Xu Qingchen asked thoughtfully, "Is the King of Nanzhao really senile?"
Princess Anxi was startled. She looked sideways at Xu Qingchen and asked, "What do you mean?"
Xu Qingchen said lightly, "We all thought that the King of Nanzhao was biased towards Shu Manlin, but this time … I was drugged and unconscious after I was caught that day. But I remember that I fainted around the end of the afternoon and woke up in the stone room around the quarter of the afternoon. You had already sent people to watch the Saint Lady's Hall that day, so they could only go back through the palace. But … the King of Nanzhao was usually resting in his bedroom during that time. Even if he wasn't there, the guards at the entrance of the secret passage weren't just for show. After that, Anxi, did you hear any rumors about this after you entered the palace? " Princess Anxi thought for a moment and shook her head, "No. When I reported your disappearance to my father, he was very worried and said he would send people to help me find you. But I refused. " Xu Qingchen smiled faintly, "How could the King of Nanzhao not know what happened in his bedroom? Especially when he clearly has people guarding that secret passage at all times? "
Princess Anxi was startled for a long time. She looked up at Xu Qingchen with disbelief and hesitation, "You mean that my father wasn't deceived by Shu Manlin at all, and he was biased towards Shu Manlin and helping her? Why … I'm my father's daughter, the Crown Princess of Nanzhao. I've never done anything unworthy of my status. "
"Maybe it's because the Princess is too worthy of your status?" Ye Li raised her eyebrows and said softly.
Princess Anxi glanced at her sharply, "What do you mean, Miss Chu?"
Ye Li blinked and looked at Princess Anxi, "There's a saying in the Central Plains. I don't know if the Princess has heard of it before?" Princess Anxi looked at her silently. Ye Li said in a low voice, "High merit overshadows the ruler. The Princess and the King of Nanzhao are naturally father and daughter, but … although the Princess calls the King of Nanzhao father, in my opinion, he should be the King's father. In the royal family, he should be the king first, then the father. And the Princess is the same. She should be the subject first, then the daughter. These days in Nanzhao's capital, I've heard quite a bit of the princess' reputation. The people of Nanzhao praised the princess as a wise and farsighted Crown Princess. Even a person of the Central Plains like me, who has just arrived in Nanzhao, has such an impression, let alone the common people of Nanjiang who have been graced by the princess. "
Princess Anxi paled and said in a trembling voice, "Are you saying that my father is afraid of me? Is that why you supported Shu Manlin to go against me and suppress me? "
Ye Li sighed softly and looked at Princess Anxi with pity. "Your Highness, you must have read some history books of the Central Plains. Let's not talk about the distant ones, let's talk about the recent ones. Although Your Highness is in the Southern Border, I'm sure you have some understanding of the situation in King Ding's residence? "Princess Anxi's pale lips trembled as she looked at Xu Qingchen for help. Xu Qingchen sighed softly. "Anxi … I once reminded you that going too far is as bad as not going far enough." Princess Anxi bit her lip and lowered her head in silence. Going too far was as bad as falling short … He had said this to her when they first met four years ago. But she didn't really take it to heart. Because she truly wanted the good of Nanzhao. She could tell anyone with a clear conscience that she never had any selfish motives. She thought that as long as she worked hard to share her father's burdens, her father would be happy. She thought that as long as Nanzhao became rich and powerful, and the common people lived in peace, her sister Xi Xia wouldn't have to go through a political marriage. But in the end, Xi Xia went to Da Chu State to hide her identity and marry a man as a concubine. Her father had been secretly plotting how to keep her in check. Then all her efforts over the years … what were the things she had done?
Looking at Princess Anxi's devastated expression, Ye Li and Xu Qingchen could only look at her silently. Such a blow was not something that could be resolved with a few words of comfort. Princess Anxi had to figure it out herself.
The atmosphere in the study was solemn. Princess Anxi sat in her chair with her head lowered. Although nothing could be seen from her appearance, she was gripping the armrest so tightly that her fingers turned white. It was obvious that she was not calm at all. Ye Li praised in her heart. At least Princess Anxi knew how to control herself. This was rare, especially among women. After a long while, Princess Anxi looked up and broke the silence in the study. "If I give up everything now, will father …"
"Anxi …" Xu Qingchen frowned and shook his head. "I don't know what the King of Nanzhao will do, but Shu Manlin … Anxi, Shu Manlin hates you. Do you understand? She won't let you go at all. And … she will definitely drag Nanzhao into hell. Is this what you want to see? " Anxi looked at him in confusion. "I know she hates me. At most, I'll go to the Central Plains, Xiling, or the Northern Tribes. But you said … "
"What do you think she wants the commander's seal for? She wants to mobilize the guards of the capital to besiege your residence? I've talked to her a few times. She is very ambitious, but … she doesn't have the strength to match her ambition, "Xu Qingchen said.
Princess Anxi's expression was solemn. She looked at Xu Qingchen hesitantly. "You mean … she wants to …"
Xu Qingchen said, "Ask Liuyun what she did at the border between Nanzhao and the Da Chu State."
Princess Anxi turned to Ye Li. Ye Li said in a low voice, "On our way to Nanjiang, we found a man-made snake valley not far from Shattered Snow Pass. Hidden behind the snake valley was a very large weapon refinery. All the weapons inside were the weapons used by the Da Chu State soldiers. But I found some other things inside. Also, the one who controls this weapon refinery is the chief of the Luoyi tribe, Le Jiang. "
"Man-made snake valley? She wants to make Da Chu State's weapons? What does she want to do? "Princess Anxi said angrily. The people of Nanjiang liked snakes, but they didn't like Nanjiang becoming a place full of poisonous snakes. So when Mo Xiuyao set fire to the snake valley, it didn't arouse too much hatred from the people of Nanjiang. She didn't expect that in less than ten years, another snake valley would appear in Nanjiang. As for making weapons from another country in Nanjiang, that crossed Princess Anxi's bottom line. Who knew if these weapons would be used against the people of Nanjiang one day? In Princess Anxi's eyes, this was treason.
Did Royal Father know all of this? Was he kept in the dark by Shu Manlin, or was he pretending not to know? Or did Royal Father agree to Shu Manlin's plan?
Xu Qingchen said, "Isn't it obvious? King Li helped the Saintess of Nanzhao obtain Nanzhao. In return, Shu Manlin will help King Li obtain Da Chu State. "
"Idiot!" Princess Anxi scolded. Helping King Li obtain Da Chu State was easier said than done. How big of a price would it have to pay? Not to mention the losses Nanzhao would suffer if they failed. Even if they succeeded, what benefits would Nanzhao receive? At that time, Nanzhao would have to rely on Mo Jingli, just like Nanjiang hundreds of years ago. "I want to go to the palace and ask Royal Father!" Princess Anxi said in unison.
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