When Fang Shanlei first threw out that question, Qing Ling's thoughts were complex and contradictory.

She admits that she doesn't always have to be open-minded. A long time ago, in Chongwu, he could use some small means and tricks in order to be lazy and slippery, but after arriving in Lingxiao City, he was often full of lies, hiding his thoughts, and showing hypocrisy.

For Fang Shanlei, she didn't have the heart to take advantage of it.

Even, the moment he threw out the question, a thought flashed through her mind—

If she pretends to admit it, what benefits can she get from it?

In order to weaken the power of Mu Han and Queen Fang Shan, she even agreed to take away her sister's sweetheart and marry Daze, and at this moment, the future patriarch of the Fang Shan clan directly stated his heart in front of her, unabashedly exposing the most vulnerable and controllable side of her, why didn't she seize this opportunity and find a way to design him to destroy him, and then inflict heavy damage on his political enemies?

But she still couldn't give up after all.

Or, after all, she is still a girl, an ordinary girl with longing and vanity who happens to be a little lonely.

So when Fang Shanlei finished saying that she was willing to deal with each other and even frankly said that Mu Chen was a more suitable person for the storage position, she hesitated, but then immediately made up her mind.

"Young Master Fang Shan, you think too highly of me. Born into a royal family, how can I be so simple as not to seek my own interests at all? What you see is just a façade. ”

After a pause, "But I have to admit that I am very grateful for your words." Today, at the heart of the power struggle, I no longer expect anyone around me to be honest with me. I didn't expect that you would ...... me regardless of the interests of the powerful There is still a sincerity. ”

Qing Ling looked at Fang Shanlei with a clear gaze, "I admit that I have taken advantage of you. At the beginning, I was only in contact with you to accept the queen and make the illusion of being close to Mu Han and Fang Shan. Because, since a long time ago, long before I came to Lingxiao City, I had already made the decision to support Mu Chen. ”

Fang Shanlei was slightly surprised when he heard this, but he only listened to Qing Ling continue quietly.

"As for the question you asked me, 'Putting aside the rivalries between identity and family', would I be of interest to you? I have no way to answer. If I had to give an answer, I would just say, 'I don't know.'"

Because when I first knew you, I knew that you would be my future enemy, so I never thought of you as a marryable person in my heart. Just like once upon a time, a friend asked me that Chongwu's disciples are all talented, and I have lived there for more than 300 years, but why haven't I liked my fellow disciples? That's because from the beginning, I regarded my brothers as my relatives, and naturally, I didn't think about whether they were suitable to be my lover. ”

She lowered her eyes and smiled, with a hint of bitterness, "I'm such a stubborn person, the feeling I initially believed, even if I want to force myself to forget, I can't change it......"

After Fang Shanlei listened to Qingling's words, a high heart finally fell, and was replaced by a heavy complex emotion stuffed in his chest, like disappointment, unwillingness, and understanding.

In fact, he also understands that caught in the battle for royal power, there are not many possibilities between himself and Qingling. Even if she said she had him in her heart at the moment, what could he do?

persuade her to give up Mu Chen and support Mu Han with herself?

Or do you give up your family and stand on her side?

Fang Shanlei could not answer.

Qing Ling looked at him, his expression gradually solemnized, "Young Master Fangshan, since you and I are open and honest today, then I might as well say more." Mu Chen is not only my brother and ally, but also the person I value and care about the most in this life. But I will do my best to stop anything harmful to him, even if my hands are stained with blood, even if it hurts the innocent. ”

Fang Shanlei felt that Qing Ling's words seemed to be a little abrupt, even with a bit of warning, so he also cleared his thoughts and asked, "What does Emperor Ji want to say?" ”

Qing Ling's expression was faint, "It's nothing." Just wanted you to know. ”

Fang Shanlei pondered for a moment, then bowed his head and said, "I understand what Emperor Ji said today. Thank you for being honest with me. Lei admits that he is not a simple-minded or emotional person, but he only seeks to be honest and honest in this matter. The fact that Emperor Ji can return the word 'I don't know' today already makes me grateful and self-conscious. No matter what the political situation is in the future, Emperor Ji will always be my ...... A woman who once sincerely admired. ”

A lot of affection, sincere and sincere, but when he opened his mouth to admit it, it was "once".

After all, he is a person who has been raised as the heir of the family since he was a child, and he understands both the reason and responsibility that he should understand, and he also understands that now that Yuzhong has been destroyed, Prince Mu Chen's military achievements are prominent, and no one can match the limelight for a while, and the situation of fighting against Mu Han has become a fact, and from now on, he and Qingling will finally officially stand on both sides of the hostile side.

Qing Ling took a step back, bowed, and then said, "Qing Ling is also grateful for the openness of the son. No matter what the political situation will be in the future, I should remember Childe's kindness. ”

After all, this is the first time in my life that I have heard someone take the initiative to confess their love for themselves. The relationship with Mu Chen was also the one who first moved his heart and lost his temper and forced the other party to say his mind under the entanglement of contradictions, right?

I wonder if from now on, I will get closer and closer to the core of the struggle between the government and the opposition, and will I have the opportunity to hear the heartfelt outpouring of feelings beyond power and identity?

Qing Ling came out of the Fang Shan Clan's mansion and went directly back to the Vermilion Bird Palace.

As soon as he returned to his dormitory, he saw Qiu Zhi hurriedly greet him and said, "The eldest prince has returned to the palace and is meeting His Majesty in the Chengji Palace." ”

Qing Ling's heart sank, waved his hand and pushed back the palace maid who came forward to change his clothes, turned around and went straight to the Chengji Palace.

When he arrived outside the hall, he saw several of Mu Chen's close attendants standing at the foot of the steps, all dressed in light armor and looking slightly tired, as if they had hurried to the capital from the front of the war.

Qing Ling stepped forward and asked Wei Yuan, "How long has Your Highness been in?" ”

Wei Yuan arched his hand and replied, "Back to Emperor Ji, it's about time for a cup of tea." ”

Qing Ling nodded, and did not let the attendants enter the palace, and directly stepped into the temple door.

"The ...... of the Emperor"

Wei Yuan raised his hand and shouted softly, as if he wanted to say something more, but he was a step too late.

Qing Ling hurriedly walked into the hall.

Now that she is favored in front of Emperor Hao, the palace people of the Chengji Hall did not dare to step forward to stop her, so she had to salute quietly.

There were two people standing in the hall, and they were talking about something with the Emperor Hao, who was in the throne, when they heard footsteps behind them and stopped.

Qing Ling walked up to Mu Chen and gently held his arm, "You're back?" Then he looked up at Emperor Hao, "Father." ”

Emperor Hao's expression seemed to be happy, and when he saw Qing Ling breaking in, he was not annoyed, and only counted a sentence with a little doting: "This girl, as soon as I heard that your eldest brother returned to the palace, I couldn't wait to come to show my goodwill?" ”

Qing Ling saw Emperor Hao's expression, and his heart finally fell gently, and he smiled, and said, "Brother Wang and I are already very good, so why do you want to show favor?" I'm just thinking about the battle ahead, thinking about when I can open the ...... to Jiuqiu."

As she spoke, she turned her gaze slightly, and then she saw another person standing in the hall clearly, and swallowed back the words that she was about to blurt out.

Luo Yao is wearing a brocade robe today, his hair is meticulously combed, and he is tied with a jade-inlaid gilt crown, and his temperament is different from the strict and dignified of the past.

Seeing Qing Ling looking at him, the corners of his lips tugged lightly, and he saluted from afar, "Emperor Ji." ”

Emperor Hao stood up and said to Luo Yao and Mu Chen: "Since Qingling is also here, don't be polite, come with me to the side hall to sit down and talk." ”

After speaking, while instructing the waiter to prepare, he beckoned Qing Ling to come to his side and walked hand in hand to the side hall.

Qing Ling was held by his father, and he was a little apprehensive when he was flattered, and he couldn't help but glance back at Mu Chen.

And they took their seats in the side hall.

The palace maid rushed in and brought refreshments, fruits and utensils. Qing Ling originally thought that Emperor Hao would keep him in the same case as him, but unexpectedly, Emperor Hao called Mu Chen over and asked her to sit next to Luo Yao.

Since that day after being drunk, Qing Ling met Luo Yao for the first time, and sat down with a little embarrassment in his heart, but he saw that the other party was calm, and he raised his glass and drank tea calmly under the service of the palace maid.

Qing Ling also straightened her skirt, turned around and used a silver spoon to dig the snacks on the silver plate and ate them.

Emperor Hao glanced at his daughter and said slowly: "Don't just care about your own food, but also greet the prince." Today he has solved a big problem for you. ”

Hearing this, Qing Ling raised his head with a puzzled face.

Luo Yao put down the teacup, got up and said, "Your Majesty is serious. Daze is the territory of Chaoyan, and it is his duty to share the worries of the country, and it is a merit to care for the people. ”

Emperor Hao nodded, raised his hand to signal him to sit down, and said to Qing Ling: "Today, Fu Yao will enter the palace and ask for half a year's tribute tax for the imperial marquis," he glanced at Mu Chen, "to relieve the pressure on the current military affairs." ”

After a pause, he turned to Qing Ling again, and said with a smile: "I said that I saw that you were worried about this matter recently, and the whole person was depressed, so I was anxious to solve your problems." Look at it, before the person got married, he made the husband's family value it so much, so that the daughters of the family in Lingxiao City would know, and I am afraid that they would inevitably be envious. ”

Only then did Qing Ling understand what was going on.

She spent a few days with Shi Xiangjin, and she refused to go to Luo Yao to talk about taxes, but she didn't expect that today he would come to the door to deliver the money by himself. Approximately, it was Shi Xiangjin who carried her behind her back and begged in private......

Qing Ling pondered in his heart that the Baili clan was not only generous but also generous, and actually sent silver like flowing water to help Chaoyan attack Jiuqiu, and he didn't know what he had in mind secretly. A slight smile appeared on his face, and he looked at Luo Yao, "Thank you Shizi and Hou Ye for helping Qingling solve a thorny problem." ”

Luo Yao bowed politely, "It's just what should be done." Emperor doesn't have to take it personally. ”

Mu Chen, who had been silent on the other side, his eyes swept over the faces of the two of them darkly, and his fingertips gently touched the fire lotus pattern inlaid with gold threads on the teacup, silently depicting along the smooth and delicate lines.

After a while, he turned to Emperor Hao, "Father, since the matter of Duzhi has been resolved, taking advantage of the high morale of the army at the moment, Erchen plans to send troops to Jiuqiu in the near future to capture Zhangyao City as soon as possible." ”