Shanglin Night Snow

The sun is thinning.

Outside the gate of Nanxun, a horse with dust came galloping in a hurry.

On the day of Shangyuan, there was a big banquet in the palace.As a rule, the ministers should enter the palace in Shenzheng, and the banquet will be held in Youzheng.

Early in the morning, Guo Kai accompanied his mother, Mrs. He, out of the city to worship the Buddha at Fuquan Temple. Guo Kai thought that half a day would be enough to go back and forth, but unexpectedly, Mrs. He took an hour to visit the plum garden behind the temple, and on the way home, she took two extra rests due to fatigue. The day of entering the city is already westward.At present, he ordered his attendants to escort his mother back home first, while Guo Kai turned his horse around and galloped towards the new gate - Xun Miao went there to meet his friends early in the morning, and agreed to take his carriage and horse back home in the evening.

During the Shangyuan Festival, a group of idlers may return home early to get together with their families, and the journey into the city is not as usual.Go north from Nanxun Gate, go west after entering Zhuque Gate, and after a while, you will see the Golden Liang Bridge. From this, Guo Kai was about to turn north, but he taught a group of ten or so people who got off the bridge to attract their attention: look at the brocade robe in the middle of the crowd. Diaoguan's handsome young man, if not King Jia, who else is he?

King Jia also went to the palace to attend the banquet.The two went up to greet each other and exchanged greetings, then they went north on the same road.

"That day at the official house, Xiao Wang was called in to inquire about our private opinion on the day of the hunt." King Jia rode his horse without looking sideways, and said softly.

Guo Kai nodded: "Guo has expected it. What does Your Highness say?"

"I..." King Jia was a little perturbed, "I dare not deliberately lie, it's just..."

Seeing him swallowing, Guo Kai simply said: "Guo has the guts to guess, Your Highness has not mentioned Shao Dianshuai in the imperial preface, right?"

"You... how do you know?" The speaker lowered his eyes in surprise, "I didn't hide it on purpose, but...it was dark at that time, so a quick glance might make a mistake. Besides, Cousin Shao has always been upright, and he would never have anything to do with that What's wrong with the villain!"

"Your Highness, please be safe and don't be impatient. In fact, Guo was interrogated by Zhao Yude that day, and he didn't mention Shao Dianshuai." Guo Kai reassured his doubts.

"That's it--that's good!" Mu Yinche breathed out, and turned his face to show curiosity: "Brother Guo, why..."

Guo Kai smiled: "It's the same as His Highness—" The words stopped here, because at the intersection ahead, a familiar figure was looking forward to it.

Walking a few steps closer, without waiting for the man to speak, Guo Kai rushed forward to clear up his doubts: "My mother was late in admiring the flowers. I will come to pick you up when I return to the city. There is no carriage at the moment. Anyway, it takes only a quarter of an hour. You and I Let’s go back together on one horse.”

Xun Miao scratched his head, glanced at King Jia with a strange expression on his face, but climbed on the horse anyway.Along the way, I only listened to the two chatting everywhere, and he couldn't get in the way if he didn't care, so he had to look around.After walking forward for a while, he suddenly felt that the horse's steps were stagnant, and he was caught off guard, bumping his head into the back of the person in front of him, his eyes were full of shock, he was rubbing his forehead and hair in a daze, when King Jia asked, "Why did Brother Guo stop?" He was also obviously surprised .

Guo Kai pointed to the front: "Look, Your Highness, does that person's back look familiar?"

"Huh?" King Jia raised his eyes with a blank expression, "Brother Guo means...?"

The starlight in front of Xun Miao finally dissipated, and his eyes searched over the shoulders of the predecessors, and settled on a gray back. Without pretending to think too much, he said, "Isn't that Shao Dianshuai? He is also entering the palace at this moment?"

After his words, King Jia also saw the man in gray clothes who looked like Shao Jingheng, but he hesitated: "This...it looks like it, but..." Before he finished speaking, he heard a startled cry from nearby With a jump, he turned around and saw Guo Kai galloping away on his horse, apparently chasing the man in gray.After a brief hesitation, he had no choice but to follow suit.

The gray-clothed man was tens of feet away from him and the others. He turned a corner at the entrance of the city ahead and disappeared.

"Brother Guo, what's going on here?" Stopping at the intersection, Jia Wang looked suspicious.

"Yeah! What's going on here?" Xun Miao supported Fang Cai's waist, which was almost broken, and patted his chest in shock: "Why are you chasing Shao Dianshuai? Don't you know that you will meet in the palace for a while? "

"That's not Shao Dianshuai!" Guo Kai said coldly.

"Ah?" Xun Miao's eyes widened, "How do you know? It looks so similar!"

King Jia frowned: "What does Brother Guo mean?"

Guo Kai was about to speak, but his eyes lit up again: the familiar figure in front of him was coming out of a shop by the side of the road!He hurriedly cupped his hands to the side: "I will discuss this matter with His Highness after a while!" After speaking, he rode his horse and chased after him.

However, this time, the person in front seemed to have sensed something was wrong, and actually sped up his pace to avoid the two oncoming carriages. The figure flashed and disappeared again!Guo Kai followed closely to the place where the person disappeared, and found a very deep alley on one side, so he immediately dismounted and chased after him, followed by the rest of the people.

Fortunately, there was no fork in the alley. Guo Kai chased it to the bottom of the alley and saw a row of five or six residential buildings, all of which were closed and looked unpopular.The left side is a dead end, but the right side is still passable.

"Brother Guo, what should I do?" Wang Jia asked with an eyebrow.

Guo Kai waved his hands, "Search! Search every household, and when asked, he said to arrest the fugitive!"

The guards took orders and immediately scattered and knocked on the door.Guo Xie led a few guards and continued to chase to the right, followed by King Jia and Xun Miao. Seeing the predecessors turn the corner of the alley, they heard a cry of surprise, followed by the sound of utensils falling to the ground.The two were startled, and quickly stepped forward, but they were all startled—blood!

A woman sat on the ground paralyzed with blood-stained hands and skirts, a pile of broken dishes in front of her, and an upside-down bamboo basket at her feet.

Guo Kai frowned and turned to the back: "Please trouble Your Highness and Zhiwei to take care of this little lady, Guo will come as soon as he goes!" There are still two houses in front, and there is an exit further ahead, if that person has already left this alley, catch up with him I'm afraid it will be difficult, but no matter what, you have to give it a try.

Seeing Guo Kai chase out of the alley, Xun Miao took two steps forward, looked down at the blood on the ground, and trembled again - he couldn't see the blood, let alone a weak woman who was injured.

"How is the little lady?" King Jia knelt down close to the woman and asked softly.

The woman who had been in a daze for a long time looked up at this moment, but she grabbed his sleeve as if suddenly: "You must accompany me to the medical clinic, and pay me all the consultation fees!"

It was only then that Xun Miao remembered to take a closer look at the victim—he was only seventeen or eighteen years old, with a good appearance, and the light projected from his pair of water-like eyes was clear and dignified, which was unforgettable.

"Naturally!" King Jia nodded, his eyes showed concern: "Is it possible for the lady to stand up on her own?"

The woman tried to support the ground with one hand, but groaned, her face was depressed: "The knee hurts, I'm afraid it hurt when I fell."

"This..." Jia Wangyi mused, "Is your wife's house nearby? I'll find your family to bring you back and settle down, and then I'll send someone to find the doctor."

The woman shook her head: "I have no family, and I don't live nearby, but it's just a shortcut to pass by."

"This..." King Jia was in a dilemma.

Xun Miao said at the right time: "There are always people from several families around here, wait for me to find a woman to help, and help the little lady to the medical clinic." He left in a hurry.

Not long after, a stout woman came and went out with her daughter on her back. There was a carriage waiting at the entrance of the alley.Fang put the woman into the car, and saw Guo Kai turn back, but as expected, she did not catch up.There was no time to say more, the three of them hurriedly got on their horses and escorted the woman to the hospital.

"Brother Guo, you mean that Xun Xingcheng and Xiao Wang both admitted to the wrong person that day?" King Jia heard that Guo Kai had roughly told the inside story, and he let go of the big stone in his heart when he was surprised: "Cousin Shao has nothing to do with the past. Irrelevant, this is really expected!"

"It's a pity that I taught that person to run away, and I still can't understand what happened before!" Xun Miao sighed and regretted.

King Jia wondered: "Brother Guo, how did you know that we recognized the wrong person? Is it because you have met this person before?"

Guo Kai pondered: "Because I have carefully checked Shao Dianshuai's whereabouts, there is nothing suspicious, and then thinking that His Highness and Zhiwei only saw his back from a distance, so I guessed that there may be someone who is similar to Shao Dianshuai. Zhiwei made a mistake."

"That's how it is..." King Jia nodded.

Xun Miao bowed his head in thought, hesitated to speak a few times, but arrived at the hospital after hesitating.

Fortunately, after the doctor's diagnosis, most of the women's injuries were skin trauma. Although there were bruises on the legs, they did not hurt the muscles and bones. They could recover within a few days of cultivation.The woman was quite straightforward, seeing that they had paid for the consultation and asked for hundreds of dollars for medicine, she wanted to leave, but she taught Guo Kai to stop her: Knowing that there was no one in her family, Guo Kai said that she was inconvenient. On the grounds of serving him, he ordered the guards to send him home, and sent two maidservants to serve him in his daily life.Although the woman declined repeatedly, Guo Kai had already made up his mind, and he had no choice but to accept the kindness.

"Brother Guo is suspicious, does this woman have something to do with that person just now?" Seeing the carriage and horses carrying the woman go away, Jia Wang expressed his suspicion.

Guo Kai's eyes were deep: "The timing of her appearance is really a coincidence." After a pause, "Since there are doubts, there is nothing wrong with being more cautious."

Now that the matter came to an end, it was getting late, and the three of them hurried to the palace for the banquet, so there was no need to say anything.

When the palace banquet was over, it was late Haichu, Shao Jingheng and King Jia stepped out of the palace gate together.

"Your Highness is in a good mood tonight, but what's the good news?" Shao Jingheng glanced at the slightly flushed face of the man, and smiled lightly, "Didn't you meet someone destined?"

Mu Yinche's face turned hot: "Cousin, don't make fun of Xiao Wang, I've never been so lucky... But it's a festive season, and it's just a joy to be able to get together with relatives and friends."

Embarrassed by seeing this, Shao Jingheng also turned his tone and said earnestly: "Jokes are jokes, but His Highness can really find someone who agrees with him to stay by his side. After all, it will happen sooner or later. Rather than being involuntary when things come to an end, it's better to come sooner." It’s still up to you to find something.”

Mu Yinche's face became even redder: "I'm not out of filial piety right now, so I really don't have that kind of thought...let's talk about it later." He cupped his hands: "Thank you cousin for your advice!" His eyes flickered, and he seemed relieved: "My cousin When you returned to Beijing from the northwest, my brother was indifferent to others and seemed not to be close to you. I thought that I might be alienated from you from now on, but now I know that my cousin still cares about me very much, and I feel really relieved."

So, is there a voice behind the words?Shao Jingheng didn't have time to think about it, but he heard someone calling behind him.

"Jing Heng, are you still not coming back?" Shao Chenye came from behind, his expression was a bit gloomy, he hastily greeted King Jia, and then turned to his nephew, "It's still early, let's sit at your house for a while. "

King Jia knew what was going on, and said that he had already arrived at Xuande Gate, so he bid farewell to his cousin, and each went home.

Shao Jingheng and Shao Chenye returned to the mansion.

Against the backdrop of the lights, Shao Chenye's complexion was even darker.Because Concubine Jing's condition has worsened recently and she is bedridden, he, as a father, feels uneasy.

Shao Jingheng persuaded her kindly: "Concubine Jing's condition fluctuates from good to bad, and she said that she was bedridden only because of a recent cold infection, so I think it will be good to take care of her for a while."

Shao Chenye frowned: "It's fine if that's the case, but I heard that Concubine Jing will be sent to Yaohua Palace after the first lunar month?"

Shao Jingheng took the teacup and said, "I want to go, I have to wait for Concubine Jing to recover from the cold."

Shao Chenye was startled: "If you say so, this is actually true?" After sighing, he became annoyed: "You knew this a long time ago, but you didn't give any advice?"

"I tried to persuade, but it was useless." Shaking his head, the corner of the speaker's mouth showed a bitter taste: "Third Uncle, you should know that Concubine Jing assassinated her that day, and it is a great fortune that she did not offend my family, but how can you expect anything else?"

"But you were the one who said..." Shao Chenye was in a hurry.

"At this moment and at that moment, how could I have expected that Concubine Jing would be so dizzy? Otherwise, there would never be such a discussion that day!" Interrupting him, Shao Jingheng also showed annoyance: "The third uncle only knows that Concubine Jing is wronged, but he doesn't know If this plan is frustrated, how bad is it for my Shao family? I have worked hard to plan this plan. If it comes true, it will not work. The prosperity of my Shao family can be guaranteed within three generations! Is it not pedantic to still care about your family's temporary gains and losses?"

"This..." Shao Chenye's old face flushed, and he pondered for a moment, "So, there is really no room for turning around this matter?" Self-perturbed, "Then Concubine Jing..."

Shao Jingheng closed his eyes and rubbed his brows, he seemed to be calming down, and spoke slowly: "It's a foregone conclusion for Concubine Jing to leave Yaohua Palace, but the emperor has promised to keep her safe in this life, so third uncle can feel at ease?"

Shao Chenye closed his eyes and sighed.Shaoqing: "Then plan..."

The person whose expression returned to normal sipped his tea: "I have another plan." Putting down the teacup: "Third Uncle still has to hide his strength and bide his time, remember not to keep it out."

Shao Chenye was wary: "Jing Heng, although the third uncle said that the old man is no longer useful, he can't help you much, but I have to remind you, don't underestimate the enemy!" He raised his index finger and pointed upward, "Then The depth of human thought is probably a hundred times greater than what you and I think!"

Shao Jingheng snorted: "Third uncle don't have to worry. I have been hanging around since I was a child. I still know how much he has in mind."

The person who heard it coldly snorted: "Is it true?" Stroking his sparse beard, his old eyes turned: "Then you know that Concubine Jing's condition has improved after entering the palace, but why did it take a turn for the worse just when you and I were planning to help her return to normal?" ?”

Unexpectedly, Shao Jingheng's eyebrows tightened, but Shao Jingheng's tone remained the same: "Isn't it... because of the joyous atmosphere outside during the New Year's Day, which disturbed my mood?"

"Heh!" With a strange smile, Shao Chenye's eyes were full of disdain: "He said so, and the outside world also believed it! But on the eve of New Year's Day, the imperial doctor thought that the concubine Jing's condition improved and she took more medicine as a reason for hurting her health, and sent her to the hospital. She stopped taking all the appropriate medicines, and after a few days, Concubine Jing's condition recurred, and she even fell into madness."

Shao Jingheng thought for a while: "How did third uncle get this news?"

Seeing it, he squinted his eyes: "Ninghe Palace recommended Peng Xuliang's close relatives to disclose, it should be credible!" A sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth: "At this moment, do you still think that you know him very well?"

His complexion turned cold a little bit, and the questioner spoke calmly: "Soldiers never tire of cheating, we have plans, and we can't expect him to have nothing to do with it. But no matter what, you are not joking, he agreed to me to protect the concubine Jing, and he will not do anything." Breaking my promise!" Staring at the uncertain light and darkness of the candlelight: "Concubine Jing moved to Yaohua Palace, since then she has cut off all ties with outsiders, harmless to others, and no one will harm her again."

Shao Chenye picked up the teacup and put it back. He was silent for a moment, and his voice revealed a sense of desolation that is common to people of his age: "Jing Heng should know that to prevent danger before it happens, cut the weeds and eradicate the roots..."

He didn't say anything.However, who would have guessed that, in the event of an unpredictable situation, this statement would eventually become a prophecy.

In mid-February of the first year of Ming Dao, the Shao family moved to Yaohua Palace after the abolition. At the end of February, Shao's condition worsened.

On the seventh day of March in the first year of Ming Dynasty, the cold food was over, and the Shao family died in Yaohua Palace after the abolition.