a pillow in autumn

Back in the other courtyard, the ordering officer had been waiting for a long time, Prince Rui hurriedly bathed and burned incense, and Wang Hao and his concubine received the imperial decree, indeed they were ordered to return to Beijing.

Everything in Hezhou had been properly arranged, and early the next morning, Gu Zhoumu led a group of officials to see him off. Zhou Mubai originally wanted to let Shen Youtang stay for a while, but Youtang always felt anxious, and only Shen Youtang was left behind. Yan Shenlan and the rest returned to the capital together.Different from the time when they came, the return journey was under the order of the king, so Prince Rui's mansion and his party rushed across the prefecture and across the mansion. Fortunately, the Ruiguo Post Pavilion was fully repaired, so that everyone would not have to eat and sleep in the open, and travel and dust were inevitable.

Just entered Qiongzhou that day, when there was a muffled thunder, Shen Youtang looked up on his horse, and the sky was covered with heavy cumulus clouds.The vanguard officer rode back to report, there is a letter from Prince Rui at the post booth in front, please receive it.When they arrived at the post station, a heavy rain came as expected. The groom drove the carriage into the backyard, and several entourages in the rear were drenched in the rain.

Zhou Mubai got off his horse and didn't go to change clothes. He first recruited the postman from the post station to ask questions in front of the hall. After checking the seal of the palace, the postman knelt down and said, "The residence newspaper is from the capital, and it is stored in a box. The nearest One was three days ago. There was another letter, which was sent by His Royal Highness, and it arrived only yesterday." After speaking, he raised both hands and presented the letter.

The letter has the seal of the East Palace wax paint, Mu Bai took the letter knife and cut it at the mouth of the letter, the postman saluted before leaving the door, and met Shen Youtang waiting at the door, the postman hurriedly asked him to go aside and whispered, and A letter from Deputy Dianjun's family was sent by the family.Shen Youtang nodded with a smile, took out a piece of silver from his cuff and stuffed it in his hand.

The rain was gurgling in the courtyard, reflecting a few rows of fresh greenery. Shen Youtang was spreading papers on the porch, reading the letter from his father, after reading it, he frowned and thought for a while before climbing up the stairs.Seeing him coming in, Zhou Mubai handed him the prince's handwritten letter. Youtang took it and read it, and then presented it to Mubai respectfully. Your Highness should have led the troops to go out."

Mubai folded up the letter, his eyebrows furrowed tightly, "The Tu people have repeatedly violated the border. In the deep winter of last year, two groups of horses attacked our two states in the west. One horse group fought against our Swiss army, and the other took the opportunity to attack us." They went around to the village and looted all the winter food stored by the people, and the people of Ye, Ji and other counties were scattered in all directions. A few days ago on the way, I heard that Ye County was robbed by horse bandits again this spring, and there were still people who robbed the caravan in broad daylight!" She said. As he said that, he slapped the table with his palm, and said coldly: "Are you really deceiving me that there is no one in Ruiguo?"

"My father also sent a letter, saying that in the past, the Tu family always had no food at the end of the year, and when they were short of firewood and rice, they came to attack. Relying on their superb equestrian skills, they would rob them and leave. The military generals gathered in Qizhou, the western border, and there were no less than [-] soldiers. , but they still dispersed one by one, broke up the gathering, and came together again. This time, the Tu tribe gathered at the beginning of spring, and the cavalry attacked our frontier army with a huge momentum. I am afraid it is not just for the purpose of grabbing food." Youtang handed the letter to the family. Go up, and continued: "Another thing, does Your Highness know who is the deputy general who is going to the west this time?"

Mu Bai thought for a while and said, "Meng Xiang?"

"Yes. General Meng's eldest son, Meng Xiang, was named General Zhenxi." Shen Youtang clenched his fist with his right hand, "General Meng originally recommended Prince Min to lead the army, but Princess Min was about to give birth, and my father asked His Highness the Crown Prince to recommend himself. The prince went out to fight."

Mu Bai shook his head and said: "General Meng is an upright person, he must have his reasons for recommending the second brother to go to war. The second brother is his grandson, if he is partial to his side, father will definitely not sit idly by."

"Prince Min went to Congzhou to wipe out the white scarf bandits when he was 15 years old, and went to Yunzhou to manage the sea affairs. It has been more than three years now. It is said that he is quite famous in the coastal area. The prince is generous and kind, but he has done nothing in Sheji. I am afraid..."

"Youtang." Zhou Mubai stopped him, and when he saw his eyebrows lowered, he glanced outside. Shen Youtang understood, looked left and right under the eaves, and closed the two doors.Then he turned back to the table and heard Zhou Mu Baiman's voice: "The backbone of the country, there is no need to go far and take risks. Besides, the crown prince was born in the middle palace, and he is the only son of the emperor. He never slackens in state affairs. It is the direction of civil and military affairs of the Manchu dynasty."

"Yes. I shouldn't discuss things arbitrarily." Shen Youtang bowed to leave, walked to the door, paused, and approached Zhou Mubai again, knelt down and said in a low voice: "I know that Your Highness has no ambitions for the throne. But people’s hearts are unpredictable, so it’s better to take precautions.”

Looking out of the window, Mu Bai looked at the clouds and saw the moon, and said calmly: "Father is at the peak of spring and autumn, it's not enough for this."

Spring and summer alternate, and after the rain, there are insects singing gradually, Mu Bai turned a corner along the plank road, saw the light in front of the window of the main house, and his heart flickered like a candle.She knew that there was someone in the house, who was up late at night, waiting for her to come back.

Shen Xianxun leaned on the bed and read a book, the little girls were sent to rest, when Mu Bai came in, she got up and put on a shirt.

"Why don't you let the girl serve you and rest first? You've been exhausted all the way, and you're exhausted." Mu Bai stepped forward and squeezed her hand, not feeling cold.

Xian Xun just smiled, poured hot water for her to groom herself, and distributed it for her, brushed her long fingers across the tip of her eyebrows, and pressed on the acupuncture points on both sides of the hairline, Mu Bai squinted her eyes, the fragrance was light and warm, it belonged to her alone tenderness.After a while, she took her hand, put it to her lips, and kissed it lightly.Xian Xun's face was blushing, and Mu Bai said: "I received a letter from His Royal Highness and Father-in-law today, and I discussed it with You Tang. Tomorrow, I have to ride a fast horse back to Beijing first." Mu Bai Sitting on the chair and looking up at her, still holding her hand, "Qiongzhou is about half a month's journey away from the capital. Youtang, Xu Youci, and Zhang Minzhi will all stay here and take their family members to escort the female relatives. The road is safe and peaceful. ,You do not have to worry about."

"You only bring Xiaotuanzi and Xiaoguozi?" Xian Xun frowned slightly.

"There are six more long-term guards, all of whom have practiced martial arts with Youtang and me in the palace." Mu Bai continued: "The other half of the guards will go back to Beijing with you."

Xian Xun thought about it and said, "Father's letter, is it related to the war in West Frontier?"

Mubai nodded: "The crown prince has led the troops to Zhangzhou. Although I don't know why my father called me back to Beijing in such a hurry, I think I will never leave this matter."

"Since that's the case, let my brother and Mr. Xu and Mr. Zhang go back to Beijing with you."

Mu Bai looked at her with some surprise, and heard her continue: "This is the occasion for the imperial court to employ people, and it is also the occasion for you to employ people."

He always thought that she was intelligent, intelligent, caring for the poor and the weak, and she was different from ordinary ladies, but now this sentence made Zhou Mubai look at her with admiration.

Mu Bai clinging to her hand said: "This place is still a long way from the capital, I don't worry about it."

Xian Xun said: "We only take the main road and stay in official posts along the way, besides, there is a team of family generals to protect us, so you don't have to worry about it." Then he frowned, and said slowly: "I'm only worried that you will be arrested. Sent to the western frontier."

Mu Bai brought her to the side of the couch, blew out the lamp, the two lay down facing each other, and covered the thin quilt.Mu Bai whispered in her ear: "I used to practice riding and archery with Shao Fu and Xiao cavalry guards. Guess who is better, Youtang or I?"

Xian Xun said with a smile: "In the past two years my brother won more, but in the future he will rarely beat you."

Mu Bai wondered, "How do you know?"

"In the past, when he came back every day, he would brag to his father about how much he beat you in memorizing today, and how he would compete in riding and archery tomorrow. Later, he boasted less and less, and when he came back, he just closed the window and studied hard. When his father asked him again, he turned his face and said , you are already better than him, and if he doesn’t study, he will be outmatched by other servants in the palace.” Xianqian narrowed her eyes under the moonlight, and couldn’t help laughing: “As for the kung fu of fists and feet, I will leave it to Shen Yan. Shen Lan is going to fight for it."

Mubai was happy to hear that, hugged her and tightened his arms, and kissed her lightly on the forehead, "So, even if you have to go west, you don't have to worry. Your husband is very powerful."

Xian Xun thumped her lightly, then leaned against her arms again, and unconsciously stroked her fingertips on her neckline, touching her delicate neck, Mu Bai felt itchy in his heart, and warm hands caressed behind her. for a moment.Xianqian's voice came from her bosom: "Your Highness, you once asked me if I had someone I liked in my heart before marrying into the palace." She paused, and continued: "Now, you still want to know Is it?"

Mu Bai didn't know why she mentioned this matter tonight, his heart was a little shaken, not like the warm candlelight in the room, but like the shriveled branches and leaves in the cold wind.She hugged her waist and said, "If you want to talk, I'm always willing to listen."

Her voice fluctuated, how could she not know.So she chuckled in her arms. It was many years ago, and she never told anyone about it.

"When I was young, one day, my grandfather came back from the palace and said that His Majesty would ask him to teach the third prince. My brother asked him how old the third prince was. Grandpa looked at me and said that he was the same age as Xun'er. I asked the third prince if he came back from the folk a while ago, and did the third prince also read the Four Books and Five Classics? There are many, many questions, I just remember grandpa said with a smile, you will study with him after a while. Ask him yourself." Xian Xun caressed the pattern on Mubai's collar, and slowly said: "After that, almost every day, I would hear my grandfather and elder brother talking about the third prince, how hardworking the third prince is, how With a handsome face, my brother used to be such a proud person. After entering the palace to study with you, he seemed to be a different person. He tried his best to make himself better. Even my father said that it was me who could study with you. My brother’s luck. At that time, I often wondered what kind of person you are. Meeting you will make people want to be better. Until the day when my brother unlocked the lock when he was 12 years old, he came to the backyard and said to his mother, Several distinguished guests wanted to hear the sound of the lyre, and I knew you were among them. Then he told me what you said after listening to the sound of my piano. He said that you have the world in your heart, but no disputes. After that, I Master Wu is seriously ill, you found the ancient song "Yi Lan" for us, and I will give you "Late Moon in the Sky" as a gift."

"You..." Mu Bai opened his mouth, Xian Xun raised his hand to cover her lips, Mu Bai calmed down, and listened to her continue: "When I was twelve or thirteen years old, there were many matchmakers in the capital who came to my home Look, you want to marry me, it just so happens that the empress invited all the wives of officials to the palace to attend Qi Xuan's banquet."

"That's to choose a concubine for the second emperor." Mu Bai said with a light smile, "You went too."

Xian Xun also smiled, and said in a soft voice: "That day I was at the Qu Yuan Pavilion in the palace, the sun was just right, your flute fell in the sun, it was the late moon in the sky I composed. I looked up , as if I could see you playing the flute in Quanqing Palace from the sound of the flute. You don’t know, when I got home that day, I stayed in front of the window for a long time. The moonlight is so clear, but the Moon Palace is so far away , just like you."

Mu Bai's heart moved, and he said softly: "Thinking is like the late moon, and there is no way to send what you want."

Xian Xun's face was slightly red, but luckily the night was dark, so she couldn't see it.She buried her face in her neck, and sighed in her heart when she thought of the farewell tomorrow.

"Later, the empress invited my mother to the palace as a guest. When she came back, she talked to my father about something. If anyone came to see me, my grandfather would block them all. He only said that I should not marry early and that I should stay for two more years. Officials Although the girls in the family also learn poetry, books and etiquette, they always want to be happy, but my grandfather never forbids me to go in and out of Shushizhai. Whatever my brother learns, I follow suit. Although he never said it, I already understand, He intends to promise me to his favorite student, to the Third Prince."

"Slim net..."

"Everyone said that I was married into the palace of gold and jade, but no one knew it. I just married the person in my heart." Xian Xun closed her eyes and said desperately: "Zhou Mubai, I like you. From many, many years ago , and fell in love with you. Even later, when I knew your secret, I was wronged and annoyed that you kept it from me and the whole world," she bit her lip, and tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, "but I couldn't Change your heart."

"Xun'er..." Mu Bai sighed, hugged her tightly, kissed her cheek along the bridge of her straight nose, kissed the wet tears on her lips, she felt a vague pain in her heart, more Huanxi, this is her wife, who has loved her for many years.

"If you go to the west on this trip, don't forget that I'm in Ruijing, waiting for your triumphant return." Xianqian grabbed the corner of her clothes tightly, letting her kiss fall on her forehead, between her eyebrows, she slightly raised her head, The warm breath exhaled from the kiss fell on each other's lips.

Mu Bai hugged her tightly in his arms, his lips were printed on her soft lips, and he licked them back and forth.The slender lips were sweet and fragrant, Mu Bai kissed for a while, couldn't help sticking out the tip of his tongue, and traced her soft lip shape along the line of her lips.

Xian Xun leaned into her arms, at first she pursed her lips, but she gradually invaded her mouth, the tip of her tongue touched her own, and then her dexterous tongue rolled gently, Xian Xun felt that her heart was also being crushed. He lifted it up, beating fast in the atrium.

After a long while, Mu Bai slowly let go of her lips, panted slightly and pressed his forehead against hers, and replied softly but firmly: "Okay."

The author has something to say: I heard that the author is crying while writing, because the author will wither if there is no more flowers and messages~withered~withered~~