In the Beizhang Plains, night had arrived earlier than in the Central Plains. Under the starry sky, one military tent after another was marching across the border of the Beizhang Plains. The horses were wheezing and puffing white steam in the night wind.
In the military advisor's tent, a series of soft coughs could be heard. Fan Lingyue was sitting in front of the desk. On this October night, which was not considered too cold, he was wearing a thick mink fur coat. His delicate and beautiful face was sickly pale, making people's hearts ache when they saw him.
" How is it?" Fan Lingyue asked softly.
" I barely managed to win a round," the young general replied respectfully.
" An unexpected variable."
Fan Lingyue sighed softly. Grand Xia's luck was already on the verge of losing, but unexpectedly, someone appeared to disrupt the situation, causing her plans to change.
"Did you find out if this person was among the people who followed Zhangsun Wuyou out of the palace?”Fan Lingyue continued to ask.
" We've already found out that he is indeed the person," the young general replied.
"Unbelievable!"
Fan Lingyue was silent, but such an exquisite person had entered the palace to become a eunuch. It didn't make sense.
Moreover, this matter could not be fake, and it was even more impossible for it to be a plot by Emperor Xia or Zhangsun Wuyou. The reason was simple. No emperor would be so broad-minded as to allow a fake eunuch to enter the harem.
Although Fan Lingyue had the intelligence of a demon, he was not a god after all. Naturally, there were things that he could not guess. Furthermore, Ning Chen's background could not be any purer. There were no secrets. However, it was precisely because of this that Fan Lingyue could not figure out the problem.
On the table, there was a piece of green cloth. On it, everything about Ning Chen's identity that was investigated by the spies in Northern Mongolia was clearly written.
He had an ordinary background and experience. His parents died young. He had no relatives. He studied for a few years, but he did not perform well. Half a month ago, he had no choice but to register as a eunuch in the palace due to his life.
Fan Lingyue closed his eyes and pondered for a moment. Then, he said to the general beside him," Force him out of the palace."
" Yes," the general bowed and replied.
Ning Chen didn't know that he had been targeted by the world's most terrifying strategist. Otherwise, he would definitely reconsider leaving the palace.
At this moment, Ning Chen was standing in front of Xiaoning's room. He knocked on the door, but no one answered. He knocked again, but no one answered.
"It shouldn't be."
Ning Chen mumbled. His eldest grandson liked to be quiet. As long as he was in Weiyang Palace, he did not need to let Xiaoning stay by his side. Therefore, Xiaoning would spend most of her time in her room.
After waiting for a long time without receiving any response, Ning Chen returned to his residence disinterestedly. Since he came at the wrong time, he would make do with his own practice first. Anyway, he would not die, so he could just take it as strengthening his body.
As soon as Ning Chen left the room, Qing Ning suddenly opened her eyes and spat out a mouthful of blood. It seemed like her old injuries were acting up again.
" I was still too impatient," Qing Ning said helplessly as she wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.
Too many things had happened recently, and she felt the need to recover her strength more and more. However, she had been seriously injured last time, and her martial art had been severely damaged. It would not be possible to recover in a day or two.
There were many people around Zhangsun who could be used, but there were not many people who could be trusted wholeheartedly. After she was injured, she spent most of her time recuperating, so Zhangsun's burden was even heavier.
"If only he could be used."
A hint of fatigue flashed across Qing Ning's eyes. Actually, she had talked to her grandson about Ning Chen more than once. Other than his usual messy behavior, Ning Chen's magnanimity was indeed surprising.
Unfortunately, this guy always wanted to run, which really gave them a headache.
He was not greedy for wealth, money, power, or women. He was neither a great villain nor a perfect person. He had a lot of problems, but he could not find a place to start.
She knew that Zhangsun was a person who valued talent and was also a person who valued relationships. Otherwise, he would not have forgiven Ning Chen again and again in his anger. The most important reason for him to be grounded this time was to make him calm down and completely give up the idea of leaving the palace.
However, to her and Zhangsun's surprise, Ning Chen's performance against the emissary of the True Extreme Kingdom had shocked everyone in the world. He was so intelligent and talented.
Thinking about it, the most peaceful place in the entire Imperial City was probably Weiyang Palace. Ning Chen's sudden rise had already set off a storm outside, but in Weiyang Palace, there was not even a small wave.
She could see that Ning Chen didn't take it seriously. Other than the Empress's heartache when she confiscated his hundred gold taels, he didn't take anything else to heart.
The Ninth Princess left the Pure Moon Pavilion in the middle of Weiyang Palace after paying her respects. However, Zhangsun's bedroom was still lit up all night. To the east, the candles in Xiaoning's room were also lit up all night. Only Ning Chen's room, which was the furthest away, had its lights turned off early. It was unknown whether he had fallen asleep or not.
The sky had just brightened and the court session was about to begin. Ning Chen was called over by a young eunuch. This was the first time Zhangsun had taken the initiative to bring him to the palace. Unfortunately, it was a little early. A certain someone's face was sleepy and seemed unwilling.
Compared to the previous two times, this time, Zhangsun had high expectations for Ning Chen. However, he couldn't bear to see this guy's lazy appearance. He wanted to scold him, but he swallowed it down.
Not far away, the emissary of the True Extreme Kingdom came with five white-robed Confucianists. They were all young and looked to be in their twenties at most. However, they didn't look like Confucianists at all. They looked more like fortune-tellers.
Ning Chen's spirits were instantly lifted. If it was about Confucian scholars, the Confucian Sect in Great Xia was flourishing and filled with great scholars. Duke Taishi of the Three Dukes was the leader of the Confucian Sects in the dynasty. It could be said that Great Xia had no lack of Confucian scholars. If the envoy of the Zenith Kingdom really wanted to compete in knowledge, it was no different from asking for torture.
Moreover, this round was not about luck but luck. Could these four guys really be fortune-tellers?
He wasn't familiar with fortune-tellers, but he had seen one before. When he and Li 'er went out to buy shoes, they met one. At that time, he didn't think much of it, but after thinking about it, he really had some skills.
The huckster said that he couldn't escape, and indeed, he was captured by Qing Ning.
It was true that every trade had its own champion. Ever since he knew that true energy existed, fortune-tellers were no longer something that people could not accept.
Emperor Xia was still sitting on the highest long chair in the Heavenly Mandate Palace. There was no smile on his dignified face. As the emperor who ruled the most powerful dynasty in the world, his every move would cause the world to shake. No matter which generation the emperor of Xia was, he would not lose the title of emperor.
After Ning Chen followed Zhangsun into the hall, several gazes took the initiative to look over. All the officials knew that this little eunuch was indeed extraordinary. If not for the limitations of his status, he would have been roped in by various parties.
Unfortunately, he was a eunuch.
Because the eunuchs of the previous dynasty had once messed up the government, the suppression of eunuchs in the current dynasty was very severe. It was almost impossible for eunuchs to hold power. Therefore, Ning Chen had made such a great contribution previously, but Emperor Xia had only rewarded him with a hundred taels of gold.
Ning Chen didn't care about these things. He only cared about the 100 gold taels.
The court session was as boring as ever, especially with the annoying face of the envoy from Zhen Ji Kingdom. However, the third question was beyond everyone's expectations.
Maze!
There was a maze in the imperial palace of Xia, built by the craftsmen of the previous dynasty. No one knew why such a maze was built in the imperial palace, but everyone knew that the structure of this maze was extremely complicated. After entering it, one would not be able to come out for at least three to five days. The third question given by the envoy of Zhen Ji Kingdom was very simple. It was to send one person from Xia and Zhen Ji Kingdom to enter, and whoever came out first would win.
Logically speaking, Great Xia had the upper hand in this question. After all, it was a maze in the imperial palace of Great Xia, so the terrain was more familiar. It was much better than the one in Zhen Ji.
However, even a fool knew that things were not that simple. Moreover, there was no fool present.
The problem lay with the five white-robed Confucian scholars that the envoy of the Zenith Kingdom had brought. They had the faces of a charlatan, and no one would believe that there was no problem with them.
"It does test luck."
A Confucian official in the hall sighed. If one was lucky, they could leave this maze in three to five days. If they were unlucky, it was normal for them to starve to death inside.
The rest of the matter was very simple. They just had to choose someone to enter. However, this person had to be carefully selected.
The officials subconsciously looked at Ning Chen. They did not really expect anything, but this little eunuch had already shocked them too much. If he did it again, they would not be surprised.
Seeing everyone looking at him, Ning Chen smiled shyly, lowered his head, and didn't say a word.
If anyone could pass this level, then they should not look for him. After all, his agreement with the Ninth Princess was to win. As for who would go and fight the monsters, it was not that important.
Seeing the behavior of his subjects, the Xia Emperor unconsciously frowned. He calmly said," Is there any minister who would like to recommend themselves?”
" Your Highness," a scholar said. He wanted to step forward, but he was stopped by another scholar. He shook his head lightly. This was not the time to show his loyalty. No matter what, he could not lose this round. Otherwise, Great Xia would suffer a great loss.
At the front, Duke Xi Yu, who was dressed in noble clothes, glanced at the five people behind the envoy and chuckled. He sent a message," Grand Awareness, these five people are not simple."
" The technique of five bodies sharing one heart is just a small technique. It's not presentable," Taishi Gong calmly said, his expression unchanged.
" It was intentional, Great Xia will lose for a while," Duke Jingwu interrupted and said honestly.
After the simple conversation, the three dukes did not fall silent again. They quietly watched the situation develop. They would not interfere in this matter.
"Do you have any ideas?"
The inaction of the officials caused Zhangsun to be dissatisfied. He looked helplessly at Ning Chen beside him and asked.
"This will depend on whether the Empress and His Majesty are willing to part."
Ning Chen smiled a little embarrassedly. His method was a little violent and shameless, but it was good.
" What do you mean?" Zhangsun asked curiously.
Ning Chen leaned forward and whispered a few words into Zhangsun's ear. Zhangsun's expression changed again and again. He was so gloomy that it was like thunder and rain.
"Are you confident?" Zhangsun gritted his teeth and asked.
" Something like that." Ning Chen was being humble again.
"Hmm?" Zhangsun narrowed his eyes, and a dangerous glint flashed across them.
"100%." Ning Chen's heart tightened and he immediately changed his tone.
" It's approved. Go and prepare. I'll talk to His Majesty about the rest," Zhangsun said calmly.
"Yes," Ning Chen replied and immediately left.
Behind the main hall, Ning Chen went to the side of a general wearing a green and black armor and said a few words. Then, the two of them looked at each other and smiled. They rushed in the direction of the Imperial Academy of Medicine.
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