The third army Xiong Jiben was unable to carry out the overall defense, fortunately, Han Jixun withdrew from the east of Tubo in time to help, led the remnants to defend Longzhou, Xiong Jiben divided 10,000 troops to Jianzhou to defend the Sword Pavilion, relying on the danger of the terrain, only to block the Bu army in the north of the first line of Jianzhou.

Even so, the three states of Ming Guowen, Li, and Ji also fell into the hands of the Divination Army.

Fortunately, Zhou Guo made a buffer and bought time for Xiong Jiben, and most of the people in Wen, Li, and Ji Prefectures retreated south to the area of Chengdu Prefecture, but it did not cause chaos like Zhou Guo.

But if this continues, no reinforcements will arrive, and Xiong Jiben can't hold on.

The situation was erosive, but the Jinling Mansion of the Ming Kingdom focused its main efforts on quelling the civil strife at this time.

In view of the reports of Xu Shiming and others, Gao Rongrong has not had time to probe the tone of Meng Yanyi and Zhou Xian's sisters.

Sister Zhou Xian came to the West Palace first.

Zhou Xian always imitates Gao Rongrong's demeanor, known as Xiaoxi Palace.

Zhou Qiang went straight and straight, without any concealment.

Zhou Qiang opened her mouth and said: "Queen Gao, I heard that someone in the court framed the concubines and sisters for not being subservient, and the concubines and sisters are here to ask for an explanation today." Now people are here with the queen, and if they want to kill, they must listen to the respect. ”

Gao Rongrong was taken aback, the three of Xu Shiming had a secret conversation with herself for only a few days, and there was no one else present at that time, who leaked this mouth?

Gao Rongrong hurriedly comforted: "Who is so bold as to dare to frame the imperial concubine, my sister will say it, and this palace will definitely be your sister's master." ”

Zhou Qiang naturally refused to tell the source easily, but just asked to clear their sisters' grievances. to set the record straight.

Although Gao Rongrong is generous, she is not stupid, and Xu Shiming and the three of them do not have some bottom. dared to slander Meng Yanyi and the Zhou sisters in front of her. Although Gao Rongrong didn't quite believe that Zhou Xian would be involved, she was really not sure about Zhou Qiang.

Zhou Xian gave birth to his son Jingbei, and he has been established as the crown prince, if there is really anything wrong with Baili Wuji, it is justified to succeed the crown prince.

Zhou Xiangui is the biological mother of the prince, so it stands to reason. It is absolutely impossible to participate in the plotting of rebellion.

And the words have always been Zhou Qiang's words, and Zhou Xian is just a foil on the side.

Gao Rongrong made a decision in her heart, and she said to Zhou Qiang: "This palace already knows about this matter. Concubine De, please go back first, let the palace investigate carefully, and will give Concubine De an explanation. ”

Zhou Qiang saw that Gao Rongrong had given an eviction order, and it was not good to go too far. Thereupon. Farewell to the priest.

But Gao Rongrong opened her mouth to detain Zhou Xian and said: "Concubine Shu stays, this palace has some considerate words that I want to talk to you in private." ”

Zhou Xian said: "Queen Gao has a life, and the concubines should be cautious." ”

Let's let Zhou Qiang leave first.

After Zhou Qiang left, Gao Rongrong stared at Zhou Xian and said, "Your sister is young and ignorant, you can't be confused." ”

Zhou Xian didn't know what Gao Rongrong meant, so he had to bow his head.

"Your Majesty is trapped in an enemy country, and you and I are a woman. can't wear armor to share worries for her husband, what Ming Guo needs most at the moment is stability. Don't fall for those little things. ”

Gao Rongrong Zhou Xian understood this, and Zhou Xian hurriedly replied: "The queen can rest assured, the concubine is by no means unsubservient as the rumors say, and the concubine is far from being so ignorant." ”

Gao Rongrong sighed lightly: "You have no intention, but people have intentions, you live in the palace, how do you know what they are doing outside?" ”

Zhou Xianyi was shocked and said: "The concubine just met with them...... ”

As soon as he said this, Zhou Xian realized that he was speechless and quickly stopped speaking.

Gao Rongrong ignored Zhou Xian's gaffe and continued: "Sister, Jingbei is already the crown prince and the heir of the Ming Kingdom, why do you want to get involved with those people again. ”

Gao Rongrong's words were light, just relying on the two words in this sentence to "stir up", if according to the palace rules, it is already a crime of colluding with foreign officials.

At worst, he was expelled from the cold palace, and at worst, he lost his life.

When Zhou Xian heard this, he was frightened, and suddenly knelt in front of Gao Rongrong, crying and pleading: "The queen save me, the concubine really doesn't have the slightest heart of disobedience, with Jingbei, the concubine is already content, how can she collude with the minister." ”

Gao Rongrong got up and helped Zhou Xian up, and sighed: "I naturally believe my sister, but you have to tell me what is going on." ”

Out of admiration for Gao Rongrong from beginning to end, Zhou Xian thought about it for a long time and decided to tell the ins and outs of the future.

Zhou Xian really only met Song Qiqiu in private, and Song Qiqiu's intention was never to collude with Zhou Xian to plot chaos.

Song Qiqiu just reminded Zhou Xian sternly to guard against someone taking advantage of the emperor's distress to depose the crown prince.

He suggested that Zhou Xian contact his father Zhou Zong and ask Zhou Zong to call on his original subordinates to unite and protect the crown prince's position.

This Zhou Zongyuan is also the envoy of the Southern Tang Dynasty, and he is an old minister of the two dynasties, with deep roots.

When Zhou Xian heard Song Qiqiu's words, he wrote a letter and sent his henchmen to Zhou Zong.

In fact, there is nothing to say to people in the letter, but I just hope that my father can call on his former subordinates to support the crown prince in the future.

When Gao Rongrong heard this, she knew that what Zhou Xian said was true, and no prince's biological mother would do such a troublesome thing, so she felt relieved, as long as Zhou Xian was not involved in this matter, nothing else was a big problem.

Gao Rongrong asked, "Is Concubine De involved in the meeting between my sister and Song Qiqiu?" ”

Zhou Xian replied: "The queen is clear, my sister has never known about this matter, but she heard the rumors and was not angry, so she came to the West Palace today to explain the reason, and hoped that the queen would forgive her sins." ”

Gao Rongrong felt that something was wrong and asked, "As you said, Concubine De doesn't know, so who did you get about this rumor?" ”

Zhou Xian replied: "The concubine sisters learned that the rumor came from Song Qiqiu. ”

Gao Rongrong nodded slightly, if it was really as Zhou Xian said, Song Qiqiu's rebellion was already about to come out.

"Sister don't worry, this matter will be handled properly by the palace, you go back first, if Song Qiqiu comes to contact you again, you can be perfunctory, and then come to report to the palace."

"Yes."

Zhou Xian left, and Gao Rongrong fell into deep thought.

Zhou Xian wrote a letter to his father asking for the crown prince, and this letter finally fell into the hands of Xu Shiming, which became evidence of Zhou Xian's collusion with foreign ministers.

But Meng Yanyi is also involved, how to explain it?

Gao Rongrong couldn't help but be a little worried, after all, Meng Yanyi was Meng Chang's own sister.

After thinking about it, Gao Rongrong decided to talk to Meng Yanyi in detail.

It's a pity that just when Gao Rongrong decided, Baili Yiyun came crying.

Meng Yanyi is gone, and he hasn't seen him for a day.

The Empress of the East Palace of the Ming Kingdom disappeared for a day, and this news was like a bolt from the blue for Gao Rongrong.

Gao Rongrong hurriedly summoned Xu Shiming and the three of them to discuss countermeasures.

Gao Rongrong explained the explanations of the Zhou sisters to Xu Shiming, solved the suspicions of the three, and also characterized Song Qiqiu's rebellion.

But the most important thing at the moment is Meng Yanyi's disappearance. (To be continued......)