Haiyan

The heavy snow that has lasted for a month has finally stopped for a while, and Meixiang is everywhere, swinging on the slightly desolate long street, which is not a sight.

Since ten years ago, the Duke Protector's Mansion has been sparsely populated, and there are even fewer servants in it. Apart from the two house servants who guard the gate, there are only three or five maids who serve tea and daily life.

Liang Guoying seldom came back these years, basically leaving Liang Xiao alone in the mansion. A few days ago, because of the rebellion of the guards of the Gyeonggi Palace, Zhao Yuqiang has not released Liang Xiao from the dungeon. He was calmer than others, and he had never mentioned anything about Liang Xiao in the Wuji Palace until now, and for a while, people didn't know what the imperial general was thinking.

The general's room has always been cold and rigid, and Liang Guoying is the same. Apart from some simple furnishings, maybe only the glazed shelf next to the bed that holds the spiritual tablet looks extraordinarily expensive.

He wiped the spiritual tablet in his hand carefully with a white towel. On the brown-black wood that has faded slightly after ten years, the white writing is still clear——

"I love the spiritual position of Jingning".

His calloused hands caressed the first two words carefully, and his cold eyes gradually softened.

"General, the man below said he wanted to see you."

The general was talking at the door, and Liang Guoying continued to wipe the things in his hands as if he didn't hear them, until every corner of the spirit card was spotless, then turned his head and asked, "What does he want from me?"

The family general said: "The people below didn't say anything, just let the subordinates bring the message to the general."

Liang Guoying paused, then nodded: "Understood, let him wait."

The black gold fell to the west and sprinkled on the white ground, reflecting a piece of fluorescence.

The inside of the dungeon was dark and damp, and the sun was out of sight. The torches were bright all year round, but they couldn't see through the long and cold corridors.

Going down the stone steps, a faint oil lamp was lit every ten steps. Liang Guoying, dressed in silver and armor, walked down slowly, but saw a person covered in torn cotton clothes in the depths of five miles. , covered his face with long hair, and his limbs were locked by iron chains as thick as the arms of an adult man. Hearing the sound of slight footsteps, the mummy-like man slowly raised his head, revealing the With a dirty, muddy, stubbled face, he said in a hoarse voice, "I haven't seen you for three years, and I'm finally willing to come back."

Liang Guoying unloaded the sword from his waist and handed it to the guard next to him. Then he sat cross-legged and looked at the person opposite him. The two looked at each other for a while, and he said, "Long time no see, Qinghe."

Qinghe's face has long since lost its appearance back then. He has been imprisoned in this dark dungeon for ten years. With a deadly cold light, but showing a fierce look.

He has not spoken all year round, and his vocal cords seem to have been broken long ago. He roared and laughed twice, and asked, "I heard that the dog emperor is dead, isn't it?"

Liang Guoying said calmly: "Your news is quite fast, yes, you just entered the mausoleum three days ago."

Qing He pulled a weird and ugly smile on his expressionless face all the year round, and asked: "These years, you must have lived like me, junior brother! Now that the dog emperor is dead, you will be free."

Liang Guoying looked at him and said only: "I deserve all these, I dare not resent the late emperor."

"Hahaha—You really haven't changed, Junior Brother! When you and I learned swords from our teacher, you were such a loyal, filial and righteous person. To you, you are still neither humble nor overbearing, but you are more filial than me... It's just a pity, I have been resenting him for the past few years, blaming him for helping you lock me up in this dungeon that doesn't see the world. Life is worse than death, but half a year ago I suddenly started to appreciate him, do you know why?"

Liang Guoying looked at him quietly, and said calmly: "Brother, you might as well talk and listen."

Qinghe tugged at his two arms, and the cold iron made harsh sounds on the wet floor. He smiled and said, "Before I say, can I ask you a few questions first?"

Liang Guoying signaled him to ask, Qinghe said: "After my son Beilu disappeared, have you found any news in these years?"

Liang Guoying frowned, with a solemn expression, and said in a deep voice, "Nothing."

"Okay!" Qinghe laughed, his silent eyes flickering like stagnant water for a while, "I'll ask you again, did you kill or let go of the second prince Yin Ping and the little prince Yin Shangyu of my grassland? gone?"

Liang Guoying said: "I didn't kill Yin Ping. As for your little prince, I haven't seen him until now."

"Very good!" He continued to laugh loudly: "My lineage of the Yin family in the grassland is indestructible after all, Liang Guoying, you wait, as long as the lineage of my Yin family, the king of the Northland, survives, then my Yebei battle song will soon be over." It will play, Xihan! Xihan wait to die! Wait to die!"

At the end of his speech, he was almost roaring. The whole person seemed to be madly struggling with the iron objects of his limbs. The surroundings were in chaos. Liang Guoying seemed unmoved. When Qinghe was excited to the point of madness, he said coldly: " If only they were dead!"

Qinghe stood up with a 'huh' and shouted: "Impossible, the Yin family in my grassland is blessed by the Longevity Heaven, King Tierqin, the Yin family will last forever in the wilderness, the golden blood... yes Now, the blood of gold! Liang Guoying, don’t forget that the children of my Yin clan flow with blood of gold! Since they are the blood of an emperor, how can they be easily destroyed? Didn’t you see it with your own eyes back then?”

These words undoubtedly pierced the heart of the middle-aged general like a sharp dagger. His face suddenly turned pale, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead. The ground jumped up, and then there was a 'click', holding Qinghe's dry and rough neck tightly with both hands, and shouted: "Have you said enough?!"

The movement of raising his head caused Qinghe's dirty hair to hang back. His face was clearly exposed under the dim candlelight, which was extremely terrifying. His face was flushed, and the man was still yelling desperately: "Just wait, the flames of war in Hokuriku are about to ignite, and none of you can escape... Teacher... The teacher locked me here for ten years, but I am grateful to him, the old man, I can live until now, it must be the Longevity God who let me watch with my own eyes, how I, the Yin family, leveled the flesh and blood of you beasts step by step, watching How did this great wilderness return to the feet of my King of the Northland one by one! Liang Guoying, the teacher still favors me... I feel sorry for you."

"enough!"

Liang Guoying yelled angrily, and his whole body seemed to be drained dry for an instant. Qinghe noticed his abnormality, and immediately pulled his neck out of his hands, and continued to shout: "500 years! King Tierqin should also Reborn, since my Yin family was not killed by you back then, one day, a child of the Yin family will bring the blood of the emperor to level the mountains and rivers of thousands of miles!"

His eyes widened in vain, and he laughed wildly: "Listen, Junior Brother, did you hear that? Did you hear the roar of iron hooves outside? That was Yebei's war horse, Yebei's soldiers! The lion's head was still on the ground. Hanging under the Bauhinia flag! There is not a single day when he does not look at you with his eyes open—the country will not die, but the power will remain! No one can stop it, this is the destiny!"

It was already dark, and when Liang Guoying came out, the cold wind blew past him, he couldn't help shaking, and the general at the side hurriedly said: "General, hurry up and get in."

He looked at the miserable moon unmoved, and the seven closely arranged stars in the east were clearly visible. The middle-aged man couldn't help stretching out the back of his hand to cover his eyes, and looked at it quietly for a while through his fingers.

He doesn't know astrology, let alone the theory of fate, but he still believes in destiny.

Ten years ago, Yan Jidao once said to him personally that the thousands of mayflies in this world are all under the vastness of the universe. Every reincarnation and rebirth has a corresponding magnetic field that slowly rotates in this vast land according to the originally established track, no matter how old you are. Greatness - people, after all, can't do it.

The light of Ziwei and Pojun is already very bright, as if thousands of sharp steel knives are suspended above the ancient king domain, the dark clouds cover half of the sky, but they can't block the dazzling starlight, and the cold wind is blowing , the middle-aged general finally couldn't help but withdrew his hand, and murmured: "I haven't felt this cold for many years..."

It was snowing lightly, the hot spring pool beside the rockery was emitting white smoke like thin smoke, the orchid planted side was blooming very well, and a pot of hot wine was simmering on the small red clay stove in the pavilion, gurgling and tumbling.

Wrapped in a black cloak, Wei Shuyou was lazily lying on the soft couch, drinking the thick black bitter medicine in the bowl one mouthful at a time, while Chang Sheng sat aside and occasionally hooked the charcoal in the stove with a copper wire, the flames were tiny, With a slight movement, a wisp of smoke floated out, which was very suitable for the occasion.

"You said how dark this man's heart is. He drinks medicine as soon as he drinks it, and he still cooks wine in front of me. What do you mean? Are you greedy for me? Let me tell you, I am no longer the old man. You use this method to deal with me , I don’t like your tricks anymore! But why didn’t I see that you little bastard is so vicious in your heart before.”

Wei Shuyou complained uncleanly, her peach blossom eyes flicked over and stared at Chang Sheng from time to time, her face was unhappy.

Chang Sheng didn't bother to talk to him, wrapped up his clothes, and hummed: "I'm here to drink and enjoy the snow, if you don't sleep well in your room, you have to follow me, you deserve it if you're so greedy!"

Wei Shuyou said: "Hey, let me tell you, I really think this is my own home. Who are you talking back to in this nonchalant tone?"

Chang Sheng gave his empty bowl to the old servant next to him, and then poured himself a cup of hot wine. face.

"When are you going to go back?" Chang Sheng asked him.

Wei Shuyou sat up straight and screamed: "Are you asking this to drive me away?! Hey, I said, I won't be able to improve my skills for a few days. Seeing what you mean, you really plan to live here Are you going down?"

Chang Sheng curled his lips and said: "No, I'll go back to the palace in a while, I'm afraid that if you've been out for too long, what happened to the border, I'm concerned about you."

Wei Shuyou was satisfied now, and was about to speak, but couldn't help coughing violently.

Chang Sheng was startled, quickly stood up, handed him water and patted his back, and hurriedly asked: "Does it matter, huh?"

Wei Shuyou coughed a little bit, and her face turned red, "Ahem...no, it's okay...cough cough."

Chang Sheng frowned and said, "It's all right, did you catch a cold and get sick again? Don't worry, I'll get someone to find a doctor for you."

After he finished speaking, he left, Wei Shuyou was trying to pull him with one hand still stiff in the air, and Chang Sheng had disappeared in a blink of an eye.

Although the snow has lightened, the wind still hasn't stopped. It's just that the Bajiao Pavilion is located in a very good location, with the rockery in front of it, and the wind bends behind it, so it can hardly reach here.

Wei Shuyou hurriedly took out the veil to cover his mouth, suddenly a trace of fishy sweetness passed through his throat, he opened the veil, the blood froth as red as a rose after the rain slowly bloomed in the palm of his hand, Wei Shuyou frowned, Heart Road: It's so fast...

Just as she was thinking, Chang Sheng had already returned. Wei Shuyou was so frightened that she hurriedly stuffed the handkerchief into her bosom, took a few sips of hot tea, and looked at Chang Sheng panting heavily. Come on, how are you, do you still want to cough, how about I ask the kitchen to make some hot soup for you, okay?"

Wei Shuyou waved her hand, and said casually: "It's not so pretentious. I guess it's because the snow suddenly stopped, and it's cold again today. It's an old problem that I've gotten used to, so don't make a fuss."

Chang Sheng was always worried, and complained: "You have been to the border for so long, did you not take good care of yourself?"

Wei Shuyou spread her arms and said hastily, "No, I don't dare to be sloppy. If it reaches your ears, you won't have to skin my cramps."

Chang Sheng chuckled and said, "It's not too bad."

Wei Shuyou looked at him, the expression in his eyes flashed repeatedly.

The doctor came soon, but found nothing else. He only said that he had a cold and rested more and tried not to blow the wind.

After the doctor left, Chang Sheng cursed and said: "What the hell is a liar doctor, I can't even tell that you have asthma, and you have grown such a long beard for nothing."

Wei Shuyou was lying on the couch looking at the orchids by the hot spring pool in a daze, and suddenly said: "The pot of white orchids you gave me has been raised very well by me. It bloomed four, five, six or seven flowers a few days ago. I guess it will bloom next year. It can grow more luxuriantly."

Chang Sheng said: "Hey, I forgot if you didn't tell me, did you take it to the border?"

Wei Shuyou nodded and said, "Naturally, that's the only thing you gave me in the past ten years, so I naturally treasure it."

Chang Sheng smiled and said: "That's about the same, you still have a bit of conscience."

Wei Shuyou didn't speak any more, she looked like a schoolteacher, Chang Sheng said in surprise: "Why are you acting so weird right now? What kind of expression is this? It doesn't look like you."

Wei Shuyou came back to her senses, and subconsciously asked, "What?"

Chang Sheng snorted and said, "It's nothing, let's enjoy the snow."

The surrounding was quiet and warm, and the two sat side by side with their clothes on. After an unknown amount of time, when Chang Sheng was about to doze off in a daze, Wei Shuyou said, "I'm going back in the afternoon, Shang Yu, are you sure you want to stay here?" here?"

Chang Sheng woke up instantly with a jolt, and asked, "So fast? What's the rush?"

Wei Shuyou smiled and said: "I came here to see you this time. As long as you are well, I can rest assured. The border is much colder than the middle of Beijing. If I don't take care of the orchids personally, I will leave them to Wei Qing." That silly donkey always feels uneasy."

"Are you in such a hurry to go back just to take care of Hua?" Chang Sheng felt that he was suddenly weird, and said, "It's been so long since I went to see it anyway, and it doesn't matter if it's a few days later. The snow is too thick, the road is slippery, too dangerous, I don't worry, you can stay for a few more days."

Wei Shuyou blinked her eyes, looked at him deeply, and said inexplicably, "I'm afraid that the orchid will die."

Chang Sheng scolded with a smile: "If you die, you will die. It will be better to give you another pot in the next year."

Wei Shuyou smiled and said nothing.

When Li Su came back from the Gyeonggi Hall, Wei Shuyou was about to go out. When Chang Sheng went to see him off, he was very reluctant to let go. He tugged on his sleeve as he did when he was a child, and said in a muffled voice: "Brother, you must pay attention to safety. When you arrive at Yandu The door must let the raven pass the message to me."

Wei Shuyou patted his hand and said: "Don't worry, don't stay here for too long, go back to the palace after a while, old Huang Zhongbo and the others are waiting for you. After all, the Western Han Dynasty is not a peaceful place. If I'm not by your side, I won't worry about you after all."

Chang Sheng narrowed his eyes blown by the wind, nodded and said, "Got it."

Pulling the rein in his hand, Wei Shuyou turned his head to look at Li Su who was on the side, raised his eyebrows and said, "Take care of my brother, if he loses a hair, my hundred thousand blood alliance guards will definitely kill you, the capital of the capital!" It's trampled!"

Li Su said softly, "It's only natural, my lord can go!"

Wei Shuyou snorted, pulled Chang Sheng over and whispered in his ear: "You better not have any unclear relationship with him, or you will die! My father can watch from above, if you don't want him to be an old man That flesh-disintegrated skeleton jumped out of the coffin board to trouble you in the middle of the night, so just be quiet, what's the matter with men being unclear, I can't afford to lose this man, do you hear me? !"

Without waiting for Chang Sheng to refute, he got on his horse and laughed a long way: "I'm leaving, there will be a time later!"

The steed neighed, stepped on thousands of snowflakes with four hooves, and galloped away from the front with a whiz. Chang Sheng looked at the back that was getting further and further away, feeling empty in his heart.

Back in the room, Li Su was sitting in front of the desk reviewing official documents as tall as a hill, and Chang Sheng was sitting next to him, rubbing his chin and asking, "Did you ask me the last time I asked you?" ?”

Li Su paused, looked up at him, and said, "I've asked, Chang Sheng, he doesn't want to see the prince any more than you all these years."

A trace of disappointment flashed across Chang Sheng's face, and he laughed at himself: "So there is still no news?"

Li Su blinked his eyes and gave a soft 'hmm'.

The two were speechless for a moment, and when Li Su had approved most of the official document, he spoke again: "However, the assassins who appeared on the sentling army a few days ago have found out some clues."

Chang Sheng listened attentively: "What?"

Li Su said seriously: "It's from Beilu."

Chang Sheng's heart 'twitched'. It seemed that for a moment, he became more determined in some ideas, but he didn't dare to tell Li Su lightly. He only asked: "Wang Yu found the horse?"

Li Su nodded: "My father sent someone to find out, Chang Sheng, this matter cannot be hidden."

Chang Sheng asked: "Since you are from Beilu, there must be a leader, right? Who is it?"

Li Su said solemnly: "I don't know about this yet, but the court suspects that it has something to do with Chishui."

Chang Sheng shook his hands, and a little ink splashed out all of a sudden, landing on his moon-white cuff, which was very abrupt.

Li Su saw his momentary daze, and asked, "Chang Sheng, do you know something?"

Chang Sheng hurriedly smiled to cover up: "What can I know? If I knew, I would have partnered with them long ago."

A trace of strangeness flashed across Li Su's heart, his eyelids drooped to cover up his slight disappointment, and he said, "Don't worry, I will find your two elder brothers for you."

In the room, Yin Ping asked Qing Jun: "So it is now an established fact that Zhao Yuqiang will ascend the throne in a month's time?"

Qing Jun rolled up his sleeves, and his face was delicate and fair with his green clothes. She smiled and said, "Not bad."

Yin Ping laughed and said, "So, you won again."

Qing Jun raised his eyebrows: "Then you owe me the promise first, and if I think about it in the future, I will ask you for it."

Yin Ping looked at her with a pampering expression, and said generously: "It's natural, I won't break my promise in front of you...By the way, Zhao Yuqing... really doesn't want to sit in that seat? "

Qing Jun blinked, and said: "According to the information we got, he didn't have that idea. He is willing to come back this time, firstly, to attend the funeral for Emperor Ai, and secondly, there is another purpose."

Yin Ping asked, "What?"

Qingjun said: "When the eldest son Yin Kang was still in Wangyu, some old eunuchs who served him were dealt with by Emperor Ai, but I don't know how he got the news. One of them is said to have escaped at that time. That person seems to know What happened to Yin Kang before his disappearance, so the biggest purpose of his return this time is to find the old eunuch and investigate the disappearance of the son of Beilu back then."

Yin Ping frowned, and said with a sneer, "Among the beasts like Mrs. Zhao, there is one who has a little bit of conscience. But where is the old eunuch now?"

Qing Jun said: "After I heard the news, I quickly sent someone to investigate. The results should be available soon. I must find someone before him."

Yin Ping nodded and didn't speak again. Qing Jun asked him: "Ping, besides the son, why is the youngest one rarely mentioned by you?"

Yin Ping was stunned for a moment, his eyes turned red instantly, but he tilted his head casually to cover it up, and said softly: "Back then, when the army was in chaos, Ah Yu...has long since passed away."