The outcome of the war determines the fate of the country, and it has been the case since ancient times, but Xingzhen's mood at the moment is so bitter, she can't imagine that the result of the first Dagukou naval battle will become like this, and the Manchu Qing will actually win. According to common sense, she should be happy if she won, but Xingzhen was not happy at all, she knew that the defeat of Britain and France would lead to a larger-scale war, and the victory of the Manchu Qing Dynasty would inevitably make the main war faction in Korea and China raise their heads, completely closing the possibility of negotiating with Britain and France, and the humiliation of burning the Old Summer Palace would follow.

It was already late at night, Xingzhen Xiu frowned, came to the courtyard of Chuxiu Palace, looked at the bright moon in the sky, a breeze blew, and the annoyance in her body and heart was slightly blown away, and then looked at the court mail sent by the court in her hand and Xianfeng's high-spirited letter, and muttered: "A small victory is indispensable, how can an agricultural country that is still in a civil war be a powerful opponent who has completed the industrial revolution?" It's ridiculous that they are still intoxicated, and it seems that everyone is drunk and I am awake, and it is really uncomfortable. ”

Walking back and forth in the courtyard for a few steps, Xingzhen felt even more restless, Xianfeng was in Chengde, he couldn't reach him, and he couldn't remind anything by his side, Ronglu was also with him in Chengde, and there was no one around him to discuss. When Xingzhen was considering whether to send a letter to Rong Lu to discuss, she saw Li Lianying walking quickly towards her, and after a slight salute, she stepped forward and whispered: "Lord Rong is back and wants to see the master." ”

Xingzhen sighed, she didn't expect Rong Lu to come back in person at this time, could it be that something big happened in Chengde? At that moment, Xingzhen sent the others back first, and she followed Li Lianying to a quiet garden next to Chuxiu Palace, only to see Rong Lu standing there in a guard's uniform, and Li Lianying retreated.

Xingzhen stepped forward and frowned slightly and said, "Why did you come back at this time?" Can you do it if you're not there in Chengde? ”

Rong Lu smiled and said: "I'm not slow to go back and forth, the day before yesterday I pretended to fall and hurt my leg and foot, and took a few days off." I went back to Beijing in disguise to discuss important matters with you. ”

Xingzhen asked, "Why do you have to come back in person?" ”

Seeing that there was no one left and right, Rong Lu stepped forward and whispered: "There are indeed big things, and they are two big things!" ”

Xingzhen snorted and said, "One of them should be the victory in the naval battle of Dagukou, right?" ”

Rong Lu said in a low voice: "Yes, Britain and France will definitely send more troops to the east after this defeat, we don't have much time, I'm afraid that we are not the opponents of Britain and France." ”

Xingzhen frowned slightly and said, "I know what's at stake, do you have anything to do?" ”

Rong Lu looked at her sad and pitiful appearance, his heart fluttered, and then said, "Of course there is." Do you remember the great Indian uprising in history? ”

After Xingzhen was slightly stunned, she said with a coquettish smile: "Do you mean to provoke a major uprising in India first and delay the war between Britain and France?" ”

Rong Lu nodded, in fact, he only thought of this method after receiving a secret letter from Xiao Yungui and Hong Yun'er, although he was very jealous of how Xiao Yungui could think of such an ingenious method. But he decided to use this method anyway, and it will take time for both him and Xingzhen to gain greater power. But he automatically withheld the source of the solution. Unceremoniously count this ploy as your own thoughts.

Xingzhen laughed after a moment's thought. Clapping his hands and applauding: "This method is good, it drags the British, and the French can't act on their own, once the Indian uprising breaks out, it will take two or three years to calm down, and we will have time to deploy everything." ”

Look at her smile like a flower. The words in his mouth were soft, and the faint fragrance on his body was like back then, and Rong Lu's heart was sour and throbbing, under the moonlight. The beauty is the same, and the two stand so close that it is as if they are in a dream.

Since returning to Beijing, Rong Lu rarely meets Xingzhen alone, even if they meet, they talk about some affairs, and Rong Lu is also married, Zeng Jijing's gentleness is better than Xingzhen, and this feeling gradually fades in Rong Lu's heart. But at this moment, such familiar words and such similar scenes made the long-suppressed emotion in Rong Lu's heart rise again.

Xingzhen didn't notice that Rong Lu's face softened, she looked at her infatuatedly, turned to look at the bright moon in the sky and continued: "Then let's do it, can you have a business partner to go to India to spread rumors?" ”

Rong Lu nodded stunned and said: "I do know a lot of businessmen in Guangzhou who come to play India, and there are a few Indians among them, you can use them to do this, I believe the effect must be very good." ”

Xingzhen hummed lightly and asked, "What about the other big thing?" ”

Rong Lu's brows tightened, and he said in a low voice: "Su Shun has already made it clear to me that he wants me to take refuge in him, and I have also agreed to the snake, and recently I have discovered that Su Shun's party is acting quite mysterious. When he was in Chengde, Su Shun picked up Xianfeng Weifu and visited the people privately, and met a beautiful widow who sold tofu brains. ”

When Xingzhen heard this, her face turned cold, and she said to herself hatefully: "It's not enough to have so many concubines in the palace, you have to find a widow outside!" Then he asked, "Didn't the accompanying imperial doctor stop him?" ”

Rong Lu was stunned for a moment, and said strangely: "Why do you want to stop it? If Xianfeng hangs up at this time, aren't you able to get on the throne? ”

Xingzhen frowned and laughed again, patted her head and said with a smile: "Yes, Xianfeng died before my son could succeed to the throne, you can continue." ”

Rong Lu had some doubts in his heart, and then said: "A few imperial doctors have given Xianfeng a pulse, but those people seem to be all in the same party, and they choose good ones. Su Shun recently contacted Du Han, Jiao Youying and others, and won me over, presumably he thinks that he has a general trend, I am worried that if Xianfeng has any accident now, Su Shun will be able to make an eight ministers to take care of the life and assist the government as in history. ”

Xingzhen frowned and said, "Even if the eight ministers are auxiliary, being the emperor is still my son." ”

Rong Lu sighed lightly and said: "I remember the last time we discussed, Su Shun also talked about you, saying that you Ji Si Chen, you will definitely be the scourge of the Qing Dynasty in the future, and he also talked about Mrs. Gou Yi back then, I guess he plans that when Xianfeng really has something, he will follow the example of Mrs. Gou Yi back then, kill his mother and set up his son!" ”

When Xingzhen heard this, she smiled faintly, and then her face turned cold. Said slowly: "In this case, we also have to start deploying everything in case of accidents." Rong Lu nodded, followed Xingzhen hesitated for a moment and then said: "But if Xianfeng's body can still hold on, let's not act rashly, after all, our strength is still a little weak, I am afraid that we will be a little caught off guard if we start in advance, and it is best for Xianfeng to live longer......"

Rong Lu's heart sank slightly, but when he saw Xingzhen say Xianfeng, the corners of his mouth would hook up a shallow smile intentionally or unintentionally. He couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Qingyun, are you in love with this bastard Xianfeng?!" ”

Xingzhen didn't expect him to say such a sentence suddenly, and after being slightly stunned, her face sank, and she said lightly: "How can I fall in love with Xianfeng?" I'm just using him to get on top. ”

Rong Lu said coldly: "Xianfeng relies on power to possess your body, this is a helpless thing. But I don't want you to put your heart on him! ”

Xingzhen's face turned slightly red, and then turned pale. faintly angry: "I said no, I don't have it." I love no one to fall in love with Xianfeng! ”

Staring at the silhouette of the beauty, the faint aroma of orchids rushed straight to his head, Rong Lu couldn't help it for a while, hugged Xingzhen from behind, and said softly: "Give me your heart, I will protect you for the rest of your life." ”

Xingzhen exclaimed slightly. Struggling to break free: "What do you do?" Let me go! ”

Rong Lu made Zhi confused, and regardless of her struggle, he began to kiss her jade neck, and muttered in his mouth: "Qingyun." Actually, I've always loved you, I used to have a crush, and now I have the courage to say it, don't reject me. ”

This sentence stunned Xingzhen, the feeling in her neck came, she was ashamed and annoyed, and unconsciously used her real strength, Rong Lu was caught off guard by her to break free, and then slapped her face hard.

Rong Lu stroked this face, took a step back, and looked at Xingzhen in surprise, only to see that her face was red and white, her chest was undulating, and she was extremely angry, and said, "You, didn't you say that you could let me get what I wanted?" ”

Xingzhen coldly interrupted him: "Sixuan, what we want to do now is a big thing, do you only think about these all day?" Then he nodded and said, "Okay, I'll give it to you here if you want it, and after you get what you want, get things done quickly!" The cold words stung Rong Lu's heart, and he saw Xingzhen begin to unbutton his neckline, but his face was indifferent, without a trace of expression, Rong Lu suddenly fell into the ice cellar, is this what he wants?

After taking a deep breath, Rong Lu held Xingzhen's hand that was unbuttoning, lowered his head and said, "I understand, I'm sorry Qingyun, I'll go out of the palace, and if there is anything urgent later, I will send someone to send a letter into the palace." ”

Xingzhen looked at his lost look, her heart was full of knots, and she couldn't help but say softly: "Sixuan, this is not the time, we will always have such a time in the future, you, you will always get what you want in the future, I promised you that you will definitely do it." ”

Rong Lu let out a long breath and said with a wry smile: "I didn't scare you." ”

Xingzhen shook her head and whispered, "No, I disappointed you." ”

Rong Lu snorted, neither of them spoke, and fell into an awkward silence for a while, and after a while, Rong Lu suddenly said: "There is another thing, several officials in Chengde have been in close contact with the Sushun party in recent days, and several times they were personally received by Prince Zheng Duanhua. ”

Xingzhen sighed and asked, "What is the relationship between these people and Duanhua and Sushun?" ”

Rong Lu said: "It seems that the protégé or the clothed servants from Prince Zheng's mansion are all related to Prince Zheng's mansion." ”

Xingzhen frowned and pondered, and said to herself: "Tofu widow? Deer blood longevity? Chengde officials? Ministers, generals? The layout of this game of chess is so powerful. Then he laughed and said: "No matter how he arranges it, we just need to firmly grasp the military power!" There is also Shang Yu's spare place, this is also an important place, you had better hold Shang Yu's spare place in your hands, so that even if he connects with more ministers, it is useless, we just have soldiers in our hands! ”

Rong Lu nodded and smiled: "Yes, Su Shun never imagined that I would have another relationship with you......" (to be continued......