Chapter 191: War breaks out outside the Great Wall
Jingcheng did not expect that Meng Yuan would come to Li's house.
However, no matter how surprised she was, now was not the right time to recognize him, so her gaze did not linger on Meng Yuan for long. She just bowed and saluted, saying, "Third Prince, Sixth Prince."
Then he silently set up the chessboard one by one.
Meng Ze only had eyes for beautiful women, so logically he shouldn't have noticed Jing Cheng. However, after seeing Li Qiu Sheng just told him not to act like a spoiled child, he couldn't help but glance at her curiously.
With her ordinary appearance, she is not as agile and diligent as ordinary servants when doing work. If she is to be a maid, she is not smart enough, and if she is to be a concubine, her appearance is too shabby.
In Meng Ze's opinion, Li Qiu Sheng is handsome and no ordinary man. No matter how beautiful a woman is, he is not worthy of her, and it is not that he has never seen a better one.
Before Ning Zhenyuan took control of Liangzhou, the Li family was considered a well-known figure in Liangzhou, and he should be the one to choose the women in Liangzhou.
Meng Ze couldn't help but wonder. For a moment, he just felt that these people had unique tastes. Meng Yuan was like this, and so was Li Qiu Sheng. The women around them were all ugly.
"This maidservant of Lord Li's is kept by his side to serve him, right?" Meng Ze joked. Anyone with a discerning eye would understand what he meant. It was obvious that he could see that the maidservant's job was not as good as that of an ordinary servant, so they would guess that the maidservant was not doing odd jobs in the mansion, but was there specifically to serve Li Qiu Sheng.
Li Qiu Sheng did not deny it.
Jing Cheng felt a little guilty. She glanced at Meng Yuan from the corner of her eye and saw the man take out a chess piece and hand the chess box to her, saying calmly, "Hold it."
This was clearly an excuse to keep her here.
Now at Li's house, Jing Cheng turned his head to ask Li Qiu Sheng what he thought.
Meng Yuan paused in thought, then looked up at her indifferently.
Li Qiusheng smiled and said, "Since the Third Prince wants you to serve him, then stay and serve him."
He added, "Chun Jin doesn't usually serve others. If I have offended the Third Prince, I hope the Third Prince will understand."
Meng Ze smiled and said, "It's just asking her to hold a chess box. Why is Lord Li so nervous? Can my third brother eat Miss Chun Jin?"
Li Qiu Sheng said: "She has been with me since she was little, and I usually spoil her, so she is a little unruly..."
Meng Yuan said calmly: "Really? I think Miss Chun is very well behaved."
Jingcheng nodded in her heart like a chicken pecking at rice, that's right, my man will still speak for me.
Li Qiu Sheng smiled but said nothing.
"Lord Li, please." Meng Yuan made a gesture of invitation.
The two of them began to play. Originally, Li Qiu Sheng wanted to give in to him, but gradually he felt a little tired. He frowned and looked at the man who was playing the game with him.
Meng Yuan was wearing black, which made him look even more taciturn. He lowered his head and looked at the chessboard, as if he was thinking hard about how to defeat him. However, Li Qiu Sheng inexplicably saw that he was at ease.
Jing Cheng was so fascinated by the scene that he pointed to a seat for Li Qiu Sheng and said, "Master Li, sit here."
Meng Ze was not very good at playing chess, so he smiled and said, "Ms. Chun Jin knows how to play chess."
"I'm curious about everything and learn a little bit from others." Li Qiu Sheng came to her rescue and followed her words.
Afterwards, he felt that Meng Yuan's approach became more ruthless and decisive.
After just over twenty moves, he was at a disadvantage and lost the game.
Li Qiu Sheng narrowed his eyes and looked up at Meng Yuan. He always felt that the man wanted him to lose on purpose, but he didn't show it on his face. He smiled and said, "Third Prince is a great chess player. I am convinced."
"It's a coincidence." Meng Yuan said lightly, glanced sideways and threw a chess piece in his hand into the chess box.
Meng Ze thought that Li Qiu Sheng was being modest on purpose and didn't think much about it. He smiled and said, "Third brother, your chess skills seem to have improved a lot."
Li Qiu Sheng was such a proud person, and now he had helped me, so he would be unhappy if he lost. Jing Cheng thought about it and said, "Master Li's chess skills are also remarkable."
Meng Yuan glanced at her.
How could Li Qiu Sheng not understand what she meant? She was afraid that his self-esteem would be hurt, but in front of power, people would be so inflexible. In Liangzhou, he was considered a child of destiny, but in Beijing, he was just a son of an ordinary family, with the title of top scholar.
He couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth.
Next, Meng Ze had something to discuss with Li Qiu Sheng. Meng Yuan was a person who didn't like to get involved, so he walked out of the study first. Jing Cheng was a maid, so naturally it was not appropriate for her to stay any longer.
Li Qiu Sheng told Li Bo to follow as well.
Meng Yuan was leaning on a crutch, standing with his back to her, admiring the willow trees by the lake.
"Your Highness, would you like some tea?" Jing Cheng said standing aside.
Meng Yuan glanced at Li Bo and said casually: "How is my chess skill?"
"Outstanding." Jingcheng gave a thumbs up.
"How does he compare to Lord Li?" he asked absentmindedly.
Jing Cheng paused. He was a little unhappy, which was different from his usual indifferent appearance. A long time ago, she had imagined that if she disappeared, would he be anxious and would he no longer be able to maintain his calm appearance?
The result is obvious, he can't, and he will be jealous.
Jingcheng said quickly: "Your Highness is hard, so of course Your Highness is powerful." In her heart, he will always be the most powerful.
Meng Yuan didn't seem to care much, and he didn't let Jing Cheng follow him. There was just a smile in his eyes that flashed across his face.
Jingcheng was standing not far away.
She couldn't talk to him, but she was very happy to see him.
Meng Ze didn't stay in the study for long. Now that they had finished their discussion, he and Meng Yuan left.
Jingcheng was very reluctant to leave, she knew it was not easy to see him once.
Meng Yuan turned around and saw Jing Cheng biting her lip, trying to endure her reluctance.
He tightened his grip on the cane and then turned back as if nothing had happened.
In the carriage, Meng Ze smiled and said, "I heard that Father checked everyone around my third brother."
"Father is worried about the conflicts between brothers, so he is naturally more vigilant." Meng Yuan said indifferently.
Meng Ze stared at him carefully for a moment, then retracted his gaze and said, "Third brother is upright and honest, so he naturally doesn't worry about Father investigating this matter. Unlike Fourth brother, he would be alarmed at the slightest sign of trouble. Now that Father is about to appoint a crown prince, I'm afraid there will be some trouble."
"It's not done yet, Sixth Brother, you'd better be careful with your words and actions." Meng Yuan looked at him, "Fourth Brother is not as cold-blooded as you think."
In Meng Ze's opinion, there was no difference between how he treated himself and Meng Che, and he was foolishly still caring about the brotherhood. However, there was no need for him to offend him now, and when he ascended the throne in the future, he would naturally not keep him.
He would not keep anyone who had any dealings with Meng Che.
"He also has dealings with the Hu people, you know that. What does he think he can fight for as a traitor?" Meng Ze said with a smile, "If father had not been afraid of the dominance of Prince Xuan's Palace, he would have dealt with him long ago." But he did not completely stop Prince Xuan's Palace.
Meng Yuan raised his eyes and saw the figure of the coachman outside the carriage.
"Fourth brother may have something to hide." Meng Yuan said after a moment of silence.
Meng Ze sneered in his heart but said nothing.
The two of them went from the Third Prince's Mansion to the Li Mansion in Meng Yuan's carriage, and now they arrived at Meng Yuan's Mansion first. After he left, Meng Yuan glanced at the coachman and returned to the study.
"Meng Ze dares to talk about the issue of establishing a crown prince so blatantly, even to the point of not avoiding people. I guess the emperor has already set a date." said the aides.
Meng Yuan was silent and thoughtful.
"Do you need to find someone to inform His Majesty the Fourth Prince?"
"He will naturally be informed now that he has been placed there." Meng Yuan said indifferently. The coachman was placed by Emperor Jingwen beside him, and he was also working for Meng Che.
Emperor Jingwen's condition was getting worse day by day, and the people around him naturally began to look for a new master.
And he just happened to need the existence of such a spy, so that he wouldn't have to convey some information, and it would also give the other party a chance to keep an eye on him, so that if anything happened, he could be eliminated.
Meng Yuan intentionally brought this coachman with him today. Firstly, it was to convey the message to Meng Che, and secondly, this man had to go to see Meng Che at night and would not be able to keep an eye on him. He would be able to leave the Prince's Mansion tonight, and in order not to expose the fact that he was serving two masters, he would definitely inform Emperor Jingwen that he had not made any unusual moves.
Meng Yuan must leave the Prince's Mansion today.
Jingcheng woke up when she heard a slight noise at night.
A figure stood in front of her window.
Jingcheng breathed softly. She already knew who it was and her heart leaped with joy.
"Shh." Meng Yuan reached out and covered her lips.
Jingcheng had already stood up and threw herself into his arms. She couldn't help crying. She missed him very much.
In the dark night, they held each other tightly.
"I knew you would come to see me tonight." Jingcheng said, so she waited for a long time and later couldn't help falling asleep.
Meng Yuan stroked her face, and when he realized she was crying, he paused, then patiently wiped her tears.
In fact, when Jingcheng saw Meng Yuan for the first time, she knew that he was not here to see her, but to scout the place. As long as he knew her identity, he would be able to find her.
As for why tonight.
"I showed my reluctance to leave," Jingcheng said. So he came.
"Well." Meng Yuan said in a deep voice, "Do you want to go back with me tonight?" Although it is dangerous, there is a way to solve the problem. It just requires some risk.
Jingcheng shook his head and said, "Now that I have finally faked my death, maybe it is safer now. When you are done, come pick me up."
"Okay." Meng Yuan rested his forehead against hers. He had a thousand words to say to her. He was glad that she was still alive and hoped that she would not do such things in the future. But in the end, he just lowered his head to find her lips.
Meng Yuan has always been superficial in this matter and never shown overly enthusiastic, but now is an exception. His thoughts are about to overflow.
Jingcheng's tears fell even harder.
She would never again expect to see him, who was usually calm, experience such emotional fluctuations as pain.
"Kiss me back." Meng Yuan said.
He, too, needed to be sure of her feelings.
Li Qiu Sheng made him feel a little wary, because he was so handsome, talented, and had a good leg.
When Jingcheng heard the voice, she couldn't be more excited.
Meng Yuan smiled, his uneasiness disappeared, he stroked her face, then let her go and said: "When did you and Li Qiu Sheng meet?"
Jingcheng lowered her head guiltily.
"Well, it doesn't matter." Meng Yuan said when he saw her like this.
"Why"
You are as guilty as if I were your husband, so it doesn’t matter. He trusts her completely and is very sure of her feelings.
Meng Yuan is devoted to her, so how could she let him down? Only a heartless man would not be cherished.
Jing Cheng was unwilling to hide it from him. After thinking it over, she told Meng Yuan the truth about her acquaintance with Li Qiu Sheng.
The man was neither impatient nor unhappy. Even when she and Li Qiusheng slept together, he only frowned: "It was understandable that she did it to save her life."
"Aren't you angry?" Jing Cheng said.
"As long as you're alive, these things won't make me angry." Meng Yuan said, "You won't betray me."
"That's right! I will never betray you." Jingcheng said like a puppy.
Meng Yuan pondered for a moment, handed her a letter, and said: "Give this to Li Qiu Sheng."
"What is it"
"Thank him for the reward for taking you in." And, let him learn to keep his distance from Jingcheng.
"You want to use him?" Jingcheng asked curiously.
Li Qiusheng is indeed a useful talent. Meng Yuan said: "Do you know what the end of spring means?"
Jingcheng was a little confused.
Meng Yuan did not dwell on this topic, and knew: "If you want to see me, tell Uncle Li."
No wonder he asked her that in front of Uncle Li during the day.
Jingcheng was not surprised. Li's father had worked for Prince Xuan's Mansion before, so it was not surprising that Meng Yuan had placed people in Li's Mansion. He was only ten years old, but he looked like an experienced person.
"I think of you every day." Jing Cheng's eyes sparkled as she whispered, "I think of you every moment."
Even the coldest man can't help but smile when hearing these sweet words.
Meng Yuan lowered his head and kissed her again.
"It's good for you to be the emperor. In the future, my son can become the crown prince." Jingcheng said.
"Well, your son is naturally the prince." Meng Yuan said.
Jingcheng curled her eyes.
The two said goodbye reluctantly.
"Just now I realized that you like me so much." Jingcheng said, it turns out that women still have to listen to sweet words.
"I have to go." Meng Yuan said.
"Okay." Jingcheng said.
Meng Yuan stroked her face, but finally hesitated for a moment before turning around and leaving.
As for Prince Xuan's palace, Ning Fu was just waiting for the day when the war outside the Great Wall would break out.
Zong Si was finally busy during this period, and when he came back at night, he finally had some peace and quiet.
But even when he was quiet, he never went to the study. From the time they got married until now, they have never slept separately.
"It's time to appoint a crown prince. The Moon Palace is busy, so I'm afraid I won't be able to return home tomorrow or the day after tomorrow." Zong Si said while hugging her.
"It can't stand." Nymph said.
"Yeah." Zong Si didn't care. Maybe it was because she had said it many times, "The emperor vomited blood recently."
"In the previous life, Your Majesty, you and I were still alive three years after we got married." Nymph said.
"Some things will always change." Zong Si thought for a moment and said, "Maybe your brother's matter will change too."
"I hope so." Nymph forced a smile.
"No matter what, if I was a murderer in the last life, my brother-in-law should be safe in this life." Zong Si teased her.
Ning Fu wondered if this war had anything to do with the appointment of a crown prince. In his previous life, Zong Si did not wholeheartedly support Meng Ze as the crown prince. Was this war related to him?
The matter of appointing a crown prince was not put on the agenda because of the wars breaking out outside the Great Wall.
General Ye Shengye was not prepared at the time and was defeated. Ning Zheng led his team in a desperate fight and was able to barely stabilize the situation.
The King of Jin also sent troops to respond, but was still unable to defeat Northern Qi for a while.
The war dragged on for several months.
Emperor Jingwen was furious and scolded all the important officials in the court. Finally, he waved his hand and sent Prince Zong Si of Xuanwang Palace to take charge.
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