Competing in the morning and evening

A few young men from the Southern Dynasties came from the Yixiantian of Mount Hua, and one of the young men said politely to the nun guarding the mountain: "Master, we are ordered by the king of Liang to deliver a few things to Nalan Yuanshi. "

The nun in gray didn't even raise her eyelids, put her hands together, and said: "The mountain is full of pure cultivators, and the monks are all empty. Everyone in the world is family, and family is also the world. How can poor nuns disturb the monks' pure cultivation."

The young man smiled, handed over a piece of silver, and said: "This is the incense money we are waiting for, please pass it on to me."

The gray-clothed nun took the silver ticket, raised her eyes and sighed: "You are late, this original Nalan family died more than ten years ago, and his bones were taken back by his elder brother a long time ago. There are quite a few people who care about her..." She held the bank note, a strange look appeared on her face, and she hesitated to speak.

The young man in front of him winked, and his subordinates stuffed another bank note in the past.

The gray-clothed nun's eyes lit up immediately, and she whispered: "You guys are asking people about this. Ten years ago, when I was not the head of the nunnery, I used to serve tea in front of the old head of the nunnery. This child of the Yuan family was sent by the Yuan family. Yes, our nunnery master took 100 taels of silver from them, but the original family didn't want the nunnery master to treat the child well. They only said that the child was born as a monster, and the original family sent it to live and die. How did we know that the child was born weak and sick, so he sent it He died within two days, so he escaped a disaster."

"Monster?!" The young man blurted out.

The nun in gray covered her lips and said with a smile: "Born as a stone boy, he is neither a woman nor a man."

The young people couldn't help but looked at each other, bid farewell to the old nun and hurried down the mountain.

At the foot of the mountain, a woman in riding uniform sighed and said, "It's late."

A woman next to her was stroking a silk handkerchief on her forehead, but she had a bit of a sharp expression in her pretty appearance. She gritted her teeth and said, "Princess, I told you that this woman is not a good person. Ziqing has to be suspicious. The Yuan family is dead. It is not difficult to know Ziqing's birthday. The only one who knows Nalan's birthday is me. what."

Ryan looked worried, and sighed, "I can only report to Yuan Xi quickly to find out."

Thousands of miles of flying pigeons passed on the letter, Yuan Xizheng's birthday was not too late, and Chu Yin received the result of the test in his hands.

The note slowly crumpled into a ball in Chu Yin's palm.

Yuan Xizheng was writing in his yard, Dongfang Jingyuan was a capable person, his arrival made Yuan Xizheng less busy all of a sudden.Chu Yin also seemed to suddenly deliberately not give him a lot of things to do, so Yuan Xizheng became very idle.

Although Tang Cihu and the others knew that Yuan Xizheng was trusted by King Liang, and the first meeting was really impressive, but Yuan Xizheng always seemed to be separated from them by a layer, and it was difficult for them to get close.Yuan Xizheng would neither drink with them nor hang out with them, every time Tang Cihu invited him, Yuan Xizheng politely and coldly refused.

At first, Tang Cihu thought that Yuan Xizheng was relying on his tribute students, seeing that these soldiers and bandits who didn't know a lot of characters couldn't bear it, but Dongfang Jingyuan, a literary student, came, and Yuan Xizheng stayed far away from him like Yuan Xizheng. Thorn Tiger couldn't help thinking that Mr. Yuan was a little too reserved.Tang Cihu was the first person to take refuge in Chu Yin, and because of his boldness, he won the trust of later military commanders. He had slander against Mr. Yuan, and others couldn't help but have some opinions on Yuan Xizheng.

There were very few visitors in front of Yuan Xizheng's door, and in the eyes of the followers in his room, Mr. Yuan didn't seem to care much.Chu Yin almost looked at Yuan Xizheng as alienated from his power with a cold and indifferent attitude like a bystander.

When Zeng Chuyu changed his clothes for him once, he complained: "What's the matter with Ziqing? Tang Cihu won the bandit leader of Liushan, and he didn't go to the celebration banquet. I heard Qingxiang said that the generals are very dissatisfied. I think Ziqing looks down on them very much!"

Chu Yin said lightly, "That's because you don't understand Ziqing's intentions."

Zeng Chuyu looked up and saw Chu Yin untangle his sleeves slowly, and said, "Ziqing uses this method to prevent himself from getting too deeply involved in my imperial career." Then Zeng Chuyu clearly saw the cold light in his eyes, but soon the cold light Then it sank into Chu Yin's eyes as deep as ink pools, and there was no trace left.

Zeng Chuyu didn't know whether she should believe that Nalan was indeed dead, but she didn't know why she still felt a kind of joy.That kind of happiness is like when she learned that Yuan Xizheng returned home from Wolong Valley, she stood at the head of the village and tried to look forward, the young man reined in his horse, smiled at her and said, "Chu Yu, is that right?"

With that smile, her heart gradually opened up, just like the spring scenery slowly spread out, and it could never be closed again.

The person she likes is not the Yuan Xizheng who grew up with her when she was young, but the Yuan Xizheng who comes from the willow like the scorching sun.

Zeng Chuyu carried the ginseng and candied date soup, and walked towards the backyard modestly. The servants in Yuan Xizheng saw that it was the princess who had arrived, and hurried back to Yuan Xizheng.

"It's okay." Zeng Chuyu smiled kindly. If it is not necessary, she is still willing to let people think that she is just a gentle, timid and careless woman.

"Princess Wangfei." Yuan Xizheng and Lu Zhu walked out of the room and saluted.

"Brother Ziqing, the weather is very cold, I made some ginseng and candied dates soup for the prince, and I'll bring you a bowl by the way."

Yuan Xizheng smiled slightly and said, "Thank you, Ma'am."

Luzhu took the tray from Qingxiang's hand, Zeng Chuyu saw Yuan Xizheng's expression was a little cold, and said after a while: "Brother Ziqing, today is your birthday, the prince has ordered the kitchen to hold a banquet for you, is there a special one?" Do you want to eat?"

"Your Majesty, don't worry, Ziqing doesn't want anything in particular."

Zeng Chuyu was a little embarrassed, and said, "Brother Ziqing likes to eat skirt-side wontons the most? How about Chuyu making some for Brother Ziqing today?"

Yuan Xizheng smiled lightly, and said: "The maidservant has already been made for Ziqing, how dare you work on your empress' body? Please don't worry about Ziqing any more."

Zeng Chuyu's face changed, she turned around and said, "Qingxiang, go to the small kitchen over here to have a look, there may be some slack."

What an obedient person Qingxiang is, he retreated quickly.

Zeng Chuyu wanted to meet Yuan Xi, she really wanted to be there, so as not to hurt Chi Yu.

"Brother Ziqing, do you have any dissatisfaction with Chu Yu?" Zeng Chuyu burst into tears and said, "You have never been so indifferent to Chu Yu."

Yuan Xizheng said indifferently: "Your Majesty, what are you talking about? Your Majesty is a phoenix body, so naturally Ziqing is very respectful to your Majesty."

"Do you think that Chu Yu hasn't come to see you for many days, so you blame Chu Yu." Zeng Chuyu turned around, walked gently to Yuan Xizheng's side, and looked straight at Yuan Xizheng with a pair of beautiful eyes.

Yuan Xizheng looked straight into Zeng Chuyu's eyes, those eyes were covered with water, and there was a little bit of grievance. In the end, Yuan Xizheng turned his face away, closed his eyes slightly and said, "Why did you say that, you and I?" Although there is a brother-sister relationship, there is a difference between men and women, even if the mother doesn't say it, Ziqing thinks this is in line with common sense."

Zeng Chuyu didn't speak, her gaze was always on Yuan Xizheng's handsome side face, and she didn't know what was going on in her heart.

After a long time, Zeng Chuyu sobbed a little and said, "Brother Ziqing, you said you would protect me, but my mother has only been gone for less than a year, so are you going to abandon me?"

When she mentioned that gentle Aunt Gu who was always full of love and affection for the twins of the Yuan family, Yuan Xizheng's eyes flickered for a while. At this time, Zeng Chuyu threw himself into Yuan Xizheng's arms and cried, "Ziqing elder brother."

Before Zeng Chuyu threw himself into Yuan Xizheng's arms, she was firmly supported by a pair of hands. She was only a few inches away from Yuan Xizheng's body, but this distance seemed to be as insurmountable as a moat.Her two arms were held tightly by Yuan Xizheng's slender fingers, the strength almost broke her arm bones, Zeng Chuyu was so painful that tears were about to flow out, and she couldn't move at all.Yuan Xizheng looked at her with slightly sad eyes, but more of indifference. The ice and snow in those eyes drowned Zeng Chuyu.

"Your Majesty, you are familiar with the Daughter's Book, and you must have a deep understanding of how a husband is what guides a woman. How much are family members and friends worth in your Majesty's heart?" Although Yuan Xizheng's words were plain, the tone gradually became heavier. Zeng Chuyu almost never laughed from there. Yingying saw murderous intent in her eyes, she was trembling all over, her face was as pale as paper.

For a moment, Yuan Xizheng's mind was only Yuancun dancing in the fire, and the jade pei in Wang Han's arms that smelled of Prunella vulgaris was the smell of Yuan Xizheng's special sachet for Zeng Chuyu, who often suffers from headaches. , and Chu Yin's quick reaction to his birthday...All of this made Yuan Xizheng unbelievable, but that kind of doubt was like a poisonous snake, exhaling a cold breath in his heart, which made people feel a kind of icy coldness. of fear.

And at the moment when Yuan Xizheng's killing intent rose in his heart, it seemed that a gentle young man appeared in Yuan Xizheng's mind. He held his hand and said, "I entrust Chu Yu to you too, please let her happiness."

Zeng Chuyu only felt that her arm was almost crushed and suddenly loosened. She gasped and listened to Yuan Xizheng's indifferent way: "Madam, the prince is your husband, and naturally it is also your god. With his protection, you are no longer An outsider like Ziqing is needed. As for the past... let's stop here for the fate between you and me."

Yuan Xizheng turned her head and called out, "Green Bamboo."

Luzhu rushed out, Yuan Xizheng smiled and said: "Your Majesty is not feeling well, please send your Majesty back."

Luzhu responded, Zeng Chuyu straightened his chest, and said coldly: "No need." She turned her head and took a deep look at Yuan Xizheng, then walked away gracefully with her skirt in hand.

"Young Master." Lu Zhu looked at Yuan Xizheng who was standing quietly in the courtyard, and said cautiously: "Why did you turn against the princess?"

"Green Bamboo, do you know that there is a kind of flower in this world, which will become unrecognizable when it grows up. You don't know what the process is like, but a grass that was originally beautiful in the world will suddenly make you I feel scared, because it will swallow people up to the skin and bone, and it can blow out the stamens in the wind and smile at you."

Green Bamboo shivered and said, "What kind of flower is that?"

"Man-eating flowers." Yuan Xizheng said calmly.

Yuan Xizheng continued to go back to the house to write, no matter how stupid Luzhu was, she knew that her little master was unhappy, so naturally she didn't dare to chatter.

Qingxiang caught up with Zeng Chuyu who was walking slowly forward, and helped her to find that Zeng Chuyu's hands were cold and sweaty, and were trembling constantly.

"Princess, did you find anything wrong? Was Yuan Xizheng Yuan Nalan pretending to be?"

Zeng Chuyu didn't know what she was thinking for a moment. After listening to Qingxiang's questioning, her eyes slowly fell on Qingxiang's face. Don't talk too much.

"Ziqing is suspicious of me." When Zeng Chuyu said this, Qingxiang felt that the hand in his palm stopped shaking suddenly, Zeng Chuyu's back was straight, she smiled sweetly, and then said: " Maybe that's fine too..."

+ + + + +

The night wind was blowing the red lanterns outside the palace of Chu, the servants shuttled like running water on the high steps of the palace of Chu, white cloth socks flowed endlessly on the marble floor like black jade, and the precious wine and delicacies in their hands were as white as Qiong Jade, green like an emerald ring, is mouth-watering.

"Mr. Dongfang, you have worked hard." Chu Yin glanced at the food and drink on the sandalwood wine table and smiled.

Dongfang Jingyuan bowed slightly, and said with a smile, "It's my honor to be able to prepare a birthday banquet for Mr. Yuan."

Dongfang Jingyuan has been a gentry for many years, and enjoys it very much at ordinary times. In addition, he can see that Chu Yin attaches great importance to the Yuanxi dispute, so he deliberately manages it, and even takes out all the years of storage, so that both the host and the guest are happy.

Tang Jihu's many generals are blood lickers, how could they resist the temptation of this exquisite wine, they are already drooling with greed.

Because Tang Cihu was the first to submit to Chu Yin, and he was also the bravest and most admired general under Chu Yin's seat. Compared with others, he was a little more casual in front of Chu Yin, so he raised his head and said: "Your Majesty, this Mister is too impolite, the big guys gathered together to celebrate him, he insisted on letting the big guys wait here, and he even asked the prince to wait!"

Chu Yin smiled and said, "Don't blame yourself for being greedy, come early, blame others for being late."

The guests burst into laughter, Dongfang Jingyuan hurriedly said: "Why don't you let Dongfang invite Mr. Yuan."

Chu Yin raised his hand and said with a smile, "This king will go in person." He got up as he spoke, and everyone hurriedly got up. Chu Yin smiled faintly and waved his hand to signal them to sit down.

In fact, Chu Yin only reached the door of the hall when he saw Yuan Xizheng walking up the steps with his head bowed.

The night wind blew up Yuan Xizheng's clothes and long hair, as if this person was going to ride the wind back, Chu Yin looked at him calmly, without any special emotion in his eyes.

"My lord." Yuan Xizheng looked up and saw Chu Yin standing at the door of the hall with a smile on his face, looking at him.

Chu Yin smiled slightly, and said, "I'm going to look for you. If you don't come, these people can't help but eat first."

Yuan Xizheng smiled and said, "Didn't we agree on this hour?"

Chu Yin grabbed Yuan Xizheng's arm and said with a smile, "You have the nerve to say, shouldn't the master come earlier to wait for the guests?"

Yuan Xizheng only felt that Chu Yin dragged her arm into the hall, and Yuan Xizheng couldn't break Chu Yin's hand abruptly under the eyes of everyone, so he had to let him pull him all the way to the top of the hall before stopping. Down.

Dongfang Jingyuan smiled and said: "Mr. Yuan, you see that everyone has arrived except you. How about it, let's punish yourself with three cups."

Yuan Xizheng hadn't answered yet, the people in the hall booed and yelled to be fined. Dongfang Jingyuan took advantage of the opportunity and handed the wine glass to Yuan Xizheng.

Yuan Xizheng looked at the wine glass, hesitated a little, then Tang Cihu shouted: "Mr. Yuan, how about Cihu drinking these three cups with you?"

"You don't want to drink alcohol." Everyone laughed.

Tang Cihu raised his glass with a smile, got up and said: "It is reasonable to say that I drink with wine, but I have a chance to drink with Mr. Yuan. You must know that I have been with the prince for more than half a year, and Mr. Yuan I have never given face to drink a glass of water and wine with Thorn Tiger."

Yuan Xizheng raised his eyes and glanced at Tang Cihu, who was slightly presumptuous, and then glanced at Chu Yin, who just smiled and shook his head, then raised the wine glass in his hand, and said shallowly: "Forgive me." Then he raised his hand and drank the wine Drank it down.

Everyone immediately coaxed: "Three cups, three cups."

Dongfang Jingyuan turned his head slightly and glanced at Chu Yin, seeing that he was still drinking slowly with a smile on his face, as if he didn't care much about the people wanting to pour Yuan Xizheng's wine, so he smiled and took Yuan Xizheng's empty wine glass again. full.

Yuan Xizheng drank three glasses of wine in a row, but his face did not change. All the generals were shocked. They didn't expect this gentle-looking young man to drink really well.

Yuan Xizheng said thank you, then opened his hem and sat down.

Tang Cihu also took his seat, and the person next to him stood up again, and said with a smile: "We have never had a drink with Mr. Yuan, why is Mr. Yuan so partial to one another, why don't you give us a glass too."

As he spoke, the crowd burst into an uproar, saying yes one after another.

Chu Yin smiled lightly, turned his head to look at Yuan Xizheng, and said, "Ziqing, it seems that you are going to pay off all the debts you owed in the past at once today."

Yuan Xizheng groaned slightly, stood up and said, "Ziqing is very grateful to all of you for attending Ziqing's birthday banquet. Ziqing's family has undergone great changes, and he is inevitably tired of human relations, so please forgive me for neglecting all brothers on weekdays. I He is definitely not a person who cherishes himself with a broom, and he definitely has no intention of underestimating brothers..." With a gesture of his hand, he called a servant and said, "Give me a jar of wine."

The servant hurriedly bought a jar of wine for Yuan Xi. Yuan Xizheng raised his hand to pat Kaifeng Ni, and said: "I will use this jar of wine to plead guilty to all brothers, and please fight side by side with Ziqing without any grievances in the future." With that said, Yuan Xizheng raised her head and drank the wine in one gulp, then panted slightly and gently wiped away the wine stains around her mouth with her slender fingers.

When Yuan Xizheng was seated, everyone woke up from the stupefaction, applauded loudly, and raised their cups to toast Yuan Xizheng.

For these rough soldiers, nothing can impress them more than arrogance. They don't like Yuan Xizheng. Apart from dislike that he always drifts away from their circle lightly, they also don't like Yuan Xizheng's white face. Had a handsome face.But I didn't expect such a young man's real speech and behavior to be so unrestrained, and I couldn't help but admire him immediately.

All of a sudden, the atmosphere in the hall became active, and it was so lively pushing and changing glasses.

Chu Yin glanced at Yuan Xizheng, who was blushing, and asked with concern, "Are you okay?"

Yuan Xizheng's hand was just to prevent these soldiers from coming up to fight for wine in turn. Although Yuan Xizheng's drinking capacity is not bad, it is not enough to drink a thousand cups, but it is still a bit overwhelming to drink such a jar of wine Alcohol power.

Yuan Xi contended to see Chu Yin asked, but calmly nodded slightly, and said with a smile, "It's okay."

Dongfang Jingyuan was the closest to the two, and he could carefully see the expressions on the faces of Chu Yin and Yuan Xizheng.

Chu Yin's gentle expression seemed to be hiding something, while Yuan Xizheng's expression was flat and there was a hidden resistance. The expressions of both of them were very interesting, and it seemed difficult for ordinary people to understand the hidden secrets.But Dongfang Jingyuan can understand what it is, because he has seen Yuan Xizheng disguised as a woman. When Yuan Xizheng Qiao pretended to be a singer and approached him, even though Dongfang Jingyuan already knew that the woman's true identity was just a Man, he still couldn't help his heartbeat.

The unrestrained and free and easy playing of the piano, the brilliance of talent, and the slight look of dismissiveness in his eyes are all unforgettable.

Could it be that Chu Yin was arguing against Yuan Xi... Dongfang Jingyuan couldn't help but feel moved. He raised his eyes to see Chu Yin sipping the wine glass slowly. The competition is already a little too much to drink.

Chu Yin smiled and said: "Ziqing, I think you are a little drunk, why don't you rest in the front hall tonight, and don't have to go back to sleep in such a remote courtyard in the dark, anyway, don't you want to discuss things with me tomorrow?" .”

Yuan Xizheng paused with his chopsticks, and then smiled slightly: "Ziqing thank you for your sympathy, but if I don't come back, I'm afraid the maid, Luzhu, will feel uneasy."

"Look at you, what's so difficult about this." Chu Yin chuckled and said, "I know you're not used to being served by other people, and I've sent someone to call Luzhu over just now. I don't know when this banquet will last. Seeing how you drink like this, I'm afraid you won't be able to go back even if you help him."