Emperor Hao did not object to Qingling's stay in Chongwu, but only sent many forbidden troops to be stationed outside Chongwu Mountain on the grounds of protecting his safety.

Qing Ling has been feeling a little exhausted recently, and secretly has a deep disgust for the struggle for power in the DPRK. Seeing too much blood and losing too many relatives and friends, she had the idea of escaping for the first time.

However, the reality does not allow her to regress at this time.

Since he said cruel words to Mu Chen and asked him to protect Baili's clan, the two have never had direct contact. All the news and movements in Beijing were transmitted by Xun in the middle. As for what Mu Chen did specifically, so that the direction of the wind gradually changed, she had no intention of delving.

And after returning from a trip with Qingling in Jinling Lake, Luo Yao also began to send letters to Daze one after another. Every time Qing Ling glimpsed him writing on the case, his expression was solemn and his eyebrows were slightly locked, as if he was about to solve a problem.

Daze Baili has always been outside the Central Plains Dynasty dispute, let alone involved in the dispute between the princes, Qing Ling knew in his heart that it might be difficult for some strong people to pull them into Mu Chen's camp by force. But a Baili Yu himself mentioned such an idea to her, and understood that if it were not so, Baili's interests would inevitably be damaged. Second, so far, Mu Chen has not clearly mentioned what he wants them to do, Qing Ling pondered, even if the foxes of the Baili family really planned to evade their responsibilities and not give Mu Chen any support on his face, the relationship between them and Mu Chen could at least be maintained to the extent of non-aggression against each other, right?

As long as we can not infringe on each other, it is also good......

～～

At the beginning of the new year, Chun Yuyan, who had just recovered from a serious illness, went to Chongwu to visit Qingling.

Qing Ling was a little embarrassed, "Originally, I was supposed to visit you, but it turned out that you came to see me." ”

A smile appeared on Chun Yuyan's pale face, "I eat and drink well at home, if you really come to see me and cause some gossip, maybe my life will not be so good." ”

His eldest brother passed away, and his father was grieving, but he gradually paid a little more attention to Chun Yuyan that he didn't have before. The precious medicinal herbs and rare supplements that he had never enjoyed before were served to him like flowing water. Chun Yufu has had two sons in his lifetime, and now, only Chun Yuyan can be relied on......

Qing Ling thought that Chongwu Mountain was full of spiritual energy, and planned to invite Chun Yuyan to stay for a few more days so that his injuries could recover, "I now live in the old residence of Hua Qingfeng, if you want, you can also stay here and live in my fourth senior brother's house." She raised her finger and pointed, "The former residence of the fourth senior brother, along with mine and Xiao Qi, are all in the west of the main hall, and now that the fifth senior brother has temporarily moved to Yuefeng, there is usually no one walking around here, so you don't have to feel restrained." ”

Chun Yuyan shook his head, "There are still many things to deal with in my hands, and it is inconvenient to stay for a long time." After a pause, as if thinking of something, he raised his eyes and looked at Qing Ling, "What, you and Baili Shizi...... Don't live in one place? ”

Qing Ling was stunned for a moment, came back to his senses, turned his head with a slightly red face, looked at the vast scenery outside Huaqing Peak, and whispered: "Originally, everyone has a room, why do you want to live in one place?" ”

Chun Yuyan knows how well he understands the relationship between men and women, and after studying Qingling's expression, he realized in his heart, "You ...... him Do you really have a good feeling? ”

Qing Ling pursed his lips tightly, did not answer immediately, for a while, lowered his eyes and said softly and quickly: "I don't know, maybe......" paused, as if he wanted to find a reasonable explanation for his answer, and added in a low voice: "You also know that he has always been very good to me." ”

The two of them walked on the mountain path outside the Huaqing Hall at this time, and Qing Ling pulled a branch from his hand, and used his divine power to give birth to a few delicate roses, hanging his head and tearing the petals one by one.

Chun Yuyan was silent for a while and asked, "What about him?" Didn't you say that he always liked Ajing? ”

Qing Ling's hand froze for a long time, and he said slowly: "In the past, I also liked others. But now, we're husband and wife after all......"

Chun Yuyan chewed her words in her heart, and said with a smile: "You mean, you face each other day and night, grinding your ears and temples, and gradually give birth to feelings between men and women, each forgetting the past, and sublimating the friendship between each other into the love of husband and wife?" ”

Qing Ling didn't expect that his expression of such subtlety and shyness would be summed up by Chun Yuyan in this way, and he couldn't help but be annoyed and embarrassed, and he couldn't care about it, and said, "What kind of ear and sideburns are grinding?" You don't abuse idioms! ”

Chun Yuyan dodged the rattan drawn by Qing Ling, and originally wanted to make a few more jokes, but because of distractions, he finally endured it.

He remembered the purpose of his trip, fell silent, and finally opened his mouth to divert the topic: "You are forcing Mu Chen to form an alliance with the Baili Clan for this reason?" ”

Qing Ling heard him mention Mu Chen, his mood also sank, he pondered for a moment, and said, "I didn't force him. It is reasonable that he should not have made a move on Daze at this time. After a pause, his tone was a little difficult, "In the past few years, hasn't he hurt enough innocents?" ”

Chun Yuyan paused when he heard this, his face showed a rare melancholy and bitter color, and at the end, he said solemnly: "The matter of Fengcheng is not Mu Chen's idea. Initially, it was Mo Nan'an Mountain who wanted to cut off the marriage between the Fang Shan clan and my family, but then the matter was handed over to Ning Hao, and something went wrong. ”

Mo Nan'an Mountain chose to support Mu Chen again, which meant a break with the Fang Shan clan. And in the past two years, Fang Shanxiu has installed a large number of disciples in the southern border, and his power has risen again and again, and even the Western Naval Defense has been included in the bag, how can Mo Nan'an Mountain wait and see the changes and do nothing?

Qing Ling sneered, "If it weren't for Mu Chen's insistence on getting involved with the Mo Nan clan, how could Mo Nan'an Mountain have the idea of suppressing other families?" You also know who you are, and what results can you achieve if you work with such a person! This incident may not have been his own idea, but he may not have played a role in fueling the trouble! What they talked about and planned behind their backs, you and I don't know. It's like he gave Xian Xian a Gu, you didn't know about it before, right? But you can know it in the mountains of Mo Nan'an! ”

Chun Yuyan has been stationed in the Windy City for the past year, and he has rarely met with Mu Chen, although there are letters and exchanges, but they are only a few words. He really didn't know anything about Mu Chen's every move in Lingxiao City. But hundreds of years of friendship with blessings and misfortunes have never doubted Mu Chen's trust and honesty in him.

Chun Yuyan said: "I really don't know what Mu Chen and Mo Nan'an Mountain said in private. But I know that he will never do anything to hurt you and me. ”

After a pause, "I understand, because of Ning Hao, you have always been reluctant for Mu Chen to get too close to the Mo Nan clan. However, the struggle for power has always been complicated, and most of the time, those at the center cannot make a choice completely according to their own wishes. You should know this better than I do. ”

"I understand the truth," Qing Ling said: "But he may not have no choice!" Whether it was raising military funds or cultivating forces, we planned step by step and implemented it little by little, and although the road was difficult, the results were not far behind! ”

She looked up at Chun Yuyan, "Don't you hate?" Your eldest brother ...... he was silent again, as if he regretted mentioning this topic a little, but he couldn't take it back.

Chun Yuyan's expression darkened, and a heavy color of pain appeared in the lowered phoenix eyes.

From childhood to adulthood, his half-demon concubine has been coldly regarded in the family, and the only one who treats him sincerely and tries his best to support him is his half-brother Chun Yujue. When he learned the truth from Mu Chen's mouth, he was also furious, and he just wanted to find Mo Nan'an Mountain and Ning Hao immediately, and fight with his life to avenge his eldest brother.

After a long time, he spoke: "No matter how much hatred I have in my heart, I can't ask Mu Chen to do anything with this. At least, not now. The reason why Mo Nan Shore Mountain is so anxious to make a move is also to force Mu Chen to the point where he can't turn around, and from then on he must be tied to the rise and fall of the Mo Nan clan. In the final analysis, each of us is just a chess piece in the chess game, and we can't help ourselves, unless we really become the manipulator of the chessboard one day, it is really difficult to do what we want. ”

Qing Ling didn't answer, lowered his head, his fingers lightly touched the spikes on the rattan, his thoughts were complicated for a while, and he was speechless.

Chun Yuyan followed her and walked a few more steps, "When I returned to Lingxiao City a few days ago, when I saw Mu Chen, I only felt that he was much thinner and haggard. If you have time, go back and see him. ”

Qing Ling broke off the spikes on the rattan one by one and threw them to the ground, still hanging his head, "You came to Chongwu Mountain this time to help Mu Chen be a lobbyist, right?" ”

Chun Yuyan smiled, "That's how you see me?" Can't I honestly treat you as a friend and stop by to visit you? ”

Qing Ling snorted twice and didn't speak.

"It's because I sincerely treat you as a friend that I don't want to see you break up with Mu Chen because of some misunderstandings." Chun Yuyan continued: "Don't talk about the friendship of fighting side by side for so many years, whether it is public or private, you and him are connected by blood and inseparable relationship. Except for doing some sad things because of Baili Fuyao, when did he not put you in the most important position over the years? He doesn't say anything on the surface, but he always feels guilty about you in his heart, and now you want him to help Baili, and he has done everything he can. In other words, he would never give in. ”

He paused, pondered for a moment, and slowed down, "You may not know, his body has not fully recovered in the past few years. I worked hard to refine half of the Red Soul Bead, but I didn't expect that the bead was originally a spiritual thing, and it was able to absorb the divine power of the host body on its own. It was all because of Mu Chen's strong will and constant confrontation that he was able to suppress the bead. The hardships in the meantime are unimaginable to ordinary people. ”

"What?"

Qing Ling raised his head when he heard this, and his lips unconsciously closed a few times, "But why...... He never told me? ”

She remembered that day outside the dormitory, she accidentally injured Mu Chen, causing him to be devoured by the Red Soul Bead and the pain was unbearable, and a chill spread in her heart.

Chun Yuyan hooked the corners of his mouth helplessly, "What kind of person is he, and how are you not clear?" This kind of thing, he'd rather die than tell you......"

Both seemed to shy away from continuing to hesitate on the topic, and each fell silent again.

After walking for a while, Qing Ling suddenly remembered something, and looked sideways at Chun Yuyan, "You just said that you came to visit me 'by the way'?" You can start from Lingxiao City, and you want to pass by Chongwu...... Isn't it, you're going to Daze? ”

Chun Yuyan looked at Qing Ling's face and smiled, "What about going to Daze?" It's not because you scolded Mu Chen so much that he turned around and ordered me to go to Fengcheng to take Xian Xian back to Beijing and find someone to solve her Gu, lest you refuse to forgive him from now on! ”

Mu Chen's promise to solve the Gu for Xian Xian and hand her over to Gao Du to take care of, Qing Ling had long known about it, but at this moment, he completely ignored Chun Yuyan's teasing, and only continued: "Tsk, tsk, do you need Chun Yu's second son to go out in person?" How do I think someone took the initiative to ask for help and hurriedly seized the opportunity to go to Daze? ”

She leaned closer, "You were seriously injured that day, fell to the ground and pretended to be dead, just to see Ning Yan crying in pain, right?" I've known her for so long, I've never even seen her slightly sad expression, let alone cry so sadly! This time, it all relied on the superb acting skills of the second son, so he had the opportunity to feast his eyes. ”

Chun Yuyan looked wronged, "I really couldn't use any strength at that time......"

Qing Ling looked at Yan with an exaggerated expression, and saw that there was an embarrassed look in the corners of his eyebrows and eyes, and a touch of joy that was difficult to hide, and he knew that after this life and death ordeal, there must be another trust and closeness between him and Ning Yan.

And Mu Chen took the initiative to propose to let him go to the Dazehou Mansion, was it also because of his last words, he decided to accept the Baili clan and removed the obstacle between Yan and the woman he liked?

Ultimately......

In the end, he, like her, is just a pawn in a battle for royal power. A lot of things are just out of your own volition.

Mu Chen......

Mu Chen......

Qing Ling lowered her eyes and stared at the little red marks on her fingertips pierced by the vine thorns, and silently asked herself in her heart, was she really too harsh and extreme for Mu Chen?