married daughter

Chapter 361 Chapter 443~444 Heroic sacrifice...

Chapter 443~444

Maybe it's because she's still not used to the change of place, Ruan Yunting didn't sleep well all night, she was always in a state of half-dream and half-awake, all the information kept rolling in her mind was the possibility that Lord Yu was killed by the emperor, until it was near dawn. After sleeping for less than half an hour, he was woken up by Xu Xiangwan to have breakfast and dress up.

Xu Xiangwan wore a water-green round-neck gown with embroidered white lotus today, and the jewelry on his head was also made of jasper and pearls, gorgeous and noble yet elegant and fresh.The weather is hot in August, when the poisonous sun hangs high, such a dress is refreshing, as if even the scorching heat has been lowered.

Ruan Yunting stood behind Xu Xiangwan and laughed jokingly: "Concubine Wan is more and more beautiful, and her charm is even better after giving birth."

Xu Xiangwan helped the flower head hairpin on his temples, and gave her a helpless look: "This stinky skin is now a weapon for me to defeat the enemy and a weapon for climbing up step by step. How can I not make good use of it? You think I like it." Is that so? A woman is someone who pleases herself, but I am..."

"Okay, okay." Ruan Yunting knew the pain in her heart, "It's just teasing you. But you are right, some weapons should be put to good use."

Xu Xiangwan stood up and looked at her with a smile: "I have a good idea. According to your description, Jun Lanzhou is a responsible man. If you become his man, he will never push you away! "After that, he laughed and ran away.

Ruan Yunting blushed, and chased after Xu Xiangwan and beat him: "You little hoof, when did you learn to say this kind of thing? People treat you as a serious person, and tell you what's on your mind, and you still come to make fun of me!" ?!"

"Good sister, I know I'm wrong and I know I'm wrong."

……

The laughter of the two spread far away, and even the maids who heard it outside couldn't help laughing. It was the first time they had served Concubine Wan for so long, and it was the first time they knew that she would laugh like this. The calm and beautiful concubine is completely different.

Chasing and laughing for a while, both of them were tired and out of breath, Ruan Yunting leaned on the red lacquered pillar with her hands on her hips to pant, and said to herself: "Your method is not a bad idea."

"Ah?" Xu Xiangwan fanned his sandalwood fan gracefully, and said in astonishment, "I'll just say it, you must take it seriously, the name of a daughter's family is so important, if Jun Lanzhou doesn't accept it, you What should I do, I can't trust him so foolishly."

Ruan Yunting shook her head: "He won't. Besides, he won't want me either." Her eyes were sad.

Xu Xiangwan could best understand Ruan Yunting's feelings right now, and hurriedly stood up and said, "Let's go, let's go to Ningren Palace to greet Imperial Concubine Renxian now."

Ruan Yunting knew what she was thinking, so she nodded with a smile.

The distance from Yanshou Palace to Ningren Palace is not that close, and there are several small gardens in the middle. Ruan Yunting chatted with Xu Xiangwan all the way, but she didn't feel bored, and arrived at Ningren Palace not long after.

Compared with the gorgeous Yanshou Palace, the Ningren Palace needs to be decorated in a simple and simple way, less gorgeous and more solemn, which is in line with Xu Ningmeng's age and identity.

Xu Xiangwan brought Ruan Yunting all the way, the ladies on the road saluted the two of them one after another, and the maid beside Xu Ningmeng smiled and said, "Greetings to Empress Wan and Princess Duanyang, the imperial concubine is washing up now, Please wait a moment, both of you."

Ruan Yunting smiled knowingly, Xu Ningmeng was obviously trying to show them off, deliberately making them wait.

Xu Xiangwan said with a smile: "Then please let the imperial concubine freshen up slowly. It is always difficult to get up when you are getting old." He smiled and asked Ruan Yunting: "Would Princess Duanyang mind?"

"How could it be?" Ruan Yunting said amusedly.

"Ben Gong and Princess Duanyang are just strolling outside." Xu Xiangwan took Ruan Yunting's hand and was about to leave.

"Wait." Xu Ningmeng came out wearing a golden gown embroidered with cranes and riches and honors, with a nonchalant smile on her face, as if she hadn't heard Xu Xiangwan's ridicule just now, "Your servant is ignorant, please don't take offense."

"The imperial concubine is serious." Xu Xiangwan turned around and bent his knees.

Under the sun, Xu Ningmeng, who was wearing a golden gown, was surrounded by pearls and emeralds, but she still couldn't hide her middle-aged appearance. Compared with her, Xu Xiangwan, who was full of water and tenderness, was like the new buds on the branches in early spring, her whole body was transparent. Vigorous, beautiful and breathless.

Xu Ningmeng was like chewing grains of sand out of rice, her smile couldn't hold back, "You two sisters, please come in and sit down."

Ruan Yunting and Xu Xiangwan entered the main hall, and the palace people served refreshments. Xu Xiangwan picked up the enamel teacup, put it down after holding it for a while, and said with a concerned smile: "The sixth prince is not here today to greet the imperial concubine. ?”

When she suddenly mentioned the sixth prince, Xu Ningmeng was surprised and replied with a smile: "It's time to come after school." Looking at Ruan Yunting, her red lips curved into a beautiful arc: "Now that Ting'er has recognized her relatives, I'm still here." No congratulations."

"It's all from my own family, why should the imperial concubine be so polite, she seems heretic." Ruan Yunting replied with a smile, and the three of them chatted casually, talking about rouge and gouache.

Ruan Yunting felt a little puzzled.She came to see Xu Xiangwan in the palace before, and Xu Xiangwan never took the initiative to bring her to find Xu Ningmeng, Xu Xiangwan once said, "Obviously they are two people who don't like each other, why bother to get together to show intimacy? ", now Xu Xiangwan brought her here on his own initiative, looking at it like this, he didn't actually talk about any important topics.

Just thinking about it, suddenly a little eunuch rushed in from outside: "It's not good, it's not good!"

Xu Ningmeng had been impatient with Xu Xiangwan for a long time, and it was not easy to directly issue an order to evict guests. This time, there was a little eunuch like this, and whispered: "What are you doing in a hurry, how did I teach you the rules!"

The little eunuch knelt down tremblingly, his forehead was covered with sweat, kowtowed and said in a crying voice: "If you go back to the imperial concubine, the sixth prince, the sixth prince..."

"What's wrong with the sixth prince!" Xu Ningmeng changed color instantly and stood up abruptly.

"The sixth prince was just practicing riding and shooting, but somehow the horse went crazy and threw the sixth prince off!"

"What?!" Xu Ningmeng turned pale, twisting the handkerchief with both hands: "Where is the sixth prince now? Take me to see it!"

"Yes."

Xu Ningmeng didn't care about etiquette, and ran out with her skirts in her hands, followed by the maids who served her closely.

In such a large palace, only Xu Xiangwan and Ruan Yunting were left sitting on armchairs carved in rosewood wood, with a few young maids beside them.

The little maids looked at each other, not knowing how to entertain Xu Xiangwan who was being favored.

Xu Xiangwan stood up, took Ruan Yunting's hand and said, "Since the imperial concubine has something to do, let's go back."

"it is good."

Ruan Yunting responded with a smile, and obviously saw that the little maid next to her was relieved.After staying away from Ningren Palace, Ruan Yunting saw no one around, stopped and said, "Sister Wan, about the sixth prince..."

Xu Xiangwan smiled, "I'm taking you to see a good show today. How exciting is Xu Ningmeng's expression like that? It's something you can't even see on weekdays."

Ruan Yunting was surprised and didn't know what to say for a while.

Xu Xiangwan smiled wryly: "Do you think I'm too vicious to hurt innocent people?"

"No, I'm just surprised." Ruan Yunting said truthfully.

Xu Xiangwan breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "Ting'er, is it a good thing for you to be the emperor and give me the surname Ji? The surname Ji is like announcing in advance that the queen must be me. How many pairs of eyes are staring at me in the harem?" Well, the emperor has pushed me to the forefront. The persecution against me has never been less before, and now it has intensified. It’s enough to harm me, even my ten princes. If I don’t get rid of one or two Let people see, maybe they will get worse later on."

"You mean, the imperial concubine harmed the ten princes?"

"Yes." Xu Xiangwan's eyes were cold, "Qi'er is only full moon, and she has been poisoned no less than twice. If the nanny is not vigilant, I am afraid that I will lose my son. Now that the sixth prince is like this, it is her Xu Ningmeng's retribution. "

Ruan Yunting shivered with a chill down her spine.How dark is the living environment in the deep palace? It will turn the gentle girl who used to be a little cautious into the fierce woman she is now.But think about it differently, if she is in this environment where if she doesn't harm others, she will be harmed by others, maybe she will be more ruthless than Xu Xiangwan.

Ruan Yunting took Xu Xiangwan's hand, and said pitifully, "Sister Wan, I'm sorry for you."

Xu Xiangwan originally thought that Ruan Yunting would disapprove of her if she found out, and would even keep her at arm's length, but who would have thought that she would look at her with such gentle and considerate eyes, and say such heartwarming words.Xu Xiangwan was deeply moved, and really felt that this friend was not in vain.

"Ting'er, there is one more thing you need to pay more attention to."

"You said."

"If there's nothing wrong, don't leave Liangcheng."

"Why?" Ruan Yunting felt that what Xu Xiangwan said was inexplicable.

Xu Xiangwan said: "We have a close relationship. The emperor will not talk about you in front of my face. My people secretly reported this to me. On the day Prince Duan and Brother Lan left Liangcheng, In fact, the emperor has already sent a large number of people from Zhen Guosi Anbu to follow you, if you had decided to leave Daliang with Prince Duan at that time, you might not be able to talk to me freely at this moment, and you would be arrested and sent to Zhen Guosi."

"What did you say? Why don't I understand? I can't leave Liangguo, what does it have to do with Zhenguosi?"

"I also think this matter is strange, but I can't find out what happened. I heard you said yesterday that you stayed because of Jun Lanzhou. I think it was your deep affection for Jun Lanzhou that accidentally saved you. Where is Zhen Guosi a place where people stay? If you are caught, you still have your life?"

Ruan Yunting felt a little scared when she heard the words, she vaguely felt that this matter was related to the bat pattern jade pendant on her body.

After bidding farewell to Xu Xiangwan and leaving the palace, Ruan Yunting went straight to the Huitong Hall to find Jun Lanzhou, and told Jun Lanzhou that Xu Xiangwan had learned that Prince Yu might have been killed by the emperor.

"Lan Zhou, I didn't intend to tell you this news, but it's too dull in my heart. I also know that you are not a reckless person. It's good if you know it. This matter should be considered in the long term, and you can't act recklessly."

Jun Lanzhou was reclining on the armchair, sitting lazily, with peach blossom eyes slightly squinted: "In your opinion, what should I do?"

"Wait." Ruan Yunting said: "It's not like you will pretend to be ignorant of your temperament, but now your ability is not enough, so you can only wait for the opportunity to strengthen yourself."

"Yeah." Jun Lanzhou smiled, he knew she knew him, and their thoughts coincided with each other again.

Standing up, Jun Lanzhou said, "Go back."

His indifference has been consistent in recent days.Although Ruan Yunting was helpless, she was not sad either.

"I want to stay a little longer. If you have business to deal with, just do it for you. I'll drink tea by myself." Ruan Yunting sat down in the armchair on the other side of the small table, took the teacup and poured tea by herself .

Jun Lanzhou was very helpless.He has tried all the ways to reject Ruan Yunting, but she doesn't seem to see or hear, and doesn't mind at all. Now he can hardly find any other way to make her give up.

Standing up, Jun Lanzhou went straight back to the back room.Ignore Ruan Yunting.

Ruan Yunting sat quietly outside.

Jun Lanzhou thought he could be ruthless and ignore her, but she was outside, and he couldn't help but pay attention to her from time to time.

Ruan Yunting naturally knew some of Jun Lanzhou's small actions, and secretly smiled in her heart. If he did this, he might torture himself more than he tortured her.

"Princess Duanyang."

Just at this moment, someone from outside came to report: "Apart from major events in Xu's residence, Mrs. Xu asks the princess to go back quickly."

Ruan Yunting was taken aback when she heard the words, what would the family call her to go back?

"Lan Zhou, I'm leaving first." Ruan Yunting left the door in a hurry.

Jun Lanzhou put down the brush, and was about to follow up secretly, when suddenly a gray pigeon landed on the edge of the window, with a small scroll tied to its thin leg.

Jun Lanzhou untied the note, and the news above shocked him greatly.

——"Pengcheng was defeated, the entire army was annihilated, and the people were slaughtered. No one was spared."

%%%%
There was a dead silence in Xu's mansion, Ruan Yunting hurried back to Pine Age Hall, and when she arrived in the yard, she heard crying from inside the house, this was the first time she heard the old lady wailing like this.

"Brother Feng, my brother Feng!! You are still so young, why did you leave me behind! Brother Feng!"

Ruan Yunting was startled, there was a momentary blank in her mind, Brother Feng, are you gone?Who is Feng Geer that the old lady said?Is it cousin six?

"Old Ancestor, don't be too sad." It was the eldest lady who sobbed softly to comfort her.

"Brother Feng died heroically for the country, and he won't surrender until the last one. He is the pride of our Xu family!" The second wife sobbed.

Ruan Yunting couldn't listen anymore, and strode into the room without paying attention to salute, "What are you talking about, you say, sixth cousin, died for the country?"

The old lady's eyes were blurred from crying at this moment, and the eldest lady sniffed and choked and said, "There is news from Pengcheng that the remnants of the Southern Chu Kingdom gathered 30 rebels to besiege Pengcheng. Your sixth cousin led 45 defenders and swore to defend the whole country." The people of the city continued the war for [-] days, and at the end of the day, there was not a single soldier left...Pengcheng, the whole city was slaughtered, and no one was spared. Your sixth cousin, died for the country..."

Ruan Yunting shook her head in disbelief: "No, no, I clearly reminded my sixth cousin before leaving, he is the only one, how could he die, how could he die like this! Impossible! I If you don’t believe me, old ancestor, tell me it’s not true!”

The old lady burst into tears, opened her arms and sobbed, "Ting'er."

She was crying like a lost child. Ruan Yun was reborn in Xu's house twice, and she was the old lady. She is the most calm person in times of trouble. She never shows happiness or anger on her face, but now she is like this cry...

Ruan Yunting burst into tears, and walked stiffly to the old lady. She wanted to throw herself into her arms, but she staggered and fell to the ground. What appeared in front of her eyes was the man in snow-white and short brown, with a red cloak, flying over the eaves and walking on the walls like shoes. On the flat ground, with a graceful figure like facing the water and facing the wind, he jumped up to her a few times. With a friendly smile on his face, the heroic Rong Chang called her: "Sister Ruan." But you have to cook yourself, I'm waiting to eat."

This person, just left?

The [-] defenders, plus all the people of Pengcheng, were not spared. Xu Chengfeng did not leave the people of Pengcheng behind at the end of the battle, and went to Huangquan with them...

"I don't believe it, I don't believe it." Ruan Yunting sat on the ground blankly shaking her head, tears dripping down on her skirt and sleeves like broken beads, "Sixth cousin will not die, I reminded him Be careful, he said he would. He, he..."

With a breath choked in her chest, Ruan Yunting felt numbness in her hands and fingers, her chest was unbearably colic, and her eyes went black for a while.

Seeing her body limp and falling down, the old lady couldn't hold on crying anymore.The first wife hurriedly ordered someone to send Ruan Yunting back to the Jingsi Garden, and the second wife hurriedly sent someone to invite the imperial physician, the situation on the old lady's side was not quite right.

Ruan Yunting was carried back to the Jingsi Garden, but the servants in the room were frightened.

The sounds from the outside world seemed to be far away from her, Ruan Yunting's ears were buzzing, she was unwilling to believe that such a young life ended like this anyway.

A lot of information flashed in her mind. Jun Lanzhou once reminded her that the spies of the Xiwu Kingdom had not received any news about the gathering of troops by the Southern Chu Kingdom on the southern border, but the emperor publicized the matter, and then sent Xu Chengfeng, who is quite a deterrent in southern Xinjiang, is the coach of Pengcheng...

Could it be that, as she thought, the emperor's move was just to give Daliang a legitimate reason to go to war?
Let Xu Chengfeng go to Pengcheng first, and the remnants of the Southern Chu Kingdom are naturally worried that Xu Chengfeng will lead troops to fight there, and even more worried that the Emperor of Liang Kingdom will take the next step.During Xu Chengfeng's defense of Pengcheng, the imperial court must have done something to irritate the people of Southern Chu, so that the people of Southern Chu put all their eggs in one basket and brought 30 people to besiege Pengcheng.

Just now my wife said that Xu Chengfeng led 45 defenders and held them for 45 days. During these 45 days, is there no news from the frontier to report to the court?However, she lived in Liangcheng, but she knew nothing about this matter, and no one in the court knew about it.Without supplies or support, the [-] defenders stayed in the city with the common people for [-] days. What did they eat?
The sadness in Ruan Yunting's heart is indescribable. Now that the entire Liang Kingdom knows the news of Pengcheng's massacre, those 3 relatives and clansmen must be very sad and indignant. The hatred of Chu State, especially Master Xu Er...

The only remaining son died on the battlefield again. If Master Xu Er led the army to march south, he would definitely do his best to avenge Xu Chengfeng and the people of Pengcheng.

The emperor's strategy is beautifully used!It seems that he can't tolerate the Southern Chu Kingdom, and he has long had the heart to rule the world!
But, what's wrong with Xu Chengfeng?What are the [-] defenders?How can the people of Pengcheng be blamed?
These people have become the emperor's pawns, the emperor's sharp weapon to arouse public anger, and the justification for the emperor to send troops to Southern Chu.

Xu Chengfeng is so smart, didn't he notice it during the 45 days of defending the city?But he is loyal and courageous, even if he is aware of it, he will not give up the people in the city and run away first, right?Or is he willing to become a brick on the emperor's road to success?

Ruan Yunting fell asleep in tears. In his dream, he saw Xu Chengfeng wearing a blood-stained silver battle armor, with unkempt hair and blood-stained face slowly walking into her bedroom, with a handsome expression on his face. With a smile, he said wearily: "Ting'er, I'm going now, and you have to be well in the future."

Ruan Yunting struggled to hold his hand, but only held on to the two empty sleeves. She felt great pain in her heart, crying and shouting: "Cousin Six, where is your hand! Where is your hand!"

"It's okay to be chopped off, don't cry."

"Cousin, don't die..."

"Silly girl, people have to die, sooner or later, you have experienced three lives, can't you see through life and death? My life is over, it's over."

Xu Chengfeng's voice gradually faded away, and his body gradually blurred, disappearing from Ruan Yunting's sight.She shook her head and waved her arms unwillingly: "I don't want it, you don't deserve to die! The dog emperor is too cruel. He killed you and all the people in Pengcheng. I want to kill him, kill him!"

……

"Princess, wake up, princess..."

A tingling pain at the fingertips brought Ruan Yunting's consciousness back to reality.Opening his eyes, his nose was filled with the strong and bitter smell of traditional Chinese medicine.

Seeing that Ruan Yunting woke up, Shui Qiu breathed a sigh of relief: "Ting'er."

"Uncle Shui." Ruan Yunting's tears rolled down the corners of her eyes and flowed into her hair behind her ears.

"Don't cry. Your body hasn't healed yet, don't hurt your body. The dead are gone, and the life of the living will continue."

Shui Qiuxin's voice was gentle, and she stroked Ruan Yunting's forehead with her big hand, and ran her hair down, like comforting a wounded animal.

Ruan Yunting sat up, threw herself into Shui Qiu's heart and burst into tears of grievance, sobbing, "He didn't deserve to die, cousin Liu didn't deserve to die, he was killed!"

"Don't talk about it." Just now, Ruan Yunting babbled in her dream that he had already heard [-]% to [-]% of the matter. Now that she woke up, she still said the same thing. If outsiders listened to it, wouldn't she be causing trouble?

"Ting'er, this is the end of the matter, it's useless for you to keep entangled, so think about it. Everyone has their own destiny, and there's nothing you can do about it."

Yes, she can't help it.Ruan Yunting sobbed aggrievedly, making Xu Chengfeng even more saddened. She reminded him, but he still chose to die. How can such a person deserve to live in this world!
(End of this chapter)