Ten years of dedication to the king

Chu Xiran forgot when he passed out, as if he closed his eyes, he heard someone beside him repeating "I'm sorry" over and over again.Unfortunately, he was unable to explore the source of the sound and was pulled into the dark abyss.

After waking up, my body was changed into a clean white underwear, and all the wounds on my body were covered with good ointment and bandaged up. It was a bit cool, and temporarily eased the pain that should have been excruciating.

The hands were wrapped in white gauze, layer by layer, and could only be slightly bent.

Turning his head, he saw He Lan Ruoming lying on the side of the bed and sleeping soundly. His tired face and blue stubble made the originally handsome face more vicissitudes.Outside the window, the sun had dimly shone into the room, and there were people walking softly outside the room, and at the moment before the door was pushed, Chu Xiran closed her eyes again.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" It was He Lan's personal eunuch, Xiao Linzi, who came in.

"Huh?" He Lan was a little confused because of his sleepiness.

"Your Majesty, at five o'clock, it's time to go to court early." Although Xiao Linzi felt sorry for his emperor, he knew that the emperor had to go to court this morning.

"Changing clothes, keep your voice down, don't disturb him." He Lan snarled at the person on the bed, and stood up resignedly.

A row of eunuchs and maids followed, and no one dared to make a sound, but quietly changed He Lan into court clothes and put on a hair crown.

"Your Majesty, are you really going to make a decree to make Master Nalan a noble concubine today?" Xiao Linzi asked in a low voice, handing over a handkerchief for He Lan to wipe his face.

"Well, speaking of it, we have to pick an auspicious day for the coronation ceremony, so I'll leave it to the Minister of Taichang Temple." He Lan rinsed his mouth after washing his face, and then asked Xiao Linzi to call Xiao Shunzi into the house.

"Haosheng is waiting at the door. If you wake up, remember to call the imperial doctor first." He Lan Ruoming looked at Xiao Shunzi who came in and instructed.

"If the emperor doesn't say anything, the servant will guard the master well." After finishing speaking, Xiao Shunzi knelt down and waited at the door again.

Here, He Lan took one last look at Chu Xiran, tucked the corner of the quilt for him, and smoothed the sticky hair on his forehead due to sweating, before reluctantly leaving.

Hearing the sound of footsteps going away, Chu Xiran slowly opened her eyes and stared blankly at the direction He Lan left. It took a long time before she came back to her senses.

"Little Shunzi."

"Master, you've finally woken up." Xiao Shunzi knelt on the side of the couch, choked with sobs, "I'll call the imperial physician right now, my slave."

"No hurry, I can't die yet." Chu Xiran said word by word, "I swear, Daddy's life still has yesterday's humiliation, I will let the Murong family come back sooner or later!" Chu Xiran closed his eyes, let Tears slid down his face.

"Father, the child is not filial. I can't keep your life, and I can't keep the Chu family. These five years have been nothing!"

It is still the winter of the seventh year of Tiancheng, the fiery red winter.

The young emperor of Tiancheng welcomed his imperial concubine. Under the snow-covered ground, the red dress was shockingly gorgeous.

"Long live the emperor, long live the emperor, long live the imperial concubine, a thousand years, a thousand years!"

The deafening sound of worship resounded through the sky, startling the birds and fluttering away.

In the deserted Yonghe Palace, Chu Xiran hugged the stove and said with a smile, "Xiao Shunzi, you see, this coronation ceremony is much more grand than my wedding a few years ago."

Before Xiao Shunzi could reply, Chu Xiran asked again: "Xiao Shunzi, do you think the queen's coronation ceremony is more prestigious than this?"

"Master, this slave doesn't know."

"It doesn't matter, we will see it sooner or later!" Chu Xiran smiled and threw the hand stove to Xiao Shunzi, "It's cold, add some charcoal sticks, it's really freezing to death in this damn weather!"

Xiao Shunzi looked at his master's fingers which had just removed the gauze, and suddenly wanted to ask his master, is it cold hands, or is it colder heart?

It was a month after Nalan saw Chu Xiran again.

Ever since He Lan heard that Chu Xiran had woken up that day, she had never set foot in the Yonghe Palace.The events of the Chu family became blurred with the passage of time.As for Chu Xiran, although he was spared the pain of exile, he was also decreed to be a servant of the seventh rank in the civil and military memorials of the Manchu Dynasty.

As for the murder of Concubine Yi's son, that is, the eldest prince, it was settled under He Lan's interrogation, but it also became a secret. All I knew was that from then on, there was no such person as Li Yixi in the palace.

Every time someone tried to ask, He Lan Ruoming just sneered, and the cold light in his eyes was enough to make people tremble.So far, who can believe that Concubine Yi was once loved by three thousand people, and she also fell into He Lan's arms with a coquettish smile in this harem.

It is said that the emperor is ruthless, but he doesn't know that the affection in the ruthlessness is beyond the reach of the world.

"She seeks her own death, and she has no one to blame." Chu Xiran casually listened to Nalan, who is now the imperial concubine, describe Li Yixi's tragedy.

"But you're still young after all!" Nalan sighed.

"She didn't die, it's my turn to go to hell today, does my sister want me to die?"

"Xiran!" Nalan was really angry this time, but seeing Chu Xiran's stubborn expression, he said softly, "Are you blaming me?"

"No." Chu Xiran lowered her head, "If I didn't have my sister, how could I still be alive to this day? I just find it ridiculous that this scene seems to be Lin Feng and himself back then."

"You are not Lin Feng, and I am not you, it will never be the same."

"Yeah, at least, I still have unfinished business, I won't die for no reason like Lin Feng!"

"Silly boy, sister will protect you!" Nalan rubbed Chu Xiran's head.

"Sister, I'm the major general of the Chu family. I don't need anyone to protect me. Daddy will protect me in heaven!"

Chu Xiran raised her head confidently. With such a smile, Nalan suddenly thought that the old Chu Xiran had returned, but it seemed to be different again.

As spring goes and flowers fall, when another season of summer lotuses blooms in the pond of the imperial garden, the harem also emerges from depression and gradually becomes lively.

Concubine Mei walked with Nalan holding the half-year-old princess in her arms, and the two of them teased the little baby in their arms from time to time, chatting with each other.

"How is he doing recently?" It was Concubine Mei who asked, because since the Yonghe Palace became a cold palace, except for Concubine Nalan, who can visit regularly, the rest are stopped by the guards outside the palace, and no one is allowed to enter or leave the palace. .

"It's still the same." Nalan shook his head and said.

"Did you tell him about the pregnancy?"

"Say it." Nalan rubbed his belly, and said again, "He just congratulated me happily."

Concubine Mei looked at the child in her arms who was spitting foam from her little mouth and said nothing.

"The emperor hurt him too much. Maybe no one can understand the current Chu Xiran." Nalan murmured, still placing his hand on his abdomen, "If he was a woman, he might have an heir, and he would not be born." So far.”

"Your Majesty, you are wrong, look at Concubine De, if he is a woman, will the Emperor give him a chance to conceive an heir?" Concubine Mei's calm voice was full of hatred.

"Concubine Mei, be careful what you say!" Nalan said sharply.

"It's my sister's slip of the tongue." Concubine Mei hugged the child and bowed.

"Qingjun, if you really care about him, put away those small thoughts, don't steal chickens and lose money, but hurt him."

"Sister is careful, sister don't worry." As soon as the words finished, the two saw Murong Zhaohua approaching from afar.

"Your Majesty is a thousand years old!" Murong saluted Nalan Qi with a smile on his face.

"Hello, Empress Defei!" Concubine Mei also saluted Murong with a smile.

"Sister, you're being polite. Look, isn't this the little princess? It's been a long time since I saw her, and she's so big." Murong's delicate cheeks were blushing, "It's all my fault for not being able to live up to my expectations. The emperor loves me again and again, but my stomach still hasn't moved. , Your Majesty is lucky!" As he spoke, he glanced at Nalan's stomach.

Nalan looked at Murong with gentle eyes, and said: "Sister, don't worry, the emperor always divides the rain and dew equally, and it will be a matter of time before my sister conceives an heir."

Murong pretended to be shy and covered his face with his sleeves and said: "Sister's words, no, the emperor asked the concubine to accompany the driver to eat today, the concubine is rushing to go, so I won't accompany my sister, please forgive me."

"Thank you sister!"

Seeing Murong twisting his body and walking away with enchanting steps, Concubine Mei snorted coldly, and unconsciously clenched the hand holding the child tightly.

"Qing Jun, don't try to touch her, you can't beat the Murong family, at least for now, not for yourself, but also for the child in your arms."

"Child..." Concubine Mei stared blankly at the little person in her arms, and replied, "Mr. Qing knows what she is doing, and Mr. Qing is willing to wait."

On the other end, Chu Xiran was pinching the note that Xiao Shunzi brought in, the burning candle was flickering, and after a while, the note was gone.

"Master, are you really planning to do this?"

"Of course!" Chu Xiran took his long sword and looked at it carefully, "Baby, after holding it for so long, it's time. Xiao Shunzi, send a message to Concubine Nalan, just say that I want to see the emperor!"

Chu Xiran caressed the sword tassel with her fingers, and with a little force, the white tassel was torn off and scattered all over the ground.

How could he forget that when he returned from the enemy that year, on the way back to Beijing, He Lan tied the sword tassel on him and said:

"The color of crescent white is the same as the first time I saw you in the draft. My Xiran, it should be all white, clean! Look at you, what's so good about this sword tassel, just look at it Ignore me, if you like, I will give you as much as you want when you return to the palace."

"Fool, no matter how much there is, how can it compare to this one? This is taken from your beloved long sword!"

Returning to his senses, Chu Xiran looked at the scattered Jiansui on the ground, and said softly to Xiao Shunzi, "Look at this white one that has turned to ashes, it should be thrown away. Xiao Shunzi, can you change it to a red one?" good?"

In the morning, Chu Xiran got up early, and asked Xiao Shunzi to take care of her after washing and changing clothes.

His crescent-white dress had been pushed to the bottom of the suitcase, and he couldn't see it, while the suit he was wearing was hot red, trimmed with gold thread, gorgeous and not vulgar.

"Does it look good?" Chu Xiran looked at himself in the mirror, turned his face and asked Xiao Shunzi.

"Master looks good no matter what she wears!" Xiao Shunzi laughed.

"Really?" Chu Xiran sneered and looked back at herself in the mirror.

In his twenty-one years, he lost his youthful innocence and gained more mature charm, coupled with the fact that he has been hidden in the harem for many years, his gestures and gestures reveal a bit of charm that is not what a man should have.And that smile seemed to still reveal the original innocence and persistence, but the lingering twists and turns in his eyes made people reluctant to look away.

In the past five years, Chu Xiran understood exactly what had changed, and she understood so much that she didn't want to admit it, but she had to laugh at herself.

Five years ago, he never understood the truth that the gate of a palace is as deep as the sea, but the baptism of the past few years made him have to bow his head to the reality.He admits that he has become a prisoner in a certain sense, willing to abandon his former self, and live only to live.

He said that he is not Lin Feng, he will not allow himself to wait for death after being abandoned.His stubbornness and hatred did not allow him to be decadent and self-destructive.

"Xiao Shunzi, do you think I have changed?" Chu Xiran asked, looking at his own face in the mirror.

"Master, no matter what, you are the young master in Xiao Shunzi's heart!" Xiao Shunzi lowered his head and wiped his tears.

"Fool, why are you crying? I'm not sad, why are you sad!" Chu Xiran wiped Xiao Shunzi's tears, and continued: "Okay, go outside and watch, if the emperor comes sooner report."

In this way, from sunrise to sunset, when the sunset was dyed red and abnormally red, He Lan Ruoming's figure finally appeared in Yonghe Palace.

Chu Xiran walked up slowly, and bowed to salute. He Lan couldn't help frowning because of her impeccable etiquette.

"All blessings, Your Majesty!" Chu Xiran's voice was unusually calm.

"Get up." He Lan glanced at Chu Xiran, and said, "I heard from Nalan that you are looking for me?"

"Yes, the concubine has something to discuss with the emperor."

"What's up?"

"I heard that the border was invaded by bandits again?"

"So what?"

"I heard that these bandits are Turks?"

"good."

"I heard that the imperial court has repeatedly sent people to exterminate them, but they never returned?"

"The harem is not allowed to participate in politics. It seems that Chu Xuanshi has forgotten the rules."

"Your Majesty, if a minister or concubine volunteers to invite you, I wonder if your Majesty will be able to do so?"

"Major General of the Chu family, are you overestimating your abilities? Yes, you did win the battle with the Manhe army back then, but this time you were obviously a bandit, but secretly it was the Turkic Khan Manduo We are manipulating. We obviously cannot send troops to crusade against the Turks, otherwise we will break the covenant and give Manduo a reason to invade with troops, but we must encircle and suppress these army-style "rogues" in secret. The enemy is dark and we are clear. fixed!"

"The concubine knows, that's why the emperor has a headache about it, and it's also because of this that the concubine came to invite Ying."

"Chu Xiran, do you know that this dispatch of troops is extremely dangerous, and they went to three groups, but none of them came back in one piece! How can you guarantee that you will come back alive?"

"The concubine never said that she would be guaranteed to come back with her life!" Chu Xiran looked up at He Lan and said, "The concubine is going because the concubine is willing to risk her life!"

He Lan Ruoming's eyelids twitched three times, he paused, narrowed his eyes to look at Chu Xiran, and asked coldly, "What do you want to bet on?"

"Two things. One, pardon the concubine's mother and sister's crime of exile, demote them to common people, and return them to freedom."

"It's not difficult."

"Second, the second place!" Chu Xiran looked at He Lan's suddenly solemn expression, and repeated it again, "Your Majesty, this concubine is willing to use her life to exchange for the position of Empress of Heaven!"

"Reason?" Helan asked.

"Quan Yiping hate, what the Murong family owes our Chu family, I want them to pay with their blood!"

Chu Xiran's eyes were cold and determined, "I want to destroy the Murong clan with my own hands! Since the emperor can't move this hand, I will let the concubine do it for me! Besides, isn't this exactly what the emperor wants? Now the Chu family After being destroyed, the power of the Murong family is becoming more and more powerful, doesn't the emperor want to find an opportunity to take back the power of the Murong family, so as to get rid of the troubles in his heart?"

"Chu Xiran, as I said earlier, it's not good to be too smart."

"Your Majesty, what should Chu Xiran have to worry about now? It's just a cheap life! There is no fear of life and death."

Chu Xiran smiled meaninglessly, and looked at He Lan's eyes that suddenly became hollow and desolate, "The concubine knows that the emperor can't tolerate the Chu family, and he can't tolerate the remnants of the concubine. If the concubine leaves this time and never returns, the emperor will But get rid of the troubles in your heart; if the concubine is lucky enough to be able to sit in the back seat after triumphantly, and wait for the concubine to avenge herself, the fate will be at the disposal of the emperor."

"You!" After hearing Chu Xiran's powerful words, He Lan felt a stuffy breath in his heart. He couldn't tell whether it was sore or painful. He had to breathe heavily to calm his rising and falling chest, and then said slowly, "Okay." Good! Good! I will fulfill you! If you can return triumphantly this time, I will seal you the honor of empress, and I will give you this right. I would like to see what a generation of empresses should look like!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for completeness!"

Listening to Chu Xiran's unfamiliar tone of voice, and hearing him fighting for his life one by one, He Lan only felt that his heart was on fire, and it was actually a tearing pain.He turned around abruptly and walked away, but stopped abruptly after walking a few steps away.

"It's cold at the border, if it's midsummer in Beijing, ask Xiao Shunzi to go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to get some winter clothes for you. Remember, if you really want to be the queen of Tiancheng, you will come back alive! I never thought of asking you die!"

Chu Xiran froze in place, until He Lan had disappeared, and was awakened by Xiao Shunzi who entered the room.

"If you die, it will be a relief."

"Master, what did you say?" Didn't hear Xiran's whisper clearly, so Xiao Shunzi had to lean forward and ask again.

"I said, I will come back alive!" Chu Xiran looked at the tea that He Lan put down on the table, picked up the cup and touched it, lowered his head and murmured: "It is said that people drink tea to cool down, there is a truth to that It’s not accurate, look at the tea, it’s still a little warm.”

He chuckled, turned the cup around, slowly covered his lips and teeth towards the place where He Lan was sipping, and drank the remaining half of the bowl of tea in one gulp.

"It's a pity, warm tea, no matter how good it is, is just as bitter!"

Eight days later, one hundred thousand troops marched away in one direction with the sound of a horn.He Lan stood on the city wall, watching the figure gradually disappearing in the distance, with flashing eyes, no thoughts could be seen.

"Your Majesty, you are walking away." Nalan withdrew his gaze and turned to Helan Ruoming beside him.

"En." He Lan nodded and led a group of people down the city wall.

"The emperor returns to the palace!" The old eunuch's voice sounded, and the big and steady sedan chair carried He Lan Ruoming step by step, heading in the opposite direction where Chu Xiran left.

Perhaps, they were destined to be people from two directions, and during the time they were together, they couldn't avoid the fact that each of them would end up bleeding.

After returning to the palace, He Lan Ruoming took Xiao Linzi into the depressed Yonghe Palace alone.

Ever since the Yonghe Palace became a cold palace, all the servants inside have been withdrawn, and they usually only rely on Xiao Shunzi to manage things inside and out, but now Xiao Shunzi accompanies Chu Xiran to the border, and This Yonghe Palace suddenly became more lonely.

"Your Majesty, where is lunch?" Xiao Linzi looked at the opportunity and asked.

"Just here." Regardless of Xiao Linzi's widened eyes, He Lan continued: "Just a few things."

"Slave obeys the order." Xiao Linzi beckoned to the little eunuch who was waiting in the distance and gave some instructions. Then he followed He Lan's pace and continued to walk aimlessly in the Yonghe Palace silently.

In a blink of an eye, he entered the bedroom in the back room. The curtains were raised, the brocade quilts were stacked, and the bed was cold. However, it seemed that there was the smell of Chu Xiran on it. It was so fragrant that people couldn't help but miss it.

He Lan remembered the eve before the army's departure, and she couldn't help sneaking into the Yonghe Palace again. Looking at Chu Xiran who was sleeping soundly, the ups and downs of her breathing made her feel her heart ache.So he leaned down and hugged him, but he woke up the other person without thinking, and his eyes met for a moment, as if he had seen enough of Sansei III before he came back to his senses.

Chu Xiran didn't speak, but just moved his body to make a space for him. He immediately lay down except his coat, then hugged him tightly, put his chin on his shoulder, and kissed his cheek.

"No?" Those were the only three words Chu Xiran said that night.

He Lan was startled, then shook his head, and said, "You have to ride on the road tomorrow."

Chu Xiran was also stunned when he heard the words, and when he understood the meaning, he closed his eyes and continued his disturbed dream. The body temperature emitted by the person behind him seemed to be the hottest stove in winter, and it burned people's hearts even rarer. Get up.

Chu Xiran thought, maybe it's the last time, she can lie in his arms so presumptuously, just like before, because of such warmth, she wants to lean against him, and feel the pity of being held in the palm of his hand.

When it was dawn, everything in the past would be over. When he came back, he would be the queen of Tiancheng, a queen who would not hesitate to use a hundred thousand troops to fight for power and pave the way for her revenge.

"It's time for the emperor to eat." Xiao Linzi knocked on the door lightly and called inside.

"Let's put it down." He Lan Ruoming's thoughts were suddenly interrupted, and he couldn't help frowning, not to mention looking at the dishes on the table.

"Your Majesty, eat something, your body is critical."

After vomiting blood for the first time, He Lan's body became a little weak.

Although he still looked so energetic on weekdays, only Xiao Linzi knew that the emperor's body and heart began to wear down a little bit, and Xiao Linzi also knew that all the reasons were because of Chu Xiran.

This is the first time for Xiao Linzi to see He Lan Ruoming like this.

Ever since he was the crown prince, the emperor has always smiled like that with a gentle and friendly smile, but in his bones there is a seven-point inviolable arrogance and ruthlessness.Such an emperor has never had any extra affection, even for his father who loves him the most, he respects more than family affection.

And he inherited the throne at a young age because of the early death of his father. In order to stabilize the country, he spared no effort to consolidate his foundation, and he was determined to get rid of those old officials who were about to move, even if they killed a hundred by mistake. One, this has always been his principle.

Maybe this kind of wrist is a bit iron-blooded, but he doesn't want to become a puppet emperor one day, and he doesn't want to be in danger of destroying the dynasty because of his carelessness.What's more, there are neighboring countries spying on the border, and civil strife is the most likely to lead to destruction, how can we take it lightly?

It's just that such an emperor has a very tiring life, and finally there is someone who can get into his heart, but he is so forcefully dug out by himself.

Xiao Linzi couldn't imagine, if Chu Xiran came back and became the queen of Tiancheng, how would the two continue to live face to face?The emperor's love cannot be loved, and Chu Xiran's hatred cannot be hated. It is really a wicked fate.

But Xiao Linzi was even more worried that Chu Xiran would not come back. If that was the case, the emperor might not be able to get over it with a few mouthfuls of blood. In the emperor's heart, even the emperor himself would not know how heavy that person would be.

Xiao Linzi sighed, watching He Lan Ruoming eat half a bowl of rice quietly, his heart became more worried.

"I'm tired, I want to rest for a while, you should step back first."

He Lan Ruoming fell on the bed, rolled up the brocade quilt to wrap himself up, suddenly felt that something was stuck under the pillow, so he half raised his body and touched under the pillow.

It was a piece of jade, emerald green, but one corner had been smashed to pieces.He Lan remembered that it was what was missing when Xiao Shunzi threw it at his feet.The self who picked up the jade pendant that day kept holding it in the palm of his hand when he was with Chu Xiran who was still awake, and put it back beside Chu Xiran's pillow when he left.

After all, this jade pendant is their pledge of love. Even if he can't love him, even if he once thought of letting him die in this harem, even if he really turned his Yonghe Palace into a cold palace, he still feels that the jade pendant It was to be returned to Chu Xiran.

It seemed like this could make his heart feel better, and it seemed that only in this way could he feel that the favor of those years was really given to him.It's just that the current Chu Xiran doesn't even want the token of love that this treasure has carried around for several years.

He Lan couldn't help but smiled wryly, and picked up the jade pendant, the smooth and delicate surface made her palms tingle endlessly.

Missing this kind of thing often becomes numb because it is too frequent.

Just like He Lan Ruoming's worry about Chu Xiran, who was far away at the border, was gradually smoothed over by time, and he was more contemplative.It seems that in this way, he can see the high-spirited figure in the distance, waving his long sword, invincible as his major general on the battlefield.

However, the sword tassel on the hilt is no longer white as before, but a gorgeous red, just like the current Chu Xiran, so enthusiastic that it is no longer real.As for the white spike, He Lan naturally knew where it had gone.

Around the Yonghe Palace, there are always shadow guards guarding them. The first is to guard against the actions of the people inside, and the second is to guard against the harm of the outsiders.But after going back and forth, he didn't know whether it was suspicion or protection, and he was always contradicting himself, pulling his feelings that he didn't know how to be good.

The white sword tassels scattered all over the ground had already been collected by He Lan in a sachet, sealed with spices, and stuffed back into Chu Xiran's suitcase, next to the crescent-white clothes.

He Lan thought, if one day Chu Xiran is willing to change back to his white body again, he will definitely find this sachet, and the white ears in it will definitely return to him. The scent of spices from the white spikes had already lingered on the white robe.

However, now that Chu Xiran, who was dressed in fiery red even on the battlefield, would she put on this crescent white robe again?

It has been more than five years, so many days and nights, I am afraid that the white body has long been cold, so I have to use the heroism of red to cover it up.He Lan Ruoming couldn't afford to love Chu Xiran like that, let alone hate him, and it could only become the most painful scar on his heart.