In Murong Ke's eyes, and only in Murong Ke's eyes, his son's newly cast crown was like a heavy burden, weighing heavily on his head.

The crown of the King of the North was lost a thousand years ago, when the Northern Underworld City submitted to the Moyi family. At that time, Bu Yangchang, the patriarch of the Buyang family, dedicated the crown to the royal family, and no one knew what the Moyi family would do with the crown.

Now, with a long and distant memory, more than a dozen blacksmiths have used their lives to recreate the crown of the king of the north, as described in the story, making Bu Yang Fei look like the ancestor of the Buyang family.

A bronze crown with ancient runes engraved on it, and seven black iron spikes in the shape of long swords stand tall in it. This crown has no gold, no silver, no jewels, only steel and bronze, dark and hard, which is the style of the Buyang family.

Today was the first time that Bu Yangfei was called the queen, and a group of people were waiting for the prisoners in the hall of Wanghai City.

Murong Ke saw Bu Yangfei push the crown back and place it on his thick black hair. It didn't take long for him to pull forward again, and then spin around, as if it would make him more comfortable to wear.

Wearing a crown is not an easy task. Murong Ke watched and thought, she wasn't sure if her teenage son really understood this.

What does it mean to be king? Murong Ke knew it very well in his heart. This means that the Buyang family cannot fail, and failure is a full beheading, and any of the son's subordinates can re-swear allegiance, but the king cannot change his word. And Murong Ke has lost her husband, and at this time she just wants her two daughters to return safely.

In this way, will Guangming City let her daughter back?

In the midst of Murong Ke's cranky thoughts, the prisoner brought.

When the prisoner brought in, he ordered to take the sword. Yu Wenguang put the hilt of the sword in front of him, handed it over, and took out the sword in Buyangfei, placing it horizontally on his knees, the intention of the demonstration was very obvious.

"Your Majesty, this is the person you want. The commander of the guards of Wanghai City announced loudly.

"Come and kneel, don't you kneel down quickly when you see the king?" Yuwen Guang drank, and the commander of the Murong family's guards pressed the prisoner to him.

The person who came didn't have the appearance of the Qingqiu family at all, Murong Ke thought secretly. The mother of this prisoner named Qingqiu Youwei is the younger sister of Qingqiu Lingli, and he took his mother's surname.

But he did not inherit the Qingqiu family's famous handsome beauty in the slightest, but instead inherited the physical signs of his father Xiahou Wu, the second son of Lord Xiahou Lei, with slender brown hair, a short chin, a thin face, pale eyes, and a blinking eye. Maybe it's because of the light, the dungeon under Wanghai City is dark and damp...... Recently, it has been overcrowded again.

"Qingqiu is promising, get up. The son's voice was not as cold as his father's, but it was not like a teenager. It must have been the war that forced him to come of age early.

The sword resting across his lap reflected the morning light, its blade glittering.

However, it was not the sword that made Qingqiu Youwei anxious and panicked, but the snow wolf. The son named it "North Wind", and its body was as big as a giant deer, with no fat, black fur, and eyes like molten gold. It came and went freely in the court, and when it came to Qingqiu Youwei, it sniffed, and everyone in the hall could smell the breath of fear.

Qingqiu Youwei was captured in an ambush in the forest, and he saw with his own eyes that the north wind had bitten the throats of at least five or six people.

Qingqiu Youwei staggered to his feet and hurriedly retreated, causing several onlookers to laugh. "Thank you, sir. ”

"It's called 'Your Majesty'!" Duanmu Shan shouted angrily. Among the northern princes who are flying forward, he is the loudest...... He is also the most loyal and brave, at least his son thinks so and insists on it. He was the first person to honor her son as the king of the north, so naturally no one could afford to be disrespectful to his new king.

"Your Majesty," Qingqiu Youwei hurriedly changed his words, "I beg your pardon." ”

This person is not brave, Murong Ke thought to himself, seriously, he is more like a member of the Xiahou family than the Qingqiu family. Changing to his cousin 'King Slayer' Qingqiu Youyong must be another attitude. Even if it is the north wind, it must not be able to force Qingqiu Youyong's pretty mouth to spit out the word "Your Majesty".

"I released you from prison because I asked you to help me deliver a letter to Guangming City and give your cousin Qingqiu Yourong. You will fly the banner of peace, and I will send thirty of my men to escort you. ”

Qingqiu Youwei breathed a sigh of relief, "I am happy to send a letter to the Queen Mother on behalf of Your Majesty, I will definitely live up to my mission." ”

"But you know," Bu Yangfei said, "I didn't set you free. Your grandfather, Lord Xiahoulei, led the whole clan to surrender to me, and your cousins and uncles fought bravely for me in the forest, but you chose to fight for the Qingqiu family. In this case, you are a member of the Qingqiu family, not the Xiahou family. I want you to swear in your honor that as soon as the letter is delivered, you will return here with the Queen Mother's reply and continue to be a prisoner. ”

Qingqiu Youwei didn't think about it and immediately replied: "I swear here." ”

Murong Ke immediately judged that this person was lying. Even brave people, faced with a life-or-death moment, must think a little. And this Qingqiu Youwei answered so calmly and quickly about his life, but he just wanted to slip away.

But Bu Yangfei did not question it.

"Everyone in the hall heard your words," Murong Ke's younger brother Murong De warned the other party. Since his father was critically ill, he was now speaking on behalf of Wanghai City. "If you go and don't return, nearly half of the world will spurn you for going back on your ways. ”

"I'm a man who does what he says. Qingqiu Youwei said stubbornly, "What kind of message do you want me to bring?"

"My peace conditions. Bu Yangfei stood up with the long sword in his hand, and the north wind immediately ran back to him, and the whole hall was silent. "You go back and tell the Queen Mother Regent that as long as she agrees to my terms, I will put away this sword and put an end to the dispute between them. ”

Murong Ke caught a glimpse of the back of the hall, where the tall and haggard Lord Nalan Gangfeng pushed away the guards behind him and walked out silently, while the others remained motionless. These commotions were ignored by Bu Yangfei. "Bring the letter. He ordered, and the guard took the sword and handed over the letterhead.

Bu Yangfei unfolded the letterhead, "First, the Queen Mother must release my two sisters and let them return from Guangming City by sea. I hereby announce that the marriage contract between Bu Yanglin and Huang Fuzhang is officially dissolved. As soon as I receive news from the north that they have arrived safely in the North Underworld, I will immediately release the Queen Mother's two cousins and escort them safely to Qingqiu City, or wherever she asks. ”

"Second, return the remains of my father immediately, we will fulfill my father's wish, let him rest in the ground with his previous people, and the remains of the guards who followed him to die in the City of Light must also be returned. ”

The living go south, and the dry bones return to the north. Bu Yangchen was right, Murong Ke thought to himself, it was he who instigated his husband who was unwilling to go south at that time. I once said to my husband: You must go, go to Guangming City to be the prime minister, this is not only for the family, but also for our children......

But the ending was that the husband died tragically and the child was in danger. Murong Ke had tears in his eyes, this is all my fault, my fault alone......

"Third, my father's sword 'cold ice' must be sent to Wanghai City and handed over to me. ”

Murong Ke saw his younger brother Murong De, standing beside his son, hooking the hilt of the sword with his thumb, his face as solemn as a stone.

"Fourth, the Empress Dowager must release the spiritual power of her father Qingqiu from our vassal lords captured in the Battle of the Green Fork River. If he does, I will immediately release all the hostages held in the Forest and the Battle of Wanghai City. Except for Aooka Yuyong, I will keep him and make sure his father behaves kindly. ”

"Finally, King Huangfu Chang and the Queen Regent must tell the whole nation to renounce their dominion over the North. From now on, our country will no longer have anything to do with it, but will be an independent kingdom, no different from ancient times. Our territory includes all the Buyang family territories north of the marshlands, as well as the area through which the Trident River and its tributaries flow, from the Golden City in the west to the Mingyue Mountains in the east. ”

"Long live the King of the North!" Duanmu Shan shouted, waving a huge fist like a sea bowl. "Long live the Buyang family! Long live the Buyang family! Long live the king of the north!"

Bu Yangfei rolled up the letter paper and put it in the letter bucket. Then he threw the letter at Qingqiu Youwei's feet, "This is my condition. If she accepts, I will give her peace, and if she does not," Bu Yangfei whistled, and the north wind roared forward, "I will let her see the wolves of the north." ”

"Long live the Buyang family!" Duanmu Shan shouted again, and the others echoed in unison, "Long live the Buyang family!" Long live the Buyang family! Long live the king of the northern realm!"

Qingqiu Youwei's face gradually lost blood, "I will bring your letterhead to the Queen Mother, Your Majesty." ”

"Very late," said Bu Yangfei to the guards, "let him have a full meal, change into clean clothes, and set out early tomorrow morning." ”

"Yes, Your Majesty. The guards left with Qingqiu Youwei.

"Well, that's the end of today's pilgrimage. Bu Yangfei turned to leave, the north wind followed, and the lords and vassals present knelt down one after another. Murong Ke's sister and brother also went out with them.

"You're doing well. In the corridor behind the hall, Murong Ke said to his son, "But letting wolves scare people is not what a monarch should do, but like a child's trick." ”

Bu Yangfei proudly scratched the back of the north wind's ears. "Mother, didn't you just look at his expression?" he asked, smiling.

"I only saw Lord Nalan Gangfeng walk out. ”

"I saw it too. Bu Yangfei took off the crown and handed it to the guards.

"I bet there are quite a few adults here today who share the same opinion as Lord Nalan Gangfeng. The younger brother Murong De said, "Now that the army of the Qingqiu family is scattered all over the southern border like a plague, burning, killing and looting, and doing all kinds of evil, how can we negotiate peace? ”

"We don't have enough troops. Bu Yang Fei said.

"Then we'll sit in Wanghai City and wait for that weasel-like guy to send a reply? I bet he won't get his meat buns and dogs back, and we'll miss the opportunity. Murong De insisted on his opinion. "And our forces are weakening day by day. ”

"Whose responsibility is this?" Murong Ke reprimanded his younger brother. It was because of his younger brother's insistence that the southern vassals leave Wanghai City and go back to defend their respective territories.

"What can I do? I can't ask them to sit in the city, do nothing, and watch their territory fall into flames and their people slaughtered. Murong De said. "Now that even Nalan Gangfeng is gone, if he leaves, it will shake us a lot. ”

"I'll talk to him," Bu Yangfei said, "his two younger brothers died in battle, and he doesn't want to talk to the enemy, who can blame him......?

"No amount of death will bring your father and his brother back to life," Murong Ke said, "We must make peace, and if you are wiser, you should make concessions." ”

"If we give in, we won't be able to survive. Bu Yangfei said.

"Qingqiu Yourong will never agree to exchange your two sisters for her two cousins, you know very well that she can only want Qingqiu Youyong. She had said this to her son a lot, but she found that convincing the king was a different thing than convincing his son.

"I can't release the King Slayer, even if I want to, I can't, more than half of the people in the hall have a grudge against him, and no one will agree. ”

"Your princes have made you king, and they should listen to you. ”

"But they can also take my throne. ”

"If your crown can be exchanged for Bu Yanglin and Bu Yangnan return safely, then thank God. Think about it, how many princes under your command would like to put Qingqiu Youyong in prison to correct the Fa on the spot, in case he has three longs and two shorts in prison, others must think ......"

Then he deserves it. ”

"What about your sister?" Murong Ke asked sharply, "They also deserve it?" I promise you, if there is an accident in Qingqiu Youyong, the Queen Mother will pay for it with blood. ”

"Qingqiu Youyong will not die," Bu Yangfei said. "No one can see him without my permission, he has food and water, and a clean straw bed, and he is said to be so comfortable, but I will never let him go. ”

Murong Ke's heart was cold, Bu Yangfei was his own flesh and blood, and no one could know this child better than him. "Are you not going to let him go or don't you dare to let him go? Are you afraid that you will meet with Qingqiu Youyong on the battlefield one day, right?"

The north wind roared, as if sensing the anger of the steps. Murong De had no choice but to make a move, he patted his sister on the shoulder and said, "Don't do this, this kid did the right thing." ”

"Don't call me 'child'!" Bu Yang turned around to face his uncle, venting all his anger on poor Murong De, God knew that the other party just wanted to help him out of the siege. "I am an adult, and I am your king. I solemnly declare that I am not afraid of the king slaughterer Qingqiu is brave. Since I've already defeated him once, it's okay to do it again. It's just that I wanted to exchange him for my father, but ......"

"But you can't change your sister?" Murong Ke whispered coldly, "Your sister is not important enough, is she?"

Bu Yangfei didn't answer, but there was a hurt look in his eyes.

Murong Ke looked at his son and fell into self-blame again. What the hell is wrong with me? Isn't he just trying his best to be a good king? I know all of this, but I've lost my footsteps, and if I don't even have a daughter, how can this be?

"I will do my best for my sisters," Bu Yangfei said, "as long as the Queen Mother still has a shred of reason, she will accept this condition, otherwise, I will make her regret her decision." He was clearly reluctant to continue the topic. "Mother, you really don't want to live in the Twin Cities, you should stay away from the front line, and at the same time get to know more about the daughters of the Xiahou family, and when the war is over, you can choose a wife for me. ”

He's driving me away!" Murong Ke keenly felt. It seems that being a king really can't have a mother, not to mention that I always say things that I don't like. "Bu Yangfei, you are so old, you can decide which daughter of the Xiahou family you like, you don't need my help. ”

"I can send you a boat, and if the wind is favorable, you will be able to return to the North Underworld in less than a month. Brother Ming needs you. ”

Murong Ke really wanted to ask her son, don't you need me anymore, but she couldn't help but say it. "Your grandfather's time is short, as long as he is still alive on earth, I will stay in the North Underworld to guard him. ”

"I am the king, and I can order you to go. ”

Murong Ke ignored him, with a look that you could try.

Bu Yangfei crouched down beside the north wind, playing with the snow wolf's fur to escape her gaze.

"All right, Mother, as you wish. Shu'er retired first. North wind, let's go. "Bu Yang Fei walked away, and the snow wolf followed suit.

Murong Ke could only watch him leave, it was his son, but now he was also his lord, what a strange feeling. I think he told him to 'call the shots' in the swamp, and now he did so, and he did the same to himself.

"Shall we go see my father?" Murong Ke said to his younger brother.

"Now that Wanghai City has recruited a lot of new recruits, I have to go over and take a look. I'll go back to see him later. ”

Later, maybe my father is no longer alive, Murong Ke thought to himself, but he didn't say it. The younger brother would rather go to war than go to the hospital room.

The dying father's ward was located in the main fort.

In the room on the top floor of the castle, Murong Bo, the lord of Wanghai City, was lying sick in bed, the bed was facing east, and the river and sea were in full view.

When Murong Ke came in, his father was sleeping soundly, his beard and hair were all white, and the color was no different from that of a feather mattress, and the once majestic body was now thin and small by the gradually spreading death qi.

On the side of the bed, sitting quietly was Murong Yuan in Murong Ke's book, he was still wearing chain mail, a cloak and dust, and his boots were covered with dust and dry mud.

"Uncle, you're back, does Fei'er know?"

Murong Yuan is in charge of the reconnaissance force, which is equivalent to the eyes and ears of the flying step.

"Not yet. As soon as I entered the stable, I heard that the king was presiding over the court, so I came straight here. I think the news should be communicated to His Majesty privately. Murong Yuan had gray hair, a slender body, and precise movements, and his clean-shaven face was full of wrinkles and traces of wind and frost.

They sat quietly for a long time, and Murong Bo had no intention of waking up. Finally, Murong Ke raised his head, "You brought the news?"

Murong Yuan stood up, "Go outside and talk about it, don't wake him up." ”

She followed him to the stone balcony, which was triangular in shape, like the bow of a giant ship. Uncle glanced at the sky, "It's all bad news. ”

"How?"

"I'm afraid that the entire southern border is temporarily clean except for Wanghai City, and other places are in chaos. I really shouldn't let the southern vassals go back, and now they are living separately and fighting on their own, it's ridiculous, most of them may no longer be able to be recruited, and I am afraid that there are not a few people left. ”

"Qingqiu Spiritual Power really doesn't care if his son lives or dies?" asked Murong Ke.

"I don't know what to say, but he seems to be provoking us into a showdown. ”

"He doesn't need to be excited, but he can't ask for it," Murong Ke said anxiously, "Trapped here, he is as impatient as a cat in a cage, and the princes around him are desperate for him to fight." ”

The son only won two battles, once in a forest ambush and sneak attack on Qingqiu Youyong, and once when he defeated the ownerless scattered army that surrounded Wanghai City, but in the mouths of the princes and vassals, he was already Mo Yiyan, the crown prince of the Moyi family.

"You are the king's mother, but you can't decide for the king. Murong Yuan said helplessly.

Murong Ke looked back at his father, who was asleep.

There is no one to please again, and now it is the teenage child who just put on the crown yesterday who can make a decision.

She shuddered, and didn't know what to do for a while.