return to peace

After Chu Zexi learned of the bad news, although he couldn't go to the funeral in person, he took over all the government affairs, allowing Chu Lingshang to watch the first seven days with peace of mind.After Chu Lingshang knelt before the coffin for seven days in hemp and filial piety, on a crisp autumn day, he cremated Wen Ruyu. He collected his father's ashes with his own hands, put them in two small white porcelain vases, and held them tightly in his arms. middle.

On the day of leaving, the little yellow dog howled at the little white porcelain bottle in his arms and tugged at the hem of his clothes to prevent him from leaving.He knelt down and gently touched the little yellow dog's head, and said softly, "May I take you with me?" The little yellow dog rubbed against his palm, very cute but sad.This dog is a stray dog ​​that Wen Ruyu picked up after living in seclusion. When he first picked it up, he was still a puppy. He was bullied and was dying. Now he has grown to such a big size. It was named by Ji Fan. Ji Fan saw it When he saw it, he was attracted by its yellow hair, and immediately decided to call it "Xiao Huang". Chu Lingshang always felt that it was too casual, but he never changed it.

He stood up, and the little yellow dog followed him step by step. He handed the white porcelain bottle to Wei Xi, took a last look at the empty wooden house, and closed the fence of the yard with his own hands.Since then, there really is no son Ruyu in the world.

Chu Lingshang first went to his hometown in the south of the Yangtze River, and buried one of the white porcelain vases next to his mother. He knocked three times neatly to the tombstones of his father and mother.Afterwards, he went to Cangshan Mountain again, and buried another white porcelain vase and the purple gold sachet that Wen Ruyu always wore on his heart at the foot of Cangshan Mountain. He erected a monument, but did not engrave the words. He waited for Ji Fan to engrave it himself. He also kowtowed three times to the wordless stele, for himself and Ji Fan.

The grievances and resentments of the older generation are gone with the wind, but the relationship between him and Ji Fan is still unknown.The great grief did not crush Chu Lingshang, but it tormented him with insomnia every day. In just one month, the illnesses that had been recovered with great difficulty began to recur again.When he rushed back to Xiliang, Chu Lingshang was already too thin.The first time Chu Zexi saw him, she almost cried.

He was lying weakly on the soft bed in the carriage, his face was pale, his cheeks were sunken, his eyes were closed tightly, his hair was scattered on both sides, and he was unconscious.Chu Zexi gently hugged him, like holding a rare treasure. He had imagined holding him in his arms countless times, but it was not like this.

Fortunately, it was just excessive sadness, not terminal illness. The next morning, Chu Lingshang woke up leisurely, and saw Chu Zexi who was standing by his side, lying on the edge of the bed, with blue shadows in his eyes.Chu Lingshang looked at him for a while, not knowing what he was thinking, the little yellow dog lying on the ground opened his eyes and found that Chen Lingshang had woken up, and rushed over excitedly barking.With such a big movement, Chu Zexi was startled awake, just in time to bump into Chen Lingshang's eyes that hadn't moved away.

"Ling Yan, you're awake, how do you feel?"

Chen Lingshang smiled weakly and said, "It's much better."

Chu Zexi touched his forehead with his hand, and felt relieved that the fever had indeed subsided.

"Are you hungry? Let's eat something, your favorite chicken shredded matsutake porridge, okay?"

"Okay." Chu Lingshang touched the little yellow dog obediently lying beside the bed, and said softly.

Chu Zexi didn't reluctantly be urged back to the palace by Chu Lingshang until Chu Lingshang had finished drinking the porridge and the imperial doctor had finished his pulse diagnosis.Chu Zexi understood that in fact, Chu Lingshang found out that he still had him in his heart, but he didn't care. Now, as far as he was concerned, he was already content with Chu Lingshang being able to be in front of him in peace.

Although he made it through this time, it caused Chu Lingshang to linger on the sick bed again. His illness was always repeated like this, which made him feel a little tired.

"Xiaofan,

See the word as the face.

Another cold winter, you have been away for two and a half years, I miss you very much.do you know?Father passed away.Before he died, he asked me to bury half of his ashes in Jiangnan with his mother, and the other half with Uncle Ji at the foot of Cangshan Mountain.I fulfilled his wish, I think, he should have no regrets now.

Xiao Wuyou is six years old, and he is already a young adult. I have many affairs, so I sent him to Wuming Mountain to be with his master and foster father.The last time I went to see him, he was able to memorize the entire Analects of Confucius, and even showed me a set of punches.Neither of us can be called both civil and military, maybe Xiao Wuyou can help us realize this dream.

There has been no movement in Chen Guo recently, but I always feel a little uneasy, like the tranquility before the rain is about to come, I hope it is just an illusion, after all, Xiliang is not yet fully prepared.

Xiaofan, where are you?How is the food?Can you dress warmly?I really miss you, miss you very much.

——Ling Shang"

After writing the last word, Chu Lingshang stared blankly at the letter paper with a pen in his hand. The wind and snow were howling outside the window. Through the crack of the window, he could see the heavy snow falling outside, and the whole world was covered in white.The charcoal fire was burning in the house, and the ink from the pen dripped down and swelled on the letter paper. As if awakened from a start, Chen Lingshang put down the pen, folded and folded the letter paper, walked to the edge of the charcoal fire, and threw it lightly. Throw it in and burn it.He just stood there watching quietly, the tongue of flame rolled around the edge of the letter paper, and began to engulf the deep-seated thoughts every word, until it was reduced to ashes.

Linglong dice puts red beans on the bones and knows nothing.

In the spring of the third year after Ji Fan left, the imperial concubine became pregnant again, and Chu Zexi couldn't help but be overjoyed.In March of the same year, Chen Jingxuan finally agreed to let Chu Zetan go back to Xiliang. Although Chu Zexi and Chu Lingshang were a little surprised by his compromise, they were still very happy that the sister they had loved since childhood was able to return to their mother country.

The spring is warm and the flowers are blooming, and happiness is added to happiness. In such a peaceful day, it is almost thought that it will continue to be peaceful, but the fact is that a bigger storm is brewing in the calm.

On April 230th, Xiliang [-], Chen Guo ignited a beacon in Qucheng, the border between the two countries, and the war finally started, half a year earlier than Chu Lingshang predicted.

The chess pieces that Chu Lingshang placed in the Chen Kingdom began to show their effects, and the information came like snowflakes. The tiger and wolf division led by Huwei fought against the enemy outside the Xiliang land time and time again. Come along, the counterattack begins.

Chu Zetan has lived in Chen Country for many years, and he knows more about Chen Country's royal family and the situation of Chen Country than Chu Zexi and Chu Lingshang.She persuaded the two elder brothers to go out with the army and helped Xiliang capture five cities west of Qucheng.Wherever the Xiliang army went, the military discipline was strict and they would never disturb the people.

Just as the Xiliang army was advancing triumphantly, a huge danger was lurking in the dark.It was a silent night, those people who thought they were ordinary people took up weapons, and in the dead of night, they captured the top of the city and the government office that was supposed to be the commander's camp.Chu Lingshang finally understood why he had always felt wrong. According to the information he got from the dark army, the victory of this battle was too easy. Only now did he know that Chen Jingxuan's real intention was to exchange five cities for their army to go deep. , and then he can catch the turtle in the urn.He lied to everyone, including him.

Huwei protected Chu Zexi and Chen Lingshang and fled in a hurry. When they wanted to meet Chu Zetan, they found that the building was empty.When all the truth came to light, Chu Zexi was furious on the spot and spat out a mouthful of black blood.The enemy troops kept coming, and the more they retreated, they realized that the people in the five cities were all enemy troops.Chen Jingxuan sacrificed half of his people in exchange for them going into danger without knowing it.

Chu Lingshang was secretly startled, Chen Jingxuan was more terrifying than he imagined.Fortunately in the misfortune, because of his doubts, he sent a letter to Chu Huaimin in advance, and he was stationed outside Qucheng. Qucheng is three days away from the city where they are now. He will definitely have doubts about the news.But the premise is that they can survive for three days and wait until Chu Huaimin arrives.

The mountains and forests at night looked a little gloomy, and the howling of wolves not far away was frightening.Huwei took a small part of the remnants to protect Chu Zexi and Chu Lingshang and hid here.

"National teacher, let the king eat something." Huwei handed over a rabbit's leg and motioned for Chu Lingshang to take it to Chu Zexi.On the way to escape, Chu Lingshang was also physically and mentally exhausted. He tied the scattered hair behind his ears, took it, took a few deep breaths, cheered himself up, and walked towards Chu Zexi who was leaning against a big tree for a nap.

Chu Zexi's complexion was very bad, pale and bloodless, because of the two days of running around, he looked in a mess.Chu Lingshang was not much better, but he knew that he could not fall down, if he fell down, Chu Zexi would definitely have no way out.He knelt down, patted Chu Zexi's shoulder lightly, and said, "Zexi, eat something."

Chu Zexi slowly opened his eyes, looked at him, and shook his head: "I can't eat."

"I know that you are heartbroken because of the betrayal of your loved ones, but you can't ignore your body. Your wife and your unborn child are waiting for you. If you don't eat something, how can you have the strength to go back?"

It's okay if you don't say anything, but Chu Zexi's tears fell when he said it, his eyes were red, and he choked up and said intermittently: "I don't understand...she is my most beloved sister, why, why did she betray me, betrayed me?" Her home country?"

Chu Lingshang didn't know what to say. Maybe he had experienced the betrayal of his close relatives since he was a child. Although it was not what he thought later, his heart's ability to bear such things was better than that of the pampered Chu Zexi. too much.It may also be that he and Chu Zetan are not so close.

"After you capture the capital city of Chen Kingdom, you can ask her yourself." Chu Lingshang handed him the rabbit's leg, and Chu Zexi watched his hand shed a few tears, then slapped her hand hard. With a touch, he took the food in his hand and gnawed on it.

Chu Lingshang accompanied him silently, he didn't know what to say to comfort him, so he had to stay by his side to let him know that he was still there.

They extinguished the firewood, fearing that the light would attract attention.Everyone rested silently in the forest, the pale moonlight came in, and the future was uncertain.