Xiao Fan led 3,000 pro-troops to the north, rushing to the unknown future and uncertain luck.

In the Yanwang Mansion, Zhu Di and Daoyan monks were relieved when they heard that Xiao Fan had led his troops to set off.

A large net of 50,000 Mongolian Tatars and the imperial court was slowly opened...... Zhu Di's determination this time is very firm, he is bound to win 50,000 Tartars, this is a national war, Zhu Di has great ambitions, but he does not dare to forget the righteousness, eliminating the Tartars, sweeping away the Northern Yuan is his life's mission, this mission is the same as he wants to be the emperor, it occupies a very important position in his heart.

In his lifetime, sweeping away the Tartars and ascending the throne of the Ninth Five-Year Plan are Zhu Di's two major wishes.

The existence of the Mongols has become an obstacle to Zhu Di's realization of his wishes, and similarly, the existence of Xiao Fan has also become an obstacle to Zhu Di's accession to the throne in the Ninth Five-Year Plan.

He firmly believed that if the 50,000 Tartars were annihilated by him, the Northern Yuan would be greatly damaged, paving the way for his future northern expedition, and he also firmly believed that Xiao Fan and the literati led the army to fight, and the chance of surviving was very slim, and the ferocity and courage of the Mongols were not something that a civil official who quarreled in the court could understand.

Xiao Fan set off, and now Zhu Di is also leaving, he must rush to Shanhaiguan to join the main force of the Yan army, and then lay down an unbreakable formation on the Qianli Plain outside the pass, waiting for the Tartars to wave their troops to attack, this battle will completely change the national fortunes of the Northern Yuan and the Ming Dynasty!

However, before Zhu Di set off, there was one more thing to do.

Jietai Temple, Qin Cha Xingyuan set off with Xiao Fan's army, and the Xingyuan has become empty, only Fang Xiaoru, Zhang Sanfeng and Taixu are left. Xiao Fan left dozens of pro-army guards in Xingyuan, and Zhang Hongqiao was also left behind.

In the afternoon, when people were still taking a break in the side room or bamboo forest of Xingyuan, a slender figure quietly walked out of the door, flashed in the side door of the kitchen in the backyard, and walked out of Xingyuan.

In the inner hall of King Yan's Mansion, the hall was full of big ice cubes to eliminate the heat, Zhu Di was wearing a dark yellow royal robe, sitting on the top facing the palace door, holding the iced sour plum soup in his hand, tilting his neck and taking a big sip, and then exhaled comfortably.

Outside the hall, an inner eunuch shook the dust lightly, bowed down and said, "Lord, the girl from Hongqiao is here." ”

"Let her in."

Not long after, Zhang Hongqiao, who was wearing a plain long skirt, his hair was coiled into a bun, and his face was indifferent, appeared at the entrance of the hall.

Zhu Di narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the slender figure at the door, with a somewhat complicated look in his eyes.

This woman is too scheming, she is obedient on the surface but never shows her true thoughts, under the smile of a flower, no one can see through what she is thinking in her heart, this woman makes Zhu Di feel that it is not easy to control, - he doesn't like this feeling of being uncontrollable.

"The slave family has seen the prince." Zhang Hongqiao walked into the hall, four or five steps away, towards Zhu Diyingying.

Zhu Di said lightly: "The girl from the Red Bridge is exempt, sit down." ”

"Thank you, Lord Xie, the slave family should stand and reply."

In the spacious and quiet inner hall, the two were silent, one sat quietly and lowered his head to taste the sour plum soup in the small bowl of jasper, and the other stood quietly not far away, with expressionless eyelids and speechless.

I don't know how long it took, Zhu Di put down the small bowl in his hand, then stroked his beard, broke the silence, and said slowly: "Miss Hongqiao, you have been to Xiao Fan's side for a long time, how are these people doing?" ”

"Thanks to the blessing of the prince, the Red Bridge is doing well."

"How does Xiao Fan treat you?"

"Lord Xiao treats the slave family like a guest, and he is very respectful."

Zhu Di frowned: "Respectful?" Could it be that he hasn't touched you? ”

Zhang Hongqiao's pretty face suddenly blushed, calmed down, and said calmly: "Lord Xiao has the style of a gentleman, and he has never ...... I have never touched the slave family. ”

Zhu Di sneered: "He has the style of a gentleman? Miss Hongqiao, are you blind, or is this king blind? Can the title of gentleman have anything to do with him Xiao Fan? ”

Zhang Hongqiao lowered his head and drooped his eyelids and said, "What the prince said, that's what it is." ”

Zhu Di snorted coldly, frowned and pondered: "Strange, how could Xiao Fan not touch you?" ”

Saying that, Zhu Di raised his eyes, and his falcon-like gaze kept wandering on Zhang Hongqiao's body like a blade, and Zhang Hongqiao trembled and was cold, as if he was being targeted by a vicious and vicious snake.

Zhang Hongqiao couldn't help but be afraid in his heart, and couldn't help but take a small step back.

I don't know how long it took, Zhu Di said with a gloomy smile: "Miss Hongqiao, you tell the truth to this king, this king told you to seduce Xiao Fan with color art, do you have no intention of doing what this king gave you?" ”

Zhang Hongqiao's face suddenly became a little humiliated when she heard this, she lowered her head and bit her lower lip, slowly shook her head and said: "The prince misunderstood the slave family, the slave family did what the prince ordered, but Lord Xiao always refused to take half a step close to the slave family, and the slave family had no choice. ”

Zhu Di said gloomily: "I'm afraid you didn't do your best, right?" ”

Zhang Hongqiao said sadly: "The prince has wronged the slave family......"

Seeing her in such a stunned state, Zhu Di's expression gradually softened, and he sighed and said: "Miss Hongqiao, this king really doesn't want to force you, but Xiao Fan is a person this king attaches great importance to this king, you must understand his every move, every word and deed for this king, every word he says may be related to the confidential affairs of the court, and every order he gives may be unfavorable to this king, so you have to memorize every word of his life, and then give it to this king word for word, you are a chess piece buried by this king beside him, and you may use it at any time, Do you understand what this king means? ”

Zhang Hongqiao's pretty eyes fell with crystal tears, and he nodded in resignation.

After a pause, Zhu Di asked in a deep voice: "Has Xiao Fan said anything important recently, or inadvertently revealed any important words?" ”

Zhang Hongqiao suddenly stopped crying, recalled carefully, and suddenly a flash of inspiration flashed in her mind, and a seemingly important conversation appeared in her mind.

The vegetable seller she met in Qincha Xingyuan that day, judging from her countless eyes, of course, she could see at a glance that he was not actually a vegetable seller, not to mention, before she entered the wing, Xiao Fan vaguely told him outside that words such as "military rations", "medicine" and "weakness of limbs", and connected these words together, and he was as smart as Zhang Hongqiao, so he naturally made things clear.

This is a major matter for Guan Yanjun, do you want to talk about it?

Zhang Hongqiao hesitated.

Xiao Fan's handsome face appeared in front of her eyes, like a distant but real shadow, injecting a clear spring into her heart, which had long dried up like a dry well, and caused ripples in circles.

Should I betray him?

After a long time, Zhang Hongqiao gritted his teeth, shook his head and said, "Lord Wang, Lord Xiao has been chatting with his subordinates recently, and they have talked about some very boring homely things, and I haven't seen him say anything important. ”

Zhu Di sneered, and Zhang Hongqiao's hesitation that disappeared in the blink of an eye had already fallen into the sharp-eyed Zhu Di's eyes.

"You really didn't say that?" Zhu Di's tone was calm, but it seemed to be brewing the coming wind and rain.

"I really didn't say it!"

Syllable!

A cruel slap slapped Zhang Hongqiao in the face, Zhang Hongqiao screamed in pain, fell to the ground softly, and the blood at the corner of his mouth trickled down.

Zhu Di said in a cold tone: "Zhang Hongqiao, this king doesn't like others to lie to me!" You have remembered it for the king! Now, this king will give you another chance, what important words did Xiao Fan say recently? ”

Zhang Hongqiao ignored wiping the blood from the corners of his mouth, still stubbornly raised his head, and said proudly: "Lord Wang, he really didn't say anything important." ”

Syllable!

Another resounding slap, Zhang Hongqiao's peerless face suddenly became red and swollen, and the meticulously coiled cloud temples gradually loosened, describing it as very embarrassing.

"He really didn't say that!" Zhang Hongqiao gritted his teeth, with painful tears in his eyes, but he stubbornly refused to change his words.

Zhu Di laughed angrily: "Haha, good! Good! Zhang Hongqiao, now that you have come to the side of Lord Qincha of the imperial court, you think that you have perched on a high branch, and this king can't help you? Don't forget, you're just a bitch! It's a man's plaything, do you think you're already the wife of the noble commander of the brocade guard? Once you are a bitch, you will be a bitch for life! Zhang Hongqiao, you are destined to be a bitch in your life, and you can't become a concubine if you enter the palace! What are you holding onto? Are you stupid? ”

The huge humiliation finally made Zhang Hongqiao's tears fall, and Zhu Di's mean and bitter words made her feel more painful and heart-wrenching than the slap on her **.

yes, what am I holding onto? The concubine is intentional, Lang is ruthless, he hasn't even looked at me with a straight eye, but I have suffered a lot for him, am I really stupid?

Sauvignon Blanc, heart-wrenching, unrequited love?

Scarlet blood fell drop by drop on the white marble floor tiles in the inner hall, like an arrogant plum blooming in the snow, so shocking.

Zhang Hongqiao looked at his own blood, and suddenly echoed in his mind what Xiao Fan had said to her.

- "The things that are worth defending with our lives, such as the human ethics of the world, the norms, righteousness, and faith, these things need us to unswervingly persist until the death, and this is called faith." ”

Xiao Fan's resolute and unrepentant, handsome face that bloomed with brilliance lingered in front of her eyes again, and the smile seemed to give her infinite strength and courage.

You have the beliefs you insist on, and I also have the beliefs that I insist on. My faith is you! - Xiao Fan, I won't betray you, because you are different from others, Hongqiao has been wandering and miserable all his life, and has experienced countless men, only you, tell me what faith is!

Raising his head suddenly, Zhang Hongqiao's eyes were full of unyielding and stubbornness.

"Lord Wang, Lord Xiao really didn't say it!"

"Zhang Hongqiao, are you forcing this king to kill you?" Zhu Di was furious.

"Hongqiao has already suffered a lot in his life, life is better than death, if the prince wants to kill me, Hongqiao is grateful!" Zhang Hongqiao knelt down facing Zhu Di, choked up.

Syllable!

Zhu Di was extremely angry, and slapped him again.

Zhang Hongqiao's face was swollen, and she fell to the ground with a painful cry, and then she slowly raised her head and smiled sadly: "Lord Wang, do you know what faith is?" ”

"Faith is the death of those who oppose me!"

Syllable! Zhu Di rounded his arm, and slapped her hard in anger.

Zhang Hongqiao seemed to have forgotten the pain, and said with a sharp smile: "It turns out that the prince doesn't know what faith is...... What about those who are crowned kings? I only know that the flies are camping and the dogs, and there is only the emperor in his eyes, how can he live clearly and calmly? Lord Wang, you live a pitiful life than Hongqiao......"

Zhu Di looked at Zhang Hongqiao's bloody mouth but smiling miserably, he couldn't help but be shocked, unconsciously took a step back, looked at her in a daze, and didn't say a word for a long time.

Is this the true face of this always submissive and gentle woman? She also has an unyielding and stubborn side? She...... For what, exactly? Because of Xiao Fan? Or is it because of what she said...... Belief?

But...... What exactly is faith?

Zhu Di was deeply shocked and a little puzzled, the spacious inner hall returned to quiet, and the two were silent.

I don't know how long it took, Zhu Di suddenly smiled gloomily: "Zhang Hongqiao, I haven't seen you in just a few days, you have changed a lot, do you think that you sacrificed your life for Xiao Fan, and you will become noble from now on?" No! You're a bitch! You'll always be just a bitch! A sparrow is just a sparrow when it flies nine days away, and it will never become a phoenix! Zhang Hongqiao, you paid such a price to cover up for Xiao Fan, but you miscalculated! ”

Zhang Hongqiao wiped the blood stains on the corner of his mouth, drooped his eyelids and said slowly: "What kind of calculation Hongqiao played, the prince will not understand, since the prince does not believe what Hongqiao said, please ask the prince to have mercy and give Hongqiao a death!" ”

Zhu Di was stunned for a long time, and was shocked by her fearless and resolute expression again.

After settling down, Zhu Di sneered: "Want to die? You can't die! Aren't you a Qingqi? This king asked the guards to taste the taste of the Qing people one by one, so that after you enjoy the love of men and women, see how noble you are! ”

Zhang Hongqiao was shocked when he heard this: "Lord Wang! You...... You are a dignified vassal king and dragon vein, and you are acting so shamelessly! ”

Zhu Di laughed, and was about to speak, but he heard a commotion in the front hall outside the mansion.

A guard hurriedly ran in, knelt on the ground and said: "Lord Wang, there are dozens of Qincha relatives from outside the palace, and the leader is an old man, he said that his surname is Fang, and he came to find someone from our palace to ask for ...... The woman of Lord Chincha Xiao ......"

Zhu Di was taken aback: "Surname Fang? Fang Xiaoru? ”

Zhang Hongqiao also froze, and the desperate and miserable look in his eyes gradually disappeared, replaced by joy and emotion.

He...... Even if you go on an expedition outside the Saiwai, you haven't forgotten yourself, right?

Zhu Di's face turned pale: "Go!" Take a look outside the house! ”

Angrily led the guards to the gate, but saw Fang Xiaoru with a righteous and awe-inspiring face, squinting a pair of old eyes, pointing to an iron tree in front of the door and scolding: "Your Royal Highness King Yan, you are too much!" That Hongqiao girl is obviously Lord Xiao's woman, why did she come to your mansion? You are a dignified prince, how can you dominate the love of others? This move is contrary to the words of the saints, and it is a big fallacy! - Lord Wang, the old man has been talking to you for a long time, so I can give you a response! ”

Zhu Di was so angry that his face turned green, making trouble is making trouble, you ran to the door and pointed at the iron tree and scolded me, what do you mean?

"Mr. Zhengxue, this king is here, can you please turn around?" Zhu Di's face was cold, and his tone was like ice.

(To be continued)