The rain gradually weakened, Qingling and Luo Yao thanked the shopkeeper and his wife, got out of the shop, and walked to the Xuan Wangfu.

Both of them seemed to feel that some unspoken words were blocked in their chests, but neither of them wanted to say more, and walked silently to the door of the palace.

Luo Yao withdrew the spell, revealing his true face and Qing Ling's true face.

At this time, a few people who were born were coming out of the palace, and they happened to meet Qing Ling and Luo Yao.

The gaze of the first person lingered on the two Qingling for a moment, and he lowered his head lightly, and then passed by.

Qing Ling saw that there was a unique momentum in his demeanor and demeanor that was unique to a person in a high position, and he didn't feel suspicious, and asked Luo Yao, "Who is that person?" ”

Luo Yao knew that with Qing Ling's cultivation, he was afraid that he would not be able to see through this person's illusion.

He hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: "The patriarch of the Mo Nan clan, Mo Nan Shore Mountain. ”

Qing Ling was a little stunned.

It's not that she can't guess that at the moment, Emperor Hao seems to have a preference for herself and Mu Chen, and the important members of the court and the central government will inevitably waver in their positions, and there will be flattering people in the future, who will go to the door to ask for visits.

However, Mo Nan'an Mountain was the one who killed Mu Chen with a letter of rebellion!

If it weren't for this, why would Mu Chen have been wrongfully punished and almost lost his life?

Qing Ling was full of suspicion, unconsciously quickened his pace, left Luo Yao, and went straight to Mu Chen's study.

There are still tea houses and other things that have not been removed in the study, and it is obvious that the dialogue between the guests and the host has lasted for a long time.

Mu Chen sat alone behind the desk, his eyes lowered as if he was thinking about something.

He raised his eyes and saw Qing Ling pushing the door in, and the expression between his eyebrows soothed, "You're back?" ”

Qing Ling said "um" randomly, glanced at the tea house next to him, and asked directly, "What did Mo Nan'an Mountain do with you just now?" ”

Mu Chen's eyes shimmered slightly, but his face was unfazed.

He stood up, walked up to Qing Ling, reached out and stroked her hair, "Why is it raining outside?" ”

As she spoke, she secretly drove her divine power away, dissipating the moisture from her hair and body.

Qing Ling knew that diverting his attention was Mu Chen's consistent way of avoiding topics.

But she is no longer the fledgling, simple-minded little girl in Guanwu Town.

She looked at Mu Chen, and there was a hint of persistence in her tone, "Is Mo Nan'an Mountain trying to win you over?" ”

Mu Chen met her eyes for a moment, his eyes were filled with hesitation, and in the end, he slowly spoke: "It's too early to talk about wooing. But now that he and I are going to fight on the same battlefield after all, it is both inevitable and necessary to let go of old suspicions and rebuild old friendships. ”

Qing Ling sneered: "It's been so long since you've been back in the royal family, and now he remembers to let go of his old suspicions with you, but he can also pull his face!" ”

Mu Chen also smiled, "It's good that you understand." Driven by interests, he is the head of a family, and his face is secondary. ”

On the night of the Centennial Festival, Shiyin found Mu Chen and explained to him in detail the reason why Mo Nan'an Mountain chose to turn his back on him in the first place. The reason for this, whether it is jealousy or short-term protection, in Shiyin's opinion, it is just that his grandfather was confused for a while and was bewitched by others.

However, Mu Chen knew very well that the most important reason for Mo Nan'an Mountain's defection was not the people who were implicated, nor his own political opinions that violated the interests of the family, but the changes in the flow of power and interests in the royal family.

Mu Han's growth, the power of the Fang Shan clan leaned towards the government and the opposition, and the estrangement between Emperor Hao and himself......

Mo Nan'an Mountain stands in the position of the head of the family, but it is just a more rational choice for the future of the family.

Qing Ling asked again: "Since he came to see you as a colleague, why did he change his appearance and act secretly?" ”

Mu Chen said: "He still doesn't know my attitude, and he dares to visit as the generalissimo of soldiers and horses, wouldn't he be embarrassed if he eats a closed door?" ”

Qing Ling pursed her lips, always feeling that something was unreasonable.

She raised her eyes and stared at Mu Chen, trying to keep her tone as gentle as possible, "Mu Chen, can you promise me that no matter what, you won't have any interests with the people of the Mo Nan clan?" Mo Nanhao killed my fourth senior brother, and in the future, I will use all means to avenge my senior brother with his life! ”

She took a slight breath, suppressed her emotions, and whispered, "I understand that the Monan clan has a heavy army, and it is indeed a rare chess piece...... But I don't have any other requirements, I just ask you not to owe them favors, so that I will be subject to entanglements of interests in the future, and I can't kill Mo Nanhao! ”

Mu Chen stared at Qing Ling, with a complicated expression in his dark eyes.

After a while, he said slowly: "I once told your fourth senior brother that the only thing I care about is your heart. What you want to do, and what you don't want to do, I will let you do it. ”

Qing Ling remembered the scene of that night, and her voice couldn't help but lower, "I didn't want to embarrass you...... Besides, in the matter of controlling the troops, it is certainly a shortcut to be able to use the Mo Nan family, but it is not without other ways. The group of people who are arranged to enter the southern expedition will be slowly promoted, and eventually grasp some military power. There is also the money needed to prepare a private army, which is now also available. ”

She briefly described the process of checking the accounts in the palace today, as well as her agreement with Luo Yao.

Mu Chen's expression gradually condensed.

Qing Ling studied his expression, "Now that I have finally persuaded the Baili clan to help, not only has the problem in front of me been solved, but it may not be impossible to ask them to openly support you to seize the crown in the future." Don't you have to worry about it? ”

Mu Chen was silent for a long time. For some reason, what I kept thinking about over and over again in my mind was the past when Luo Yao rescued him and Qingling to escape from Chongwu.

He raised his eyes and looked at Qing Ling, "Do you think Baili Fuyao can be trusted?" ”

Qing Ling replied: "He is indeed quite good at pretending, but in the end, except for the incognito apprentice, he actually didn't deceive me anything." Now that he has personally agreed, he will not regret it. Besides, he is asking me to help him hide his whereabouts now, so he shouldn't dare to break his promise, right? ”

Mu Chen stared at Qing Ling for a long time, as if he wanted to see some other answer from her face.

He looked away and asked in a deep voice, "He asked his father for a military position, but he had to leave from time to time...... Could it be that you want to secretly access Jiuqiu? ”

Qing Ling said: "I guessed it too. But his father was not a fool, how could he let Fang Shanxiu arrange any important position for him? Even if he wants to communicate with foreign enemies, he can't grasp useful information in his hands. However, he must have the idea of helping Jiuqiu. ”

She paused and looked at Mu Chen, "I promised him that as long as Bailishi is willing to cooperate with us, I will find a way to help him keep Jiuqiu!" The matter of the Xuaniron Mine is just a one-time transaction, and if we want them to completely stand on our side in the future, we have to find a way to help them preserve the royal power of the Jiuqiu Luo clan. ”

Mu Chen frowned, "Keep Jiuqiu?" Jiuqiu has always been a thorn in his father's heart, how could he agree? ”

Qingling said: "If my father doesn't agree, it doesn't mean that there is no other way to go." Besides, the battle with Yuzhong hasn't started yet, who knows how long the war with Jiuqiu will drag? There will always be a way. It's a big deal, if they think of something on their own, we'll help them secretly. ”

Mu Chen was silent for a long time, feeling a little inexplicably irritable in his heart, and at the end, he said in a deep voice: "Let's talk about it then." ”

Qing Ling originally wanted to find an opportunity to bring Mu Chen and Luo Yao together to talk about the cooperation plan. But she was worried that Luo Yao would have another demonic attack and say something sneering, so she temporarily dispelled this idea.

She took over the finances of Fanye, and although the taxes did not benefit much for her own selfish interests, Qingling still worked diligently and orderly to deal with the places that should be adjusted and filled in the gaps.

She went in and out of the palace every day, discussed countermeasures with the ministers, and sorted out a set of tax reduction plans according to the method provided by Ming Zhanyuan, and submitted it to the emperor.

Mu Chen heard about this and specially asked her what she thought. Although Qing Ling didn't want to admit it, she couldn't deny it in her heart that what Luo Yao said still had an impact on her to some extent. Now, when she looks at the accounts, she no longer just thinks about finding leaks, but also thinks about many things that she has never considered before.

Under Fang Shanxiu's arrangement, Luo Yao received a position as a supervisor of the Chinese army.

In terms of rank, his position is the highest among the children of the family. However, in terms of real power, it is impossible to dispatch a single soldier. In addition, the strategy of the operation is usually determined by the direct consultation of the Monan Shore Mountain in the forward barracks, and the Central Military Department cannot take the lead in mastering the military aircraft.

Luo Yao seemed to be not dissatisfied with such an arrangement, on the contrary, he was quite positive in doing things. Whenever Qingling was discussing with the ministers behind closed doors or studying the accounts, he would lead his entourage to the camp to inspect military affairs.

Qingling had studied art with him in Chongwu and understood his serious attitude. That's it, even the third senior brother of Xueba has praised it......

On this day, Qing Ling and Mu Chen went to the camp outside the city to meet Emperor Hao.

The number of forbidden troops outside the big tent is almost twice as large as usual. Kneeling in front of the tent was a man in a black robe, slender and humble.

The general of the forbidden army saluted Mu Chen and Qing Ling, "Prince, Emperor Ji." ”

The black-robed man kneeling on the ground turned his head when he heard the sound, revealing a pale and haggard face under the hood.

"Chen'er?"

Mu Chen raised his eyes and looked, "Auntie? ”

Qing Ling's feet next to him slowed down, and then he realized that this person was the eldest emperor Ji who married into the royal family of Yuzhong, Chaoyan Gu Yue.

When she got married, Hao Chan had just been born. Among the royal children, only Mu Chen and Chao Jun have really gotten along with her.

This eldest emperor Ji has been disliked by Emperor Hao because he stood in the wrong camp in the previous generation's struggle for the throne, not only was he used as a chess piece, he was far away from his homeland and married into Yuzhong and his relatives, but now, he also had to taste the taste of the country's ruin in the hands of his relatives.

Gu Yuemo's brows were sad, her once soft face had long been replaced by tough lines in the experience of the years, and there was a trace of pain in the lines at the corners of her mouth.

She looked up at her nephew, as if she wanted to consider what to say, but Emperor Hao's attendant soon appeared at the door of the tent, "Two highnesses, hurry up and enter the tent." Your Majesty is still waiting. ”

Mu Chen and Qing Ling entered the tent and saw Emperor Xuanjia girded and was standing in front of the map with several generals discussing something. After the two stepped forward to salute, Qing Ling saw clearly that one of the generals was actually Fang Shanlei.

Fang Shanlei has always been stationed at the front, and even on the day Emperor Hao came to Yinzhou, he found an excuse not to come to pick him up. This time, because of the errand of escorting Gu Yuechang Emperor Ji, he had to come north to see the driver.

He had already guessed that he would inevitably see Qingling, and he was mentally prepared in private, but now that he saw her Tingting standing in front of him, his thoughts couldn't help but boil.

Emperor Hao's sharp gaze also quickly swept over the faces of his daughter and Fang Shanlei, and he said to Mu Chen quietly, "You came just in time. ”