His Royal Highness the First Prince of Daliang

Today's Daliang is at peace for a long time.Under Emperor Liang's rule, taxes and corvees were not too strict. As long as there were no large-scale floods and droughts in successive years, the people would basically be able to eat and clothe themselves warmly and live a carefree life.Before and after the Qingming Festival, all things are born in spring, and the cities where people live together are glowing with new vitality after a winter. The grand view of the road.

Kang Ning knew since he was a child that he was the prince of Daliang, and his father was rich in the world, ruled all people, and was the emperor of the world.But he never had a very clear concept of the "world" owned by the emperor.He once imagined contiguous and full of people, high-rise palaces larger than the palace city, imagined the bustling streets with people, horses, cattle, dogs and sheep running side by side in front of the palace road, and pictured in his mind the story of the third brother The stilt juggling, the sumo wrestling that the second emperor sister showed off.

But until today, when he met the "world", he realized that there was a huge difference between his imagination and the real world.

Qi Changfeng took his little prince and walked along the crowded stalls in the east city. He bought him a sugar painting of a phoenix—but he was not allowed to eat it. He bought it for him to come alive. "Clay figurines made of bamboo sticks, birds made of colored paper that I bought for him that would fly into the cage in a single turn, and a complete set of bamboo sticks, big and small, that my second brother gave him. General Wood.

Kang Ning was still greedy for the big golden sugar painting, and wanted to secretly lick and taste the feathers of the phoenix, but as he got more and more good things in his hands, he no longer remembered the sugar painting. up.He is a spoiled child who loves the new and dislikes the old, but he is easy to coax, and can easily be distracted by a new thing.

After a short walk on Yashi Street, Qi Changfeng led the child into a three-story cottage with three big characters "Cuiying Ji" written on the plaque.This is the most famous tile house in the east city of Kyoto. Inside, there are dozens of large and small fences. Flags and god frames are hung on the gate capital, and colorful tricks are posted to attract visitors. The most prosperous acrobatics, acrobatics, Sumo, singing and dancing can all be found in this collection of talents.

Kang Ning's eyes were long gone. As soon as he entered the first house, it was located in a narrow ditch. The puppet show that was much more deserted than others attracted him, and he couldn't move his feet at all.

Qi Changfeng has been in the capital for more than half a year.He is a young man with the most energy. In addition to his studies and accompanying Kang Ning, he is full of wilds inside and outside the palace. Zhao Yunxia took him to this "Cuiying Collection" last winter. According to him, it is better than Jinling's " "Endless Joy" is still worse, and the puppet show at the gate is even more obvious at a glance that it is not interesting.

But today he only came according to Kang Ning's wishes, and didn't make up his mind for the child.The little prince said he wanted to see it, so he took him to sit down in the awning, and watched half of the puppet fox repaying his favor.

Kang Ning didn't have any knowledge, so he was immediately fascinated by the story of the fox, and had to stay and wait to see if the fox's benefactor could recognize the fox.Qi Changfeng coaxed and coaxed, saying that it will take at least half a month to arrange the next fox show, and he will try to bring Kang Ning out to watch next month, so the little prince followed him with all his heart. up.

"Where is the fox girl now?" After leaving the Goulan, the little prince was still talking.Two feet tripped themselves.

Qi Changfeng now has some resistance to the cuteness of children, but he still laughs seeing him so stupid, "I heard people say that most of the foxes become spirits in Mobei," the boy edited solemnly, "This The fox girl should be no exception."

"It's so far away!" Kang Ning believed it immediately, and he became anxious for the fox, "But Wu Lang Hanchuang studied hard in Lingnan!"

"Yes, what should I do?" Qi Changfeng also showed distress.

Kang Ning was very worried for a while, and then he raised his head happily again after not even half a cup of tea, as if he had a great idea: "Brother Changfeng, don't worry!" He is like a little star She smiled cutely, "The fox girl knows magic! Once she escapes, she will be able to run from Mobei to Lingnan soon, don't you think?"

He actually justified himself!

Qi Changfeng began to feel itchy again, and wanted to pinch the little thing's cheeks, "Your Highness is so smart!" He praised him, and envied the third prince and others every day - he could have such a A rare brother.

Qi Changfeng was originally worried that Kang Ning would keep talking about the fox girl, but when he led the little prince into the second Gou Lan where there was a dog show, Kang Ning was already full of enthusiasm for the stage. The dog with the colored rope on it barks.After watching this scene, the little prince was overwhelmed by the well-groomed fluffy snow-white puppy, and even imitated how the other puppy found the correct colored rope from the same wooden bowl.He didn't even mention the repaying fox girl at this time.

On this day, Kang Ning was almost always at the high point of excitement and happiness, until Qi Changfeng said that he would go shopping here today, take him to a teahouse to sit and have a rest, and then go back after having some snacks, he was still overwhelmed by the happy aftertaste In high spirits.

He sat in the private room of the tea house, drank the warm white water that Qi Changfeng specially ordered for him, looked up at the back of Qi Changfeng standing at the door explaining the snacks to Cha Xiaoer, and then bowed his head happily counting what he had harvested today Good thing, two little feet can't help dangling under the table.

From the corner of the eye, he caught sight of Qi Changfeng coming in and sitting down again, but Kang Ning did not look up. He spread out the little things Qi Changfeng bought for him on the table, and counted one by one how he would arrange and distribute these treasures after returning to the palace. A rare taste of the joy of showing off.

But he didn't notice that he had been talking for a long time, but Qi Changfeng never said a word, just sat at the table with an ugly face, tightly holding a teahouse cup in his hand.

Qi Changfeng has clear eyes and ears since he was a child, and he has practiced martial arts with famous masters for so long since he entered Beijing. His eyes can never make mistakes in his judgment—he just saw a flash in the washery on the second floor, which has been engraved on him. The shadow of my heart.

That is the most notorious swordsman under Xi Nan's throne, Wang Shizhen, who killed Qi Changfeng's parents with his own hands, and the executioner who has been chasing and killing Qi Changfeng since then, trying to take his life.

In the past, Qi Changfeng could only dodge and run in front of the swordsman.But now, maybe he can...

Kang Ning didn't get any response from his good friend, so he looked up strangely, only to see Qi Changfeng frowning and looking gloomy.

He was a little surprised, he didn't understand what happened in this short period of time, and why his big partner was suddenly unhappy.

"Brother Changfeng, what's wrong with you?" The little prince asked strangely, "You...are you worried that Father will arrest us and punish us?"

The moment Qi Changfeng heard Kang Ning's soft voice, he came back to his senses as if he was suddenly awakened from a dream.He realized that he had just fallen into some kind of emotional barrier, which was a thought he often had when he had just lost his parents-to fight with them and these ignorant dogs, even if he hurt a thousand enemies, he would hurt himself. Ten thousand will never make these lawless people feel better.

He had often had to contend with these desperate, all-or-nothing thoughts born of despair.It was as if he no longer had a little spiritual support at that moment, and was alone and helpless in the big world, so he didn't care about taking risks.

At that time, it was the love left to him by his parents that he held tightly in his palm and did not want to share with anyone, which gave him the strength to fight against madness.Let him save his life in countless near-death escapes.

And today, he has something new.

- a new friend or relative.

He is small, ignorant, innocent and pure, sitting in front of him stupidly at this moment.

"Your Majesty probably knew that I brought you out early in the morning." By this time, no one had brought them back to the palace. Qi Changfeng had long realized that the emperor finally chose to let him go. "He didn't want to arrest us, Ning Ning, His Majesty wants you to be happy in the end."

Kang Ning was indeed happy for a while, but he did not forget Qi Changfeng's terrible face just now. He turned around and got off the armchair, walked up to Qi Changfeng, took his hand and continued to ask him persistently, "Then what happened to Brother Changfeng just now?" ? Tell me! I want to know!"

He was more righteous and confident than the time when Qi Changfeng slammed into the door on his birthday, and he had already used some of his usual attitude of being arrogant towards the emperor on Qi Changfeng.

Qi Changfeng hesitated for a moment, but still chose to follow his heart, picked up Kang Ning who had already grown up, and hugged him into his arms.He buries his face in Corning's shoulders, a bit like a stressed-out guy sucking his own kitten:

"I saw someone just now. He reminded me of things that I have been procrastinating for a long time, and I probably need to continue to procrastinate." Qi Changfeng said sullenly, "I... I dream of accomplishing those things every day. In every moment of waiting and preparing, I can feel the anxiety and suffering, these things will not weaken with time, they are always reminding me that I don't deserve the comfort and happiness now."

"But I can't do it." His arms tightened a little. "I still can't do it...I can only comfort myself that sooner or later I will achieve it. But I didn't finish it in a day, and those—"

Those damned people are still complacently living their pampered lives.The murderer who killed his parents chased him all the way to the capital, and he could still walk in and stroll around the washhouse.

The graves of the villagers who died innocently, the small wreckage that was burned to ruins, and the pool of blood under his parents at that time seemed to have only been cast into his soul-hunting lock.A bone-piercing coldness rose from the depths of Qi Changfeng's heart, and he felt some kind of dark, obscure, inexplicable disappointment.

A pair of warm little hands covered his cheeks at this moment.

"Shh," he heard the little prince's voice as clear as water, which had never been on his mind, and he felt the child's body leaning towards him softly and full of dependence, "Brother Changfeng, don't think about it!"