- Ling Li jumped off his horse, then untied the chains that bound Mo Ye's hands and feet, hung one end of the saddle and dragged the other end to the ground. Then he returned the scythe that belonged to Mo Ye to her, and then took her to find a thorn bush nearby and burrow into it.

Mo Ye clenched the thick iron long scythe in one hand, and the familiar feel made her feel a lot more at ease in her heart, and the idea of sneak attack was about to move.

At this time, her limbs were free, and she had a sharp weapon in her hand, and she waited patiently for several days, and finally waited for such a good opportunity...... It's a pity, I don't know how powerful the person who came after me is, if they can fight and lose in the end, it will be great.

She was thinking so in her heart, and a "clang" sound came from far and near. She looked intently, and sure enough, she saw the two officials she had met in the inn before. They were still escorting the prisoner in shackles, their heavy chains dragging across the grass, making only a slight crisp sound when they hit the scattered stones.

The prisoner's outfit has not changed, but his mental outlook is completely different from before, how can he look like he has been tortured for half a minute?

Mo Ye looked sideways at the killer who was squatting beside him, and wanted to ask him with his eyes, was it these people, but he didn't want to look at it at a glance......

He...... Did you run first?

Mo Ye was taken aback, just now she paid too much attention to the three people who were slowly approaching not far away, but ignored the movement beside her.

If these three people came to chase and kill her, how could she resist it alone? The killer said he wanted her to help, but in fact he asked her to be a substitute for the dead? As he just said, when he comes to collect a corpse afterwards, he can also sell it at a discount, and he will not lose anything.

Mo Ye sighed silently in his heart: still as the killer said, he is used to a stable living environment, so he will have some unrealistic ideas. There is no faith at all with the outlaws, and all that can be discussed is the pros and cons.

But the level of holding a knife by himself is too poor, for ordinary people. Self-defense is enough, but if you are facing these killers who lick blood on the knife, you will have too few opportunities to choose, making you more passive.

With one block three. Approaching the slim chance of winning, Mo Ye didn't want to gamble. Even if she had to gamble, she preferred to pick the one with a better chance of winning, hoping that the traces left by the two horses would be able to deceive the three of them.

It was only then that she understood why the killer had not let her ride at first, and then dragged her in shackles to the saddle and dragged her to the ground, just to imitate the trail of their walk.

Judging by the situation, as early as when he stayed in the hotel, the killer had already noticed the strangeness of these three people. It's just that why can't she see anything unusual in the slightest?

――――

In the cloister of the royal garden where the palace lights are gradually rising. Wang Hong's face gradually turned cold, and there was a thick tiredness in his eyes. After sitting at the water-stained stone table under the hexagonal pavilion for a long time, he took a deep breath, got up slowly, and slowly walked to the warm pavilion to look at his father again. Then he came out slowly, dragging heavy steps towards Huayang Palace.

After Wang Hong slowly left from the east gate of the royal garden where the warm pavilion was located, not long after, two palace maids came in from the north gate of the garden, each carrying a lantern with a glass lampshade in their hands, and then Concubine De's phoenix robe and deerskin thick-soled boots stepped in.

When she was still a dozen steps away from the door of the warm pavilion, Concubine De waved her hand and left all the palace people who were serving around her in the corridor. She walked lightly into the warm pavilion alone.

After Wang Chi returned to the palace, he did not rest in the dormitory, but rested in the warm pavilion of the South Compound, which was also a choice to follow the instructions of the imperial doctor.

The South Compound is not very large, but it is very quiet, because the guards here are very strict, if His Majesty xià needs a quiet environment. Dozens of shadow guards in the South Compound can clean up the noise sources within a hundred steps outside the courtyard at any time.

It is also for this reason that even if there are palace people passing by this area, they have to deliberately bypass it. Because the palace people didn't know when His Majesty was inside, when he needed to be quiet, and the tribe sent those bat-like men in black to clean up the four fields. If you don't pay attention, you are like a rabbit and you are picked up by an eagle. Far away.

After the news of Wang Chi's return to the palace spread, several people came to visit, but they couldn't cross the outer wall of the South Compound, and they were invited away by several people in black.

More than ten years ago, when Wang Chi was still guarding the border in northern Xinjiang, he had a wife, married several concubines, and had a total of two daughters and three sons. The eldest son died at an early age, the third son was not at home all the year round, and the youngest daughter was still sitting outside the big family of the palace, still worrying about how to recruit him. Now in the palace, Wang Chi's closest people are only his eldest daughter Wang Qing, his second son Wang Hong, and then his favorite concubine Xiao Wanting.

For these three people, of course, the shadow guards of the South Compound can't be stopped.

The second prince, Wang Hong, came back with the emperor. And not long after the emperor rested in the warm pavilion, the princess Wang Qing arrived. But because she saw her father's uncomfortable appearance due to injury, she couldn't stop crying, Wang Hong was worried that she was too sad and seriously injured, so she quickly made the decision and persuaded her to go back to her dormitory with two grandmothers.

As for why Concubine De is late, it can be understood that husband and wife always need to have a solitary environment before they can talk about themselves.

What's more, the second prince didn't stay in the warm pavilion for long, and after careful calculation, Concubine De was only half an hour late.

There are only three palace people serving in the warm pavilion, but at this time, the emperor Wang Chi, who is sleeping on the imperial couch, does not need to serve anything, as long as the environment continues to be quiet.

The three palace people in the warm pavilion saluted Concubine De silently, and after getting up, they were pointed out by her outside the pavilion with a look.

There are only two people in the room, one bedroom and one standing, Concubine Xiao Wanting stood three steps away from the couch, quietly looking at the emperor's husband who was sleeping evenly with a snort, so after a while, she took the three steps closer, squatted down close to the edge of the couch, and gently held the hand that her husband put outside the brocade quilt.

Wang Chi, who was still aching in his chest and abdomen, actually slept very lightly, and felt his hand being held by something warm and wet—anything that came into contact with him at this time would make him feel a little uncomfortable—so he closed his eyes and struggled with only a subconscious.

His sudden subtle movement really startled Xiao Wanting.

After a while, after confirming that her husband's shaking of his hand was just an unconscious move, Xiao Wanting breathed a sigh of relief, but her mood was still a little disturbed. Putting her husband's hand back into the brocade quilt and tucking the corners of the quilt on both sides of his shoulder, Xiao Wanting stood up from the couch, with a hint of complexity in her eyes.

Did you just dream?

In your dream, who did you think was holding your hand?

Or should I say, when I hold your hand. Is it me who you see in your dreams?

Xiao Wanting asked three questions in her heart at one time, and these three questions did not make a half-word sound from her mouth, which was a bit like asking her husband Wang Chi. It's a bit like questioning a role he plays in the Wang family.

After standing so quietly for a long time, Xiao Wanting made a move, raised her hands hanging by her side and rubbed them.

These hands shook her husband's hand just now, but it didn't seem to bring down the slightest warmth.

I don't know if it's because my husband's always fiery hand has been a little cold since he returned tonight because of his injury; Or is it because when she held his hand just now, he suddenly struggled, and then broke away the softness and warmth in her heart......

Spit out the truth after drinking, and speak more truthfully in dreams.

Although Wang Chi's action just now was very slight and short-lived.

But for Xiao Wanting, it was equivalent to a message from the bottom of his heart...... Refuse.

This is a trace of panic and sorrow that Xiao Wanting has hidden in the deepest part of her heart and is also the most difficult to erase since marrying Wang Chi for 14 years.

Although with the death of the woman, she had no need to worry anymore, because the cause of the panic might put her position in jeopardy. But after that woman disappeared from this world. Not long after she was happy, Xiao Wanting became frightened and sad again.

Because she found that the woman's soul lived in Wang Chi's heart, and she was powerless to do anything or change anything about it.

How to kill that trace of soul that lives in the depths of Wang Chi's heart?

Xiao Wanting lowered her eyes slightly, her eyes fell on her lower abdomen, where a phoenix feather was embroidered on the fabric, layered and colorful. The tip of the phoenix feather is also strung with an oval piece of gold leaf. A pearl is embedded in the middle of the gold leaf. For the comfort of dressing, it should not be too heavy, so the pearl particles on the clothes are not large, but they must have enough years of growth to be shiny and bright.

This set of gorgeous costumes is still last year's Midyear Festival. A tribute jointly offered by Jiangnan silk merchants and large pearl farmers in Bilian Lake.

However, it is said to be a tribute, just looking at the fine size of this dress, it is obvious that it is a dress specially tailored for Xiao Wanting.

Regarding the faintly revealed rank of this gorgeous costume, other nobles and concubines in the palace could not wear it, but Xiao Wanting, one of the four concubines, wore this gorgeous costume. After that, there was still no sealing.

I don't know if it's because Wang Chi is too busy with state affairs, or because he has a rough attitude towards the affairs of the harem, except for a few mentions by officials of the Ministry of Rites, he added a few noble concubines to the harem in the several drafts held in the early years, and there was no action beyond that. Let those new women enter the palace be gentle and elegant, or graceful and graceful, or flowery...... Wang Chi is still fortunate to be few, and none of those women have been promoted.

- Of course, this may have something to do with their stomachs. When it comes to this kind of thing, in fact, Xiao Wanting has some "credit" that cannot be pushed away.

Although Wang Chi's third son often does not return home and does not know where he lives in the world, his second son Wang Hong has always lived in the palace and stayed by the emperor's side. If it weren't for the fact that this Second Highness has been sick and weak, it is obvious that he is very likely to be the prince.

There are also some officials in the court who have another suspicion in private, if it weren't for the fact that His Majesty has a third prince, maybe the second prince would be established as a prince early even if he was sick and weak. In any case, none of the two princes has been crowned a king fief, and the possibility of this kind of fiefdom is balanced.

Today, this equilibrium may remain the same, and both princes have reached the age when they really start studying the matter. To His Majesty's relief, His Royal Highness's physical condition gradually improved. The officials of the Ministry of Rites had a headache and couldn't figure out His Majesty's intentions.

As far as the country's plans are concerned, although His Royal Highness's physical condition is much stronger than in the past, there are still hidden worries.

The daily workload of being an emperor is very large, and people often talk about the emperor's fine clothes and fine food, food to open his mouth, and clothes to stretch his hands, but strictly speaking, this set of service regulations is to allow a monarch to have a healthier physique and more time to deal with state affairs, not just for enjoyment.

To be a hard-working monarch, you can't do without a good physical foundation. On the other hand, the kings of previous dynasties were heroic and imposing when they first ascended the throne, but perhaps after a few years, they were sick. Exhausted.

Occasionally, the members of the court have important events to enter the palace to play His Majesty, or when His Majesty goes elsewhere, sometimes they need to ask the Second Highness to find it. The palace is His Majesty's home, and only his family can move around at will. Few years. Most of the officials in the DPRK are no strangers to the second highness who lives in a simple place, and they are also full of praise for his character, but ...... Regarding the matter of sealing the storage, everyone has a trace of concern in their hearts.

A healthy person can wear himself out like this when he becomes an emperor, let alone what will happen to a person who is already in poor health, after sitting in that position.

As for the Third Highness, he can live a life of traveling all over the world all year round, and his body is naturally speechless. But he has too little time to return to the palace, and another question is highlighted, what is his character and ability to govern the country? Officials of the Ministry of Rites could hardly find any basis for thinking about this.

But in any case, for the emperor's domestic affairs, the aim of the courtiers has changed. A few years ago, they instigated the Ministry of Rites to find a way to hold a draft gift for the emperor, but the intention has long been outdated. The ministers of the court, even the Ministry of Rites, jumped in, just waiting for the decision of His Majesty Xià Lichu, and the affairs of the harem were almost no longer mentioned, and they were getting colder and colder.

Maybe when the crown prince is decided, the harem will be lively again because of the prince's choice of concubine.

But. If you observe the root cause of the desertion of the harem from a woman's perspective, Concubine Xiao Wanting has always thought in her heart that Emperor Wang Chi's feelings for the newly elected ladies and beauties in the palace are relatively weak, and the main reason is that the area in his heart where he puts his feelings has long been occupied by a woman. It's hard to get there even yourself, let alone those newcomers who have only seen Wang Chi a few times.

Because there is already someone in the heart. will not envy other flowers and plants. Other than that, everything is nothing. Wang Chi will only turn forty years old this year, and others are still in their prime, how can they not need women? Xiao Wanting couldn't help but be resentful and firmly believed that it could only be the shadow of the woman in his heart who was doing trouble!

But how to do it. To kill a soul that dwells in a person's heart?

As far as the overall situation in the harem is concerned, the woman closest to Wang Chi is her, and Wang Chi also gave her the highest rank and favor among the women of the harem, but she is still unable to achieve the goal of replacing that woman and completely possessing him.

Regarding this result that made her helpless, sad and resentful, Concubine Xiao Wanting not only hated the woman who still occupied Wang Chi even if she died, but she was also a little cruel to herself, hating herself for being different from those newcomers in the harem, and she was really angry.

Concubine De Xiao Wanting, who was standing one step in front of the imperial couch, gradually lowered her eyes, and slowly raised her right hand and pressed it on her lower abdomen. As the thoughts in her mind fluctuated, her long, slender and evenly textured hand slowly grasped the gold leaf inlay beads on the piece of brocade, and clenched it tighter and tighter, so tight that the bones of her hand were craggy, and the cyan meridians that were originally deep under the white skin on the back of her hand suddenly became extremely clear.

This hand, which could have given people infinite tenderness and blind imagination, became a little hideous at this moment.

Emperor Wang Chi would stay at Concubine Xiao Wanting for about three to five nights every month, and such a frequency was simply a pampered treatment for the newcomers in the harem who had only been selected in recent years.

Xiao Wanting herself also knew very well in her heart that Wang Chi would spend about ten nights every month in the busy night of reviewing and reciting in the imperial study, and he could still allocate three to five nights to come to her, which was already a great honor, and she should have been content.

But she was not satisfied.

After that miscarriage thirteen years ago, she planted an unwilling seed in her heart, and with the emptiness of her belly for more than ten years, the malicious seed has sprouted and grown leaves, and now it has stretched out its branches.

If she can also give birth to a child for Wang Chi, perhaps because of a mother's love and care for her child, this seed full of anxiety and resentment will naturally wither.

But she couldn't.

Over the years, she has worked hard to do many things, one of the most important things for Wang Chi is that she took the initiative to take care of and raise the second prince Wang Hong in her early years, and took care of Wang Hong, who was a minor illness for three days and a major illness for half a month, as her own son.

But even so, watching Wang Hong grow up year by year, it still can't make up for the physical and mental shortcomings caused by her inability to be a mother.

has lived in such an emotional absence for more than ten years, as if the favor given to her by Wang Chi has also changed, and it has become no longer a love that makes her feel sweet, but a kind of pity that makes her feel sour, and even a charity that makes her feel tired.

Without children, there is no love that needs to be waited for and precipitated, and she began to chase the lingering and uncertain hatred in her heart.

How can we completely dispel the soul that lives in Wang Chi's heart?

After more than ten years of observation and consideration, Concubine Xiao Wanting gradually firmly believed that it was necessary to scrape all the ties left by that woman in the world, so that it was possible for Wang Chi to really forget that woman.

A chill appeared in Xiao Wanting's slightly lowered eyes, and it gradually dissipated after a long time.

Let's wait a few more days.

When Li Gai, the commander of the fifth group, leaves Beijing, with the prime minister's ability to do things, even if he does not have military power, he can still paralyze the activity speed of the members of the fifth group, and forgive the remnant who is unable to fly