Man Tang Huacai

Chapter 386 Song of Everlasting Regret

"Xue Bai?"

Fu Chulin asked two questions, and Yuan Siyi immediately spit out a name after hearing it. He didn't know whether the answer was "If the emperor's grandson is not dead, where is he?" or "Someone went to find Zhang Xuan."

"My grandpa made a brilliant plan, and it was this boy." Fu Chulin said, "When I rushed to Zhongnan Mountain, I happened to see Xue Bai coming down from the entrance of Chiyu."

"You saw him, did he see you?"

"I didn't see it. I felt sick in my stomach at the time and hid myself in the forest. Besides, he saw me wearing the clothes of a commoner. How could he recognize me? He would have thought I was just a traveling merchant."

Fu Chulin was sure of this. After all, he was not as conspicuous as Xue Bai. He was just an ordinary eunuch among the countless eunuchs in the palace, and he had never had contact with Xue Bai in the past. This was not the biggest secret he had discovered during this trip. He lowered his voice and continued to talk about his experience.

"When I climbed the mountain, I found the place where Zhang Xuan lived in seclusion. But I found that Zhang Xuan had been silenced by Xue Bai, and all the paintings left by Zhang Xuan were destroyed by Xue Bai. In addition, Xue Bai's saddle There is a scroll hanging on it, which must be an important item he took away from Zhang Xuan..."

Yuan Siyi narrowed his eyes and saw clues from Fu Chulin's expression. Fu Chulin was obviously a step late, but in words he described the matter as his great discovery.

Back to the matter itself, why did Xue Bai get involved in such secret affairs of the Tian family, even at the expense of killing people to silence them? What is he hiding?

An idea immediately came to Yuan Siyi's mind, like a piece of driftwood floating on the water, but he couldn't hold it down.

Wu Huaishi's case led to the death of the longevity king Li Long, and Yang Yuhuan was almost implicated. Therefore, after Du Qiuniang heard the words "Wu Huaishi", she ignored Chen Xuanli's instructions to retreat and went around to the back of the hall to eavesdrop for a long time.

"I was not deeply involved in the case of the three common people, but I remember that the child was indeed dead that year, and Gao Lishi and Chen Xuanli personally disposed of the body. It must have been buried in Tanshan, Fuping County."

"The saint summoned Yuan Zai and had a lively conversation. He was about to give him a banquet."

"This is the appearance of the emperor's grandson Li Qian." Yuan Siyi pointed to the picture and said: "You only need to use this painting to ask the person who buried the body, and you will naturally know whether the person who died that year was the real emperor's grandson."

She has a jealous temperament, and usually she would inevitably cause a fight, but today she is not interested in it. In fact, she doesn't really care about the saint finding a new love, and she can't stop her. It's just for fun. Too much is not enough. Everyone in the world said that she was the only one favored by saints, as if the saint was the only one who loved her, but people ignored the countless beauties that the Flower and Bird Envoy worshiped every year.

"There is a way."

"This is a secret. You must not tell anyone else. Remember it."

"You go find Chen Xuanli..."

Yang Yuhuan told Du Qiuniang to go back and pretend that nothing happened, and then sent someone to summon Xie Aman.

Du Qiuniang was a disciple of Yang Yuhuan. Because she was favored by Chen Xuanli, Li Longji took the initiative and rewarded Du Qiuniang to Chen Xuanli. Although Yang Yuhuan was dissatisfied that the disciples he taught personally were sent around like objects, he had nothing to do.

"Are there any fireworks to watch today?" Yang Yuhuan did not dwell on her misfortune, but deliberately indulged her playfulness, "Go and ask A Bai if he can make it."

"The general never mentioned this in private. He is not a man of many words."

"Go to Third Sister's place and talk to Xue Baiyan..."

"how?"

He casually flipped through the documents that Li Linfu read before he died, and found that although Zhang Xuan's picture of Concubine Xue holding her son was also freehand, in just a few strokes, it outlined Concubine Xue's temperament so well that he could recognize it at a glance. It turns out this is Concubine Xue.

I remember that on Chinese Valentine's Day that year, she made a wish in the Palace of Eternal Life. She should have revealed this fear... So did Xue Bai write it in the poem?

After hearing this, Xie Aman smiled and said, "Is the imperial concubine planning to deceive Lang Xue in order to watch the fireworks?"

It was complicated, but she understood. Nearly two years after Wu Huaishi's death, Yuan Siyi finally believed the ridiculous things he said. The son of the deposed prince Li Ying who was accidentally killed may not be dead. It may be Xue Bai, and Yuan Siyi also found a way to confirm this. .

"How can we still find out after so many years?" Yuan Siyi murmured.

Fortunately, Chen Xuanli dotes on Du Qiuniang very much. Taking advantage of this matter, Yang Yuhuan also used Du Qiuniang's ears to inquire about the affairs of the Longwu Army General's Mansion from time to time, so that he could easily grasp the saint's whereabouts.

Yang Yuhuan sat there and listened, the curiosity in his eyes gradually turned into seriousness, with a little panic.

The news that Du Qiuniang could hear was often eavesdropped when others were talking to Chen Xuanli. For example, today, she took a huge risk to find out something.

This is the most strictly forbidden thing for concubines in the palace, and there will be serious consequences if discovered. Yang Yuhuan enjoyed it because of the danger it contained.

Fu Chulin couldn't help but admire it and asked: "How can we know who buried the body back then?"

That day, she took the Qiqiao cake from Du Qiuniang and asked, "The saint has been a little worried these days. Does General Chen know why?"

Although she is a noble concubine, she considers herself to be a woman who has encountered many misfortunes.

When he placed the painting next to the map of the burial site, he suddenly had an idea.

Her mind suddenly turned around, and she inexplicably thought of the poem she heard last night, "The cold autumn light of silver candles paints the screen, and the small light fan flutters the fireflies." She was sure that Xue Bai wrote it from the perspective of a Yeting palace maid, and there was a vague sense of loneliness. The desolation of resentment is also the end she fears most.

"Then...maybe it's just a fake thing?"

"Slave, go and ask now."

Over there, Zhang Yunrong came over and said softly: "Your Majesty, Du Qiuniang has entered the palace. She has made Qiqiao cake and sent it to you."

Yang Yuhuan turned over and dispelled this nonsense. She knew that in this life she could only serve the old king, and the freedom to fall in love with handsome young men only belonged to those lucky girls.

Halfway through the words, Yuan Siyi shook his head and said, "No, I'll go find him and ask him personally."

After Yang Yuhuan took a nap, she thought that today was Chinese Valentine's Day and she had not yet gone to the Palace of Eternal Life to fulfill her vow, so she asked the maid, "Where is the saint?"

"Disciple is here today to ask your concubine to be careful."

"That's because the flower and bird envoy did his job successfully and won the Holy Heart." Yang Yuhuan sarcastically said.

Du Qiuniang stepped forward and whispered: "Superintendent Yuan came to see the general early in the morning. When I was serving tea, I heard him mention Wu Huaishi."

In the middle of speaking, Yang Yuhuan thought that the matter was confidential and should not be passed on by others, so he changed the topic and said: "Tell Xue Bai that you must bring fireworks to present. I have something urgent to tell him."

"Grandma, what do you mean?"

"Just take it as such, you have to bring him into the palace no matter what, even if you have to tie him up." Yang Yuhuan stood up without explaining, holding the ribbon, "I'll go to Yangsheng and watch the fireworks tonight. If he Not to come is to deceive the king."

~~

Haitang Tang Palace.

~~

Li Longji also likes fireworks, but not because he loves to see the dazzling brilliance, but because fireworks can add color to his dazzling achievements.

He had a dream this morning. He dreamed that Gao Xianzhi defeated Dashi, took the black flag as a trophy, and sent it to Chang'an together with the captive King Dashi. At the prisoner presentation ceremony, fireworks filled the sky.

Now he increasingly believes that he has been favored by heaven, and feels that the dream is an omen and that victory is inevitable. After waking up, the matter was temporarily forgotten, and he enjoyed the service of the beauty sent by Yuan Zaijin. He was very satisfied, so he summoned the new flower and bird envoy to encourage him.

There are many ministers in the court, and no matter how outstanding they are in their positions, the chances of being called by a saint are few and far between. Yuan Zai seized this opportunity and made eloquent remarks during the audience, which made Li Longji very happy and ordered a banquet.

At this time, the palace people reported that the imperial concubine asked to see her.

Li Longji laughed loudly and smiled with Yuan Zai: "Taizhen has always been jealous, and he is here to cause trouble for you, the flower and bird envoy."

"Then, I am resigning?"

"Why retreat?" Li Longji said with a straight face, "You have to bear Taizhen's anger for me."

Yuan Zai was stunned for a moment, then saw the narrow-mindedness in the saint's eyes, and realized that this was another joke. He quickly smiled bitterly and said: "I am scared."

He felt that the saint was really a wonderful person. Not only was he unprecedentedly wise, but he was also approachable.

Not long after, Yang Yuhuan arrived, but he was not looking for trouble. She didn't even look at Yuan Zai, she just looked at Li Longji and said, "Sanlang, it will get dark soon. I want to see the fireworks."

Li Longji, on the other hand, could understand the difficulty of making fireworks and said: "Fireworks are not easy to make. Xue Bai probably doesn't have many hands, and there are only a few days left before the Qianqiu Festival..."

But as he was talking, he saw Yang Yuhuan's pitiful look, and immediately waved his hand and said with great pride: "Let it go! He summoned Xue Bai into the palace and told him how many fireworks he still had in his hand to show to Taizhen. "

"Sanlang is so kind."

Yuan Zai lowered his head and saw this scene, once again realizing the gap between him and Xue Bai. He served as an envoy of flowers and birds, selected peerless beauties and presented them to the palace. He could only do better than ordinary people. But what Xue Bai did was something that others could not do at all. It was unique in the world, so he could get it. Saints and noble concubines all value it.

If nothing unexpected happens, there will be another feast tonight, and Li Longji is ready to enjoy this relaxation and pleasure.

But occasionally there would always be a surprise. Yang Guozhong once again sent a memorial saying "I dare not be good at specializing". When Li Longji opened it, his face instantly darkened.

"Is this true?" His tone was like the weather before a rainstorm, dull and faintly containing thunder.

Yang Guozhong quickly lowered his head and replied: "I have sent a post to Anxi for confirmation. It may take some time..."

Before he could finish his words, the memorial hit him on the head.

Li Longji angrily scolded: "How did you become the prime minister?!"

In his eyes, the most inferior thing about Yang Guozhong compared to Li Linfu was that he could not handle all political affairs on his own and let him delegate power with peace of mind. Now he was doing such a bad thing to give him a headache.

"My minister... Gao Xianzhi is domineering and does not obey my orders." Yang Guozhong had no choice but to put all the blame on Gao Xianzhi.

Li Longji said angrily: "Call the military envoy here, and I will ask questions myself."

Seeing this situation, Yang Yuhuan did not dare to disturb him anymore and quietly exited the hall.

She knew that the saint was in a bad mood and should not set off any more fireworks. But just because the saint was in a bad mood, and he couldn't let what Yuan Siyi was investigating be revealed, he sent people to urge Xue Bai to enter the palace.

~~

Xue Bai was painting with Yan Yan and Li Tengkong that day, and what he was painting was last night's fireworks.

Both of them are good at calligraphy and painting. Among them, Yan Yan is good at painting, which Xue Bai has known for a long time, while Li Tengkong is good at painting, which Xue Bai gradually understood after talking about Li Sixun in the past few days.

He increasingly felt that Li Tengkong was a treasure with many things to discover.

"Sister Xiaoxian's painting is more like a lantern market." Yan Yan glanced at Li Tengkong's painting and said.

Xue Bai looked over and saw that Li Tengkong's painting not only had willow treetops, but also lanterns, and above the painting lanterns were the fireworks like stars and rain. With just one glance, he understood her thoughts, and Li Tengkong felt his gaze, and his ears turned red.

The two of them have recently been testing the boundaries of their relationship, and when they most want to stick together, Xue Bai couldn't help but think that he might be able to go to her house tonight...

Xie Aman arrived at this time.

After hearing what she conveyed, Xue Bai didn't think Yang Yuhuan was deceiving him to watch the fireworks. He had given her many gifts, but he had never seen Yang Yuhuan ask for them in such a roundabout way before. He had always asked for them openly and honestly.

"There is indeed another firework, so I will bring it into the palace."

The fireworks Xue Bai brought today were actually bigger than those last night, but when he entered Huaqing Palace, he learned that the saint was discussing important government affairs and it was not inconvenient to disturb them.

He then asked Gao Lishi: "I am from Zhongshushe. Did the saint call me to prepare an edict?"

From the bottom of his heart, he wanted to participate in military affairs rather than just being called for fun. However, the only reply he got was a cold "The saint has not been summoned."

After waiting until dark, Xie Aman came over again and said that the concubine had fulfilled her wish at the Palace of Eternal Life. After fulfilling her wish, she couldn't wait to see the fireworks, so she asked Xue Bai to take the fireworks to Xixiuling to set off.

"The terrain there is high, so it looks good when placed there."

"But……"

"Xue Lang, there is no need to be reluctant. The saint has agreed. The imperial concubine has already set off to climb the mountain. Go quickly."

Xie Aman was very excited and wanted to reach out and snatch the fireworks from Xue Bai's hand.

When I revisited my old place, I found that several palace walls had been built on Xixiuling, and the guards were tighter than before.

When Xue Bai climbed up the mountain, he saw that the female crowns in the Palace of Eternal Life had heard the news and were crowded in front of the palace gate, waiting expectantly. They cheered when they saw him coming.

"The fireworks artist is here."

Xie Aman was afraid that Xue Bai would be surrounded by them, so he quickly led Xue Bai to the observatory nearby.

The observatory is built very high. After climbing up, you can overlook the Huaqing Palace. It is indeed the best place to set off fireworks.

"The dangerous building is a hundred feet high, and you can pick up the stars in your hand. Don't dare to speak aloud, you may shock the heavens."

"Xue Lang also likes Taibai's poems?" Zhang Yunrong had already been waiting on the observatory, listening to Xue Bai's poems, and said with some surprise.

She really didn't speak loudly, lowered her voice, handed a fire certificate to Xie Aman, and said: "In a moment, you can light the fireworks. The imperial concubine has something important to tell Xue Lang, I will take him away for a while."

After hearing the previous sentence, Xie Aman was pleasantly surprised at first. When he heard the next sentence, his expression became strange. When she thought about it, what else could happen to the concubine who went through so much trouble to see Xue Bai secretly?

"Yes."

Taking the fire certificate, she responded in a low voice, staring at Xue Bai's back, secretly wondering what was so good about him that so many women liked him.

Led by Zhang Yunrong, Xue Bai came down from the small ladder on the other side of the observatory and went around to the back of the Hall of Eternal Life. A small door was opened. He went in quietly and turned into the Hall of Eternal Life.

This time, the interior of the Hall of Eternal Life was brighter than last time.

Yang Yuhuan was kneeling in front of the divine case with his hands clasped together. Seeing Xue Bai coming, he quickly stood up and went behind the curtain, beckoned him to come closer, and told Zhang Yunrong to go out and watch.

She was wearing the underskirt he gave her. She was so beautiful. Her movements were so sneaky that people couldn't help but think she had invited him here for a date.

Xue Bai took a few steps forward, feeling like Altair had crossed the Milky Way and met Vega.

"Sister."

"You came."

Only then did Yang Yuhuan think of the poem that Xue Bai had recited here, "Slender clouds make tricks, flying stars spread hatred." After calming down, he remembered what he was about to say.

She then said in the tone of a sister lecturing her brother: "You are in trouble again, you know?" "Please give me some advice, sister."

"Tell me first, is there anything you haven't told me?"

"There are many." Xue Bai asked, "Which one do you want to know?"

"Your life experience."

"I am Xue Xiu's adopted son. As expected, I will be the son of a commoner, one of the working people."

"I don't believe it." Yang Yuhuan said, "Wu Huaishi said that you are the emperor's grandson. There are only you and me here today. Do you dare to be honest with me?"

Xue Bai shook his head and said: "I am not the emperor's grandson."

To Li Tengkong, he said this out of trust; to Yang Yuhuan, he said this out of caution. Yang Yuhuan's identity is too complicated, and he doesn't think she can keep his secrets.

Yang Yuhuan had already trusted Xue Bai once, but she no longer believed him this time. She said leisurely: "But this time you are being targeted by Yuan Siyi again. I don't know why they are always interested in your life experience."

Xue Bai thought about it and asked, "Does Yuan Siyi have any evidence?"

"I can tell you." Yang Yuhuan turned around and picked up the wine bottle, poured two glasses, held it up, and handed one glass to him. At the same time, he said: "But the premise is that I have to make sure that what you are doing is not taking advantage of me. .”

It is a great honor to be given wine by a noble concubine. Often only famous generals who have made great achievements can have such honor at the royal banquet. But tonight, Yang Yuhuan didn't seem to intend to just give Xue Bai a glass of wine, but rather to get him drunk and force him to tell the truth.

Xue Bai hesitated for a moment, took the wine glass, held it in his hand, and muttered: "I will never harm my sister, and I will do my best for her. I can swear this."

"I need to know your purpose." Yang Yuhuan had already drank her glass of wine, "Drink."

Xue Bai had no choice but to raise his glass and drink it all in one gulp. He found that the wine was very choking. After one glass, he felt a surge of warmth. His body felt warm and his head felt a little dizzy.

The next moment, Yang Yuhuan held another cup and handed it to him.

"Drinked."

"I can only drink so much."

"No matter. Otherwise, you will let Yuan Siyi get killed, and you won't even think about me helping you."

"Sister, don't worry. I'm not the emperor's grandson. Yuan Siyi can't find any evidence to kill me."

"Let's talk after drinking, unless you don't believe me."

Xue Bai looked around and saw that the alluring face was very close. Yang Yuhuan was so beautiful that he was not as confident as usual in his determination, and couldn't help but take a step back. But she came closer again, and he had no choice but to take another drink.

"Go ahead."

Yang Yuhuan's voice was pleasant, as if she was bewitching him.

"You are the son of the deposed prince Li Ying, right? You survived by chance and got the teachings of Zhang Jiuling, He Zhizhang and other famous ministers, and wanted to regain the throne. So you approached my third sister and took advantage of me, right?"

Xue Bai didn't answer and sat on the ground against the pillar, his eyes blurred.

Yang Yuhuan looked down and saw a blush on his handsome face, completely different from usual.

Inexplicably, she reached out and pinched his face.

"Are you and my third sister, Yang Yuyao, sleeping together?"

"Yao Niang? Yes."

"Did you and Li Qiniang sleep together?"

Xue Bai shook his head, slightly distressed, and said, "No...she's too shy."

Yang Yuhuan couldn't help but chuckle and asked again: "Are you the emperor's grandson Li Qian?"

"No."

"Then who are your parents?"

"They are just the most ordinary people." Xue Bai closed his eyes and murmured: "I miss them very much..."

Yang Yuhuan was stunned, bit his lower lip in annoyance, and said to himself: "You have always been cunning, I don't believe you."

She was not sure whether Xue Bai was really drunk or fake. She rolled her eyes and said, "Well, you also know that I have no children. If you are really the emperor's grandson, I may not be able to help you and recognize you as a good man." Sun."

"It's really not true."

"Can you prove it?"

With that said, she patted Xue Bai's face again.

Xue Bai opened his eyes, and where he looked, he saw plump red lips.

He felt his cheeks were hot and his head was also hot, and he whispered: "Sister."

It was just two words, but it was inexplicably full of some kind of emotion. Yang Yuhuan felt his heart numb when he heard it. He understood that he wanted to kiss him to prove that he was not a good grandson.

The flask fell on the blanket, the strong wine spilled out, and the air was filled with drunkenness.

"Boom - bang -"

Suddenly, the windows were lit up by fireworks.

Yang Yuhuan came back to her senses and turned around to look, but she could only see the fireworks she had been thinking about through the window paper.

"You are awesome, I can't find out your details..."

"Boom - bang -"

The fireworks went off again and for a long time. Xue Bai was still drunk, but he was much more comfortable.

He admired Yang Yuhuan unscrupulously in the flickering light and looked at her raised face. His eyes were deep, as if he had thousands of years of curiosity, regret, exploration, love, complaint, sympathy... He had been a man in two lives, and all his impressions of Yang Yuhuan were only materialized at this moment.

It wasn't until the world was quiet that Yang Yuhuan looked back and smiled.

"You, my sworn brother, at least follow my wishes."

However, before she finished speaking, she actually heard Xue Bai reciting poetry softly.

"The Emperor of Han was obsessed with beauty and wanted to overwhelm the country. Yu Yu couldn't get it for many years."

"There is a daughter in the Yang family who has just grown up. She was raised in a boudoir and no one knows her."

"It's hard to give up on natural beauty. Once you choose it, you will be on the side of the king."

"When you look back, you smile and you are full of beauty. The pink and white in the Sixth Palace are colorless."

"..."

Yang Yuhuan was stunned. She forgot that she was also sitting on her knees and looking at Xue Bai face to face. She forgot that he was looking at her face blankly, and she forgot that the wine on the carpet had soaked her. skirt.

She just listened to this long poem and suddenly understood where Xue Bai's inexplicable affection for her came from.

Her feelings were not wrong. He was filled with an indescribable emotion for her that was deeper than the love between a man and a woman. Sometimes she thought it was sympathy, sometimes she thought it was closeness, and sometimes she thought it was admiration. But no matter what, tonight she It is certain that he treats her differently from everyone else in the world.

Otherwise, how could I write such a poem.

Just like he once said, "It takes a thousand years for a beautiful woman to meet", this poem also seems to condense a thousand years.

"..."

"The blue clouds are rising from the heights of Li Palace, and the wind of fairy music can be heard everywhere."

Just when I thought about this, Zhang Yunrong suddenly ran over and interrupted the meeting.

"Your Majesty, time is running out. I have to send Xue Lang away."

Yang Yuhuan felt his heart being pinched, thinking that he hadn't finished reading the poem yet.

Later, she remembered that there was something important that she had not told Xue Bai. She looked around anxiously, picked up a glass of cold water, and poured it directly on Xue Bai's face.

~~

Fuping County, Tanshan.

In mid-July, the wheat field at the foot of the mountain was already golden, and the heavy wheat ears bent the wheat stalks.

In a farmhouse next to the wheat field, a farmer was sharpening his sickle, while his plump wife was mending sacks, making final preparations before the harvest.

Their two sons and daughters were chasing each other and singing strange songs.

"I came from the mountains and brought orchids and grass..."

From a distance, five knights came galloping towards them, and they ran straight to the house before reining in the reins.

"Shut up!"

The horse's hooves kicked away the pebbles, and the wheat under the horse's hooves fell between the rocks and soil.

The farmer sharpening his knife turned his head and glanced at the wheat without saying a word.

"Lu Shishi, is that you?!" The knight on horseback looked at the farmer and asked, "The handyman of Beiya more than ten years ago now has a house, land, and children."

"It's a villain."

"I am here to ask you something by your noble order."

Lu Shiwu put down the sickle in his hand and responded respectfully: "May I ask how it works."

"Did you bury a child back then? From then on, you were ordered to guard the grave here."

"Yes."

"You have good eyesight, come up and take a look."

Lu Shiwu hunched his back, pointed to his house, and said: "It's useful, why don't you go inside and drink a glass of water, and let me take a look at it."

"Alright."

The five knights dismounted and walked into the house.

Lu Shiwu timidly stepped aside, took the hands of his wife and children, and hid aside.

After a while, there were shouts, slashing sounds, and screams in the house.

"Bold, do you know who I am?!"

"puff."

"puff."

"Come on!"

Soon, the knight who had just asked the question stumbled out, dripping with blood. Every time he dragged his injured leg forward, blood dripped onto the ground.

Then, a tall man with a scar on his face walked out slowly, grinning from time to time, raising the Mo Dao in his hand, and not forgetting to say hello to Lu Shishi.

"Cover the child's eyes."

Lu Shiwu quickly followed suit.

The man then walked behind the knight and chopped off the sword in his hand neatly.

"puff."

A head rolled past, and blood dripped on the ground next to the wheat grains.

"Five."

The murderous man shouted into the room: "Just put the painting away."

"Take it, let's go, take the witness with you."

Someone came out of the room, speaking with a strong Longyou accent, and holding a scroll wrapped in cloth.

"Where's the body?"

"Keep it."

This time, their way of dealing with the danger was so simple and crude, as if they were afraid that the matter would not be big enough and the enemy's suspicions would not be deep enough...

(End of this chapter)