Empress Chu

A lot of people were stopped here, and they didn't say why when they asked them. If they asked again, some soldiers would draw their swords, "Are they Xiliang spies or the remnants of the Zhao family?"

The atmosphere at the city gate was tense.

In this tense atmosphere, Tie Ying drove slowly, getting closer and closer to the city gate, his expression was not the slightest bit nervous, until he was stopped by the guards.

"Get out of the car." Several guards shouted coldly.

Before Tie Ying could speak, a general standing beside him stepped forward and glanced at the badge hanging on the car.

"This belongs to the county governor's family." He said to the guards, "Young master is weak and sick. He has just returned from seeking medical treatment, so he can't see the wind."

The guard looked at the general with an embarrassed expression, and another general came over and said hello to Tie Ying: "Come back so fast this time? The county guard asked yesterday."

Tie Ying said in a deep voice: "It's not peaceful outside, the doctor ran away, but he couldn't find it."

That's really——the general said with regret on his face, "Just look for a famous doctor." After saying that, he stretched out his hand to ask, "Young master, go back quickly."

Now that the two generals have said so, and they seem to be very familiar with the people in the car, the guards no longer obstruct the verification, saying that there is no such absolute verification in the verification, and there are always one or two local snakes to give face.

Besides, a carriage can't hide many people.

The guards moved out of the way, and Tie Ying drove past slowly among the guards with thick armor and weapons.

So what if the court soldiers and horses surround it?Zhongshan County has belonged to King Zhongshan for decades, and he is the owner here. If these outsiders dare not claim to change their owners, they are just outsiders.

When Xiao Xun returned to Zhongshan Palace and came to see Zhongshan King, Zhongshan King was entertaining guests in the hot spring pool.

The hot spring pool was steaming, and the maid was wearing a summer dress, soaked by the pool steam, wrapped in tulle, as if naked, but neither of the two people in the pool looked at the beauty.

A man closed his eyes and rested his mind, combing his goatee gently with his hands.

On the other side, the maid put a warm towel on King Zhongshan's eyes, and King Zhongshan leaned on the jade pillow and made a comfortable voice: "My king wants to take a nap—"

"Father." Xiao Xun's voice came from the side.

King Zhongshan was a little helpless: "Can't you call later?"

Xiao Xun squatted down by the pool with a smile: "Father, the invasion of Xiliang gave the imperial court a good opportunity to deal with us. Check out Xiliang spies one by one. I don't think we will all become Xiliang spies in a short time." Got caught."

Before the king of Xiliang could speak, the man with the goatee on the opposite side spoke first.

"Your Highness, our Great Liang is not invading." He said, with an accent in his voice, but actually he didn't need an accent. The name Great Liang is enough to prove his identity.

"We're just here to pay homage to Emperor Daxia." He continued, sighing, "Since the orthodoxy fell, the dynasty in the Central Plains has become more and more barbaric and unruly."

Xiao Xun laughed: "My lord, if it weren't for us, where would you be soaking in the warm pool water now? You can only live and die in the iron prison of the government. You must be grateful for the help. This is the most important thing for a decent person." rule."

Goatee opened his eyes with a displeased expression: "You—"

King Zhongshan interrupted them: "Okay, hot springs are for health preservation. It's not good to get angry in the hot spring water."

The goatee obviously didn't want to anger King Zhongshan, put away his temper, ignored the dimpled and smiling young man, and saw King Zhongshan said: "Also, we are also fighting for the prince, so it is up to you or you His son is the emperor, and the six-year-old boy is not the son of the late emperor, so how could it be his turn to be a grandson."

King Zhongshan took off the handkerchief covering his eyes, without any humility or politeness, and bowed his hands: "Thank you, King of Great Liang." Then he smiled slightly, "I don't know what kind of gift King of Great Liang wants in return?"

Goatee stood up from the pool, with a sad and indignant expression: "My king only wants Chu Ling's head!"

Back then, when Great Xia had been in peace for a long time and was not prepared for danger, the ambitious Great Liang launched a war.

The frail and sickly Emperor Daxia returned to the west, and Daxia retreated steadily, losing a large area of ​​territory, and stalemate with Daliang, until more than ten years later, the new emperor of Daxia suddenly reused a young general.

The young general not only took back the territory and drove Great Liang out of the country, but also raided the King of Great Liang's court and killed King Great Liang's most cherished prince.

The head of the prince was hung on the border, and a group of soldiers from Great Liang came to be killed by Chu Yu. Finally, the king of Great Liang came to the border county in person, naked to the waist, with disheveled hair, knelt down and begged for mercy, bowed his head and professed his vassalship, and the Emperor of Great Xia issued an order Only then did Chu Ling return the prince's head to King Daliang.

This is the most painful thing for Great Liang. After more than ten years, I still hate it deeply.

"Before he died, the late king held the king's hand, and he couldn't rest in peace. He didn't close his eyes until the king promised to take Chu Ling's head to pay homage to his father and elder brother." I know life and death are life and death in the war between the two countries, but he Chu Ling—”

Goatee points to the sky.

"Killed my prince, and still humiliated and tortured like this, cruel and ruthless, inhuman!"

"My king's move is to avenge his father and brother, as long as Chu Ling is killed."

King Zhongshan looked at him sympathetically, and called the maids who were standing around with their heads bowed: "Hurry up and help the nobleman to rest. After soaking in the hot spring, he will be very sad and angry, and will lose his strength."

The maids rushed forward to help the goatee out and wrapped them in robes, but the goatee didn't refuse.

"My lord." He said sadly, "Our lord has only one request, and we are willing to conspire with him, and wish to be friends with him forever."

King Zhongshan looked at him, seemed to be thinking, and then asked, "Does your king have a princess?"

Goatee was stunned for a moment, as if he didn't react.

Xiao Xun has already made a gesture of grief: "Father, I already have my own heart——"

Only then did the goatee realize that he wanted to get married?

"Yes—" he said, even if he didn't, he did.

King Zhongshan laughed: "I'll talk about it later, the nobleman goes to rest first." He waved his hand.

As he waved his hand, the delicate maid walked away with the goatee supported, and the goatee seemed to really lose its strength without any resistance.

Only their father and son remained in the hot spring pool.

King Zhongshan heaved a sigh of relief, lay back down again, picked up a handkerchief and soaked it in the hot spring, and then covered his eyes: "Monkeys know how to be quiet when they bathe in hot springs."

Xiao Xun smiled and said, "Father, do you believe what he said?"

King Zhongshan said: "It doesn't matter whether I believe it or not, as long as Xiliang believes it himself." He sighed softly at this point, "However, General Chu's deadline has really come this time."

Xiao Xun said: "Then father is going to save him? For Da Xia, for General Chu, he will not hesitate to expose his privately hidden soldiers and horses." He pressed his heart, "This move of father is really hateful and touching. Unlike that Chu Zhao who has a heart of stone, he will definitely fall for his father."

King Zhongshan laughed, and raised his hand to raise the hot spring water: "That's natural. When it comes to captivating all living beings, your son can't compare to me."

Xiao Xun didn't dodge either, he let the hot spring water hit his face, and the spring water fell from his smooth and delicate face like pearls.

"Father, the child is willing to lead the army for the father." He said.

King Zhongshan smiled, took off the handkerchief and looked at Xiao Xun: "I'm going to be a hero to save the beauty again, as the saying goes, there are only three things to do—"

What Xiao Xun wanted to say, King Zhongshan waved his hand.

"However, you don't need to make a move yet. You will show up at a more important time."

"If it appears again this time, my son will make the world fall."

……

……

The imperial city is brightly lit late at night.

The Taifu Hall where Deng Yi lived was constantly coming and going, but Xie Yanfang's place was much quieter.

A post soldier was led in hastily by an official, dressed in weathered clothes, and saluted Xie Yanfang: "Third Young Master, the letter has been delivered." Then he said, "Mr. Yan Lai has also arrived."

Xie Yanfang said oh, raised her head to ask something, then smiled, nodded and waved her hands.

The post soldiers retreated immediately.

"My lord." The official said with a somewhat happy expression, "With your letter and my lord Yanlai, the empress should be back soon this time."

Xie Yanfang laughed, and shook her head: "No, she may still hesitate after reading the letter, but when she sees Xie Yanlai, she will have no more hesitation and will not come back."

The official was stunned: "Why?"

"Because someone has become a hero." Xie Yanfang laughed.

What's the meaning?The officials were puzzled and asked again.

Xie Yanfang stopped him and asked, "Have all the letters to Bianjun been delivered on time?"

Is this still to be confirmed?The officials once again responded yes and guaranteed that nothing would go wrong.

"That letter did indeed arrive earlier than Xie Yanlai." He emphasized.

Xie Yanfang smiled, didn't speak, just stroked her cheek lightly with her hands.

"Heroes are the most attractive." He said softly, "Only heroes make people fascinated."

……

……

The wind in Yunzhong County howled all night and didn't stop until it was almost dawn, but Liang Qiang couldn't sleep anymore. The quilt was also like a lump of ice, stiff and cold.

Liang Qiang never knew that Leng could be so cold.

He was born in a wealthy family, but since he was a child, he knew that arrogance and lust corrupt the mind, so he also did the same thing as studying hard in the cold window, practicing in winter and summer in summer, but only at this moment did he realize that when he has wealth and power, the so-called suffering is A joke, when you lose wealth and power, everything you do is bitter, nothing is not bitter, only more bitter.

It's not really winter yet.

Liang Qiang sat up from the bed, her lips turned blue, she wrapped a ragged fur coat around her body for a moment, and then she gradually recovered.

He thinks he won't survive this winter.

There was a tinkling knocking sound outside, which was especially ear-piercing in the early morning and cold winter. Even Liang Qiang woke up and was frightened. One can imagine those sleeping people.

This is the bad taste of the head of the village. In the eyes of the head of the village, these people who are assigned to serve are not human beings.

"Get up and work, you pigs!" The roar followed.

The torn fur coat made Liang Qiang warm and able to move. He got out of bed and opened the door to go out. The cold on his face made him shiver, and all the scattered people in this small room came out.

If they don't come out again, the head of the village and his men will not beat the gong, but pour water into the house.

They don't care whether people can live in such a house, and they don't live here.

After making sure everyone came out, the head of the village, wrapped in a big cloak, stopped cursing with a sullen face: "Be more active, now that the Xiliang people are calling, if you don't work hard, you will be sent to fight!"

After all, let the subordinates assign tasks to them. Today, the people in their village will go to strengthen the city defense, and they will work from morning to night.

The task was assigned, and two rough women came over with wooden barrels. This is today's breakfast. Each person has a bowl of porridge—it doesn't matter whether the porridge can fill the stomach, it is steaming, it is enough for everyone up.

Everyone wanted to rush over, and was scolded by the head of the village again, and they lined up.

Liang Qiang stood straight to the end. When he first came, he was crowded with people and fought several times—it wasn’t that he couldn’t fight, but it was endless. If he won, he would be punished. , Seeing the bruised and swollen face reflected inside, I just feel ridiculous.

Is the rest of his life just for a bowl of porridge every morning?

That being the case, what is the difference between drinking earlier and later?

Liang Qiang stood at the back of the team, moved slowly, and looked at the wooden barrels in front of her—there was still a difference, the heat of the porridge was continuously dissipating in the cold morning wind.

When he gets it, it should be cold porridge.

"Ah Qiang." A joyful voice behind him said in a low voice, "Your mother is on duty today, so the porridge will definitely not be spilled in half."

Liang Qiang turned her head and saw a brother's smiling face.

This brother's hair is disheveled, and he has long since lost the demeanor of a member of the Liang clan. He used to not care about the good food and wine at home, but now the porridge can make him laugh more than half.

Liang Qiang looked at his face and said, "Fourth Brother, we can no longer do labor."

The elder brother of the Liang family was stunned for a moment and asked, "Then what shall we do?"

Liang Qiang was silent, and he didn't know, but if he kept doing hard labor, he felt that he might as well die.

Chapter 52 Here we go

The labor in Bian County is heavy, strengthening the city walls, pier forts, and building roads. Especially after the outbreak of war, the labor is even heavier. It seems that the city walls and pier roads are broken everywhere. The governments everywhere want to let the laborers work day and night live.

However, due to the war, the labor service was often interrupted. Since they returned to the pier fort in the afternoon after the smoke alarm, they did not go out until dusk.

Standing on the highest point, you can see the flames in the distance, and the cold wind also faintly heard the sound of fighting, and soon the flames and the sound of fighting disappeared.

The order to clear the alarm came shortly afterwards.

"These damned Xiliang thieves." The head of the village scolded angrily, and then sighed, "I am still a mighty Daxia man."

Turning around to see the laborers squatting not far away, I was annoyed again. It was dark now, although the alarm was lifted, but for safety, I couldn’t light torches to work——

"Go back, you sinners." The head of the village cursed angrily.

The laborers rushed away, and being scolded was nothing. Today is equivalent to not working. This is the happiest thing. However, the head of the village is not happy, and they still have to suffer. For example, there should be some tonight A meal of meaty soup turned into porridge.

"The entire Yunzhong County fought against the enemy, and the soldiers gave their lives. It's good that you guilty people can live without stuttering." The head of the village scolded angrily.

His entourage shouted praises, "The head of the village is mighty."

"This old man." A brother scolded in a low voice, holding a porridge that was crystal clear, "What kind of power is it to show us power and prestige, if you have the ability to kill the enemy."

Liang Qiang poked him with her arm, her eyes signaled not to say more, and she looked around vigilantly. The laborers are all prisoners, and there are all kinds of prisoners——