Chapter 408 Blame the High Priest

The next morning, Yan Li and Xuanyuan Jiahe had breakfast and went to talk to King Feng about the crown prince of Zhao State.

King Feng had no reaction to this, just nodded silently.

As the year was coming to an end, the palace became visibly busy, with lights and decorations everywhere.

The snow on the ground had been cleaned up by the palace servants, and the ridge of the palace was still covered with white, and the air was chilly.

Yan Li and Mu Cang planned to stay in the South Country until the New Year. Yan Li lived with Xuanyuan Jiahe these days, and Mu Cang went to Yingge.

He had his own residence in Yingge.

Because of being pestered by Xuanyuan Jiahe these two days, Yan Li had no time to discuss with Mu Cang some things he had hidden from her before. Thinking that Mu Cang still had the poison in his body that had not been completely resolved, she decided to take the time to talk to him.

The 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month was not a holiday yet.

The Phoenix King and the entire court of the Southern Kingdom were attending court. Mu Cang took Yan Li to visit the many checkpoints and training environment in the Shadow Pavilion, and also observed the Shadow Guards who were training or about to leave in secret.

Yan Li met Tian Shu and the other four here.

They came back to report on their duties.

This is the rule for Shadow Guards. Unless there are special circumstances, they must report back to the Shadow Pavilion on time within the specified time to ensure that every Shadow Guard is under control.

Unless there are special circumstances.

"After leaving the South Kingdom during the Chinese New Year, the four of Tianshu will be removed from the Shadow Pavilion of the South Kingdom, and will belong exclusively to you, the master, from now on, and will no longer be bound by rules." Mu Cang stood in front of the window with his hands behind his back, his voice low and steady, "But the Shadow Pavilion has their mark, and if there is contact in the future, they will be given special treatment."

Yan Li tilted her head to look at him, with a faint arc at the corner of her mouth: "It is obviously the Shadow Pavilion of the South Kingdom, but I, the former empress of the South Kingdom, don't know as much as you, the prince of Mu."

"It's all the fault of the high priest." Mu Cang said so, not minding putting the blame on the high priest at all, "If he hadn't taken advantage of my young age to plot against me, I should have started my own imperial hegemony by now, and why would I be entangled in love?"

Yan Li paused, looking at him without saying a word.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Mu Cang raised his lips, "Am I wrong?"

"You are good at pushing the responsibility onto others." Yan Li turned around and walked out with him, "Since the high priest's conspiracy has come, you should withdraw in time."

Mu Cang sighed: "You have exposed all my cards, what's the point of withdrawing now? There is no way to catch him off guard."

Yan Li said leisurely: "If you still have the domineering spirit, I can help you, just like you said you could help me, we will turn the world of Jiuzhou upside down."

Mu Cang didn't say anything, he lowered his eyes and didn't know what he was thinking.

"What's wrong?" Yan Li raised his eyebrows, "Did the love affair wipe out the ambition?"

"No." Mu Cang took her hand, "When I said that at the beginning, I thought you would have ambition, but later I found that you valued responsibility more, far more than the so-called imperial ambition."

Yan Li understood, and now she understood why he didn't mention those things later.

After a moment of silence, she nodded slowly: "Rather than saying that responsibility outweighs ambition, it's better to say that I'm lazy and I'm too lazy to waste the limited time in my life on meaningless things."

Everyone can fight wars and expand territory in just a few decades.

But the expansion of territory is inevitably accompanied by corpses everywhere.

Since ancient times, the only way to expand territory is to fight. There is no other way. Fighting means bloodshed, labor and money, and war.

Yan Li doesn't want to make the world in chaos for her own selfishness.

She would rather save her time and energy and govern Jin well. When Jin becomes strong and prosperous, she will enjoy life and go out for a private visit every year, go around, enjoy the mountains and rivers, and understand the people's sentiments.

Isn't this kind of life more free and comfortable than creating wars with one's own hands?

"Has your poison not attacked recently?"

"No." Mu Cang pursed his lips slightly, turned his head and glanced at Yan Li with a very subtle movement, "It should be the Emperor Blood Pill that took effect."

Yan Li raised his eyebrows slightly: "Really?"

"Yeah." Mu Cang nodded, "If you didn't ask, I would have almost forgotten that there was poison in my body."

Yan Li was silent, half believing and half doubting his words.

She knew that Mu Cang was a patient person, not to mention that they had been separated for such a long time before, and she really couldn't be sure whether he had attacked in the past six months.

After this busy period, I'd better ask someone who is proficient in poison to come and take a look at him.

On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, officials of the Southern Kingdom took a holiday and rested until the sixth day of the first lunar month after the New Year.

During this period, some officials mentioned Yan Li and Mu Cang, believing that the distinguished guests should be treated well in the Southern Kingdom during the New Year, so that they can feel at home.

The Phoenix King said that he knew about this.

Of course, the officials didn't know that Yan Li was originally staying at his own home, but few people knew this fact.

As the year draws to a close, the imperial city becomes visibly bustling.

Standing on the city wall in the evening, you can see children setting off fireworks and firecrackers in the street from afar, and servants from wealthy families standing guard to protect the young men and women in their homes.

The streets and alleys are gradually filled with the noise of the New Year.