"Okay," Chu Qiao smiled, pushed Yan Xun to the desk, pointed at the chart on it, and began to explain carefully and carefully.
The sky was foggy and everything was quiet. Chu Qiao took a sip of tea, made the last stroke, pointed at the chart and said, "As long as General Meng Tian is still in charge of the Meng family, we don't have to worry too much. Now I think it's better to worry about the Zhuge family than the Shengjin Palace and the Wei clan."
Yan Xun raised his eyebrows and said in a deep voice: "Didn't Zhuge Huai just leave Beijing? Zhuge Muqing has gradually faded out of the Elders' Council in recent years and handed over all the family affairs to Zhuge Huai. Will he intervene this time?"
"You underestimated this old fox Zhuge Muqing." Chu Qiao shook her head and said, "In the past three hundred years, the elders' family has changed hands many times. Among the founding heroes, only the Zhuge family followed Emperor Pero from the grassland. This is the Zhuge family's skill. They know how to balance and never put themselves in the limelight. They are not like the Muhe family who often compete for the limelight. Therefore, when the kings of all dynasties wanted to take back power, they only started with the most popular people, and their family was able to be preserved. The empire has been in constant conflict over the years. Zhuge Muqing seems to be mediocre, but he has been able to avoid disasters many times. These are not just luck. Look here," Chu Qiao pointed at the chart, "This is the intelligence I have collected in the past few months. On the surface, the Zhuge clan does not seem to have any actions, but there are frequent small-scale deployments of grain, river salt, and iron ore in the northwest. Although the movement is not big, it is very frequent. Zhuge Xi was transferred from Songshui to Xihan City to collect grain taxes on farmland. He has not returned for two months. The superiors only say that Zhuge Xi is dull and unusable. In my opinion, although the city of Xihan City is small, it is close to Yanming Pass. It is the only way for us to return to Yanbei. It is the hub of Yaoshui, Fusu, and Chishui Post Roads. The strategic location is extremely important and must not be underestimated.
“Also, look here. On the eighth day of last month, the Council of Elders approved Zhuge Ran’s call for military service. Zhuge Muqing did not send his son to guard the Zhuge family’s southeastern base camp, but instead sent him to the southwest camp as a general. The southwest and northwest are adjacent, and the southwest camp is located within the Batuha family’s territory. If the Zhuge family had not been secretly colluding with the Batuha family, how could old Batu allow outsiders to set up camp right in front of his heart? And, most importantly, didn’t you notice that Zhuge Yue would be back soon?”
Yan Xun nodded, "I've noticed this. Miss Yu sent someone to tell me about what you said a few days ago."
"Oh?" Chu Qiao's eyes suddenly lit up, "What did Miss Yu say?"
"She said it's still early. On Emperor Xia's birthday, dignitaries from all over the world will gather here, and there are too many variables. Now we can only adapt to the situation and deal with it as it happens."
Chu Qiao's brows furrowed immediately. She looked up at Yan Xun and said slowly, "Yan Xun, is this okay? I'm worried something might happen. Shouldn't we prepare in advance to be on the safe side?"
"Ah Chu, there is no such thing as a perfect plan in this world. Speaking of preparation, haven't we prepared enough over the years?" Yan Xun looked at her bright eyes seriously, reached out his hand and held her hand, "Ah Chu, do you believe me?"
Chu Qiao nodded, "I believe it."
"Then you can take a rest," Yan Xun smiled faintly, "Leave the matter to me. Your body has been damaged too much during this trip to Nanji Mountain. You can't work any more."
"Yan Xun..."
"I don't want to go back to Yanbei alone." Yan Xun suddenly said in a low voice, "I don't have any relatives anymore. Ah Chu, you are the most important person to me."
The lights were dim, and Yan Xun's eyes were gentle as water. He raised his hand and stroked Chu Qiao's cheek with the back of his hand. "Ah Chu, do you still remember what you said to me when I had a fever and was seriously ill but had no medicine to treat it when I first entered Shengjin Palace?"
Chu Qiao was stunned for a moment, then she heard Yan Xun continue, "You said that I could sleep peacefully and you would stay awake until I woke up. But I slept for four days and you were still keeping your eyes open to take care of me. Ah Chu, now that I have the ability to take care of you, you can sleep peacefully and I will stay awake until the day when we can close our eyes and sleep safely together."
Chu Qiao lowered her head and pursed her lips gently. A warm flame danced in her heart, making her feel inexplicably at ease in this cold winter night. "Okay, then I won't leave. I will stay by your side and wait for you to take me away."
Yan Xun nodded, his eyes bright, his smile like the thawing lake in March, and the depressed mood of the past few months disappeared in an instant.
Ah Chu, if we can come in together, we can definitely walk out together. You have to believe me, because in this world, we can only trust each other.
At that time, it was snowy in the dead of winter, the nights were peaceful, and the capital of Zhenhuang was calm and peaceful. However, no one knows what kind of fierce edge is surging beneath the potential undercurrent. Those strange and unpredictable undercurrents are quietly lurking underground, ready to boil over at any time and submerge everything. People on the shore can only walk carefully, trying not to get their clothes wet by the muddy water. When a person's ability is not enough to fight the tide, all he can do is stay away from the tide.
After closing Chu Qiao's door and watching the lights inside go out, Yan Xun's eyes suddenly became cold and fierce. He raised his head and looked in the direction of Xia Hua Palace, with a fierce light flashing in his eyes. With a slight force of his fingers, a dry branch was broken. Yan Xun raised his head, closed his eyes, and suddenly remembered a night many years ago.
That day, Ah Chu, who was only nine years old, was discovered by Wei Jing, who had been secretly monitoring them, while trying to find medicine for his sick son. As a result, he was surrounded by more than twenty burly men and was severely whipped and kicked. In order not to give others an excuse to deal with him, Achu did not run away or fight back. His whole body was covered in flesh and blood. When he arrived, the child was almost dying, but was still holding tightly onto the bag of stolen herbs.
From that day on, he secretly swore that from now on, he would never let the person he cared about leave his side, and there would never be another person he cared about in this life.
What is coming should come soon. He has been waiting for too long and can hardly wait any longer.
Yan Xun opened his eyes, and his vision was clear. Tomorrow is the day when Zhuge Yue returns to the court. It has been seven years since we last met. My old friend, are you doing well?
The wound on his shoulder has long since healed, but some hatred has taken root in his heart. Yan Xun smiled coldly, turned around and strode into the darkness.
At the beginning of the year, the capital of Zhenhuang was caught in the heaviest snowstorm in history, and heavy snow hit the ancient city for twelve consecutive days. The wind was blowing fiercely and on the lonely ancient plank road, a group of black-armored light cavalrymen were galloping across the ancient snowfield in the wind and snow, quickly rushing towards Zhenhuang City.
This group of people looked very inconspicuous. They wore ordinary blue cloth fur coats and fur hoods. Their swords and spears were wrapped in cotton cloth and carried on their backs. The horses they rode were also ordinary Hongchuan horses. At first glance, they were just ordinary city defenders. However, upon closer inspection, one could feel an indescribable sharpness in them.
The cavalry passed Jiuwai all the way, bypassed the busy main street, crossed Ziwei Square from behind Chihu Lake, and stopped in front of Baiqiang Gate where only the inner city’s imperial guards could stay. The leading man was wearing ink-colored armor and a black fur coat. When he shook it lightly, it was covered with snow and yellow sand. He left the team and walked straight into the heavily guarded Shengjin Palace with several subordinates.
"Seventh Prince!"
In the wind and snow, the young Zhao Che raised his head, his brows were full of frost, his eyebrows were like swords, and his eyes were cold. The four years of guarding the border were like a piece of stubborn stone, which made this blade even sharper. He frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Where's Lao Ba?"
"He has been taken into custody by the Guozong Mansion."
Zhao Che raised his eyebrows and asked in a low voice: "How do you do your job?"
Several people immediately knelt down, looking terrified, and kowtowed in unison: "This slave deserves to die."
Zhao Che sat on his horse, slowly narrowed his eyes, and said in a deep voice: "Since you knew you deserved to die, why did you come to see me?" After that, he turned and walked forward along the Ganxiwei Road, leaving only a few pale-faced young guards kneeling in the wind and snow.
The wind and snow grew stronger and stronger, with howling and raging. Zhao Che and others, wearing cloaks and hoods, walked hurriedly between the red walls.
"Who is it?" the guard suddenly shouted.
The figure walking in front suddenly stopped. Under the huge snowstorm, only a vague shadow could be seen. The man was not tall and very thin, but very smart. The moment he heard the voice, he quickly knelt on the ground and lowered his head humbly.
"Your Highness, it should be the maid in the back hall."
Zhao Che glanced at him calmly, then swung the sword at his waist instantly, lifting the hood on the man's head. His short hair was tied into a men's bun, but his neck was white and slender. Zhao Che stepped on her hat with his boots, looked at the person kneeling on the ground, and said slowly: "Raise your head."
A handsome face came into view, with calm and very dark eyes. Although she was wearing men's clothes, she was still a rare and stunning beauty. Zhao Che frowned slightly, then slowly relaxed his brows, as if he remembered something, and sneered meaningfully, "When one person succeeds, everyone in the family will benefit. Now, even you can walk freely in Shengjin Palace?"
Chu Qiao lowered her head, her face calm, and did not reply.
Zhao Che's eyes lightly swept across the girl's back, then with a puff, he kicked the hat back to Chu Qiao and turned away without saying a word.
The wind and snow were still blowing. The girl looked up but only saw a faint shadow. But for some reason, she felt such a heavy pressure coming towards her. In today's snowstorm, how could the person returning to the imperial capital be this person?
The situation in Zhenhuang has become increasingly tense without anyone noticing. Although there is still half a year before Yan Xun returns north.
That evening, a grand banquet was held in Shengjin Palace. In addition to the victorious Seventh Prince Zhao Che, the attendees also included Zhuge Yue, the Fourth Prince of Zhuge, who had gone to Wolong Mountain to recuperate seven years ago. Now, he is the deputy commander of the Grand Council.
The Great Xia Emperor Zhao Zhengde still habitually did not attend various banquets. Only the Queen Muhenayun showed up symbolically. After all, the Seventh Prince Zhao Che was her biological son. The banquet was full of joy, with toasts clinking, and the emperor and his subjects enjoying themselves in a peaceful atmosphere. There was no sign that just three days ago, the eighth prince Zhao Jue had offended heaven, been expelled from the Zhao clan temple, demoted to a commoner, and sent to the Guozong Palace for trial.
"Those things are like rocks in a lake. Not everyone can tell their size and shape. Only those who are brave enough dare to go in and explore. But it's hard to say how deep the water is and whether you can get out alive."