Looking at the mountains and rivers

The imperial mausoleum was empty, without a single person. Wei Changxuan walked in in the howling autumn wind, every step seemed to be stepping into an abyss.He didn't know why, and he always felt that this was a dream, or just a malicious joke.

There was a white banner outside the door of the house, and the imperial envoys who ordered death would bring such a white banner, and it was inserted outside the door, which meant that the whole body was bestowed, and the emperor's grace was mighty.Wei Changxuan stared at the white spot, as if he saw an evil spirit. His dry voice suddenly let out a cry: "Daddy!"

The bamboo door could barely withstand his impact, and it opened precariously. There was a person sitting inside the room, it was Tian Wenli.His gray hair was combed very neatly, under the gauze hat, and he was not wearing casual clothes, but the general manager's uniform.Hearing the noise at the door, he barely moved his eyebrows, only raised his eyelids, looked at the person who came in, and said softly: "Xuan'er, you're here."

Wei Changxuan stared at him blankly, then rushed over suddenly, and knocked the celadon wine jug on the yellow silk tray on the table to the ground: "Father, hurry up, I'll take you away." He said it all together, "We can go to Sichuan along Jialing Road. There are few people there, and no one will be able to chase us. Otherwise, we can go to the north, to Huining. I have a friend who can prepare customs clearance documents for us..." He As he said that, he went to pull Tian Wenli, intending to take him away immediately, but he was surprised. Tian Wenli's hand was very cold, like a piece of ice.

"Xuan'er," Tian Wenli lowered his eyes, as if he didn't hear what he said, just sighed, "You've grown taller again."

"Father!" Wei Changxuan realized that something was wrong, he squeezed his adoptive father's hand hard, trying to warm his palm with his own body temperature, but it didn't work at all, his voice changed in anxiety, "Hurry up Come with me."

Tian Wenli raised his other hand. His movements were very slow, like an old man on the verge of death. His hand brushed Wei Changxuan's forehead: "Silly boy, where can I get away?" He smiled with difficulty, but the blood still trickled down the corner of his mouth, "Xuan'er, listen to me, I don't have much time."

His voice was slow and weak: "Once upon a time, I heard from the old man in the palace that although drinking poisonous wine can kill you instantly, as long as you calm down, the poison will not flow to the heart so quickly, and you can suffer for an hour or three quarters longer."

Wei Changxuan's face became extremely pale. He suddenly knelt down and hugged his adoptive father tightly, crying almost shrillly, "Father, why...why did this happen..."

"Don't cry, good boy." Tian Wenli touched the top of his head with his hand, just like when he was a child a long time ago, "People will always die, just like rivers rushing, and eventually all rivers return to the sea. My life, don't be sad..."

Wei Changxuan had never felt so panicked and helpless. He shook his head desperately and cried bitterly: "Father, don't die, don't leave me..."

"I'm actually very worried about you," Tian Wenli's cloudy eyes also slowly shed tears, "Xuan'er, you are a man, and you have many things to do in the future. Don't forget what Dad taught you..."

"I remember." Wei Changxuan nodded in pain, the words that his adoptive father had taught him since he was a child have long been deeply imprinted in his mind, he choked up and said, "A man born in the world should look up and be worthy of the world. "

"That's right... that's it..." Tian Wenli said slowly in relief. The blood gushing out of his mouth was red and black, which was a sign that the toxin had soaked into his lungs. His eyes became dazed, and he finally fell down heavily.

"Father!" Wei Changxuan hugged him with all his strength, and heard the beating in his chest gradually slow down.It was a kind of powerlessness that made people palpitate. He knew that the life of a loved one was passing away, but it was irreversible. He could only watch him weaken a little bit, and finally fell into a deep sleep forever.

There are countless fragments of memories flashing in his mind. At first, in the market in early summer, he was carried by his father on his shoulders. He sat so high, looking at the heads of passers-by on both sides, and felt that he was majestic and mighty.Later in the school, he was ridiculed by other children as "a motherless child" and "a little bastard raised by eunuchs". It was the first time he punched someone, and after being scolded by his master, he still looked at him with disdain. Looking at the boy whose eyes were swollen from his beating.He wanted to say what you idiots know, although I don't have parents, I have the best father in the world.At that time, there was a narrow alley at the entrance of the small courtyard where he lived. At dusk, he would run to the entrance of the alley, waiting for the figure of his father to appear.Dad used to always have a straight back, and he carried a big bag in his hand, which contained Wei Changxuan's favorite snacks.Time is like running water, and in the blink of an eye for more than ten years, the father with a straight waist has bent his body and his hair has turned gray.

Wei Changxuan looked down at the old man in his arms, seeing the blood from his mouth and nose splashing onto the ground drop by drop, the sight almost hurt Wei Changxuan's eye mask.At that moment, he was extremely desperate. He never thought that the person who loved him the most in the world would leave so suddenly, let alone in such a way.He still has a lot to say, the joy and pain in his life, his confusion and hesitation about the way forward, no one will share with him and solve his doubts.

"Xuan'er," the old man in his arms suddenly opened his eyes, his cloudy eyes became brighter, and he was eager to say something, "Do you know, you are very much like your father, like him...upright... …brave……"

Wei Changxuan's mind was buzzing, he almost thought that his adoptive father was unconscious: "Father, what are you talking about, what father?"

Tian Wenli raised his hand and tried to touch Wei Changxuan's face. He murmured, "Son, remember, your original surname is...Cui..." His hand sank suddenly, and the light in his eyes also dissipated. up.

Wei Changxuan felt as if his hands were suddenly empty. He hugged his adoptive father's body tightly with all his strength, and silently opened his mouth wide, but no sound came out.The great pain strangled his throat, and the bloody smell came out from the severe pain in his throat, which made him cry silently in the almost tearing pain.

Those who were ordered to die were collected by special personnel. When people came from the palace, the little eunuch watched Wei Changxuan tremblingly, for fear that this young man's temper would cause trouble with those imperial officials.Fortunately, it didn't. Wei Changxuan sat there with his head down, unable to see the expression on his face clearly. He didn't move until someone lifted Tian Wenli's body away from his hand.

After the people in the palace left with the corpse, the little eunuch slowly came to Wei Changxuan's side, and he sniffled: "Brother Xuan, I know you're feeling uncomfortable, but you have to think about it. If there is something good or bad about being too sad, the spirit in charge will not feel at ease."

He babbled and comforted him for a long time, but Wei Changxuan didn't respond. In the end, he became a little anxious, and leaned into Wei Changxuan's ear and said, "Brother Xuan, you are the only hope for the manager, you can't let it go." I heard that the manager was murdered this time, and I will rely on you to avenge the manager in the future!"

Wei Changxuan finally raised his head slightly, his voice was hoarse and tired: "Who killed my father?"

The little eunuch hesitated, and then became a little scared. He rubbed his hands back and forth, and stammered: "I just heard that I can't do it right..."

Wei Changxuan suddenly pinched his wrist, and there was a "click" between his fingers, and he repeated: "Who killed my father?"

The little inner eunuch almost fainted from the pain, he tremblingly said: "Thank you...Xie Taiwei!"

As soon as these words were said, Wei Changxuan suddenly let go of his fingers, and Wei Changxuan repeated in a low voice: "Captain Xie." He was obviously very unfamiliar with this title, and asked, "Why did he want to kill Dad?"

The little eunuch rubbed his wrists, and said aggrievedly: "I heard that when the late emperor was there, Mr. Xie did some ridiculous things and was reprimanded by the supervisor. He must have held a grudge, so..." After he finished speaking, He hurriedly said again, "Brother Xuan, it's fine if you listen to this, don't do anything reckless, that Lieutenant Xie has all eyes and hands now, we can't afford to provoke him!"

Wei Changxuan looked up at him, his eyes were red, he seemed to be trying his best to suppress some surging emotions, after a long time, he said: "You go out first."

The little eunuch sighed. He watched Wei Changxuan slowly leaning down, resting his head on the bamboo chair very tiredly.It was a bamboo chair that Tian Wenli used to sit on in the past. When Wei Changxuan acted like a baby to him, he would squat beside him and put his head on his knee like this.Thinking of the situation that day, Xiao Neijian felt sour in his heart, and hurriedly retreated.

The sunlight outside the house stung his eyes that were red and swollen from crying. The little eunuch stretched out his hand to cover his eyes, squinted his eyes, and suddenly found a carriage quietly parked in the open space in front of the courtyard, with the logo of Prince Mu's Mansion on the carriage.

The one driving the car was the young steward of the South Court, Fang Ming. He made a silent gesture to the inner warden from a distance, and then beckoned him to come closer.

The little eunuch hurriedly wiped his face with his sleeve, stepped forward and said, "Are you here to urge Brother Xuan to go back?"

Fang Ming shook his head again and again: "My son is worried, so come and have a look."

When the little inner supervisor heard that the fourth son came here in person, he was even more surprised, secretly thinking that there is no reason for the master to come out to find the servant.He hurriedly met the ceremony in front of the car, only to see that the curtain of the car was lifted, and there was indeed the fourth son inside, his eyes were as elegant as water, and he fell on the little eunuch in a trance, only to hear him ask softly: "How is Wei Changxuan?" ?”

"He...isn't very well." The little eunuch lowered his eyes nervously, "The chief is usually very nice to others, but when something like this happens suddenly, it will be difficult for us who serve him, let alone Brother Xuan."

He saw that the young master cared for Wei Changxuan very much, and he didn't seem to be cheating, so he couldn't help but continued: "Brother Xuan is not the chief's own son, but their father and son have a very deep relationship, and they are by no means inferior to any real son in this world. Father and son." When he said this, tears fell unconsciously in his eyes, "I saw brother Xuan's sad appearance, like a helpless child."

After hearing this, Fang Ming hurriedly said, "My lord, should we go in and see Brother Wei?"

"No need," Yang Yan shook his head lightly, "I heard that after a person dies, the living soul will linger in the place where he lives for half a day. Let's not disturb him, let him and his son stay quietly for a while."

"But," Fang Ming became a little anxious, "He is so sad, why don't you go and comfort him, my lord?"

Yang Yan raised his face, his expression was a little sad, and he sighed softly: "Fang Ming, you have never experienced the pain of the death of a loved one. You don't know this kind of grief. It's heart-wrenching. How can it be relieved by the comfort of others."

Fang Ming was stunned: "Then, are you waiting here, young master?"

Yang Yan nodded lightly, and he walked out of the carriage slowly. The autumn wind picked up his cloak, showing his thin figure even more.

Fang Ming heard his voice coming from the wind: "I'll wait for him here, when he comes out, we'll go back together."

On the eighth day of September, the South Courtyard of Prince Mu's Mansion.

Every year, the recruits recruited by Habayashi Guard go to Beiya Mansion Guard to change their military status around the tenth day of September, and then they will be stationed in the Forbidden Army Camp, subject to the regulations of the Forbidden Army.

In the corner of the wall courtyard, Wei Changxuan picked up water and poured it on a flat stone. He lowered his head, and a strand of hair fell to his forehead, but he didn't bother to brush it away. long knife.It was a long knife with a dull color. It was polished by bluestone, and it gradually showed a clear light. The blade broke out after repeated sharpening, and the blade gradually became sharper. He poured another pot of water, The sharpness of the blade became more dazzling.He straightened up, wiped off the water stains on the knife with a soft cloth, and inserted it into the scabbard forcefully.

Fang Ming sat on the steps far away and looked at his back, feeling a little inexplicably worried.Since the death of his adoptive father, he seemed to have grown from a boy to a man overnight, becoming cold and silent.It stands to reason that this is not a bad thing, but Fang Ming could see that he was full of thoughts, but he refused to utter a single word.

After finishing sharpening the long knife, Wei Changxuan picked up a pair of luggage from the house and carried it behind his back. Realizing that he was about to leave, Fang Ming hurried forward to stop him in a panic and said, "Brother Wei, you are leaving in such a hurry!" Why, there are still ten days before Habayashi's report period, you might as well rest in the mansion for a few more days before going."

Wei Changxuan didn't answer, but shook his head. When he walked outside Yang Yan's house, his footsteps paused, as if he was about to knock on the door. Before he raised his hand, the door was already opened from the inside.

Yang Yan's voice came from inside the room: "Wei Changxuan, come in and talk."