Si Tian Guan

As the sun slanted to the west, people who entered the city in the morning left the city one after another, walking, riding cars or riding horses, and all rushed home before sunset.

Most of the people live within ten miles from the city gate to the suburbs of Beijing, and only a few people travel far, and they have to cross the Shili Pavilion, where there are border guards. .

Where there are people, there is business.

Along the official road not far from Shili Pavilion, there are tea stalls and taverns scattered here and there for those who leave Beijing to rest temporarily.

By this time, the number of customers has naturally decreased.

The waiter in the tavern has worked for many years, knowing that this is a rare time for him to be lazy and take a nap. He was lying on the oily wooden table and fell asleep, but he heard a sound like a wooden stick hitting the door. on the sound.

When he looked up, a young man was holding a wooden crutch to enter the door. The wooden crutch was pointing to the ground, he was looking for his way in a strange way, and then knocked on the door indiscriminately.

Seeing that the young man was carrying a simple package with a knot tied on his chest, and his eyes were covered with a black cloth, Xiao Er couldn't see the way, so he rushed up and helped him up.

"Where are you going, little brother?" He wiped the table enthusiastically, and asked curiously, "Why don't you find someone to accompany you? How can you go out of Beijing and take a long way with you like this?"

The boy nodded to him following the voice, and smiled with his lips curled up: "I'm the only one, no one is going with me."

Xiao Er heard the gentle and clear voice, which was so good that it made one's bones crumble. He suddenly raised his head to see the boy's face clearly, and let out a "Yeah".

"What?" The boy's hand on the table curled up unconsciously, as if frightened.

"It's okay, it's okay," Xiaoer wiped the table with his hands and feet diligently, and said with a smile: "Brother, don't say that the villain has no knowledge. The villain has been making a living on this road for more than ten years, and there are thousands of people who greet and send him off. Tens of thousands, I have never seen a person as good-looking as a fairy like you."

The young man seemed to have something on his mind, he lowered his head slightly and responded: "The little brother is too famous, he is just an ordinary passer-by."

Xiao Er actually wanted to say it was a pity, but on the one hand she felt sorry for others, but on the other hand she felt that there might be no eyes in this world that could match this face—what kind of eyes would those be, so she clicked her tongue in regret.

"What would you like to eat, brother?"

"Trouble me, brother, you can serve any dish you like in the store, not spicy."

"Come on! Are you going to pass Shili Pavilion?"

Xiaoer was enthusiastic, so he couldn't help babbling a few more words: "Then you have to hurry up, no matter how late it is, even if you can get by, there are wild mountains outside, and there is no place to live. Now the night is cold and dew heavy, you like this I'm afraid it will be even more inconvenient. How about staying here for one night before leaving?"

These words seemed to hit the young man's heart, so he simply hummed, noncommittal.

Seeing that he didn't want to start a conversation, Xiao Er glanced a few more times before turning and leaving.

The surroundings became quiet, even Xiaoer's footsteps disappeared outside the door, presumably he went to the back kitchen to find someone.

Qu Chenzhou sighed softly, and gathered the cloak a little tighter.

It has been more than half a month since Qiushou's team set off. If it was in the past, they would have stayed for about [-] days, but this time there was a sudden change in the hunting ground, and the emperor would definitely not stay for long.

While he was counting the days, he couldn't help worrying about Bai Shiyan.

The hexagram "to die to live" is too vague, what kind of choice is to die, so as to be sure to seize a chance of life, not to mention Bai Shiyan, even he himself doesn't know.

If Bai Shiyan really unfortunately died in Chengfeng paddock, all his previous plans would be in vain.

But he did the divination a few times, but the words of the divination did not change, it seemed that it was just a false risk, so he bet most of the chances on Bai Shiyan.

During the days when he stayed alone in the other courtyard, he also held that finger and thought over and over again.

Everyone was not around, and the future seemed to be covered in an inextricable fog. He stood at the fork in the road, looking around blankly.

Back to the situation of the previous life.

Every step is on the tip of the knife, every step is a gamble.

"Live to die..." Qu Chenzhou muttered to himself.

Going forward, the Shili Pavilion is his watershed, the first way to get through, and the second way to get through, he has done his best, and now he can only listen to the destiny.

He was in a daze, and there were footsteps at the door, coming straight to the table.

This time the second brother knew not to disturb his quietness, he was not as noisy as before.

The porcelain plates made a crisp ding ding sound when they touched the wooden table, and two plates and one bowl were placed in front of them.

It's not convenient for him to look at it, but the smell seems to be his favorite.

The waiter was considerate in serving him, not only laid out the dishes for him, but also sounded like there was still tea, and then handed the chopsticks to him.

"Thank you."

Qu Chenzhou said politely, and fumbled to get the chopsticks, but the moment he touched the familiar hand, he suddenly withdrew his hand.

The uncaught chopsticks fell to the ground, and there were two muffled bangs, like a hammer hitting the heart.

Almost at the same time, the front of the eyelids lit up, and the black cloth was ripped off, and the voice that made him tremble was from the opposite side.

"Shen Zhou..." The man propped up the table and leaned over to him: "The autumn colors are charming, you want to come out and take a look, don't you?"

Qu Chenzhou's face turned pale, and he stood up abruptly, the stool under him knocked over to the ground, making a loud noise in the quiet shop.

"Sir..."

Liu Chongming was standing in front of him, but after being separated for half a month, the smile in front of him became strange, so strange that it was creepy.

Qu Chenzhou glanced around calmly, there were only the two of them in this simple tavern, and even Xiao Er didn't know where he was going.

There is a second way.

I don't know whether to say his luck is good or bad.

"Senior," he tried to calm his breathing, and slightly nodded, "Your Majesty came back so quickly."

"I miss you, of course soon." Liu Chongming motioned him to sit down, and explained with a smile: "There was an accident in the paddock, and I came back early. I will escort my sister back to the palace first, and I will go home right away. I thought I could see you. I didn't expect you to run out by yourself—it's easy for me to find."

"Sorry..." Qu Chenzhou didn't sit down, poured tea for Liu Chongming, took a step back, and said, "Sorry."

Liu Chongming twirled the teacup with two fingers, and the smell of coarse tea with almost no fragrance rushed into his nose, like a dry hand, peeling off his camouflage layer by layer.

Anger has been ups and downs in my heart for a long time, but when I meet people face to face, I finally calm down.

He couldn't figure out why this happened, why did Qu Chenzhou treat him like this.

If he didn't ask clearly, and didn't know the other party's attitude clearly, he didn't believe it, and he couldn't be reconciled.

"Are you sorry?" Through the curling heat, he looked up and asked softly, "What are you sorry for? Because you left without permission?"

Qu Chenzhou pursed his lips and refused to speak.

Liu Chongming smiled, the tea in his mouth was too astringent to swallow.

"When did you find out about Finger Pulling? I left the shadow guard to concentrate on serving you, but I didn't expect you to still be able to escape. I underestimated you."

"But it's my fault to circle you. I don't blame you. Shen Zhou..."

He adjusted his breathing before speaking again.

"Don't you know a lot of things? I just said to send my sister back to the palace. Why don't you ask why?"

"When I was in the paddock, a mountain fox ran up to watch the city. My sister was frightened. When the imperial doctor checked her pulse, I found out that my sister was pregnant for more than a month."

"You know, right? Right, you shook your head at me before, did you not know, or did you refuse to answer?"

Listening to this series of non-stop questioning, Qu Chenzhou moved his lips, and asked after a while: "Is the imperial concubine and the little highness safe?"

Liu Chongming lowered his gaze, looked at the table, and did not answer his words: "Shen Zhou, compared to my sister, have you forgotten someone else?"

He waited for the three words to be spoken, for the other party to explain the note hidden in the sachet.

But there was only silence in the air.

"It's Bai Shiyan!" He drank, shook his hand, and splashed the whole cup of tea on Qu Shenzhou's face: "Why don't you ask, how is Shi Yan doing now?!"

The finely divided tea leaves stuck to the hair, and together with the tea, flowed down the wet hair to the cheeks, Qu Chenzhou didn't wipe it off, and raised his eyes silently.

"How's the big brother?"

Liu Chongming suddenly kicked the table between the two of them away, the old wood hit the table and chairs beside it, broke several sections, and a large cloud of dust was blown out and dispersed.

"You still dare to call him big brother?" He suppressed the hysteria in his throat.

"Tell me, did you write that note—yes! Only you can write! Only your handwriting is exactly the same as mine! Tell me! Did you let Shi Yan go to the south of Beiwangpo alone?"

Qu Shenzhou's silence said everything.

"It's the Dragoons, right?"

Liu Chongming laughed miserably, he was the one who was blind, he was the one who took Qu Shenzhou to the Dragon Cavalry Army's garrison, and he was the accomplice who put Shi Yan to death.

"You asked me to take you there twice to watch the Dragoons, and it took so much pains. I really underestimated you. Didn't you, Qu Chenzhou," he spat out three words through his teeth: "Qu Sitian..."

These three words are his entire bet, and they are also his greatest fear and hatred. He hopes to hear something, even if Qu Shenzhou asks him paradoxically - what is the son talking about, he may lose his head, Self-deception.

But Qu Chenzhou didn't even bother to maintain his vain and submissive pretense, he was chillingly quiet in these three words.

"What did the prince remember?"

Liu Chongming choked in his throat and let out a laugh.

He really liked Qu Chenzhou's cleverness, and he should have thought that, just because of this cleverness, Qu Chenzhou would not make unnecessary struggles, and knew that negotiating with him calmly was the best way.

But this time, Qu Chenzhou might have miscalculated.

Hope dissipated like a bubble, how much love and desire there was in the past, now how much disgust is there, so disgusting that even seeing that face, I wish I could poke my eyes blind.

In fact, he has no room for bargaining at all.

He didn't want to be led by the nose, so naturally he would not answer this question.

"After Shi Yan's accident, I thought about it for a long time. Some things I can understand, and some things I can't understand. Can I ask Qu Sitian to clarify my doubts?"

Qu Chenzhou took a few steps back, sat down silently, and motioned for him to continue.

The past is like sand between fingers, just open your hand casually, and it will disappear without a trace in the wind. The accumulated love and mutual affection for two years seem to have never existed.

They are still strangers who separated each other in the study.

The last eagerness in Liu Chongming's eyes dissipated, like a beast caught by a hunter, struggling to break free with all his strength, but it was already bloody.

"You told me that the reason why King Qi attacked first is because King Qi has military power in his hands. Once the military power is released, the remaining two will inevitably fight for power, and there is no time for him to care about it. It also just allows my sister to have a chance to give birth to a prince."

"This statement is impeccable, but..." He sneered.

"It's only now that I realize that the Bai family also has military power, which is not much bigger than the temptation of King Qi."

"An accident happened to Shi Yan, and the Beiya also has no leader. Once Shi Yan dies, Shi Lei is still not stable, and it is difficult to take on the big responsibility. He has successfully relieved me of my left and right arms, right?"

"My sister's fetus is unstable. If I don't arrive in time, I won't be able to keep it. The Liu family wants to seize the heir, but the delay will be even longer."

"King Qi has a southern office, so naturally he has nothing to do with the northern office. Needless to say, King Ning is a lump of mud."

"So... who are you for!"

Liu Chongming suddenly smashed the teacup in his hand to the ground, stepped forward a few steps, and pinched Qu Shenzhou's neck with his palm.

He admitted that he didn't want to bear it anymore, he didn't want to pretend to be this ridiculously calm, he just wanted to bite off the throat in front of him like in a dream.

Use blood to vent your anger.

"why!"

Qu Chenzhou grabbed his wrists with both hands, panted with his neck raised, but his eyes seemed to be mocking him.

"For whom? What does your son think? I have a lot of things I want, and since you can't give them to me, I'll get them myself."

Liu Chongming was furious, suddenly raised his hand, and slapped Qu Chenzhou's cheek.

"What do you want, I didn't give it to you? Ah? Tell me! What exactly do you want!"

"Do you only see glory and wealth? Is climbing the ladder that important to you?"

"How did I, Liu Chongming, feel sorry for you? You have been plotting to harm me for the past two lifetimes! What did I do wrong! Tell me!"

"How can Shi Yan feel sorry for you? My aunt and uncle treat you like a parent and child, and treat you wholeheartedly. Do you dare to go and see your aunt?"

"Shi Yan's whereabouts are unknown now. My aunt stays up all day and night, just waiting for news from Shi Yan! Do you dare to visit my aunt?"

"Qu Chenzhou, where is your heart! Is it made of stone?"

Qu Chenzhou licked the bloody smell on his lips, suddenly smiled, completely gave up resisting, and climbed up Liu Chongming's arm with both hands.

"The Shizi and the Bai family treat me well, is it as good as what I want?"

"When you accused me of only thinking about climbing up, did you ever think about what kind of life I lived in slavery? Have you ever tasted it?"

"Dare to ask my son, who wants to be a slave for the rest of his life? Without suffering from others, what qualifications do you have to persuade others to do good?"

"How can I have a heart made of stone? When I'm with the prince, it's not a lie that my heart pleases the prince."

"But when the prince left Beijing in a hurry, did you think about me? How did the prince treat me when he entered the capital? Do you still want me to be grateful to the prince now?"

Liu Chongming was stunned for a moment: "I entered the capital? How did I treat you?"

"..." Qu Chenzhou's astonishment was fleeting, and soon he smiled with relief: "I don't care about the past, it's better to be more magnanimous, the past is over."

He pulled Liu Chongming to bend down, breathing like blue, as if he didn't feel the hand pinched around his neck.

"Since the son is open and honest, I will just say it directly. If the son's current strength does not have the help of nobles, he will be far away from that position..."

"I waited very anxiously, but I was judging the situation."

"Since being caught up by the prince, how about we make a deal?"

Liu Chongming's eyes flickered: "What deal?"

Sensing that the strength pinched around his neck was weakening, Qu Shenzhou put his arms around Liu Chongming's neck, smiling.

"No matter what I have done in the past, who I have helped, and now I am willing to work hard for my son, you should understand that I can do many things."

"I can promise three things to my son. First, the son will be in charge of the military. Second, let the imperial concubine give birth to the little prince smoothly. Third, help the little prince ascend to the supreme position. But..."

He changed the subject: "I also have three requests."

Liu Chongming seemed to be persuaded, and his expression eased: "Say it."

"First, son, don't doubt me anymore, second, obey me, third..."

Qu Shenzhou's wrist moved suddenly, and an inch-long spike emerged from his sleeve, stabbing straight at the back of Liu Chongming's neck.

But in the blink of an eye, he suddenly screamed, clutching his pierced shoulder and fell to the ground, shivering and curling up into a ball.

The shadow guard who appeared quietly stood behind Liu Chongming.

"Qu Chenzhou, it's a good plan." Liu Chongming stepped on his wound and smiled grimly: "If you want to plot against me, I will make you regret it!"