Shengyuguan, Shouchang County.
It was almost evening, and the Long Knife Corps command post located near the west gate of the county town looked particularly peaceful and peaceful against the backdrop of the setting sun.
Cheng Kaiyang, the new commander-in-chief of the Long Sword Legion and the hereditary Duke of Zhenguo, is sitting in his study at the moment, leisurely playing with a bloodstone seal.
The housekeeper walked slowly into the room and said softly: "To report to the Duke, Captain Gao Yongmeng of the Left Patrol Battalion of the Changdao Army is asking for an audience. He said that he has an urgent military report."
"Emergency military information? What urgent military information?" Cheng Kaiyang muttered, but his eyes did not leave the bloodstone seal at all: "It's almost time for dinner, and there is still military information to report? Could it be the Turks calling? La?"
The housekeeper chuckled and said jokingly: "Who says it's not the case? I just told Captain Gao the same thing. Besides, the Duke is ready to have dinner, so why can't we talk about it tomorrow? But, Lieutenant Gao seemed to be very anxious and unwilling to wait any longer. And..."
Cheng Kaiyang raised his hand and held the soapstone seal high above his head. Reflecting the soft and bright sunlight, he carefully looked at the changes in the texture of the stone and asked, "And what?"
"And... there are blood stains on him." The housekeeper replied softly.
"Is there blood? Did he fight with someone else?" Cheng Kaiyang put down the seal after hearing this: "Did Gao Yongmeng say specifically what happened?"
The housekeeper shook his head: "No, Captain Gao only said that it was an urgent military situation. It was of great importance. He couldn't tell anyone. He had to report it directly to the Duke."
Cheng Kaiyang said softly, and couldn't help but feel a little confused. Gao Yongmeng was one of the twelve officers who was specially placed in the left camp of the Changdao Army after he took over as the commander-in-chief of the Changdao Army. He could be regarded as his own spy, specializing in understanding various news and changes in the army. Today, Lieutenant Gao came to see him in a hurry. It must be something unusual.
Cheng Kaiyang nodded: "Then... just ask him to wait for me in the meeting hall. Come on, bring me the official robe."
The butler said he would obey, turned and left. Cheng Kaiyang, being served by two servants, while changing into his official robe, secretly pondered in his mind what big event had happened.
While I was busy, a maid hurried from the back house to the study and said out of breath: "Master, something serious has happened. Lady Xiaolian just fainted!"
"What's going on?" Cheng Kaiyang was shocked when he heard this. He pushed away the servant who was buttoning his lapel in front and said anxiously: "Weren't you fine at noon? Why did you suddenly faint? Did you call the doctor?"
The maid hurriedly replied: "I don't know what happened. Just now, Madam Xiaolian was chatting with us about home affairs. Suddenly she clutched her chest and cried out in pain, and then she fainted. The doctor had rushed to treat her, but the lady didn't. I woke up completely, and now I am calling Master in a daze."
The Lady Xiaolian the maid was talking about was the concubine Cheng Kaiyang had just taken a while ago. She is young and beautiful, with a voluptuous figure. She is especially good at bed kung fu. With her charming methods, she makes the old Duke Cheng, who is over fifty years old, comfortable and youthful. He does not even complain about the hardships of being stationed at the border.
Therefore, Cheng Kaiyang also loved her very much.
At this moment, when he heard that his beloved concubine had contracted an illness for no reason and was so painful that she passed out, Cheng Kaiyang suddenly became confused. He turned around and ordered his servants: "Go ahead and tell Gao Yongmeng to wait." After that, he ran towards the back hall.
Cheng Guogong rushed to the dormitory at a rapid pace, panting heavily. He first ordered the dozen or so elite guards following him to stay outside and wait, and then he rushed into the house in three steps at a time.
At this time, in addition to Lady Xiaolian on the couch, there was also a doctor and two maids in the room. When the three saw the Duke coming in, they hurriedly saluted.
Lady Xiaolian had just woken up. She lay on her back on the soft couch and said feebly: "You all go out for now. I have something to say to the master."
When the doctor and the maids heard this, they quickly obeyed and left the room.
Cheng Kaiyang lifted up his official robe, leaned down and sat on the edge of the couch, first stretched out his hand to feel the temperature of his beautiful concubine's forehead, and then asked with concern: "My little beauty, what's wrong with you? Why do you feel so good all of a sudden that your heart hurts? ?How is it? Do you feel better now?"
The beautiful concubine Xiaolian struggled to sit up and said with half-closed eyes: "Master, I have something important that I want to tell you."
"What important thing has to be said now? Lie down quickly." Cheng Kaiyang complained distressedly.
"No, we must say it now." The beautiful concubine leaned forward again, almost face to face, and breathed into Cheng Kaiyang's ear: "Master, do you know? The reason why I am here with you, I serve you with all my heart, but I am actually here on command.”
Cheng Kaiyang was confused when he heard this: "Ah? By order? Whose order?"
Lady Xiaolian suddenly opened her eyes wide, and a sharp light shot out from her beautiful eyes. She covered Cheng Kaiyang's mouth with her left hand, and stabbed a sharp dagger into Cheng Kaiyang's chest with her right hand.
At the same time, he laughed softly and said: "By order of Beiya Nilin Division!"
-
After several days of arduous trek, Li Jiangyao finally walked out of the vast mountains and entered the realm of Shengtang along the path pointed by the herb collector.
The dangers along the way are really hard to explain to outsiders.
He was in danger of losing his footing and falling down a mountain stream twice in a row. Three times, he was faced with sudden changes in weather and heavy snowfall. He almost died in the mountain and could not survive. Another time, he bumped into a beautiful tiger in the dense forest. If it weren't for the stars, The fallen knife in his hand almost became the beast's dinner; the night before leaving the mountain, he was bitten by a poisonous snake while sleeping. Fortunately, he took out the detoxification pill from his bag in time and took it, otherwise he would have returned to his hometown.
In this way, Li Jiangyao trudged forward in the mountains, leaving special marks along the way and carefully drawing the marching route map without any carelessness.
After walking and resting, until the mountain road under his feet gradually became gentle, he suddenly realized that after going through many difficulties and dangers, he finally returned to his homeland after a long absence.
Before setting off, Li Jiangyao had thought many times about what kind of celebration he would use to express his feelings when he returned to Shengtang. Want to cheer loudly? Want to kiss the earth? Want to get excited? Want to confide in the first person you meet?
However, when he really walked out of the mountains and set foot on the vast land of Shengtang, he did nothing.
Peace was the only feeling he felt at this time.
Do you need to feel a little emotional? Li Jiangyao thought that being so calm was a bit too boring. In any case, he had survived a narrow escape. So he adjusted his mood and was about to compose an impromptu poem as a souvenir when he suddenly heard a noisy shout from afar.
Li Jiangyao couldn't help but feel a little curious. Looking around, he saw a beautiful woman running towards this direction with a slight stagger, obviously injured. Behind her, dozens of armed men were chasing after her.
What is my destiny? Do you want a hero to save the beauty as soon as you get off the mountain?
Li Jiangyao accelerated his steps slightly, and in just a few breaths, he was in front of the woman.
The beautiful woman was running for her life when she suddenly saw a person flashing out in front of her. She seemed to have strong martial arts skills. She immediately seemed to see a savior and shouted loudly: "Help me, strong man! Help me!"
Following the words, she suddenly increased her speed and rushed forward. In the blink of an eye, she was much closer to Li Jiangyao, and then she stumbled and fell in front of him.
Li Jiangyao hurriedly stepped forward to help the woman up and asked, "Who are you? Why are they chasing you?"
Just as the woman was about to explain, the big man behind her had already rushed forward, and the leader shouted: "Catch him alive!"
Li Jiangyao looked up and realized that those people were all wearing Shengtang military uniforms. Judging from their helmets and tassels, they turned out to be long-sword soldiers.
Since the people who came were serious officers and soldiers, Li Jiangyao did not dare to be rash. He raised his hands and saluted: "Brothers, why do you want to capture this girl?"
The leading officer saw that he was dressed in coarse cloth and had a gray face. He didn't take it to heart at all and cursed angrily: "Where did you come from, kid? Get out of the way! Don't disturb me on my official business!"
A fierce-tempered Long Sword Army soldier was more direct. He rushed up and grabbed Li Jiangyao's shoulders, preparing to pull him down violently. But he didn't expect that Li Jiangyao didn't move even after he exerted force twice in succession.
The other party looked shocked. Li Jiangyao couldn't help but smile, and then gently tapped the soldier's elbow acupuncture point with the scabbard. Hearing an ouch, the man covered his arm and took a few steps back with a grin on his face.
The officer was shocked when he saw this. He called his men to surround Li Jiangyao and the woman, and shouted: "This guy is an accomplice of the assassin! Don't let them go!"
"You're such a strange person." Li Jiangyao said dissatisfied: "I just passed by this place and I don't know this girl. Why are you saying that I am an accomplice? I just asked the reason out of curiosity. Just tell me briefly and you won’t die.”
Li Jiangyao drove back the long-sword warriors with a simple move, showing such strong martial arts that the officer no longer dared to look down upon him. Hearing what he said at this time, I had to be patient and explain: "Well, since you are nosy, it doesn't hurt to tell you, I'm afraid I will scare you to death! This woman is the concubine of our commander-in-chief. Yesterday, the commander was assassinated in the mansion, and we are arresting her!"
"Don't listen to their nonsense," the woman said urgently, "They are all rebels, they killed the commander-in-chief, and now they want to humiliate me!"
Li Jiangyao looked shocked: "You are saying that Commander Feng Yiwei is dead?"
"What Feng Yiwei and Feng Erwei, are you a fool?" the officer said angrily: "The commander-in-chief of the Long Sword Army has long been replaced by the Duke of Zhenguo!"
