Chapter 42 Chapter Forty-Second

Li Chu was restless in his thoughts all day long, but Bian Ai just happened to have something extremely unfavorable. If it wasn't for this, he wouldn't be so out of control and make a big mistake today. At one time Li Mi discussed with him the strategy of defense in the northwest, at another time messengers reported the situation of the two generals Guo and Li at Changshan and Taiyuan, levied and dispatched food and salaries, at another time he heard that there was a dispute between Huihe and the soldiers who came to help him, and at another time Su Zong ordered him to reprimand him.After all, I was busy until late at night when the dew was thick, so I got away and hurried back.

Two maids stood outside the door, and he asked in a deep voice, "How is the princess?" The maid said in a low voice, "Return to Your Highness, the princess is in the room, the servants are not allowed to enter, and no grain of rice has entered yet." He opened the door and entered, the room was dark and dark, there was no light on, knowing that the courtyard was guarded, she would never leave the room, he still had a wave of panic and fear for no reason, he felt that the room was empty, the world was empty, He was alone.At this time, even the footsteps were light and floating, and under the dim light outside the window, he suddenly walked towards the inner room, calling "Pearl" softly, but there was no response.From the door to the inner room, the distance is only more than ten steps, it is so long under his feet, it seems that it did not take such a long time to walk from Chang'an to Lingwu.

Behind the bead and jade curtain, one can be faintly seen lying on the bed.His heart sank slightly, he lifted the curtain with a bang, and hurried away. But Shen Zhenzhu and her clothes were lying on the inside. It was very cold in the early spring night, and she was not covered with bedding.He didn't know if she was really asleep, so he bent down, close to her earlobe, and called her again in a low voice. No response.He sighed softly, took off her shoes and socks, pulled off the quilt to cover her body, and casually touched her forehead, but felt his palms were cold, her tears filled his palms.

He woke up with a start, bowed his head and lowered his eyebrows to call her again, and patted her slender shoulders lightly.She shrank her body inward, her voice was slightly choked, but it sounded clear: "Don't move. Go to sleep." He felt a little comforted, and she was willing to shed tears for him. It was better than not saying nothing, not doing nothing, and ignoring him, and said softly: "Well, you can sleep well, and I will accompany you." Sitting on the side of the bed, the night was dark, The moonlight was misty, quietly guarding her. After Li Chu left, Shen Zhenzhu's mind was muddled, she was confused about An Qingxu and Mo Yanchu, but she was confused about where to go now.

Leaving him, although the world is vast, where would she call her home?If she doesn't leave him, how will she get along with him in the years to come?After thinking about it, people become inexplicably tired and lazy, and gradually fall asleep; after a while, they wake up slowly, think over and over again, and fall asleep again...unknowingly, tears wet their cheeks and soak the pillow towel. Why did she still cry, why did she hesitate?Could it be that deep down in her heart, she was reluctant to leave... She heard him entering the room, sighing, calling, his palm was warm and comfortable, caressing her face for a moment, the dam she built in her heart almost collapsed, pretending to be confused, turning around, if everything will pass, he and her , is still the loving couple that everyone in the palace admires.However, she couldn't—if there was a gap in her heart, how could she walk hand in hand with him safely?He no longer believed her, so how could she deceive herself and face him with a smile every day?

Thinking over and over again, crying over and over again, going to sleep and waking up over and over again. Waking up again, the harem leaked even more, and after an unknown long night, my muscles and bones were loose and sore.On the side of the bed, Li Chu closed his eyes and leaned against the head of the bed, he was probably very sleepy, and his breath was faint in his sleep. She got off the bed without making a sound, and walked barefoot towards the desolate Qionghua outside the window. Tightening his wrist, he grabbed it tightly, and heard his urgent voice behind him: "Where are you going!"

She turned her head and smiled at him. Under the halo of the moonlight, his expression was hazy. He didn't know whether it was sadness, joy, anger or anger, and said, "Where can I go? There are all your people here, and I can still go." where?" He let go of her hand, and said sadly: "I'm just afraid, afraid that you will be angry, and afraid that you will leave me." She went to the window and said in a low voice: "If there is such a day, I only hope that you can remember the past love and treat yourself well." He felt a great pain in his heart: "Don't you still want to misunderstand me like this, am I such a duplicity person?"

She smiled lightly and said, "Pearl is not worthy to be with you. You already have doubts in your heart, so why pity me, I just want a little bit of dignity, it's not too much." He pulled her over and looked deeply into her eyes.Being so close, his eyes were deep and deep, as if there was deep pain and sadness, just looking at each other for a moment, made her sink into it.She could only close her eyes tightly, her heart felt like a knife, let the world be silent, and smell the familiar aura from him. "Pearl", he hesitated to speak, as if what he wanted to say was difficult.After enduring it for a long time, I finally said in a hoarse voice: "Don't blame me anymore, today... just because I'm really... really scared... and jealous..."

Afraid, jealous? She suddenly opened her eyes. These four words were uttered by him who is arrogant and arrogant? Why is he afraid, why is he jealous? He caressed her cheek, and said in a difficult voice, "You don't know, I've been like this since I rescued you... You have suffered so much since you married me. You almost lost your eyesight when Aqina ; Later Chang'an fell, I failed to take good care of you, and you almost died from the sword; that day, Fengshengyi, Suci to Lingwu, talking about the pain you suffered when you were born, my heart was almost crushed Powder. I am afraid that you will blame me. As your husband, what have I given you over the years? Nothing but make you suffer. I am afraid that you will be disappointed in me and leave me... I am even more jealous of Namo Yanchu, why does he always appear first to save you when you are in danger? God treats him too kindly...I'm just afraid and jealous, afraid that you will be disappointed in me, afraid that you will empathize with him..."

She never expected him to say such a thing.As soon as he was born, because of Xuanzong's favor, he was praised by everyone to the clouds in the sky. Put it in your eyes and regard it as a real opponent.Now, he actually said the words "fear" and "jealousy" himself. He would never admit and face such a closely guarded secret. Today, he actually confided to her personally. Could it be that he really misunderstood him? He paused and continued: "My temper is so uncontrollable today, there is actually one more thing. Speaking of it, it's all because I vented my anger on you and I can't help you."

She heard his words in a very sad tone, and she couldn't help raising her head and asking: "What happened to the government?" Li Chu shook his head, "It's military affairs. According to news from Jincheng County, Nanzhao and Tubo took advantage of the civil strife in our Tang Dynasty to form a coalition army and captured Jincheng County ten days ago. Many guards in the Jincheng group fought hard and died for their country. Chen Zhou died I don't know." When he reached the last sentence, he let out a long breath and his brows were serious. It turned out so!Once Jincheng County was lost, not only would there be no important pass in the northwest to defend, but also the direct line of troops that Li Chu had painstakingly managed over the years would be completely destroyed.Looking back on today, he first got the news that Jincheng County was destroyed, and his heart was filled with grief and depression, and he was also told that he and Mo Yan had a private meeting in a teahouse. At first, he definitely didn't believe it. , finally vented. She stared at his face silently and carefully.He was involved in military affairs, Emperor Suzong had doubts about him, concubine Zhang Shu and Li Fuguo hid their swords in their smiles, the soldiers refused to obey the rules, and the battle of Changshan in Taiyuan was frequently in emergency. He became increasingly haggard and dull, and occasionally coughed in his sleep.Internal and external troubles, the pressure and resistance he endured are unimaginable. He is a man, not a saint, let alone a god! Ordinary couples know how to understand each other, why can't she understand him like this, only because of the pain and pain she has suffered in the past, she is so weak, she refuses to trust the person in front of her, and only walks into the narrow alley. The meeting with Mo Yanchu was originally her fault. The torment of this misunderstanding can finally be resolved. She leaned forward slightly, her jet-black hair was silky and flowing, softly rubbing against his neck, her slender feet lightly touched his chin.Li Chu's body went numb, he lowered his head and stretched out his hand to lift her chin. He wanted to speak, but when he saw her bare feet and naked clothes, he couldn't help but frowned and bent down, saying, "Why are you so careless about your body?" , stretched out his palms to warm her bare feet, startled, the grip was not full, but it was as soft as jade, his heart trembled instantly, he held it tightly, the thirst in his chest was uncontrollable, his breath was short of breath, he raised his eyes to look at her, Her cheeks were flushed suddenly... In the morning, after washing and eating, Shen Zhenzhu personally took the clothes and changed Li Chu's clothes.Li Chu looked at her in the mirror, smiled slightly, put his hands around her waist, put her in his arms, and asked in a low voice, "Last night... how was it?" She was embarrassed, and looked sideways at the surrounding maids The waiter took a look, blushed and did not speak.Those maids and servants all knew that the two of them had a bad quarrel yesterday, and they were all worried, fearing that if they were careless, it would bring disaster to the fish in the pond.At this time, they all secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but they didn't dare to talk too much, and no one dared to come forward to make fun of them, and just stood by as if nothing had happened. Li Chu let go of Shen Zhenzhu, straightened his clothes, said: "It's still early, you sleep a little longer, and it's not too late to greet father and concubine Shu." Talking while walking outside, Shen Zhenzhu just followed him to see him out. "Brother Wang, Brother Wang—" a person shouted and rushed into the room.Taking a closer look, it was Jianning Wang Li Tan. Li Tan, dressed in plain white uniform, rushed over, and when he stood still, seeing Shen Zhenzhu was present, he hurriedly saluted and said "Hello, sister-in-law".Ever since the incident with Murong Linzhi, Shen Zhenzhu didn't like to see Li Tan very much. Occasionally, she greeted Li Tan in a polite and indifferent way when it was unavoidable. Turn around and go to the inner room. But I heard Li Tan say: "Brother Wang, I saw Lin Zhi today—" Shen Zhenzhu couldn't help but stop.Li Chu glanced at Li Tan and said, "So what?" Li Tan looked happy, and hurriedly said: "It must be her. Although it is from the back, I will never be wrong. Today I got up early to practice swords in the mountains south of the city, and saw a woman coming from the city to the mountains. There is no one else besides Lin Zhi in terms of figure and manner of walking! I never thought that she would be in Fengxiang—" Shen Zhenzhu couldn't bear it anymore, she turned around and interjected, "So what if it's Lin Zhi? Didn't she have been divorced by you long ago? Don't you think she's not sad enough, so you want to bring her in to humiliate her again?" " Li Tan originally came to discuss with Li Chu in high spirits, but at this moment Shen Zhenzhu robbed him of his whites, his face turned red and turned pale, and he couldn't say a word for a long time. Li Chu patted Li Tan on the shoulder and said: "Okay, okay, I have something to discuss with you, let's talk as we walk." He squeezed Shen Zhenzhu's hand comfortingly, and walked out with Li Tan. Before he took a few steps, Yan Ming hurried over, and said a few words to Li Chu, Li Chu's face was serious, but before he could speak, an internal servant rushed into the courtyard, but it was the prince who was approaching by Suzong. Seeing Li Chu and Li Tan, feeling relieved, he stepped forward to salute and said: "So the two Highnesses are here, Your Majesty hastened to order, please come quickly with me!" Li Chu thought for a while, walked up to Shen Zhenzhu, and said to her in a very low voice: "Wang Sili was defeated in martial arts in the pass, and now the rebels are attacking Dahe Pass. There may be disturbances in the palace today. Don't worry." Be in a hurry, stay in the room and rest well, and there is no need to go to greet you." At this time, the battle between the Tang army and the rebels was a local scuffle, and the martial arts had been attacked repeatedly by the rebel general An Shouzhong. Wang Sili was defeated and had no response. The soldiers and horses retreated to Fufeng, so that the rebels reached Daheguan, directly threatening Fengxiang's safety. Shen Zhenzhu guessed that Suzong was in such a hurry to summon Li Chu and Li Tan to discuss this matter, and nodded repeatedly. The news in the palace spread very quickly, within an hour, everyone in the palace knew the letter, from top to bottom, everyone showed signs of anxiety and fear.Once Daheguan was lost, Fengxiang broke through immediately, just like the loss of Tongguan and the chaos in Chang'an, how could it not make people panic and anxious.Shen Zhenzhu thought for a long time in the room, but slowly relaxed.There are a lot of troops stationed in Fengxiang, Suzong will do everything possible to keep Daheguan, the rebels are chasing after them, the Tang army is waiting for work, and they also have the advantage in terms of strength, which is very different from the situation in Tongguan that day, it is expected that they will not be able to defend reason. Sure enough, Li Chu came back earlier than usual today.When he entered the room, he hugged Shi'er with one hand, played and amused, and ordered to pass the dinner.Seeing that he was in a good mood, Shen Zhenzhu asked with a smile: "Dahe Guan Wuyou?" Li Chu said: "I invite Ying in front of the palace and lead troops to help Daheguan. Marshal Guo will also lead his troops to encircle and wipe out the rebels." See the big picture. As soon as Li Tan was mentioned, Shen Zhenzhu lost interest again. Anyway, Daheguan was safe and sound, so she didn't bother to ask more. Just about to use chopsticks to eat, the guards said that they had something to report. Li Chu put down his chopsticks and said to Shen Zhenzhu with a smile: "This meal makes people feel uneasy." He called the guard to come in and talk. The guard said: "There is an old man outside Xingyuan who said that he has important matters to meet His Highness and Wangfei." Li Tan and Shen Zhenzhu looked at each other, secretly thought that it was weird, if they wanted to see Li Chu, it would be fine, why would they still want to see Shen Zhenzhu?Li Chu asked: "The old man's name, any official position, can you ask clearly?" The guard bowed and presented the object to Li Chu, saying: "He would not reveal his name, but only said that if you hand over this object to His Highness and Wangfei, they will know who he is." Li Chu picked up the thing with his fingers, and at a glance, he was even more puzzled - it was just a very ordinary black chess piece.While thinking about it, she casually handed the chess piece to Shen Zhenzhu, Shen Zhenzhu was also baffled, she took the chess piece and compared it to the dim light outside at dusk, she suddenly realized that she slapped the table and stood up, Li Chu also woke up immediately. The two hurried out of the main gate of Xingyuan, looked around, but saw a person standing up slowly under a willow tree beside him, smiling at him and his wife. It was Sun E, the master doctor of the country.