Xia Hou nodded, her eyes full of exhaustion. "General Feng was killed, His Majesty was furious, and when he went to court, he asked who could take command of the battle. The sons of the Feng family were silent, thinking that the peaceful and prosperous times had allowed them to live too comfortably, and they had long lost their ambition to serve the country. The civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, when they heard that General Feng had all died, none of them dared to stand up and ask for their lives. At that time, Ayan happened to come back, and when he saw this, he stood up and said that he was going to take Shuai Yin and put down the rebellion in the Snow Country. ”

"Then the father agreed?"

Shen Li was puzzled, he was relieved to let Shen Yan return to Beijing alone first, because he was sure that his father's favor for him would not be left to him. It stands to reason that even Old General Feng has been defeated, so the other party must have elite soldiers and strong generals to fight. My father loves Ayan so much, since he knows that there will definitely be danger when he goes to the commander this time, how can he still rest assured that Ayan will go?

"Hey, your father is also angry. ”

Xia Hou sighed softly, her expression full of helplessness. "Daming has been comfortable for too long, so long that people's hearts have begun to rot. Your father is already the lord of a country, and it is impossible for him to be as careless as he was when he was young. The soldiers who fought with him back then have also grown old, and most of the younger generations have abandoned martial arts and literature. That's why the Feng family is so important. ”

Speaking of this, she glanced at Shen Li intentionally or unintentionally, and saw that his face was as usual, so she continued: "If there is no accident at this time, I don't dare to squeak when something happens." Ah Yan has a straight temperament, and he can't get used to seeing them so timid, so he angrily reprimanded them in public. Some people couldn't wipe their face, so they took the opportunity to push him to take over the commander and lead the troops to the battle. Ayan, that stupid boy, naturally didn't know the stakes, so he agreed without hesitation. Now that I think about it, your father was helpless, so he had to let him go. ”

In fact, Shen Duyi also said something to Empress Xia later, he said that when he saw Ayan's expression at that time, it was exactly the same as when he was young, and he thought that this might be fate. Among his sons, the reason why he loves Ayan so much may be because Ayan is most similar to him in his bones.

"Since the queen mother knows that her father is also helpless, and the seventh brother has already set off for the border, how can the son still persuade his father?"

When Shen Li said these words, he looked at Xia Hou with burning eyes, as if he wanted to see something from her eyes. It's a pity that as soon as Xia Hou touched his deep eyes, she lowered her head in disdain, her face full of guilt.

In fact, there are some things that both of them know very well in their hearts. Empress Xia adopted Shen Li, taught him knowledge, and gave him everything a mother should give. But these loves of hers are great and selfish.

She strictly controlled Shen Li and let Shen Yan wander outside. She cultivated Shen Li in the way that she should become the emperor of a country in the future. She cultivated Shen Yan in a way that was completely pampered by a mother.

She helped Shen Li lay everything up, helped him get His Majesty's love, helped him shine in front of everyone, and let the ministers of the court and the central government know the wisdom and wisdom of Shen San. In the eyes of outsiders, how great Xia Hou is, and they even began to wonder which of Shen Li and Shen Yan was her biological son?

However, only the truly wise know it in their hearts. Xia Hou did this completely for Shen Yan. She wanted to help Shen Li ascend to that supreme position. Similarly, the pain and pain in that position can only be borne by Shen Li. The more she let Shen Li get, the more Shen Li carried on her shoulders. All the intrigues, the traps of the city, Shen left to step on and break. All the happiness and happiness let Shen Yan enjoy freely.

If Shen Yan is the light of brilliant hope, then he Shen Li is indifferent and undecided. He had known all this for a long time, and he had hated Shen Yan. But the younger brother, who was as pure as paper, let him treat him coldly, he was still not angry or annoyed, and followed him with all his heart, shouting kindly one brother after another. and Queen Xia, even if she is selfish, this woman who treats him like her own son is not wrong. After all, if it weren't for her, his journey wouldn't have been so smooth.

"Huh. ”

Shen Li suddenly smiled, and patted the back of Xia Hou's hand comfortingly. "My son has just come back and is a little tired. In addition, there are still some things to deal with in the house, so the queen mother will allow her son to rest for a few days, and when the son recovers, she will go to his father and ask for his life, and go to the border to bring the seventh brother back. ”

It is said to be picked, but it is actually changed. As long as he goes to the border, he can naturally let Shen Yan come back safely.

Xia Hou opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something, but choked up a little, and only said the word "sorry" softly.

When Shen Li heard it, the smile on the corner of his mouth deepened. He stood up and tucked the quilt on his lap for Empress Xia, and said indifferently: "What did the queen mother say, how can a mother say sorry to her son? ”

After speaking, Shen Li let go of Empress Xia's hand, straightened the clothes on his body, smiled like Empress Xia retreated, and turned around and left the Xianqing Palace.

A smile has always been the best disguise. Since he was very young, Shen Li played this trick very handy, deceiving those ignorant people. Only the summer queen knows the pain under his disguise. Only Mu Yan will reach out and touch his eyes. Say to him that a real smile can be seen here. If it's reluctant, I'd rather you don't laugh.

It's a pity that these two people who know him well. Even if one knows, he pretends not to know. One wanted to heal the wound in his heart, but he was injured by him, and even lost his life.

The study was very easy to go. Shen Li only waited at the door for a while, and then heard His Majesty's personal eunuch Wang Gonggong come to report that he could go in. He nodded slightly to show politeness, and as soon as he entered the door of the imperial study, he saw the current emperor of Daming, Shen Duyi, that is, his father, greeting him with a happy face.

"Haha, my good son is finally back! Come, let my father see! I haven't seen him for a few days, as if he has suffered a lot, and his face has lost a lot of weight. ”

Shen Li raised a faint smile, lifted his robe and wanted to kneel down to salute first. Shen Duyi stopped him at once, frowned and said: "This is not above the court, our father and son get along alone, so we don't have to pay attention to these rules." You'd better talk to your father, can you find the land of the dragon vein, and can you get the blood of the unicorn?"

Shen Li nodded, took out a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve pocket and handed it to Shen Duyi. As soon as the other party reached out to take it, Shen Li knelt down.

"The son is guilty, please ask the father to punish him. ”

Shen Duyi was relieved that the son he valued the most really lived up to his expectations. But at this time, when he suddenly knelt down, he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows and wondered: "Oh, what are you guilty of?"

"The discovery of the dragon vein was purely accidental, and the unicorn was not tamed by his son. ”

"Really, who tamed that?"

A glimmer of light flashed in Shen Li's eyes, and he read out a name in a deep voice.

"Mu Yan. ”

"Is it her?" Shen Duyi unconsciously raised his voice, "What about her?"

"Mu Kun led someone to secretly follow me to the Dragon Vein Stone Cave, and accidentally touched the mechanism in the cave, the stone cave collapsed, and only me and the guards escaped. The rest were buried in the cave. ”

Shen Duyi's eyebrows were the same, and he seemed to be sexually frightened. After thinking for a moment, he said tentatively: "Your princess is also buried in it? Have you ever gone back to look for it?"

When Shen Li heard this, a trace of hatred suddenly flashed in his eyes. But he covered it up and disappeared silently.

"The cave has collapsed, the river has poured out, and those who are buried in it have no way to live. Although my son was reluctant in his heart, Mu Yan was dead, and Mu Kun's head was also cut off by me and sent to Mu Mansion. From now on, the Mu family will no longer threaten my Daming, and my father can rest assured. ”