"I also prepared a gift for Shen Zhi. Can I take it with me when I go back?" Xiao Luolan asked.
"This..." Lei Hu hesitated for a moment, then said truthfully: "I'm afraid I can't bring too many things, otherwise it will be inconvenient to go on the road and it will delay the trip."
"Lei Langjun doesn't need to be embarrassed, it's just a painting by a famous artist." Xiao Luolan took out a long and narrow wooden box from the study and handed it to Lei Hu.
Inside the wooden box was a famous painting of Jinling Heavy Snow from the previous dynasty. Unexpectedly, it was hidden in Jiangdu Palace. Xiao Luolan thought that Shen Zhi rarely traveled far when he was so old, so he wanted to give it to him.
Lei Hu took it this time and stuffed it into his arms. He patted his chest and assured: "This thing is okay." He thought about wrapping it with a rainproof tung oil cloth to prevent it from getting wet. This place in Jiangnan It's so weird to be innocent. It rains almost every other day. I don't usually see that much rain. It's so annoying. Lei Hu muttered to himself.
"Have a nice trip, Mr. Lei Lang." Xiao Luolan said with a smile.
Lei Hu also laughed. He clasped his fists at his mistress and strode away. In his arms were two letters written by his lord to the young master the day before yesterday. They were also top priority and must not be thrown away.
After Lei Hu left, Xiao Luolan thought of Luo Langjun and Doctor Li. They had also left. There were quite a few people leaving during this period.
Returning to the study again, Xiao Luolan took out the customs clearance document from Youzhou, and then went to Tongle Palace. Early this morning, Xun Langjun came with Lu Jiashan and Lu Langjun, accompanied by people from Chuzhou. Mrs. Di, Xiao Luolan still respects these people, not to mention that Mrs. Di went to Huiyi where it was difficult.
Master Di is known as a longevity layman. Although Xiao Luolan doesn't know the exact age, the old man in front of him has a long white beard that hangs down to his chest. It is the longest beard Xiao Luolan has ever seen. He looks like an Antarctic fairy. The old man The face is rosy, the eyes are bright, and the voice is loud.
Xiao Luolan quickly asked someone to sit down. Knowing what they wanted this time, he handed them the customs clearance document. Without this, they would not even be able to cross the border.
"Thank you, Princess." Changshou layman was very bitter and resentful in his early years. In his old age, he has become very peaceful, even kind and kind. He said to the Princess: "My little disciple is useless. When he was studying by my side, he only One thing that can be said is that he is very hard-working and conscientious, and he admires the culture of the Central Plains. When he returns to Yicheng, I will give him a good guide and make sure there is no time for Youzhou to return to Yi."
Xiao Luolan took care of the old man. In the afternoon, the old man left, saying that he would leave for Yiyi in three days.
Master Di smiled as he watched his beloved disciple Lu Jiashan say goodbye to Langjun Xun, and they met by chance. Langjun Xun was unexpectedly warm-hearted. Master Di looked away and returned to the inn where he was staying.
A group of students came to serve their teacher one after another. Finally, Mr. Di served tea and looked at the students around him. Seeing the nervous anticipation in the eyes of the students, he took a sip of tea, waved his sleeves and said with a smile: "Customs clearance document." We have it, and we will leave for Huiyi in three days."
Everyone present was overjoyed, and some people couldn't bear it and blurted out: "When we get to Brother Liang, will we be able to become officials?"
Lu Jiashan said: "Be careful, we are here to help King Huiyi restore the harmony between the two places."
"Okay, you guys go back first, I'm tired." Old Master Di said. After everyone left, Lu Jiashan stayed to serve his mentor.
Master Di was sitting on the bed, and Lu Jiashan skillfully brought a wooden basin to soak his teacher's feet. His teacher was old, his wife died young, and he had no children. He was half of his teacher's son.
Master Di suddenly sighed and touched his beloved disciple's hair: "Actually, what Ziyou said is right. I'm taking you there because I want to find a way to become an official. Returning to Yiyi is remote and talents are withering. In a few years, It is decided to be under the rule of Youzhou. I think Zhou Youzhou is quite a heroic leader. If I can..." Old Master Di was silent for a few breaths and then said: "If you work hard later, you will definitely be promoted, so you must do your best in the early stage."
"A moment of suffering is better than a lifetime of suffering. The teacher is incompetent and has a shallow reputation. He cannot recommend you to become an official. The villagers have no one to help you. You can only rely on yourselves." Old Master Di said.
Unknowingly, Lu Jiashan's eyes were red. His mentor was not a world-famous scholar, and he did not have a prominent family background. He was just a country clerk and came from a poor family. He was also the same.
Mr. Di laughed and scolded: "You cry just after saying a few words. You are too hopeless."
"When you arrive at Huiyi, just rest. As long as the disciples are here, you will not suffer. You will enjoy your old age just like you did in Dijia Village." Lu Jiashan knelt on the ground and swore.
"Okay, get up." Old Master Di smiled and pulled his disciple up: "Liang Xing, no, A Rilang, then I will lobby, and I will not let you suffer."
"It just so happened that the world was about to be disrupted. Chuzhou Mu had ordered a war against Guangling, and the prefectures and counties were under martial law. We finally got to Guangling and obtained the document. When we got to Huiyi, we could avoid the war, which was good. ." Old Master Di said happily.
Lu Jiashan helped Master Zhe to sleep. After closing the doors and windows, he looked at the gray clouds in the sky, his expression gradually becoming determined.
On the other side, Xiao Luolan unexpectedly saw someone.
"Amu, when did you come back?" Xiao Luolan was in the garden and suddenly saw Amu. She was a little surprised and asked with a smile.
"I just came back yesterday." Tuoba Mu showed a shy smile. He was wearing a crimson round-neck robe today and carried a scimitar at his waist. He had been with Cao Heilong these days and was familiar with the navy's fighting methods. By the way, he met Jin General Ben Jin studied.
"Oh, sit down then." Xiao Luolan asked Amu to sit in the small pavilion: "After you pruned the garden last time, the flowers and plants grew much better than before."
Xiao Luolan is quite fond of this young man Amu.
"I heard that Qingxue won the chariot race yesterday." Tuoba Mu said nervously. This was the first time he called Mrs. Xiao Qingxue in front of his mistress.
"Yes, I also won a gold trophy. I can't put it down." Xiao Luolan slowly blinked his eyes and said with a smile.
"That's good." Tuoba Mu lowered his eyelashes: "Qingxue won the competition. As a half-brother, I also want to give her a gift."
Xiao Luolan felt that the child was sweating nervously. You must know that it was cloudy today.
Just then, Xiao Qingxue came over to find A-Niang, and saw A-Mu, who was rarely seen, and said hello.
Xiao Luolan thought Amu would mention the gift, but unexpectedly, when his daughter came, he stopped mentioning it.
Xiao Qingxue was very energetic after sleeping well, her cheeks were white and rosy, and her bright eyes were shining: "Mom, I'm going out to eat tonight."
"Where to go?" Xiao Luolan asked.
"Go to a restaurant with Shiliu to eat in the north of the city." Xiao Qingxue said. She sat next to A'niang and asked, "Amu, do you want to go together?"
Tuoba Amu suppressed his heartbeat, his blue eyes were filled with thoughts of wanting to go, but his expression was confused: "But Mr. Juliusi, will he be unhappy if he sees me?"
"No, it's just a meal." Xiao Qingxue felt that this was a bit strange, and without thinking about it, she assured loudly.
"Then remember to come back early." Xiao Luolan warned, then went to the garden next to water the flowers.
Xiao Qingxue felt her throat was dry, so she took a pear from the fruit plate and ate it.
Suddenly I felt the wind blowing.
She looked around and found that the fan she had brought was held by Amu in his hand. He was fanning her quietly. When he looked at her, he lowered his eyes uncomfortably, and suddenly smiled at her.
Xiao Qingxue paused while eating the pear, not wanting to admit that she was shocked by Amu's beauty.
Under the cloudy sky and dark clouds, Amu's clothes were extremely eye-catching, not to mention the contrasting colors of his body. His skin color was very white, his long dark blond hair, dark blue eyes, and crimson robes. His smile at this moment made Xiao Qingxue feel like a gorgeous flower.
Strange, why does Amu like to wear red clothes? Xiao Qingxue thought a little dizzy. She remembered that Amu's clothes used to be very old and gray, and he was as inconspicuous as him. No, he was wearing red clothes once.
In my mind, I vaguely remember when was the first time Amu wore Feiyi in such a warm color? Xiao Qingxue couldn't remember it, and found that Amu's demeanor seemed to be better. He no longer bowed his head like before, and seemed to talk a little more...
"I heard from Shiliu that Ge Shenxian once wanted to marry you on behalf of his son." Tuoba Amu pressed his fingers on the scabbard of the scimitar and felt the coolness of the scabbard, but was soon warmed by the warmth of his palm.
"It's all the nonsense of an old liar. I won't get married." Xiao Qingxue wrinkled her nose when she thought of this: "My father and mother will not agree."
"It's all good, Amu, don't say these disappointing things." Xiao Qingxue said dissatisfied.
"Okay." Tuoba Amu followed the good example and thought that that person would never appear in front of you.
Xiao Qingxue smiled and said: "Amu, you look good in red clothes. Wear them more in the future."
Tuoba Amu looked at Madam Xiao's smile. Madam Xiao must have forgotten that on her birthday two years ago, he also wore a scarlet robe. At that time, Madam Xiao also laughed and said that he wore a red robe. nice.
But it’s okay, Tuoba Amu thought, Miss Xiao has forgotten, maybe Miss Xiao will still praise him when they meet next time.
Tuoba Amu already felt that he was favored by gods and Buddhas for being liked by Madam Xiao with a look like his.
"I will also wear red clothes later."
"Would it be better to wear a skirt or a robe?" Xiao Qingxue was confused: "How about you choose for me."
Tuoba Amu listened quietly to Madam Xiao's words, and looked at Madam Xiao with her green eyes without blinking.
Xiao Qingxue stopped talking and suddenly leaned forward and looked into Amu's eyes.
The calmness on Tuoba Amu's face was finally broken, and his cheeks quickly turned red.
"Amu, your eye color..."
Tuoba Amu's heart tightened, he held the handle of the knife and pursed his lips, keeping silent.
"It really looks like the sky." Xiao Qingxue waited until Amu turned red, then said with a smile: "It's beautiful."
Tuoba Amu waited for Madam Xiao to see the flowers in the garden, and then slowly let go of the hand holding the knife. When the wind blew, sweat started to form on his back.
Only those eyes were still looking at Madam Xiao's side face stubbornly and longingly.
Chapter 243
Zhou Xu sat in the rocking chair, looking at the pouring rain in the courtyard, and looked up at the sky as if feeling something. The rain was particularly heavy tonight, or in other words, Jiangnan has always been a rainy place.
The water network is dense and the waterways are crisscrossed. Once it sinks in, it will be a dead end for the cavalry who always fights on horseback. Should it be said that God is also helping him? This summer has been particularly rainy.
He looked back at the map in the study, starting from Guangling, Xuanzhou, Chuzhou, Luzhou, Yuzhou, Luoyang, Fengzhou, Sizhou, and finally settled on Xuzhou. Zhou Xu was sure that Wei Yanshan was in Xuzhou.
Xuzhou has always been a battleground for military strategists, and it is also the strategic focus of the Yellow and Huaihe Rivers. The waterway is extremely developed. It occupies Xuzhou. To the west, you can enter Luoyang and Chang'an, to the northwest is the land of Youzhou, and to the south is the Huaihe River, which is connected to the Yangtze River. , the water system on the south side of the Yangtze River has an inexplicable relationship with them. It must be the important military town in the south. To defend the river, you must defend the Huaihe River, and to defend the Huaihe River, you must defend the Xu Province. At this moment, he has made a hole in the Huaihe River defense line. Wei Yanshan must be there. Go to Xuzhou to guard, and Xuzhou has an excellent geographical location. This area has always been occupied by Wei Yanshan, which is also a great hidden danger for Youzhou.
Soon, the poisonous snake will show his fangs.
Zhou Xu never thought that Wei Yanshan was someone who was just waiting to be killed. Just as he had heavy armored cavalry, Wei Yanshan had heavy armored infantry and elite naval forces to restrain him. A temporary victory did not mean anything. Zhou Xu had always understood This principle.
In the past two days, he had set up a dense defense line in the waters in the direction of Xuzhou, just to wait for him, but he didn't know who would win.
When Xiao Luolan came over holding an umbrella, she saw the slightly gloomy and cold expression of Zhou Zongzhu under the rain eaves. She lightly carried her skirt and stepped onto the steps. She placed the oil-paper umbrella next to the pillar with water vapor still on her body: "Zhou Lang, it’s time for dinner.”
"It's raining so heavily, Qingxue and the others really went out to eat?" Zhou Xu regained his mind and thought about the fact that his daughter must go out to eat with Shiliu and the others.
"Already gone by carriage." Xiao Luolan said.
"Okay, just come back early." Zhou Xu stood up and asked with concern: "Do you have anyone with you?"
"Take it with you. There are more than a dozen guards around her, as well as Yu Xin, He Jin, Amu and the others." Xiao Luolan curled her lips and smiled.
Zhou Xu picked up the umbrella and walked into the rain with his wife. The oil-paper umbrella tilted slightly towards his wife. Xiao Luolan told the Zhou clan leader about the arrival of Master Di, and also talked about the Lian family's eldest son's request for an official position.
In the verandah.
Xiao Luolan was a little surprised when she talked about the Lian family's eldest son: "I didn't expect that the Lian family was also responsible for salt and iron in Fengzhou before."
"There is nothing more profitable than salt and iron in the world. His family is a famous wealthy family." Zhou Xu originally did not intend to let Wang Zhi be in charge of this important position, but the old man is really sensible. As the first person to surrender, Zhou Xu still I didn't want to appear too ruthless, so I kept him temporarily. The eldest son of the Lian family had this intention. After the examination, if everything satisfies him, he would promote him.
Zhou Xuzheng was talking to his wife when he heard the sound of armor clashing from the verandah.
Xiao Luolan looked forward at the same time.
Jin Ben strode over with rain all over him. The rain on his helmet flowed down his eyebrows and cheeks. His light gray eyes shot out a cold and fierce light in the dark night. He said in a deep voice: "My lord, Pang Pengjun from Xuzhou is here." To attack, we have already repaired the military base along the way, and more than a thousand ships are sailing down the river, approaching the Huaihe River. At the end of the day, the general asked for orders to lead the army to attack."
Although Zhou Xu had expected this, he looked at the continuous rain between the sky and the earth and said how brave he was.
During heavy rains, the river surges, and the rain obscures the view, making it difficult to march. In such bad weather, big waves may capsize the warship. Wei Yanshan's choice of surprise attack will definitely have miraculous results.
"Bring Cao Heilong with you." Zhou Xu: "I'll be with you."
Xiao Luolan had long been mentally prepared for a war. After all, Sect Leader Zhou and Duke Wei were almost at odds with each other, but when this moment came, she still felt a little nervous.
"The three states of Chu, Lu, and Guangzhou that are close to Guangling have also made changes in recent days. When the movement comes out tonight, they must be trying to form horns with those three states to encircle Guangling." Zhou Xu said: "I have sent Yi Fan, Tian Jian and others are keeping an eye on them, and there is Xu Huaichu and Tuoba Mu guarding Guangling, so Madam can rest assured."
Xiao Luolan was not ignorant of the importance, so he nodded and said: "I'm fine, the military situation is urgent, you go quickly."
Jin Ben said goodbye to his mistress, and Zhou Xu left with him.
Xiao Luolan watched the heavy rain for a while and saw that it was getting heavier and heavier. She stopped and sat on the balcony of the corridor. There was a wet oil paper umbrella at hand. The raindrops gathered into small circles and soaked the hem of her skirt. It was getting bigger and bigger. Xiao Luolan lowered her head and gathered the skirt of her skirt together, thinking that she had cooked too much dinner today and she couldn't eat it alone.
