Mountains and rivers fall into red

Chapter 9
Yizhen's eyes flickered with a hint of predation, and he restrained himself from speaking, and walked away with his sleeves thrown.After this trip, she didn't show up again, and the maid who had been looking for the past came back and said that Miss Yizhen excused herself to be dizzy, her legs were heavy and she was very tired, so she had gone to rest in the tent.

"I knew she wouldn't come." Qiuyue snorted coldly.

After cooking for about an hour, the soup was bubbling with milk-yellow foam, and the aroma of beef bone soup was tangy.Xiuxiu put the green and delicate stems and leaves into the soup, and Qiuyue, who had been watching her silently, asked, "What are you doing with these broken leaves?"

Xiuxiu smiled and explained: "This is coriander. A little broken leaves can be added to the soup, which can relieve the fishy smell of cattle and sheep, and make the soup taste more delicious. My father taught me this."

Qiuyue nodded in a daze, and seeing the silence under Xiuxiu's thick long eyelashes, she asked again: "I heard that the prime minister is your adoptive father, but what about your own father? What does he do?"

When mentioning her father, Xiuxiu's face darkened, but she still said honestly: "My father was a helper, and then there was an accident, he fell from the high wall and died..."

Qiuyue stopped asking, her attitude towards Xiuxiu was completely different from Yizhen's.In her eyes, Yizhen comes from a famous family, is coquettish and arrogant, and she regards him as her biggest opponent, while Shen Xiuxiu, who comes from the countryside, is not a threat to her in any way.What's more, the third prince has always had prejudice against Mr. Shen, she knows it.

The autumn cold days are short, the sky darkens quickly, and the bright moon shines in the western sky.On the hunting ground, the lanterns were tall and the evening breeze was gentle. At this time, the Xiao brothers and the others came back.

This time the hunting was quite fruitful, and everyone really hunted and killed a leopard.The arena was very lively, everyone was talking about the prey, and from time to time there were pleasant clicks of admiration.Yizhen heard that the third prince had come back, ran out of the tent to take a look, pulled Xiao Hao and said dissatisfiedly: "Didn't you say that you wanted me to get in touch with the third prince? I didn't expect to leave me alone."

Xiao Hao apologized, and whispered: "After all, hunting is a man's business. The third brother will not let women interfere. Let him drink a few more glasses tonight, and you can take the opportunity to talk to him."

Yizhen nodded in satisfaction.

After dinner, everyone dispersed, the lake breeze passed by, and the surrounding area was quiet.Xiao Kui drank a few cups, thinking he was a little drunk, so Qiuyue helped him into his tent.Xiuxiu watched their backs gradually going away, but heard the gentle sound of stepping on the grass behind them.Looking back, it was Xiao Hao with his hands behind his back, and his dark eyes were fixed on her.

Hugh smiled timidly.A fire flickered deep in Xiao Hao's eyes, and he said to Xiuxiu: "The beef bone soup tonight is delicious, I heard you made it?"

"And Miss Qiuyue helped me do it together." Xiuxiu said seriously.

"Okay, I was wrong, you and Qiuyue did it together." Xiao Hao couldn't help laughing, a trace of joy oozing out from his heart uncontrollably.

"Can you ride a horse and shoot an arrow?"

"I don't know anything." Xiuxiu answered him honestly.

Xiao Hao was a little disappointed, but he quickly changed the subject and said: "Today is very happy, we climbed two mountains. By the way, do you want to hear how we caught the leopard? Come on, let's go to the lake, I'll tell you."

He subconsciously grabbed Xiuxiu's hand, but Xiuxiu shrank back timidly.Xiao Hao didn't care, and he also smiled shyly, because he was still very happy in his heart—this Miss Shen was willing to take a walk with him.Xiuxiu blinked the girl's clear and lively eyes, forgetting her restraint. She felt that the fourth prince seemed familiar and kind. She liked to hear him tell about their cheetah experience, and she liked the lake view at night, which was peaceful and mysterious.

The lake breeze blows by, the waves are like a mirror, the bright moon shines on the ripples, there is a melodious flute sound not far away, and there are elegant young people who are chatting eloquently beside them.All of this is full of freshness and magic to the 15-year-old Hugh.

Just as the two of them were immersed in the beautiful scenery of this beautiful day, a palace lady came running up panting, and reported in a panic that Yizhen and Qiuyue were fighting.

Xiao Hao and Xiuxiu looked at each other in surprise, and they ran towards Xiao Kui's tent.

Seeing Xiao Hao and Xiuxiu going for a walk by the lake, Yizhen seemed bored.She is indifferent to their affairs, because they have nothing to do with her, and her mind is only on one person.

My cousin said that His Highness the Third Highness drank a few more glasses tonight.Now that he is in the tent, can't he take the opportunity to talk to him?

She smiled smugly, even bouncing as she walked.When she reached Xiao Kui's tent, she slowed down and opened the curtain on tiptoe to go in.As if being swept up in the wind, the curtain suddenly opened, and the light yellow brocade was spread over her eyebrows, blocking her view.Qiuyue's indifferent eyes under the curtain are like a pool of stagnant water that has been deposited for thousands of years.

Yizhen was taken aback by Qiuyue standing guard in front of the curtain.Qiuyue grabbed her arm and kept pulling her outside before letting go.

"What are you doing? I'm going to see His Highness the Third Highness, can you control me?" Yizhen said angrily as he stroked his sore arm.

"The Third Highness has rested, outsiders are not allowed to enter." Qiuyue replied coldly.

"I'm not an outsider! The fourth prince is his younger brother, and I'm his cousin. We are related. What are you? A court lady who sleeps with you, a servant who only listens to the master's orders, is so unreasonable! Let me tell you, during the day I endured this bad breath and was looking for an opportunity to settle accounts with you! Why, if you want to stop me, I will ask someone to break your dog legs!"

Yizhen was used to being pampered and pampered, so naturally, even her tone of voice was extremely contemptuous of Qiuyue.Unexpectedly, Qiuyue didn't accept this set, and pushed back hard: "This is not the imperial servant's mansion, but a royal hunting ground, so there are royal rules. If you are not allowed to enter, you are not allowed to enter. Go back to your tent and wait." Go on, how can you be so wild?"

After hearing these words, Yi was so angry that his breathing became disordered, so he raised his hand and slapped Qiuyue across the face.

"Dog slave, talk to me like that!"

Qiuyue accepted the slap abruptly, and couldn't help but push with both hands.Yizhen staggered and fell down, but she got up quickly and grabbed Qiuyue's skirt.Qiuyue did not show weakness, and the two were entangled with each other like this.

The guards guarding the tent hurriedly came over to persuade him, Jiang Chen happened to be patrolling and passed by here, and called the maid to call the fourth prince as soon as possible.During the commotion, Xiao Kui in the tent was alarmed.He came out with his clothes on, stepped forward to help Qiuyue, frowned slightly and asked, "Qiuyue, what happened?"

Qiuyue said it indifferently: "I was slapped by her..."

Only then did Xiao Kui look at Yizhen with shining eyes, and immediately said: "Zheng Yizhen, you dare to beat my maid? Don't come, I will send someone to take you back to Jiangling overnight!"

Yizhen usually relies on her status, although she is arrogant, she has never personally brought down anyone, but now she is angered by Qiuyue because of Xiao Kui.She thought Xiao Kui would be considerate, but she didn't want Xiao Kui to treat her so coldly for a court lady, she felt as cold as falling into an ice cellar, covered her face and began to cry.

At this moment, Xiao Hao and Xiuxiu arrived.When Yizhen saw Xiao Hao, he poured out all his grievances on him, and cried, "You lied to me! You said you would let me have fun, but I followed this place all the way, but I was bullied for no reason! You run away by yourself I disappeared without a trace, and even the Third Highness didn’t want to see me! I was concerned about him and wanted to ask about the situation, but I didn’t expect the Third Highness to drive me away! Instead of being suspected like this, it’s better to go back overnight, I told my father, uncle and the others go!"

She cried so heartbroken that she really wanted to leave.Xiao Hao smiled in embarrassment, and comforted her: "Third brother is just talking, just kidding with you. If you go back overnight, if uncle finds out, how can I explain it?"

"Okay, it's Qiuyue who was rude." Xiao Kui said, motioning to Qiuyue, "Apologize to Miss Yizhen, and return to the palace to fine her salary for one month, and she won't do it again."

Qiuyue knelt in front of Yizhen, lowered her head, her eyelashes trembling, and said in a low voice after a long time: "This slave has offended Ms. Yizhen, Miss, please forgive me."

Yizhen's tears were gone, but her mouth still refused: "Brother Hao, you just hunt by yourself, leaving me alone to do nothing, it's too boring."

"Anyway, we caught the leopard too, so I'll play with you tomorrow." Xiao Kui smiled brightly, his eyes lit up, "Let's go to the mountain to play hide-and-seek. Whoever wins the leopard will get it. What do you think?"

"Okay!" Yizhen smiled through tears and clapped her hands.

Xiao Hao took the opportunity to comfort her: "Seeing that you are crying into a disfigured face, it is getting late, so hurry up and rest, so that you can recharge your energy tomorrow, and this trip will not be in vain."

Yizhen had been amused a long time ago, she completely forgot the previous unhappiness, and obediently went with the maid.Xiao Kui dismissed the servants, including Qiuyue, then patted Xiao Hao on the shoulder and said, "Brother Hao, I'm sorry, something happened just now."

"I know that the third brother made peace with others because of me, and asked Qiuyue to apologize. Cousin Yizhen is arrogant, but she has liked you since she was a child, and I also want to give her a chance."

"This hunting is for Brother Hao. If you are happy, I will be happy." Xiao Kui said with a smile, and turned around to find Xiu Xiu still standing silently, only to feel her presence, "Tomorrow hide and seek, Miss Shen Come play with us too."

Xiao Hao grinned, and said for Xiuxiu: "Of course."

The surroundings returned to silence, and Xiuxiu and Xiao Hao walked back to their respective tents on the grass.Xiuxiu's expression was as usual, but Xiao Hao was full of satisfaction and joy, with a warm smile on his face, and slowly said to Xiuxiu: "I have no mother since I was born, and later I adopted it to my uncle. All of us in the palace I don't care about the matter, and I don't bother to pay attention to it. After all, the third brother is the closest to me, and he is the only person I care about."

"Where's the emperor? He's your father." Xiuxiu couldn't help asking.

Xiao Hao still smiled and said: "Father treats me kindly and keeps me away from all disputes. Maybe because I went to Huanyi when I was very young, I have a relationship with my uncle's family, but when I saw Father, I was separated."

Xiuxiu didn't understand the complicated affairs of the royal family, and didn't take it to heart.She only felt that the moonlight tonight was charming, which was different from the night scene in Mengmata County.The mountain breeze is blowing, the distant mountains and near trees are hazy, the sky is more silhouetted, and the twinkling stars seem to be touchable with one's hand.

Tomorrow must be a sunny day, she smiled lightly.

Xiao Kui came out of the tent after breakfast, and whispered some instructions to Jiang Chen, but Jiang Chen was so shocked that he couldn't speak.The haze on Qiuyue's face dissipated, she pulled the corners of her mouth, and went into the tent.Then Xiao Kui took the heavy car bell from the guard and shook it intentionally, the tinkling sound caught people's eyes and ears.

"Go! Go!"

When Yizhen heard the voice, she couldn't wait to come out.She changed into a new brocade-patterned short hunting suit, she looked quite heroic, and walked towards Xiao Kui with a smile.Xiao Hao and Xiuxiu also came out one after another, and they gathered together.

Only then did Xiao Kui smile easily: "Miss Yizhen, do you think I'm not breaking my promise? In this way, no one is allowed to bring any followers, so as not to play tricks, until we go to the top of the mountain ahead."

Everyone shouted "Hello" in unison, and Xiuxiu was also very excited and eager to try.Xiao Kui stretched out his waist, shouted loudly, and walked away leisurely.Yizhen happily followed behind, followed by Xiao Hao and Xiuxiu walking in tandem, while Jiang Chen led more than ten palace guards to protect behind.

After walking for a while, the mountains and trees in the extreme eyes are verdant, and there are almost no abrupt and strange rocks and cliffs.Xiuxiu looked around, and the woods on the other side of the mountain were covered with a soft morning glow, faintly red.Then look at the large number of guards meandering behind, their armored knives gleaming in the sun.

She couldn't help but think of when she was a child, traveling through the jungle with the Tianji siblings, the mountains were full of their laughter.They had so much fun that they almost forgot the hour.If my father can't see her, he will definitely find her on the mountain and call her name loudly.Time passed by, and the gardenias in the yard bloomed and withered. No one expected that in just a few years, a new tomb had been built on the top of a hill in Mengmata County.

She was filled with emotion and sighed silently.

"What are you thinking? I noticed that you are walking more and more slowly." Xiao Hao in front stopped and asked her with a smile.

Hugh regained his senses and just smiled.Xiao Hao looked ahead, frowned slightly, and said: "There is a deep mountain not far ahead, where is the third brother taking us? Wang Yi is really happy, I don't want to spoil her interest."

"There are many shrubs and strange rocks in front, which is convenient for hiding. It is indeed a good place." Xiuxiu said with satisfaction.

Xiao Hao nodded in agreement, and said: "The third brother is very crazy when he plays, and he has a lot of tricks. When I was a child in the palace, I followed him every day. When he was unhappy, he liked to tease people and make some funny things. Once we even made the prime minister ..."

He suddenly remembered that Xiuxiu's adoptive father was the prime minister, so he hurriedly kept silent, worried that Xiuxiu would ask curious questions.Fortunately, at this time, Xiao Kui in front shouted loudly: "Here we are!"

Their game is very simple. Several people split up to find a place to hide, and one person stays in place. After counting to fifty, they follow the trail to find someone. Whoever has the most times without being caught is the winner.Xiuxiu is very familiar with this kind of gameplay, she hides herself well every time, sometimes even Xiao Kui can't find her.Yizhen was born in an official family, never seen this kind of play, and almost every time he was the first to be caught.As a result, she gradually seemed to lose interest and lose interest.

"Stop playing! The Third Highness is determined not to let me win, this leopard has no place for me at all!"

She sat angrily and didn't want to move.Xiao Kui approached her, sighed inaudibly, and had a strange smile on his lips: "I thought that if you found me this time, I would give you the leopard as if you had won me. You If you give up, then go down the mountain and return to the camp, and then don’t blame brother Hao.”

Yizhen's eyes lit up, and he said angrily, "Your Highness, don't lie to me, keep what you say."

Xiao Kui nodded seriously, and said with a straight face: "Once a man says something, it's hard to follow."

The woods came alive again.Xiuxiu hid under a boulder, where there was a gap that could just go in.She hid there, knowing that Yizhen would never find her, when she raised her head, she happened to see Xiao Kui's nimble figure flashing into the dense forest.

Yizhen searched around for a while, but couldn't find anyone.She stood there, muttering: "Third Highness, I must find you! Don't be lazy, don't lie to me, don't make me sad..."

Xiuxiu felt that Yi was really pitiful, so she took the initiative to come out from under the boulder, quietly pointed to the direction of the dense forest, and told softly, "The Third Highness is going there."

Yizhen was overjoyed, but also afraid, and insisted on asking Xiuxiu to accompany her to find her.Xiuxiu wanted to help Yizhen with good intentions, so the two pushed aside the bushes to search.

Passing through a large forest, there is a faint sound of gurgling water, and the scene in front of my eyes has changed, and a gully lies in front of me.The two thought they were going in the wrong direction, and were about to go back, when Yizhen's eyes were sharp, and she suddenly said pleasantly: "The Third Highness is hiding on the opposite side, I saw his hairband!"

Xiuxiu followed the reputation, and sure enough, in the woods on the other side of the ditch, a strand of Xiao Kui's golden hair was blown by the wind.Hand in hand, the two carefully crossed the ravine, and finally climbed up the forest, only to see Xiao Kui's hair tie tied tightly to the branch.Xiuxiu looked unavoidably discouraged, and said: "The Third Highness did it on purpose, let's not go up, go back."

"No, he must be up there. He clearly told me that he is waiting for me in front." Yizhen burst into tears, with a trace of pitiful hope in her eyes.

Xiuxiu worried: "If this continues, we will get lost."

"I must find the Third Highness! If I find him, I will win!"

Yi really walked forward with determination, but he couldn't help it, so he had to accompany him.In the mountains and forests, the birds chirped constantly, the sun shone through the sparse leaves, and the hurried footsteps and panting of the two could be clearly heard.They didn't know how long they had walked, but when they realized that there was no Xiao Kui ahead, a more serious reality came before them—they were really lost.

"What should we do? How do we go back?" Yizhen was frustrated, aching and tired all over her head, she looked at Xiuxiu blankly.

Xiuxiu didn't panic, she picked up some dry firewood leaves, knocked out sparks with flint, and lit the dry firewood.She was doing all this skillfully, looking at the rising smoke, she comforted Yizhen and said: "Don't worry, the third and fourth princes must also be looking for us. They will come here soon when they see the smoke rising."

Yizhen couldn't help but nodded in admiration, and said regretfully, "I still can't win against him."

While talking, there were chaotic footsteps in the woods not far away, spears and armor appeared and disappeared in the woods, and the voice of "over there" was vaguely heard.Xiuxiu believed that it was Jiang Chen and other guards, let go of his throat and shouted: "We are here!"

Yizhen also stood up, and she stared fixedly at the approaching figure, the smile on her face disappeared.She grabbed Xiuxiu and said with horror on her face, "It's the soldiers from the Northern Zhou Dynasty! Run away!"

Xiuxiu only heard that the Western Wei Dynasty changed hands and changed the name of the country to the Northern Zhou Dynasty. How did she, a country girl, know about the rest?Yizhen's horrified expression really frightened her, she turned around and ran away without saying a word.

After running an unknown number of mountain roads, when they felt that there were no pursuers behind them, they slumped on the ground exhausted.The hairpins and temples of the two were in disarray, and the soft and thin underwear was already soaked with sweat.Yizhen looked down at his distressed appearance and couldn't help sobbing.She hated this hunt, even Xiao Kui blamed it.It was the first time for Xiuxiu to hear such a delicate young lady's broken cries, she was at a loss for a while, and just wanted to try her best to comfort her.

"Miss Yizhen, don't cry, it's okay, the third prince and the others will find us. And me, I will find a way to let us go out together."

Yizhen was crying so hard that her eyes were blurred. She grabbed Xiuxiu's arm as if grabbing a life-saving straw: "You won't leave me alone, will you? I can't walk, my legs are about to break..."

Xiuxiu smiled bravely, carried Yizhen on her back, and walked down the mountain step by step.

Besides, Xiao Kui was hiding in the dark, seeing Yizhen and Xiuxiu pass through the bushes and across the ravine, he couldn't help bursting into hearty laughter.Xiao Hao followed behind him, knowing that it was the emperor's brother playing a prank, he couldn't help crying and laughing, shaking his head and said: "It seems that my cousin is not as affectionate as Qiuyue girl, the emperor's intention is to relieve Qiuyue's anger, if my cousin knows, she will definitely sad."

Xiao Kui said disapprovingly, "It's just the prestige of letting them go around the mountain and kill your cousin. Qiuyue has served me for ten years, and even my own master is reluctant to beat her. How can I be bullied by outsiders for nothing?"

"Third brother loves Qiuyue so much, so I have no choice but to sacrifice my cousin." Xiao Hao smiled wryly.

Xiao Kui winked and gave an ambiguous smile and said, "You don't just love your cousin, do you? I think you care about that Shen Xiuxiu." Having said that, his expression froze, "Shen Buyu changed his ways to get along with the royal family. As for marriage, be careful, don't be fooled."

"Understood." Xiao Hao sighed silently.

The two sat and chatted, and the sun was already overhead before they knew it.Xiao Hao looked up at the sky, and couldn't help worrying: "It's time for them to come back, why haven't they moved yet, could they have lost their way?"

Xiao Kui also stood up and looked at the other side of the mountain.At this moment, a guard hurriedly came to report: "Your Highness, there are several Northern Zhou soldiers on the other side of the mountain!"

(End of this chapter)