Thunder roared and rain poured down all night, and it still didn't stop at dawn.
The sky was covered with dark clouds, covering Suzhou City in darkness.
The Marquis of Jin was awakened by the thunder and could not fall asleep again.
The cool night breeze blew open the carved window sash and blew over the palace lantern leaning against the wall, making a dull sound.
The lights went out instantly, and the oil flowed to the ground. The waiter heard the sound and went inside to check. He accidentally stepped on the flowing lamp oil and fell to the ground on the spot.
The moment he fell to the ground, the waiter hurriedly covered his mouth, holding back the pain and not daring to make any more noise.
The waiter who was one step behind stepped forward to help him up and exited the palace as quickly as possible, fearing to offend the monarch.
The Marquis of Jin sat behind the screen, staring closely at the patterns on the screen, his expression changing.
The beauty on the couch had been awakened a long time ago. She looked at Jin Hou's back and did not dare to make a sound. She carefully pulled up the blanket and wrapped it in front of her body, her eyes full of fear.
The Marquis of Jin's temper became increasingly violent. Anyone who is close to you will be whipped or even killed if you are not careful.
Not long ago, a concubine offended the Marquis of Jin and was thrown into a violent room on the spot. After being released a few days later, he felt like a flower withering, his whole body became muddled, and he had fallen into madness.
The beauty moved to the corner little by little, as far away from the Marquis of Jin as possible.
There was lightning and thunder outside, and the lights inside flickered.
The waiter lifted up the palace lantern and lit the wick again. The shadow of the Marquis of Jin was reflected on the screen. He was barefoot on the ground, his eyes were bloodshot, and his expression was twisted and ferocious.
The waiter was shocked and immediately realized that something was wrong.
"Hurry, go and seek medical advice. Your Majesty has another headache..."
Before he finished speaking, the clear sound of a sword being unsheathed came to his ears.
Recalling the madness when the Marquis of Jin fell ill, the attendants were sweating profusely, but they did not dare to escape from the palace no matter what. He could only shrink into the corner as much as possible, trying to hide himself.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the room. The Marquis of Jin was holding a long sword, with his bare feet and hair spread out, and he was running back and forth like a wild beast.
The beauty rolled over with the blanket until it collapsed. She wrapped her shirt and skirt randomly and was about to escape from the palace.
Too bad she had bad luck.
"ah!"
A cry of pain resounded, and the long sword penetrated the beauty's shoulder, unabated, and led her forward. The sharp blade of the sword penetrated the wooden pillar, and the hilt was still trembling.
The beauty was nailed to the pillar, and blood flowed from the wound, quickly turning half of her body red.
She gradually lost strength, her life burned out like fire oil, her eyes lost their luster, and she became dying.
The Marquis of Jin took a few steps back, held his head in his hands and roared, veins bulging on his forehead.
Footsteps were heard outside the palace. The waiter left and returned, followed by the doctor serving in the palace. The two of them walked through the palace in the rain, their robes, crowns and hats getting wet from the water. Only the medicine box was firmly protected by the doctor in his arms and did not get wet at all.
Hearing the roar in the hall, the waiter and the doctor stopped at the same time.
Having seen the symptoms of Jin Hou's illness several times, the two of them still couldn't help but feel fear.
"Why did your Majesty suffer from a headache again?"
"I'm afraid I woke up in the middle of the night and caught the cold."
The waiter did not dare to say anything and urged the doctor to come in quickly.
The palace door opened, and the strong smell of blood mixed with incense rushed toward the front door. It was also mixed with lamp oil and twisted into a strange smell that constantly irritated the nasal cavity.
The doctor crossed the threshold and quickly fell to the ground. Not daring to look at the injured beauty, he touched his forehead to the ground and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, my servant is here to deliver the medicine."
The Marquis of Jin had a splitting headache and was so angry that he swung his sword and hurt people.
He staggered towards the doctor, his bloodshot eyes staring at him like a bloodthirsty beast.
"medicine!"
The hoarseness of the voice is comparable to rubbing against gravel.
The doctor opened the medicine box with trembling hands, held up a jade bottle, and raised his hands above his head.
The Marquis of Jin snatched the jade bottle, took off the cork, turned the bottle over and poured it into his mouth.
The bottle contained neither pills nor medicinal juice, but gray-white medicinal powder. The medicinal powder is dry in the mouth and has a strong bitter taste, but it can effectively relieve pain and calm down Jin Hou.
"Ahem..."
When the medicinal powder entered his mouth, Jin Hou accidentally choked and coughed repeatedly.
The waiter quickly brought warm water and bowed before handing it to the Marquis of Jin. His eyes were always lowered, staring only at the bare soles of the Marquis of Jin's feet.
From the beginning to the end, the doctor did not raise his head, but lay on the ground with a respectful posture, and he did not say any unnecessary words.
The Marquis of Jin took medicine and warm water, and his headache symptoms gradually eased.
He began to regain his senses and glanced around the hall. When he saw the dying beauty, he showed no mercy. He turned towards the screen and lay back on the couch.
No more sounds came from behind the screen, and the doctor left the room.
The waiters helped the injured beauty, gave her to the doctor for simple treatment, and then sent her back to the courtyard at the west corner of the palace.
Several more waiters brought water, quickly cleaned the floor and wooden pillars, opened the incense burner and put in new incense to ensure that there was no smell of blood in the hall.
The waiters moved skillfully, as if they had done it thousands of times.
In less than a quarter of an hour, the interior took on a new look. Except for the sword marks left on the pillars, no one can imagine what happened here.
The Marquis of Jin suddenly suffered from an old illness, so he stopped working for a day.
When the officials received the order, they did not show it on their faces, but had their own thoughts in their hearts.
"Young Master Heng is about to arrive, and your Majesty suddenly withdraws from the court?"
"It's true that the old illness has relapsed. If not, Your Majesty would be so displeased with your legitimate son."
Lin Heng had been away from the country for nine years and was ordered to return by the emperor. The team was about to arrive in the capital, so people should be sent out of the city to welcome them. Sacrifice should also be held in the city, with Lin Heng offering sacrifices to heaven to show his noble status.
The Marquis of Jin happened to leave the court at this time, and Zong Hezhu, who was in charge of rituals and sacrifices, looked at each other, wondering whether he should act in accordance with the law.
"If there is no decree from the Lord, should the altar be built or not?"
"Master Heng will arrive soon, who will greet him?"
Several people were talking about it, and they were all at a loss when the matter came to pass, not knowing how to arrange it.
The old clan saw this, their excitement gradually subsided, and they were extremely dissatisfied with the monarch's indifference to his legitimate son. However, I can't see the Marquis of Jin, and I can't implement any good strategies. I can only look at the ocean and sigh.
The new clan is quite proud.
"Your Majesty does not like Young Master Heng."
The Youhu family was still worried, but it did not prevent them from guessing the thoughts of the Marquis of Jin and being happy about it.
"According to the journey, Young Master Heng is close to the capital of the country. You might as well send someone to greet him, so as to teach him how to understand the importance. Don't think that if the emperor gives you a title, you can reach heaven in one step."
Youhuxian was eager to try and persuade his father and brother to hand over the matter to him. He has already thought about how to act and give the opponent a blow in person.
"Father, I think what Xian said is reasonable." Youhu Dazhi sat opposite Youhu Xian, wearing a plain brocade robe with only a jade hairpin in his hair. There are no treasures embedded in the belt and there is no jade ornament bag hanging on it, which is incompatible with the extravagance of the clan and is very unique.
"How do you say it?" Youhu Dan put down his cup, his eyes swept over the impatient third son and landed on the second son.
"Young Master Heng has been away from the country for nine years, and the news he sent back is either true or false. This time when he returned to the country, the assassins failed one after another, and less than a hundred people rode down to the border city, which shows that he is not a mediocre person."
Youhu Da leaned forward slightly, his narrow eyes were the same as Youhu Xian's, but the calculation and insidiousness hidden deep in his eyes were even worse.
"In terms of etiquette, Young Master Heng is the legitimate son, and the eldest son is neither the legitimate son nor the eldest son. There is always a big difference."
"Brother Zhong, this is wrong!" Youhu Xian frowned and refuted.
"Don't be anxious, listen to me." Youhuda glanced at him, successfully blocked his words, and continued, "I missed a good opportunity a few days ago and failed to kill him on the way back home. You must be cautious in your future actions. Xian, you and Tao It doesn't matter if there is a fight between clans, there is no harm in killing people. Young Master Heng is the king's legitimate son, and he has been given a title by the emperor. You can embarrass him, but you can't leave anyone to blame."
Youhu Xian's eyebrows were furrowed and he was very indignant.
"However, we can try his depth this time." Youhuda changed the subject, tapped his palms with his fingers, and said, "Xiancheng died at the hands of Young Master Heng. Xianshi was eager for revenge and went a little too far. There is room for change."
In Youhuda's view, without the copper mines and border towns, the Xian family has no great use. You might as well reuse the waste and use it as a chess piece to test Young Master Heng.
"I see."
Youhuxian is not stupid, he can understand everything with just a few clicks.
The father and son decided on a plan, and Hu Xian sent someone to deliver a message to Xian's house. In order to prevent the truth from being revealed, everything was conveyed through retainers and no bamboo slips were left.
The Xian sent the people away, knowing that he had become a testing stone.
However, the family has been attached to the Hu family for a long time, and they have no way out for a long time, and they will jump off the cliff even though they know it is a cliff.
"Now that things have come to a point, the only option is to give it a try."
The head of the Xian family made an immediate decision and dispatched Xianhuan and his three men to lead private soldiers out of the city and intercept Lin Heng and his party along the Luo River. On the way, the other three teams were reunited. The people leading the troops were all relatives of the Xian family.
Not long after the team left the city, the clans in the city received news one after another.
Guessing Xian's motives, Tao immediately sent someone to chase him. Tao Lian personally led the troops and made sure not to let the Xian family succeed.
"The Fox family is cunning, remember to protect the young master!"
The two teams left the city one after the other, and each clan secretly sent their spies and eyes with the same idea, specifically to find out whether Gongzi Heng was worth recommending.
The Xian family's team marched forward in a mighty manner. Within ten miles, they encountered the cavalry coming at a gallop. The cavalry guards a carriage with ornate totems carved on it, symbolizing the bloodline of the Marquis of Jin.
Recognizing the person's identity, Xian Huan raised his right arm, and the four private soldiers raised their bows at the same time, intending to kill the cavalry.
Tao Lian led his army one step behind. Seeing this, he immediately became furious.
"The traitor dares to hurt the young master!"
Tao's private soldiers dismounted one after another, holding swords in both hands and rushing toward the enemy in front.
The rain of arrows was densely shrouded, and the sound of breaking wind was endless.
Lin Heng's cavalry seemed doomed.
In the flash of lightning, the cavalryman with two spears quickly bent down, grabbed the shield hanging on the horse's back, and forcibly swung away the flying arrows. The saddle on the horse's back makes them more flexible, which can be said to be even more powerful.
Xian's private soldiers fired three waves of arrows. Only two spearmen were slightly injured, and the rest were unharmed.
There was a soft sound in the carriage, and a beautiful maid opened the curtain, swept the approaching enemy with contempt, and conveyed Lin Heng's order to the double spear soldiers: "Young Master is destined to leave no one behind."
"promise!"
The two spear soldiers fought all the way and cooperated with each other tacitly. Lang Jia gave the order and collectively rode on their horses to charge.
After the distance was shortened, they actually let go of their hands and fired their bows on the horse's back.
"How can it be!"
Seeing this scene, Xian Huan and others were shocked.
Drawing a bow on horseback is something that even Quanrong, who was born on horseback, can rarely do.
The battlefield situation is changing rapidly.
In close combat, a moment of negligence can be fatal.
In the shock of the four private soldiers, sharp arrows hit them, followed by thrown clay pots filled with pungent liquid.
The clay pot shattered, liquid splashed out, and large swaths of it landed on the private soldier.
"Rocket."
The sound of the wolf armor fell to the ground, and the ignited arrows dragged the flame tail across the air, falling on people, chariots and horses one after another, suddenly bursting into flames, which would not be extinguished no matter how hard they were beaten.
The rain continued, and the fire burned in the rain.
This scene was beyond common sense, and theories of gods and ghosts flooded into my mind, and panic swept over me like a wave.
One by one, the privates turned into fireballs, screaming and rushing towards their comrades, rolling on the ground in pain.
The sparks ignited the entire team, and the private soldiers on the periphery quickly dispersed. They were not thinking about fighting, but just wanted to avoid the terrifying flames.
Xian Huan's sleeves were splashed with sparks, and he decisively tore off his outer robe, leaving only a single shirt on.
The guards drove forward, not wanting to be surrounded by double spearmen and unable to escape even half a step.
The two hundred private soldiers were all defeated at a speed that was unexpected and almost ridiculous.
Amidst the screams of the private soldiers, the double spear soldiers poured to both sides like a tide. The black carriage came from the opposite side. The door was pushed open and the curtain was raised. Two maids sat on the left and right. The young master who had returned from Beijing walked out of the carriage and appeared in the carriage. In front of everyone.
Black robe and jade belt, pale and thin.
Her black hair was tied back, her lips were bloodless, and her eyes were as dark as night.
Lin Heng stood on the carriage shaft, looking down at the clan princes from a high position, and said casually: "I don't have enough etiquette when I return home, so I just want to borrow some of my heads."
What? !
Xian Huan and others didn't have time to react, and the short spears struck in front of them instantly.
Before he felt the pain, his body fell on his back. The blood flowed under the body, and when it was washed by the rain, it became a small stream of bright red.
At the last moment of their lives, what caught the eyes of several people was the approaching knight and the falling cold blade.
Across the gray rain curtain, Tao Lian witnessed everything and was stagnant in place, not knowing how to react for a long time. It wasn't until the doorman reminded him that he suddenly came back to his senses, quickly straightened his clothes, and strode forward to reveal his identity.
"Tao Shilian, I have met the young master."
Before today, his impression of Lin Heng was that of a child in need of protection when he left the country.
After today, the previous impression was completely overturned.
The young master is pale and handsome, seemingly frail. If you are fooled by appearances and dare to underestimate him, you are doomed to make a big mistake and fall into the abyss and die.
