sirius

The rain has stopped, but the sky is still gloomy, which makes people feel uncomfortable and worried.

After Concubine Lin's accident, Qi Xiao's condition was very bad. Tang Ling was worried, but there was only so much he could do to help. He was used to having Qi Xiao by his side. Lead Qinglan to Yangxizhai to find Chi Yue.

Tang Ling told Qing Lan a lot, nagging like an old lady in the Hou's mansion, Qing Lan had never seen Tang Ling so talkative, nor had she seen him so upset, even when the marching and fighting were stalemate, Tang Ling had never so.

When Tang Ling was upset, she would copy books, any book would be fine, every stroke was correct, and she didn't bother to think about every word.

When Huang Zexian came, he saw Tang Ling copying books, and felt bad.

"Son."

"Uncle Huang, please sit down."

Tang Ling put down her pen, sighed deeply, and after tidying up, made a cup of tea for Huang Ze, "Uncle Huang, do you need me?"

"Ah, um, there has been progress in the peace negotiation, and I want to discuss it with the young master."

"Uncle Huang's complexion is not very good. What's wrong? Chen Guo will not agree to our condition. We all know this in our hearts. Could it be worse? Or did they raise some new conditions?"

Huang Zexian exhaled, and said: "Unexpectedly, the Ministry of Rites did not reject all the conditions we put forward. During the meeting today, only one was discussed. Marriage, His Majesty Chen Guo agreed."

"Of course.

But why Uncle Huang didn't seem very happy. "

"His Majesty Chen Guo did agree to marry the Crown Prince of Chen State, but because the choice of the crown prince has not yet been decided, he said that the matter of the crown prince should not be sloppy, so the marriage between the two countries can be settled, but I am afraid that the grand ceremony will not be completed in a short period of time."

Huang Zeyong paused before continuing, "To show Chen Guo's sincerity, His Majesty is still willing to marry the fifteenth princess to the young master. Even if the young master returns to Da Zhou in the future, the fifteenth princess will follow."

"...What..." Tang Ling's heart skipped a beat. His Majesty didn't say or mention anything before. It really wasn't just to test Tang Ling and Da Zhou. He never wanted to give up on Princess Fifteen and Tang Ling. In the marriage, you must marry Princess Chen and Princess Zhou, and you must build a good relationship between the two countries, and you will not let Marquis Xun An and Mrs. Tang live in peace.

Huang Zexian's face paled when he saw Tang Ling, and he knew that this matter was difficult, but he didn't say what was even more difficult.

"Young master, and..."

"Uncle Huang, please tell me."

"His Majesty Chen is willing to use one hundred thousand black iron mines as a dowry for the fifteen princesses and give it to Da Zhou."

"...One hundred thousand... well."

Chen Guo produces no more than [-] black iron mines every year, but His Majesty is so generous, using one hundred thousand mines as a dowry, even if the emperor hates the Tang family, he can't refuse such a temptation, one hundred thousand black iron mines, this is to buy Tang Aya's life.

Tang Ling smiled wryly, she didn't expect him to be so valuable.

"Sir?"

"Uncle Huang, please report the matter of Princess Xihe's marriage to the emperor first, and make a decision as soon as possible. As for my matter, don't rush to send a letter to my father and the emperor.

Let me think about it. "

"Okay, then I'll go back first."

Tang Ling sat back and continued to copy the book, so don't tell Qi Xiao about this for now.

As the dowry of the fifteen princesses, what exactly does the Hundred Thousand Black Iron Mine want to do?Simply spare no expense to facilitate this marriage?Tang Ling herself didn't understand why she was so important?

Or is it not because Tang Ling is important, but because of the urgency of negotiating peace?

No, Your Majesty is for the purpose of uniting with the Great Zhou to attack Qi.

Facing Qi is not good for Da Zhou, but if it is for the Hundred Thousand Black Iron Ore, it is completely different.

There are many mountains in the north of Qi State, and it is not easy for Chen State to raise troops. After passing through Fenglin Mountain, there are still three passes to reach Shuoliang, the capital of Qi State.

But on the other hand, Qi State borders Dazhou to the east, which is a flat river.

If the Great Zhou dispatched troops to the border, the Qi State must respond immediately, at least with the same force standing ready, otherwise the Great Zhou would be able to drive straight into the land where five prefectures were seized within ten days and reach the hinterland of the Qi State.

As long as the army of Qi State gathers on the Zhou and Qi borders, Chen will have an opportunity to take advantage of it.

This is the only way for Chen to destroy Qi and preserve his own strength.

The risks are also very clear. Qi has many mountains and supplies are difficult. Once Chen's army enters Qi, it is easy to be besieged in the mountains.

In case Da Zhou backtracked and withdrew troops from the border of Qi State to give Qi State time to return to aid, it would be Chen State's army that would be wiped out.

What is more likely to happen is that Da Zhou not only withdrew his troops from Qi, but also turned around and crossed the Taihua River directly.

It is not unreasonable that the stalemate of Zhou, Qi, and Chen has been maintained for a hundred years, and it is not that the incumbent does not want to break it, but cannot.

His Majesty Chen Guo has decided to destroy Qi.

In order to tie Dazhou to Chen Guofaqi's ship, the [-] black iron ore is nothing, but it is impossible to transport all the [-] black iron ore to Dazhou at once, and the marriage of Princess Xi and Princess is indeed not possible in the near future. It was decided, so Emperor Chen needed Tang Ling to make a buckle to tie Zhou and Chen tightly together.

Tang Ling has a headache, is there any way to remove herself?

No...he couldn't think of...

Chen and Zhou's coalition forces, if this battle is really going to be fought, the leader of Da Zhou's army must be Tang Ling's father Xun Anhou.

His Majesty Chen Guo held Tang Ling's life in his hands even more securely than holding the life of Emperor Zhou Guo.

What should he do?

If you don't agree, I'm afraid that the peace negotiation will not be able to proceed... Neither the emperor nor my father will agree.

Tang Ling pressed her forehead and sighed deeply, what should he and Qi Xiao do?Is there any way to make His Majesty change his mind?

***

It was dark and it started raining again.

Qi Xiao knelt in front of Concubine Lin's spirit, as if he had lost his soul, and even Tang Ling couldn't speak well.

Baixiqiao was by Qi Xiao's side, thinking silently, should Chi Yue bring Tang Ling in?At least coax Qi Xiao?

"Hey...Xiao'er, take a rest and sit on the edge? Physician Fang said that your knees need to be nourished, you can't kneel anymore."

Qi Xiao didn't say a word, didn't even lift his eyelids, completely pretending that he wasn't Bai Xiqiao.

"You bastard, I can't stop talking nicely to you, so don't blame senior brother for having heavy hands!" Bai Xiqiao stood up suddenly as he spoke, rolled up his sleeves, and was about to knock Qi Xiao unconscious.

Qi Xiao suddenly raised his head and glared at Bai Xiqiao: "Get out!"

"You! I'm so mad at you! I have to teach you a lesson for Master!" Bai Xiqiao stretched out his hand and patted Qi Xiao on the forehead. Qiao raised his hand aloft but couldn't beat him.

Bai Xiqiao glanced at Concubine Lin's spiritual seat, and frowned: "I think you are filial, so I won't teach you in front of Concubine Lin.

But you, you, can you feel sorry for yourself for your mother's sake? "

Qi Xiao lowered his head again, gnashing his teeth: "I'm not worthy to be mother's son, I'm not worthy!"

Baixiqiao sighed, he really couldn't persuade him.

Baixi Bridge left Qi Xiao alone, walked out of the mourning hall, and softly called Chi Yue to come out.

"It can't go on like this."

Chi Yue also sighed: "I'll go pick up Mr. Tang."

"Go back quickly."

Bai Xiqiao never imagined that one day he would so desperately hope that Tang Ling would be by Qi Xiao's side.

He scratched his head annoyed.

Turning back from Baixi Bridge, I met two women in palace costumes coming with umbrellas.

The twelfth princess, Qi Fei, wanted to come when she heard the bad news early this morning, but it was not easy for her to sneak out, so she delayed until now.

The Twelve Princesses kowtowed to Concubine Lin, put incense on them, knelt down beside Qi Xiao, and asked softly, "Ninth Brother, are you alright?"

Qi Xiao nodded slightly, but did not respond.

The twelve princesses hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Ninth Brother, I have something to tell you."

Qi Xiao lowered his head and said, "Twelve, Brother Nine doesn't have the energy to talk right now, let's wait another day."

"It's about Concubine Lin, don't you listen?"

Qi Xiao was startled, and finally raised his eyes to look at the twelve princesses.

"I'll help brother Jiu get up."

Seeing Qi Xiao's pale face and red and swollen eyes, Princess Twelve became worried, "Ninth Brother, you look very bad."

"I'm fine.

Twelve You said it was about the mother, what exactly is it? "

"Brother Nine, I was there the day Concubine Lin first moved to the West Palace, do you remember?"

"nature."

"That day... was a bit strange, but I'm not sure, but I still want to tell Brother Jiu, if I'm suspicious, that's the best, if not..."

"Twelve, if you have something to say, feel free to tell Brother Nine."

"I just moved in that day, and everyone was in a hurry. Mrs. Lin took the medicine and wanted to rest. The maids who were close to me all retreated. I didn't want to disturb, but I heard someone talking to Concubine Lin in the room, saying that brother Jiu should not stay. In Yuanjing, if you want brother Jiu to be safe, you should return to Fuzhou as soon as possible, and Concubine Lin has a way."

Qi Xiao gritted his teeth fiercely, and the hatred in his heart became more and more intense.

Seeing that Qi Xiao's complexion was getting worse and worse, Princess Twelve was very hesitant to continue talking, but if she didn't say it, why did she say it in the first place?Concubine Lin watched her grow up, and she is a rare person in the palace who truly loves her. She has no mother since she was a child, and secretly hopes that Concubine Lin is her mother and Qi Xiao is her brother. She can't pretend that she doesn't know anything.

"Ninth brother, I felt familiar with that voice at the time, but I couldn't remember it for a while. It wasn't until Concubine Zhao came to pay her respects to the Queen Mother this morning that I realized that it was Li'er from Concubine Zhao's palace."

Qi Xiao looked at the twelve princesses in surprise, is it Concubine Zhao?He thought it was the Queen's work.

Is there a secret in it?

"That Li'er, what did you say? Twelve, can you hear me clearly?"

"I've told Brother Nine what she said, the last sentence was yin and yang, said, that's all, Mrs. Lin, please make up your own mind, but please make a decision early, lest you regret it..."

regret but too late……

Qi Xiao stood up angrily, but he knelt for too long, his knee was injured, and suddenly got angry, he couldn't stand stably, and almost fell down.

The twelve princesses hurriedly supported him: "Ninth brother, be careful!"

"Twelve... You can hear it clearly."

"Ninth brother, you see I am such an ignorant person!"