Qi Huang

Bianliang City, East Palace.

The courtyard here has always been cold and cold, and Xie Duan did not add some color to its dull palace walls after moving in. The Queen Mother said that he would buy some fresh flowers and plants for him, but was also rejected.

The newly appointed His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was much more reticent than usual, and most people who tried to tease him would not get any feedback.It seemed that the cowardly and ignorant tenth prince had become a thing of the past.

It was the day, spring went to summer, and in midsummer, the Empress Dowager stayed in the East Palace for the Mid-Autumn Festival.The descendants of the royal family are dying, and the body of the emperor can no longer welcome new life. The days that should have been lively and lively can be seen at a glance.

Fortunately, they are used to it.

The little eunuch Zhao Xian, who had cheated Xie Duan, was also among them. Together with Xie Qingshan's personal assistant Dequan, he poured wine for the nobles.With the sweet-scented osmanthus wine in the mid-autumn festival, in the eyes of the world, Chanjuan, who is thousands of miles away, is actually a lonely shadow.

"I don't know how Xinglan is doing in Yongzhou."

Xie Qingshan put down the wine bottle, and suddenly sighed.

The queen mother gave him a reproachful look, to the effect that she should not drink if she is in poor health.The two pretended to be courteous, and the queen mother said: "It's been almost a year since he left. If it's convenient for the Spring Festival this year, let him return to Beijing for a new year."

Xie Duan raised his head when he heard the words: "Really?"

The queen mother smiled: "What's the truth? I never prevented Xinglan from returning to Beijing. You have to send a letter. If he's not busy there, come back and have a look."

Xie Duan couldn't hide the joy in his heart, but as soon as the corners of his mouth curled up, he suppressed it with extreme self-respect.

At this time, Zhao Xian, who brought a new pot of wine, walked in with small steps.

He was originally the eunuch serving tea by the Empress Dowager's side, because he served him well and was clever and obedient, so he was very fond of the Empress Dowager.In less than half a year, he was promoted to the chief eunuch of Jinluan Palace, and in a single leap, he became the same rank as Dequan beside Xie Qingshan.

When Zhao Xian came in, he didn't greet him, and the queen mother was not angry, she just stretched out her hand and pointed at him from a long distance away, half joking and half examining: "Your heart has been wild these days, and you haven't been seen all day, come on, what have you been up to lately?" ?”

Zhao Xian smiled flatteringly, and stepped forward to beat the Queen Mother's shoulder: "My lady's birthday is coming soon, and the servants are busy picking gifts for the lady. The lady treats the servants so well, even a dog knows how to be kind." Report it."

He has a sweet tongue, and at the same time can laugh at himself, making everyone laugh at once.Xie Qingshan could not help but smile so that his eyebrows and eyes curved, and the fine lines at the corners of his eyes appeared faintly.But he is the emperor after all, even if he is controlled by others, there is a light in his eyes that others cannot see through.

Amidst the fragrant brocade in the garden, Xie Qingshan picked up the second glass of wine and took a sip.

The golden wine bottle blocked the fragrant fragrance of flowers, and also blocked his eyes from looking at Zhao Xian.

When there was an exclamation from the river bank, Gu Shiqing's first reaction was, who fell into the water?

Then he realized in a daze that the curtain fence floating on the water was exactly the one that Xie Xuan had just put on this morning.

Because of this exclamation, many people present looked up one after another, and some people didn't know what happened, and chatted with the people around them.

Thinking about Xie Xuan's various reactions before, Gu Shiqing stabilized his mind and told the people around him: "Don't be chaotic, evacuate the crowd in an orderly manner. Ask the guards to tell you the truth. If there is a disturbance, you are the only one to ask."

The man bowed his head and said yes, and took the order to go.

The boat has been launched, and the ceremony of announcing the world is coming to an end. It is definitely not what Xie Xuan wants to see when there is a change at this time.Many eyes were staring at this place secretly, and most of them were hoping that there would be trouble here. Gu Shiqing had to control everything well.

He thought calmly, perhaps this was the plan that Xie Xuan had kept secret.

The one who exclaimed was the waiter named Qingzhu, who stood anxiously on the bank of the river and leaned over to look.The construction supervisor was built high enough to overlook the entire river bank. Xie Xuan originally stood on the innermost side and was protected by railings. No matter how heavy the rain was, he would not slip and fall into the water.

But Qingzhu's reaction cannot be faked.

It is the rainy season, the river is turbulent, and the river is also full of strange rocks. The rain washes down, and the scene is no different from that of a flash flood.

Gu Shiqing thought about it, and just in case, he sent a team of guards to check.After finishing everything, he took a deep breath, took advantage of the gap to look around, and happened to see the back of the military officer Li.

From such a long distance, Li Zheng may not be able to hear the movement here, and he is not walking in the direction of the river bank, and his steps are steady and slow.After a while, Gu Shiqing could no longer see his shadow.

The curtain hats in the river were swept into a deeper place by the ups and downs of the waves, and the white gauze was mixed with the mud, and the original color could no longer be seen clearly.Gu Shiqing couldn't help but look a few more times, and when he was feeling nervous, he actually saw a black-clothed shadow not far away, which disappeared in a flash.

Gu Shiqing's heart shuddered.

That is the color of Xie Xuan's clothes today, could it be...

He didn't care about other things, jumped off the high platform in a few steps, and strode towards the place where the green bamboo was.

Whether it is death or life, whether it is a real accident or a plan, we must always make it clear.

When Gu Shiqing approached, there was already a circle of people over there, including the guards he called over just now, and some workers who were close.

Green Bamboo did not suppress the voice, and attracted many idlers who watched the excitement and didn't think it was a big deal-most of them didn't know who was the one who fell into the water, and they thought it was a worker who surrounded the land in a short time. .

Gu Shiqing got tired of watching, so he ordered someone to take the workers down with an order.

After the sparse footsteps left, Gu Shiqing discovered that there was another person among them.

It was the one, he thought it was Mr. Feng Shui, but it turned out to be the Mr. Xiao who had rumors of breaking his sleeves with Xiao Xie in the palace, Xiao Ling.

I don't know when it will arrive.

When Qingzhu is around others, he still has a bit of coldness and arrogance, but once Xiao Ling appears, he is like an abandoned domestic dog, with his ears drooping, no matter how pitiful he looks.

There was no one around, Xiao Ling's voice was like cast iron after silence: "What is your expression?"

Qing Zhu sighed and said: "Sir..."

"Didn't Xie Xuan discuss with you that he secretly planned for Chen Cang to leave Yongzhou, and asked you to cut him off? What's your back road? Just standing by the river and wandering around like a headless chicken?"

Qingzhu was only surprised for a moment, and then regretted and thought helplessly, Mr. knew.

Yes, it was already very strange for him to be by Xie Xuan's side inexplicably, and that day, Xie Xuan lost his temper strangely, and almost wanted to write "stay away from me" on his face.Xiao Ling is not a fool, how could he fail to guess?

but……

Qingzhu's lips trembled, and she couldn't help but glance at the river from the corner of her eye.At some point, the rain started to fall again, converging with the river water, flowing like torrential waves.

His heart was beating like a drum, swinging back and forth between lies and truth.

Xiao Ling looked at him coldly, and broke his hesitation with one word: "Is there an accident?"

Qing Zhu was stunned, then suddenly raised her head: "No..."

brush--

A long sword lay across Qing Zhu's neck.

The sword was originally a crutch used by Xiao Ling for support, not a light sword in the sleeve.Now being pulled up from the ground by him with the soil, his weight can be felt from a long distance.

Gu Shiqing couldn't help being surprised.

But Xiao Ling seemed to be standing unsteadily, his center of gravity was unstable, but the hand holding the sword did not tremble at all.His knuckles are slender and strong, and at first glance it looks like a pair of hands that draw a bow and lead an arrow.

Qing Zhu's eyes showed fear and sorrow.

On the one hand, it is the friendship of many years, and on the other hand, he knows Xiao Ling very well, knowing that the husband will do what he says, and he will not intimidate others at will.

Qingzhu realized belatedly that maybe he really did something wrong.

"I said before, you don't have to follow me anymore." Xiao Ling paused, "Then you are now Xie Xuan's man. If the servant has a different heart, I will eliminate all threats for him. Qingzhu, tell the truth Or die, choose one."

Qingzhu: "..."

He blinked slowly, complex emotions flashed in his eyes, and finally fell silent in the struggle.

Xie Xuan's decision to return to Beijing was made a long time ago.

When all things stood in his way, he decided to go against the will of all things, split piles of rocks, and walk out a path.

As Xiao Ling guessed, the day Xie Xuan asked Qingzhu to stay, and he asked Qingzhu to help him, was today's "falling into the water".

According to the original plan, Xie Xuan took advantage of the continuous rain to disappear from everyone's sight and walked from the bright place to the dark place.

But he is a prince and the supervisor of the canal, his words and deeds are watched by many people, if he wants to retreat to a dark place, or even return to the capital without anyone noticing, he must take a dangerous move.

The river bank is full of mud, if people don't use their strength, they can easily fall on their backs.There is plenty of water in the rainy season, and the mountains beside the river are the best barrier and the sharpest hidden weapon.

If he uses this to "die" in the eyes of the world, then he can use the convenience of being in the dark to continue his next plan.

Green bamboo has a closed air bag.It was obtained by the people of the Xiao family from the barbarians in the southwest. It can allow an adult to hold his breath underwater for as long as a cup of tea. his purpose.

Hearing this, Xiao Ling asked directly: "Did he not take the air bag?"

"I gave it to Your Highness last night before I gave you the longbow, but I woke up this morning and found it was still beside my pillow." Qing Zhu was really puzzled, her brows frowned, "I thought His Highness gave up on this plan, but who knows..."

Qingzhu breathed a sigh of relief.It seems that he realized the seriousness of the matter only at this time: "Who knows that His Highness not only entered the water according to the original plan, but also half a stick of incense earlier than the originally agreed time! I figured it out later, maybe His Highness really fell into the water by accident. into the water!"

Xiao Ling remained calm: "Then why didn't you save him when he entered the water? You have internal strength, and your lightness kung fu is not bad. Even if the river is rushing, you can still fish him up when he first enters the water."

Qingzhu wanted to answer, but Xiao Ling had no time to listen to his answer.

Or maybe, as smart as he is, he has already guessed the answer.

Ever since he met Xie Xuan, even if he didn't know it, in the eyes of others, Xiao Ling seemed to be a different person.

Faced with the hatred between the Xie royal family and the Xiao family, Xiao Ling was no longer firm, and even had to choose another more difficult path because of Xie Xuan many times.

Qingzhu saw all these.

Sometimes Qingzhu naively thinks, maybe Xiao Ling is suffering from these changes, hoping that someone will bring it back on track?

If the culprit disappears...

But Qingzhu could no longer think about it.

One thought.He looked at the endless river again, and his heart sank slowly.

However, the next moment, Qingzhu's pupils shrank, and in panic, she didn't even have time to call out Mr.

In the sight of several people, Xiao Ling dropped the sword "Kang Dang" and jumped into the river without looking back.

This movement alarmed several pairs of eyes hidden in the dark.Qin Ting's expression changed, as if he had guessed something, he put the umbrella into Ye Yi's hand, followed Xiao Ling closely, and jumped into the river with a plop.

Not long after, Feng Jiuyuan also discovered the change at this end.He raised his breath and flew away, regardless of the people around him, he got to the side of the turbulent water, stood on the tree trunk and searched for a few times. After seeing no familiar figure, he plunged into the water without hesitation.

The river flowed upstream, if Xie Xuan really fell into the water, he would either lose his strength and be washed away by the water, or sink to the bottom of the vast river.

He is at stake.

But in an instant, the river channel was like boiling water, and several dumplings poured down in succession.

Gu Shiqing was dumbfounded.

After listening to the whole process, he knew that today Xie Xuan might be more dangerous than good, he hesitated for a moment, he gritted his teeth and just took off his boots and wanted to plunge into the river, when suddenly a hand stretched out from behind and grabbed his collar violently .

Seeing who came, Gu Shiqing became angry: "It's you again!"

"They save people, so don't join in the fun." Ye Yi grabbed him by the neck and fished him back from the river bank. "Life and death depend on life and wealth."

"you!"

Ye Yi smiled, then suddenly looked at the rolling river, and murmured: "It is indeed fate."