The moon was dim and the stars were sparse. A thin layer of snow hung on the branches of the pine trees, casting a faint glow.

Two men had already stood under the tallest horsetail pine tree. One was older, with gray hair on his temples and a shabby face. The other was slightly younger and looked like his bodyguard. The two men sat astride horses, looking into the distance, as if waiting for something.

Soon, the sound of horse hooves stepping on the snow came from far away and approached. Two galloping horses came into view. Nazhu squinted his eyes and saw the two men standing in front of him.

"You brought someone with you." Nazhu shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Don't you trust me?"

"You brought someone with you." Wei Meng said coldly, "Stop talking nonsense. What do you want to do by calling me here? Just get to the point. I don't have time to chat with you."

Nazhu glanced at Pei Yuan behind him. Both of them were covered with black cloth, so their faces could not be seen.

Wei Meng understood what he meant and refused, "He is my confidant. He knows everything about my past. There is no need to hide it. Just say it."

Nazhu's eyes flashed with displeasure.

Pei Yuan was also secretly sizing up the old Chanyu. He was tall and strong, wearing a bear-skin hat. Although he was no longer young, he could still find the ambition and sharpness in his eyes. So even if he tried his best to show sincerity and kindness, he did not look like a purely kind old man.

Pei Yuan knew that this was an opponent that should not be underestimated. Even though they had clashed on the battlefield many times, this was the first time they had really met.

"Meng'er." Nazhu said gently, "You should come back to help me. I know you still hate me, but I need you now, and the royal court needs you too."

Pei Yuan lowered his eyes to hide the surprise in his eyes.

He had long guessed about Wei Meng's identity, but now that he heard his conversation with Nazhu in person, he still couldn't calm down the shock in his heart. Are they so close? Pei Yuan suddenly thought of Princess Wei Wu who married into the Xiongnu clan more than thirty years ago. Could it be that...

Wei Meng said, "Over the past ten years, the royal court and I have been at loggerheads. I have killed at least thousands of Xiongnu soldiers. The sharp edge of my sword is stained with your blood. If you want me to go back, aren't you afraid that I will harbor evil intentions and massacre all of your barbaric people to avenge my mother!"

Hearing his words, Meng Jia, the guard behind Nazhu, couldn't help but get angry and shouted, "How dare you!"

Nazhu waved her hand to signal him not to say anything more, then slowly dismounted, walked to Wei Meng's horse, looked up and said, "You have avenged what you should avenge, haven't you? My father doesn't blame you, it's my father's fault."

Wei Meng didn't expect him to say that. He was speechless for a moment, waiting for Nazhu's next words.

"Meng'er, I don't know if you can understand what I'm going to say next. What I want to say is that every commander carries the high hopes of the people. There is no commander who doesn't want to expand his territory and make his people prosperous. My ambition when I was young was not for power. I just wanted to lead my people to a place with the most abundant grass and water, a warm and humid place, to avoid poverty and cold. I can't let them down. I must give them a better future, even if it costs blood. I hurt you and your mother for this. , I feel sorry, Meng'er."

Pei Yuan also looked over, looking at Nazhu's smiling face, and heard him continue: "But I don't think so now. People are not seeking wealth in this world, but stability. I am old and don't want to fight anymore. Just last month, I met with General Qiu of the Zhou Dynasty. On behalf of the Emperor of Zhou, he signed an alliance with me. There will be no more war on the border within ten years. "

Wei Meng sneered and said: "Last month, it was you who took advantage of the weakness of our army to attack the border. It was also you who said these false and empty words. How can I believe it?"

"It was not the Chanyu who attacked the border!" Meng Jia spoke before Nazhu, and shouted, "It was the Zuo Xian Wang Chunyu Luan!"

Wei Meng asked, "Oh? What happened?"

Nazhu looked bitter, and closed his eyes and said, "I am old. In recent years, there have been conflicts of power in the royal court, and I can't control that much. Chunyu Luan is my brother's son. I have no children, so I treated him as my own and did my best to support him. But I didn't expect that raising a wolf for a thousand days will eventually be harmed by the wolf. Now he can't tolerate me, and he has his own faction in the royal court, so he doesn't listen to me."

Nazhu opened his eyes and looked at Wei Meng anxiously: "Meng'er, this is why I have come to you several times. I need you to get rid of him for me, and you also need to get rid of him. After all, you have seen that Chunyu Luan is ambitious. If he ascends the throne, there will never be peace on the border!"

He suddenly performed a great salute, knelt on the ground, and cried bitterly: "As your father, I beg you, please come back soon!"

His actions not only shocked Wei Meng, but also Pei Yuan and Meng Jia. Meng Jia jumped off the horse with heartache and helped him up: "Chanyu, why are you doing this!"

Wei Meng's face was still cold and hard, but the slightly moving brow revealed his inner turmoil.

Pei Yuanshi didn't say anything in the end. After a while, he said, "I don't believe you."

"You don't believe me, so do you want to believe those Han people who have no blood relationship with you and even hate you?" Nazhu's cloudy eyes flashed with a glimmer, and she smiled faintly, "Meng'er, you must always remember that even if you are loyal to the Han emperor, you are not a Han Chinese. You have Hu blood in your body, and they will never really accept you. You can only stay in this small town in the corner, unable to do anything, let alone get promoted to a higher position and enjoy the life of a superior person. And that should be the life you can enjoy easily. You are a prince, born into a noble family. Father really doesn't understand why you have to leave the royal court and ask for trouble."

"But it doesn't matter. If that's what you are willing to experience, father will support you."

"You are now working for the fourth prince of the Zhou Dynasty, right? Father advises you not to give all your heart and energy to him, because he will disappoint you one day. When the cunning rabbit dies, the running dog is cooked. As a minister, there will always be a day when you will be killed, especially those who are more meritorious than the master. What's more, your eyes are not black. No matter how much you give, when he gets power, he only needs a reason to kill you. Those who are not of my race must have different hearts."

"In your father's heart, you are always a child. Children love to play, but when you are tired, you can go home at any time. The door of the royal court is always open to you. I know you hate me. From now on, I will not come to find you again. I will only wait for the day when you come home tired of playing, and your father will treat you to a drink."

Nazhu stood in front of Wei Meng's horse with his hands hanging down, his eyes sincere and his words earnest.

Wei Meng's Adam's apple rolled, and he didn't say another word from beginning to end. After he finished speaking, they looked at each other for a moment, suddenly turned the horse's head and shouted "Drive", and then walked away without looking back.

Pei Yuan followed, he looked at Wei Meng's robe blown up by the wind in the night, and could roughly feel the shock in Wei Meng's heart at this time.

Pei Yuan thought that Nazhu was indeed worthy of his 40-year political career. Every word he said touched people's hearts. He was not tough, but used threats and inducements softly, and opened his arms as a father, inviting his child to go home in a tolerant tone.

This was the most difficult thing to refuse.

There was no conversation along the way, and after half an hour, they arrived at the gate of the palace.

Wei Meng looked up at the four large gold-plated characters on the black plaque, paused for a while, and asked Pei Yuan: "Don't you have anything to say?"

"Nothing." Pei Yuan said, but felt something was wrong, and said, "Actually there is one sentence."

Wei Meng asked, "What?"

"I can also buy you a drink." Pei Yuan smiled, "My wife can also cook, and it will definitely suit your taste better than his chef."

There was no point in saying more. He didn't need to show his sincerity in front of Wei Meng at this moment, and he didn't need to. He and Wei Meng had been together for so many years, and they understood each other better than parents and brothers. Pei Yuan knew that Wei Meng would not be deceived by a few words, and he would make the right choice in his heart.

Wei Meng really laughed: "You have a few coins in your hand, and you dare to make such a bold statement. Do you have money to treat me to a drink?"

Pei Yuan said seriously: "On the shelf on the east side of the study, on the second layer from the bottom, in the vase on the right side, there is my private collection."

Wei Meng got off the horse and handed the reins to the guard who came to greet him. He glanced at him in disbelief: "Then you must hide it well. If it is taken away, you will be scolded."

Pei Yuan also got off the horse and smiled faintly: "Don't bother."

After entering the door, they walked for a while and were about to say goodbye. Wei Meng stopped and said sideways: "That's an old fox. He deceived my mother in this way. It's too much to believe those words. He may still move, so keep an eye on him."

…

For the next half month, Feng County lived in peace.

However, a report came from Shiyang Pass that a large army of Huns had gathered, hundreds of thousands of people, and wanted to break through the pass. Shiyang Pass is the westernmost pass in the northern frontier. The mountains on both sides are like sheep horns, hence the name Shiyang Pass. Behind the pass are three counties and towns with a population of more than 700,000, all of which are protected by this pass. If Shiyang Pass is lost, the western side of the northern frontier will be broken. Not only will the people be disturbed by the war, but the entire northern frontier will be in danger.

After receiving the report of the battle, Qiu Mingshan immediately led 100,000 troops to reinforce, and the remaining cavalry general Zuo Fang and 80,000 people were left behind in Gashan Town. Dai County, the westernmost county, also sent 50,000 troops, and the garrison general Su Wei led 70,000 people to stay behind.

Such a battle had taken place once in the past ten years, and ended with a great defeat for the Xiongnu.

Qiu Mingshan was a very strategic general with rich experience. Pei Yuan had confidence in him and he would not lose this battle.

After the battle of Shiyang Pass, Feng County only strengthened its defenses,

and the rest of life was not affected. Wei Meng and Minmin got along very well and gradually became compatible. Although he could not confirm whether the child was his, he did not seem to care much. Minmin was beautiful and had a virtuous temperament. She washed clothes and cooked for Wei Meng every day. It was the first time that Wei Meng enjoyed such a feeling, and he was happy every day. He slowly let down his guard against Minmin and no longer restricted her travel. Every few days, he would allow her to go out and walk around, and send a few more people to follow her.

Baoning's belly has been more than three months old, and it is slightly bulging, as if she has eaten a full meal. It is almost invisible after she puts on a thick quilt.

Minmin is also pregnant. At the beginning, Wei Meng did not let her go out, so she often came to talk to Baoning. But every time she came, the mastiff at the door would bark at her, spitting at her mouth. Minmin was scared and did not come often.

When Pei Yuan came back, Baoning was sitting next to the charcoal stove and taking apart the quilt with Aunt Liu. After sleeping on the quilt for a long time, the cotton inside becomes hard, and it needs to be taken out and found a special craftsman to fluff it. After the old cotton is fluffed again, it is like new cotton, extremely soft and comfortable.

Pei Yuan walked in leisurely with a pear in his hand and put it to Baoning's mouth: "Take a bite?"

Baoning glanced at it and turned his head away in disgust: "You've already bitten it, I don't want it."

Pei Yuan clicked his tongue: "Pretentious."

Nanny Liu chuckled softly, she stood up with a tactful look, found an excuse and said: "I'll go and see if the bone soup is ready." Pei Yuan nodded, she went out, and took the other maids who were serving her with her.

The door closed. Pei Yuan ate the remaining pear in a few bites, threw away the pear core, smiled and hugged Bao Ning into his arms, rubbing her face with his mouth: "Do you think I'm dirty? You don't eat what I've eaten? The baby is about to be born, it's too late to complain now."

Bao Ning screamed and slapped him away: "The juice on your lips rubbed on my face, it's sticky, so disgusting!"

Pei Yuan leaned over again: "Can I lick it clean for you?"

"No, stay away from me!" Bao Ning couldn't push him away, but was pinched and itched. She laughed and paralyzed in Pei Yuan's arms, "Why are you so annoying..." Pei Yuan

hummed and picked her up in his arms. Bao Ning sat on his lap face to face, with her hands on his shoulders. Pei Yuan stretched his neck to kiss her lips.

His lips were wet, and a kiss made a "pop" sound, which was funny. Pei Yuan kissed him a few more times. Bao Ning smiled with her eyes curved, and asked: "Am I sweet?"

"Too sweet." Pei Yuan held her and swung her, "Where in the sky did such a sweet piece of candy fall?"

After holding her for a while, Pei Yuan leaned back a little, distanced himself from Bao Ning, and touched her belly with his hand: "Let me touch it, I heard from Aunt Liu that it seems to have grown a little bit, I want to see how big our little thing has grown."

"I can't touch the child. I just ate a roast duck and the child was buried under the roast duck." Bao Ning held his hand and touched it. "It has grown a little, but it is not a child. It is all flesh. Look, you can pinch it."

Pei Yuan touched it and was surprised: "Is it true? So fat?"

Bao Ning pushed him away unhappily: "I am like this because I gave birth to a child for you. I said I was fat, that was my self-deprecation. How can you say I am fat?"

"I'm wrong." Pei Yuan agreed readily and said with a smile, "We just ate roast duck, and you'll need bone soup later. It's not easy to feed you. If you eat less, I won't be able to support you."

Bao Ning joked, "Then I have to eat more, in case you become poor one day and really can't support me, what should I do?"

Pei Yuan pinched her cheeks pretending to be angry: "Can you say something nice?"

Bao Ning laughed and threw herself into his arms: "Okay, okay, say something nice, say Pei Yuan is the most handsome man in the world."

Pei Yuan raised his eyebrows and said, "He is."

Just as he was laughing, there was a knock on the door. Pei Yuan was upset when his love was interrupted. He frowned and turned around and said, "Come in."

Nanny Liu pushed the door open and came in, handing over a letter: "The concierge just brought it over. It said that it was from a girl who was wearing ragged clothes and looked like she hadn't washed for a long time. She called herself Ah Chou and wanted to give the letter to you. The concierge asked her to wait for a while, but another person came to see her. I don't know what they said, but it was probably about someone's illness that seemed to be getting better and his eyesight was restored. The girl jumped so high, and ran away with the man without waiting."

Bao Ning hesitated and said, "Could it be the girl I met at the tofu stall that day? It sounds very similar to her, but isn't her leg weak? How could she jump so high?"

She urged Pei Yuan, "Open the letter and read it."

Pei Yuan opened it, read a few lines, and his face suddenly became solemn. He couldn't believe it, and read it again and again.

Bao Ning asked anxiously, "What happened?"

"I got a clue from my elder brother."

Bao Ning asked in surprise, "Really?"

"I don't know if it's true or not, I need to verify it." Pei Yuan stood up, picked up a piece of clothing and hurried out, saying, "I'll be back later, go to bed early, don't wait for me."