Jinling. A century-old temple.
It had been a while since Xie Zhaoqiu came to Jinling with his father Xie Zhu, and this was the first time he went out. She is afraid of strangers, and it always takes a long time to adapt to a strange environment. Today, her mother persuaded her to go out of the house, and they went to an ancient temple to worship Buddha.
There is a forest behind the ancient temple with lush green leaves and colorful fallen flowers. Sister Qiu carried her painting tube wherever she went. When she saw the beautiful scenery, she couldn't help but spread out the scroll on the simple stone table and paint a picture.
A woman came into the woods, seemingly standing there waiting for someone. She was wearing a light purple gown and a slanted pony bun, revealing a swan-like neck. At a glance, Sister Qiu felt that the woman had an extraordinary temperament. She was clearly standing in the beautiful scenery, but it didn't look like she was admiring the scenery, but like an independent angel, whose cold eyes had already seen through the whole year of the Western Season.
The wind from the ancient temple passed through her clothes. Sister Qiu felt it was very beautiful, so the woman stayed on her scroll.
After finishing the painting and looking up again, Sister Qiu saw that the woman had finally arrived with her companion. When she took a closer look, it looked like her father Xie Zhu.
The two seemed to say something, but their voices were so soft that she couldn't hear anything.
"Dad?" Sister Qiu didn't think much at this moment and stepped forward to confirm.
"Sister Qiu?" Xie Zhu was a little surprised, his face unnatural for a moment. He didn't expect there was anyone else in the woods, let alone bumping into his reclusive daughter here.
"This is..." Wanyan Puruo looked at Xie Zhaoqiu, a deer-like girl with a natural timidity and no hostility.
"Your Highness the eldest princess, she is the dog girl Zhaoqiu." Xie Zhu replied respectfully.
Upon hearing this name, Sister Qiu immediately understood who this woman was. She immediately became nervous and saluted as if facing an enemy: "Your Highness."
Wanyan Puruo glanced in the direction where Sister Qiu came from and said easily: "Is Miss Qiu doing painting there just now?"
Sister Qiu nodded timidly.
Xie Zhu quickly added: "Dog Girl's usual hobby is just doodling."
Wanyan Puruo walked towards the stone table very naturally, "I have long heard that Lord Xie Zhu's daughter is a good painter. It is hard to find such paintings in the capital, but this opened my eyes."
Sister Qiu could only follow him bravely and looked at Xie Zhu with doubtful eyes.
Xie Zhu came forward and explained in a low voice to Sister Qiu: "Today the eldest princess came to visit the ancient temple, and several of your uncles and I are accompanying her. Your Highness got lost in the temple, and we looked for it a lot. place, and then we found her in the back forest."
Sister Qiu didn't have any suspicions. Although she was in the deep house, she also heard about the situation outside. Negotiations were not carried out every day, and in his spare time, Lord Zhongshu Ling acted as a warm host, letting the ministers take Wanyan Puruo around Jinling, filling her schedule.
No matter where Wanyan Puruo went, he would be followed by a bunch of courtiers behind him. This was also a disguised form of surveillance. It's rare to be alone, so Sister Qiu didn't think about it at all at first.
According to rumors, the eldest princess of the Qi Kingdom had a face as black as iron, pockmarked face, and flesh all over her body. She was extremely ugly and lived a debauched life. However, when I saw her today, she was very different from the rumors. She was actually a bit unseemly friendly.
Sister Qiu suddenly felt disconnected. It was difficult for her to associate the object of her hatred with this beautiful and easy-going woman. However, as soon as this idea came to her mind, she suddenly felt a little annoyed. Standing there, Xie Zhu gently pulled him, and then reluctantly followed him.
Wanyan Puruo was already standing in front of the stone table. In the painting, there is a forest in late spring, and a woman in the forest. The scenery and people are completely natural, and the painting adds a bit of artistic conception.
Wanyan Puruo originally just complimented her casually and came to take a look, but now there was real appreciation in her eyes.
She smiled and looked at Sister Qiu: "Miss Qiu, is it me in this painting?"
"I didn't know you were the eldest princess just now, so I took the liberty to include you in the painting..." Sister Qiu was a little at a loss and muttered.
Wanyan Puruo was still generous: "How about giving this painting to me?"
Painters are sensitive. Sister Qiu could feel that Wanyan Puruo really liked her paintings, and there was no compliment in the slightest. And given her status, why should she compliment a girl in purdah? The eldest princess did not even look down upon her talent because she was a woman like others, but instead valued her paintings. If she didn't know that she was the eldest princess, she would even admire this woman's generosity and neatness. As a woman, she can have such a free and easy demeanor. These are qualities that she does not possess but is often envious of.
But deep down, she didn't want to give her paintings to Qi Ren.
How could Xie Zhu not know what his daughter was thinking? After all, Wanyan Puruo was a distinguished guest in Jinling, and even Shen Zhizhong tried his best to respond to her requests. A painting was not worth the conflict. He hurriedly smoothed things over and said, "His Highness likes it. It is Dog Girl's honor. How dare you refuse?"
Her father had already spoken, but Sister Qiu didn't want to say anything more. She lowered her head, rolled up the painting, held it out to Wanyan Puruo, and then left hurriedly.
"My mother is still waiting in front, and my daughter does not dare to disturb her father's discussion with Her Royal Highness the eldest princess, so she goes ahead.
"Then let me say hello to your majesty."
Sister Qiu saluted and left in a hurry.
Looking at Sister Qiu's retreating back, Wanyan Puruo said half seriously and half jokingly: "Master Xie, your family is indeed a famous family. All of them have special skills."
For some reason, Xie Zhu's face looked unnatural and he just smiled reluctantly and said, "Your Highness is so complimentary."
Wanyan Puruo suppressed the expression on his face and said seriously: "Ling Aihu didn't want to give me the painting, but because of my status, he had to give it to me. This actually woke me up - what Mr. Xie just said, I already have a plan."
Sister Qiu walked out a long way, and glanced back uneasily. She could no longer see the eldest princess and her father, but she always felt that something was wrong, and she felt faintly uneasy.
——
The news of the negotiations in Jinling spread back to Lidu Mansion, and it was the general trend to divide the river and govern. But Lidu Mansion is located in Jiangbei, and I am afraid it will be assigned to the jurisdiction of the Qi people.
This news quickly spread among the people, arousing violent reactions from the people. The real change of ownership of the country seems to be imminent. Mingzhe can no longer protect himself, everyone is in danger, and the rebellious sentiments are getting more intense.
Wanyan Jun changed his usual gentle policy and continued the Husha style of violent suppression. In particular, the Tai students who took the lead in causing trouble and shouting about their feelings for their family and country were arrested one by one, and all anti-dissenting speeches were suppressed.
Because the keel boat is about to be built, Wanyan Jun no longer has to be hypocritical to the Han people. A few days later will be the launching ceremony of the big ship. The army can cross to Jinling at any time, and there will no longer be any natural chasm that can stop Daqi's cavalry. As for King Ling'an, this coward, it would be best for him to hide for the rest of his life. As long as he dares to show his face, they can take him down immediately.
In addition, the traitors in Lidu Mansion have been found out. Although Zhang Yuehui has not been captured yet, he can no longer cause chaos.
Wanyan Jun is now confident of victory. He needs to make the completion ceremony of the keel boat grand and demonstrate the national prestige, so that he can crush the fighting spirit of the common people and lay a solid foundation for his future rule of Lidu Mansion.
However, Wanyan Puruo's completely opposite order was sent back to Lidu Mansion through a messenger - since the negotiations were going smoothly, in order to show her sincerity in the peace talks, she asked Wanyan Jun to cancel the completion ceremony and not launch the keel boat for the time being.
This made Wanyan Jun a little confused - how could Wanyan Puruo make such a stupid decision?
The keel boat is obviously a major bargaining chip in the negotiation. Whether the Qi army can cross the river determines how threatened the Yu Dynasty will be. The greater the threat, the higher the price they will pay to buy Ping An.
Even if the negotiation goes smoothly, it won't break an arm, right?
After a moment of anger, Wanyan Jun realized something was wrong.
This order was passed back openly, which meant that from Jinling to Lidu Mansion, the news was public.
During the back and forth of the negotiations, the bargaining chips of both parties were kept strictly confidential. Such an act of spreading the news publicly was a bit stupid and unlike Wanyan Puruo.
There was something fishy about the whole thing, and Wanyan Jun had a new guess - maybe Wanyan Puruo had learned some news in Jinling, and the completion ceremony had to be canceled. However, because the secret communication channels were cut off, he could only Only in this way, by cutting off the beginning and ending and omitting the reasons, can the instructions be conveyed to Wanyan Jun.
During the completion ceremony... was there any mystery that could not be explained clearly?
Wanyan Jun immediately became alert.
……
Five days later, Bingzhusi will implement the Nirvana plan in Lidu Mansion.
This is what Daman revealed to Wanyan Puruo.
But what exactly the Nirvana plan is and who will execute it are still unknown.
Wanyan Puruo could only guess that the completion ceremony of the keel boat would be scheduled in five days. Perhaps Bingzhusi wanted to take advantage of the crowd at that time to do something to hide the truth.
But no matter what it is, the other party's plan must be disrupted first. The first thing is to cancel the completion ceremony.
The channel for Wanyan Puruo's secret report was blocked, but the situation was urgent and she had to spread the news, so she changed a method that Shen Zhizhong could not stop or refuse, and delivered the news to Wanyan Jun with great fanfare.
The Zen room is a good place to connect. It is clean, no one comes around, and it does not attract attention.
In the Zen room, Wanyan Puruo skillfully stirred the tea soup with a tea spoon, but his eyes were fixed on the person in front of him.
"To be honest, this question has been in my mind for a long time. The Han people believe that when the moon is full, it will be waning, and when the water is full, it will overflow. Why did you do the opposite and name yourself Daman?"
"I am self-aware. Since I have gone against the way of my ancestors, I will go all the way to the dark side. I will not seek moderation, but I will do whatever it takes to reach the state of "fullness" in my heart."
Wanyan Puruo smiled and respectfully handed the ordered tea to Daman.
"Try it, student, does this cup of tea satisfy sir?"
Daman picked up the tea cup and took a sip.
"Your Highness, you are already very proficient in ordering this cup of tea. I have nothing more to teach you."
"The culture of the Han people is extensive and profound, and I still have a lot to learn. In the future, I will rely on my husband to pave the way forward with me and create a new prosperous age."
“Although there is a long way to go, there is no hesitation.”
The two raised their glasses in the air and smiled at each other.
Daman thought of something and asked again: "Did Yajiu find out anything about what I told His Highness last time?"
——
Three days before the Nirvana Plan.
Luo Ci was previously sent away from Lidu Mansion by Zhang Yuehui to take over the business in Southwest China. Zhang Yuehui's subordinates were all very good, so he did not treat Luo Ci badly, and Luo Ci was also loyal. When he learned that his employer was in trouble, he happened to be near Lidu Mansion and immediately rushed to rescue him. .
When he saw Zhang Yuehui and Nan Yi, they were already like beggars. They were in such a miserable state that they even passed by the Qi soldiers who were searching them. They didn't realize that this was the famous host of the Return Hall.
When Luo Ci saw them together, he understood most of it. When he left Lidu Mansion, he always felt that his employer would fall into the hands of this woman, and it turned out to be true.
He even regretted that he should have taken the risk of disobeying his boss and killed this woman, so that the current situation would not be the same.
The boss is still the boss who can make all the changes. Luo Ci was not only loyal to Zhang Yuehui, but also worshiped the strong.
But now it's too late to think about this. Fortunately, the business in Southwest China was divided up at that time, and Luo Ci also saved Zhang Yuehui's last piece of property, and can help him make a comeback at any time.
But don't let anything happen. Luo Ci thought.
