The attendants and maids in the palace learned of Qing Ling's identity, and their words and deeds became more respectful and flattering. Queen Fangshan specially sent a group of well-received maids to the palace to serve Qingling's daily life, and the costumes should be in accordance with the emperor's specifications.

Qingling grew up in Chongwu since he was a child, and his understanding of family etiquette, poetry, music and songs is quite passable, but he has not studied much clothing and hairstyles. What kind of dress with what accessories, what hairstyle and what incense have been popular in Ling Xiaocheng recently, are all explained by the palace maid showing a scroll and holding the clothes and accessories, and she is dazzled and sighs that it is more complicated than the music score she memorized when she was a child......

Queen Fangshan often invited Qingling to sit in Yaohua Palace, asked her about her living situation, and took her to visit several palaces, and selected a future sleeping palace for her according to her preferences.

This queen is the third wife of Emperor Hao, born in a prominent family, and her demeanor has the grace and majesty of a country, but when she gets along with Qingling, her attitude has always been very concerned and close.

Qing Ling felt the meaning of the queen's speech, and she was even more cautious, and she simply said it ambiguously when she couldn't get it right. On the one hand, he did not shy away from saving Mu Chen, and put on a brother-sister attitude of helping each other and taking it for granted, on the other hand, he swore that if Ah Jing and Mu Han needed their help, they would also support them and fulfill their duties as sisters.

On this day, the queen asked Qingling to enter the palace and try on the ceremonial dress.

The dress consists of a set of crimson brocade floor-length skirts and silk and gold fire lotus outer drapes, which are luxurious and noble, and the brilliance is compelling.

Qing Ling stood in front of the mirror and twisted his body a little uncertainly, "This...... Wouldn't it be too ostentatious......"

Queen Fangshan instructed the maid to sort out the waist ornament for Qing Ling and record the places that needed to be modified, and said with a smile: "When I choose the materials, I will take them to Your Majesty, and Your Majesty still thinks that this red color is not bright enough." The celebration of the Centennial Festival begins in the evening and lasts until late at night, and the costumes should be bright and look good under the lights. ”

When they met for the first time, the queen asked Qing Ling what color clothes he liked to wear, and Qing Ling replied truthfully that it was red. Chaoyan was originally still red, and Qingling himself said that he liked it, so when choosing the main color of the dress, the queen naturally decided to be red.

Ah Jing was also called by the queen to help with reference, at this time leaning on the beauty couch, squinting at the dress on Qing Ling's body, and muttering: "It's not married, it's so gorgeous and vulgar?" ”

The last time she had a big fight with Qingling in the palace, she naturally didn't hide it from the queen's ears and eyes.

The queen reprimanded Ah Jing severely, and knew that she had to get along with Qingling at least on the surface. Ah Jing is unwilling in her heart, her father's imperial edict has been issued, and she can only grit her teeth to accept the reality. Fortunately, although she inexplicably has an extra sister, her father's favor for her is still undiminished, and Qingling's reward also has her share, which makes Ah Jing a little relieved.

The two sisters were polite on the surface, and no one mentioned the past holidays anymore. Queen Fangshan worked hard to urge the two of them to release their previous suspicions, and every time she invited Qingling into the palace, she would try her best to summon Ah Jing to accompany her. But as soon as the queen turned around, the two of them stared at each other, and neither of them paid attention to the other.

Qing Ling's ears were keen, and he heard Ah Jing's ridicule clearly, suppressed his anger, and said to the queen of the other mountain: "Since both the father and the queen mother think it is suitable, it must be good." I actually like it, too. ”

After trying the dress, Qingling went to the Chengji Hall to greet Emperor Hao in accordance with the practice of entering the palace. The queen then asked Ah Jing to go with her.

The two walked into the Chengji Hall and saw Emperor Hao sitting in front of the chessboard, holding on to the chess pieces and playing against the person opposite.

Ah Jing was originally full of gloom because she was forced to walk with Qing Ling, but when she saw the person opposite Emperor Hao, the disgust on her face suddenly dissipated, and was replaced by a faint flush, which gradually spread from her cheeks.

Emperor Hao raised his eyes and saw two daughters like flowers and jades, and they saluted in unison like lotus flowers, and his always sharp eyes softened unconsciously, and he raised his hand to signal them to get up.

Luo Yao, who was on the opposite side of the chess case, stood up and saluted Qingling and A Jing, "I've seen two emperors." ”

Ah Jing lowered her eyes and returned the salute, "Shizi." ”

Qing Ling hesitated for a moment, and also learned from Ah Jing's appearance and said politely: "Shizi." ”

Emperor Hao seemed to be in a good mood today, and beckoned Qing Ling to sit beside him, "You came just in time." Your master is proficient in chess, can you help your father see what the situation is in this game? ”

When Qing Ling was in Chongwu, he didn't learn to play chess with Mo Qian very seriously, but he was often pulled to watch the senior brother and the fourth senior brother play against each other, and he watched a lot, and he also found some ways to do it.

She leaned over and sat beside Emperor Hao, bowing her head to study the battle situation on the board.

Ah Jing also walked closer, and said to Emperor Hao in a coquettish voice: "Since my father is playing chess with the son of Baili, why don't you send someone to the mother's harem to say hello, so as to avoid today's greetings?" It also saves us from running over and disturbing my father's Yaxing. ”

Emperor Hao said: "When you meet your opponent in chess, it is difficult to tell the winner for a while, and you are reluctant to give up the game, so you unknowingly delay a lot of time." You have to come and say hello, I know it. But thinking that you children are familiar with each other, there is no need to deliberately avoid it, so I didn't let people pass it on in advance. ”

Qing Ling stared at the chessboard intently for a while, and said to himself: "In this situation, if you think about it, Bai Zi occupied the hinterland at the beginning, and Heizi held the corner and the chess went to the virtual form, Bai Zi had the intention of underestimating the enemy, and attacked all the way, but let his chess shape change from real to virtual. But both sides are masters of layout, and the current chess board is completely evenly matched......"

Emperor Hao listened to Qing Ling guess the game process just now, and his heart was very happy, and asked: "Then according to you, how should my father's white son go now?" ”

Qing Ling shook his head, "I can't see it now." Or you go a few more steps, and let me guess your respective strategies. ”

Emperor Hao picked up the chess piece as he said, thought for a moment, and fell.

Luo Yao's face was calm, and a sunspot also fell.

Ah Jing hesitated for a moment and sat down next to Luo Yao.

Qing Ling held his chin and watched the chess game seriously, but the two people who had no choice but to play against each other were extremely slow, and they could wait for a long time to wait for a round.

She raised her eyes slightly, and her eyes swept over Luo Yao and Ah Jing opposite, but she saw that the two of them were handsome and charming, sitting together just like the golden boy and jade girl mentioned in the play, very right.

Ah Jing also seemed to be paying attention to the chess game, but her eyes glanced at Luo Yao from time to time, and there was a hint of a shy smile on the corner of her mouth. Luo Yao had been concentrating on thinking about countermeasures, but every time he fell, he would look sideways at Ah Jing, as if asking her how she thought of this step.

Qingling is no longer the ignorant Xiaoliu in Chongwu Mountain, and after a little observation, he saw the concubine of the two opposites clearly, and thus thought of his bitter and desperate love, in contrast, he couldn't help but feel sad and uncomfortable.

Emperor Hao pondered the next step, and asked casually and seemingly casually: "In the past few years in Jiuqiu, have there often been private ships going to sea?" ”

After the defeat of Jiuqiu, Emperor Hao ordered a ban on trade between the vassal states and Jiuqiu, cutting off the supply of minerals and corn, so Jiuqiu traders often ventured to the sea to find ways to trade with the Western Continents. The sea route to the Western Continent has always been controlled by the Baili clan, and for sea ships other than Chaoyan, they are usually directly intercepted and sealed.

Luo Yao said: "Back to Your Majesty, there has always been." Last year, a total of 17 smuggler ships from Jiuqiu were intercepted, and the year before that there were 12. ”

Emperor Hao said "um", lowered his head to study the chessboard, and said indifferently: "The imperial marquis is in charge of Daze, and he has always been iron-faced and selfless. It's hard for you and Ning Yan, I must have felt guilty about my mother, right? ”

Luo Yao pondered for a moment and said, "As a child, I naturally want to share my parents' worries. It's a pity that the problem of Jiuqiu can't be solved by letting a few private ships go. ”

Emperor Hao raised his eyes, his eagle-sharp gaze stayed on Luo Yao's face for a moment, seeing that his attitude was always calm and calm, and his joy and anger were invisible, a little praise gradually appeared in his heart, but he only asked calmly on his face: "Then according to your opinion, how to solve the problem of Jiuqiu?" ”

Hearing this, Ah Jing interjected: "Father, you want to inquire about political affairs, can you change the time?" You are already playing this game slowly, and if you are distracted by other things, you don't know when you will finish the game. ”

Although she doesn't care much about political affairs on weekdays, she knows very well that Jiuqiu is a thorn in her father's heart. If Luo Yao's answer was not in line with his father's wishes, wouldn't it be very bad?

Emperor Hao glanced at Ah Jing thoughtfully and smiled, "Okay, don't ask." ”

Qing Ling could see that Emperor Hao really loved Ah Jing's daughter.

Although he is also good to himself, that kind of intimacy is not as good as the child who has been on his knees since he was a child. Strangely, this discovery didn't make Qing Ling feel any loss or jealousy. Perhaps to her, Emperor Hao was more like an adversary who needed to be speculated, curried, and guarded against, than a father who would always love her unconditionally......

She sighed inwardly.

Why has my life become so complicated all of a sudden?

After a while, a waiter came in and said that Prince Muchen had come to greet him.

Qing Ling suddenly lost his composure.

After all, it has been some time since Emperor Hao pardoned Mu Chen's punishment and allowed him to return to the royal family. But Mu Chen's move from the house arrest in Lingxiao City to the Vermilion Bird Palace was only yesterday.

Emperor Hao pinched the jade chess pieces in his hand, slowly knocked them on the chessboard, and commanded in a deep voice: "Let him in." ”

Qing Ling felt tightness in his chest, and he didn't dare to glance in the direction of the temple gate, his eyes wandered, and he met Luo Yao's gaze.

From the moment she entered the palace to the present, Luo Yao has never looked at her directly, and at this moment, when his eyes met, Qing Ling caught some indescribable things from his clear and clear eyes, like inquiry, concern, some expectation, and some gloom.

Qing Ling suddenly remembered that Luo Yao knew.

He knew that he liked Mu Chen......

Then he, will he tell Ah Jing? Will Ah Jing tell the queen and the emperor?

What will happen if this matter is pursued?

But what if they want to pursue it?

Except for the lingering and sympathetic kiss, there has been nothing out of the ordinary between himself and Mu Chen......

That kiss,

That sweet kiss that confuses her......

And at that time, the starlight in his eyes was blurred......

But how did he become his own brother?

Qing Ling stared at the chessboard in front of him in a daze, unable to suppress his thoughts drifting and messy again. The black and white chess pieces gradually blurred, turning into a gray mist, which pressed on her heart layer upon layer, and the weight was so heavy that she almost suffocated.

Luo Yao stood up, "Your Majesty, Prince Muchen came to greet him, maybe there is a matter of government affairs to discuss with His Majesty, and it is inconvenient for the ministers to stay for a long time, so I implore Your Majesty to allow the ministers to temporarily recuse themselves." ”

Ah Jing also stood up, "Yes, the eldest brother has just moved back to the Suzaku Palace, and my father must have a lot to say to him, so I will avoid it first." ”

Emperor Hao bowed his head, raised his finger lightly, and motioned for everyone to stand down.

Qing Ling was still sitting, his expression was stunned, and his face was slightly pale, as if he hadn't heard Luo Yao and Ah Jing's words, nor had he seen his father's gestures.

Luo Yao walked up to Qing Ling, lowered his head and said with a smile: "In the Emperor Ji iQue Bureau, what opportunities do you see?" ”

Qing Ling came back to his senses, looked up and saw that Luo Yao and Ah Jing had already stood up, his expression stiffly curled the corners of his lips, and he joked: "I just saw something, and I will only tell it to my father." ”

As he spoke, he stood up.

Mu Chen followed behind the attendant and slowly stepped into the Chengji Palace.

This temple is a place he has been familiar with since he was a child.

The floor tiles of the lake jasper, the wall band of gilded pendant beads, and the Du Heng incense that rises in the incense burner.

Here, his father once hugged him when he was a child, pointed to the map on the case, and said: "The world of the Eastern Continent, one day, will belong to you." ”

But it was also here that my father smashed the glass cup on the case on his head and said, "It's not a pity for you to die!" ”

Mu Chen sighed secretly in his heart, and raised his eyes to look into the hall.

“…… Even if I see something, I will only tell it to my father. ”

Jiaoyu turned slightly, and a familiar and graceful figure was slowly standing up and turning in her direction.

Mu Chen's feet were slammed, almost staggering, and the blood in his body was first cold, and then it burned like fire.

It's not that he hasn't been prepared, it's not that he hasn't persuaded himself to accept another teasing of fate, but hearing her "father" with his own ears still makes his scarred heart crack again, tearing out unprecedented pain.

That's the girl he loves! It is the woman who accompanied him to be reborn in Nirvana and comprehended the true meaning of love, and it was the person whose heart he was willing to trust and promise his life after tasting the suffering of the world.

But she can no longer belong to him.

Anymore, no.