For several days after that, there was no one paying attention to Lotus. Lotus chants and writes by himself, walks and observes the scenery, which is quite comfortable.
You can still walk to the lakeside after leaving the tent. June in the desert is quite hot under the scorching sun, but the breeze blows next to the willow branches. "The water surface is clear and round, and the wind lifts each load." Similar scenery often reminds the lotus. Changxing Lake, the happy time of childhood, the friends playing together. When I think of Li Fangyuan, I always feel a little heartache. How is he? Are you still quarreling with your father? Have you reconciled with the crown prince
I miss my mother the most. She is the only one left at home. Can she get used to it? Shanxi was raised by her mother since she was a child. If she knew about Shanxi, I don’t know how sad she would be!
I also tried to go further to see the cattle and sheep on the hillside, but the guards stopped me from going any further. It seemed that the section from the tent to the lake was a painted prison cell. Therefore, the beautiful scenery of "the sun is setting, the cattle and sheep are coming down", the lotus can only be viewed from a distance.
Thinking of what Zheng Zongcheng said about Wang Shi's conspiracy, and the eager eyes of the Mongols at the table the day before yesterday, Lianhua was extremely worried. Several times I tried to escape secretly at night, but the guards were tight and I couldn't figure out where I was. How could I escape across the vast desert
Lianhua lay on the table and murmured to the Glazed Pagoda.
The pagoda is naturally silent and motionless.
The lotus finger gently tapped the top of the tower and sighed. Close your eyes and recite the Heart Sutra silently: "Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, walking in the deep Prajnaparamita for a long time, sees that all five aggregates are empty, and can survive all hardships. Shu Lizi! Color is not different from space, space is not different from color, color is emptiness and color. Want to know that line, same is the case… "
Suddenly the door curtain opened and two people strode in. The one in front was of short stature, with a prominent chest and a protruding belly, and a gloomy face, followed by Zheng Zongcheng. Lian Hua took a closer look and quickly knelt down and saluted: "Your Majesty!"
The person who came in was Wang Shi, the former Crown Prince of Goryeo. Seeing the respectful look on Lian Hua's face, he couldn't help but soften his expression and said, "Get up!"
Lotus stood up and stood aside with her head lowered. Wang Shi looked up and down: "You have grown up and become a prostitute! You have lived a good life these past few years!"
Lotus bowed his head and said nothing.
Wang Shi saw the glazed tower on the table, picked it up and looked at it and asked, "What is this?"
"This is a glazed pagoda given by Master Zichao. Lotus chants sutras every day. Seeing this pagoda is like seeing the master."
Wang Shi put it down casually and said indifferently: "Did Zichao move to Seoul?"
"Yes. Master is at Anguo Temple." Lianhua answered softly.
Wang Shi nodded and sat down with a golden sword: "Tell me, what are you doing in heaven this time?"
"The Japanese pirates are powerful, and Lianhua wants to ask China to send reinforcements and naval forces." Lianhua replied softly.
"Hmph! How naive!" Wang Shi snorted coldly and said coldly: "Thief Li is always cunning and cunning. Just ask the Ming Dynasty for reinforcements, submit a memorial or send envoys. Otherwise, he still has five sons. Why do you need a weak woman like you to enter the palace? You clearly have other plans!"
"I begged for it myself," Lianhua explained softly, "Father, both Amin and Axiu were killed by Japanese pirates. General Wu had no choice but to retreat to North Jeolla Province. It was really difficult."
"General Wu? Wu Benyuan? Is he also a general?"
"Yes." Lianhua's voice was a little low.
"These rebellious ministers and thieves are following the trend of the Yan Dynasty, and they all followed Li Thief!" Wang Shi gritted his teeth.
Lotus didn't dare to answer and lowered her head in silence.
Wang Shi was full of hatred and couldn't help but raise his voice: "One day, I will kill Thief Li, kill these villains, and bury the late king!"
At this point, he glanced at Lian Hua again: "I'm going to wrong you this time, so I'll wait here. It's best for the old thief to leave you alone. I've already had someone write the memorial for him in the capital, hahahahaha!".
Lian Hua was shocked when she heard this, bit her lower lip, and finally mustered up the courage to say softly: "Your Majesty! Japanese pirates are entrenched in Jeolla Province, and the people are suffering terribly!"
"Hmph! They were my subjects of Goryeo, but they followed Li Thief! They all deserved to be killed by the Japanese pirates!" Wang Shi said bitterly.
Lian Hua trembled after hearing this, then met Wang Shi's gaze and said, "In the heart of the great king, are the lives of the people taken away like this?"
Wang Shi snorted again and did not answer. He looked back with cold, sharp eyes.
Lianhua continued: "The great king asked me to come, and he did not hesitate to use the Mongols to kill more than 200 Korean people in my group. Shanxi," said a little choked up: "Shanxi has been with me since he was a child. The prince has met him before and still remembers it. Right? He was just hacked to death by the Mongols."
There was anger, blame, resistance, and more of persuasion in Lianhua's eyes: "The Mongols are ambitious, and they are unwilling to be trapped in Mobei. If they go to Goryeo, it will be easier to treat guests than to send them away. Please think again, Your Majesty. !”
Wang Shi was stunned for a moment, his eyes flickered, and then he said sternly: "This is none of your business! In a few days, we will arrive at the old thief's place. Just stay here and wait for my instructions. Don't do anything. Confusing thoughts!" After saying that, he threw down the curtain and walked away.
Zheng Zongcheng followed behind, with no expression on his dark face, and they walked out of the tent together.
Lotus stood blankly for a while, then slowly sat down. Looking at the glazed pagoda, I feel sad, but what should I do
The next two days were uneventful, and the maid delivered three meals a day on time. Although they were vegetarian, vegetables, fruits, pasta, and cheese were all available, which was quite sumptuous. There were people accompanying me when I was washing and changing clothes, and even rouge and gouache were brought to me, which almost made people forget that I was in a desolate desert.
Lotus calculates that Wang Shi's fast horse should almost arrive in Seoul. What will the king do? Of course I won't come and change it myself. Send troops to rescue? Can't find it. Money redemption? Wang Shi doesn't care about money. Report to the court? I am definitely worried that Wang Shi will drain his salary from under the cauldron. Pay the money on the spot in exchange for individual hostages? Wang Shiding refused.
And Li Fangyuan, what will happen if he finds out? His temper...
Lianhua remembered that when she was very young, there was a time when the two of them vomited for unknown reasons. Lianhua hid in the room and cried, refusing to open the door. Li Fangyuan stood outside the door and got angry, refusing to eat, drink or speak. On a snowy day in March, I stood by the door dejectedly. Mrs. Cao coaxed, Cao Min delayed, and Li's servants knelt and begged to no avail. After standing still for several hours, Lianhua couldn't help but open the door and speak before giving up. After all, my hands and ears are still frostbitten, so I will wait until spring. Mrs. Li later pointed to the two children and said, "You two were enemies in the previous life..."
The candlelight flickered, and the lonely figure was reflected on the tent. Lian Hua rested her hands on her shoulders and stared at the glazed pagoda next to the candle without moving. She didn't know how long she sat there.
"The spring silkworms will not run out of silk until they die, and the candle tears will not dry until they turn to ashes." Candle tears drip down one by one along the candle body and accumulate layer by layer on the candle plate. When I was young, I never understood how the wax torch of spring silkworms could match each other, but now every word I chewed was as heavy as an olive.
Suddenly the door curtain rang slightly, and a masked man in black walked in quietly. Lianhua's mouth was covered before she could shout: "It's me! Zong Cheng!".
Lotus looked at him with some surprise.
"Let's go now, quickly!" Zheng Zongcheng lowered his voice and said urgently.
Lotus looked into his slender eyes, her sincere eyes full of anxiety, and nodded without thinking: "Okay!". With nothing to bring, Lianhua picked up the glazed pagoda on the table and hid it in her arms, then followed Zheng Zongcheng.
Zheng Zongcheng handed Lianhua a cloak with a black face and black lining. The lotus flower was wrapped around the body and covered the head. The cloak grew long and was a little untidy. The two of them bent down and quietly left the tent. The two guards guarding the door fell to the ground. It was unclear whether they were slashed by Zheng Zongcheng's sword or palm.
Zheng Zongcheng led Lotus quietly to the lake and ran along the lake. Everything around was silent, and the faint moonlight and starry sky shone on the lake, making the waves sparkle. There were occasional guards along the way, but the two of them hid or hid without being discovered. After running a long way, we finally reached the end of the lake, far away from the tent group. Two horses were tied under a big tree. Zheng Zongcheng unbridled the horses and handed one to Lotus: "Get on the horse and follow me!"
Lotus nodded.
The two of them got on the horse and just hit the horse. Zheng Zongcheng carefully wrapped the horse's hooves with soft cloth in advance, and the horse galloped in the quiet night without making too much noise.
After this robbery, Lianhua's equestrian skills, especially her ability to run for her life on horseback, have undoubtedly improved greatly.
The two of them, one behind the other, were immersed in riding their horses in the dark night, not caring to say anything else. The cool breeze blows on my face and the dew on my clothes makes me feel slightly chilly. The terrain in the desert was undulating and there were no roads to follow, but Zheng Zongcheng rode his horse without hesitation, obviously very familiar with the terrain and roads in this area.
Lian Hua followed closely behind, looking at his tall and thin back on the horse, and suddenly remembered her childhood, no, actually only six or seven years ago, in Kaicheng, more than a dozen children of the Zheng family, the Li family, and the Cao family often used to When we were playing together, we would run around and chase each other like this. There was always a lot of laughter, screams and fights, and every time we had to be scolded by adults before we could leave.
At that time, did you ever think that one day we would run away together in the vast desert
The sky began to turn white, and the first ray of dawn gradually appeared in the east. The sun showed its face. Slowly, the round sun jumped out of the horizon, and slowly rose into the sky again, shining brightly. The boundless desert is full of gold.
Lotus never knew that looking at yellow for a long time could be so ugly and upsetting.
Zheng Zongcheng slowed down, waited for Lotus to catch up, and asked: "Are you tired? Take a rest! The horses also need to rest."
Lotus nodded. The two dismounted, and Zheng Zongcheng sat on the ground. The lotus was really tired and fell apart, so he lay down on his back regardless of the appearance. Zheng Zongcheng didn't take it seriously, handed over the water bag and bread, and went to feed the horse himself.
After a while, feeling that he had regained some strength, Lianhua sat up, hugged his knees with his hands, looked at Zheng Zongcheng, and said softly: "Why?"
Zheng Zongcheng looked into the distance and replied after a while: "I eavesdropped on the secret discussion between Sorin Timur and Borzhi. You guessed it right. They are planning to take the opportunity to occupy Goryeo and supply the Mongolian army."
The lotus is silent. How could Wang Xi and Zheng Zongcheng not understand such a simple truth? It's just that hatred obscured his eyes and he deliberately chose to turn a blind eye.
"This is Cheche'er Mountain. Let's go all the way south. It will take about four days to reach Daning Mansion in the Chinese Empire. There is a Ming Dynasty garrison there." Zheng Zongcheng faced the sun and squinted his eyes slightly, and his long and thin eyes became a line. Xiu'er: "Do you have any documents with you?"
Lianhua was stunned and replied: "Nothing. When Tieling was robbed, all the documents were at Nanhuo's place. The letters were stored in the luggage and I didn't have time to get them."
"That's a bit troublesome. You have to prove your identity and ask for help from the Ming garrison. It doesn't matter. We'll figure it out later! As long as we get to Ming territory, there will always be a way." Zheng Zongcheng seemed to be comforting Lotus, but also seemed to be making his own plans.
Lian Hua looked at his silhouette, looking haggard and old, imagining that he had been hiding in Tibet all these years, with the hatred of his country and family in his chest, and had to flee to the desert, and he was a Mongolian, and his face was tanned.
Lianhua felt apologetic in her heart. Back then, Li Chenggui did whatever it took to seize the throne. Even if he had to kill the King of Korea, he did it as a last resort, but he really couldn't help the Zheng family. As for the Cao family, they just stayed out of the matter knowingly.
Lianhua couldn't help but said: "Zong Cheng, I'm sorry!"
Zheng Zongcheng smiled bitterly: "What's the matter with you?" He lowered his head and tore a piece of bread into his mouth.
Lianhua stared at him and said sincerely and firmly: "Don't worry, I will definitely try to vindicate Mr. Zheng Zhaoxue and give justice to your Zheng family.".
Hearing such sincere words for the first time in so many years, Zheng Zongcheng was moved and his eyes filled with tears. He had to pretend to look at the sky and raised his head to hold back. The two didn't speak for a long time.
Suddenly, two sharp eagle calls were heard in the air, and the sky was filled with fright and hundreds of birds fled. Zheng Zongcheng raised his head higher, with a solemn expression on his face, and murmured: "So fast!"
Lianhua also raised her head and saw two black eagles hovering high above her head, raising their necks and shouting.
Zheng Zongcheng pulled up Lotus and said: "The Mongols have discovered us, let's go quickly!"
The two of them jumped on their horses and galloped forward.
But in this vast desert, can they escape the Mongolian pursuit
****************
Endless desert, endless desert.
Lianhua felt dry, dizzy, and exhausted after running for more than ten hours all night and day. All the bones in his body had long since fallen apart, and Lianhua suspected that the sound of running contained the sound of his own bones colliding with each other. His hands were worn to the point of breaking the skin and blistering, and as the reins were loosened and tightened, the wear continued to become painful. There was no feeling in his two legs, just numbly clamped on the horse's belly.
The key point is that the horse underneath him is also frothing at the mouth, and no matter how hard he is whipped with the riding crop, he can't run any faster.
Two black eagles followed above the head, chirping from time to time and hovering.
Zheng Zongcheng dressed lightly in order to escape and did not bring a bow and arrows. It's useless even if you bring it, the bow and arrow range can't reach the height of the black eagle. He tried several times to lure the black eagle to fly lower and use hidden weapons to greet him, but the black eagle was very alert and did not fall for the trick as it just flew high in the air.
"Don't they eat, drink or sleep?" Lianhua asked breathlessly, feeling that her throat was so dry that it was about to break.
"The black eagle is durable by nature, and it's no problem if it doesn't eat or drink for a few days." Hearing the desperate answer, Lianhua's face darkened.
Zheng Zongcheng added: "But it's getting dark. Now there is no moon tonight. I hope the stars don't come out. If it's completely dark, maybe we can take advantage of the darkness to go around and hide."
Lotus nodded, eagerly looking forward to darkening for the first time in her life.
Two tired horses, carrying two tired men, continued to run in the endless desert. No, keep on trotting slowly.
The sky was dark, with large clouds hanging low overhead. The wind was a bit strong, mixed with yellow sand, and it hurt a bit when it hit my face. What kind of day will it be tonight