The rest of Fang Shanyuan and the others looked at each other, completely unable to believe what they saw.

Fang Shanlei lowered his head and drank wine, his face gloomy. When he first met Qingling, he didn't like it much, but the person from the family took the word face the most seriously, and the scene of the right talent really made him very embarrassed.

It was Ah Jing who was the first to speak to break the silence, "This sister of mine Wang grew up in Chongwu since she was a child, so it is inevitable that she will be simpler. ”

She touched Mu Han's arm with her elbow, "Do you want to follow?" lest my sister really be tricked by the drunk Chun Yu Gongzi. ”

Mu Han was silent.

For Chun Yuyan, he has always had a somewhat complicated attitude. It stands to reason that the last time he was robbed to Xianxia Pass by the people of Lieyang, he escaped successfully thanks to Yan's help, and he still felt a little grateful in his heart. Ke Muhan has an excellent face, but he is afraid that Yan will publicize the embarrassment of his mistake and capture, so he always avoids contact with him intentionally or unintentionally in public. In addition, Chun Yuyan is a concubine after all, and he can't say anything in the clan at all, and he doesn't have much use value for his future plans, and now he sees him acting frivolously and uninhibitedly, which completely dispelled the idea of wooing.

Seeing that Mu Han hadn't moved, Ah Jing was about to ask again, but Luo Yao, who was beside her, stood up and said with a smile: "I'll follow." I'm not worried about the smoke either. ”

After speaking, he turned around and followed in the direction where the three of them left.

Qing Ling walked side by side next to Ning Yan, glanced around, and asked softly, "I heard from the people in the palace, is it the first time for Miss Baili to come to Lingxiao City?" ”

Ning Yan's expression was faint, "No." The clan has a lot of business in the capital, and they have come to deal with some things before, but they have never shown their heads. ”

Qing Ling said "oh" and asked, "Then this time I entered the palace to deal with Daze's affairs?" ”

Ning Yan stopped and looked at Qing Ling with awe-inspiring eyes, "Emperor Ji called me over just to probe my tone. She glanced at Chun Yuyan, who was turning around, "I haven't told anyone about you, and I don't plan to tell anyone." As for the fact that we have met in Wutong Town, and that you and my brother have been to Jiuqiu, please don't tell me about it. We have no intention of coming to the troubled waters of Lingxiao City. ”

Qing Ling remembered the courtier's discussion that Shi Cai heard in the main hall, and said: "But at the moment, it seems that the Baili clan is very likely to marry the royal family, and the so-called 'not wading into troubled waters' is probably not indefinite, right?" ”

Ning Yan glanced at Chun Yuyan unconsciously, then stared at Qing Ling with a slightly embarrassed face, and raised his voice suddenly, "What marriage?" Don't make something out of nothing! ”

Qing Ling knew that his question was a little abrupt, but Ning Yan's reaction was also a little too strong. After all, there have been rumors about this matter for a long time, and Luo Yao has always been very close to Ajing, and Ning Yan, under the instruction of the queen, agreed to travel with Mu Han tonight.

Chun Yuyan put the fan together, his expression seemed to be a little embarrassed, and he played a round field, "The night is long, why rush to get to the point?" Let's enjoy the lanterns first. ”

As he spoke, he pointed with a fan and introduced the meaning of the various lanterns in the Mei Garden.

Qing Ling and Ning Yan each had their own thoughts, and followed behind Chun Yuyan in silence. On the way, I occasionally met some other guests who admired the lanterns, but when I saw the cold smoke and the serious Qingling from a distance, I had to dispel the idea of flattering and making friends. Only once did he meet Ning Ze Gongzi of the Mo Nan clan and asked Yan if he had seen Mo Nan Shiyin, so he stopped and hurriedly talked a few words.

After a while, Luo Yao followed.

He stopped beside Ning Yan, whispered a few words to her, and then raised his head, a pair of bewitching and burning beautiful eyes condensed on Qing Ling's face.

After a farewell from Jiuqiu, Lingxiao City reunited, Qingling and Luo Yao had no warning, but it seemed to have a tacit understanding of a layer of alienation, deliberately forgetting the intimacy they had had, and naturally changing to a new identity to treat and accept each other. It's like a pair of cousins from a big family, reunited after years of separation, restrained and unfamiliar, even if the memory of childish laughter in childhood is still there, it is just a memory.

After all, it was the first time in a long time that Qing Ling was stared at by Luo Yao like this.

She raised her head and met Luo Yao's gaze slightly defiantly.

Luo Yao chuckled lightly, took a few steps forward, and said to Qing Ling: "If there is any problem with Emperor Ji, why don't you ask me while enjoying the lanterns." ”

The four of them stood in the path of the flower forest, and from time to time there were guests and palace people passing by, so standing in place and talking with a cold expression was inevitably eye-catching. Qing Ling thought for a moment and said, "Okay." ”

The two walked slowly along the path, and Chun Yuyan and Ning Yan followed side by side.

After being silent for a long time, Qing Ling slowly spoke: "You are quite capable. Most of the people in Lingxiao City hate Jiuqiu, but they are very polite to you, the prince of Jiuqiu. ”

Luo Yao's expression was faint, "My mother didn't tell the world, saying that she would definitely pass on the throne of Jiuqiu to me." On the surface, I'm just the heir of the Baili clan. ”

"What difference does it make if your mother is only your son?"

Qingling paused and continued: "There will always be a day when the grudge between Chaoyan and Jiuqiu will erupt, and when the time comes, you can't leave your mother alone, right?" Now that you are so close to Mu Han and the Fang Shan Clan, do you expect them to help you convince Your Majesty and achieve peaceful coexistence between gods and demons? Mu Han's thoughts, you should have known for a long time, he would never be willing to weaken the power of the Protoss family and change the existing pattern of the Eastern Continent. ”

Luo Yao lowered his eyes, as if smiling, "Emperor Ji wants to help the eldest prince be a lobbyist?" ”

Qing Ling was slightly stunned, his lips pursed a few times, but he didn't say anything.

Luo Yao raised his eyes and looked calm, "I have been in the capital for such a long time, and when I went in and out of the banquet party, I also inquired about the ins and outs of the major events in the DPRK and China in recent years. I also know the political opinions of Prince Muchen in the past. ”

He looked at Qing Ling, "According to my speculation, the reason why Prince Mu Chen wants to change the existing order of Chaoyan is because he is well aware of the reasons why Lieyang is powerful, and he hopes to concoct it in the same way, break the inequality between the Eastern Continent descendants, clans, and races, and use talents in an eclectic manner." And people like Chun Yuyan, because of the identity of a half-demon, have always been depressed, and it is difficult to display their talents, so instead of living a life of inaction, it is better to fight to the death and completely change their fate. ”

Qing Ling pondered his tone, "Don't you agree with their thoughts?" ”

Luo Yao said: "From their standpoint, there is nothing wrong with having such an idea. It's just that in my opinion, their motives are mixed with too much selfishness, and in the end, people may not be able to achieve their wishes. ”

Qing Ling's steps slowed down, and he raised his eyes to stare at Luo Yao, "What selfishness?" ”

"For example, if the demon clan gladly accepted the equality and rights given by Prince Muchen, but was unwilling to use it for him and did not want to support him as king, would he be disappointed and would he continue to give them benefits? He hopes to subdue the demon clan and make them subordinate to him, so he must destroy the power of the demon clan itself and integrate them into Chaoyan's existing system. And in this way, do you think the people of Jiuqiu will be willing to accept it? ”

Luo Yao looked back at Qing Ling, and saw that her eyebrows were gradually frowning, and there was a gloomy color in her clear eyes, like a small beast that had been violated by her territory, looking at herself angrily and vigilantly.

Luo Yao's heart was full of mixed feelings, loss, confusion, hesitation, and pity, galloping and surging past.

Those days spent in Chongwu Mountain, and the intimacy with Qingling day and night, scene after scene, suddenly came one after another, making his thoughts can't help but be in a trance......

Qing Ling sneered: "Naturally, everything is purposeful and selfish. When you worshiped Chongwu incognito, wasn't it also for your own selfishness? And your demon uncle, colluding with Lieyang and invading Chaoyan, isn't it his ambition to dominate the Eastern Continent? ”

Luo Yao suddenly came back to his senses, and his expression suddenly condensed, "Who told you that my uncle was involved in Lieyang's affairs?" ”

Qing Ling's smile became more and more mocking, "You want to pretend again?" If it weren't for your own weak heart, why did you come to Lingxiao City so badly and be in a hurry to show favor to Mu Han? ”

After Lieyang's raid on Xianxia Pass, Emperor Hao has been sending people to investigate the rebels in the vassal states and major fiefdoms, trying to find out any involvement in collusion with Lieyang at home and abroad. There was a lot of rumors inside and outside the court, and many famous children in the southern vassal states were imprisoned because of this.

Qing Ling continued: "Last time in the Jiuqiu Palace, I heard with my own ears that your uncle conspired with a general of the Lieyang Kingdom, saying something to attack the east and west to contain Chaoyan's military strength. Moreover, the army hidden in Lieyang on the border also relied on the obstacles set up by the demon clan masters to hide from Chaoyan's repulsions. This kind of thing, as long as you track it down slowly, will always come to light! ”

At some point, the two had reached a secluded corner of the path. It is surrounded by a stone forest made of mountains and rocks, and the faint fragrance of banana leaves comes from the top of your head. Looking behind them again, Chun Yuyan and Ning Yan didn't know where they had gone, and they were long gone.

The shadow of the mountain stone was reflected on Luo Yao's handsome face, and his eyes were full of light and shadow.

He was silent for a long time, and suddenly a hint of ridicule was added to his tone, "I see. You were in a hurry to leave Jiuqiu that day, just to tell Mu Chen about this, so that he would have the opportunity to plan and act in a drama that turned the tide. ”

Qing Ling realized that he had accidentally leaked his breath, and immediately became annoyed.

Oh my God, why are you so stupid?

But he only said: "What play? I don't know what you're talking about. ”

Luo Yao smiled, "Okay, just as I didn't say anything." But if one day the senior sister has a playful heart and wants to use the matter of Jiuqiu to threaten me, I am afraid that the first person to be dragged into the water is not me, but the senior sister herself. ”

Qing Ling heard Luo Yao call her senior sister, and her tone softened a little, "I didn't want to blackmail you. But right now, you seem to have made up your mind to stand on Mu Han's side, and Mu Chen and me, I ...... paused, "I will always support him anyway." In the future, if he and Mu Han have any disagreements, I don't want the friendship between you and me to be affected. ”

She said this, but her heart was full of pain.

She stood on Mu Chen's side unconditionally and made up her mind to support him no matter what, but the other party was always unwilling to appreciate it and always rejected her thousands of miles away......

Luo Yao was silent.

After a while, he said calmly: "We Daze Baili are just businessmen, and we don't know much about the government. And this time, Ning Yan and I came to Lingxiao City, not to get involved in the power struggle of the royal family, but to protect ourselves and eliminate His Majesty's suspicion of me. I don't deny that I did deliberately use Mu Han's influence in Lingxiao City, but this does not mean that I will intervene in the dispute between the prince and attract more suspicions from His Majesty. Moreover, you should know that the prince of Osawa is my father, and I don't have any real power in my hands. ”

Qing Ling didn't seem to be fully convinced, "Even if you don't have real power in your hands for the time being, your attitude is enough to affect the judgment of everyone in the court." Besides, when you marry the royal family and become a family, it is impossible for the prince to stay out of the matter and not participate in the court dispute, right? ”

Luo Yao said: "Ning Yan has a special identity, and the person who is qualified to marry her must be the future Emperor Hao." If Your Majesty really decrees the marriage, it means that the final decision has been made, so what's the point of fighting or not? ”

Qing Ling raised his head, "Then if the person who marries is you, how can it be counted?" If you marry Mu Han's sister, it's not the same thing? ”

Qingling wanted to emphasize the sister-brother relationship between Ah Jing and Mu Han's mother, but she didn't know that these words fell on Luo Yao's ears, and there was another meaning.

Luo Yao moved closer to Qing Ling, who subconsciously retreated, and his back slammed into the cold mountain stone wall.

The clear manly breath between her nose and the fragrance of plantains lingering on the top of her head made her feel embarrassed and a little inexplicably panicked.

"Little Seven ......"

Qing Ling called Xiao Qi, but he didn't know what to say.

They used to be as close as siblings, but she was no longer an ignorant girl on Chongwu Mountain, and she could be close to her junior brother without suspicion.

At this moment, the manly aura on his body only made her think of another person uncontrollably.

Someone she could never have......

Luo Yao's figure did not move.

"I've always wanted to know ...... too"

He spoke slowly, his voice a little dark, "What if I really married his sister......?"

At this moment, a fire lotus suddenly rose from the sky above the garden, followed by the sound of cheerful voices. The fire lotus exploded in the night sky, announcing that the maze containing the treasure had been activated, and everyone could break through the array together to hunt for treasure.

Bright sparks scattered one after another, illuminating the two people who were silently looking at each other between the mountains and rocks.

In a moment's distraction, each other finally saw each other's gaze clearly.

Qing Ling's eyes were stunned, filled with suppressed sadness, while Luo Yao's eyes were not instantaneous, containing that familiar, bewildering golden halo.