The passage of time was silent, like the atmosphere between me and him in this empty room.

I sat on the edge of the bed, and he sat in a circle chair at the other end of the room, and the two of them faced each other in silence. The sun's rays slowly drained after the height of their peak, and the light and shadow slowly shifted towards my feet.

My eyes were fixed on the light and shadow, and I was about to move to my feet, and I subconsciously grabbed the sheets, almost crushing them.

At this moment, Liu Qinghan suddenly spoke: "Don't worry too much. ”

I looked up and saw him sitting in a chair at the other end of the room, looking at me calmly. Although the words were comforting me, I really couldn't find any solace in that indifferent tone.

He added: "Tu Shuhan put us under house arrest, which is what he has to do no matter what. But he couldn't keep us locked up. ”

Of course, he can't keep us locked up, not to mention that he can't afford to offend the eldest princess's future concubine, as long as Liu Qinghan and I flatly deny it, Pei Yuanzhen will not give up their marriage contract even if he knows that the two of us met in private last night, and this situation has not been unheard of before.

But that's not all I'm worried about.

The most important thing is that the time I agreed with Yuan Xiu is almost up.

In case he really enters the city, in case he really encounters Tu Shuhan, I can't even think about what we have to face next.

Thinking of this, I just feel anxious.

Looking at my tightly knit brows, Liu Qinghan seemed to want to comfort me for a word or two, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he couldn't say anything, and only sighed after all.

Just then, there was a knock on the door outside, and a man pushed the door and walked in.

Liu Qinghan and I both subconsciously stood up, and when we saw the thin figure at the door, both of us were stunned.

The visitor shook his white-washed robe and waved at us: "Lord Liu, Miss Yan, don't come unharmed." ”

His movements are gentle, and he seems to be extremely gentle and polite, but my memory of this person is more in the Juma River Valley, when Nangong Lizhu faced Shen Gongzhu's slaughtering knife, he stepped forward to fight for her life.

The person in front of him turned out to be Huo Liancheng!

As soon as I saw him, I was immediately stunned, Liu Qinghan was also stunned for a moment, and only after a while did he say softly: "Brother Huo? ”

"Lord Liu," Huo Liancheng smiled faintly at him, "It's been a long time." ”

I never imagined that I would meet Huo Liancheng here, but he seemed to be very calm, and he was not surprised at all that the two of us were under house arrest in this room. As soon as he entered, he sat down at the table, and immediately a maid came in with hot tea and pastries.

Liu Qinghan and I glanced at each other, and we both walked to the table and sat down.

This time, it was me who opened my mouth first: "I didn't expect to meet Master Huo here, it's really a coincidence." ”

Huo Liancheng smiled, but that smile was not pleasant at all: "This is not a coincidence. ”

"Oh?"

"This officer has been here for a long time to join the army."

"Very early ......"

I repeated these two words, and looked at his scholar's face, which was originally as white as jade, was now somewhat stained with the roughness of the wind and sand here, and suddenly understood.

Before, he was still in the Juma River Valley for Nangong Lizhu to speak up, and he also attended the annual banquet where Nangong Lizhu and I "decided the winner", so no matter how "early" it was, it was not earlier than that time, and it must be after that he would be transferred here to join the army.

As for why it's here......

Back then, when the rebel force of Shen Gongyi was uprooted in the Juma River Valley, Liu Qinghan and Wen Fengxi naturally made the first contribution, Huo Liancheng's expression was without merit and fault, and it must be said that it can be regarded as a small credit.

But the problem is - Nangong Lizhu.

No matter how generous Pei Yuanhao is, no matter how notary he is, as the emperor, it is impossible for him to reward him after knowing that a courtier has always been secretly in love with the woman he loves the most.

He can reuse and cultivate light cold regardless of his previous suspicions, but Nangong Lizhu is special.

In fact, I think he should have planned it as soon as he knew about Huo Liancheng's delusions in Juma River Valley, but he had just put down Shen Gongcheng's rebellion at that time, and the overall situation needed to be stabilized; And Huo Liancheng is more or less a meritorious man, he can't do it too chillingly. Then, Huo Liancheng was transferred out of the capital and came to Longnan, which should be after the New Year's banquet, that is, after Nangong Lizhu lost the opportunity to be promoted to concubine.

At this time, of course, I also understood that Huo Liancheng was not surprised to see us here, because he was now a member of the army under Tu Shuhan's account, so after last night's night banquet, Tu Shuhan was going to discuss the matter of sending troops with his army staff, and naturally he was involved.

Thinking of this, I looked at Huo Liancheng's eyes much more complicated.

Because, the situation has become complicated.

Liu Qinghan smiled: "I left the capital for so long, and I didn't know that Brother Huo had arrived in Longnan. However, since he is under the command of the general, Brother Huo's future is immeasurable. ”

Huo Liancheng smiled faintly: "The future is not negotiable." It's just that, I heard that Lord Liu and-" He turned his head to look at me, with a hint of playfulness in his eyes: "Miss Yan came together to persuade the general to send troops, so that Zai Xia was a little surprised." At the beginning—"

My heart lifted all at once.

Originally!

Could it be that he was going to mention that Qinghan and I were still in the palace at the beginning?!

After a pause in his words, he seemed to feel my breath suffocated, glanced at me again, and then slowly turned to Liu Qinghan: "Lord Liu should be very clear about the relationship between the imperial court and Xichuan, right?" ”

I just felt chills all over my body.

After all, he still didn't tell the truth.

At this moment, I couldn't tell whether my heart was relaxed or lost, I just felt that my whole body was a little out of strength, and I sat there blankly. Liu Qinghan seemed to be still saying something, but his voice sounded to my ears as if it was coming from a long distance, so illusory.

Until Huo Liancheng's cold voice sounded in his ears-

"Lord Liu, the lower officials don't know what Lord Liu thinks about cooperating with the rebels in Xichuan, this is simply seeking the skin of the tiger, don't you know?"

I saw that Liu Qinghan's face also sank: "Master Huo." ”

As soon as his title changed, Huo Liancheng had already stood up: "I'm here to sue the two of you, the general will not agree to send troops!" ”

This sentence pierced my heart at once, and I suddenly came to my senses.

What? Tu Shuhan refused to send troops?!

Liu Qinghan also stood up, and what else could he say, Huo Liancheng had already interrupted him and said, "Originally, the general was supposed to arrest some rebels and escort them back to the capital, but-" He said as he looked at me, and I felt his eyebrows frown slightly, and then tilted to the side: "Since the current situation is special, we can pretend that we haven't seen some people." Two, let's leave as much as possible! ”

The pastries on the table didn't move at all, and the tea was even steaming, but he was already urging us to leave.

Liu Qinghan was obviously still a little unable to come back to his senses: "Lord Huo, we-"

"Lord Liu, there is no need to say any more." Huo Liancheng had already walked to the door and made a gesture to ask us to leave, Liu Qinghan was anxious, and hurriedly stepped forward: "Lord Huo, you must know that this battle is definitely not as simple as Xichuan borrowing troops from us. ”

"Oh?"

"The people sent by the Eastern Chahe Department this time are not only Kumuhan, but also Zhanzhen, and their purpose cannot be only in Xichuan."

“……”

"Once they break through the Nian Baoyu Rule, I can conclude that they will definitely go east next."

"Eastward?" Huo Liancheng glanced at him, and a sneer appeared on his face: "Of course they want to go east, but over the years, do they have the opportunity to go east?" ”

Liu Qinghan's eyes sank: "Not before, doesn't mean never." ”

“……”

"Once you break through the Nian Baoyu, then -"

"Lord Liu," Huo Liancheng said: "You have been emphasizing that the Dongchahe Department will break through Nian Baoyuze, not to mention that the people of Xichuan are strong and strong, and they should also hold on, even if they really let them break through, in terms of potential, don't the people of the Dongchahe Department know to fight to the rich Xichuan?" ”

Liu Qinghan said heavily: "Lord Huo, you should go and see the terrain of that area, the cavalry of the grassland has no way to gallop and fight in the terrain of Xichuan, they can only fight to the east." ”

Huo Liancheng listened to his words, he was stunned at first, but immediately sneered: "I don't know, Brother Liu has read so many books in Jixian Palace, and it actually includes military books?" ”

Liu Qinghan was blocked by his words, and was speechless.

I don't know if Liu Qinghan has read the military book, but at least his identity is a civil minister, and it can be said that it is unconvincing for a civil minister like him to persuade another civil minister to join the army from the military pros and cons.

Looking at his speechless appearance, for some reason, my heart felt uncomfortable.

Huo Liancheng also seemed to feel that his words just now were a little harsh, and he was silent for a while.

The three of them stood at the door wordlessly, and after a long time, Liu Qinghan coughed lightly: "Brother Huo." ”

"Lord Liu, there is no need to say any more."

Huo Liancheng said as he opened the door: "Please." ”

Liu Qinghan and I were not swept away, but we were not willing.

No matter how completely prepared I was and how I considered various situations, I really didn't expect that things would develop into this situation.

Liu Qinghan and I walked out side by side, he didn't say a word along the way, but his brows were deeply locked, and he seemed to be still thinking about what went wrong and why Huo Liancheng suddenly showed hostility towards him.

Of course, it's a puzzle.

But I get a little bit of it.

Tu Shuhan wanted to discuss the matter of sending troops with his staff members, so he would naturally reveal to them how much we promised him benefits, but Liu Qinghan, Liu Qinghan, and him, I ignored one point.

Although Huo Liancheng came to join the army, he was born as a civil servant after all, Tu Shuhan, as a military general, must improve his status in the imperial court and his prestige in the army through war and victory, but for Huo Liancheng, who parachuted into Longnan, as long as he does not make mistakes, it is already the greatest achievement.

Tu Shuhan sent troops, if he won, there would not be much benefit to Huo Liancheng, but once he was defeated, he would have no day to turn over.

So, all he has to do is keep the balance he has now.

This is one of the reasons why he is reluctant to let Tu Shuhan send troops, and another reason is-

Benefits we give.

Let the eldest princess recommend You Muya to the emperor again, which is beneficial to Tu Shuhan, but once You Muya gains power and unites with the forces of the eldest princess and Liu Qinghan behind the eldest princess, who will be the most threatened?

Nangong Lizhu!

Although I haven't gotten definite news until now, I'm almost certain that Nangong Lizhu must not have regained her former grace now, but her opponent's power is getting bigger and bigger, Huo Liancheng couldn't even take his life for her in the first place, how could he not take this into account?

I think the reason why he would say something like "the current situation is special" and let me and Liu Qinghan leave, I didn't want to completely turn my face with Liu Qinghan, after all, when they dealt with Shen Gonghan together as a rising star of the imperial court, there was still some friendship, but now that Shen Gonghan has fallen, and the power of the imperial court has been reshuffled several times, I don't know how much friendship is left.

There is another reason that-

He probably wouldn't let me go back to the palace.

For me, who was charged with killing the unborn child in Concubine Li's belly, Huo Liancheng was willing to let me go, which was already enough face, but of course he didn't want to look at me, a poisonous snake, to harm Nangong Lizhu again.

Thinking of this, I don't know whether to cry or laugh.

I have known for a long time that things in this world are a cycle of cause and effect, and retribution is unpleasant. I planted such a cause at the beginning, and now I have such a fruit, I can't blame anyone.

It's just—

Is today's one a good cause or an evil cause?

If it is the cause of evil, how big will the consequences be in the future, and how bad will it be?

Thinking of this, I only felt that my heart was so heavy that it seemed to be pressed against a big stone, which made it a little difficult for me to breathe. That's when I realized that the man walking beside me didn't seem to be moving.

I turned my head and saw him frowning, and the folds in the center of his eyebrows formed a deep "Chuan" character.

He seems to be troubled too.

However, I don't know if it was my delusion, but I felt that the things he was bothering about were not exactly the same as the things I was bothering about.

Thinking of this, I gently touched his sleeve, Liu Qinghan was originally distracted, but at this time he trembled violently, as if someone else suddenly woke up from a dream, and looked at me with wide eyes.

I also looked at him: "Lord Liu." ”

"Huh?" He still couldn't get back to his senses: "What? ”

"......" I thought about it and asked in a low voice, "Did you sneak out alone last night to meet Lord Huo Liancheng?" ”

He looked at me in silence and didn't say a word, but the haze in his eyes deepened.

And I already know it in my heart.

No!