long friend

When he left that day, Xiao Qichen gave Li Rong a sympathetic look, and the other party didn't know why, but still smiled appropriately.

"I feel sorry for her." Xiao Qichen swayed half a jug of wine, and said to Xie Hui in Jiangnan ditty, "She has her own hobbies, and they don't all revolve around Su Yan, but this makes me admire again."

The place where they are located is the busiest brothel in the Ten Li Qinhuai River, named Huajieyu.As the name suggests, the girls here don't just know how to accompany others, they are proficient in everything from piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, they are understanding and tight-lipped, making this place a huge gentle town.In addition to merchants, there are many dignitaries and dignitaries who patronize.

When Xiao Qichen was pulled here by Xie Hui, he temporarily fabricated an identity, saying that he was the youngest son of a wealthy businessman in the south of the Yangtze River.

Xie Hui felt as if he had returned to his own home. He called two girls to ask for a room, played the pipa and sang a ditty.Red crisp hand, yellow vine wine, almost drunk - but Xiao Qichen said that it was such a disappointment.

Xie Hui winked at the girl who sang the song, and was satisfied to hear that the tune was out of tune, and then said to Xiao Qichen: "Is it because you can't be as open-minded as her?"

Xiao Qichen thought for a while, and said: "A woman's intuition is very accurate. Su Yan doesn't even know that he doesn't really like Rongniang, but Rongniang may have already seen it. If he really likes it, it's time for him to be married now. Sticking together every day, taking advantage of the youth to turn the clouds and rain well, why do you run to the school field every day like hiding?"

After he finished speaking, the girl playing the pipa beside him laughed, and boldly interrupted: "Young master, what you said, you can see through the minds of those pleasure-seekers."

Xiao Qichen blinked at her, causing the little girl to blush.

Xie Hui witnessed the whole process, and said a little sourly: "No wonder you have time to accompany me to this fireworks field today. It turns out that your feelings have been hurt, and you want to find some Jieyu flowers to get drunk? Tell me earlier... Young master, I am very familiar with Miss Hua Kuifu here, let mother ask her to accompany you?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "to accompany", Xie Hui's wolf ambition is well known.Xiao Qichen was about to turn eighteen after the Chinese New Year, and there were quite a few court ladies of the right age in Chenglan Palace, so he didn't touch any of them. At first Xie Hui thought it was Xiao Qichen himself who looked informal and strictly abided by the rules of etiquette. Later, he realized that there was something else hidden. .

Although there are many officials in Nanliang who like masculinity, they can't stand on the stage after all. What's more, the young men raised in the backyard of the brothel are all more juicy than women. Xie Hui once wanted to try something new, but he couldn't bring it up. interest.He didn't even dare to dream about it, Xiao Qichen put all his ideas on Su Yan.

Su Yan doesn't look like a woman in any way, she wears armor and wears a sword anytime and anywhere, and stays in the school ground for most of the day in disgrace.Dress as plainly as possible every time we meet, not to mention "Shui Ling", he is simply ruining his good looks.

These thoughts turned around in my mind, Xie Hui was about to increase the dose, but Xiao Qichen glanced at him like an idiot: "What do I want to accompany? I wasted the good time of the girls doing business, you accompany me Just do it."

Xie Hui kept complaining: "Your Highness! I also came here to have fun!"

Xiao Qichen opened his eyes innocently: "Aren't you afraid that I'll tell Mr. Xie that you came here to drink flowers and wine without doing the official business of the New Year's Eve palace banquet, and then your grandfather whipped you so hard that you couldn't get out of bed?"

Xie Hui: "..."

Xie Hui drank the wine in the glass in awe-inspiring manner, propped his chin, and said in the eyes of the two girls who were playing the piano and singing that they couldn't help laughing, "Just forgive me... OK, for the last time, don't talk about Su Yan, More mention of your "Shui Jing Yi Answer Record."

Xiao Qichen rubbed his chin and smiled meaningfully: "Ayan found that for me too."

Xie Hui fell headfirst on the table and was very injured.

In addition to parting melancholy, Jiangnan ditty also sings Mood for Love.

With a flick of the pipa and a lyre, the melodious voice of a yellow warbler begins to tell stories along with the tune. Which family’s cardamom girl has a secret love for the scholar next door, which family’s peach blossoms have touched the hearts of young people, and the pattering rain falls from spring In summer, water an inch of acacia and an inch of ash.

Xiao Qichen listened to these winds, flowers, snows and moons, and felt that the girl who sang the song really understood her. The song "Song of the Yue People" sang his heart sorely, and the words turned into a slender hand, and he couldn't cry at all when he squeezed it a little tears.

"The mountains have trees, and the trees have branches, and the heart is pleasing to the king, and the king doesn't know..."

In this song, he drank a whole pot of wine with Xie Hui, and when he left the brothel in a daze, a piece of snow fell from the leaden sky.

Three days before the new year, Xiao Qichen suddenly resigned and went to Qingguang County to supervise the construction of water conservancy works.It’s not embarrassing or embarrassing at this time. If you want to talk about urgency, you’ve been used to disaster relief for so many years. It’s not a short while to deal with floods. If you don’t say it’s urgent, the melting of ice and snow in the upper reaches will bring about a sharp rise in the water level in the lower reaches. Maybe there will be a disaster. waterlogging.

Xiao Yan didn't think too much, and approved his performance, accompanied by Han Guang who had just been promoted from Yangzhou Biejia to the Shaofu.

He left Beijing quietly, and when Su Yan found out, he had searched all over Jinling and could not find anyone.

The New Year's Eve is just around the corner, and Su Yan was either in Xuzhou or his family was uneven in the past few years, so his life was dull.With the addition of Li Rong in the family this year, everything is a little different.When Su Yan returned home from Xiaoqiwei, he saw the red lanterns and the Spring Festival couplets at the entrance of the main house, and suddenly felt a bit of the long-lost New Year's atmosphere.

"I don't know what you like, so I asked my elder brother to ask Mr. Xie to write two pictures." Li Rongzheng finished pasting the couplets on the door of the east chamber by himself, and when he saw Su Yan, he jumped off the stool, He stroked the broken hair that fell to his cheek.

Seeing the Spring Festival couplets, Su Yan read: "The moon is waning, the moon is round and the stars are in the eyes, and the flowers bloom and fall in the hearts of the trees... Thank you, sir?"

Li Rong blinked and explained: "It's Mr. Xie Hui, the minister's servant. I heard that he was a famous talent all over the world when I was not married. My brother has some friendship with him. I heard that he wanted it for the Houfu, so he wrote it. Two sets. Here, there is another set called 'Love in Mountains and Rivers for a Lifetime, Songs of the Sun and Moon in Four Seasons'."

There is always some meaning, but it's a pity that Su Yan didn't read the book well back then, so he couldn't feel Xie Hui's deep meaning. Seeing Li Rong's smiling eyes waiting for his evaluation, Su Yan's lips twitched slightly, and said: "Very good."

Before the New Year's Eve dinner, Li Rong went to the kitchen and brought out a plate of dumplings.Su Yan tasted two, but felt that the taste was not very good. Seeing Li Rong looking at him expectantly, he knew that she must have made these dumplings, and praised: "The dumplings are not bad."

Her parents were full of praise for her, Master Li had also appreciated Su Yan more and more recently, the young couple could not be regarded as Qin Se and Ming Mi Li Mou, and they finally called it "the case is equal to the eyebrows".

At night, Su Yan was going to watch the year and went to the Buddhist hall.

After he got married, Mrs. Cao gradually became in the mood to do other things, and the frequency of going to the Buddhist hall became less.When Su Yan walked in, the long burning lamp in the middle was about to go out. Su Yan added some lamp oil, but couldn't find any incense, so he simply sat down on the futon.

He doesn't believe in gods and Buddhas, but only thinks that he can cultivate his mind in meditation in the Buddhist hall.After sitting for a while, Su Yan's eyelids became heavier and heavier. He propped his chin and stared at the flickering light of the ever-burning lamp.

"Ayan?" A timid voice suddenly sounded from behind, Su Yan turned around, but it was Li Rong who came in, "I can't find you, so I went to ask my mother where you are, she said that you probably came to accompany Ah Jin."

Su Yan laughed and said, "I don't mean to accompany him, I just feel annoyed. Sit down."

Li Rong said "oh", knelt down on the futon beside him, and then fell silent.If it were someone else, there would have been a lot of question marks, but Li Rong didn't seem to be listening. Su Yan asked her, "Aren't you wondering what I'm bothering about?"

"If you don't tell me, then you don't want me to ask. If that's the case, why should I bother?" Li Rong asked him back, seeing that he was at a loss for words, he took out a paper bag from his sleeve, and when he opened it, there were a few candied plums.

Su Yan said: "Snacks?"

"I had nothing to do a few days ago, and I just saw the kitchen bought some, and said that my father wanted to make wine, so I asked for a few." Li Rong held one to his mouth, "It's very sweet, you eat it ?"

Su Yan wanted to say "I don't eat sweets", but couldn't persuade her, so he opened his mouth and swallowed it.

Then they had nothing to say. There was a small Buddha statue in the Buddhist hall. Su Yan didn't know where it was sacred, nor did he know whether it was protecting safety or something else.Li Rong snuggled up to him quietly, then fell asleep first, and fell asleep next to Su Yan's shoulder.

"Rong Niang." Su Yan called softly, "Go back to your room to rest when you're tired. I've become a habit of watching the year."

Li Rong rubbed his eyes, sat up straight again, continued to eat the candied plums, and said, "No, I'll be your companion, so that you can talk to me when you feel lonely, although not necessarily I understand, but I can listen."

She seemed to recognize that it was a sad thing for someone to talk to himself, but Su Yan couldn't help her, so he had to free up a hand, and brought the futons of the two closer, letting Li Rong sleep in his arms.Su Yan soon heard the sound of steady breathing, which showed that Li Rong had fallen asleep, but the breathing rhythm was slightly faster than ordinary people.

Li Rong is weak and has never been out of Jinling City since he was a child. He is a sick child raised in a deep boudoir.Su Yan hugged her, smelling the lingering scent of medicine on her body, feeling empty in his heart.

It was late at night, and the lights of the Buddhist hall were like beans, beating in Su Yan's eyes.In the third quarter of winter, there was not even the sound of insects, and the whole world seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep. There was no snow, no moon, and the gloomy sky made him almost out of breath.

He thought about what Li Rong said, she said Su Yan was lonely.

At that time, he didn't know why Li Rong could see that he was lonely.Until a long time later, when Su Yan recalled Li Rong, he realized that that New Year's Eve seemed to be the closest time between them.

Apart from visiting relatives and friends during the New Year's Eve, there is nothing to do but just stay at home and have nothing to do. Su Yan's bones are going to rust.Li Rong begged a civet cat from nowhere and kept it in the courtyard.She often ran around chasing the cat, Madam Cao tried to stop it, but Su Yan said, "Let her play, it's good for her health to move around more."

Li Rong's disease was brought from his mother's womb. According to the doctor, the problem lies in the heart and lungs, which can only be cured by rest.Su Yan didn't ask her why she was married to him by her family, afraid that Li Rong would think too much, so she relied on her for most things.Once Li Rong got to know him well, he was no longer afraid of strangers, and occasionally he took the initiative to tell him about the affairs of the mansion.

This is obviously a very comfortable New Year's Eve, but Su Yan is always flustered. He panics for no reason, and feels that something big is going to happen.

After the resumption of the court meeting after the fifteenth day, Xiao Yan had just finished teasing His Royal Highness the Seventh Highness, and was in a good mood, ready to leave the court if there was nothing to do, but Da Sikong made a note that shocked the entire Taiji Hall.

Huyantu repeated his old trick, gathered a large army to camp outside Yanmen Pass, and could attack at any time.

Yanmen Pass is located in the north, and because the Turkic Royal Court is closer to Yunmen Pass, there are no elite soldiers stationed there, and the arable farmland around it is really limited, and even the population is very sparse.It's just that Yanmen Pass is the northern gate of Nanliang. Once it is breached, the Turkic army can drive south and attack Jinyang and Tongguan, and take the old capital and Luoyang.If things come to pass, many states and counties north of the Yangtze River will be in the possession of the Turks!

The humiliation of being threatened to rule across the river in those years... is vivid in my memory.

After receiving the order, Su Zhi rushed to the Nanyuan Camp to enlist troops, and was about to set off immediately.Su Yan thought that he would not bring him, but he heard his name when counting soldiers.

"Shen Chengjun led three hundred cavalry guards to accompany him, and Zhang Li stayed behind in North Xuzhou. If there is any change, he will send a message to the important soldiers of Yingzhou County to support him at any time... And Su Yan, Su Yan, you, follow the army." After Su Zhi finished speaking, he sent the battle report Yihe, after handing it over to Shen Chengjun, glanced at Su Yan again, and said, "Let's go tomorrow."

After he gave his order, the others went about their business.Su Yan froze on the spot, kept silent, and it took a lot of effort to make his excitement not so obvious.

It was the first time that Su Zhi agreed with him to go out with the army, but he didn't understand the dangers of the battlefield, and at an age where he had never seen blood, he only vaguely expected that from now on, he would complete his mission.

How slow can one night be, Su Yan felt as if he had a few upside-down dreams.He saw mourners everywhere, wasteland with white bones, and gold and iron horses overwhelming the sky. He also heard Jiangnan minor tunes and lotus pickers singing on the Huaxi River. In his dream, he went through the whole spring, summer, autumn and winter. In spring, Su Yan woke up suddenly.

He didn't know what was going on with him, but he dreamed of Xiao Qichen.

Once awake, it is impossible to fall asleep again.Su Yan got up lightly, afraid of waking Li Rong up, took his clothes and went out of the east wing to change.He checked his saber and longbow, the Bihai sword was as sharp as ever, and his bag was full of feathered arrows.

Su Yan packed these up and took out a purse from his arms.

The night before going to bed, Li Rong saw the purse and thought it was given by a girl from the past. After asking a few questions, Su Yan was absent-minded, so he told the truth: "I have been wearing it since I was a child, and it was not given by a girl."

For a long time, it has become a habit on Su Yan's body. It is always close to the body, and it is still filled with tranquilizing medicine.Su Yan occasionally had the illusion that this was something he had brought up since he was a child. Only when he looked carefully at the white crane's stitches did he realize that it was a relic of Xiao Qichen's biological mother and was given to him by him.

Thinking of this, Su Yan suddenly opened the cabinet in the study, and took out a small box from the innermost part.He took a deep breath, opened it, and there were two round stones, one black and one white, lying quietly inside.

Su Yan held the two stones in the palm of his hand, carefully recalled Xiao Qichen's strange smile in his dream, and finally put them into his purse together, otherwise he would never feel at ease.

He left two letters for Li Rong, one for her, and one for her to find a way to pass on to Xie Hui. There were some insignificant ramblings in it, just thinking that Xie Hui would tell Xiao Qichen after reading it.

Everything was ready, and the east was pale.Su Yan looked back at the apricot tree in the courtyard, and bent the corners of his lips towards it: "It's not easy to keep you blooming this year."

The army went out to fight, but no one sent them off.

Sitting on the horse, Su Zhi suddenly turned his head to Su Yan and said, "The balance in court is not in our favor, and His Majesty's attitude needs to be guessed. From now on, this is the norm, you have to get used to it."

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