Wu Chengsi rolled his eyes and said: "Only you can help me with this matter, no one else can!"
Xue Yujin's ears seemed to move, but there was still no response.
Wu Chengsi added: "And as long as we succeed, we can give King Huainan a lesson!"
Xue Yujin turned around, glared and said, "You didn't lie to me, did you?"
Wu Chengsi smiled and said: "Get up quickly, I promise not to lie to you."
Xue Yujin nodded but did not move.
Wu Chengsi said: "What's wrong? Get up quickly!"
Xue Yujin's cheeks turned red and she said, "Get out quickly, I want to get up and get dressed."
Wu Chengsi asked doubtfully: "Just wear it like this. Didn't you walk around in front of me wearing this clothes yesterday?"
Xue Yujin's face turned redder and said angrily: "Can you get out?"
Wu Chengsi had no choice but to go out.
After a while, Xue Yujin put on a brand new white dress and came out. Wu Chengsi patiently finished breakfast with her, and then the two of them went out.
Standing at the entrance of the palace, Xue Yujin suddenly said: "Where is Zhiying?"
"She's still sleeping."
Xue Yujin said suspiciously: "She never sleeps in, could it be that you last night..." After saying that, he looked Wu Chengsi up and down.
Wu Chengsi said angrily: "Don't make blind guesses, the plan we are going to carry out later was the one that Zhiying came up with after staying up all night."
Xue Yujin said "Oh" and said, "Then where are we going now?"
"Yu Jin, I heard that you have a good relationship with Li Fan?" Wu Chengsi asked the question without answering.
Xue Yujin was secretly happy in her heart and puffed out her chest and said: "He is pursuing me. Don't look at me like this. There are many people who like me."
Wu Chengsi nodded and said: "That's good, let's go find him now!"
Li Fan didn't go home all night last night and stayed at the home of his friend Cheng Boxian.
He is not the son of Princess Zheng, so his status in Prince Zheng's palace is not high.
This time Li Mao had a conflict with Xue Yujin. It was hard for him to be a good person in the middle, and he was worried that Princess Zheng would take it out on him, so he had to hide outside and not go back.
The number of palaces in the palace was limited, and the Cheng Boxian brother and sister were only allocated a medium-sized courtyard.
Just as Li Fan, Cheng Boxian and Cheng Caiyi were having breakfast in the side hall, a servant suddenly entered the side hall, cupped his hands and said: "Master, Miss, Miss Xue family is here and waiting outside the gate."
There was a hint of joy on Cheng Caiyi's face and she quickly asked: "Is she here to see me?"
The servant hesitated for a moment and said, "She said she came to see Mr. Li."
Cheng Caiyi's face turned cold instantly and her cheeks tightened.
Cheng Boxian smiled and said: "Sister, since she came here, she means to show her good will, how about we forgive her?"
Cheng Caiyi said coldly: "She didn't come to see me."
After a pause, he gritted his teeth and said: "Ask her for a favor. If she doesn't help, forget it. She still looks down on me. What else does a friend like this do?"
Li Fan didn't have time to listen to the two people's chatter. He had already stood up, cupped his hands and said: "You two, Miss Yujin is looking for me, so I'll go over first."
Cheng Boxian grabbed him and said with a cold face: "Wait a moment."
When he turned to face his sister, he put on a smile again and said: "Little sister, think about it, Xue Yujin has never looked for Brother Li before, why did he suddenly look for him this time?"
Li Fan patted Cheng Boxian on the shoulder and said, "Hey, what do you mean?"
Cheng Boxian ignored him.
Cheng Caiyi glanced at Li Fan and seemed to think that what her brother said was reasonable. How could Xue Yujin take the initiative to find such a weak man.
He must be looking for me, but he just can't save face.
After thinking about it, she immediately stood up and said, "I'll go out with you."
Just as Li Fan was about to refuse, he suddenly found a big hand on his shoulder, slowly applying force. When he turned around, he saw Cheng Boxian looking at him with a smile, and there seemed to be a threat in his eyes.
"Okay then." Li Fan had no choice but to give in.
Although he is a Duke, he has no actual duties. When dealing with Cheng Boxian, a Duke, the superior and subordinate relationship between the two is very clear.
When he came outside the door, he saw Xue Yujin with his hands on his hips and an impatient look on his face.
After seeing Cheng Caiyi, her face was happy at first, and then she became sullen, holding her chin high, without even looking at him.
Cheng Caiyi and her had similar reactions. The two of them were like two proud little hens, neither of them willing to give in first.
Not far behind Xue Yujin, Wu Chengsi folded his arms and looked at this side from a distance.
"Yu Jin, what do you want from me?" Li Fan was the first to break the silence.
Xue Yujin glanced at Cheng Caiyi, and when she saw that she didn't even look at him, she hummed, "I have something to say to you, so come with me."
After saying that, he turned around and walked towards Wu Chengsi. Although Li Fan was a little curious about Xue Yujin and Cheng Caiyi, he didn't ask any more questions and followed him briskly.
Cheng Caiyi stared at her back closely, expecting her to turn around, but Xue Yujin never looked back.
Just as the ice on her face was getting thicker, Wu Chengsi suddenly came over, smiled and said hello: "Miss Caiyi, long time no see."
Cheng Caiyi's expression softened a little, he saluted and said, "Hello, General Wu."
Xue Yujin had to stop, still not looking at Cheng Caiyi, and complained: "Brother Wu, let's leave quickly."
Wu Chengsi glanced at her, then at Cheng Caiyi, and frowned: "What's going on with you two? How come you didn't say a word when we met?"
Xue Yujin hummed: "She ignored me."
Cheng Caiyi said angrily: "It's obviously you who shows off my face!"
"How did I look at you? It's obvious that you are petty. Just because I didn't agree to help you, you ignored me!"
"Nonsense, how could I ignore you?"
"You still don't admit it. When I said I couldn't help you that day, you immediately changed your face and left without saying a word. Don't say you forgot!"
Cheng Caiyi was stunned and said: "I was a little unhappy at the time, but didn't I take the initiative to talk to you the next day? Why did you make such cold remarks?"
"I, I don't have any sarcastic remarks. Are you too sensitive?"
Wu Chengsi only interrupted, and the two women started talking one by one.
It was a trivial matter, but it got to such an extent because neither of them was willing to give in first, lacked communication, and kept thinking in the wrong direction.
Now that the words were made clear, the two women quickly reconciled, and gradually there were more smiles on their faces.
"Then after I finish helping Brother Wu, I will come over to hunt with you!" Xue Yujin invited enthusiastically.
"Okay, I'll wait for you." Cheng Caiyi smiled.
Suddenly, she said, "Wait a moment," and turned around and ran into the house. Not long after, she came out with two white mink cloaks.
"Yu Jin, Brother Wu, this is a fine Turkic mink skin sent by my brother's old team. Winter is coming soon. You can take it and wear it."
Wu Chengsi nodded and said, "Thank you so much, Miss Caiyi."
Cheng Caiyi smiled and said: "Brother Wu, you don't have to be polite. I'd like to thank you for taking more care of my brother in the future."
Xue Yujin said with a smile: "Caiyi, what you said is superfluous. Based on our relationship with Brother Wu, can he not take care of our brother?"
Wu Chengsi touched his nose and said with a wry smile: "Don't worry, I will take care of everything I can."
Li Fan on the side took courage and said: "Sister Caiyi, no, don't you have my share?"
Cheng Caiyi's face turned cold and said calmly: "Sorry, there are only two pieces."
Xue Yujin glared at him and said, "You don't fight or hunt on weekdays. You just hide in the house and warm yourself by the fire. Why do you need a mink cloak?"
Seeing Xue Yujin being so unfriendly, Wu Chengsi was really worried that Li Fan would be angry.
Unexpectedly, he just nodded and said, "That's true, I don't go out much on weekdays." He didn't mean to be angry at all.
It has to be said that the royal family is indeed full of all kinds of weirdos.
After bidding farewell to Cheng Caiyi, Wu Chengsi and the others came to a stone pavilion.
After ordering the guards to guard around the stone pavilion, Xue Yujin said bluntly: "Li Fan, are you willing to do me a favor?"
Li Fan said: "What are you busy with?"
"Can't you agree first?" Xue Yujin said domineeringly.
Li Fan smiled bitterly and said: "But I only have so much ability, and I'm afraid that I am too ambitious but not strong enough."
"It's really useless." Xue Yujin snorted and said, "Don't worry, you can do this, it just depends on whether you are willing to do it!"
"Okay, I promise you." Li Fan said without hesitation.
Xue Yujin smiled and said: "That's more or less the same, but what I have to deal with is your brother. Are you still willing to help me?"
Li Fan was stunned for a moment, showing hesitation.
Xue Yujin said angrily: "What did you just say? Did you forget it so quickly?"
Li Fan smiled bitterly and said: "You also know my status in the government. If he knows that I harmed him, I'm afraid he won't let me off easily."
Wu Chengsi smiled and said: "Brother Li, don't worry, your brother will only vent his anger on me, and you will not be in danger."
Li Fan said nothing and looked at Xue Yujin.
Xue Yujin said angrily: "What are you looking at? Who am I, Brother Wu, and can I still lie to you?"
Li Fan lowered his head and said, "Okay, what do you want me to do?"
…
Half an hour later, Wu Chengsi and Li Fan parted ways at Shiting. The palace was built on a mountain, and the higher it was, the closer it was to Li Zhi's Qianlong Hall.
Xue Yujin followed Wu Chengsi along a main road paved with bluestones. This time, their destination was the Jinrong Palace of Princess Taiping.
In Jinrong Hall, Princess Taiping is receiving Princess Honghua and her son.
In the past few months, Princess Honghua has been visiting Princess Taiping almost every now and then.
Although Princess Taiping clearly told her that the Tang Dynasty would not go to war with the Tubo people in a short time, Princess Honghua was not discouraged and still came over to communicate with her when she had time.
After all, she is Princess Taiping's elder, and she has taught Princess Taiping how to ride, so it's hard for Princess Taiping to refuse her.
As time went by, the relationship between the two really became closer and closer.
With the help of Princess Taiping's relationship, Princess Honghua began to attend banquets within the clan again, and also restored friendship with some members of the royal family who were unfamiliar with her.
Originally, the daily expenses of the Honghua Princess Mansion were somewhat difficult. After re-establishing their personal network, the Murongxuan brothers borrowed some money from friends to celebrate the birthday of King Tuyuhun, who could no longer move.
At that birthday banquet, the royal family members gathered together, and the betrothal gifts they received were more than ten times that of the birthday banquet.
In particular, the pair of jade peaches given by Princess Taiping are worth more than 100,000 yuan. The gift she gave alone is enough to cover the expenses of the princess mansion for a year.
From then on, not only did Princess Honghua often visit Princess Taiping, but Brother Murong also often went to the princess's mansion to say hello.
Sometimes when Princess Taiping asked the brothers about information about the Prince of Ying's Palace and the Prince of Yin's Palace, the two brothers answered with all the information.
After learning about Wu Chengsi's visit, the eyes of Princess Honghua, mother and son all lit up.
"Taiping, I have never had the opportunity to get to know Prince Changping. I will ask for your help in making more introductions later." Princess Honghua said with a smile.
Murong Zhong sighed and said: "My greatest wish in my life is to follow His Royal Highness Prince Changping to the battlefield to kill the enemy. I don't know if I will have this opportunity in this life."
Princess Taiping covered her mouth and smiled: "What you said is too exaggerated."
"There is absolutely no falsehood in these words, they are all from the bottom of my heart!" Murong Zhong said with some excitement.
Princess Taiping chuckled and said, "Okay, you guys wait here while I go out to greet my second cousin."
After leaving the main hall, Princess Taiping's footsteps were obviously much brisker, and she also threw the round fan to her maids.
When they arrived at the atrium, they happened to see Wu Chengsi coming with Xue Yujin and Li Fan.
Princess Taiping was not shy about the presence of outsiders. She quickly stepped forward and hugged Wu Chengsi's arm. She looked at Xue Yujin and said with a smile: "Yujin, why are you with your second cousin?"
Xue Yujin looked at the two people standing next to each other, snorted secretly, and said, "Brother Wu asked me to help him."
"What can I help you with?" Princess Taiping raised her head and looked at Wu Chengsi.
Wu Chengsi said: "Don't ask any more questions first. Hurry up and send some people to the camps of the envoys from various countries, invite them over, and say thank you to them for coming to the Zen Ceremony."
Princess Taiping tilted her head and looked at Wu Chengsi, nodded, and ordered her maids to go ahead.
Li Fan on the side saw that Princess Taiping had been ignoring him, and smiled awkwardly: "Li Fan has met Her Royal Highness."
Princess Taiping said "hmm" and didn't say much.
On the way to the hall, Princess Taiping told Wu Chengsi about Princess Anhua. Wu Chengsi also heard about the princess who married King Tuyuhun and agreed to meet her.
Arriving at the hall, Wu Chengsi immediately saw Princess Anhua and Brother Murong. Unlike Wu Mei, who was good at taking care of herself, Princess Anhua was already showing her age.
On the other hand, the Murong brothers were very heroic, especially Murong Xuan, who had extremely bright eyes, which left a deep impression on Wu Chengsi.
After the two parties had seen the ceremony, the guest and host sat down respectively.
As soon as Wu Chengsi sat down at the main seat, Murong Zhong eagerly extended his hand to Wu Chengsi and said:
"Your Highness Prince Changping, Murong's greatest wish in his life is to follow you on the battlefield to kill the enemy. I wonder if Your Highness can give you another chance."
Wu Chengsi said calmly: "I heard that you are currently holding an official position in the residence of the King of England. I wonder if you have ever mentioned this matter to His Royal Highness?"
Murong Zhong had long regretted his behavior of joining the British Prince's Palace, and immediately said: "As long as you are willing to agree, I will explain it to His Royal Highness."
Murong Xuan's face changed slightly, feeling that his brother's answer was too inappropriate. Looking up, not only Wu Chengsi's face turned cold, but also Princess Taiping and Xue Yujin frowned.
He hurriedly stood up and said: "I dare not hide this from His Highness Prince Changping. In fact, the reason why my eldest brother wants to join the army is to have a chance to defeat the Tubo people in the future so that we, Tuyuhun, can restore our country."
After he said this, the expressions of Murong Zhong and Princess Anhua also changed.
Neither of them seemed to understand how Murong Xuan, who had always been so resourceful, could directly reveal his own purpose.
Wu Chengsi was silent for a while and said: "Right now, I am serving as the Commander-in-Chief of Jianghuai. Even if a war breaks out, it may not be my turn to lead the troops. Let's talk about this later."
When Murong Zhong was about to continue persuading, Murong Xuan grabbed him and said, "Then I'll leave first."
After leaving Jinrong Hall and on the way back home, Murong Zhong said angrily: "Second brother, why did you say such words just now?"
He felt that the reason why Wu Chengsi refused was because of Murong Xuan's words.
Murong Xuan kept a straight face and said nothing.
"Xuan'er, if you have any considerations, just tell us." Princess Anhua said softly.
Murong Xuan sighed and said: "Mom, brother, think about it carefully, can people like Princess Taiping and Prince Changping not know our thoughts?"
"Even if they know, there's no need for you to tell them!" Murong Zhong said angrily.
Murong Xuan shook his head and said, "Brother, what you just said is so inappropriate."
"What's wrong? The King of England has no ambitions. He only knows how to fight cocks and insects all day long. Even if I ask him to resign from the position of commander in the Royal Palace, he won't say anything."
"I'm not talking about the King of England." Murong Xuan said with serious eyes: "Do you know what kind of person Wu Chengsi, the King of Changping, is?"
Murong Zhong was stunned and shook his head.
"Every battlefield general like him has one thing in common."
"What do they have in common?"
Murong Xuan said in a deep voice: "The most important thing in the military camp is friendship, and the most contemptuous of unjust people. You just said in front of him that you abandoned your old master. How do you think he will treat you?"
Murong Zhong's face turned pale.
Princess Anhua said anxiously: "Xuan'er, what should we do? Should we go and explain it to him?"
Murong Xuan shook his head and said, "No need. What I said just now is to show him that we are not unjust villains who abandoned our old master. We just have to do it as a last resort because we have the heavy burden of restoring the country."
Princess Anhua patted her chest and said, "Fortunately, you reacted quickly, so it didn't lead to a big mistake." She turned to her eldest son and said, "Zhong'er, you should be more cautious in your actions in the future."
Murong Zhong lowered his head and said nothing.
Murong Xuan said softly: "Mother, eldest brother is too impatient. Don't blame him."
Around noon, a dozen guards came out of Princess Taiping's Jinrong Palace. These people went straight to the foreign camp, and each handed an invitation to a foreign envoy.
The invitation stated that Princess Taiping wanted to hold a banquet to thank these foreign envoys for attending the Tang Dynasty's Zen ceremony.
Princess Taiping is famous for hosting banquets, and many people think she represents Empress Wu.
None of the foreign envoys who received the invitation dared to delay. Before Youshi, they came to Jinrong Hall under the leadership of the people sent by Princess Taiping to greet her.
The most powerful envoys from a dozen countries came, including Tibetan envoys and Turkic envoys.
They were even more happy when they discovered that Wu Chengsi was among the people accompanying Princess Taiping to entertain them.
In the hall, Wu Chengsi and Princess Taiping sat at the head together, Xue Yujin and Li Fan sat on the left and right respectively, and the remaining dozen envoys were arranged on the left and right downwards according to the strength of each country.
The Tibetan envoy was Dagu who was left behind in Chang'an by the Red Capital Chizan.
After the banquet began, Dagu first toasted to Princess Taiping and Wu Chengsi, and then took the wine glass and toasted to Li Fan who was sitting above him.
"The young envoy has heard about Prince Zheng's reputation as a wise king for a long time. When he meets His Excellency Duke Huainan today, he knows that the rumors are absolutely true."
Li Fan asked curiously: "How do you say this?"
"There is a saying that I like very much in the Tang Dynasty. Like father, like son. With a son like Duke Huainan, Prince Zheng is naturally extraordinary!" Dagu flattered him hard.
He was still working tirelessly to fulfill the order given by Chidu Chizan before he left - to win over the nobles of the Tang Dynasty.
Therefore, basically, when you meet someone with a high title, you will flatter him. In a short period of time, his ability to flatter him has surpassed that of most people in the Tang Dynasty.
Li Fan smiled and said: "The Tubo envoy has been overly praised."
Just as Dagu was about to continue his efforts, Li Fan suddenly stood up and left the hall through the ear door.