Chapter 21 Chapter VI Palace

Wen Zhuangzhu promised that this batch of goods would be carried by Fenglai Pavilion, and enthusiastically prepared the carriages and horses, and sent us out. However, I could see that under that gentle and sophisticated face, there was fear and loathing that could not be concealed. After all, the ones wandering in the hall of his manor at this moment are the heroes who have crossed the Yangtze River for more than ten years, and those stumped limbs and severed hands are the twenty-eight killers who once shook the rivers and lakes. Now they are like dust It was wiped out as easily as floating ash, and in just an instant, Qibuwu, the water transportation gang, was destroyed under that sword light. There is no reason why people should not tremble with fear and trembling with such terrifying power.

Xiao Huan and Su Qian turned a blind eye to Wen Zhuangzhu's abnormal state, as if they didn't care about anything else as long as they achieved their goal. Parked outside the manor was the carriage prepared by the owner for us. Su Qian ordered without waiting for Xiao Huan: "The owner and I will ride in the carriage, and the rest will ride on horses." "I'm injured, dizzy, and can't ride a horse." I said quickly. Su Qian frowned: "So what..." "Let's get in the car together." Xiao Huan said lightly, bent down and got into the car first.

I immediately got into the car, and Su Qian didn't speak anymore. The rest of the people got on the horses and rode well, and the group set off again in the dark. After tossing all night, the east has turned pale, the manor is gradually receding, and outside the car is a lush field. Xiao Huan silently leaned against the car wall, looking sideways at the distant mountains and nearby trees passing by like splashed ink landscapes outside the car window. In the twilight morning light, the remaining blood stains on his pale cheeks were even more glaring. I took out the handkerchief in my sleeve and handed it over: "Wipe your face."

He froze for a moment, reached out to take it, and carefully wiped the blood spots on his face. I finally couldn't help but say: "Why do you want to kill them? Just subdue them, why do you have to kill them?" He put the blood-stained handkerchief in front of his eyes, there was no expression in his dark eyes, and his tone was calm and unwavering: "If you can subdue it, you don't have to kill it." I didn't speak anymore, I knew what he did was right, but I couldn't convince myself to face such a cruel him. The carriage kept going on the road, and we all stopped talking.

I don't know how long it took before there was a commotion outside. The coachman drove the carriage to the side of the road and stopped. Su Qian opened the curtain and poked her head out to ask, "What's wrong?" "It's unlucky, it seems that someone died in this village." The coachman said. There was a small village beside the road, and many people surrounded a family at the entrance of the village, all of them looked miserable. Xiao Huan, who had been looking out the window indifferently, suddenly frowned, and said in a low voice, "Xiaoqian, go and see."

Su Qian nodded, got off her horse and walked over. After asking someone, she turned back and said, "There is a woman in this family with dystocia, and she seems to have died." Xiao Huan frowned, and suddenly raised his hand to support the car wall and stood up: "I'll go and have a look." "Pavilion Master..." Su Qian called softly, but still said, "Okay." Su Qian ordered the two disciples to inform the family, then followed Xiao Huan and walked over with him. The family thought that the pregnant woman was hopeless, but when they heard that a doctor was willing to come and see her, they rushed out to welcome her.

Seeing Xiao Huan, a young man who looked like a mother-in-law was a little suspicious: "Genius doctor, you are a man, I'm afraid something is wrong..." I know that saving people is like putting out a fire, so I stepped forward to stop him: "Is it important to guard against morality, or your wife's life?" Over there, Xiao Huan lowered his head and entered the courtyard. There was a lot of blood scattered in the small courtyard, and there was even a faint smell of blood in the air. Xiao Huan asked the person beside him: "Where is the parturient?" The man quickly pointed to the wing room, Su Qian went over and pushed the others away.

After I stopped the mother-in-law, I quickly followed and entered the room, where I saw the mother lying on a bed soaked in blood. Standing in front of the bed, Xiao Huan stretched out his fingers and quickly pressed the acupuncture points from the forehead to the navel of the parturient, and pondered for a while: "It's the fetal position, go and get the knife." Su Qian hesitated a little, and said again: "Pavilion Master..." Xiao Huan moved his fingers early, touched all the acupuncture points on the whole body of the parturient, and nodded: "It's okay."

Su Qian stopped talking, and found a knife suitable for surgery from the disciple beside her. After the knife was sterilized, it was sent into the inner room, and the cotton curtain hanging at the door was closed. Xiao Huan and Wenpo were behind the curtain to treat the pregnant women. An hour passed before the faint groans of a parturient woman were heard. Another half an hour later, a feeble cry came from the house, and Mrs. Wen came out to wash the newborn wrapped in afterbirth, her blood-stained face was covered with wrinkles, and she smiled like a chrysanthemum: "Genius doctor!" , is really a genius doctor, I have lived half my life, and I have never seen anyone who can bring the dead back to life."

It took a long time for Xiao Huan to come out. His hands were covered with blood, and his green robe was even more filthy than before. There was tiredness on his face, but his voice was gentle. The mother's family at the door said: "There is no danger of life for the time being. I will prescribe a prescription for her to recuperate slowly, and she should be fine." Wen Po was still praising: "I have never seen such a person as a genius doctor. Men are afraid of a woman's blood staining their bodies, so they hide away. A refined person like a genius doctor is not afraid of being suspicious or dirty."

Xiao Huan didn't answer the woman's words, and walked towards the table in front of the window amidst the woman's husband's constant thanks. He had just taken a step when he staggered and supported the wall beside him. Su Qian hurriedly stepped forward: "Pavilion Master." He supported the wall and stood up, raised his head and waved to Su Qian, indicating that there was no problem. The mother's husband and family members poured in from the door, and no one noticed the strange situation here. Xiao Huan separated from the crowd and walked to the table. I quickly laid out the paper and pen, and handed over the brush dipped in ink. He wiped the blood on his hands with the towel handed by Su Qian, took the pen, concentrated for a moment, and wrote on the paper: Ginseng six cents, Atractylodes five cents... He frowned and shook his head, scratched out the words, and wrote: Angelica three qian, soaked in wine and slightly fried, Chuanxiong two qian, white peony three qian, rehmannia glutinosa five qian, wine steamed.Comment below: three qian per serving, one and a half cups of water, decoct to eight minutes, remove residue and serve hot, before eating with an empty stomach. The strong lowercase letters were written one by one from his pen. When he wrote the last stroke, his wrist trembled, and the pen and ink almost penetrated the back of the paper. I was the closest, so I quickly reached out to support him: "Pavilion Master?" He put down the pen in his hand, supported my arm to stand up, and whispered: "Let's go." As soon as the voice fell, he let go of my hand and walked towards the door. Everyone in the house was watching the newborn baby and the bedridden mother, and no one noticed us leaving. There was still a slightly cold morning breeze outside the door, Xiao Huan didn't speak any more, and leaned over the carriage, Su Qian and I followed. Since getting in the car, Xiao Huan has been leaning against the car wall with his eyes closed, as if he was asleep. Su Qian didn't even say a word, leaning against the car wall with her chest closed and her eyes closed. The inside of the car was extremely dull. Tired all night and injured again, my upper eyelids and lower eyelids had been fighting for a long time. At this time, I leaned against the wall of the car and took a nap. The car was going very bumpy, and after a short sleep, my head was bumped Put something on. I woke up from my sleep, only then did I see what seemed to be Xiao Huan's body that I bumped into, and quickly said: "This subordinate didn't do it on purpose..." There was no answer there, his body was leaning against the car wall, a fine layer of sweat had already appeared on his forehead and cheeks, his wet hair was sticking to his skin, it seemed that he was hit by me, he coughed lightly, He covered his mouth with a handkerchief and bent down. I quickly supported his shoulder: "Pavilion master?" He didn't answer, but suddenly coughed, removed the handkerchief, choked dark red blood from between his thin lips, and dripped onto the skirt and sleeves, and couldn't stop for a while. I trembled as if I was choking my breath, I just hugged his body and shouted: "Stop, stop!" The carriage stopped quickly, but he coughed more violently and his body trembled uncontrollably. Su Qian also came over, her face turned pale, and she sealed the big acupoint on his chest with her hand, and put her other hand against the Lingtai acupoint on his back to send the internal force there. As soon as her fingers started to exert force, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood . "My cloak...pocket..." He finally coughed and said something. Su Qian woke up, and hurriedly took out a small porcelain bottle from his coat pocket and brought it over. The small bottle fell in a panic, and the pale golden liquid in the bottle spilled on the felt carpet under the car. Filled with a very mellow and sweet smell. This smell seemed familiar, and I was shocked, and blurted out: "The fragrance of bliss!" This is actually the kind of bliss incense used to paralyze the nerves! Xiao Huan supported my shoulders, sat up reluctantly, and his deep pupils became brighter: "Give it to me...otherwise I...can't make it to the main hall." Su Qian froze for a moment, I grabbed the bottle of bliss incense without hesitation, and threw it out of the car. "You..." Xiao Huan coughed and almost fainted from anger. I didn't delay any longer, and shouted at Su Qian: "Make him dizzy!" Su Qian didn't hesitate this time, she shot like lightning, and already cut to the big acupoint on Xiao Huan's neck. His body fell limply in my arms, and I hugged him tightly, and then I breathed a sigh of relief: "Where's the medicine he usually takes?" Su Qian hurriedly took out a porcelain bottle from her bosom, poured out a few white pills, and handed it over. I picked up a pill, put it in front of my eyes, put it in front of my nose and sniffed it, and asked Su Qian, "Is this pill formulated by the pavilion master himself?" Su Qian was a little puzzled as to why I would ask such a question, she nodded and said, "Yes." I put the pill to my mouth and licked it with my tongue: sweet. I sneered, and my teeth ached from anger: I knew that the white surface of this pill was a layer of sugar!Coat the surface of the pill with sugar... Fortunately, he figured it out! I then asked Su Qian: "After taking this medicine, does it work very slowly?" Su Qian nodded: "Sometimes the pavilion master's inner breath is too weak, and the medicine's effect is slow, and I need to use my inner strength to help it dissolve." Without further ado, I put the pills into my mouth one by one, bit off the outer layer of sugar with my teeth, and finally stuffed a bunch of black pills with pitted surfaces into his mouth, and then took the water bottle from Su Qian , holding his head and feeding the medicine carefully. He didn't know whether it was because he couldn't swallow it or he was in a coma and was still afraid of suffering. He frowned slightly, and spit out a few pills mixed with blood. I was so anxious that I was sweating profusely, supported Xiao Huan's head, put a pill into his mouth, and then fed him water to drink. This time it was much better, although there was still water to choke out, but the pill was finally swallowed.I fed him a few pills so slowly again. After feeding the medicine, he stared at Xiao Huan's face for a while. Although his face was still pale, his messy breathing seemed to be calmer. I was a little relieved, raised my head and asked Su Qian: "Where is this? What is the closest place?" She pondered for a while: "This place is close to Tangshan, and it is about 60 miles away from the main hall." "Tangshan? The Tangshan with hot springs?" My eyes lit up, "He can't last sixty miles, we can't go back to the main hall, let's go to Tangshan's palace." Su Qian quickly leaned out to tell the driver to turn. After returning, she raised her head, looked at me and asked, "Who are you?" She moved her eyes to the sleeping Xiao Huan's face, murmured, with a sour voice, "Or, who is he?" Who?" I was stunned: "Didn't he tell you?" Su Qian's eyes dimmed, and I hurriedly said, "It's okay, he didn't tell you, I'll tell you." Su Qian smiled faintly: "The pavilion master has never mentioned his real name and background. I think he may have some concerns if he doesn't say anything. Maybe it's better for me not to know." I looked at her: "You never asked what his name is, what did he do before?" Su Qian smiled, she nodded lightly with a sense of loss on Qingli's face. I sighed: "If you ask him, he will definitely tell. Although he doesn't want many people to know his true identity, but if you ask him, he should tell." Su Qian looked at me sideways, her eyes flickering: "Do you know the Pavilion Master very well?" "Not really." I answered honestly, "I don't understand a lot of things he does, and most of the time I'm not sure what he wants to do. His knowledge and insights are much higher than mine, and his ambition and heart are also different from mine. It is even more impossible for us to be like-minded in matters such as governing the country, and if you think about it seriously, I don't know him very well." Su Qian turned her head and stared at my face seriously, and smiled slightly: "Even so, you still know that he will tell me his real name?" I smiled: "No way, that's how I feel." Su Qian smiled again and stopped talking. I paused, and said, "His surname is Xiao, and his name is Huan." "Xiao... Huan?" Su Qian's calm voice was also shaken, "Emperor Deyou? Then you are..." "Ling Cangcang," I laughed, "I don't like using aliases." "Empress Ling?" The expression on Su Qian's face was a bit strange, she actually burst out laughing, "Empress Ling is you?" It was the first time I saw Su Qian smiling when the iceberg turned into a new moon. It was like a bright pearl was dizzy at the dawn of the new moon. Her smiling face was bright and moving. After Su Qian smiled, the corners of her raised lips were retracted immediately, but the corners of her eyes were still smiling: "I really didn't expect that, you know? Everyone said that Queen Ling was decisive and wise, and her wrists were vicious. I really didn't." I thought it was you." How decisive and wise?Vicious wrist?This is used to describe me?I felt the corners of my mouth twitch, and I laughed a few times: "Word of mouth, it's not allowed." "I have also heard other rumors," Su Qian smiled, "It is widely circulated in the market that Emperor Deyou was actually killed by the combination of Queen Ling and the king of Chu who was assisting the government. It is also said that the queen and the king of Chu There has been adultery for a long time, they killed Emperor Deyou and forced the palace to imprison the Empress Dowager, they worked together and seized power." Even such outrageous things have spread?What a mess! "Hey," Su Qian blinked her eyes at me, "Is it true?" This iceberg finally showed a girlish side, and now she looked forward to the gossip... But what is she looking forward to? "Nonsense!" I yelled hastily, as if to prove that I hugged Xiao Huan even tighter in my arms, "I only like Big Brother Xiao." Su Qian let out a sigh of relief and waved her hands lazily: "Okay, I see." I blinked and asked her, "What about you, do you like Brother Xiao?" "I like it." Su Qian said immediately, unexpectedly straightforward, I thought that a person like her would not say the word like. Su Qian raised her eyebrows and smiled lightly: "I like the pavilion master very much, maybe not less than you." I admire her for daring to love and hate, so I nodded: "Understood." After pondering for a while, I said, "If you really like him, you'd better take the initiative, he's too boring, otherwise you'll have to look like him for the rest of your life." Don't count on it." After speaking, seeing Su Qian's eyes starting to shine, I suddenly wanted to bite off my tongue. Am I teaching her how to seduce Xiao Huan? Seeing my remorse, Su Qian smiled sweetly. The carriage was still shaking, and I held Xiao Huan's body in my arms as a pillow, trying to avoid the jolt of the carriage from aggravating his condition. Brushing away the shattered hair that was wet with cold sweat on his forehead, I paused and asked, "Has he been in such a bad condition?" Su Qian shook her head: "Although the pavilion master's health has not been very good, but this time he is seriously ill, because he just suffered an internal injury a few days ago, and he came out to run around before he recovered, that's why he is so sick." "Injured?" I frowned, "There are so many people in Fenglai Pavilion, how could you let him get hurt by hand?" Su Qian glanced at me: "Didn't you see the temper of the pavilion master when you came out this time? When you meet an enemy, if you can still make a move, the pavilion master will never let his subordinates do it." She smiled lightly, "Feng Lai The rules of the pavilion are strict, and those who kill innocent people indiscriminately when facing the enemy will abolish their martial arts. The pavilion master once said to us that we must be cautious when raising a sword. Every human life is a sin. If you do not bear this sin It is best not to draw a sword to kill people. Therefore, whenever there is something like last night that requires killing, the pavilion master will usually take action himself." "When encountering massacres, will you personally take action?" I looked at Su Qian's calm expression, and suddenly understood the meaning. The hand holding Xiao Huan couldn't help but tightened again, and I sucked He asked in a tone, "Who was he injured when he fought with someone?" "The head of Emei is shocked," Su Qian snorted coldly, "The head of the famous sect uses despicable methods, and he is no worse than a low-ranking thief. The other day, he visited the door in shock and said that he would A fair duel with the pavilion master in order to resolve the festival between Emei and Fenglai Pavilion. After the pavilion master agreed, he was shocked to know from somewhere that the pavilion master's physique was extremely chilly, and he unexpectedly attacked the pavilion master with an ice needle filled with cold air. But she couldn't please her after all, she was forcibly dispersed by the pavilion master with all her strength." "Bastard, one day I will send troops to destroy her broken mountain, and see if she dares to touch Brother Xiao!" I was so angry that I was dizzy. Su Qian glanced at me lightly: "It would be great if it could be that simple." I had no choice but to remain silent... Yes, the martial arts people are never going to be suppressed. After suppressing this gang, there are other gangs, so the affairs in the martial arts cannot be solved by soldiers and horses. The intervention of the imperial court can only make it more and more chaotic. Looking down, I saw my hands clenched into fists unconsciously. For the first time in my life, I began to hate the weakness of these hands. If my martial arts skills are as high as Su Qian's, at least I can do something more for him, right? Tangshan will arrive soon. The palace is built in Shandong, with carved beams and painted buildings, shaded by trees, occupying the best springs. I handed Xiao Qianqing's seal letter to the commander here, and asked him to send someone to notify the imperial guards as soon as possible, while Su Qian asked the disciples who followed to go back to Jinling first. When we arrived at the palace, we moved Xiao Huan from the carriage to the bed, but he was still unconscious. I tried my best to feed him some pills, and held his hand one by one. Fortunately, we just arrived at the palace in the morning, and two fast horses rushed there in the afternoon. Li Mingshang and Ban Fangyuan walked into the room with dusty faces. Li Mingshang only knew that I was looking for him in a hurry, but he didn't know what was going on. Putting down the box to rest: "Little girl, why are you looking for us in such a hurry?" I didn't bother to talk to him, so I grabbed his sleeve and pulled him into the inner room. Li Mingshang shook his head at first, entered the inner room, and before he reached the bed, he suddenly shook off my hand. At a distance of more than ten feet, his figure stepped over in a flash, his fingers caught Xiao Huan's pulse, the expression on his face changed several times, and finally he relaxed, shook his head, and let out a breath. I leaned over cautiously and asked, "How is it?" Li Mingshang didn't lift his eyes: "As long as I have breath, I can't die in my hands." While speaking, he suddenly tightened his grip on Xiao Huan's hand, and Xiao Huan, who was in a coma, frowned. When Li Mingshang raised his hand, there were already several bruises on that pale arm. Li Mingshang snorted coldly: "It's nothing more than cheating death, but even I dared to hide it, and came back with such a body, it is really audacious." In the next few days, Xiao Huan's medicine will be very bitter, very bitter, very bitter... Although I knew that Li Mingshang would not dare to offend me, I felt distressed when I saw it. I hugged Xiao Huan's arm and stroked the purple marks on it. Suddenly I remembered another thing, so I asked Li Mingshang: "Mr. This time, it's going to be like last time, um... stripped of my clothes..." Li Mingshang glanced at me lightly: "This kid is too weak this time, if he does that again, he will die." "Oh." He sighed in disappointment, and unexpectedly heard someone sighing in disappointment not far away, it was Su Qian who was standing by the window. She stayed in the room the whole time, and Li Mingshang and I came in too quickly, so we didn't pay attention. Seeing that we noticed her, Su Qian generously came over and cupped her hands to Li Mingshang: "This is Senior Li, the God of Silver Needle Medicine, right? Junior Su Qian, is now the head of Zhang Yuetang under the head of the pavilion." "Pavilion Master?" Li Mingshang frowned. I explained: "Brother Xiao is now aliased as Bai Chifan, and he is the owner of Fenglai Pavilion." Li Mingshang said "oh", and looked Su Qian up and down: "You are the old monster of Tianshan..." He suddenly stopped, shook his head and said, "It's very good that you can turn out of the Tianshan faction and follow this kid." Su Qian smiled lightly and said nothing. Li Mingshang didn't speak anymore, and put his finger on Xiao Huan's inch-off ruler again. I have never seen him call his pulse so seriously. After the first time, he will call again. Li Mingzhang's expression was serious, so I pulled Suqian and quietly backed out. Not only was he cautious in taking the pulse, but Li Mingshang was also very cautious in prescribing the medicine this time. The prescription was changed again and again, and he was sweating profusely during acupuncture and moxibustion. In order to restore Xiao Huan's vitality, Li Mingshang sealed his acupoints with gold needles, so it was not until the third day that Xiao Huan fully woke up, and found that he had been lying in the palace for three days. Say what. We stayed in the palace for another two days, and Li Mingshang still went to tie Xiao Huan all over his body every day, and strictly ordered him to stay in bed and sleep. I have nothing to do with Su Qian, just wandering around in the palace, Su Qian practiced every day but no one was seen, and I took care of Xiao Huan from time to time. It's not that I'm just worrying - Xiao Huan has a very strange temper. He usually doesn't like to be served by others, and he doesn't like it even more when he's sick. In his current situation, I broke into the room every now and then to give him water and medicine to force him to eat. I was really afraid that he would starve to death on the bed. It started drizzling after noon that day, and the weather became cloudy and cold. I went to the room to see if Xiao Huan's bedding was good enough to resist the damp and cold. Pushing open the door and entering, he had already got out of bed and sat in front of the table, holding a few letters from the main hall of Fenglai Pavilion in his hand. I was angry and went over to put the porridge on the table and complained: "What did Mr. Li say? Who made you get out of bed?" He smiled, but looked at me and asked, "How is the injury on your arm?" "That's it, it's almost there." I had forgotten about the wound in the past two days. , It doesn't hurt much. Hearing this, he stretched out his hand and pulled my hand over. When he opened his sleeve and saw the bandage with blood spots, his face sank: "I told you not to use your arm too hard, and the wound hasn't closed yet!" I laughed: "I am in such good health, this little injury is nothing, it doesn't matter if I bleed a little." "The disadvantages of loss of qi and blood can only be revealed when you are old. Don't pay attention to it when you are young." He was really angry, coughed a few times and continued, "That time in Shanhaiguan, It's the same with you, the wound on your chest hasn't healed yet, so you just walk around on the ground." I didn't dare to refute, so I stuck out my tongue: "Let's talk about old things when I'm old, I'm not quite alive and kicking now." He frowned: "Don't prevaricate, you must be careful!" I froze for a moment, his tone was rarely serious and solemn. I gave a soft "hmm", when there was a noise outside the door, Su Qian blocked the door: "Who are you? Why are you here?" "Who are we, you ask? We are the... relatives of the emperor, and who are you?" A clear voice picked up the conversation. This voice is Ying! I hurriedly opened the door, outside the door stood Ying and Hong Qing, both covered in moisture, standing side by side, Ying was very happy to see me, immediately took my arm, and said sweetly, "Sister-in-law." I was taken aback, Hong Qing looked at her approvingly, and then saluted me: "Empress Empress." It seems that Ying called me sister-in-law, it should be Hong Qing who taught her. I hugged my mother: "Okay, sister-in-law is very happy." Suddenly remembered Xiao Huan in the house, and hurriedly blocked the door, "You are not allowed to poison your brother anymore, and you are not allowed to kill him." Ying smiled slyly: "Sister-in-law, what are you talking about? My emperor's elder brother's Zi Palace is kept in Fengxian Palace, how can I kill him?" I was stunned: "Aren't you going to kill him?" Ying smiled, as if she didn't bother to talk to me any more, she dragged me into the room and called, "Brother? Are you awake?" Seeing her, Xiao Huan was actually a little happy, turned around and nodded: "I'm awake." I didn't understand at all, and looked at them with my arms crossed: "You two brothers and sisters are really strange." Ying glanced at me: "Forget it, there are too many things you don't know, and it's useless to tell you more." I haven't seen you for a few days, and I will talk like an adult and become old-fashioned. It was all Hong Qing's fault. I glared at her angrily, and then remembered to ask: "By the way, the incense of bliss in your brother's hand, is it you who gave it to him? ?” Ying shook her head innocently: "It's not me, I haven't seen him all this time, probably he deserves it himself." I looked at Xiao Huan in amazement: "How can you match that?" Before Xiao Huan could answer, Ying took it and said, "You don't know? My brother taught me all my skills. Although I formulated the fragrance of bliss, he can probably deduce what the formula is after seeing it once. " She shook her head and sighed after she finished speaking, "Just said, there are too many things you don't know, and it's useless to tell you more." My face was a little cramped, and I remained silent: It's not that I know too little, it's that the relationship between you two brothers and sisters is really weird. Hong Qing came in and stood in the room, smiled at me and said, "Empress Empress, we are also accompanied by Prince Qiantui." I froze for a moment, and looked towards the door. The man on the bluestone steps was wearing white clothes, closing the oil-paper umbrella in his hand, and turned his head with a smile. "Xiao Qianqing." I called out, I didn't know what to say for a while, so I just smiled, "Why are you here?" Xiao Qianqing handed the umbrella to the attendant at the side, with a half-smile: "The Queen's question is so strange, can't I come?" I shook my head quickly: "That's not what I meant." Xiao Qian brushed my shoulder early in the morning, entered the room and smiled at Xiao Huan: "Your Majesty, long time no see." Xiao Huan also nodded politely to him: "Long time no see, how is King Chu?" "As the emperor sees it, even though it's not very good, it's still passable." Xiao Qianqing replied flatly, "I'm not as chic as the emperor. Half a year ago, I left as soon as I said I would, without leaving any news. Sad and sad, I can't help myself." Xiao Huan's tone was even lighter: "Is that so? It made King Chu worry." As soon as the two of them talked, the room became a little colder, and I felt my back sweating, so I pulled Xiao Qianqing to sit down at the table, called for someone to bring him tea, and graciously made paste: "Xiao Qianqing, you came from the capital, right? Look at the busy people, do you want to order someone to arrange for you to take a bath in the hot spring to relieve your fatigue?" My hand was suddenly held, and Xiao Qianqing smiled lazily, like a cat with a ulterior motive: "Cang Cang, can you come and wash together?" My ears were burning, and I quickly shook off his hand: "What did you say?" While speaking, he secretly glanced at Xiao Huan, his eyes were lowered, as if he didn't notice this scene at all. "Forget that this is in front of the emperor," Xiao Qianqing smiled lazily, "Of course the empress would not agree." I looked away from Xiao Huan, and said "um", and there was a moment of silence in the room. After entering the room, Hong Qing, who had been standing by the side holding Ying, suddenly came over and knelt down on one knee: "I'm so humble, I want to ask Lord Long Live to move out of the door." Xiao Huan nodded, stood up with the help of the table, I quickly took the coat and put it on his shoulders, and supported him. He didn't refuse, he took my hand and walked outside, and suddenly stopped in front of the steps. Under the steps outside the door of the room, the imperial guards of Xuanshang were kneeling in a dense crowd, and the small courtyard couldn't be crowded, so they knelt all the way to the bluestone road outside the small courtyard. Hong Qing also walked down the steps and knelt in a row with Shi Yan and Ban Fangyuan who were at the front. There was a clanging sound of the long sword being unsheathed, and the imperial guards who were kneeling on one knee suddenly drew out their long swords together, Shi Yan, Ban Fangyuan, and Hong Qing raised their swords above their heads with both hands, and the rest of them leaned on the ground with their swords. "The eleventh-generation heirs of Huaiyin's fourth family, Shi Yan, Li Hongqing, Ban Fangyuan, and their families, hereby swear allegiance to the eleventh-generation patriarch of the Suzaku Branch of the Xiao Clan in Jiangbei, who is the prime minister in a prosperous age, who protects and supports in times of crisis, and who is not blazed by flames." Extinguish, life and death are inseparable." The sound of dozens of people chanting in unison echoed in the rain and fog, and the lingering sound lasted for a long time. Xiao Huan's chest heaved a few times before he said, "What are you doing?" Hong Qing bowed his head and replied: "Since the lowly officials entered the two battalions of imperial guards, the one who swore allegiance is not the Emperor Wu, nor the person who can give the lowly officials a title and salary, but the owner of the Suzaku Branch of the Xiao Clan, as long as the Suzaku Branch of the Xiao Clan If it survives, the humble officials must guard it to the end, otherwise they will be ashamed of the world, and they will have no face to face their ancestors after death." He paused, and then said: "During the palace change half a year ago, the lowly officials obeyed the Queen Mother's order and once drew their swords at the Long Live Lord. If this hurt the Long Live Lord's heart, the Long Live Lord would not accept the lowly officials I swear, the humble officials should also commit suicide and apologize according to the law." Xiao Huanjing said for a moment, "You guys get up first." There was silence under the steps, Xiao Huan frowned, turned his head and said, "Shi Yan, let them get up." "I often think, why didn't Long Live Lord kill me that day?" Shi Yan did not obey Xiao Huan's order for the first time, and said every word in a hoarse voice, "If I draw the sword to Long Live Lord, I will never die. If Long Live Master will definitely not break the sword to make a contract, and Shi Yan can only die today." "You guys!" Xiao Huan was probably a little anxious, his chest heaved and he coughed a few times. Hong Qing continued without raising his head, "Long Live Lord, please trust us again." "Your Majesty, let them be fulfilled," Xiao Qianqing interjected coolly, "As soon as these people heard that the Emperor was here, they left their duties and ran over. I said I wanted to cut their titles, so they just cut it off if they wanted to. Really loyal..." "That's natural. We serve the Vermilion Bird branch of the Xiao family, not the side branch. Now that we know that the Long Live Lord is here, how can we serve others?" Hong Qing said without hesitation. Xiao Qianqing sneered twice, folded his chest and turned his face away, and stopped talking. Xiao Huan finally calmed down, but turned around while holding my arm, his voice was also cold: "You can do whatever you like." Before he could turn around, a cold light flashed, and Shi Yan, who was kneeling at the front, didn't stop, and wiped his sword back towards his neck. A blue shadow flashed in front of my eyes, and my hand was empty. Xiao Huan's figure was like lightning, and he almost flicked Shi Yan's long sword away with his fingers. Even so, the blade still drew a bloodstain on Shi Yan's neck. Xiao Huan's face was pale, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, his eyes changed, and he said word by word: "Are you also coming to force me?" "Brother Xiao!" I ran down the steps in a panic, hugging his body. Shi Yan's body trembled, staring blankly at Xiao Huan's mouthful of blood spat on the ground, a glint of water appeared in the eyes of this steel-like man, he lowered his head deeply, trembling in a hoarse voice: " Shi Yan... dare not." I hugged Xiao Huan, felt his body trembling in my arms, and quickly smoothed things over: "Since Commander Shi and the others have come and knelt for so long, we might as well make an agreement with them once. As for the oath, after the oath is made, We can discuss whether to keep them in Fenglai Pavilion or not." As he spoke, he quickly cast a look at Hong Qing. Hongqing understood, and immediately said: "We don't have to stay in Fenglai Pavilion, as long as Long Live Lord still recognizes us and believes in us, it will be considered as forgiven for what we did that time... Otherwise, Long Live Lord It is to blame us for betrayal and disloyalty, we have no choice but to die." Xiao Huan was silent, looking at the crowd kneeling in front of him, and after a long time, he slowly said: "I don't mean to blame you at all, I accept your oath, but after the sword is broken, you can stay in Fenghuang. If you come to the pavilion, you can also go back." He paused, and then said, "There is only one blood-stained road that people in the Jianghu can take, I hope you can think about it clearly." After he finished speaking, Xiang Shiyan nodded helplessly: "Raise the sword." Shi Yan was taken aback, then raised his head abruptly, his eye circles were already red, and he said loudly in a trembling voice, "Yes." He raised his sword above his head with both hands. Xiao Huan squeezed his fingers into a sword formula, condensed his true energy, replaced the sword with his hand, and was about to strike the long sword in Shi Yan's hand. A cyan light flashed in the air, Xiao Qianqing threw the thing in his hand to Xiao Huan, and smiled: "Catch it." Xiao Huan reached out to take it, and was slightly taken aback. This is Wang Feng. After that palace chaos, Xiao Qianqing found the missing Wang Feng in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and he carried it with him all the time, and today he threw it back to Xiao Huan. "Don't use your real strength too much, use this." Xiao Qianqing leaned on the wooden pillar by the corridor, and said lightly, "Since the two battalions of imperial guards refuse to serve me as master, why do I still keep this sword?" He said, intentionally or unintentionally, he glanced at me, "Besides, isn't Yang Liufeng already broken?" I felt very uncomfortable for him to see, so I took the umbrella that Hong Qing handed over and propped it up to cover Xiao Huan from the rain. Xiao Huan held Wang Feng, didn't say much anymore, drew out the sword, raised the sword with his hand, and carved a sword mark on Shi Yan's sword. Hong Qing and Ban Fangyuan knelt down one by one and asked Xiao Huan to carve marks on his sword. The evidence for the two battalions of imperial guards to swear an oath to the current Patriarch of the Suzaku branch of the Xiao family is this kind of notch engraved on the portable sword. It is said that each new emperor must accept the oath of the two battalions of imperial guards before ascending the throne. At that time, the imperial guards knelt on one knee in front of the new emperor to swear an oath. If the new emperor expressed his willingness to trust these imperial guards, he would use Wang Feng to carve a notch on their swords.刻痕之后，新帝会给予被破剑者完全的信任，被破剑者也会侍奉新主，自此后忠心不二，但如果新帝不信任某人，就不会在他的剑上刻痕，按照规矩，未被信任的这个人为表清白，要立刻横剑自刎。 这套仪式我虽然听说过，但因为仪式本身庄重神秘，历代都是在极秘密的情况下进行，别说外官，就是内监都不容易看到，没想到今天居然让我见识到了。 原来宣誓的是淮阴四世家，而接受宣誓的是萧氏朱雀支的家主，怪不得御前侍卫两营不算在帝国的官僚体系内，地位特殊，他们只是萧氏朱雀支的家臣，而不是国臣。 三位统领的剑被刻好后，余下的御前侍卫也都依次过来领受刻痕。 我擎着伞跟在萧焕身边，看他刻完所有的剑痕，收剑在手，脸色也缓和了些，向宏青说：“用破剑立约的规矩来逼我，这主意是你想出来的吧？” 宏青脸上红了红，呵呵笑笑说：“请万岁爷降罪。” 萧焕也带些无奈地笑了笑，低下头轻咳了几声。 宏青忙说：“万岁爷还是快回房休息吧。” 我抬起头，看到旁边站在雨中的那些御前侍卫都是一脸担忧，就对萧焕说：“累了吗？我们还是快回房吧。” 萧焕轻点了点头，却只走出了一步，就顿了顿，放在我手上的重量也加重了些。 宏青悄无声息地过来，接过他的手：“万岁爷累了？” 萧焕冲他笑了笑：“有些。” 宏青就扶着他向内室走去。 我想着要给他一个机会和萧焕交心，就停下了脚步。 身后突然传来萧千清的一声冷笑。 我转头看到他靠着柱子站立，大半个身子都露在廊外，瑟瑟冷雨几乎把他整个身子都打得湿透，清澈的水滴不断从他的发稍和衣袖间滴落。 我走过去用手里的伞给他挡住落雨，埋怨：“你站这里，也不怕淋了雨伤风。” 他抬头甩了甩湿发，嫣然一笑：“我可没那么容易生病，这满园的人不都淋雨了？也不会有几个人伤风吧？” 我叹了口气：“也是，一般人不会这么容易生病，我紧张惯了。” 他抬起手，紧挨着我的手握住伞柄，半是玩笑半是认真：“是啊，紧张到除了他，眼里再也没有其它。” 我愣了愣，他忽然用有些冰冷的手托住了我的面颊：“不过，你能在最后看到我，我已经很高兴了。” 我没有再挣开他的手，我的脸正对着他的脸，那张容颜是玉雪一般的寂静冷然，那双浅黛色的眼眸，沉寂犹如万古玄冰。 为什么他说着很高兴的时候，脸上却没有一丝欢愉？ 时间仿佛静止，他忽然展颜笑了，低头附到我的耳边，声音里夹着丝水汽：“不要这么一幅要哭的样子，我会心疼的。” 我是一幅要哭的样子吗？刚才那个瞬间，为什么我会感到那么尖锐的刺痛？那种刺痛又是从谁的心里，传到了我的心里？ 雨声淅沥，他的声音依旧是轻的：“为什么不能来我这里呢？苍苍，我也喜欢你。” 他放开我的脸颊，转身走开。 回廊尽头那个白色的身影无声地消失，我低头摸了摸自己被水气浸淫的冰凉脸颊。 萧千清说，他喜欢我。 我早该知道了，从什么时候起，他除非气急，早就不再叫我皇后娘娘，从什么时候起，他看我的目光中已经有了太多的波澜。 脸是冰凉的，心底似乎也是冰凉的，这个男人给的爱，等触摸到的时候，居然是一片冰凉。 按照萧焕的意思，他是打算立刻就回凤来阁的，郦铭觞却说什么也不让他走。 萧焕看起来脾气好，其实是说一不二的主，郦铭觞比他还拧，两个人两天里吵了好几架。 这天我又听见动静来到萧焕房间门口，就听到郦铭觞在里面气急败坏地说：“好！这口血是我气得你吐的，哪天你一命归西了，也是我气的！” 说着怒气冲冲甩门出来，脸色简直发青，看也不看我一眼，就背着手，头也不回地走了。 我进到屋里，看见萧焕按着胸口坐在床上，一张脸比被单还白，手中握着的蓝色手帕里一片暗红。 我赶快走过去：“要不要躺下休息一下？” 他轻摇了摇头，咳嗽了几声，靠在床头。 “郦先生是为了你好。”我不知道说什么，就坐在床沿说了这么一句。 他顿了顿，笑了下：“我知道。” “知道你还跟他吵架？”我笑着，“也不看你现在的样子能让人放心不能，动不动就生气吐血，我要是郦先生，我也绝不会放你走。” 他顿了一下，轻咳了咳笑：“近万弟子在那边等着，怎么能放心得下。”说着停了停，又咳嗽几声，“上次若不是我太纵容厉惜言，也不会有钟家那样的事。” 他似乎总是这样，喜欢把过错往自己身上揽。 我沉默了一下，就笑了笑：“紧急事务他们自然会送来请你处理，你多在这里休息几天也不是什么坏事，把身体累坏了，往后凤来阁可就真没人管了。” 他笑着轻叹了一声：“就算我想回金陵，哪里走得了？” 我也笑了：“是啊，把郦先生逼急了，他就直接拿手掌把你劈晕。”说着想到来行宫时，也是我让苏倩一记手刀把他劈晕了带来的，顿时有些尴尬地清咳了一声。 在行宫里几天，我想到了有些事要问荧。 我找到她时，她正跟宏青躺在草地上，荧枕在宏青的腿上，宏青则折了根柳支放到身前晃啊晃，一派悠闲。 我走到他们身前，拍了拍宏青的肩膀笑：“很舒服嘛。” 宏青抬头看我笑了笑：“皇后娘娘。” 荧挥了下手算是冲我打了招呼，依然躺在宏青的腿上，懒懒地不起身。 我笑笑，挨着他们在草地上坐了：“荧，你和归无常很熟对不对？” 她笑着点头：“是啊，小常经常去看我的。” “他现在在哪里？”我接着问，“那天在太和殿前，他击你哥哥了两掌，其实不是要杀他的对不对？是他把你哥哥从宫里救走的？” 荧理所应当地点头：“那是当然了，小常怎么会杀哥哥。”她抬头想了想，“那天哥哥跌在台阶下，一点气息都没有了，周围的人都以为哥哥已经死了，我也以为哥哥死了，伤心得要命，然后小常就把哥哥抱起来带走了。” 宏青在旁补充：“后来太后娘娘一直都找不到万岁爷的遗体，就把一个空棺放在奉先殿。” 我点了点头，接着问荧：“那现在小常在哪里？你能找到他不能？我想见他。” 荧忽闪忽闪她的大眼睛：“嫂子你找小常干什么？” “问一些不明白的事情。”我随口回答，想到另一些问题，“对了，你跟你哥哥到底是怎么回事？” 荧笑了笑，乐呵呵回答：“我炼制毒药的本领哥哥教给我的，哥哥是我的老师，之前我们约定，如果有一天我制出的香能够杀了他，就算我出师。” 这种约定都能有，萧氏朱雀支的人果然没一个脑袋正常的，我无奈地摇头。 那边宏青也笑了起来：“虽然别人不知道，但万岁爷很爱护荧，不管荧要什么样的材料，都让我们去收集。” 荧颇为自豪地点头：“那是当然，我跟哥哥说我要一个又安静又大的地方制香，谁都不要来烦我，哥哥马上给我了，我说什么哥哥都依我的。” 这就是她独自一人住在英华殿的原因了，搞得我还以为她是被抛弃了，原来是要风得风要雨得雨的大公主。 我无奈摇头：“我还去给你送冬衣……你其实有的吧？” “那种厚厚的棉服？”荧点了点头，“是有啊，哥哥让人做了很多给我，可是那个不好看啊，一点也不飘逸，我不喜欢穿。” 宏青居然在旁笑着补充：“万岁爷总让尚衣监给荧准备粉色衣衫，可惜荧一次也不穿。” 荧颇以为然地用力点头：“难看死了！” 我顿时无言……我依稀记得我年少的时候很喜欢穿粉色的衣衫…… 在这种对话里，荧还算记得正经事，对我说：“既然你想见小常，我就试着找找他吧，不过他总是飘来荡去的，我也不大清楚他到底在哪儿。” 我向她道谢，宏青看着我，突然说：“皇后娘娘，半年前，楚王殿下进宫，用荧的性命来要挟我，要我去伤万岁爷，那时候我迫不得已，不得不设计偷袭万岁爷。” 我不知道他为什么突然说起这个，就认真听着。 宏青继续说着：“当初做的时候，我想万岁爷武功这么高，怎么会被我伤到？所以我挥出那一掌的时候，尽了全力，完全没有想到如果我能偷袭成功，万岁爷会如何。 “当我真的一掌击伤了万岁爷，那一刻，我真的很希望有人来一剑杀了我。那是我从懂事起，就知道要保护的人，十几年练武学艺，寒暑不易，全都是为了保护那个人，可是我居然亲手打伤了他。 “此后的两天，特别是当我知道因为我那一掌，令万岁爷生命垂危，我花了很大力气才忍住没有自刎，我已经错了一次，就算马上去死，也已经弥补不了，这么罪孽深重的我根本没有资格自刎。危险还在，万岁爷还需要我的力量，我不能像一个懦夫一样去死，要死也要死得有用一些，这样才能稍微抵消一点我的罪责。 “后来我们逃到太和殿前，万岁爷独自留下来阻拦那个黑衣人，我也留了下来，那时我已存了必死之心，只想死在敌人手里以图心安。 “但万岁爷还是救了我，我不明白他为什么连一个背叛过他的罪人都要救。我不是一个应该去死的人么？但为什么万岁爷会不希望我死？我这样一个万死莫赎的罪人，根本不值得他出手相救？ “这些问题，后来的很长时间内，我都在想。直到有一天我终于明白了，万岁爷从来没有说过要我去死，一直以来以为我必须去死的那个人，是我自己。” 宏青说完，轻轻笑了笑：“皇后娘娘，万岁爷是个把'做'看得比'说'重要很多的人，他或许什么都不会说，但是他所做的，却要比说的多上很多。他从来没有说过宽宥我的话，却做了宽宥我的事，他从来没有说过关心娘娘的话，却不表示他是真的不关心娘娘。” 我愣了愣，抬头看到宏青含着笑意的眼睛，舒了口气：“谢谢你……宏青……”然后清咳一声：“对了，往后别再叫我皇后娘娘了，我有名字的，我叫凌苍苍。” 宏青一愣，随即就笑了起来，挑着嘴角：“那么，不用谢了……苍苍？” 我又向他眨眨眼睛，两个人都笑了起来。 笑过又和他们说了几句闲话，我起身回房间。 刚走没几步，就在回廊下撞到正抱着一只酒壶坐在栏杆上靠着廊柱的萧千清，样子悠哉游哉。 我闻到他满身的酒气，俯身看了看他手里的小酒壶，那壶嘴里冒出的酒味浓烈，是一壶烈酒：“一个人抱壶酒跑到这里来干什么？” “喝闷酒不行？”萧千清今天越发懒散，一身白衣也有些皱，刚和我说了几句话，喉结动了动，提起酒壶就是一口酒灌下去，酒水顺着嘴角流到衣领上都不管。 我看他有些异常，就问：“你到底怎么了？” 他淡瞥我一眼：“喉咙痒，不想咳嗽，就拿酒压下去。” 我简直拿他没办法，连忙问，“怎么会喉咙痒？” “昨天淋雨，伤风了。”他回答得理直气壮，提起酒壶又是一通猛灌。 “昨天是谁嘴硬说自己不会伤风感冒的？”我给他气得没话说，看到他不但双颊有些潮红，连脖子下的皮肤都隐隐透红，就伸手搭在他的额头上，“这么烫？你烧这么厉害，还在这里硬撑？给郦先生看了没有？” 他双眉一挑：“那御医一直看我不顺眼，我给他看病，他还不借机整治我？”说着抬手指了指我放在他额头上的手，笑得有些不正经，“这样如果给我那位皇兄看到，不会误会么？” “误会什么，”我也挑眉，“我们又没……” “不要说我们没什么，”他打断我，不再乖乖任由我摸着，一把拉住我的胳膊，把我的身子压在廊柱上，轻轻一笑，“我不想听你这么说。” 他的脸离我很近，近到他肌肤下，因为高烧而出现细细血丝都能看得清楚。 有些粗重的呼吸和着浓重的酒味喷在我脖子上，我别过脸：“萧千清，别这样……” “刚刚才说，这样如果给我那位皇兄看到会误会，没想到……”他忽然打断我，抬头向前方笑着打招呼，“皇上，好巧啊。” 我忙扭头顺着他的视线看过去，萧焕正和苏倩一边低声说着什么，一边从回廊那边慢慢走了过来。 看到萧千清和我，他略略顿了脚步，笑了笑：“好巧。” 我赶快站起来，笑着和他说话：“怎么起床了，不多休息一会儿？” 他轻轻一笑：“有些事情。”边说边错过我，和苏倩两个人走远。 “看来真的是有些误会了。”身后传来一声轻笑，接着是烈酒倾倒入喉的汩汩声，萧千清擦着嘴边的酒渍，还是忍不住呛咳了一声，“皇后娘娘，要不要追上去解释，说我们其实没……” “啰嗦个没完，”我不客气地打断他，一把揪住他的衣领，“走。” “去哪里？”他给我揪得踉跄了一下，还是慢悠悠问。 “找郦先生给你看病，再这么灌下去，真要灌成一个醉鬼。”我揪着他的衣领就走。 萧千清在后面踉踉跄跄，有些狼狈：“你别抓这么紧，我一点风度都没有了，喂……” 我没有回头看他，开口说：“萧千清，对不起。” 他不满地闷哼一声，没怎么听清我的话：“什么？” “对不起，萧千清，我现在还不能到你那里去。”我仰脸，让清风吹拂起额前的碎发，“因为还有那个人，他在等着我过去。” 眼前的回廊，洒满了午后的灿烂阳光，曲曲折折的，在明媚的色彩里延伸。