Second minister and thief

Xiao Cen was stunned, he had never seen such a serious expression on Chu Linqiu's face before, so he was a little confused for a moment.

"Tolerance..." He chewed the word slowly, and a trace of confusion that was not common flashed in his eyes.

"Why? Master Chu, have you survived all these years by enduring yourself?"

"Yes."

"Then you also... to my grandfather..."

"I didn't kill Boren, but Boren died by me."

As soon as these words came out, what else did Xiao Cen not understand?He stared at a pair of tearful eyes, raised his hand and pressed his chest, and suddenly said in a hoarse voice, "Master Chu admitted it."

"Yes. From the very beginning, Chu never thought of denying it." Immediately afterwards, he told Xiao Cen the emperor's original plan for the Xiao family. Of course, he concealed some key information.

After the victory in the first battle, Emperor Wu'an made up his mind to get rid of General Xiao.However, he has been dormant for more than ten years, and finally ascended to the great treasure, so he is naturally reluctant to throw away this "sharp weapon" that he has in his hand.

Therefore, he decided to send several Kongwu powerful, courageous and resourceful people to the Mobei Army to apply for a ten-year deadline, so that they can climb to high positions through military exploits and completely win the trust of Old General Xiao. When the time is right... ...and make another plan.

Hearing these words, Xiao Cen felt cold sweat slowly seep out of his back, and his heart became tighter and tighter, as if someone was strangling his throat.He never thought about...the Mobei army that he thought was loyal to the Xiao family, but in fact there were many hidden dangers, and some even plotted against the law from the very beginning.

"But didn't you say...someone betrayed?" It took Xiao Cen a long time to recover his voice, he raised his hand to pinch Chu Linqiu's shoulder, and asked again, "Who is that person... ..who's that person?!"

"Master Hou, he...he is your Xiao family's...distant cousin..."

"What did you say?"

The Xiao family... Xiao Cen's mind exploded like fireworks, and he felt that his previous guess had been confirmed again.Among them, there is indeed the handwriting of the Xiao family.

"Be careful with your mother, and..."

"Mother?! Ha! How is this possible?" Xiao Cen's face changed suddenly, he suddenly raised his eyes to look directly into Chu Linqiu's eyes, and asked word by word, "Master Chu provoked my mother and son's feelings tonight. , what do you want? Fortunately, she regards you as her parent and child, and she always thinks of you..."

"You are weak and afraid of the cold at night, so she ordered people to bring high-quality charcoal fire from the south and put it in the house for heating, and all she got in return was...'Be careful'?"

Xiao Cen suddenly thought of the scene when his mother held him in her arms, smiling and shaking the round fan when he was young. It was one of the few warm times in Xiao Cen's house.If Chu Linqiu said that it was his father who caused the trouble, then he would not be surprised, but his weak mother... how could it be possible?

"You..." Xiao Cen couldn't help but have doubts in his eyes looking at Chu Linqiu at this moment, thinking uncontrollably in his heart, logically speaking, this person shouldn't make such an insane move , I'm afraid there are other plans?He deeply felt that he was too deeply influenced by Chu Linqiu, and it was easy... Forget it, he shook his head lightly, trying to get rid of these complicated thoughts.

But once the seeds of doubt are planted, they are not so easy to get rid of.

Chu Linqiu, who was at the side, could see all the struggles and changes in Xiao Cen's face.His eyes darkened, he covered his arms and pursed his lips, just waiting for the man to recover by himself.

"What did your Xuanwu Guard do again? Why do you say that? Do you know how to slander the royal family..."

"Master Hou has come to his senses. Even though Princess Lincheng loves your father deeply, she is the Qi family after all!"

"You!!! Chu Jiushang... good... very good! Do you really think you are someone when Ben Hou gives you some face?" Xiao Cen was also on the verge of collapse at this moment The grievances and shocks he had suffered in the past few days seemed to erupt at this moment.

He pushed Chu Linqiu.

Chu Linqiu was unprepared, and fell down like a weed in the wind. He simply lay on his back on the bed and looked up at Xiao Cen, with a cold smile on his face, "Master, don't blame Chu for saying that... It's serious. What you have to face alone in the future is far more than that." As soon as he finished speaking, he couldn't stop coughing.

"You!" Xiao Cen seemed to wake up suddenly, his eyes showed a little helplessness, and he hurriedly leaned over to pull his right arm, "I...I just...you How do you feel? Why can't you cough?! I didn't mean it just now... I'm sorry."

However, Chu Linqiu seemed to be firmly nailed to this bed at this moment, no matter how much he pulled it, he couldn't move it.Moreover, the man was still coughing desperately, with distressing gasps from his throat.Xiao Cen even felt that he was about to cough up all his internal organs.

"Stop coughing...Stop coughing!!!"

"Master Hou, don't be afraid...it's just an old...illness...you'll be fine in a while..." After Chu Linqiu finished speaking, He closed his eyes as if tired.Xiao Cen finally fulfilled his wish and hugged him in his arms. He supported Chu Linqiu to sit in front of him, then clenched his left hand into a fist and lightly clasped his back.

"feel better now?"

Chu Linqiu seemed to have no strength at all, as soon as Xiao Cenfu let go, he fell limply.

"Nine Merchants!!!"

"Don't... be afraid..."

The two "don't be afraid" both had a strong consoling meaning, which made Xiao Cen hold back tears for a long time, and finally burst out of his eyes more quickly.The first time, Chu Linqiu opened his eyes, and he did not face the anxiety of his own physical condition at all. Instead, when he looked at the person kneeling beside him, he would show a little helplessness and worry.

Xiao Cen suddenly realizes that this is a person who has passed tonight but doesn't know where he came from. Why is there a need to go around such a big circle just to separate the feelings between uncles and nephews?He couldn't help hugging him even tighter, "I'm sorry, Ben Hou... I won't do anything to you in the future... Why don't you hide?"

"I can't hide...Hou Ye..." Chu Linqiu's sigh-like words were more like a crow's feather gently scratching his heart, which made him almost be beaten more and more. A deep sense of guilt drowned out.

"The book next to the bed... at the bottom is Xuanwuwei's recent years about the Xiao family...You can read it when you are free, and...the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty... The roster...the faction..." Before finishing speaking, Chu Linqiu fell asleep with his head tilted like this.

"Jiu Shang? Jiu Shang?!" Seeing that his lips were too pale, Xiao Cen suddenly wondered if he had passed out again, and almost shouted loudly.At this moment, there was a cautious inquiry from outside the door, "Master, there are people from the Chu residence, and they have something to ask to see your lord. Do you want them to wait in the front hall?"

"Who's here? Did you ask what's the matter?" Xiao Cen gathered himself together, and slowly put Chu Linqiu back on the bed, and then he closed his chest, got up and opened the door unhurriedly. Door.Before going out, he raised his sleeves and wiped his face to wipe away the remaining water stains from the corners of his eyes.