The third year after the death of the emperor

The carriage stopped in front of Rong Yuan, and Guo Jin, who was chasing after him, bowed his head and respectfully handed over a bamboo hat.

The bamboo hat is exquisite, surrounded by a layer of gauze, covering the face.After all, this is different from going to the Secret Prison or staying in the Ziwei Palace. Rongyuan is located in the prosperous area of ​​the imperial capital, separated by an alley, is the first romantic place at the foot of the emperor, princes, nobles, and important officials of the inner court often pass by here.

Xie Wen didn't say anything, and put on the bamboo hat quietly.The carriage stopped at the main entrance of the Rong Garden, and the concierges stood up in panic when they saw the golden-roofed and red-tailed carriage belonging to the royal family. The eunuchs got out of the car together to welcome one person.

These people's skin tightened immediately, and they felt that a catastrophe was imminent. They all thought that the current emperor had come, and they didn't dare to show their air.But the young man wearing a bamboo hat with an unknown face didn't ask questions, instead he walked in a hurry.

There is a white osmanthus tree planted in Rongyuan, and the sweet-scented osmanthus is in full bloom at the moment, full of fragrance.Xie Wen was not familiar with the arrangement of Rong Yuan, but she was not unfamiliar with it either. She soon walked to the inner courtyard, and no one dared to stop her.Until in the small courtyard where the "Baishi Qingyou" plaque was hung, the maidservant who received the news scolded: "Since I didn't see that His Majesty came personally, why are you arguing in such a panic? Chattering, is the princess willing to listen?"

After all, the slim figure behind the door opened the door, looked up and saw Xie Wen, the maid was startled by Cui Sheng and Guo Jin, before she had time to salute, Xie Wen hastily raised her arm, and with the other hand Taking off the bamboo hat: "It's me."

The maid Xue Huai was stunned for a moment, then her eyes widened in disbelief, almost as if she had seen a ghost in daylight, then she grabbed Xie Wen's hand and said anxiously: "Mr. Return of the soul?"

Xie Wen didn't correct her, but pressed her lips lightly, signaling her to whisper.Xuehuai's eyes shed tears, but she nodded while covering her mouth, accompanied Xie Wen into the inner room, and at the same time pushed back the serving maids and servants, and closed the door.

The window in the room was half opened, and the white osmanthus blossoms were blowing all over the window, revealing a hint of bitter medicinal smell in the fragrance.

Xie Wen's footsteps were very light, and she slowly stopped in front of the bed.The couch was covered with a thick quilt, and the figure of a person was buried in the mattress, motionless, as if the disputes outside the courtyard had nothing to do with her.

"Xiao Tianrou has been a medicine jar since she was a child, so it can't be all your fault and Xiao Jiu's fault, right? If she was healthy, she wouldn't be sick..." Tong Tong whispered.

Xie Wen was silent for a moment, and replied: "No other assumptions can be made about the victim."

Tongtong immediately shut up, she wasn't speaking for Xiao Jiu, she was just afraid that Xie Huaiyu's heart would become softer these years, and she would blame herself for everything.

Xie Wen sat on the head of the bed, he was not sure if the other party was asleep, so he said softly: "Princess?"

The white osmanthus fragrans flew into the window, just like a person in a dream finally willing to see her after years passed by.Xiao Tianrou regained consciousness in a trance, because the day was too bright, she covered a veil in front of her eyes, and when she opened her eyes again, her vision was hazy, through a veil, and she saw an unclear outline.

She opened her mouth, but what came out was a violent cough, and her hoarse voice carried a light ethereal feeling: "...Mr. Xie, are you here to take my soul away?"

Xie Wen was dumb for a while, Xue Huai, the only one who stayed in the room except the two of them, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and said in a low voice: "Your Highness, please wake up, this is Mrs. Xie Wenxie in person."

Xiao Tianrou was stunned at first, and then she became a little confused. She passed her hand drowsily, and her voice seemed to be vague: "Mr., why leave me alone."

Xie Wen covered her fingers comfortingly, so that the other's fingertips had a place to hook back and force, and then said: "Princess still needs to take care."

He has said this for many years.

In the 37th year of Chenghua, he played against several national players in the Dengtian Tower. Among the few players, there was only one woman, and that was Xiao Tianrou, the eldest princess of Zhaoyang.

She is an astonishing talent, and she has a great talent since she was a child.When Xie Wen read the plot of the original book, she even felt that if the eldest princess was a man, then this book would have an orthodox master with both heart and wisdom.

Ascending to the sky, the wind howled, and the robes of Confucian scholars and celebrities were blown and fluttered.The princess is sitting on the other side of the chessboard. She wears a golden phoenix headdress obliquely, with fluttering ribbons, soft and elegant.But her chess style is rigid, cruel, and chilling, and her eyebrows and eyes are calm and cold. Among all contemporary chess players, she is the youngest, but also the most murderous.

Xiao Tianrou held the black, and at dusk, she lost to Xie Wen Banmu.She raised her eyes tiredly, looking at the man in front of her with the same clothes and temples, and a gentle expression, she suddenly felt strong frustration and absurdity, and she braced herself—the loss and pain of being defeated by someone who was best at something stirred her heart, Xiao Tianrou asked: "Sir, if you defeat me, you will win completely."

Xie Wen raised her hand and said, "Accept."

"It turns out that there are more talented chess players than me in the world." Xiao Tianju said, "I never thought of it before."

"That's not the case." Xie Wen looked at her, "I'm not as talented as Princess Wanwan, but there are too many pioneers behind me, and this road has been walked brightly and smoothly."

He stood up and said: "Autumn night is cold, princess take care of your body."

Xiao Tianrou was very curious about the "forerunner" he mentioned, and she also got up to return, saying that sir, take care.But after this experience, the eldest princess, who was in poor health, still contracted the cold, and the decoction she had boiled for a month was not good. All the famous chess players in Beijing went to visit, and Xie Wen was among them.

It was also when the white osmanthus was in full bloom, Xie Wen told her the story of the "forerunner" through a bed curtain, told her about the chess records that had never been seen in this world, about the family, the country, the world, and the generations, and said that one day the woman will be You can also become an official... On that day, the ashes burned out, and the wax tears remained. When Xie Wen walked down the cobblestone path, she stepped on the ground full of fallen flowers.

The princess then introduced him as a confidant.

Mr. Xie is sentimental by nature, but it does not mean that he is flirtatious, but that this person is very sincere and cherishes feelings, regardless of love and friendship.Until the spring of the 40th year of Chenghua, the first emperor inquired about the princess mansion, secretly intending to recruit Xie Wen as his son-in-law.

Before the imperial decree was issued, Xiao Tianrou found out about this, she invited Xie Wen, and on a cold night like water, she took down the golden phoenix hairpin and put it in Xie Wen's hands.Under the throbbing and anticipation, Xie Wen, who was always gentle in front of her, suddenly fell silent for a long time. He seemed to have never expected this to happen. Putting it back on the side of Xiao Tianrou's bun, when she bent over to salute, she still said: "Princess take care."

The golden hairpin went through her temple hair, one was taken and another was returned, piercing her heart.

The next day, the eldest princess entered the palace to face the saint, and the imperial decree that had been drawn up was ignored.After this incident, Xie Wen rarely went to see her. Although he cherished his friends, he didn't want to selfishly play with other people's feelings, so he should stay away.

But he didn't know that although the imperial decree was sealed, it was not destroyed. Several years later, Xiao Xuanqian brought it back to the sky from the box. Sincerely, infatuated.

At that time, the first emperor was seriously ill, and Xiao Xuanqian supervised the country as the prince.His teacher was dealing with floods in the south of the Yangtze River, and personally killed several corrupt officials. The real money was sent to the imperial capital day and night, and then he was approved to mobilize resources to relieve the disaster area.

Xiao Xuanqian met the eldest sister.She was 24 years old that year and was still unmarried.During the chess game between the two, Xiao Tianrou was physically exhausted, mentally sleepy, and lost in the middle game, allowing the ninth brother who was not as good as her to win a game.

Today's Xiao Jiu is different from many years ago. His father was paralyzed on the bed and could not move. He already held countless sharp swords that could kill her, and he chose which one: "Teacher, I don't know." how's it going."

The whole world knows that Xie Wen is his mentor, Xiao Tianrou naturally does not know, she paused her hand drinking tea, seems to have heard some secrets, calmly with a slight sarcasm: "Do you really want to thank the Lord for the flood control?" Are you relieved, or do you want to get rid of his guardianship and enjoy the taste of monopolizing power?"

"Is there any conflict between this and my sincere concern about him and missing him?" Xiao Xuanqian said, "The teacher had an extraordinary friendship with the eldest sister back then, and the friendship between them was suddenly broken?"

She put down her teacup and sat upright: "Because he is an upright gentleman, unlike you, who doesn't agree with what he says, and tells some obscure lies, and ten traps will be born after one sentence. The matter between me and Huaiyu... you It’s just his student, what qualifications do you have to ask?”

Xiao Xuanqian restrained the smile on his lips, stared at her with dark eyes: "I am not qualified, who else has."

Xiao Tianju said: "Among the world, you are the only one who has the least qualifications. You can't have such dirty thoughts about your teacher. This is a disregard for human relations, and it is an act of a beast."

"You can do it, but I can't?" Xiao Xuanqian asked, "Your love is love, but mine is dirty, worse than a beast."

"Because you only want to embezzle and possess, and you insist on getting something from him. As long as he recognizes your face, he can always see who is the real one."

Xiao Xuanqian sneered lightly, his eyes passed through the slender shoulders of his elder sister, and he saw the lotus swaying in the wind behind the pavilion, and outside the lotus pond, there were noble children walking through the fireworks and willow alley, he said to himself Said, "You really dare to say these words in front of me, you are so strong, you really are the teacher's good confidant."

Xiao Tianrou said firmly: "In terms of status alone, you are the most unworthy in the whole world. Even if you steal a bit of love...Since it is stealing, there will always be retribution, and if it comes sooner or later, it will always be on you."

Xiao Xuanqian smiled, stared at her and said, "Do you think I robbed you?"

The eldest princess suddenly stopped talking, she hurriedly turned her eyes away, and when she turned her head again, Xiao Jiu had already left the pavilion.

One day later, when Xie Wen was on his way back to Beijing, he suddenly heard the news that the eldest princess was getting married. The minister beside him who was cooperating with him in dealing with the flood also heard about it and said to him: "The princess has finally let go of the person in her heart." Is it? This is really a great thing."

Xie Wen originally thought this was a good thing.

Everyone in the government and the public, who could see him, always praised the princess's marriage, but he asked several times about the identity of the groom, but no one knew.The Ziwei Palace was brightly lit that night, Xiao Xuanqian who greeted him cut off the candle wick on the lamp stand, his brows were immersed in the gloom.

"Her son-in-law..." Xiao Xuanqian lowered his eyes and said, "I randomly chose a child from an aristocratic family, but that person died in the brothel that night, so he won't live up to expectations."

This is clearly such a clear word and sentence, but Xie Wen was at a loss when he heard it, and every word combined seemed so strange.

"After the happy event, we will do the funeral." Xiao Xuanqian picked up a stack of papers from the desk and put it on the flames to burn, "Teacher, she is not good enough for you."

No matter how many cracks there were in the past, the impact was not as great as tonight. Xie Wen almost couldn't recover. The air he breathed was icy cold: "You..."

"It's not me who is not qualified," Xiao Xuanqian's eyebrows were flickering in the firelight, and he muttered to himself, as if these words were for himself: "The decree has been made, and the person is dead. You have nothing to do."

The paper under his hand burned to ashes, and the letter in his palm was filled with familiar handwriting, it was Xiao Tianrou's words to express his heart to the late emperor, the scorching fire finally burned into his palm, Xiao Xuanqian did not move until the letter turned into Ashes, his palm was burnt and bleeding, and the bright red trickled down the table bit by bit.

He is waiting for the teacher to scold him, reprimand him, or wait for the teacher to remind him not to burn his hands.

But Xie Wen just walked past him without saying a word.At that time, Xiao Jiu still felt that this was a necessary process for him to grasp and hold on to the other party... He wanted everyone to know that coveting his most important person would not end well.

Xie Wen rushed to Rongyuan overnight, and when she saw Xiao Tianrou, who suffered from humiliation and was unable to get ill, she faintly heard the phantom tearing sound coming from her ear, and it took a long time before he suddenly realized that it was the love between them. The sound of cracks growing again and again, falling into pieces, and crashing again and again.

The dictatorial wolf bared its fangs, even if it didn't stab him, it made Xie Wen feel that his heart was oozing blood bit by bit.