Nightfall
Xi Duanhong put on her outer robe and came to sit in the garden of the pavilion. The evening breeze blew over her face, her green hair moved with the wind, and she looked at the night sky in a daze.
Under the moonlight, Xi Duanhong's body seemed to be covered with silver brilliance, which was particularly dazzling but seemed a little lonely.
Zhou Xu happened to come out of the courtyard of the back house. He saw Xi Duanhong admiring the moon in the pavilion and couldn't help but stop.
"Miss, it's late at night, why don't you fall asleep?"
Xi Duanhong's sudden thoughts were interrupted by Zhou Xu's greeting. He raised his eyes and looked at the visitor, "You can't sleep and go out for a walk. Are you still used to living here?"
"Thank you for remembering me, Miss. It's good for me to be here."
Xi Duanhong then looked up and said, "Zhou Xu, I want you to do me a favor."
"Miss, please tell me."
"Xu Zhi was sent by me to collect clues about Mr. Nan. Please help me find a girl named Le Feng. I want to know her background."
Zhou Xu understood that this matter could not be settled like this. The impact of being wrongfully imprisoned by Tan Yanxian was not good after all, not to mention that she was a woman. If she faced this crime in the future, she would not even be able to get married. Easy to do
"The lady is innocent. Those who are innocent don't have to worry about it."
Xi Duanhong smiled and shook his head, "I'm not worried about this. I don't know what's wrong with me. I miss him so much when I don't see him for a day. I just hope that I can be by his side every day to share his burdens."
"?"
Zhou Xu looked confused. Did the lady have a sweetheart? Are you afraid of getting lovesick? I haven't seen anyone come to meet the lady these days.
"Stop talking, I'm going back. You should rest early."
Xi Duanhong stood up and left, but the lonely back made Zhou Xu's heart twitch. Although they had only known each other for a few days, he could feel that he was with the right person, but such a girl should not be treated like this. frame
When Xi Duanhong returned to the room, he did not fall asleep. Instead, he took out the waist tag that Ouyang Zhu had given her when she was at the Ji Xin Pavilion. He stroked the fine patterns on the waist tag. She still couldn't help but miss him.
At the moment when tears fell, Xi Duanhong could no longer bear what he was thinking, rushed out of the room and out of the house, and went straight to the Pavilion for Sacrifice.
Xu Zhi, who was ordered to secretly protect Xi Duanhong, didn't know why he followed her immediately, but found that she was heading towards the Sacrificial Concubine Pavilion. He suddenly became even more puzzled: why did the young lady run out on her own in the middle of the night, and also towards the Sacrifice Concubine Pavilion? run in the direction of
Xi Duanhong's running figure gradually faded away under the moonlight, and the thin shawl on his body also disappeared. Three thousand green hairs fluttered in the wind, like a beautiful scene in a clear ink painting.
Xu Zhi followed her and helped her pick up the thin shawl that she had dropped. Although he knew that she was going to the Sacrifice Pavilion, it was night and he still followed quietly behind her uneasy and escorted her to the door of the Sacrifice Pavilion.
Xi Duanhong had lost all her shoes while running, and her feet were covered in mud, blistered, and bruised. Blood followed her footsteps and remained behind her like brightly blooming flowers.
Xu Zhi followed and exclaimed: Is this the legendary Bubu Shenghua?
Xi Duanhong came outside Xiyang Hall, and the steps on his feet suddenly became heavy: What if the master does not accept him, what if the master is not interested in him, what if the master...
"Xi, Miss Xi?"
Xi Duanhong's nervous thoughts were interrupted by the voice in front of her. She looked up somewhat dullly at the person who came, it was Chen Shuli. Then she bypassed him and looked directly at the man standing behind him. Xi Duanhong's tears It can't stop flowing anymore
Chen Shuli was greatly shocked by the scene in front of him. Just when he was about to ask, he saw a figure flying past his ear, and Xi Duanhong rushed towards Ouyang Zhu.
Don't push me away, please, don't push me away!
Xi Duanhong suddenly threw himself into Ouyang Zhu's arms and hugged him tightly. Ouyang Zhu was obviously caught off guard by what happened in front of him.
Chen Shuli left here knowingly and wisely, leaving enough space for the two of them.
Seeing the person in his arms crying into tears, he also noticed the injury on Xi Duanhong's feet: Did this silly girl just run here barefoot?
"Does it hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt, sir, I, I..."
"No need to say it," Ouyang Zhu said, picking him up with one hand and kissing him: how could he bear such feelings?
Xi Duanhong put his hands around Ouyang Zhu's neck and responded to him tenderly. Her tears were sweet. She could clearly feel that she made the right bet, she succeeded, and there is a place for her in the adults' hearts. No matter how big or small, as long as you have a place and can be by his side, you will be content.
Ouyang Zhu carried her into the house and put her on the bed. He took the medicine box and covered her feet with distress, and carefully applied medicine to her.
"Why come here."
"I don't want to have any regrets. That day when your lord asked me if I knew how to choose a good tree to live on, I understood my intention. Since I have chosen this good tree, lord, I have determined that you are my wise king. That will never change.”
"What a silly girl." As he spoke, Ouyang Zhu had already helped Xi Duanhong tie gauze on the injury on his foot. "Don't go barefoot again. I'll feel bad if you get hurt."
Xi Duanhong looked at Ouyang Zhu and burst into tears, put his hand on his shoulders and pressed his forehead with a smile: "It won't happen again in the future, I promise."
Then in the middle of the night, the lights in Xiyang Hall were still brightly lit, and Ouyang Zhu accompanied Xi Duanhong to enjoy the moon in the courtyard.
"Tomorrow I will go to court and ask His Majesty to send you to Jiangnan for inspection. Will you blame me?"
Xi Duanhong shook his head. She knew the general situation and knew how to advance and retreat. At the same time, being able to go to Jiangnan would be of great help to her in investigating the Xu family. "Since this is the arrangement, you have your own reasons. Why should I blame you? ?”
The tender skin caressing Xi Duanhong's face was so soft that Ouyang Zhu felt reluctant to let go. Suddenly Ouyang Zhu remembered something, "Girl, when you get to Jiangnan, be sure not to rush to investigate the Xu family. Your Majesty just sent someone there today, if you continue to investigate after him, something might happen."
"What do you say, sir?"
"Xu Lingxiang listened to Tan Yanxian's suggestion and asked His Majesty to send Gu Ziang to inspect Jiangnan and serve as temporary governor. You know what kind of person Gu Ziang is."
Xi Duanhong nodded. She had seen it on the recorded scroll, "I know that this person is the most cunning and changeable, greedy for petty gains, and suspicious of others."
"Yes, who are the Xu family? With Xu Lingxiang as a backer, accepting bribes is not normal. So you know how this trip will go, right?"
"Don't worry, sir, I won't act rashly."
"This time when you go to Jiangnan, take Qian Shengxue with you, as well as Ji Yu and Xu Zhi. If you want to take any of the eight people with you, you can take them with you, but remember to leave four of them for you. Guard the house.”
"Okay, I understand."
——
When he went to court the next day, Ouyang Zhu told Emperor Jingyuan of his method. Emperor Jingyuan was overjoyed and immediately issued an edict and agreed to the suggestion of the imperial master. This matter made the Empress Dowager's party very dissatisfied, but they were unable to do anything.
Xi Duanhong managed to escape from the crowd and followed Ouyang Shu, "Sir, these people are so adaptable to the wind, how can this Daqi prosper for a long time?"
"The forty-nine states of Shabu are now divided. One is calling for war and the other is calling for peace. Daqi is already in crisis. It is only a matter of time before a war begins. The world will soon be in chaos. It is as difficult as the sky to save the country in such troubled times."
"What's more, the old sand king passed away soon, and the one who started the war between the two countries was Xu Lingxiang who is now in Kyoto."
Xi Duanhong was puzzled, "But it's a bit wrong to say that. If it was Xu Lingxiang who instigated it, then for what reason, ah! Could it be?"
Ouyang Zhu nodded to signal her not to speak, turned around and saluted the visitor, "I see you, Your Highness, the Crown Prince."
Xi Duanhong followed the example and said, "Xi Duanhong comes to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Mu Lingye looked at the two of them condescendingly, "I heard from my third brother that this female official is a rare talent. From today on, you," Mu Lingye pointed at Xi Duanhong and said disdainfully, "follow me. Your Highness."
Before Xi Duanhong could react, he saw Mu Lingye walking towards him.
Just when Mu Lingye was about to walk in front of Xi Duanhong, Ouyang Zhu stood in front of Xi Duanhong, bowed and saluted: "Your Highness, Miss Xi will be sent to Jiangnan for inspection from now on, not to mention all the talented people in the world. Everyone should be loyal to His Majesty rather than an individual, do you think so?"
Mu Lingye looked at Ouyang Zhu impatiently, "Is the Imperial Master teaching us how to do things in this palace?"
"I dare not and will not advise His Highness, let alone teach His Highness how to do things. I am just discussing the matter. Your Highness is now the crown prince, and everyone in the world will be loyal to you sooner or later. Why are you so eager?"
"Then, will the Imperial Master also be loyal to this palace?"
The inexplicable sense of oppression between the two made Xi Duanhong feel uncomfortable. Can such a prince really hold on to this country? Nowadays, people who are troubled internally and externally are still fighting internally. Daqi is afraid that he is really going to be terminally ill. Medicine and stone can cure
"When the Crown Prince succeeds to the throne, I will naturally be loyal to His Highness. I also ask Your Highness not to embarrass the female officials at this moment."
Mu Lingye snorted coldly, "Su Cheng will not give you any chance. Don't think that we don't know the meaning of the imperial master's request to let the female officials go to Jiangnan. If you want to check and balance the harem, you are still too young."
Ouyang Zhu understood the implication of Mu Lingye's words. He cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness. I will take my leave first."
Just as the two were about to leave, Mu Lingye stopped them again, "Master Imperial Master, let's go first. I and Miss Xi still have something to say."
Xi Duanhong knew that she couldn't escape, so she simply accepted it openly, "Then, Master Imperial Master, please leave first. I will talk to His Highness."
The two watched the Imperial Master leave, and then Mu Lingye looked at Xi Duanhong, "Let's go," Miss Xi said as she walked.
