Hidden Sky Light

Anian looked curiously at the person holding him, inexplicably felt that his embrace was warm and his voice was warm...

A moment ago, a glutinous rice ball was still crying, but now he has completely forgotten to cry.

Although the tears were still hanging on the pink face and dripping down, but he opened a pair of clear and bright, like a clear spring, when he looked at Shen Ci in front of him, his eyes were filled with tears. is curiosity, adoration and trust...

It was as if he was hugging him, and he didn't seem to be as frightened as before.

really don't be afraid...

A Nian blinked and continued to look at him, as if he was afraid of missing something.

Shen Ci's eyes swept around, and the man just now was dragged off his horse by him, and now he was struggling to get up. Several people around him also clenched the swords in their hands and tried to move forward. Shen Ci had already stretched out his hand and pressed the saber on his waist, but Yu Guang caught a glimpse of the little guy in his arms still staring at him.

Shen Ci pressed the saber back.

This time, when looking at the little guy with pink and jade carvings in his arms, in addition to the warm voice, there is a smile in his eyes, "Close your eyes."

Ah Nian only felt that her heart was warm and numb when she listened to him, as if the spring sunshine was shining on her body.

"Close your eyes," he said softly again.

Ah Nian nodded quickly, and quickly closed his eyes, and frowned because he was afraid that he would accidentally open his eyes...

Shen Ci pulled the corner of his mouth slightly, then hugged the little guy in his arms with one hand, and pulled out the saber from his waist with the other hand, returning his attention to the surrounding group of people.

"Hold my neck tightly." Shen Ci reminded.

The little guy did as he did, without any hesitation, as if he was born with a tacit understanding.

A Nian hangs on Shen Ci's neck, Shen Ci hugs him, "Can you count?"

"Can."

"Can you count to a hundred?"

Anian paused, "No."

Shen Ci's eyes slowly turned cold, but his voice was still gentle, "Then from one to ten, dozens of times, you won't be afraid if you count out loud!"

As soon as Shen Ci finished speaking, a milky voice sounded in his ears, "One!...Two!...Three!"

The people in front of him swarmed up and quickly confronted Shen Ci.

With a "bang" sound, the soldiers meet.

Ah Nian was stunned, but before Shen Ci could speak, Ah Nian quickly reacted again and continued to frown. He didn't open his eyes, didn't look around, just wrapped his arms around his neck and continued to count out loud, what was next to him? Don't care.

Shen Ciyuan is good at hand, agile, sophisticated, and not sloppy.

Licheng is west of Yanhan.

To the west of Yanhan are Xirong and Qiang Yaqi, who are brave and good at fighting, and the small friction on the border has never been broken.

Shen Ci was a general who guarded the border. During his four years in the border, he was armed with iron horses, his hands fell with knives, and the brave and sturdy military generals garrisoned were killed, completely different from the beam jumping clown in front of him, holding the glutinous rice in his arms with one hand. Maruko is not afraid.

Shen... General Shen?

Not far away, Shi Huaiyuan was stunned, but he did see that the person in front of him was Shen Ci.

Can't go wrong! It's General Shen!

Shi Huaiyuan wanted to lean on his sword to get up, but he couldn't move his hand.

In the previous fight, because he wanted to protect the prince, Shi Huaiyuan was covered with wounds, and he was still bleeding.

Although I don't know why General Shen is here now, but seeing Shen Ci, Shi Huaiyuan seems to have swallowed a reassurance pill in his heart.

There are more than 20 people on the other side, but the five or six people who are with General Shen are enough to deal with it.

Soon, more than 20 people were cleaned up. Although everyone was out of breath, no one was seriously injured.

Han Guan stepped forward and extended his hand to Shi Huaiyuan, who thanked Shi Huaiyuan.

Han Guan pulled him up. The other two reached out and pulled up the other two surviving imperial guards.

Both Shi Huaiyuan and the two were seriously injured, and Han Guan was taking care of the injuries of several people.

…

Anian couldn't remember how many times he counted from one to ten, but every time he counted aloud, his fear seemed to be a little less.

When he counted to ten for the last time, Shen Ci called him, "It's alright."

A Nian slowly opened his eyes, and the person in front of him gradually changed from blurred to clear. It was the uncle who was holding him just now!

A Nian looked at him, and he also looked at A Nian.

When the big eye stared at the small eye, the small eye was also looking at the big eye.

The two of them were looking at each other, as if they were somehow attracted by something in the other's eyes, and it seemed that they met late...

"Very brave." Shen Ci said first.

He had been counting just now, and hugged him tightly, without opening his eyes or crying.

Although it looks squeamish, it is actually very atmospheric.

Also sensible.

Shen Ci wanted to praise him, but when Ah Nian heard the words "very brave" in Shen Ci's mouth, the tip of his nose suddenly turned red, and he opened his mouth and cried with a "wow".

Shen Ci was stunned for a while, but quickly realized that the little guy had accumulated a stomach of grievances and fears, but now he suddenly found a source, and began to cry hard...

Where does a child need a reason to cry?

No need for occasions.

Shen Ci couldn't help laughing.

On one side, Shi Huaiyuan stepped forward and cupped his hands, "General Shen."

Shen Ci nodded towards him.

Shi Huaiyuan was the emperor's confidant, and he was also the commander of the left avant-garde of the forbidden army. This time he traveled with the emperor.

Shi Huaiyuan handed over to Anian again, "Your Highness!"

Shen Ci also looked at the glutinous rice **** in his arms, so that Shi Huaiyuan could protect him desperately, and his identity was not difficult to guess.

The cries of the glutinous rice **** also slowly eased, "Uncle Shi..."

Shen Ci looked at Han Guan and said, "Take care of Your Highness, I have something to say to General Shi."

Han Guan and others led A Nian to the side.

Han Guan and others have been at the border for a long time, and this is the first time they see the prince, and they are at a loss for a while.

How precious is the crown prince, the heir of a country!

But, the opposite is a three-year-old prince, the kind of teeth that have not yet grown...

Han Guan looked at each other in dismay.

Anian also looked at them eagerly, and then turned to look at Shen Ci and Shi Huaiyuan not far away.

***

Shen Ci and Shi Huaiyuan together, Shi Huaiyuan briefly talked about the ins and outs of the past few days, and then roughly marked the location of the separation from the emperor last night on the topographic map.

Because the sky is dark and it is in the forest, it is only an approximate location.

However, most of the people who have been in the army all the year round are sensitive to the direction. Shi Huaiyuan's generalization is actually not too far off. "General Shen was separated from His Majesty near this position."

Shen Ci looked at the topographic map and frowned slightly, "How many people are there on the other side, and how many people are around the emperor?"

Shi Huaiyuan recalled carefully, "There are about 20 or 30 Imperial Guards by your Majesty's side, and another 20 or 30 left behind. Apart from those who came after the last general and the prince, there should be more than 70 or 80 people."

Shen Ci had just fought against this group of people. Seventy or eighty people would not pose too much threat, but he was afraid that the sound of fighting would attract chasing troops.

Shen Ci focused on the topographic map, and drew a radius with his fingertips. Finally, his gaze stopped at several places on the edge of the radius and asked, "You mean, the Son of Heaven ran in the opposite direction?"

Shi Huaiyuan nodded, "Yes, although it is dark, we can tell that it is going in the opposite direction."

On the radius, it is west again, Shen Ci's eyes quickly sank, focused on one place, and sighed, "There are refugees here..."

After listening to Shen Ci, Shi Huaiyuan was stunned.

He did hear the Son of Heaven mention refugees...

Shen Ci continued, "The Fuyang County garrison was dispatched to Yucheng because of the refugees, and the refugees rushed to the city from this direction. According to the speed of the emperor's travel, it should be about to meet the refugees."

Shi Huaiyuan was horrified.

Shen Ci didn't look away from the topographic map, and said in a low voice, "It's not a bad thing, the refugees can confuse their vision, which is more secure than going to Yucheng alone..."

After Shen Ci finished speaking, he raised his eyes to look at Shi Huaiyuan, "Huaiyuan, do you have a token of the emperor on you?"

When Shen Ci suddenly asked, Shi Huaiyuan froze. It is overreaching for others to ask this, but General Shen is different. General Shen was a student in the East Palace earlier, and he is the person most trusted by His Majesty, and now...

Shi Huaiyuan whispered, "Yes."

Shen Ci was not surprised, and continued, "Huaiyuan, I'm going to look for the emperor. You take the emperor's token and try to avoid King Tan's rebellion, go to Wanzhou, and let the people from Jingping Wangfu lead the Wanzhou garrison and Fengzhou garrison. I came to **** the city near Jiecheng. I also told the King Ping Palace that not only King Tan, but also Qu Guangtong and Fu Menci were involved in this rebellion. The two of them followed King Tan and rebelled. I have asked the Marquis of Pingnan to send troops. , but these three garrison cannot be supported, please Wanzhou garrison and Fengzhou garrison come to rescue as soon as possible, you are the son of the emperor, and there is a token of the emperor, you can move Jingping Wangfu."

Shi Huaiyuan hesitated, "Then General Shen, you?"

Shen Ci said in a deep voice, "I will find a way to find the Son of Heaven as soon as possible, and we have to hit the road as soon as possible."

Just as Shen Ci was about to get up, Shi Huaiyuan suddenly said, "General Shen, there is one more thing..."

Shen Ci looked at him, "What's wrong?"

Shi Huaiyuan considered for a moment, and said truthfully, "Last night, His Majesty specifically instructed the last general that if there is any danger along the way, let the last general protect the prince Zhouquan... If your majesty has something to do, send the prince to General Shen."

Shen Ci was stunned.

After Shi Huaiyuan finished speaking, he leaned on his sword and knelt down on one knee, "General Shen, Your Majesty doesn't know that General Shen is in Fuyang County, but no matter where General Shen is, the person your Majesty trusts most is General Shen, that's why the late general will lead him. The prince is going to find General Shen, please be sure to find your Majesty General Shen…”

Shi Huaiyuan choked up in his throat.

"I know." Shen Ci said silently.

***

Han Guan and the others treated the wounds for Shi Huaiyuan and others, and Shen Ci sat down, looking at the topographic map in his hand.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded behind him, the footsteps were very light, and Shen Ci didn't need to look back to know that it was the prince.

Chen Ling's son...

"Your Highness." Shen Ci said warmly.

A Nian stepped forward and looked at him with wide eyes, "Can I sit down?"

"Of course." After Shen Ci finished speaking, A Nian quickly sat down beside him, "Uncle Shen, you are amazing!"

Ah Nian really admires him.

Shen Ci smiled lightly and said gently, "His Royal Highness, take out your hand."

A Nian obediently stretched out his hand.

Shen Ci looked at him, "Does it hurt?"

He had wounds on his hands, more than one.

Anian paused, nodded first, and then shook his head.

Shen Ci has a panoramic view.

Shen Ci took out the vial between his sleeves and said softly, "My hand is broken and I need to apply medicine. I will give medicine to Your Highness at the end. Your Highness will be brave and not cry, okay?"

Anian sighed, "Does it hurt?"

Shen Ci couldn't help laughing, "It just hurts."

Anian looked at him, the sun was shining on his face, as if what he said was true, it was hard for Anian to refuse, "Then, take it easy..."

Shen Ci responded warmly.

Seeing Shen Ci unscrew the vial, Ah Nian couldn't help frowning and shrank his hand subconsciously.

But Shen Ci held his hand, and he failed to shrink.

Shen Ci said solemnly, "Look to the left, there is a three-eyed frog over there..."

"Ah?" Ah Nian quickly turned around.

Suddenly, A Nian felt a pain in his hand, and hurriedly closed his hand, Shen Ci smiled and said, "It's good."

Shen Ci put away the vial, the eldest brother has a son, his nephew, who is used to fighting wits.

The tears in Ah Nian's eyes were already wrapped up, but the pain came and went quickly, and she didn't have time to cry.

Shen Ci asked, "Does it still hurt?"

Anian shook his head.

Shen Ci said, "Better than your father and emperor back then..."

A Nian looked at him, and suddenly her eyes turned red, "Uncle Shen, my father and I are separated..."

Shen Ci remembered how he was crying helplessly just now, his heart seemed to be crushed by Shen Shi, knowing that Xu was wrong, Shen Ci still reached out and touched his head lightly, "Don't cry, I'll take you to your majesty. …”

Anian's eyes widened, "Really?"

Shen Ci looked at him, "Well, pull the hook?"

A Nian quickly stretched out his hand.

Shen Ci finally saw him smile.

Crying and laughing, tears still hanging in my eyes...

"Uncle Shen, can you hug me?" A Nian looked at him.

Shen Ci couldn't refuse in his heart. He got up and picked up the glutinous rice ball. The glutinous rice ball hugged him like before. The two felt inexplicably calm and warm in their hearts, so they looked at each other for a long time.

"Uncle Shen, why haven't I seen you?" A Nian asked seriously.

Shen Ci was slightly stunned, and said softly, "The last general is guarding the border and rarely returns to Beijing. It's not surprising that His Highness has never seen the last general..."

"No wonder..." Anian sighed, and suddenly remembered something, half yearning, half asking, "Then Uncle Shen, can I see you often in Beijing in the future?"

Shen Ci was stunned again.

Every question in the Prince's mouth was difficult for him to catch and answer.

Seeing the hopeful look in the prince's eyes, Shen Ci couldn't bear it, and said kindly, "If the border is stable, I can often return to Beijing; if the border is unstable, I will stay at the border."

Ah Nian couldn't understand it, but it contained the words "can go back to Beijing often", and Ah Nian received it.

As the two spoke, the sound of horse hooves resounded behind them.

Shen Ci turned around with A Nian in his arms. It was the person beside him. Just now, he went to the surrounding area to check if it was safe. Now he turned back, got off the horse and bowed his hands to him, "General, the neighborhood is safe, you can go on the road."

In addition to treating the wounds for Shi Huaiyuan and others, for fear of infection in the summer, he was still waiting for the people who inquired about the news to return.

Now that we have turned back, it is time to part ways.

Anian couldn't ride a horse, so Shen Ci hugged him onto the horse's back, and then jumped onto the horse himself and rode with Anian.

A Nian sat in front of him, he held the reins in one hand and A Nian in the other.

A Nian was a little scared, but still a little excited. I don't know if it was because he was riding with Uncle Shen, and there was some expectation in his heart.

On one side, Shi Huaiyuan jumped on his horse and said to Shen, "His Royal Highness has entrusted it to General Shen!"

Shi Huaiyuan bowed his hands.

"Treasure all the way." Shen Ci responded.

A Nian also looked at Shi Huaiyuan, "Uncle Shi..."

Shi Huaiyuan's eyes were hazy, "Your Highness, take care, be sure to stay with General Shen."

Anian nodded wisely.

But even if he was sensible, watching Shi Huaiyuan turn his horse's head and leave, Ah Nian couldn't help but his nose turned red, but he tried his best not to cry.

Han Guan also rode forward, "General, let's go."

Shen Ci nodded and said to Anian in his arms, "Hold on to the reins."

Nodding thoughtfully.

"Let's go!" As soon as Shen Ci finished speaking, he hit his horse to leave, A Nian was a little scared at first, but soon exclaimed "wow".

It seems scared and excited, but it didn't stop!

The horse's hooves galloped, which was completely different from that in the carriage. This was a wonderful feeling. Anian felt that his eyes were not enough.

Shen Ci asked, "Are you afraid?"

Anian said truthfully, "A little bit."

Shen Ci said with a smile, "I'm here, so I won't fall; if you're still afraid, hold on to my clothes."

Anian nodded.

After being in the army for a long time, the team that is accustomed to behavior should keep a certain distance according to the formation, which is the most stable.

There were eight riders in total on this trip. Three riders opened the road in turn, and there were two riders, one left and one right, slightly behind them, and finally Han Guan and Guo Zixiao were behind them.

"Prince didn't cry!" Guo Zixiao was surprised. No matter how he looked at it, he felt that the prince was Jingui, but he looked like three or four years old. Even if he had ridden a horse, someone should be holding him. How could he be so fast today?

Guo Zixiao was worried.

Han Guan sighed, "Xu is with the general?"

Hearing what he said, Guo Zixiao hissed softly, "Oh, don't you think that His Highness has a little bit of a portrait with our general?"

"Ah?" Han Guan didn't look carefully and didn't think so.

Guo Zixiao said again, "I just look at it occasionally, and I think it looks like that."

Han Guan sighed, "That's the prince, and if he looks like he is the same as the emperor! How can he be like our general! You are provocative, if someone listens to it, it will cause trouble for our general!"

Guo Zixiao smiled, "It's as if you've seen the Son of Heaven!"

Han Guan sighed, "The Son of Heaven is in Beijing, you and I are at the border of Licheng, where the spring breeze can't blow; if you want to see it, it's also the general who has seen it..."

***

Horses gallop, hooves splash.

Holding A Nian in his arms, Shen Ci rode his horse all the way to the direction of Yucheng, all the flashes of light from earlier in his mind.

—Afraid of riding a horse? If you are afraid, hold on to my shirt.

— (shivering) Don’t be afraid…

— (laughs) You can catch it if you’re not afraid.

— (slowly stretches out his paws)…