Xiao Si was still skilled in martial arts now, so Shen Yuanzhan chased him for two steps while holding Jiaojiao, but he had already disappeared in a flash.

Shen Yuanzhan seemed to see the lively and naughty Xiao Si when he was a child again, and he stopped in his tracks with a sense of melancholy.

Jiaojiao was very careful. Seeing this, she looked up and asked, "Brother Emperor, what's wrong with you?"

Shen Yuanzhan shook his head and said with emotion: "Xiao Si has grown up too."

Jiaojiao tilted her head in confusion when she heard that.

Really? Why didn't she feel deeply?

It seems that Xiao Si has not changed much except that he has grown taller.

Seeing Jiaojiao's puzzled expression, Shen Yuanzhan couldn't help but smile and rub her head.

"Xiao Si is only like a child when he is with Jiaojiao."

"On the second day after Master Qiao and Erlang left for the northern border, Xiao Si missed Mr. Tan's class for the first time. You know, over the years, Xiao Si would always arrive at the study room early the next day, rain or shine, no matter how tired he was from practicing martial arts."

"Brother, guess he must have tossed and turned that night, maybe even couldn't sleep all night."

"Jiaojiao, Xiao Si is too worried. He always feels guilty towards everyone. It is said that extreme wisdom will lead to harm. Brother can't help but feel worried."

Having said that, Shen Yuanzhan let out a long sigh.

Thinking back on the time when he let Xiao Si hear his conversation with the Queen Mother, he still felt extremely regretful. However, Xiao Si had completely buried the matter in his heart and had never revealed it in the slightest.

He and Tan Qing had a detailed chat about Xiao Si. Even someone as insightful as Tan Qing said that although Xiao Si seemed cheerful and carefree, he was actually very introverted. He had his own ideas in his mind, but he was just too young.

"If one day, Jiaojiao and you go to the North, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep Xiaosi no matter what."

Upon hearing this, Jiaojiao looked up in the direction where Xiaosi left, her face full of thoughtfulness.

————

Beiguojiaocheng, the big tent in the south of the city.

Mo Qiandai sat upright in the tent. Even though he didn't stand up at this moment, one could tell from his broad shoulders and thick back that he was of very large stature.

His appearance is very northern, with a high nose bridge and deep eye sockets. He is about fifty years old. At this moment, his brows are gloomy and he looks so majestic that he is even a little scary.

"Dad, Shen Yuanbai is definitely responsible for my death!"

In front of Mo Qiandai, a man stood close by with an excited look on his face. He looked about 60% like Mo Qiandai, but the contours of his eyebrows and eyes looked softer.

This person is Mo Qiandai’s eldest son, Mo Yonglin.

"The king sent a letter praising Shen Yuanbai to the heavens and the earth, saying that he was extremely intelligent and had caused unrest in the Yong Dynasty royal family with his own efforts."

"How can a man as powerful as him watch his younger brother being kidnapped by Qiao Diyi?"

"He is a Yong Dynasty man after all! He is not of our race, so his heart must be different. The king still trusts him so much, which is simply inviting a wolf into the house. Maybe he is a spy sent by the Yong Dynasty!"

Mo Qiandai heard his eldest son's passionate and angry words, but remained silent.

Mo Yonglin thought about how his father had been very respectful to Shen Yuanbai during these days, and he couldn't help but feel extremely angry and heartbroken.

"Dad! My little brother is dead! He died at the end of the year. I am so sad that I dare not write to you until now!"

When Mo Qiandai heard this, his whole body trembled slightly, the coldness between his brows disappeared, and there was a strong sense of sadness.

When Mo Yonglin saw this, his heart ached even more, and he spoke more without thinking.

"I was about to come back, but Shen Yuanbai suddenly wanted to go to the source of the epidemic, so he stopped me there again. Otherwise, I would have died miserably!"

"Dad, I suspect he did it on purpose! He and Qiao Diyi worked together to kill me!"

"What King Beigui! What son of the princess, the pride of the North! Princess Yu Liu was just a toy of the royal family back then—"

"Yonglin!"

Mo Qiandai suddenly shouted angrily, interrupting Mo Yonglin's next words.

Mo Yonglin raised his head and met his father's stern and cold face. He trembled a few times but finally fell silent.

But he felt too unwilling!

His mother wrote to him, asking if they were all right. He picked up the pen several times, but could not bear to send back the bad news.

But now Shen Yuanbai has to show off his power here. How can he swallow this?

Thinking of this, Mo Yonglin spoke boldly again: "Dad, what are you hesitating about?"

"The king has no son, and the clans are scheming against each other. Everyone wants to get involved, but they are just weaklings hiding behind my Mo family, relying on women and marriages to survive!"

"Dad, why must the surname Jin be the only one in the world? Our Mo family controls half of the army, why can't you take this position!"

"If it weren't for our Mo family's vow to fight to the death, Qiao Zhongguo would have reached the capital long ago. How could they have waited for them to hesitate and finally push a woman out?"

"Okay, Yonglin."

Mo Qiandai slowly raised his head, his eyes were sharp and his expression was indifferent.

"You also mentioned Qiao Zhongguo. Now, he is in Wuding City across the river."

"The world is already in trouble both internally and externally. Even if Dad returns to the royal court and takes that position, what will happen then? Will he become a shameful king who loses his country?"

"Get rid of the external threat first, then make your plans. A real man values ​​actions over words. Keep those words in your stomach and don't say them again in the future."

"As for King Beigui, oh, if Your Majesty really trusts him so much, why would he be willing to send him to this dangerous frontline?"

"Yonglin, you are my father's eldest son. You must learn to take a long-term view and keep your eyes and ears open."

"Have you paid attention to the news from the royal court these days? Have you paid attention to the news from Wu Ding?"

When Mo Yonglin heard this, he opened his mouth and suddenly became speechless.

These days, he was completely distracted by the death of his younger brother. He wished he could kill Qiao Diyi and Shen Yuanbai with his own hands. How could he have the mind to pay attention to anything else?

When Mo Qiandai saw this, he immediately showed dissatisfaction on his face.

"Yonglin, you are the son of the commander-in-chief and you have a heavy responsibility. Even if your father dies today, you have to swallow your tears and stand up to take charge of the situation!"

"This epidemic has been going on for more than two months, but you see, Wuding City is still quiet, and Beiding City is not affected at all. Do you know what this means?"

"This means that the generals of Wuding are very capable and have managed the people of Wuding and the 200,000-man army. It also means that the people of Wuding are willing to sacrifice their lives rather than let the disease spread."

"Dad planned this in the hope that the epidemic would spread throughout the Yong Dynasty, and then we would be able to win without even fighting. But now it seems that this plan has failed."

"Yonglin, compared to our Northern Kingdom, which is a mess, the Yong Dynasty's soldiers and civilians are united as one. This battle will be difficult to fight!"