[Cehua] The wind and rain are like dark

He Xiaoxiao couldn't stay for too long.The two soldiers sent by Zhou Shousong seemed to have received the order in advance, and they urged him to leave soon after.Although He Xiaoxiao was completely worried about his junior and senior sisters, he also knew in his heart that his most urgent task was to go back to the camp to explain the situation to Zhou Shousong and the officials, and try to get his junior and senior sisters in.He Xiaoxiao asked repeatedly to bid farewell to his juniors and juniors, but after all he never saw Gu Ping, which made him feel uneasy.The current situation has reached a critical juncture, and if there is a few days of delay, their lives will already be in danger.

As soon as He Xiaoxiao returned to the camp, he found that the atmosphere was not right.There are very few people left behind, and there are no known people everywhere.He casually grabbed the people on the side and asked, but was told that the Spike Army had come again and was approaching the city, and Zhou Shousong led his men to the city to prepare for the battle.As soon as He Xiaoxiao heard this, he knew that he might not be able to see Zhou Shousong for the time being. Although he was very worried, he had to go back to his room first.Many of what Li Jin said at the beginning are gradually becoming reality.He said that once the city ordered to resist, the Spike Army would definitely not give up if they saw that the city would not surrender.

The silence in the room made people panic.He Xiaoxiao sat on the edge of the couch, watching the sun move from one side of the window lattice to the other, and then gradually fell silent into the darkness.The sound of killing from the city could not be heard here, maybe the Spike Army just re-encircled and did not start ordering to attack the city - but, it will be a matter of time.There is even no need to attack, this city will be destroyed sooner or later.He Xiaoxiao sat blankly, he heard voices outside, sometimes quiet, sometimes near and sometimes far away, and he didn't know when it was completely silent.He simply lay down, but felt flustered, the place was so quiet that the eerie singing voice he heard on the long street during the day echoed faintly in his heart, making him uneasy.What Li Jin had said and done in the past, how the two of them got along, the miserable situation of the juniors and younger sisters in the medical office, and the hot summer days when he was studying art in the Valley of Thousand Flowers, all came one after another in the dead silence. There was a quarrel in my heart.

He didn't know when he fell asleep.

The constant and regular knocking on the door woke him up.The knock on the door was very soft, but very steady. It was Li Jin's unique way of knocking.Having been with the same person for a long time, you don't need to see him in person, and even the various movements he makes have a reassuring sense of familiarity.The sound of footsteps, knocking on the door, and packing up things, you know it's him.As soon as He Xiaoxiao heard the knock on the door, he immediately felt at ease.He got up to open the door and let Li Jin in.

The night outside was pitch black, with the faint light of the torch flickering in a distant place, and there were no human voices around.

"Why are you here at this time?"

Li Jin shook his head, and said in a low voice: "You went to see your juniors and juniors today? How are they? The plague is raging in the city, you yourself..."

"I'm fine," He Xiaoxiao replied in a low voice, but through the faint light in the room, Li Jin could see that his face was completely pale, "They're very bad...very bad. If we can't try to save them, They're going to..."

Li Jin was silent for a long time, and He Xiaoxiao saw his lips tightened into a cold line because he couldn't bear it.

"Don't worry, and don't blame General Zhou... He didn't let you go out, or just watched them die... Now..."

"...I know." He Xiaoxiao's lips trembled, although he was reluctant to say this, he still nodded, "I know."

"As long as he can be saved, General Zhou will definitely...Xiao Xiao."

"Ok?"

"Xiao Xiao. I..."

His hesitant tone was so unusual that he woke up He Xiaoxiao who was in a daze. He looked up at Li Jin, and then he was taken aback for a moment.

"You are..."

Li Jin's attire is different from usual, he is wearing a silver armor, inside is the red war robe that the school captain of Tiance Mansion often wears.There is a red and white crown feather on the crown of his head. This outfit looks heroic, which has never been shown on him before.He Xiaoxiao looked a little dazed, but suddenly realized that the plume on Li Juan's crown was so red that it was old, and it was so white that it was gray, it was something he had seen before.For some unknown reason, a strange feeling surged up all over her body, He Xiaoxiao's face turned pale, and she said, "You—"

"Xiao Xiao, I have something to tell you."

He Xiaoxiao felt his heart pounding, and the previous feeling of wanting to vomit came back inexplicably, which made him feel extremely flustered.He groped and sat down again, staring at Li Jin silently.

"I... want to go out of the city." Li Jin walked to him and sat down, clasping his hands and resting his elbows on his knees.With his head down, He Xiaoxiao could only see the old crown feather shaking slightly, but couldn't see the expression on Li Jin's face clearly, "This city can't last long. Last time An Sijie didn't die, but Blind in one eye, he has to avenge this revenge. There is not much food in the city, and in the camp... Xiao Xiao, to tell you the truth, has already run out of food. Our place is okay, when the crossbowmen are replaced today , found that many people have been hungry for a long time, and have no strength to fight for a long time. General Zhou sent me out of the city to ask for help... If we can get reinforcements, the city can be saved, and we can..."

His voice was getting lower and lower, and it seemed that he was about to be unable to continue.The surroundings became quiet again, only Li Jin could be heard kneading his hands back and forth, and the knuckles of the finger bones made a slight rattling sound of squeezing each other.He Xiaoxiao was silent, his heart was in a mess, only full of fear, like a tide, pushing up and down, until his throat was choked, and he couldn't say anything.

"you……"

"I have something to tell you. Xiao Xiao, I know you have always understood in your heart that I haven't mentioned the past to you, and I know it's wrong," Li Jin sighed softly, there was no movement outside the barracks, everything was silent, "Since we agreed to be together, I should tell you this... But I never said it. Xiao Xiao, you are so kind, you never forced me to say that. But I know, I should tell you now."

"...you say it." He Xiaoxiao heard a strange voice, with the feeling of gasping, the tone of his voice was shallow, and his voice was hoarse. He thought for a long time before he suddenly realized that it was his own voice.

"You've seen this pair of crown feathers before, haven't you?"

He Xiaoxiao nodded silently.Li Jin lowered his head, didn't see it, but just untied the tether under his chin, removed the crown, and held it in his palm.He Xiaoxiao saw his fingers carefully sliding over the old crown and tail feathers.On the grayish white edge, there were some stains that could no longer be seen in color, whether it was blood stains, or something else, he didn't know.

"This belongs to an old friend of mine. His name was Qin Peiyang, and he died in battle at Shilong Pass."

Although there was a faint guess in his heart, all the fragments had been gradually spliced ​​together in his daily thinking, but He Xiaoxiao still felt shocked when he really heard what Li Jin said. He turned his head and stared at Li do.Li Jin still lowered his head, He Xiaoxiao could only see his bun and the fine hair scattered on his temples.

"Those people I knew before are all dead...all dead." Li Jin's voice, like a wisp of incense burning in a temple while meditating, couldn't help but linger in the quiet room, "all dead The house was confiscated, the father and mother died, the younger brother died of illness on the way to the army, and the younger sister was sold off somewhere... Later, even Qin Peiyang, he also died."

He didn't start or finish what he said, it was very strange at first, but He Xiaoxiao felt that he understood, and shivered cleverly.After Li Jin finished speaking, he fell silent again, until He Xiaoxiao couldn't help pushing him, and said softly: "...and then?"

Everyone knows that Chang'an City is prosperous and full of shops and markets, but if it is during the night of the curfew, the surroundings will be dead silent.The lanterns carried by the Jinwu guards on night watch flickered at the end of the long street and disappeared on the other side.Someone staggered out from the corner of the street next to him, and after only taking two steps, he was dragged by another figure who appeared from nowhere, and pulled him to the other side.

"I think you are crazy! In the middle of the night, you were caught by the Jinwu guards who were watching the night. Do you want to live!" .The person who came first, obviously looked like he had drunk too much, staggered unsteadily, and was dragged several feet away by him, then waved his hand impatiently, and said loudly: "Qin Peiyang! Are you annoying!"

The other party was so startled that he quickly covered his mouth with his hands, and said angrily, "How can you go home like this..." Seeing that he was already asleep, he had no choice but to pick it up, and walked back cautiously until he reached home. Only then did he let him go.

Li Jin lay on the couch, sleeping soundly, only heard the slight sound of footsteps.Not long after, something was thrown on his face suddenly, and then someone stretched out his hand and wiped his face roughly, the cloth towel made his face hurt, but after a few strokes, at least he became sober.Li Jin rubbed his eyes, struggled to sit up, and complained in a low voice.

"Okay, old Qin...can't you take it lightly, it hurts like hell!"

Qin Peiyang threw the cloth towel into the basin with a straight face, sat opposite Li Jin, and said angrily: "I will be on duty for a day, and you look like this! Let me tell you, the Nan Ya and Bei Ya have not been working recently. Mu, you are still fooling around outside after the curfew, and you still dare to take to the streets. If you are caught, even if Uncle Li can bail you out, you just wait for him to make you look good! Even if Uncle Li doesn’t look for you, you go back After leaving Beiya, let me see if your general will give you some color, and then, even if I have the intention to clean up the mess for you, I will—"

"Okay, okay! Qin Xiucai! It's so noisy! I can't go back tonight, I'll sleep with you, if the old man asks, remember to make up a lie for me!" Li Jin finished these few words impatiently, He fell down on the couch, and immediately fell asleep again.

Near Pingkangfang, where singing and dancing are flourishing, there are always a group of romantic literati gathered in the prosperous times, some of them came from afar, and there are also sons of big families in Chang'an. For the people in Pingkangfang, some people may not know who the most popular singing girl in Pingkangfang is recently, but no one does not know Li Jin, the eldest son of Li Shilang's family in the Ministry of War.The reason why this man is famous is not because he is young and handsome, nor because he is capable of writing and martial arts, but because he serves in the Beiya Imperial Army, and his father is also the Minister of the Ministry of War. He hopes that he can make a difference in the army, but he He just wanted to be admitted to be a civil servant. For this matter, he had a long-term quarrel with his father Li Cheng. Although he had no choice but to work in Beiya, he always showed a non-cooperative attitude. He hung out in Pingkangfang and drank Prostitution, cockfighting and running dogs, although the reputation is not infamous, it can only make people shake their heads and laugh when they mention it.

Qin Peiyang and him had known each other since they were young, they were family friends, they grew up together, they were like brothers.Qin Peiyang worked in the Tiance Mansion, but he was already a flying captain of the Tiance Mansion in his weaker years. He was also rigorous and upright, and loved to preach. He was always nicknamed Qin Xiucai by his friends, and Li Jin was the most popular among them. .There are only two reasons for this name. Firstly, Qin Peiyang always scolded him, and he wanted to take revenge;

There was silence in the room, Li Jin stopped his narration, and He Xiaoxiao was also silent.There seemed to be the sound of watchmen in the camp in the distance.He Xiaoxiao turned his head and looked at Li Jin silently, only to see that he was still holding the old tiara with both hands.I don't know if his hands were trembling, but He Xiaoxiao saw that the crown feathers on it seemed to be trembling slightly.He thought maybe he was wrong, because when Li Jin spoke again, his voice faded from the previous astringency and became stable.

As day after day passed like this, Li Jin still hangs out in Pingkangfang every time. Qin Peiyang belongs to the Tiance Army's few forces in Chang'an. The forces did not participate in it, and Qin Peiyang couldn't get involved too much.Li Jin is still drunk and dreaming every day. His father Li Cheng is the Minister of the Ministry of War. He has an upright personality. He retired from the army in the early years. He would preach to Li Jin that a good man should serve in the army and protect his family and country, that is the right path. Now that the court is courteous and courteous, with Li Jin as the eldest son, this must not be the case.Li Jin just felt very impatient about this, he didn't understand this at a young heart, he could only see that compared with generals, civil servants and those suave literati, they were more valued by the court and could better show their ambitions.What's more, it's not that he lacks literary talents, so why should he be ruled by his father and guard the Forbidden Army of Beiya?Day after day, he only felt depressed, and he couldn't understand what Qin Peiyang said when he was chatting, "Once he enters Tiance Mansion, he will benefit the country and not seek wealth".

Things change often subtly and gradually, quietly.His father, Li Cheng, began to keep going up and down from the Ministry of War. Li Jin didn't know what he was talking about, and he didn't care.Some people began to gather at his house, lighting up lanterns to see him off, and exchanging candles, as if they were collecting evidence and wanting to remonstrate with the court.He didn't know about this until one day, Qin Peiyang anxiously took him home from Pingkangfang.It was a summer day, and the setting sun of Chang'an City hung over the corner of the tall pagoda of Da Ci'en Temple in the distance, and it was as red as new blood.He hurried home, he was always fearless, from Qin Peiyang's pale face, he felt fear for the first time.I don't know where my father went, but the imperial guards from the northern and southern yamen are all there.Through the yelling of his younger brother, the loud howling and choking of the female relatives, and the sound of iron chains and shackles, he saw the faces of his colleagues on weekdays, sympathetic, contemptuous, mocking, and unbearable. Face.

Li Cheng, the servant of the Ministry of War, went to the imperial court several times to participate in the festival of the three towns, so that An Lushan had the heart of rebellion.Tianyan was furious, and judged that Li Cheng had created something out of nothing.The government and the public were in an uproar, and all the officials went to the evacuation one after another, with the same tone. They all said that Li Cheng was chasing after the wind, An Lushan was loyal to the town, and had no intention of rebelling against him. Some envoys asked the court to investigate thoroughly.People arrested him, his house was confiscated, and the so-called mastermind behind the scenes was a non-existent thing fabricated by An Lushan's party members in the government and the opposition.Li's family was imprisoned from top to bottom, and even the Qin family, who were family friends, was also affected.The interrogation lasted for a long time, Li Cheng was getting old, he joined the army in the early years and fell ill, he couldn't be saved and died in prison.All the female family members of the Li family were sold into slavery, and the man was spared death, but he was required to be exiled into the army.It wasn't until a few months later that the Qin Mansion separated their ties and was able to protect themselves, so Qin Peiyang went to his boss in the Tiance Mansion to intercede and serve as a guarantee for Li Jin.Although the Qin family avoided enlistment, they were inevitably punished. Qin Peiyang was fined to guard the Shilong Pass north of Fanyang. Li Jin served as an ordinary soldier. Because of Qin Peiyang's relationship, he was sent to the border together as security.

He Xiaoxiao heard his heart pounding, his throat was so dry, he didn't know what to say.The room was so still, it was so embarrassingly quiet.He anxiously wanted to break this atmosphere, but in the face of this stalemate of painful memories, any light words were powerless.Fortunately, Li Jin took out something from his side, He Xiaoxiao heard a rustling sound, and Li Jin handed an old letter paper in front of him.He Xiaoxiao took it over and took a look. It was the clear handwriting that he had seen before.

"In the past, in Chang'an, drunk flowers and willows, five princes and seven nobles shared a cup of wine. The air bank is far in front of the nobles, and the flair is willing to fall behind others. My master is beautiful, I am young, Zhangtai is walking around Phnom Penh. Articles are presented to the Qilin Hall, and singing and dancing are submerged in the tortoise shell feast."

He looked at Li Jin silently.Li Jin smiled.

"I wrote this word." He said in a low voice, stretching out his hand to twist the yellowed paper, "I don't know when I wrote it, why I brought it with me by chance when I went to exile. But , must have been before going to Shilongguan. Back then...it was so ridiculous."

He said shaking his head and laughing.

"That's ridiculous."

He Xiaoxiao felt something choked in his throat, and there was a question on the tip of his tongue, and with his temperament, he couldn't help but ask.

"...Qin Peiyang...how did he die?"