Baozhu was stunned when he heard this, and was about to stretch out his hand, when he saw Meng Xilan pull up the piece of paper, rub it in his hand, and throw it to the ground.

She looked up at her master's expression again, and saw that her face was gloomy and seemed annoyed.

Since the morning, Niangniang's mood doesn't seem to be very good, maybe it's because the general is here, or is he gone again?

Meng Xilan changed a piece of rice paper, and before she could lift the pen, someone outside the door said: "Niangniang, Imperial Doctor Jiao has returned to the palace." ”

Meng Xilan hurriedly said, "Invite him in." ”

These days, he has been busy outside the palace, and she is worried about him.

Jiao Changqing was dressed in plain white, with a fox fur draped in his arms, looking thin. He hadn't worn an official uniform for a long time, and he didn't care about his status as a doctor.

Baozhu put the burned charcoal into the hand stove, and then handed it to Jiao Changqing to warm his hands.

"Your Excellency, you've worked hard."

Right now, he's the only one available by Niangniang's side.

"Weichen heard that General Chu came last night."

Jiao Changqing didn't wait for Meng Xilan to ask, so he took the initiative to ask.

Meng Xilan didn't answer the rhetorical question, but said, "Are you worried about me?" ”

Jiao Changqing's eyes sank: "Yes, the minister is worried." ”

Meng Xilan sighed softly: "He won't be embarrassed for me." On the contrary, you are outside the palace every day, and your body can still eat? ”

At this time, if it weren't for his care, I don't know how many people would die inside and outside the palace.

"If we continue to have a short supply of food, the people in the city will either starve to death or die of disease."

Obviously, the situation out there is terrible, and, soon, it will get out of control.

"There's still a lot of work to be done." Meng Xilan said in a quiet tone.

In the two battles, although Chu Jingchuan had the upper hand, Zhou Youchen would not give up, unless one of them died, otherwise, there would be no real end.

"Is there any news from His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?" Jiao Changqing asked lightly.

Meng Xilan lowered her eyes: "No, there is no news at all." ”

Jiao Changqing nodded: "This is good news." ”

……

For ten days, Changsheng spent all his time recuperating in his father's military camp, resting in bed every day and not participating in any deliberations.

On the eleventh day, Zhou Youchen called Changsheng to him, and he handed him a secret order and a tiger talisman and said, "You go to Huaizhou and gather all the troops that can be mobilized in the south." ”

This is a very important task and a great significance.

The lack of troops is Zhou Youchen's biggest problem at the moment. Chu Jingchuan's strict defense will only slowly exhaust his troops, so he must take the capital in one go!

Huaizhou is his last hope, and King Jicheng is the oldest prince in the Zhou royal family.

He never participated in the battle for succession back then. He has always had a good relationship with the Nanban tribe, and he still has hidden forces in his hands.

Zhou Youchen wrote this handwritten letter, and did not hesitate to make a promise. If King Jicheng can help him exterminate the rebel Chu Jingchuan, then he will cut the city and land for him, not that he is a hereditary prince...... In other words, although the land that was divided to him was still nominally Beiyan's, his real owner was King Jicheng and his descendants.

It was the only chip he could think of right now.

Changsheng took the things handed over by his father, and felt his heart heavy.

"You are the crown prince, you are the prince, and your father has always had high hopes for you."

Zhou Youchen patted him heavily on the shoulder as he spoke, and said in a deep voice: "No matter what method you use, you must persuade King Ji Cheng." Without his help, it would have been difficult for us to win this battle. ”

Zhou Youchen told his son clearly and bluntly how slim their chances of victory were.

Changsheng nodded heavily: "Erchen understands that Erchen will do whatever it takes." ”

His gaze was resolute and unquestionable.

Time is limited, Changsheng can only go and return quickly, leading a team of 100 people, and setting off overnight.

From the capital to Huaizhou, the road is long, and Shen Dan knows that if he goes with him, he will only become a burden to His Highness.

She didn't dare to follow, let alone ask more. In an hour, he was leaving. And she can only put the baggage that has been sorted out and carefully pack it over and over again.

Changsheng stood at the door of the big tent, his back to her, silent.

He could hear a slight noise behind her, and he could tell her mind was in turmoil.

Changsheng turned to look at her and said slowly, "It's safe for you to stay here. ”

Shen Dan didn't say anything when he heard this, just lowered his head and nodded.

Changsheng walked up to her and looked down at her.

Shen Dan's eyelashes trembled slightly, knowing that he was in front of him, but he didn't dare to look up at him. She was afraid that once she met his eyes, she would not be able to hold back her tears.

Why are you crying? He didn't know it himself, he just wanted to cry.

"You wait for me to come back." Changsheng said as he slowly raised his hand, his fingertips caressing her cheek.

Her skin was slightly cold, not as smooth as when she was in the palace.

Shen Dan subconsciously grabbed his hand, rubbing the back of his hand with only his cheek, again and again.

Changsheng stared at the attachment between his eyebrows and eyes, and only sighed softly.

In the dead of night, Changsheng put on a black cloak and rode a black horse, and he and the guards behind him rode on horseback, and soon drowned themselves in endless darkness.

…

Baozhu held the candle in his hand, pushed the door to the side hall, and found Niangniang still sitting in front of the bookcase.

She propped her head on one hand, closed her eyes slightly, and seemed to be asleep.

Baozhu cautiously walked to the bookcase, then picked up a cloak at hand and gently draped it over Niangniang's body.

Who knows, Meng Xilan suddenly opened her eyes, looked at her and said, "What time is it?" ”

Baozhu was slightly startled, and hurriedly said: "Master, it's already the second watch." ”

Meng Xilan rubbed her eyebrows when she heard this: "I almost fell asleep." ”

"It's time for you to rest, master."

Meng Xilan stroked her heart and said, "I can't sleep well, I always feel that something is going to happen......

It's an intuition, a mystical intuition.

Baozhu knew that she was very serious, so she said, "The slave has collected the snow from the first snow and will make you a soothing tea." ”

Snow water to make tea, the most fresh and moisturizing, the master will definitely like it.

Meng Xilan nodded slightly, not wanting to live up to her intentions in vain.

…

On the tower of the city gate, Wei Feng has been standing in the cold wind, watching the movements of the enemy army.

Zhou Youchen is eager to win, so he is likely to sneak attack at night and win in danger.

"The Great General, please." Suddenly, a guard behind him hurriedly ascended to the gatehouse to report.

Wei Feng didn't dare to delay, and hurriedly went to see Chu Jingchuan.

He thought it would be a major task, but who knew that Chu Jingchuan actually asked him to arrange people to guard the palace.

Wei Feng's face stiffened when he heard this, and then he objected: "General, the palace has enough manpower. ”

Chu Jingchuan looked at his face and said, "This is an order." ”

Wei Feng couldn't hide his emotions, and held back his anger and said, "General, is that demon queen so important to you?" ”

Demon queen? This is a word that is extremely disrespectful.

Chu Jingchuan looked at him coldly: "It is your duty to obey military orders." Watch your words, you'd better not let me use military law and punish you in front of everyone. ”

Wei Feng was extremely angry in his heart, but he couldn't help it.

He dispatched men as he was told, and the men he could choose were wounded soldiers, all of whom were useless.

After ten days of rest, Zhou Youchen once again raised troops to attack the capital, this time his layout was very precise, he used fire to attack, and increased the number of archers. However, Chu Jingchuan replaced the attack with defense and waited for work.

It was another bitter battle, and the two sides fought until the sky was white, and then the battle was stopped.

This time, both sides suffered a lot of losses, and the bones of those soldiers who died in battle had no one to pick up, so they could only be exposed to a mess, slowly frozen, and waited until they decomposed.

There is no win or defeat, and the situation is getting worse and worse.

Meng Zhenglu watched the changes in the capital every day and watched it slowly turn into a dead city, and his heart was extremely tormented. The life of the Meng family is very difficult, everyone is in danger, and life is like a year.

In the face of suffering, some people are waiting for a result, and some people are waiting for a turnaround.

After Changsheng left the capital, he went all the way south and hurried towards Huaizhou.

I don't know if it's because the capital is in chaos, and they have not been very smooth along the way.

On the way, Changsheng heard a lot about the capital, as well as the discussions of the people in various states.

Everyone is guessing, who will win in the end? However, no one knows that the current capital is like a dead city, lifeless, dark and dark. The two armies fought, leaving piles of bones on the grass several miles away from the capital.

Chu Jingchuan's victory did not bring him any glory, on the contrary, those who once regarded him as a hero are now regarded by him as devils!

Once upon a time, he was a beloved hero, invincible and heroic, but now he has become a demon from hell who will only satisfy his vanity and greed with bloody killings.

When Chu Jingchuan was patrolling the city, the people, tormented by hunger and panic, chased after him and scolded him.

The guards around Chu Jingchuan blocked them from a distance, but they couldn't stop them from scolding the general.

Chu Jingchuan listened to those unbearable curses, his face was gloomy, he simply waved his hand and ordered his subordinates: "Kill them all, so that they know how to shut up." ”

"Yes......"

With his words, dozens of people were beheaded on the street, and blood flowed for a while.

When Meng Xilan heard this, she only frowned, but she didn't show much surprise.

Chu Jingchuan is no longer the person he was back then.

When Chu Jingchuan came to the palace, Meng Xilan would be obedient to him and considerate like a wife.

She would prepare meals for him herself, prepare refreshments, and bathe and change clothes for him.

Her obedience made Chu Jingchuan suspicious. So, he always stared at her silently, at her face, at her every expression.

Meng Xilan would raise her eyes and look back at him every time, her gaze was not dodging or evading, she was frank and open.

She wasn't afraid of his gaze, and he couldn't see through her heart.