Mu Jingzhao slowly followed Jiang Ning towards the main hall, and as he walked, he looked left and right at everything in the cold palace.

His gaze, which was always as indifferent as water, softened when he touched the vegetable patch in the courtyard where all kinds of vegetables were grown.

Eventually, his gaze was fixed on a light purple cloak drying in the corner.

He narrowed his eyes, as if thinking about something.

"Your relationship with Concubine Liu seems to be better than I imagined."

Jiang Ning didn't look back, just raised his foot and stepped on the steps, "Why did the emperor say this?" ”

"In the inner courtyard of this palace, she is the only one who can wear Mulan pattern clothes."

Jiang Ning thought casually, it seems that the relationship between the emperor and the concubine is not as indifferent and distant as Zheliu and Lu Feng said.

But with a flash of thought, she raised her feet and stepped into the main hall.

"A few nights ago, when the concubine passed by the Shuanghua Palace, the mother saw that the concubine's clothes were thin, and she felt sorry for the concubine."

She walked to a round table in the middle of the room, reached out and pulled out a chair from under the table, and consciously bent aside.

"That's pretty strange." Mu Jingzhao sat down, "Concubine Liu has never been fond of these idle things. ”

Jiang Ning lifted the teapot on the table, checked it, and casually picked up a teacup from the wooden tray on the table, and poured a cup of tea for Mu Jingzhao.

"The emperor came here today to care about his concubines?"

Jiang Ning sat down beside Mu Jingzhao.

In the evening, the sun had already been obscured by the layers of clouds, the twilight was four, the rich sky was no longer able to illuminate the entire palace, and the heavy daylight fell on Mu Jingzhao's side face, making his whole face more and more obscure.

The sound of metal clashing in the direction of the dining room mixed with the sizzle of hot oil.

Zheliu's bold voice was instructing Lu Feng to do some work, her voice was eager, and she helplessly shouted Lu Feng's name, and was suppressed in Lu Feng's boos.

The aroma of food and the aroma of tea enveloped each other in the air, and in the end, the whole room was filled with no matter whether they won or lost.

Mu Jingzhao lowered his head and took a sip of tea, the steaming heat of the tea condensed a little crystal droplets on his eyelashes, he turned his head to look at Jiang Ning beside him, his eyes were slightly stunned when he touched the quiet smile on her face.

He slowly looked away and turned his head to look in the direction Jiang Ning was looking, and a smile similar to her gradually appeared on his face.

"That's how you live outside the palace?"

"Yes." Jiang Ning lowered her eyes, and the shadow of her eyelashes left a crow-like shadow under her eyes, "It's not." ”

Mu Jingzhao tilted his head slightly, but he didn't look at her.

"The concubines have no relatives and no reason, and they always live alone outside the palace." She mixed a cup of tea for herself, but she didn't mean to drink it, but just let the tea fill her eyes, "Alone, life is naturally not so exquisite, and being able to eat and dress warmly is the greatest luxury." ”

Mu Jingzhao didn't speak, he exhaled heavily.

His back rose and fell with the sound of exhalation.

It seemed that there was no intention to continue talking about this topic, and after a long time, Mu Jingzhao finally spoke again, "I sent someone to investigate the old lady you mentioned a few days ago. ”

Jiang Ning raised his eyes suddenly, "How is it?" ”

"She was hanged in a mountain forest outside the city, and when she was found by my men, she had been dead for a long time, and the heavy rain overnight erased all traces."

Jiang Ning's hand holding the teacup tightened suddenly.

Mu Jingzhao's fingertips slid lightly over the edge of the teacup, "I thought carefully about the assassination you said, and I think that no matter what the facts are, the target of the mastermind behind the scenes is me. ”

He just said calmly, and his expression did not fluctuate at all.

"I'm not sure how many people in this palace have been staring at you, waiting for you to complete the assassination, or if you're no longer useful."

Jiang Ning's heart jumped suddenly, and she heard Mu Jingzhao's words.

If she, like the old woman, has no use value, then keeping her life is just a hidden danger.

Therefore, it is difficult to guarantee that the other party will not directly cut the grass and eradicate the roots.

And the only way to prove that the plan is being successfully promoted and that she still has value is to get closer and closer to Mu Jingzhao.

She looked at Mu Jingzhao and suddenly understood everything.

The reason why he took such pains to perform such a scene with her was to let the eyes and ears of the palace know that her assassination plan was going smoothly.

No matter what his fundamental purpose was, at least, he indirectly saved Jiang Ning's life.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." She lowered her head and took a sip of tea and swallowed it slowly, "The concubine understands that the concubine will not forget her identity because of this." ”

In the dining room, the sound of folding willow stir-fry gradually hidden, Mu Jingzhao's cheeks moved slightly, and in the end he still couldn't say anything, and the two fell into a rather tacit silence.

As the sky got dark, Jiang Ning got up and lit a lamp on the table, and the room was lit up again.

Zheliu kept bringing the fried vegetables to the table, and then left quickly.

Jiang Ning looked at the food on the table, which was much more abundant than usual, and didn't know how to react for a while.

She usually talks a lot, so naturally she has seen the complicated rules in the palace from the book.

She usually cares about being in her own palace, she is the boss herself, and no one dares to use any rules and regulations to restrain her.

But now, in front of her is the emperor.

Jiang Ning carefully recalled the passage he had read in the book where the concubine gave the emperor a dish,

After a long time, she finally pulled the corners of her mouth with difficulty, and spoke to Mu Jingzhao in a jerky tone.

"Your Majesty, eat it while it's hot, these are all vegetables grown by us, and the craftsmanship of folding willow girls is okay."

Mu Jingzhao looked at a green vegetable lying quietly in the bowl in front of him.

Finally, he picked it up and tasted it.

Jiang Ning looked at him for a long time, but he didn't see any special expression on his face.

Jiang Ning sighed secretly, it is really not easy to be a nobleman on this day, and any emotions must be hidden in the bottom of his heart.

She naturally knew the rule of "eating without saying anything", so she didn't say much, but just started to eat with her head bored.

The two finished their meal relatively silently.

By the time the two of them finished eating, it was already completely dark.

Jiang Ning and Mu Jingzhao walked out side by side.

Mu Jingzhao didn't bring anyone today, she naturally took on the task of sending Mu Jingzhao.

The two stood at the gate of the cold palace, and Mu Jingzhao turned his head to her, "I am here to remind you not to forget the agreement with me." He thought for a moment and added, "Fifteenth." ”

Jiang Ning nodded vigorously, she would not dare to forget this life-threatening matter no matter what.

Mu Jingzhao raised his head and looked at the empty eaves of the cold palace.

"This palace can't always be called a cold palace." He thought about it for a while, "Why don't you call it 'Taoyuan Palace', what do you think?" ”

"Okay." In fact, no matter what it is called, there is not much difference in Jiang Ning's heart.

Mu Jingzhao nodded, turned around and left, in the shadow of the corner of the Taoyuan Palace, the people who had been waiting for a long time hurriedly greeted him, and hugged Mu Jingzhao and walked out.