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The autumn water is overflowing, the lake surface is clear, and the sun shines brightly.

Song Jin stood under the tree, looking calmly at the boats in groups of three or two on the lake, wondering which one would be the prince's.

Xu Guanlin's purpose in looking for her is unclear, so let's meet him first.

"Madam, do you really want to go up there alone?"

Qing Wu was worried and begged to come over, promising to just wait for her at the shore.

Perhaps because she was jealous of the prince's identity, she still felt unsafe about Song Jin boarding the ship alone.

Who knows what the prince will do to his wife on the boat!

"Wait for me on the shore. After all, I am the county lord appointed by His Majesty himself. You can't kill me anyway."

"Puh, puh, puh!" Qing Wu glared at her, "My lady, don't say such unlucky words."

A boat was approaching the shore.

Shen Changqi got off the boat and nodded slightly: "Junning County Lord, please."

Qing Wu watched her board the boat.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed someone standing next to me.

"Master Shen, won't you come up with us?"

Shen Changqi smiled: "This is a matter between His Highness and the Lord of Junning County. It is inconvenient for me to go up."

Qing Wu let out an "Oh" and stared at the boats on the lake.

The green gauze curtain was blown up by the wind, and the two people in the boat were sitting opposite each other and talking. She could see Song Jin's profile, but could not see the prince's face.

Shen Changqi stood there feeling somewhat bored, leaning against the tree with his arms folded. The sword at his waist knocked against the bark, making a dull sound.

He lowered his head consciously in the green mist. The scabbard of the sword was as silvery white as the moon, and the hilt was smooth without even a tassel.

Shen Changqi followed her line of sight and raised his lips, "Young lady, have you ever seen a sword that kills people?"

Qing Wu didn't react to what he was saying for a moment.

The scabbard was raised, and Shen Changqi smiled maliciously, "This sword has killed many people, some of them were extremely evil, and some were innocent. Young lady, don't underestimate it. When it is unsheathed, it is sharp but powerless. When it is used to cut people..."

"Stop talking!"

Qing Wu was so frightened that his face turned pale and he wished he could stay ten feet away from him.

It looked like he was hiding from the plague.

Shen Changqi couldn't help laughing.

It's quite funny.

*

Lake center.

The autumn wind is already cool, and the wind blowing from the lake brings a slight chill.

Song Jin tightened his cloak and looked at the calm man opposite him, "Why did His Royal Highness the Crown Prince want to see me today?"

Xu Guanlin brewed some hot tea and motioned for her to take some. "It has been a few months since the County Lord of Junning came to Sheng'an. I have never had a good chat with the County Lord. It is my fault."

"Your Highness is so kind."

"You are too modest, the fact that you can cooperate with Zhaiyue Tower shows that you are quite capable." Xu Guanlin sat up straight and got straight to the point. "I like to deal with smart people. I'm sure you know why I invited you today."

Song Jin pressed his fingertips against the wall of the cup, pondered for a moment, and looked up at him: "Your Highness also wants to cooperate with Zhaiyue Tower?"

Xu Guanlin was not surprised by her words, "It seems that my brothers have all visited the county lord."

"I haven't promised anyone yet. As for the Third Prince, all I can do is to pull a line. The same goes for Your Highness. If Your Highness insists on thinking that I can be the master of Zhaiyue Tower, then I can't do anything about it."

Xu Guanlin said nothing, just stared at her.

Suddenly, he smiled, lowered his head and sipped his hot tea, and sighed: "These brothers of mine really all want to fight for the throne... Unfortunately, I am the prince, and as long as I am alive, the throne will not be theirs."

When Song Jin heard this, his expression changed slightly.

The prince was reminding her that as long as he was in power, any other prince who wanted to seize the throne would be unjust and tantamount to rebellion.

The struggle has already begun, and the ministers in the court have already taken sides.

As a county lord who came from a merchant family, she also had her moments of powerlessness even with the support of the Zhaiyue Tower.

Song Jin understood the seriousness of this, and said in a low voice: "Your Highness wants to force me to stand? What if I don't stand?"

Xu Guanlin tilted his head to look at the sparkling lake, and said in a gentle tone: "The Song family of Qingzhou, in terms of wealth, there are few who can match it, but it does exist. Do you think I will make a move?"

The relationship between the Song family and Zhaiyue Tower is unclear to the outside world.

That's why Xu Guanlin dared to threaten her with the Song family.

But Song Jin's bottom line is the Song family.

"Your Highness." Song Jin's eyes turned cold. "The power behind the Song family is definitely not what you see. If you want to cooperate with Zhaiyue Tower, don't touch my bottom line easily. Otherwise, I can't guarantee that Zhaiyue Tower will have the next cooperation partner."

"Is that so?"

Guards with swords suddenly rushed out from both sides, with the cold blades pointing at her back.

The hands in the sleeves suddenly clenched.

"What do you mean, Your Highness?"

Xu Guanlin put down the teacup, smiling, as if this scene had nothing to do with him.

"I cannot stand being threatened. The county lord had better think carefully before answering my question."

Song Jin calmly held down his shaking hands and tried his best to remain calm. "Your Highness, if you want to kill me, you don't have to wait until now. I guess Your Highness is worried about the people behind me, right?"

Xu Guanlin is a person who cannot tolerate any grain of sand in his eyes.

Among all the princes, he is the most suitable to be emperor.

He has the talent of a wise king, and also the ability to attack the enemy. To serve as his campmate is like serving a king or a tiger.

He is the perfect candidate to sit on the throne.

Xu Guanlin was silent.

Song Jin knew that he had guessed correctly, and he felt more at ease. "Your Highness, there is no need to do this. The Song family will not stand behind any prince. If Your Highness wants to cooperate with Zhaiyue Tower, I will definitely not refuse."

Xu Guanlin held the empty teacup in his hand, not showing any emotion. "If it was a few months ago, Zhaiyue Tower had no backers, I could have taken them under my command with just a few moves. But now... there is an additional variable."

This variable appeared after Song Jin came to Sheng An.

Song Jin could sense the subtle murderous intent towards him in his words.

He really wanted to kill her!

Why?

She thought to herself that she had never offended anyone except Yang Chaoxue. Could it be that Xu Guanlin wanted to get rid of her for Yang Chaoxue?

Song Jin didn't think he would be so stupid.

Seeing her uncertain look, Xu Guanlin simply explained everything to her.

"Don't make blind guesses, County Lord. I'll give you a choice."

"Convince the Moon-Picking Tower to work for me."

"Otherwise, you won't be able to leave here today."

Song Jin suddenly calmed down and carefully analyzed everything he had said, every word of which mentioned the threat posed by Zhaiyue Tower to him.

In the fight for the throne, the Moon-Picking Tower has unknowingly become an uncontrollable factor.

When did it start?

Yes, ever since the cooperation between Zhaiyue Tower and Huangshang began, with the emperor’s secret support, no one dared to touch it lightly.

Song Jin figured it out, and his body suddenly lightened up. "I understand your concern, but you also have to be clear that the Moon Picking Tower cooperates with the imperial merchant, not anyone else. Whoever sits on the throne will have one-third of the say in the Moon Picking Tower."

As early as the beginning of the cooperation, Qin Wan and the emperor signed an agreement that the right to speak of Zhaiyue Tower would be divided into three parts, one of which belonged to Emperor Yuchao.

This emperor does not refer to anyone specific.

Xu Guanlin was puzzled: "What do you mean?"

Song Jin took a deep breath and encouraged himself in his heart: "Not many people know about this. The cooperation between Zhaiyue Tower and Huangshang actually signed an agreement. The emperor of Yu Dynasty holds one-third of the say in Zhaiyue Tower. Your Highness does not need to worry about who Zhaiyue Tower stands on. From the beginning, Zhaiyue Tower only stood on the side of the emperor of Yu Dynasty."

"If anyone violates the agreement, the other two parties have the right to cancel his rights."

Xu Guanlin fell into deep thought.

This is obviously the secret of Zhaiyue Tower.

So how did this Miss Song know this?

"Can the county lord guarantee that the Moon-Picking Tower will not lean towards anyone?"

"I promise." Song Jin smiled, his eyes sparkling, "I'm a businessman, and businessmen never refuse cooperation that can make money."

Xu Guanlin nodded and withdrew the guards from the boat.

A faint smile appeared on his face again.

"Then, happy cooperation, Lord Junning."

Song Jin's heart finally settled down, "It's a pleasure to work with you."

At least, the Song family and Zhaiyue Tower will not be affected in the fight for the throne.

*

The crowd on the shore gradually dwindled.

Qing Wu squatted under the tree, staring at the movements in the boat.

A shadow fell overhead.

She craned her neck to see who it was and fell down in fright.

Seeing how scared she was, Shen Changqi laughed unbridled, "Are you so afraid of me, young lady?"

Qing Wu said nothing and moved her butt a little further away from him.

Shen Changqi raised his eyes and said, "Nuo, your county lord is back."

Qing Wu immediately ran over.

It looks like a jumping little rabbit.

He just looked at her like that, and he himself didn't even know why he was smiling at her back.

"My wife!"

Qing Wu looked her up and down, and only felt relieved after making sure that no limbs were missing.

Before Song Jin opened her mouth, she heard a teasing voice behind her.

"Don't worry, your county lady is fine. Is it possible that the prince will eat her?"

Qing Wu ignored him.

Shen Changqi was asking for trouble and stood behind the prince with a shrug.

Before leaving, Song Jin suddenly called him.

"Your Highness, how much do you know about the Concubine?"

Xu Guanlin stopped and turned to look at her: "What does the county lord want to say?"

There was wind blowing into my robe.

Song Jin lifted up the strands of hair at her temples, and a hint of orchid flashed across her dark pupils.

"I guess Your Highness knows that I was poisoned, and I also guess Your Highness knows that the spices in your study were tampered with. I just don't know what Your Highness' attitude is towards this indulgence."

Xu Guanlin frowned and looked at her meaningfully: "The county lord is indeed very smart. I will not interfere in the feud between you and Chaoxue. I know one part of the matter about the spices, but not the other."

Song Jin nodded, got the answer he wanted, bowed, and watched him leave.

[It seems that the poisoning incident has something to do with Yang Chaoxue.]

Song Jin turned around and was startled to see Cui Huaiji standing behind him.

"Master Hou?!"

Cui Huaiji lowered his gaze and stared at her suspicious eyes. He was silent for a moment and said, "Qing Wu said that you came to see the prince alone, so I came to take a look."

Song Jin looked at Qing Wu with a questioning look, then looked back and said, "It was just a casual chat with the prince for a while. Blame Qing Wu for being too cautious."

"Um."

They were speechless again.

Qing Wu felt embarrassed for them.

[The selection of personnel for the sea voyage has been resolved. This time, we are all thanks to the reminder from the little cat slave.]

Song Jin's eyes lit up slightly.