I see the snow

Yin Zhichuan sat alone in the room, and Ji Wuhen had already gone out.

The warm sunset came in from the window and fell on the foot of his bed, casting a slanting light and shadow.

The window paper is very thin, and it looks even more frivolous under the orange-red sunset.

This is a very peaceful scene, Yin Zhichuan watched the floating dust, and did not speak quietly.

He recalled everything that happened with Xi Huai since the first meeting till now:

It turns out that he is really a fool, ignoring so many clear clues, only going his own way and falling in love with Xi Huai almost paranoidly.

Xi Huai has never been a meticulous worker, he clearly said it so clearly, and the alienation in his eyes was so unconcealed, but Yin Zhichuan just couldn't see it.

He only saw Xi Huai's gloomy and melancholy appearance, and his unexplained hatred for Sheng Yang, and felt that he, like himself, was a defector of this era.

So I can't wait to lean on it.

But he didn't expect that his hatred was not only for Sheng Yang, but also for Yin Zhichuan.

Before leaving, Ji Wuhen took out a small box from her bosom, and put it into the glazed cover that held the purse.

There were two crickets in the small box. They were very noisy at first, but after entering the glass cover, they quieted down within the time of a cup of tea.

Yinzhichuan glanced down, and saw that the two crickets were lying there with stiff legs and feet, motionless.

He reluctantly stood up, and lightly scratched the dead insect's belly with a knife.

I saw that the dead worm looked intact on the outside, but the internal organs had melted into a pool of blood.

——This is the ending that Xi Huai arranged for him.

It turned out that this was the ending that the person he loved hoped he could get.

Yinzhichuan thought about it blankly, and then smiled suddenly.

After the initial dizzy stress response, Yinzhichuan has calmed down a lot now.

But calmness sometimes does not mean that the heart is calm, but it is more likely to be barren.

——"In the next life, you remember to come to me too. But earlier, I will die with you and die together."

——"Don't forget, I'm happy with you. No matter what happens...don't forget."

——"From today, Yinzhichuan, I will like you instead."

These words echoed in his ears, Yin Zhichuan wanted to see Xi Huai again for a moment, and asked him face to face:

These words are all yours.But is it not counted now?

I would also like to ask him: ... Is the reason why you left me also because of "retiring after success".I'm already poisoned, so there's no point in staying any longer?

Are you so sure I'm going to die and don't want to be around me any longer that you don't even want to see me die?

Yin Zhichuan pressed his forehead with a headache, and gasped with difficulty.

The panting sounded like a dying and seriously injured trapped animal, its heart was so sad that it couldn't sob and whimper.Just being dryly choked in my heart, like a choke in my throat, barely panting, makes the listener feel sad.

"You have to get that little boy back."

At some point, Ji Wuhen came back again.He leaned against the door frame, leaning his body, folded his arms, and said, "Although he may not have an antidote in his hands, if he is caught, he may be able to exchange the antidote from the people of Shangjing."

Yin Zhichuan nodded.

But he wasn't thinking about detoxification, but a voice in his heart kept repeating:

He wants to see him again.

He must see him again.

You have to ask him personally, have you really never liked me?Not once?

All the words in the past were lies. From the moment you came to me, was it just to make me die?

……

The weather was gloomy, and it was raining heavily outside the house.

It always rains a lot in Shengyang this season. When October and November alternate, after a few rains, it will be winter.

It's just that at this time, the Lin Mansion always burns fine charcoal, which is dug out from the Yindai Forest in the east, and it is a special offering just like the Diemeng Jade used for national sacrifices.

There is no smoke when it burns, and there is a faint sweet fragrance. Just a small piece can warm up the whole room.

It is not at all the same as the prison where Lin Kun is staying at this time.

"Next move, please." Yu Xi said exclusively.

Through the wet fence, a hand stretched out from the cell next door, and touched a bunch of withered grass on the chessboard drawn on the ground.

It was a tall man with hunched broad shoulders, who was sent in a few days ago.He is being held in the cell on Lin Kun's left side.

The rain fell continuously and unstoppably, with a few strands drifting in vaguely.

There is a very high skylight in this prison, and it is rare for a few rays of sunlight to shine in on weekdays. Now it is raining, but because of the low terrain of the prison, the skylight is almost flush with the gutter, and no less than raindrops drift in.

Lin Kun's expression was calm, and he only glanced at the chessboard briefly, and dropped the gravel that was used as a chess piece.

His mind is not entirely on this game of chess, and this chess friend who plays chess with him is not good at playing chess.

——Since playing against Lin Kun, Hou Shang has not won a game.Lin Kun has no doubt that even if he plays chess with this chess friend with his eyes closed, he will win.

——Hou Shang doesn't know how to play chess at all.

"I lost again."

Sure enough, after Lin Kun made the chess piece, Hou Shang looked at it thoughtfully for a while, then dropped the chess piece again and surrendered.

He has already lost dozens of games, and he is almost running out of fake chess pieces rubbed with straw.

Hou Shang smiled wryly, but Lin Kun didn't care. He just glanced at him and said, "It's okay."

"Come again."

They were perhaps the strangest people in this cell.

One is a son of an aristocratic family who has been imprisoned for several months. From being a handsome man like jade to being a prisoner today, his life is about to die, but Lin Kun is at ease, showing no trace of sadness;

The other is the grave keeper who committed heinous crimes, stealing money from the corpse and hiding relief money, any of which can make him sentenced to Ling Chi.Hou Shang, however, drank, ate, and slept soundly every day, as if he was here not in a prison, but to cultivate his health.

"It's been raining for the past few days, and it's getting a little wet."

While tidying up the chess pieces, Hou Shang rubbed away a black reptile with his feet, and said with a smile: "But it's still much better than the shack I used to live in. ——At least this prison won't be flooded by the rain, right? …Little son, I saw that a few days ago, a prison guard sent you a blanket, but you didn’t want it. Why do you have to embarrass yourself like this? I can clearly see that you have been suffering from day tides these days, and your spine and waist hurt so much that you can’t sleep at night. Sleep."

Lin Kun froze for a moment, as if he didn't expect Hou Shang to notice these subtleties.

After a moment of silence, he whispered, "It's okay."

Hou still doesn't know Lin Kun's identity, but from his demeanor and conversation, he guesses that Lin Kun may have an extraordinary identity.

And what he couldn't even guess was that the reason why the prison guards respected Lin Kun was not only because he was a son of a prominent family, but also because Li Sinian, who was the governor of the Royal Palace, had greeted Di Prison.

The reason why Lin Kun is unwilling to accept preferential treatment is also here: he is such a delicate and transparent person, and he has long seen that the situation in the DPRK and China has changed, and his own situation may not be as insignificant as Li Sinian described.He might soon become a victim for Shen Yan to quell the anger of the people, so Li Sinian could no longer be involved.

"I was also exposed to heavy rain when I was a child."

After a while, Lin Kun was silent, looking at the rain outside the window and said in a low voice.

"Oh?"

Hou Shang raised his eyebrows, and asked unexpectedly: "Unexpectedly, with such a pampered status as the young master, he would also be exposed to the rain."

"Yes."

Lin Kun smiled lightly: "I was playful when I was a child, and I raised a puppy."

The puppy came second, but today's rain was too heavy. Listening to the crackling rain reminded Lin Kun of some distant past.

It was about four or five years old when Lin Kun received a birthday present—a puppy.

Different from the way most aristocratic families raise their children, the education Lin Kun received from an early age was quite strict: not only did he have to play handboards if he failed to memorize the Four Books and Five Classics, but he was rarely allowed to go out and play with his peers.

All the companionship he could get was from that puppy.

But one day, the puppy ran away.

"It rained a lot that day too. Just like today."

Lin Kun smiled and said in a low voice.

It is self-evident that his beloved puppy is lost, and his anxiety is self-evident. Lin Kun and his servants all dispatched to search from street to door.

Finally found the dark alley.

They were a few refugees, very hungry, and had no money at hand. Seeing that Lin Kun's puppy had come out with tender skin and tender meat, they were moved.

Seeing the bloody fur of the puppy thrown by the ditch, and the rusty iron pot still simmering broth, the young Lin Kun burst into tears.

He soaked his clothes and soiled his shoes in order to find his lost partner, but only saw a pool of dirty blood.

The servants of Taifu's mansion also panicked, they had never seen Lin Kun cry, even the young boy who was beaten by the old master bit his lip, tears swirled in his eyes and turned his face away.

Immediately rushed towards this group of people, intending to tie them up and turn them over to the government.

But in the process of doing it, bumps and bumps are inevitable, and soon the group of refugees were knocked down to the ground, their noses and faces swollen so that they were beaten unilaterally.

There was also a little girl next to him, probably a child of refugees, holding a dirty bowl with a few dog bones left at the bottom, she stared blankly at Lin Kun for a few seconds, then suddenly burst into tears, saying:

"Stop beating, stop beating!...Daddy gave me all the meat, the nobleman will catch me and make soup!"

It was the first time in Lin Kun's life that he heard someone call himself a "big nobleman".

He looked at the wailing child and the refugee who was lying on the ground in front of him and was beaten, and finally his eyes stopped on a mass of dirty and bloody dog ​​skin, as if he had been frightened by something, he was silent for two seconds, and suddenly bent over and vomited.

It's just a trivial matter.It should have quickly disappeared from Lin Kun's memory.

But for some reason, Lin Kun always remembered it.

"The servants in the mansion later told me that the man who stole the dog was a farmer from the countryside. He was originally a helper at a dock, but because the leader of the helper took a fancy to his wife, he took his wife away. It didn't take long , his wife couldn't bear the humiliation, so she jumped into the river, and his leg was broken, and he was kicked out from the pier. He became a refugee."

After a moment of silence, Lin Kun said in a low voice: "Since then, I have been thinking about who is at fault in this matter."

Hou Shang was stunned.

"Was it the dock boss who robbed the man's wife?"

Lin Kun continued: "It seems so. If it weren't for him, the man wouldn't be a homeless man, and he wouldn't steal my dog ​​because he has no way out. But, am I right?"

Hou Shang was taken aback.

"Our Lin family has been officials for generations, and as a leader in the court, we have failed to do our best for the people."

Lin Kun lowered his eyes: "Such lawless bullying can happen under the king's nose....Maybe, I am also at fault."

Hou Shang was speechless for a while.

"What do you think the capital of Hoshino is like?"

Without going any further, Lin Kun changed the subject and greeted Shangdao.

"The pavilions are connected with clouds, and you can live and work in peace and contentment."

Hou Shang sighed and said in a hoarse voice.

"Me too."

Lin Kun smiled softly. "But then I realized that this place is just a place to eat people, with black clouds and no sun."

The rain was still falling outside the house. In the silence, there was a sudden thunder, and the water in the ditch swirled downward.

The heavy rain stirred up a layer of white mist on the ground.

"Today's Hoshino City is even more chaotic."

After a long time, Hou Shang whispered.

"When I came in, everyone was smashing the temple of Guanxing Pavilion and smearing the portrait of the young master Chu Yuan. They thought that Guanxing Pavilion offended Qin Tianjian, which aroused the wrath of the gods and sent down the punishment of poisonous patients. You must burn the people in Guanxing Pavilion to make atonement in order to obtain the forgiveness of the gods."

The man leaned his back against the cold stone wall, raised his head, and said hoarsely: "If someone says something good about Guanxing Pavilion, then burn his house, kill his wife and children, even if he is forced to hang himself No one will say a soft word... Even if this person is suffering from poisoning, has he donated herbs to the homeless and boiled soup for the homeless."

"People are always like this... After staying in the chaos and obscurity for a long time, they will gradually lose their direction."

Hou Shang said: "I don't know which forces are treating us well and which forces are treating us badly. I only know that ordinary people's lives have been miserable. This so-called ancient capital of thousands of years is nothing but a demon. Where it's rampant."

"When I was young, I read books. My husband said that the mountains of books are vast, but if one day, I read the word 'Kuanren' from the book, I will really understand it." [*Note 1]

Lin Kun said: "Now that I have been in the world for more than [-] years, I finally understand that if one day I know the word 'save the world', I will really understand it.... No matter what kind of world it is."

While the two were talking, another game of chess had already been played.

Looking at the straw balls and gravel on the ground, Hou Shang gave a wry smile and said, "I lost again."

Lin Kun smiled slightly, "It's okay."

"...It's just that this time we have to wait for a while before we can play the second round." He said, "Si Nian, thank you for waiting for a long time."

At this time, a young man came out of the shadows. He was wearing a brocade robe embroidered with silver lynx, with a slightly curved knife hanging on his waist.With handsome eyebrows and eyes, standing under the moonlight, he looks like a gentle statue.

He looked at Lin Kun, smiled softly and said, "Zifeng, I brought you rose-stuffed bamboo shoots and Liuxinhuahua cake."

Li Sinian originally came with good news.

He wanted to tell Lin Kun that Yinzhichuan had found the whereabouts of another part of the money for him.

"Among some of the female corpses in a cemetery."

Li Sinian said: "Although it has not been confirmed who hid in there, it is certain that Zhu Shifeng, Mo Bihuan and other aristocratic families are inseparable. Those women... are all women who were chosen as the bride of the River God."

"Oh."

Lin Kun said softly, but he was not very happy.

"Zifeng, although this matter has not yet been determined, at least it can clear your suspicion."

Li Sinian smiled slightly and said, "Anyway, you won't have anything to do with the bride selected by Qin Tianjian, will you?...I said earlier that this matter must be plotted against you by Mo Bihuan's henchmen..."

There was obvious joy and relief in his voice. Lin Kun listened, but hesitated for a moment, and asked:

"Have you already presented it to His Majesty?"

"Not yet."

Li Sinian said, "Zhi Chuan found out about this matter, and he recently... had some accidents."

"Oh."

Linku nodded, and said with a sigh of relief, "That's good."

"……What good?"

Li Sinian couldn't understand the meaning behind his words, so he smiled and asked: "Zhenfeng, sometimes I really don't understand you...I think, the sooner such a thing is reported to the Holy One, the better? Release it."

Then you also need to know the Sacred Heart.

Lin Kun slightly bent the corners of his lips, but did not speak out what was in his heart.

When he was taken into custody, Lin Kun had already expected that Shen Yan's intention was to use him to protect the entire Guanxing Pavilion and the civil service team.

He always needs someone as a weight in exchange for Qin Tianjian's renewed support; just like people sometimes don't need the truth, they just need an outlet to vent their anger.

They wanted a target, and everyone said it was a bad guy, so they threw the rotten leaves and rotten eggs in their hands.Swear a few words severely, or crush his bones, so as to relieve the pain and comfort of the deceased relatives.

Seven years ago, the target was the Zhen Guogong Mansion; seven years later, it will finally be Lin Kun's turn.

...But, it doesn't matter.

Lin Kun thought, he accepts such an ending calmly, and has already made corresponding preparations.

"Si Nian, I think of it, when we first met, it seemed to be the winter 13 years ago."

For a long time, Lin Kun said softly.

A little bit of soft light leaked in through the skylight, the rain stopped for a while, and the moon emerged from behind the dark clouds.

Li Sinian looked at Lin Kun's face under the moonlight, his eyes and the dark light had a gentle meaning, "Yeah."

He said, "Unknowingly, it's been so long."

"It's great to meet you."

Lin Kun said in a low voice.

His neck was wrapped in a loose prison uniform, and from the side silhouette, there was an indescribable sense of fragility.

Li Sinian stared at that slender neck, and after a long time, he curled his lips and said:

"Actually, there is a saying... Zhenfeng, I have wanted to tell you for a long time."

"Huh? What."

"I became an official for you."

The royal palace governor stretched his brows as resolute as a folded front, and said: "Without you, I might still be the idiot from the Li family. Standing alone in the snow, I don't know how to resist when I am punished or beaten. But because of you... let me understand that there are some people in this world who don't dislike me and are willing to stand with me.... Over the years, I have tried my best to go up, but I just want to stand shoulder to shoulder with you That's all. I want people to think of you when they mention me, "

"Pillow wind."

He solemnly said: "My allegiance has never been to the King Quan, but to you."

He slowly put his arms around Lin Kun's thin shoulders, and put his chin into the socket of his shoulders.

Li Sinian hugged Lin Kun neck to neck, silently thinking in his heart: That's great, now I'm the one who can protect this frail body.Regardless of the cost, he will go through fire and water... to cover up all the wind and rain for this person he has looked up to since childhood.

"I'll pick you up soon."

Li Sinian said in a dull voice.

"Long time no see."

Lin Kun sighed silently in his heart, and patted the solid and hot body of the person in his arms.Said softly: "Don't say that these things are not good enough."

The two hugged quietly under the moonlight, probably because of the rain, the moonlight this night was clearer and clearer than usual.

It looked a little cold when it shone on them.

After a long time, Li Sinian got up and said, "I should go. I'll see you next time."

Lin Kun nodded.

It was only when he reached the door of the cell that Li Sinian suddenly noticed that Lin Kun was looking at him.

He stared at his back quietly, and only smiled when he saw Li Sinian turned his head back.

"See you next time."

Li Sinian said.

"Ah."

After Lin Kun said goodbye again, he looked away and stopped looking at him.

Li Sinian walked out as usual, but he didn't expect that this was the last hug between them.

……

Xi Huai walked in the rain.

As Yin Zhichuan expected, he did not leave the city immediately.

He saw Yinzhichuan guarding the city gate on the city wall, so he kept looking at him.

It wasn't until Yin Zhichuan vomited blood and fainted and was sent back to the mansion by his servants that he breathed a sigh of relief and retreated from the city.

——Xi Huai didn't know about the dream grass in his purse, and because he was too far away, he didn't see the blood on his clothes.

He only thought that Yinzhichuan passed out suddenly because he was drenched in the rain and did not eat.

He looked at Yinzhichuan carefully for a long time, and then he felt that he had already put this person's appearance in his mind, and he would never forget it for the rest of his life, so he left slowly.

Xihuai can't leave yet.

Before leaving, Huacishu once said to him this sentence: "Do you think that if you don't attack him, he will live?"

Xihuai didn't turn against him because of this sentence, but he understood that Huacishu's words were true.

Now that the situation in the capital of stars and wilds is changing, Lin Kun is already in prison, and Yin Zhichuan, who also participated in the abolition of Qin Tianjian, cannot be safe and sound like this.

Not to mention that Huacishu has already entered Beijing, behind him not only represents Shangjing, but also has Yan Qi who has always been in close contact with Sheng Yang.

Jieshi Huacishu and Gu Xue both joined forces, Chu Yuan was restrained in the deep palace, and two of the three of the "Five Ministers of the Bright Moon" were against Yin Zhichuan.

Yinzhichuan's situation is too dangerous.

Therefore, in this capital of stars and fields that is about to become chaotic, Xihuai will finally do a few things for Yinzhichuan.As Yin Zhichuan gave him a sincere reward.

...whether he appreciates it or not.