At night, the city is quiet, and most of the shops and restaurants on both sides of the street are closed. The carriage walked slowly down the empty streets, the wheels crushing against the stone pavement making a dull noise.

Meng Xilan and Chu Jingchuan sat side by side in the car, and with the slight bump of the carriage, their shoulders would inadvertently touch each other. Although it was very light and light, Chu Jingchuan still subconsciously clenched his fists.

Meng Xilan had already noticed that beside him, the whole person was tense all the way, and he looked solemn. He and she rarely had the opportunity to be so alone, quiet and quiet.

"Today, my brother's words are really few." Half-ringing, Meng Xilan's eyelashes trembled slightly, and she said lightly.

Chu Jingchuan raised his eyebrows: "I don't think, you know, I'm a person who doesn't like to talk." ”

"Don't you love to talk to others, and you don't like to talk to me?"

Chu Jingchuan was slightly stunned, opened his mouth, and seemed to have something to say, but when the words came to his mouth, he felt inappropriate.

Meng Xilan turned her head to look at him and stretched out one of her hands, "I don't have many opportunities to get out of the palace like this, and in the future, when the emperor and the queen mother return to the palace, I won't have such freedom." I thought that I would talk to my brother close to me today, but my brother was always far away from me......"

Chu Jingchuan looked at her slender hand, and didn't know what to do for a while.

Meng Xilan smiled lightly, there was warmth between her eyebrows, and deliberately quipped: "Brother, it's really a nerd." ”

As soon as she finished speaking, Chu Jingchuan hurriedly stretched out her hand, wrapped her hand with a rough and thick palm, took a deep breath, and the corners of her mouth curved a faint arc: "I'm not a nerd." ”

Meng Xilan looked at the hands of the two people holding each other tightly, and her heart finally felt a little better. The candle that had just been extinguished suddenly seemed to be a sign of profound meaning. She didn't want to make herself suspicious, but she was still sensitive to every little thing that happened.

When she arrived at the gate of the Meng Mansion, Chu Jingchuan reluctantly let go of her hand, "You are careful in the palace, just let someone inform me if you have something." ”

He doesn't say anything sweet, he just wants her to be well.

Meng Xilan smiled and nodded at him, quietly watching his back leave, but his mind drifted farther and farther away...... Between her and him, although she has experienced a lot of setbacks, what Meng Xilan hopes in her heart is not a repeat of the tragedy, but that everything will develop in a better direction.

A few days have passed, and the summer heat in the capital shows no signs of easing.

Everyone was distraught by the scorching heat.

However, what is surprising is that the crown prince Zhou Youping, who has been acting as the government of the court, has recently performed outstandingly, working diligently and judging decisively, which surprised the ministers of the court, except for Meng Xilan. She knows very well in her heart that Zhou Youping has Zhou Shili's think tank behind her, and she will definitely be able to make some achievements. It's just that, looking at the prince's scenery, Meng Xilan will care more about Zhou Shili's existence.

Zhou Youping gained power in front of people, while Zhou Shili was proud behind people.

Now, the backbone of everyone in the palace is the crown prince Zhou Youping, and those villains who see the wind and rudder will naturally not let go of the opportunity easily.

Since being beaten up by Zhou Youlin, the brothers turned against each other, and Zhou Youwen's status in the palace was getting worse day by day. He knew that he couldn't get along in front of the fourth brother, so he had to focus on the current big celebrity, the prince.

Zhou Youping is arrogant, never takes his younger brothers in his eyes, and does not want to get too close to him. Because he knows that any brothers, friends, and brothers are just superficial illusions, and each of them is coveting his position as the crown prince, to put it bluntly, they even wish that he would die a good death.

Zhou Youwen has always been able to stammer, since he can't get close to Zhou Youping's side, he is bound to work Zhou Shili.

Zhou Shili has no good impression of Zhou Youwen, who has always been high or low. However, because of his status as a prince, he still put on a hypocritical and gentle attitude.

"Uncle Cousin, you know everything about me. Now, my fourth brother and I have completely broken up, and in the future, I want to have a decent place by the side of the prince. ”

Zhou Youwen personally visited the county king's mansion and unabashedly expressed his sincerity.

Zhou Shili held the wine glass and smiled, his thin lips lightly opened: "What the sixth master said is not right. You are a prince, with a noble status, and you are a very decent master before and after. ”

When Zhou Youwen heard this, he just shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Uncle Cousin said this, but he was laughing at me." I'm not without self-knowledge, and no one takes me seriously at all. Before, if I hadn't been slapping my fourth brother every day, I'm afraid that no one would have taken me to heart. ”

Zhou Shili pursed his lips and said nothing, just drank the wine in his glass, and secretly laughed at his incompetence.

As a prince, he is so not strong, he doesn't know how to grasp the ready-made opportunities, and he deserves to live by relying on others for the rest of his life.

Although he thought so in his heart, he only said, "Huh? Why should the sixth master be arrogant, in my opinion, the sixth master is talented and intelligent, and he has a unique mind, but he has never been able to find a suitable opportunity to show his ability. ”

Zhou Youwen glanced at him unexpectedly, he didn't expect him to give himself such a high evaluation.

"Uncle Cousin, if you really look up to me, help me."

Zhou Shili smiled gently: "Sixth Master, how do you want me to help you?" ”

"Of course, it is to help me say some good things in front of the prince, so that I can also have a chance to make a meritorious appearance." Zhou Youwen's tone was a little eager, and he said: "My father never let me meddle in political affairs, and I don't have a chance even if I want to perform." ”

After listening to this, Zhou Shili's mind turned, and he didn't speak for a long time, and he didn't say yes or no.

Zhou Youwen waited patiently for a long time before he couldn't hold his breath and said, "Uncle Cousin, why don't you keep quiet?" Isn't it that you don't want to help me. ”

Zhou Shili is naturally reluctant to help him, he is a person who has no ability or ability, has no virtue or not, and has more than enough success and failure.

Who knows, Zhou Youwen suddenly said a sentence, which made Zhou Shili change his mind in an instant.

"Uncle Cousin, I know that the prince has always looked down on my fourth brother, I have been with him for so long, and I know my fourth brother best. So, I know he has a lot of weaknesses. ”

Zhou Shili's eyes flashed slightly, and he said with interest: "Really? Does the fourth master also have weaknesses? ”

Zhou Youlin has always been rigorous, he likes to do things without leakage, and he rarely makes people catch any bad handles.

Zhou Youwen grinned, took a sip of wine himself, and strengthened his courage: "Uncle Cousin, no one is perfect, but everyone has weaknesses." My fourth brother looks so strong, but in fact, he is a big lover inside. ”

"Then, how about the sixth master say one first, let me hear it?"

"Hehe......" Zhou Youwen drank one cup after another, and said with a smile: "Okay, I'll talk about one first." Uncle Cousin...... My fourth brother likes that Meng Xilan...... Meng Xilan is his biggest weakness. As long as it is related to her, if you look at me, my fourth brother will definitely be extremely nervous and redouble his attention. ”

Zhou Shili put down his wine glass when he heard this, leaned back in the chair behind him slightly, and said with a light smile: "Sixth Master, I have heard about this matter for a long time, it is really nothing new." ”

He still remembered that time, the scene when he met Meng Xilan and Zhou Youlin was indeed a little subtle.

Meng Xilan's sometimes low-key and sometimes high-profile style in the palace really made him a little confused. People are beauties, but their scheming is too heavy.

When Zhou Youwen heard this, he leaned forward and said, "Uncle Cousin, you don't know. My fourth brother didn't hesitate to kill people for the sake of that woman. ”

At the beginning, when the concubine died, he was still by Zhou Youlin's side, although he didn't know the ins and outs of the matter, he vaguely felt that there was a ghost in this matter. Moreover, he has an inextricable relationship with Meng Xilan.

"Oh? ......" Zhou Shili deliberately pulled a long tone and said with interest: "Is there really such a thing?" ”

Zhou Youwen is not a fool, he knows that he is half hiding and half hiding, so he lowered his head and poured himself a glass of wine: "Let's talk about the specific things in detail one day." Today, I am mainly asking my cousin for face, so you can agree to it, uncle. ”

Zhou Shili smiled faintly, also raised his wine glass, and touched him lightly: "I'll do my best." ”

……

Zhou Youping obviously doesn't have a good impression of Zhou Youwen, the younger brother who took the initiative to stammer.

He glanced at Zhou Shili coldly: "If it's useful, you can't come and ask me." Uncle Liantang knew in his heart that that kid was a complete villain. ”

He also thought that Zhou Shili was very discerning in seeing people, and there were times when he was asking for trouble.

Zhou Shili arched his hand and said: "Prince, villains also have the usefulness of villains." The things you disdain and shame can be done by him. ”

Zhou Youping threw the fold in his hand on the table heavily, and said with a frown: "I don't have the spare time to take care of him." ”

"Your Royal Highness, the sixth master has been with the fourth master for many years, and I know a lot of things about the fourth master."

Zhou Youping sneered: "So what? There are ways to deal with the fourth. ”

He has been speaking with confidence recently, Zhou Youlin is far away in Youzhou, and he is not enough to become any threat at all. Momentum is a thing that has always come and gone.

Zhou Shili saw that he was not interested in Zhou Youwen, so he only arched his hand and said, "Since this is the case, the matter of the sixth master, I will look at it first." However, Your Highness, the sixth master has taken the initiative to defect to us now, in the end, I hope that when you see him, be kind to him, lest he be suspicious of ghosts behind his back. ”

Zhou Youping waved his hand impatiently: "Got it." You stand down. ”

Zhou Shili stepped back as he said, and after walking out of the door, a mocking smile appeared on his face.

Zhou Youping, Zhou Youping, now you look like you're turning over, don't you know that your old people who can't see the light are all in my hands. What do you have to be proud of?

Zhou Shili flicked his sleeves and said in his heart, when I step on your position, you will really know how powerful I am.

This is the hottest time of the day, Zhou Shili didn't want to go back under the poisonous sun, so he found a shady place in the imperial garden, sipping tea and enjoying flowers.

When he was relaxing, he suddenly heard someone behind him whispering: "Who is sitting in front?" ”

It was a woman's voice, Zhou Shili turned around to look, and found that the person was Meng Xilan, he was slightly stunned, and hurriedly got up and said, "Your Royal Highness the princess Wan'an." ”

Meng Xilan frowned slightly, and glanced at the stone table in front of him, there was tea and fruit, and it was really complete. looked at Zhou Shili again and nodded slightly.

"It turned out to be His Royal Highness the King of the County, I thought it was a slave who didn't know how to be measured, and he dared to hide in the emperor's favorite garden."

When Zhou Shili heard this, his ears burned slightly, and he hurriedly said: "It's me who is reckless, I came to ask His Royal Highness the Crown Prince today, who knows, the heat is unbearable, so I want to find a shady place to rest first." ”

Meng Xilan smiled slightly: "The county king's words are polite, obviously I disturbed your good interest." After speaking, he turned his head and instructed Zhu Lu: "You go and bring some chilled sour plum soup to relieve the fever of the county king." ”

Zhulu answered. Zhou Shili said with a smile: "How can I bother the people around the princess, I should also say goodbye......"

Meng Xilan came here today just to "meet him" by chance, how could she let him leave easily, and hurriedly raised her hand to stop him: "Don't be polite, the king of the county, it's rare to meet you today, so let me, the junior, do my best." ”