Early in the morning of the second day, the Northern Wei Dynasty's team returning to Beijing ahead of schedule had already assembled.
Yan Huai ordered Zhao Yu to accompany him with 200 troops, plus Northern Wei's own guards, it was enough to protect the three of Tuo Bahong. Zhong bid farewell, ready to set off with the main force, while Qin Wan, Yan Chi and Crown Prince Yan Che went to the gate of Daying to see them off.
After saying a few words of caution, Tuoba Wu got on the carriage back to Beijing, watched the group of people go further and further away, Yan Chi turned around and walked towards Yan Huai's big tent, Yan Che was slightly surprised when he saw Yan Chi's move , hurriedly followed, Qin Wan walked slowly behind, but knew what Yan Chi was going to do now.
Yan Huai didn't expect Yan Chi to turn around and come back. After Yan Chi saluted, he asked, "Why are you back? What's the matter?"
This time, Yan Chi did not receive any errands related to hunting. The Northern Wei case was over, so Yan Chi didn't have to come to the account to report the matter. Yan Chi said solemnly, "Your Majesty, the Northern Wei case is not over yet."
Yan Huai put down the imperial pen, leaned back in the chair, "How do you say it?"
Yan Chi solemnly told what Qin Wan had discovered and his own speculation. After he finished speaking, Yan Huai frowned, "So what are your plans?"
Yan Chi said quickly, "I have already told Zhao Yu, and now we only need to follow up with a small team. There is no obvious evidence, and we can only prove that Tuoba Rui is the murderer by catching someone."
Yan Huai thought for a moment, "What if nothing happened along the way?"
Yan Chi was not surprised when he heard the words, obviously he also thought of this, "If there is no accident, then naturally it would be the best, but once an accident occurs, Ta Bahong's life will be lost to Da Zhou, which is very unfavorable for Da Zhou."
Yan Huai leaned against the back of the chair, her eyes narrowed, and she seemed to be lost in thought.
Yan Chi originally thought that Yan Huai would agree to his order immediately, but unexpectedly Yan Huai's expression was hesitant.
With a flash of light in his eyes, Yan Chi thought of a possibility that a superior would consider.
Sure enough, after a while, Yan Huai said in a deep voice, "If there is civil strife in the Northern Wei Dynasty, it will not be harmful to Da Zhou. Not only will it be harmless, but it may also be beneficial—"
The first time Ta Bahong had an accident, he was rescued by Qin Wan. Now Tuoba Wu dare not be angry with Da Zhou again. If Ta Ba Hong had another accident this time, what would it have to do with Da Zhou
With the death of Tuoba Hong, the remaining Fourth and Fifth Highnesses are not at ease, one can imagine what kind of chaos the Northern Wei Dynasty will be in.
The side of the couch does not allow others to sleep peacefully, and the Northern Wei Dynasty was uneasy. Wouldn't it be comfortable to watch from the wall in the Great Zhou Dynasty
Yan Chi was silent for a moment. He was from Zhou. After all, the chaos in the Northern Wei Dynasty was not very important to him. He also didn't realize how unjust Yanhuai's idea was. It doesn't matter, even if the Northern Wei Dynasty was in dire straits, there was no wave in his heart, but when he thought of Qin Wan, his brows frowned.
She rescued Ta Ba Hong with all her might, and she even suspected that it was Ta Ba Rui. If Ta Ba Hong died and Ta Ba Rui returned to the Northern Wei Dynasty as a beneficiary, it would definitely be difficult for her to accept.
After thinking for a while, Yan Chi said, "Your Majesty, the Northern Wei Dynasty now has the heart of an alliance with the Great Zhou. If we want to completely solve the enemy, the only way is to form an alliance with the Northern Wei Dynasty. Although the chaos in the Northern Wei Dynasty has nothing to do with the Great Zhou Dynasty, we have also lost one. Allies who can help."
Yan Huai narrowed his eyes slightly, "You mean to protect Tuo Bahong?"
Yan Chi nodded, "Tuo Ba Hong is righteous and righteous, not Liu Yun and his ilk. I owe him a favor, and he will never forget it. Instead of watching from the other side, it is better to help him and let the Northern Wei Dynasty be used by us in the future."
Power tricks are nothing more than profit-making, when Yan Chi said so, Yan Huai's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly.
He looked at Yan Chi for a moment, then nodded, "Okay, then according to what you said, you want to lead the troops yourself?"
Yan Chi nodded, "Yes, I can just bring my own hidden guards, and Zhao Yu will pay close attention on the road with my explanation, but he pretends not to notice on the surface, and needs someone to watch secretly to ensure nothing goes wrong. !"
Now that Yan Huai has been persuaded by Yan Chi, he naturally seeks the best solution to the problem. He looked at Yan Chi for a moment, and suddenly said, "I heard that the princess of the Northern Wei Dynasty is interested in you?"
Yan Chi lowered his eyes, and his glistening black pupils instantly annihilated all the light.
His eyes turned cold, but his tone remained unchanged, "I don't know about this, but the princess said that she saw me on the border of the Northern Wei Dynasty, but I don't remember..."
The corners of Yan Huai's lips curved slightly, "If she is really interested in you, it would be a good marriage."
Yan Chi's brows frowned suddenly, Yan Huai saw it, and smiled, "What? I think that girl's birth is not bad, aren't you satisfied?"
Yan Chi said, "She is from the Northern Wei Dynasty..."
Yan Huai laughed, "You don't mind if he is not from Zhou anymore, maybe he doesn't intend to marry into Da Zhou at all, that's all right, you can make arrangements for this matter, everything in the camp is as usual, if you have any news, send it as soon as possible return."
Yan Chi responded, turned around and walked out of the big tent.
As soon as he got out of the big tent, Yan Chi saw Yan Che standing outside, and Yan Che came up to meet him, "What's wrong? What happened?"
Yan Chi pursed his lips, "I'm going out for a trip, the Northern Wei case is not over."
Seeing that Yan Che wanted to ask, Yan Chi said, "I'll explain to the crown prince when we have news."
After finishing speaking, without waiting for Yan Che to nod his head, Yan Chi walked away, Yan Che raised his eyebrows high.
He is the Prince of Great Zhou, even King Cheng would not ignore him like this.
The morning light fell on Yan Chi's shoulders, thinking of what Yan Huai said just now, a sneer formed on the corner of his lips.
Yan Chi returned to the camp and was ready to set off. Qin Wan was waiting at the door of his tent. Yan Chi looked around and took her hand into the tent. Once inside, Qin Wan asked, "What's the matter?"
"I'm leaving now. I've told Zhao Yu before, but it's not safe to just stare at him in the open. I'll take someone along with me. No matter what happens, I can make sure nothing goes wrong."
Qin Wan was a little worried, "Are you going there in person?"
Yan Chi was holding the portable sword on the weapon rack, when he heard this, he turned around and looked at her with a smile, "It's not an army march, don't worry."
Qin Wan pursed her lips, that's right, Yan Chi went here probably for the sake of insight and surveillance, not to mention that Zhao Yu brought Da Zhou's soldiers and horses, no matter what happened, Yan Chi would be fine.
Qin Wan persuaded himself in this way in his heart, but his face was still a little worried, Yan Chi smiled slightly, and stepped forward to embrace her in his arms, "Don't worry, Tuoba Rui probably won't be able to do it on the first day. Do it, it will be tomorrow night, within three days, I will definitely send back a message. In the last few days, you will stay with the Queen Mother well. When you return to the capital, you will not see these green mountains and green waters. I am not here In the camp, take care of yourself."
She is staying in the camp, but nothing will happen to her.
"I know, but if you follow like this, the road must be hard."
According to Qin Wan's thinking, this road is full of wilderness and forests, and Zhao Yu's large army has chariots and horses, so they can camp at night, but Yan Chi brought dozens of people, how can there be such a big movement!
Yan Chi hugged Qin Wan and smiled, his chest twitched, even Qin Wan could feel his chest rising and falling.
Is it so funny
Qin Wan slandered silently, but heard Yan Chi say, "You forget what I told you, what kind of life we lived in Shuoxi, now that we are back in the imperial capital, we don't have to worry about hard work."
Speaking of letting go of Qin Wan, even though he was happy in his heart, he was ready to go.
Qin Wan felt a little distressed for a while, not because he didn't work hard, but because he lived a harder life, so he didn't feel anything. Thinking about it this way, the distress was added.
Although feeling somewhat depressed, Qin Wan and Yan Chi were not procrastinators, and soon, Yan Chi was out of the camp.
He left so quietly that even Yan Li didn't know why he left the camp.
Yan Li found the Empress Dowager's tent, pulled Qin Wan and asked in a low voice, "Is Brother Seven going out of the camp for the Northern Wei case?"
Yan Li is a smart person, and Yan Chi left as soon as the Northern Wei party left, isn't it because of the Northern Wei case? In this hunting ground, can Yan Chi sneak out to hunt
Seeing that he had already guessed, Qin Wan nodded, but Yan Li's eyes rolled when he heard the words, and when he went out, he ordered his attendant to get on the horse, and followed Yan Chi to chase him out.
Qin Wanla couldn't hold back, so she could only smile wryly and shake her head.
As soon as the Northern Wei team left, all the haze in the camp was swept away. Yan Che and Lin Zhang made some arrangements, and soon the banners were flying on the square, and the big hunt was about to begin again!
Qin Wan had things on his mind, but he didn't have the slightest interest in them. The queen mother was a little tired after staying in the camp for many days, and she seldom went out. Qin Wan stayed with the queen mother for half a day, and at night, she went to talk to Qin Shuang.
Seeing Qin Wan approaching, Qin Chaoyu talked to her for the first time, but said, "Do you still have tea to warm up? I always feel that the tent is very humid these two days, and my hands and feet are cold sooner or later."
Qin Wan was a little surprised, but didn't think much, and hurriedly told Fu Ling to go back to get herbal tea.
When the herbal tea was delivered to Qin Chaoyu, Qin Chaoyu sniffed it lightly, and it was exactly the same as the herbal tea she smelled at Yan Che that day. She said with a sneer in her heart, "I saw this at the Empress's place before. Tea."
Qin Wan didn't realize he was there, "This tea was originally prepared for the queen mother, and the queen mother also sent a few bags."
"Can you give it to someone else?"
Qin Wan only felt that her question was a little strange, and shook her head, "That's not true."
Qin Chaoyu looked at Qin Wan, the corners of his lips slightly raised, "Thank you so much."
After talking, the person left.
Qin Wan felt that something was wrong, but he didn't want to question Qin Chaoyu. What's more, for a person like Qin Chaoyu, whether he said it or not, others could not control him. Qin Wan shook his head and only led Qin Shuang to talk.
After talking for a while, Mrs. Hu sent Mother Yu to Qin Shuang's small tent, "Three young ladies, the emperor is hosting a big banquet in front of you tonight, and Madam wants servants to invite you over."
Qin Wan knew that there was a banquet, so he hurriedly walked out with Qin Shuang and Qin Xiang.
Mrs. Hu took Qin Chaoyu and others to the banquet, but Qin Wan had to go back to the queen mother. At the banquet, the queen mother saw that Yan Chi and Yan Li had disappeared, so she asked Chen Nanny to ask Yan Huai, Yan Huai Huai didn't give a clear answer, but said that she was going out on business, the queen mother was a little worried, and she was distracted when the dance and music started after the banquet.
The camp has been confined and suppressed for many days because of the Northern Wei incident. Today's banquet, everyone is drinking to the fullest. The bonfire on the square is blazing, the smell of wine is fragrant, and the dance music in the middle, everyone will be suppressed for a few days. Yan Huai, Yan Che and the others also drank a few cups. Seeing these young children making a scene, they did not stop them. The Queen Mother was also very happy to see the young people having a good time, but it was not good. Sitting in the night cold for a long time, she was about to leave soon. Seeing this, Yan Huai also accompanied her to leave early. Once the two of them left, the others had nothing to restrain them, and the quarrel became even more violent .
Qin Wan returned to the queen mother's big tent, as if he could still hear the commotion outside.
It is not easy for Ta Bahong to recuperate under such circumstances.
As soon as the emperor and the queen mother left, the queen also led the crowd to leave, and Yan Che was in charge of the field.
Yan Qi was playing with a short knife beside him, the short knife cut iron like mud, it was rewarded by Yan Huai after he won the big hunt last time, at this moment he took out the short knife, Yan Che saw it immediately.
Yan Qi smiled and said, "This time the big hunt has been hindered, His Royal Highness really cannot be irresponsible."
Yan Chi said in a cold voice, "It's not up to King Cheng to speak whether he should be responsible or not."
Yan Qi played with the dagger in his hand, and glanced at the Qin Clan's banquet not far away. Qin Chaoyu was dressed in a red dress, sitting there dignifiedly, he was indeed more graceful than Feng Shenbi.
Feng Shenbi became his official concubine, and this matter has always been a thorn in Yan Qi's heart. Thinking of that day, he was sure that it must be the queen and Yan Che's fault, narrowing his slender phoenix eyes, Yan Qi looked at Qin Xiang who was beside Qin Chaoyu.
"Why does the prince speak so harshly? I am not the only one who said this. I told the prince first, just to remind the prince..."
Yan Qi laughed with a voice, as if he really meant well.
But how could Yan Che believe it, "That's really thanks to King Cheng for his kindness. All the officials know the reason for this incident. Of course, if someone deliberately provokes it, it will be different."
The two of them argued sharply, but Qin Xiang felt Yan Qi's burning gaze.
It's not the first time Yan Qi looks at her like this, although Da Zhou's men and women are not very strict, but their positions are very different, Yan Qi always staring at her is really too rude, unless...
The bonfire was far away, but Qin Xiang felt the light of the fire shining on her body, and her cheeks felt hot.
Yan Qi put away the dagger, and turned to play with the jade pendant on his waist, but his eyes still fell on Qin Xiang vaguely.
After the banquet, Qin Xiang walked back with Hu and his party, because her heart was beating wildly, she walked very slowly subconsciously, and fell behind the group of people unconsciously.
As she was walking, a young guard suddenly came over and bumped into her. Qin Xiang staggered and was about to get angry when he felt something lying in his palm. When he looked down, it turned out to be A jade pendant, and she saw it clearly just now, this jade pendant is clearly the one in Cheng Wang's hand!
Qin Xiang suddenly turned to look at the guard, but the guard walked forward very quickly, and soon there was no one in sight.
Qin Xiang was anxious for a moment, what does this mean? !
Qin Shuang realized something was wrong and turned around, "What's wrong?"
Qin Xiang squeezed the jade pendant in his hand and shook his head, "It's nothing, I was just hit by someone."
Qin Shuang came forward to hold her by the arm, looked around but saw no one, and said, "Perhaps they left too fast, are you okay?"
Qin Xiang shook his head again, and Qin Shuang dragged Qin Xiang back without saying a word.
After returning to the big tent, Qin Xiang lay down on the couch after washing up a bit. She was covered with a brocade quilt, blushing and rubbing the jade pendant with a heartbeat. What does His Royal Highness Cheng Wang mean by this? !
…
…
The next day was another day of hunting, Yanhuai promised a higher reward, and the young disciples headed by the crown prince Yanche had to hunt happily all day long, but Yanchi's side was at noon the previous day. He caught up with Tuo Bahong's team, and not long after he caught up, Yan Li chased after him. After asking, he found out that it was Qin Wan who told him that he was unwilling to stay in the camp and was bored, so he followed.
Yan Chi was quite helpless, but it was difficult for Yan Li to return, so he had to bring him along.
The first night was safe and sound, but in the afternoon of the second day, Zhao Yu and his party did not meet the post station or village, so they had to set up camp in a leeward valley, while Yan Chi and his people stayed on the mountain ridge above the valley. above.
It was cold in spring and night, and there was no sound in the mountains and forests. Because of the large number of people, Tuo Bahong's big tent was surrounded in the middle, and Da Zhou's forbidden army surrounded and guarded in the outermost.
After Haishi, the whole camp fell into silence. Although they walked slowly, they were still exhausted. In addition, Tuo Bahong was ill and needed to sleep early. The lights in the center of the camp were all extinguished. Only a few lights were still on in the soldiers' tents on the outskirts. The night wind howled above the mountain ridge, and Yan Li was shivering coldly.
Yan Chi glanced at Yan Li, took off his cloak and threw it over.
Yan Li pursed his lips. Seeing that Yan Chi was standing tall and straight, not at all intruded by Ye Han, he put on the cloak that carried Yan Chi's body temperature, looked down again and said, "Tonight It won't be quiet..."
Yan Chi said coldly, "Tonight and tomorrow night are the only chances, and we will arrive in the capital the night after tomorrow."
Yan Li thought about it, so he didn't ask any more questions, Yan Chi glanced at him again, "Go to the back and rest."
All of them are used to eating and sleeping in the open, only Yanli has not suffered this kind of crime, last night he slept on the ground, Yanli didn't sleep well all night, "Seventh brother, you are always like this in Shuoxi? "
Yan Chi's brows and eyes remained motionless, "Yes."
Bai Feng at the side listened, thinking how could Shuoxi compare to this place, Yehan here is nothing!
Yan Li sighed, "Seventh Brother, you have really suffered all these years."
Yan Chi was noncommittal to this, and Yan Li stood beside Yan Chi for a while, but he really couldn't take it anymore, although he was still not used to resting in the mountains, forests and fields, but he was already extremely sleepy, and he could still fall asleep.
Wearing Yan Chi's cloak, Yan Li walked behind a large boulder leeward of the wind. The floor was covered with felt blankets and dry food was laid out. Yan Li took two mouthfuls of the water and felt that the dry food was like a dry stone, as if he was going to His throat was cut, and he couldn't eat for a while, so he wrapped himself in Yan Chi's cloak and leaned against the stone to squint.
He didn't know how long he had slept in a daze, but suddenly he heard a rustling sound, Yan Li woke up, and saw all the guards appearing on the mountain ridge, one person was whispering, "Someone brought pine oil to the middle tent. The subordinates did not smell it wrong. It really smelled like pine oil."
"Pine oil?" Yan Chi's voice was still calm and powerful, without any sign of sleepiness or exhaustion.
Yan Li quickly woke up and stood up, he walked to Yan Chi's side, Yan Chi looked back at him and didn't say anything.
The guard said again, "Yes, there are quite a few horses and horses accompanying us this time, and the pine oil is used to wipe the carriage bearings."
Yan Chi narrowed his eyes, "It looks like he's going to set fire to it."
He said in a solemn voice, "Get ready to go down the mountain."
With an order, everyone's expressions turned serious, Yan Li wiped his face, "Seventh Brother, you said that His Highness Fifth is going to set fire?"
"Pine oil catches fire and burns very hard. Ta Bahong is injured and can't run even if he wants to."
Yan Li had seen the scene where the pine oil caught fire, and she felt a chill in her heart when she heard it. She didn't know what to say for a moment. At this moment, Bai Feng whispered, "Master, it's on fire..."
In the dark valley where the wind was completely silent, a handful of sparks rose from the camp. In this way, the guards who had been prepared for a long time rushed down from the mountain ridge and went to the burning place together. The sparks were just a pinch at first, but they soon burst into flames, and the flames rose high, but no one in the camp noticed it. It was already the middle of the night, and most of the soldiers in the outermost guards were dozing off!
If Yan Chi's hidden guards hadn't arrived in the camp in an instant, the fire might not only have taken away Ta Bahong's life!
Yan Chi stood on the mountain ridge without moving, but his heart relaxed. He was really afraid that Tuoba Rui would bear it until tomorrow night or return to the capital before making a move.