The lonely little prince Lu Mingxi grew up in loneliness.

The three princesses of Haiguo who lived in the palace didn't know why, but they began to ask about Haiguo. Especially Princess Xiaoyi, she has never been a very talkative person, but in this matter, she asks the most diligently.

In early summer, Liu Qingyan wandered with Dashuang in the imperial garden, chatting about how to rest in this garden.

Princess Xiaoyi walked up to her and saluted Liu Qingyan: "Queen Mother." ”

"Princess Xiaoyi," Liu Qingyan smiled, "Why do you have time to come to the Imperial Garden to play today?" It just so happens that Dashuang and I are thinking about how to make this place more beautiful, and you can also give me some advice when you come. ”

"The queen's vision is already very good, I don't need to mention it." Princess Xiaoyi said with a smile.

Liu Qingyan looked at her for a moment and smiled: "Is there something to ask me?" ”

knew that Liu Qingyan was a smart woman, so Princess Xiaoyi was not very surprised that her heart was seen through. She hung her head: "Yes, Queen Mother." ”

After a pause, she frowned again and said, "But if the queen mother refuses to say it, Xiaoyi won't ask anything more." ”

"No, you ask, it's good." Liu Qingyan smiled.

She turned her head, pointed to a pavilion not far away, and looked at her: "Let's go, the sun is shining here, let's go to the pavilion over there." If there's anything you want to ask me, just ask. ”

"Yes. Listen to the queen. Princess Xiaoyi said.

The two of them sat down together in the pavilion, the maid quickly served the fragrant tea, and Liu Qingyan took a cup and took a sip slowly. The tea was rich, and she nodded with great satisfaction.

This tea is good or bad, but Princess Xiaoyi drank it a little carelessly. Her gaze kept drifting to Liu Qingyan's body.

Liu Qingyan smiled, put down the teacup, and asked her patiently: "Princess Xiaoyi, tell me, what did you come to me for?" It has nothing to do with me. ”

Princess Xiaoyi said "um", frowned, and said, "Queen Mother, I was thinking about why there has been no news from my father and mother until now. When I asked, many people didn't say anything. ”

Liu Qingyan paid more attention to Princess Xiaoyi a few times.

Liu Qingyan has always felt that Princess Fushou is dignified and steady, Princess Rongyue is lively and cheerful, and Princess Xiaoyi seems to be a more careful and serious woman.

She can see a lot of clues in many small things. Originally, Liu Qingyan and Lu Siguan always thought that it was better to keep silent about the three princesses and not tell them, after all, it was really not a good thing to worry the three princesses. Therefore she commanded that all men should not speak.

But it is precisely because everyone is secretive that Princess Xiaoyi will eventually notice that something is wrong.

"If you really want to know, I can actually tell you." Liu Qingyan said.

"Isn't it...... What really happened to Haiguo? I asked my uncle and Lord Lu, but they wouldn't answer me," Princess Xiaoyi's eyes were a little red, "but my heart was very nervous, and I was worried." I dream at night, always dreaming that my hometown is in a sea of fire. ”

Bai Juan thought to herself, maybe your hometown is really in the midst of fire, but you don't know it.

War broke out in Haiguo, and Zhao Fengjing, the current prince of Haiguo and the royal brother of Princess Xiaoyi, borrowed soldiers from Chu and went back to save his country from peril, not knowing what is going on now, let alone what the future will be.

The only thing that can be known is that Princess Xiaoyi has a heart-to-heart with her hometown and has noticed that something is wrong.

"Haiguo ......" Liu Qingyan frowned.

She sighed and looked at Princess Xiaoyi: "We don't say it because we don't want you to worry." ”

Princess Xiaoyi muttered, "In that case, something really happened to Haiguo......

She didn't care about any etiquette, so she immediately grabbed Liu Qingyan's wrist and asked her, "Then the queen mother, do you know what happened in Haiguo?" ”

Liu Qingyan was reluctant to deceive her after all, so she faced Princess Xiaoyi, and told Princess Xiaoyi in detail about the civil strife in Haiguo, the capture of the capital and palace by the Qi family, and the fact that Zhao Fengjing entered the Chu State and borrowed troops.

Princess Xiaoyi had been listening very carefully, and after listening, her face was a little pale.

Liu Qingyan patted the back of her hand: "However, don't worry, now that your imperial brother has gone back, what the emperor has lent him are the most elite troops of our Chu State, and it will be fine." ”

After a pause, Liu Qingyan said again: "I'll tell you about this because you are careful, you are aware of it, and I don't think it's good to continue to hide it from you." Princess Xiaoyi, I hope ...... Don't tell Princess Fushou and Princess Rongyue about this. The two of them didn't know about it yet. ”

Princess Xiaoyi nodded lightly.

"It's Princess Rongyue's wedding soon," Liu Qingyan looked at her, frowning slightly, "Presumably you and I are the same, I don't want to see Princess Rongyue sad, right?" ”

"She and Master Lu really love each other, and I also hope that Rong Yue can be happy for a lifetime." Princess Xiaoyi said softly.

Liu Qingyan nodded: "That's right." So, you have to keep it a secret too, you know? ”

Princess Xiaoyi let out a "hmm", took a deep breath, and looked at Liu Qingyan: "I will keep it a secret, please rest assured." ”

She stared at Liu Qingyan tightly again, and said as if pleading, "That...... Queen Mother, if there is anything important happening in the war situation in the Sea Kingdom, you must tell me, okay? ”

Liu Qingyan was slightly stunned.

Princess Xiaoyi had red eyes and said, "Father, mother, and brother are all there, all enduring pain and war, but I am far away here. I shouldn't have actually come here in the first place. But ......"

She sniffled, "But since I'm here, I can't change the status quo, so I shouldn't complain or anything." Queen Mother, I hope to know the war situation in Haiguo, so that I can have a bottom in my heart. ”

Liu Qingyan nodded: "I'll tell you, don't worry." ”

Princess Xiaoyi wiped her eyes and took a sip of tea, which finally calmed down.

After being silent for a moment, Princess Xiaoyi frowned again and said, "Before, Rong Yue was still talking about why she was about to get married, and there was no movement on the Hai Kingdom's side, and no envoys were sent over. Here, there are only three sisters and uncles. It's like we're cut off from the sea country. ”

Princess Rong Yue even jokingly said, "Father and Queen Mother don't think the three of us are too good at eating, so they refuse to support us, right?"

At that time, Princess Xiaoyi was still laughing at her.

It wasn't until now that Princess Xiaoyi realized that it was because the Haiguo was at war, and her father and mother had no ability to take care of them at all. In the Sea Country, it is very likely that they will not be able to protect themselves.

"You are not isolated from the Sea Kingdom," Liu Qingyan said softly, "Even if the Sea Kingdom cannot be saved, the emperor has already made arrangements to rescue your father, mother, and brothers and sisters and bring them back to the Chu State." ”

"What?" Princess Xiaoyi was a little surprised.

Liu Qingyan smiled: "Yes, this is what the emperor said." ”

Princess Xiaoyi was a little moved.

Liu Qingyan reached out and patted her shoulder: "There will always be hope, don't worry too much." ”

After a pause, she said again: "As for Princess Rongyue'......"

"Please rest assured, Princess Rongyue's side I will take care of it, I will not let Princess Rongyue be distracted by the wedding." Princess Xiaoyi said with a firm face.

This is not only as a sister, but also for Lu Yujian's respect.

Liu Qingyan smiled: "That's the best." Thank you, Princess Hyoyi. ”

"No, it should be me, it's me who wants to thank you, the queen, thank you, the emperor. If it weren't for the Chu State, our Hai State would ...... It's nothing at all. ”

After finally sending Princess Xiaoyi away, Liu Qingyan continued to drink tea with a teacup.

Dashuang sighed, looked at Princess Xiaoyi, who was gradually walking away, and asked softly: "Queen Mother, why deceive Princess Xiaoyi?" ”

Liu Qingyan didn't reply, and Dashuang continued: "The emperor didn't give such an order, and he didn't say that he would save the lives of the Zhao clan of the Sea Kingdom and escort them back to the Chu State. The queen said...... Isn't it just deceiving Princess Xiaoyi? That ......"

"Big double." Liu Qingyan called out to her.

"The Queen, please speak." Dashuang bowed slightly, thinking that what he had just said was inappropriate.

Liu Qingyan narrowed her eyes, looked at the scorching flowers outside the pavilion, and asked her: "Do you think the most important thing in this world is the truth, the truth, or the so-called hope?" ”

Dashuang couldn't help but be stunned and speechless for a while.

"When I said that to Princess Xiaoyi, I hoped to leave her hope, so that she could continue to live happily in the future, no matter how much she worries, because there is hope. Even if that hope is slim, but after all...... It's still possible, isn't it? Liu Qingyan said very softly.

Dashuang was silent for a moment, and then smiled: "Queen Mother, you, in the end, are merciful. ”

Liu Qingyan glanced at her with a smile: "I have always been very kind. Be merciful to yourself, and be merciful to all the people of the world. ”

Dashuang said: "Therefore, many people will say that it is their honor to meet such a queen, and it is also the honor of the entire Chu country." ”

Liu Qingyan didn't speak, her eyes turned outside. But under the golden sunshine, the flowers are delicate and blooming layer by layer.