"Over the years, Niangniang has been burdened with too much infamy for the Meng family and the emperor. Mother, you've done your best. ”

At the end, Meng Zhenglu said such a sentence.

Meng Xilan stood in place when she heard this, her expression stiffened slightly, and her bright pupils revealed a deep sadness.

The father's helpless sighs, his words of pity, and the eyes of his brothers who looked over in unison made a corner of Meng Xilan's heart collapse suddenly, and layers of thoughts poured down like gravel.

Just for a moment, Meng Xilan hid her gloomy emotions, and she said in a low voice: "This palace hasn't done enough for the Meng family!" If the father really thinks about the palace, then don't take the liberty of dealing with the Seventh Prince! ”

Meng Zhenglu said solemnly: "Niangniang, the Seventh Prince can't be beaten!" ”

As soon as the seven kings rebelled, the other princes would also follow suit. The border is precarious, the capital cannot afford to lose, the imperial treasury is in an emergency, and the major generals are weak, how to deal with this anxious and difficult situation.

Meng Xilan's eyes were deep and said, "This palace can't risk my father's life. ”

"The minister is already old, and the minister's life is just a drop in the ocean in terms of the society. To come to this point, the court must show that it is not to blame for the past, or to tear its face. In terms of negotiations, there is no more suitable candidate than Lao Chen! ”

He is the ruler of the dynasty, and has the position of marquis, and the most important thing is that he is the Meng family.

After Meng Zhenglu finished saying what he wanted to say, he knelt down solemnly.

The father knelt down to his daughter, and no one could bear it.

Meng Xilan also landed on her knees, she held her father's hand, and secretly forced: "Father, don't force me!" ”

Meng Zhenglu's eyes were slightly red, and he knew at a glance that he hadn't slept well these days.

"Behind the seven kings, there are also eight princes, if they unite a few more county kings! What is going to happen to the mother? What is the prince going to do? ”

When he said this, his father's tone was trembling slightly.

Was he really afraid?

Meng Xilan looked at her father's eyes: "Father, don't you believe your daughter anymore?" ”

Protecting the Meng family and the crown prince has always been her responsibility.

Meng Zhenglu smiled and shook his head: "How could the minister not believe Niangniang?" The minister just wants to share the worries and solve the problems for the mother! ”

Meng Xilan lowered her head and smiled when she heard this, and a little tear flashed in her eyes.

"This palace doesn't want you to share your worries, this palace wants you to be safe."

As soon as she said this, she stood up.

She looked back at the emperor and said word by word: "My father's request, the emperor is not allowed to agree, and he cannot agree!" Otherwise, the relationship between you and me as husband and wife will be over! ”

Zhou Youchen's pupils shook slightly when she heard this, it was the first time she had said cruel words in front of him.

Meng Xilan turned around and gently wiped away the tears on her face.

She can't cry, it's not the time to cry yet.

Seeing her turn away, Meng Zhenglu couldn't help but kneel down a few steps and said, "Niangniang...... For the sake of the country, it is not a pity for the old minister to die! ”

Meng Xilan was stunned when she heard this, clenched her fists, and said in a stiff tone: "This palace will not promise you to send you to death!" If anyone really wants to die, it must be those thieves! ”

"From now on, no one in the Meng family, male or female, is allowed to leave Beijing! If there is a violator, there will be no forgiveness! ”

Her words are clear and firm.

Meng Xilan coldly spat out this sentence, and then took Zhu Lu's hand and left.

Meng Xizhao and Meng Xiran behind them were shocked, and they couldn't believe that their sister would say what they had just said!

Zhou Youchen's face changed a few times, and he stretched out his hand to help Meng Zhenglu up.

Meng Zhenglu shook his head and stood up by himself: "How dare the minister bother the emperor......

Meng Xizhao immediately stepped forward to protect his father, and when he saw that his face was pale, he said, "Father, forget about today's business." ”

Zhou Youchen took a deep breath and said, "You escort the old man back." Lan'er, I'll appease ......"

Tonight is destined to be a difficult night.

Meng Xilan held Zhu Lu's hand and did not take the carriage, but insisted on walking.

The autumn wind was blowing, but she was walking faster and faster, but her feet were a little unstable.

Zhulu knew that she was sad in her heart, and she had no way to vent.

She reddened her eyes and said, "Niangniang, you watch your feet, let's take a sedan chair." ”

Meng Xilan didn't speak, just continued to walk forward, and after a few steps, she shook off Zhu Lu's hand.

On both sides of the corridor, kneeling eunuchs and palace maids, they lowered their eyes slightly, and they didn't dare to look up at the queen.

The gorgeous robe on Meng Xilan's body gently slid over the cold bluestone bricks on the road.

Zhulu followed closely behind her, looking at Niangniang's sad back, and couldn't help crying for a while.

She knew that her mother was sad and discouraged.

The emperor and the lord actually hid so many things from her......

Meng Xilan walked more and more urgently, until she was out of breath and her feet were sore, and then she stopped.

She stood still and looked around, only to realize that she was going in the wrong direction.

This direction is not Cining Palace, but Chuxiu Palace.

After Meng Xilan stood still, she gasped for a long time before she calmed down.

"Niangniang......" Zhulu trotted to catch up, and whispered; Long live the Lord ordered, let the minions send you back to the palace. ”

"Mother, let's go back." Zhulu carefully held her arm.

In the dark night, the palace lamps swayed with the autumn wind, emitting a miserable white light.

Zhou Youchen stood with his hands in his hands, standing outside the palace, looking at the light that was approaching a little bit.

He thought he would see Meng Xilan's tearful face, but who knows, she has a calm face and a gloomy gaze.

Zhou Youchen was silent for a while, and before he could speak, he heard Meng Xilan say: "Your Majesty, let's have a drink with the concubines today." ”

Drink? She has always disliked drinking, and now she must be worried.

"It's okay, if you want to drink, I'll accompany you."

The two have been together for many years, and there are not many opportunities for face-to-face drinking.

Meng Xilan doesn't like to drink, and Zhou Youchen is the same.

Meng Xilan poured herself wine, cup after cup, Zhou Youchen saw it in his eyes, and couldn't help but stop it: "You are drunk so quickly, be careful of getting drunk and hurting yourself!" ”

When Meng Xilan heard this, she picked up her wine glass and smiled at him.

"Don't worry about the emperor, the concubines don't want to get drunk. It's just that the autumn wind is bleak, blowing people's hearts cold. The concubine wanted to drink a few more cups to warm her body. ”

Hearing this, Zhou Youchen stretched out his hand and spread out his palm, "I will give you a warm heart." ”

Meng Xilan shook her head slowly, still taking a sip of the wine in the cup.

"The matter of the Seventh Prince, I will tell you sooner or later."

He knew that she minded, but he didn't quarrel or quarrel.

Meng Xilan put down the wine glass heavily, and only said: "The emperor doesn't need to explain to the concubine, as long as the emperor promises the concubine, don't let the concubine's father put his life in danger, let alone let the concubine's family act without authorization." ”

Zhou Youchen nodded slightly: "I promise you." ”

When Meng Xilan heard this, she said: "That's good, the concubine is fine, the emperor should go back and rest early." ”

When Zhou Youchen saw her say this, he only said, "I won't leave tonight." ”

Meng Xilan poured herself another glass of wine: "The concubine is tired, I'm afraid I can't serve the emperor." ”

"Lan'er, don't you do this, let's talk, okay? Make everything clear, lest you feel upset. ”

Meng Xilan was still smiling when she heard this, and she took a sip of wine: "Your Majesty, the concubine is not uncomfortable, not at all." ”

When Zhou Youchen heard this, he couldn't listen to it anymore, he raised his hand and slapped the tabletop, making a bang.

"I want to hear you tell the truth! Don't be perfunctory. ”

He snatched the glass from her hand and slammed it to the ground.

Meng Xilan raised her eyes to look at him, her eyes were gloomy, and she couldn't see any emotion.

Zhou Youchen reached out and pulled her to his chest, lifted her chin, and looked her into the eyes: "Lan'er, whether you scold me or blame me, I don't mind." It's just, you don't want to be like this! ”

Meng Xilan had no strength in her body, and resisted softly, but it was useless.

She tugged at his sleeve and said, "Your Majesty, you let go of me." ”

Zhou Youchen's voice was low: "I won't let go!" ”

Her heart has been getting farther and farther away from him, if he lets go of her people again. Then, she will only leave him, farther and farther away.

Meng Xilan saw him looking straight at herself, her eyes flashed with a little eagerness, but in her opinion, his eyes were not sincere enough.

"Your Majesty, you hurt your concubines, can you let go of your concubines?"

Meng Xilan's tone softened, not delicious and coquettish, but full of drunken exhaustion.

"Lan'er, I really feel sorry for you, and so do your father and brother."

Meng Xilan glanced at him and smiled coldly: "Distressed? No matter how much you hurt, can you hurt me more than me? No matter how painful you are, can you hurt me more than me? ”

After she said this, she suddenly had the strength to stretch out her hands and push Zhou Youchen away.

Zhou Youchen was slightly stunned, and looked at her again, but saw tears in her eyes.

Meng Xilan not only pushed him away, but also pushed the wine jug and wine glass on the table to the ground and smashed it.

Meng Xilan looked at the debris all over the ground, only to feel that her heart was also shattered.

"I entered the palace at the age of fourteen and lived as someone else's shadow. The queen mother treats me as a puppet, and the lord of Anning regards me as a thorn in his side, I have no intention of harming others, but someone wants to harm me. For so many years, I have been careful and exhausted every day, and I have lived more tiring than anyone else. In order to protect the Meng family, I sacrificed everything! ”

Zhou Youchen listened to her words and exhaled faintly.

His hardships were clear to him and to his heart.

Xu was because of the strength of the wine, so that the long-pent-up resentment in her heart was all vented in one go.

"You know what it means to be distressed? You don't understand at all! Self-righteousness, not distress, that's selfishness! How I hate it here, I hate it so much. But for the Meng family, for the debts of the year, I can't get out, I can't get out a single step! I have paid off all the debts in my previous life, but I owe the debts in this life. Back and forth, upside down, I can't escape this palace after all, this fate ......"

Zhou Youchen's eyes darkened when he heard this. "Lan'er, isn't there still me? You still have me......"

Meng Xilan curled the corners of her mouth with a smile and replied, "You...... You once killed my child! My beloved and cherished child! ”