It was already the dead of night when Sima Yi returned to the small courtyard, and even if he felt that he knew the way clearly when he came out, it was still very difficult to find the way when he came back. Taking advantage of the drunkenness and the fact that the wind was blowing too cold, he wanted to go back to rest earlier, but it took too much time on the road alone.

He tried not to think about things along the way, but Li Shanye said that the war between the Southern Dynasty and the Northern Dynasty still made him feel a little hesitant, he didn't think about whether to go or stay in the past few months, he hadn't thought about the reason to leave, in the Northern Dynasty he was just a friend of the emperor, but in the Southern Dynasty, he was the minister relied on by King Hui and even the empress, and he could tell which was more important, and from an emotional point of view, he didn't want to go back, because there was always a thorn in his heart, that is, he lived like a cage in the first year of the Southern Dynasty.

But there are some questions that he can't avoid, as Li Shanye said, when he has to make a choice.

Back in the small courtyard, he was a little exhausted, so he simply sat at the door and rested, it was originally a life of one person, no one came to disturb him, and he could even be quiet and not think about anything other than himself. Just as he sat down to sober up and go in to rest, he suddenly heard something in the courtyard, and he immediately became alert, because he knew that there would be no one in the courtyard at this time.

He looked through the crack in the door, and the inside was covered by a cloister, and there was no human figure in sight. He pushed the door slightly, but it was hidden, he remembered very well that he had closed the door before going out, but he knew that someone would come to cook him dinner later, so he didn't have to lock the door, in fact, the door was never locked.

When he pushed the door open and entered, there was a slight sound of footsteps, Sima subconsciously touched his waist, but found that he did not go out with a sword, just as he was about to turn around to avoid it. The light of the lantern also came, and Sima was a little more determined, if the assassin came to assassinate him, he would not come with the lantern.

"Sir......" A familiar voice came, and Sima Yi couldn't remember where he had heard it for a while, after all, he had drunk some wine, and although his mind was still quite clear, he seemed to be very forgetful. Wait until he can see clearly by the faint light of the lantern. He was relieved that it was the woman Li Fangwei gave him in Xu Ding, who accompanied him to take care of him along the way, but was sent to Huan'er, who was placed elsewhere after the assassination.

Sima looked at Huan'er, he knew very well that now that Li Fangwei was not in the Southern Dynasty, it was impossible for Huan'er to find this place through his own strength. He was a little wary of Huan'er's appearance, but Huan'er had already stepped forward to help him at this time.

"You...... Why here? Sima Yi asked with some surprise.

Huan'er's face was surprised and sad, and suddenly she seemed to be about to shed tears, and almost cried and said, "Sir." The slave has found you. ”

Saying that, she leaned forward, Tingting gave Sima Yi a salute, Sima Yi's mind was also a little complicated, but at this time, there seemed to be someone in the courtyard approaching, and Sima Yi looked at the direction where the footsteps came. The voice came before the footsteps: "Mr. Sima, someone has sent it to you." ”

This time there was no need for Sima to think about it, but this voice was all too familiar to him. It was the original owner of this small courtyard and the person who placed him here. Xiao Zhan, the empress of the Southern Dynasty.

There was a palace maid next to Xiao Zhan, holding a lantern, but the palace maid was dressed in men's clothes like Xiao Zhan, and Xiao Zhan was still holding a fan in his hand in the winter, and when he came out, he looked at Sima Yi with a smile, but Sima Yi didn't know how to give a gift. With Huan'er beside him, and Xiao Zhan is dressed like this, he doesn't know what to call this female emperor.

Without waiting for Sima to say hello, Xiao Zhan said first: "After waiting for Mr. for a long time, I know that Mr. went out to drink with old friends." Originally, I wanted to go with me, but ...... The place is always a little indecent, so I have to wait here. As for Miss Huan'er, she was originally Mr.'s personal maidservant, and she knew that Mr. was alone here and had no one to take care of, so she took it upon herself to bring someone to Mr. ”

Huan'er was also a little embarrassed and said, "It was Mr. He who brought the slave maid." ”

Since Xiao Zhan did not face Sima Yu with his true identity, Sima Yu was naturally also interested, and saluted: "I have seen He Gongzi." ”

"Sir is polite, uninvited, without the consent of Mr. to enter the room, it is too abrupt, I don't know if you can go inside to talk?"

Sima Yi thought to himself that this person came really diligently, there was only Li Shanye before, and now Xiao Zhan actually came in person, needless to say, it was also to discuss the issue of his stay, or to discuss the wordless letter sent by Han Jian. The empress had something to say, and as a courtier, she naturally didn't dare to disobey her, so she had to make a gesture of invitation to speak inside, and Huan'er followed behind Sima Yi and looked a little scared.

When he was about to enter the door, Sima Yi was about to explain to Huan'er that she didn't need to go in to serve, but Xiao Zhan spoke first: "Miss Huan'er is really generous and considerate, if it weren't for Li Taishou who gave people to Mr. first, I would have wanted to please this intimate beauty...... The gentleman is not surprised, and he has no cover in his mouth. Miss Huan'er, I wonder if I can let you talk to your husband alone? ”

Huan'er immediately gave a salute, and without saying anything, she stepped aside, and Sima glanced back, and then entered with Xiao Zhan.

The lantern was lit, the chessboard was still there, and there were still chess pieces on the chessboard, Sima Yi also put a few chess pieces on it before going out, but he felt that he had no clue, but when he came back, there were obviously more chess pieces, indicating that Xiao Zhan was playing chess with himself when he was bored.

Xiao Zhan sat down on the cushion first, and said with a smile: "Sir, please take a seat." ”

"Don't dare." Sima Yi did not sit down.

Xiao Zhan said: "Or Mr. is too restrained, he just talks to Mr. as a friend when he comes down, if Mr. thinks it is too abrupt to come down, he can say it tomorrow." ”

Sima arched his hand and said, "Some words, it's better to make them clear earlier." ”

Xiao Zhan nodded slightly, and did not force Sima Yi to sit down, she also knew that she was not a good person, Li Shanye saw Sima Yi before that it was also from her instructions, and now she herself came again, a little aggressive, but she really couldn't let go of this matter in her heart, so she could only ask in person.

Xiao Zhan said: "There are some things that are not shy to be said, although I don't know what Mr. Li said to you, but there are some things that must be said, before the envoys of our dynasty arrived in Luoyang, the emperor of the Northern Dynasty ...... It was the former king of the East who personally handwrote a letter and secretly sent it to the Jinling Palace, and read it below. At first, he was very puzzled, but after thinking about it carefully, it must have been the emperor of the Northern Dynasty who felt that he had nothing to say, and after discussing with Mr. Li, he made it clear that this was the appearance of the Northern Dynasty to send troops. Originally, the exchange of troops between the two dynasties was the trend of the times, and even if it was blocked, it could not be stopped. Everyone knows that the Northern Dynasty now has a wide range of soldiers but is short of food and grass, and it is difficult to predict who will win or lose this battle. ”

Xiao Zhan said very complicated, some complicated things made Sima Yi unable to listen, he was waiting for Xiao Zhan's question at the end, but in the end Xiao Zhan did not ask the question of whether he went or stayed, but asked: "I don't know what Mr. thinks?" ”

Sima Yu shook his head and said, "I don't dare to talk about myself, there are some things...... I can't sit still. ”

Xiao Zhan sighed: "I originally thought that this was the case, and I just said that I would use the sword soldier with just a letter. It's a bit arbitrary. However, there are some things that need to be prepared early, otherwise, if you wait for the Northern Korean troops to rush to the battle, I am afraid that you will fall into passivity. But now the situation in the imperial court, the power of the soldiers and horses is in the hands of the emperor's uncle, and he has not been discussed with him on this matter, but I don't know what his position is. ”

Sima Yi thought about it, did Xiao Zhan want to use his mouth to inform King Hui Xiao Ling about the imminent war? But after he returned to Jinling, he even hid his life and death from King Hui. If he goes this way, it is difficult to explain where he has been in the past few months.

Sima said: "If the country is in trouble, it is the duty of King Hui to send troops to fight. Your Majesty was overly concerned. ”

"That being said, I'm still worried. Mr. also knew that Uncle Huang was a little too careless, and he had discussed with him about the war between the two dynasties during the court meeting before, but he didn't care about it, but it was not as urgent as it is today. But now that the internal troubles of our dynasty have not been eliminated, Chen Bingjiang, the king of Linjiang, will always threaten Jinling, if the emperor's uncle's men and horses are used to resist the pressure of the Northern Dynasty army, I am afraid that the protection will be taken advantage of by the people of the king of Linjiang. ”

Sima Yi was a little confused when he heard this, and he felt as if he had drunk a few glasses of wine. His brain was so dull that he couldn't understand the off-string sound in Xiao Zhan's words. Xiao Zhan didn't say a word about his position when he said this. Sima Yu thought about it, and could only say according to the meaning of the words: "Your Majesty's worries are reasonable, but if the war is together, Your Majesty will order the King of Linjiang to send troops to the north by the emperor's order, and the King of Linjiang may not dare to shirk." ”

Xiao Zhan shook his head with a smile and said, "King Linjiang will definitely refuse to obey the edict, as for the reason...... There are a lot, he will find all kinds of excuses to prevaricate, and when the time comes, he can only rely on Uncle Huang's men to resist it. This war has just started, and because of internal contradictions, half of it has already been lost, and I am afraid that this battle will not be fought. ”

Sima Yi thought about it carefully, and arched his hand: "If Your Majesty has any send, you might as well tell Zaixia, and Zai Xia will try to help His Majesty do it." ”

Xiao Zhan sighed: "It's not that I want to bother Mr. Lao to do anything, but I feel distressed in my heart, so I can't sleep at night." This Jinling City has just been born for a few days, and he has just returned from the Northern Dynasty in Xia, and he knows a lot about the affairs of the Northern Dynasty, and the emperor of the Northern Dynasty is an extremely ambitious person, although he is young, but he has grand plans, and he is not comparable to such a mediocre female streamer in the next generation, if the world is obtained by him, or it is also reasonable. ”

Sima knew that this was not Xiao Zhan's heartfelt words, others can easily humble themselves, how can the emperor be humble, or in the affairs of the family and the country, it seems that she is not ready to fight but is ready to surrender.

Xiao Zhan continued: "It's just that there are some things, and I'm still unwilling." Since he is in a high position, he wants to do things very well and live up to the trust of his ancestors, but he is indeed beyond his strength, if the foundation of his ancestors is lost in his hands, how can he have the face to see the ancestors and ancestors under the nine springs? Sir has always been a visionary, but can he think of a better plan for the future? ”

Sima was puzzled, this was an inexplicable answer. Now it seems that he is talking about the war between the two countries, but in fact, nothing has happened, and Xiao Zhan has said so much, it is nothing more than to show that the national strength of the Southern Dynasty is weak and the national strength of the Northern Dynasty is strong, and he did not ask him about specific things, what he wants to say is at most to say some empty and meaningless strategies, which will not be of much help to the war between the two countries.

Sima said: "I am stupid and can't share my worries for Your Majesty." ”

Xiao Zhan got up and said, "Well, in fact, I want to find someone to talk about the depression in my heart, in fact, how can there be a good solution to the world?" Mr. has drunk a few glasses of wine, you might as well rest early, and you will have to leave and return to the palace first. ”

Saying that, Xiao Zhan got up and wanted to go back to the palace, but it was a little unbelievable to come, and it was so hurried to leave, Sima Yi didn't even say a word to stay. After sending Xiao Zhan out of the door, Sima Yi suddenly realized that Xiao Zhan said that he was just trying to test him whether to go or stay, and he refused to make practical suggestions, and Xiao Zhan regarded him as having made up his mind?

"Your Majesty, there is something ......"

Sima Yi wanted to explain something, but was interrupted by Xiao Zhan reaching out.

Xiao Zhan said with a smile: "Some words Mr. doesn't need to say explicitly, I know Mr.'s mind below." In fact, Mr. Li should have conveyed the meaning of the next, whether the gentleman goes or stays, he will follow the meaning of the gentleman, the gentleman is a talented person, but the world is impermanent, so that the gentleman is caught in the middle, and he can feel the embarrassment of the gentleman in the lower position, so he never dares to force it. ”

Sima Yi could only keep his mouth shut, and Xiao Zhan said that when it came to this, in fact, he said that the question of staying was irrelevant.

Xiao Zhan left accompanied by the palace maid, and Sima Yi didn't even know where Xiao Zhan's sedan chair stopped. When people were far away, Huan'er reappeared behind Sima Qi, her acquaintance with Sima Qi was too short, she regarded Sima Qi as a lifelong dependence, but she didn't even have the relationship with the last step, and she regretted it very much after separation.

"Sir, it's late at night, and the slave and maid serve you to go in and rest." Huan'er's voice was very delicate, and she also had an obsession with Sima Yi.

Sima Yi has been looking at the direction of Xiao Zhan's departure, his mood is suddenly very complicated, he has not only official feelings for Xiao Zhan, but also personal feelings, which he can't avoid, but unfortunately he and Xiao Zhan can't get together after all, but in the face of such a woman who cares about her heart, there is no one around him to share her worries when she encounters problems, he feels very self-blaming.

But there are some things that can't be forced, just like Xiao Zhan didn't force him to stay in the Southern Dynasty, he knows that this relationship with Xiao Zhan can't be forced, whether it is the monarch or the so-called friend's righteousness in Xiao Zhan's mouth, it is a relationship between men and women who are born rather than know each other.

"Let's go back." Sima borrowed a sentence, Huan'er thought that Sima borrowed was going back to the house to rest, but after all, she didn't understand the other meaning of Sima Yu's words. (To be continued......)