Mountains and rivers fall into red

Chapter 54
It was meant as a joke, but Xiao Kui took it seriously: "You have served me for a long time, and I must find you a good place to go."

"The slave will always serve His Highness," Qiuyue said.

Xiao Kuichi laughed, thought for a moment, but didn't say anything.Qiuyue saw that he was full of worries, so it was hard to ask.

While getting dressed, Xiao Kui suddenly asked: "Qiuyue, I have a question for you. If you accidentally lose something you love, will it still be there when you go back to look for it?"

Qiuyue thought of the white jade he put under the fur pillow, thought for a while, and said with a smile: "Others may lose it and can't find it, but His Highness's is different. What is yours will always be yours, and it cannot be lost."

Xiao Kui froze for a moment, then shook his head in distress: "What if I really lost it?"

Then, he resolutely said: "No, what is mine is mine."

In the palace square, the sound of drums and trumpets resounded across the sky.Numerous "Xiao" flags fluttered in the wind, and the soldiers and horses of the Liang Dynasty were fully equipped, and all the soldiers stood upright in formation.

The cold light flickered, and the roar shook the sky.The soldiers are strong and ambitious.

Civil and military officials stood respectfully on both sides, awe-inspiring.

Xiao Xie and his son stood facing the wind, staring at the magnificence of the world, each with emotion in their hearts.

During these days, Xiao Xi was so weak that he had to rely on others for support from time to time.Although he went to court every day as usual, he was sweating profusely when he came back.Seeing this scene, Xiao Kui felt extremely painful.

Xiao Kui was calm. He looked at his son with approving eyes, and comforted Xiao Kui: "Ku'er, don't worry, the father will not die for a while. When the son triumphs and the court is stable, the father will hand over the throne to you. You can go in peace."

The eldest prince Xiao Shao came over, patted his younger brother on the shoulder, and said sincerely: "When I was a child, every time I saw my father going out to fight, I was nervous. Now that my third brother is also going to the battlefield, I am even more nervous. It would be great if the world was peaceful .”

Looking at the elder brother's back, Xiao Kui asked his father sadly: "Elder brother is the baby's biological brother, will father want to touch him?"

"Silly boy, he is also Father's own son. How could Father have the heart to touch him? But if the Mu family's influence is not wiped out, there will be no peace for you, Father, and the court. Father can see that , among so many princes, you are the one with the softest heart."

Touching his son's shoulder, Xiao Xie sighed and said: "Don't be too sad, you are just like the father, you are also a sentimental species. Sometimes, for the sake of the country, you have to give up a lot of things, including the close relatives of flesh and blood, and the love of children." ,do you understand?"

"Father, can you pick up the discarded things?"

Xiao Xi pondered, feeling a headache about this question, and said: "What do you mean by being overwhelmed and hard to recover? If you lose it, you lose it. When you go back and look for it, it may not be the original thing."

There was a slight daze on Xiao Kui's face.

The horn of departure sounded, Xiao Qi waved his wide sleeves, and said in a loud voice: "Now the two countries are one, life and death are shared. Kui Er, go, the people of Quanliang are waiting for your triumphant return!"

Xiao Kui frowned, bid farewell to his father, and walked towards the steps with a confident gait.

As soon as the fog cleared, the golden glazed tiles in the palace shone brightly under the scorching sun, emitting a dazzling golden light, and the cornices were so straight that they seemed to pierce the heart.

Xiao Kui attacked Chen, and wars broke out on the border of Chen State.

Jiangling fell into a state of tranquility, and the people of Quanliang were eagerly looking forward to the news of the victory.

Shen Buyu's thoughts are also with Xiao Kui and Xiuxiu. He hopes that Xiao Kui will return soon and that Xiuxiu's marriage date will not be fixed.He never expected that at this juncture, the backyard of the Prime Minister's Mansion caught fire.

It was none other than his own young son, Shen Xinyang, who caused the trouble.

Xin Yang is docile and obedient on the surface, but his personality is a bit rebellious, but he still obeys his father.Shen Buyu has always educated this son with culture, although he can't become a great weapon, he doesn't cause trouble, which is more reassuring.

Xiuxiu left the Prime Minister's Mansion and lived in that dilapidated bamboo courtyard, which would cause outsiders to make irresponsible remarks and insult the Shen family's style.Therefore, Shen Buyu didn't dare to publicize it, and not many people in the Shen family knew about it.Xin Yang misses his younger sister, so he runs to the bamboo courtyard whenever he has time, Yan Xi is Xiuxiu's personal servant girl, so he also goes to see the young lady every now and then.These are all normal and reasonable, Shen Buyu even hoped that through Xinyang and Yanxi's family call, Xiuxiu could be moved to go home as soon as possible.

The young master and the servant girl occasionally came in and out as a couple, but the people in the Shen residence didn't notice at first.After a long time, the two of them became more courageous, and some people even saw the young master get off the carriage by the hand of Yan Xi, so there were gossip in secret.On a dark and windy night, Uncle Fu took some of his confidants and caught this pair of young lovers cuddling together under the willow tree by the Yeying Pool.

Shen Buyu rushed over upon hearing the news, and slapped Xin Yang firmly on the face.

"You bastard, you're worthless! You've completely disgraced the Shen family!"

Xin Yang covered his face, not afraid, and protested: "Why did father hit me? What did I do wrong?"

"You really don't live up to it!" Shen Buyu said angrily, pointing at the trembling Yanxi, "You were born in the prime minister's house, how could you like a lowly girl?"

Liu Rulan was wearing a robe casually, and rushed over in a panic, just in time to hear her son contradicting her father.

"What's wrong with me liking Yanxi? Back then, didn't my father also like Xiuxiu's mother?"

"To shut up!"

Shen Buyu stopped Xin Yang's words, flames flashed in his eyes, and his expression became extremely terrifying.Pointing at Yanxi, he shouted: "Put this lowly girl in the dungeon and deal with it according to family law!"

"Young Master, save me!" Yan Xi kept screaming as she was dragged all the way outside while being tied up.

Xin Yang wanted to rush over, but Liu Rulan grabbed him in time: "Xin Yang, don't be impulsive. The more you behave like this, the more you can't save Yan Xi, listen to your father!"

Xin Yang had no choice but to stop, breathing violently, and stood there resentfully.

Outside, Yanxi's cries were interrupted.

Before Liu Rulan could say anything, Shen Buyu said angrily: "Look, you have raised a good son. His ambition and talent are not as good as those of your two elder brothers, and he doesn't know how to be vigilant and tempered, so he should learn some things."

"How will the master deal with Yan Xi?" Liu Rulan asked.

The more Shen Buyu thought about it, the more annoyed he became, and said, "With that appearance, what else can you do other than seduce people? What a crime! From now on, there will be no second Cao Guizhi in the Shen family!"

After all, he pushed the door and went out.

Xin Yang was very anxious, grabbed Liu Rulan and begged, "Mother, Yanxi's life and death are at stake, please save her!"

"Your father...doesn't come into Mother's yard anymore. Xinyang, Mother can't save Yanxi."

Liu Rulan's expression was complicated, she forced a smile, but shed a line of tears for no reason.

"What should I do? Mom, even you can't save Yanxi, who can save her?" Xin Yang said in despair.

Liu Rulan wiped away her tears, and replied: "You go to Xiuxiu at dawn, she is the only one who can save Yanxi. It's just that it will make things difficult for this child, and your father will definitely make conditions."

Xiuxiu heard that something happened to Yan Xi, so she hurried back to the Prime Minister's Mansion.

She didn't understand, first Tianji, then Yanxi, there is always an invisible rope, constantly cut and untied, pulling her to this place she didn't want to come, to face this person she didn't want to see again and again.

There was no one waiting in the study, Shen Buyu sipped the tea, as if he was enjoying this moment of tranquility.Xiuxiu faced him, stood silently for a while, and said, "Let Yanxi go."

Shen Buyu played with the teacup and turned to look out the window.

"I thought you would beg me eagerly, but it seems that I owe you, and you become more and more domineering."

Xiuxiu looked at him, her chest rose and fell sharply, she remained silent for a while, then slowly knelt down.

"I know about them. Nian Yanxi is an honest person, and I will be with my master and servant. Please hold her high and let her go."

"You have to deal with your own affairs to the end, and for the sake of a maid, you have to make up for it." Shen Buyu relaxed slightly, and sneered, "The state owns the state laws, the family has family rules, and the Shen family has the prohibitions of the Shen family. You treat this place as What's the matter? Casually, wanton nonsense!"

After hearing something, Xiuxiu had a clear expression on his face: "I will bear the crime of Yanxi. Tell me, what do you want me to do?"

Only then did Shen Buyu say: "I heard that you planned to marry that Chu Tianji years ago?"

Xiuxiu was startled, and blurted out: "My marriage is one thing, Yanxi is another. You can't use Yanxi as a weight to interfere in my marriage! If that's the case, you'll lock me up too. Get up, I will die with Yanxi!"

"What a dear friend! But he imagined his biological father so badly!" Shen Buyu's brows couldn't help but frowned even deeper.He saw that Xiuxiu was a little absent-minded, but he couldn't control his seizures.

At this moment, it is a good time for her to compromise.

He paused every word, and said in a slightly hoarse voice: "If you want me to let Yan Xi go, you just agree to two conditions. First, the wedding date should be in the spring of next year at the earliest, and choose another auspicious day. Second, move back to Shen's house." .I will not meet a married woman in Shen, so I need to marry out of the Shen family's door in a dignified manner!"

According to the strategy of defeating Chen, Xiao Kui will return before the beginning of spring, and he must help Xiao Kui to delay until that day.The bamboo courtyard was cold and unsafe, so it was reasonable to ask Xiuxiu to come back.

And deep down, he didn't want her to suffer outside.

After thinking long enough, Xiuxiu came to her senses, she had no room to fight against him.She can only compromise, the only choice is to come back here again.

So, Xiuxiu said slowly: "Understood."

She lowered her eyes, saluted and turned to leave.

The sky was covered with more and more frosty flowers, and with the flow of the wind, Xiuxiu's figure was outlined like a silhouette.At that moment, Shen Buyu's heart sank, and he became inexplicably sour.

"It's said that the relationship is shallow, but it's actually a kinship. No matter how cruel I am, it's for her own good. When will this child understand?"

After a long while, he then said in a low voice: "Xiao Kui, you are passionate and willful, but you don't know my painstaking efforts. The crown prince has not been established, the overall situation is uncertain, but the emperor's chronic illness occurs from time to time. In times of crisis, I believe that I will take care of you wholeheartedly. I disagree, the Great Liang Dynasty is in great danger! You have been taught by Yang Jian every day on the battlefield, have you realized it?" He sighed exhaustedly, "Forget it, if you don't come back in the spring, it will be considered that you and Xiuxiu have a poor relationship, and I don't care. Whether you can let Xiuxiu come back to you depends on yourself!"

Years later, the spring was chilly, and Chen Guo was filled with boundless gunpowder.

The war has continued until now, and wherever it went, blood flowed into rivers and corpses lay like mountains.After several bloody battles, Chen Guo was defeated and began to withdraw his troops, throwing away his helmets and armors all the way in a very embarrassing situation.

On this day, horseshoes were like thunder, and Xiao Kui's soldiers and horses arrived in the hinterland of Chen State, joined Yang Jian's army, and prepared to attack Chen Du.A line of rivers and valleys pass through, isolated peaks pierce the sky, wild geese echo in the sky, but there is no trace of Chen Guo's defeated army.

Xiao Kui was excited at once, but Yang Jian ordered to stop and said to Xiao Kui, "Looking at the sky, I'm afraid it will snow heavily."

Sure enough, not long after, a rare blizzard fell one after another.

Looking around, there is a vast expanse of whiteness, and the heavy snow seems to cover the whole country of Chen.

The soldiers and horses meandered and retreated slowly towards the barracks.

The two were driving side by side, and Yang Jian said with emotion: "Even if God doesn't bless you, it seems that Chen Guo's strength is exhausted. Chen Du was supposed to fall in spring, but the heavy snow delayed the time."

Xiao Kui smiled, "Let it jump around for a few more days. The two countries have joined forces, and the Chen people will never be able to stop them!"

"His Royal Highness returned from victory, besides being crown prince, what do you want to do most?" Yang Jian half-jokingly asked.

"What do you want to do most?" Xiao Kui's eyes sparkled, and his voice floated in the snow.

Yang Jian chuckled: "But it has something to do with Miss Xiuxiu?"

Just as Xiao Kui was about to speak, suddenly, a blanket of ox horns shrieked and covered the vast expanse of snow.

It turned out that Chen Guo's army, relying on their intimate knowledge of the terrain, took advantage of the snowstorm and came from three sides.The coalition forces are still open, and thousands of strong crossbows and long arrows rush towards them like a storm accompanied by shouts of killing.

"Scatter quickly! Charge and kill the enemy formation!"

The two spoke almost at the same time, and each commanded the soldiers and horses to charge bravely.Just as Xiao Kui led his troops out of the mountain ridge, he heard the sound of killing in the snow forest, and an elite flying cavalry came over. The battle between the two sides was rumbled in the heavy snow, with breathtaking momentum.

After a few waves, Xiao Kui suddenly felt a numbness in his left arm.He didn't care. Seeing that the rain of arrows from three sides was gradually dwindling, he let out a loud roar and led more than a thousand elite flying cavalry to continue to charge into the enemy's formation.A dark and sturdy enemy general was fighting Yang Jian in full swing. Seeing that Yang Jian was at a disadvantage, Xiao Kui picked up the spear with his man and horse, and the enemy general was thrown to pieces.For a moment, Chen Junsen's evil spirit disappeared, and with the sound of several horns, the mountain beams returned to calm.

In this battle, Chen Guo's army left countless corpses, and the coalition forces also suffered heavy casualties.

Xiao Kui entered the big tent of the barracks, his face was so pale that there was no trace of blood, and he almost fell down when he sat on the long couch.The servant rushed to help, but was pushed by him.After tearing off the blood-stained shirt, panting heavily, he gritted his teeth and pulled out the long arrow stuck in his left arm.Only then did he signal to the imperial physician, and slumped down on the pillow of the couch.

"Your Highness, you are injured, do you want to tell General Yang?" the servant asked in a low voice.

"It's just a minor injury, don't alarm anyone!" Xiao Kui closed his eyes.

After being ambushed this time, the coalition forces retreated to the border of Daliang to make some adjustments, waiting for the ice and snow to melt and attack Chen with all their strength.Xiao Kui wrote to the imperial court, stating the detailed military report, but did not mention the injury.

Three days later, Xiao Kui's high fever persisted. Yang Jian rushed into Xiao Kui's tent after hearing the news, and told him to rest in peace.Although Xiao Kui was ill, he had a secret conversation with Yang Jian until the third watch.After Yang Jian left, Xiao Kui reflected on this setback again, and the lights stayed on until the east turned white.

At dusk that day, a flying cavalry arrived and went straight into Xiao Kui's camp.

Xiao Kui took out the letter from the letter tube.Looking at it, the brows became more and more tight, and his expression was as serious as a falcon.Under the blazing bonfire, his eyes seemed to burst into sparks, and the roots of his ears were bright red from the high fever.

The servant didn't know the contents of the letter, and he didn't dare to go forward to ask, so he stood nervously.

"Prepare your horse and go to Jiangling!" Xiao Kui ordered suddenly.

"Your Highness, your illness—"

Xiao Kui didn't say a single unnecessary word, put on his cloak, and almost left in a hurry.

As soon as Xiao Kui left, the servant felt something was wrong, so he went to Yang Jian's camp to report.Yang Jian hurriedly entered the account, and saw Xin Guan being casually thrown on the Shuai case at a glance.

After reading the contents of the letter, Yang Jian was extremely surprised.The servant was originally from Xiao Kui's palace, after hearing some terrified narrations, Yang Jian's spine felt chills.

"Xiao Kui must act recklessly if he goes here. This matter is no small matter, I must stop him!"

Thinking of this, Yang Jian immediately took a few cronies with him, and flew straight to Jiangling on a flying horse.

In the new year, Jiangling did not encounter snow, but the frost was heavy, and the whole capital did not have the atmosphere of post-holiday at all.Even the prosperous and splendid Xiao Kui Xinggong, because of the lack of a male host, also looks extraordinarily deserted and lonely.

Wrapped in a heavy fur robe, Zheng Yizhen walked lightly into the yard, where Jiang Chen was waiting for her.

Her slender fingers rested gently on his shoulders, and a sweet fragrance slowly permeated in.Her voice was graceful and calm: "I know, you are working for Mr. Shen. Between you and him, Juelu's support is a kindness."

Jiang Chen raised his head in astonishment, a numb chill crept up his back, and he said softly, "How do you know?"

"Don't forget, my father is Zuo Pushe." Yizhen said with a faint smile, "Not only do I know this, I also know that you are eager to know your own life experience and who your parents are."

"Tell me, where are my parents?" Jiang Chen asked eagerly.

Yizhen signaled Jiang Chen to stay calm, and smiled bitterly, and said, "Even if I tell you the truth, will you hate your benefactor?"

Jiang Chen was shocked again, and couldn't help grabbing Yizhen's arm.Yizhen looked straight up, her eyes filled with resentment and injustice, and she spoke eloquently.

"Your surname is Tao, and your parents were servants in Shen Buyu's residence. Your father was a mason, honest and honest, and he practiced a good craft. Before you were one year old, you lived happily. Once, you Your mother accidentally learned that the servant girl in the mansion was pregnant with Shen Buyu's flesh and blood, and your family suffered bad luck. First, your father was charged with adultery by Shen Buyu and thrown into the dungeon, while your mother was drowned alive in the lotus pond. It was broken apart like this.”

"What happened next?" Jiang Chen asked tremblingly.

Yizhen stared at Jiang Chen's pale face, and continued: "Shen Buyu actually asked your father to be the father of that illegitimate daughter for 15 years in order to deceive others! Your father got away with it by chance and devoted all his father's love to other people. And where are you? No one cares about you. Shen Buyu raised you and placed you next to Xiao Kui, but he wanted you to be his slave."

"You are so pitiful, you recognize a thief as your father..." Zheng Yizhen became more and more sad as he spoke, tears streaming down his face.

Jiang Chen grabbed her sleeve suddenly, his hands and feet were cold: "Where is my father? What happened to my father later?"

"Two years ago, your father fell off the wall for no reason and died." She looked at him sadly.

Jiang Chen sat paralyzed in the corner, Zheng Yizhen's words were like drops of poison, which slowly precipitated, penetrated into his bone marrow, permeated his whole body, and began to burn like fire.

"Is that illegitimate daughter Shen Xiuxiu?" His heart was filled with boundless resentment.

"Yes, she took away your father's thoughts and love for you, and now she has become a pawn in Shen Buyu's hands. She has already occupied the heart of the third prince, and he is still calling her name in his dream! He What did you think of me? He married me purely out of whim! You have seen how he treats me. How stupid I am! How stupid! Now that Shen Xiuxiu is about to get married, the two are still hooking up. When he comes back, maybe he divorces me and marries her, and from now on, the Queen's position will also belong to her!"

"Mother..." Jiang Chen suddenly put aside his hatred, and began to think for Yizhen.

He asked: "What should we do? What do you think we should do?"

At this time, Zheng Yi really seemed to have calmed down, and said: "It's not that there is no way, you just have to do one thing for me and you."

……

In the dark room, Zheng Yizhen's eyes seemed to be filled with mercury, shining brightly.

In the windy and frosty weather, Jiang Chen felt chest tightness and panic for no reason, but fine sweat oozed from his forehead, and his heart was beating fast.

When he stood in the yard, watching Yizhen walking back on the bluestone road from a distance, his eyelids began to twitch, and Zheng Yizhen's figure gradually became blurred.

叁

Today is the day when Xiuxiu gets married.

Because of Xiuxiu's insistence, there were no complicated etiquettes such as acceptance and sending a marriage letter. Only when the appointment was made, Tianji sent a Hundred Refining Crystal Needle as a token.Xiuxiu opened the female red box, took the thread and threaded it through the needle, and knitted a knot as a gift.

Tianji caressed the knot, he was still in a trance at this moment, it didn't feel real.Then, he expressed the knot in his heart: "I agreed to marry you at the end of last year, but your father, Mr. Shen, intervened, and had to change it to the beginning of spring. I'm afraid it will change again."

Xiuxiu comforted, "No matter what, I'm yours."

The strings of brocade belts represent the longing for love and thousands of emotions between the two, which is what a married woman must do.As if he had found a treasure, Tianji said happily, "I will not let go of my heart, but I will use my love firmly. Xiuxiu, do you know my heart?"

Xiuxiu smiled slightly, and chanted: "Death and life are in harmony with each other, and I will talk to Zicheng. Hold your hand and grow old together with you."

Tianji sighed and hugged her.

(End of this chapter)