After hearing Sima Shang leave the yard, Sima Xi, who had been hiding behind the door to listen to the noise, opened the door and walked out cautiously, supported by her nurse.

Sima Xi had only been pregnant for a few months, but her belly was already visible. The imperial doctor said that it was a twin, which made her very happy. She only hoped that her daughter who was about to be born would be like Nalan.

Like snow, it would be great to become a heroine who can compete with men.

Just now, she got up and had breakfast, thinking that her nanny Jiang would help her go to the yard where Nalan Xue lived to visit, but she never thought that as soon as she walked to the door of the house, she saw Nalan Shu.

He and Sima Shang walked in.

Knowing that her husband had something to discuss privately with Sima Shang, he couldn't go out to disturb him. He was also curious about what the two of them, who had never been in contact with each other, would say, so he held the door bolt with his hand. The cat was there.

Eavesdropping behind the door, he planned to wait for Sima Shang to leave, and then talk to Nalan about "confession and leniency"... Who would have thought that when he heard this, he was shocked! Sima Tan, who didn't have enough brains, was actually

I want to trap Nalan Xue, I want to falsely accuse her of deceiving the emperor and beheading her! This is okay!

"Did you hear everything?"

Seeing Sima Xi coming out of the room, Nalan Shu didn't seem the least bit surprised. He was very skilled in martial arts and had long heard that his little wife was hiding behind the door to eavesdrop. Now he saw a look on her face.

Feeling indignant, he couldn't help but smile, hurriedly came to her, stretched out his hand to support her, "You are all going to be a mother. If you don't just lie down in the house to raise your baby, where are you planning to go wild?"

"I have always known that the third sister is very much like Concubine Le. She likes to stab people in the back, but I never thought that she would lose her mind and go crazy like this!"

Sima Xi bit the corner of his lip, raised his head, and looked at Nalan Shu, "Is Xue'er's illness getting better? I remember that when I was a child, I heard my mother say that my father had a heart passed down from his ancestors that could continue...

The pill of life, if... no doctor can cure Xue'er's disease today, you can go and beg your father to let him give that pill to Xue'er, okay? She is only in her twenties. Still.

Not married, at the same age as a flower, and..."

"Xue'er is fine."

Seeing the nervousness on his little wife's face, he couldn't help but feel sweet in his heart. He liked Sima Xi very much, especially her ability to understand people. She knew how to be considerate of others and treat the servants in the house. She was kind and gentle, and never pretended to be a princess or scolded her.

The eldest brother, Nalan Ji, respects her enough and has a close relationship with Nalan Xue. If the family is harmonious, everything will be prosperous. If he can get this wife, what more can he ask for?

"Are you really okay?"

Hearing Nalan tell that Nalan Xue was fine, Sima Xi almost jumped up with joy. Fortunately, Nalan Shu had quick eyesight and quick hands, and held her down to keep the child in her belly safe, "That's great!

Bless the Bodhisattva, bless the Buddha, bless the Three Pure Ones, bless the Jade Emperor, bless the King of Hell... Come on, come on, nanny, quickly prepare some incense and paper money, go and burn some for all the gods I prayed for yesterday.

...Speak, you, what are you doing...Give it to others to see..."

Letting go of Sima Xi, who was already blushing, Nalan Shu smiled proudly. After being married for so long, his little wife was still very shy. He just pinched her cheek affectionately, and then

She blushed like this from embarrassment, "My lady, how many people have you asked for blessings? How can I hear that you have asked all the gods you can name?"

"I just begged you all once... Why, can't it be done?"

Pushing Nalan Shu's hand away, Sima Xi looked at him blankly, and said with some confusion, "I usually don't worship these gods, so, um, I don't know.

Each of them is in charge of something, so I begged them all one by one... I thought, anyway, there must be one of them that will be useful. Our house is not short of money, a little incense and paper money.

It’s not like I can’t afford to pay tribute…”

"Next time, if you need to pray to gods or Buddhas for something, remember to pray with daddy too. I don't know, daddy is better than these gods and Buddhas!"

After teasing Sima Xi with a smile, Nalan Shu stopped messing around with her. He only stretched out his hand and waved to her nanny, indicating Jiang to do what she wanted, "Last night, a man calling himself

It was a miracle doctor. He took Xueer's pulse and left a prescription. I sent someone to catch her, fry it, and fed her. I stayed with my eldest brother all night. This morning, it was already

Some of them have recovered, and I think they will be cured with a few more treatments."

"That's great!"

Sima Xi praised happily and was about to move to visit Nalan Xue's house. Unexpectedly, he was stopped by Nalan Shu, "What's wrong? I want to visit Xue'er, can't I?"

?”

"The doctor specifically told her not to be exposed to the wind and get cold. Now, there are thirty or forty braziers burning inside, hoping that she will sweat. I came out of the house to tell you the good news, but I have been taught a lesson by my eldest brother.

After a while, I was told that I was not allowed to come in until Xueer broke out in a sweat."

Nalan Shu couldn't tell Sima Xi the truth about Nalan Xue's house. It wasn't that he didn't believe her, but that the fewer people knew that Nalan Xue was not really sick, the better.

She went in for a while, couldn't stand the heat, and ran out again. It delayed her sweating, why don't you let me blame you to death?"

"That's it...then...when she stops sweating and feels better, I'll go see her again..."

Sima Xi thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement, stretched out his hand, held Nalan Shu's arm, and touched his cheek with some distress, "You have been guarding all night, are you exhausted? You go first

Go back to the house and have a rest. I'll have someone prepare some breakfast for you. After eating, you can have a good sleep... But Xue'er's body hasn't recovered yet, but she's exhausted you.

Oh, you were seriously ill when you were a child and your health is not good... Hey, hey, Nalan Shu, are you crazy... Put me down... Put me down..."

After carrying his little wife back to the house and closing the door with his feet, Nalanshu decided to follow Sima Xi's wishes and have a good sleep, but...he was alone. But he couldn't sleep.

He has to hold his little wife and his son and daughter to sleep together!

…

Shang Fusu, who went back to stay at the inn, was also full of joy.

I had long heard that Nalan Xue from Mo Country was a genius who could play chess since he was born. He just thought it was a gossip compiled by bored people. He didn't take it seriously... That day, I also saw Nalan Xue and his elders.

Xian Feng plays chess, but unfortunately, Chang Xian Feng's chess skills can only be regarded as a slight success, and they are not at the same level as her. She plays and fights and shows mercy, and she can win over Chang Xian Feng. It all depends on her.

Her true ability cannot be revealed... It was only until yesterday that I tried it with my own hands, and then I realized that what he had only regarded as rumors in the past was probably true!

"Just by arranging chess, you can change the original chess record into something exquisite. If you let go of the constraints... how wonderful it would be..."

Shang Fusu muttered something silently, pushed the door open and entered the house, but almost bumped into the guards blocking the door. He had casually left them on the street yesterday and ignored them. "What...do you want?

Son?"

"Your Majesty, your subordinates have been looking for you all night. They almost turned the entire Zhaoyang City upside down!"

The leader of the guards looked bitterly and looked at Shang Fusu with a look of resentment, "This foreign country is not like our July City in Shang State. You go out alone and don't even say hello. If you meet someone,

If you are in danger, how can you explain it to the Queen Mother?"

"As a grown man, what kind of danger can I encounter? At most, it's just a fight or a quarrel... You guys are too nervous!"

While talking to the guards, Shang Fusu started to untie the belt of his night clothes, "Last night, when you went out to look for me, you didn't make much noise and attract the attention of others, right?"

"We have searched all the wine shops, casinos, red buildings, Chu restaurants, and drug stores... Those places are full of people and snakes, so they shouldn't attract anyone's attention..."

The leader of the guards thought for a moment and deliberately simplified the situation when they went out to look for Shang Fusu. It wasn't that they didn't want to be low-key and reserved, but... they were from the Shang Kingdom and had been specially selected. They were all good-looking people.

He is tall and strong, and he can attract attention wherever he throws him. Unlike Shang Fusu, whose figure looks more like that of a virtuous concubine. He is thrown into a crowd of people in Mo State and does not speak.

"We didn't say we were looking for His Majesty. We only asked people if they had seen any man with a similar figure and appearance to Your Majesty... Several people pointed to the place, and the subordinates followed what they pointed out.

When I looked for it, I could only see other people...in body shape and so on, they were somewhat similar to His Majesty..."

"It's good that it didn't attract any attention. I'm a little sleepy. I need to catch up on my sleep for a while. I have important things to do in the evening. If you don't get up and pass the meal by yourself, just stay outside the door and don't disturb me."

Shang Fusu gave instructions to the guards, then moved into the room, casually threw his untied robe on the shelf, lay down, and fell asleep with a heart full of joy.

Shang Fusu didn't know that what he said in one ear and out in the other would reach Nalan Xue's ears during the short period of time when he was asleep. He didn't know that it would reach Nalanxue's ears in a place where he didn't.

Wherever he knew, someone's black hand had already reached out to him.

After the guards all went out to guard, and after Shang Fusu fell asleep sleepily, an antique calligraphy and painting on the wall was gently pushed up from behind, and a burst of lavender smoke appeared.

It spreads out without anyone noticing.

…

Nalan Xue rarely slept. Although she didn't sleep all night, she only woke up after squinting for two or three hours.

He asked Yan Niang to get herself some fresh snacks made with royal honey from the kitchen. After washing herself, she went into the soft couch and ate snacks while reading the chess scores.

Knock knock knock one by one

There was a very light knocking sound outside the window, and a thin figure was reflected through the window paper.

"I am here."

Nalan Xue responded without putting down her chess record, her face was calm, as if nothing had happened.

"My subordinate neglected his duty and lost track of Emperor Shang yesterday evening. Please punish me, Master."

The person outside the window was obviously as thin as a woman, but when she spoke, she was a real man. However, there was a bit of deliberate gentleness in her voice.

"You are not a god. How can you deserve such a severe punishment if you mess with someone? You must be tired after a long night. Go back and take a good rest to catch up on your sleep."

Nalan Xue smiled lightly. She sat up straight, opened the window a small crack, and handed a piece of snacks newly made with queen honey to the man, "Here, Jing Qi, I'll treat you to a snack."

The man outside the window has a surname of Jing and a given name of Qi, the same as the Mo family. The family he belongs to is also originally a branch of the secret guards of Lingtian Kingdom. However, the family he belongs to is a little different from ordinary families.

The men in the clan are all surnamed Jing, and the girls in the clan are all surnamed Rui. Moreover, the girls in the clan never marry outside. They only bring in men from outside to get married. The children they have also follow the family surname. The man's surname is Jing.

The woman's surname is Rui, and Jing Qi is the future patriarch of his generation, chosen by the patriarch.

"Thank you, Master."

Jing Qi was a rather shy young man. When he saw Nalan Xue opening the window to talk to him and handing him a snack, he immediately blushed and hurriedly took the snack from Nalan Xue's hand and delivered it to him.

He took a careful bite and said, "There is something... Jing Qi doesn't know whether to talk about it or not..."

"If you have something to say, just say it. Is there anything that should be said or not?"

Looking at the young man in front of him who was hurriedly avoiding his gaze and completely losing his composure in front of others, Nalan Xue couldn't help but smile, "I'm not a tiger, I can still eat you!"

Turning around, she took a whole plate of snacks from the small table and placed it on the window frame, intending to share it with Jing Qi. This was the first time Jing Qi took over a task from her, and then, this first task,

I lost track of such a big living person as Shang Fusu, and I am bound to be nervous and upset.

Nalanxue knew that if she blamed Jing Qi now, it would definitely leave a shadow in his heart. In the future, if he does such a task again, he would be affected by his nervousness... and Jing Qi's clan members

, she is good at tracking and assassination. She is not an emperor, and she has no enemies serious enough to kill others. Assassination, 80% of her skills will be useless. If, Jing Qi loses even tracking.

, in the future, as the leader of the clan, he will definitely be questioned and dissatisfied by the clan members. This is something she does not want to see.

"Yesterday, Jing Qi lost track of the Shang Emperor, so he thought that through the contact between his guards and him, he could find traces of him again. Unexpectedly, his guards also had no idea where he had gone."

Speaking of this, Jing Qi paused for a moment, and the hand that was holding the snacks tightened unnoticeably, "The places where his guards are looking are all wine shops, casinos, red buildings, Chu palaces, etc."

... Presumably, these places should be frequented by Shang Fusu... That Shang Fusu... is probably not a good person, Master... you should watch him carefully, don't be deceived by him..."

"Well, I made a note of it and will be careful."

Everyone in the secret guard family is loyal, otherwise hundreds of years would not have passed, and with only a piece of magatama, they would have come to take orders from a woman who has no ambitions and is not an emperor. Therefore, for Jing Qi Nalan Xue believed it deeply. Of course, it was precisely because of this belief that she misunderstood and wronged Shang Fusu, a poor man who had no idea where he was wrong. "You can go back and rest. There is no need to waste time following him." If anything happens, I will ask Yan Niang to give you news."

…

Jing Qi agreed, turned around and climbed over the wall to leave Nalan Mansion.

Outside the palace wall, a very beautiful woman was waiting there. When she saw him coming out, she rushed to greet him.

"Master is not angry, brother?"

Seeing Jing Qi's serious expression, the woman immediately became nervous and hurriedly stretched out her hand to help him, only to see that he had a palm-sized snack in his hand, "You, what are you doing with the snack?! Hurry! Throw it away!"

"This is a gift from the master."

Jing Qi smiled happily, and then, under the surprised look of the woman, he stuffed the snack that had been held in his hand for a long time into his mouth, chewed it a few times quickly, and swallowed it, " Carry me home, Ruilin."

"You! You madman!"

The woman named Ruilin watched helplessly as her brother ate the snack, stamped her feet angrily, cursed, and took action at the right time to help him, who had lost consciousness and fainted, and said, "You can't eat it." You have to show off your sweet tooth! Every time you meet the master, I have to carry you back! You tell the master honestly that you can’t eat sweets, can’t you?!”

"Don't tell...don't tell...tell..."

Even though he was unconscious, Jing Qi was still instinctively repeating these words intermittently, making Ruilin roll his eyes again and again in anger. Finally, with a strong effort of his arm, he lifted him onto his shoulders. He jumped onto the roof and quickly disappeared at a speed that was difficult for the human eye to discern.

Ruilin still remembered the scene when she and Jing Qi appeared outside Zhaoyang City many years ago, holding hands and following Magatama's call.

At that time, Nalan Xue was just a little girl about 18 years old. When she saw them coming, she looked surprised.

At that time, Jing Qi was still an eldest son who was not favored by the clan and had extremely poor talent. He was questioned several times and almost lost the power to inherit the clan leader.

Facing Jing Qi, who kept his head down and didn't dare to look at her, Nalan Xue said, if you always feel inferior and deprecated like this, how can you let me rely on you? Nalan Xue said, raise your head and be honest. Lift your chest, Jing Qi, you are a man and you should stand upright!

Since then, Jing Qi seems to have changed. He is not afraid of his poor talent. Others practice for an hour, but he practices eight or ten times. The clan members disdain him. He is not afraid. He will not recognize him once, ten times, a hundred times, a thousand times... ...Finally, just last year, he became the only person of their generation who broke through the family's seventy-eight military formations, and became the only one qualified to inherit the family inheritance...

Ruilin also couldn't understand why his master's two words could change his brother, and he couldn't even understand why... In front of others, his brother, who was always resolute and resolute in his words, and who was respectfully called "Tiger in the Forest" by his tribe, was in front of his master. , will become a little sheep with no principles and a good temper that can be kneaded by the master... (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is mine. The biggest motivation.)
Chapter completed!