At night, Chang'an City, Kaihuafang, and the Duke of Song Dynasty.

As winter approached, the sun became shorter and darker, and the night became darker. Duke of Song, Xiao Yu and his sister, Xiao Meiniang, also used supper early, cooked tea, and lit candles to chat near the window.

"Sister, I have seen countless people in my life and claim to be quite a bit cognitive, but I didn't expect that I would completely take a look at it this time." The water on the teapot on the carbon stove had already started to burn. Xiao Yu personally stepped forward and picked up the teapot, poured a cup for Xiao Meiniang sitting in front of him, and sighed softly.

After hearing Xiao Yu's words, Xiao Meiniang showed curiosity on her face and asked Xiao Yu: "Oh? Who is it that can you tell me to take a look?"

Xiao Yu said: "Actually, it's not just me who saw it, but also my sister."

After hearing Xiao Yu's words, the strange color on Xiao Meiniang's face became heavier and Xiao Meiniang asked, "Then tell me quickly, who is it?"

Xiao Yu picked up the tea bowl at his hand, took a sip of the hot tea, and said to Xiao Meiniang: "Sister, do you still remember the boy who brought you back from the Turks?"

"What you are talking about is the King of Chu?" Xiao Meiniang asked.

Xiao Yu nodded and replied, "No, it's this King of Chu."

When Xiao Meiniang heard this, she asked with a smile: "Why did Brother Ah say this? But what shocking thing did the King of Chu do?"

Li Ke has always been bold in his behavior, and is the most different from others. What happened to Li Ke that Xiao Yu was surprised, but Xiao Meiniang didn't find it strange.

Xiao Yu said: "The King of Chu is young and different. I always thought that the King of Chu is a young and ambitious person, but today I realized that I had misread him. The King of Chu is also a loyal and honest person."

At today's court meeting, anyone with a discerning eye could see what the town of Yangzhou that Li Shimin promised to Li Ke meant, but Li Ke, as the person involved, agreed without hesitation. Can this still be said that Li Ke is an ambitious person?

A loyal and upright person?

Whenever Xiao Meiniang hears Li Ke’s name, her mind will see that cunning but affectionate face.

Li Ke is a little fox and a young tiger. This is something Xiao Meiniang had already determined when she was in the Turks. It is really impossible to get involved with the so-called loyalty, straightness and honesty. Xiao Yu is not a confused person, so how could he say this?

Xiao Meiniang smiled and asked in confusion: "Why did Shiwen (Xiao Yu's name) say this?"

Xiao Yu replied: "At the court meeting today, Your Majesty will issue an order to order the King of Chu to vassal Yangzhou and to settle Huainan. I thought that King of Chu would be in the position of crown prince and would not answer, so I went there perfunctorily, but I didn't expect that the King of Chu would respond in one go, which really surprised me."

"Oh? Is this happening?"

Although Xiao Meiniang was the queen of the previous dynasty, he naturally had little care about the affairs in the court after he returned to the south. Therefore, Xiao Meiniang never knew about the matter of Li Ke's intention to be invaded outside. After hearing Xiao Yu's words, Xiao Meiniang also showed a hint of surprise on her face.

"It's true." Xiao Yu replied.

Xiao Meiniang asked, "What is the look of the King of Chu?"

Xiao Yu replied: "When the King of Chu left the palace, he looked as usual, and he talked and laughed with the prince, as if there was no such thing."

When Xiao Meiniang heard this, she thought about it for a moment in her heart, then a smile appeared on her face, and then she felt a sense of clarity.

Xiao Meiniang said to Xiao Yu: "It is really not easy for the King of Chu to have such determination at such a young age. This is why I admire him so much."

Xiao Yu asked in confusion: "What does sister mean?"

Xiao Meiniang replied: "In my opinion, the King of Chu probably knew about the situation in the palace today and was prepared. What you saw was just a virtual image made by the King of Chu."

Xiao Yu then asked, "Sister means that what happened in the court today is expected by the King of Chu?"

Xiao Meiniang nodded and said, "No, that's right."

Compared with Xiao Yu, Xiao Meiniang knew too much about Li Ke. When Li Ke was in the Turks, he was like a group of wolves waiting for a tiger. If he was not careful, he would be doomed. However, Li Ke not only survived the Turks safely, but even almost turned the entire Turks on his own, and made the first contribution to the Northern Expedition. Can such a thing be done by a straightforward person?

Xiao Yu still didn't believe it, and there was still suspicion on his face. It was hard for him to imagine that a fifteen-year-old boy could have such a deep scheming?

Xiao Yu's reaction also fell into Xiao Meiniang's eyes. He knew that his younger brother, Sister Mo Ruo, and Xiao Meiniang saw Xiao Yu's appearance and guessed Xiao Yu's thoughts.

Xiao Meiniang smiled and said, "If you don't believe it, you dare to bet with me. In less than two days, there will be some movement in the King of Chu's Mansion."

Xiao Yu saw the movements in the hall today, and felt that he had seen more than Xiao Meiniang, and he was even more confident in winning. After hearing Xiao Meiniang's words, he became interested immediately.

Xiao Yu said: "I bet with my sister, but I don't know what my sister is going to bet on?"

Xiao Meiniang thought for a while and said to Xiao Yu: "I have followed the rules and said that recently you have obtained a new ancient inkstone and regard it as a treasure. We will bet on it. If I win, you will lose this ancient inkstone to me."

The rules that Xiao Meiniang mentioned were Xiao Yu's eldest son Xiao Rui and the son of Princess Xiangcheng. She was loved by Xiao Yu and often kept by her side. Xiao Yu got the treasure, so naturally she could not hide it from Xiao Sugui.

Xiao Yu smiled and said, "I'm talking about what it is, but there is only an ancient inkstone on the left. If my sister likes it, just take it away, why are she gambled?"

Xiao Meiniang shook her head and smiled, "Although I am very good at inkstones, and the things I like, it is the most interesting to win by myself. But don't worry, I don't have to take advantage of you. A few days ago, the King of Chu made a special trip to order someone to pick up a few Wei Danmo from Yangzhou and gave it to me. If you win, I will give these Wei Danmo to you."

Wei Danmo was made by Wei Dan, a master of calligraphy in Cao Wei in the Three Kingdoms. At that time, he was called "Three Wonders" with Zhang Zhi's pen and Zuo Bo paper. It was the most highly praised by the great scholar Cai Yong. It was extremely rare. In terms of value alone, it was definitely not inferior to ancient inkstones.

It is quite similar to gambling with ancient inks.

Xiao Yu was also a person who liked this. After hearing this, he showed a smile on his face and said to Xiao Meiniang: "I will be disrespectful to you."

Xiao Yu said, then picked up the tea bowl in his hand, tilted his neck and drank it all, as if he was sure to hold it.

Xiao Meiniang looked at Xiao Yu's appearance and laughed softly. The gamble between the siblings was just a fun thing, and the winner was second-hand. No matter who lost or who won, no one would care about the result. What they cared about was Li Ke's movements.

However, Xiao Meiniang was once the former Sui Empress. After several ups and downs, she knew people and things more than Xiao Yu. How could Xiao Meiniang recognize the wrong person with her pair of wise eyes?

It also seemed that it was precisely to prove this matter that there was no need to wait for two more days. Even Xiao Yu had not finished a pot of tea. The servant guarding the door outside the door suddenly walked in and said to Xiao Yu with a letter of worship in his hand: "Ah Langrong, there is a young man coming from outside the mansion in a carriage, claiming to be an old acquaintance of Mrs. Xiao, and ordered his slave to present the letter of worship."

Seeing this, Xiao Meiniang went up to her slave and took the greeting letter, slowly opened it, and a line of more than ten words fell into the eyes of Xiao Meiniang and Xiao Yu.

"Mrs. Respect the old friend of the north, and the boy Li Sanlang worshipped him."
Chapter completed!