The next morning, Xue Shao got up early, but Qing Rong saw no one.
As soon as the gate of the workshop opened, Qing Rong sent someone to send a message to Wei Mansion. Princess Chang Ning's reply came very quickly, and the day was set for the afternoon.
Qingrong couldn't help but curse, was Princess Chang Ning so anxious to see her?
As soon as I arrived at the gate of Wei Mansion, I was waiting for a well-dressed lady in charge. It seemed that I had been waiting for a long time. She greeted her with a smile, came forward to greet her, and her attitude was very polite. She took Qingrong to Princess Ning's yard.
.
Qingrong has been to this place once before. Even if it is just a courtyard, it has a luxurious atmosphere and exquisite buildings. However, it has only been less than a year, but it has become more desolate and deserted. Qingrong saw it when he entered the house.
I saw a woman dressed in fine clothes, with no makeup on her face, and she really looked a bit sickly.
Princess Chang Ning was sitting by the window. When she saw Qingrong coming, she raised her eyes and took a look. The look in her eyes was very complicated. When Qingrong saw it, her heart tightened and she hurriedly stepped forward and bowed her head in salute.
But her tone was calm, "Come and sit."
Qingrong stood up to thank her and sat down as she was told.
She looked at Qingrong with sharp eyes and smiled meaningfully, "I didn't expect that I had underestimated you before. Your ability is far beyond my expectation."
Qingrong didn't understand what she meant by this, and said hurriedly: "I don't dare, I don't know what the princess means."
"Although I am far away in the fiefdom, I am not completely ignorant of what is going on in the capital. I have heard to some extent what you said in front of the queen... Anyway, I still want to thank you."
Qingrong suddenly felt dumbfounded. She was actually having trouble with the Weiboqin couple. She did this on purpose. She mistakenly thought that she was on her side and wanted to win over her, right?
Qingrong had no choice but to say respectfully: "I don't dare. The sage and the queen will decide on matters in the court. I don't dare to go beyond the rules."
Chang Ning snorted, as if he was dissatisfied with Qingrong's prudent attitude. "You don't have to be humble. It seems that during my absence, the people and things here are not what they used to be."
Qingrong smiled and said, "Time has changed, and there are always some changes."
"Times have changed and things have changed." Chang Ning recited these words silently, and then said to himself: "I heard that good things are coming for Liulang of the Xue family. It is true that things in the world are unpredictable. Now he accepts it happily."
It seemed that Chang Ning was still dissatisfied with Xue Yan because of the previous incident. Qingrong knew that she was aggrieved for Princess Ming, but the deceased was gone, and bringing up the old things now would only add to the sadness and resentment.
When Qingrong heard the words, she lowered her head and didn't know how to answer.
Chang Ning glanced at Qingrong expressionlessly and said bluntly, "Don't worry, I know what's going on, and I won't involve anyone else." She paused, and her tone was a little complicated, "Just seeing you, I always
Somewhat emotional."
The last time Chang Ning saw Qingrong before leaving Beijing was also... the last time he saw her.
Seeing this, Qingrong knew that she was remembering the bad things she had done before, so she said cautiously: "I feel the same way when I see the princess again."
After a while, Chang Ning seemed to have fallen into a brief memory, and her face also had a look of surprise.
…
If she hadn't helped Yuan Min sneak out of the city, and Prince Yong didn't want the matter to escalate, so he sent Prince Consort Xiao to secretly send palace soldiers to look for Yuan Min, but it aroused the suspicion of the saint, then Prince Yong's palace would have had such a disaster! Now like this...
She is also to blame.
But if Yuan Min didn't leave, I'm afraid she wouldn't be able to escape punishment. So what if she just escaped. Now her whereabouts are unknown, and her life and death are uncertain. She, a weak and helpless woman, doesn't know what kind of situation she has fallen into! Thinking of this, Chang Ning
I often can't sleep at night.
She begged the saint to give him a lighter sentence, but the saint refused to see her. In frustration, she refused to stay in the capital, so she went to the fiefdom with her consort.
But she has been sending people to investigate in Xizhou, and now she has a little frown. Xue Yan has exchanged letters with Xizhou, once a month, and has never stopped, which also gave her some speculations. Plus Weber
Something happened to Qin again, and he might not be able to keep his position as the crown prince. Naturally, she couldn't miss this great opportunity, and she soon made plans to return to the capital.
Chang Ning endured these words and kept them in his heart, never telling anyone.
When Qingrong saw this, he felt a little strange. Chang Ning must have had other intentions when he asked him to come, right? Could it be that Xue Yan was related?
She really guessed it right. Chang Ning came to her this time because it was related to Xue Yan.
Qingrong tried to think back, but she really didn't think there was anything weird about Xue Yan. Besides, she didn't have much contact with Xue Yan, so how could she know about him? Qingrong shook her head, "I... really don't know."
The matter was related to Yuan Min, and Chang Ning was also a little anxious. She said in a somewhat impatient tone: "Do you really not know, or are you just pretending to be stupid here?"
Qingrong lowered her head, "I dare not deceive the eldest princess. I really don't know. Now that the eldest princess is aware of it, what clues have been found? What is the situation over there in Xizhou?"
Chang Ning was choked and felt a little confused for a moment. If she wanted to know, she would ask Qing Rong to find out. "This matter is important. You probably don't know yet. Xue Yan has done some shameful things in private. It is very likely that
Harboring criminals!"
When Qingrong heard this, she couldn't help being shocked. She raised her eyes and looked at Chang Ning, maintaining her calmness, "The eldest princess has no proof, how can she..."
Chang Ning interrupted her and said, "Proof? With the current situation of the Xue family, do you know what the consequences will be for harboring the guilty minister? Can you still stand in front of me and talk to me like this?"
Of course she knew that she was afraid of causing the family to be destroyed!
Qingrong's mind suddenly turned. She was related to Xue Yan and could make Chang Ning so interested. That was the only person... Could it be that she wasn't dead? What's in it? Qingrong calmed down and just looked at Chang Ning and said: "
I don’t dare, but I think the eldest princess must also know the consequences of not reporting what she knows, not to mention it is related to the guilty minister, does the eldest princess think that the saint will tolerate it?”
I'm afraid she didn't need to say much about the situation in the court. She finally came back through Li Jin's guilt and pity. Even if Chang Ning was Li Jin's sister, she probably wouldn't dare to gamble with this.
"you!"
Qingrong's face did not change and she said calmly: "Eldest Princess, please calm down. I just want to remind you that such things cannot be said nonsense." If it is true, I am afraid that no one related to it can be saved.
Chang Ning was a little angry when she saw that Qingrong didn't accept this trick, but now she was the only one who could use it. She suppressed the tone in her heart and slowed down her tone and said: "Since you and I have talked about this, then I also
To tell you the truth, the Master of Ming County may not be dead, but I don’t know what her situation is in the Western Regions now, and Xue Yan seems to know something. Now that she is in his hands, I can’t do anything, and I can’t openly ask him to question her.
, you are also a member of the Xue family, if you were careful to pay attention, would you not get the slightest bit of information?"
Sure enough! Qingrong was still surprised when she heard what she said, but she still said cautiously: "Is it related to Xue Yan? This is just the eldest princess's guess. There is no evidence, so how can we confirm it?
Isn’t it because we are not convinced enough that we dare not act rashly?”
Chang Ning was exposed and couldn't help but roll her eyes, "Xizhou is currently in raging war. Yuan Min is lonely and helpless in Xizhou. I just want to find her whereabouts quickly and make sure that she is okay. Even if he really has nothing to do with it, this
Apart from Xue Yan, I'm afraid no one else will know about it! Even if there is even a half chance, I don't want to give up."
Although she and Yuan Min are cousins, they have been close since childhood. Yuan Min is closer to her than the princesses in the palace. Now that her whereabouts and life and death are unknown, how can she feel at ease!
It was Xizhou again, Qingrong couldn't help but fell into deep thought after hearing the words.
"Has the eldest princess sent someone to look for her?"
Chang Ning said: "There are people asking about it, but there is no news."
Qingrong looked at Chang Ning's somewhat depressed expression and suddenly had an idea.
"The eldest princess is so open for people to look for, aren't you afraid of being discovered? Xizhou is thousands of miles away from the capital, and Youdao is beyond reach. If too many people get involved in such a secret matter, it will definitely cause trouble.
Trouble arose."
Chang Ning also knows this truth, but she can't go to the barren, desolate and war-torn place of Xizhou in person, right? Wouldn't that be more eye-catching?
Qingrong looked calm and said thoughtfully: "I can help the eldest princess."
Chang Ning was surprised and said, "You?"
"yes."
Chang Ning stared at her for a long time and said suspiciously: "Why should I trust you?"
"The eldest princess also said that the matter is important. No matter for the eldest princess, the Xue family, or the princess whose life or death is unknown, there is no room for any mistakes. If you are not careful, it will be a disaster. Not to mention the eldest princess.
Aren’t you also anxious to know the princess’ whereabouts?”
Chang Ning was a little shaken, "So what? What kind of place is Xizhou? No matter how much you want the wind and the rain in Yongcheng, when you go there, you have to put your tail between your legs and be a human being. Do you have this ability?"
Qingrong's tone was calm, "I really don't dare to guarantee it."
Chang Ning snorted, still quite aware of the current affairs.
"Since the eldest princess understands the situation now, how could she not know that Xizhou is a vast territory and the situation is complicated. Naturally, the power of servants and guards alone is not enough."
Chang Ning looked at her, frowned, and couldn't help but ask, "What do you want?"
"I have no ill intentions, I just want to make a deal with the eldest princess, but I don't know what the eldest princess wants."
Chang Ning looked at her suspiciously, but still said: "Tell me and listen."
…
The next day, the eldest princess Chang Ning had her hair and face re-dressed, and finally ended her days of recuperation at home. She cleared away her depression and entered the palace again.
At this time, Li Jin was sitting on the rope bed in the Mingguang Hall. Seeing Chang Ning regain his former expression, he smiled and said loudly: "I didn't know that the expert Mrs. Lu introduced to Chang Ning was so effective. In just a few days,
, can help Chang Ning relieve depression."
Chang Ning looked at the brother in front of her who still behaved calmly, but his eyes were no longer as kind and friendly as before, and she felt complicated for a moment. Now, she should understand that they are not only brothers and sisters, but also monarchs and ministers, and the previous friendship has to give in.
Under this status of king and minister, no one can overstep his bounds.
Chang Ning also smiled and said, "Actually, I am not seriously ill at all. Fortunately, His Majesty treats me favorably and takes it very seriously. How can Chang Ning not get better soon and meet the Holy Spirit as soon as possible to express my gratitude to the Emperor for his kindness?"
After leaving Beijing, her temperament also calmed down a bit. Li Jin also felt it, but it was not a surprise, and he accepted her words with a smile.
"I recently got a calligraphy treasure, and I want to show it to Your Majesty for appreciation. Your Majesty has mentioned this person before, but he doesn't want to be a painter in the palace, and only wants to stay among the people. I wonder if Your Majesty still has an impression of it now?"
Li Jin had a vague impression, "Is it... Lin Quzi?"
Chang Ning smiled and nodded. She asked her maid to come forward and unfold a long scroll in front of the palace. Surprise flashed in Li Jin's eyes, and he stood up and took a closer look. "The man dancing with the gun in this painting is very special."
look familiar."
Chang Ning said with a smile: "Your Majesty may not know, but it is a coincidence that this Lin Quzi actually knew Mrs. Lu. He once praised the general Zhonglang's spear dance, so he painted this painting on purpose. I have also heard about Lin Quzi.
I was curious about the reputation of Quzi. My wife felt that my home was boring when I was recovering from illness, so she brought it for me to see to relieve my depression. I was very amazed when I saw this painting. My wife was generous and was willing to give this painting to me, but I
I still remembered that Your Majesty also mentioned this person and admired his paintings very much, so I brought him here."
Li Jin nodded and smiled when he heard this, and said with satisfaction: "You are really thoughtful."
"If Your Majesty likes it, I will not come here in vain." Chang Ning said with a smile: "The martial arts of this lieutenant general is unparalleled, and his painting skills are even more proficient. How can I dare to hide my secrets with such fine characters?"
, specially dedicated to the saint."
Li Jin couldn't help but sigh with emotion, "General Zhonglang is indeed excellent in martial arts and has a strong posture."
Chang Ning nodded and said yes with a smile.
At this time, light footsteps came from the direction of the palace door, and a young eunuch walked in quickly and handed over the paper, "Your Majesty, urgent report from the frontier."
Li Jin frowned when he heard this and reached out to take it. After reading it, his frown became even tighter.
Seeing this, Chang Ning asked one more question, "Your Majesty, has there been a turn for the better in the border war?"
Li Jin shook his head and said in a heavy voice: "Tubo came back to support and attacked the main army, forming a siege. Our army suffered heavy losses."
"Your Majesty, eldest princess." A gentle voice came from outside the palace. Chang Ning turned around and saw the queen walking over with a bulging belly.
Chang Ning stepped forward and bowed, and the queen smiled and told her not to be polite, "Princess looks much better now. I heard that you entered the palace, so I thought of coming to see you."
Chang Ning nodded and smiled, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. Your Highness is pregnant with Liujia, so how can you run away because of me?"
The queen smiled, and her eyes fell on the long painting, "It's okay just to go out for a walk." Then she turned to look at the saint, saw his frown, and asked: "Your Majesty, what are you doing here?"
What happened?"
Li Jin walked directly over and handed her the defeat, saying without hesitation, "See for yourself."
After the queen read it, her face gradually became serious. She said with relief: "Your Majesty, don't worry too much. Tubo is just returning aid. As time goes by, the imperial court will send more troops to help fight and relieve the siege."
Chang Ning was surprised when he heard this. Why were these words the same as what Qingrong said the day before yesterday...
Li Jin nodded silently, that was the only plan for now.
Suddenly the queen asked: "Who is the person in this painting?"
Chang Ning said: "Zhonglang General Xue Shao."
"Oh? It's actually him." The queen thought thoughtfully.
Seeing the opportunity, Chang Ning was thinking about how to speak. She smiled at Li Jin and said, "Yes, why did the saint forget the general Zhonglang?"