caged robin

When Wang Fu came back at noon, everyone felt the anger around him. Abner heard that there had been frequent frictions at the junction of Silver Bow City and Blue Spring City recently. Bow City is considering using force, but according to the so-called "covenant of the four kings", any city is not allowed to use force against another city, and Silver Bow City must hold its breath.

This is probably what worries my father.

The brocade curtain on one side of the dining room has patterns of hundreds of birds. The beaks of the birds overlap with each other, and the wings are eager to try. There is an illusion in the dullness.

Apart from the sound of metal cutlery colliding with plates, there was not even the sound of breathing on the long dining table. Everyone was careful not to touch Wang Fu's nipples.But even so, Wang Fu glanced at his eldest son Abner, whose right hand was wrapped in gauze, and was cutting a capon clumsily; the second son, Jonny, seemed to have lost weight again, and the doctor had increased the medicine in the morning, and he looked sluggish. Look at his wife Rhea next to her. She just had a miscarriage last month and her face is pale, but her sharp mouth still satirizes Abner.

Wang Fu's stomach became even more angry.

Abner looked at the capon in front of him and sighed silently. His right hand couldn't use his strength, and his left hand managed to cut the chicken. It was really woody and hard. After tearing for a long time, his elbow hit the bread plate, and the sound was quite ear-piercing. .He suddenly felt that everyone at the table was staring at him, especially his father's gaze was the most pungent.

"Ai Wen." Wang Fu's tone was extremely cold.

"Yes, Father." Abner replied honestly, but he didn't dare to look up.

"Looked up!"

Abner slowly raised his head, looking at his father's cold blue-green eyes, his heart beat faster.

"If you let me know that you don't come home at night, I'll break your left arm!"

Abner's lips trembled.

"Have a meal!"

Abner lowered his head, dipped some almond paste on the chicken, and chewed it silently in his mouth.He had never found chicken so unpalatable, stuck in his throat and unable to swallow.

Abner knew that he couldn't escape the history class in the afternoon, so he planned to go to Wens to discuss the matter of Cloud and Blood Desolation in the afternoon.The servants were busy cleaning up, and his father didn't know where he was, so he straightened his back and swaggered out from the main entrance of the Yufu Building.

There is a faint smell of grass pulp outside the main entrance, and the giant crossbow sculpture pool on the square is bubbling with clear water. There are many gardeners and painters in Duolun Palace, and even Abner’s own room has been tidied up inside and out. It was only then that he remembered that the "Sacred Dragon Festival" was coming. This festival is the most important festival of the four countries. It is held every three years. The four countries take turns to celebrate. The last time was in Black Rock City, and this time it was Silver Bow's turn. The princes of the other three countries will come to the city at that time, and Luota, the king of the Silver Bow Kingdom, is such a face-saving person, so he will definitely make a big splash.

Abner suddenly felt that the Duolun Palace, where he had lived for three years, was strange. He looked around and looked at the huge palace carefully.

The center of the entire Duolun Palace is the Silver Pagoda. Right in front of the Silver Pagoda is a wide square, and behind it is a smaller semicircular square. In the center of the square is a giant silver-plated crossbow sculpture. Below the sculpture is a circular pool.Further on, across the pasture, there are three high-rise buildings, namely Jianyi Building, Yufu Building and Baihan Building. The three buildings are connected by a long sightseeing corridor. After being connected together, they form a curved bow This group of buildings is inhabited by the king's important ministers and is called "the king's honor guard", so it is also called "honor guard building".

The Yufu Building where Abner lived was the place where successive Wang Fu and his family lived. When he was 13 years old, Nero Margeri, the eldest son of the previous king of Silverbow City, died, and soon the king also died, and the throne passed to The second son Rota Margeri.After Rota ascended the throne, he quickly replaced his courtiers, and appointed the Duke of Apocasseri, who had both honor and wealth, as Wang Fu.Abner still remembers that day when he was chasing a big white goose by the lake in his manor, he accidentally fell into the water, and he climbed ashore dragging his body in mud, facing his father's serious face.

"Ai Wen, we're going to move to Duolun Palace tomorrow." His father was wearing a silk jacket, and his brown hair was combed brightly.

"Is that where Sean lives?"

Father paused, took out a white handkerchief to wipe off the mud on Ai Wen's face, "Yes, Ai Wen, you can't be so childish when you get there." Father left the black handkerchief to Abner, and Abner watched Seeing the back of his father going away, he couldn't help but clenched the handkerchief tightly, and the muddy water dripped down.

Abner continued to walk forward, and the smell of grass pulp became stronger and stronger. The large pasture outside the main gate was carved out of four gardens, a central boulevard and four tree-lined paths by tall beeches.The Imperial Auxiliary Building is on the central boulevard, and the central avenue leads directly to the Silver Pagoda, which is made of white marble and contains the king's audience hall, the king's bedroom, the king's study, the rooms of the prince and princess, etc. .But a young master like Abner without a title cannot step in without permission.

But he is not interested, he is now going to Jianyi Building to find Wen Si.

The Jianyi Building is located in the southwest of the Yufu Building. It is mainly occupied by the Jianyi Knight Commander and several of his cronies. The ground floor has a spacious indoor fencing arena, a fighting arena, and a weapon exhibition hall.Although there is a sightseeing corridor between the Jianyi Building and the Imperial Auxiliary Building, it is guarded by several guards, and no one is allowed to pass through it unless there are special circumstances. Therefore, Abner can only cross the long grass field from the tree-lined road, and then pass through the narrow path in the garden. , and finally you can walk to the Jianyi Building next to it.

"I'm looking for the sword-clothed knight commander." Abner said to the guard at the door.

The guards recognized Abner at a glance, but they still had to go through a formality: report, wait for a response, and let him go.

Abner went directly to the small meeting hall on the second floor, where Wens was talking with three cronies.

"Abner." Wins stepped forward to greet him, and the three jazz behind him bowed politely.

Abner cut to the chase: "Wins, my little birds have detected the scent of a perverted leopard."

"So fast?" Wen Si was incredulous.

"Believe it or not." Abner shrugged.

Wins raised his eyebrows, expressing his acquiescence. He knew that Abner had all kinds of "little birds", and at certain times he could inquire about information faster than the king's informants.

"where?"

"Cloud and Blood Desolation."

"Cloud and Blood Desolation?" Wen Si's eyes moved.

"Yes, and I'm not sure it's still there."

"..."

"So you go and see the situation as soon as possible."

"Are you really not going?"

"I..." Abner smiled, "I'm afraid that Master Wang Fu will break my leg if I skip class again."

Wins chuckled, "Okay, Richie and I will go, Richie's house happens to be nearby."

When Rich heard this, he was in a very happy mood. He walked forward and bent over and said, "The Monferrato family will always open the door for you, Mr. Wang Fu's good baby."

Abner: "..." The corners of his mouth twitched violently.

Rich has always been displeased with such a beautiful and slender Sir Abner.

Wen Si glared at Rich, wishing to stab his cheap mouth with a sword.

In the afternoon, Abner took a copy of "History of the Four Kingdoms" and went to the study room of Baihan Building. Baihan Building is located in the southeast of the Yufu Building, where the Chief of the Golden Pavilion, Chief Yushi and Shi Yan of Silver Bow City mainly lived. long.The Chief of the Golden Pavilion is considered to be the Minister of Finance of Silver Bow City. His fat fingers are covered with gemstone rings, and he smiles with a naive look, but no one would have thought that such a simple and honest fat man is more shrewd than anyone else in his calculations.The chief censor is the inspector of Silver Bow City. He is tall and thin, serious in speech and smile, and walks silently. There are folk rumors: the dead fish on the coast of Wuxi refuses to close its eyes because the censor ordered it to monitor ghosts on the road to the underworld. .

There is also a teacher who is going to teach history to Abner, and he already has the title of Earl.Abner called him "Lord Aubrey Fernando" except for calling him "Teacher" in class. Of course, Shi Yanchang also liked others to call him "Lord". Once he said "Lord", his red hair would light up slightly, making Abner doubt that his hair could understand human speech.Of course, no matter how sweetly Abner calls him Lord, he will only look ashamed, because he feels that a dude who can't even memorize the "Red Dragon Bible" is simply the biggest shame of Silver Bow City!

Abner realized that he came too early today. Usually he would come in with Shi Yanchang’s contemptuous laughter. At that time, Shi Yanchang had to add a sentence: You were caught by some flower halfway , young master?

Now Abner stood at the door of the empty study, stunned for a while, and then walked in slowly.This study is not wide, but very long, running through the front and back of Baihan Building.Standing at the back window, you can see the Dragon Wing Garden, which is full of red pines and special-shaped hawthorn trees. A red spire stands tall. Looking up, there is a gilded young dragon on the spire. Dragon, every festival minaret will be lit with candles, the scene is very spectacular.Standing at the front window, you can see the Silver Pagoda and the Hundred Gardens. The flowers in the Hundred Gardens are arranged irregularly, one in the east, one in the west, there are roses, geraniums, spider flowers... as long as they are flowers in the four countries, the flowers in the hundred There will be no shortage of gardens.

A horticulturist walked into the winding path in Baihua Garden, carefully loosened the soil and watered a red rose, and several white and yellow roses grew beside the red rose.At this moment, the sound of slightly heavy footsteps came from outside the study, Abner turned around, and it turned out to be Sean.Sean's face was already pale. When he looked up and saw Abner, he was slightly surprised, bit his bloodless lips, and his eyes were covered with emotions that were unfamiliar to Abner: anger, surprise, embarrassment, anxiety...

The corner of Abner's mouth twitched: "..." What happened to Sean?

So he suddenly remembered what Wens said last night: "This big man just left in a hurry with a large bouquet of roses in his arms. God, if I had wolf eyes, I might not be able to see his face full of tears..."

Abner looked at Sean who was walking towards him with a little anxiety, and his thoughts kept churning: Although I obviously avoided him in that performance, shouldn't he recognize me?Or does he want to ask me for comfort, how should I answer?Or does he have something else on his mind?

So he smiled as usual, and took the initiative to step forward, ready to put Sean on the shoulder, but when Sean saw him coming, he stopped and stared straight at him.

Abner was stared at with hairs on his back, "Sean?"

When Sean was called out, the emotion in his eyes suddenly swelled, and he walked towards Abner quickly, and when Abner was still in a daze, he pushed him to the table beside him, and the back of Abner's head hit the table, violently aches.

"Hell, Sean, what are you doing?!"

Abner rubbed the back of his head and pushed away Sean who was pressing on him, but Sean twisted his injured arm and moved it behind him. The wound hit the corner of the table hard, and the pain was excruciating. Let him close his eyes tightly, and curl up weakly on the table.

After a while, he opened his eyes and glanced at Sean. Sean seemed to be a completely different person, his eyes were full of haze, cold-blooded, crazy and vicious.

"Sean...I'm Abner..." Abner's forehead was covered with sweat.

But Sean just sneered as if he didn't hear anything, then grabbed Abner's slender waist, and began to unbutton his trousers rudely.Abner's back felt cold, and he kicked Sean away, regardless of the pain in his hand, but Sean was only slightly pushed away.

"Damn Sean...you try to move me again..." Abner glared at Sean angrily, got up from the table, panting violently.

Sean's eyes moved, the haze was slightly removed, and his blue eyes gradually brightened. Then he lowered his head in silence, and slowly knelt down in front of Abner.

"Abner," Sean said.

"What's the matter?" Abner's tone was cold.

"Abner." Sean continued.

"Say!"

"Abner."

"..."

Abner looked down at Sean, at a loss.

After a while, Sean reached for the silver buckle on the hem of Abner's trousers and undid it, and the trousers that wrapped around his knees were released. Abner frowned, watching the kneeling in front of him doing all this Sean, like a devoted servant.

Sean is not normal.

"What's wrong with you, Sean?" Abner's tone was as gentle as possible.

Sean didn't speak, and slowly pushed up Abner's trousers, exposing the black tie, loosened the buckle, and slowly pulled off the stocking.

Abner grabbed Sean's hand, "Sean, don't go too far."

Sean remained silent. After a while, he twitched, and then slowly raised his head.

Abner shook heavily.

Sean's eyes were all white, and Abner could clearly see a strange face attached to Sean's face.

"Xiao, Sean..." Abner let go of his hand in fright, watching Sean slowly approaching him, the ghost attached to Sean was smiling strangely.

He fumbled around for things on his body, hoping that something would be useful. He touched the dagger he was carrying, and the cold touch made him tremble. He withdrew his hand. He couldn't treat Sean like this.

He continued to grope, and touched the silver bell again. He didn't care too much, took out the locking teeth inside, and shook it immediately.

Suddenly, the arm began to hurt again, like countless iron fragments stirring rapidly in the wound, and Abner's fingers spasmed from the pain.At the same time, Sean covered his ears in pain and screamed hoarsely. The ghost attached to Sean's body had a hideous face, and stretched out his upper body to grab the bell in Abner's hand, but after repeated times, it was only in vain. .

Abner grabbed the bell tightly, retreated to the center of the table, then managed to stand up, and continued to shake. This time, Sean knelt on the ground covering his ears, and the screaming turned into a wail, and the attached ghost was like a sticky piece. The cement slowly peeled off from Sean's body.

"Just... a little..." The veins on Abner's white arm were bulging, the hand holding the bell trembled uncontrollably, and the cold sweat soaked through the shirt from pain.

"Kacha——" Suddenly, with a roar, the glass in the study was shattered, and a light black shadow jumped in.

"big cat?"

Abner glanced suspiciously at the big black cat that disappeared after "one night", then grabbed the bell and prepared to continue shaking it.

But as soon as Abner turned his head, the black cat suddenly turned into a ghost leopard! Immediately after that, the ghost leopard pulled the ghost out of Xiao En's body violently, and soon a stone on the ghost leopard's neck With a blinding light, the ghost disappeared.

Abner stared at all this, heaved a sigh of relief, the pain had already eroded his consciousness, his mind was buzzing, he slumped at the table wearily, his legs were shaking feebly, his eyelids were extremely heavy.

But he still managed to raise his eyes. Sean was sleeping peacefully on the ground. The panther was turning towards him, but he had no strength to avoid it.Its golden eyes stared closely at Abner, and Abner actually felt that there was a trace of tenderness in those eyes, so he simply let go of his last defense and let the black panther approach his arm, stroking its soft fur back and forth , Abner's pain eased slightly, and he slowly raised his hand to stroke the panther's chin.

The panther stuck out its tongue and licked Abner's gauze, a strange warm current washed the wound through the gauze, and Abner paused.The black panther stared at Abner closely with its golden eyes, and bit the gauze with its sharp teeth. Abner was sucked away by the golden eyes of the black panther. Before he could react, the gauze had already fallen to the ground. The panther was carefully licking the wound with its tongue, the rough and warm licking seemed to be cleaning up the gravel in the mud river little by little, Abner's pain was gradually easing, but the drowsiness came back slowly.

Finally, he closed his eyes and fell sideways on the table, his arms still lightly wrapping around the black panther's furry neck.

"Lance..." A muffled whisper faded away with the last of consciousness.

The author says:

This chapter is mainly a brief introduction to the buildings in the Duolun Palace where Abner lived...it doesn’t matter if you find it annoying (laughing and crying).Duolun Palace is the king's palace, where all the important officials live. Abner's father is Wang Fu (probably equivalent to the prime minister), who lives in the imperial auxiliary building inside; Clothes House; other important courtiers lived in Buckham House; the king's family lived in Silver Tower.Probably that's it...