In the palace of the Li Dynasty, the mourning bell rang suddenly, and the royal capital was gloomy. After more than two years of torture, His Majesty died this morning.

The dull sound of the bell passed over the layers of towering palace walls to the outside of the palace, and the ministers who heard it woke up from their dreams one after another, and when they woke up, they thought that they had not woken up from a dream, and hurriedly changed into court clothes to prepare a sedan chair, and led the horses to rush into the palace as quickly as possible.

The news was locked in the palace, and outside the palace only knew that the bell was ringing ninety-five, and the emperor died.

Dressed in a plain dress, silent as a stone statue of a goddess, looking in the direction of the palace, it was the lord of Pingning who was standing in the private room on the second floor of the teahouse with his hands leaning on the railing. She lowered her eyes and looked down at the people downstairs, whether it was the passers-by, the vendors doing business on both sides of the long street, or the other people wandering here for various reasons... The moment I heard the bell, it was the fall of the Emperor Star, and after a period of surprise and lamentation, what should I do?

The middle-aged man leaned against the wall and sighed, "Alas... It's going to change. I don't know the new emperor—"

"Boss, are you still selling this dish?" A woman with a baby interrupted his sadness, staring at a pair of triangular eyes and hurrying home to cook.

He smiled and wiped his hands on his body, pushing all the good sellers in the stall to her. "Sell, sell, sell! Lo and behold, they are all good dishes! What do you want, how much? ”

The woman pulled the disobedient child with one hand, picked a few eggplants and potatoes with the other, grabbed a handful of fresh vegetables and threw them into the bamboo basket, and bargained with him, saying that the vegetables were wilted. The boss couldn't screw her, and she paid and left only after two pennies were missing.

On the battlefield, the two armies are still stalemate, the emperor in the palace died, and the princes below are all eyeing the throne, maybe the Li Dynasty will suffer from the enemy. And these things are so far away from them, they only bow their heads and take care of their immediate livelihoods, and they don't know what kind of bloody storm is coming.

"Sister, don't think so much." Cui Jingyu slowly walked out of the private room and covered the back of Pingning's hand with one hand. "There are my father and brother on the battlefield, as well as the old Anhou department, and there are also civil and military ministers in the court, and it is not to that point for a while."

"The Chinese military forces of the DPRK have long fallen apart. The eldest prince, the third prince, and the seventh prince, these three are not good at stubble, and they work together to the outside world? They can't count on it. ”

suddenly remembered that the few princes that Xiao Chulan looked up to back then happened to be the three of them today, and I really had to admire his vicious eyes.

Ping Ning lowered her eyes and chuckled, her deep eyes staring at the people in the city who had been in the city for ten years, and this sense of powerlessness to whitewash the peace suddenly made her feel that only the moment when the real soldiers came to the city, the royal capital would become a hell on earth.

Although Jiangshan's surname is Xiao, the descendants of the Xiao family are sitting back and enjoying their success. My father has guarded them all his life, and it would be a pity if he was buried in their hands. ”

In the past two years, because Pingning is an orphan of Anhou, she still has contact with Anhou's old department, and some people have not changed their minds, so she has been mediating with them. Foreign enemies are pointing directly at the imperial city, trampling on my territory and offending our people, and this battle must be fought. However, it was extremely difficult, because the national strength of the war was empty, and the local area also failed to harvest due to natural disasters for many years, and our material supply was insufficient. The main battle faction in the DPRK and China and the main peace faction fought against each other, and quarreled in the court, and now that His Majesty has passed away, the court is unstable, this is the second.

"To be honest, if it weren't for the miracle in this world, I can't imagine what we would have been able to rely on to win this battle." When she said this, Cui Jingyu tiredly rested her forehead on Ping Ning's shoulder, her eyes were a little astringent, and she held her hand tightly. "It's been a long time since my father and brother have heard from me..."

Pinning raised his hand and patted her on the back. "Trust them, but... Be prepared for anything to happen, too. "Just like she did back then.

"Tuk-tuk." There was a knock on the door of the private room.

"What?" Ping Ning said lightly.

"County lord, the third prince has left the palace, and it seems that he is coming to our Hou Mansion."

The Three Princes? She couldn't help frowning, her eyes narrowing slightly. His Majesty died, what was he doing when he didn't wait in front of the spirit to go to the Hou Mansion? Looking for her?

"No, let him go. If he wants to wait, let him wait, and you will go, and you will not be afraid. ”

"Yes."

Cui Jingyu was suspicious, "What are the three princes doing?" Now I came to you, aren't you afraid of falling into the mouth? ”

"If you want to fall into your mouth, you have to have that life." Ping Ning looked at the cavalry who came out of the palace, and the expression in his eyes changed.

Cui Jingyu was also attracted by the movement, and couldn't help but look over, her brows were furrowed, and she said in confusion: Is that the iron horse of the eldest prince? What's going on? Your Majesty has just passed away, how dare they—"

"I think something happened in the palace." Ping Ning said calmly.

"Now? How so? Cui Jingyu couldn't believe it, and she didn't know what was going on. The eldest prince and the third prince have all moved, is anyone reversed? Which is it? ”

"I don't know." Ping Ning shook his head, and then immediately decided: "Let's go, let someone go and find out the news." Don't go back to Cui's mansion, let's find another place to wait for news. ”

*

On the evening of the same day, the lights in an inn in the royal capital were flickering, Ping Ning and Cui Jingyu sat at one end each, and the spy sent out came back with the news.

"Is it the other way around?" Cui Jingyu asked hurriedly.

Dark Whistle clenched his fists, "Yes." ”

Ping Ning frowned, and secretly cursed a fool in his heart. "Who?" She pressed her forehead to her temples, her delicate face half-hidden by the lamplight.

"It's the eldest prince, followed by the four princes."

"Tell me more about it."

"Your Majesty died, the prince was in front of the spirit, and the eldest prince came out of His Majesty's palace with a testament, saying that His Majesty passed on to him. Some people questioned it in public, but the four princes had already led people to surround the palace. ”

The emperor was unwell and avoided the audience of the ministers, and the wandering of life and death seemed to be a matter of the past few days. The edict must not be the name of the eldest prince, presumably he got the news from somewhere, so he forced the palace.

The four princes led people to surround the palace, but how did the three princes come out? Ping Ning thought: "The eldest prince and the eighth prince are one party, the third prince is one party with the fourth, fifth, and sixth princes, the seventh prince and the eighth prince are on good terms, and the dispute between the eldest prince, the third prince and the seventh prince has always been between the eldest prince, the third prince and the seventh prince." Now that the eldest prince has seized power, the third prince has escaped a catastrophe, but what about the other princes? ”

"How are the other princes doing now?"

Secretly whistled: "The princes are still in the palace, I don't know the specifics, but the second prince seems to be injured." ”

"Besides him, there's anyone else - forget it, it's fine. Go down, and report anything at once. Ping Ning clenched his fists and thought of his old man. Cui Jingyu couldn't help but look at her.

The dark sentry retreated, Ping Ning closed his eyes, and said to Cui Jingyu: "It's not early, you can also go and rest." ”

"You, are you worried about the Nine Emperor Princes?" Cui Jingyu asked.

Ping Ning was silent for a while, did not answer directly, his eyes did not know what to stare at the table, only to see the shadow of the candle falling on the table swaying.

"He is physically weak, his grandfather's family has no power and power, and he has always been uninterested in political affairs, and he has never been valued inside and outside the palace, so the eldest prince has no reason to attack him." She said this, but it was more like convincing herself.

Cui Jingyu didn't think so, "You haven't seen each other since you left the palace, and you don't know much about the Nine Emperor Princes in the palace." ”

The flickering light jumped down and reflected on her jade-white face. Ping Ning lowered his hand and cast his gaze to the other side. "I don't have time, I don't have a chance." The tone was a little resigned: "That's it." ”

*

Everyone in the palace is in danger at the moment, but the Bixi Palace is as deserted as ever.

Xiao Chulan sat on the side and looked at Xiao Chuhan on the bed with some incomprehension. The eldest prince originally intended to use him to kill chickens and monkeys, but he didn't expect Xiao Chuhan to jump out and help him block this sword. The wound on his back had already been medicated, and Xiao Chuhan was lying on the bed with fine cold sweat on his forehead.

He poured a glass of water with a complicated expression and walked towards the bed, and asked in a low voice, "Two..." paused, "Second brother, do you want to drink water?" ”

Xiao Chuhan opened his eyes, hooked his lips and smiled: "Okay." ”

Xiao Chulan hummed, slowly helped the person up, and handed the water cup to his lips. After a while, he asked, "Why did you help me block it?" I remember that my second brother didn't like me. ”

Xiao Chuhan raised his eyebrows, his face turned pale, and he laughed. "I've always said since I was a kid that if you're good-looking, it's better if you're a woman. But even if you're not your sister, I'm still your brother. ”

Xiao Chulan didn't speak for a while.

Xiao Chuhan lowered his head and lay back on the bed, hugged the pillow and closed his eyes and endured the pain: "I have no ambitions, I am not interested in the throne, I only think about how to pack up beautiful things to look better." You say that it is not good to be an idle prince in this life, eat and drink? ”

After speaking, he sighed and continued: "Boss, do the third and the seventh really want to die? That's right, they all want to be emperors, and no one wants to let go. My father didn't even make a fuss like this before he even passed the first seven days, and he didn't know if he could be blind. Xiao Jiu, don't remember that I played tricks on you when I was a child, I helped you block a sword. ”

Xiao Chulan stared at the sword wound on his back and said, "Suddenly rush out, aren't you afraid of death?" ”

Xiao Chuhan seemed to be sleepy, and his speech was a little confused. "I'm afraid... How not to be afraid? I'm slashed by a sword... If I take a sword with you, I will definitely be the one who survives... Just your bones—" he smiled and fell asleep with his pillow on his face.

Xiao Chulan walked over and put his hand on his forehead - there was no fever.

I watched him for a while, and I did fall asleep listening to the sound of long breathing. Xiao Chulan turned around and went out, and a black shadow jumped down from above, and there was no sound at all during the whole process.

"Stay and watch, I'll be back before the ugly time."

The man seemed to be mute, nodded silently, and hid his figure again as if it had never appeared.

In the inn, Ping Ning blew the lamp, his coat did not fade, his shoes were not removed, and he leaned on the head of the bed with his knees hugged. The frosty moonlight shines through the latticework, casting a bright square on the ground and the outline of the panes. She leaned her head against the head of the bed, gradually emptying her eyes, the whole person looked very thin, but still beautiful like a painting, as if she wanted to be lonely with this long night until dawn.

The door was carefully pushed open, Xiao Chulan came by moon, his clothes were like night, and the two looked at each other. I haven't seen him for two years, and his figure seems to have matured a lot, and there doesn't seem to be much youth left, is this good or bad? She didn't think much about these questions, because as soon as he came in, the light from outside also came in, and her eyes suddenly lit up, and she just looked at him who was bathed in the moonlight.

I thought I hadn't seen him for a long time, but I was glad that I hadn't crossed it for a long time.

The moment he looked over, she couldn't help but pounce forward, "Why did you come here?" ”

Xiao Chulan took her and said gently, "Why haven't you slept yet?" ”

Ping Ning sniffled and said, "I can't sleep, I think of my father, my uncle and cousin... As soon as I think of you, you come. ”

"Me too. I missed you, so I came. ”

He hugged him tighter again, and Ping Ning raised his head and asked, "The eldest prince is forcing the palace, and the third prince is he..."

"Shhhhh ”

Ping Ning was stunned and nodded.

Xiao Chulan took a deep breath, sorted out the current situation, and said: "The eldest prince is forcing the palace, the seventh prince has not moved, and the third prince should have come to the Hou Mansion to find you." ”

"What did he come to me for?" Ping Ning really didn't understand, "I have never crossed paths with him. ”

Xiao Chulan: "You don't have him, but the Hou Mansion and the royal family do." ”

Ping Ning suddenly understood something, and said, "You mean, His Majesty's edict is set on the third prince?" ”

"Probably, otherwise why would he ask the Hou Mansion to help him? But he is destined to miscalculate, the forces of the Hou Mansion are now on the battlefield, and they will not be involved in the battle for imperial power in the slightest. Smart one, confused for a while, he was forced by the boss. ”

It's no wonder that the royal family has a secret passage, and the specific location will only be passed on to the new emperor. No wonder he was able to run out of the palace. Wait, how did Xiao Chulan come out?

Ping Ning listened to the person in front of him talk about the current situation and analyze the thoughts of the third prince, his heart beating slowly and heavily in his chest, like a deafening thunder. She stepped back from Xiao Chulan's arms a little, climbed on his arms with both hands, held them hard, and looked at him with a stunned gaze.

"Ninth brother, do you want to be the emperor?"

Xiao Chulan's face was not shocked, but she suddenly relaxed a lot after asking. She didn't dare to take her eyes off his face, for fear of missing a single detail.

"Do you want me to do it?" He asked in his usual tone.

Pinning looked at him and shook his head.

"Then don't do it."

She froze. Xiao Chulan smiled and stroked the back of her head and let her lean on herself. The cold fragrance of his body lingered on the tip of her nose, penetrated into her heart and spleen, and gradually wiped away all the uneasiness and apprehension in her heart. He said: "I can do whatever Pingning wants. What Ping Ning doesn't want, I don't want either. Ping Ning doesn't want me to do it, so I'll put it another way. Are you- do you need me to do it? ”

"Ninth Brother...?"

"I'm the only prince who doesn't need to take back the military power of the Hou Mansion, the battle can continue, what you want to do is what I want to do. Pingning doesn't want it, but you need it, so Xiao Chulan can ascend to the throne, and I am still Pingning's ninth brother. ”

Pingning didn't speak for a while, because of Xiao Chulan's words, she is very sober now, so sober that her soul and the identity of the county lord of Pingning are clearly divided into two parts.

"You said I was the one who knew you best, so I came—to help Pingning, who I care about the most." Xiao Chulan said this with an extremely gentle smile on his face, and his pale face seemed to have become extraordinarily warm because of the satisfaction in his heart. Finally, he has the ability, the position, and the opportunity to help her, even if it is dragging this weak body.

"There's no turning back, don't you regret it?" Ping Ning asked.

"No regrets." Xiao Chulan said.

I want to go forward with all my life for you. When I was alive, when I was still by your side, when I could still touch you, when I could accompany you... Millions, millions, don't leave me. I don't have that much time, but I want to do it for you, no matter how small. I want to leave you with such a long memory for a lifetime, one day I am gone, as long as you remember me, I will never leave. I'll live quietly in your heart, and lie to myself that I should spend my life with you, okay?