Meng Zheng

"Lord Xiao, you are too kind. I am merely fulfilling my duties and serving the court. This tea set and tea leaves were only acquired by chance. I am using them to entertain our distinguished guests as a token of my respect."

The prefect remained calm and composed, his expression slightly relaxed as he looked around and smiled modestly:

"As for the ability to possess all-seeing power, I truly believe I am far from worthy of it. It is my honor to share this tea with you all today."

"Really?"

Xiao Yingzhu responded very softly, her face showing neither sadness nor joy, her eyes beautiful yet ruthless, which was frightening to look at.

Among the five sons of Emperor Changde, excluding the crown prince and the youngest son, the only ones who can be mobilized at present are the third and fourth princes.

Except for appearing in public sight during banquets, few people could see their whereabouts at other times.

Xiao Yingzhu had "privileges" from Emperor Changde and usually did not appear in the court. Therefore, even if the two princes sometimes appeared in the court, they rarely met.

It's like they are two people who know each other as the end of the road.

When he first arrived at Chimen, the prefect sent someone to greet him. Knowing that Xiao Yingzhu was known to have a bad temper, he spoke to him calmly and confidently, thinking that Xiao Yingzhu and the others would not do anything to him.

In such a situation, unless there is solid evidence, the only option left is to reveal the truth.

—

The prefect felt a chill when he heard Xiao Yingzhu's half-smile in his voice. He was frightened for a moment and his whole body was covered with chills.

Xiao Yingzhu, who is rumored to be a bloodthirsty demon, does not appear to be capricious and unreasonable when he shows his eyes to others, and he does not take people's lives at will.

Rather, it is the oppressive feeling that makes people tremble when approaching, and the insight that can figure out cause and effect with just a few words.

He was like a puppeteer with a heavenly perspective, hanging up the silk strings connecting all the heads as if playing with puppets, and laughing at the fools in the world playing at their games.

The hall was unique. Although there was a distinction between the main and secondary seats, the prefect could see Xiao Yingzhu's deep black pupils clearly even when sitting in the lower seat. He was distracted for a moment in a trance and saw his own stunned face from the deep pool.

A sense of crisis suddenly emerged from his heart, and the desire to survive made him subconsciously open his mouth to interrupt what he was about to hear.

The sun's shadow was slanting, and the abandoned child's life was as fragile as paper. Xiao Yingzhu said calmly:

"The twilight hour has arrived. The prefect's reinforcements will arrive sooner or later. I believe it's time for you to show up and have a chat."

The buzzing sound of flies rang in my ears, and silence and oppression surrounded the entire space, so quiet that it made me shiver and feel uneasy.

He nervously strangled the prefect's throat. His voice was hoarse and his face was almost blank. His eyes were fixed on the beige and gold uniform, and his pupils suddenly contracted in fright.

Steady and lonely applause came from behind the imperial screen as the sleeves of clothes fluttered in the wind.

A gold-patterned belt buckle held his casual clothes at the waist, outlining his slender figure.

The visitor had charming features and was very beautiful, but her eyes were not as charming as the rippling spring water, but rather showed a proud and arrogant demeanor.

"Duke Xiao is just as my brother said, a man of wisdom and ingenuity, with a keen eye for detail." He raised his eyebrows and smiled. "In the past, we were just acquaintances, never having a deep conversation. Now that I've met you today, I realize how deeply we connect."

Isn’t that right?

After going around in circles for a long time, the ministers who used to be at odds with the emperor in the court, could now become allies under special orders. Anyone who heard this would be amused.

The emperor is ruthless. Under his regime, any emotion will turn into fallen flowers and pave a winding bloody road.

Whether as a subject or a close friend.

When those in power take control of the situation, everything will be reduced to ashes.

He still remembered the deep hatred in the young man's eyes. Whenever he saw him, he could still hear the harsh words the young man said to the emperor.

As time passes, memories become like smoke.

The young man's eyes and brows were filled with deep cunning, and he no longer had the frankness and arrogance of his past.

Did he remember the so-called hatred more deeply, or did he forget his original intention due to the tempering?

Meng Zheng and Xiao Yingzhu looked at each other. Seeing Xiao Yingzhu's calm and indifferent face, Meng Zheng's expression became even more unrestrained and energetic.

After several people exchanged formalities, they sat down safely.

The pale-faced prefect was called by the Fourth Prince Meng Zheng to bring some new tea and snacks. As they left, several familiar faces met each other again, and they all smiled deeply.

After a round of introductions, Meng Zheng stared at Qin Lan's face with awareness, and gave his evaluation with a smile after Xiao Yingzhu finished her introduction.

"This young master's surname is also Qin? What a coincidence."

He meant something.

"To be honest with Duke Xiao's introduction, this Young Master Qin looks...really familiar."

The hall paused for a moment. Meng Zheng was like a vivid painting in the rigid hall. He spread his hands and looked at Xiao Yingzhu, smiling and asking:

"Duke Xiao, don't you think so?"

Jiang Nian thought carefully about what Meng Zheng said, and when he came to a certain point, his hand that was resting on the wall of the lamp suddenly curled up.

As if confirming her thoughts, Meng Zheng frowned and confirmed:

"Prime Minister Qin's eldest son...originally had two."

—

In Huandu, people often regard twins as an unlucky sign.

Therefore, Qin Yue, who was born first, was an elegant young man who was famous throughout the capital and won the hearts of countless girls.

Qin Lan, on the other hand, was secretly trained by his parents since he was young. He survived many life-threatening situations and became the head of the most mysterious intelligence bureau in the dynasty. He hid in the dark night and never showed his face to the public.

Time stretched out, and everything passed by, until nine years ago. Fearing that Emperor Changde would take precautions, his father ordered Qin Lan, who had been away from home, to return home.

After all, it is easier for people hiding in the dark to act. After learning the whole story, Qin Lan received the second task in his life after hiding his identity.

He was young and frivolous, and he was very cautious in everything. But he changed his mind and put everyone's life on the line in this chess game that belonged to him alone. He made a bet.

With the help of secret intelligence, Xiao Yingzhu was rescued from the fierce battle in Shenjiang.

If Xiao Yingzhu and Emperor Changde make peace, then everything will be fine; if they separate, then we have to prepare for the worst.

The birds with broken wings are trapped in an exquisite cage, hoping to survive safely in the world, but if their lives are the only way to save them, they may fall from the sky thousands of miles away.

With a single gamble, he bet on the hearts of the people and the one in ten thousand chance of fate's mercy.

The political situation was tilted, and he really had the luck to get what he wanted.

The seemingly compassionate Emperor Changde actually turned a blind eye.

Through pupils that were somewhat similar to the emperor's, Qin Lan saw himself smiling faintly.

"...Your Highness, you are too kind. It would be an honor for me to be compared with Young Master Qin Yue."

The prefect who had been sent out to call people returned to the hall, and the teacups were refilled. The thoughts of several people were separated by the curling smoke, and they returned to their original places when the door closed.

Meng Zheng took the list from Xiao Yingzhu, and saw several rows of names clearly, all of which were familiar names in the capital.

If I think a little deeper, I can still recall their faces from the banquets I attended in previous years.

The man opposite him caressed the Jianzhan teacup slowly, a look of nostalgia on his face. "Thinking of the past and present, is there anyone on the list that you are familiar with, Your Highness?"

The fine tea smoke caressed his fingertips as Meng Zheng closed the roster and smiled gently.

"Although we didn't know each other before, we will know each other in the future. Duke Xiao, people's hearts are far away, so don't be arrogant and speculate."

As the warm tea went down his throat, Xiao Yingzhu's eyebrows and eyes relaxed, revealing a casual and relaxed look, and he gently retorted.

"Your Highness's words are exactly what I want. I believe that I will be very happy to be with Your Highness in the future."

The hall was silent. They looked at each other quietly, then looked away with a half-smile.

—

In view of what the prefect had just done, after the matter was discussed, the assassins who were secretly dispatched to ambush in Qingju were caught.

As for the prefect's true intentions, although he did not show it in his conversation, he was a stubborn person in his heart.

The construction and decoration of Qingju reflect his personality.

The changing circumstances of the imperial court gradually hardened his idle and wandering nature into a dry stone. Even though Meng Zheng and Xiao Yingzhu had reached a consensus, he still believed that the Duke of the current dynasty was suspected of rebellion.

Fortunately, he didn't ask anyone to attack Xiao Yingzhu in the end.

Otherwise, it would not be a suspension of imprisonment and trial, but a division of the heads.

—

After returning from Qingju, everyone went back to the inn they had chosen before coming to Chimen.

Meng Zheng did not go with them, as he seemed to have other things to deal with, so they decided to set off for Cang County three days later.

When the moon rose, the servant returned to the inn and had a few words with Xiao Yingzhu.

The voice was very low, and Jiang Nian could only see a slight relaxation in his expression.

"Understood. The rest of the matters will continue as before. Once they are dealt with, you can hand them over to the prince."

"yes."

After an entire afternoon of handover, Jiang Nian had absorbed so much information that he was having trouble sorting out his thoughts. He was staring blankly at the raindrops falling from the banana leaves outside the window.

Feeling the gaze on her face, she turned her head away and suddenly found that the servant who had appeared out of nowhere just now was gone.

The people around Xiao Yingzhu always come and go freely like this.

It was drizzling in Akamon that night, and the room was a little cool and damp. In the summer, there was no stove to warm hands, so we could only use the walls of a warm water cup to warm our hands.

Two white books were placed on a corner of the round wooden table, next to the freshly picked flowers in the inn, like newly engraved prints.

It really feels like a time and space error.

"Jiang Nian."

She raised her head: "Hmm?"

"You want to go back to where you came from?"

“…Why do you say that?”

The breeze outside the window blew a few pages of the book open, making a rustling sound.

Jiang Nian frowned and looked at Xiao Yingzhu's face questioningly.

His brows were relaxed, and a hint of concern was hidden in his seemingly casual face.

"Because you promised."

Her identity was already half-hidden in Xiao Yingzhu's eyes, so there was nothing to doubt about it anymore.

Therefore, Jiang Nian did not refuse as he did in the past.

"Ideas are illusions, and reality is reality; the two cannot intersect."

This seemed to be an entry point for asking about Xiao Yingzhu's past, and Jiang Nian continued speaking.

"Do you regret meeting Mr. Qin?"

Her words were clearly pointed out. Xiao Yingzhu paused for a few seconds before saying:

"There's no medicine for regret in the world. Under the circumstances at the time, even if it was poison disguised as a cure, I would have drunk it without hesitation. Besides, this was my choice."

It was he who wanted to go to the Battle of Shenjiang, and it was he who wanted to hold the hand that Qin Lan extended.

Don't consider the consequences or the reasons.

It's just the option you would definitely choose in the multiple-choice questions that you have to answer at that time.

Jiang Nian rarely heard Xiao Yingzhu speak in a teasing tone, so she laughed when she heard this:

"When I first saw that you and Young Master Qin were familiar with each other, I thought you were childhood playmates."

I never thought that the situation at that time was that they were both trying to gain something for themselves.

One person wants to use the person he needs to rescue as a pawn to save his family and freedom.

One person wants to use the person he saved as a life-saving medicine for the poisoned person, and use his resources to pave a way for his own survival.

A relationship based on mutual interests is the most solid thing in the world, not to mention the sworn brotherhood.