"Miss! Miss! Miss! Oh no, princess! Princess!"
Shanxi's series of calls and hurried footsteps startled a sparrow on the eaves to fly up, circle around a few times and then fall back to the eaves, tilting its head to look into the courtyard.
Lotus was looking down at a food box. Today is Cao Min's birthday. Lianhua went to pay homage at the grave. This food box was brought to her father and brothers. Seeing Shanxi running in out of breath, she couldn't help but frowned: "What are you yelling about? There are no rules at all."
Shanxi secretly made a face, and said hurriedly before his breath calmed down: "Princess! I heard from Cao Zhong outside that Zhao Pang, the secret interrogator, sent a fast horse back to report first. He will be there in two days. Returned to the city with the decree."
Lianhua was startled and said nothing.
"Princess! Aren't you worried? It's such a big thing. I'm worried to death." Shanxi pursed his lips.
Lianhua chuckled, looked at Shanxi and said with a smile, "What are you worried about?"
Shanxi heard the ridicule in Lianhua's tone and was a little worried: "Of course I am worried about the princess! If the court approves it, the princess will really have to go to heaven!"
Hearing this, Lianhua suppressed her smile and buried herself in organizing the food boxes. After a while, he said calmly: "Is the car ready? Let's go."
Shanxi didn't dare to say anything, so he took the food box from Lianhua's hand and followed her out of the inner courtyard.
Hai Shou was waiting outside the door, and when he saw Lian Hua coming out, he hurriedly saluted. The three of them got into the car, and Hai Shou sat on the shaft next to the driver, watching the guards warily along the way.
After Lianhua was named a princess, she not only went to the palace to pay respects to the king and princess, but also lived in the Cao Mansion. The king took pity on her loyalty and gave Lotus a palace attendant named Hai Shou. Although Hai Shou is young, he is very smart and intelligent after having been in the palace for a long time. Lian Hua has become a princess and has many social activities, many funerals and other chores, which are difficult for him to handle properly. Hai Shou is also said to be a direct disciple of the Tibetan Tantric Sakya Sect and has excellent kung fu skills. He is fond of curiosity and teases Hai Shou several times, but Hai Shou gently avoids him and doesn't show off.
Several people arrived at Yongxing Mountain on the outskirts. The carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain. Hai Shou led the way, and Shan Xi followed behind with a food box. The three of them walked along the mountain path to the Cao family cemetery halfway up the mountain.
This time it was winter, the snow had not gone away, and the mountains were covered in white, making it seem like the Qiong Yao Fairyland in the sky or the Oriental Glazed World. The early morning sun shone through the treetops on the ground, and golden light shone on the snow from time to time. There was silence all around, except for the crunching sound of the three people's feet on the snow.
After passing Fuyuan Bridge, turn left and you will see a large piece of flat land. Not far away is the Cao family cemetery. At this time, she saw a tall black figure in the distance, and Lianhua couldn't help but feel moved in her heart.
Ever since she was given the title of Princess Yining in the Izheng Palace, Lianhua had been avoiding Li Fangyuan. On several occasions when she had to meet him, Lianhua lowered her head and never looked at him. Today is Cao Min's birthday. Li Fangyuan and Cao Min have always been as close as brothers, so they should come to pay their respects.
As we got closer, it turned out that it was Li Fangyuan standing solemnly in front of Cao Min's tomb. His back was upright and majestic, and the black black fox cloak was often blown open by the wind, revealing the stone blue brocade robe underneath, but he stood upright and motionless.
It wasn't until the three of them arrived in front of the tomb that Li Fangyuan turned his head and glanced briefly, then stepped aside and looked at the sky with his hands behind his back.
Hai Shoushan hurriedly stepped forward to salute and say hello. The lotus flower also bowed in front of him and called out softly: "Brother Wang!".
Li Fangyuan said "Huh!" heavily but did not answer.
Lianhua took out the dishes from the food box: kimchi and scallion pancakes were made for her father; her brother always liked rice cakes and miso soup; and her younger brother loved his sister's cakes the most. Every time when pounding rice, the little boy rushes to help, putting his hands on his waist and saying to his sister: "I am very strong!" His nonchalant look always makes Lianhua laugh...
Could it be that there will never be another one
Life is like dust and dew, and the path of heaven is dim and long? Or are all actions impermanent and the law of birth and death
Lotus placed the bowls and dishes in front of the three people's monuments one by one to perform worship services. The past events came to mind vividly, and my eyes were filled with mist before I realized it, making my vision blurry. With hazy eyes, I saw that the three tombstones had been wiped clean, and various snacks were offered in front of the monuments. There was also a jug of wine next to the snacks on the tribute platform for my father and brother.
Li Fangyuan seemed to be aware of it and said softly from behind: "Every year on this day, Uncle Xian Yong drinks with us brothers."
Lotus trembled, and a teardrop fell on the snow, making a small crater and disappearing.
Li Fangyuan glanced at Hai Shou Shanxi who was standing next to him, and said coldly: "You guys step back." Hai Shou Shanxi looked at Lian Hua, Lian Hua nodded slightly, and the two of them stepped away from each other.
Li Fangyuan stepped forward, lifted up his big cloak and sat down side by side not far from the lotus, looking at the sky. It's snowy and clear today, the sky is high and the clouds are clear, the sky is clear blue, and the direct sunlight in the cold wind is a bit dazzling.
After a while, Li Fangyuan spoke calmly: "I will lead troops to kill the Japanese pirates, I will train the navy, and I will protect the territory of my Korean people."
Lianhua lowered his head and said nothing, but his body was shaking a little.
Li Fangyuan was still looking at the sky and continued to say slowly: "I will find Amutai and cut him into pieces with a thousand swords to avenge Amin and Axiu. They died so tragically."
Lian Hua's whole body was shocked. She couldn't bear it any longer, and the tears she had suppressed for many days burst out.
Li Fangyuan stretched out his right arm and gently hugged Lianhua's shoulders, murmuring: "Cry, cry, cry out."
Lianhua leaned her head on Li Fangyuan's shoulder and finally cried bitterly. The bird on the tombstone couldn't bear to hear it, so it spread its wings and flew away.
After the bodies of Cao's father and son returned home, Lianhua personally wiped and buried them.
Cao Mengyi's fatal wound was a wound on his chest, which passed through his back and passed through his chest. It was obviously a sneak attack from behind. Both Cao Min and Cao Xiu had hundreds of stab wounds on their bodies, with large and small knives of different shapes. How many Japanese pirates should have ambushed and surrounded them after they took off their armor? Cao Min lost half of his right foot, and the back of his head was crushed by a heavy blow. As for Cao Xiu, except for a few missing fingers on his right hand, his left arm was sewn on later. I wonder how much effort Yin Yilang spent to get this arm back from Amutaiyou
Lianhua was afraid that her mother would be sad, so she pretended to show her mother only after the funeral was over. However, she secretly cried and her eyes were red, and her heart was broken into pieces.
After crying for a long time, Lianhua slowly calmed down, stopped sobbing, and called out softly: "Brother Yuanyuan!"
Li Fangyuan was shocked and gently hugged his right arm tightly.
Lianhua was only one or two years old when she started playing with Li Fangyuan. The adults told her to call her "Brother Fangyuan," but Lianhua couldn't say what to call her. Her immature voice always shouted: "Brother Yuanyuan!" "Brother Yuanyuan!" Brother!" This sweet voice floated throughout Li Fangyuan's entire youth. Later, when the lotus flower grew bigger, things changed, and the two men and women saw each other less often. Li Fang had not heard this title for a long time, and her heart was agitated. She hugged her arms tightly and did not dare to move.
There was silence for a moment, and both of them felt sweeter than they had ever felt in their lives.
After an unknown amount of time, Li Fangyuan said softly: "Lianhua, I can do these things well, believe me."
"Yeah" Lianhua responded.
"Promise me not to go to Heaven." Li Fangyuan continued softly.
Lianhua said nothing, slowly sat up straight, and looked at Cao Xiu's tombstone. Under the sun, the golden characters "Ning Hejun" danced on the white marble, like the flying smile of the younger brother.
The sun was a little dazzling, Lianhua squinted her eyes slightly and said, "My little brother loves the cakes I made the most. Before I left, I packed a big bag in his luggage and hung a brocade bag on his waist with stuffed stuffed inside. Two pieces of cake, he can reach out and touch them when he is hungry. The only relic that Shilang Yin sent back to him is this brocade bag."
Lianhua paused: "The brocade bag has been dyed red with blood, and even the cakes inside are all red..." She choked up again when she said this. Liangjiu continued to say softly: "There are many younger brothers in this world. My people in North Korea all want to eat cakes in peace."
Li Fangyuan's body stiffened and he gradually loosened his right arm.
Lianhua didn't dare to look at him, lowered her head, and said in a low voice: "For my little brother, for these people, I must go to Heaven."
Li Fangyuan stood up suddenly, held up Lotus's chin with his palms, stared at her with his dark eyes unblinking, and shouted fiercely: "What about yourself? Do you know that the emperor of the Celestial Dynasty is already seventy years old? ! Are you really willing to accompany an old man?! "
Lianhua struggled for a while, but couldn't break away from Li Fangyuan's hand, so she had to raise her head like this and was forced to look at him. There was some panic in Jianshui's eyes but more determination: "In the past, the Buddha sacrificed his body to feed the tiger. For the benefit of all living beings, Lotus is willing to give up his body."
Lotus believes that Li Fangyuan can make North Korea strong one day, but it will not happen overnight. At present, only by going to heaven can we get rid of the Japanese pirates and avenge our father, brother and younger brother. Lianhua thought of the tragic situation of the three people, and her broken heart gradually hardened. If she could not take revenge in this life, she would never close her eyes.
"What about us? Have you ever thought about what will happen to us?!" Li Fangyuan couldn't feel the pressure on his hands and roared louder, his voice full of pain. He was wearing the same black black fox hat today, which made his gem-like eyes extra bright, but at this time, there were faint tears on the gems.
Lotus was so painful that she took a breath and looked away. Her voice was extremely sad: "You forget about Lotus. There is only Princess Yining now, Brother Wang!" He said and looked away.
Hearing these two words, Li Fangyuan was shocked, slowly put down his hand, and stared at the lotus motionlessly. There were a few red fingerprints on the lotus-white jade cheeks pinched by his hands. The tears stained from crying just now have not yet dried up, and she was extremely miserable and delicate in the cold wind.
Li Fangyuan's heart ached, and he took out a piece of silk handkerchief and wiped Lianhua's little face. The gesture is gentle, as if wiping a most beloved treasure, carefully and with infinite tenderness.
His side face looked down, his temples were as sharp as a knife, and his angular jaw was as cold and firm as a knife. Lianhua held his hand that was wiping her face. Due to martial arts training, the palms were hard and the joints were protruding, which reminded Lianhua of her father's hand. Those gentle gestures and expressions were exactly the happy time when his father loved and cared for him when he was very young.
The eyes of the lotus flower are as sharp as water. Unconsciously, the water waves shake, and flashes of gratitude, wavering, and nostalgia. The two people's eyes intertwined, and they were reluctant to let go of their holding hands. They smelled the scent of each other's memories and couldn't help but be ecstatic.
Time seemed to stop at this moment.
"Dang, Dang, Dang, Dang,..."
Suddenly there were bells ringing in the distance. It is the bell of Anguo Temple, which is melodious and desolate, stirring with compassion, resounding in the miserable world and pointing directly to the heart.
Lianhua was startled, let go of her hand, woke up from her sweet dream, looked away hastily, and lowered her head. After a long time, he shouted: "Brother Wang!"
Li Fangyuan stood frozen, silent, and called out coldly for a long time: "Hai Shou!".
Hai Shou and Shan Xi hurried over from a distance, Lian Huarang packed the food box, and the three of them went down the mountain.
After taking two steps, Lianhua turned her head, and Li Fangyuan's tall and straight back stood quietly. The sunlight shone on his back, but it could not melt the sourness and sadness in it.
"Take care!" Lianhua said softly, then turned around and hurried away.
(Note: Hai Shou did exist in history and was one of the few foreign eunuchs in China. However, whether he was highly skilled in martial arts is not recorded in history books)