Jiang Qing

It has been more than half a month since Qin Chengtao sent the letter. In the past half month, Zhao Yuansheng and Meng Yilin have experienced more than 20 raids by cold soldiers, big and small. They are exhausted physically and mentally, but they still guard the last checkpoint.

After the beginning of spring, the situation that had been stagnant due to the weather became looser. The military strength of the Li Kingdom was decreasing day by day, and the reserve army was trained to the point where it was too weak to be recruited. Zhao Zhen began to sleep all night and night, and the court hall begged Zhao Zhen to agree to the princess's marriage to solve the current crisis. The memorial was handed over to Zhao Zhen's desk, but the emperor could not be forced. Just a few words.

Soon the news reached Zhao Jingning's ears. She went into the palace and cried a lot that night. Zhao Zhen felt even more distressed. When he went to court the next day, he scolded several ministers who discussed the princess's marriage.

But just like this, the casualties on the front line increased day by day, and urgent military affairs were sent from the north day by day, Zhao Jingning stopped crying, and she began to be in a daze for a long time, and even more daring courtiers begged for the princess At the mansion, Zhao Jingning saw one or two at first, but then they disappeared. They just knelt outside the princess mansion, even if Zhao Zhen sent someone to scold them, they refused to leave.

In the end, Zhao Jingning simply hid in Luofengzhai and did not return home for several days.

However, in less than a month, Zhao Jingning's temper was no longer as innocent and free as usual, she became calm, and often silently practiced swords behind Qingxuan, as if competing with herself, sometimes a The moves can be practiced for a day.

Her fingers, which were not exposed to yang spring water, were also worn out. She was already somewhat talented, and she could remember most of some sword moves after seeing them once. Not eating, it seems that only by accumulating all the time on sword practice can she forget the current troubles.

Qingxuan didn't know how to comfort her, even the Wuwo who always liked to joke was silent, and he sighed when he saw Zhao Jingning, there were obviously three people in Luofengzhai, but the atmosphere was calm day by day.

Compared to Yu Qingxuan who didn't know how to speak, and the selfless person who didn't want to speak, Zhao Jingning seemed to have figured it out and became more and more peaceful. He even became interested today and said that he would go back to his residence and invite Zhao Jinghe to a play , come back at night.

Originally Zhao Jingning stayed in Luofengzhai from morning till night, so Qingxuan couldn't ask anything, but now that she left, Qingxuan couldn't wait to run into Wuwu's courtyard, wanting to find out Zhao Zhen's attitude.

Wu Wo picked up the cattail fan covering his face, glanced at Qingxuan's face, then covered the fan back, and said: "You are not a man of the world, why do you ask these things? Why, can you elope with her?"

"Besides, this kind of thing is not up to His Majesty to decide. If the war in the north continues to stalemate, he will have to agree if he doesn't agree." Wu Wo thought and thought, and sat up straight and stared at Qingxuan said: "You tell the truth to Master , are you really not interested in that little girl at all?"

Qingxuan's eyes flickered slightly, and he said softly: "As Master said just now, I am no longer a person of the world."

"Okay." Wu Wo lay back disappointed, "As long as you don't regret it, there is nothing to say about being a teacher."

Qingxuan pursed his lips, and asked: "Master hasn't left Pingdu for a long time. Usually, when spring starts, Master seems to be unable to stay in the imperial city, and runs out early."

Wu Wo groaned twice, and said: "Nowhere is peaceful now, am I looking for death if I go out? It won't be too late to go south to enjoy the flowers after this period of time."

Qingxuan seemed to suddenly think of something, and said: "Master's divination is not the most accurate, why not calculate a divination and see when Li Guo can pass this hurdle."

Wuwo glanced at the copper coin he handed over with a half-smile, but didn't accept it. Instead, he hit Qingxuan on the head with a cattail fan, and said: "It's not fate if it's good or bad, and it's not destiny if it's royal relatives. There are some things I still don't know much about." Well, I can only say that it will be soon. The success or failure is unknown, but it will be soon."

Qingxuan lowered his head and touched it for a while, chewing on the words of selflessness, but he still didn't understand the deep meaning.

-

Zhao Jingning went back to the Princess Mansion and listened to a play. The news spread faster than Dongfeng. She had only listened to the play twice, and the invitations from officials handed over from outside never stopped.

Mei Shao and Zhao Jinghe glanced at each other, and then secretly glanced at Zhao Jingning's face, really wondering what she was thinking.

After another play was sung, Zhao Jingning gave the reward, turned around and took a sip of tea, and said, "This theater troupe was given to me by Your Majesty when Miss Huang got married, and later Miss Huang gave it to me when she saw that I liked it. In the past few years, I haven't really appreciated their abilities, but I listened to them carefully today, it's very good."

Zhao Jinghe was stunned for a moment when he heard the words, and some past events slowly emerged, but after two years, it seemed to be the past.

At that time, Zhao Jingning was just a babbling girl who didn't know much about the world, but now she can say these old-fashioned words of remembrance, which is really depressing.

Zhao Jingning had always been brought up by Zhao Zhen holding her in the palm of her hand, she was obedient and obedient, and got whatever she wanted.It is precisely because of caring that Zhao Zhen chose her husband and son-in-law for a long time in the court, but he was not satisfied. He always felt that she was still young and could stay with her for two more years. Killing tigers, leopards and wolves, what was originally a good intention to choose from thousands of people has turned into another ending.

At the beginning, Zhao Zhen had such a strong desire to clean up the military power, and he didn't let his "rebel sister" marry far away. Now, if Zhao Jingning took this path, he would not even be treated as well as himself.

Zhao Jinghe's eyes showed unbearable, the current situation in the court is so unstable, even she can't see how long Zhao Zhen can last, and what step he can do for Zhao Jingning between the country and the family, These are all unknowns.

"Yes." Zhao Jinghe sighed softly, "Your Majesty is partial to you, and the operas selected by the troupe are all the ones you like to hear. I gave you this as a favor."

An elusive smile appeared in Zhao Jingning's eyes, she lowered her head and took a sip of her tea, before casually saying, "Yes, Brother Huang really knows my preferences best."

She stood up and bowed to Zhao Jing and Yingying, "I've bothered Miss Huang today, and with her company, Jingning enjoyed today's show very much."

After she finished speaking, she turned to Mei Shao, "I'm really bothering Prime Minister Mei, and sent someone to fetch the sword while he was recuperating."

The residual poison on Mei Shao's body has not been cleaned up, and even Zhao Zhen spared him in the daily morning court, but Zhao Jingning suddenly asked him to take a look at the Panlong Sword that Qingxuan used back then, and Mei Shao gave the sword sixteen swords I took it from the Burial Sword Villa, and wanted to see Zhao Jingning's true thoughts on the marriage, so I personally sent it over.

Mei Shao handed over the sword box, and Zhao Jingning didn't open it to look at it on the spot. He just hugged it and touched the pattern on the top of the sword box lightly. Mei Xiang and I went to Luofengzhai."

When Zhao Jingning asked for the Panlong Sword, Mei Shao thought it might have something to do with Qingxuan, and now she didn't feel surprised when she said that.

The courtiers outside the door hadn't dispersed yet, Zhao Jingning came out of the house with the sword box in his arms, and met pairs of earnest eyes.

They all eagerly want her to be the savior, and use her own body to protect the righteousness of the country.

"His Royal Highness." They knelt in front of the mansion gate, but because Mei Shao was beside Zhao Jingning, they didn't cry like before.

"No man has courage." Zhao Jinghe glanced coldly at the courtiers kneeling on the ground, snorted, and wanted to say something, but was stopped by Zhao Jingning.

If Zhao Jingning really married, would he be spared the war at the border?

Anyone can see that Qin Chengtao's request to marry the princess is fake, and it is true to insult Li Guo by this. Even if Zhao Jingning really married, the two countries will only stop fighting for a while. China's century-old peace.

If such a woman really existed, it would not be a princess in a wedding dress and red makeup, but a female general who would put on a horse and cut her throat with a knife.

It is better to have a sharp knife in hand than to do red makeup with plain hands. Only with a sharp knife in your arms can you have the capital and opportunity to speak.

It's just that everyone is pretending to be deaf and dumb, knowing that it is a fire pit, and coaxing her to jump into it, but because she is the blood of the Zhao family, the younger sister of the emperor, and the princess of the Li country.

Zhao Jingning's hand holding the sword box was slightly tighter, and she walked away from the kneeling courtiers, and several courageous officials rushed on their knees, trying to block her way out.

"Your Highness should put the overall situation first, Your Highness!"

Mei Shao had only heard of such a scene, but it was the first time she saw it today, and she was furious when she saw it, and kicked the two officials blocking the way away.

Zhao Jingning lowered his eyes, as if he didn't hear what they said, he turned his head and walked to the carriage.

"Your Highness! In just one more day, dozens of men on the frontier of our country will die, Your Highness! Think twice, Your Highness!" The excited speaker couldn't restrain his emotions, and shouted, followed by other voices, "Your Highness ", surged under her feet like a wave, supporting her to walk.

"Men serve the country for the sake of the country of Li. Why do you say that they all died for the princess?" Mei Shao sternly shouted, "If you really have the will to protect the country, why not donate money to support the frontlines?" , instead of patriotic and defending the country with empty talk!"

"Mei Xiang, you have been on the battlefield, and you know best that the longer the battle line is dragged on, the more soldiers will die. You and them are in love with each other. If you say that, won't the dead soldiers be disappointed? !"

Mei Shao took a deep breath, and said: "I have personally experienced the killing on the battlefield, and I have never used it to threaten the princess. What qualifications do you have to speak for me and the dead soldiers here? Are you far away in Pingdu, sitting high in the hall?"

Zhao Jingning paused, Mei Shao didn't want to talk to them any more, so she said to Zhao Jingning in a slow voice, "Princess, let's go."

The two remained silent all the way until they arrived at Luofengzhai.

Qingxuan happened to be writing talisman paper in the room, and after Zhao Jingning walked in, he actually said to Mei Shao, "Master Mei, please wait outside the screen for a while."

Mei Shao paused after half-stepping, and stood outside the screen to wait.

The screen that was more than half the height of a person blocked Mei Shao's sight, he could only vaguely make out the shadows of Zhao Jingning and Qingxuan, but their voices were very clear.

Holding the sword case, Zhao Jingning sat across from Qingxuan, without any foreshadowing, he said directly: "Take the sword and take me away, okay?"

The breeze blew past and broke Zhao Jingning's peaceful voice, but it was like a heavy hammer hitting Mei Shao's heart.

Mei Shao paused outside the screen, he never thought that Zhao Jingning would ask Qingxuan to take her away so directly in front of him.

Qingxuan didn't speak, and both inside and outside the screen fell into a long silence.

Their figures are printed on the screen, like a forgotten shadow puppetry, lost the traction of the silk thread and can only stay in place motionless.

After a long time, Qingxuan stretched out his hand slowly, and when he was about to touch Zhao Jingning's hair, he took another half step back, and finally landed on the opposite sword box, turning into a gentle caress.

"The princess is tired," he said.

"Okay." Zhao Jingning seemed to chuckle, stood up, left the table, and turned around the screen.

As if it wasn't her who spoke in the room just now, and as if she was relieved to have finished something she had been thinking about for a long time, the silence in Zhao Jingning's eyes became transparent, and she said to Mei Shao, "Mr. Mei, Come with me to the palace."

Mei Shao suddenly realized what she was going to do, and subconsciously looked at the figure behind the screen.

The shadow sat up straight and drew the pen just like when they first came, but it only paused for a while, but still didn't make a stroke.

The sword box was just two palms away from him, but it was so far away.