I see the snow

The end of the year is approaching.

The Goddess River outside the city has been frozen over, and when I wake up in the morning, there are white frost flowers on the windows.

The long bridge and the pine trees at the bridgehead were covered with snow, and the quiet street was empty and quiet, except for the copper bells on the lintel, tinkling in the wind.

If it was previous years, the city would be very lively.

The aristocrats of the aristocratic families festooned in front of the gate, and the officials spread porridge in front of the gate. The sound of exploding firecrackers could be heard all over the streets, accompanied by the cheers of children.

The ladies climbed up the tall building to watch, and the dandies passed by laughing and laughing together, all dressed in the brightest new clothes, laughing and playing, waiting for the arrival of January.

But this year, the capital of the stars and fields seems to be dead, there is no joyful atmosphere of the approaching festival, and the entire royal city is filled with a depressing and stagnant atmosphere that is about to storm.

——There is no other reason. After the poisoning, the military newspapers from the north are also more frustrating than the other.

Gu Xuedu of Yanqi has already reached a place less than nine hundred miles away from Wangcheng.

No one expected that he would come so soon. Although they had already heard of the reputation of "Gongzi Shunhua", but in the north guarded by the Yin clan, people felt that Gu Xue was like his fellows on the ice and snow field. The "living corpses" are all far away, places that seem to be out of reach in this lifetime.

Yan Qi's army that lays out day and night, the army of living corpses that can take down a city without a sound, and the son Shunhua who plays the mournful flute under the moonlight... These usually appear in the mouths of storytellers, or It's the boast of some merchants who have been to Yanqihang Merchant.

Some noble girls once admired the mysterious guest in white: it is said that he wears a string of bells, and there will be a crisp sound of "jingle jingling" wherever he goes.

It was like a harbinger of the arrival of the devil's footsteps.

He, Chu Yuan, Mu Ziling and others are listed as the son of Mingyue, but he is the only one who is unknown until the age of 19.

He was born as a concubine, but by virtue of his own ability and skill, he killed his father and brother, turned his younger brother into a puppet, and stepped up to the throne of the highest position step by step.

Become the actual controller of Yan Qi.

Hearing the name "Gu Xuedu", one would think of those chilling cold-blooded wrists, and cold eyes without a trace of warmth.

Many young girls of the royal family and generals had "treasonous" fantasies that it would be great if Sheng Yang and Yan Qi had a good relationship.

In this way, maybe one day, there will be a chance to see the true face of "Prince Shunhua".

However, these unrealistic ideas were quickly shattered by the news from the military newspaper.

——Because according to the military newspapers on the front line, this "Mr. Shunhua" was as cruel as he was rumored to be, even to the point of cruelty.

All the lost cities of Sheng Yang were almost slaughtered.Either surrender, or kill until the blood flows into rivers.

He allowed his army to run amok with the living corpses, the men were beheaded, and the women raped at will. If it really came to the day when the capital of the stars fell, these noble girls might not have had time to see the true face of son Shunhua. His throat was bitten off by those rotting corpse soldiers under him.

Under such circumstances, everyone was in danger, counting the days in horror. Whenever a fast horse carrying a secret message from the army drove in through the city gate, the people on the street would hide in their homes, hold their breath and leave the city without saying a word. Frost window looking out.

But in such a situation, what the DPRK and China have done is still unsatisfactory.

Shen Yan seemed to be ill, and hid in the bedroom all day long without seeing anyone.

I haven't been to the court for a long time. Whenever there is a military report, it takes a long time to get a response.

People don't know what happened to their king. How could Emperor Chongxin, who was widely known as diligent and open-minded when he ascended the throne, suddenly become so reclusive and doesn't care about government affairs.

Some people say that the kingdom of Shengyang is exhausted, so the gods set up demon barriers to erase their king's consciousness; some people say that Chu Yuan is actually Sheng Yang's light keeper, lost Chu Yuan's protection, and some evil spirits entered the star field capital...

But no matter what, they couldn't imagine that in the cold moonlit night, there would be a depressing and painful low growl from the secret palace.

That was the supreme Son of Heaven, with disheveled hair, holding a knife handle, and fighting with the creator of evil thoughts in his heart with cold sweat on his face.

……

"Ch—ch—"

On an empty and cold winter morning, the servants in the mansion opened the door and went out with a broom in their arms to sweep the snow.

But as the thin vine branches drew dry textures on the ground, they yawned and suddenly found that today's city was different from usual.

There are many foreign refugees lying or leaning on the ground at the gate of the city. They are ragged and dusty, and their faces are full of the panic of the rest of their lives after the catastrophe.Apparently fleeing.

"how……"

A servant tried to ask the people around him: "What's the matter...why are there so many refugees rushing in all of a sudden?"

"do not know."

The other was sleepy, rubbing his cheeks, trying to wake himself up, and answered casually, "Maybe some other city outside has been breached. Hey...there's really no good news recently."

Almost all the servants in Duke Zhen's mansion have been dismissed, and the few remaining are really loyal to the Yin family.

"I heard that the north side lost the battle?... Really, if our old general is still alive, why should he be afraid of him from Yanqi?...It's really suffocating!"

The companion grunted.

"Shh."

The young servant who spoke earlier hastily gestured to silence, lest his words be heard by others, and he would be charged with "reckless talk about the court" or "arrogant self-esteem".

But even though he was gesticulating like this, his face was full of a sneer, and he slightly jokingly said: "Ha, but isn't this the case for everyone?"

"——When we were not fighting, we would be suspicious and humiliating our generals in every possible way. When it was time to use it, we would think of our generals' goodness!...After all, if there is no solid defense of the Yin family, the northern side will be very good to Yan. As far as Qi is concerned, it is as fragile as an egg shell."

"Do you think the major general will go out again?"

The fellow servants were full of worry: "They all said that the reason why the Yin family is the only nemesis of the Yanqi people is because the 'soldiers of the world' have been sealed for generations. If this is true, then we can fight against you in the future. For Shunhua, there is only Seventh Young Master... But, you know about Seventh Young Master's recent situation, I am really worried."

Even though it was never stated explicitly, from Yin Zhichuan's various suggestive actions, most people in the mansion have already understood a fact that does not need to be announced——

At any time, the Zhen Guogong Mansion will lose its last owner and fall into a state of no owner.

Although no one knows the reason, but more than once, the servants in the mansion have heard young hero Ji Wuhen warn their seventh son not to use force or get angry, but to rest.

Under such circumstances, it is obviously unrealistic for Yin Zhichuan to face Yan Qiren again.

Both of them had worried expressions on their faces. At this moment, an old servant who had gone to the market hurried back from the street.

He was still holding a fish in his hand, but his expression was extremely flustered and hurried. The two servants were about to tease him, but the old servant gasped and said, "No, something is wrong... Guanshan County has been breached!!"

Guanshan County was broken.

Hearing this, the expressions of the two cleaning boys at the door changed instantly.

"Guanshan County is not only Sheng Yang's gateway to Shangjing, but also the most important barrier against the Northwest Desert."

After a cup of tea, outside the room with the sliding door open, Yin Zhichuan leaned against the door frame, folded his arms, and his gaze fell quietly and indifferently on the ancient tree in the courtyard.

Behind him is the old servant who brought back the news.

This was really a shocking news, almost immediately, the followers reported the matter to Yinzhichuan.Even because he ran too fast on the way back, the old man was so exhausted that he needed to rest in bed.

"This is really not good."

After a long time, Yin Zhichuan still couldn't help sighing, and admitted: "I'm afraid Shen Yan is going to be in a hurry? Has the news reached the palace?"

"Should have heard of it."

The old servant replied cautiously: "But I don't know why, but I haven't heard a reply until now. According to the pace of the station, they should have sent the message two or three days ago."

Yin Zhichuan remained silent.

The significance of Guanshan County to Shengyang is not just a city, but more like an "armor" facing the northwest.

Its terrain is easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it is quite rich. It is one of the big cities that can be listed as the "Three Pearls" together with "City Close to You" and "Capital of Stars and Fields".Not only did the emperor take out his own private money to provide relief whenever a famine occurred; even every general who guarded Guanshan County was carefully selected by the court.

This shows how important it is.

It is self-evident what the loss of such a city means to Sheng Yang, who has been defeated by the Yanqi people in the north.

"Who is the guardian of Guanshan County?"

Yin Zhichuan recalled a bit, and asked: "I remember... Di Yang? He is a very good soldier. How did he lose in the match against Shangjing?"

"No."

The face of the old servant seemed a little unsure of how to bring it up. After a moment of silence, he replied, "General Di...he betrayed."

"It is said that no one in the county was spared. Probably before rebelling against the enemy, General Di ordered the massacre of the city. Even babies were not spared... In Guanshan County, blood is already flowing like rivers."

Yinzhichuan didn't speak for a while.

It's strange, when he heard that Di Yang rebelled against the enemy, he wanted to ask back, are you sure he is a rebel?Do you know how cruel it is to betray the enemy for a person who used his life to protect the land after his death, but after a pause, he didn't say it.

Perhaps Sheng Yang's country has such magical powers, so that everyone who has sworn to defend him will be charged with "betrayal of the enemy" for various inexplicable reasons.

"Seventh Young Master, I shouldn't have said those words."

Enduring it, the old man looked down at his freckled hands, and still couldn't help saying: "But... Sheng Yang really couldn't stand it any longer. The court didn't know what happened until now, and it has been silent. Even the face of the Holy Majesty is hard to see. Even if you think that this is the territory that the master has guarded in the past... What's more, I think if the master and the other major generals are still alive, they will not sit idly by reason--"

"But they are them and I am me."

Yin Zhichuan interrupted suddenly.

The old man looked at him, and Yin Zhichuan finally turned his head. He turned his body slightly, behind him was the lonely courtyard and the long wind that didn't know where it came from or where it was going.

"I can't protect people who scolded my dead brother and father."

He said it quietly.

"I can't die for them..."

Yin Zhichuan said, and he smiled again: "Bo, and you think too highly of me. How can I have such great ability to save them."

"you are--"

"Sheng Yang was complacent and underestimated the strength of Shangjing and Yanqi."

Yin Zhichuan interrupted: "A moment of arrogance and negligence made it vulnerable to the enemy like an unarmed child. But if it reacts well and is able to deal with the enemy, I don't think there is no chance of winning. Uncle, don't be too aggressive." Too worried."

"..."

"We're all very small."

Yin Zhichuan said tiredly, he lowered his eyelids and looked at the arms he folded, "Actually, there is no need to always want to save this one and that one...often we can't even save ourselves or even the few people around us."

Old servant: "Yu Xi is right"

"You have a good rest."

Yin Zhichuan said: "I won't bother you. Call me again if you need anything."

After he finished speaking, he turned and left, leaving only a back view that made the old man hesitant to speak.

"Are you listening all right standing here?"

When passing the corner, Yin Zhichuan paused for a moment, and said with a half-smile.

That was Xi Huai, and at some point, he also stood not far from the room.

"do not go."

Still a dull, expressionless look.Sometimes Yinzhichuan is really strange, wondering whether this person really hides his thoughts very well, or does he have no heart at all?

"why?"

He intentionally asked Xi Huai in a confrontational manner.

Because the flower tree is already in the capital of the stars.All the arrangements have been completed, just wait for Gu Xuedu to come and cooperate with him, everything will be a foregone conclusion.

Even you, there is no way to fight against the opponent's two "Master Mingyue" in such an unfavorable situation, right?

Xi Huai said in his heart.

But he obviously couldn't tell the news - even if he really told the whole thing, Yin Zhichuan probably wouldn't believe it.

Facing the half-smile face of the person in front of him, he could only bite the corner of his lips slightly, but couldn't say anything.

"Go to Liang Cheng."

Xi Huai can only choose to say.The pupils of his eyes were bottomless, and he couldn't see any expression, but they were very dark.Yinzhichuan heard him say: "Shengyang's destruction is irreversible, you go to the lake house that you bought for me. It's the safest place, you won't be involved in anything—"

"Xi Huai."

However, facing the countermeasures given by the man in white, Yin Zhichuan just looked at him silently.The look in Xi Huai's eyes was almost weird. "Do you think I would want to run for my life and be afraid of death?"

"..."

"not to mention."

Yin Zhichuan sighed, inaudibly: "There... is the wooden house I have ordered for you, how could I accept that I will go there alone in the end?"

He looked at Xi Huai, as if he expected that he would say nothing, he sighed softly, and passed by Xi Huai.

Three days passed in a flash.There are more and more refugees outside the city.

All the people in Guanshan County suffered catastrophe, and those who fled to the capital of stars and wilds were all the people who got wind of it in advance along the way.

They brought terrible descriptions about how inhumane, cunning and insidious those Shangjing people were, and even argued with the refugees who went north because of Yanqi, arguing over which one was poorer and more vicious, Shangjing or Yanqi.

For a moment, people in Hoshino City were panicked.

Then, a ridiculous scene appeared. Lin Kun, who was beaten and scolded half a month ago, and was tortured to death in full view of the public, became a new object of prayer.

The "God's Messenger" Qin Tianjian was obviously useless, so he could only count on Lin Kun, who had worked hard for Sheng Yang during his lifetime.

It's ridiculous that Lin Kun would rather use his own blood to wake up the sleeping people, but he didn't expect it to be half as effective as "the people from Shangjing and Yanqi are calling".

The money relief case has been revealed, and Lin Kun, as he was in the past, has never touched the money for saving lives.The dirty hands that are really hidden behind are some wealthy aristocratic families—just like the female corpses that Hou Shang restrained, all of them came from Zhu Shifeng's residence.

It took Li Sinian a lot of work to confirm, because there were too many maids in Zhu Shifeng's house.Not counting the ones he robbed, there are countless concubines that Mr. Zhu bought home with his own money.

Some of him got tired of playing, or accidentally died playing, and would use the corpses of these poor women to hide the gold baht of unknown origin in his home, so as to avoid the censorship of the court.

Unexpectedly, when the relief money from Guanshan County also flowed from Zhu Shifeng's hands, and he applied a layer of "face oil" as usual, this time, it would lead to his death.

Colluding with the Qin Tianjian, embezzling officials and money, taking the "bride sacrificed to the river god" as his own and imprisoning civilian women...any one of these is enough to make Zhu Shifeng shave off his body fat.

But these are meaningless, because people who really shouldn't die have already stayed on the day of Chuxue forever for this reason.

When Li Sinian heard that the court was finally forced by the glaring evidence and was willing to admit that the money relief case had nothing to do with Lin Kun, and sent Zhu Shifeng to prison, he felt very calm.But after taking two steps, tears suddenly fell.

He wiped it as he walked, and there were warm rose-stuffed bamboo shoots and Liuxinhuahua cake in the thick Habayashi Army cloak... Even if he walked from here to Yushitai, it would not be cold.

But even if he takes it, no one will wait for him anymore.

The person who made fun of him for putting out snacks and snacks is no longer there.

"Your Majesty is right. With me alone, tens of millions of lives and awakenings can be exchanged. This deal is worth it."

Thinking of the last letter he left for himself, Li Sinian suddenly remembered that person's voice and appearance.

Think of his gentle and peaceful smile, clear and elegant side face.And finally willing to die...

Lin Kun seems to have been facing such a choice, whether to save one person or tens of thousands of people.He had been tortured for thousands of days and nights because of a wrong choice, and finally this time, the person standing on the scale opposite thousands of people became himself, and he could easily make a choice. [*Note 1]

There are many things in the world for no reason, and human life is like flying.

"You said that next year's Yixi Yantang by the Goddess River will bloom more in that color?"

Yin Zhichuan was bored, he casually talked to a servant in the mansion.

Yixi Yantang is a unique flower tree of Shengyang. When it is planted, the gardener does not know what kind of flowers this kind of flower will bloom, so around the Yixi Yantang every year, there will always be various kinds of flowers. All kinds of bets.Literati and elegant guests competed to place bets, and even made strange bets such as betting that a certain beautiful woman would never have black hair, and a certain scholar would never write poems with a brush.

The flamboyant, bustling Capital of the Stars and Fields...

"The villain is stupid, the villain can't guess."

The one caught by Yinzhichuan was a passing servant who was sweeping.I saw him with a bitter face, unable to respond to the fact that he was suddenly blocked by his young master.With a voice like a mosquito, he said: "It will be next year's event... With so many major events happening this year, who can guess what next year will be like..."

The corners of Yinzhichuan's mouth curled up slightly, and he took out a bag of gold baht from his pocket, and the gold baht made a "dingling clang" sound inside.

Yinzhichuan tossed it up and down, smiled, and then pointed to another boy who passed by, saying: "You can talk to him a few times, and whoever wins the bet will give this bag of gold baht to him next year." .”

The boy who passed by and the servant who sprinkled water were stunned for a moment, and they were all stunned—everyone knew that his major general was generous and flirtatious, but this was also his notoriety when he went to Yunlou.

It never occurred to me that my "mediocre appearance" would have such a day of "windfall from heaven".

"That, that," the boy suddenly became embarrassed, and said very cautiously: "The villain is betting on Hulan. This year, Hulan's Yantang by the river bloomed the most. I think next year's Yantang will be the result of this year's Yantang. Seeds, it should be more lake blue."

"That villain is betting on apricot yellow."

Another servant was nervous, swallowed his saliva and said: "I happened to have a dream last night, dreaming of many apricot-yellow crabapple flowers, I think it must be God's hint to the villain...!"

The corners of Yin Zhichuan's lips were slightly curved, and he looked at them with his head propped up like a naughty child, looked left and right, and said with a smile:

"Then I'll bet on green. Lake blue, apricot yellow, and green are the most common colors. Which one will bloom more overnight next year, and who will get the gold baht here?"

"Master...?"

The two servants were slightly surprised.Only Yin Zhichuan was still smiling, he lazily tossed the money bag to one of them, and said jokingly: "The two of you find a place to keep the gold baht, supervise each other, and no one can take it away first. ...If you are extremely lucky and I win the bet, you can convert the money in it into paper money and burn it to me, and then take the money in it and divide it equally."

"Seventh Son!!"

The boys became more and more discolored.

But Yin Zhichuan waved his hand, indicating that it was okay, and his expression was as usual. "Growing green is the rarest color in Yixi Yantang... I shouldn't be betting on it."

"But it's so beautiful. I've seen people wearing clothes of this color, and I can't forget it at a glance. Once I've seen it, my whole life will be overturned by it." [*Note 2]

"..."

The two servants didn't understand the meaning of Yinzhichuan's words, they saw Yinzhichuan slightly raised his head, looking at the gray oppressive sky, his pupils were wide and deep.They stared blankly at him.

Like Yinzhichuan, the capital of Hoshino seems to be engulfed by some kind of bone-sucking disease, and it is dying.

This winter has been extraordinarily sad.

Soon, Yan Qi's army, which was nine hundred miles away, drew closer to six hundred miles away.It’s really shameless to say it, maybe it’s out of arrogance or other reasons, this behemoth that once dominated the entire Central Continent——Sheng Yang, faced with a snowy country curled up in the north, it was so weak that it didn’t seem to have the slightest counterattack The power of the child is average.

Ashen expressions appeared on the faces of countless people, and the number of refugees outside the city was increasing day by day. Under the complaints and lamentations, a never-before-seen but extremely terrifying thought floated in everyone's mind——

Sheng Yang might really destroy the country.

It's not that there are no worries, but that in the safest and most core royal city in Shengyang, the common people see that the food they can get every day is getting less and less, and the generals sent out seem to be helpless. This answer becomes Ready to come out.

"Seventh Young Master Yin...save Sheng Yang."

I don't know who was the first to ask for help from the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

It must have been one night, mustering up a lot of courage, a woman knocked quietly on the door of Zhen Guogong's mansion.Begging in a low voice.

The night watchman heard it, but did not dare to act rashly.Only across the door, I stood behind the door overnight with my hands in my winter clothes.

He didn't dare to report it to Yin Zhichuan.

But I didn't expect that in the next few days, people would come to the door to pray.And the number is increasing.

They were probably really desperate. Seeing that Sheng Yang had already lost half of his land, the cruel Yanqi people were about to hit the foot of Wangcheng.They had no choice but to believe the nursery rhyme without reason or basis——

"One hundred thousand dead men, the iron shield of the country. The soldiers of the world, behead all the dead."

When people are in a desperate situation, they will always believe in something in a hurry and seek medical treatment.The night watch servants were bored for a few days, and on the sixth day, they finally alarmed Yinzhichuan directly because of the large number of people.

But Yinzhichuan didn't say anything.He stood under the wall in his cloak, looked at the firelight beyond the wall, and only said a word:

"Seven years ago, they threw rotten eggs and rotten vegetable leaves over the wall in the same way, and threw them on the coffin of my father and brother."

Then he left indifferently, turning a blind eye to the one after another prayers outside the mansion.

No one could stand to criticize him, and the people in the mansion looked at each other in blank dismay.

"If there is a day when the city is broken, Ji Wuhen will take you away."

But when passing by Xi Huai's room, he said this to Xi Huai again.

Xi Huai was sitting quietly in the courtyard at that time, the ground beside his boots was cold and frosty, he was slightly shocked when he heard the words, and turned his head towards him.

"What, is it surprising?"

Yinzhichuan smiled: "Now that you have given up your addiction to Hongwan, Ji Wuhen will remove the remaining toxins for you - you are free. What else do I leave you for?"

"but--"

Xi Huai looked at the person in front of him in surprise, Yin Zhichuan's expression was indifferent, his eyes looked at him like a stranger, it was shockingly cold.

"I do not want."

Quiet, Xi Huai said abruptly.

"It's not a question of whether you want it or not."

Yinzhichuan remained calm: "I want you to go, even if you are knocked unconscious and thrown out, you will not die in my house."

"..."

"Don't look at me like that."

Yinzhichuan smiled and squinted his eyes: "I will no longer panic when you watch me like this."

"..."

The branches and leaves of the tree slowly floated down from the branches, wrapped in the wind, and slowly fell on Xihuai's plain white skirt.

He seemed to have been thinking for a long time before he finally found his own voice, and his eyes, which were as calm as a deep pool, twitched a little: "Why?... The tree of flowers is already in the capital of stars, if he and Gu Xue are in harmony, you--"

There was a slight tremor in his voice, unsteady, and it seemed that he was struggling to say the secret message.But the person he faced cared about all of them, and even looked at him with a slight playfulness on the corner of his lips, and asked:

"Oh, so what? Are you worried about my safety...but maybe they didn't move that fast. I think your ecstasy grass will make me die faster."

"……why."

After being silent for a long time, Xi Huai still couldn't help asking: "Are you going to let me go? You...don't hate me?"

"You still don't understand the matter?"

Hearing Xi Huai's words, Yin Zhichuan laughed instead.

He tilted his head slightly, looked at Xi Huai, and replied: "'Hate' is a very precious emotion. How can you be confident that you can still get my hate after deceiving my beloved?"

"I now."

He paused: "Xi Huai, I don't want to have anything to do with you. Including dying with you."

You are no longer the one who makes me willing to live and die together and meet in the next life.

The author has something to say:

[*Note 1]: This sentence is echoed in Lin Kun's episode "Bright Moon Heart".That one described Lin Kun's pain and "wrong choices in the past" in detail.

[*Note 2]: An easter egg.This "green" color is the color of the clothes that Xihuai wore when Yinzhichuan first met Xihuai when he went to Yunlou. "It's amazing at first sight, and it will overwhelm you for a lifetime."