Chapter 18 Chapter Seventeen

Although there are Go pieces in front of Liu Bingji and Meng Jue, they are not playing chess. Liu Bing had placed the white pieces densely in two circles, and then placed a black piece in the middle surrounded by white pieces. A solitary sunspot, in the middle of the white ones, can't see any way out. Meng Jue nodded with a smile: "One circle is the imperial guards, and the other circle is the Yulin Battalion. Now they are all controlled by Huo Guang." Liu Bing had already taken the chess box of black pieces, and moved them around one after another, one by one matching the garrisons of the Han Dynasty at various pass borders. Although occasionally there are one or two white pieces in some places, the whole chessboard looks densely packed. The sunspot world.Looking at Baizi at this time, in the sea of ​​sunspots, he already appears weak.

Meng Jue nodded: "In this world, the surname is Liu after all, and the emperor in the hearts of the people is also surnamed Liu. But..." Meng Jue lightly drew a circle around the white chess, "The white chess is guarding the most important position. If outside The black chess moves easily, and the white chess feels dangerous, so it can always move first." Meng Jue took the black chess in the middle of the white chess to the board. Liu Bing has already put another sunspot in: "In the past few years, he has been working hard to implement reforms, reducing taxes, lightening punishments, less fighting, and living with the people. No matter in the mouth of Confucian scholars or in the hearts of the people, he is a wise king. Now it seems that Baizi is more just a desire for power. I heard that Huo Guang cherishes his reputation very much. Such a person values ​​his reputation forever, and he certainly would not want him to be recorded in the annals as a treacherous minister."

Meng Jue said with a smile: "Although Huo Guang is very powerful, Liu Fuling is not a fool, and Liu Fuling's descendants are not alone. If Huo Guang really rebels, he will face the whole world to attack him, so unless Liu Fuling Fu Ling drove him to a dead end, otherwise Huo Guang was very clear about the situation in the world, he would not dare to rebel, and he would not rebel. Liu Fuling's life is in his palm, so why isn't his life in Liu Fuling's palm? On the contrary The feudal lords outside are probably looking forward to Huo Guang's attack on Liu Fuling day by day, and then they can justifiably raise an army and summon all the troops from all over the world, and they will naturally respond to everyone's call."

Liu Bingji's expression froze for a moment, he raised his eyes and glanced across Meng Jue's face, then lowered his eyes again, and nodded at Heizi in the middle: "What about him? What do you think?" Meng Jue thought for a while and said: "He is not an emperor who looks like an emperor. In fact, before, when Shangguan Jie and Huo Guang were at odds, he could have gotten close to Huo Guang to intensify the conflict, and then showed his favor to Shangguan Jie to stabilize the situation. Secretly mobilize troops from other places to attack Chang'an in the name of "Qing Jun's side". Although this method is dangerous, but with his wisdom, it is impossible not to see that this method is safer. The world may be in chaos for a while, but if it is not broken, it will not be established. After the turmoil , but he can truly control the world.”

Liu Bing already said: "Your method is very likely to become a big war of arms. Since the Han Dynasty's national power has weakened, the Siyi have frequently rebelled. Tanzhi in Zangke County and the twenty-four towns of the Southwest Yi all rebelled. In the fourth year of Shiyuan, Guzhang and Yeyu of the Southwest Yi rebelled again. In the fifth year of Shiyuan, the Huns invaded the pass. Divide the common people of the country, and think less about his throne, his choice can only be as it is now, try not to fight." Meng Jue looked at Liu Bingji with a smile and asked: "If it were you, which way would you choose? Would you choose to sacrifice tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of people's lives to keep your own power first, or Liu Fuling's way?" ?”

Liu Bing laughed and did not answer Meng Jue's question directly, "I can't be him, so I will never face such a choice." Meng Jue looked at Liu Bingji with a smile, picked up the teacup, and took a sip of tea: "Although you used to pay attention to the movements in the court, today...it seems to be different from before." Liu Bing has lowered his eyes, playing with a Go piece in his hand, "I'm about to be a father, and suddenly I feel that I can't let my son live like me for the rest of his life, so..." Liu Bing has raised his eyes to meet Meng Meng. Jue looked at him carefully, "I think I will try my best to fight to see if there is any way to change my fate. I don't ask much, at least my son can live without hiding his head and tail."

Meng Jue smiled lightly: "In today's world, only he and Huo Guang can give you an identity to live in an upright manner. Huo Guang should have known that you were in Chang'an City, but you have been keeping quiet. I'm afraid he can't be counted on to help you. If you can let go of the past Maybe you can go and meet him." Meng Jue's finger landed on the sunspot in the center of the chessboard. Liu Bingji's smile was somewhat bleak: "What right do I have to not let go? It's not whether I can let go, but whether he can believe that I have let go."

After receiving the post, Huo Guang wanted to meet him. Although Meng Jue knew that this trip would be very rewarding, if he wanted to gain a foothold in Chang'an, Huo Guang would never offend him now, so he could only go to see Huo Guang calmly. Only the two of them knew about the private conversation between him and King Yan. Meng Jue had always been convinced that even if someone knew that he was dating Yan King, it was impossible to know the specifics. sure. He had no way of knowing how much Huo Guang knew about him, and how he would see him stirring up trouble among the powerful officials, so he could only prepare secretly and move with the camera.

Huo Guang used to treat guests with a distance of less than ten feet from each other. This distance can guarantee that the hidden guards will be ineffective for sudden assassinations.Since Shangguan Jie's death, Huo Guang increased the distance to one and a half feet.Although the distance was only half a zhang, it had already made the assassination almost impossible. "Nephew Meng Xian, do you like the taste of this tea?" Huo Guang, who was wearing a casual robe, had a refined demeanor, and it was not at all obvious that he was in control of the life and death of everyone in Chang'an City.

Meng Jue smiled and replied: "'The air is floating like floating clouds.' This is the Wuyi Mountain tea praised by the late emperor. The world often praises gentlemen with this tea. The man lives in a purple door and intends to look at the cloud surface. He is in the rivers and lakes and lives in temples. Holding power, but not changing the ambition of innocence." Huo Guang had something else to say, but when he heard Meng Jue's answer, he frowned and praised repeatedly: "Well said! What a 'a real man is in the purple door and his mind is on the cloud surface'! If everyone in the world understands With the ambition of a gentleman, there will be no groundless rumors and suspicions."

Meng Jue smiled and bowed, looking indifferent. Huo Guang looked at Meng Jue with complicated emotions in his eyes. After a while, he slowly said: "This tea is the best tea, but if it is not cooked with high-quality charcoal, fried with Zhanlu spring water, and served in a beautiful jade cup from Lantian, it would be the best tea." Half of the tea was lost first." Huo Guang coughed softly, and immediately someone came out of nowhere and quietly placed a few sheepskin scrolls in front of Meng Jue.Meng Jue picked it up and glanced at it, then put it on the table again, alert in his heart, but still smiling lightly on his face. Huo Guang said with a smile: "You must have not thought that Cheng Jun has been pestering me for several days, so he specially cooked this tea himself. Cheng Jun is my most beloved daughter. As long as you treat her well, I will definitely provide the best tea." The best charcoal, the best water, and the best jade cup, so that you can make a good cup of tea." With a smile still on her lips, Meng Jue quietly picked up the tea on the table.Rather than treating Huo Chengjun well, it is better to be loyal to the Huo family. Huo Guang waited for Meng Jue's answer, but Meng Jue didn't speak for a long time. The displeasure in Huo Guang's eyes became more and more serious. Meng Jue was indeed an extraordinary talent. Compared with Meng Jue, the son he had carefully cultivated was really nothing.Since seeing Meng Jue, Huo Guang has been observing him carefully, and his appreciation for him has grown stronger. But the more Huo Guang admired Meng Jue, the more dangerous Meng Jue's situation became at this time, because Huo Guang would not leave a potentially dangerous enemy behind. Huo Guang smiled and put down the teacup in his hand, and was about to order someone to see off the guests, when he heard the curtain outside, frowned and sighed: "Among all the children, this daughter is the most naughty, and she is the most distressing." Huo Chengjun simply stopped eavesdropping and walked in through the curtain: "Father speaks ill of my daughter again." Since Ganquan Mountain, Meng Jue has only seen Huo Chengjun once in the princess mansion, and that time Huo Chengjun was still angry with him. Unexpectedly, when Huo Chengjun saw him this time, not only did he not have the slightest resentment, but instead he looked affectionate and smiled shyly. Huo Guang looked at Meng Jue, then at Cheng Jun, and sighed in his heart, they were indeed a couple, no wonder Cheng Jun wanted to marry Meng Jue. Huo Chengjun used jasmine oil to comb his hair today, Huo Guang smelled the faint fragrance of jasmine, and saw Huo Chengjun standing silently, his heart suddenly ached. It seems to have happened in the previous life, a woman stood at a distance like this, lowered her head as if she was looking at him, but she didn't seem to be looking at him.I don't know if it's the makeup on her body, or the jasmine bushes behind her, but there is an elegant fragrance in the evening wind. Thinking of the weeping Lian'er, the sorrow of the white-haired man sending the black-haired man, his heart finally softened, and he decided to give Meng Jue another chance. Huo Guang stood up, smiled and said to Huo Chengjun: "Father will not see off the guests if he takes a step ahead. You help father to send Meng Jue out of the house." Huo Chengjun raised his head happily, his bright and clean face was like a jasmine flower just blooming, Huo Guang looked at Huo Chengjun benevolently, and left the room. Huo Chengjun and Meng Jue walked side by side along the corridor. Meng Jue said, "Thank you miss for being thoughtful." Huo Chengjun smiled, hiding a bit of bitterness beautifully: "I told daddy you and me, you and me... plus daddy admired you very much, so...in fact, the relationship between you and King Yan and Shangguan Jie was originally a matter of fact. It can be big or small, seriously, Shangguan An is still my brother-in-law! I naturally have contacts with them, am I also suspected of treason? But Dad is always cautious and understands that your ambition in the court is not low, so if you Not his friend, he naturally can't leave himself a dangerous enemy." Meng Jue remained silent. Huo Chengjun's smile was timid, his cheeks were flushed, like a jasmine flower in the setting sun, and he was very pitiful: "Although Daddy always said that you can only get something if you give it up, if you want to get it, you must first learn to let it go. But I... I ...I don't think so. Yun Ge, Yun Ge is very good. Dad has many women, and several brothers-in-law also have concubines. If you want... I am willing to serve... with Yun Ge..." Huo Chengjun blushed with shame, and his voice became lower and lower, until he couldn't hear what she said at all. Meng Jue still didn't speak, and Huo Chengjun didn't speak either. The two walked in silence, and when they arrived at the side door of the mansion, Huo Chengjun stood quietly with his head bowed and his clothes tied. Meng Jue saluted her farewell, and she bowed sideways, watching Meng Jue disappear at the end of the road, still standing there in a daze. The maid helped Mrs. Huo pass by, Mrs. Huo sighed and shook her head, and waved the maids to back down. "Mr. Ping, has your wish come true?" As if waking up from a dream, Huo Chengjun held his mother's arm affectionately, "Well, maybe the incident was too sudden and Meng Jue couldn't react for a while, so he didn't tell Dad about me and him immediately. Dad had already told Meng Jue He was angry, but when he saw me, he gave him another chance. Mother, why did you ask me to apply jasmine oil, why did you ask me to wear a light yellow shirt?" Mrs. Huo glared at Huo Chengjun: "Where are there so many 'whys'? I think I spoiled you so much." Huo Chengjun hugged his mother, and hid his head in her arms like a little girl, coquettishly, "Mother, mother..." His voice slowly broke out. Mrs. Huo patted Huo Chengjun on the back: "Mother understands. I just hope you choose the right person. A woman can make mistakes in everything in her life, except marrying the wrong person." Huo Chengjun said: "Daughter understands, so she doesn't want to marry those so-called 'right family' people. A Shangguan'an is enough. My daughter would rather marry someone who can completely depend on her father like other sisters." Although Mrs. Huo didn't speak, her expression fully approved of Huo Chengjun's words.Back then, Huo Guang was angry because he didn't choose his daughter to marry Shangguan An, but now he is very glad that the person who married Shangguan An was not her own daughter, "Cheng Jun, don't dress like this in front of your father again. This time your father You are soft-hearted, but next time you might be hard-hearted because of your outfit." Huo Chengjun leaned over his mother's chest and nodded. Xiaoqing removed Huo Chengjun's makeup, looked at Huo Chengjun's demure face in the mirror, Xiaoqing said: "Miss, you are not the same as before." It would be strange if I could still be the same as before after witnessing the tragic death of my sister and brother-in-law.Huo Chengjun asked lightly: "What's different?" Xiaoqing shook her head in confusion: "I don't know, it looks better than before." Huo Chengjun scolded with a smile: "Did you put honey oil on your mouth?" Xiao Qing combed Huo Chengjun's hair, and seeing that Huo Chengjun seemed to be in a good mood, she asked, "Miss, since you are willing to let Mr. Meng accept Yun Ge, why did you go out of your way to say those things to Yun Ge that day?" Huo Chengjun smiled, got up and walked to the couch: "You don't need to know these things, what you need to do is to be loyal. I'm good, so you are naturally good. I'm not good. What are the big sister's girls and Shangguanlan's girls? You know the end. Go to sleep! There are still many things to do in the past few days." Yun Ge came and went in and out of the house like a headless chicken, she looked very busy, but she didn't know what she was busy with. Meng Jue sat quietly in front of the lamp reading a book, but her eyes followed Yun Ge unconsciously. Yun Ge turned around in front of the mirror in bewilderment, his hair seemed to be neat and his face was clean, "Hey, King of Jade, do you have any questions?" Meng Jue shook her head with a smile: "You have no problem." Yun Ge pointed to the tip of his nose: "Then why do you keep staring at me?" Meng Jue suddenly pulled Yun Ge into her arms, hugging her tightly. Yun Ge twisted her body and said, "I haven't finished my work yet!" Meng Jue called out "Yun Ge" in a low voice, it was as soft as water, but as heavy as lead, and fell to the bottom of Yun Ge's heart at once, Yun Ge felt an inexplicable astringency in his heart, calmed down, and hugged Meng with his backhand Jue gently rubbed her head against his neck: "I'm here!" Meng Jue said, "Stop working, and accompany me outside for a walk." Yun Ge and Meng Jue walked slowly, arm in arm. Going further and further away, gradually came to the farmer's field. In the night wind, the fragrance of grains came slowly. The footsteps startled the resting frogs, and they jumped into the pond with a plop, causing the frogs to cry, and then quieted down after a while, making the night even more peaceful. Yun Ge was very naughty, the frog calmed down, but she imitated the cry of the frog and croaked towards the pond, causing the frog to croak after her.She smiled proudly at Meng Jue: "Do I imitate it? I can learn the sounds of many animals!" Meng Jue smiled and flicked her on the forehead, "The frogs thought that a beautiful female frog came from another place, and they were croaking to pursue the female frog." Call her a female frog?The more beautiful the female frog is, the uglier it is?Yun Ge made a face at Meng Jue, smiled and yelled at the pond again, then turned her head and said to Meng Jue, "I told them, if the female frog is with a better-looking male frog, they don't want to be together again." called." After walking for a long time, Meng Jue still didn't say back. Although Yun Ge was already sleepy, but if Meng Jue didn't talk, she didn't mention it, and just stayed with Meng Jue. On the ridge, the road was very narrow, and it was difficult for the two of them to walk side by side. Meng Jue knelt down and said, "I'll carry you." Yun Ge giggled and jumped on Meng Jue's back: "I'm just tired!" The sorghum was too high, sometimes a few stalks of sorghum that were too dense came out of the field to the middle of the road, Yun Ge stretched out his hand, and pushed the sorghum away in front of Meng Jue. Moonlight circulated in the green gauze tent, dancing between Yunge's fingers, reflecting Yunge's bright wrist like jade. "Yun Ge, sing me a song." Yun Ge leaned on Meng Jue's shoulder and hummed casually: "Three Qingming Festivals come in March, peach blossoms don't bloom, apricots bloom red, bees pick flowers and their hearts move. In May, the five Duanyangs come, the willow shoots open the doors and windows, and the realgar medicinal wine makes the Duanyang. On July 7th, the Cowherd in the sky matches the Weaver Girl, and the Weaver Girl is the wife of the Cowherd. ..." In the green gauze tent, the moonlight is gentle, and Yun Ge's voice is high and low, as if flowing in a dream. Meng Jue felt Yun Ge secretly kiss him on the neck, and the corners of his lips curled up involuntarily. Before the funnyness unfolded, it all condensed on the corners of his mouth. When Meng Jue returned home with Yun Ge on his back, it was already midnight, and Yun Ge was dreaming soundly. Meng Jue arranged Yunge well, and sat in the courtyard to ponder and weigh. Yun Ge's sleeping posture was always dishonest, a big quilt was kicked by her, and more than half of it was covered on the ground.Meng Jue came into the room from time to time to tuck the quilt up for her, and then sat back quietly in the darkness. When Liu Bingji pushed open the door of Yunge Courtyard early in the morning, he saw Meng Jue sitting on the bluestone bench, a little tired, the hem of his robe was wet, as if he had been sitting outside all night and was soaked in dew. Liu Bing had already seen that Yun Ge's doors and windows were still closed, and guessed that Yun Ge hadn't gotten up yet, so he lowered his voice and asked, "What's wrong?" Meng Jue looked sideways at Liu Bingji: "It turns out that even the emperor will be troubled by beauties. If one day, you have to choose between the beauties and the mountains, which one would you choose?" Liu Bing moved his lips several times and wanted to answer, but he couldn't answer, and finally spread his hands, "I won't have such troubles." Meng Jue smiled and stood up: "Yun Ge slept a little late yesterday, don't call her. I may come back later at night, so Yun Ge should not wait for me to eat." The slender figure passed through the thin shadow of the sun.In the past, the elegant demeanor was no longer there, and she was a little more haggard. Inside the house, Yun Ge, who was standing barefoot by the window, slowly retreated to the couch step by step, put down the gauze curtain, and wrapped herself with a quilt from head to toe. The thick quilt still couldn't warm her, and the chill came out from her heart little by little, so cold that she began to shiver. The body is rustling, like autumn leaves in the cold wind, they will wither at any time. In the evening, when Meng Jue came back, Yun Ge was normal except for his pale complexion. She was still the same as before, bringing some strangely colored dishes to Meng Jue, and Meng Jue ate them immediately. Yun Ge sat quietly at the side, watching Meng Jue finish what she had made in one gulp. "Is it tasty?" Meng Jue swallowed the last mouthful of soup, looked up at Yun Ge: "I don't know, I don't know whether what I eat is bitter, sour or sweet, it's the same for me to eat anything." Yun Ge didn't have any doubts, just nodded calmly. Meng Jue asked, "How long have you known it? Have you known it since you started making these weird dishes?" Yun Ge smiled: "It's a pity that I'm so useless, I gave you a lot of messy things, but I haven't cured you yet." Meng Jue held Yun Ge's hand, "It's not an exaggeration to praise 'Bian Que is reborn' for the medical skills of my foster father. He tried countless methods but failed to cure my strange disease, and finally told me 'it can't be cured by medicine Because, the heart disease needs to be healed'. Although I don't understand the meaning of the foster father, but the foster father said that 'there is no cure for it', why do you blame yourself for this?" Yun Ge stared at their intertwined hands, with tears in his eyes, he turned his head abruptly. Meng Jue thought Yun Ge was because of his illness, so he lightly embraced Yun Ge's shoulders, "I've gotten used to it over the years, don't take it too seriously, as long as you don't dislike me. You are a world-renowned chef, But I can't taste your dishes at all, like a blind man who marries a beautiful woman and only hears compliments from others, but he doesn't know how good it is." Yun Ge turned her head, the tears in her eyes had gone, she pouted Meng Jue with a smile, "Obviously you are the one comforting me, why should you be comforting me when you are talking?" Looking at Yun Ge's smiling face, Meng Jue suddenly felt afraid to face it.Pressing her head into his arms, he hugged Yun Ge tightly. Yun Ge was in his arms, the smile on his face slowly faded, his eyes were wide open, staring straight ahead, unfocused. During these days, when Meng Jue went out, Yun Ge never asked where he was going, but when Meng Jue came back, she was very clingy to him. Meng Jue thought it was because of his illness, and he had hoped that Yun Ge would be like this, so he neither thought deeply nor became suspicious. When the two get along, they both treat each other very well, such sweetness makes Xu Pingjun yell "I can't bear it", but Liu Bingji has a complicated expression. Liu Bing had been standing at the gate of the courtyard for half a day, while Yun Ge in the courtyard was sitting under the sun without moving, and he hadn't noticed Liu Bingji who had been watching her for a long time. Liu Bing had already pushed the door, and the creaking sound alarmed Yun Ge, who immediately jumped up with a smile on his face, and when he saw that it was Liu Bing, the smile on his face showed exhaustion. Liu Bing had dragged Yun Ge to the shade of the tree, "You already know?" Yun Ge's barely maintained smile disappeared, with a miserable face, she nodded slowly, "Brother, don't tell him." Liu Bing was bitter in his heart, he didn't know what to say to comfort Yun Ge.At this moment, he deeply felt that he was incompetent, and once again deeply realized the power of power. If he had power, then everything would be different. Yun Ge was silent for a while, then smiled and said, "Brother, I have nothing to do. Hasn't he made a choice yet? Maybe he will choose me instead of Jiangshan!" Liu Bing already wanted to ask, "What if you weren't chosen?" But seeing Yun Ge's forced smile, he couldn't ask, so he could only smile and nodded: "Yes." In the days when Yun Ge counted time by hour by hour, she was cautiously greedy for Meng Jue's warmth.Every time she hugs, she thinks, maybe this is the last time; every time she laughs, she also thinks, maybe it's the last time the two of them laughed together. She strives to capture as much happiness as possible, and strives to leave more marks in Meng Jue's life. She didn't know how long this time could last, and how long she could hold on in the torment of waiting, but now, she couldn't bear to let him go, and she couldn't bear to let him go. The streets of Chang'an City, from being unfamiliar when we first arrived, are now familiar.She and Meng Jue left too many traces in this majestic city. Yun Ge didn't know why she came to the back door of Huo's mansion, and she didn't know why she hid in the bushes, staring at the mansion in a daze, maybe she just wanted to see clearly what was devouring her happiness. This mansion is like a tiger, majestically entrenched in Chang'an City. In the world of Han, how many people in the city of Chang'an are eager to have a little relationship with the surname "Huo"?How many people can refuse the majesty, power, honor, and wealth represented by the character Huo?Controlling the position of the world, how many men can not be tempted? Of course there are such men, at least she knows three, father, second brother, and third brother.She thought it was normal before, but now she realizes that all the men in her family are different.Her mother and her future sister-in-law are lucky women, but she doesn't seem to have such luck. Yun Ge smiled faintly. It's strange that she doesn't have any distaste for this mansion, and she doesn't even have any dislike for Huo Chengjun.Maybe in her heart, everything was just Meng Jue's choice, it was just a matter between her and Meng Jue, it had nothing to do with Huo Fu and Huo Chengjun. There were many thoughts in her mind. She didn't know how long she stood there. When the sky was dark, she suddenly woke up. She should go back. Meng Jue might already be waiting for her in the house. She was about to turn to leave when she saw the corner door open. In the twilight and the distance, the vision should have been blurred, but because the figure was so familiar, she knew that she should never look any further, but her feet seemed to be nailed to the ground. When Huo Chengjun sent Meng Jue out of the house, it was already dark. Xiaoqing came over with a lantern, and the master and servant missed each other. Huo Chengjun looked suspiciously, and Xiaoqing nodded slightly. At the gate of the mansion, Meng Jue was about to leave, but she grabbed Meng Jue's sleeve, her face flushed, and she wanted to say nothing. Meng Jue looked at her with a quiet smile, neither approaching nor pulling out her sleeves. Huo Chengjun lowered his head and said: "It's rare to see Dad playing chess so happily. I heard from Mother that Dad praised you in front of her the day before yesterday, and Mother is also very happy." Meng Jue smiled lightly and said nothing, Huo Chengjun slowly leaned against Meng Jue. Meng Jue put his hand gently on Huo Chengjun's waist, neither catering to nor refusing. The door is half closed, and the shadows of flowers are helping each other. The woman is slender and the man is elegant, and the dim light outlines the figures of the two with tenderness. For a long, long time, the two figures clinging to each other did not move. Say goodbye, say goodbye, can't bear to say goodbye! Only men and women who are secretly in love can meet each other in such a silent way, don't be difficult, right? ! Meng Jue helped Huo Chengjun up with a smile, "I should go back." Huo Chengjun smiled and warned: "It's getting dark, be careful on the road." Meng Jue smiled, and said very gently: "It's cold outside, you should go back earlier, don't blow it." After speaking, she turned and left, although she walked slowly, she never looked back. Huo Chengjun stood at the door, watching Meng Jue disappear. Huo Chengjun's eyes turned to the shadow of the bushes opposite, although it was pitch black there, her eyes didn't move for a long time. It was a moonless night, the sky was high and dark, and the stars were few and far between. The yellow leaves on the trees on both sides of the street were falling with the wind. Yun Ge stretched out his hand to hold a fallen leaf, and murmured, "The wind is blowing." The occasional passers-by on the street shrank their necks and hurried home. Yun Ge stopped, turned his head sideways and thought for a while, "It's time to go home." She took a few deep breaths, trying to calm the pain in her chest.When I go home, I won’t be sad or distressed anymore, and I murmured to myself: “I don’t like the feeling of pain, I will get better.” But is it true? She didn't dare to think deeply.Her only choice now is to shrink back into the shell like a snail. Suddenly, like a whirlwind, an old man with white beard and hair rushed in front of Yun Ge, waved his hands happily, and yelled, "Yun Ge, Yun Ge, it's really you! Hahaha... I'm so blessed, dear Yun Ge'er, cook a meal for the master." He is already old, but his personality is still like a naughty boy, and his movements are agile like a teenager. Yun Ge was full of sadness, meeting an old acquaintance in a foreign land was like seeing a relative, his nose was sour, and he wanted to cry, but he immediately forced him back, squeezed a smile and said: "Don't bark, I didn't ask you to be my teacher, I did. You insisted on teaching me yourself. Uncle Hou, why are you in Chang'an? Have you seen my second brother?" Old man Hou stared at him, blew his beard, and looked very angry, but he remembered that others were afraid of him being angry, but Yun Ge was not. I couldn't help venting my stomach full of anger, and looked at Yun Ge with a flattering face, "My dear Yun Ge'er, the old man hasn't seen your second brother for a long time. I just went to Yanbei and wanted to go back to the Western Regions, so I passed by Chang'an on the way. Why are you here too?" Old man Hou didn't wait for Yun Ge's answer at all, he said anxiously again: "Ai! Ai! Yun Ge'er, how many people begged me to be a teacher, and some people knelt for three days and three nights, but I didn't agree, but you girl ...Your family is full of weird people. Back then, you begged your second brother to learn from him. Your second brother just laughed. I owed him money, and said 'not interested' with a cold face, which made the old man sad, and it would be a lot of benefits to learn my skills..." Yun Ge looked disdainful, "Stop bragging! When you begged me to learn from you about 'skillful empty hands', I said 'I won't steal things', you said 'I learned, the world is apart from me, No one can steal your things anymore’, I think it’s good not to be stolen, so I followed you to learn. The result? I was stolen when I first arrived in Chang’an.” Old man Hou played around all his life, he was not a foreigner, but he was proud of his 'skillful hands and empty'. Hearing Yun Ge's words, he immediately became serious, as if he was a different person, "Yun Ge, are you telling the truth? You Although you have only learned 30% to 40% and stealing may not be enough, but if someone wants to steal from you, it will not be easy." Yun Ge nodded: "It's all the truth. I had a total of seven or eight purses on me, and I lost them all. I had no money to stay in the hotel, and was humiliated by Xiao Er. Fortunately..." The name of that person popped into my mind In the middle of the day, Yun Ge's voice choked up, and she immediately closed her mouth.There was a smile on his face that could shatter at any moment. Old man Hou didn't notice Yun Ge's strangeness, he was only full of doubts, and muttered to himself: "Impossible, impossible. Even if Chang'an City has Gao Miao's colleagues, if you want to not alarm you, you can only steal four purses at most. Seven or eight purses, unless it’s me, huh!?” Old man Hou laughed, and became full of spirits again, "Oh! I know who stole your things. Alas! A joke, a joke! I taught two apprentices, and you still don't know each other, but there is no way, our business The rule is to be 'sneaky', and the same is true for accepting apprentices. If you tell others that I have accepted an apprentice with great fanfare, won't they all know that you are 'Kong Konger'? Then what are you stealing? The old man has been in the world for decades. He has seen I really don't have many..." Seeing that old man Hou was about to abduct him into the glorious history of his life, Yun Ge interrupted him, "Uncle Hou, get to the point! Who exactly stole my things? Could it be your apprentice?" Old man Hou smiled cautiously: "My dear Yun Ge'er, you are probably called by your senior brother, no, although he is older than you, he learned art with me later than you. According to the order of entry, he should be called junior brother, you are probably It was stolen by your younger brother. When the master told you that I was number one in the world, he hadn’t taught Xiao Jue yet! Now, now..." Old Hou seemed to be very unwilling, "Now I may be number two in the world, little Jue's understanding is extraordinary, and he is willing to work hard. How can he not be like you? But it is also strange, how could Xiao Jue steal your things? Although he has learned from me "skillful and empty", it may make him fancy and take the initiative to sell things I'm afraid not yet. I've been playing around and haven't seen him for several years. Has he come to Chang'an too? Yun Ge'er, don't be angry, he doesn't know you are his senior sister, because you have been refusing to call me master, He didn't really learn my skills, so the old man told him that he was the only apprentice, so as to encourage him to study hard and inherit the mantle." Yun Ge swayed, his face pale, "Uncle Hou, what's Xiao Jue's full name?" The old man Hou thought of his apprentice and was full of satisfaction: "Meng of Mencius, Jue of King of Jade, Meng Jue, is the adopted son of the only person this old man respects in his life." Yun Ge couldn't stand upright, staggered back a few steps, and seemed to understand all the doubts that had crossed his mind in an instant. Only now did Old Man Hou notice Yun Ge's pale face, "Yun Ge'er, what's wrong with you? Are you sick?" Yun Ge forced a smile: "No, I'm just a little tired. I've been busy outside all day today, Uncle Hou, I want to go back and rest first. Where do you live? I'll see you when I have time, or see you in the Western Regions , I will cook for you then." Old man Hou pointed to the inn in front of him, "Just settle down there. The wind must be even stronger tonight, my dear Yungeer, go back and have a good rest, get up your spirits, and cook some dishes for the master." In the dark night, the wind blows harder and harder. Countless leaves whirled in the wind, flying past Yunge's head and beside his face, making the dark night that could not see the way ahead even more fragmented and hazy. Yun Ge walked blankly in the chaotic world. Many things, things that were once thought to last forever, turned out to collapse only for a moment. I used to think that he and her were the most poetic encounter in Chang'an City, like countless legends, where a woman in distress meets Mr. Pian Pian to save her, and what is saved is the fate of a lifetime. But the truth turned out to be like this, he took her purse, and then appeared in front of her to be kind to her, making her who had no life experience and no money could only rely on him, but he didn't expect that she would make money with dishes, Didn't rely on him at all.Although his trick did not succeed, he used this method to force his way into her world after all. No wonder he plays "Caiwei" late at night. "In the past, I went away, and the willows were Yiyi; now I come to think, and it is raining and snowing. The road is slow, and I am thirsty and hungry. My heart is sad, and I don't know that I am sad." Since he is Uncle Hou's apprentice, he probably heard Uncle Hou mention his second brother, and maybe he already knew that "Caiwei" was his favorite song. At that time, I thought it was a kind of wonderful fate, but it turned out to be intentional. But why?Why do you do this to her?Where is she worth his so much thought? She pulled out the golden and silver flower hairpin on her head, and took out the giant order given by Uncle Feng in her arms to look carefully.The scenes of that day were carefully played back in his mind bit by bit. Her parents forbade her from entering the territory of the Han Dynasty, but everything in her home was Han customs. Uncle Feng cared about her very much, and he also asked about her family. At that time, he thought it was because of his nephew's life-long event, so he needed to know her background. Now that I think about it, Uncle Feng's questions were all about her parents. How are you doing? Without her, what would Uncle Feng's punishment for Meng Jue be like that day?Ban him from using any money and connections? When he confessed his heart to her and told her that he would no longer associate with Huo Chengjun, it was when Uncle Feng was seriously ill. Presumably at that time, Uncle Feng was thinking about who to hand over the family business to. He deliberately took her to see Uncle Feng. ... Yun Ge burst out laughing.His body became weak from laughing, and he slid to the ground inch by inch. She curled up into a ball, hugged her knees, buried her head between her knees, squatting alone in the middle of the dark street. The wind blew up the fallen leaves, whistling and blowing past her body, and a strand of hair that had lost its bundle was blown wildly by the wind. Yun Ge has not returned home for a long time, but Liu Bing has already found here with a lantern. I saw a long street, empty and desolate. A very small person, like a snail, curled up in the middle of the street. Among the fallen leaves flying all over the sky, Qingsi is also flying, and all the publicity is full of sadness. 刘病已心悸，一步步小心地靠近云歌，只觉一不小心那个人儿也会随着落叶消失在风中。 “云歌，云歌……” 地上的云歌却听而不闻。 因为风太大，手中的灯笼被风吹得直打旋，一个翻转，里面的火烛点燃了灯笼，在他手中忽地窜起一团火焰。 原本昏黄的光芒骤然变得灿亮，云歌被光亮惊动，抬头看向刘病已。 长长的睫毛上仍有泪珠，脸上却是一个渺茫的笑。娇颜若花，在跳跃的火光下，恍惚如月下荷花上的第一颗露珠。 火光淡去，云歌的面容又隐在了黑暗中。 刘病已呆站了好一会，才扔掉了手中已无灯笼的竹竿，弯身扶云歌站起。 握住了云歌零乱的发，看到云歌手里拿着一只簪子，他想拿过来，先替她把头发绾好，云歌却握着不肯松手。 刘病已无奈，只能随手解下腰间挂着的同心结，用做发绳，把云歌的头发绾起、束好。 刘病已护着云歌避开风口，找了小巷子绕道回家。 两人走了很久后，云歌似乎才清醒，一下停住了脚步：“我想回家，我不想再见他。” 刘病已很温和地说：“我们就要到家了。他晚饭前来过一次，看你不在，就又走了。他让我们转告你，他要去见一个人，办些事情，这一两天恐怕没有空，等忙完后再来看你。” 云歌听了，没有任何表情，只是停住的脚步又动起来。 “今天发生了什么事情？你不等他做选择了吗？” 云歌摇了摇头，“没什么。” 云歌的脾气看着随和，执拗起来却非同一般。 刘病已知她不愿意说，也就不再问，只说：“回家后好好睡一觉，一切都会好起来的。大哥和你保证，一切一定都会好起来的。” 许平君听到拍门声，立即迎了出来。 “云歌，刮着那么大的风，干什么去了？真正担心死人，怎么这么狼狈的样子……” 当她看到云歌束发的头绳是她给刘病已打的同心结时，语声咽在了口中。 刘病已把云歌交给许平君，“我去给云歌烧些热水，做些吃的。”转身去了厨房。 在路上，云歌主意已定，她想回家。 知道和刘病已、许平君相聚的时光已是有限，伤痛中又添了几分留恋。 许平君帮云歌舀了热水，给云歌洗脸净手。 云歌看许平君眼光时不时扫一眼她的头发，虽然笑着，神情却有些奇怪，她一面去摸自己的头发，一面笑问：“我的头发怎么了？”摸到绾着头发的发绳，她拿了下来，发现是一个同心结。 当日红衣教过她做。她后来才知道为什么红衣不肯打给她，要她自己动手。 同心结，结同心。 女子把自己的心意结在穗子中，系在心上人的腰上，希冀着永结同心。 云歌大窘，忙把同心结捋平，还给许平君，“我，我……”她想不出来如何解释明明挂在刘病已腰间的同心结怎么跑到了她的头上，因为她也很恍惚，只记得她和大哥在巷子里面走路。 许平君笑着把同心结收起，“没什么了！男人都对这些小事不上心，你大哥只怕根本分不清同心结和其它穗子的区别。”一面找了自己的发簪帮云歌把头发梳好、绾起，一面似乎十分不在意地问：“你和孟大哥怎么了？我最近在你大哥面前提起你和孟珏，你大哥的神色就有些古怪，孟大哥欺负你了吗？” 云歌听出了许平君语气下几分别的东西，心中又多了一重悲伤，感情已去，却不料友情也是这么脆弱，直到现在许平君仍旧不能释怀。 云歌忽然觉得长安城再无可留恋之人，侧身把许平君拽到自己身旁坐下，“姐姐，我要走了。” “走？走哪里？” “我要回家了。” 许平君愣住：“家？这里不就是你的家？什么？你是说西域？为什么？你大哥知道吗？” 云歌摇了摇头：“大哥不知道。我是突然决定的，而且我害怕告别，也不想告别了。” “孟大哥呢？他不和你一块走？” 云歌的头倚在了许平君肩头，“他会娶霍家的小姐。” “什么？”许平君怒气冲头，就要跳起来。 云歌抱住她，“姐姐，你有身子呢！可别乱生气，你看我都不生气。”云歌将金银花簪和钜子令放在许平君手中，“孟珏来时，你帮我把这两样东西给他。” 许平君想到她们和霍成君的差距，心头的火气慢慢平复了下去。再想到连云歌这般的人都有如此遭遇，不禁十分悲哀，“云歌，你不去争一争吗？为什么连争都不争就退让呢？你的鬼主意不是向来很多吗？你若想争，肯定能有办法。除了家世，你哪里不如霍家小姐了？” “不值得。况且感情和别的事情不一样，是你的就是你的，不是你的强求来也不见得幸福。”云歌伸手去抓盆子里的水，一只手用力想掬住水，可当她握成拳头的手从盆子里出来时，水都从指缝间溜走。她向许平君摊开手掌，里面没有握住一滴水，而另一只手随随便便从盆中一舀，反倒掌心都是水，“这就是感情，有时候越是用力，越是什么都没有。” 云歌的话说得饶有深意，许平君下意识地握住了袖中的同心结。不会，我自小知道的道理就是想要什么一定要自己去争取，我可以握住这个，我也一定可以握住我们的同心结。 “云歌，我们还能再见面吗？” “为什么不能？我只是有些累，想回家休息一段时间。等我休息好了，也许就会来看你们。即使我不来长安，你和大哥也可以来看我。”云歌一直笑着说话，可她却不知道自己现在神情憔悴，眉尖也是紧锁。 许平君轻拍着云歌的背，心下舍不得，还想劝一下云歌，但话语在心头徘徊了几圈后，叹了口气，未再说话。 霍府嫁女，到时候只怕比公主大婚还盛大，云歌若留在长安城，难道让她去看长安城大街小巷的热闹吗？况且没有了孟珏，云歌就是独自一人了…… "when are you leaving?" “自然是越早越好，我不想再见他了。” 许平君眼里有了泪花：“云歌……” 云歌声音也有些哽咽：“不要哭！老人说怀孕的人不能哭，否则以后的孩子也爱哭。” 听到刘病已在外面叫：“可以吃饭了。” 许平君立即擦去了眼角的泪，云歌笑着小声说：“等我走了你再告诉大哥。”许平君犹豫了一瞬，点点头。