In Xingqing Palace, Hejia Fengyi wore a light blue long-sleeved robe with a dark blue pattern and a map of the twenty-eight constellations embroidered on the back, which was the spring palace uniform of Xingqing Palace. He sat cross-legged behind a small rosewood table, throwing copper coins while saying, "Old Ancestor, you originally said half a year, but now it has been more than a year, and they have conquered Youzhou, why hasn't the rebellion in your ghost world been quelled yet?"
The woman in red sitting in front of his table slowly raised her eyes. Surrounded by ghostly aura, her pair of completely black eyes under her black eyelashes were like the bottomless night sky.
Every time He Jia Feng Yi saw He Simu during this year, her eyes were completely black. She did not restrain her ghostly aura, letting the gloomy and oppressive atmosphere linger around her. Anyone who got close to her would be suffocated by this powerful force.
Our ancestors were really strong.
Originally, He Jia Fengyi knew that the old ancestor had lost the Ghost King Lamp. He was very nervous and thought that she was going to lose. But the old ancestor just said to him: Keep an eye on Duan Shunxi, and I will never lose.
As a result, the current situation is indeed like this, the two sides are in a stalemate and Yan Ke is gradually losing. Yan Ke obviously got the Ghost King Lamp, but for some reason he was unable to increase his magic power to suppress the ghosts, so he could only use the Ghost King Lamp as a banner to incite the unstable hall master.
"The Lords of the Ba Ghost Palace and the Tui Ghost Palace have been restless recently, and they are focusing on Fengzhou and Shuozhou." He Simu said lightly.
"A new battlefield? Our ancestors had to suppress the rebellion in the ghost world while protecting the human world. It was really hard work."
He Jia Feng Yi suddenly changed the subject and said something sarcastic in the middle of the serious matter: "So you really don't plan to meet Duan Shunxi?"
Under He Simu's dagger-like eyes, he raised his hand and said, "I'm just asking. I promised to help him and pass on the message. There must be a result. And you asked me to find someone to protect him, but you don't let me mention him. It's really unreasonable."
After a pause, He Jia Feng Yi put down his hand and said seriously: "Come to think of it, the last time I saw him, he didn't seem to be in good health."
He Simu's eyes moved, and there was an unclear emotion in her pure black eyes. She stood up and looked down at He Jia Fengyi, smiled slightly and said, "It seems that you are still too idle to worry about these things."
After saying this, she didn't say anything more to He Jia Feng Yi and disappeared neatly.
He Jia Fengyi looked at the empty room, propped up his chin and let out a long sigh. He didn't even have the title of a matchmaker, but he did his job of matchmaking very diligently. Next time he went to Nandu, he would definitely ask Duan Xu to entertain him well.
The beaded curtain in the room behind him rang softly, and Zi Ji came over with the medicine, sat beside him and said simply, "It's time to take the medicine."
Hejia Fengyi sighed, "Ziji, there will never be another good ghost king as perfect as our ancestor in the world, right?"
Ziji thought about it seriously, then nodded.
He Jia Fengyi's fingers were tapping on the table. He was thin and looked sickly, with only his eyes shining. His whole body's spirit depended on this. He seemed to have a sudden feeling and wanted to make a long speech.
"The evil ghost lord without long-cherished wishes restrains the evil ghosts born of deep desires, and the short life span restrains the powerful curse of the Mars disaster star. Everything in this world has been carefully designed in advance, and each link is linked to operate smoothly. Ziji, do you think this is good?"
Zi Ji's beautiful face was always expressionless. She blinked her deep eyes and said, "You also said that the world runs smoothly."
Hejia Fengyi burst into laughter. He suddenly approached Ziji, looked into her eyes and said slowly, "So we don't have any choice. We are just tools? You have been in the world for so long, and you still think so?"
Facing He Jia Feng Yi's gaze, Zi Ji finally lowered her eyes and pushed the medicine towards He Jia Feng Yi, saying softly, "Drink the medicine."
He Jia Fengyi looked at her for a while, then returned to his usual playful state.
"You clearly know that taking medicine is useless to me, so you might as well go back early."
After saying this, he still picked up the bowl of medicine and drank it all.
The last time Duan Xu returned to the capital, he was one of the generals following Marshal Qin. This time, he was recalled to the Southern Capital and has become a marshal with a large army.
Shi Biao didn't want to come back at first. He was thinking about the old emperor's envoys and imperial edicts that they ignored, and felt that returning to Nandu would be like losing his head. But he couldn't persuade Duan Xu to come back. He remembered his oath that "I will never let General Duan lose his head while my head is still on my neck", so he gritted his teeth and followed him back.
On the way back, Shi Biao was very nervous, and even Chen Ying couldn't help but go and tell jokes to comfort him, but Shi Biao would talk it over after just a few words.
"We have already fought right under the nose of the Huqi royal court. We are just short of taking Shangjing and destroying those bastards. Yet they call us back at this critical moment to stop the fighting. If Danzhi asks for peace, then we should make peace? What are they capable of? "
Duan Xu smiled but said nothing.
In his opinion, it doesn't matter what abilities Danzhi has. What matters is what the new emperor of Nandu is planning.
After the new emperor ascended the throne, the southern capital, which had experienced the baptism of war, was quickly rebuilt and restored to its former bustling scene. Many new buildings were built at a glance. Duan Xu was warmly received by the new emperor in this familiar yet unfamiliar southern capital. After attending various welcoming banquets, receiving rewards for meritorious service, and having secret talks at court meetings, Duan Xu understood what the emperor was thinking.
"The emperor has just ascended the throne and is still young, so he naturally wants to defeat Danzhi, make great achievements, and leave his name in history. But he would rather not be the one to lead the army to destroy Danzhi."
Duan Xu was sitting in Fang Xianye's house in his night clothes, drinking his tea leisurely and talking.
"My father is from Prime Minister Du's faction, and he supported Prince Su before. The Emperor and Prince Su had a bloody quarrel in the Golden Throne Hall, so he was naturally very worried about me, and certainly didn't want me to capture Shangjing and add to the feat of destroying Danzhi. But now that I have conquered five states in the north bank and made contributions to the court, he still has to be polite to me on the surface."
After not seeing each other for more than a year, Fang Xianye became a little depressed. He lowered his eyes and stroked the teacup, frowning, and seemed to be worried. He looked up at Duan Xu and said, "Are you still planning to return to the front line?"
Duan Xu smiled and said, "Of course. I have been using those chariots, tactics, and soldiers for many years. If it were someone else, the effect would probably be greatly reduced."
After saying that, Duan Xu pointed to the north and said, "Does he think those Huqi people in the north are really seeking peace? I know them too well. Even if they fight to the death, they will not surrender easily. This is probably just a delaying tactic."
"It's because you are too independent that the late emperor and the current emperor are both worried about you." Seeing the relaxed look on Duan Xu's face, Fang Xianye couldn't help but raise his voice. He said, "Your position in the army is irreplaceable. Is that army yours or the emperor's? The Southern Capital is in chaos, and you have food, soldiers, and armor on the North Bank to fight your war on your own. You don't need to rely on the court at all. How can the court control you?"
Duan Xu looked at Fang Xianye in surprise. He didn't quite understand why Fang Xianye was so angry and looked confused.
Fang Xianye knew he had said something wrong, so he rubbed his Taiyang acupoint and said, "You... need to hide your edge and not show it out like this."
Duan Xu laughed, he leaned on the table with his chin propped up, and said calmly: "It is said that the general who is capable but the king who does not control him will win. Do they understand the war situation? Why would I fight if I listen to them?"
Fang Xianye just felt a headache and was upset.
Duan Xu is a reckless madman. No one can make him do something he doesn't want to do. He always kills gods and Buddhas. But not everyone can act like him.
He? Fang Xianye can’t.
Duan Xu continued to talk to himself, "I have no wife or children. No one in the Duan Mansion has entered the government except me. After the Danzhi is destroyed, as long as I disappear, the emperor will no longer have to worry about me. He will probably even pretend to mourn me and treat the Duan Mansion well."
"Are you still planning on going to see your evil ghost wife in the future?"
Hearing Fang Xianye say this, Duan Xu was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "Yes, I can't wait."
The candle on the table burned peacefully, and the room was dimly lit. Duan Xu tapped his tea bowl from time to time, turned his head to look at Fang Xianye, and changed the subject: "How are you doing? The emperor has an ambiguous attitude towards Prince Ji's party. I don't think the liquidation will implicate you, but he will not reuse Prince Ji's people."
The emperor's appointments and transfers in the court are all to pave the way for people within his own party or loyal ministers. I think he will focus on cultivating these forces in the future.
Fang Xianye was silent for a moment, then whispered, "Take your time."
Last month, news came from the palace that Eunuch Zhao died of a sudden illness. It was said to be a serious illness, but maybe he was assassinated in the power struggle in the palace. It was said that the incident happened suddenly and Eunuch Zhao did not leave a single word. Now Duan Xu has returned to Nandu, and the emperor seems to have no reason to suppress Duan Xu. He should not know the existence of this secret decree.
Therefore, if he didn't tell this secret message, perhaps he would disappear from this world.
"Xianye, you look a little upset today? What happened?" Duan Xu knocked on the table, pulling Fang Xianye back from his thoughts.
He looked at this high-spirited friend who was still as bright-eyed as a fourteen-year-old, and suddenly felt anxious and disgusted. He couldn't tell whether the anxiety and disgust were directed at Duan Xu or at himself.
"Duan Shunxi, have you ever thought about what you would do if I betrayed you one day?"
Fang Xianye regretted his words as soon as they came out, while Duan Xu opened his eyes wide, with a smile still on his face. After a moment of silence, Duan Xu smiled again, his eyes clear and his eyebrows curved.
"If you want to betray me, then betray me. I don't think I want loyalty from you. People always have to pay a price for the things or people they believe in, don't they?"
Fang Xianye was stunned for a moment, and then fell silent.
Duan Xu's face became serious, and he asked: "Xian Ye, do you need help?"
Fang Xianye shook his head slowly.
Duan Xu wanted to say something, but before he could say anything, his face changed, and he bent down, holding his chest. Blood gushed out of his mouth without warning, splashing on the ground and spreading along the cracks between the bricks. He coughed in a low voice, and blood was still dripping from the corners of his lips.
Fang Xianye was shocked to see Duan Xu wiping his mouth with his sleeve as usual. The man even smiled and pointed at the pool of blood and said to Fang Xianye: "It's over. What are you going to do tomorrow? How are you going to explain the sudden appearance of a pool of blood in your room?"
Fang Xianye frowned, and he grabbed Duan Xu's sleeve and said sternly: "Duan Shunxi, what's wrong with you?"
"I have a minor illness. My internal organs bleed from time to time, but it's nothing serious." Duan Xu patted Fang Xianye's arm lightly. When he stood up from the chair, he swayed slightly. Fortunately, Fang Xianye was quick to support Duan Xu.
"How are you going to get back? Climb over the wall?" Fang Xianye asked.
Duan Xu nodded as a matter of course.
Fang Xianye looked at the blood on Duan Xu's front and face, sighed and said, "It's midnight, there aren't many people on the road, and no one is staring at my house, so go through the side door."
Duan Xu couldn't help but laugh and said, "Fang Ji, ah Fang Ji, I never thought that one day I would be able to walk out of your house."
From the age of fourteen to twenty-four, their interactions took place in the dark, out of people's sight.
Fang Xianye saw Duan Xu off from the side door of the Fang residence. His friend's swift figure disappeared into the deserted streets. Even though he could no longer be seen, Fang Xianye did not leave. The north wind howled through the streets and alleys, but he seemed to feel no cold at all.
He? In the end, he still didn't tell Duan Xu about the secret decree.
He didn't know why he couldn't say it. It was as if he was a monster locked in a dark box. Out of inexplicable fear, he didn't dare to look closely.
The black box named Fang Xianye.
There was a person on the street watching this scene in surprise, wondering who the blood-stained masked man was that Fang Xianye had sent away at night.