Since Ji Ranjie Ai Cen Lingju went up the mountain last time, they have almost never seen each other again.

It is the twelfth lunar month now. In short, at this time in previous years, Cen Lingju and her sisters have probably discussed the birthday party of the New Year several times.

Every year on the 16th day of the first lunar month, the Princess's Mansion is always lively, but this year it is unlikely that such a grand scene will be available. The entire Cen family is no longer in Luoyang, only Cen Lingju. Because she went to Daizong Mountain with the Princess before, she is still in the city.

"Xiao Qi?" Li's voice came from a distance, "Where did you go?"

Xiaoqi ran back into the house and saw Li sitting and drinking tea. On the other end of the house, Feng Yuandao was playing chess with Di Chengweng.

"I'm here, mom." Xiaoqi sat down next to his mother.

Mrs. Li put the cup, "Why are you stupid when you are alone?"

Xiaoqi shook his head, "I just suddenly remembered Cen Lingju."

Mrs. Li glanced at Xiaoqi, "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, I just remember that her birthday is coming soon, and this year is the same situation again..." Xiaoqi leaned against her mother, "I feel that it's not easy for everyone."

Li laughed, "You still worry about this. I think it's good for her to stay in the Princess's Mansion."

"But why did the Cen family leave Luoyang?" Xiaoqi looked at his mother, "Do you know?"

"I guess I feel that there are too many storms in Luoyang City recently, so I want to leave this place of right and wrong as soon as possible."

Li's eyes fell on Feng Yuandao again, and he remembered the several escapes he mentioned this morning - whether it was the game between Feng Dai and Feng Yuandao, or the elopement that A Yan had been hiding in the past, and suddenly felt a little worried.

"After the New Year, you will be one year older." Li looked at his daughter, "It's all a blink of an eye."

...

One day passed again.

When they arrived outside Xuanmen, the court officials ended today's regular meeting and walked out along the dark road paved with bricks and stones in groups of three or three.

The snow in Luoyang City had already accumulated, but the walkway of the palace gate was always spotless. The ground was wet, and people walked on the road, bringing a thin layer of water to each step.

When every courtier stepped out of the palace gate, he couldn't help but look at the open space westward - someone was kneeling there, with snow falling on his shoulders and heads, obviously he had been waiting there for a long time.

After a while, a palace servant came quickly and wrapped the man in a thick velvet coat. However, the kneeler seemed to have lost consciousness, so several palace servants cooperated and carried the man directly into the palace to send him off.

Several court officials passed by them, and some people couldn't help but look back and were pulled by their colleagues.

"Stop looking."

"...I just lifted it over and it seemed like the prince of the county."

"So you are told to stop watching!"

In Taichu Palace, Sun Youwei, who had already changed his court robes, was waiting there with a frown. The floating light soon came back, and Cen Lingju, who was carried into Taichu Palace, was also a little confused.

The palace servant shoveled some clean snow from outside and rubbed the county lord's arms and calves. After a while, the little girl recovered. She opened her eyes and looked around. When she realized that this was Taichu Palace, Sun Youwei had already called her name.

Cen Lingju almost jumped up, and she pushed away the palace servants beside her and leaned over toward Sun Youwei and knelt down.

"Your Majesty...please, let my father and brother... go back to the city!"

Sun You lowered his eyes and looked at her, "Your grandmother actually asked you to plead with her?"

"It's me... it's me who is coming himself, no one can stop me..."

Sun You smiled, "Your temperament..."

"My father and brother's carriages are already outside the city gate, and now the ground is cold and cold. Please——"

"It's not just your father and brother who are locked outside the city gate," Sun Youwei interrupted, "It's also your grandmother's son and grandson... but she didn't come to ask me to release him. Do you know why?"

Cen Lingju raised her head slightly.

"...Because she knows that I will not let anyone go, it will be useless for anyone to ask for it."

Cen Lingju's eyes showed a pleading look, "But your Majesty, they are just going to visit relatives in Jinling, why--"

"They are not going to visit relatives, but to run for life." Sun Youwei interrupted Cen Lingju again, "Have they told you?"

Cen Lingju was stunned for a moment.

"Whenever they still have a little conscience, I will spare their lives if I want to take you and your grandmother with me, but they don't." Sun Youwei whispered, "They left you and the eldest princess all in Luoyang."

"Escape..." Cen Lingju's eyes became even more confused, "Why do you want to escape?"

Sun Youwei did not answer this question, but said coldly, "They are outside Luoyang, but they have a way to know you to come to the palace to see me - how did they contact you?"

"minister……"

"explain!"

"...Yes, there are crows." Cen Lingju cried, "There must be some misunderstandings here..."

Sun Youwei glanced at Fuguang, Fuguang came to understand and quietly retreated.

"Everyone except the county lord, go out." Sun Youwei whispered.

The palace ladies from Taichu Palace left one by one, and only two old and young were left in the palace.

Sun Youwei walked to the window and said, "Don't kneel down, get up."

Cen Lingju stood up in a daze. She turned around and looked at the empress's silhouette, and suddenly felt a sense of unforgettable fear.

Sun You said softly, "Among my descendants, I particularly prefer you. Lingju, do you know why?"

“…Grandma said, it’s because I’m very similar to you when you were young.”

"It's not like it." Sun Youwei turned around, "At least, at your age, I will not have any tolerance for anyone's betrayal, let alone defend them or plead for mercy...even if I am close relatives."

Cen Lingju looked at the empress with some timidity, "Is it... because of this winter festival...?"

She was a little worried that mentioning this would touch Sun Youwei's re-scaling, but she didn't expect that the empress would not look annoyed at all. The old man just said lightly, "I will send someone to send you out of the city now and meet them. You should ask them in person why they left Luoyang, and whether they should be put back in the city in the future. We will talk again when you come back."

Cen Lingju nodded a little confusedly and soon left Taichu Palace surrounded by several palace servants.

Sun Youwei stood there and watched the girl leave. After a while, the light came back.

"Come back so soon?"

"I have asked clearly that the eldest princess's mansion has indeed been raising crows," Fu Guang said softly, "I have ordered all these crows to be executed. Does Your Majesty think there is anything else to do?"

Sun You shook his head slightly and stretched out a hand to Fuguang. Fuguang immediately stepped forward to support him.
Chapter completed!