Mountains and rivers fall into red

Chapter 15: Cuiqiao (3)
She got out of bed barefoot, and the room was covered with thick and soft embroidered Persian carpets, surrounded by walls inlaid with gold, jade and enamel.The large copper stove was filled with burning silver charcoal, and the room was as warm as spring.On the flower table, a pot of Jianlan bloomed with white flowers, which were fragrant and clean.The whole house looks extravagant.

It was very quiet all around, and the darkness could be vaguely seen outside the hollowed-out windows.Xixiu plucked up the courage to call out, "Is anyone there?"

Someone came in from the outside with the curtain lifted, wearing a vermilion tunic dress, with a calm expression on his face, and he also spoke to her calmly: "Miss Xiuxiu is awake."

"Miss Qiuyue?" Xiuxiu recognized her and hurriedly asked, "What kind of place is this?"

Qiuyue replied: "This is the residence of His Highness the Third Highness."

"So, I'm not in the palace?"

Xiuxiu regained his composure and breathed a sigh of relief.The scene of the day clearly appeared in front of his eyes, thinking that he was carried in by Xiao Kui, his face was slightly feverish, and he asked, "Where is the Third Highness?"

"Return to Miss, His Highness has already rested. His Highness has ordered the servants, if Miss wakes up, follow her errands."

Xiuxiu thought it was already midnight, and he couldn't go back in this situation, so he thought for a while and said, "I'm a little hungry, and Miss Lao Qiuyue is here for a bowl of noodles."

Qiuyue promised to step back.Xixiu looked around the resplendent room, but couldn't help sighing.

The noodles came quickly, because Xiuxiu hurt his right hand, and he couldn't hold the chopsticks with his left hand, so the noodles slipped out of the porcelain bowl a few times, and he was in a hurry.She peeked at Qiuyue standing on the side, with an indifferent expression on her face.

She wondered, Qiuyue was fine that time hunting, why is she so indifferent today?She didn't dare to say much, she just ate the whole bowl of noodles in suspense.While she was still wiping her mouth with a face towel, Qiuyue had already packed up the dishes and said respectfully, "Miss, rest now. If it's all right, the servants will leave." She stepped out of the door curtain.

Xiuxiu wanted to call Qiuyue to stop, but she didn't dare. She chased after the door curtain and heard a few court ladies talking outside.

"It's such a big air, and we still need our sister Qiuyue to serve. Sister Qiuyue only serves the third highness, and she doesn't measure who she is?"

Another voice said: "We were also sent here to serve His Highness the Third Highness, but here comes a delicate young lady who tormented us all night."

"Forget it, the Third Highness will take care of it. If something happens to the daughter in the Prime Minister's Mansion, the Third Highness will not be able to explain it." It was Qiuyue's indifferent voice.

"Hmph, what's the big deal? I heard it was just adopted by the Prime Minister, and I fell in love with His Highness as soon as I saw it."

"Keep your voice down, if she hears it and report it to His Highness the Third Highness, we won't have any good fruit."

The voice of discussion gradually weakened and disappeared.

Xixiu's face turned pale, and his chest seemed to be constricted.She wanted to rush out to argue, but finally endured.She stood in the dormitory for a long time, there seemed to be moisture in her eyes, as the candlelight flickered, dense smoke filled the air.

No, she must tell the third prince that the prime minister has never taught her anything, and she is not the kind of clingy woman.If the third prince lets her go at this time, she will not force her to stay.As for staying overnight, it was because she had lost her way, and His Highness the Third Highness was kind enough to save her.She decided to bid farewell to the third prince immediately, and the two owed nothing to each other.

After making up her mind, she put on her clothes and boots and left the bedroom.

The palace was silent at night, and the louder sounds in the distance made people feel desolate. The snow on the road was cleared, and the cold wind made her shiver, but Xixiu walked deep without fear.She didn't know where Xiao Kui was, she just looked up at the newly built palace full of shadows in the night, and mysterious under the sparse starlight.

Two guards came from one side with palace lanterns. Xiuxiu dodged under the porch pillar, heard their brief voices, and looked at the palace in front of him, and saw a faint light shining inside, which must be Xiao Kui's. It's bedtime.

Sure enough, Qiuyue's slender figure appeared outside the hall.Holding the glazed gauze lantern in her hand, she faced the palace where Xiuxiu slept just now, hesitating reluctantly.After a while, he stepped down the steps and walked slowly.

Xiuxiu didn't call Qiuyue, and when Qiuyue left, she just went straight into the gate of the palace.There were only two lamps burning in the huge hall, and the lights flickered on and off, making it appear dark and empty inside.Xiuxiu walked a few more steps, a cold light flashed in front of her eyes, and a silhouette stood in front of her like a ghost.

"Don't move!"

Xiuxiu recognized that it was the voice of General Yang.

She wasn't afraid, she looked straight at Yang Jian with her bright eyes.Yang Jian was stunned for a moment, a surprised expression appeared on his face sculpted from ice and snow.

"How could it be you?"

"I already guessed that it was Miss Xiuxiu who came in." In the darkness, there was Xiao Kui's very soothing voice, "When I woke up, I ran around. A few hours ago, I was still as heavy as a dead person."

Yang Jian put away the sword in his hand, and also laughed: "Miss Xiuxiu looks good, she doesn't look like someone suffering from the cold. That's good, we can meet again, and Yang is about to express his gratitude."

Xiuxiu replied: "General Yang seems to have gotten a little fatter, and there is blood on his face."

"Really?" Yang Jian couldn't help touching his face, and said with a friendly smile, "If you stay here with the Third Prince, I'm afraid Yang won't even be able to wield a sword."

While speaking, Xiao Kui had already appeared in front of Xiuxiu.He and Yang Jian looked at each other and smiled, smiling like a spring breeze.

Xiao Kui grabbed Xiuxiu's shoulders, hugged her and sat beside the big copper stove, picked up the tongs and flicked the burning silver coals at will.Xiuxiu saw his sleeves touching his own, making a rustling sound.The hot air engulfed his breath, which was sweet and inexplicably stimulated her breathing.

"I……"

She moved her lips subconsciously, and the words seemed to be extremely heavy when they reached her lips, and it was difficult to spit them out.

"You mean about the water sleeves?" Xiao Kui raised Xiuxiu's gauze-wrapped hands with a nervous look, "but I was shocked. I took you out to play. If something happened, I would How do you explain to your godfather?"

Xiuxiu was gently held by him, her heart was as soft as cotton, and she quickly explained: "It's fortunate that you saved me. Guard Jiang asked Baocheng to take me to see the water sleeve, but Baocheng led me to that place, and I also Terrified, but can't find you."

Xiao Kui didn't expect the woman in front of him to be so innocent, so he froze for a while and didn't speak.After a while, he shook his head lightly, brushing away the unprovoked softness in his heart, and regained his careless look.

He coughed lightly, and his voice was much clearer: "Actually, I couldn't find you either. How did I expect such a thing to happen? Anyway, Jiang Chen didn't protect you well. Jiang Chen neglected his duty. I have punished him severely. Shen Your lord, you said the same."

He whispered softly in her ear, the breath was like catkins blowing in spring, it was itchy and warm, which made Xixiu agree without thinking: "I shouldn't have left alone, it was mine. wrong……"

Yang Jian, who watched all this quietly, almost laughed out loud.He turned his face sideways and raised half of the curtain.

There was the sound of hurried footsteps on the quiet path outside the hall, and then Qiuyue's figure floated up the steps.

Qiuyue lifted the curtain and entered the hall, and said in a hurry: "Your Highness, Shen Xiuxiu is gone!" When she found the two people next to the stove, she suddenly fell silent and froze.

Xiao Kui raised his eyes to look at Qiuyue, and then turned to Xiuxiu beside him, with a long voice, unable to detect any emotion: "Miss Xiuxiu's hand is injured, let's go back with Qiuyue to rest, and I will call the imperial doctor tomorrow to go to the hospital." Some medicine."

It sounds like a rush to rest.

Xiuxiu got up slowly, and had no choice but to follow Qiuyue like a puppet.After Qiuyue left the palace, she walked fast and hurriedly, as if she wanted to leave Xiuxiu behind.Xiuxiu followed closely, but felt his feet slipped and almost fell to the ground.

Yang Jian was still standing in front of the window, watching the two slender figures rushing forward and backward.He had already seen some clues, so he laughed softly.

"Third Highness, do you think that Xiuxiu told Yang's secret here?"

Xiao Kui stood aside, blood flushed faintly on his white and jade-like cheeks, and he said with half certainty: "If it wasn't her, who else would it be?"

"Although we only met each other twice, according to what Yang saw, Miss Xiuxiu was innocent, honest and honest, and she was definitely not a frivolous and boastful person. Yang was a young official, but the situation was like walking on thin ice. Be cautious. But in front of Miss Xiuxiu, there is a sense of peace and joy, this kind of girl is loved by others! Isn't it like this, Your Highness?"

"I have always been unruly, and I hate being manipulated the most, and I don't even want to marry politically." Xiao Kui said still angry.

"Yang is very much in favor of His Highness. However, His Highness doesn't hate Miss Xiuxiu. Otherwise, you wouldn't be so panic-stricken when she was injured, and she was taken care of so carefully that you even gave up your own bedroom." Yang Jian joked.

Xiao Kui didn't speak, his eyes looked a little hazy.

But Yang Jian didn't point further, smiled, patted Xiao Kui's shoulder behind him, and walked away unhurriedly.

Xiao Kui didn't move, looking at the scenery outside the window, his dark eyes became brighter and brighter under the snow light.

"Who will be the informer?"

Xiuxiu followed Qiuyue back to the bedroom just now, and Qiuyue waved her sleeves and ordered the rest of the maids to retreat.Her voice was deep, and her eyes were filled with darkness.The maid who was still muttering just now held her breath and retreated to the door of the outer hall.

In the whole bedroom, only Qiuyue and Xiuxiu were left.Xiuxiu looked at Qiuyue in amazement, and there was a faint sound of wind and horses in her ears, which made her feel like a golden horse and an iron horse.

She couldn't understand, the polite Qiuyue, why did she look at her so harshly this time?

Her heart was pounding, she pretended nothing happened, and said with a smile: "Whose bedroom is this?"

"Who else is it? Of course it belongs to the Third Highness." Qiuyue sneered abruptly.

"Doesn't the Third Highness live in the palace?"

"This is specially built by the emperor for His Highness the Third Highness. Shen Xiuxiu, do you really not understand or pretend you don't understand? The Third Highness didn't tell you, will Mr. Shen tell you? I really want to know, what kind of magic did you use to enter?" This palace? His Highness the Third Highness hastily carried you in, and everyone saw it and thought that something serious happened, but it turned out that it was just a broken skin!"

Qiuyue pressed her every step of the way, and the depths of her eyes were already flickering with fire, she said: "I never thought that Miss Xiuxiu is more scheming than Miss Yizhen! The Third Highness is unruly on the surface, but has a very kind heart, but you used it! "

She grabbed Xiuxiu's injured wrist, gave it a cold look, and flung it away violently.Xiuxiu grinned in pain, and took a few steps back.She didn't expect Qiuyue to be so fierce in the middle of the night, and she was dumbfounded when she wanted to explain, and she stood there for a while.

Under the half-bright candlelight, Xiuxiu's innocent expression and a pair of eyes softer than the moonlight appeared.Those eyes that were so clear that there was no trace of impurity, even in the dark and chaotic corners, still seemed to shine brightly.

As Qiuyue watched, there was an inexplicable anger in her chest, which was burning so fiercely that it almost burst out.She couldn't stop laughing, and said coldly, "Do you know why the Third Highness invited you to the theater?"

Xiuxiu shook her head in a panic, but there was a sudden hot flash in the base of her ears.

Looking at it, Qiuyue almost gritted her teeth and said, "This is because the Third Highness was under Lord Shen's control. Lord Shen asked you to approach the Third Highness because he wanted you to be a concubine. In the future, he will make great contributions to the royal family of the Liang Dynasty." , to help the new ruler in charge of the state affairs, he will definitely be extremely powerful for a while. Your adoptive father's arrangements are really well-intentioned, but the third highness has already figured out one or two. Mr. Shen failed to do one trick, so he tried another trick. When you know General Yang is right here with His Highness the Third Highness, so he uses it as a threat. Don't look at me with that innocent look, I won't sympathize with you, because - the informer is you!"

"I do not have!"

Hugh suddenly yelled.She could barely stand and was breathing heavily.

"I came out with His Highness the Third Highness because he is not as unrestrained as outsiders say. He is fearless in the face of danger and full of heroism, which is admirable. As for what you said about Mr. Shen's intentions, it is simply figuring out what is happening out of thin air!"

Although she forced herself to defend Shen Buyu and herself, she had to believe Qiuyue's words in her heart.Pictures flashed in my mind, a chill rose from the soles of my feet to my heart, and even my whole body began to tremble.

The first thing that comes to mind is entering the palace for the first time.At that time, I met Xiao Kui in Concubine Rong's bedroom, but Shen Buyu left her alone in the palace.Is it a coincidence?Or did they do it on purpose?
"It was also because of you that you were imprisoned last time! Your Highness took you here to recuperate, but he dared not offend your adoptive father again. The emperor suffers from a congenital illness, so it's hard to say that one day he will let go, and His Highness is the real one." Prince Chu. In today's situation, the emperor must rely on senior ministers, Lord Shen is one of them. Do you understand?"

Qiuyue still kept hissing reminders, each word beating on Xiuxiu's heart like a bell and drum.Xiuxiu's heart felt sour and bitter, and she couldn't hold back her tears any longer.

She thought that such a thing would only happen to the foolish herself. For 15 years, she has been used to the calm life in Mengmata County.The concern for my hometown and the remembrance of my father filled my time in Jiangling.The difference from before is that Xiao Kui appeared, and even saw him holding her hand in the dream, and he was still smiling at her... When he woke up, his heart was mixed with sweet and sour, and he couldn't fall asleep after tossing and turning.

The sound of palace leaks in the distance, intermittently, aroused people's minds.In the deep dream of the Nine Layers Palace, that person was already in a deep sleep, while the people here were already heartbroken.

She is innocent, so what is wrong with her?

not understand.I really don't understand.

Xiao Kui hates her, it's not that he didn't think of it before, it's just that he wasn't sure.

Turns out this was the answer!
Turns out this was the answer!
Xiuxiu's face was pale, her lips trembled for a long while, and the thousand words turned into a choked sob: "I understand..."

"Just understand." Qiuyue breathed a sigh of relief, looked at Xiuxiu with a painful face, narrowed her eyes and whispered softly, "I'm also doing it for your own good, so as not to be troubled and you don't know. You should know what to do in the future. Just now If the words are inappropriate, please consider that the servant is only a maid, so don't worry about it."

Hugh nodded blankly.

Qiuyue spread out the brocade quilt and added silver charcoal to the stove.After Xixiu fell asleep, he lowered the silk curtain and left.Xiuxiu watched Qiuyue's leaving back, stared at the flickering candlelight in a daze, and felt a pang of sorrow welling up from her abdominal cavity, accumulating in her heart.

"I have to go, I will leave at dawn."

She whispered, a teardrop rolled down from the corner of her eye.

When Xiuxiu woke up again, it was broad daylight.Right hand numb pain.

Still getting out of bed barefoot, she secretly lifted the curtain to look out, when someone came in outside and almost bumped into her, she hastily stepped back a few steps.A closer look revealed that it was a court lady.The court lady didn't salute when she saw Xiuxiu, she just put the gold-painted wooden basin filled with hot water on the table, and said: "Miss, it's just right for you to get up. Wash your face while the water is hot."

Xiuxiu guessed that the maid was the one who teased her outside the palace last night, so she quickly dressed herself, washed up, and sat in front of the big bronze mirror to comb her hair.Her shiny black hair fell straight down, and Xiuxiu saw the envious gaze from the court lady in the mirror, so she kindly asked, "Why don't you see Miss Qiuyue?"

The lady-in-waiting put on a straight face, and replied stiffly: "Sister Qiuyue was tired all night, and she is not feeling well today."

Xiuxiu was so overwhelmed that she almost choked, she bit her bullet and continued, "Did the Third Highness wake up?"

"This is the resting palace of His Highness the Third Highness, so it's easier than in the palace. On weekdays, His Highness probably hasn't woken up yet."

"Who said Ben Gong hasn't gotten up yet?"

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Kui's voice came from behind him.The two hurriedly turned their heads, only to see that he was already standing by the door curtain, wearing a bluish-white gown with large sleeves and a right lapel, looking refreshed.

The court lady had already changed her frivolous look, smiled softly at Xiuxiu, packed up her toilet and bowed and retreated.Xiuxiu was at a loss, put down the ivory comb, and bowed slightly to Xiao Kui.Xiao Kui calmly looked at her with a smile on his face.

Sunshine has come in through the carved windows, and the dark smog in the room has cleared away. Xiuxiu seems to feel that yesterday was just a dream.

"Is your hand okay?" His smile deepened.

She pretended not to care, trying to tell him it was okay.

The snow will melt, everything will disappear, she is leaving too, Yanxi must have been worried all night.

Xiao Kui was already close to her, and he stretched out his hand to slowly lift her injured hand, and slowly put it in his palm.Under the finely embroidered cloud pattern cuffs, her fingers were so warm that her heart was almost melted.She stared at his gentle movements, and suddenly wanted to break free.Xiao Kui's hands strengthened, and she knew that he was moody, so she gave up struggling.The corners of Xiao Kui's mouth curled up, and there was a terrifying brown in the pupils of his eyes.

"what's wrong?"

"Can I borrow His Highness's carriage?"

"What are you doing?" He raised his head and squinted, seemingly puzzled.

Talking to her frowning like this, Xiuxiu felt relieved and said directly: "I think I should go back." She felt much more relieved when she said it.

He looked at her fixedly, and she didn't hesitate to face that touching face.For a moment he smiled slightly, raised her sleeves, put her hands on his face, and said softly: "Your injury is not healed, you will go back in a few days."

"Yanxi is still waiting for me! Besides, it's not convenient here." Xiuxiu struggled fiercely, but said calmly.

Xiao Kui didn't notice the change in Xiuxiu's attitude, he still said in a coaxing tone, "I'll bring Yanxi, okay? You haven't eaten yet, have you? I'll ask someone to bring in the breakfast. If you have enough sleep, you will be fine after a few days of recuperation." After speaking, he shouted outside, "Qiuyue, bring in the breakfast."

The maid came in with a jade plate inlaid with gold, Xiao Kui was stunned for a moment and asked, "Where is Qiuyue?"

"Returning to Your Highness, Sister Qiuyue suddenly feels unwell, probably ill."

Xiao Kui didn't seem to hear, and now his attention is all on Xiuxiu.He took the gauze handed over by the court lady, and awkwardly bandaged Xiuxiu's wound himself.The gauze seems to be covered with a special ointment, which is cool and has a scent of grass and red flowers, wrapping the wound and messing up Xiuxiu's heart.

She thought sadly, he is careful and considerate now, probably for Shen Buyu to see.

Why bother?
Xiao Kuiwu picked up a bowl of porridge, blew it carefully, and handed it to her.Xiuxiu's heart was overwhelmed, and she caught a glimpse of the maid standing behind Xiao Kui, casting a venomous look at her.

She sat blankly, Xiao Kui saw that she didn't respond, so he patiently adjusted the spoon with a small spoon, and stretched it out to her mouth to feed her.

"Hey, eat something."

Xiuxiu turned his face away and blocked it with his sleeve inadvertently. Unexpectedly, with a muffled bang, the porridge bowl in Xiao Kui's hand knocked down on the precious multicolored Persian carpet. Sound, broken.

Surprised, the two suddenly got up almost at the same time.Xiao Kui opened his eyes wide, as if he didn't believe it, and said coldly, "What are you doing?"

Xiuxiu gritted her teeth, without explaining, "I'm leaving." She pulled away and wanted to leave.

"and many more."

(End of this chapter)