"Okay," Chu Qiao smiled, pushed Yan Xun in front of the desk, pointed to the chart above, and began to explain in detail.
The sky was misty and everything was still. After taking a sip of tea, Chu Qiao drew the last stroke, pointed to the chart and said: "As long as the Meng family is still headed by General Meng Tian, we don't have to worry too much. I see now that Instead of worrying about Sheng Jingong and the Wei faction, it is better to worry about Zhuge's family."
Yan Xun raised his eyebrows, and said in a deep voice: "Didn't Zhuge Huai just leave Beijing? Zhuge Muqing has gradually faded out of the Presbyterian Council in recent years, leaving Zhuge Huai to take care of all the family matters. Will he intervene this time?" ?”
"You underestimate Zhuge Muqing, an old fox." Chu Qiao shook his head and said, "Over the past three hundred years of the empire, the Presbyterian family has changed hands many times. Among the founding heroes, only Zhuge's lineage followed Emperor Pei Luo back then. Killed on the grassland. This is the Zhuge family's wrist. They know how to balance and never put themselves on the cusp of the storm. The most popular people attacked, but their family was saved. The empire has been in constant disputes over the years, and Zhuge Muqing seems to be moderate, but he has been able to avoid disasters every time. These are not just luck. Look here, "Chu Qiao stretched his finger on the chart, "This is the information I have collected in the past few months. On the surface, Zhuge's lineage does not seem to have made any moves, but grain, river salt, and iron ore in the northwest have been deployed on a small scale frequently. Although There are not many movements, but they are very frequent. Zhuge Xi was transferred from Songshui to Xihan City to collect the grain tax per mu of land. Although the city is small, it is adjacent to Yanming Pass. It is the only way for us to return to Yanbei. It is the hub of Yaoshui, Fusu, and Chishui post roads. The strategic location is extremely important and must not be underestimated.
"Also, look here. On the eighth day of last month, the elders agreed to Zhuge Ran's call for joining the army. Zhuge Muqing did not send his son to guard the Zhuge family's southeast base camp. Instead, he went to the southwest camp as a general. The southwest and northwest are adjacent. The Southwest camp is located within the territory of the Batuha family. If the Zhuge family hadn't secretly communicated with the Batuha family, how could the old Batu let outsiders set up camp in his heart? Also, and most importantly, you Didn't you notice that Zhuge Yue will be back soon?"
Yan Xun nodded, "I have paid attention to this, Miss Yu sent someone to mention what you said to me a few days ago."
"Oh?" Chu Qiao's eyes lit up, "What did Miss Yu say?"
"She said that the time is still early. During Emperor Xia's birthday, rich and powerful people from all over the world gather, and there are too many variables. Now we can only adapt to the situation and see what happens."
Chu Qiao frowned immediately, she raised her face to look at Yan Xun, and said slowly: "Yan Xun, is this okay? I'm worried that something will happen, shouldn't we make preparations in advance?"
"Ah Chu, there is no perfect plan in this world. When it comes to preparation, haven't we prepared enough in these years?" Yan Xun looked into her bright eyes seriously, reached out and held her hand, "Ah Chu, do you believe me?"
Chu Qiao nodded, "I believe."
"Then you can take a break," Yan Xun said with a faint smile, "Leave the matter to me, this trip to Nanji Mountain, your body is too exhausted, you can't work any longer."
"Yan Xun..."
"I don't want to go back to Yanbei alone." Yan Xun suddenly said in a low voice, "I don't have half of my relatives anymore, Ah Chu, you are my most important person."
The lights were dim, and Yan Xun's eyes were as gentle as water. He raised his hand and stroked Chu Qiao's cheek with the back of his hand, "Achu, do you still remember the year when I first entered the Shengjin Palace, I had a severe fever but there was no medicine to treat it? What did you tell me?"
Chu Qiao was taken aback for a moment, then she heard Yan Xun continue to say: "You said you let me sleep at ease, you will stay awake until I wake up. In the end, I slept for four days, and you still took care of me with your eyelids open. Ah Chu, now that I am able to take care of you, you can sleep with peace of mind, I will stay awake until the day when we both can close our eyes and sleep safely."
Chu Qiao lowered her head, pursed her lips slightly, a warm flame danced in her heart, which made her feel inexplicably at ease in this cold winter night, "Okay, then I won't leave, I will stay by your side, Waiting for you to take me away."
Yan Xun nodded, his eyes were bright, his smile was like a lake that thawed in March, and the depression he had been feeling for several months disappeared in an instant.
Ah Chu, if we can walk in together, we can definitely go out together. You have to believe me, because in this world, we can only trust each other.
At that time, there was snow in the middle of winter, the long night was peaceful, and the capital of Emperor Zhenhuang was calm. However, no one knows what kind of fierce edge is surging under the potential undercurrent. Those weird and unpredictable countercurrents are quietly dormant in the ground, and they will boil up at any time, drowning everything. People on the shore can only walk carefully, trying not to let the corners of their clothes get wet by the muddy water. When a person's ability is not strong enough to fight the tide, all he can do is stay away from the tide.
After closing the door of Chu Qiao's room and watching the lights go out with his own eyes, Yan Xun's eyes suddenly became cold and severe. He raised his head and looked in the direction of Xia Huadian, with a sharp flash of light in his eyes. With a slight force of fingers, a dry branch was broken, Yan Xun raised his head, closed his eyes, and suddenly remembered a night many years ago.
That day, Ah Chu, who was only nine years old, was discovered by Wei Jing, who had been spying on them, in order to find medicine for him who was sick. As a result, he was surrounded by more than twenty burly men and beat and kicked him severely. In order not to give others an excuse to deal with him, Ah Chu didn't even run away and didn't fight back. His whole body was covered in flesh and blood, dripping with blood. When he arrived, the child was almost dying, still clutching the stolen packet of medicine.
From that day on, he swore secretly that from now on, he would never let the person he valued leave his side again, and the person he valued, in this life, would never have a second one.
It's time to come, come quickly, he has been waiting for too long, almost can't wait anymore.
Yan Xun opened his eyes, and his eyes were clear. Tomorrow, when Zhuge Yue returns to court, we haven't seen each other for seven years, old friend, how are you doing
The wound on the shoulder had long since healed, and there was some hatred, but it took root in his heart. Yan Xun smiled coldly, turned around and strode into the darkness.
At the beginning of the year, Emperor Zhenhuang was caught in the biggest snowstorm in history, and heavy snow hit this ancient city for 12 consecutive days. The cold wind was fierce, and on the lonely ancient plank road, a black-armored light cavalry rode against the wind and snow, galloped on the ancient snowfield, and quickly rushed towards Zhenhuang City.
This group of people looks very inconspicuous, wearing ordinary blue cloth furs, fur hoods, swords and spears wrapped in cotton cloth and carried on their backs, and the horses they ride are also ordinary Hongchuan horses. , is nothing more than an ordinary city defender, but when he looked carefully, there was an indescribable spirit rushing towards his face.
Qingqi passed through Jiuwei all the way, bypassed the lively main street, crossed Ziwei Square after Chihu, and stopped in front of Baiqiang Gate where only the imperial guards in the inner city could stop. The leading man was wearing black armor and a big black fur coat, and with a slight shake, it was covered with wind, snow and yellow sand. He left the team and walked straight into the heavily guarded Shengjin Palace with a few of his subordinates.
"Your Highness the Seventh!"
In the wind and snow, the young Zhao Che raised his head, his eyebrows were full of wind and frost, his eyebrows were like swords, and his eyes were cold. His four years of defense on the border were like a stubborn stone, sharpening this sharp edge even more. He frowned slightly, and said in a deep voice, "Where's Lao Ba?"
"It has been guarded by the Guozong Mansion."
Zhao Che raised his eyebrows, and said in a low voice: "How do you work as errands?"
Several people knelt down immediately, with terrified expressions, and kowtowed in unison: "This slave deserves to die."
Zhao Che sat on the horse, narrowed his eyes slowly, and said in a deep voice, "If you know you should die, why do you still come to see me?" After finishing speaking, he turned around and walked along the Qianxi Wai Road, leaving only a few people with ashen faces The young bodyguard knelt in the snowstorm.
The snowstorm was getting bigger and bigger, and the howling wind was raging. Zhao Che and others were wearing cloaks and hoods, and hurried between the red walls.
"Who?" The guard suddenly shouted.
The figure walking in front stopped suddenly, and under the cover of the huge wind and snow, only a shadow could be seen dimly. The man was not tall, very thin, but very smart. When he heard the voice, he quickly knelt on the ground and lowered his head humbly.
"Your Highness, it should be the maid in the apse."
Zhao Che glanced at it calmly, and swiped out the saber at his waist in an instant, lifting the hood on the man's head at once. His short hair was tied up into a man's bun, but his neck was fair and slender. Zhao Che's boots stepped on her hat, looked at the person kneeling on the ground, and said slowly, "Raise your head."
A delicate face came into view, the eyes were quiet and extremely dark, even though he was dressed in men's clothes, he was rare and stunning. Zhao Che's brows were slightly frowned, and then slowly relaxed. He seemed to think of something, and sneered meaningfully: "One person attains the Tao, chickens and dogs ascend to heaven, now even you can walk freely in Shengjin Palace?"
Chu Qiao lowered her head, her expression was calm, and she didn't reply.
Zhao Che glanced lightly at the girl's back, then kicked the hat back to Chu Qiao's side with a bang, and turned away without saying a word.
The wind and snow were still blowing, the girl raised her head, but only saw a faint shadow. But for some reason, she felt such a heavy pressure rushing towards her face. In today's blizzard, how could it be the person in front of him who returned to the imperial capital
Zhenhuang's situation has become more and more tense unconsciously. Although it is still half a year before Yan Xun returns to the north.
That night, a grand dinner was held in the Shengjin Palace. In addition to the Seventh Prince Zhao Che who had triumphantly returned to court, Zhuge Yue, the Fourth Prince of Zhuge who went to Wolong Mountain to recuperate seven years ago, attended the meeting. Now, he is already the deputy commander of the Military Aircraft Department and the general judge.
Great Xia Emperor Zhao Zhengde still habitually did not attend various banquets, and only Empress Mu Henayun showed her face symbolically. After all, the Seventh Prince Zhao Che was her biological son. The banquet was full of joy, and among the interlaced cups and cups, it was full of peaceful monarchs and ministers enjoying themselves. It was impossible to see that just three days ago, the eighth prince, Zhao Jue, was expelled from the Zhao Clan's Ancestral Temple for committing a crime of heaven's wrath. He passed the trial of Guozong Mansion.
"Those things are often like stones in a lake. Not everyone can see its size and shape. Only those who are brave dare to go in and explore. It's just how deep the water is and whether they can come out alive. It's hard to say."