In the month of Meng Chun, the old Uncle Wang and Fang Shanlei, who sent an envoy to the West Sea, returned to Lingxiao City.

Old Uncle Wang was already old, and after a period of time on a rickety ship, he fell ill when he returned to the capital. Therefore, many of the next matters were handed over to Fang Shanlei.

As soon as Fang Shanlei returned to Beijing, he summoned a large number of clan masters to the mansion and deployed a strict guard, which was very popular. For a time, it caused the nobles of the city to discuss and speculate.

It was only after the official arrival that these speculations gradually had an answer.

On the top of the main hall, Emperor Hao was dressed in a golden crown, and sat high with a cold face.

The two columns of courtiers, because many of the generals of the southern expedition have recently returned to the capital, the number is rare and neat. Mo Nan'an Mountain and Xi Yang each led the children of the clan with military ranks, dressed in military armor, and stood in separate halls. The two princes of Chaoyan Kingdom, Mu Chen and Mu Han, as well as Emperor Ji Qingling, are also listed.

And the most eye-catching thing is that the two fathers and sons of the Osawa Baili clan, who rarely appear here.

The two of them stood at the top of the ranks, both dressed in exquisite dark brocade robes. The elder wears a crown of inlaid blonde hair that symbolizes the status of the prince, and has an elegant temperament and a gentle expression. The younger ones are tied with hostas, and their posture is chic and casual, and their faces are peerless and handsome.

Baili Yu lowered his eyes slightly, maintaining a modest and respectful attitude, as if he was ready to listen to Emperor Hao's instructions at any time.

Qing Ling secretly felt funny in his heart.

Judging from the current situation, Chaoyan needs to rely on Daze's help to a large extent, and secretly the two sides don't know what to talk about, so that his father is so anxious to marry him to Daze. But this prince always pretends to be obedient in front of people, but he is very good at getting cheap and selling well.

She went to the court today in the name of the imperial envoy who was the assistant to Chaoyan to pay taxes, and stood a little back with Shi Xiangjin, and she was unscrupulous when she peeked at people.

Shi Xiangjin glanced at the wandering emperor, full of doubts.

A few days ago, I was shouting that I was going to resign from my post and go back to the deep palace to recuperate, but today I suddenly came to the main hall again and ran to the main hall to listen to the government. What a fickle woman!

At this time, Fang Shanlei, who had returned from meeting King Lieyang from the West Sea, was dressed in official court clothes and strode into the palace.

He first bowed to Emperor Hao, and then relayed what he had gained from his trip.

As said in the previous report of Uncle Wang, King Qianzhong of Lieyang proposed two conditions for peace to Chaoyan. The first is to ask Chaoyan to stop the attack on Jiuqiu, and the second is to ask Chaoyan to hand over the eldest prince Muchen. Otherwise, Lieyang's 100,000-strong army would land on Daze and attack the Eastern Continent.

Fang Shanlei said again: "Several masters in the army who are good at water once found an opportunity to infiltrate Lieyang's fleet. According to the number of soldiers carried on each warship, the total number of Lieyang's army will not exceed 50,000. Moreover, most of the people in the Northern Continent are not fluent in water, and there is no essence cultivation that can match the Eastern Continent God Clan, and there are no less than thirty percent of the people in the army who fall ill because of the lack of adaptation to water and soil. It can be seen that the 100,000 army that Qianzhong said is really a bluff! ”

The courtiers who had been apprehensive because of the conditions proposed by the people of Lieyang, when they heard Fang Shanlei say this, they all breathed a sigh of relief, and they all accused and criticized Lieyang's despicable insidiousness.

"I have long heard that the people of Lieyang don't understand etiquette and law, and they never care about fairness and justice in doing things, they are really barbaric!"

"Yes, the so-called like gathers like things, that's why they get mixed up with Jiuqiu!"

"How dare you say that you are ashamed to let us hand over the eldest prince? It's overwhelming! ”

Emperor Hao didn't see any joy or anger on his face, and only asked Fang Shanlei lightly: "Can you find out the source of the sea ship that the people of Lieyang are riding?" ”

Fang Shanlei replied: "There are about one hundred and fifty ships in the sea that the people of Lieyang are on. It is said that Chiju made a deal with a large merchant named Dunderu in the Western Continent. ”

"Dunderu?"

Emperor Hao frowned and pondered, then looked at Baili Yu, "Imperial Marquis, do you know this person?" ”

Baili Yu bowed and replied: "Back to Your Majesty, Dunderu is one of the three major merchants in the Western Continent, proud of his wealth, and has had business contacts with both the Eastern Continent and the Southern Continent. It's just that in the past one or two decades, for some reason, the number of merchant ships under his name has suddenly decreased sharply. Listening to the chatter of other merchants in the Western Continent, it seems that something has happened to this person's family, so he has no intention of doing business and gradually fades out of the business of maritime trade. ”

The ministers in the hall thought to themselves, this Dun Deru faded out of the shipping business, and the ships that ran for cargo in their hands in the past naturally had to find a way to sell them. It's not good to sell anyone, and you have to sell it to the people of Lieyang! I don't know what benefits a wild place like Lieyang, where birds don't lay eggs, can provide to the people of Xilu?

Qing Ling had done a more detailed study of the trade between the two continents, and understood that this transaction involving sea vessels was by no means as simple as it seemed. Not to mention that it is unbelievable for the two sides to cross the uninhabited realm such as the Ice Blade Forest and the Sealed Stream Trench and get in touch, just to convert one hundred and fifty sea ships originally used for trade into warships, which is both time-consuming and costly, no matter how you look at it, it does not seem like a normal business.

If there is no Baili to pull the strings, she won't believe it even if she is killed!

Thinking of this, Qing Ling involuntarily glanced in Luo Yao's direction, but saw that his face was calm and unfazed, listening to all kinds of discussions in the hall, and his expression was extremely pleasant.

Emperor Hao pondered for a moment and asked Mo Nan'an Mountain, "What do you think?" ”

The Mo Nan clan is in charge of the real power of the soldiers and horses of Chaoyan, and now that Emperor Hao has opened his mouth to inquire, he must be asking about the situation of the war. Mo Nan'an Mountain pondered for a while, and replied: "Back to Your Majesty, if the number of Lieyang's army is only 50,000, and there are no less than 30% of the sick people, in terms of the current military strength, Chaoyan should be better. However, if Lieyang and Jiuqiu Alliance attack Chaoyan from the north and south at the same time, our army may not have the ability to compete with it. ”

Xi Yang on the side was born as a military general, and he was upright and honest, and when he heard the words, he also said: "The key is that we have been fighting for the past few years, and the loss of troops is terrible!" In the past, how could we take that rabble in our eyes? ”

Emperor Hao looked at Mu Chen again, "What do you mean?" ”

Mu Chen was about to speak, when Fang Shanlei in the hall suddenly knelt down on one knee, "Your Majesty, the minister still has something to do!" ”

Whether it is according to etiquette or rules, it is extremely inappropriate for Fang Shanlei to interrupt the conversation between Emperor Hao and Mu Chen like this.

Everyone in the hall couldn't help but be very surprised when they saw that the eldest prince of Fangshan, who had always acted steadily, suddenly came out, and they all quieted down for a while, and looked at him curiously.

Emperor Hao frowned slightly, "What's the matter?" ”

Fang Shanlei turned sideways and glanced at his entourage who was guarding outside the hall. After a while, I saw several forbidden soldiers escorting three hooded prisoners into the main hall.

Several people staggered to the front of the hall, and were held down and knelt down behind Fang Shanlei.

Fang Shanlei motioned to the forbidden army and removed the prisoner's veil.

At first glance, everyone in the hall, including Emperor Hao, couldn't help but be surprised!

Qing Ling was even more frightened, and subconsciously looked in the direction of Mu Chen.

Emperor Hao waved his hand to let Fang Shanlei get up, leaned over slightly, frowned and looked at the prisoner at the front, "Gu Yue? ”

Gu Yuechang's face was pale, and his expression was very haggard, only the high head still revealed the bearing that an emperor of a country should have.

She looked at Emperor Hao, and there was a hint of ridicule in her tone, "Brother Wang, don't come to harm?" ”

Emperor Hao looked at Fang Shanlei, and his sharp gaze swept over Mo Nan'an Mountain and Mu Chen, "What's going on?" Wasn't she already burned to death in the palace in the cool summer? ”

Mo Nan'an Shan hurriedly stepped forward and explained: "Back to Your Majesty, that day, Cheng Yi burned down the palace with a fire spirit array, and the entire harem was almost reduced to ashes. According to the surviving palace people, the queen of Yuzhong and her two children were trapped in the harem and had no chance of escaping! ”

Fang Shanlei sneered and said, "There are no absolutes in everything. Since it is a formation set up with fire spirits, if they meet a master who is good at controlling fire spirits, there is naturally a way for them to get out! ”

As he spoke, he strode out and pulled up a thin young man kneeling behind Gu Yue, "Come on!" What happened that day? ”

Gu Yue turned around and said sharply with a little panic: "Don't touch my Ling'er!" ”

Fang Shanlei ignored it, and his sound left arm fiercely restrained Ling Er, who was trembling, "Say!" Just like you told me before! Who was the man who brought you out of the palace that day? ”

Ling Er's face was pale, and her deep, inky black eyes were wide open, revealing hopelessness and fear.

Obviously you have already boarded the ship, you have already arrived in the West Sea, and soon, you will arrive at that distant and mysterious West Continent......

The queen mother said that once he arrived in the Western Continent, he would no longer have to hide in Tibet, no longer starve and be cold, and could even live a good life as before......

But the vicious Lieyang people intercepted their ships and imprisoned them like slaves.

Later, he met a few more people who were scouting the cabin at night and brought them out of the hands of the Lieyang people.

He thought that things would finally turn around, but he didn't expect that this was just the beginning of another ordeal......

Gu Yue raised her voice, "Ling'er, don't be coerced by traitors!" You are the crown prince of Yu China, and you still have the blood of the Chaoyan royal family in your body! Don't succumb to the general! ”

When Ling Er heard her mother's words, she gritted her teeth and held back the pain, and stopped making a sound.

Fang Shanlei's fingers suddenly forced, not allowing him to back down, "Today is not to humiliate you, I just want you to tell who brought you out of the Liangxia Palace." ”

Ling Er's shoulder blade was pinched in severe pain, and she couldn't help but scream, her black eyes with tears wandered, and she slowly turned to Mu Chen's direction.

At this moment, a figure quickly swept to Fang Shanlei's side, and the palm wind blew on his right shoulder, which had been hit hard, seemingly careless, but the hidden strength was enough to catch him off guard.

Fang Shanlei staggered away a step, and Ling Er, who was restrained under his palm, was snatched out and leaned into the arms of the person who came.

Qing Ling's eyebrows condensed, he raised his head slightly, and the coral-inlaid golden lotus pendant on the luxurious golden pendant in his hair swayed lightly at the corner of his forehead, "Presumptuous!" No matter who this kid is now, he is still my father's nephew after all! Shall you be allowed to abuse brute force and coercion above the great hall? ”

She hugged Ling Er's shoulders and comforted him in a low voice: "Don't be afraid, with your cousin here, no one can hurt you." ”

Ling Er had never seen Qing Ling before, but under the circumstances at this moment, he became extremely dependent on this cousin he had never met, and subconsciously leaned closer to her.

Fang Shanlei raised his hand and pressed his right shoulder, revealing a rare moment of pain in his hard-lined facial features.

It turned out that what she said to herself that day was for this reason.

Even if the hands are stained with blood, even if the innocent are hurt......

It turned out that from beginning to end, she had always been, all along.