"So Yan Qing's return to the North is a plan to kill two birds with one stone."

The emperor discussed important matters with Meng Shulan and warned him, "The situation at this time is extraordinary. If anything goes wrong, the country may be ruined and the family may be destroyed. It's not just Yan Qing who needs to leave for the North as soon as possible just in case, you

We must also leave immediately to rush back to Western Xinjiang to stabilize the situation in Western Xinjiang."

"As for Southern Xinjiang..."

The situation in the three frontiers was urgent, and the emperor was already worried. Thinking that he might have to argue with his ministers about who should be sent to pacify the southern frontier, the emperor became even more irritable.

"Why not let His Royal Highness Duan Wang go south?"

Meng Shulan, who had frowned when he heard what the emperor said about the urgent situation, suddenly suggested.

The emperor thought for a moment and then said: "Let's see. If the second child can make it in time, the third child will still stay to help me handle government affairs."

Meng Shulan's eyes darkened slightly, and she hesitated for a moment, but did not speak.

If we put aside the threat from the Xu family, Wen Zhehan is definitely the best candidate for heir apparent.

But in fact, Meng Shulan felt that in the current situation where Wu'an was besieged on all sides, the threat from the Xu family might not be as important as the emperor thought.

Wen Zhexian's name is Xian, but he is the most mediocre among the brothers. He has no faults but no achievements.

If the emperor wanted him to replace Wen Zhemao and Wen Zhehan as the crown prince, he would need a great achievement to lay the foundation.

Recovering southern Xinjiang is undoubtedly a good achievement.

Although the risk is high, as long as you have the help of veterans and a gentle and submissive character, you will definitely not do anything arbitrarily.

This credit is considered to be in vain.

Meng Shulan felt aggrieved for Wen Zhehan, but she still adhered to her duty.

He can play tricks in front of the emperor, but he must never have a bottom line.

Obviously, the issue of the ownership of the throne is not something he should be involved in.

She didn't know whether it was because she felt guilty towards Wen Zhehan, or because she was worried about Wu'an's precarious regime, but Meng Shulan always felt that the emperor seemed to have aged a lot after saying these words.

Glancing at the white hair on the emperor's temples, Meng Shulan sighed in her heart, lowered her eyes, and respectfully bid farewell to the emperor.

After leaving the imperial study, Meng Shulan raised her hand to cover the dazzling light outside the lower hall.

The phantom light reflected in this magnificent palace has captivated the eyes of many people.

Touching the Xijiang commander's seal on his sleeve, Meng Shulan suddenly thought of Yan Xiulai.

Unlike his character who likes to make decisions and then act, Yan Xiu is better at seizing the opportunity and striking out bravely.

Maybe I should learn from him and change my tendency to look forward and backward.

Looking back at the Imperial Study Room, Meng Shulan stepped out of the palace and went straight to the Yan Family Army's camp on the outskirts of the city.

When Meng Shulan arrived, Yan Qing was finishing the training of everyone in the Yan family army.

Everyone saw him coming and greeted him one after another. Yan Qing handed the gun to Hongzhuang, and while cleaning his hands, he asked Meng Shulan in front of him: "Have you talked to the Holy One?"

Meng Shulan was startled for a moment, but then felt normal again.

Just as he knew Yan Qing well, Yan Qing also knew him well.

She knew that she would definitely go to the emperor to ask for an explanation.

"When do you plan to leave?"

Meng Shulan had many things to ask, but when it came to her mouth, she gave in.

Yan Qing paused for a moment, put the hand towel back on the shelf, and then said: "Originally, I planned to leave overnight after putting down the rebellion, but you brought so many brothers back. If I don't say goodbye to them, I'm afraid it won't be a good meal when we meet again.

nagging."

Meng Shulan's throat rolled down, feeling a little aggrieved: "You want to say goodbye to the brothers, but you don't even want to say a word to me?"

Yan Qing glanced at him doubtfully and asked with a smile: "Why do you think so? Aren't you my brother?"

Meng Shulan choked and felt that she was asking for trouble.

Unable to think of how to deal with Yan Qing, Meng Shulan simply started another topic: "How do you plan to deal with Liu Zhao?"

Speaking of Liu Zhao, Yan Qing's smile faded.

It was not that she had not expected Liu Zhao to rebel.

Wen Zhemao would think of detaining her mother and coercing her, so it was impossible not to prevent herself from losing control. It was very common for Wen Zhemao to find a close confidant around her to act as a backup.

After Yan Qi told her that Liu Zhao's daughter was missing, she actually guessed it.

It's just that Liu Zhao, like Hongzhuang, has been her right-hand man and her confidant all her life.

She could understand Liu Zhao's difficulties, but she couldn't accept his betrayal, even if he was forced to do nothing.

But if she wanted to execute him according to military regulations, Yan Qing could not do so.

In his previous life, Liu Zhao died for her, and he owed him his life.

"Expelled."

Yan Qing spoke lightly, avoiding Meng Shulan's concerned gaze, turning around and walking towards the shed next to the school ground, "Although he was forced, a mistake is a mistake after all. Even if I don't kill him, he won't be able to stay in this military camp.

Got down."

Meng Shulan followed Yan Qing and felt that she had asked a stupid question.

It is true that he was angry at Liu Zhao for actually wielding a knife at Yan Qing, but after all, he was a brother who had worked together for many years, and he had no choice. If he really executed him, he would feel that this was more than enough punishment.

But if there is no punishment, how can we deter others?

What Yan Qing did was considered a light punishment.

But if Liu Zhao is a conscientious person, I am afraid that he will regret this mistake for the rest of his life, and it may not be better than death.

Meng Shulan knew that Liu Zhao's betrayal might be far more painful for Yan Qing than being stabbed in the body.

When Yan Qing went to the frontier with Zhenxihou when she was five years old, Liu Zhao was her escort and sparring partner. He could even be regarded as half of Yan Qing's instructor. Later, he followed Yan Qing through life and death. In addition to Zhenxihou and Yan Xiu, Yan Qing

The person you trust the most is no exaggeration.

By finding this topic on her own, she was undoubtedly adding salt to her scars.

Meng Shulan was a little annoyed, but she heard Yan Qing's calm tone: "Now that he can live a peaceful life with his daughter, there is nothing wrong with it."

Meng Shulan was stunned for a moment. She looked up at Yan Qing and saw that her expression was really calm. She didn't have the slightest hint of loss or anger after being betrayed. She was even a little grateful for such a situation. Meng Shulan couldn't see through it for a moment.

Seeing Meng Shulan stunned, Yan Qing smiled lightly: "We who are soldiers, what we look forward to most is that one day we can no longer eat the wind and drink the dew, and live a peaceful and happy life with our families.

?Although Liu Zhao is not returning home with a golden coat, he can still go home and live a peaceful life."

Meng Shulan was even more confused.

Is she really happy for Liu Zhao?

Meng Shulan hadn't figured out what Yan Qing was thinking, but she heard Yan Qing say: "In the past, I always wondered why it was always trivial and never gave me a chance to show off my talents."

"But several battles made me understand that it was the best time to not have a chance to show off my skills."

Yan Qing smiled self-deprecatingly, with a smile that did not reflect the vicissitudes of his age.

The loneliness and bitterness in her eyes made Meng Shulan suddenly remember that night when she was at the tomb of Marquis A Xiu and she whispered to him: "The living must continue to go down."
Chapter completed!