The second day after Shen Dingzhu got up, it was already three poles high.
She only felt strange that before noon on weekdays, she would definitely be woken up by Xiaohui and others. They usually had to take care of a lot of calligraphy and painting and were busy with affairs, so they could only come to Shen Dingzhu for advice during their meal time.
But not only did they not come today, but Shen Dingzhu finished washing and opened the door to find that the yard was quiet.
Xu Mansion occupies a large area, with half of the pond and lake included in the mansion. Shen Dingzhu walked along the wind and rain corridor, but he didn't see anyone.
Especially when I saw that all the valuable furnishings in every room, such as porcelain bottles, hanging paintings, etc., were completely taken away.
She already had a bad feeling in her heart.
So I immediately went to the main courtyard where Mrs. Xu lived to check, but there was no one there!
Shen Dingzhu hurriedly picked up her skirt and ran to the door. However, the door of Xu's house was locked from the outside, and she could not open it from the inside.
Far away, a conflict broke out somewhere, and the sounds of many people crying and roaring were heard, which was frightening to hear.
Shen Dingzhu's palm-sized cheeks were a little pale, and even the yellow powder couldn't cover her expression.
"The people from the Xu family left overnight?" I'm afraid that Mrs. Xu didn't like her, so she abandoned her!
The reason why they ran so fast was because the Jin army was approaching. Shen Dingzhu knew that she could not stay here and wait for death. She made a prompt decision and returned to her room.
Fortunately, she knew she was leaving not long ago. All her valuables and money had been packed away and turned into a small baggage. She didn't have many clothes, so the bag was not heavy and could be easily tied behind her back to escape. at.
Then Shen Dingzhu quickly ran to the backyard to confirm whether the small door in the west corner was locked.
Fortunately! The small door was unlocked. She was about to open the door and leave, but unexpectedly, someone bumped in first!
Shen Dingzhu let out a sweet cry and subconsciously avoided the side. The person who bumped into him fell to the ground and kept moaning in pain.
"A Cheng?!" Shen Dingzhu was still in shock and saw clearly the face of this person. He was a boy in charge of the stables in the mansion.
Because he has a lame leg, he has never been welcomed in the mansion, but Shen Dingzhu said a few words to him and knew that he was a good man with a solid mind.
He was actually kept here, presumably because he was physically inconvenient and the Xu family thought it would be troublesome to take him with them.
At this moment, Cheng was covered in blood. He was stabbed in the stomach by something unknown, and there was a bloody hole!
He kept vomiting blood: "Miss Xibao, run quickly... Madam and the others have left overnight. There are many rebels from Beiliang outside, looting in the city. They will be here soon. You , you go quickly..."
Before Ah Cheng finished speaking, he tilted his head and passed away.
Shen Dingzhu was so frightened that her heart beat faster and her eyes were filled with panic.
Now there are two generals ordered to fight against the Jin Dynasty's troops, namely King Changsheng and General Binan.
However, in the previous battles, these two marshals all ended in defeat, and their soldiers were beaten into pieces and fled in all directions.
The soldiers who had separated from the army gathered together. Because there was no leader and there were more local people who were suffering, they turned into a rebel army.
They are no longer soldiers fighting for Beiliang, but bandits who take advantage of the people's weakness to burn, kill and loot everywhere!
Shen Dingzhu had heard before that many people and wealthy businessmen in Beiliang were killed in vain. These bandits robbed wherever they went and fled north to Kyoto.
Shen Dingzhu peeked out from the back door. From the entrance of the alley in the distance, the sounds of fighting by the people themselves against the rebels could be heard.
Her expression froze, and she decisively chose to close the door and bolt it from the inside.
Shen Dingzhu thought quickly about what she should do.
The rebels have arrived at the alley. She doesn't know martial arts, so even if she climbs out of the wall, she will be dead!
The reputation of the Xu family's wealth has already spread far and wide. The people living around here are all from rich or noble families. The rebels must have come here for the purpose of making money! They will definitely break into Xu Mansion and search everywhere.
Shen Dingzhu has nothing to hide!
At this moment, the corner door she had just closed was suddenly kicked from the outside with a bang.
Here they come!
Shen Dingzhu turned pale, turned around and ran away. The courtyard where she lived was the most remote in the mansion. Even if the rebels broke through, it would take them a while to find her.
She originally wanted to retreat to her yard, but it was too small and there was no place to hide. Shen Dingzhu stepped on his shoes and the wind blew under his feet as he ran. When he passed the pool and lake in Xu Mansion, he suddenly stopped. .
Under the autumn sun, the water surface is sparkling and slightly aqua-blue.
She hesitated for a moment, then jumped in directly with her luggage on her back.
It was early autumn and the lake was cold, but Shen Dingzhu couldn't care less. She could only swim desperately to the back of the rockery in the center of the lake.
She hoped that the rebels would leave after searching her. She didn't know how long she would have to stay in the water.
After Shen Dingzhu hid in the rockery, the cold water kept attacking her limbs. The yellow powder on her face had long been washed away by the water stains, revealing a delicate white face with pink cheeks.
At this moment, what she regrets most is that the banknotes in her bag will be destroyed after being soaked in water.
The sound of many people's footsteps came from the wind and rain corridor not far from Chihu, and Shen Dingzhu felt a shiver in his heart.
Did the rebels break in so quickly? !
She hurriedly hid most of her body in the water, hiding behind the rockery, with only the top of her nose exposed, and watched nervously through the gaps in the rockery.
Shen Dingzhu swallowed, so nervous that he could hear his heartbeat speeding up, and his whole body became stretched like a thread.
For a moment, she actually hoped that Xiao Langyan would appear. During this period of separation, whenever she encountered danger, she couldn't help but think of him.
This man seems to represent security.
However, when she thought of his cold eyes before jumping off the cliff, Shen Dingzhu couldn't help but laugh at herself. It was a matter of life and death, so why should she expect a man who was already disappointed in her to save her?
She wants to save herself.
However, whether it was her hallucination or not, she heard someone calling anxiously: "Like treasure, like treasure!"
Shen Dingzhu came back to his senses and looked down the wind and rain corridor with wet eyes.
Xu Huaisong was holding a long sword and wearing a green cloak with blood on it. He ran all the way over and called her name everywhere.
Behind him were guards who also wore swords.
"Xu Huaisong?" She murmured in surprise.
How could he come back.
Shen Dingzhu did not hesitate and shouted hurriedly: "I'm here!"
Xu Huaisong looked towards Chihu, his narrow eyes filled with anxiety. The moment he saw her, he felt relieved and hurried to the lake.
"Come up quickly, I'll take you away!"
Shen Dingzhu swam toward him and stood up wet from the water. She couldn't help but shiver when the cold wind blew.
Xu Huaisong immediately took off his cloak, covered her body, and put a hat on her.
"Leave with me quickly, the rebels have already entered the city."
"Uncle, why didn't you leave?"
Xu Huaisong pursed his lips: "I found that you didn't follow, so I came back to find you. The battle situation is dangerous. How can I leave you as a woman alone and helpless in the city? Let's go!"
He grabbed her wrist and hurriedly ran in the other direction under the protection of the guards.
The luggage behind Shen Dingzhu was covered in water and was really too heavy.
She hurriedly took out her silver notes and two ingots of gold. She couldn't take the rest with her, so she had to throw them away.
After Shen Dingzhu left the stick of incense, the door of Xu Mansion was kicked into pieces from the outside.
Xiao Langyan's eyes turned red and he came in with his sword in hand. The huge Xu Mansion was empty.
"Search, don't miss any corner. If you see a woman, bring her over first." He gave the order, and Chen Heng and the others filed in.
After searching for a while, Xiao Langyan had already found the area near Chihu, but Chen Heng came with people: "Sir, I didn't find anyone, only the body of a boy. They must have all escaped!"
Their spies found out that everyone in the Xu family ran away overnight. Even if the woman Xiao Langyan was looking for was in the Xu mansion, she would have fled White Lion City long ago.
Xiao Langyan's tall body was like a gloomy and bloody mountain. His thin eyes under his sharp eyebrows were deep and sharp, but there was a hint of sadness hidden inside.
At this moment, from the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a string of wet water stains on the edge of the lake under the sun, and something shining with a dazzling silver luster.
Xiao Langyan stared slightly and immediately walked over.
He picked up an inconspicuous handkerchief from a pile of wet luggage.
When he saw the poem embroidered on it clearly, his pupils suddenly tightened.
The poem on the handkerchief says:
"One wish is that my husband will live a thousand years; the second wish is that the world will be peaceful; the third wish is that we will never tire of seeing each other."
A poem brought Xiao Langyan's memories directly back to last year's Mid-Autumn Festival. In his trance, he could still see Shen Dingzhu climbing the high platform with him. Under the moonlight, she said this poem with a smile.
But at that time, her third wish was to grow old with him. Now, she has changed her wish and only hopes that they will never get tired of each other. I'm afraid that what he did really chilled her heart.
She thought he didn't want her anymore, didn't she?
Xiao Langyan couldn't restrain the enthusiasm in his heart. He clenched the handkerchief tightly in his big hands and trembled slightly.
"She is still alive, Chen Heng, she is really alive!"
Chen Heng didn't understand the weight of the poem, so he could only nod slightly and pointed to the water stains on the ground: "If it is the trace left by the Queen, they should not have gone far, and the water stains have not yet dried..."
Before he could finish his words, Xiao Langyan was already chasing the direction of the footprints like a gust of wind.
Chen Heng was startled and hurriedly called to the plainclothes Xuanjia Army who were still searching: "Quickly go!"
Xiao Langyan galloped out of the alley. The main street of White Lion City was filled with mourners, corpses were strewn in a mess, and screams could not be heard.
He raised his sharp cold eyes and saw at a glance on the farthest city wall, a woman in a cloak was dragged by another man and ran over it. They were about to leave the city. Outside the city wall was the inner gate of White Lion City. road.
It was too far away, but the woman's accidentally exposed figure and flowing black hair made Xiao Langyan completely red-eyed.
This is him, the person who can only meet in dreams.
