"What are you so happy about?"
Song Xin stood up after hearing the sound and was delighted to see the clan leader coming to visit him. There was another person following behind the clan leader.
"cousin!?"
The person who followed the clan leader turned out to be Song Ya's cousin whom he hadn't seen for many years. When they were young, they often played together, going down the river to catch crabs and turtles, and teasing katydids. They were the two of them who had the best relationship in the clan. When he heard the news that Song Xin had been beheaded, Song Ya was also hurt for a long time.
Later, his father quietly told him that Song Xin was still alive and living in seclusion in the mountains. Song Ya was overjoyed and would come to visit him soon.
When the two brothers met, Song Ya walked up quickly, hugged Song Xin tightly, laughed and patted Song Xin on the shoulder, "Haha, it turns out it's really you. When the patriarch mentioned it, I didn't believe it. Your appearance changed. It’s too big. Even if you go back now, don’t talk about me anymore. I’m afraid your mother-in-law won’t recognize you.”
The patriarch said: "Yes, this change is like a different person. When he came to me that night, I didn't believe it either."
"Haha, okay, okay, as long as everything is fine. I said, you kid, you are so carefree here with green water, green mountains, flowers and birds!" Song Ya looked at the scenery here with a little envy.
"Isn't it impossible to go back to the village? My cousin has changed a lot. He looks much stronger."
Song Xin felt tears welling up in her eyes. Since arriving in this era, no one has cared so much about her. Seeing that Song Ya has long lost his childishness, several years of military service have made him grow into a strong man. His originally fair face has also been tanned, and there are a few extra scars, which silently tell the story of his past few years. years of experience.
After welcoming the two of them into the house, the two brothers asked each other about recent events, and finally talked about Song Xin's father.
When Song Ya mentioned this matter, he said with a look of resentment: "I also had doubts about how a loyal and upright person like Uncle Song Jin could escape from the battlefield and harm his family. It was probably Song Chou who framed him."
"So I want to check, cousin, can I go south with the army with you?"
Song Ya said: "This is not difficult, but there is someone else with us this time. I'm afraid you don't want to see him."
Song Xin frowned, "Who?"
"Wei Qi."
Hearing this name, Song Xin frowned. If Wei Qi was in the team, there was no guarantee that Liu Jing would not be there. He asked in a deep voice, "What is he doing at the front line?"
"To tell you the truth, the superiors wanted to promote Wei Qi to an official position, but he still lacked some military merit. Therefore, the county magistrate recommended him to accompany the army on the southern expedition. But I heard that Wei Qi was unwilling to go, so he kept delaying it. Until the front line was tight recently, he I just had to go.”
"Then who else follows him?"
Song Ya thought for a moment and said, "They should be some guards and maids."
Song Xin was silent for a moment, thinking that this was too coincidental.
"Cousin, my figure and appearance have changed a lot from before. If you put some black ash on my face, you can find me a soldier's clothes. Wei Qi will not think that I am back."
Song Ya said: "Well, your appearance is indeed a bit conspicuous now and you need to dress up. Why don't you pretend to be one of my soldiers. You stay here for a while, and when I finish collecting food, we will set off to Jingzhou."
...
On a cold morning in early winter, outside the khaki city wall of Juancheng County, Yanzhou, a team of people was busy making final preparations before departure.
Song Xin was carefully transformed into an ordinary soldier's leather armor, a sheepskin waistcoat, and a soldier's turban. A layer of ash was also painted on his face to cover his skin color. Even if Wei Qi stood in front of him and looked at him, he would most likely not recognize him.
The only thing he was worried about was Liu Jing. Liu Jing knew his own Qi characteristics very clearly.
Following Song Ya to the outside of the city, he saw that in addition to soldiers and civilians, many prisoners were also taken outside the city by the jailers. Song Xin even recognized several prisoners who had been in prison together.
The green flag of the grain escort team was raised, the flag officer beat the waist drum, and all the civilian husbands and soldiers who were saying goodbye to their families gathered together and formed a column. Those who escorted the carts escorted the carts, and those who drove the cattle drove the cattle. The head of the Song clan patted Song Xin and Song Ya on the shoulders and said, "You go quickly, it's not too late."
The two nodded and turned back to the group. At this time, Song Ya whispered, "As long as you follow the grain team this time, it won't be hard. Most of the soldiers guarding the grain are my partners for many years. They will also take care of you and won't reveal your identity."
"Thank you, cousin Song Ya, I really trouble you this time."
"Hey, we are all brothers, why should we be so polite? You just sit on the cart. When the car is parked to rest, you only need to help everyone move food and grass, and help pick up some firewood to make food." Song Ya said.
"Shall we leave now?"
Song Ya shook his head, "We still have to wait for Wei Qi."
At this moment, Song Ya looked towards the city gate, where a dozen horses came out, followed by two cars. The leader was a young man in his twenties, who could it be if he wasn't Wei Qi.
In the past two years, Wei Qi's figure has grown stronger and taller, and he is dressed like a son of a wealthy noble family. There is just a hint of decadence between the eyebrows, which is the unique temperament of people who drink too much.
His face is painted white, his lips are cherry red, and he wears a leather hat. Wearing a black robe and a warm bearskin robe. Under the gorgeous saddle hang precious carved bows and arrows and arrow kettles.
Many pedestrians on the roadside knew him and gave way to them.
"Where is the team lead?" One of his guards asked loudly as the guard's horse stopped in front of the motorcade.
Song Ya hurriedly stepped forward, bowed respectfully and said, "Song Ya, the villain, is the leader of the team this time. I have met Mr. Wei."
Wei Qi did not dismount his horse, raised his eyebrows, pointed at Song Ya with his riding crop and said, "Well, you belong to the Song family? You have to serve me well along the way. I will reward you well when we get to Jingzhou."
"Thank you, sir."
Wei Qi nodded slightly as a return gesture, clamped his legs under the horse's belly, and the horse slowly left.
Song Xin's memories of the past suddenly came to mind, and her body froze involuntarily. He didn't even take the initiative to avoid Wei Qi and his party. Song Ya's quick eyesight and quick hands pulled him to the side of the road, and Song Xin finally woke up from a dream.
The guard on the horse made a contemptuous sound, and the group walked to the back of the group. When Wei Qi passed by Song Xin, he didn't even look at Song Xin, obviously not suspicious.
"I wonder what happened to Tuoye?" Seeing Wei Qi, Song Xin's heart still twisted when he thought about what happened in Tuoye's room the night he escaped.
"Why isn't Liu Jing with him?" Song Xin didn't dare to use his spiritual consciousness to investigate. He was also worried that if Liu Jing was nearby, his spiritual consciousness would be exposed. If Liu Jing didn't have to investigate carefully, he probably wouldn't have thought that he was among the team.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Song Ya pressed the hilt of his knife with one hand, stepped onto the tall car with a vigorous step, waved to everyone, and signaled to set off.
The flag bearers and drummers of the leading and trailing cars also waved flags and beat drums in response. Immediately afterwards, the large group of people lined up in an orderly manner and began to move forward slowly.
Song Xin was sitting on a large car, looking at the road in front of her. It was gray, but she didn't know where the end was.
The group of Wei Qi behind them burst into laughter from time to time. Don't know what you are talking about. A woman's voice came from the cart, and everyone realized that the young man had brought two concubines with him to the front line.
The two women talked and laughed along the way, not at all nervous about going to the front line. For them, being able to accompany the young master on this trip would give them more opportunities to get close to Wei Qi than the remaining women at home.
In the distance, Yu Ji's figure stood alone on the top of a mountain. He looked at the flow of people down the mountain, sighed slightly, and looked up at the sky.
"Inside, it's a prison. But when you come out, it's still a prison... Song Xin, just take care of yourself."
