As for Yan Hong's cold air that rejected people thousands of miles away, the guards immediately knelt down before they could see his face clearly, and said in a trembling voice: "See, I've seen His Royal Highness the Nine!" ”

Yan Hong ignored the frightened guards, pushed Sima Hongyan and said, "Let's go, let's go in!" ”

A eunuch had already gone in to report that Emperor Yan Zhen was already waiting in the imperial study, and when he saw Yan Hong and Sima Hongyan coming in at the same time, he was obviously stunned for a moment. Seeing Yan Hong dressed in black again, covered in blood, as if he understood something, he couldn't help but show some unhappy looks on his face.

But when he looked at Sima Hongyan again, he smiled and said, "Sima Hongyan, you have been wronged!" You saved me, and before I could thank you, I heard that you had been taken captive. I have sent people everywhere to find out your whereabouts, and I can't imagine that you will be able to return safely by yourself today, and I am really happy for you. Come on, come on, sit down and talk! ”

Sima Hongyan and Yan Hong made a big salute, but they didn't sit down, Sima Hongyan said directly to Emperor Yanzhen: "Your Majesty! The courtiers have urgent matters that need to be reported to the emperor, so they can't change their clothes, and please don't blame the emperor! ”

Emperor Yanzhen looked at the two sloppy people opposite, and said with a smile: "You're welcome, you are in such a hurry to see me, there must be something important, I don't blame you." Tell me what makes you so anxious? ”

Sima Hongyan said directly: "Your Majesty! The courtiers implore the emperor to send troops to Yanning Pass immediately, I am afraid that it will not be long before Dongning will attack our Yanling. Please also ask the emperor to make arrangements early, don't catch us off guard! ”

Emperor Yanzhen was taken aback and asked, "Where did you start with this?" How do you know that Dongning is plotting against Yanling? ”

Sima Hongyan chose the important ones, and told Emperor Yanzhen what happened after he was arrested, including Yan Hong, and they didn't hide it when they went to save her, but they didn't mention the matter of Nan Xunyan.

When it was said that Yan Hong, Shi Jinyan, Ban Lingruo, and Guo Zidi all ran to Dongning to save Sima Hongyan without authorization, Emperor Yanzhen actually glanced at Yan Hong, who had been silent, with some displeasure. Yan Hong saw it, but he didn't care and pretended not to see it.

After Sima Hongyan finished speaking, Emperor Yanzhen thought for a moment and asked, "Is there any real evidence for what you said?" Sima Hongyan, you must know that what you said is related to the relationship between the two countries, if you make a mistake, do you know what the consequences will be? ”

Sima Hongyan replied without hesitation: "The courtiers have just fled back from Dongning, so they naturally know that increasing troops to Yanning Pass means that there is a possibility of war with Dongning, and thousands of soldiers will be bloody on the battlefield, and there will be no return!" ”

Emperor Yanzhen was slightly displeased when he saw Sima Hongyan talking about the war so lightly, and said, "Since you know, do you have evidence to prove that Dongning has ill intentions towards my Yanling?" ”

Sima Hongyan said: "Your Majesty! Couldn't the courtier's experience in Dongning, and what she saw and heard, be evidence? ”

Emperor Yanzhen said: "It's true that Dongning arrested you, they want to know the secret of Yanling from you, and I don't doubt it, but these don't prove that they are going to come to attack my Yanling border pass?" ”

Sima Hongyan said: "Then they have been secretly looking for the 'Qilin Seal' for several years, is this a proof that they have already peeked into the world?" ”

When he heard the words "Qilin Seal", Emperor Yanzhen suddenly stood up from the dragon chair out of control, pointed at Sima Hongyan and asked sharply, "Where did you know about the 'Qilin Seal'?" What do you know? ”

Sima Hongyan said: "This is what I heard from Lan Aoxin, the sixth princess of Dongning, she has been secretly looking for many years, but she has not found it yet. If Lan Aoxin dared to do these things, wasn't it the instruction of Emperor Dongning? Moreover, Dongning has developed rapidly in recent years and has strong military strength, I am afraid that the intention of conquering the world is by no means a day or two! ”

Emperor Yanzhen regained his composure, sat down again, and fell into deep thought.

Sima Hongyan took advantage of this time to look at Yan Hong beside her, she was a little puzzled, Yan Hong didn't say a word for such a long time, and she didn't help herself say it to the emperor. The illusion of peace in the world will soon be broken, and Yan Hong doesn't seem to be worried at all.

After a while, Emperor Yanzhen said, "Sima Hongyan, could it be that you made a mistake from the beginning?" This is actually a trap of Dongning, deliberately confusing you like this, trying to make Yanling make a mistake by using your words? As soon as we increase our troops at Yanning Pass, Dongning will have an excuse to move troops against Yanling, and then the war will be on the verge of breaking out on the grounds that we are provoking on the border! ”

Sima Hongyan said: "Your Majesty! The heart of defense is indispensable. The wolf ambition of the Dongning people has long been all over the eyeliner in my Yanling, and I am afraid that even the palace has their internal response under ambush. What's more, as far as the courtiers know, the other three countries have signed a ten-year agreement with us to stop the war, but Dongning is the only one, and they have all stayed in the capital of Yanling and have not returned for a long time. ”

Emperor Yanzhen smiled and said, "I know what you said, but do you know why the Dongning envoy is still staying in Yanling?" ”

Sima Hongyan thought about it and said, "The courtiers can only guess that they must be deliberately delaying time, staying here to gather our information, and arranging the deployment for the next move!" ”

Emperor Yanzhen said noncommittally: "What you said may be somewhat probable, but they do have other purposes for staying in the capital, and I also know it!" ”

Sima Hongyan was slightly stunned, and looked at Emperor Yanzhen's expression that he had known for a long time, so he asked: "It turns out that the emperor has known for a long time, so please ask the emperor to make it clear!" ”

Emperor Yanzhen smiled and said: "You just returned to the capital and don't know yet, the envoys of Dongning have already proposed marriage to me, hoping to marry with Yanling and enjoy peace forever!" After speaking, Emperor Yanzhen looked at Sima Hongyan with a surprised face with some playfulness.

I never imagined that the ill-intentioned Dongning would propose to Yanling a political means of marrying with relatives, and this huge turning point suddenly stunned Sima Hongyan, and he didn't know what to say!

After a long time, Sima Hongyan walked out of the palace in a daze, she forgot how she walked out of the imperial study, and she didn't listen to Yan Hong's words when she talked to her. Later, I didn't remember how she got out of the palace, and she didn't even react when Ban Lingruo and Xiao Hongying helped her into the carriage, her eyes were straight like stupid, and she only thought about what Emperor Yanzhen had said to her just now.

Shi Jinyan, Ban Lingruo and Xiao Hongying didn't know what Sima Hongyan had experienced in the palace at all, and they were all very worried when they saw Sima Hongyan so lost and depressed for the first time, but they couldn't interrupt her train of thought, so they had to let the carriage take them back to their home in the east of the city first.

The lonely shadow of the south wind has always been in the other carriage and has never come out.

Soon, the carriage returned to Sima Mansion in the east of the city, Sima Hongyan had returned to normal at some point, and helped Nan Xunyan when he got off.

Seeing his own young lady and such a group of bloodstained and embarrassed people come back suddenly, it scared Sima Mansion a lot, especially Sima Hongyan's haggard appearance, Qinghan almost went crazy. The young lady disappeared inexplicably, causing her to cry secretly many times, and now she came back without warning.

As soon as Sima Hongyan entered the mansion, he greeted Steward Sun and said, "Vacate a room, I will set up a mourning hall for Wu Zhao and a few friends who have passed away!" ”

Steward Sun saw that only four of the seven guards who had left at the beginning had come back at this time, and Wu Zhao was not among them, so he could guess what was wrong. However, as soon as he heard that his young lady was going to set up a special mourning hall, he hurriedly said: "Miss! I understand your subordinates' little old men, but it's not very proper to set up a mourning hall for your subordinates, right? There is no such precedent, and I think it is better to reward some money. ”

Steward Sun's words made Sima Hongyan's eyes widen, not angry and self-assured, and a chilling aura made Steward Sun beat several spirits all over his body, although Sima Hongyan stood still and didn't say a word, but that sharp look made Steward Sun's legs bend weakly in fright, and his body knelt down uncontrollably.

Sima Hongyan originally hated people kneeling at every turn, but this time he didn't mean to let Steward Sun get up.

She looked at Steward Sun, who was shaking like chaff, and said in a very stern voice: "Steward Sun, don't say such ruthless and unrighteous words in the future. Don't you still understand my attitude toward you? Although everyone is serving in Sima's mansion, it is just a job, and it does not prove that their identity is lower than anyone. Everyone risked their lives for me, and Brother Wu and several brothers died in the wilderness, could it be that their deaths were exchanged for a few taels of silver? So what's the difference between me and a ruthless brute? ”

Unexpectedly, his words made the always kind young lady angry, Steward Sun secretly scolded himself for being confused, his own young lady never treated anyone in the house as a contemporary, and his words did touch the reverse scale of the young lady. What's more, someone gave their lives this time!

Sima Hongyan's anger had not subsided, and the others did not dare to come up to dissuade her, so they only heard her continue: "From now on, don't say anything unruly to me, here, just do what I say!" I not only want to pay tribute to Brother Wu, but I also want to pay tribute to a few brothers of Xiao Ling Sword Sect, and I will let Hongying tell you the name in a while, you go and arrange it! ”

Steward Sun got up tremblingly, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and turned around to make arrangements. As soon as he took two steps, he heard Sima Hongyan behind him say: "Steward Sun, just this time, don't take it as an example!" Steward Sun was shocked again when he heard this, and hurriedly agreed to trot to make arrangements.

Xiao Hongying was extremely grateful when she heard that Sima Hongyan was also going to set up spiritual positions for several of her senior brothers, so she didn't speak, but just came over and held Sima Hongyan's hand.

Qinghan had the courage to come over and comfort Sima Hongyan a few words, and Sima Hongyan was a little less indignant. In fact, she knew that she was not all at the old housekeeper, but she couldn't bear the irritability in her heart, and reprimanded the loyal housekeeper mercilessly in front of everyone, and after losing her temper, she regretted it a little.