Qin Shuhuai treated Zhao Yu very well. Zhao Yu's injury was getting better day by day, and Qin Shuhuai almost stayed by her side. Qin Peng was very pleased with this. She felt relieved that Qin Shuhuai and Zhao Yu had a good relationship. After all, Zhao Yu was her relative. Qin Shuhuai and Zhao Yu had a dispute, and she was in a difficult position to be caught in the middle.

Zhao Yu was very dissatisfied with Qin Shuhuai at first, but he endured it later. He just wanted to see Qin Peng from time to time. When Qin Peng was around, he didn't make a fuss.

Wu Li's medical skills were good. In less than half a month, Zhao Yu's injuries were almost healed. At this time, Qin Peng and his men had been out for nearly a month. They received frequent letters from the capital. Qin Peng also saw some signs and asked, "Did something happen in Xuanjing?"

Qin Shuhuai responded, hesitated for a moment and said, "Can we go back earlier?"

"Um?"

"Zhang Ying's actions in Xuanjing are quite dramatic, and I feel a little uneasy." Qin Shuhuai wrinkled his head and said, "He dismissed my people."

After hearing this, Qin Peng immediately said, "Then you go first. I'll take care of A-Yu and then go back."

Qin Shuhuai opened his mouth, and Qin Peng said hurriedly: "Don't worry, I will definitely go back."

Qin Shuhuai didn't say anything. He just held the letter in his hand, nodded, and asked someone to pack up.

Qin Peng helped him pack his luggage. Qin Shuhuai thought for a moment and went to find Zhao Yu. Zhao Yu was reading a memorial. He had gotten much better in recent days and his complexion had become much more rosy. He saw Qin Shuhuai coming over with a bad complexion, so he raised his eyebrows and said, "What's going on? Did Zhang Ying do something?"

"You know a lot about Qi's internal affairs."

"Know yourself and know your enemy." Zhao Yu smiled and put down the memorial: "How about we, Beiyan? Although we are in a mess, it is far less complicated than the intrigues of you, Nanqi."

"So what?"

Qin Shuhuai raised his eyes and looked at him: "No matter how much intrigue and scheming there is in Southern Qi, we are united. No matter if I win or lose, no Qi people will let you, Northern Yan, make another mistake. What if Northern Yan is still wholeheartedly following the strong? If you lose, each tribe will immediately return to their own tribes. Who will care about you, Zhao Yu?"

After hearing this, Zhao Yu's eyes were filled with sarcasm, and he raised his lips and said, "Yes, the people of Southern Qi are united, and I don't know how you could have defected to Northern Yan as a hostage back then? Qin Shuhuai, you are the legitimate crown prince, and today you are a regent, but you are still scolded by Zhang Ying and his group, saying that you are using the emperor to control the princes. Aren't you unwilling to accept this?"

"It's none of your business."

Qin Shuhuai said calmly: "Now that you are well, I have already arrived at Xuanjing by the journey. Let's find a time on a chosen day and talk about whatever we want to talk about."

"I won't talk to you."

Zhao Yu lowered his head to take the memorial and said calmly, "If there's a fire in the backyard, go put it out. My sister and I will just have to discuss this matter."

"Zhao Yu, don't go too far."

"Why?" Zhao Yu raised his head suddenly: "You think my sister is from Northern Yan, you don't believe it, right?"

"It's not something I can trust..."

"Then my sister, as the eldest princess of Zhen State, can't she be an envoy?!"

Qin Shuhuai didn't say anything else. He knew very well that if he continued talking, Zhao Yu would inevitably harass him and make him say some unpleasant and unpleasant words.

Zhao Yu has always been good at verbal disputes. Qin Shuhuai remained silent, and Zhao Yu smiled: "Qin Shuhuai, my sister is the eldest princess of this town, you are always unsure in your heart, right?"

"Ah Yu," Qin Peng's voice came from outside. Qin Shuhuai turned around suddenly and saw Qin Peng walking in with a smile on her face. She had a smile on her face, but the smile did not reach her eyes. She looked at Zhao Yu with a warning in her eyes: "Be careful with your words."

Zhao Yu smiled and didn't say much, but it was this look of "you all know it even if I don't tell you" that made people feel even more upset.

Qin Peng walked up to Qin Shuhuai and patted his hands as a soothing gesture: "I have packed everything, go check it out."

As she said this, she turned to look at Zhao Yu and said, "Don't make it difficult for him. Talk as soon as possible."

"The discussion in Beiyan has not been completed yet." Zhao Yu saw that it was Qin Peng who spoke, and immediately changed his expression. He said solemnly and respectfully: "Sister, please wait a moment."

The armistice agreement between the two countries came out at short notice, which was naturally very troublesome. In addition, Zhao Yu himself was injured, so Qin Peng did not feel anxious. He even hoped that the agreement would come later so that Zhao Yu could recuperate.

So Qin Peng nodded and said to Qin Shuhuai, "Why don't I take charge of this matter? You should go back and deal with Zhang Ying."

"But……"

"You don't trust me?" Qin Peng looked up at him, her face solemn: "Since I am already the eldest princess of Qi, I will naturally correct my status and negotiate with you. I will never show favoritism in the slightest."

"I know you won't show favoritism..."

"So what are you worried about?"

Qin Shuhuai didn't say anything. He opened his mouth but said nothing.

Qin Peng knew that he was a taciturn person, so he sighed and said, "Tell me what you really think."

"What if you don't come back?"

Qin Shuhuai finally spoke and looked up at her: "If I leave you here, what if you run away again?"

Qin Peng didn't expect this to be the reason. After a moment's pause, she reacted and didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "I am now the eldest princess of Qi. Where can I go? The headquarters will follow A Yu."

He was just worried that Zhao Yu would abduct her away.

But he couldn't say that.

Now he had finally managed to ease the relationship between him and Qin Peng. Qin Peng had also been tolerant many times regarding Zhao Yu.

In fact, he also understood that Zhao Yu was Qin Peng's younger brother after all, and there had to be a limit to his jealousy. He couldn't expect Qin Peng and Zhao Yu to sever their relationship.

If one could say that Qin Peng and Zhao Yu were too close in the past, now that he was between them and he was the one doing even things like feeding them, it really couldn't be said that there was anything wrong with it. If he still had something to say, it would be a bit too overbearing.

But he looked at Zhao Yu and felt something was wrong. He felt depressed but couldn't tell why. After holding it in for a long time, Qin Peng spoke first, "I'll go check on A-Yu's medicine. Don't worry about anything else."

After saying that, Qin Peng walked out, leaving only him and Zhao Yu in the room. Zhao Yu propped up his head and looked at him, saying with a smile: "Hurry up and leave. After you leave, I will take my sister back to Beiyan."

"She is now the eldest princess of Qi."

"She is the Princess of Beiyan!"

Zhao Yu raised his voice suddenly.

Qin Shuhuai looked at him. The young man's eyes were too persistent and too scorching. He suddenly understood where his sense of crisis about Zhao Yu came from.

He is the same as him.

Looking at Zhao Yu's eyes, Qin Shuhuai felt as if he saw the truest self in his heart. He used calmness to disguise this enthusiasm, but Zhao Yu was always naked and undisguised to express his possessiveness and love.

No matter what kind of feelings he had - for Zhao Peng, he equated letting go with giving up his life.

Such people...

Qin Shuhuai asked himself, if he were Zhao Yu, if he put himself in his shoes, he would do anything, even if it meant kidnapping, to take Qin Peng back to Beiyan.

His heart gradually calmed down, and he met Zhao Yu's gaze with a chill in his voice: "Are you determined to take her back to Beiyan?"

"What do you think?"

Zhao Yu responded with the same seriousness and coldness: "Since I have found her, I will not let her live alone outside. You Nanqi has become such a mess, Qin Shuhuai, you insisted on bringing her south and killed her, and now you are still unwilling to let her go, and want her to suffer with you in Nanqi?"

"Won't she suffer if you were in Beiyan?"

Qin Shuhuai said sarcastically: "There are more than 50 people from Beiyan. Have you settled them all?"

"You don't have to worry about that," Zhao Yu said calmly, "At least, in Beiyan, there will never be someone like Zhang Ying who dares to touch me. Qin Shuhuai, if you have any sympathy for her, you should let her return to my homeland with me."

"Beiyan is her home..."

"It's Qi State." Qin Shuhuai interrupted him, suppressing the anger provoked by Zhao Yu: "I am her husband, and her home is with me!"

"Are you worthy?"

Zhao Yu laughed sarcastically.

That smile reminded Qin Shuhuai of the year Zhao Peng died. He knelt in front of Zhao Yu, who held Zhao Peng's body and said coldly, "You don't deserve it."

He knew that Zhao Yu was provoking him.

This young man has had the ability to see through people's hearts like a monster since he was young. He can always find your weakest link and then strike hard.

For Qin Shuhuai, the most painful memory is the time when Zhao Peng died because of his incompetence and he tried his best but failed.

Now Zhao Yu cut it open with a knife, letting him see the bloodiest side.

Qin Shuhuai knew his trick, but he couldn't help but feel emotional. However, his face remained indifferent, as if he was not disturbed at all.

Zhao Yu looked at him with a smile, and her eyes seemed to see into his heart.

"Did you ever doubt your decision?" He looked at him lazily, "Did she owe you anything? No, right? It's just that you were willing to like her and love her. Because you liked her, you took her south, and then you couldn't protect her, so you watched her suffer to despair, and fed her fangs under her pleading."

Qin Shuhuai couldn't listen any more and turned away. Zhao Yu didn't even raise her voice and said calmly, "Is it still the same now?" Qin Shuhuai paused and spoke slowly, "It's different now than it was back then."

"Different? What's different?" Zhao Yu laughed out loud. "When I was about to ascend the throne, she had wealth and glory at her fingertips, while your Nanqi was in chaos and you had a hard time as a hostage. Now I am firmly on the throne, and as long as she comes back, everything she once wanted can be realized immediately. But in your Nanqi, the little emperor Zhang Ying and Li Shu are fighting to the death with you. You let her get between you and that child, and between you and Zhang Ying. What are you planning to do?"

"I will protect her."

Qin Shuhuai closed his eyes. He had to admit that every word Zhao Yu said hit the nail on the head.

Qin Peng had never brought up these things to embarrass him. He knew it, but he didn't want to think about it too much.

Returning to Beiyan might be the best choice for Qin Peng, but he can't let go.

Zhao Yu lay on the bed, stroking the jade bracelet on his hand, and lowered his eyes: "That's what you said back then."

“It’s different now!”

"What's the difference!"

Zhao Yu turned around without showing any weakness and raised his voice: "Have you found out what happened back then? Have you found out all the details of her murder? Do you know how much Zhang Ying can do? Do you know whether you and Li Shu will be enemies in the future? Do you know when Nanqi can be stable?!"

"Qin Shuhuai, words are always meaningless."

Zhao Yu stared at him coldly: "You were able to deceive her once when she was 19 years old. I want to see if you can deceive her a second time."

Qin Shuhuai didn't say anything. They just stared at each other coldly, neither of them giving in.

Qin Peng came over with the medicine and said outside: "I asked Wu Li to change the recipe. It's not so bitter now. Ah Yu, you can try it."

As soon as he heard Qin Peng's voice, Zhao Yu softened his expression, lay on the couch, and said in a gentle voice: "I'll try it."

Qin Peng walked in holding the medicine and saw Qin Shuhuai standing there in a daze. He looked at him in surprise and said, "Why are you standing here? Go pack your things."

"Um."

Qin Shuhuai lowered his eyes, turned around and left. Zhao Yu looked at Qin Peng walking over and said with a smile: "Sister, do you want to go back to Yandu to take a look..."

Qin Shuhuai didn't listen to the rest. He walked out the door in a daze. Zhao Yi couldn't help but say, "Prince..."

“Am I particularly selfish?”

Qin Shuhuai was a little confused when he spoke: "But what can I do? What can I do? I can't let go, I can't help it."

"I tried to let her go, but she came back."

"If she didn't leave with Liu Shuyan, I would never want to let her go."

"My Lord," Zhao Yi sighed, "You should believe in the princess's feelings for you, and you should also believe in your own abilities."

"What if she dies again in my arms?"

Qin Shuhuai raised his eyes to look at Zhao Yi, his voice filled with fear that he himself was not aware of: "If I force her to stay, what if she dies again?"

"My Lord," Zhao Yi said helplessly, "You have said so much, but can you let the princess go back to Beiyan?"

Qin Shuhuai said nothing.

"Understand this, that's enough."

Zhao Yi said gently: "You won't let go."

"Yes," Qin Shuhuai's expression gradually turned cold: "I won't let go, no matter what."

While Qin Shuhuai was packing up in the room, Zhao Yu was chatting with Qin Peng in the room.

"Sister, will you accompany me back to Yandu?"

"How can I do this?" Qin Peng looked up at him and fed him medicine, with a bitter look on his face: "I am Qin Peng now. If I leave, who will take on the responsibilities that should have belonged to Qin Peng?"

"What responsibility?" Zhao Yu frowned. "Do you really want to assist Qin Ming in becoming emperor?"

"Ayu..." Qin Peng sighed, "I am already Qin Peng."

"I'm your brother!"

Zhao Yu was a little excited when he heard what Qin Peng said: "Who is Qin Ming? He has been with you for a few years, and he..."

Before he could finish his words, Zhao Yu started coughing rapidly. Qin Peng hurriedly handed him a handkerchief. Zhao Yu covered his mouth with the handkerchief, which was bleeding. Qin Peng panicked and quickly called a doctor, but Zhao Yu stubbornly held her back.

"Come back with me..."

He stopped coughing and looked up at Qin Peng, his eyes full of stubbornness: "Sister, you are the eldest princess of Beiyan. You want the responsibilities of Nanqi, but you don't want Beiyan anymore?"

As he spoke, he could not help but use his strength: "Back then you abandoned me, abandoned Northern Yan, and went to Southern Qi. What was the outcome? Do you still need me to tell you? Now you are still obsessed with it. Do you have to die again before you will stop?!"

Qin Peng opened her mouth, but when she looked into Zhao Yu's eyes, she couldn't say anything.

If time could go back once, if she knew the solution earlier, would she really be so resolute as to abandon Zhao Yu and go to Southern Qi?

If she knew that her going to Southern Qi would be an obstacle to Qin Shuhuai, her death would be meaningless, and her brother would be alone on a path of no return because of her departure, would she still choose to leave?

Now she seems to be back to the age of 19, and she has to choose again.

She looked into Zhao Yu's eyes and was unable to speak for a moment. Zhao Yu looked at her hesitation and slowly let go of her hand.

"Even if you miss Nanqi, at least accompany me to Beiyan for a visit."

His voice softened: "Qin Shuhuai's backyard caught fire, and I'm not much better, but now I don't dare to go back. Sister," he pleaded in his eyes: "Protect me back, okay?"

When Zhao Yu said this, Qin Peng reacted immediately.

Zhao Yu has been staying at the front line, not because he manages Beiyan well, but because he is now too seriously injured. If he goes back rashly, he might "die of illness".

Without someone who can do things around him, without someone who can make him close his eyes in peace, Zhao Yu's life is difficult.

"Where's Bai Huai? Where's Bai Zhi? Where's Xia Hou Yan?"

Qin Peng asked a series of questions, and Zhao Yu looked at her and said slowly: "I only trust you."

"There are tens of thousands of people in the world, but I can only trust you."

"When you were away, I lived cautiously and took every step with difficulty. Sister, if you want to be Qin Peng, I will let you be. As long as you are the Princess of Beiyan, there will be no war between Beiyan and Qi as long as I live. But today, I beg you to protect me for a while."

Zhao Yu rarely asked her for help.

The last time he asked her to stay, she abandoned him. She thought they would meet again one day, but she didn't expect that it would almost be a farewell forever.

This time he asked her for help, and she couldn't refuse him for both emotional and logical reasons.

She took a deep breath and nodded: "Okay, I'll take you back. What's the current situation in Beiyan?"

"Same as Qin Shuhuai."

Zhao Yu lowered his voice and said, "The sooner we return, the better. But this matter involves the confidentiality of Northern Yan, and Southern Qi must not know about it. If Qi knows about it, we will lose the opportunity to negotiate."

After hearing this, Qin Peng was speechless for a moment.

Zhao Yu said this just after she volunteered to be the main negotiator. However, as soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Yu raised her head and said with a smile: "I know that even if you know this, you still have your own standards in your heart."

"About this matter," Qin Peng pondered for a moment, "why don't you talk to Qin Shuhuai about it?"

"good."

Zhao Yu also felt that he could not delay any longer, and immediately said, "Why don't I sign a contract with him privately today, and then go back and convince my own court officials. Let's do it on our own."

Qin Peng nodded and said to him, "I'll go discuss it with him."

Qin Peng went back to find Qin Shuhuai with Zhao Yu's instructions. Qin Shuhuai had already packed his things and was reading documents.

"When do you leave?"

Qin Peng smiled and spoke. Qin Shuhuai lowered his head to look at the book and said calmly, "Tomorrow."

Seeing Qin Shuhuai's condition, Qin Peng smiled, walked over to Qin Shuhuai, squatted beside him and said, "Are you angry with A-Yu again?"

Qin Shuhuai held the book in his hand, paused, then slowly raised his head and looked at Qin Peng. After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked, "Do you... regret it?"

"What do you regret?" Qin Peng sat down, holding his chin up and looking at him: "What are you being pretentious about, Mr. Qin? Why don't you tell me?"

Qin Shuhuai was not amused by her frivolous words. He carefully considered his words and said slowly, "When you accompanied me back to Southern Qi..."

Qin Peng understood what he meant before he finished speaking. However, the moment Qin Peng's expression expressed it, Qin Shuhuai immediately understood her mood.

He then said, "Nothing."

Qin Peng didn't say anything. She was not good at talking, but the truth was really hurtful when she spoke it out.

Finally, she could only hold Qin Shuhuai's hand and slowly said, "Don't always look at the past, look forward."

"Whether I regret it or not, I followed you back then."

"Just like whether I like it or not," she looked up at him with a smile in her eyes, "I have to accompany you."

"You mean I forced it?"

“It’s forced.”

Qin Peng smiled brightly, and stopped Qin Shuhuai from speaking the next second.

“But I think maybe there’s nothing wrong with that.”