Harue Kagetsu

In February, when Datong was broken, Liu Jian and his remnants fled north to the place where the Xiongnu lived.

Li Mu's army entered the city, and the Huns all over the city were crawling on the ground, trembling with fear, not daring to look directly.

The Liang Kingdom was destroyed.

This is also the collapse of the last regime established by the Hu people who invaded the Central Plains after Jiexia, Xijin, Beiyan and other countries.

Since the Yu Dynasty was in the south, the Central Plains were torn apart and fell to Lushen.

Over the years, including the Dayu court, although there are many people with lofty ideals in the Southern Dynasty to expedition to the north one after another, they have never been able to achieve their achievements. Until Li Mu was born, now Yan Ran exerted his power to unify the Central Plains.

This news spread like a wing, and soon spread to Chang'an, to Luoyang, across the Yangtze River, to Jiankang, and to the eight prefectures and hundreds of counties in the Southern Dynasties.

The Xiao family still has the name of the royal family, but it is like the last yellow leaf on the dead branches in the cold winter, which is already dead in name only.

The new dynasty will be established, this is the general trend and the aspiration of the people.

In Jiankang City, everyone is now waiting for Li Mu to cross the river and return south.

At the end of February, Li Mu went south and passed through Datong, the old capital of Liang Kingdom, and stayed for a few days to arrange the deployment of the northern border.

After Liu Jian became emperor here, he spent a lot of money to imitate the Han Palace and built a beautiful palace for his own enjoyment. When they escaped earlier, they were set on fire, and the palace was more than half destroyed. Li Mu passed by this trip and ordered people to clean up the ruins, and planned to convert the old palace into a warehouse for grain equipment.

Although the Huns who occupied this land for many years have now been expelled, there are still many Hu people living in the north of Yanmen.

Although Liu Jian died, the Huns were still alive. In order to prevent future troubles, he plans to take Datong as the center and build military towns in various fortresses for long-term defense.

When night fell, he stood behind the crenel at the head of the city, looking at the south thousands of miles away, and the past events came to his mind one after another.

The teenager who lost his home, crossed the river with his mother south, chased by the soldiers behind him, arrows like rain, and he watched helplessly as his companions were shot into the water. The rolling river water mercilessly swallowed up all the struggles and shouts in the middle of the ups and downs.

Years later, at this moment, if he can meet the young man of that day again, he will finally be able to say the last sentence, the vow you made that day, today, I have fulfilled it on your behalf.

Although the rivers and mountains are devastated, fortunately, they have not been abandoned. Now, everything has been cleaned up from scratch.

Li Mu's thoughts were up and down, he couldn't help spreading his hands, and his eyes fell on his palm, the old scar left by the iron nail.

A deacon in the army came over and saw him staring down at his open palm with a stern expression. He didn't know what he was looking at, let alone what he was thinking. He didn't dare to interrupt for a while and stopped nearby.

Li Mu asked him what was going on.

Only then did the deacon report that when cleaning up the palace, in a cold palace, he found something strange.

In the northwest corner of the cool palace, when a few soldiers passed by a deserted hall that was rarely visited by people, they heard a woman's repressed mourning cry, followed the sound and entered, behind a curtain covered with spider silk dust. , I saw an old palace maid sobbing in a low voice, and another woman was lying on the couch nearby.

The woman looked still very young, her lower abdomen was high and bulging, she was about to give birth, her hair was unkempt, her face was haggard, her eyes were dull, she was lying on her back, staring at the dark ceiling of the palace, at first motionless, like a dead man, when she saw the soldiers break in. , The expression of horror and shame appeared on that wooden face, and he shrank his body tightly into a ball, the whole person shivered, and he kept mumbling and repeating something in his mouth, as if speaking in Xianbei language.

The soldier did not understand, and asked the old palace maid. The old palace maid was also non-Han and could not speak the language. The soldiers suspected that the woman was a leftover from Liu Jian's harem, and went to inform the deacon. The deacon found someone who knew Xianbei language, and then he understood. The young woman said "don't touch me", and then questioned the old palace maid, and finally figured out the identity of the woman.

It turned out that this young woman was Murong Zhe, the princess of Beiyan who had been with the Western Liang Dynasty that day.

At Zijingguan that day, Murong left without notice. Liu Jianben was defeated, and when he learned that Murong Zhe had escaped, he was furious. After he was caught, he humiliated and vented his anger in every possible way. Later, when he found out that she was pregnant, he took her back to Datong and put her in the cold palace.

Two months ago, Datong was broken, and when Liu Jian fled, he abandoned Murong Zhe, who was already a big belly at the time.

After experiencing such an inhuman torture, Murong Zhe became seriously ill, and people were like corpses. Under the care of this old palace maid who did not escape, she was still struggling to survive until today.

Murong Zhe used to be Princess Beiyan, but now, Murong Xi, the head of the Murong Ministry of Xianbei, has surrendered to Li Mu. The deacon could not be the master himself, so he came to report and asked Li Mu to decide.

Li Mu was a little surprised. He didn't expect that the scheming and unscrupulous Murong family woman in the past would be left here today, reduced to such a level.

He pondered for a while and said, "Send a letter to Murong Xi and ask him to send someone here to deal with it."

The deacon went away.

Li Mu lowered his head and looked at the nail marks in his palm again.

The heaven and the earth are not benevolent, and he regards all things as cud dogs. He never believes in the so-called one-drinking-one-pecking, all of which are unpredictable, but in the dark, he is really lucky.

That year, it was also the young man who came across the river. He was nailed outside the gate of the manor. Just when he was in despair, the bullock cart riding the little girl passed by in front of him, leaving a melodious trail behind. The sound of cowbells.

Many years later, looking back on that day, if the bullock cart had gone the other way, earlier or later, maybe he would have died that way.

Or maybe, even if he survived by luck, she will never appear in his life again.

He couldn't imagine what his life would be like without her.

God has so blessed him. On that day, there was no earlier, no later, no earlier or later, just at that moment, the girl passed in front of him and looked at him from the corner of the window of the bullock cart, turning her face to look at him.

It was that look that tied his two worlds together with the girl named Luoshen. Even if the past life finally regretted, this life has completely made up for it.

In front of his eyes, she once grabbed his hand, pressed her soft lips to the wound in his palm, and printed a pity kiss.

He clenched his palm slowly, as if like this, he could once again feel the warmth of the kiss she left in his palm that day.

It's over, the dust settles.

He missed her so much that he wished he could get back to her side as soon as possible.

…

At the end of March of this year, Li Mu crossed the river south and returned to Jiankang.

Gao Yin, Jiang Tao, who had returned to the south a few days ago, court officials, and county governors from various places, all of them left the city.

The people even rushed out of their homes to greet each other. Each face is filled with awe and expectations and longing for the upcoming new dynasty and new deal.

When Li Mu met Gao Huan who came to pick him up, he asked Luoshen in the first sentence. Knowing that she was not in the city, she had been living on Bailuzhou these days, and immediately turned her horse's head to go to Bailuzhou.

"Brother-in-law!"

Gao Huan stopped him.

Li Mu turned to look at him and asked him what else was going on.

"Sister she..."

Halfway through his words, he glanced at Li Mu, who had apparently been on his way home overnight, imagined the reaction he might have when he saw his sister, and forcibly held back, he said with a smile, "Elder sister, she misses her very much. Brother-in-law. Knowing that you are coming back soon, I’m afraid I can’t even sleep well these days. Brother-in-law, hurry up, don’t make my sister wait too long!”

Li Mu intuition that Gao Huan had something to hide from himself, but was anxious to see Luoshen immediately, so he didn't say anything to him anymore, stared at him suspiciously, and went away.

He let his horse gallop, but after only half a stick of incense, he rushed to the ferry, crossed the water in a boat, and gradually approached Bailuzhou, which alerted the guards. When he saw that he was back, he was very pleasantly surprised. Stopped by Li Mu, he didn't have to disturb his wife and walked in by himself.

In Jiankang City, almost all of the people are out of their homes today, and the streets are bustling and bustling like a festival. But here, the continent is quiet.

In late spring in March, cherry blossoms are blooming, bees and butterflies are piercing flowers, and above Jiangzhu, a group of egrets are flying in the distance, making a few clear chirping sounds from time to time, which add to the quietness.

The door is not far ahead.

In the past few years, time has passed unknowingly in the repetition of separation and reunion with her, reunion and separation.

But this time, for Li Mu, it was a little different from usual.

Replacing the previous dynasty, ascending the throne, and becoming the emperor of this world. Everything is as if it came naturally.

But before that moment came, he wanted to have her by his side, enter Jiankang with her, be worshipped by all the people, and be the emperor and queen of this world.

Without her, I wouldn't be who I am today.

"Madam, let's go in. Li Langjun is coming back today. With so many people in Jiankang, it will not be too early for him to come here."

"...I'm not tired. It's a little stuffy in the room. It's okay to stand here for a while..."

Suddenly, a voice of speech faintly entered his ears through the wall of flowers in front of him.

Li Mu was excited for a while. These days, all the fatigue accumulated in the journey, at the moment of hearing her voice, all left him.

He knew that when she came out, he was looking forward to his return, and was about to speed up his steps to show up to meet her when the maid's laughter came over again, and he heard her say: "It's a lot of happy events now. The eldest princess a few days ago. The letter said that everyone's wounds have been healed and they will be back soon. Not to mention that there are more Qilang-kun at home, in a few months, when the wife is also born, it will become more and more lively. Not to mention, Li Lang-kun also I'm back. Today in the city, I don't know how busy it is..."

Li Mu's footsteps paused for a while before he came to his senses. He was stunned for a while, and he couldn't believe his ears. He suddenly remembered the slightly constricted look when Gao Huan stopped him, and finally understood, his heart beating. Sudden acceleration, bang bang jumping non-stop.

His wife gave birth to his child in her womb!

He's going to be a father!

Li Mu was tightly grasped by this wonderful feeling, his mood was agitated, and his joy could not be added.

He took a deep breath, calmed down, and continued to walk quickly in the direction of the voice. He couldn't wait to turn around the flower wall, raised his eyes, and looked forward.

Accompanied by a maid, a beautiful woman was leaning against the door.

She was wearing a light white spring shirt with a few cherry blossoms embroidered on her sleeves. The shirt was very wide, but it couldn't cover the slight bulge of her lower abdomen.

She is laughing, with a pair of shallow laughter nests on her cheeks, like a pure and peaceful landscape, which makes people feel at ease when they see it.

Li Mu's eyes, from her lower abdomen, slowly turned to her face, staring at her, unable to take his eyes away.

Luoshen was looking at the direction of Jiankang City, thinking about the gathering with his parents and Adi, and the grand scene of Li Mu's return. He felt extremely proud, and suddenly felt a little strange.

Li Mu didn't know when he had returned, and he was standing by the flower wall that was only a dozen steps away from him.

This man, with the dust of the road still on his body, looked at his eyes, but it was so bright and divine.

"Lang Jun!"

Luoshen didn't expect that Li Mu, who had been thinking day and night, appeared here so quickly. He was so surprised that he called him and ran towards him subconsciously.

Li Mu smiled, strode to greet her, took a few steps up the steps, opened his arms, and hugged his wife into his arms, hugging him tightly.

…

Night fell again, overwhelming the sky and covering the entire city.

In Jiankang Palace, in an apse, the lights were dimly lit, reflecting the faces of frustration and despair in the palace.

In the evening, Liu Hui received a secret edict from Gao Yongrong and ordered him to enter the palace. I didn't want to go, but the edict continued, and after pondering for a moment, I finally went out, entered the palace from the side door, and came here quietly.

Gao Yongrong has been sick for a long time. It was said that he was confused when he was once sick, but tonight, in addition to his pale face, he has lost a lot of weight, and his spirit looks very good - it can even be said that it is unusually good.

She was neatly dressed, her face was gloomy, and her eyes were shining brightly.

Among the people who arrived, in addition to Liu Hui, there were several princes of the royal family. Several people looked at each other a few times, and then greeted Gao Yongrong - after all, as long as Li Mu did not ascend the throne for a day, and she did not abdicate for a day, she would still be the Queen Mother of the Southern Dynasty.

After Liu Hui hastily saluted, he asked Gao Yongrong the purpose of his edict.

Gao Yongrong's eyes swept across the crowd, gritted his teeth and said: "You guys have always been used by me. Now the imperial court is in danger, and Li Mu is a rebel and aggressive. You people, you must be loyal, help me get rid of Li Mu, and you must not shirk!"

When her voice fell, several clans shrank their heads and remained silent.

Liu Hui remembered the scene when he was waiting for Li Mu to enter the city during the day, and he was both contemptuous and annoyed at Gao Yongrong, and shied away: "He is strong in troops, and he has made great achievements in the Northern Expedition, not to mention the support of the people, even the Queen Mother, your own family. Brother, don't you switch to him? The queen mother asked me to wait, what's the use? The situation has passed, it is better to follow him, the queen mother may be able to keep the glory in the future, why bother?"

Gao Yongrong seemed to be furious, and slapped the case abruptly, his face was bloodless, his lips were blue, and he shuddered: "Liu Hui, you are so bold! How dare you go against me! Your majesty is my own biological son. Son, listen to me the most on weekdays! As long as I say a word in front of him, it's easy to get your head! Do you think I dare not kill you?"

The faces of several imperial clans were surprised, and they glanced at each other quickly, their heads lowered more and more, and they remained silent.

Seeing her eyes twinkle, Liu Hui gradually felt that something was wrong with her, so she said perfunctorily, "The crime of the minister... But I don't know what the Queen Mother can do to overcome the enemy and win?"

Gao Yongrong's expression softened a little, his eyes flashing with excitement, and he said in a low voice, "I want you to see Li Mu, so I said I abdicated voluntarily. You made him happy, and while he wasn't prepared, you stabbed me. Kill him! As long as he is dead, I will ask your majesty to make you prime minister. That idiot Feng Wei is useless!"

Liu Hui tentatively said: "Isn't Your Majesty already dead? How can the Queen Mother let Her Majesty make me prime minister again?"

Gao Yongrong's expression changed, and he said angrily, "Nonsense! Who said that my Deng'er died? You dare to curse Your Majesty, are you tired of living too?"

Liu Hui finally determined that the Gao Yongrong in front of him was probably delirious. At the moment, while perfunctory in his mouth, he turned around and walked away. After walking a few steps, he heard footsteps approaching behind him, and before he had time to turn around, he was pushed to the ground by Gao Yongrong's palm.

"Liu Qing, you don't listen to me anymore, you are going to tell the truth, can't you please Li Mu?"

He turned his head and saw Gao Yongrong looking down at him, his eyes were faint, and his tone was sinister.

The dim candlelight was swept by the wind gushing from the corner of the hall, and swayed a few times, making her appearance even more terrifying.

The reason why Liu Hui is willing to come here tonight is indeed the intention of wanting to spy on her, and then go to Li Mu's side to report, in order to gain the trust of the new king. Seeing that her purpose was exposed by her, and she was pushed to the ground again, without any scruples, she scolded: "You crazy woman, you are still dreaming about your Spring and Autumn Period! If it wasn't for your incompetence, how could you have caused me to be buried alive and my family wealth? Are you all gone? Now you are forcing me to stab Li Mu? You think Li Mu is so good at stabbing? You are crazy, I am leaving!"

After speaking, he got up from the ground, turned around and walked outside the hall.

Unexpectedly, before taking a few steps, the back suddenly became cold, and then, a heart-piercing pain came from the part just now, and quickly spread throughout the body.

Liu Hui froze in place and turned back slowly, only to realize that a dagger had been inserted into his back.

Gao Yongrong held the hilt of the dagger tightly in his hand, and sneered, "You know my secret, but you don't do anything for me, you betray me. Want to leave? It's not that easy! Go to hell!"

She suddenly pulled out the dagger, gritted her teeth, and continued to stab at Liu Hui. Laughing while stabbing.

Blood continued to flow out of Liu Hui's body with her movements.

Liu Hui struggled desperately, finally escaped from under Gao Yongrong's dagger, stumbled, fled to the gate of the hall, fled a few steps, was caught up again, stabbed, and fell to the ground again, knocking down the row of candlesticks.

The candles fell to the ground, burning the curtains, and the flames quickly spread and rose.

Gao Yongrong gritted his teeth, continued to swing his knife, and assassinated indiscriminately.

Liu Hui crawled on the ground, dragging a long bloodstain from under him.

The several clans present were stunned by the sudden scene in front of them. Seeing Gao Yongrong's grim eyes, wielding a dagger, he stabbed Liu Hui on the ground like crazy, suddenly turned his head, and his eyes seemed to shoot at him, all of them were so frightened that they dared to stay, and they all fled. .

The painful howl from Liu Hui filled the burning hall for a long time.