turmoil

Pei Luo didn't want Huihe to become Beile's running dog, but he also didn't want to submit to the people of the Central Plains. In his opinion, the people of the Central Plains were soft and affectionate, humble but insidious. He didn't like dealing with such people. Lions can't even beg for soft bones.

Menia, however, has a different view.

"How does the general plan to deal with the Teller mother and son?" She didn't express her attitude directly, but changed the topic tactfully, "Teller is my half-brother, so it should be lenient, but he killed my other brothers , and even made my father and king die in peace, if he does not die, how should you and I explain to the Huihe people?"

This is exactly where Pei Luo has a headache. He also does not want to let go of the second prince who killed his father and brother, but he cannot ignore the huge monster behind him.

"Beile has a big appetite. What he wants is not an ally, but a puppet who obeys his orders," Meiya whispered softly. "In Beile Khan's vision, Huihe is his vanguard army stationed in the Central Plains. The bones of the Huihe people will pave the way for him to become the king of the world...but this is not what we want to see."

Pei Luo couldn't deny her words: "Then what does His Highness mean?"

"At this moment, we have the same enemy as the people of the Central Plains, and the enemy of the enemy is a friend," Menia said softly, "We don't need to submit to the people of the Central Plains, but we might as well maintain a superficially friendly relationship with them. If Beile really marches westward, the Central Plains people will hold back Beile's march for us."

Pei Luo was a little moved, but more worried: "But the Central Plains people are insidious and cunning, how does Your Highness know that they are willing to fulfill their promise?"

"I never put my hope on the illusory 'covenant', but I know that compared to Huihe, Beile is the most serious problem for the people of the Central Plains," Mei Niya said, "I don't like my father, but here On one point, I admire his foresight, he knows how to choose what is most beneficial to Huihe—that is to maintain the status quo and not lean to any side.”

Pei Luo showed a focused look.

"We can send envoys to Beile to test their attitudes. We can also continue to do business with the people of the Central Plains and maintain our relationship with generous dividends." Mei Niya put a flower on the center of her eyebrows, dazzling The gold leaf and her golden hair complement each other, "We must show our attitude. In the battle between the Central Plains and Beile, Huihe does not rely on anyone. No matter which side it is, if it wants to be our friend, it must show enough. sincerity."

She squinted her eyes and looked at Pei Luo: "General Pei Luo should understand the truth of taking the initiative in his own hands, right?"

Pei Luo was secretly startled in the silence, staring at the woman's back, he only felt that through the graceful and enchanting figure, he saw a familiar figure.

Soon, Zhang Jingche was invited to the palace by the Huihe Guards, and the leading captain treated him very politely and regarded him as a guest of honor.The royal court of Huihe does not have the strict rules of the Central Plains. The queen who is about to ascend the throne sits in the palace and smiles at her former master.

"Thanks to Mr. Zhang for taking care of you for many years, Mei Niya is very grateful," Mei Niya put away her cautiousness when serving by her side, and her frequent glances revealed the atmosphere of a superior, "Gaochang is far away from the Central Plains, you might as well hang around here for a few days. Day, let me show my kindness as a landlord?"

Mei Niya never mentioned the alliance between the Central Plains and Huihe, and the intention of crossing the river and demolishing the bridge is obvious.Zhang Jingche raised his head, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.He stared at Menia and remained silent for a long while, Menia followed in Pei Luo's footsteps and felt uneasiness in the silence.

"Young master, why do you look at me like this?" She forced a smile, "We've been separated for a few days, don't you know each other?"

Zhang Jingche said indifferently: "After three days of farewell, you should look at him with admiration. Your Highness has really improved."

Meiya looked at him earnestly: "Young master is an unborn talent, but it is a pity that the emperor of the Central Plains has no eyes and sees you, so he told you to live among the people...Young master has saved my life and taught me. If I can stay in Gaochang, I would like to show my respect to you." treat!"

Mei Niya was unwilling to fulfill her promise to conclude the covenant, but her promise to Zhang Jingche was sincere.Although she is the queen of Huihe, she has no confidants in the huge court, and can only rely on Pei Luo, who doesn't know whether she is an enemy or a friend.

This is what Mei Niya doesn't want to see. She doesn't want to be a puppet in the hands of Huihe officials. If she wants to seize power and create a prosperous world, the first step is to cultivate her confidants.

However, Zhang Jingche refused: "I am from the Central Plains, and I have the blood of the Han Dynasty in my body. I will not stay in a foreign country to be a courtier."

Meniya was a little disappointed, but not completely discouraged: "A good bird chooses a tree to live in, sir is a smart person, why bother to stick to prejudice?"

In a hurry, she brought out her old address, Zhang Jingche's eyes flickered, and she smiled slightly.

"You and I have been with me for many years, you should know my temper, and no one can change what I decide," Zhang Jingche said lightly, "On the contrary, Your Highness, although the infinite scenery is on a perilous peak, it is also extremely cold - you have tasted the experience of your life now." I have never thought about the taste of being in a high position, what will happen to me if I climb high and fall down one day?"

Meniya heard the ins and outs of his words, and her expression suddenly sank.

"Your Highness must be very clear about why the Huihe ministers chose you," Zhang Jingche sat down behind the short table and poured himself a glass of wine. It's easy to handle, for them, you are just a beautiful decoration."

He quickly raised his eyelids, but did not reveal his words: "There are tigers and wolves all over the court, Your Highness has never thought of a way to break the situation?"

Menia said in a deep voice, "What do you mean, sir?"

Zhang Jingche drank some wine, and wrote the word "forbearance" stroke by stroke on the case table: "Hide your strengths and bide your time, and forbear, or don't move, and if you move, it will be like a thunderbolt. But before that, you need to save your own money." Strength, inside is a confidant, and outside is an alliance."

Mei Niya suddenly had the urge to laugh: "After all, the young master is still a lobbyist for the emperor of the Central Plains!"

Zhang Jingche's eyes remained unchanged, revealing a faintly cold texture: "It's just a matter of fact...Maybe His Highness will think that I am seeking benefits for the motherland, but I can tell you with certainty that without the help of the Central Plains, you will not be able to sit still." Return to the throne firmly!"

Meniya suddenly fell silent.

"Huihe went deep into the desert, and was suppressed by Beile all the year round. If he wanted to put an end to his future worries, he needed the power of the Central Plains. Huihe guarded the main routes of the Silk Road and wanted to get a share of the business and trade, and he also needed the power of the Central Plains." Zhang Jingche said calmly. He said, "Only people from the Central Plains would say that cooperation benefits both, and the prairie wolf just wants to swallow you in one bite. Your Highness should be able to tell the difference, right?"

Mei Niya was silent for a long time, and every word was extremely difficult: "How do I know... the emperor of the Central Plains is as you think?"

Zhang Jingche chuckled lightly, with indescribable certainty in his pitch: "It's okay if he doesn't think so... Although loyalty to the emperor is the habit of people in the Central Plains, I, Zhang Minghuang, just disdain these two words! "

Mei Niya was taught by Zhang Jingche, but she still couldn't see through this man. The only thing she was sure of was that there was a penetrating rebellion hidden under this man's sweet and elegant appearance, and there was nothing worthy of his attention. Here, there is nothing that can make him bend his unruly spine.

He doesn't make promises to people easily, but if he says it, he will definitely do it.

Mei Niya did not hesitate for long, and she made a choice with practical actions - early the next morning, the Huihe ministers gathered in the royal court to discuss how to deal with the second prince who killed his father and brother.

Although the second prince was mad and guilty, he was Beile Khan's cousin after all. When the old king died suddenly, no one wanted to confront the behemoth dominating the grassland.At the beginning of the court meeting, although the Huihe ministers reprimanded the second prince's atrocities, most of them were thunderous and rainy, and at best they were exiled and banned.

Until General Perot stood up.

Pei Luo is a pure general. He doesn't understand political games.The second prince's crime of killing his father shocked him, and the atrocities of slaughtering his brothers and feet made him even more furious. When everyone was fighting, Pei Luo stood up unbearably, trying to make the sinner who stole the throne receive the punishment he deserved.

"Teller murdered the king and usurped the throne, conspired against him, and murdered his brothers and sisters, that's intolerable!" He said firmly, "He should be given the death penalty, as an example to others!"

Teller, who was on the waiting seat, suddenly raised his head and glared at Pei Luo viciously. The Huihe officials were shocked and began to discuss——

"General, absolutely!"

"The old lord passed away suddenly, we can't offend Bei Le at this juncture!"

"If you can't bear it a little, you will make a big mess, I hope the general thinks twice!"

Pei Luo frowned, and looked around impatiently. For a moment, he felt like a lion falling into a herd of sheep. The sheep in human skins tried to use the banner of "the overall situation is the most important thing." " Convinced him, but Pei Luo only heard the word "cowardly" from these long texts.

Pei Luo hesitated to speak, and then, he heard a crisp sound from above, and it was Menia who put the tea bowl handed by the slave girl back on the table.

Only then did the Huihe ministers remember that although the old lord was dead, the new king was about to ascend the throne. Even though she was a woman with little right to speak, she was still the lord in name only.Those with eyesight immediately turned to the top, asking the queen to make a decision.

The thinking of Huihe ministers is very simple. The new king is a woman with a humble background and no understanding of political affairs. Doesn’t it mean that the old ministers can do whatever they want?But what they didn't expect was that under the lamb's skin, there was actually a beast's soul hidden.

"General Perot is right, the kingslayer, the crime cannot be punished!" Meniya lowered her eyelashes, the gold powder in the corner of her eyes and the crescent moon on her cheek echoed into a golden flower, she took a sip of milk tea, and said lightly concluded, "Teller, the death penalty should be imposed."

The Huihe officials were stunned.

Meiya stood up, with an irresistible majesty in her eyes: "This is Huihe, not Beile. Even if Beile Khan came personally, he would have to pay the price for burning, killing and looting on my land of Huihe! Beile, let those who kill the father and the king be spared, are you the subjects of Huihe, or the slaves of Beile!"

The Huihe ministers were sweating profusely from the new queen's eloquent words, and no one dared to bear the charge of "treason", let alone Pei Luo, who was eyeing him covetously.They crawled on the ground in a long silence, and realized for the first time that this successor who was regarded as a vase by everyone might not be as weak as he appeared.

The queen and the general reached a consensus that Teller's fate was already doomed. They left the former prince His Royal Highness with the last dignity and moved the place of execution from the public to the Huihe palace.

It's hard to say whether this is the queen's grace or punishment.

There are only a handful of people who are qualified to watch the torture, and the second prince's biological mother, Princess Beile, is one of them. When she saw the executioner pour the prepared poison into Teller's mouth, this woman was like a crazy she-wolf, desperate Struggling and biting.

But to no avail, she was pinned to the ground by the tall and burly guards, and watched her son drink the bowl of poison.

It was the venom extracted from the "Desert Heart", and just a small cup could bring down a camel. Teller rolled on the ground in pain, his face turned blue because he couldn't breathe.Princess Beile finally collapsed. She threw herself to the ground and screamed intermittently: "Kill me...Kill me! Let my son go!"

Meiya did not soften her heart because of her entreaties. The young Queen Huihe approached and gently lifted Princess Beile's chin with the toe of her buckskin boots: "Kill you? No, death is the most merciful punishment. I I won't let you find your son."

Princess Beile gritted her teeth: "You bitch... Teller is your real brother!"

Mei Niya looked at her tear-stained face, as if she didn't understand how this woman who had been through battle could say such naive words: "So what about my own brother? Chi Leshu is also Teller's own brother, he is How do you treat your own siblings? In front of the throne, blood kinship is as vulnerable as a branch. Doesn't the noble princess understand this truth?"

Princess Beile choked with sobs: "My lord... I should have killed your mother and daughter back then!"

"The lord didn't kill me because I was his daughter. He hated my mother's lowliness, but he would not kill his own flesh and blood." Meniya raised the corner of her skirt and squatted down, "So he just killed me. and my mother from the palace...but my mother died anyway, do you know why?"

Princess Beile suddenly trembled.

"It seems that you know," Menia said with a smile, "If you must need a reason, it should be to collect debts for my mother—Tele and Chi Leshu don't have to kill a woman who was kicked out of the palace. The only one who has this motive is Her Royal Highness, who once competed with her for favor and once fell into a disadvantage, and hated her deeply."

Princess Beile turned her head to look at her son. Teller had stopped struggling. He opened his eyes blankly and looked at his mother blankly.

In Menia's eyes, the faces of the dying Teller and himself who faced his dead mother many years ago subtly overlapped.

Princess Beile burst into a sob.

"There is a saying in the Central Plains that repays grievances with virtue, but unfortunately, I don't believe it, and neither does the person who taught me this saying," Menia stood up and said calmly, "I am the same kind of person as he is, we only believe in retaliation with retaliation. .”

"Witnessing the death of my son with my own eyes is my punishment for you, just like four years ago, I witnessed the death of my own mother in the desert."

"You lost your son, I lost my mother, we're even."