Chapter 164 Chapter Eight

The weather at the beginning of the snowfall is the coldest and unbearable. The wormwood is blown by the strong wind, and the ground is a shade of red. The clouds were dense, the cold wind was fierce, and the white snow on the ground was rolled up and fell on the newly completed Shuofang Palace. Today is the day of winter hunting in Yanbei. The fighting in the east has temporarily stopped, and the northern dog army has also been repelled. The soldiers retreated to the pass one after another, as if preparing for a rare new year. When I got up early in the morning, all the shops on both sides of Wuxuan Street were closed. The long street was covered with fine yellow sand to prevent the palace carriages from slipping. Looking from a distance, it was golden, like a pavement of red gold. With the tall golden-bottomed curtains, the civilians have all retreated, civil and military officials are kneeling on both sides, and various honor guards are slowly marching in a clear array. For a while, the canopy, chariots and horses are like clouds, and the brocade robes and cloud sleeves cover the sun and the sky.

Today is the day of winter hunting in Yanbei. The old man with a good memory recalled the last winter hunting, which was twelve years ago. Zhongqiu Xiyuan was the hunting place of successive kings of Yanbei. It is located in the center of the Sunset Mountain Range, backed by Huinan Peak, a vast white wilderness, and the land is reddish. I don’t know if it was originally this color, or it was soaked in blood. Yan Xun was wearing a heavy sable fur and sat on a high throne, with shadows of people standing in front of him, looking from a distance in the wind and snow, it looked like two black lacquered wings.All the officials knelt under the king's chariot tremblingly, not daring to raise their heads to look up, their knees felt cold and painful, only Ah Jing quietly raised his face, but couldn't see Yan Xun's face clearly at all.

"Master Zhuang." A cold voice came from above, an old man in his fifties suddenly trembled, the muscles on his face trembled slightly, he stood up slowly, knelt down in the middle, and said in a submissive voice: "What is your majesty's order?" "It's nothing, it's just that I got a new interesting thing recently, and I want to invite Master Zhuang to enjoy it together." Yan Xun's voice was clear and there was a hint of a smile, like a cunning and self-willed child waiting for some kind of prank. Mr. Zhuang knelt on the ground, his fingers turned white, his brows were tightly furrowed, but he still lowered his head and replied calmly: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for thinking of this old minister."

Yan Xun smiled, with a hint of teasing in his eyes, waved his hand lazily, and said, "Bring it up." There was a rustling sound, and a carriage entered the arena. The carriage was covered with a black coarse cloth, and subtle noises could be faintly heard in it. Everyone turned their heads strangely and looked at the carriage. There was a dead silence in the arena. It is difficult for a stressed person to breathe. There was a sudden "pop", and the silent people were all startled, but it turned out that it was Yan Xun who was sitting on the throne boredly, hitting the golden seat with the handle of the whip continuously.

"Crack, crack, crack..." Everyone was solemn, and no one dared to speak. A guard in his thirties walked up to the first carriage, raised his hand, and lifted the black cloth on the carriage with a bang. "Wow!" The deep exclamation sounded like a sea, and the water splashed across the audience. Everyone looked a little panicked, but no one dared to question it. I saw a group of sixteen or seventeen-year-old young girls on the carriage, all of them were very beautiful, but in such a cold weather, they leaned together undressed, all of them were pale, His arms were bound and he had nothing else on his body.

Mr. Zhuang only took a look, and immediately froze in place. Even though the weather was so cold, there were still thick beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. Yan Xun's laughter sounded behind him, he seemed to be talking about eating and drinking, and said indifferently: "Master Zhuang is the cornerstone of Yanbei, he has treated me with kindness for many years, today's first arrow, Just ask the adults to start first." The cage on the carriage was opened, and the soldiers walked up rudely, punching and kicking the girls out of the carriage.They were all barefoot, stepping on the icy snow all of a sudden, arousing a pinkish red.

"Run! Run!" The soldier shook off his whip and whipped it fiercely, blood-red whip marks cut through the flesh and blood, and stamped ferociously on those white as suet backs, followed by ear-piercing screams.They were let go of their hands and feet, and they could only cover up the scars on their bodies indiscriminately, and fled staggeringly. The guard brought the bow and arrows to Master Zhuang, Yan Xun urged him lightly from behind: "Master Zhuang, hurry up." Mr. Zhuang's face was livid, his lips were bloodless, he slowly set his arrows, slowly bent his bow, his fingers trembling tremblingly.

Those girls were running staggeringly on the snowy field, their young bodies were shining brightly in the sun, they seemed to sense the crisis, they all turned around in panic, and when they saw his figure holding the arrow, they were all stunned up. "Whoosh!" A sharp arrow shot out suddenly, but without a trace of strength, it only shot a short distance before falling powerlessly to the ground. "Master Zhuang, this is not your skill." Yan Xun said slowly, the tip of his slender eyes raised slightly, looking at Mr. Zhuang calmly, but it seemed as if he wanted to see into his heart through his skin.

Mr. Zhuang stood where he was, trying to say something, but couldn't say it after all, his whole body was trembling slightly.An official below commented in a low voice: "A few days ago, I heard that a group of maids in the palace assassinated the emperor. Could it be all of these?" "Cheng Yuan, since Mr. Zhuang is old, you are the one to come." "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your love." The general dressed in green fur stepped forward and steadily drew his bow. With a whoosh sound, the arrow seemed to have eyes, and it was firmly nailed to the body of a girl who ran the farthest.Short screams sounded in the wilderness, and a large flower of blood burst out of the girl's heart, sprinkled on the pure white snow, dazzling bright red.

The rest of the girls were shocked when they saw it. A girl who had been kneeling and crying suddenly yelled like a collapse, and was about to climb up the throne, shouting as she climbed: "Sir, save me! Sir, save me!" Help me! Mr. Zhuang, I am... ah!" Ear-piercing screams followed, and a girl not far from her suddenly jumped forward, grabbed her throat, and twisted the crying girl's neck with a wrong hand. "Death is death, how can you beg for mercy from the enemy, waste!" The girl stood on the spot, her cheeks were pale, but her eyes were as bright as stars. She looked at it coldly. She was naked, but she didn't hide her shyness at all. She said in a deep voice with cold eyes: "We are believers in Datong, you little girl!" People who betray Datong will surely die without a place to bury them!"

After saying that, he bumped his head on the stone steps under the king's chariot, his body froze, blood flowed profusely, and he didn't move for a moment. The incident happened suddenly, and everyone didn't react. After seeing the woman committing suicide, the rest of the soldiers rushed forward one after another. One soldier stretched out his hand and reported back: "Your Majesty, this man is still angry." Yan Xun gave a grunt, but didn't say how to punish. For some reason, the girl's eyes just now made him feel very familiar, and many vague memories flooded him. Excited, just waved, and the guards behind all stepped forward. For a moment, the audience screamed like thunder, and after a while, there was no one alive. "The hunt has started, these people, drag them down and feed them to the dogs." Yan Xun ordered lightly, the guard was slightly taken aback, and asked hesitantly: "Then what about the living one?" living? Yan Xun's eyes flickered slightly, and the image slipped lightly from his mind again, the child's stubborn eyes passed through his memory, as if he was still staring straight at him from somewhere, which made him feel a little bit cold. "His Majesty?" Cheng Yuan called out in a low voice, Yan Xun raised his head, and saw that everyone in the audience was staring at him closely, he couldn't help frowning slightly, and said in a cold voice, "Drag together." After finishing speaking, he stood up in a dispirited manner and was about to leave. "stop!" Master Zhuang suddenly yelled, ran down the king's carriage a few steps, knelt and sat beside the girl who bumped her head, and cried in a broken voice, "Son! It's Daddy who killed you!" Yan Xun turned his back to him, with a cold smile on the corner of his mouth, all the guards rushed forward to take Master Zhuang down, and the rest dragged the girl's body and walked towards the wild dog room, on the white snow A long bloodstain was drawn out. "Yan Xun! You wolf cub! Even if I'm a ghost, I won't let you go! You will die!" Heart-piercing curses sounded from behind, and when the guard saw it, he kicked up and smashed Mr. Zhuang's silver teeth. Yan Xun walked forward calmly, behind him were countless civil and military officials who were still kneeling on the ground tremblingly, he slightly opened the corners of his mouth in disdain, and slipped out a cold smile that couldn't be colder. Life is not a good life, so what do you care about a good death? The strong wind blew his sable fur, like two heavy wings, fluttering up with a whirring sound, startling the eagles flying in the sky. The northern land is empty and vast, and the Spring Festival is approaching. This winter seems to be extraordinarily long. The wind outside was blowing, bringing the sound of clanging armored soldiers from the north, and blowing along the Jinzi Gate all the way into the depths of Shuofang Palace. The empty Shuiyao Hall was dead silent, the pillars were like ink, the hanging curtains fluttered, and the lights flickered. The wind blew out a large area, but no one dared to come forward to light it. A man in a brocade robe sat in the shadow of the lamplight, resting his forehead with one hand, as if he had fallen asleep, his face was quiet, with a deep outline, and he looked very young, but under the lamplight, there were a few strands of hair on his temples. His skin was gray, and occasionally looked back against the light, with a silvery luster. The huge dining table was the size of an ordinary bedroom, and it was filled with delicacies.Eight Treasure Wild Duck, Anchovy Shark's Fin, Hongmei Zhuxiang, Kung Pao Hare, Milk Corner, Xianglong Double Fly, Stir-Fried Frog, Spicy Pigeon, Bergamot Golden Roll, Canary Bird, Stir-fried Guinea Fowl, Fish Fillet in Milk Sauce , Dry Lianfu Sea Cucumber, Roast Roe Meat, Lotus Pond Tofu, Straw Mushroom and Broccoli. The dishes on the table have not been touched, even the hot soup that has been poured with oil has become cold, the butter has solidified together, the aroma has dissipated, and only the cold color remains. The two Donghu dancers were dressed in honey-colored light silk, with silver bells on their necks, wrists, and ankles. Their blue eyes and snow-skinned skin were surprisingly beautiful, but at this moment they were kneeling on the ground trembling, with their heads attached. I dare not lift it, it has been more than three hours. Today is the Spring Banquet, which is commonly known as the New Year. Unlike the hustle and bustle of the Daxia Palace, Shuofang Palace is immersed in a dead silence. Occasionally, the wind takes away a little fragrance, and it disperses lightly into the cold and silent night. When Ah Jing came in, his footsteps were slightly heavier, which woke up the man sitting alone above. Yan Xun raised his eyebrows lightly, and then slowly opened his eyes, the lights in the hall were flickering, the man's face looked a bit gray in the shadow, but his eyes were as black as ink, with a cold halo. "Your Majesty," Ah Jing knelt on the ground and said in a deep voice, "Master Feng has sent a letter." Yan Xun seemed to have drunk the wine, the wine glass was poured and spilled on the skirt of his clothes, there was a dripping smell of alcohol. He took the letter and looked at it quietly, his eyebrows were slightly furrowed as always, his eyes were calm. A chair was placed opposite Yan Xun, and a set of tableware was clean and tidy.Ah Jing knew who he was waiting for, and he also knew that that person might never come back. Another speck of powder dripped from the sand in the drain, Yan Xun slowly raised his head, but he read the few dozen short words very slowly, as if he wanted to engrave each word deeply in his heart. After a long time, he put the letter on the table, pressed it with the jug, picked up the silver chopsticks, and began to eat slowly. "Your Majesty," Ah Jing said with a frown, "the food is already cold, please ask someone to change the table for you." Yan Xun didn't speak, but waved his hand quietly, motioning for him to go down. Ah Jing continued anxiously: "Your Majesty is not in good health recently. The doctor said that it is not suitable to eat cold food." Yan Xun didn't raise his head anymore, he ate very slowly, taking each dish very seriously, the dancer who was kneeling on the ground stood up, staggered, almost fell, but still hurriedly moved the far away food for him The dishes are rotated.Candle tears fell drop by drop, like meandering blood, and the wind chimes outside made a crisp sound, jingling, very pleasant. He just sat there and ate quietly, and what was rare was that he ate all the dishes handed over by the dancers.The candlelight shone on him, casting a long shadow on the smooth obsidian floor, thin and slender. Ah Jing suddenly felt a little sad, he recalled in a trance two years ago, in that other courtyard in Yunbi City, the first meal that Chu Qiao ate after waking up, was also calm and cold, with the same taste, Between toasting and chopping chopsticks, there is nothing more sorrowful than heartbreak. Ah Jing's eye sockets were astringent, sore and painful.He didn't understand why he had survived so many difficult days, so much suffering and hardship, but he had to shrink back when the goal was achieved. Why did he come to this situation today? But he didn't dare to ask, so he could only stand quietly, like a fool. "Ahem..." The man on the main seat suddenly started to cough, it was very light at first, but gradually the sound became louder and louder, echoing in the empty hall, with such a deep sense of exhaustion. The dancer was terrified, and hurriedly took out a handkerchief and handed it over. The other dancer was pouring water with trembling hands, but upon closer inspection, it was full of wine. Yan Xun took the handkerchief, covered his mouth and coughed, his body bent down like a hunched shrimp. A dancer suddenly yelled "Ah", Yan Xun squinted his eyes and turned his head, his eyes were extremely cold, the dancer shrank her neck timidly, lowered her head deeply, and never dared to look up again He glanced. "Your Majesty, are you suffering from the wind and cold? This subordinate is called Dr. Chuan." "No need." Yan Xun's voice was slightly tired, but it was still his usual appearance, calm and calm, not even saying a single extra word. "Pour the wine." He ordered lightly, and another dancer who was a little far away raised her head nervously, her voice was almost trembling, but she still mustered up her courage and said softly: "The emperor is suffering from the wind and cold, it's better not to drink." Yan Xun turned his head slightly, and looked at her playfully, with a hint of chill in his eyes. The dancer who was kneeling on the ground winked at her in fear, for fear that her boldness would hurt herself. The dancer was trembling from his stare, but she still said boldly: "Your Majesty, drinking and drinking will hurt your body." "Drinking can hurt your health, and it's also a waste of time. Only useless people use alcohol to relieve their worries." A series of crisp voices suddenly echoed in his mind, Yan Xun was slightly taken aback, his thoughts drifted far, far away for a while, he went back in time, and saw the white waves of the river, he thought for a while, and unexpectedly slowly He nodded and said, "Well, then go and make tea." The dancer is only sixteen or seventeen years old this year, she nodded happily, her honey-colored slender waist was exposed, like a small fish with soft and smooth skin, she turned around and ran to the tea room. The hall fell silent again, Yan Xun said to Ah Jing lightly: "You go down first." Ah Jing hesitated slightly, and said softly: "Your Majesty really don't need to invite the doctor to come and have a look?" "No need to." Yan Xun shook his head quietly, his expression was very calm, as if nothing had happened. Ah Jing's eyes lightly glanced at the letter on the table, and a few words jumped into his eyes. He was slightly startled, bent down quickly, and said softly: "Your Majesty, rest early." There was no more sound, Ah Jing turned around and walked up the empty and quiet hall. The gauze curtains on both sides fluttered gently, and colorful auspicious birds were carved on the black pillars, and two people sat on the backs of the birds. One woman, with fluttering clothes and a big belly, is obviously pregnant; the other is holding a battle ax, with sharp eyebrows and eyes, she is actually Yanbei's twin gods. "Your Majesty, let's have some tea, ah!" Suddenly there was a girl's exclamation from behind, faintly crying: "Damn it, slave, you wet the letter, damn it, slave." "It's okay," said a deep voice quietly: "Take it and throw it away." "I lived in Zhuge Yue's other courtyard in Xianyang... I couldn't be monitored, I suffered a lot..." Ah Jing was thinking about the few words that he saw by chance, and the cold smell came from the distant Xianyang, and drifted all the way into the Shuofang Palace in Yanbei. The heavy palace door was opened by the servant, and he walked out slowly. The night was cold and quiet. The people in Yanbei had lost the mood to celebrate the festival this year. War, taxation, corvee, death, and blood almost pervaded the entire plateau. However, the departure of Mr. Wu and General Xiuli made this iron-blooded regime even colder.Death has paralyzed people's nerves, they can only live cautiously, and deeply suppress their previous expectations and thoughts. He walked all the way to the gate of Jiuzhong Palace before he got his sword. The ground in front of the door was a bit bloody, and several corpses fell casually on the side of a corner of the palace door. Their bodies were covered with gun marks, and they were stabbed to pieces by random guns. The palace guards were carrying the other two corpses onto the cart, and said to the guard driving the cart, "Hurry up and take them away, the ministers will all come to pay their respects at dawn." "What's going on?" Ash asked. "It's the remnants of Datong." A soldier who was also from Datong said without hesitation: "It's already the second wave tonight. After Master Zhuang's death, they became more and more rampant. Even those who are open and sharp Dash in." Ah Jing frowned slowly, presumably it was not rampant, but a kind of desperate suicide.The senior leaders of Datong have been killed by His Majesty. No one has been able to truly eliminate the centuries-old old organization for so many years. I didn't expect it to end in the place where I originated. "Be careful." "Don't worry, General." A guard said with a smile: "We were trained by Mr. Chu himself. With our brothers around, even a mosquito can fly in silently." As soon as he finished speaking, the man suddenly realized that he had said something wrong. Chu Qiao had already betrayed Yanbei, so how could she still be called an adult? "General, little... little..." Ah Jing didn't speak, turned around and left quietly, the moonlight shone on his body, with a pale light. The whole Yanbei is missing her, not just that one person. Destiny is always like this, like an arrow that leaves the string, once it is shot, there is really no room for turning back. Ah Jing shook her head slightly, the thick mink fur was draped over her shoulders, warm and warm.