Strange Tale of Qingluan

Su Zhongming, as the lord of the Kingdom of Wen and the lord of Qingluan City, first watched the crowd leave by sea boat as the host, then turned around, but saw that Li Xuan was still there, and asked curiously: "How? Send me back to Wen first. country, or go back to Shaole country by yourself?"

Li Xuan replied without hesitation: "Accompany you back to Wen Country first, and I will return to Cangtian Peninsula in the future."

Su Zhongming smiled lightly: "You have a conscience." After saying that, he took the child from Ye Shuang's hands, bid farewell to the elders and others, and then walked to the ship with Li Xuan.

After only taking three steps, Su Zhongming turned his head again, and took a last look at the tall Zhanluan Pagoda. However, the moment his eyes fell on the third floor of the pagoda, he saw an old man from the observation window. He stroked his gray beard and gave him a benevolent smile, and then disappeared like a cloud of smoke.

Su Zhongming was startled immediately, quickly rubbed his eyes, and then looked at that place carefully.

Fei'er was curious and asked, "What happened to the city lord?"

Su Zhongming pointed to the third floor of Zhanluan Pagoda, and said calmly: "Just now, I saw Mr. Xuanwen standing there. I wonder if it was my illusion?"

Just because of this sentence, all the elders laughed loudly, and one of them replied: "The City Lord is not mistaken, the person he saw is indeed He Mao."

Su Zhongming was surprised: "I only saw him once, but since I came here, I haven't seen him for a long time, and I can't find him anywhere in Qingluan City. It's really strange. Could it be that he has been traveling all over the world?"

Yingqing opened his lips: "He Mao's whereabouts, including life and death, even we can't know, but he knows everything the city lord has done, so the city lord can rest assured. Since I saw it just now, maybe there will be someone else in the future. chance to see you."

After hearing this, Su Zhongming couldn't help but look at Zhanluan Pagoda again.

Li Xuansheng was afraid that he would delay the time, so he reminded: "It's time to leave."

Only then did Su Zhongming look away, turned around, and followed Li Xuan onto the ship, returning to Wenguo.

Half a month later, all the monarchs gathered at the Zhanluan Pagoda to discuss matters, and finally named the great dynasty as 'Taisho', and changed the countries into prefectures. The princess of the county, the son of the former lord was the prince of the county, and then selected talents from the courts of various countries to enter the Taisho court.

As for the Dazheng King's City, after divination by a fortuneteller built by Shuiling in Qingluan City, it was pointed out that Geyun Kingdom is the most suitable place to build the capital, so various countries invested in the construction of the King's City and named it 'Pingjing'.

A year later, when Pingjing was built, Su Zhongming moved his family to Pingjing. Since Pingjing is located in the original royal city of Geyun Kingdom—[-] miles west of Hongdu, it is not too far away, and it is very convenient to come and go. "Senior sister's house is next door" and often took Li Zhen to He Xiang's house in Shangyuan to eat and drink.

Two years later, Shangyuan Hexiang gave birth to a boy, named Hongli, who played and studied with Li Zhen. Although Shangyuan Hexiang was a mother, he still held a pair of soap and sparse swords and competed with Su Zhongming. .

Because Li Xuan lives in Shaole and is busy with Shaole's political affairs, he only rushes back to reunite every year for the big ceremony and Li Zhen's birthday. When Su Zhongming is lonely, he can only learn swordsmanship, tea ceremony and flower arrangement with Shangyuan Hexiang, or listen to Tianling played a good song.

Today, the two met again in the mountains to exchange swords.

Shangyuan He Xiang only asked, "Is your blade sharp enough?" and ran towards Su Zhongming with Zao Shu's two swords, like a flying swallow. Su Zhongming just grasped the single sword, but when he looked up, he saw her in front of him, quickly raised the sword and took a step back .

Shangyuan Hexiang smiled confidently, drew his knives quickly, and threw one of the knives into the mud. Holding the other knife in both hands, he slashed at Su Zhongming. The intersecting white blades shone in the sunlight, which was very dazzling, but Su Zhongming didn't Impressed, the moves are also exceptionally neat, more proficient than back then.

The figures of the two sparred, like two white cranes fighting in the water, fluttering in the breeze. After a long time, dripping with sweat, Shangyuan Hexiang pierced Su Zhongming's armpit with a saber. Yuan Hexiang's hair strands.

After that, the two figures stopped.

Shangyuan He Xiang smiled lightly, it turned out that the tip of the knife had pierced the clothes under Su Zhongming's armpit.

However, Su Zhongming was not inferior to her, he let go of one hand, only held the knife with his right hand, and turned around, Shangyuan Hexiang was stunned suddenly - the hairband broke, and the long hair was dredged like a dammed waterfall , scattered down.

Su Zhongming asked: "Among us, who wins?"

Shangyuan He Xiang hung down the hand holding the knife, turned around, and faced him: "It's a tie, I also punctured your clothes." Then he changed the subject in an uproar and asked, "When will your man come back? "

Su Zhongming replied: "I don't know. He only comes back about twice a year."

Shangyuan He Xiang asked again: "Then have you ever regretted it?"

Su Zhongming confessed: "It is true that I have regretted it, and I often complain about him, but feelings are like water, and you can't get it back after being spilled. Since you have loved for so many years, it is impossible to turn back. I only hope that the sky will make it happen." I have fulfilled my wish, so that I can grow old with him forever."

Shangyuan He Xiang only understated: "What if it is fate?"

Su Zhongming said: "I'm just an ordinary person, I can't defeat fate, but I will live strong, even if I can't wait, I will live happily."

After saying that, he raised his head, looked at the melting clouds in the sky, and the sun that was about to set in the west, and put a warm smile on the corner of his lips, then lowered his eyes, but the smile was still on the corner of his lips.

Five years later.

In the new year of the first lunar month, just before dawn, every household has already got up early, sweeping the snow with fog lights, shoveling away the snow, and restoring a clean and stable road to the neighborhood.Afterwards, the mist in the sky dissipated and the world became brighter, and every household began to hang festive red lanterns in front of their doors and stores.

After three poles in the sun, more than a dozen luxurious carriages slowly passed through the opened city gates, passed through the passageway of the Pingjing City God, and drove straight into the palace city. They did not stop until the vestibule of the Dragon Head Hall. After being lifted up, the county kings of all counties and their families slowly got out of the carriage.

Su Zhongming and Li Zhen walked side by side, and strode out from the Dragon Head Hall to welcome the distinguished guests, followed by the well-dressed Shi Chaojing, Su Meier and A Lin Tianduo.

When the kings of the counties and their families saw the eight-year-old Li Zhen, they held their hands together, bowed slightly, and said happily: "All blessings, my lord, happy new year!" Then they bowed to Su Zhongming and the three women behind him: "King Wen, everyone, Happy New Year!"

Su Zhongming and the others also raised their hands and saluted politely: "Let's have fun together! Have fun together!" Then he said with a smile, "It's rare that everyone can come over to celebrate the New Year together. If you don't get drunk tonight, you won't be allowed to return!"

The voice of the answer came from behind the princes, and it was very loud: "You are still the same. The Holy Majesty is not yet an adult. I'm afraid it will be detrimental to the Holy Majesty, so I will punish you first after the banquet begins. A few cups."

After hearing this, the princes of the county, all the peers happily echoed: "Yes, yes, yes! That's right!"

Su Zhongming coughed softly, looked behind the crowd, and saw Qianqin who was holding the baby in his hands and shaking slightly, making an artificial cradle, and counterattacked with an old-fashioned reason: "You know, I'm too strong to drink, at most I can drink it So far.” Then, imitating his jokes, “You have always been good at drinking, so I’ll let you replace me.”

Qian Qin replied: "Look, it's not easy for me to take care of the second child, and Lian'er also has to take care of the nannie. If I get drunk, who will take care of the children for us?"

Su Zhongming had no choice but to be speechless, squinting his eyes, pretending to be slightly angry, and glared at him.But Qianqin was not to be outdone, and blinked at him, retaliated smartly.

Yang Bin interrupted: "I said, it's quite cold outside, should we let us warm up?"

Su Zhongming came to his senses and quickly apologized: "Ah! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" He quickly turned around and led everyone into the hall.

Pass through the inner corridor and enter a spacious hall. Everyone sits around the big stove on soft cushions. Take off the cloak, give it to Gong'e to take to the back and hang it on the clothes hanger.

After a sumptuous reunion dinner at noon, Su Zhongming and the others led the princes and their families to the garden party that had already been prepared. As soon as they stepped out of the Dragon Head Hall, a brocade suit with a waistband was greeted in the vestibule. Tall boy with a sword.

Yang Xinsu, the son of Yang Bin, recognized the young man, and hurriedly let go of Wen Qian's hand, ran forward joyfully, and opened his lips to call him, "Brother Yitian!"

This year, Yitian has grown into a wonderful age of 16 years. With a slight smile, he only raised his hand and rubbed his head lightly, then stepped in front of Su Zhongming, and clapped his hands to report: "Teacher, Cangtian Peninsula sent a New Year's gift." , ask the teacher to check and accept."

As soon as the words fell, the creaking sound of wheels came into the vestibule, and then large boxes were loaded into the court one after another.Everyone looked at these big boxes curiously, only Ping Xuan opened his lips first, and said with a light smile: "There are so many boxes, I don't know what kind of gifts are inside?"

Because Cangtian Peninsula is bordered by Guangling Kingdom, Liu Yinghe couldn't help answering: "If it's a special product, it should be something from the sea, right? For example..."

Before she could finish speaking, Pingxuan happily added: "Sea crabs and shrimps? Scallops? All kinds of sea fish? Big squid and big octopus?"

When Wen Qian heard this, she didn't care whether the conversation between the two of them was true or not, and she happily opened her lips: "That's great! You can add a seafood feast to the New Year's Eve dinner!"

Su Zhongming was afraid that the actual gift was not like this, so he hurriedly interrupted: "Whether it is seafood or not, I have to see it to know."

Pingxuan blurted out: "I block seafood!"

Wen Qian followed up and said, "I also like seafood!"

Lian Er laughed and said, "I also hope it's seafood."

The two little princesses, A Lin Tianduo and Su Meier, looked at each other happily, and said in unison, "It would be great if it was seafood!"

After hearing this, Liu Yinghe and Chu Yinyin couldn't help but chuckle.

Yu Zhuzhen moved her chin with one hand, and couldn't help saying: "It seems that women like seafood very much?"

Yang Bin crossed his arm and lightly bumped Yu Zhuzhen to show his objection: "Who said there are only women? I also like seafood! And I also ate spicy seafood soup in Luomeizhuang!"

Su Zhongming had no choice but to say: "It says it's seafood! Come and have a look with me! If it's not, you'll be fined with wine for the New Year's Eve dinner...three bowls!" He pointed out three fingers deliberately.After saying that, he stepped forward himself, picked a box at random, tore off the paper seal, and simply lifted the lid. The people behind him stretched their necks to look into the bottom of the box, and it turned out that the box was full of crabs. The box was also covered with layers of thick ice.

The girls hugged each other happily, only Yang Bin still remembered to praise Liu Yinghe: "You really hit the mark!"

Liu Yinghe smiled brightly, and made a gesture of scissors.

Su Zhongming opened another box, which was also full of red-shelled lobsters, and everyone behind him cheered endlessly.

Thinking that the rest of the boxes were probably the same, Su Zhongming stopped checking, and only announced: "It seems that tonight is destined to be a feast of Man-Han dinner with seafood."

Shi Chaojing immediately ordered the eunuchs on duty: "Come here! Send these seafood to the imperial dining room quickly. At the New Year's banquet tonight, steam the ones that should be steamed, make soup if they should be soup, and roast them on skewers if they should be grilled." !" Then he took Li Zhen's little hand with a smile, and went to the garden party with everyone.

The imperial garden is full of red lanterns, divided into several stalls like a market, such as guessing lantern riddles, hoops, shooting pieces, blindfolded drumming, reciting poems by drawing lots, saying tongue twisters, kicking shuttlecocks, jumping rope, etc. Wait, nothing is missing.

No matter men, women, old or young, everyone chooses the kind of game they like, and adults also bring their children to play together. They all have a great time and show off their victory prizes to each other.Su Zhongming and Yang Bin compared hoops, ten times in one breath, turned around by chance, and saw three children taking turns kicking shuttlecocks in the distance, it was Li Zhen, Hongli and Yang Xinsu, and Shi Chaojing was with them.

Looking at Li Zhen and Yang Xinsu, he couldn't help remembering the past between himself and Li Xuan. Although he didn't receive the news of Li Xuan's return, he didn't have too many regrets after receiving the gift, and the corners of his lips raised slightly, showing a smile.

Near dusk, everyone was exhausted from playing, so they came to the open-air stage to sit and rest and enjoy hot tea while watching opera.Su Zhongming was in a daze for five consecutive acts, unable to concentrate on enjoying it, and he didn't know that the sixth act began to be staged, and it was a martial arts show with 20 people.

One after another somersaults, everyone applauded, but when the 20 people somersaulted and formed a tall arhat formation and retreated one after another, there was one more person in the middle out of thin air, which made people applaud. Everyone couldn't help being stunned, and Su Zhongming also reacted, following everyone's gaze, looking curiously.

The man turned his head slowly and walked to the front of the stage. Everyone was overjoyed when they saw his face. Su Zhongming was also very surprised. He stood up slowly and stared at the man on the stage in disbelief.

Yaque was silent for a moment, only Yang Bin blurted out, broke the atmosphere, and shouted to Su Zhongming: "Hey! Why are you still in a daze? Li Xuan is back, why don't you hurry over and give him a hug?"

Su Zhongming's face was flushed with shame, he didn't move, he just stammered: "I..."

Li Xuan didn't say anything, just raised his hands, put them in front of his body, and made a heart to Su Zhongming. When Su Zhongming saw it, he didn't want to refuse. .

Su Zhongming then trotted forward, looked at Li Xuan, and asked with concern: "How long will you stay this time?"

Li Xuan replied bluntly: "I'm not going back!"

Su Zhongming was slightly stunned: "You...what did you say?"

Li Xuan repeated: "I'm not going back!"

Su Zhongming couldn't believe it, but he was dubious: "But where is your luggage?"

Li Xuan replied: "It has been sent to the Dragon Head Hall at noon."

Su Zhongming was surprised: "What?! Isn't that a gift for me? Sea crabs and lobsters!"

Li Xuan smiled, and then informed: "I sent two boxes of sea crabs, two boxes of lobsters, two boxes of sea shells, and two boxes of sea fish. The remaining ten boxes are my luggage!"

hateful!If I insisted on going through all the boxes at that time, I would have guessed your return a few hours earlier! ——Su Zhongming couldn't help thinking regretfully.

Not far away, Qian Qin's voice came: "I said King Shao Le, come down quickly? Don't delay our sumptuous dinner tonight."

Li Xuan took a look at the sky, and replied as he walked down the steps: "Let's go. I don't want everyone to be hungry." When passing by the young man in brocade clothes, he added: "Yi Tian. After the New Year, I want to take an assessment Your sword skills."

After hearing this, Yi Tian happily obeyed and said, "Yes! Master!"

After the New Year's Eve dinner, everyone went up to the balcony again, not afraid of the wind and cold, just to enjoy the wonderful scenery tonight.

The plain moon is crystal clear, as big as a golden basin, accompanied by dots of starlight, but this is still not enough. Suddenly, several artillery fires are fired into the night sky, and they instantly turn into colorful giant flowers, which are extremely gorgeous and amazing, and the sound of the cannons is also resounding. The sky was completely filled with joy, making everyone happy.

Su Zhongming looked up at the fireworks, and Li Xuan beside him took a look at his face through the brilliance of the fireworks, and then looked at the fireworks with him, holding his hand secretly with one hand, full of tenderness.

Taking advantage of other people's attention on the gorgeous fireworks, Su Zhongming tilted his head slightly, and leaned on Li Xuan's shoulder lightly, interlocking fingers with each other, never to be separated again.

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This is an epilogue from the heart of a silver tabby cat.