A confrontation with Mu Chen almost emptied all of Qing Ling's energy, and the moment he stepped out of the study, he felt a little prostration.

Maybe it's because in Daze's days that she is used to a relaxed and less stressful life, and she doesn't bother her with anything except fighting wits and courage with Xu Di every day. Although he often paid attention to the movements of the government and the opposition, and sent secret reports about Daze to Emperor Hao and Mu Chen on time, after all, he was far away from the imperial capital, and gradually there was a kind of relaxation in staying out of the matter.

Even she herself thought it was strange.

When I first married Daze, I was obviously full of caution and vigilance, and the whole person was like a tense string. But at some point, the string slackened little by little, until it almost lost the ability to fight back......

After noon, the official in charge of building the Shizi Mansion in Beijing received an imperial order and came to the Qingling Office to report on his work.

The official led a large group of craftsmen and technicians in the flower hall, surrounded the design patterns unfolded in the hall, and told the prince and his wife about the progress of the mansion project: "The back garden of the mansion is adjacent to Jinling Lake, and it is the most beautiful place in Lingxiao City. In accordance with the custom of Daze, the lower officials led water into the garden......"

Qing Ling was a little absent-minded, his expression was slightly apprehensive, but Luo Yao listened carefully, and from time to time politely interrupted the officials and asked one or two questions, and the relevant responsible craftsmen came out to answer carefully.

At the end, the official expressed his determination to do his best to build the mansion as soon as possible, and then led the entourage to salute and withdrew.

There was a sudden silence in the flower hall.

Luo Yao lowered his eyes and played with the gilded and emerald plum blossom bowl on the case, completely putting away the eloquent words he had just said when he asked the officials and craftsmen.

Qing Lingwu sat silently for a while, then slowly stood up and cleared his throat.

"I heard that Jinling Lake is beautiful in the morning, but I have never had a chance to see it. Since I mentioned it today, let's just go shopping. ”

The movement in Luo Yao's hand paused, and slowly raised his head, and an indistinguishable emotion flashed in his amber glassy eyes, "Are you...... Invite me along? ”

Qing Ling turned his head to look out the window, "It's not that I want you to go, it's that you boasted about Haikou and said that you want to accompany me all the time." ”

Jinling Lake faces the mountains in the west, the scenery is beautiful, and the east is surrounded by pavilions and pavilions, and occasionally there are elegant teahouses and restaurants, which are specially for the nobles of the capital to enter and exit.

The lake is sparkling and reflects the golden rays of the sun, and the scenery is very open and pleasant. In late autumn, the shore is full of flowers and fragrance.

Qing Ling and Luo Yao walked side by side in a secluded place by the lake, followed by the guards and maids.

said that he was here to play, but Qingling's eyes kept falling under his feet. After she buried her head and walked for a while, she gently pulled Luo Yao's sleeve, "Can you cast a demon spell and leave the people who are following us away?" ”

Luo Yao remained silent, secretly urging the spell, weaving an illusion that the two were still moving side by side.

The two of them paused in the phantom room, watched as the entourage followed the illusion away, and then slowly followed behind.

Away from everyone's sight, Qing Ling's gait and action suddenly became a little less dignified, and he didn't take the ready-made path, but wanted to kick and jump in the shallow grass next to the path from time to time.

After burying her head and walking a few more steps, she stared at the green grass under her feet, and asked, "Xiao Qi, have you thought about what to do next?" ”

Luo Yao also lowered his head, repeatedly considering her question in his heart.

yes, what's next?

The secret hidden in his heart was so heavy that he was confused, so that he could not control himself, and he would have a possessive heart, and he would hesitate and hesitate, not knowing how to face the wisp of love she revealed......

Qing Ling paused and looked up at him, "Can you make an alliance with Mu Chen?" ”

Luo Yao's feet froze, the complicated thoughts in his mind suddenly collapsed, he raised his head to look at Qing Ling, and struggled to laugh, "What kind of alliance?" ”

Qing Ling looked away and looked at the sparkling lake, "It's the kind of covenant in the government." Whether it's in the light or in the dark, you will stand by his side and help him win the position of prince and become the next emperor of Chaoyan in the future. ”

After a pause, "Of course, you are also beneficial. Power, status, wealth, anything else can be brought up and discussed. ”

Luo Yao stared at Qing Ling, his lips pursed a few times, but he finally pursed it again.

Qing Ling stood in Jinling Lake, breathing in the unique moist water vapor on the lake, the same thoughts fluttered in his mind, and after a while, he raised his eyes to look at Luo Yao again, "Daze's status is very dangerous right now. If you want to protect the interests of Barry's, it is not easy to do it alone. ”

She paused, then lowered her eyes, "On the eve of leaving Windy City, your father summoned me to his study. He also said that forming an alliance with Mu Chen now is the best choice for the Baili clan. ”

Luo Yao was stunned, then smiled lightly, don't look over.

Indeed, his father could have said such a thing.

When Luo Heng led the Jiuqiu demon soldiers to attack the Central Plains and started a vicious battle with Chaoyan for several years, Baili Yu ignored his wife's pleas and chose to surrender to Emperor Chaoyan in order to protect the interests of the family.

Qing Ling continued: "You and your father are actually extremely shrewd people. I am afraid that I can see the situation between the DPRK and China more clearly than I do. Looking up at Luo Yao's side face, looking at the lake reflected in the glazed eyes, his tone couldn't help but turn a little softer, "If you don't join forces with Mu Chen right now, many of Daze's interests will be taken away by others." ”

The Baili clan has been in a corner of peace since ancient times, and its power is unrivaled in Daze. But this does not mean that they can still keep their interests from being infringed upon after forming a "blood feud" with the Central Plains clan. The Fangshan clan, which is entrenched in the DPRK and China and has recently been particularly eager for military power, is enough to make a big fuss about this matter and find a way to weaken the power of the Baili clan to supervise the West Sea.

And more importantly, Mu Chen has been planning for a long time to replace Daze Baili with An's plan.

The expansion of the army and the rule of the country are inseparable from the support of financial resources, and the trade between the east and west continents must also be unstoppable. In terms of experience and ability, those who can replace Bailijia in business and trade are the first to recommend Lingxiao An's who also takes this as a business.

This point was already understood by Qing Ling as early as when Mu Chen decided to marry An Huaiyu.

Shun it, be a friend. On the contrary, it is the enemy.

She has also seen Mu Chen's methods......

Luo Yao looked at the lake, not knowing what he was thinking, and at the end, he turned his head sideways and looked at Qing Ling, as if he was smiling, "Senior sister has done so many things and said so many things, and she has always been trying to win the hearts of the eldest prince?" ”

Qing Ling was stunned, "What's the matter?" What did I do? ”

Luo Yao didn't say anything, and followed straight in the direction of the entourage.

Qing Ling pondered his tone, and thought about the dispute between himself and Mu Chen, and felt even more aggrieved in his heart, so he chased forward and grabbed Luo Yao, "What do you mean?" Come with me again, isn't it? Do you think I'm taking advantage of this? ”

Luo Yao felt Qing Ling's slender fingers grasp him, and his mood was confused and complicated. Knowing that he had said something stupid, but he didn't want to take it back, he silently waited for Qing Ling's anger to attack.

Unexpectedly, Qing Ling was not as angry as usual, but continued to ask: "What do you think, you have to say it to let people know to solve it, right?" Do you feel that you have been framed and unwilling? Or do you think your father's words embarrassed you? ”

She squeezed his hand, "I know, back then, your father's choice to give up Jiuqiu and take refuge in Chaoyan has always been a thorn in your heart, and for so many years, although you have not hated him on the surface, you are still uncomfortable in your heart, right?" But now it's not for you to give up something to form this alliance! I won't let you lose anything! ”

Luo Yao suddenly stopped, turned his head to look at her, and the lake was shining in his glass eyes, shining and bewildering.

"Senior sister, why is it sudden," he was silent for a moment, and then slowly asked, "Is it so good to me?" ”

Qing Ling's heart beat faster by his staring, and he quickly pulled out his hand and turned around, "What...... Good? Before he finished speaking, he lowered his head and left, and after walking a few steps, he felt that Luo Yao had also followed, so he muttered angrily: "After a while, complaining that people are not good enough for you, pinching a broken sachet...... After a while, I thought it was too sudden to treat him, what a demon......"

muttered, but his hand was caught by Luo Yao behind him and held into the warm palm.

Luo Yao's breathing was slightly rapid, and his gaze wandered, avoiding the stunned gaze she cast. He led her forward, and said in a low voice, "What's so strange? I told you a long time ago, I'm a very demon. ”

Qing Ling was slightly stunned, the corners of his mouth twitched unconsciously, and then lowered his eyebrows and eyes, and burst out laughing.

The two walked silently after the attendant who was bewitched by the illusion.

Qing Ling felt the temperature from the hand he was holding, and he was in a trance for a while.

To be honest, if you want to look into the change in her attitude, she can't tell why.

I remember that Chun Yuyan once said that women will be sincere to people because they are grateful. But she felt that just because the other party was kind to her, she was emotional, but it was not sincere.

Besides, if you want to talk about Xiao Qi's goodness, hasn't he always been good to her since he met in Chongwu?

Or, too many times in the past, he misunderstood him, wronged him, and even watched others frame him but did nothing, so he felt guilty, so he thought about being good to him?

Or is it ......

Qing Ling secretly raised his eyes, and quickly peeked at Luo Yao's side face from under his eyelashes for a moment, his gaze stayed at the corner of his lips for a moment, and he unconsciously remembered the kiss he had sneak in.

…… Or is it that he has been coveting his beauty for a long time?

She was frightened by the thoughts that came out of her head, and she was ashamed and embarrassed, and scolded "obscene" in her mind.

Hex casting is constrained by the range of distance, and the caster cannot go too far. Luo Yao took Qing Ling by the way, followed for a while, and finally asked thoughtfully, "Prince Muchen, are you willing to form an alliance with Daze?" ”

Qing Ling remembered the conversation with Mu Chen in the study today, groaned, and said in a firm tone: "He will agree." ”

For the first time, she didn't hesitate to force her with the most ruthless words, she thought that Mu Chen should give in.

If not......

If not......

Luo Yao was silent for a while, "If the interests are contrary in the future, how will the senior sister choose?" ”

As Qing Ling said, he, like his father, is a shrewd and meticulous person who is good at perceiving the court situation. Mu Chen's layout of winning over the An family and cultivating henchmen, he is not unaware. With what Chun Yuyan and Qingling said when they stood at the bow of the ship during the Chinese New Year's Eve celebration in Wind City, he also heard a lot, and he was very clear about Mu Chen's attitude towards the Baili clan.

He is not a timid person, nor is he a narrow-minded person, otherwise he would not have gone north to Lieyang alone, conspired with the enemy, single-handedly affected the fate of the Three Kingdoms, and lifted the siege of Jiuqiu.

However, Mu Chen ......

Mu Chen......

"If the interests are contrary in the future, how will the senior sister make a trade-off?"

Because of Mu Chen, he asked.

Because of some betrayal, he couldn't bear it......

Before they knew it, the two of them had walked to a section of the road adjacent to the maple forest on the pond bank. The autumn leaves on the hillside next to it are at their most colorful, and they occasionally fall in the breeze and drift to the surface of the lake.

Qing Ling stopped, looked up at the red leaves in the sky, and couldn't help but think of the scene of fishing with Luo Yao on Mizusawa Island that day, and stood silent for a long time.

It stands to reason that after all, she is the one who was brought up by her master, and she should know how to distinguish between right and wrong.

However, in the past, he didn't distinguish between right and wrong, and blindly tolerated and forgave Mu Chen to exonerate him, just because he was closer to that person in his heart and wanted to defend him more.

And now......

Right now......

Qing Ling turned his head to look at Luo Yao, his eyes were dyed with a delicate and embarrassing color by the gorgeous red leaves above his head.

Isn't he also her relative?