Coming out of the holy study, the eunuch took Wei Nong to Penglai Pavilion to settle down. This time is different from the past, the last time Wei Nong came, he had no power, just came to listen to King Ning talk about the past, and living in Penglai Pavilion was also like house arrest. But this time, she is already the granddaughter-in-law of King Ning, the future queen of the new dynasty, and she is about to take power.

In the seven months before and after, the identities are very different, and the treatment they get is naturally very different. After a short rest in Penglai Pavilion and lunch, she proposed to take a walk in Ning Wang's Palace, and the chief eunuch thought about her future identity, and did not dare to refuse, so she dialed a few palace maids to accompany her.

Wei Nong said that she wanted to go out for a walk, but it was just to relax, she had come to Ning Wanggong several times before, and each time she was in a hurry, and she never had the opportunity to enjoy the scenery in the palace. Now that everything is about to settle, the depression in her heart has nowhere to vent, so she has to use this method to dissipate it.

After walking in the Imperial Garden for a long time, Wei Nong also thought a lot, about Nie Xingji, about Yunchen, about Yuan Che...... About later. Until it was near evening, Wei Nong didn't say that she would go back to rest, and several palace maids were tired from walking, so she couldn't help but remind her: "Lord Yu, it's time to go back for dinner." ”

Wei Nong looked at the sky, and it was indeed so, so he said, "Then go back." "She wasn't hungry, though.

The group returned to Penglai Pavilion the same way, and just walked to the door of the attic, a silver light crossed in a trance in front of their eyes, as if a shadow held a weapon in a flash, and his body was vigorous.

However, the Praetorian Guards in front of Penglai Pavilion stood still like statues, without even blinking their eyes. Such an obvious silver light, didn't they even see it? Obviously, there was only one other possibility—the silver light was not a weapon at all, but something else, such as ...... Mask?

Wei Nong tried to shout: "Yuan Che? ”

No one responded.

Wei Nong remembered what Yunchen had said, remembered her relationship with Yuan Che in the future, was silent for a moment, and said, "Do you want to hide from me for the rest of your life?" ”

The words fell, and it was a long time before a figure slowly stepped out from behind the pillars of the attic, wearing a half-silver mask that covered the entire left side of his face.

It's exactly the original Che.

He slowly approached Weinong, but he didn't dare to get too close, and when he came to a position about ten steps away from her, he stopped, lowered his head and said, "I...... I'm just here to see you. ”

Yuan Che's voice was hoarse, like an old man talking with all his might. Wei Nong's heart was gloomy, and when he saw that it was getting late outside, and so many guards and palace people were watching, he said to him, "Come in and talk." ”

Yuan Che hesitated for a moment, but after all, he didn't refuse, and walked into Penglai Pavilion with Wei Nong, but he always kept his head down, looking secretive, and he no longer had the arrogant and swaggering style he used to be.

The two entered Penglai Pavilion one after another, and the people of the Wei Nong Palace lit all the candles in the house, and said to Yuan Che: "You take off your mask and let me see the wound on your face." ”

Unexpectedly, Yuan Che was very resistant, and hurriedly shook his head and said, "No, no......"

"Then let me see your voice," Wei Nong picked up a candle flame and approached Yuan Che, "You open your mouth. ”

The latter saw her approaching with a candlestick in her hand, and immediately jumped up from her seat in fright, and stepped back again and again, not knowing whether she was afraid to see her or the fire.

Only then did Wei Nong realize that the problem was serious. In the past, Yuan Che had always left her the impression that he was not afraid of heaven and earth, and she had never seen him show such a timid expression, as frightened as a prey seeing a hunter.

Wei Nong had to persuade him patiently: "Yuan Che, you also know that I found a medical book on Peacock Mountain, I have roughly read some of them in the past few years, you let me see your injuries, maybe I can find a cure." ”

But Yuan Che didn't listen at all, and only stepped back vigorously, expressing his refusal.

Wei Nong was helpless when he saw this: "What are you worried about?" Afraid I'll see your face? ”

Yuan Che nodded at first, then shook his head.

Wei Nong could only persuade again: "You were injured to save me, will I dislike you?" You don't have to worry about scaring me, either. ”

It's a pity that no matter how Wei Nong persuaded him, Yuan Che refused to take off his mask, nor did he open his mouth to let her look at his throat, he just blindly refused: "There are so many imperial doctors in the palace, you don't have to worry about me." If it can't be cured, this is also my retribution. ”

Wei Nong felt even more gloomy after hearing this, and couldn't help but sigh lowly: "Why do you ......?"

Yuan Che waved his hand at her to stop her from continuing: "Grandfather Wang told me the three conditions you put forward today...... I have no opinion. ”

Grandfather Wang "told" him? Wei Nong immediately heard something strange. Today at noon in the holy study, she obviously found the person behind the screen, that person must have known that she was discovered, after all, there is such a large aperture on the floor tiles, it is really difficult not to see it.

But listen to the meaning of Yuan Che's words......

If the person hiding behind the screen at that time was Yuan Che, why did he need to speak so seriously at this moment? The more Wei Nong thought about it, the more confused she felt, and she couldn't help but ask directly: "Today, I was talking to the king in the holy study, is it you who is hiding behind the screen?" ”

Yuan Che seemed to be confused for a moment, and unconsciously opened his mouth. Half of his face was hidden in the mask, and his expression was not so obvious, Wei Nong only saw his eyes widen slightly, like stunned, like surprise, and more like embarrassment after being pierced. Then, he said "uh" and nodded slightly: "It's me." ”

Wei Nong was very speechless, so he also said bluntly: "You know that I have discovered you, but it is better to say that you heard our conversation, so why do you need to pretend that it was the king who told you?" ”

"I ...... I didn't know you found me, how did you know it was me? Yuan Che's expression this time was in place, and Wei Nong could see what he meant.

"Your wheezing is heavy, how could I not notice it? Moreover, the aperture on the ground is so large that it looks like a mask on your face. Wei Nong explained helplessly.

"I see." Yuan Che smiled bitterly: "I thought I hid it well." ”

Wei Nong didn't answer, but she thought in her heart that with what she saw today, Yuan Che was still too impetuous, and it was difficult to become a climate. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that Yuan Che was not qualified to be the founding emperor, but she also had to admit that putting aside his behavior of killing his brother, maybe he was the best choice for King Ning and even in the whole situation now.

Just like everyone wants her to be the queen, it's not because of how good and noble she is, it's just that there is no more suitable person than her.

From this point of view, she and Yuan Che are actually helpless choices, rather than expectations.

Yuan Che saw that she didn't speak for a long time, and thought that she was too careful, so he hurriedly pulled the topic back, and asked cautiously, "Weinong?" Do you put forward those three conditions today because you don't trust me? ”

Wei Nong came back to his senses when he heard this, and was silent for a moment before he said: "It's not that I don't trust you, I don't trust the whole situation." Have you thought about it, even if Kyushu is unified, but in the short term, from the courtiers to the army and the people, there will still be factions, not only the four factions of Yan, Ning, Jiang, and Chu, but also the Yan Kingdom, which will be divided into the Yan King faction, the Zhenguo Hou faction, and the eldest princess faction...... After all, Kyushu has been divided for more than 200 years, the forces are huge, and many things are deeply rooted, and they have not been able to unify so quickly. ”

Yuan Che thought deeply about this: "Yes, maybe the general trend can complete the reunification, but there is still a long way to go in terms of concept, at least it will take several decades." ”

Wei Nong nodded: "So I did it just in case." Whether it's releasing the Yan army or reorganizing Momen, I admit that I have selfish intentions, and I can't put them all in the hands of King Ning, or into your hands...... Factions, I have to watch out for this. ”

"You think far ahead, and you think well." Yuan Che looked at Wei Nong quietly and sighed sincerely.

Wei Nong lowered his eyes at the right time, avoiding his gaze: "I'm sorry, Yuan Che, although we are about to become husband and wife, I prefer you to see me as an ally...... You have heard what I said in the holy study, and I cannot fulfill my duty as a wife. ”

"Marrying me, does it really make you so uncomfortable?" Yuan Che asked, his voice was extremely hoarse and low, I don't know if it was caused by his burning voice or his emotions.

Wei Nong seemed to be infected by him, and her mood became depressed: "Every time I see you, I can't help but think of it...... Remembering his death. Even if I don't hate you anymore, do you think it's possible for me to accept a relationship again? ”

Thinking of the injury suffered by Yuan Che for her, Wei Thick's heart was also extremely uncomfortable, but she didn't want to deceive him, if it was inevitable that she would become a husband and wife in the future, she would rather make it clear and understand it at one time, without leaving him a trace of illusion.

She couldn't help but turn her head to look at the candlestick in her hand, and sighed faintly: "Yuan Che, I am grateful and guilty for everything you have done for me. If one day you need my help, no problem, I'll do it for you. But this is just a return of gratitude, not to be confused with feelings. ”

The night outside the window is getting darker, the candles in the window are bright, the slightly thick red lips are lightly opened, and the words are like a gentle knife, thrown at Yuan Che's heart.

At this moment, the candle flame on the table of the two people swayed several times, as if there was a sign of the lamp withering, and the hairpin between the hairpins was gently plucked with the wick, wanting to let the candle flame breathe for a while.

Inside, there was a dead silence, only the sound of candles flickering and burning, and the occasional "crackling" sound. Neither of them spoke again, one plucking the wick intently, the other looking at her intently. I don't know how long it took for this to happen, a strand of hair suddenly hung down from the corner of her forehead, blocking her view of picking the wick, she subconsciously wanted to raise her hand to pull it away, but the other hand was a step faster than her.

Yuan Che's slender arms had reached her cheeks, and the candle flame suddenly dimmed with the wind in her sleeves. He only didn't see it, and concentrated on helping her pull up the strand of hanging hair, and then whispered back four words: "I understand." ”