From the northern camp to the south is the territory that truly belongs to the Southern Zhou Dynasty.

The road from here to Jian'an, the capital, is not close, about five hundred miles, passing through two states and three prefectures.

The political systems of the Liang and Zhou dynasties were essentially not much different, except for the names and some details. For example, the two offices in Daliang were the Government Hall and the Military Academy, which were responsible for military and political power respectively. In the Southern Zhou Dynasty, they were the Military Aircraft Department and the Cabinet.

The chief officer is Fang Xie Xiao, the Prime Minister's Minister of Military Affairs, and the latter is Xu Huiyan, the chief assistant.

As for the administrative divisions of the two dynasties, they were almost exactly the same, with three levels of prefectures, prefectures, and counties.

The mission meandered all the way south, followed closely by the Beiwei camp, and beside it were two groups of cavalry from the Southern Zhou Dynasty, totaling more than 4,000 people.

Xu Ziping walked with the delegation. Regardless of the different interests they represented, he and Sheng Duanming really got along better. They were both well-educated people, and they were particularly good at talking about classics and history. They soon forgot the unpleasantness of the original negotiation. In just a short time,

Within a few days, we became close friends.

Pei Yue didn't care about this. Ever since he saw how quickly this old scholar fell out of favor, he wasn't worried about this person at all. Don't look at Sheng Duanming who often blows his beard and glares, but in fact he has a lot of eyes. As expected, there are not many honest scholars.

people.

Xu Ziping took Sheng Duan to talk with him all day long. Naturally, Pei Yue was very happy and huddled in Peach Blossom's carriage to rest and refresh himself.

Although the two of them had had many skin-to-skin kisses, and even took Lin Shuyue with them to go wild, Pei Yue seemed very calm in the carriage, because there was also a middle-aged woman here.

Ever since crossing the Tiancang River, Leng Ning's glance at Pei Yue occasionally seemed very complicated.

She originally thought that she would live in Kyoto, Beiliang, for the rest of her life, but she never thought that she would have the opportunity to return to her homeland and come back so quickly. On the boat in Qishui that year, Pei Yue forced her to betray Chen Xizhi. It would be hard to say that she had no hatred in her heart.

Maybe, Leng Ning also knew that she was wrong first. In Xingyang City, Lingzhou, Chen Xizhi committed suicide in front of her, and she was almost heartbroken at that moment.

But later...

Chen Xizhi is still alive, and his only daughter has become Pei Yue's concubine. The other party allowed her to live in the back streets of the Hou Mansion regardless of past suspicions, and she could often meet Taohua. Now he specially brought Taohua with her, just to let them meet again.

Take a look at my hometown.

What kind of person is this?

Leng Ning couldn't understand, and she was even more worried while sitting in the carriage. After a long time, she said, "Master Hou."

Pei Yue turned to look at her and asked calmly: "What's the matter with Aunt Leng?"

Leng Ning said solemnly: "I went north to report to you earlier, and I mentioned that there was a rebellion in Kyoto. Do you still remember it?"

Pei Yue nodded and said, "Remember."

Leng Ning explained: "I told Mr. Hou at that time that I learned about this matter from an elder in my hometown. Although he usually hides it very well, I know that he secretly has close contacts with the direct descendants of the Jubei Hou Mansion.

."

Pei Yue didn't ask her why she could find out the details of others. Maybe Leng Ning more than ten years ago was just Chen Qingchen's trusted maid. But after Chen Qingchen's death, Leng Ning was able to keep Chen Xizhi growing up safely, and the hardships involved were unnecessary.

Mention, she must have developed her own skills along the way.

Seeing that he was silent, Leng Ning said with a slight worry: "I recalled carefully during this period, and I vaguely felt that this was because the Rejection House did not want anything to happen to Mr. Hou."

Pei Yue raised his head slightly, looked at the roof of the car and said, "Aunt Leng, actually there is something I haven't been able to figure out over the years."

Leng Ning said: "Master Hou, please tell me."

Pei Yue said leisurely: "The relationship between Chen Xizhi and Lu Min originated from Chen Qingchen. I respect her mother very much. Lu Min is willing to go to the road of no return for her. This is also an understandable move. However, the Chu State Mansion is

Thirty-six years ago, the family was exterminated, and Xian Chunqiu immediately defected to the Southern Zhou Dynasty. The Chen family was exterminated seventeen years ago, so why did Chen Qingchen have such close ties with the south?"

Scenes from the past appeared in his mind, including the night battle at Green Willow Village, Fang Rui's death, the fight for his life at Hengduan Mountain, the chaos in Lingzhou, the incident at Huanqiu Altar, and the rebellion in Kyoto. These things seemed unrelated, but Pei Yue

It feels like there is a thread in the dark that I can't see clearly, stringing them together.

Leng Ning said in confusion: "Girl wants to deal with Wang Pingzhang and the emperor, so it is normal for her to send people to contact the south. Why does the Marquis have such questions?"

Pei Yue chuckled and said, "Then let me ask you, where did you take Chen Xizhi after the change on the autumn night of the first year of Yongning?"

Leng Ning replied: "At that time, in order to avoid the men sent by Wang Pingzhang to pursue us, we had no choice but to take the girl and wander around."

"Have you ever been to Southern Zhou Dynasty?"

"Never."

"When did you enter Hengduan Mountain?"

"The third year of Renxuan."

"When will Chen Xizhi send someone to contact the people here in Southern Zhou?"

"Let me think about it, it should be the tenth year of Renxuan."

After hearing this, Pei Yue shook his head and said solemnly: "Two years later, that is, in the second year of Kaiping, Fang Rui sneaked into Daliang with 800 Pingjiang children, and then entered Hengduan Mountain in batches to help Chen Xizhi train his soldiers. In the third year of Kaiping,

Your people used the name of bandits to harass the outskirts of Kyoto, am I right?"

Leng Ning nodded in agreement, and Tao Hua, who was sitting next to her, felt her head spin, but this did not stop her from looking at her young master with admiring eyes.

Pei Yue said slowly: "That's the problem. First, why didn't Chen Xizhi find Xian Chunqiu, who had already established a foothold here, but instead went far away to find Fang Xiexiao? Secondly, why did Fang Xiexiao trust Chen Xizhi?

, even willing to send eight hundred of his disciples to the north to die?"

"This..." Leng Ning couldn't help but fall into doubt.

Although she was one of the people Chen Xizhi trusted most, she had never understood the girl's thoughts. Of course, she never thought there was anything wrong with these things. For example, Chen Xizhi said that he would use the power of Southern Zhou, and then he and

The Fang family contacted them, and soon a group of Fang family's elite soldiers entered the Hengduan Mountains.

In her opinion, this is all a matter of course. After all, the girl is a genius and does not need too much explanation.

Pei Yue frowned slightly and said: "That night in Xingyang City, I never thought about letting Chen Xizhi live. But when I saw her again in Kyoto, I didn't want her to die immediately."

Leng Ning was shocked: "Master Hou, you promised -"

Pei Yue raised his hand to interrupt her: "From my perspective, what Chen Xizhi did was very contradictory. I always felt that a smart person like her shouldn't make some stupid mistakes. So I was wondering if it was me.

There was something wrong with the idea from the beginning, and Chen Xizhi had another purpose hidden from beginning to end."

Leng Ning was completely stunned by him, shook his head and said: "Master Hou, although the girl is a little paranoid, she never lies. Since she personally told you that she will no longer conspire, she will definitely not go back on her word."

Pei Yue said calmly: "I hope so."

He thought of the house behind Qinyuan in Duzhong. Chen Xizhi definitely didn't know how many people were hiding around the house.

It's not just his people.

Leng Ning sighed softly, knowing that she was in an embarrassing situation now. She could no longer stand by Chen Xizhi wholeheartedly as before, nor could she completely abandon her old relationship. At this moment, a warm little hand held her palm, and Leng Ning raised her head.

When he took a look, he saw Taohua's crescent-like eyes looking at him with a smile.

"Mom, don't worry, the young master is just thinking about something, not doing anything to Miss Chen." Taohua said softly.

Leng Ning felt warm in her heart and was about to cry. She quickly turned her head and said, "Be good, Mom is fine."

When Pei Yue saw this scene, he did not continue to ask.

He had a vague feeling in his heart that if Xian Chunqiu wanted to see him during this trip to Nanzhou, answers to many mysteries might be revealed.

The journey from Chengbei Camp to Jian'an City was uneventful, and Pei Yue also took this opportunity to clarify the context of some things.

Six days later, the mission stopped advancing. After receiving Pei Yue's order, the Beiwei Battalion, escorted or monitored by the Southern Zhou cavalry, went to a camp more than ten miles east to rest.

They can no longer follow the mission, because ahead is Jian'an, the capital of Southern Zhou Dynasty.

Fifteen miles away to the north of the city, flags were fluttering and people were crowded.

There was a girl with bright eyes and a strange smile on her lips. She ignored the solicitude of the powerful disciples around her and looked calmly at the north.
Chapter completed!