Xue Yan prepared in the imperial city for a day, then set off for Jiangling Prefecture with the guard team led by Captain Song. Pei Zhiyuan and Shen Xu sent people to the border of Linzhou Prefecture. Next, Xue Yan and others entered Jiangling Prefecture alone.
Shen Xu and Song Lin hugged each other for a long time, repeatedly urging Song Lin to come back safely, until Xue Yan's carriage became increasingly blurred at the end of the road, and Shen Xu reluctantly let go of Song Lin.
This time, the negotiations in the Jiangling Cliff Corridor made her feel very uneasy. She wanted to go to the negotiations with him, but she was afraid that she would drag everyone down.
The Yang family's stance was clearly very hostile. If she and Xue Yan entered Jiangling Mansion together, the brothers Yang Chonghu and Yang Yihu would most likely raise an army and kill them, taking the opportunity to cause chaos again.
Nowadays, there are still many people in the court who support the Yang family of Jiangling Prefecture. After all, to them, the Yang family is an old-school aristocracy and will take the interests of the powerful into consideration.
They led an army of 400,000 through Linzhou Prefecture, ostensibly to suppress the rebellion in Linzhou Prefecture, but in reality to put pressure on Jiangling Prefecture so that they would not dare to act rashly.
"Miss Chen, we'll wait for them here in Linjiang County. Don't worry, there are Xuanjingsi's stakes in Jiangling Prefecture. If there is any movement in Jiangling Prefecture, we will be notified immediately." Pei Zhiyuan saw her looking at the official road leading to the south with deep sorrow, and comforted her: "Brother Song and his nephew are highly skilled in martial arts, so don't worry too much."
Shen Xu gazed into the distance, letting the cool early autumn breeze gently lift her hair. "Pei Zhiyuan, I always feel like you and Xue Yan are hiding something from me."
Pei Zhiyuan was stunned. He sat down on the rocks of the mound with her and said calmly, "How could that be? You've helped the Haoyue Nation so much. How could we possibly conspire to harm you?"
Shen Xu shook his head, "That won't happen. If you want to kill me, you have countless opportunities. It's easy."
"How can it be easy! You are the people's favorite now." Pei Zhiyuan leaned close to her ear and whispered, "I don't understand why you still want to rule the country from behind the scenes. No one would stop you from ascending the throne now."
Shen Xu turned slightly to look at Pei Zhiyuan, "Master Pei, you used to be a conservative loyal to the emperor. How could you say such outrageous words?"
"I've figured it out. What Haoyue Country needs isn't a monarch, but a wise man who can lead everyone out of darkness and make Haoyue Country an ideal country where there's no more hunger and war, where there's fair rule of law, and where the people can live happily.
You said that you wanted there to be more joy and less sadness under this blue sky and blue sea.
Pei, despite being a humble person, has followed you for so long, and finally feels a sense of participation in this project."
"Master Pei, you are too modest. We have been through so many near-death experiences. The world is changing because of some of your past decisions, and you only feel a little bit of participation?"
"Anyway, we all bow down to you. We've witnessed you create so many miracles. We promise to follow you wherever you lead us."
Shen Xu leaned back slightly, propped his hands on the stone, raised his head and exhaled softly, "Pei Zhiyuan, you are right, I can't always rely on gambling. After all, gambling is not a win every time. If you are not careful, you will lose everything."
Pei Zhiyuan buried his head and pulled out a piece of grass, pulled out the grass core, and held it in his mouth, "Why are you so worried about gains and losses now? Miss Shen, you often advise me to be confident, so where is your confidence?"
"Before, I was barefoot and not afraid of wearing shoes. Now I feel like I have everything, and I'm afraid of losing it."
"Are you afraid of losing Song Lin or Xue Yan?"
Chen Xu replied, "I'm afraid of both. Just as you said, I want more joy and less sadness under this blue sky and blue clouds. You are all the most important people in my life. Of course, I hope that you can be safe and happy forever."
Pei Zhiyuan lowered his head and thought carefully. After a while, he said quietly, "So, what about that weir?"
"He is my brother, so naturally I will pray for him."
"If... I mean if." Pei Zhiyuan hesitated for a long time, then gave up and said, "Forget it, there is no if. I think you treat Xue Yan very well. Strictly speaking, he is obviously a traitor."
Shen Xu retorted: "I was very nice to you, and you wanted to kill me at the beginning."
"I don't want to kill you. With your intelligence, I won't kill you no matter what." Pei Zhiyuan looked into the distance with an eagle-like gaze, chewing the grass carefully. Mao Rongrong's dog tail swayed up and down as he chewed.
Shen Xu bent down, holding his chin and staring blankly at the south. "Then you are quite nice to Xue Yan. To you, he is also a traitor. His sister even broke two of your ribs."
"Appreciate the talent. Xue Yan is so outstanding. Haoyue Country needs such talents for its development."
"I also value talent. To prevent civil unrest, he suppressed the grief of losing his family and his legs and marched south. He dared to challenge the power of heaven, risking everything, gambling with heaven without losing a single move. How could I bear to kill such a man?"
"Are you really not considering taking him as your consort after you ascend the throne?"
Shen Xu turned around and looked at Pei Zhiyuan strangely, "Master Pei, please be careful with your words. I never intended to ascend the throne."
Pei Zhiyuan said nonchalantly: "You have come to this point. Not ascending the throne will affect the future of Haoyue Kingdom."
"Where did you get this unorthodox theory from?" Shen Xu seemed to have sensed something. She narrowed her eyes and moved closer to Pei Zhiyuan. "Did Xue Yan ask you to say this to me?"
Pei Zhiyuan felt a little guilty, but when he thought about the fact that she was the princess of Yanyang Country, the only way to keep her was to hand over the throne to her, so he insisted, "I think so too."
"My heart is never in the court. The future of Haoyue Nation must be created by future generations. I am only the guide. The specific path to take must be decided by the people of the world."
Pei Zhiyuan panicked when he heard this. From what she said, she wanted to give up? "Miss Shen, are you going to..."
"When the world is at peace and stable, it's time for the ministers who govern the country to retire. As for me, I still want to have a good ending, to spend my old age in Qingzhou with my pretty husband, guarding two acres of thin farmland."
Pei Zhiyuan suddenly realized, "No wonder Brother Song is unwilling to take on the authority of the Grand Marshal of the World's Armies!"
Chen Xu smiled, his eyes gazing into the distance with deep affection. "My husband is not greedy for high office or wealth. He is not impetuous at all. He is a rare person who is willing to calm down and savor life."
"Why bother running around for a few dollars?"
“Only after experiencing the joys and sorrows of ordinary people can one understand the true feelings of the world.”
Pei Zhiyuan spat out the grass in his mouth, shook his head and said, "I can't reach your level."
"Master Pei, why don't you try to rekindle your relationship? The war is over, and it's time to enjoy the wealth and glory you've fought for."
"Continue you, are you willing?"
Shen Xu was slightly stunned, and spread his hands and said: "Among your ten concubines, is there not one that catches your eye?"
"Then can I catch your eye?"
Shen Xu: "Forget it, I won't persuade you anymore."
Pei Zhiyuan did not respond. His hawk-like eyes looked at the blurry scenery in the distance, his mind full of thoughts.
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