Vicissitudes know Jinhua

Qi Wushang raised his eyebrows with joy, "It's you! Shao Chong...you've grown up!"

They hadn't been very close before, but after all, they were cousins ​​who share the same spirit, and they have been separated for several years. Both of them are very excited when they meet again. , Qi Wu was more relieved and loved in his sadness, and said with a smile: "If your fourth brother is still alive, he must be very happy to see you such a heroic boy."

Qi Shao rushed forward on his horse, hugged him lightly, and asked, "Third brother, where is Zishi? I heard from General Qiu that you have rescued him, but you stayed in the palace?"

Qi Wushang pointed at the carriage: "Inside...you go and meet him, but if he falls asleep, don't wake him up."

Qi Shaochong was startled, he picked up the stirrups on his toes and jumped into the car. When the curtain of the car was lifted, he saw Mu Zishi half lying on the couch smiling at himself.

Qi Shaochong looked at him, scrutinizing him up and down inch by inch, and suddenly, tears fell like rain.

Mu Zishi's lips trembled slightly: "I almost didn't know you."

In the blink of an eye, Qi Shaochong was no longer that little child at all, his round face was thinned, his nose was straight and straight, his whole face was sharp and angular in the flickering light, and his outline was unusually correct and dignified.

Such a prince, Yunwen Yunwu, who has been tempered a lot, thinks that he no longer needs himself, Mu Zishi thought about it, and felt relieved for a while, but also vaguely felt lost.

Looking at Qi Wushang in a blink of an eye, he saw him sitting upright on the horse, his figure was as eye-catching and refined as an ink silhouette, and the words "Zi Shi, don't go back to Chenjing" that he said leisurely sounded in his ears. The dream of freedom that came out has an opportunity, and it is slowly unfolding in front of your eyes, from illusion to reality.

I couldn't take my eyes off for a moment, and I couldn't help but smile.

Qi Shaochong was full of emotions and could not control himself. He quickly stepped forward and knelt down next to Mu Zishi, raised his head and choked up, and said, "Zishi... Zishi, I see you again!"

At this moment, Mu Zishi's heart was like the blue sky after the rain, fresh and cheerful like rebirth, and said with a smile: "You are tall, and your knees are weak... You are already a dragon wearing a fish suit, and I can't afford to kneel down again."

Qi Wushang told the others in the car to say goodbye, and ordered the horse team to move on.

Qi Shaochong saw that Mu Zishi was in high spirits, turned to Lu Kuangxi, and said, "Thank you for taking care of me these past few years, sir."

Lu Kuangxi waved his hand: "It should."

Afterwards, Qi Shaochong focused on facing Mu Zishi, interrogating him with all his heart on his situation in Nankeshan, regardless of the details, regardless of the importance, corners, ditches, and ridges, no details were overlooked.Mu Zishi managed to get out of that ghostly place, unwilling to mention it at all, and barely perfunctory with silly questions such as "Did you eat well and sleep well?" Finally, he couldn't help interrupting, and asked: "Your father?" Why doesn't the emperor let you go back to Beijing? Is there a secret decree for you?"

Qi Shaochong was silent for a moment, then asked inexplicably, "The third brother Wushang saved you, are you happy?"

Mu Zishi smiled and nodded: "Naturally happy, I knew Wushang earlier than I knew you!"

"He took good care of you? Your face is much more bloody than when you were in Nankeshan."

Mu Zishi curled up comfortably under the quilt and said, "Yes."

I took a paper bag from the stove next to the couch and handed it to Qi Shaochong: "Sugar chestnuts are warming and nourishing, and even snacks for fun are harmless, so I'm only allowed to eat these, which are good for my health, mother-in-law, mother-in-law. .”

Hearing his complaints, which seem to be true or false, Qi Shao rushed to peel the chestnuts, suddenly raised his head, and asked dryly: "Zi Shi, do you want to accompany me back to Chenjing?"

Mu Zishi's eyes flashed: "Chenjing? Didn't the emperor let you stay in Sheluguan? Wushang wants to clear the grassland royal court, I..."

Qi Shaochong didn't wait for him to finish, and hurriedly said: "I understand... I have dragged you down all these years."

Mu Zishi was holding a chestnut, and his mouth was full of the delicate and moist sweetness of the chestnut meat. After hesitating for a long time, he said in a low voice: "Shao Chong, my promise to His Royal Highness will never change. As long as the emperor calls you back to Beijing, If you think I'm still useful, I... I'll go with you, but now..."

The fingernails were pinched in the chestnut shell, they were all pale, and the voice was a little cautious and soft: "Give me a while, okay?"

He was like a bird with thin wings, carrying another smaller one on his back, gritted his teeth and struggled for his life, flew over the turbulent sea, and finally returned to the woods, heaved a sigh of relief. With a family and a companion—it is a rare blessing to be able to live a day like this, and Mu Zishi did not hesitate to be willing and weak to ask for it.

Of course, as long as Qi Shaochong ruthlessly refuses to agree, I can't feel at ease. Although the bones of His Royal Highness are cold, the ghosts are not far away. After thinking about this, Mu Zishi stared at Qi Shaochong's eyes, full of strong mourning and hope.

Qi Shaochong's eyes like this are like icicles made of vinegar juice piercing through his chest, cold and sour, excruciatingly sharp pain, he calmed down, but got up and stroked his hair boldly: "Zi Shi, I I said earlier that you should follow your own wishes and live a comfortable life... You can go anywhere you want, how can I force you? If one day you are willing to go back to Beijing with me, it must be because of your willingness, not just For my fourth brother who died."

After finishing speaking, as if looking at him deeply, he put the peeled two round sugar chestnuts in his palm, lifted the curtain, got off the carriage and got on the horse, the action was done in one go without any hesitation.

Lu Kuangxi said gently: "Shao Chong is a kind man. Although you are not a very good man, you treat him with rare kindness. No matter how much kindness that His Royal Highness the Prince has shown you, what you have done for him these years... enough."

Mu Zishi sharply frowned and retorted: "What do you mean I am not a good person? Am I not kind to you?"

Lu Kuangxi's feelings for him are very strange, both admiration and a little fear, both distressed and slightly disgusted, but in any case, after such a few years of getting along with each other day and night, they are already as close as family members, so Lu Kuangxi Kuang Xi thought for a while and said frankly: "You treat me very well...but you really don't treat others very well."

Mu Zishi curled his lower lip, arrogant and mean: "Do I still have to be nice to Ge Shu Yepo? Love Lin Shen?"

Lu Kuangxi simply exposed it and said: "Anyway, don't kill Princess Yu."

Mu Zishi was silent for a moment: "Sir, I won't hurt Miss Yu's little finger...I can't let Wushang hate me."

As soon as he arrived at Shelu Pass, Qi Wushang went up to the top of the city early the next morning, inspected until noon, had a meal with the sergeants, and then returned to the commander's mansion, summoned all the generals in the army, mastered the important affairs of the army, and organized the defense of the barracks. , For several days in a row, he was almost out of touch with Mu Zishi.

Mu Zishi is also busy, Qiu Mingxi is getting old, and all kinds of complicated things in the army make him exhausted, and he already feels a little powerless, at this time, Mu Zishi came out of nowhere, and Qi Wushang personally introduced him overnight After trying it for a few days, he is indeed a prodigy worthy of great use. Not to mention smart and meticulous, he can deal with military affairs easily, and he is familiar with it.

While Qiu Mingxi rewarded him greatly, he couldn't help asking about his background, Qi Wushang was listening to several generals who were in charge of the township and said that King Bahai had been acting frequently recently, so he immediately said loudly: "Zi Shi used to be Prince Huichun's companion, Growing up in a small palace... is also someone I can give my life to."

With this sentence, Qiu Mingxi carefully trained Mu Zishi, and taught him all the experience of the past few decades. However, there is another secret book about money, food and personnel in the army, which the court must never know. Come out.

Mu Zishi was not pleased with his heart-pounding actions, but instead was shocked: "Master Qiu, Zishi is just here..."

Under the bright butter lamp, the wrinkles on Qiu Mingxi's face were particularly deep. While pointing to the ravines and vines in the grain, he whispered with a smile: "The little prince doesn't look like a delicate person, but in fact he never misses anything. Accurate but poisonous, since he said that he can entrust his life to you, he is not wrong... I have gray beard and hair, and in the future, I will need someone like you to assist and assist the little prince."

Mu Zishi thought for a while, then lowered his head and smiled: "Since that's the case, that Zishi will take you as his teacher."

After a few days, it snowed heavily, and the weather became colder and colder. Qi Wushang knew that he was not in good health. The house where he lived in the mansion had ample supply of silver charcoal, and there were all kinds of warm clothes. Lu Kuangxi was a little uncomfortable at first. Don't worry, I came back from the military medical camp to take a look. When I entered the room, I felt warm as spring. Mu Zishi was wearing a snow-white wool-trimmed tunic, and his black hair was tied up casually like satin. Ginger milk tea, a plate of hot jujube paste cakes, and a few small tangerines roasted on the charcoal stove.

Lu Kuangxi, who walked all the way against the wind, was immediately envious and jealous, and ate up all the snacks and tea on his table in a fit of anger. When he looked at Mu Zishi, he saw his bright red lips and bright eyes, and his heart was relieved. After more than half of it, I took the pulse again, although it was still astringent and slow, but fortunately it was considered peaceful, and there was no danger of breaking my mind and spirit.

Immediately asked: "How is the diet? Did you sleep soundly?"

Mu Zishi closed the volume and said with a smile: "I would like to follow Mr.'s advice, eat less and eat more... and sleep well, but I live in the warm pavilion next to me without injury. Sometimes he comes back in the middle of the night, and his footsteps are heavy. will piss me off."

Lu Kuangxi frowned and said: "Then let him move farther away, there are so many houses in the mansion, where is there no place to settle?"

Mu Zishi smiled for a long time, and said, "Okay... sir, you are really honest."

Knowing that he was joking, Lu Kuangxi glared at him and pointed to the volume on the table: "Don't tire yourself too much."

Mu Zishi nodded repeatedly and said, "I like this kind of life very much. I want to live seven or eighty years!"

Lu Kuangxi explained some ways to keep in good health, and after nagging for a while, Shi Shi ran away, thinking to himself on the way, if Mu Zishi could stay by Qi Wushang's side, he probably wouldn't die of illness prematurely .

When the weather wasn't too cold, Qi Wushang took Mu Zishi to the top of the city at night, condescendingly looking down at the terrain of Shelu Pass. The stars are spread out, and the formation is hidden, very orderly and strict, and the grassland outside the pass is endless, and there are some villages and fields.

Mu Zishi was puzzled: "Why don't the people of Daning outside the pass move into the pass, so as not to be plundered and killed by the barbarians?"

Qi Wushang was wearing an iron armor, not afraid of the cold, he heard the words and said in a deep voice: "The outside of the pass is also the land of Daning, but the defense of the pass was only built here back then, every hundred miles to the west, north, and east, there are The garrisoned fortress has been in disrepair for a long time."

Mu Zishi thought for a moment, and said: "Da Ning established the country and governed the country with benevolence, emphasizing the rule of law and prudence with swordsmanship. The barbarians were not a serious problem, but they have gradually grown in the past twenty years."

Qi Wushang said: "But the barbarians are now a stubborn disease on the border, and they have built three royal courts! Over the years, our people have been harassed and slaughtered many times... Strong men, women, property and livestock have been plundered by them... …At least three to five years, as many as ten years, Qi Wushang must wipe out the barbarian royal court, let them retreat beyond the Ali Da River forever, and never dare to covet an inch of my land in Daning!"

It was the night when the sun was looking up, the stars were like chains, the moon was as bright as day, and the battle flag on the top of the city was blown by the wind. Mu Zishi raised his eyes, held out his hand, and said, "I want to accompany you." ,help you."

Qi Wushang lowered his head, the smile on the corner of his lips melted like ice and snow, and the light in his eyes was as warm and passionate as the scorching sun.

In the spring of next year, the war has already begun.

The most powerful Bahai tribe of the barbarians, led by the eldest son of the Bahai King, led a cavalry of men and horses to the south, raided Xiazhou Border Town from the Nanke Mountain trail, plundered hundreds of men and women, dozens of carts of property and food, and fled away.

When Qi Wushang heard the battle report, he was furious, and led two thousand Qingqi out of the customs overnight, and galloped to Hunluo Mountain, intending to intercept and kill the Prince Bahai at the place he must pass on his way back.

In his rage, without breaking the law, before marching, he ordered Zhenfu General Dai Xihui to lead 2000 troops to escort him the next day, and Mu Zishi was included in Dai Xihui's army as the chief bookkeeper.