His current situation is already difficult, so he must not have any doubts about his actions, nor can he let him know about Xier's existence, so as not to make things worse.

Although she was extremely reluctant to leave, temporary separation was inevitable. Mu Fulan's reason reminded her what she should do now.

After arranging the matter, she did not dare to delay too long. She suppressed her reluctance and could only part with Xier, who had just returned to her today.

She stood at the gate of the back mountain leading to Tallinn, staring at the small figure who was sent down the mountain.

Such a young child is obviously so unwilling to be separated from him, but he is so well-behaved, and he doesn't even cry. He just keeps looking back at himself, his eyes with tears in his eyes full of reluctance to give up.

Mu Fulan stood there, watching her son disappear completely, and then turned around and left.

When she entered the city and returned to the mansion, it was already evening. Xie Changgeng was the same as a few days ago. The man had not come back at this time, but as soon as he entered the door, the manager told her a message.

There was a news from Hexi that the northerners had abnormal movements, and the Jiedushi could not stay in Shangjing for this year. After three days, he would set off to return to Hexi.

Mu Fulan had no major reaction on her face, and she just asked someone to pack her clothes as soon as possible, but her nervousness immediately became tense.

I originally thought that he would leave after the New Year at the earliest, and there would be at least half a month left for himself. Unexpectedly, something suddenly happened, and there were only three days left.

He was about to leave, and her next direction, or the direction of her "destiny" she faced, was immediately put in front of her, and it was urgent.

Fortunately, while decisively arranged Xier's major event today, Mu Fulan immediately thought about an idea that had been weighing repeatedly in her mind a few days ago.

There is not much time left for her, and she must take action as soon as possible.

That night, Xie Changgeng returned later than usual. The manager must have told him that Mu Fulan went to Huguo Temple to worship Buddha during the day. He said nothing. When he came back and met her in the house, he just looked at her coldly, and then went to the study room. He came back very late. At that time, Mu Fulan had already gone to bed and put the tent down.

He still slept on the couch, no different from before.

The next morning, after Xie Changgeng left, Mu Fulan was summoned into the palace by Empress Liu, saying that Hexi was unstable, Xie Changgeng was going back to Liangzhou and asked her what her plans were next.

Mu Fulan was still pretending to be stupid, saying that he was very busy these days and went out early and came back late. He hadn't mentioned this to her yet, and he was not sure. He could go to Liangzhou or return to Xie County to serve his mother-in-law, all based on his husband's arrangement.

Empress Liu did not stay at Mu Fulan for long, stared at her back and asked Eunuch Yang beside her: "What do you think?"

Eunuch Yang said: "Everyone from Xie Jie is leaving the capital, but Mu still doesn't know where to go. It can be seen that Xie Jie Jie is not concerned about her."

Queen Liu nodded: "I do the same thing. This Mu family is just like this, but they are submissive and boring. Even if they relied on their beauty, they would not last long."

Eunuch Yang laughed and said, "Indeed, the Empress Dowager doesn't have to worry about her being deceived and distracted from the governor of Xie Jie."

Empress Liu smiled and said, "Although there is no need to worry about this, since I have summoned her to Shangjing, I must keep her for a while."

Eunuch Yang was stunned at first, then suddenly realized.

Although Changsha is small and weak, the soldiers are also a place to be crowned kings. Although the empress dowager does not plan to attack, she cannot guarantee that the other party is not honest and makes trouble in the chaos. I heard that Mu Xuanqing is very caring for Wang Mei and keeping Mu as a qualifier is naturally useful.

"Is the Empress Dowager trying to use her as a qualifier to intimidate Mu Xuanqing?"

"What do you think?"

Eunuch Yang pondered for a while and said carefully: "Empress Dowager, I have always been puzzled. Why didn't the Empress Dowager bring Xie Jiedu's mother to Shangjing? The Jieduan held heavy troops, especially Xie Jieduan. Although he was loyal to the Empress Dowager, people's hearts were unpredictable. If..."

He paused.

"I heard that he is a filial son. Why not find an excuse to take Mrs. Xie into the capital? In this way, it is natural for Mu to stay and serve his mother-in-law. The Empress Dowager has both hostages from Xie Jiedu and hostages from Changsha. Wouldn't it be a killing of two birds with one stone?"

Empress Liu shook her head.

"I will find an excuse to hold Mu down, and Xie Qing will not object. But if he brings his mother in return, he will doubt that I will be worried about him and take his mother as the mate."

She was tranced for a moment.

"Even if you want to take human beings as your quality, it is not the present. Nowadays, internal and external difficulties are just the time when you use him, there is no need to cause trouble outside."

Eunuch Yang hurriedly bowed: "Yes, yes, or the empress dowager should consider it properly, I have said nothing."

Empress Liu smiled and said, "Then it's settled. When he comes to see me, he will explain this to him. The detained Mu family is in Beijing."

Eunuch Yang flattered: "The Empress Dowager is wise and no one can match!"

...

Mu Fulan left the palace and returned to Xie's house. After noon, she went out in the name of a wife who wanted to visit a Beijing official. Halfway through, she found an excuse to send off her accompanying manager, changed into inconspicuous clothes in the carriage, and after getting off the car, she took a pre-prepared sedan and turned to a restaurant west of the city.

The inner historian Zhang Ban has received a secret letter signed by Lu Lin, the Prime Minister of Changsha, asking him to meet in this restaurant at the end of today.

Zhang Ban was very suspicious.

The last time he accepted Lu Lin's heavy bribe, and became a lobbyist for Changsha in front of Liu Hou. Today, he suddenly received his secret letter again. He was very surprised. He didn't know why the other party was so bold that he came to Shangjing secretly, and he didn't know what he wanted to ask him to come out again. The so-called ruthlessness in his heart was so uneasy and even more displeased.

But since I received the invitation and knew that if I didn't see you, the other party would definitely not give up. I had no choice but to take off my official uniform and disguise myself in the private room of the restaurant mentioned in the letter.

Zhang Ban arrived at the door of the private room, looked behind him, and confirmed that there was no suspicious person to follow him, and pushed the door open and entered.

The private room was quiet and there was no one else. Only behind the screen, a figure appeared faintly.

Zhang Ban stopped, stared at the figure and said, "I have arrived, what's your business?"

The figure moved for a moment and turned out from behind the screen.

It turned out to be a young woman dressed in a woman who looked only sixteen or seventeen years old. She had a very beautiful appearance and nodded with a smile to herself.

Zhang Ban's eyes fell on the other party, and he stood still for a moment, and after a moment, he realized, and was very surprised.

"Who are you? How could you be here?"

Mu Fulan said: "I am the prince's sister of the King of Changsha. Today I borrowed the name of Prime Minister Lu and asked the inner minister to come here to meet."

Zhang Ban became more and more surprised.

Mu Xuanqing's sister married Xie Changgeng and entered the capital a few days ago, so he naturally knew. But he never expected that she would dare to trick her into coming here in the name of Lu Lin.

What is your intention?

His face changed slightly and he quickly glanced behind him.

Mu Fulan walked slowly towards him and smiled and said, "Don't worry, Zhang Neishi. I'll have to ask you here today, and I will never be malicious, but discuss it with you if you have something to do."

Only then did Zhang Ban calm down, he let out a sigh of relief, and did not look at her face, and said coldly, "What's the matter?"

Mu Fulan said: "The last time, thanks to Zhang Neishi and Gudao's kindness and righteous help, Changsha was able to seek peace. Brother Wang was very grateful. When I came over, I specifically ordered that if I had the opportunity to meet the Neishi, I must thank the Neishi on his behalf."

"Forget it. You are a woman who pretends to be Lu Lin's name and see me here, probably not just to thank me. What else do you have?"

Mu Fulan smiled and said, "I have heard that Zhang Neishi is not only a capable minister, but also a cheerful person. When we meet today, it turns out that I like to deal with people like Neishi. Since Neishi asked, I didn't act shy. To be honest, I took the liberty to invite you here today, because I have something to ask for."

When Zhang Ban heard that she had something to ask for her, she couldn't help but glance at her. Her beautiful eyes stared at her, her eyes never blinked, and she suddenly felt light. She raised her chin unconsciously: "What's the matter?"

"The Nei Shi is in a position of importance. I believe that the important minister of the humeral minister in front of the Queen Mother must know that I am not easy because of my origin in Changsha. Xie Changgeng will leave the capital in two days. I am afraid that the Queen Mother will detain me in Shangjing and take me as the qualifier. Today, I boldly ask the Nei Shi to come out, hoping that the Nei Shi will help me for my brother's sake. If I can persuade the Queen Mother to dispel this idea and let me go out of the capital, not only will the Wang brother express my gratitude, but I will be very grateful to the Nei Shi."

Zhang Ban glanced at her again.

"Mu, I don't understand this. You and Xie Changgeng are husband and wife, and you have their own feelings. If you don't look for him in this kind of thing, why did you ask me as an outsider?"

Mu Fulan said: "Don't he know who he is? Where did he get married with me? As long as the empress dowager speaks, not to mention taking me as a hostage to Changsha, he will take my life, and I'm afraid he won't frown."

Zhang Ban shook his head and sighed: "You have such a cognition, but you are not a fool. Unfortunately, your father married you wrongly. Since you asked me, I was not willing to help you. But this is a bit difficult to help..."

His gaze stopped on Mu Fulan's face.

Zhang Ban, who was holding on the surface, was actually a lustful person. How could Mu Fulan not see the strange color that gradually appeared in his eyes when he looked at him? He smiled and said, "I know this is not easy. If the Neishi is willing to help, I will be rewarded after the matter is completed."

Xie Changgeng's wife, Zhang Ban knew that she was not easy to move. She just didn't want to refuse to say anything to such a beauty who came to ask for help. After listening to her, it seemed to have other meanings. She coughed and her expression tightened.

"What do you mean?"

Mu Fulan walked towards him a few steps and whispered: "I'm afraid the inner historian doesn't know yet. Xie Changgeng has the intention to rebel. Others don't know about this. He and I are husband and wife, and we share the same bed every night. How could he hide it from me?"

Zhang Ban was stunned, the frivolous expression on his face disappeared, his eyes staring at Mu Fulan, and his expression became extremely solemn.

"Mu, do you take this seriously?"

Mu Fulan nodded. "It's true! I have heard him vent his rebellious words in his dreams. If he hadn't thought about it every day, how could he have dreams at night? He was ambitious, how could he be willing to be a subordinate for a long time? Even if I didn't happen to hear his dreams, the inner master might have his eyes bright and clear."

Zhang Ban and Xie Changgeng, one in the inner and the other outside, were both referenced as "humerus confidants" by Empress Liu. Now Xie Changgeng's power is rising, and Zhang Ban is feeling out of favor. With his character, how could he be unmoved at all?

She looked at Zhang Ban and saw that he did not speak out, and continued, "My father promised me to Xie Changgeng back then. His original intention was to seek allies for Changsha. He was a cold-hearted person. He only wanted to take over the throne of his own. How could he care about my Changsha? Changsha only wanted to protect himself. Instead of relying on him, it would be better to surrender to you, Zhang Neishi."

"If the inner history can help me escape, I don't have to stay in Shangjing as a qualifier. I am willing to monitor Xie Changgeng's movements for the inner history. Once I catch the evidence, I will submit it to the inner history."

Zhang Ban seemed calm on the surface, but in fact he had no idea how many thoughts he had changed in his heart.

In just a few years, Xie Changgeng ascended so quickly and made great contributions again and again. Seeing that he was becoming more favored by Empress Liu and his status was threatened, Zhang Ban had never expressed any of it on the surface. When the two met, they were harmonious, but he had long been anxious and even jealous.

At the beginning of the year, he secretly encouraged a minister to come to Liu Hou to make a statement, implying that Xie Changgeng had the convenience of rebellion, and reminded Empress Liu to take precautions. Unexpectedly, Empress Liu was not moved, but also punished the man with false accusation. Since then, no one in the court dared to say a word.

Zhang Ban has always hated that he could not catch Xie Changgeng's evidence of rebellion, and today the opportunity came.

Mu is the person next to Xie Changgeng. No matter how much precautions Xie Changgeng takes, he would never have thought that she would be his own.

Given the current situation of the weak soldiers in Changsha, Xie Changgeng was unable to rely on others. He was willing to help him at this time, and the other party would definitely not be able to ask for anything. This Mu family would not dare to break up the bridge and treat him as a sucker. If he could use it for himself and become the eyes and ears placed by Xie Changgeng, what real evidence would he really get in the future? Then, when it was reported to Empress Liu, why worry that Empress Liu would not believe it?

Zhang Ban suppressed the excitement that surged in his heart and slowly smiled on his face.

He looked at Mu Fulan and nodded.

"Mu, that's what we say. In the future, the affairs of Changsha will be my Zhang Ban's business. I will do my best to help you with your affairs now."

...

Mu Fulan came out, took a sedan chair and returned to the carriage where she was parked, and went up to change her original clothes. Seeing that nothing happened, she called her back.

The carriage shop stopped in front of Xie's house. She came out and was helped down by the maid. She was about to go in when a voice came from behind: "Master Weng stay!"
To be continued...