Linque

Yiye Gucheng is nearly half a month's drive from the imperial capital.Chu Heng set off from Lishan Mountain in July and a half, and went around to Guangling Lushui first. A month passed by the time he arrived at the Imperial Capital of Zhongzhou. Unfortunately, he missed the Mid-Autumn Festival, which was already August [-]th.

It is said that the moon is sixteen round on the fifteenth day, and the sky is not yet dark. Children and children hold jade rabbit lanterns in their hands and eat reunion cakes in their mouths. Under the leadership of their parents, they have already gathered together to wait for the moon at night. .The beauty of the day and the season, the Mid-Autumn Festival brings to everyone the joy and joy of family reunion.

Chu Heng walked through the stream of people wearing a veiled hat. He was heading in a different direction from most of the pedestrians on the street. Going north and inward, you will find the residences of the royal relatives, aristocratic families, and the Zhongpinghou Mansion. .

The people on the long street gradually thinned out, the bright and prosperous lights of thousands of families in the outer city of the imperial capital gradually moved away from him, and the inner city built by power and gentry began to come into Chu Heng's eyes in the afterglow of the setting sun.In the deepest part of the inner city, behind the Yongding River, is the majestic and solemn nine-fold palace, which is the residence of the emperor.

Today's son, Ling Ye, is the son of the first emperor and empress.When he ascended the throne when he was young, he was once under the control of the first emperor and his successor, that is, the current empress dowager Zhong.

Two years ago, a palace change in Jiuchong Que completely cleaned the inner and outer city of the imperial capital.

Overnight, the Empress Dowager Zhong retired to the Palace of Mercy and Peace to enjoy her old age. The eldest son of the Empress Dowager King Qi failed in the rebellion and fled the imperial capital overnight. The Yanxi Zhong family was also punished by the barbarians.

The sixth year of Xuanxi was a year of bloody storms, and everyone in Kyushu, inside and outside the court was in danger.

Under the control of the Empress Dowager, and under the perfunctory neglect of the officials, the young emperor suddenly grew into the appearance of an emperor overnight.

But everyone tacitly knew that their emperor was still young and had a long way to go.

The power of the Son of Heaven is never only attached to the dragon chair in the Xuanzheng Hall. It is in the hands of the emperor, but it is also in the court hall, among the aristocratic families, in the inner and outer cities of the imperial capital, and in the vast world of Dayin Kyushu. The emperor himself went to fight.

The moon was looming behind the clouds, the sound of evening drums from Yi'an Temple outside the city could be heard in the distance, the first night light in front of the Imperial City Palace in the distance was quietly lit, and Chu Heng walked slowly to the side gate of Zhong Pinghou's mansion.

The rich door in front of him was strange and alienated. The last time he knocked on it was ten years ago when his biological mother, Ji Wusu, died of illness.

Chu Heng stood in front of the door and hesitated for a while, and was about to step forward, when the rich door suddenly opened from the inside, and a young servant came out holding a lantern-lighting slave.

The setting sun hanging at the junction of heaven and earth elongated Chu Heng's shadow infinitely, and it fell alone in front of the gate of Zhong Pinghou's mansion.The boy glanced up at the shadow, his eyes fixed on his face.

The owner of the shadow has a light expression, a youthful and beautiful face, his eyebrows, eyes, nose and lips seem to have been carefully drawn with every stroke, and he is as beautiful as a person who has stepped out of a picture scroll.He was standing in the setting sun, and the setting sun was also very nostalgic. The last ray of warm afterglow before the sunset unreservedly coated his side face, dyeing his fair face with a soft halo.

The boy has been in the imperial capital for more than ten years, and he claims to have seen countless handsome men and women, but he didn't know until today that what the teacher in the mansion said when he read a poem, "Lang Yan is unique, there is no other in the world." Two" should look like.

He collected himself, and asked warmly with a smile on his face: "Young master, this is Zhongpinghou's residence, are you looking for someone?"

Chu Heng was not surprised when he heard the words. He shook his head, and was about to speak, when suddenly a voice of reprimand came from behind the half-closed door: "Le Qing, you are lazy again! What are you loitering about lighting a lantern?"

The steward of the mansion came over yelling, and when he saw Chu Heng standing in front of the door, he was stunned. He cleared his throat, and asked in a slow voice, "Dare you ask who you are?"

Chu Heng was not surprised, and only said briefly: "My name is Chu Heng."

"Chu?" The steward heard the name sound familiar, frowned and thought about it for a while, then suddenly remembered that there seemed to be such a second son in their mansion who left home all the year round and studied art in Lishan, named "Heng".

A month ago, a letter came from Lishan, which said that the second young master would return home soon.However, it was Mid-Autumn Festival in August, and everyone in the house was busy preparing for the festive season. After reading this letter, it was put aside. Anyway, an insignificant bastard came back as soon as he came back, and no one took it to heart.

Dayin established the country with martial arts, from the royal family to the common people, those who have the ability and qualifications will learn martial arts in the aristocratic family school or the martial arts sects in various places.Lishan, Chu Heng's teacher, is a leader in the martial arts sect.

In recent years, there are frequent rookies in Lishan Mountain, and there are two Mahayana realm masters Ye Jianwei and Lishan Dongjun Ji Wuyue sitting in the town. They are faintly fighting against Yishan Academy, the number one martial arts school in Kyushu. Personality is highly respected.

But no matter how good the teacher is, the disciples must strive for their own strength. People like Chu Heng, who are mediocre and blunt in aptitude, are not born to practice martial arts.

Back then, he was able to go to Mount Li only because his biological mother, Ji Wushi, had an old relationship with Mu Xiyun, the owner of the Xingxing Pavilion. In addition, Chu Heng was not young enough, weak and sick, and looked like he died prematurely. It didn't make much sense, so Zhong Pinghou simply agreed to his biological mother's request and let Chu Heng go to Lishan Mountain, leaving him to fend for himself outside.

But even though he can't learn martial arts, just looking at Chu Heng's current demeanor like a jade tree, it is not a waste to go to Lishan.

The steward led the way. Along the way, the servants in the Hou Mansion looked in their direction curiously, and the steward impatiently introduced them.On the contrary, the young man named Le Qing took the bag and curtain from Chu Heng graciously, and followed behind him without stopping.

When the wanderer returns home, he first pays homage to his parents.

At that time, Zhong Pinghou Chuhong was preparing dinner with his wife, Ye Shi, in the main hall of the backyard. His sons and daughters sat beside him, and Chu Heng's younger sister, Chu Xin, was also there. I haven't returned, and I'm not in the imperial capital now.

When the concierge came to report, the food on the table was not ready yet, Zhong Pinghou talked and laughed with his wife and children, and the atmosphere was very happy.

Hearing Chu Heng's return, the laughter in the hall stopped for a moment, the boys and girls looked at each other in doubt, Chu Hong and Ye Shi looked at each other, and vaguely remembered that there was indeed such a thing.

So I hurriedly ordered to come in.

The steward only brought Chu Heng into the door, then stopped, and stood by the door waiting.Chu Heng walked in facing all the curious eyes. He was in the Chu family for the second time, but the eldest son of the Hou Mansion died early, and Chu Heng became the longest living. up.

With the scrutinizing eyes of the whole room, Chu Heng greeted Zhong Pinghou and Mrs. Ye, and greeted each other with his brothers and sisters.

Xu Shi was too unfamiliar, and it was clear that blood was thicker than water. After the etiquette was over, they looked at each other, not knowing what to say for a while.

In the end, it was the mistress Ye who broke the silence, coughed lightly, and asked, "It's still early, and Heng'er hasn't eaten yet, right? I'll ask someone to add some extra bowls and chopsticks."

Chu Heng lowered his eyes and narrowed his eyebrows, and said in a flat voice: "Thank you for the meal, but I felt that I came late on the road, so I didn't want to disturb the elders, so I already used it outside."

Mrs. Ye stopped persuading her, and just nodded her head: "You are tired after running around on the road, so you should rest earlier." Then, he pointed to a maid serving tea, and ordered: "Take Heng'er there. ..."

She paused for a while, thought for a while and continued: "Well, go to the bamboo branch building to rest."

The maid took the order and led Chu Heng outside.

Chu Xin, who was standing on the farthest side, frowned slightly when she heard the words, she hesitated to speak, she pursed her lips and took half a step forward, watching Chu Heng's back leave the hall door.

The setting sun finally gathered the last ray of light, and the reunion moon hidden behind the clouds also appeared.

Chu Heng's hearing today was too sensitive, and he could hear it to the extreme, so that until he left the yard, he could still hear the laughter and laughter that continued to come from the hall after he left.

The boy Leqing followed behind him with his luggage. After holding back for a while, he stretched out his hand to hold the steward. When Chu Heng walked ten steps away from them, he lowered his voice and asked, "Isn't the bamboo branch building a small guest room? The place is also remote. How do you let the second son live there?"

The steward didn't care, and said casually, "Master Hou and his wife must have had a lot of things to do these past few days, and they didn't remember that the second son was going back to the mansion. It's okay, it's the same wherever you live, let's go."

Le Qing kicked a stone, curled his lips and followed.

The bamboo branch building is next to the bamboo forest in the southeast corner. The yard is small and very clean.Chu Heng stepped into the building, even though it was a guest room, it was suitable for him.

The night is as dark as ink, the moon is rising slowly, and there are large fireworks blooming outside. On August [-]th, tonight is a good time for the whole family to enjoy the moon.

Chu Heng stood alone in the shadows in front of the window, the moon in the imperial capital was very round, bright and clear, watching the world of fireworks from above the sky.It's a pity that even the most perfect moon can't shine.

Suddenly there were footsteps outside the door, Chu Heng looked back, the second girl in the mansion and his sister of the same mother, Chu Xin, was standing by the door holding a red lacquer food box, looking at him hesitantly.

"Ah Xin?"

When Chu Xin heard Chu Heng call her name, a smile appeared on her face, and then she walked in.Her eyebrows and eyes are somewhat similar to Chu Heng's, probably because of her biological mother, her face is beautiful and beautiful, with a bit of beauty.

They are brothers and sisters connected by blood, they should be the closest, but luckily, when Chu Heng left home at the age of four, Chu Xin and Chu Yan had not yet been born.It was not until later that their biological mother Ji Wusu died of illness, and they met each other for the first time at the funeral of their biological mother.Seriously, today is just the second side.

Chenfeng Lingyu has been separated for a long time, and even the closest blood relationship has gradually become estranged in the time and distance.

The two sat down at the table, and after a while of silence, Chu Heng asked, "How are you doing in the Hou Mansion? Why don't you go to watch the moon with your father?"

Chu Xin put down the food box in her hand. Hearing this, she just lowered her eyes and smiled slightly, and said softly, "There is no rush to enjoy the moon. Of course, I am at home well. On the contrary, is my brother doing well in Lishan all these years? Will you stay for a while before going back?"

Chu Heng's eyes fell on her side face. She lowered her eyes and couldn't see the expression in her eyes clearly, but the faint firmness unconsciously revealed between her pursed lips and brows had already shown that the concubine and concubine whose biological mother had died early, were in Hou Life in the government is not so easy.

Chu Heng sighed unrecognizably, raised his hand to stroke her hair, and said warmly: "I won't go back, I will go back to Lishan Mountain after you leave the pavilion."

Chu Xin lowered her head even more, her face was blushing, but a smile appeared on her lips. She reached out to open the food box on the table, and there was a bowl of steaming noodles.

She handed Chu Heng a pair of chopsticks, raised her head and said with a smile, "Brother, you should eat bowl noodles. Today is August [-]th, which is your birthday."

Chu Heng was taken aback when he heard the words: "How does Ah Xin know..."

Chu Xin's tone was taken for granted, and she said with a smile, "You are my brother, even if you are not together, I know it."

Although the memory is very thin, she still remembers that before her biological mother died, she held the hands of her and her younger brother Chu Yan, and told them not to forget that she had a biological brother in Lishan.

Time and distance can infinitely dilute memory and emotion, but what can never be changed is the kinship engraved deep in the blood.

The next day was fine, two days had passed since the Mid-Autumn Festival, the festive atmosphere gradually subsided, Chu Heng still lived in Zhuzhilou, everything in Zhongpinghou's mansion remained the same, and nothing would change because of his return home.

A few days passed like this, and it was August [-]th in a blink of an eye. After breakfast, Zhong Pinghou Chuhong suddenly said to Chu Heng without any warning: "Wu Ying Dian, you can go."

As soon as the words fell, not only Chu Heng, but also the other boys and girls present were also stunned.Chu Heng quickly came back to his senses, frowned for a moment, then let go, and nodded calmly.

Zhong Pinghou continued: "Da Yin has national laws, and the city lords of each family must send a patriarch's parent and son who has reached the age of [-] to join the Hall of Martial Arts. Your third brother is the eldest son, and there are still things in the family that I have to entrust to him. Chen Qing, let your fourth brother enter the palace when he reaches the age, but now that you are back, there is no need to bother, so you can go."

The eyes of pity or mockery from all around fell on him, but Chu Heng ignored them and only responded calmly.

Chu Xin on the side tightly squeezed the handkerchief in her hand, and looked anxiously at Chu Heng. Seeing her brother nodding, she was so anxious that she was about to cry. She gritted her teeth and was about to get up to speak, but Zhong Pinghou had already stood up before her. His eyes swept over her, and he said lightly: "Okay, I've already talked to Commander Xie about this matter, so it's settled."

Chu Xin's heart felt cold.

No wonder she was anxious, this Hall of Martial Arts is a good place, but not a good place either.

The Hall of Martial Arts is connected to the Emperor's Guards Camp. It would be great if he could be selected to serve as a deacon by His Majesty's side.It is a good thing to enter the Wuying Palace and not occupy the quota. However, since the emperor has the final say on when to leave the palace, it is easy to enter and difficult to exit. Except for a few Zanying families, most of the patriarchs will It's easy to send the eldest son and even the eldest son there.

In front of the emperor, one in a hundred, character, martial arts, talent and loyalty are all indispensable.Like Chu Heng, he is not qualified in the dream.

The most gloomy thing was not his future. What worried Chu Xin even more was that the Hall of Martial Arts gathered martial arts wizards from all walks of life in Kyushu, and there was not a fuel-efficient lamp inside. Martial arts competitions and fights were commonplace.Just pick one out, they are all handsome young men who can stand on their own.

But Chu Heng is not the same as them. He is not very talented. He has studied in Lishan Mountain for 16 years, and now he is just at the beginning. It all depends on the weather conditions.

Wuying Wuying, a "vase" that cannot be carried on the shoulders or hands, how can it be suitable for such a place where the level of martial arts is judged?

Chu Xin was far from the only one who was worried about this matter. At that time, Xie Chu, the master of the Hall of Martial Arts and the commander of the emperor's guard camp, took the list of newcomers and went to Yuqiansheng worriedly.

Ling Ye was reviewing the memorial. Seeing Xie Chu come in, he put down the ink brush in his hand, picked up the teacup, and listened to Xie Chu's report one by one.

This time, there were not many children from aristocratic families who had entered the Hall of Martial Heroes this time. Xie Chu detailed their backgrounds, masters, and talents in martial arts one by one. Ling Ye just listened indifferently, nodding his head occasionally, and did not express his opinion.

Until the last person left on the list——

Xie Chu raised his head and glanced at the emperor's expression. Seeing His Majesty's calm face, his eyes seemed to be filled with a deep pool of quiet water, and he couldn't see any displeasure. Condition.

"...he's not good at all, he can't learn martial arts." Xie Chu bit the bullet and said.

The emperor above put the teacup in his hand on the table, and with a crisp sound, Xie Chu's heart skipped a beat, as expected——

Ling Ye's eyes were indifferent, and he said indifferently: "Then what is Zhongli Chu sending him to the Martial Hero Hall for? Come here for fun?"