Wen Liunian said, "The emperor wants me to go to the Southwest King."
"Duan Baiyue?" Zhao Yue frowned upon hearing this.
"Never mind him, it's always a good thing to go to Donghai together." Wen Liunian said, "You should visit me often."
"The emperor and King Duan, are they enemies or friends?" Zhao Yue put him on the chair, "I won't allow you to go unless you clarify this matter."
Wen Liunian: "..."
If the businessman of Huaben found out about this, he would definitely ask a scholar to write an article called "Why the Emperor Always Disagrees with Master Zhao's Ideas".
"Speak." Zhao Yue patted his head.
"I was punished by the emperor for asking this question today." Wen Liunian said, "Later, the emperor said that there are some things I don't need to ask. Sample."
"What's the matter." Zhao Yue shook his head, "Unless the emperor speaks clearly, I will never agree to such a thing of going deep into the tiger's den."
"The emperor will not cheat me." Wen Liunian emphasized.
"Why didn't I cheat you." Zhao Yue said, "I asked you to eat bad pickles just now."
"That's different." Wen Liunian put his arms around his neck, "Just let me go."
"I'm going to talk to the emperor." Zhao Yue said.
"You?" Wen Liunian was surprised.
"I have to know the reason." Zhao Yue said, "If you are made to take risks every time, then it's worth not being an official."
Wen Liunian blinked, but it was actually not that serious.
But Zhao Yue obviously didn't intend to change his mind, so he went to the firm of Sun Moon Villa early the next morning.
"Master Zhao wants to find Xiaojin?" Shen Qianfeng said, "Unfortunately, he just entered the palace an hour ago."
"Then I'll wait for Ye Guzhu at the gate of the palace." Zhao Yue stood up, "Excuse me."
"Why don't you just wait at home." Shen Qianfeng said, "Xiao Jin is going to prescribe tranquilizing medicine for the emperor, and she should be back soon."
"No need." Zhao Yue said, "Thank you, leader."
"Is Master Zhao in a hurry?" Shen Qianfeng probed.
"I want to see the emperor." Zhao Yue said.
Shen Qianfeng knew it well, knowing that it was probably for Mr. Wen, so he didn't ask any more questions, and sent him out of the mansion himself.
After waiting at the gate of the palace for half an hour, Ye Jin finally came out, but he seemed to be in a trance.
"Ye Guzhu?" Zhao Yue said, "Are you okay?"
Ye Jin said, "I have something to do."
Zhao Yue: "..."
Ye Jin looked up at him with complicated eyes and complex expressions.
Seeing him like this for the first time, Zhao Yue said, "Do you want to send Gu Master back to the shop to rest?"
Ye Jin shook her head: "Master, let me walk with you."
Zhao Yue was puzzled: "Me?"
But Ye Jin got on his horse, Lv Congyu let out a long hiss, spread all four hooves and galloped away.
Worried that something would happen to him, Zhao Yue rode his horse to follow, and the two left the city all the way.
After looking at the people on the street, they all wondered if they were dazzled. Why did it belong to Master Ye and Master Zhao? Where did Master Shen and Master Wen go? !
Arriving at a quiet small valley on the outskirts of the city, Ye Jin got off his horse, sat by the stream and continued to be in a daze.
"Valley Master." Zhao Yue asked, "What happened?"
Ye Jin said dully, "Let me calm down."
In the morning, I went to prescribe medicine for Chu Yuan as a routine, but I happened to see a cart of medicinal materials being unloaded. There were many valuable and powerful tonics in it, some of which were even hard to find, so I asked a few more questions out of curiosity, but said It was sent from the southwest, and it was a tribute from King Duan to the emperor. Not only medicinal materials, but also a cart of exotic treasures, a cart of Southwest fruits, a cart of mountain bacon, and a cart of... human skulls.
"What?" Ye Jin's eyes widened.
"It's all the restless tribal leaders in the southwest, who have been trying to invade our border." The steward of the Imperial Hospital said, "They were all snapped by the Southwest King, stripped clean and sent to the emperor."
Ye Jin's back was numb, and he went all the way to the imperial study to ask what happened.
"I know." Chu Yuan said, "If you like it, just take it."
"How could I like that kind of thing!" Ye Jin was startled and furious.
"I mean that cart of medicinal materials." Chu Yuan couldn't laugh or cry, "As for other things, just throw them away."
"Just passing by the treasury, Mr. Zhang said that the king of the Southwest has been sending things continuously, at least half a year." Ye Jin said, "Why have you never heard of it?"
"It's not an urgent matter." Chu Yuan picked up Zhu Zhu, and opened a booklet casually, "Give it away as you like."
Ye Jin looked at him suspiciously.
Chu Yuan stood up and walked out: "I'll go to the household department to have a look."
"Why every time you mention the King of Southwest, you either cover it up or keep it secret?" Ye Jin called him from behind.
Chu Yuan had already flung his sleeves out the door.
So Guzhu Ye finally realized something later, and vaguely felt something.
But... really? !
"Guzhu Ye." Zhao Yue frowned slightly, "Otherwise I'll take you home?"
"It's okay." Ye Jin waved his hand weakly, "By the way, why is the head of the palace at the gate of the palace, Mr. Wen is not here."
"I know. Originally, I wanted to ask Gu Zhu to pass it on for me. I wanted to see the emperor." Zhao Yue said.
"The head of the family wants to see the emperor?" Ye Jin was a little surprised, "What's the matter?"
Zhao Yue briefly explained the matter, and then said: "I don't know much about the Southwest King, so I don't know if Guzhu Ye has any suggestions?"
Ye Jin's face froze again.
Why does this person exist everywhere? !
"Valley Master?" Zhao Yue looked at him worriedly, why didn't he speak again.
Ye Jin took a deep breath and "huh" stood up.
Zhao Yue was taken aback.
"I'll go to Donghai together." Ye Jin rolled up his sleeves.
Zhao Yue: "..."
"With me here, let's see who doesn't have long eyes and dares to touch Lord Wen!" Ye Jin walked back aggressively.
There was still a word left unsaid.
Let's see who doesn't have long eyes and dares to touch... that who!