slave like jade

Chapter 172
The north wind was bleak, and the third prince of the God of War led his troops to go out again, but this time he was not dealing with the invading enemy, but the moth of the country.

On horseback, Mu Lingzhi wrapped Yu Ruyan tightly in his cloak, and led her towards the gate of the city.

It was freezing cold, according to his past practice, he would definitely not let her brave the severe cold to send him off.But today, for some reason, he really wanted her to give him a ride...

Under the cloak, Yu Ruyan hugged his waist tightly, feeling the warmth of his body.

Along the way, the two of them didn't speak a word until they came to the gate of the city. Mu Lingzhi hugged her and got out of the car, lightly brushed the snowflakes off her nose, and said with a smile, "Wait for me at home, and use it on time every day." Meal, eat more meat, when I come back, I want to see you grow another two catties."

Mu Lingzhi is not a person who loves to laugh, otherwise outsiders would not have the impression of being cold-blooded and cruel.

But he is not stingy with his smile in front of Yu Ruyan, as long as he meets her eyes, he will always give her the most beautiful, most dazzling and warmest smile in the world.

Such an eye-catching and heart-pounding smile will always belong to her alone, just like now——

His deep eyes looked at her with a smile like a pool of quiet spring water, his handsome eyebrows showed the most cheerful smile, and the corners of his raised mouth faced the whole army, unceremoniously imprinting his hickey on her forehead , smiled and said: "I am going to the south this time, if there is no accident, I will bring back someone who surprises you, who can you expect?!"

Yu Ruyan looked at him bewilderedly, her eyes suddenly turned red.She stepped forward to help him fasten the black cloak, and said with red eyes, "I don't expect anyone, I only hope that His Highness will come back. Seeing His Highness at the earliest moment is the most beautiful and happy thing in the world to me, so, Your Highness must remember to feed the horse's belly so that when it brings you back, it can walk faster..."

Yu Ruyan looks weak, but she is tougher than ordinary women. Mu Lingzhi has never seen her so sad, and her little daughter's sorrow of leaving home. Somewhere in his heart has become extremely soft, and he feels more and more dissatisfied with her. Abandon.

He had to arrive at the next county seat before dark, so Mu Lingzhi couldn't waste any more time. Finally, he hugged her tightly into his arms and said solemnly: "Don't worry, I will not only feed the horse's stomach, but also feed her." I will feed my own belly, and when I come back, I will give you back an intact husband."

Although the palms and ten fingers were covered with thick calluses, they were the softest when caressing her face.His fingers rested on her red eyes, and he ordered seriously: "You must do what you want to adapt to me, and you must stop thinking about things and doing things that hurt yourself, this is my last plea to you! "

The cheek was pressed against the generous palm, Yu Ruyan leaned against his palm and rubbed her cheek carefully, and said with red eyes: "Your Highness, don't worry about me, I will definitely do what I promised you, Your Highness will go early and return early."

After all, let go of his hand and send him on the horse.

Mu Lingzhi got on his horse and ran out of the city gate. He was about to leave the city, but he couldn't help but rein in his horse and turn around, and finally took a deep look at Yu Ruyan——

In the whistling north wind, she supported the carriage and stared at him steadily, her palm-sized face was wrapped in a silver fox cloak, and a pair of sparkling eyes eagerly followed his figure, with parting sorrow in her expression.

Seeing him turn around, she was startled for a moment, and the next second she tried to raise the corners of her mouth to give him a charming smile...

No matter how reluctant he was, Mu Lingzhi had no choice but to turn around and drive away...

Seeing him walking farther and farther, Yu Ruyan couldn't help running up the tower, wanting to see him again.

Kankan boarded the tower, and the oncoming person made her slightly startled.

In the chilly wind, Xiao Dao stood quietly on the city tower in a bright yellow prince's suit. When he saw Yu Ruyan running up, a glint of inexplicable light flashed in his dark eyes, but he turned around and brushed away from her without saying a word. But passed, went directly downstairs.

A puzzled look flashed across her face, she thought that Xiaodao might also be here to see off Mu Lingzhi, and she probably saw herself saying goodbye to him just now, so she didn't go on.

Thinking of this, and thinking of the intimacy between himself and Mu Lingzhi just now, which he saw clearly from the tower, he couldn't help but blush.

In this way, she was embarrassed to chase Mu Lingzhi's figure frantically up the tower in front of him. Presumably, after the delay just now, Mu Lingzhi also walked away.

Seeing the figure disappearing on the horizon, Yu Ruyan's heart was empty, Chunhua and Qiuyue put the hand stove in her hand while persuading her to go down, worried that the wind on the tower was too strong and it would easily let the wind chill into her body.

While going down the tower, Yu Ruyan told the two servant girls beside her: "His Highness is not in Dongdu now, after we go back, let's close the gate of Bieyuan and live our own lives!"

The two maids responded respectfully.

After going down the tower, Xiaodao left without saying a word, Yu Ruyan sighed silently, got into the carriage of the palace and went back.

As soon as they returned to Bieyuan, Chunhua and Qiuyue, according to Yu Ruyan's words, made people close the gate of Bieyuan.

Obviously, they had only been separated for less than an hour, but Yu Ruyan felt that she had been separated from Mu Lingzhi for a long, long time.She began to count the time with her fingers, hour by hour, counting how long it would be before Mu Lingzhi could come back...

Seeing that she was so impatient, Chunhua and Qiuyue thought of ways to let her pass the time. Knowing that she was not good at female celebrities, they offered to teach her to be female celebrities and make new clothes for His Highness.

This suggestion was very good, Yu Ruyan was immediately attracted, and she did what she said, and immediately asked them to bring needles and threads, and began to learn how to be a female celebrity.

Because Yu Ruyan grew up in Putuo Temple, the temple was full of monks, and no one taught her what girls like female reds should learn.After she entered the palace, Concubine Lian didn't send her a nun to teach her these things, and let her fend for herself in the palace. In this way, she spent a lot of time in her father's library Peeked at many books.

Therefore, compared to ordinary women, Yu Ruyan has a broad vision and a deep understanding of righteousness because of her extensive reading. She is good at planning like a man and has an open mind.

Yu Ruyan was originally exquisite and intelligent, under the guidance of Chunhua and Qiuyue, she quickly mastered the techniques and various skills of female reds, and gradually became handy.

Seeing her high spirits, Chunhua couldn't help laughing and said: "Your Highness said, she will be back in five days at the shortest. According to our concubine's intelligence, it seems that we can make a coat for His Highness before His Highness comes back."

Qiuyue also smiled and said: "I guess, if His Highness sees the princess making clothes for him, I'm afraid he will fly to the sky with joy, and he will never be willing to wear them. He will definitely put them away like a treasure."

Seeing them teasing her, Yu Ruyan gave the two maids a look, and said angrily: "Clothes are meant to be worn in order to reflect the value of the clothes. If they are put away like treasures, can they still be called clothes? And according to me With today's craftsmanship, His Royal Highness may not dare to wear the clothes made out, it's not because he is reluctant, but because he is afraid of making people laugh if he wears them out!"

As soon as the words were finished, both Chunhua and Qiuyue pursed their lips and started laughing. Yu Ruyan herself thought it was funny and couldn't help laughing...

The three masters and servants sat in the warm pavilion and roasted charcoal fire as female celebrities to pass the time. It was fun and harmonious, and the time passed very quickly...

Yu Ruyan ambitiously wanted to help Mu Lingzhi make a complete set of clothes from the inside to the outside. With this idea in her mind, she was even more motivated to become a female celebrity. Make him a garment.

With this idea, Yu Ruyan was full of energy, and on the third day, she had finished more than half of a coat, and it would take another day to complete the work.

After breakfast, Yu Ruyan asked his servants to leave the dining table, and was about to pick up the needle and thread to continue working, when Chunhua came in from outside, with a serious face, she said: "Princess, someone came from the palace just now, saying that His Majesty's arthralgia has occurred, yesterday Wan actually fell off the dragon bed, and now... now he is paralyzed, the imperial physician tried his best to rescue him, although his life was saved, but... he couldn't get out of the bed."

Hearing this, Yu Ruyan's whole body was shaken, the needles in her hand were stuck in her fingers, she asked in a daze, "How could this happen?"

"Princess, now the princes and nobles, as well as ministers and wives are all visiting the palace, and the concubine and two side concubines in the eldest prince's mansion are all ordered to enter the palace to serve the sick. Concubine, look..."

Yu Ruyan was stunned for a long time before sighing: "Although I haven't officially married His Highness, I am also His Highness's wife in name. Now His Highness is not in the capital, and Huaying does not have enough status to enter the palace, but the Third Prince's Mansion cannot." No one came forward. Although I cannot perform filial piety for His Highness, it is still necessary to greet him."

After all, let them do a simple hairstyle for themselves, put on a simple and inconspicuous dress, and go to the palace.

Just as they were about to go out and get into the carriage, they saw a beautiful and luxurious carriage parked outside the other garden. Before they could take a closer look, a man dressed as a palace lady walked up to him. When he got closer, he saw that it was Xiao Fushou who was next to the prince.

He knelt directly on the snow-covered ground, greeted Yu Ruyan, and said in a soft voice: "Princess Qi, my crown prince welcomes you!"

Listening to Xiao Fushou calling herself 'princess', Yu Ruyan suddenly had a strange feeling in her heart——

After arriving in Daliang, few people call her the princess, they always call her the third concubine.How could Xiao Fushou call himself another name?

But these are not the most important things now. What surprised her the most was that such a big event happened in the palace. As the crown prince, Xiaodao was not in the palace and guarding King Liang's bedside. How could he appear in the other garden? the door?

Countless questions filled her mind, Yu Ruyan walked to the carriage, Xiao Fushou lifted the curtain to ask her to go up, hesitated for a moment, Yu Ruyan did not get into the carriage, but stood in front of the carriage and said to Xiaodao who was sitting in the carriage: " Prince, why are you here at this time?"

In the luxuriously decorated carriage, Xiao Dao was sitting in a bright yellow prince's suit with a gloomy face. Hearing Yu Ruyan's words, his expression was bitter, and he smiled bitterly: "Father is ill, so I will supervise the country from today... In one night, the entire girder was handed over to me... Sister, I feel so panicked, I want to come and see my sister..."

After all, he couldn't help but stretched out his hand to Yu Ruyan——

In the past in Daqi, whenever Xiaodao got sick or encountered any problems, he would look for Yu Ruyan immediately. Only when he saw her could he calm down!

Last night there was a big change in the palace, Xiao Dao was ordered to supervise the country at the critical moment, although he suddenly gained supreme power, but he couldn't help feeling flustered, so he came to Bieyuan to look for Yu Ruyan involuntarily.

Having been with him for so long, Yu Ruyan certainly knows his habit. In the past, she would let him lie on her lap as before, while stroking his soft hair, comforting him in a soft voice, letting him His flustered heart settled down.

But today is different from the past. Not only are their identities different, but their status has also undergone earth-shaking changes.

Before, he was just a younger brother she adopted, but now she has become his sister-in-law, and he has become Daliang's prince. How can she treat him like a younger brother who has not grown up, and embrace him in her arms? What about love and comfort?
Seeing the urgency in Xiaodao's eyes and the protruding ones, Yu Ruyan sighed but did not get into his carriage, and said softly: "Your Highness, don't be anxious, especially at this time, you must calm your mind, don't panic, as long as you Calm down, there must be nothing that can be difficult for you."

The hope in his eyes dimmed, Xiaodao saw that she had been deliberately keeping a distance from him, his heart ached, and he silently withdrew his outstretched hand...

Although the change in the palace made him flustered, it was not the most important thing, but he also wanted to take this opportunity to see her openly——

What Yu Ruyan didn't know was that from the day Mu Lingzhi left Dongdu, Xiaodao would come to the other garden every day, but when he saw the closed gate, he didn't have the courage to knock on it to see him. Yu Ruyan...

Seeing her finally come out of the yard today, he couldn't bear to see her anymore. He didn't expect her attitude towards him to be so unfamiliar now.

Thinking of this, Xiaodao's eyes actually had a bit of hostility, knowing that Yu Ruyan would definitely not be willing to enter the palace with him in a carriage, so he said: "Thank you sister for your teaching, I will go back to the palace first Already!"

The curtain was lowered, the carriage turned and left, and disappeared from sight in an instant.

Yu Ruyan was stunned for a moment. In her intuition, she felt that the knife was a bit strange. The last time I sent Mu Lingzhi out of the city and met him on the tower, and his sudden appearance here today made Yu Ruyan feel a little strange. disturbed.

……

Because of King Liang's sudden illness, the gates of the palace were full of cars and cars, and the ministers who entered and left the palace gates all looked dignified. As the saying goes, a country cannot live without a king. Although there is a prince in Daliang, the prince is still young after all. , suddenly took over the entire girder, and officially supervised the country as the crown prince, but the ministers were secretly worried that there might be another change in the court, because the eldest prince had never given up on the crown prince.

As everyone expected, when King Liang suddenly fell, the eldest prince and Mu Xiang were the happiest——

In this way, without the support of the King of Liang, the Eldest Prince and Mu Xiang can flex their muscles and take advantage of the Crown Prince's unstable foundation to seize the Great Liang!
……

In the bedroom of Yugan Palace, Yu Mingzhu and Yu Wan had already arrived, and they were all carefully serving in front of the bed.And Mu Ziyue also came, and her master, Mrs. Yiqing, was feeling the pulse of Liang Wang at the bedside.

Seeing Yu Ruyan coming in, Empress Xie, who had been sitting on the sidelines secretly wiping her tears, turned cold, her disgust was self-evident.

Although he didn't want to see her in his heart, he didn't say much in front of the whole audience.

After thinking about it for a while, Yu Ruyan didn't wait at the bedside like Yu Mingzhu and the others, but knelt outside the screen with other wives outside the palace to pay their respects.

After the peace, I will not stay in the hall for a long time, and I will leave with everyone.

After leaving Yugan Palace, Yu Ruyan didn't stay in the palace for an extra moment, and led Chunhua and Qiuyue to the gate of the palace.But unexpectedly, just as the three of them were about to leave the palace gate, they were stopped by the imperial guards.

Seeing the doubts on the faces of the three, the leader of the Palace of Imperial Guard stepped forward and respectfully said: "The crown prince has an order. From now on, please ask the third concubine to stay in the palace. Without the order of the crown prince, you cannot leave the palace!"

The forbidden army's words hit Yu Ruyan's heart like a thunderbolt on a sunny day, her whole body was icy, she didn't understand why Xiao Dao had to confine herself in the palace for no reason?
In the imperial study room, Xiaodao ordered all the ministers to come down, and stood quietly in front of the window waiting for Yu Ruyan to come.

After a long time, footsteps finally sounded at the door, Xiaodao turned his head, and saw Yu Ruyan walking in with a frosty face.

"Dare to ask His Royal Highness, why do you want to prohibit me from leaving the palace?"

As soon as they met, Yu Ruyan asked him directly without saying a word.

On the way to the imperial study, Yu Ruyan had guessed countless possibilities in her heart, but after thinking about it, she still couldn't understand why he would do this?Why did he keep her when King Liang fell ill and the palace was in a state of panic?

Xiaodao stood with his hands behind his back, stared at her for a long time, and then slowly said: "When the emperor is not in Dongdu, I will take my sister to live in the palace and take care of her."

Shocked by the words, Yu Ruyan stepped back unconsciously, and refused, "No need, it's good for me to live in the other garden, it's quiet and quiet, but living in the palace is more restrictive!"

Anticipating that she would refuse, Xiao Dao turned serious, and said in a deep voice, "Sister, do you know why Brother Huang is going to the south this time?"

Seeing Xiaodao's solemn expression, Yu Ruyan was startled, and said suspiciously: "I heard from your highness that the bandits in the south are rampant and killed the former imperial envoy. Your highness is going to the south to suppress the bandits..."

"It's not as simple as what my sister thinks!" The concubine interrupted her words bluntly, and said coldly: "The bandits are fake, but the people that the emperor really wants to deal with are the eldest prince Mu Yunzhi and Mu Xiang. Because, I have received a secret report that the big emperor brother colluded with Mu Xiang, embezzled more than [-] taels of disaster relief silver, and murdered the imperial envoy. I believe that the emperor brother should also know the inside story, so he resolutely begged for his order to personally Go south to suppress bandits!"

"This time, if the imperial brother can successfully find the evidence, solve the murder case of the former imperial envoy, and find the criminal evidence of the eldest prince and the wooden minister, I am afraid that the eldest prince's family and the wooden minister's family will all become ghosts."

"But what does this have to do with me?" Yu Ruyan couldn't help blurting out.

Xiaodao curled his lips into a cold smile, and said: "Sister, the matter is related to their life and death. Do you think that Mu Xiang and the eldest prince will sit on the ground and wait for death? The rabbit is in a hurry and knows to bite, let alone the cruel and cunning first prince." Partner."

A chill spread from the soles of her feet to her whole body for no reason. Yu Ruyan didn't know that Mu Ling's trip was such a big crisis. She stayed on the spot and was so scared that she couldn't speak for a while.

Xiaodao continued: "Elder sister should be clear that at such a critical moment of life and death, Prime Minister Mu and the eldest prince will definitely not just wait for death, they will definitely fight the emperor brother to the death. It is like dealing with an invincible person like the emperor, and only by grasping his weakness can there be a slight chance of winning. And everyone in the world knows that the biggest weakness of the emperor is his sister. Therefore, if Muxiang and the eldest prince want to If you want to win this battle, you must attack your sister to threaten the emperor!"

Yu Ruyan understood the meaning of Xiao Dao's words, her heart was icy cold, and she also knew why Xiao Dao wanted to keep herself in the palace.

Although she knew that the situation was critical, she still didn't want to stay in the palace, so she said: "I understand what you mean, but please rest assured, the prince, there are His Highness's secret guards guarding the other garden, and during this time, I have not been with His Highness. Before they come back, they will never leave the gate of Bieyuan, so even if they want to deal with me, they probably won't be able to do so."

Hearing what she said, Xiaodao became inexplicably angry, and he couldn't help saying: "Sister, do you really believe in Brother Huang's hidden guards? If those hidden guards are really invincible, why did the Qin Xianglou incident happen? Sister, can you tell me?" Don't forget, the five secret guards who followed my sister that day have all died for no apparent reason!"

Xiaodao's words made Yu Ruyan's face pale, and she had nothing to refute him.

"So, in order to let the emperor deal with the flood without any entanglements, my sister still lives in the palace for a period of time, so as to truly avoid the worries of the emperor!"

Xiaodao's words made her mind confused, and her expression hesitated——

It was an eventful time in the palace, she really didn't want to stay here, and she also understood that Xiaodao was obsessed with her, so if she could avoid her, she would definitely avoid it.

But when she thought of becoming Mu Lingzhi's burden because of herself, or Mu Xiang and the others threatening Mu Lingzhi's life with her, and causing him to encounter accidents, that was what she was most afraid of seeing.

Moreover, looking at Xiaodao's expression, I'm afraid that even if he doesn't agree, he won't be able to leave.

With a cold heart, she said coldly: "In this case, please allow me to go back to the other garden to pack my luggage before entering the palace."

As soon as she agreed, Xiaodao's dark eyes flashed with excitement.He said: "There is no need to be so troublesome, everything has been prepared for my sister in the East Palace."

"East Palace?"

Yu Ruyan's heart was shocked, she frowned and said resolutely: "Prince, although I promised to live in the palace temporarily, but I can't live in your East Palace, I still live in Chaoyang Palace."

"But Chaoyang Palace has no defenses, and it's not safe for my sister to live in it."

Staring at Yu Ruyan with fiery eyes, Xiao Dao insisted: "Moreover, the bedroom in the East Palace and everything that my sister needs are ready..."

"But that's your east palace, the crown prince's east palace!" Seeing the knife in front of her, Yu Ruyan suddenly felt a little angry, and said angrily, "I'm your concubine, how can I live in your harem?"

At this point, Yu Ruyan simply stated directly.

As soon as these words came out, Xiaodao was stunned, his expression was dull for a moment, but the next moment, there was a flash of hostility in his eyes, and his expression became more and more determined!
"Come here, send the princess to the East Palace. If I don't obey the order, the princess is not allowed to go out of the East Palace!"

(End of this chapter)