The next morning, Qin Shuo, Qin Yu and Dong Le came to the Qingfeng Palace. When they arrived in the royal capital, they stayed at the Palace of Heroes, where important visitors from other provinces lived. Foreign guests and envoys lived at the Palace of Nations, opposite the Palace of Heroes, where Prince Zaima was located. The Eight Saber Guards are now also stationed outside her palace, on duty in shifts, and the Dragon Monarch's guards protect the Qingfeng Hall tightly.

Her husband and family all wore white thick linen skirts or long skirts to show filial piety, and even the little giant always maintained a serious expression.

"Zixing's funeral was handled without waiting for the adults from all over the country to arrive, and Zixing also entered the Dragon Palace. This time the day of Longyan is just around the corner, and the funeral of my father will not wait too long, and it may not be carried out until the envoys of various countries arrive. Long Dailan said to her husband's family.

Qin Yu didn't apply Fan Dai today, she is not as beautiful as Long Dailan, but she still has no loss of beauty. "While we were still on our way to the royal capital, the notification letter of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince's funeral was sent to Jinbao. Mother should already know the news, she will see white fire on the road, and it should be there in three days. ”

"Miss, I'm afraid not so fast. Dong Le said, "Madame will convene all the princes, those who are not on the front line will respond, and those who are on the front line will respond." It will take a little time, and she will designate the assembly place, which I think is most likely the Iron Wall City of Lord Gao Jin. We may have to wait another five days. ”

"It's good that it's before the day of the dragon's face. Even if the cabinet is not willing to wait, you are enough to be the representative of the Qin family, and I am also the daughter-in-law of the Qin family. Long Dailan thought gloomily, her mother-in-law would know what these things meant when she received bad news in a row, she was not only gathering the vassals of the golden horse, but she was afraid that she would also bring troops, and the shoals would undoubtedly stop any army that tried to pass through. Her biggest fear was to start a war from within the boxers. "I hope my mother doesn't get too nervous and can travel in simple clothes. ”

"Young lady, with the character of a lady......" Dong Le obviously quickly understood her concern, "The size of the team I have seen will not be too small, but what will happen in the end is not up to her. She always puts the fight on the back burner. ”

"She really is. Long Dailan agreed. "You have seen the governors of the provinces in the Qunying Palace, how many people have they brought with them?"

The little giant hurriedly replied: "Yuan Dawei has brought a large army, probably more than 10,000 people, and his people are saying that they are here to protect the royal family." The others also brought soldiers, but not as much fanfare as Yuan Dawei, as if they were coming to fight. ”

Qin Yu added: "In the foreign country, the envoy of the Grand Duke of Potts Island has also arrived, and it is the younger brother of the Grand Duke Kewell, Prince Zaimo can speak the language of Pots Island, and he has been mixed with him these days. ”

"Duke Cavill is so fast, he needs to cross the Azure Strait and pass through the Giant Hammer Basin, could it be that he flew over?" Long Dailan was slightly surprised.

"Yes, I was also very strange, but Prince Zaima said that the Duke was originally visiting the Giant Hammer Basin, and when he heard the news, he immediately came to the royal capital. ”

"Hmph. Zaimana, the boy, wants to come with us today. He didn't want to think about it, the inner palace was a place for people to come and go casually. "The little giant still has a grudge against the Namoras.

Long Dailan nodded noncommittally. She suddenly envied the foreign dignitaries such as Duke Kewell and Prince Zaimo, who had no pressure to express their condolences "by the way". It's good that she and her husband's family have such an easy time.

Now everyone knows the gravity of the situation, and all the clear-headed boxers in the royal capital know that a storm is coming.

She left her husband's family for lunch, and then she went to Baoying Hall according to yesterday's arrangement, accompanied by Yingshu. The fourth prince, Long Shuntian, was sealed to Miancheng, but Baoying Hall was still his bedroom in the palace.

Long Shuntian is a well-known Go fan, there is a special chess room in Baoying Palace, he does not pursue fame, before he was sealed to Miancheng, he likes to drink and chat with a few friends and play chess. This day is no exception. When the servant led Long Dailan and Yingshu in, Long Shuntian was thinking the edge of the chessboard, and although the servant had informed him in advance, he didn't seem to be ready to welcome his niece at all.

Long Dailan was not dissatisfied with this, she had always known this fourth uncle very well. Before she got married, she often came here to chat with her fourth uncle. In addition to playing chess and drinking, Long Shuntian also likes to read books, and has a considerable understanding of the history and geography of the Ruifeng Continent, customs and customs, and all kinds of anecdotes.

Long Shuntian's opponent was Qiu De, a national craftsman, a well-known Go master in the royal court. When Hud saw her coming, he stood up and saluted, she motioned for the game to continue, and he sat back down. Long Dailan also sat down with a smile, Long Shuntian was still pondering.

On the edge of the emerald green jade chessboard, there is a copper stove with a new incense burning on it, and the stove is densely inserted with burnt bamboo poles, and the room is filled with smoke. Two pots of white porcelain teapots are placed on either side of the Nanmu square table, one with a cloud painted on it, and the other with a thrush depicted on it. The fourth uncle, Long Shuntian, was wearing a wide gilded purple dragon robe, and his sparse eyebrows were locked into knots. He had just encircled and suppressed a big dragon of Qiu De, but he still didn't dare to say that he would win, and then as long as he made a slight mistake, he might not be able to win. Qiu De's chess skills are well-known for Ruifeng, even if he puts a handicap game, it will probably be difficult for the fourth uncle to win a game.

When a third of the incense was burned, the fourth uncle made a decision and gently placed the sunspot made of opal into the chessboard, and a relaxed smile appeared on his face. Only then did he raise his head and look at Qiu De laughing, very proud of this move. At the same time, he saw his eldest niece sitting aside, and immediately got up, opened his arms, and hugged Long Dailan. He disliked the complicated rules and troublesome etiquette of the palace, and often did things that were surprising. This is also one of the reasons why Long Dailan likes him.

"Fourth uncle, please continue. ”

Long Shuntian sat down triumphantly, looking at Qiu De, he was finally able to win the master of the national craftsman, which was not an easy task. Qiu De also thought about it for a long time this time, and only when a pillar of incense burned out did he offer a response. The fourth uncle looked at the chessboard, the smile on his face gradually disappeared, his expression became dull, sweat began to appear on his forehead, he sighed in annoyance, and spread his hands: "Lost again, you guy, why is it so difficult to beat." ”

"That's if you give up too early, there may be a chance to continue with it. ”

"Although there are still five or six more sons, but they are all trapped beasts, your victory is decided, and you will never give me any more chance, just to swallow your big dragon, I think it is also for me." In that case, I will admit defeat early, and I will no longer struggle. ”

"You, such a person, make early judgments, make early decisions, never drag the mud and water, but never make dangerous moves, survive in adversity, and people and chess are like this. Both of them spoke with honorifics, and there was no difference between dignity and humility in their tones. The rumored relationship between the two is extraordinary, and it seems that it is not a shadow.

"I'm like that, and today, there's no need to change. The fourth uncle twisted the neatly trimmed short beard on his lips with his fingers, looked at her and laughed, "I don't like to clean up long beards, because my nieces liked to scratch them when they were young, and it hurt me to death, so I cut it short, you see, it's just right now, I won't let it stay long, and I won't give these little ghosts a chance." Therefore, everything must be decided early, and in this case, where will adversity come from? ”

"Makes sense. But things in the world, like this game of chess, you and I are deeply involved. If one of them makes a mistake, there is often no chance to turn the tables around. ”

"Since you don't have a chance, let's let it go early. The Prince stood up and paced slowly through the room, his bulging belly less evident by the wide robe. "One of my royal brothers is lying in a coffin at the moment, and the other is about to kneel to him, while I am happily playing chess. When Brother Wang died, I didn't even shed a single tear. I am cold and incompetent. Eldest niece, look, should such a fourth uncle be taken off his golden robe?"

Long Dailan stood up, held the fourth uncle's hand, and whispered: "As far as my niece knows, the fourth uncle is the one who cares for his father and niece the most." That's what you are, it's not callous. If you want to talk about cold and ruthless people, there are many in this palace. The fourth uncle is erudite and knowledgeable, and his talent is much stronger than those who are standing in the royal court and seem to have the ability, but you don't want to compete with them for fame and fortune. The golden robe must be taken off, does the fourth uncle still wear it when he sleeps every day? You will always be the prince. It's something that no one can change. ”

"Her Royal Highness the eldest princess is the one who really understands the prince!" Qiu De admired.

"Dailan, you're back in a lot of trouble this time. When I was in Miancheng, I always felt restless, and I could see a large group of dragonflies flying under my roof all day long. Alas, it was indeed a series of calamities. Today, I made a special appointment with Master Qiu to call you, and you should know what is going on. ”

Long Dailan nodded: "Fourth Uncle always understands me best. I've been away from the palace for three years, and I usually come back occasionally, but I don't think it's really because I feel that everything is too strange this time, and everything has changed. If the fourth uncle and Lord Qiu have any suggestions, it must be very valuable, and I will listen to them. ”

"You have seen the current situation. The king was surrounded by an army of at least 100,000 men. This is just Yuan Dawei and your second uncle's soldiers and horses, not including others. In the cabinet, although Xia Lao has not yet retired, your second uncle is the actual chief. Your father is gone, and Lord Qiu has lost his only support. Long Shuntian stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the blue sky, "Your father wants to be a good dragon monarch in this life, and he also wants to be a good brother and a good father. He wants to be the best at everything, just like your grandfather asked of him. But he didn't understand that fire and cotton yarn could not coexist in peace, and if they were forcibly put together, they would only get a piece of ashes. If he wants to be a good king, he can't be a good brother!"

"Fourth Uncle...... I don't really understand......" She looked at him with wide eyes, some gossip coming to mind, but she always thought it wasn't true.

"Your grandfather chose a queen for your father, but he only loved your mother, and the first to marry your mother was the queen, so the noble lady selected by my father could only become a princess. "He's talking about Pei Jinyu, Qinglian's mother. He held his hand on the window lattice, and his thoughts seemed to have drifted out of the sky, "But since it is the order of the Dragon King, no one dares to object, the combination of that noble lady and your father can be said to be ruthless, and the concubine has no intention, but there is nothing to be done." Your father took him as a concubine, and she also gave birth to a daughter, and this matter could have been regarded as having a happy ending. But your father suddenly found that this princess was the favorite woman of one of his younger brothers' lives, and the two had a deep affection long before my father was engaged! So your father felt remorseful and felt sorry for this younger brother, but he couldn't change anything, after all, this was the royal family, not an ordinary people's family, and it would not work in the royal family to divorce his wife and concubine and let her remarry. ”

Her eyes widened and widened, and it turned out that everything was true.

"So your father had no choice but to make up for his sad brother somewhere else, put him in a high position, master the military power, and let him lead the army to fight in the south and the north. In addition to giving him back his wife and giving him the throne, I think your father can do everything. He wants to be perfect in everything, so that he can be in the situation he is in today!" The fourth uncle's voice trembled, "Brother Wang, my brother Wang! All this today, but what do you want? Do you know that your kindness, your concessions, have brought your children to a desperate situation!"

"Fourth Prince!" Qiu De stood up, "calm down." ”

"Am I wrong?" Long Shuntian Huo Ran turned around with an angry face, "I don't fight for anything, Miancheng can also do it, but someone wants everything, and the whole world wants it!"

"Fourth uncle......" Long Dailan stood up, rushed to him, and hugged him tightly, "Don't say it again, I know everything." ”

"No, you don't know. My good niece, let me tell you something about the fourth uncle when he was a child. Speaking of which, more than 20 years have passed in a blink of an eye. Once my father took us out hunting, and let the five princes test our marksmanship, we were all young, and your father was only fourteen years old. Everyone has just learned archery, and they don't have much strength and skills, so it is difficult to shoot at the target. Of course, the bows we use are all specially made, otherwise they can't be pulled. Three of the five princes gave up, including me, and we promised our father that we would practice diligently and be sure to hit the next hunt. Only your father and your second uncle persevered. My father wanted us to shoot a hare running in the grass, and your father hit it at the twenty-eighth arrow, but your second uncle never hit it. In the end, it was getting late, and my father praised your second uncle for his perseverance and persuaded him to give up, shoot again next time, and prepare to return to the palace. Your second uncle resolutely refuses, he must stay, shoot the hare and then leave. His father could not resist him, so he kept him. As a result, your second uncle did not return to the palace until the early hours of the next day, because he did not shoot the hare until then. I still remember that his bodyguards were heavily rewarded by my father because they stayed with your second uncle all night without sleeping. Your second uncle is such a person. Once he has decided on something, it will not change, and he will never give up until the goal is achieved. He doesn't like to be stopped on his way, and any obstacle that stands in his way will be swept away by him. ”

"What the fourth uncle said, I understand. The second uncle is such a person. ”

"When Purple Star had an accident, I knew that this matter was by no means that simple. I know your father and second uncle too well. I don't even want you back. Of course, that's impossible, why wouldn't you come back! Blame only your father, who is so kind. He believes too much in the affection between brothers, and trusts your second uncle unreservedly. The fourth uncle let out a long sigh, full of helplessness, he held her shoulder, and his expression became painful: "Actually, I still told Qiu De today that after the new king's enthronement ceremony, I asked to be sealed to the Northern Desert. Even if Qiu De doesn't retire, he, a national craftsman, can't be a craftsman, so he can only go back to the Northern Desert to retire. My dear Dailan, the fourth uncle is sorry for you, and he doesn't intend to get your forgiveness, I just hope that you don't force yourself to hold on, and when it's time to retreat, you will retreat, and when it is time to leave the royal capital, you will leave the royal capital safely and return to the Golden Castle. There, you won't be in any danger. But here...... This is a quagmire and an abyss!"

Qiu De suddenly knelt in front of her, his forehead touching the ground, "Your Royal Highness the eldest princess, the first king is as kind to his subordinates as a mountain, and his subordinates dare not forget." When the first king and the crown prince encountered such a change, the subordinates never dared to think of it. Your Majesty only hopes that Your Highness will live a safe life and be free from calamity!"

Long Dailan looked stunned. She never expected that the fourth uncle called her to say such a thing. She only now felt that she was indeed too lonely in this palace. She trembled, "Lord Qiu, have you forgotten your oath?"

"Your Highness, Your Majesty will never forget!" Qiu De grabbed the ground with his head and smashed it loudly.

"Good. I will remember that you are the son of my father. "This will soon cease to be her father's palace. The rare storm a few days ago had already foreshadowed the course of events for her. "Fourth uncle, thank you for your advice. I'll keep it in mind. You will always be my beloved fourth uncle, but I am the daughter of Long Xingtian, and this will never change!"

Whatever the outcome, she can't give in. Because she's the daughter of the dragon!