bluestone

At sunset, the soldiers came back one after another, and the prey was also brought back.

After dark, the torches were lit, illuminating everything around them.

The participants were all assembled, and then Lao Wei counted the number of prey in each team one by one under the expectant eyes of everyone.

"Squad Hou Qi, eight pheasants, five hares."

"Squad Niu Ping, two pheasants, ten hares."

……

"Young General Han and Young Master Qing, ten pheasants, ten hares, and one deer."

Following his voice, everyone saw that there was not much difference in the number of hills, but it was obviously twice as high. The pheasants and hares were killed with one arrow, only the deer had two arrows stuck in it, one from the left and the other from the right. The two sides pierced through the throat, and it was obvious that it was not shot by one person, but by two people from different directions.

Now, they realized that this young man, who doesn't look very strong, is actually not inferior to his boss in archery, so the boss was so confident in the beginning.

"I'm sorry, it seems that I won again this time. It's too early for you to win me." Han Tuo sighed with regret.

Oh, shit, I was tricked by the boss again~

When the soldiers heard what he said, they kept cursing in their hearts.

Han Tuo and Qing Ming left first under the eyes of everyone's anger, and the rest of the group transported the prey they had hunted back to the Zhenxi Army camp to reward the soldiers.

on the way back

"You're so provocative, you're not afraid of them jumping over and beating you up!" Qing Ming recalled Han Tuo's childish embarrassment just now, and said contemptuously.

"When I won the first time back then, they planned to beat me up, but they were not as skilled as others, so I beat them to the ground. Since then, I have a 'bad reputation', and they have no choice but to be angry. Dare to speak." After speaking, thinking of their repressed and resentful expressions, he burst out laughing.

"You are courageous enough, and you are not afraid of making people angry!" Qing Ming laughed a little.

"I was outraged just now. On the surface, I didn't hit me, but in my heart, I might have scolded me hundreds of times!"

"You do have self-knowledge."

"I not only have self-knowledge, but also the knowledge of being an educated youth." Han Tuo looked at Qingming proudly, "I knew from the very beginning that you, Qingming, would never let me down."

Seeing his determined expression, Qingming's eyes flickered, and he turned his head, "Let's go, I've been tired all day, I want to go back and have a good rest!"

After speaking, he waved his whip, speeded up, and galloped away.

Seeing this, Han Tuo also chased after him.

Under the moonlight, on the spacious official road, the figures of two people intertwined, gradually disappearing into the increasingly hazy night, like two parallel lines getting more and more entangled, and it is no longer possible to sort out who is who...

As the days went by, I thought that Qingming should leave Xishan City, but in the end, he had no intention of leaving for a long time, until there were still ten days before the New Year.

"Young brother, don't you need to go home for the New Year?" Han Tuo couldn't help but asked tentatively.

"You don't have to ask so cautiously. I wasn't kicked out by my family. It's just that I can't go back temporarily for some reason. After a while, when the time is up, I will naturally go back." Qing Ming said calmly, without showing the slightest bit of disappointment. The shame of being kicked out of your home.

Han Tuo saw that his expression was calm and he did not look sad, so he didn't ask carefully.

But what is the reason for a young man not to go home during the Chinese New Year?Isn’t it normal to have a family reunion during Chinese New Year?

"What about you? Don't you need to go home to accompany Old General Han?" Qing Ming turned his head and asked.

"The old man is not at home. I heard that he was sent out by the emperor. No one can tell what the old man does until it is made public. Of course, I don't know where he went, so there is no one when he returns home. It's better to stay." Here." Han Tuo spread his hands to express his incomprehension, then approached Qingming with a smile on his face, and said with a playful smile, "Besides, if I leave, what will you do? Anyway, I want to invite you over, and the guests haven't left yet , how can I, the master, leave first!"

"Then thank Brother Han for his kindness first." Qing Ming cupped his hands to thank him with a half-smile.

"You're welcome." Han Tuo saluted very seriously.

Qing Ming smiled and shook his head, as if he was amused by his pretending to be deep.

In fact, just three days ago, the senior brother had passed the letter by flying pigeons.

Old General Han was sent by his father to the teacher's house, only to wait for Qingming to go back, and then escort him back to Beijing in March next year.

It will take at least a month to rush back to Mr. Jiangnan's house from here, and besides that, he has to rest and organize his things, that is to say, he has to leave at least two months in advance.

Therefore, he said in his reply letter to his brother: he will go back after the Lantern Festival.

There is less than a month left.

New Year's Eve

Ever since Qingming got up in the morning, he had been hearing the sound of crackling firecrackers. It was very festive and lively, but he didn't want to go out.

Red lanterns have been hung on the eaves, adding a bit of joy to the slightly cold courtyard.

The doors and windows were closed tightly, and the fire in the house was so warm that it was as warm as spring.

Qingming was wearing black hair, leaning on the soft couch, concentrating on reading, with a cold expression, as if today is not New Year's Eve, but an ordinary day.

Obviously, Han Tuo was not there.

In the early morning of two days ago, he went back to the Zhenxi army camp quietly.

According to the housekeeper, as long as he doesn't return to the imperial capital, he will celebrate the new year with the soldiers in the camp.

Probably this year will be no exception.

After hearing the butler's answer, Qing Ming thanked him with a smile, not a trace of displeasure.

Only when he was the only one left in the room, did the smile disappear. Looking at the empty yard, there was infinite loneliness and emptiness in my heart.

It's cold.

It was the only feeling he had at the time.

From the day Han Tuo left the General's Mansion to today, for three whole days, Qing Ming hadn't stepped out of the courtyard.

Subconsciously, he didn't want Han Tuo to come back and find him.

It's just that he can't seem to wait.

Qingming watched the bright red sun gradually set outside, sighed, and closed the pages of the book.

It's better to go out for a walk, if he really doesn't come back tonight, wouldn't it be a pity for the beautiful New Year's Eve in Xishan City!

He got up, tied his hair and dressed, tidied up his appearance, opened the door, and walked out.

As soon as he left the yard, he saw the housekeeper coming towards him.

"Young Master Qing, are you going out?"

"Well, it's so lively outside, it would be a pity not to take a look."

"Aren't you waiting for the major general to come with you?" the housekeeper asked in surprise.

"Huh?" Qing Ming looked at the housekeeper in confusion.

"Hey~ Look at my broken memory!" The butler slapped himself on the forehead, "Young Master Qing, the Major General left a special message before he left, saying that he would come back today to watch the New Year with you, and asked you to wait for him to celebrate the New Year together." Yes, but I forgot about it in the past two days, and then I remembered... Fortunately, I remembered, otherwise the major general came back and saw that you were not there, and the old slave really didn't know how to explain it!" The old housekeeper apologized repeatedly.

Qing Ming helped him up, and said gently: "Housekeeper, you don't need to apologize, it's not a big deal, I'll stay alone, it's better to go out for a walk."

After finishing speaking, he bypassed the butler and walked out the door.

"Then what if the major general can't find you when he comes back?" the butler chased after him and asked.

"Let's talk about it then."

This time, he directly performed lightness kung fu, tapped his toes, and his figure disappeared.

The housekeeper couldn't catch up with him, so he sighed and left.

It got completely dark.

But at this time, the streets of Xishan City were brightly lit.

All kinds of small businesses and hawkers spread out from the end of the street all the way to the end of the whole street. People in twos and threes walk together and linger in various stalls.

Qingming walked alone on the street, not too noticeable, although from time to time some people were surprised that such an outstanding young man wandered around the market alone on the night of New Year's Eve, but it was only for a glance, nothing happened. Pay more attention to him, at least not as exaggerated as before.

In the past six months, Qingming wandered the streets more than once, most of the time with Han Tuo by his side, tonight really made him not used to it.

Seeing something interesting, there is no one to talk to.

When he subconsciously looked around again, but found that someone was not around, he became annoyed.

What do you always think of him?

A little angry, he left the vendor and walked into a restaurant.

As Xiao Er went up to the second floor, a group of people came out of the box just in time. Qing Ming didn't pay much attention, and was stopped when he was about to go around.

"Master Qing~"

Qing Ming smiled and followed the sound, "Miss Guo, what a coincidence, I didn't expect to see you here!"

"It's a coincidence," Guo Xiaoxiao smiled politely, she looked a little more calm and melancholy than when she first met, after all, she is someone who has experienced love.

"Looking at Miss Guo's appearance, she should have fully recovered." Qing Ming pointed out.

"The injury is healed, and scars are inevitable." Guo Xiaoxiao said calmly.

"It's okay to stay, at least it can remind you to take care of yourself and don't get hurt easily."

"That's true." Guo Xiaoxiao smiled reassuringly, "Speaking of which, why is Mr. Qing alone?"

"I heard that I went to the military camp. I don't know when I will come back, so I came out alone."

"That's it~ It's a pity, if it wasn't because I want to be with my family, I would definitely accompany Mr. Qing," Guo Xiaoxiao apologized, "It's funny to say, when Mr. Qing first came, I said that I would accompany you to visit the Western Hills As for the city, I still missed the appointment after all, I'm really sorry."

"It doesn't matter, Ms. Guo doesn't have to worry about it. It was thanks to Ms. Guo that Qingming was able to have such a fun time in Xishan City when he first came here."

Guo Xiaoxiao saw that his expression was sincere and he was not being polite, so she accepted it, and then she blinked playfully, "Well, Young Master Qing must have enjoyed watching the play very much at that time!"

Qingming gently shook the paper fan, smiled lightly and said nothing.

"It's getting late, I won't delay Mr. Qing for dinner," Guo Xiaoxiao was about to leave, but suddenly remembered something and asked, "How long will Mr. Qing stay here?"

"I'm leaving after the Lantern Festival."

"So fast~" Guo Xiaoxiao was stunned for a moment, and immediately returned to normal, "Then today is the last time we meet, so fast~"

His black eyes flickered lightly, but he didn't speak.

"Then let's say goodbye today, and Xiaoxiao will not go out of the city to see you off on the day Young Master Qing leaves." She clasped her hands together, "So, I wish Young Master Qing a smooth journey."

"Take good advice from Miss Guo, take care." He also saluted back.

After that, Guo Xiaoxiao went back with her family.

Qingming asked for a private room, ordered a few dishes and a jug of wine, and poured and drank by himself without being disturbed by anyone.

He didn't know that during this period of time, that person had already returned to the General's Mansion. Hearing that he was not there, he left the General's Mansion again, and now he was anxiously looking for him on the street.