"I don't know how the Right Army Commander has time to disguise himself and come to Jiyang?"
He Yan thought, was he discovered? From the tone of voice, it seemed that he had not just discovered it.
Looking at Xiao Jue again, he was not surprised at all. He just smiled lazily and said calmly, "Is this how Your Highness treats your lifesaver? Are you going to bring an army to punish him?"
"They are guilty," Mu Hongjin said coldly, "You are not innocent either. The purpose of coming to my Jiyang cannot be to see how I am doing."
"It seems that His Highness is doing well," Xiao Jue raised his eyebrows, "but the situation of other people in Jiyang City is not certain."
Mu Hongjin sat on the high seat, staring at Xiao Jue for a while, and suddenly smiled. With this smile, the cold and unbearable look she had just had melted away a lot. She leaned back, leaned against the cushion, and casually pointed to the guest chair beside her, "Sit down, don't say that I neglected the guest who came from afar."
He Yan thanked him and sat down with Xiao Jue on the seat beside him.
This is the Princess of Mengji, Mu Hongjin. When He Yan's eyes fell on her, he always felt that she was different from what he had imagined. Before arriving in Jiyang, He Yan's idea of the Princess of Mengji was that she was older, kind, dignified, and steady. Later, he guessed that she might be an old acquaintance of Liu Buwang, so he thought that she might be a cheerful and loyal person. But he did not expect that the real Mu Hongjin was so beautiful and powerful, domineering and willful.
"Your Highness..." He Yan hesitated for a moment before asking, "When did you find out?"
"Do you think it's so easy to enter Jiyang City? Or do you think I'm just a decoration and can't even see this?" Mu Hongjin stroked a clear ruby ring on her finger and said calmly, "I've known it since the first day you entered the city. Just because that idiot Cui Yuezhi couldn't see it doesn't mean everyone is as stupid as him. I was waiting to see what you were going to do, but since you saved Xiaolou, I don't want to play tricks with you anymore."
She looked at Xiao Jue and said, "Come on, Commander Xiao, what are you doing in Jiyang City?"
"I came here to look for someone." Xiao Jue said, "His name is Chai Anxi, he used to be a subordinate of my father. He disappeared after the Battle of Mingshui. I found out his whereabouts and he was in Jiyang. But I haven't found him yet. As for the Cuiwei Pavilion where he was hiding, it was burned down half a month ago." He raised the corner of his mouth slightly, "Since Your Highness already knows the identities of our group, please help. I think with Your Highness's help, it won't be difficult to find someone in Jiyang City."
Mu Hongjin's smile faded slightly. "Commander Xiao had expected this day to come, and planned to use me to do things for you, right?"
Xiao Jue smiled faintly.
"You are so brave!"
He Yan was secretly shocked. They were now in Mu Hongjin's territory and they didn't have any soldiers with them. Xiao Jue, on the other hand, not only did he not keep a low profile, he even dared to say a word to Mu Hongjin. This attitude of asking others to do something for him was too much for He Yan, not to mention Mu Hongjin.
The young man said casually, "There are Wutuo people sneaking into Jiyang City. Your Highness must be very distressed these days. Chai Anxi may have clues about the Wutuo people. Your Highness, if you help me, you are helping yourself."
Mu Hongjin stared at him: "Why should I trust you?"
"I believe I have nothing to lose." Xiao Jue said calmly, "It also depends on what your Highness is most worried about at the moment."
The hall was silent for a moment, and then the sound of applause began to rang out. Mu Hongjin clapped his hands intermittently, staring at Xiao Jue with an expression that was hard to tell whether it was jealousy or admiration. He said, "General Feng Yun is indeed worthy of his reputation. Even if he doesn't become a military commander, he can still do well as a counselor."
"Your Highness, thank you."
Mu Hongjin stood up and said, "You are right. Wutuo people have infiltrated Jiyang City. I have indeed been worried about this for a long time. But how can you prove that the person you are looking for knows the clues of Wutuo people?"
"It has always been easy to leave Jiyang City but difficult to enter. Chai Anxi has been in Jiyang for many years, and Wutuo people entered Jiyang as if there were no one there. There must be a connection. In your palace, someone among the officials of Jiyang colluded with the outside thieves, leaving loopholes in the passage of Jiyang City. It must be the work of one person. Whether it is Chai Anxi or Wutuo people, they all entered the city with the help of internal thieves." Xiao Jue said calmly: "What your highness needs to do is to eliminate the internal thieves, but with your current ability, it is already barely enough."
Mu Hongjin smiled: "Oh? Why am I so reluctant?"
“Because of the small building.”
Mu Hongjin's smile faded.
He Yan understood what Xiao Jue meant. After the death of the wife of King Mengji, at least he left behind a son, so he could still sit on the throne of the vassal king. But after the death of his son, only a granddaughter was left, and the granddaughter is still young. Although women can inherit the throne of the vassal king and become princesses, if it was really that simple, Mu Hongjin would not have been married to the son of an important official of the court by the old King Mengji to consolidate his power.
The huge palace was supported by only two women and a pair of grandparents. With so many people eyeing the palace, internal and external troubles, Mu Hongjin might not be as relaxed as she looked.
"Commander Xiao is very observant," Mu Hongjin sighed, "Since my son passed away, people in Jiyang City have been uneasy. Xiaolou is still young and cannot take on the responsibility. The noble families have already split up and become independent. It is easy for them to take advantage of the situation. However," she paused and looked at Xiao Jue again, "If Wu sends someone to Jiyang, I am afraid that the situation in the Central Plains of Wei will not be stable either."
"Your Highness, I think that's a good idea."
"So," Mu Hongjin raised his chin slightly, "Do you want to join forces with me?"
"If Your Highness is willing," Xiao Jue slightly curled his lips, "I would be happy to do so."
Mu Hongjin nodded: "I will have people search for Chai Anxi's whereabouts in the city. If he is alive, and he is still alive, no matter how he hides, I promise you that I will find him. However, you have to promise me," a cunning look flashed in her eyes, "It is said that General Feng Yun is a master of military strategy and has great foresight. You and I must work together to solve the dilemma of the Wutuo people in Jiyang City."
This time, she used "I" instead of "this palace", which means that she put herself and Xiao Jue on an equal footing to seek cooperation.
Xiao Jue nodded: "Definitely."
Having said that, Mu Hongjin's face gradually lost its initial inhumanity, and she even showed a friendly smile, "Cui Yuezhi asked you to come all the way to the palace, and waited in the outer hall for a long time, I guess you didn't have any meals. Since you are here, have a meal before leaving. Change your clothes in the small building, so that I can thank you in person." She looked at He Yan again, her eyes flashing with interest, "But I didn't expect that Governor Xiao would choose to come to Jiyang as a married man. Is this person... your lover?"
He Yan almost choked on his own saliva. He knew that people from Jiyang would speak frankly and directly, but he was still a little surprised that even the princess was so direct.
Xiao Jue glanced at her and said calmly, "No, she is my subordinate."
"Subordinates?" Mu Hongjin smiled and said, "But I heard from Yuezhi that you all went to the Water God Festival together yesterday, walked across the Lover's Bridge, got wind for her, and rode the Fire Boat. With Commander Xiao's personality, a subordinate would not be so accommodating. And as a subordinate, the request he made is a bit too bold."
He Yan pondered in her heart, the deep meaning behind these words was that she should be more restrained in the future. After thinking for a while, she bowed and said respectfully: "He Yan will listen to your instructions, Your Highness, and will be careful with her words and actions in the future, and will not cause trouble for the governor."
Mu Hongjin was stunned for a moment, then looked at Xiao Jue: "He is really a subordinate."
Xiao Jue was speechless for a moment, then said calmly, "My men are stupid and stupid, and I'm ashamed of myself, Your Highness."
"Nothing, it's your business." Mu Hongjin stroked her hair and said, "I will go find Cui Yuezhi first and ask him to find someone for you. You two wait here for a while."
Having said this, he stood up from the high seat and slowly disappeared behind the hall.
He Yan waited until she left before he heaved a sigh of relief. He didn't know why, but when facing this Princess Mengji, he always felt that he couldn't relax too much. Maybe it was because her aura was too strong, making it difficult for people to ignore her.
"Commander-in-chief, why did you admit it so quickly?" He Yan touched Xiao Jue's elbow, "Don't even try to explain yourself."
Xiao Jue sneered: "Not everyone is a liar like you."
He Yan shrugged and changed the subject, "But this Mengji Queen is really amazing. She discovered it the moment we entered the city."
"I didn't intend to hide it from him." Xiao Jue said nonchalantly, "Cui Yuezhi could still be perfunctory, but it's not that easy to deceive a woman who can keep Jiyang City stable by herself."
"Well," He Yan agreed with his words, "Women are not easy to deceive when they are not emotional."
But if you fall in love with someone and trust someone, it is very easy to be deceived.
Xiao Jue glanced at her and said slowly, "But some women are not only not easily deceived, but also like to deceive people."
He Yan: “…”
She said, "It's meaningless if you say that. Who lied to you?"
As he was speaking, a maid from the palace came in and said, "Please follow me, Your Highness invites you to have dinner in the banquet hall."
Only then did He Yan and Xiao Jue go to the banquet hall.
The banquet hall of the palace was also very large. Although the walls and ceiling were painted with colorful paintings and the floor was covered with brightly colored carpets, there were only a few people at the long tables, so it still felt cold and empty. The gorgeous emptiness made people feel even more lonely.
Mu Hongjin sat on the small couch at the long table and said, "Sit down."
He Yan and Xiao Jue sat down at the table as instructed.
"I don't know what you like to eat, just be casual." Mu Hongjin seemed a little tired, leaning against the cushion, "I asked Cui Yuezhi to go back first. It's not convenient to talk with him here."
Cui Yuezhi still doesn't know the identities of Xiao Jue and the other two, which does cause him a lot of inconvenience.
The food in the Wang Mansion was actually similar to the food in the Cui Mansion. However, He Yan was not very particular about food, as long as there was something to eat, he was fine. He thanked her immediately and picked up the chopsticks with reserve. He also remembered that the person in front of him was the Princess of Mengji, so he could not be too presumptuous, so he ate more politely.
Mu Hongjin looked at Xiao Jue and asked, "Commander Xiao, if Wu sent someone to infiltrate Jiyang, what was their purpose?"
"Da Wei."
These words made He Yan stop drinking the soup, and he instantly felt that the delicious food had no taste.
"Once the Wutuo people gain power and capture Jiyang, the first thing they will do is cut off the canal transportation. Cities along the river will be affected, with no food and no money, merchants will go out of business, and the Central Plains will be in chaos. Then they will march north, enter the capital, and attack the imperial palace." He said calmly, "Nothing could be more natural than this."
Mu Hongjin was silent for a moment before saying, "Commander Xiao made it sound so easy to say such a shocking thing."
"Because it is about to happen." Xiao Jue said, "Not now, but as early as when my father fought against the Nanman Mingshui, the first signs were already revealed."
"Nanman?" This was the first time Mu Hongjin had heard of this matter. She asked in confusion, "What does it have to do with Nanman?"
"There is a traitor in the court. He colluded with the Nanman in the past. Unfortunately, the Nanman rebellion was suppressed. Wutuo is far away and has been peaceful in recent years. He has been secretly accumulating strength. Therefore, he changed his cooperation partner from Nanman to Wutuo. Jiyang is the first city he used to seek credit."
Mu Hongjin put his hand on his chest and frowned, saying, "Jiyang hasn't fought for many years."
"Allow me to add a few words," Xiao Jue asked, "How many troops are there in Jiyang City now?"
"Less than twenty thousand."
He Yan frowned when he heard this. Less than 20,000 was not a number that could make people feel at ease. You have to know that there are more than 20,000 people in Liangzhou Guards now.
"Doesn't Commander Xiao have soldiers from the Southern Prefecture under his command?" Mu Hongjin asked, "Can we transfer the soldiers from the Southern Prefecture to Jiyang?"
"It's too late." Xiao Jue said.
He Yan and Mu Hongjin were both startled. Mu Hongjin said coldly, "Isn't Commander Xiao just scaremongering?"
"Your Highness already knows the truth. If there was really no urgency," Xiao Jue said calmly, "Your Highness would not have been abducted during the Water God Festival."
Mu Xiaolou was part of their plan, but they happened to meet He Yan and his group, and the plan was disrupted. It is conceivable that if He Yan and his group had not shown up that day, Mu Xiaolou would have been successfully abducted. There would only be two results. The first one is that the rumor of the little princess' disappearance would spread, and the whole Jiyang City would be in a panic. The princess would no longer have an heir, and the people would be in chaos. The aristocratic families would make trouble, and the people hiding in the dark would take the opportunity to stir up trouble and directly take the throne. The second one is even simpler. They would use Mu Xiaolou as a bargaining chip to negotiate directly with Mu Hongjin. If Mu Hongjin loves this granddaughter, he would directly hand over the throne to her, and then the other party would be able to occupy the entire Jiyang City without a single soldier.
No matter which outcome, the current Jiyang City cannot afford it.
"What do you mean..." Mu Hongjin asked.
"Let's prepare for a fierce battle in advance." Xiao Jue replied.
This topic was too heavy, and everyone in the banquet hall was speechless for a moment. At this moment, a crisp voice rang out: "Grandma!"
It’s Mu Xiaolou.
Mu Xiaolou had changed her clothes. She was also wearing a bright red robe embroidered with golden lotuses, which was gorgeous and delicate. She did not wear a golden crown. Her two braids hung in front of her chest and she had a little headband on her forehead. She looked like Mu Hongjin in her childhood, a real foreign girl. However, compared to Mu Hongjin's domineering and beauty, Mu Xiaolou was more coquettish and arrogant.
After returning to the familiar palace, Mu Xiaolou was no longer as silent as she was in Cui's house. She ran over like a little bird, jumped onto Mu Hongjin's soft bed, snuggled up to her side, and said, "Grandma, why isn't Cui Zhongqi here?"
"Cui Zhongqi is in trouble." Mu Hongjin was much kinder when facing Mu Xiaolou. She smiled and touched her head, saying to her, "Your savior is here. Why don't you thank them quickly?"
Mu Xiaolou turned his head and looked at He Yan and Xiao Jue. After a while, he whispered, "Thank you for saving me."
It means that I can't let go of my pride.
He Yan didn't argue with her, but just asked Mu Hongjin: "How did the little prince fall into the hands of the bad guys that day? Could it be that the bad guys sneaked into the palace?"
If this is true, then those thieves are too bold.
Mu Hongjin looked at Mu Xiaolou and said, "You say it yourself."
"Nothing much." Mu Xiaolou glanced at his grandmother's face, and after a while, he said, "I wanted to go to the Water God Festival, but I didn't want the guards to follow me, so I left the house by myself. I met those people on the way, and they said they could help me take a fire boat. After I got on the boat, I drank some tea and couldn't move. Then I met you guys."
She said it lightly, probably because she was afraid of being blamed by Mu Hongjin. I think she had experienced many dangerous things. But it is normal for children of this age to be playful. Mu Hongjin only has this one granddaughter, so he must be very strict with her on weekdays, for fear of any accidents. It is understandable that the child wants to go out and play by herself.
It's just that my luck is really bad and I have been targeted by others for a long time.
"Thank you very much," Mu Hongjin sighed, "If anything happened to the small building, I don't know how I would survive."
"Your Highness, please don't say that. Your Highness is blessed by fate. Even if you don't meet us, you will meet someone else. You will be safe."
Hearing this, Mu Xiaolou muttered, "It wasn't you who saved me in the first place. It was an uncle who saved me." Then she looked at He Yan, "Isn't that uncle coming today? When can he come? Go back and tell him that I want to see him. Can he come into the mansion and play with me?"
It was the first time that Mu Hongjin had heard of such a person, and asked in confusion, "What uncle?"
"He is an uncle who looks like a god," Mu Xiaolou said happily, gesturing to Mu Hongjin, "He is very tall and wears a white shirt. He is very powerful. When I was caught, he knocked over the knife as soon as he appeared! He has a sword and he also carries a zither on his back."
Mu Hongjin's expression gradually stiffened.
He Yan was complaining in his heart, hoping that this little ancestor would just shut up and stop talking. Mu Xiaolou seemed to have a good impression of Liu Buwang, and when he talked about this, his eyebrows were flying with joy, and he wanted to tell Mu Hongjin everything he knew.
"He can also play the piano. He played it for me. It was the piece you often played, grandma. But he played it much better than you. He said the piece was called "Slow Time". Grandma, why have I never heard you mention the name of this piece? Is it really called this?"
Mu Hongjin looked at Mu Xiaolou and spoke slowly in a dry voice, "Since you have met him, do you know his name?"
"I asked him," Mu Xiaolou replied, "He said his name is Yunlin Jushi, but I heard they all call that man Master Liu. You should ask him," Mu Xiaolou pointed at Xiao Jue, "Yunlin Jushi seems to be his master, I heard Cui Zhongqi ask."
Mu Hongjin looked at Xiao Jue: "Really?"
He Yan's palms were sweating from nervousness, and he heard Xiao Jue answer, "Yes."
The banquet hall became inexplicably dull. Mu Hongjin didn't say anything, but just leaned on the couch. Even Mu Xiaolou didn't notice her. Her gaze became increasingly distant, as if she was recalling distant memories, and there was no room for anyone else in her eyes.
He Yan thought to himself, it seems like Mu Hongjin and Liu Buwang are not just old acquaintances, but they probably have a deeper connection.
After an unknown amount of time, Mu Hongjin came back to his senses and said calmly, "I understand."
She didn't ask for Liu Buwang's news, as if this person was just a passerby whose name she had forgotten after hearing it. Her expression returned to calm, and the melancholy she had felt for a moment disappeared. She seemed to have returned to the arrogant and unkind princess she had been when they first met.
It would have been better if she had pressed the issue, but just letting it go made He Yan suspicious, as if there was a restless cat scratching at her heart. Finally, she couldn't help herself and asked, "Are Your Highness and Yunlin Lay Buddhist old acquaintances?"
Xiao Jue glanced at her with a warning look in his eyes.
He Yan didn't care. Liu Buwang was also her relative. Now that she could finally glimpse a little bit of Liu Buwang's past, how could she just give up? Moreover, Mu Hongjin's expression... at least she and Liu Buwang were not enemies.
Mu Hongjin didn't expect He Yan to ask this suddenly. She looked at He Yan, and He Yan looked at her generously. After a while, Mu Hongjin smiled and said, "Commander Xiao, your subordinate is really brave."
Xiao Jue's eyes were calm and indifferent: "Your Highness, please forgive me."
"I haven't said anything yet, so you don't have to rush to defend me." Mu Hongjin smiled slightly, "It's just that no one has dared to ask this question for many years."
He Yan was puzzled, could it be that he was really an enemy?
Since he was her enemy, why would Liu Buwang be so nice to Mu Xiaolou? After all, Mu Xiaolou and Mu Hongjinsheng looked too much alike, and it was impossible for him to be gentle to a face that looked like his enemy.
"Actually, there's nothing wrong with telling you." Mu Hongjin said calmly, "Many years ago, before I got married, I once sneaked out of the palace." She glanced at Mu Xiaolou and said gently, "Just like Xiaolou yesterday."
"But I was lucky. I didn't run into any bad guys. Instead, I met a young man who just came down from the mountain."
She stared with her beautiful eyes at the colorful painting on the distant wall. It seemed as if a girl was sitting under a blossoming tree weaving a wreath. The large patch of peach pink was bright and gorgeous, just like the spring day of that year.
"I was attracted to this young man, so I pestered him and followed him under the pretext that I was penniless and had nowhere to go."
It was also the first time that Mu Xiaolou heard about what happened to his grandmother, and his eyes widened in surprise.
"This is the first time I've fallen in love with someone, so naturally I was sincere. But the young man already had a lover, and he didn't like me, and he treated me very coldly. My father told me that the marriage was already arranged and would take place soon. I asked the young man to take me away."
He Yan was so shocked that he was speechless. Princess Mengji was really brave. She even dared to elope before marriage.
"He didn't come on the agreed day." Mu Hongjin said calmly, "I was found by my father's people and returned to Jiyang to get married."
"After that, I never met him again."
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