Golden Stage

Fu Shen didn't sleep well, the medicine had innumerable side effects, heart palpitations, nightmares, shortness of breath... He felt like a big stone was pressed against his chest when he was half dreaming and half awake, he couldn't move, and he felt dizzy. bed" symptoms.

Fu Shen's consciousness was still clear, he silently slowed down his breathing, tried to blink, until he regained control of his limbs, he stretched out his hands to support the bed and planned to sit up——

But he forgot that his legs were really lame, and he didn't feel anything below the knees. He exerted strength with his arms and waist at the same time, but because of his unstable center of gravity, he turned over and "gudong" fell off the bed.

The bed in the bedroom was not high, but there was a footrest under it. When Fu Shen fell down, his abdomen was first crushed by the footstep, and then he fell on his back on the cold floor tiles. Hei, with ringing in both ears.

But before he could feel the dull pain, the bedroom door was kicked open, and someone rushed into the room and picked him up.The man's robe sleeves were still radiant with the coolness of the autumn night, but his palms were burning hot.

Fu Shen was hugged horizontally, his head rested on the man's chest, his face was pressed against the dark blue brocade official robe, which felt soft and smooth to the touch, and a gentle and peaceful aloe fragrance was revealed from the collar, lapel sleeves, it seemed that he was a very familiar person, But because they were too close, they suddenly became strange.

His scorching breath soaked through the thin clothing, and the hot person's body suddenly tensed up, and then he was put back on the bed, and a slightly stiff hand was put on his forehead: "Why is your breath so hot, you're hot?"

The blurred vision and the pain on his body gradually became clear. Fu Shen recognized him, and his first move was to push that hand away: "What are you doing here?"

The old servant and the young Fei Longwei who came in hastily heard this cold questioning as soon as they entered the door, they stopped in unison, and said in their hearts that the rumors were true and that neither of them was a good person.

Yan Xiaohan closed his eyes and luckily, not wanting to be as knowledgeable as him, he said stiffly: "You have a fever, get up and drink some water. I'll have someone take your pulse and prescribe some side effects."

Fu Shen closed his eyes, and said calmly, "I don't want you to worry about it. Master Yan came to the humble house late at night, what can I teach you?"

Yan Xiaohan walked to the table, picked up the teapot, and poured out half a cup of completely cold tea, his expression immediately fell, and he glanced at the old servant: "Is this how you serve people?"

Fu Shen had a headache and said, "You're not finished yet..."

Yan Xiaohan said: "Your Majesty is so precious, how can you allow me to be so negligent. If you are so careless again, don't blame me for reporting to His Majesty and punishing you."

Fu Shen's fingers hanging by his side twitched imperceptibly.

The old servant couldn't bear this kind of fright, and hurriedly knelt down and begged for mercy.Fu Shen was so annoyed that he couldn't stand it, and finally said: "Okay, thank you Lord Yan for disciplining the servants for me."

These words sounded a bit ironic that he was meddling in other people's business, Mr. Yan went down the donkey down the slope, and said coldly "change the hot water", then reluctantly held up his noble hand and let him go down.

There were only three people left in the room, Yan Xiaohan stood by the bed, looking down at him.The lamp beside the bed was not bright enough, and most of Fu Shen's face was sunken in the shadows, making the contours look particularly deep and sharp, it was really thin and straight, and it was also really beautiful - so beautiful that it was even a bit dazzling.

He smiled, and there was a very hypocritical sincerity in his smile: "Your Majesty is in the heart of the emperor. His Majesty heard that you are returning to Beijing, and ordered me to bring the imperial physician to take the pulse of Lord Hou."

Fu Shen half-closed his eyes, and said sleepily: "Thank Your Majesty for your concern for me, you can go back and reply to the order, I'm fine, I've been diagnosed and treated by the military doctor of Beiyan Army, so there's no need to work for the imperial doctor."

It was rumored in Beijing that the Marquis of Jingning was headstrong and would not accept hard and soft, and it was true.

The accompanying Physician Shen Yuce of the Feilongwei took a step forward, out of the benevolence of the doctor, intending to persuade the stubborn general on behalf of his superior.But Yan Xiaohan immediately raised his hand to stop him, motioning him to wait first, the expression he showed inadvertently, as if he was dealing with some thorny beast.

"Your Majesty is concerned about Lord Marquis' injury, and I waited to come here today to reassure His Majesty." Yan Xiaohan looked directly into Fu Shen's eyes and said slowly, "It must be the military doctor from the Northern Yan Army who is able to gain the trust of Lord Marquis." Very superb, I'm not worried about misdiagnosis, but Lord Hou's injury is very serious, and it won't hurt to see a few more doctors, what does Lord Hou think?"

Fu Shen raised his eyelids and looked at him.

When Yan Xiaohan met that iron-like gaze, his heart shuddered.He suddenly had a strange illusion, as if Fu Shen was looking at another person coldly through him.

After a while, Fu Shen lowered his eyes, brushed a handful of messy long hair, and stretched out a hand feebly, beckoning Yan Xiaohan to help him up: "Everyone is here...please."

Fu Shen really had a severe fever, and just now he fell again, causing pain everywhere on his body.He is actually not such a delicate person, but Yan Xiaohan has seen a lot of high-ranking officials who are "weak willows and strong winds", and he subconsciously treats him like a fragile vase.

He helped Fu Shen up, and sat down on the side of the bed by himself. Afraid that the head of the bed would hit the wound, he stretched out an arm to pad behind him, and put his arms around his shoulders weakly to prevent him from slipping down.Just because of the movement, Fu Shen's hair fell loose again, so Yan Xiaohan pinned his hair behind his ears for him. In this way, most of Fu Shen's body was leaned into his arms—Jing Ninghou probably felt that this cushion was better than the other. The head of the bed was soft, and Yan Xiaohan didn't care how hateful he was, so he moved around and picked a comfortable position to lie down on.

This posture seems too intimate for the "rival". Fortunately, Shen Yuce only paid attention to Fu Shen's condition, and did not pay attention to his family's imperial inspector who was dismayed by all the officials. Hou wrapped it up completely, while Jingning Hou relaxed his tense back under the quilt, putting all his weight on Yan Xiaohan's body.

"The skin and flesh wounds healed very well. The fever is caused by the external wind and cold. Master Hou has an injury and his body is not as good as before. Be careful not to catch cold, and don't use cold and cold things and hair. The bedroom should be protected from cold and damp. It is getting cooler in autumn." , the charcoal basin and the smoking cage should get up early... The most serious injury is on the knee bones and tendons. Forgive me, Lord Hou, this injury needs to be recuperated slowly for three to five years before it can recover a little or two, but... It may be difficult to stand and walk in the future."

Shen Yice put down the rolled-up trouser legs for Fu Shen, and took back the pulse pillow: "I will write a prescription for Lord Hou, first cure the cold. As for the injuries on the legs and feet, they will still be treated according to Beiyan's military doctor's method, and I will wait until I go back. Discuss with the imperial physicians of the Taiyuan Hospital, brainstorm, and maybe come up with a better way."

Fu Shen took a breath suddenly: "Hiss... Take it easy!"

Shen Yuce: "Huh?"

"It's not about you." Fu Shen stretched the painful shoulder that was gripped by Yan Xiaohan, and said politely, "Mr. Shen is bothering you."

"Don't dare," Shen Yice turned sideways, "I'm not skilled in medicine, and I'm really ashamed for not being able to share the worries of Lord Hou."

Fu Shen: "It doesn't matter. I know what kind of injury will happen. I will do my best and obey the destiny."

Yan Xiaohan helped him to lie back, his expression was unpredictable, he was born with a gentle and good-looking appearance, and it was impossible to tell from his face that he was the one who choked the tough General Fu just now.

"Give the prescription to the servants of the Hou's mansion and tell them to decoct the medicine. If there is any medicine missing, let them go out and buy it. If there is no medicine, they can come to my mansion to get it."

Shen Yice bowed to Fu Shen and left after accepting the order.

Finally, there were only the two of them left in the house.Yan Xiaohan pulled a round stool and sat down far away from him: "Your legs...?"

"Didn't you just say that, that's it," Fu Shen stretched out his hand, "Pour me a glass of water."

Yan Xiaohan frowned: "It's cold."

"It also needs to be cold, otherwise I will die of thirst," Fu Shen said, "Similarly, I have to live even if my leg is broken. Can I still hang myself for this?"

Yan Xiaohan was speechless, so he had no choice but to pour half a cup of residual tea in the cup, and poured a new one for him: "Your Majesty is worried, and specially asked me to bring someone for an injury check."

Fu Shen: "Then he can rest assured."

Yan Xiaohan said bluntly: "I don't think so, you can still catch your breath."

Fu Shen looked at him with an expression of "you're making trouble again without reason".

"I always feel that all of this is not true," Yan Xiaohan asked, "You really didn't hold back, or deliberately released false news?"

Fu Shen asked back, "Why do you think so?"

Yan Xiaohan: "Because you look smart, you shouldn't be able to do such a stupid thing."

"It's true," Fu Shen shook his head, "It's easy to hide from an open spear, but hard to defend against a hidden arrow. You think I won't be fooled, so how do you know that it's not because you think of me too miraculously?"

Yan Xiaohan didn't expect his self-evaluation to be so low, so he was momentarily stunned.

Joining the army at a young age and making great military exploits, Fu Shen's existence seems to be to break the "impossible".Marquis of Jingning and Beiyan Cavalry are already undefeated myths in many people's hearts. This image is so deeply rooted in people's hearts that even Yan Xiaohan has the illusion.

But he is just an ordinary person, without three heads and six arms, copper skin and iron bones, and his flesh and blood can hardly resist a boulder falling from the sky.

"On the way back to Beijing, I was chatting with people in the tea shop, and I heard that there was a song in the capital called 'Fu Shuai is in northern Xinjiang, and the master is sleeping in peace'." Fu Shen sighed. After staying for seven or eight years, thinking that he has made great achievements and protected the country and the people, he was so crazy that he even forgot his surname. In the end, he realized that not only did I keep the Tartars and the Zhe people from sleeping, but I also disturbed that person. Can't sleep well..."

Yan Xiaohan said: "Since you've figured it out, why don't you simply hand over your military power and go home to support your family and farm with peace of mind. Being a rich and idle person is not much better than fighting on the battlefield or fighting in the capital?"

"Come on," Fu Shen sneered, "Is this the first day we know each other? Brother Yan, I thought we could just talk to each other no matter what, and you're still doing this with me?"

He whispered: "Eastern Tatars are thieves, and the Zhe people are watching. How many people in the court have been fascinated by the rise of peace in the past ten years. If I leave now, who will take over Beiyan's iron cavalry in the future, and who will be willing to guard the border?" Spend time? When the time comes, the soldiers will come to the city, and the unlucky ones will be innocent people..."

"Then what does it matter to you?"

Fu Shen suddenly raised his eyes.

Yan Xiao said coldly: "Your Majesty is afraid of you, courtiers suspect you, those foolish people will only follow the trend and yell, you have become what you are today, does anyone miss you? I almost have no place to live, and I still have a free heart The world—don’t you find it ironic, General Fu?”

What he said was cold-hearted and outrageous, but unexpectedly, Fu Shen didn't retort.

Yan Xiaohan looked at his pensive side face with downcast eyes, and suddenly realized clearly that the youthful, sharp and eye-catching edge of Fu Shen in the past was constantly fading.

By illness, by wind, frost and dust, or by some other... completely wiped out.

There is a distance between them, but their attitude is much more frank than when they were cuddling together.There was indeed disagreement between Yan Xiaohan and Fu Shen, but it was far from the mutual dislike that was rumored in the outside world.The two met each other when they were teenagers, and the so-called "rivals" were just a misunderstanding. One is an important minister who holds military power, and the other is the emperor's confidant. Their relationship is so good that it makes people suspicious.

The relationship between the shallow and the deep saves a lot of trouble, but it also covers up some differences buried deep under the peace.

The Fu family has been distinguished for many generations, his father and grandparents all died on the battlefield, loyalty and responsibility are almost engraved in the nature of his blood; Yan Xiaohan is scheming and unscrupulous, stepping on countless people to his current position, he can't understand them These "honest gentlemen" who are sure to lose but not make money, even almost put themselves in it.

After all, they were not fellow travelers, and the two of them probably knew each other well, but they didn't expect that the fork in the road would appear so unexpectedly, and they would have to pay such a high price.