The night is dark, it is difficult to see clearly, there is no shop in front of the village, and there are no pedestrians on the post road.

Tired birds fly for a long time and still return to the nest, let alone travelers?

There are no stars and no moon, and the sky is dyed like ink.

There was no light on the road, and it was difficult to move no matter how good his eyesight was, so Mei Yuanchen had to stop and build a bonfire under a big tree.

The howls of wolves in the mountains were long and cold, one after another, and the whole world had become their hunting ground.

Mei Yuanchen's martial arts are not weak, so he is naturally not afraid of these wild animals, but he is also worried that the mount will make a mistake, so he does not dare to let it go far to graze, and ties the reins to the tree branches.

The horse, though strong, was tired from the day's journey, and lay down by the fire panting.

There was a cloth bag in the bag, which was the muffins that Yi Yi poured into Mei Yuanchen when the Wind Dart Bureau was leaving, and there were twenty of them.

Mei Yuanchen left two, and the rest were taken out one by one, close to the horse's head and formed a pile.

One man and one horse gathered around the fire and began to eat their dinner.

Although he was on the road on this day, Mei Yuanchen always remembered that it was the third day of the seventh month, and it was Xia Chengyi's sixteenth birthday.

"Yiyi, I broke my promise again...," Mei Yuanchen looked at the dancing flames and muttered softly.

... ...

There were sixteen delicate dishes on the dining table, but there were only three people seated in the seats, and there was no one even in the hall to serve them.

Xia Chengyi is a birthday star, but she is wearing a plain robe and skirt, and there is no joy on her face.

"Yiyi!" Xia Chengxuan came over and said with a smile, "I asked someone to make you a pair of 'dragon and phoenix puppets' at the 'Clay Man King', do you like it or not?"

After speaking, he picked up a two-foot-high brocade box from the seat next to him and gently placed it in front of her.

The right side of his face was swollen high, and his right eye even showed only a thin slit. Shicai's smile had touched the corners of his lips and eyes, and he endured a tearing pain.

"Who hurt you like this?" Xia Chengyi sobbed softly.

Although it had been bandaged, blood was still oozing from the cotton yarn, and the wound could not be more obvious.

The brother and sister have been making trouble since they were children, and it is common for them to fight, but their relationship has always been very good. Seeing that his brother was injured in such a critical place, Xia Chengyi couldn't help but be angry and painful, tears fell to the ground like beads of a dropped thread, and shouted loudly, "When did our family be so bullied!"

"I don't want to. The person who hurt me is ten times worse than me!" Xia Chengxuan waved his hand and smiled, "Yiyi, the craftsmanship of the 'Clay Man King' is really good, this 'Dragon and Phoenix Puppet' is vivid, and I also like it." If it weren't for your birthday, I wouldn't be willing to give it to you, so let's open it and take a look!"

Xia Chengyi knew that he was deliberately joking with himself to make himself happy, lowered his head to wipe away his tears, found the brocade ribbon on the brocade box, and gently tore it open.

"Open it and take a look!" Xia Chengxuan stroked his face with one hand and pointed to the brocade box with the other.

Ran Jingru on the side was also very relieved to see their brother and sister love each other like this, but there seemed to be deep reluctance hidden in her smile.

"Yikes!"

As soon as the brocade box was opened, Xia Chengyi unconsciously exclaimed: what caught her eyes were two cute baby faces.

Two dolls, a boy and a girl.

"I'll take it out for you. Xia Chengxuan said with a smile.

The two dolls are doppelgangers with the same bottom, about two feet high, weighing more than twenty pounds, Xia Chengyi is really not easy to take out a girl's house, and as an elder brother, of course he has to volunteer at this time.

The clay puppet was placed on the table, and Xia Chengyi could finally take a closer look.

"Mei Da Fat, what is Mei Da Ya?"

There are six words on the base, below the male baby is "Mei Da Fat", and below the female baby is "Mei Daya", Xia Chengyi was pointing to those words and asked with a puzzled face.

Hearing his sister ask, Xia Chengxuan smiled evilly and replied: "When you and Yuanchen become biological and give birth to a male baby, you will call him 'Mei Da Fat', if you give birth to a female baby, then call her 'Mei Da Ya'!"

Xia Chengyi's face darkened instantly, and he punched him in the chest, making him scream in pain.

On weekdays, Xia Chengxuan is mostly pretending to call like this, but today it really hurts. Xia Chenghuan kicked there, and it was already purple at this time.

Seeing his brother crying out in pain, Xia Chengyi also regretted it a little, and whispered to him: "What name do you choose, it's hard to hear to death!"

Thinking of what happened to Yuqiong Langyuan six days ago, his pink face couldn't help but blush.

"Cheng Xuan and Yi Yi have grown up and will soon be married, what else am I reluctant to do?" Ran Jingru looked at a pair of children and burst into tears.

"Okay, the food is going to be cold, let's eat!"

After finishing speaking, he took a bowl of rice and put it on the main seat, sandwiched a few dishes that Xia Muchao liked most during his lifetime, and muttered: "Lord Wang, today is Yiyi's birthday, you want to eat more!"

When she said this, her face was full of gentleness and tranquility, and she lost all the sadness and sorrow of the previous days.

Seeing that the children were all looking over, Ran Jingru smiled and said to the two of them: "In the future, when I am gone, you must also remember to provide me with a bowl of food for three meals a day." ”

... ...

"Dao Chief, the palace gate is closed, we can't let you out of the palace, please go back!" A palace guard centurion blocked Zhan Wei's way, and said apologetically.

In the past ten years, Zhan Wei has been preaching to Emperor Yonghua in the palace, although he has not received an official position, his status is more noble than that of the dynasty. The palace defense centurion is just a small official from the sixth grade, and he is quite unconfident standing in front of Zhan Wei.

"What time is it?" asked Zhan Wei in a cold voice.

The centurion bowed his head and replied softly, "About the beginning of the hour." ”

Not long ago, the leaky room just reported the time, and it was the first moment of the time.

"When will the palace gate close?" Zhan Wei asked in a cold voice.

Baifu raised his head slightly, and said in his mouth: "This..."

Zhan Wei shouted loudly: "I asked you to follow the Dahua Palace control, when should the palace gate be closed?"

"In normal times, it's three o'clock. However, at present, the situation in the capital is unclear, and Lord Hu has ordered that from today onwards, the palace gate will be closed, and no trespass or unauthorized entry will be allowed without a decree. Baifu replied.

Early this morning, he was ordered to take over the defense of the west gate of the palace city with more than 300 elites of the city defense battalion under his command. Hu Xiu'an gave a strict order, but if he taught a person to enter and exit through the door he guarded, he was convicted of dereliction of duty and severely punished according to military law.

According to military law, the punishment for dereliction of duty is a decisive decision.

Zhan Wei's face became more and more ugly, and he pointed at the centurion and said: "Hmph, the emperor is still in the palace, and Hu Xiu'an dares to block the palace?

He was just about to go to check the pulse of Emperor Yonghua, only to find that Emperor Yonghua's bedroom was full of guards with knives, and he explained his intentions, but they refused to let him in.

In this battle, the intention could not be more obvious.

"Go out and find King Duan!" Zhan Wei remembered King Duan for the first time.

When I got here, I found that the palace gate had also been sealed.

"Get out of the way! The emperor's condition has improved, and now he urgently needs the rare medicinal materials of the three flavors, and the Tai Hospital has no stock, so I have to rush to Zhenwuguan to get it." You don't have to entangle, you miss a big thing, be careful of the nine clans!" Zhan Wei had to make up a pretense to see if he could bluff the centurion in front of him.

Take life-saving medicinal materials for the emperor?

Sure enough, the centurion's forehead and face began to sweat. This matter is not trivial, where can he afford it as a little centurion?

"Don't get out of the way!" shouted Zhan Wei.

Unexpectedly, Zhan Wei's cold drink woke up Baifu, only to see him wipe his sweat, and replied: "Dao Chief, the lower officials are ordered to guard the palace gate, and they must not let anyone enter or leave." If you want to take medicine for the emperor, the city defense battalion is willing to work for you and run a trip to the True Martial Arts Temple for the Dao Chang!"

He climbed up step by step, and naturally knew the truth that military orders are like mountains. If he lets people out now, once the incident happens, the only thing that awaits him is death.

In any case, he couldn't let Zhan Wei leave the palace, even if it was to get life-saving medicine for the emperor.

Zhan Wei saw that this centurion still refused to back down, so he said: "Huoshan Dendrobium, Blood Lingzhi! Hurry up to Zhenwuguan and find my senior brother Zhan Ming Dao Chang to get it!"

Huoshan Dendrobium and Blood Ganoderma lucidum are rare tonic medicines, but they are by no means suitable for people who have been sick for a long time and are just waking up.

"I hope my brother can notice something strange here... I don't know what happened to Mr. Ni. Zhan Wei thought silently in his heart. For a whole day, he didn't see Ni Juzheng, and at such a critical time, the head of the palace was nowhere to be seen.

... ...

At dinner, Ran Jingru frequently served vegetables for a pair of children, but she didn't use chopsticks much.

The brother and sister couldn't help but think: "I think it's because my mother feels that my father is gone, and she wants to love us even more." ”

After the meal, she accompanied Xia Chengyi to the boudoir, and the mother and daughter sat on the bed and chatted for more than an hour.

After being busy all day, Xia Chengyi was already tired, and he fell asleep.

Ran Jingru tucked the quilt for her daughter, combed her forehead hair, looked at her affectionately, and refused to turn her head for a long time, "Yiyi, Yuanchen is a good child, you and him will be happy..."

Thinking of Zhang Suiguang's words in her heart, she sighed lamentingly, turned off the lights and closed the door.

"Mother called me?"

Xia Chengxuan looked at Ran Jingru's personal maid and asked softly.

"Yes, son. The princess told you to go to the prince's study. The maid replied.

Mother called herself back so late, there must be something, Xia Chengxuan didn't dare to delay, and immediately went to Xia Muchao's study with the little maid.

Ran Jingru was looking at Xia Muchao's daily records, and the most recent chapter was written on the eve of his trip to Anxian:

"The Anlu incident has changed, and Shatuo has violated the border. The father was worried that it would be difficult to support the source of his thoughts alone, so he sent the pastoral court to Jinzhou to supervise and regulate. Approaching the night, chatting with Yiyi on the sidelines. Knowing that the beloved woman has some love, the Mu Dynasty is both happy and worried. As a father, he prays for Yiyi to love alone, but he does not want to do anything. Yuanyan House is kind-hearted, Begonia is also empathetic, I wish the three of them happiness and happiness, and a good life. In this way, the Mu Dynasty has no regrets. ”

Closing the diary, Ran Jingru squinted and chuckled, and said dreamily: "Lord Wang, Cheng Xuan and Yi Yi are very good, are you very lonely down there?"

There was a sound of footsteps outside the door, and it was the little maid who lured Xia Chengxuan with a lantern.

"Knock! knock!" there was a knock on the door.

"Seunghyun, come in. Ran Jingru called softly outside.

After speaking, he stood up and put the books on the bookcase back in place.

"Mother. Xia Chengxuan walked in, stood still in front of the bookcase, and said softly, "Mother's body has not healed, it is better to rest early." ”

He vaguely felt that the things that the mother and son were going to talk about might be related to Zhang Suiguang's visit today.

"Chengxuan, was your injury caused by Xia Chenghuan?" asked Ran Jingru softly, her face full of pity.

Xia Chengxuan told her before going out that he was going to go to the Yiwang Mansion and the Duanwang Mansion and the white-clothed military camp. And among these three, only Yiwangfu has a reason to beat him.

"Hmm. Knowing that he couldn't hide it from his mother, Xia Chengxuan had to answer softly.

"That's fine!" Ran Jingru nodded and sighed, "There is revenge, there is resentment and complaining, you deserve this beating." ”

She sighed and said, "There is no right or wrong in the matter of seizing the prince, and you don't need to feel guilty anymore. Xia Chenghuan beat you this time, and your anger should have almost disappeared, and you agreed to work together to deal with King Yun's Mansion?"

Well, he agreed. Xia Chengxuan nodded in response.

"Is Chengguan really sealed?" Ran Jingru asked again.

"Yes, Hu Xiuan sealed the city and the palace gate. Xia Chengxuan replied.

As soon as the city is locked, people outside can't enter, and Hu Xiu'an's more than 40,000 Jin Wei Ke are all in the city, which is a big opportunity.

As soon as the palace gate was closed, the palace was isolated, and only Hu Xiuan and Yun Wangfu knew what happened to the emperor, which was another big opportunity.

Right now, King Yun's Mansion has taken the lead.

Ran Jingru looked at him and said, "If you want to deal with King Yun's Mansion, you can't rely on the two of us alone." ”

"The children have been to Duanwang's Mansion, and they will also help. Xia Chengxuan explained.

Ran Jingru shook her head and frowned: "Duanwangfu is to contribute, but I am afraid that I will not do my best." ”

"The Children's Association sent a letter to Pinan five days ago, and Chengchan will definitely rush back after reading the letter. Xia Chengxuan said again.

The day after receiving Xia Muchao's obituary, he wrote three secret letters and sent people out of the city, one was sent to Mei Siyuan's Anxian Salt Transport Administration's Mansion, one was sent to the Baima General's Mansion in Baoguo County to his second uncle Ran Jiangong, one was sent to the Forest Plantation General's Mansion to Bu Sheyi, and the remaining one was sent to the Pinan Outpost to Xia Chengcan.

"Even if you add the Zhen Wangfu, it's not enough. Ran Jingru said in a deep voice, "If you want to deal with King Yun's Mansion, you must pull in the ministers in charge of the court." ”

Listening to his mother's words, Xia Chengxuan's expression was a little gloomy, and he said unwillingly: "The ministers who are really in power don't want to participate in this storage dispute, and the child sent someone to send them a secret letter, but none of them sent a reply. ”

Liu Yannian, Zhao Qingfeng, and Gu Baishun are all veterans of the dynasty, not only have a great prestige in the court, but also have protégés all over the counties and states.

Ran Jingru chuckled and said, "Silly boy, they are all ministers of the humerus, how can they easily be attached to the party? Not to mention that this is a struggle between princes and princes, how can they agree to help you? If you want to get them involved, there is only one way." ”

"Mother, what can you do?" asked Xia Chengxuanqi.

Ran Jingru smiled but didn't answer him, but asked, "The deaths of your father, King Yi, and King Zhen, can there be clear evidence that it was done by King Yun's mansion?"

"Xia Muyan, the dog thief, acted secretly, but he didn't find any clear evidence. If there is clear proof, with King Duan's temperament, how can he allow him to make so many subsequent actions?" Xia Chengxuan said hatefully. He had already asked Chu Zhong and Du Chong to investigate, but he had not been able to find anything to corroborate.

"Without clear proof, King Duan will not touch a prince. Ran Jingru shook her head and said, "Previously, the Turkic State sent people to attack the homes of important ministers and nobles at night, and the court believed that the murder of the three kings was done by the Turkic State, and I am afraid that there are not a few. ”

Xia Chengxuan nodded helplessly, and said hatefully: "This is Xia Muyan's cleverness. In the past, there were two incidents of the assassination of the ministers of the Turkic Kingdom and the invasion of Anxian by Shatuo, and many courtiers counted the murder of the three kings on the heads of Shatuo and the Turkic Kingdom, which is really stupid!"

"If there is clear evidence that the affairs of the three kings were the work of King Yun's mansion, the courtiers will definitely not stand idly by. Ran Jingru said, "What's more, why didn't Xia Muyan do this?"

Xia Chengxuan's face tightened, and he asked anxiously, "Mother, what else do you know?" Did Zhang Suiguang tell you?"

Ran Jingru didn't answer him, just stared hard and said slowly: "You naturally know how King Yi died." Do you know how King Zhen died? Do you know how your father died?" Without waiting for him to answer, he said to himself again, "Over the years, Duanmu Yu has secretly supported Xia Muyan, given him silver money to buy courtiers, trained dead soldiers for his masters, and helped him connect with Shatuo, they have long been in a group. ”

Xia Chengxuan's eyes had already widened, and he looked incredulous.

Ran Jingru ignored it, and continued: "When King Zhen went north to the capital and passed through Yingxiao Gorge in Bozhou, why were there ambushes from the Turkic Kingdom? Hehe, those ambush soldiers were Xia Muyan who bought the defenders along the way, opened the country, and let Mu Danqing's light cavalry sneak into the depths of Dahua's hinterland unhindered, and set up an ambush there to snipe King Zhen. ”

Speaking of this, she sneered one after another, not knowing whether she was really laughing at Xia Muyan, or laughing at those defenders, or laughing at Xia Muchao.

A generation of martial kings was murdered by his own brother in this way.

"Do you know how your father died?" Ran Jingru looked at Xia Chengxuan and said softly, "Lord Wang... Lord Wang, you are smart in vain, but I didn't expect to be calculated by Xia Muyan. ”

At this time, Xia Chengxuan had already stood up with his fists clenched, his eyes were red, especially the swollen right side of his face, which was even more hideous, and he gritted his teeth and asked, "Mother, how did my father die?"

Ran Jingru shook her head, and two lines of tears fell silently.

"Xia Muyan asked Shatuo's Azig to pretend to negotiate border matters and trick your father into Tianmen City. On the same side, he wrote to Zhao Qianming, saying that your father was going to take him down, and asked him to strike first, so that your father would raise troops and surrender to Shatuo. Your father, the king, is only a vote for his descent. ”

These words are plain, almost without the slightest ups and downs, but like telling someone else's story again.

Her eyes were blank, but they seemed to be filled with hatred.

"I must kill Xia Muyan! Kill Zhao Qianming! Kill Azig!" Xia Chengxuan's whole body trembled slightly, but his teeth were clenched.

"What are you going to do to kill them?" Ran Jingru asked softly with a slight twitch in her eyes.

Xia Chengxuan was stunned for a while, and said for a while: "I want to find these evidence, I want to be the emperor of Dahua, and if I become the emperor, I can kill them." ”

Those things are in Zhang Suiguang's hands. Ran Jingru blinked her eyes and said with a somewhat crazy smile.