The matter of Jiuyuan County was basically settled, and the process of settlement left both parties with embarrassment and a little displeasure in each other's hearts. Especially in the Han family, Liu Bang was extremely annoyed by this, and he didn't dare to put his anger on his face easily, he had already understood that Sha Ling'er's intention to go south this time was not only to welcome the princess but also to ask for land. Liu Bang knew that the Xiongnu were at their strongest, and the Han dynasty could not accept his challenge, and it was the practice of recuperation in the country to ensure that the economic and cultural balances were restored and tended to normalize. For Niu Hu'er's proposal to give Jiuyuan County to Liu Lu as a dowry, Liu Bang was the first to be angry and rushed to his head, and he couldn't speak angrily, so he had to sit on the couch and pretend to be calm and generous, thinking deeply and feeling that it was better to be flexible, listening to Niu Hu'er's words, he already knew the identity of the fake princess, and then he would inevitably tell the truth to the officials, accusing the Han Dynasty of being untrustworthy. It is better to flexibly solve the problem before they say it, and the contradiction is invisible, since it can't be given, it is better to borrow it for a year, both sides take a step back, the land can't be given casually, and allowing it to be borrowed for a year is the largest width. Liu Bang expected that he Mao Dun must also know the truth here, and he was eighty percent sure that Sha Ling'er would be able to make this promise instead of Mao Dun. Sha Ling'er also understood from Liu Bangjun's mouth that the Han Dynasty was not easy to bully, and there were many capable generals and good monarchs to protect the Han Dynasty.

The atmosphere was quite awkward for a while, Liu Bang sat silently on the side of the desk and drank vigorously and drank alcohol, and Sha Ling'er retreated back to her original position and forced Niu Hu'er to relieve the embarrassment. Empress Lu wandered between Liu Bang and Sha Ling'er, lingering for a while, she was silent and lowered her head to take a sip of wine. During the period, a few straightforward and hearty generals were unhappy, picked up the wine bottle and poured themselves violently, and then put the wine bottle on the case with a 'snap', and the fruit plate on the case trembled, and he sulked angrily to protest that the emperor should not lend Jiuyuan County to the Huns, and Sha Ling'er couldn't help but tremble. Liu Bangfang was drinking alcohol, and was startled by the sudden 'pop' 'ouch', squinted his old eyes and inspected below, only to see that it was a few straightforward generals who had followed him for many years sitting in place sulking, Liu Bang understood this, smiled with the wine bottle, and glanced at Sha Ling'er who was burying her head and looking terrified. Liu Bangqing cleared his throat, raised his voice and said deliberately, "Well, the matter has been resolved, and it is getting westerly and dispersing." ”

The hall was noisy and left one after another, Liu Bang also got up and came to Sha Ling'er's case, seeing that Sha Ling'er was still slightly nervous and stunned, Liu Bang said with a slight smile, "There are many straightforward and hearty people in the Han family, don't blame the princess." The matter has been resolved, why don't the queen accompany the princess to enjoy the garden and see the flowers? Empress Lu immediately followed Liu Bang and looked at Sha Ling'er with a smile.

"No, it's Niu Hu'er who is troublesome, Your Majesty, don't blame it." Sha Ling'er had already gotten up and bowed apologetically.

"I still have something to do, princess, please feel free." Liu Bang glanced at Lu Hou and left with a smile.

"Hmm." Sallinger made way as if pleased.

Liu Bang immediately hurriedly walked out of the hall to catch up with Xiao He Chen and others, and saw that the military general who was startled by himself was also there, Liu Bang, who was among several people, immediately jumped to the side of the general, smiled and patted him on the back, "I don't see you talking on weekdays, but today you are quite bloody, dare to drop the wine bottle in the palace?" "The joke is not without losing the majesty. The military general immediately knelt on the ground and bowed his hand, "Isn't it too hasty for Your Majesty to settle the matter of Jiuyuan County?" Jiuyuan County has always belonged to the Han family, how can it be easily given to others, the minister does not understand. There was displeasure in the face and risked death to protest against Liu Bang.

"Hehe......" Liu Bang personally helped him up, stroked his back and persuaded, "Qing really doesn't understand, it's okay, Qu Weihou will tell you the reason." Remember, in the future, I will let me catch a ready-made child for similar wine bottles, and I will not forgive me. Liu Bang's smile made the military general feel uncomfortable now, and he was embarrassed.

"Does Gong Chen think I'm doing the right thing?" Liu Bang asked Chen Ping with a side smile.

Chen Ping hurriedly stopped, bowed and complimented, "Your Majesty, the reason for this is understandable." ”

Liu Bang smiled and threw up the wide robe and big sleeves to lead away, the military general immediately came to Chen Ping's side and couldn't wait for Chen Ping to tell him the reason, Chen Ping and Xiao He looked at each other and smiled, only smiled and didn't say a word, but also threw up the wide robe and big sleeves and walked down the steps. The military general was dumbfounded and stunned in place, Xiao He took his arm and went down the steps with him, and listened to him in a subtle voice......

Only from afar did I hear the military general complain, "Qu Rebellion is really sarcastic that I don't have his wisdom, and I don't care about it, thank you Prime Minister Xiao for your advice." ”

Xiao He Langlang said with a smile, "Gong Chen is not sarcastic, but signaled to the public not to take away the prestige of His Majesty. ”

The general's eyes immediately brightened, his mouth opened wide, and he scratched his ears and cheeks, "It turned out that His Majesty borrowed Chen Gong to punish me, and His Majesty knew that Qu Zhihou disdained to tell me ......about it" Looking at Xiao When, he had already gone far away, and the military general slapped the back of his head to chase Xiao He.

Weiyang Palace.

The people in the hall had almost gone, and Empress Lu beckoned Sha Ling'er and sat for a while. Sha Ling'er's awkward Niu Hu'er brought embarrassment and rude words to everyone, during which there were many angry protests from the ministers of the Han family, although the emperor secretly reconciled and tried to maintain it, but Sha Ling'er knew in her heart that the emperor was dispersing the feast at the right time, and gave herself the steps down and the Han ministers down the steps. After they left, Sha Ling'er came to Lu Hou's side apologetically, "Queen Mother, don't blame Niu Hu'er for the matter of Jiuyuan County, Sha Ling'er is here to make amends to you." I felt very sorry not to go, and bowed my head to Empress Lu and apologized for a long time.

Empress Lu helped her up, smiled euphemistically at Sha Ling'er, put her hand on Sha Ling'er's hand and patted it gently, comforting Sha Ling'er to a certain extent and alleviating the tension caused by guilt, and looked at Niu Hu'er behind Sha Ling'er with a smile, Niu Hu'er's eyes were still straight and slightly hostile to look at Lu Hou. Facing each other, each receives the personality and psychological image released from each other's eyes, and roughly understands what the person's personality is from the eyes. Niu Hu'er's eyes were mostly defensive and provocative, while Lu's eyes were like a calm lake, refreshing but unfathomable. Suddenly felt that Niu Hu'er must be a figure that the Huns should not be underestimated in the future, the Huns already have a great talent, plus a means of Niu Hu'er, the Huns will develop strongly, Lu Hou's heart was uneasy, but he immediately sorted out his emotions and did not face him. Empress Lu smiled, said nothing, nodded to Sha Ling'er and turned to leave.

Sha Ling'er and Niu Hu'er also left Weiyang Palace and walked on the way back to Zhaoming Palace. No one said a word, and walked alone with their hearts in mind.

Sha Ling'er rubbed her arms around her, thinking about everything just now, thinking about Niu Hu'er's words and behaviors, thinking about Liu Banglu's words and actions, and thinking about the fierce attitude of the ministers. 'Sigh' jumped out of Sha Ling'er's mouth, and the fallen leaves under her feet were creaking.

"Princess, is Niu Hu'er acting too much today, they ......" Niu Hu'er followed, glanced at Sha Ling'er carefully, and was very anxious when she saw that she didn't open her mouth all the way.

Sha Ling'er turned her head to look at her and continued walking, "I can't blame you, Princess Lu Yuan......" narrowed her eyes and muttered, raised her head and continued, "It's their fault, but I have to stop you like that." ”

Returning to the Zhaoming Palace, Sha Ling'er was worried about today's events, sighed and sat on the couch, leaning her head against the bed railing, her eyes looking at one place intently. Niu Hu'er saw her like this, didn't talk to her, went to the back room alone and poured a cup of tea for Sha Ling'er, Sha Ling'er looked up, took the tea, but didn't drink it immediately, and held it in her hand.

The two of them stayed in the house all afternoon and did not go out to visit the palace, and tidied up their things in the house. Sha Ling'er felt tired and wanted to sleep to relieve the troubles in her heart, but she felt a little cold, so she asked Niu Hu'er to lay herself a good mattress and cover the quilt and sleep for a while, until it was almost time for dinner, Niu Hu'er woke her up.

Sha Ling'er lay in the bed and turned her head to look outside, it turned out that it was already dark, and it was quiet outside, except for the palace maid on duty, she couldn't see anything. Lifted the quilt and got up and got off the ground, came to the bronze mirror and sat down, fiddling with his hair with a comb, and before he could curl his hair, he heard the little palace maid outside, Yingying said, "Princess Luan, it's time to eat." ”

"Niu Hu'er, go and bring the food in, I don't want to eat, and explain to the emperor and empress, saying that I am a little tired and will eat in the house." Sha Ling'er put down the comb, pulled her hair, and turned to Niu Hu'er.

Niu Hu'er nodded and said with a smile, "It's the same as the princess, I don't want to eat either, so we'll bring it back and eat it." ”

Niu Hu'er went to the door like a gust of wind and went with the little palace maid.

After half a cup of tea, Niu Hu'er came back with the meal, but this time she was full of glory and in a very good mood. After entering the door with the food, he kicked the door with his foot by the way, came to Sha Ling'er with a smile, put the food on several tables, and the steaming air was curling in the air, which turned out to be a plate of cooked beef and mutton, a plate of soup, and a sip of alcohol. Niu Hu'er held her chin with one hand, and said to Sha Ling'er with a smile, "Princess, we have eaten now, and when I saw that there were so many mutton and beef in their imperial dining room, I brought them by the way, and specially put a few condiments from us, but they were delicious, and I haven't eaten a good meal for a few days." Niu Hu'er put down the hand holding her chin again, her eyes only staring at the food, and her mouth was shut.

Sha Ling'er saw that there was something delicious, and there was no longer a woman's reserve, her eyes were round, she bit her lip and looked at the delicious meal, and smiled heartily like a little girl, "There is my favorite mutton, Niu Hu'er, you are so good." Sha Ling'er smiled happily and raised her hand to pinch Niu Hu'er's face. The two girls were eating and laughing happily in the house, and they didn't care about the etiquette of their Han Dynasty, how simple and how to come right, grabbed the leg of mutton and gnawed it, the mouth was oily and shiny, and the bones left over from eating were thrown all over the ground.

"Princess, don't choke on soup." Niu Hu'er nibbled on a leg of mutton in her mouth, and her oily hands picked up the soup and gave it to Sha Ling'er.

"Well, you drink too." Sha Ling'er replied vaguely, the mouth full of mutton had not been eaten, she took the meat in one hand and the soup in the other, and poured a big bowl of soup into her stomach. After drinking, he burped, touched his stomach and laughed at Niu Hu'er, Niu Hu'er also brought a bowl of soup and drank it in a big gulp, and also touched his stomach and smiled at Sha Ling'er. The two touched each other's stomachs, jokingly that they stuffed watermelons in each other's stomachs, and had forgotten the unhappiness of the morning, and at this time it was just the happiest and happiest time for the two thirteen or fourteen-year-old girls, and bursts of laughter came out of the hall.

"Has the princess eaten yet?"

"Well, it's so supportive, are you full?" Sha Ling'er asked, hugging Niu Hu'er's neck.

"I'm full."

The two are like innocent, lively and unrestrained children, laughing and laughing, wiping the residual stains on the corners of each other's mouths, so intimate.

"I miss Brother Wang, I want to go back soon." Sha Ling'er said suddenly, and her eyes had already thought of each other.

Niu Hu'er, who was laughing vigorously, heard Sha Ling'er say this, and gradually put away her smile, and thought of the Huns like Sha Ling'er, those who made her worried.

"Niu Hu'er also misses her relatives, her parents, and her sister." Niu Hu'er's originally bright eyes gradually showed longing and longing for her hometown relatives, she got up from the side of the case and walked to the window, propped up the window, and looked at the dark night sky with her arms folded, except for the stars.

"There's no moon tonight." Niu Huer stood in front of the window and said.

Sha Ling'er looked at her, also got up and came to the window, the cool breeze blew the girls' hair, looked up at the only bright spot in the night sky, Sha Ling'er smiled, pointed to the star in the north, "Look, the purple star shining in the north is still bright." ”

Niu Hu'er raised her neck and shouted, "Zi Weixing, Zi Weixing, shine on our Huns." ”

Sha Ling'er put her hand on Niu Hu'er's shoulder, and leaned her head on her shoulder and looked out the window quietly, with a smile on the corner of her mouth, peaceful and serene.

Suddenly, there was a knock on ......the door.

Sha Ling'er and Niu Hu'er looked at each other in surprise, thinking that it was late at night, who else would come to them? Niu Hu'er got up to open the door, but it was a woman dressed in black and wearing a veil standing at the door, unable to see her face clearly, Niu Hu'er looked up and down for a while, didn't know her, tilted her head and twisted her eyebrows and asked, "...... are you?"

The woman just nodded politely and didn't speak.

Seeing that no one had come in, Sha Ling'er asked the door, "Who?" ”

Niu Hu'er had no choice but to let her in, and then closed the door. Seeing that the woman was dressed in black, and covered her mouth, it was very mysterious, and it was late at night, who was she and what was she doing? Immediately made Niu Hu'er alert, followed the woman in black step by step, looked at the masked woman vigilantly and suspiciously, followed her to Sha Ling'er's side, Niu Hu'er immediately blocked in front of Sha Ling'er to cover.

Sha Ling'er patted Niu Hu'er on the shoulder, signaling that she didn't need to be nervous. Seeing a person dressed mysteriously and familiar with her come in, she immediately looked her up and down, feeling extremely inexplicable, and looked at Niu Hu'er in surprise and confusion.

The masked woman lowered her veil and revealed a clear face, which allowed Sha Ling'er to see her true face.

"I know you." Sha Ling'er said categorically, "Aren't you just ......"

Before the words fell, the woman who covered her face put her hand to her mouth and said 'shhh', telling her not to make a noise, Sha Ling'er nodded, invited her to sit down, and Niu Hu'er went to the back room to pour tea.

"It's so late, what's wrong?" Sha Ling'er also sat down and moved the candle flame on the case to the middle.

The face of the masked woman was more clearly exposed to the bright light of the candle flame, and the slender figure of the marked facial features, only the harem could choose such a beauty, the woman looked at Sha Ling'er and smiled euphemistically, "I was in a hurry, although I was in a big banquet, I couldn't talk to the princess, I came here to talk to the princess, please forgive me for the presumptuousness." ”

"What are you talking about? We don't know each other very well. Sha Ling'er simply told her to get straight to the point.

Niu Hu'er brought the tea, poured it for her, and handed it to her.

"Thank you." The masked woman took the tea and said thank you, and Niu Huer responded with a smile in response to her thanks.

"Let's talk about the princess of our Han family, Princess Lu Yuan." After the masked woman finished speaking, she drank the tea, but she simply opened the topic.

Sha Ling'er immediately straightened up and looked at Niu Hu'er, very surprised, not knowing what this uninvited guest wanted. took the initiative to say that it was about Princess Lu Yuan, and Sha Ling'er and the others immediately became interested, and pricked up their ears to listen to her carefully.