Chapter 33 Chapter Three

Amidst the noise and panic, the night wind blew past in front of her. I clenched my fists, stood up and shouted to the field: "Listen to the imperial guards, don't hurt anyone tonight!" There are not many assassins, and they don't want to fight. They have been fighting and retreating for a long time. The imperial guards who were fighting with the assassins were stunned when they heard this order, and the assassins in black retreated faster. "Hurry up and pursue," Xiao Huan's voice suddenly sounded behind him, not loud, but majestic and cold, "All assassins, shoot and kill."

The imperial guards all gave a meal, and immediately tried their best to chase after the assassin.However, in this moment of delay, the assassin had already climbed over the rockery wall and escaped.Mirror Pond is located in the northwest corner of the Forbidden Palace. Outside the city wall is the larger Taiye Pond. The assassin disappeared after escaping from the water, so it is not easy to hunt down. "Cang Cang," a low voice called from my ear, and someone grabbed my sleeve, and Xiao Huan coughed lightly, "Your identity as the master of the Fenglai Pavilion must not be revealed."

Stretching out my hand, I knocked off his hand on my sleeve with a "snap". I turned around and smiled a little coldly: "Thank you for your trouble, Long Live." I sneered: "It's just that I sacrifice a few of my disciples to protect my identity. I don't like doing such things." The imperial guards who came one after another were chasing over the wall one after another, and I turned around and ran in that direction. "Cang Cang!" The sleeve was pulled for the second time, and he got up and pulled me. Xiao Huan exerted great strength in his hands, and he coughed a few times before speaking, "Cang Cang..."

"Report to Lord Long Live," Shi Yan, the commander of the accompanying battalion who was not always on duty, was disturbed by the chaos. He knelt on one knee under the steps and reported, "The lowly officials are inefficient and have never caught up with the assassin." Looking at Shi Yan at the bottom of the steps, the suppressed anger suddenly rushed into my heart, I turned my head, and sneered again: "Listen to you? Listen to what you said? Listen to you, you can see that the people who came to Fenglai Pavilion this time have strong martial arts skills. Will you be able to escape? Or did you say it’s too impolite to leave now? Apart from these, is there anything else you want to say?”

His face was even paler in front of him, and he didn't speak any more. I gritted my teeth, broke free from his hand, turned around and walked down the steps quickly. Quickly passing through the messy banquet, I walked out. Ever since I saw the logo of Fenglai Pavilion on the flying knife, I was covered in cold sweat, and I almost wanted to curse, this group of people are crazy, aren't they?Treating the Forbidden Palace as a restaurant or treating the two battalions of imperial guards as paper tigers!In tonight's situation, the accompanying battalion obviously didn't try their best, otherwise, it doesn't matter whether you are an elite in the pavilion or not, five out of ten will go out sideways.

While thinking about it, I hurried out, when a figure suddenly stood on the road, blocking my way, Duan Jingxue. Dressed in a goose-yellow gauze shirt, with bright makeup, Duan Jingxue looked straight into my eyes, smiled, and did not bow down to salute: "Empress Empress." Now everyone in the courtyard is panicking, and no one has noticed our strange behavior. I was full of irritability, I was too lazy to talk to the little girl, so I sneered: "Duan Jingyi is your sister, right? Duan Jingxue, Miss Duan." Still looking directly at me, Duan Jingxue smiled like a flower: "The empress is very good, she still remembers my sister."

"I didn't remember it at first, but after watching a certain person who always loves to be silly and act like a baby, I finally remembered it." I sneered, "Duan Zhaoyi, the fifth grade in the harem, didn't seem to like Miss Duan so much to pretend to be cute. .” "Does the empress know what happened to my sister after she left the palace?" Duan Jingxue smiled sweetly, "I think the empress will never pay attention to the whereabouts of a mere fifth-rank Zhaoyi who was dismissed from the palace. Then let me do it." Tell the empress—my sister, who was a master of piano and painting before entering the palace, was gentle and intelligent. After leaving the palace, she married a Beijing merchant who was 20 years older than her. When she was pregnant with her second son, she was kicked in the stomach by her fat and ugly husband, and died of dystocia. It was only because the man saw her say a few more words to the boy who delivered the clothes—did An abandoned woman will be an abandoned woman all her life, belittled and insulted, even if it is the emperor who abandoned this woman."

Duan Jingxue looked at me with a sweet smile: "I have been watching and thinking all these years, wondering why those two people can still be so happy and happy, flying together? Among the people, has no one ever thought of those women in the harem who have wasted their lives and left in desolation? Empress, you must have never thought about how pitiful and miserable those women are compared to your happy life today. " Duan Jingxue still smiled: "Empress, I really want to take a look. I want to see if the love between the empress and the empress who live and die together, and the good stories are passed down, is not as unswerving as in the legend." She smiled lightly, "The empress Niangniang, Father Wufu said that I am very similar to you when you were young, in fact, if you lose to your younger self, it will feel amazing, right?"

She finally smiled again: "By the way, empress, if I were you, I would definitely not neglect the emperor at this time - such a handsome and gentle man, there will be many people vying for love." Looking at her quietly, I smiled: "Miss Duan, do you think I'm jealous of you, that's why I snubbed the emperor?" I smiled lightly, and I nodded, "That's right, very imaginative." Also remained motionless Meeting her eyes, I smiled, "Unfortunately, I remember that I don't seem to have much time to be jealous." "I've thought about it, I've thought about those concubines who came out of the palace, I know some of them have a miserable end." The smile slowly disappeared, and I said every word, "But back then, none of them did not petition themselves, Willing to enter the palace. Everyone has to choose their own path. Now that they have chosen this path, they should understand the benefits and variables after choosing this path. You are pitiful, weak and innocent Every woman walked into the Forbidden Palace with her own feet back then, and every one of them had competed for favor and beauty in the harem, and all the tricks were counted.

"You want me to feel that I'm sorry for them?" I smiled coldly, and I said, "I'm so sorry, I remember that I was the queen, and it wasn't me who used to rob other people's husbands, but those sweet words in your mouth. Poor side concubine. Therefore, I will never feel the slightest guilt because I won them in the end. Sorry, I am a vicious and selfish woman by nature. So used to fraternity that he sympathizes with all miserable people." After I finished speaking, I laughed again: "As for Miss Duan, you said that you are like me when I was a teenager. I never thought that I would lose to my former self... What's more," I smiled and looked her up and down, "I was , much cuter and prettier than you."

Suddenly put away my smile, I stared into her eyes, and paused every word: "The emperor is my man, if I love to snub him, I will snub him, if I love to pet him, I will pamper him, and it's not your turn to talk. Like your sister, stay away from my people!" After finishing speaking, I missed her body and went straight forward. When they passed each other, she raised her head abruptly, without a smile on her face, and said word by word, "We're not finished." "Waiting for you at any time." I sneered and kept walking. Almost running all the way back to Fenglai Pavilion, I broke into Su Qian's bedroom and kicked open the door. Su Qian was changing into a pure white dress, and was wiping her throwing knife in a fairy-like manner, when she saw me smile slightly: "You're back?" "Is it okay if you don't come back?" I was so angry that I just wanted to tear down this witch, "You reported to me the other day that you were going to do something important, that is, enter the palace to assassinate?" "There are so many guests at the Mid-Autumn Festival dinner, the assassination must not be covered up, and the rumors must be running fast," Su Qian said rather complacently, "What a good timing." "What a fart!" I was so angry that I couldn't laugh or cry, "You crazy woman! You are feeding poison on your hidden weapon!" "Of course the hidden weapon needs to be poisoned." Su Qian nodded, "Anyway, there is an antidote." "The antidote is useless! Do you think Brother Xiao's heart can withstand your poison once? I may cut you up and feed him in time!" When they got angry, they started cursing. I saw the handle on the table just now. When the knife was broken with blue light, his breathing almost stopped, and he didn't dare to think about the consequences if the hidden weapon was not stopped. Su Qian stood up from the chair: "Pavilion Master Bai's heart has been damaged to such an extent?" "Back then, if Master Chen hadn't passed all of her body's energy to Big Brother Xiao and protected her last breath, Big Brother Xiao would never have come back." I glared at her, and these are the things I've been slowly saying to Xiao Huan and others over the past few years. asked. Xiao Huan has always been downplaying, the tragedy of that battle can only be learned from other people's mouths. I heard it from Zhong Lin, who competed for thousands of miles, wandered life and death several times, at the last moment, the blood was almost drained, and Xiao Huan's pulse was only breathed, Chen Luomo stood on the edge of a thousand-foot cliff and asked him, when What do you want to do after it's all over?At that time, he smiled, and only said two words: "The capital." So Chen Luomo used his whole body's internal energy to suppress Xiao Huan's extreme yang internal energy with his yin and cold internal energy, and only then did he protect the last uninterrupted breath The heart veins have supported his life so far. Su Qian's complexion has changed: "Did you quarrel with Pavilion Master Bai again today?" Immediately, I was furious: "Master Su, you sent all the people who were assassinated, and followed the campers in front of you to fight back and forth, can you not make noise?" After Su Qian's complexion changed, she had returned to her usual ice-cold expression: "Forget it, Pavilion Master Bai Ruobai is gone, so I will kill myself and apologize." My eyes became darker when I heard it: "Come on, it's not your turn to stay with me forever, so don't take advantage of me!" He said with a sigh, "It should be okay, last year Li Mingshang went to Yunnan to find medicine, Before I left, I said that within five years, everything would be stable." "No matter how stable it is, it can't stand your toss!" Su Qian said with a blank face, "Tell me, why are you angry with Pavilion Master Bai this time?" How did it become her to blame me?After a pause, I said, "I don't know." for what?can not say it clearly. On the surface, it seems that because of Qi Chengliang's affairs, he blamed him for being too ruthless in not remembering the past, so he left the Forbidden City in disappointment.In fact, there should be other reasons. Since his illness this time, the powerlessness and fear accumulated day by day, every moment I saw him, I was afraid that I might never see him again.Hearing Zhang Zhuduan say that it was the first moment when Xiao Huan wanted to investigate Qi Chengliang, the first thought that came to my mind was not shock, nor did I complain for Qi Chengliang, but just thought in a trance, such a drastic reform, and so aggressive, is it true? Isn't it planning for a hundred years?I was in a trance until I returned to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and I saw him waiting for me under the lamp, but I didn't dare to let him see that something was wrong, and I didn't dare to ask.After asking, what if the answer is yes? When we bid farewell to him in Tianshan, it was enough for him to stay in his eyes for a moment longer.Later, when he finally came back, he was extremely happy every day, every day was like stepping on clouds, and his dreams were not so complete. Eight years is a long time, so long that it is already an extravagant hope, but such a long eight years is still not enough, not enough at all. In those two days, my mood was almost never at peace, and it became more and more chaotic. In the end, I found an excuse and let it out together.He sent the children to Fenglai Pavilion in a panic, and went to look for him in panic, but bumped into Duan Jingxue. People who didn't care about it at first felt very annoying at that moment. Maybe Duan Jingxue was right, maybe I I was really jealous, anger rushed to my forehead, and I said the words mercilessly, even if I tried to save them.Even before leaving, he deluded himself into thinking that it would be better to take the children away and let him rest quietly for two days. "Pavilion Master Bai came here." After a while of silence, Su Qian said, "You came here the second day after you lived in the pavilion. Pavilion Master Bai came to see me that day and said that your body hadn't fully recovered after giving birth, and that you still hadn't recovered. It needs to be adjusted, and I explained a lot of things to pay attention to in the diet." She said, and also sighed: "I can't talk about your affairs, but don't hold back what you say, you are not a person who can hold back, if you hold back for a long time, you will have a brain attack, which will hurt people even more." I forcefully smiled at her: "You are so kind, Brother Xiao took the initiative to ask me to guess the riddle after all, I have a step down, and you made it like this again, now I really have a headache, how can I find the step by myself..." Su Qian rolled her eyes: "You are so thick-skinned, why do you need stairs?" "No matter how thick-skinned you are, it's more comfortable to go down a step!" I yelled at her again angrily. While the two were talking, a black shadow broke into the door, and the man shouted anxiously as soon as he entered, "Cang Cang? Is Cang Cang there?" With a clear voice and a handsome appearance, it is Hong Qing who is dressed in an official uniform. I was stunned for a moment, and just about to ask him why he left Ying behind and ran over, he quickly grabbed my sleeve: "Long live Lord passed out in the Hall of Mental Cultivation after leaving the moon feast, Cang Cang you..." I couldn't hear what he said behind me, and rushed out of the room. There was only a buzzing sound in my head. I rode my horse from Fenglai Pavilion to Xuanwu Gate, and then got off the horse and rushed all the way to the Hall of Mental Cultivation. I didn't care to adjust my shortness of breath. I grabbed hold of him and stood in the Nuan Pavilion Feng Wufu at the door: "Where is Brother Xiao? How is Brother Xiao?" Feng Wufu's face was a little confused, and he frowned immediately: "Hush! Be quiet, Long Live Lord is only taking a break." "Why did Brother Xiao pass out? Has the imperial physician come? How did you say it?" After a series of questions, I calmed down a little. Seeing Feng Wufu still puzzled, I suddenly understood, "Did Brother Xiao pass out?" Looking at me reproachfully, Feng Wufu said: "If you make a fuss twice, the Lord Long Live will also knock you out. A maid who has not just entered the palace understands the rules, what a yelling look like!" This guy Hong Qing dared to lie to me! After a breath of relief, I realized that my hands and feet were a little soft. I let go of Feng Wufu's hand and lowered my voice: "Brother Xiao fell asleep?" "How can I sleep now? I just took a bath and closed my eyes." Feng Wufu said, and looked at me reproachfully, "It's not enough about General Qi, can't you let Long Live God worry?" Another lesson came to me, so I had no choice but to sigh: "Okay, okay, you all stop talking, I know I'm wrong and it's okay." As if he didn't expect me to say what I was wrong, Feng Wufu's face was a little uncomfortable, and after a pause, he said: "I don't even say it's all your fault, it's good if you don't have such a quick temper." As he spoke, he paused again: "Ms. Duan's matter, the old slave outside the palace was going to tell the queen two days ago. The first time Miss Duan was allowed to enter the palace, it was Mrs. Duan who ran to the old slave's mansion The entrusted love is really irresistible. Later, when Ms. Duan entered the palace for the second time, Mrs. Duan brought a booklet to the Hall of Mental Cultivation that morning, but came out with a booklet not long after, and then in the afternoon The Lord Long Live gave a verbal order to let Miss Duan enter the palace to face the saint. The old slave dared not ask about the twists and turns. But the empress doubted the Lord Long Live because of this, and even ran away from the palace, taking the two Highnesses and the little princess away. It's too capricious!" Speaking of the last two sentences, Feng Wufu's voice couldn't help becoming harsh again. He has been taking care of daily life and daily life with Xiao Huan since Xiao Huan had not succeeded to the throne. Although he is sometimes cunning and greedy for money, his loyalty and care for Xiao Huan has never been doubted, more like a half-elder.During the past few years of getting along, he scolded me as unceremoniously as the elders. "I know, I don't dare to do it again, okay?" Sighing and reassuring him, I asked, "Brother Xiao is in Dongnuange?" Feng Wufu nodded, and added: "When you go in, be gentle with your hands and feet. It's rare for Long Live to sleep for a while." "Okay, okay, can I force him to sleep enough tonight?" I promised again and again, and I hurried to open the door. It was very quiet inside the door, I closed the door carefully, I walked in lightly, but I didn't dare to get too close, so I could only stop at a place still some distance away from the couch. Taking a deep breath, Shin also came in, anyway, just like what Su Qian said, I'm so thick-skinned that I don't need steps. He was sleeping, with a thin moon-white blanket on his lap, and his long hair was scattered because of the relationship he had just bathed.With his eyes closed, his breath was very light, and the dim light of the candlelight left a shallow shadow on his face. It is still such a familiar face, which can be portrayed in front of my eyes when I close my eyes. It has not changed a little over the years. It suddenly occurred to me that time a long time ago, in the Yishui Courtyard of Fenglai Pavilion in Jinling, I wounded him with a gun, then accidentally broke into his room, and saw him sleeping soundly leaning against the side of the bed. Thinking about it now, I admire myself at that time. Obviously, as long as I take another step forward, my body will rush over and hug him uncontrollably the next moment, but I can still stand for so long without making a sound. Thinking about it, I suddenly wanted to laugh at myself: I am really self-inflicted, I think life is too comfortable and happy, so I have to make trouble.In the end, the trouble came to an end. In front of such a beautiful woman, she could only keep her eyes open. Slowly and as silently as possible, he moved to the corner of the couch and sat down very carefully. He was not disturbed, and his eyes did not leave his face. I sat on the couch and watched quietly for a while. I mustered up the courage, leaned over and held his hand exposed outside the thin blanket, and kissed his pale thin lips lightly. . He moved lightly, and finally woke up, his black eyes were still sleepy, he looked at me, and his voice was still low: "Cang Cang?" I didn't answer, I lowered my head and held his hand with both hands, then raised my head, looked into his eyes, and took a deep breath: "I'm sorry, Brother Xiao." For so many years, I have never looked him in the eyes and apologized, said sorry to him.I always think that there are some things that he will understand without saying, for example, I have never loved him, such as the remorse after hurting him every time.On the one hand, he stubbornly thinks that he is not honest enough, ignoring the hand he reaches out again and again, but on the other hand, he never thinks whether he expresses enough. "I'm sorry," I said looking into his eyes, "what I said was all angry words, I never thought that you would use your own body to blackmail me, I just hit your hand at the moon feast , I was so afraid that something might happen to you, my mind was lost, I regretted it after I finished speaking, I didn’t dare to look at your face for so many days, I don’t know what to say, I’m sorry, brother Xiao.” Just an apology That's all, but I felt that the water vapor in front of me was a bit out of control, "I'm sorry..." His cheek was gently stroked by a slightly cool hand, and his voice was as gentle as before: "It's okay, Cang Cang, I know." The moment I heard his words, the dullness accumulated over the past few days seemed to be swept away. I moved faster than I thought. I hugged him, buried my head in his collar, took a long breath, and tears flowed down my face. The cheeks trickled down and seeped into the shirt on his chest. "Brother Xiao, I'm sorry..." Holding him tightly, tears still flowed, I kept saying, "I left you alone and left, you took my hand and called me, I didn't even look back, I just left... I'm sorry..." "Cang Cang, don't worry." Holding my shoulder, he kept stroking my head and back, and paused, "What I'm pulling you to say is... don't worry, I'm fine." Still hugging me, he turned my face up and looked at him, smiling: "Cang Cang, I'm fine, don't cry." With tears still on my face, I stared at him in a daze. He still smiled gently, looked at me, seemed to sigh lightly, and gently wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes with his fingertips: "Don't say sorry so many times..." He smiled again, "I should I mean sorry, Cang Cang, for making you worry..." The eye sockets started to become wet again, but I didn't let the tears fall again, the corners of my mouth were raised high, and I threw myself into his arms again. There has never been a more relaxed and satisfied moment than this moment. I poked my mouth out of his arms and suddenly remembered: "Brother Xiao, what did Duan Jingxue's father use to blackmail you?" He didn't expect me to ask this suddenly, and he smiled after a pause: "It's just a memorial that is entangled in etiquette. If I don't want to bother approving his memorial, I have to meet his daughter." "The content is to impeach me for not obeying the laws of the inner palace?" I continued to ask. In recent years, I often went to Xuanwumen to Fenglai Pavilion. I knew they wanted to impeach me a long time ago, but I didn't expect that old man Duan Qingsu to use this matter to force Xiao Huan to see his daughter. He smiled again, but this time he didn't speak, just stroked my head gently. I said that he has never been coerced by anyone. He looks gentle, but he actually hates being persecuted the most. Over the years, even when facing the enemy Chen Luomo, he has always taken the initiative.This time when I met Duan Jingxue, he was forced to meet someone who was unnecessary to meet in order to prevent the officials from the Ministry of Rites from attacking me.As soon as Duan Jingxue left that day, he involuntarily showed a tired expression. He was obviously tired, but he was still talking and laughing with her. Slowly hugging his body tightly, I put my ears on his chest. A burst of footsteps disturbed the rare comfort, and Shi Yan's voice came from the door: "Long live, General Qi has brought you." Xiao Huan's body in my arms trembled slightly, and then he said: "General Qi, please wait in the apse." Shi Yan agreed in a low voice, and went to the apse. I loosened my arms holding him, lifted the thin blanket covering him, helped him sit up, and asked, "Do you want to change?" He shook his head, then smiled: "Just give me that flute over there." An old bamboo flute was placed on a table not far away. I picked up the flute and found a navy blue cape to put on him. He held the bamboo flute in his hand, bowed his head and smiled at me, and took my hand: "Cang Cang, you come too." Not knowing what he was going to do, I nodded, held his hand, and walked out with him. Turning around the corridor with Xiao Huan, looking up, there is a set of bluestone tables and stools in the apse among the onion orchids blooming like stars. The silvery moonlight of the Mid-Autumn Festival spread like water. In front of the stone table where the wine and vegetables were placed, a warrior dressed in old clothes but still as calm as a mountain lightly raised the wine pot in his hand: "Xiao Xiao is here? Have you brought your bamboo flute?" "Brother Qi has orders, how dare you not take them with you?" Xiao Huan let out a soft laugh, took my hand, and he walked slowly towards the stone table. Provoking the corners of his mouth and smiling, Qi Chengliang had a lazy expression that he had never seen before. The usual seriousness and respect have faded away. At this moment, he is no longer like the famous general who has been in the army for half his life, but like a knight-errant who is waiting for his old friend under the moon. Walking slowly to the table, Xiao Huan smiled: "When there is moon and wine, it is just right to meet gentlemen, but I don't know what song Brother Qi wants to listen to today?" Qi Chengliang laughed loudly: "Xiao Xiao, when did you become a goulan musician, can you still give me some music?" Although I thought that Qi Chengliang and Xiao Huan had known each other for a long time, I didn't expect him to make such a joke suddenly, and I was a little stunned "Huh?" Hearing the voice, Qi Chengliang turned his eyes to me, and smiled at Xiao Huan: "Xiao Xiao, is this the little girl?" "Yes," Xiao Huan replied with a smile, "This is the little girl I mentioned to Big Brother Qi." Holding my hand, he turned to look at me, "Cang Cang, this is my good friend Big Brother Qi, I introduce you for the first time today." Their tone and demeanor were very relaxed and natural, as if it was really the first time I saw Qi Chengliang. All of a sudden, it seemed as if I had returned to the days when the light fur and the BMW were happy in the rivers and lakes. Xiao Huan was still that young man with a soothing smile, and I was still the little girl who was ignorant and impulsive when she first entered the rivers and lakes. " Qi Chengliang smiled and nodded: "Siblings and sisters don't need to be polite, and Xiao Xiao, don't stand there, sit down." Xiao Huan smiled: "Okay." He pulled me to sit down on the wooden bench next to the stone table. After sitting down, I saw three thick porcelain cups filled with wine on the table, so I regained my senses and said quickly, "Brother Xiao can't drink, let me replace it!" "Hey!" Qi Chengliang looked at me and said, "I'm not going to drink you brother Xiao, why are you nervous, little girl?" Only then did I realize that Qi Chengliang probably wouldn't make things difficult for Xiao Huan on purpose, and I was a little embarrassed: "This... accidentally made me nervous..." Qi Chengliang laughed loudly: "Xiao Xiao, the little girl is very concerned about you." Xiao Huan patted my head and smiled: "It's okay, Cang Cang." I nodded and leaned towards him, and heard that he and Qi Chengliang had already started chatting about the art of war, strategy of martial arts, martial arts, poetry and books, and they answered each other fluently. Just chatting like this, unknowingly, the moon was in the sky, Qi Chengliang drank a cup of wine, the more he drank, the brighter his eyes became, and his words and deeds became more suave. Xiao Huan accompanied him, and a large glass of strong wine gradually bottomed out. After finishing the wine in the glass in one breath, Qi Chengliang dropped the glass with a sound, half-closed his eyes, and looked a little stupefied: "Xiao Xiao, the hour is coming, play a tune for me." He didn’t say I forgot, but when I said it, I remembered that this time Qi Chengliang’s family was exiled, and the departure time was August 16th. The time when the felons were escorted out of Beijing was usually when the city gate opened at dawn. Now It was already late at night, less than two hours before dawn. After a pause, Xiao Huan smiled and did not speak. He picked up the bamboo flute that he had been holding in his hand and put it to his lips. The music like flowing water slowly overflowed from the flute, the tune was long and deep, extremely clear and elegant, echoing in the moonlight. The moment he heard the sound of the flute, Qi Chengliang was slightly stunned, and then he tapped the stone table slowly with his hands to match the rhythm of the music. Calm and deep, as if under the moonlight, the tune of the mirror-like river suddenly turns, as if the thousand-mile river rushes straight into the gorge after twists and turns, and the turbulent waves roar like the wind. Hitting the knot with one hand, Qi Chengliang groaned in a low voice: "I didn't see Nan Shijiu, and I said that Bei Qunkong was empty. I only handed it on the spot, after all, I returned to my husband. I laughed at myself, like a vast river, still only flowing east. And return to Qionglu Bye, I will go to Pont Street." The music turned fast, and Qi Chengliang's reciting words came from the night, gradually becoming a tune, passionate like a song: "The capital of Yao, the land of Shun, and the feudal title of Yu should be among them. One and a half shame ministers. Wanli The fishy smell is like this, the ancient heroes are still there, when will the majesty pass! Why do you need to ask Hu Yun, He Ri is in it." This is a song "Shui Tiao Ge Tou", which Qi Chengliang recited was written by Chen Liang in Song Dynasty.The author bids farewell to his friend who is about to go on an envoy to the Kingdom of Jin. At that time, the national strength of the Southern Song Dynasty was weak and he was bullied by foreigners. At the end of the song, Xiao Huan put down the bamboo flute and coughed softly. Qi Chengliang closed his eyes and remained silent. After a long time, he opened his eyes and spoke, but he said to me: "Little girl, Xiao Xiao and I met fifteen years ago." He smiled and continued, " At that time, I was still serving as a deputy general in Cangzhou. I read a lot of poems and books in vain, but I could only practice those old soldiers in a barracks with less than 2,000 people. So I often went to nearby towns to drink and get drunk. I was half drunk that day. Drunk, I vaguely heard someone beside me playing a song "Shui Tiao Ge Tou", without thinking, I recited the words just now in response. Coincidentally, the person who played the flute heard my eulogy, and unexpectedly Turning the style of the music, I just blew a piece of gold and iron horses. When the song stopped, I hurriedly followed the sound to find the person who played the flute, but I didn't expect to find a young man in green clothes sitting in a carriage outside the window. The boy smiled at me, holding a flute in one hand, and a medicine box beside him." Speaking of this, Qi Chengliang laughed again: "It's funny to say it now. At that time, my first thought was to regard this young man as a brother-in-law. Fortunately, I was afraid of scaring him, so I didn't mention it. That day I I bought wine and left the young man to chat. He told me that his name was Xiao Yuncong, so I called him Xiao Xiao. Xiao Xiao stayed in Cangzhou for more than ten days at the free clinic, and we had to drink and talk every day. In the next few years, I would see each other from time to time. Later, when I was transferred to Fuzhou, Xiao Xiao even came to say goodbye to me. It wasn’t until the eighth year of Deyou, when I was appointed to guard Shanhaiguan, that I saw the man on the throne in Qianqing Palace. I understand that my official career has been smooth sailing in the past few years, and who I got it from." Hearing this, I said, "Brother Xiao will never promote you just because he is familiar with you." Qi Chengliang smiled, and the arrogance leaked between his brows: "I believe that with my ability, the leader of the army is not inferior to any famous general. I also believe that Xiao Xiao has a discerning eye and will not treat military affairs as a trifle in vain. What's more, even if So what if I took the position because of personal affection? If it is only through personal affection that I can serve the country and the people, then I will rely on personal affection, so what?" It has long been rumored that Qi Chengliang is good at making friends with courtiers, and often buys those in power with a lot of money, so no matter where he guards in the past ten years, there has never been a common situation of discord between generals and county guards. I have seen a lot of people who stick to their so-called integrity and reputation, but are blocked everywhere, and finally achieve nothing and complain about everything.However, Qi Chengliang was able to get rid of those restraints. While compromising with the status quo of the officialdom, he never forgot his original intention.Only such a person can live a frank and wonderful life. I smiled and cupped my fists: "Brother Qi, with your words, Fenglai Pavilion has been running around these days, I am willing." Qi Chengliang also smiled: "I have said so much, just to tell you, stop blaming Xiao Xiao for my affairs." He said, looking at me, "I have been taking care of my friends in the prison for the past few days. , please thank them for me. If it weren’t for them, I’m afraid I’d have to shed my skin.” After a pause, he smiled, “But I don’t believe it either. , How much suffering can be suffered in prison." I laughed along with him, which I should have seen these days.Xiao Huan is doing his best to alleviate Qi Chengliang's guilt.The accusations that were brought up at the beginning were enough to make Qi Chengliang kill everyone. If Xiao Huan had left him alone at that time, Qi Chengliang would have been doomed.However, for so many days after the memorial was handed in, Xiao Huan was still working hard day and night. He was not trying to collect Qi Chengliang's charges, but trying to find a way to exonerate him. But at that time, I still went to question him, even sneered at him, turned around and left him without thinking. Gently holding Xiao Huan's cold hand under the table, I raised my head and smiled at Qi Chengliang: "Don't worry, I won't." "That's good." Qi Chengliang smiled, his tone was hearty, half-joking, "After I leave, Xiao Xiao will be entrusted to you to take care of." "I'm determined to live up to my trust!" I replied with a smile. Qi Chengliang stood up with a smile, looked up at the full moon in the sky: "The music is over, Xiao Xiao, let's say goodbye." Xiao Huan also stood up and clasped his fists together: "Brother Qi has a smooth journey, let's just say goodbye." Qi Chengliang cupped his hands slightly, flicked his sleeves, and walked out without looking back. Shi Yan was still waiting in the corridor, when he saw Qi Chengliang passing by, he took out the shackles, put them on him, and led him out. When their figures disappeared, I still held Xiao Huan's hand, raised my head and smiled at him: "Brother Xiao, there is still morning morning tomorrow, let's go to rest quickly." He nodded lightly, then coughed, and his body trembled slightly. I quickly supported him: "Brother Xiao!" He shook his head, supported my arm to stand firm, and smiled at me lightly: "It doesn't matter, Cang Cang." Under the moonlight, his smile was still gentle, but his face was as pale as snow. I almost forgot, forgot that he is a person who protects his weaknesses. Back in Fenglai Pavilion, he was able to go out late at night to destroy Qibuwu, which had been running across the Yangtze River for many years, for the sake of several disciples being killed. No matter how dangerous the mission was, he always went there by himself.He has always taken the lead in everything he thinks needs to be protected, and does not allow others to violate it. This time, although Qi Chengliang didn't utter a word of complaint from the beginning to the end, it was he who personally investigated and exiled an old friend who was so close to him. Smiling, I looked at the bamboo flute he was still holding in his hand: "Do you often use this flute, or the one given to Duan Jingxue?" He froze for a moment, then laughed: "That flute..." "Quickly tell me," I frowned, pretending to be asking a question, "How many times have you used that flute? Don't lie!" "That flute looks good, isn't it? Wufu took the Xiangfei Bamboo that Suzhou paid tribute to and put it on the desk to take up space." He coughed lightly and laughed, looking at me. "So you haven't played it once?" I didn't expect this to be the result, and then I remembered that I was a bit unfamiliar when I saw the bamboo flute in Duan Jingxue's hand that day.The one he holds in his hand today is the one he usually uses. It looks much more ordinary than that one, but it is an old one he is used to. It turned out that I hadn't noticed it. After I found out that he could play the flute eight years ago, as long as he was in good health, I would ask him to play a flute for me from time to time.Besides, Yun Zixin didn't know what to think at the beginning, he insisted on seeing him play cotton in such a good-looking pose, and holding Xiao Mingming is just as good-looking... Holding his arm, I still couldn't help complaining: "It's been a long time since you played me a tune, don't blame me for being jealous!" He was still smiling, and I added: "Forget about today, hurry up and rest!" There was morning morning on August 16th, but I got up quietly before Xiao Huan woke up.Xiao Huan closed his eyes and was not awakened by my movements. In fact, he has always been a light sleeper, and I am a poor sleeper. Turning over and pulling the quilt at night can wake him up. It's just that after waking up from the coma this time, his spirit hasn't improved, and every time he wakes up, he feels much heavier than before.Today is also, from yesterday to now, I slept so deeply. 弯腰轻轻在他唇边吻了一下，我出门叫醒睡在外间的娇妍，告诉她萧焕还在睡。然后轻手轻脚飞快梳洗好，从养心殿出来，顺着甬道走到宫外。 戚承亮昨晚已经送过了，但是我还要送另一个人。 骑马从清晨的大街上飞奔而过，在城门前下马，我站在被兵士围住，挤在一起的那群犯人前。掏出早就准备好的腰牌给他们看之后，我穿过外围的人群，向里面张望。 这次被流放的人除了戚承亮的族人，还有其他获罪武官的家属，聚在一起足足有近千人。一朝间富贵成空，这些人脸上普遍挂着麻木的神情，成堆围拢起来，默默不语。艰难的让过几群犯人，我终于在一个破旧的马车旁看到了那个熟悉的身影。 “怜茗！”激动地叫着走过去，我抓住她的肩膀。 短短几天不见，她红润的脸颊已经变成了苍白的颜色，看到我之后，淡淡扫了一眼：“你来了。” “武姐姐，”顿了顿不知道说什么，我沉默了一会儿才开口，“我来送你。” “送我？”她忽然笑了，带些嘲讽，“当年从禁宫里出来，就是你送我的，现在从京城出去，你又来送我了。” “武姐姐……”看着她，我吸了口气，“对不起，没能帮到你。” “为什么要说对不起？”她淡淡的，“要说对不起的人不是你，君要臣死，臣不得不死，何况臣还没有死，只不过是流放到两周而已，有什么对不起的？” “武姐姐，不能全怪萧大哥，他也……”她话里明显有怨怼的意思，我急着辩解，猛地又噎住——萧焕也怎么样？他明明知道戚承亮是被冤枉，他明明知道罪臣家眷会有什么下场，却还是主导一切。 “对不起。”我只能说对不起，“武姐姐，抱歉……” “夫人死了。”武怜茗淡漠地说着，语气没有起伏，“本来就不是身子多么好的人，心气又傲，关到牢里没两天就发了癔症，水米不进，昨晚死了。” 戚承亮的结发夫人死了？愣愣的看着武怜茗，我说不出一句话。 “我常想，我这一生不能怪谁，”武怜茗还在继续说着，“不管是入宫，还是爱上万岁爷，都是我自己选的路。第一次在御花园里看到万岁爷，我才知道，原来有的男人，是可以笑得那么温柔。拼了命的要自己显得出众，也不顾会招来嫉恨，终于在那天被几个才人围住谩骂之后接到召幸的牌子。我高兴得都快疯掉，不是为了可以扬眉吐气，而是以为那个人眼里从此会有我。结果整整一个晚上，除了见面之后寥寥几句闲谈，再也没有其他事情发生。这是为了给我撑腰。那天早上出了养心殿的门我就明白，他眼里不会有我，这样温柔的一个男人，他会为了我不被别的妃嫔欺负，故意召幸我作假，但是他的眼里，永远都不会有我。 “明白了这些之后，我也做了很多傻事，会让我在后宫里生存不了的傻事，故意在太后面前招惹你就是其中一件。 “那些天里却根本就顾不到会得罪什么人，还有以后的死活，只是一遍一遍的念着，为什么那个人不会爱我？为什么我总也走不到他的心里？是不是除了可怜我之外，他连我是谁，叫什么都不会记住？每天每天，念得几乎要疯狂。 “说起来最后还要谢谢你，如果不是你打醒了我，我都不知道自己到底要疯到什么时候。那天全身沾了泥水，跪在你面前，看着你，我想，也许这就是命，有些人天生要站在高处，鲜亮潇洒，而有些人，只适合庸庸碌碌，就算一时能跳出来站在台前，转眼也就会被遗忘。 “所以从那天之后，再也不求，不去奢望，只期望能忍气吞声，在宫中苟活下去。谁知道我毕竟是得罪了不能得罪的人，最后还是给德妃推出来当了替罪羊，贬成了宫女。我爹原本指望我能得宠，也好光宗耀祖全家都跟着沾光，听到这消息，气得病了一场，没过两个月就请辞告老还乡，连托人到宫里来跟我传个信都没有。后来终于知道这消息时，我差点去投井，每日辛苦干活还遭受白眼，这下连我的亲爹娘都不要我了，活着也没什么意思。 “但是最终我还是没有去死，人只要活着，就没那么容易寻死。一天一天的忍着，再难过的日子也总会到头。 “结果还真到了熬出头的时候，出宫，在走投无路之前遇到夫君，还能碰见那么通情又和蔼的夫人，真是在禁宫里想都不敢想的好事。” 说到这里，她渐渐笑起来，抬起了头看我：“可惜终归我是没有这种好命，一切还是没了，睡了一夜，做了一场梦一样，什么都没有了，一点都没剩下。” “不是的，武姐姐，”她眼中有一种深沉的绝望，我连忙抓住她的手，“我能把你从流放路上截回来，这样你就不用去凉州受苦了。” “受苦？”她看着我淡淡反问，笑，“什么是受苦？不被风吹日晒锦衣玉食就不是受苦了么？跟你回来？跟你回来干什么？让你找一个人把我托付了？”淡然地，她笑得讽刺，“我连夫君是不是受万岁爷所托才照顾我的都不知道，还要再被托付一次吗？”她笑着摇头，“我是一个人，不是一个货，放在哪里都可以。” 把手从我的手里抽出，她摇头：“你走吧，你不欠我的。” “武姐姐！”急着想对她说些什么，押送犯人的队伍却在这个时候开始走动，庞大而杂乱的队伍被举枪的士兵押送着，缓慢开始移动，武怜茗坐的那辆马车，也被车夫驱赶，向前走去。 旧车的摇晃中，武怜茗抬头望了我一眼，然后收回眼睛，再也没有转头。 像被钉在了地上，带着木然的，我看着她的马车走远，看着身旁行动艰难的老弱妇孺一一走过，直到最后押送犯人的兵士带点不耐烦地问我还有什么公干，我都一动不动。 在外面耽误太久，重新回到养心殿时，已经是接近正午。 萧焕早下了朝，正在一笔一笔的批折子，看到我就轻咳着笑了笑：“回来了？” 我还有些恍惚，走过去贴着坐在他身边，“嗯”了一声。 他微愣了愣，就加问了一句：“苍苍，你上午做什么了？” 我还恍惚着，随口就说：“去送武怜茗了。” 那边静了一下，隔了一会儿，他才轻声问：“她怎么样了？” “戚承亮的正室死了……”我摇了摇头，忽然不想再说，“萧大哥，什么是对的，什么是错的，越来越难分清了对不对？” 他还是静着，淡淡笑起来：“苍苍，对不起。” 怔怔看他，我突然明白过来，笑：“我刚才不知道对武怜茗说了几声对不起，咱们两个今天可以比一比谁道得歉比较多。” 他也轻笑：“这样看我岂不是落后很多了？不大容易追上啊。” “嗯，不大容易追上的。”我笑着，去拉他的手，“不管那个，我快饿瘪了，先去吃饭！” 他笑笑点头答应，却刚站起身，就突然扶住桌子。 我连忙回头抱住他的身子，他闭目按着胸口轻咳了几声，睁开眼睛笑笑：“头晕了一下，没关系。” 脸都白成这样还说没关系？火气又想上来，我瞄了一眼他案头那堆没批的奏折：“吃过饭你别想再去累了，跟我去凤来阁，正好把几个小家伙带回来。” 他还咳着，笑：“大爷有吩咐，当然恭敬不如从命。” 听话比以前快很多，算他识相。我得意地哼一声。 用过午膳，又逼他躺下午睡了一个多时辰，两个人才一起到凤来阁。 三个小家伙见到萧焕跟疯了一样，粘在他身上拉都拉不开。 我以为在凤来阁里还能清静一下，谁知道给三个小鬼头搅得一个头两个大，偏偏同样是对着这些死小鬼，萧焕就还能笑得一派风轻云淡，看得我直瞪眼睛。 闹了一下午，直到晚上回到养心殿后，才能躲开那三个脱缰的混世魔王。 舒服的洗了个澡，我让萧焕半躺在软榻上，给他擦头发。 每次一起沐浴过后，我一定要坚持给萧焕梳理头发。让他靠着软榻，用吸水的棉巾把乌黑的长发细细擦干，再用木梳梳好，最后用缎带松松系了垂放在他胸前，全部做完，差不多要半个时辰。 和以往一样，萧焕淡笑着，一边翻看东西，一边任我折腾。 今天也差不多，我完成最后一道工序，长舒口气，然后跑到榻下，绕到他正面，左右打量后，连连点头自我表扬：“完美完美，我的手艺就是完美。要是能就这么把我的男宠带到金銮殿上就太完美了。” 他早习惯了我的疯言疯语，放下手中的折子，轻笑起来：“那么我明天就这么上朝去？” “不能，不能！”我假装严肃思考着摇头，“金銮殿人太多了，要是让那么多人都看到我这么美的男宠，来跟我抢怎么办？” 正说笑着，门外冯五福匆匆走进来，身后跟着一个一身黑衣的御前侍卫。 径直走进来，那个御前侍卫单膝跪下：“见过万岁爷。” “不用多礼，承享。”萧焕坐起来，笑了笑，“戚将军那边怎么样了？” 那个叫“承享”御前侍卫顿了顿，却没有起身，回答：“禀万岁爷，属下护卫不周，今日下午，戚将军的侧夫人武氏，在驿所外投缳身亡。” 我的耳中像是嗡了一声，抢着问：“你说什么？谁？谁投缳自尽了？” “戚将军的侧夫人，武氏。”还是低着头，那个御前侍卫重复。 武怜茗自尽了，昨天离去时她眼中绝望的神情，她真的做了她所能做的最激烈的决定。像被扼住了喉咙一样，刹那间喉间的气息居然哽咽。 “妥善收殓，”房间内寂静了一下，萧焕已经又开口，声音还是一如往常的平和，“以诰命夫人之礼厚葬。” 抱拳接旨，那个御前侍卫又停了一下：“禀万岁爷，武氏还留下一封遗书，说有四个字，要转告万岁爷。” 萧焕向他点头：“讲吧。” “武氏留书上要带给万岁爷的四个字是，”那个御前侍卫顿了一下，才说，“君恩难受。” 从初听噩耗的震惊中回过神来，我连忙转头，看着萧焕。 他很轻的点头，而后微笑：“知道了，承享，你可以退下了。” 我紧紧看着他，不敢移开眼睛，急着叫出口：“萧大哥！” 没有转头看我，他脸上的微笑仿佛还留在唇边，接着很轻的咳嗽了一声，急忙用手捂住了嘴，微弯了腰，殷红的鲜血顺着指缝滴入袖中。