Bordering the northern part of the Southern Imperial Kingdom is the border of the Northern Proud Kingdom, which has always been the old enemy of the Southern Imperial Kingdom.

However, although the Southern Imperial Kingdom has always been in a hostile state with the Northern Proud Kingdom, and some battles have been fought from time to time, there are still some caravans that will travel between the Southern Imperial Kingdom and the Northern Proud Kingdom, setting up a commercial route for the two countries.

It is also because of these caravans coming and going, at the junction of the Southern Imperial Kingdom and the Northern Proud Kingdom, some large and small inns will be established to provide these caravans with food and rest.

At this time, a caravan was marching through the trade routes in the northwest.

This trade route has a long history, and it is already a very old trade route, and ten years ago, it could be regarded as one of the most prosperous trade routes from the southern imperial country to the northern proud country.

Today, however, ten years later, this ancient trade route seems to be much more sluggish, with only a few scattered experienced caravans going from the southern kingdom to the northern kingdom, or vice versa from the northern kingdom to the southern kingdom.

The reason for this is that the environment of this trade route has become very harsh over time, and from time to time there are some wandering horse thieves.

It's summer.

The sun hung high in the sky, scorching the ground full of yellow sand.

Everyone in the caravan covered themselves tightly with scarves, and only two eyes were exposed from top to bottom.

"Boss, how far have you come, haven't you arrived yet?"

A middle-aged man looked up at the fiery sun, took off the veil covering his face, took a sip of the kettle hanging around his waist, and then walked up to the person at the head of the group and said to him.

The boss glanced at the endless desert, took out the map he was carrying, thought for a while and said to the middle-aged man: "Let everyone hold on a little longer, there should be a place to settle in front of you." ”

The middle-aged man said "Huh" and told his team members when he went back. This sound was extremely abrupt and obvious in the silent night, which made both of them a little stunned.

Then, Princess An Ning couldn't help laughing, and the face she had just deliberately wrenched couldn't be maintained.

Shame, chagrin, embarrassment, and anger flashed across Agui's face, and even in this faint light, his flushed face could be clearly seen.

Princess An Ning quipped: "Ah Hide that your belly is much more clever than you, and every time you choose to come out at such a critical moment to show your sense of existence." ”

Ah Pu was a little angry when he heard this.

On the one hand, he was angry that Princess An Ning deliberately played tricks on him, making him think that she was really angry; On the other hand, it is the chagrin of oneself.

Even he didn't know that he was so hungry.

The corners of Ah Pu's eyes were already dyed with shame, and when he looked closely, there seemed to be a hint of moisture.

Princess An Ning thought it was really funny, but realized that if she continued to flirt, Ah Pu might really be annoyed, so she suppressed the smile in her heart and comforted:

"Today's banquet is too hectic, and it's understandable that you're hungry. Let's go back to the palace, and the palace will let the small kitchen cook you a feast of delicacies, so that you can satisfy your appetite. Well, how about taking it as a small reward for you today? ”

Ah Bao reluctantly agreed.

But Princess An Ning looked at it, and Ah Pu was obviously a little happy.

His steps became brisk, revealing a little irrepressible joy.

When the two returned to Changle Palace, Chun Tao was waiting at the gate of the palace.

She stepped forward to replace the warmth in Princess Anning's hand, and met Princess Anning's somewhat cold hand halfway, and couldn't help but say with some disgust:

"Your Highness, your hands have already cooled down like this, and you are still staying outside for so long, it is really too careless."

Princess An Ning smiled, "It's just that your hands are cold, but your body is not cold, Chun Tao, you don't have to worry so much." ”

Chun Tao sighed softly,

"Your Highness has a good idea in your heart, I'm afraid that Your Highness will always have to do it. Alas, the slave has talked a little too much. The slave maid asked the small kitchen to prepare some food, and His Highness and Ah Pu Gongzi should eat some together. ”

Princess An Ning laughed when she heard this,

"This is such a coincidence, this fool in your mouth is just waiting to be fed."

Chun Tao glanced at Apo with a little surprise, but through Apu's somewhat embarrassed expression and the observation of the past few days, she revealed a trace of understanding.

She lowered her head, hid the smile on the corner of her mouth, and said as quietly as possible: "The slave will go to the small kitchen and let them add a few more dishes to eat." The banquet has been noisy for a long time, and this stomach must be a little hungry. ”

After Chun Tao finished speaking, she walked towards the small kitchen, and Princess An Ning stared at Ah Pu with a smile for a while, then stretched out her hand, grabbed Ah Pu, and said to him, "You come with this palace." ”

Princess An Ning sent the palace people who followed her, and pulled Ah Pu to a plum tree in the corridor next to the Changxin Palace.

She stepped on the plum tree from side to side, and suddenly her eyes lit up, and she couldn't find any tools to take advantage of it, so she squatted down and pulled away the layer of petals that had fallen on it, and was about to dig up this layer of soil with her hands.

"Your Highness!" Seeing this, Ah Pu hurriedly stopped Princess An Ning, "It's cold, be careful that this soil hurts your hand, let's let Ah Pu come." ”

As he spoke, he squatted down, poked his fingers at the top of the soil, and chose a soft place to start. Then he dug up a jar of wine.

"This is it!"

Princess An Ning's eyes were shining, and she took the small jar of wine from Ah Pu's hand and sniffed it intoxicatedly.

She took a handkerchief from her bosom and threw it on Apu, then went to the cloister and sat down, opened the jar and took a sip.

Princess An Ning smiled and said to Ah Pu: "This is something that this palace has hidden with great difficulty, you can't tell Chun Tao them." ”

Apo held Princess Anning's handkerchief, and the residual fragrance on it penetrated into his nostrils. He rubbed his hands together and put Princess An Ning's handkerchief into his bosom without her noticing.

He took out the square towel he had in his sleeve, wiped his hands clean, and threw it into the pit where the wine had been buried.

He walked up to Princess An Ning and said to her softly, "Ah Ling listens to Ah Ling, but Ah Ling has drunk a lot tonight, be careful of getting drunk." ”

"Huh." Princess An Ning chuckled lightly and handed the open wine jar to Ah Pu, "You come and taste it, this thing is not often shared with others in this palace." ”

Ah Pu seemed to be a little surprised, and after taking the wine and talking, he stared at the mouth of the altar for a long time. Finally, he turned around quietly and took a sip, and suddenly a fresh fragrance overflowed the entire mouth.

He turned his head to look at Princess Anning's smile, and suddenly felt that a hot breath in his body rushed from his mouth to his heart, as if he was drunk.

"Good wine." He said.

Princess An Ning seemed to be very happy, and she didn't ask for the wine back, but looked at the moon in the sky that she didn't know when it appeared, and said softly: "The recipe for this wine is actually the queen mother." ”

Ah Pu hugged the hand of the wine jar for a moment, and then listened to Princess An Ning continue: "What kind of person is the first queen? In the eyes of the people in Dayu, this question is probably a gentle, kind, filial and virtuous person. However, in my eyes, she is just an ordinary person.

She will love people, she will hate people, she will be happy, she will be sad, she will look forward to the untouchable dream, and she will be disappointed in this cruel reality.

Everyone in the world said that the death of the first queen was for justice, atonement, and cowardice.

But if I want to say, it is resolute, it is resistance, and it is a mother's unyielding heart.

Over the years, it is not that no one has persuaded me to accept my fate.

However, this is not their fate, so why should this palace accept its fate? This palace will not accept fate, and will never accept fate. They want to make the palace peaceful, but the palace wants to stir them up so that they can't be at peace. ”

Ah Pu looked at Princess An Ning's figure in a daze, at this moment, he seemed to understand what the reason why Princess An Ning had been firmly walking between power over the years but never hesitated.

His heart couldn't help but be touched, and the corners of his mouth slowly grinned.

"Apu," Princess An Ning looked away from the moon and slowly turned her head back to look at Apu, who had bowed her head slightly.

She smiled slightly, and said to him softly but firmly,

Remember, what the world says is not necessarily the truth. Fate embarrassed you, and you overturned it. You are the only one in the world who can be your Lord! "The minister knows that his status is low, and he doesn't dare to hope for extravagance."

"That's what I like." Princess An Ning chuckled lightly, directly piercing the cover that wanted to cover up. She pulled Ah Pu over, pinched Ah Pu's face, turned her head and said to Xie Rong, "If you like it, you like it, what is there to hide." Afu, did you say so? ”

Abu nodded obediently.

"Huh." Princess An Ning was a little happy.

But Xie Rong saw the interaction between Princess An Ning and Ah Pu and listened to the words that seemed to contain insinuations, and his emotions seemed to become extremely excited.

His face was ugly, as if he was trying his best to hide his anger, and suppressed his voice and said: "Your Highness, don't make random analogies, how can you do such a casual thing!" ”

When Princess An Ning heard this, she seemed to think it was a little funny, so she laughed "haha".

She pointed to Xie Rong's heart and asked softly, "Do you feel it beating?" I feel it. ”

Suddenly, Princess An Ning's fingers turned into palms, pushing Xie Rong away from her,

"Like, it's a casual thing, but you have to define some rules and regulations for it. Both of you are also heartbeat, why should your heart be more noble than others? ”

“…… Your Highness, you are a fallacy. Xie Rong was silent for a long time and said slowly.

"Fallacy? Heh......" Princess An Ning didn't want to say more, she yawned, looking indifferent, "Captain Xie, what do you think is what it is, arguing about these things is really pointless." But in this respect, you and Ankang really have some similarities. ”

"What are the similarities?"

The crowd didn't know who had the courage to follow Princess Anning's words and asked, but Princess Anning didn't delve into it, but answered quite patiently:

"That is, you don't have that status, but you always think about that status. In other words, it is too ambitious, high-minded, flashy. ”

Princess An Ning's words were not polite at all, and everyone couldn't help but look at Xie Rong's reaction again.

I didn't know that among these words, that word pierced Xie Rong's sensitive nerves, and he suddenly burst out,

"Who do you think you are nobler to? Every day, you look like you are pointing out the country, is the country yours? And you, Your Highness, you are only able to have a smooth sail in this palace by virtue of your good background and occupy the shadow left by the former queen. Why do you look down on us who have been working hard? ”

"Bang bang bang".

Princess An Ning didn't look angry at all when she heard Xie Rong's words, but applauded Xie Rong.

She sighed and praised Xie Rong and said with great emotion: "Bengong thought that in the past ten years, he has seen all kinds of people, but Captain Xie still made Bengong's eyes shine.

As soon as your words came out, this palace had to admit a mistake in front of you, that is, you and Ankang are actually not the same at all. ”

Princess An Ning's face had completely sunk at this moment, she was expressionless, her eyes were cold and looked at Xie Rong, and she said to him: "No matter how arrogant Princess Ankang is, how can she not define her position, she is also the princess of my great palace."

But what are you, you dare to put my princess in the same situation as you, it's really a big face! ”

"Then why did you lock up Princess Ankang, and what authority do you have to deal with princesses of the same rank?" Xie Rong asked with red eyes.

Princess An Ning didn't know when she freed her cuffs again, clasped her hands in front of her, and the golden crown on her head showed her dignity.

She just smiled slightly, but her tone was sonorous and powerful, and no one could refute it,

"Hongu has said it many times, but there are still people who don't know the identity of Hongu. Then take this opportunity to say the identity of Hongu one last time to everyone present. ”

Princess An Ning glanced around at the people around her, and said loudly: "This palace is the only person who lives alone in a palace and has military power, in other words, the position of this palace is compact, not a simple showcase.

If any of you don't know what this means, then the palace doesn't mind just letting the general in the hands of the palace talk to you. ”

Xie Rong's face was full of shock and incredulity, and his face turned white all of a sudden.

"Looking at Captain Xie's appearance, I think I understand what this means." Princess An Ning rubbed her face and found that she was still used to this kind of smile that hooked the corner of one side of her lips, "So, Captain Xie, welcome to reacquaint yourself, your handsome."

Oh, by the way, there is another point, that is, the palace did not lock up Ankang, but sent a palace maid to raise her, so that she could marry smoothly after the filial piety period has passed. ”

When Xie Rong heard this, he suddenly looked up at Princess An Ning.

But it's a pity that Princess An Ning has slowly walked back to the banquet center with Ah Pu in her arms, sat in front of her desk, flirted with Ah Pu, and then tasted the wine at the banquet.