Pick all the cold branches

For a while, both of them were silent.

Zhen Xian didn't speak, and Yuqing didn't dare to say anything anymore, and she was too embarrassed to run away, so she just stood there silently facing each other.

The night is full of stars, only the sound of crows.

I don't know how long it took, and suddenly there was the sound of hurried footsteps.

Yuqing's body trembled suddenly, like a hunting dog smelling an enemy attack, she rushed forward two steps, put on a posture of defending against the enemy, and protected Zhen Xian.

Zhen Xian's reaction was slow, he patted him, paused for a moment, and then passed over his shoulder and saw a woman in palace clothes approaching gracefully with a glazed lantern in her hand.

That was Xiao Hengwu.

After a few years, seeing Xiao Niang again in this courtyard, although it is no longer the confrontation at the beginning, but still has lingering fear.

Zhen Xian involuntarily took a step back.

Xiao Hengwu obviously didn't expect to see Zhen Xian standing in the yard, he was stunned for a moment, as if he didn't know what to do.

But she quickly calmed down, went forward to salute, and called out: "Lord Zhen." She said that she had to meet the fourth highness immediately if she had important news.

Zhen Xian nodded, not knowing what to say to her, so he signaled to her that the two His Highnesses were talking in the room, and asked her to go if she had something to do.

Xiao Hengwu bowed his head in response, then bowed his head and walked quickly to the other side of the house, he was about to reach the door, suddenly he didn't know what happened, and turned back a few steps.

"I have never had the chance to apologize to Mr. Zhen..."

She walked back in front of Zhen Xian, bowed again and made a deep salute.

This time, Yuqing was completely blown up.

No one in Prince Jing's mansion liked this daughter of the Xiao family who had intended to harm His Highness Prince Jing.

In particular, Yuqing and the others were there that day and saw with their own eyes how Xiao Hengwu threatened His Royal Highness Prince Jing with the tip of a knife against Young Master Zhen, and how he seriously injured Young Master Zhen. I don't approve of anything in my heart, but seeing Xiao Hengwu appearing is like seeing an enemy, lest she will do something evil again.It's fine if she knows how to stay away from him, but she insists on going back to the old story and bringing it up again.

Yuqing's eyes were about to burst into flames, and while blocking Zhen Xian behind her, she stared at Xiao Hengwu, and before Zhen Xian, the righteous master, could reply, she gritted her teeth and said, "Then I'll come for you too." Just for a second, and then I'll say 'sorry' to you."

This kid has been with His Royal Highness Prince Jing for so many years and he hasn't grown a little bit of mind, but now he has learned how to swear and not utter dirty words.

But at this juncture, it is really useless to add more details.

Zhen Xian feared that Yuqing would start a fuss, so he quickly reached out his hand to stop him, and said to Xiao Hengwu, "It's okay. It's all over. I didn't blame you, and I didn't think it was your fault. Since you have something important to report, go quickly." stop."

In fact, he didn't want to apologize at all, he just said that to make Xiao Hengwu go away quickly.

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Yuqing yelled more and more "wow", scratching her heart and lungs with hatred, and yelled: "Mr. Zhen, how can you be so bad-tempered——"

This movement finally alarmed the two Highnesses in the room.

His Royal Highness Prince Jing pushed the door open and came out, glanced at Zhen Xian who was smiling helplessly, Xiao Niang who was embarrassed, and Yu Qing who was still struggling angrily with his arms pinned down, and cleared his throat with a sullen face.

But at this moment, King Jing Jiafei was actually very happy in his heart.

He has always been well aware of his fourth brother Jia Yu's temperament, and also knows Jia Yu's thoughts.

Therefore, when he reunited three years later and saw Jiayu again, at first sight, he felt that Jiayu had changed.

That is a kind of instinctive intuition, which detects the dangerous breath at the moment of the mutation.

He knew Jiayu too well.No matter how capricious and perverse Jia Yu was in the past, her heart wrapped in those hard thorns was always soft.

But just now, when Jiayu put him aside and bumped into Xiaoxian first, he had a terrible feeling.He felt that Jiayu's eyes became fierce and cold.That was not the Jia Yu he was familiar with, not the weak young man pretending to be domineering to protect himself, but more like a bloody general standing in the middle of the battlefield, Asura holding a sharp blade, looking at this man through the cold light refracted by the blade. The world, with a handsome face, has blood in his eyes.

Jia Yu even threatened him.

Deliberately pretending to leave, saying "wait for my news", knowing that he has no way out and no choice at this time, so he pinches his vitals and forces him to submit.

Is it just for the sake of being competitive?

how is this possible.

At least Jia Yu from the past would never make a fuss at such a time, regardless of the overall situation, just to take a break.

It was really hard for Jiafei to describe what it was like in his heart.

He gave in almost immediately.

He didn't know what happened to Jiayu in the past three years, and why there was such a change, but this change made him instantly recall his former self.

That is the appearance of a person who wants to turn into a ghost after completely abandoning the tenderness that has been treasured for a long time in his heart.

He probably knew what Jiayu was going through.

If there is no Xiaoxian, he is afraid that he will be even worse than him.

In life, suffering and injury are inevitable, and only scars can make a person grow rapidly and become invincible. He didn't care about it before.But Jiayu alone shouldn't.

When Jia Yu suddenly appeared in front of him with such a posture, it was unexpected and caught off guard, which shocked him so much that his heart ached.

Jia Yu is the only younger brother whom he carefully puts by his side to love and protect.But in the end, everyone he wanted to protect would be bruised all over because of him.Whether it's Xiaoxian or Jiayu.

He has always known Jiayu's thoughts.He always ignores it intentionally or unintentionally, thinking that as long as this is the case, it will be fine, as long as Jia Yu is willing to follow him, it will be fine, but unexpectedly, he has always left Jia Yu behind.And those who are left behind, there are always times when they are not well taken care of.

It was him, the older brother, who didn't protect his younger brother well, that made Jia Yu look like this.

Of course he would not dislike Jiayu because of this.He doesn't have the qualifications either.

Besides, brothers will always be brothers.

Except for Xiaoxian, Jiayu has always been the closest person to him in this world, much closer than their father.Regardless of love or power, he must never lose Jiayu.

But he suddenly didn't know how to face it.

He was even afraid that Jia Yu would ask him for something again, so at this delicate moment, he relied on the sharp sword in his hand to force him to back down.

And there are some things that he can't back down.

You can't back down, you can only fight back.

He has never been willing to be controlled by others. If someone else came, not to mention threats, he would never accept it even if he bargained.

But Jiayu is different.

After all, this is Jia Yu... If the relationship between him and Jia Yu will eventually become like this, is there anything in this world that is not so ugly?

He left Xiaoxian outside, and gently introduced Jiayu into the room, separated him, coaxed him in every way, and listened carefully to Jiayu's grievances in the past three years, feeling a little lucky in his heart.

Maybe it's just that Ayu just hasn't been able to show his temper for too long, so it's fine to just let it out.

But Jiayu didn't pour any bitterness on him.

Obviously, he was the person who had to act coquettishly to ask him for comfort after being angry outside, but now he sits with him peacefully, and casually recounts the details of the past three years: how the father is so moody and difficult Thinking about how Jiashou was trapped in the East Palace with no news, how cowardly and cowardly the officials were, how domineering and domineering the Supervisor of Rites and the East Factory, and how silently the Prince Jing's Mansion kept a low profile. It's someone else's business, and it has been talked about until the day of Jingjie.

"Second brother, did you see Huanglong when you entered the city? I cut off its head. I didn't make it suffer too much."

This is one of the very few times when Jiayu explicitly mentions herself in the narration.Only at this moment, brilliance flickered in those beautifully shaped eyes, shining brightly, like flowing water drops, as if they would gush out of the eye sockets at any time.

Jia Fei's fingertips were numb, but he didn't know how to comfort Jia Yu, and felt that no matter what he said, it was unnecessary, so he stretched out his hand to embrace him, put his arms around his shoulders and patted him lightly.

Jiayu snuggled into his arms obediently, like a cat thirsting for body heat, slightly fluctuating with her breathing, and made small panting sounds. After a long, long time, she groped for something from the armhole and handed it to him.

Jiafei took it over and took a look, and couldn't help but feel his heart tighten.

That was the talisman order from the Commander of Jin Yiwei.

This thing is in Jiayu's place, it means that the emperor handed over Jinyiwei to Jiayu.This means that his father has handed over the last gate of life that determines his life and death to Jia Yu's hands.

So far, all Xiaoxian's inferences have been right.The only omission is that Xiaoxian still doesn't know his father as well as he does.

It is unheard of for the emperor to lead Jinyiwei, guarding the Forbidden City and criminal cases since the beginning of the Holy Dynasty.

The emperor handed Jinyiwei to Jiayu not only to help him, but also to guard against him.Not for anything else, just for Xiaoxian.

There are some things that the emperor still doesn't want him to do, that's why he insists on putting Jia Yu in this position.Because only Jiayu has enough weight to restrain him, make him afraid, and make him compromise.

Or, the father is still guilty after all, because he feels guilty, so he is extremely suspicious, lest the unjust sentence of the wrongly killed person will always be remembered in his heart, and he will avenge this blood sooner or later. If he does not report it to himself, It is the debt of the father and the son.

Jiafei really didn't want to criticize his father with such ugly words as "judging a gentleman's belly with a villain's heart", but seeing his father's step-by-step strategy, he always felt that his father hadn't changed anything.

This man standing at the pinnacle of power always feels that he knows everything and can make decisions about everything. His deceased mother, such as Xiaoxian's family, and even the precarious relationship between him and Jiayu now.

Royal father can't even let him and Jiayu go, so how can he let Xiaoxian go.

Whether it's a wife, a son, or a courtier, to this man, are they really just pawns?

But throughout the ages, there have been countless emperors, and there are so many who want to control for thousands of years, and who can really do it?Once you leave this position of totalitarianism, you will be equally decayed, with nothing but gorgeous mausoleums and vain titles.

But such a father still stubbornly wanted to turn him into this.

For a moment, Jiafei only thought it was ridiculous.

"Father gave it to mother, and mother asked Xiao Niang to hand it over to me."

Jiayu's voice is deeper than before, thin but not weak.

Jia Fei immediately knew what he was going to say next, and sure enough, he heard him say quietly:

"Second brother, if you don't trust me, I'll hand it over now. But if you still trust me... there is one thing I asked you today, and I won't bring it up again from now on."

As he spoke, he really pushed the talisman towards Jia Fei, paused for a while, and made sure that the second brother didn't mean to stop him, and then continued in a hoarse voice.

"To you, second brother, what am I? If you and I are not brothers—"

But this question cannot be uttered in the end.

Jia Fei remained silent for a while before slowly responding, "Brothers are brothers, in this life." He made sure that he did not reveal his turbulent emotions.

Jiayu's pupils brightened slightly.

"Do you remember that I told you back then that I will pay back every bit of good I treat you, but you will never give me the 'return' I want..."

But he was always calm and self-possessed, without the usual surly and noisy, as if he had expected it, only a little melancholy, which dissipated at the end of the sigh.

"Ayu—" Jiafei felt a needle prick in his throat, and the pain was dry and bitter.

But Jia Yu buried her head in his arms more and more, wrapping her arms around his waist tightly.

"Don't push me away. Keep me in the place closest to you. You can do whatever you want me to do for you. If you don't want it, I can't force it. But you are the only one who is not allowed to push me away."

The voice was muffled, mixed with a bit of stubbornness.

Jia Fei was stunned for a long time, and could only caress the slightly scattered long hair, his whole body was stiff like never before.

If you go further, you don't know how to end it.

Fortunately, Yuqing shouted outside.

His Highness Prince Jing felt relieved, got up and opened the door as if fleeing for his life, and finally got an excuse to call everyone into the room.

Xiao Hengwu brought the message, which was sent by Elder Cao Ge from the Forbidden City. His Majesty the Emperor summoned all the princes at night, and the summoned internal officials will come to the county palace soon, telling His Royal Highness to "make preparations early".

Jia Yu's eyes were still red, and after hearing the news, he was still leaning on the seat, as if he couldn't stand up, there was no movement for a while, until Jia Fei stretched out his hand to help him, and finally stood up with the armrest.

"In the past few years, the family of the Wangfu has built a secret room under this house. You go to hide in the secret room first, just in case. After I leave, there is no guarantee that people from the East Factory will not come to the door."

He asked Jia Fei and Zhen Xian to take off the Jingwei armor on their bodies, and put them on with someone he had arranged for earlier. When he was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something, stood down and turned around and asked Jia Fei: "What is the will of the emperor?" What do you mean? As long as you come back, the second brother, or do you have to pick out Li Chu?"

Jia Fei's eyes flickered slightly, and he didn't answer, but subconsciously looked at Zhen Xian.

This silent look was like expressing love, which immediately made Jiayu feel unhappy, she couldn't help but lowered her face and stabbed: "Second brother, you have to ask his permission first to talk to me now?"

"You're messing around again. It's none of his business. It's not like you don't know about Father's unpredictable thoughts." Jia Fei took a step forward, blocking Zhen Xian behind him, and coaxed Jia Yu to go out, while reassuringly exhorting: "Father is summoned suddenly at this moment, and there may be new orders. Be careful yourself and don't try to be brave."

After all, Jia Yu still accepted his tricks, and his face gradually softened.

"If there is no news of me after Yinshi, second brother, you can go directly to the palace. You just go forward. I will take every step from Chengtian Gate to Fengtian Palace for you."

He lowered his head and rested his forehead on Jiafei's shoulder, and leaned on it quietly, for a while, he gritted his teeth and turned around to lead Xiao Hengwu and the others away.

Jiafei still stood where he was, until he heard the sound of Jiayu's leaving car and horses getting farther away, then turned around, solemnly ordered the servants of Prince Jing's mansion guarding the house to take care of everything, and ordered Yuqing to investigate and guard, and then pulled Zhen Xian away According to the words, go to the secret room to take refuge temporarily.

What happened between His Highness and Fourth Highness.

Zhen Xian faintly felt this way.

Although His Highness will not tell him.

But His Highness's palms were wet with cold sweat.

He had never seen His Highness so nervous before.Whether it was against the Tatar cavalry with fewer victories and more against the Tatar cavalry in northern Xinjiang, or when recruiting troops in the southeast to suppress bandits and expelling Japanese thieves, or when playing games with those dignitaries who held great power and seemed to be at odds with each other, even this All the way back to Beijing in disguise, hiding in Tibet and bearing the burden of humiliation, His Highness is still calm and composed, never showing the slightest wavering.

However, just now, when His Highness Jiayu choked in displeasure, he felt that His Highness jumped out like a lion defending his territory. Although his words were full of smiles, his back was tense.

The Holy Majesty's decree in the secret decree should not be hidden from anyone until the final moment, but as for His Royal Highness, if it was in the past, His Highness Prince Jing would probably not hide it from anyone.

But just now His Highness didn't say anything.

This subtle change suddenly made Zhen Xian feel weird, and couldn't help feeling uneasy.

But he couldn't ask anything at the moment.

At this moment, apart from trusting each other, nothing unnecessary should be said.

Perhaps it was just because the final battle was imminent, and the winner and loser would be determined at dawn, which made His Highness uncharacteristically cautious.It's not a bad thing.He explained it in his heart, trying his best to make himself feel at ease, not to let his mind wander to some strange places.

The secret room on the ground floor of the house is extremely concealed and elegant, and there is everything that one expects to find in a small space.

Zhen Xian sat quietly in a corner, and couldn't help but look at Jia Fei who was beside him in a daze.

His Highness seemed to be reading a book, but the pages in his hand had never been turned over from beginning to end.

He heard His Highness sigh again, combined with the slight swing of the pendulum of the Western clock in the secret room, it was very dull.

After the Fourth Highness left, the Dongchang servants did come to inspect once, holding torches, their footsteps were messy, and they searched back and forth inside and out, the dust was flying, as if they wanted to find someone, but they left in vain .

He only leaned over silently when he heard the third sigh, and tightly held the hand that had crumpled the scroll.

Jiafei's shoulders trembled, and he immediately threw the scroll, but silently but firmly returned his grip.

Interlocking fingers is worth a thousand words.