Chapter 46 Chapter 44

After all, Yan Wei has never practiced swords, and she has no courage to hurt others. The sword casts slowly, but even so, the blue light of the sharp sword is enough to make Xiong Ying terrified. With a flash of sword light, he knocked down the lamp obliquely, and the surroundings were instantly dark.Xiong Ying let out a scream, presumably hot lamp oil splashed onto her hands.Yan Wei couldn't care too much at this time, and took the opportunity to rush out the door sideways. Dozens of people, supporting the old and the young, meandered on the mountain road in the dark night. There were soldiers on horseback at the front, back, left, and right of the team, and they kept urging everyone to hurry up along the way.

Wearing men's clothing, Yan Wei mixed in the middle of the team, one left and one right with Yingmei, supporting the blind old man, stumbled and tried to follow the crowd. Yan Wei was very confused, and couldn't figure out the cause and effect of the incident, but judging from the attitude of these soldiers towards everyone, it seemed that they didn't have too much malice, and they were not as soft as Xiong Ying said, and they wouldn't let them be taken away.It seems that the purpose is just to let everyone leave the valley and make it an empty valley?Thinking of this, I also thought of what Sheng Zhi said. Is the purpose of doing this to destroy Sheng Gu's Sheng Zhi?So, this matter has something to do with Jiang Guo?Will Gongzi Cong be in danger?Or even fall into a bigger conspiracy?Totally clueless.Yan Wei shook her head vigorously, as if trying to get rid of all these chaotic thoughts.

Yingmei next to her saw it and asked softly, "What's the matter? Are you uncomfortable?" Yan Wei said: "No... I just feel confused and can't understand the things in front of me." Yingmei said softly: "If you don't understand it, just read it, don't think about it, if you read it a lot, as time goes on, everything will become a thread, and you will understand naturally." Yan Wei nodded and asked, "What are you going to do?" Yingmei sighed, "What else can I do...of course it is to go back to my hometown." Yan Wei felt sorry for Yingmei. When she came, she still had an ox and a cart, but when she left, she was empty-handed, so she said apologetically, "We are sorry for you... for making you so busy."

Yingmei smiled and said: "That's not the case... You see, I have so many beautiful clothes here, as well as jewelry from the young master. If I were in my hometown, I would never be able to wear silk clothes dyed in my life! Also, then Although I can’t take the loom with me, I’ve already drawn a pattern, and I can build one when I go back. If I didn’t come here, I wouldn’t have seen such a useful loom!” Yan Wei said: "But when you came here, you still had an ox cart to travel. It must have been a very hard journey back." Yingmei said: "Although there was an ox cart for transportation when I came here, it was a severe drought and there was no water or food. It was very difficult to eat grass-roots migratory locusts all the way. When I went back, it was the autumn season when the mountains and wild products were readily available. It's nice to walk too."

Seeing Yingmei being so optimistic and open-minded, Yan Wei inexplicably felt a bit of envy and jealousy. She always claimed to be more knowledgeable and self-reliant than girls her age. He looked at Yingmei sideways.Seeing Yingmei's silhouette under the moonlight, her nose is straight and her lips are thin, her skin is more charming than snow, and she can't help but ask, "How old are you?" Yingmei said, "Nineteen." Yan Wei said: "Have you not betrothed yet?" Yingmei nodded: "Yes..." Yan Wei said anxiously: "According to the law, if you have passed the eighteenth birthday and you are not married, you will have to pay extra taxes! You are so beautiful, why don't you marry?"

Yingmei lowered her head and smiled, and said: "We have a custom there. If the eldest daughter swears not to marry, she will serve her elders all her life, and she will be called 'Wu'er'. She is not restricted by this law." Yan Wei wondered: "Why don't you marry? For a lifetime like this, wouldn't it be... Wouldn't it be..." Yan Wei couldn't think of what to say next to "Wouldn't it be", but felt it was a pity. Yingmei smiled and said: "Because both parents died, there is a blind and dumb grandfather who needs to support her. If you bring your grandfather to marry, it will not only be incompatible with the etiquette, but also the husband's family will not like it, which will make the grandfather wronged in vain; The family has no permanent property and no one who is willing to marry, so they simply don't marry, and the grandparents and grandchildren live well."

Yan Wei said: "Then what will you do when you get old, I'm so lonely..." Yingmei said: "Don't think about tomorrow's affairs today, just live today well. Whether there will be blessings or disasters tomorrow, he has to let him." Yan Wei sighed softly, she just felt that if she and Yingmei lived in a different place, she might not be so strong, she must find someone to lean on. Yingmei asked: "Let's not talk about me, what are you going to do? Come with us? Back to Huaidu on the way?" Back to Huaidu?Yan Wei thought about it, who would she turn to when she returned to her arms?Young Master Sui?Son Cong?If something really happened to the king, the court would definitely be in chaos, right?Going back to find them will only bring them trouble, without any benefit.So he said, "I'm going to Fancheng, my father is there."

Yingmei said, "You go on the road alone, okay?" Yan Wei smiled: "Why can't I? I dress like a man, and it's very convenient for me to travel along the way. As you said, the autumn is high and the air is crisp, so I'm on my way. I've walked this road once, and I already know the way. I'll walk it a second time. , what's the problem?" Having said that, it is even more difficult to go on the road alone. It has been three days since I parted from Yingmei and the others outside the valley.As soon as they left the valley that day, those soldiers left all the way westward.Yingmei and her people also meander westward.Yan Wei stared blankly at them walking away, feeling lonely, but she had no choice but to grit her teeth and walk east alone.

Yan Wei really came out empty-handed, not only did she have no money on her body, she didn't even have any valuable jewelry, and Ying Messer gave her some copper coins before parting.Yan Wei pinched the "Double Dragon Transforming Fish Pendant" several times, wanting to take it out and ask the government for help, but felt it was inappropriate, for fear that it would bring some disadvantages to Young Master Yu.Every time she entered the city, Yan Wei always went to check the official announcement, but she didn't see any news. Maybe... Your Majesty's illness is already cured?Has Gongzi Cong sent people back to the valley to look for him?What would he do if he saw no one in the valley?Yan Wei thought all the way, walked all the way, no matter how far the road is, it will end soon, and it seems that it is about to enter the boundary of Fancheng, father...is he still in Fancheng?

Jiang Guo, Zeyi, the capital of the country. At night, the dim full moon hangs in the sky like a swollen face. There is some mist, which makes the outline of the moon a little fuzzy, especially in the lower corner, where a piece is slightly missing, as if it has been sucked away by the boundless night. Inside the city wall of the Forbidden Garden, two black figures appeared suddenly, as if growing out of the wall. When one of the black shadows turned around, under the moonlight, his eyes were as clear as autumn water, and there seemed to be a faint look of worry between his brows. It was Li Qichen, and the other one was naturally Tong Shu.

The two quickly looked at each other, nodded at the same time, then bowed and walked quickly one after the other, as vigorous and swift as two black panthers. In the distance came the faint sound of iron smelting and forging, neither fast nor slow, neutral and peaceful, somewhat like the sound of clappers watching the night. The two ran all the way to the place where the sound came from. On the way, they encountered patrolling guards, and they leaned down to hide by the side of the road. The wind is very strong tonight, and the sound is like whimpering; the sound of reeds is noisy, like arguing; When the drama is at its climax, it hides the footsteps of the two people in the audience, the friction of clothes, as well as the occasional sound of one or two clashes of swords. All unknowingly. The iron smelting place is in a corner of the Forbidden Garden, facing the water on three sides, it is very remote, presumably it is afraid of disturbing other people's dreams. In the boundless dark night, the fire can be seen from far away, and that little jumping warm red light, like a road sign, guides the two shadows, approaching quietly. Getting closer, getting closer... The sound of forging gradually became clearer, hitting people's eardrums one after another. The water surface is very open, looking from a distance, the sky is low and the stars are hanging, it is quiet and picturesque. There is only one shed, one stove, one sword, and one person in Linshui, and it looks extremely lonely, as if there is only one person in the world.That person was Mu Xuanshi, his right arm was rising and falling rhythmically, and he was forging a sword. Two black figures crouched down in the long grass, a dozen or so steps away, waiting with bated breath, waiting for the best opportunity. There was a sound of forging, as if it was hitting the heart, and it seemed that the heartbeat also changed its rhythm with its rhythm. Tong Shu's whole body was tense, like a fully drawn bow, his right hand clenched the hilt of the sword, and his knuckles turned white from the force. Li Qichen seemed relaxed all over, staring at Mu Xuanshi without blinking, a drop of sweat rolled down from the corner of his forehead and rolled into the corner of his eye.Li Qichen didn't wipe it off, but just blinked his eyes vigorously, and the sweat rolled down again, and the sweat that rolled down from the corner of his eyes looked like tears. A thick cloud drifted past, the moonlight was covered, and the surroundings became dark in an instant.Mu Xuanshi lifted the sword and dipped it into the water tank next to him. There was a soft chirping sound, and a thick mist rose up. It's time! Like a grass bug, Tong Shu bounced up from the grass and rushed straight over, but Li Qichen was faster than him, a black shadow flashed, and he rushed to the front with his sword in his hand. The sword spurted out. The person under the sword is also very skilled, and he turned around when he saw this. The sword that originally aimed at Mu Xuanshi's left chest and heart pierced obliquely near the center of his chest. The blade of the sword seemed to be clamped by the ribs, making him unable to advance or retreat. At this time, thick clouds drifted past, and the moonlight brightened again. Under the moonlight, Mu Xuanshi's face was very clear.Surprise, puzzlement, resentment, pain, despair... All these expressions mixed together, making that face look hideous and terrifying. Li Qichen suddenly remembered that when he was seventeen years old, under his sword, the same person's face was peaceful and serene, with a smile on his mouth and a hint of approval in his eyes.That time, under the sword was his throat, a minute away, the skin hadn't been broken, the blood hadn't come out, the point was over, time passed, and we could see each other again.This time, it was next to the heart, an inch away, a ghost in the world, never seen again... The blood flowed quietly, from the chest, to the waist, and then to the abdomen, and finally, drop by drop on the green grass, as if suddenly blooming Blood-red flowers all over the place.Li Qichen's heart froze, the hand holding the sword relaxed, and the sword would neither advance nor retreat, it froze there... Li Qichen asked in a low voice, "Why treason?" Mu Xuanshi smiled miserably: "My father...is...from Jiang Guo..." Li Qichen's whole body was shocked. His father was from Jiang State, and his mother was from Yang State... The son of man in the middle is like parents who are at odds with each other. Whichever side you help is wrong. A black shadow flashed behind him, and another sword stabbed over. It was light gray-blue like moonlight, shining coldly, and it was lighter, sharper, and sharper than the bronze sword.This sword is exactly the iron sword "Meng" made by Mu Xuanshi himself. The tip of the sword pierced Mu Xuanshi's throat without hesitation. It was as fast as the wind. An arc was drawn, the blood sprayed out like mist, and the man fell down slowly, unable to make a sound anymore... Mu Xuanshi's eyes were wide open, his eyeballs were protruding, his throat was humming, as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't make any sound.He slowly raised his left hand and stroked Li Qichen's sword. The two words "loyalty" on the sword were instantly filled with blood, making it extremely clear and glaring. Mu Xuanshi took out another object from his bosom with his right hand, held it up tremblingly, and looked at Li Qichen with begging eyes. It was a thumb-length brocade scroll, tied at both ends with silk thread, as if wrapping a column.Li Qichen took it hesitantly, the tentacles were very soft, it seemed to be something like cloth. Mu Xuanshi's hands were still stretched open, his fingers trembled slightly, his eyes were fixed on Li Qichen's face, and there seemed to be a thousand words in his eyes... Mu Xuanshi's lips trembled, but he couldn't make a sound. That mouth shape seems to be three words: "pass it on..." Li Qichen asked hesitantly, "For Mubie?" As soon as the words came out, Mu Xuanshi lowered his hands, lowered his head, and slowly closed his eyes. A tear slipped from his left eye, flowed across the bridge of his nose, flowed through the eyelashes of his right eye, and finally fell into the Dust, no trace to be found anymore...