An Feng Bamboo Horse

?Xia Anfeng galloped his horse, and the trees on both sides of the official road receded like fallen wheat fields.There were two fast horses behind him, and the two servants of the Xia Mansion tried their best to chase after him, but they couldn't keep up with the speed of the young master in front of him.

Xia Anfeng was shocked and angry, sad and pained, his father's letter didn't specify why the third younger brother Xia Pingchang fell into the water, but he already had some guesses in his heart.

Xia Feng has always been hostile to his concubine younger brother, and he has never cared about Xia Pingchang, who is his mother's compatriot. He was so happy that even Xia Pingchang would use it to bully and play.Bu Zhangbai once saw him dismiss Xia Pingchang's servants, leaving Xia Pingchang alone to play by the pond, almost falling into the pond because of watching fish.

This time Xia Feng bribed the killer to take his own life and it was revealed that his father was furious and severely punished him. I don't know if he would threaten him to deprive him of the title of knighthood.If he is worried that the position of the son will be shaken, he will set his sights on Xia Pingchang...?

——The two of them didn't pose any threat to him in essence, they both came from the blood of their father, why did he always have to be aggressive!

After traveling day and night, he changed to three fast horses, and finally rushed back to Hou Ye's mansion on the fifth day after receiving the letter.Xia Anfeng got off his horse, without even thinking about washing his face, he went straight to the west courtyard where the third brother lived.

As soon as I entered the gate, I was shocked by the scene that greeted my eyes: the west courtyard was covered with scorched earth, ruined walls and ruins, withered vines and weeds lying on the ground. It turned out to be a tragic situation after the fire spread.

Misfire?

Why did Hou Ye's mansion catch fire?

Didn't the third brother stumble and fall into the pond? Why was his house burned to such a miserable state?

"Second Master is back, Second Master——"

Chang Le rushed over, Xia Anfeng grabbed him tightly, "Where's the third brother?"

Chang Le said with a mournful face: "The third master died in the front hall, and the marquis, wife and son are all in the front hall."

There was a bang in Xia Anfeng's head. He originally hoped that the "death" his father said might just be that he couldn't wake up, and he could catch up with the last time to see each other again; who knew that the coffin had been prepared and was just waiting to be buried.

Although he grew up with Bu Zhangbai since childhood, he still has a sincere affection for this younger brother as an elder brother. He would always take him to the streets to play on New Years and holidays, and give him all kinds of gadgets to make him happy.Before leaving for the capital this time, he also made a promise to Xia Pingchang that he would bring back many delicious and interesting things from the capital.

Unexpectedly, this farewell will be separated forever...

Xia Anfeng's footsteps were hasty, and when he approached the front hall, he slowed down his footsteps, and could already hear Mrs. Hou's low weeping sound from inside.

He stepped into the door and saw a pair of nanmu coffins parked in the front hall. The lid of the coffin was already closed, and there was a circle of incense candle yellow paper around it.Mrs. Hou Ye was leaning on the left side of the coffin, twisting a towel in her hand, her eyes were red and swollen; Xia Zun, the Marquis of Dingguo, stood beside her, her face was more haggard than before parting, her heroic face was surrounded by green stubble, and her face was condensed.

Xia Anfeng came forward to greet her, changed her joking tone, and said softly and solemnly: "Father, mother."

Xia Feng stood on the other side of the coffin as if nothing had happened, unaware that the one lying in the coffin was his own younger brother, his eyes looked back and forth at Xia Anfeng who came in with a half-smile.

Xia Anfeng didn't greet him like in the past, and turned a blind eye to him, the two brothers had nothing more to say.

Ding Guohou nodded to him and said: "Go and say goodbye to your brother, tomorrow - he will be buried."

Xia Anfeng stepped heavily, walked to the side of the coffin, and gently pushed the coffin lid open a gap.A strange smell wafted out from the coffin, and one could see Xia Pingchang's slightly swollen face with his eyes closed, as if he was asleep.

There was a burst of sadness in his heart, and the crying of Mrs. Hou Ye who was next to him became louder again.

Xia Anfeng closed the coffin lid and said goodbye to his younger brother silently.

Turning to Marquis Ding, he said in a low voice, "Father..."

He had too many things he wanted to ask, and too many things he wanted to say to his father, Ding Guohou said: "Follow me."

Mrs. Hou's crying stopped slightly, Xia Feng followed a few steps and said, "Father, my child..."

Xia Zun gave him a cold look, this look contained too many meanings, it was like a sword on his body, Xia Feng's heart trembled, he couldn't walk out anyway, so he had to stop in the hall.

Xia Anfeng followed his father to the study room, the door closed, Xia Zun threw himself into the grand master's chair, and heaved a long sigh.

He was only in his early forties, and in Xia Anfeng's memory, he had always looked vigorous and heroic, and he never panicked when things happened, but now he was exhausted.

Xia Anfeng had too many questions buried in his heart, and recalled what he had just seen in the West Courtyard, and asked, "Father, why did the third brother's residence burn down like that, and how did the third brother fall into the water and die?"

Xia Zundao: "It's all my father's fault."

Xia Anfeng was shocked, and couldn't understand the meaning of his father's words for a while, and said in panic: "This is... what does this mean?"

Xia Zun looked at him and said slowly: "Do you know why father married a third wife?"

——This topic seems to have been diverted to an unintelligible place. Is it related to the question I just asked?

Xia Anfeng seemed to be covered by clouds and fog, unable to find his way, but he still shook his head cooperatively.

"I married the first lady. I married your grandfather's fingertips since he was a child. There is no real relationship between the two parties. I married your biological mother two years later. It is a political marriage. In order to quell the riots in foreign countries, it is the current Holy Majesty. Marriage.——I am truly ashamed of both of them."

Xia Anfeng didn't know why his father suddenly mentioned family matters, but since he mentioned that the two wives had no feelings for each other, could it be that Xiaobai's aunt, Bu Xiushu, was someone his father loved deeply?

Xia Zundao: "As for your third aunt, she is the sister of her father's deceased friend, so she should have been taken good care of her. She is willing to commit herself to marry and concede her status as a concubine. It's me... I'm the one who feels sorry for her."

"Father's love is actually someone else, but in this life, it is difficult to be united..." He seemed to be trapped in memories, his expression was emotional and painful, Xia Anfeng stood in front of him, looked at The father, who has always been resolute, actually showed such tenderness of love for his son and daughter, and his heart was pounding wildly. I don't know which high-mountain flower that is difficult to find, or a married woman?Otherwise, why in this life, why can't we be in the same heart as his white head?

"Because I have regrets in my heart, when it comes to treating your family members and your three descendants, you are always alienated and indifferent. You go to other places with all your heart and soul, and rarely discipline yourself. I knew Feng'er's intentions were not right. When he was young When there is a sign, we should strictly stop it and kill his evil thoughts, instead of letting it develop and go further and further wrong, and go to today's situation—”

Xia Anfeng took a deep breath and said, "So, it's really big brother...?"

It's one thing for him to guess, but it's another thing to actually hear it from his father.

"He didn't just chase and kill you. Commander Qin disappeared shortly after he returned to the mansion and informed me of the incident. Immediately afterwards, Brother Chang's house caught fire and a charred body was found. Not long after, Brother Chang drowned and his mother cried to death. However, she has never asked me to find out the ins and outs of Brother Chang's drowning, and never even mentioned asking his entourage to find out what happened. If this matter had nothing to do with Feng'er, it would be strange if it didn't turn upside down according to her temperament. ?”

"..."

Xia Zun looked at him and said slowly: "Although it is a conjecture, it is almost inseparable. Once the real evidence is obtained, Feng'er's position as the son of the world can no longer be preserved. Thinking for the father—"

Xia Feng tried every means and tried his best to prevent Xia Zun from taking the position of son to Xia Pingchang or Xia Anfeng. He only wished that his two younger brothers died suddenly overnight.However, he acted recklessly, with clumsy methods, and thought he was cheating, but in fact, every move was seen by Ding Guohou.Xia Pingchang's death did not alleviate the suspicion of his and Qin Jiuxian's disappearance, but became the last straw that crushed Ding Guohou's endurance.

Xia Anfeng took a step back and shook his head desperately: "No, Dad, don't count on me, I can't do it, I've never been this material—"

Xia Zundao: "Why are you so busy panicking? If you don't succeed in one day, you still have one month; if you don't succeed in one month, you still have one year; to you."

"Yes..." Xia Anfeng squeezed out a wry smile. That's what he said, but he was terrified just by hearing the word "prince son". There are also thousands of people, and there are more than [-] troops under his father's direct command. How can he, who is so incompetent, be able to afford it!

However, Xia Zun showed a strange look on his face, and his voice was a little lower: "In the future, there will be another important matter involving the Xia Mansion's secrets, which needs to be told to you - there are some sins that should be paid for, as long as they are in my hands. , or in your hands in the future..."

He looked at his son with a dazed and ignorant expression, and was deeply troubled. Should he tell this secret to future generations and be vigilant; or should he take it to the grave and bury it with the truth of the battle?

He has guarded this bloody truth that cannot be seen for more than ten years, blinding his conscience and righteousness for the sake of his ancestors' foundation; however, the sun is shining, how long can this secret be kept hidden?Among his descendants are cruel, stupid and clumsy descendants like Xia Feng. Is this considered a kind of retribution of the karmic cycle?

However, he thought, at least there is Xia Anfeng... at least this son has a pure heart and upright conduct, and perhaps he has continued to hide the secret, so that the Xia Mansion can be passed on in his hands without having to bear the heavy burden of conscience. ——

It's better to let the grievances between the Xia family and the Bu family end in his generation.

Bu Jingchen lay on his back on the bed, separated by a curtain, unable to see the expression on his face clearly.His eyes were closed, and he couldn't see if he was listening to the man's words, or if he heard it, but pretended to ignore it.

Xia Zun stood in front of his bed for a long time, staring at the motionless figure behind the curtain for a long time.

"When things are over here, I will pass on the title to Xia Anfeng, and then I will take you out of this state, out of the Central Plains, and go to a foreign land. I will never return to this sad place."

He said softly, "I'm not willing to kill you, but I won't let you leave my custody, lest you come back in the future and ruin Feng'er and the others. From now on, you and I will bring the previous generation with us." The blood feud owed, should die in this world."?