An Feng Bamboo Horse

?The royal field hunt, which lasted for five days and five nights, finally came to an end. The crown prince of the East Palace, Qi Xuesheng, and the third prince, Qi Xuemiao, were neck and neck in terms of hunting results.

Xia Anfeng was finally able to escape, so the waiter in the inn where he was staying packed up the muntjac, ground chicken, hare, wild boar and other game meats he had brought back, and prepared a large table of good food to welcome Bu Zhangbai.

Bu Zhangbai sat across from him, and it was vaguely the same situation that Xia Anfeng took him to the restaurant to drink a jar of Zhuangyuan Hong when he passed the school exam half a year ago.He said with a smile: "The test results haven't come out yet, what's the reason for asking me to drink this time?"

Xia Anfeng said: "It doesn't matter whether he did well in the exam or not, after all, he has something on his mind." He put several kinds of wild game into his bowl, piled them high, and said, "This is from hunting." Some wild game, you taste it, how is it compared to the taste of our hometown."

Bu Zhangbai tasted a few mouthfuls, and was about to praise a few times, when he suddenly felt that the red-haired boy on the other side was staring at his face all the time.

He raised his hand to touch his face, and asked with a smile, "What's on my face?"

Xia Anfeng said: "When I was hunting in the field, I met a man. That man said he knew your grandfather..."

"Huh?" He kept chopping chopsticks, seemingly calm.

Xia Anfeng said: "He claims to be the third prince, and he said he was taken care of by Bu Shuai back then, and now he will do his best to take care of his descendants. In fact, I think he is only as old as us, and he is separated from your grandfather by a few generations. Where is there any chance of being taken care of? It's just talking nonsense."

Bu Zhang said with a smile, "Third Prince Qi Xuemiao? You also met him while hunting in the field? What a coincidence, he is the one that Mr. Luo San intends to introduce to me. We had a very happy chat."

Xia Anfeng frowned, Bu Zhangbai asked: "You don't like him?"

"I don't know him well, but I really can't understand some of his actions." Xia Anfeng recounted the incident when he frightened a horse and injured someone on Kuiyang Street, and almost trampled an innocent girl under the horse's hooves. , then tricked the third prince into deceiving him, roughly mentioned the process of testing his martial arts, and said with a frown, "It's all right for him to tease me. If you want to test my ability, you can be blunt, why bother to beat around the bush like this?" ...Even if you don't mention this, the girl is innocent, even if he is just putting on a show, he should get off the horse to check if the other party is not injured, but he just called the groom and drove away without stopping. Such a person , I don't like it."

On Kuiyang Street, the Third Prince appeared on that street in casual clothes, probably to inquire about the affairs of the Marquis of Dingguo.Luo Tang was already investigating this information, but he went out on his own. Either he didn't trust Luo Tang, or he was secretly cultivating other forces...

Bu Zhangbai recalled that before parting at the Jinzhu Temple, the third prince stuffed a token inlaid with an inscribed plum pattern into his arms, and said with a smile that if he met someone with such a pattern in other places in the future, he would be one of his own.The incised plum pattern is by no means the emblem of the royal family, and the carving technique is more of a Jianghu atmosphere, so the third prince not only has people in the court and the public, but also lays hidden stakes among the people, cultivating a group of cronies.

With such deliberate deliberation here, his purpose is obviously not to be willing to be a prince.

"If you don't like it, just don't associate with him." Bu Zhang said with a white smile, "Fortunately, when he met me, he just chatted about some interesting things in the capital. I think he just wanted to show my grandfather's face and show some politeness. , there will not be too many opportunities to contact him in the future."

Xia Anfeng said: "Luo Xiaotang told me not to believe that third prince—" He paused, with a strange expression on his face, as if he wanted to say something but didn't want to say it, Bu Zhangbai looked at him, and he finally took it, but it was Smiling, obviously not paying attention to what Luo Tang said later: "He also told me not to believe him, nor you."

Luo Tang said such words to Xia Anfeng in the hunting ground, is this a foreshadowing of what will happen in the future?

Bu Zhang's white chopsticks rested on the edge of the bowl, and he couldn't swallow the muntjac meat no matter what, feeling sore in his heart.

He asked softly, "Then what do you say?"

Xia Anfeng said with a smile: "I grew up with you. Is there anything you don't know about me? What else do you need to hide from me? Why don't I believe you, but listen to Luo Xiaotang's nonsense .”

Bu Zhangbai said in a low voice, "Did he say anything else?"

"He also said...also said..." Xia Anfeng blushed suddenly, faltering.

That day in the tent, after Luo Tang said that no one should believe too much, Xia Anfeng felt strange in his heart, and asked him where he started, but Luo Tang refused to say any more.Instead, he pointed to the azure brocade bag he was holding in his hand, saying that it was given to you by Mr. Bu, do you know what he meant by giving it to you?

Xia Anfeng replied that the safety kit had the same purpose on me and him, so I kept it for him.

Luo Tang smiled and said that it was the same intention for you and him?You two are two different people, and you are not a husband and wife who are of the same mind. Could it be that Mr. Bu hinted at the relationship between you two...

Xia Anfeng immediately remembered that he was teasing on the mountain road that he wanted to be Mr. Buzhang Bai, and was afraid that he would say something without restraint; but Xiao Bai was not by his side, and he vaguely wanted to hear what he would say What, so he groaned twice, and asked instead: "Imply that we are related? Us,... what is the relationship between us?"

Luo Tang smiled but didn't answer, saying that if you ask Mr. Bu, you will know?

He faltered and hesitated for a long time, but he refused to say the following words for a long time, but when Bu Zhang saw him blushing, he couldn't help but think of the Jinzhu Temple, the third prince asked how far he and Xia Anfeng had progressed, and whether there was any real relationship——Bu A thin layer of blush suddenly appeared on Zhang Bai's face, and even the roots of his ears were stained pink. Suddenly, he was so embarrassed that he wished he hadn't asked a word just now.

He and Xia An were sitting facing each other, but each had their own concerns, neither of them dared to look at the other.

This situation is very strange. They have been together for more than ten years, and their speech and behavior have never exceeded the rules; now they seem to have a tacit understanding, and they have strange premonitions and intuitions about some hidden things, floating in the air. An unbearably hot breath.

The two sat opposite each other for a while, but Xia Anfeng couldn't bear it first, and said loudly: "Eat vegetables, eat vegetables."

Bu Zhangbai sat still and said, "You tell the truth what Mr. Luo San said, and I won't be angry."

The red-haired boy's face was full of embarrassment, "How do you know what he said...will make you angry."

Bu Zhangbai looked at the desktop, "If it won't make me angry, why are you hesitating and refusing to say anything? Tell me, I won't be angry."

Xia An said in a low voice: "He asked me to ask you, what is the purpose of that kit you gave me?"

"..."

"Xiaobai, did you give me the body protection kit because we were brothers who grew up as childhood sweethearts, or because—" Xia Anfeng finally lacked a bit of courage, and the latter "because" came to his lips. Struggling and unable to speak.Bu Zhang's white head and neck hung lower, his eyes were fixed on the table and he didn't want to look up at him, a layer of blush slowly floated on his cheeks, Xia Anfeng's heart was shaking when he saw it, an answer was about to come out in his mouth, but he was killed. I can't open my mouth.

He didn't dare to say it, what if what he said was not true and Xiaobai thought he was blasphemy?

If it was really what he thought, when did Xiao Bai treat him... and what kind of mood should he treat Xiao Bai?

What is he thinking about this matter in his own heart? ?

Suddenly, a few flying horses came downstairs, and they heard the neighing of horses in the distance, and shouted from downstairs: "Is Mr. Bu Zhang Bai Bu upstairs? Congratulations Mr. Bu, Mr. Congratulations!!! "

The sudden commotion was greatly relieved, Xia Anfeng Changsong jumped up in one breath, and replied loudly, "Who is it?"

A group of people rushed upstairs in crowds, and the person in the lead was wearing a red robe, yelling repeatedly: "The list is released, Mr. Bu won No.5, passed the exam!!"

Xia Anfeng was overjoyed, and snatched the name post in his hand to take a look. It listed the names of more than a dozen people on the list, and Bu Zhangbai's name was impressively listed.

The man said: "The young one stood guard in front of the guild hall early in the morning, waiting to announce the good news to all the lords who made the list one by one. After inquiring a few streets, he found Mr. Bu. It was only a little late—" Without waiting for him After finishing speaking, Xia Anfeng took out the broken silver from his bosom, stuffed some in each of them, "Thank you, thank you, let's use the tea money!"

Bu Zhangbai stood behind him, his expression was calmer than his, he smiled slightly, accepting the noisy congratulations of the crowd.

After waiting until those who came to announce the good news were rewarded, Xia Anfeng bought drinks for all the spectators in the inn, and sat down again beaming.He said: "You spend money so lavishly, if you let Hou Ye know, you will say you are a prodigal."

Xia Anfeng beamed and said: "What's the matter! Dad has plenty of money! Such a great thing, even if it costs three times the price, it's still worth it! Xiaoer, let's have some more wine!"

"I passed the general examination, and the palace examination is next." Bu Zhangbai said lightly.

Xia Anfeng said: "Ah, I know. I will accompany you until the end of the palace examination, and when you become an official, we will go home together proudly, to announce the good news to Dad and the others!"

"Xia Anfeng, I gave you that kit in the hope that no matter what happens in the future, you will be safe and sound."

He suddenly brought up the topic just now, Xia Anfeng was startled, and his joy was half-extinguished in front of this soft words.

Luo Tang was vague, the third prince deliberately approached him and Bu Zhangbai, and now Xiaobai said such words under the great news that he had won the exam.He sat up straight, with a solemn expression, and said, "Xiaobai, did something happen?"

Bu Zhangbai looked at him and said nothing, Xia Anfeng simply got up from his seat, sat next to him, and said bluntly: "You don't have to be afraid, if that third prince threatens you or Luo Xiaotang in anything, you can tell me. Although the Dingguo Marquis Mansion is not enough to confront the royal family head-on, it is more than enough to protect you."

He never expected that what was about to happen was not aimed at Bu Zhangbai, but at their Dingguo Houfu.

——"Will you give up the truth about Bu Shuai's unjust death and the blood feud of the Six Thousand Chinese Army for Xia Anfeng's sake?" ——The words still ringing in his ears, Bu Zhangbai's heart trembled, and he gritted his teeth.

No, of course not, of course not.

He said: "I'm fine... I'm worried for you. You are in the capital now, so it's safe; but in the future, when you return to the mansion, you will inevitably have to face your elder brother Xia Feng. He bought a murderer on the way to the capital to hunt him down." You, you have no regard for brotherhood; if you are still so careless and do things without considering the cause and effect, in case he does something to you again—”

Xia Anfeng suddenly realized, and thought that Xiaobai was worried about me.

Seeing his pale face and trembling at the end of his words, he was very touched, and said with a smile: "It turned out to be this matter, don't worry, Luo Xiaotang asked Commander Qin to go back, and he has already exposed this matter, and his father has already punished the eldest brother. Under the eyes of everyone If he wants to do anything to me again, he will be more or less careful, after all, if something happens to me, everyone will be the first to suspect him."

"How do you know that Lord Hou punished Xia Feng?"

"You live in the guild hall. Of course you don't know that Chang Le and I often have correspondence. My father arranged for the people here to raise more than a dozen carrier pigeons. It is very convenient to pass them back and forth. Kneeling in the ancestral hall..." Before the words finished, there were footsteps coming from downstairs, more chaotic than the people who just announced the good news, they kept shouting "Second Master, is Second Master here?"

When Xia Anfeng heard it, it seemed to be the voice of his own servants, and he smiled and said to Bu Zhang, "They came a step late, and they have already announced the happy news first, but, after all, it is a sincere heart." He raised his voice, " Come upstairs."

I saw a servant surnamed Ding rushing up the stairs, holding a carrier pigeon in his hand, his face was pale and pale.

Xia Anfeng saw that his expression was not right, and then saw the carrier pigeon in his hand, and already had a bad feeling, so he stood up abruptly: "What happened?"

The servant surnamed Ding wept and handed him a letter he had taken from the carrier pigeon, saying: "Second Master, there is a letter from the mansion, please hurry back to the mansion—"

Xia Anfeng's mind was racing, he grabbed the letter, only to hear the servant say: "The third master slipped and fell into the pond the day before yesterday, and he is already dead—Master Hou told the second master to go back home immediately, maybe there is still time to send the third master away." Procedure--……"?