[Special - Competition (Part 1)] I will protect you
It rained in the evening, and the hot summer night suddenly became much cooler, and the fragrance of locust blossoms was everywhere.
Several horses galloped on the mountain road like lightning. The head was a boy in white, about fourteen or fifteen years old, with a silver crown and jade belt, and a long knife on his waist. When he looked back, the light in his eyes reflected the sky. The moon, as if the whole person is bright.
The guards of the Southwest Mansion followed closely, all thinking in their hearts, the Shizi is really in a good mood this time, so good that he doesn't even bother to hide it, so he wrote the word "happy" on his face, and let him be. Anyone can see it.
In the palace, Chu Yuan was reading the book in the imperial study. At midnight, Si Xi said cautiously, "Prince, it's time to go back and rest."
"Not sleepy." Chu Yuan didn't lift his head.
"But tomorrow morning, I have to go to the Lushan Courtyard, and I will leave at the moment." Sixi reminded.
Chu Yuan said: "Don't go."
Sixi frowned: "The emperor has already arrived at Lushan one step ahead, how can the prince not go if he doesn't want to go."
"My father is going to hunt in the summer, why do I have to go with me?" Chu Yuan said, "It's pretty good in the palace, and it's quiet."
Sixi continued to persuade: "Prince has been there every year before, but suddenly he will not go this year, I'm afraid it's unreasonable."
Chu Yuan dropped the book and slumped back on the dragon chair, his face full of displeasure.
However, Si Xi wanted to laugh at the sight. Usually, no matter whether he was sitting or standing in front of the emperor, his back was always straight. This time, he was pissed off and lazy, and finally he was a little childish.
Chu Yuan said, "Is King Dandong going?"
Sixi said: "Of course I went. Lushan is very lively this year, and the kings from all over the world will come." After that, he said, "Except for the Southwest House."
Chu Yuan: "..."
Chu Yuan said: "Is it necessary to go?"
"This... If the prince really doesn't want to go, it's okay if he doesn't go." Sixi has been hurting him since he was a child. Seeing the unwillingness on his face, he still can't bear it, so he whispered, "But the prince has to find a reason."
Chu Yuan asked, "Are you pretending to be sick?"
Sixi laughed dryly: "Prince has been uncomfortable recently, and I didn't say that I had a headache this morning."
Chu Yuan washed the wolf hair clean, stood up and said, "Let's go, go back to the palace."
"Then the old slave is going to teach the imperial physician?" Si Xi probed.
"No need." Chu Yuan said, "Isn't it Lushan, I'll go."
Hearing this, Sixi breathed a sigh of relief, and went back to the East Palace to wait on him to rest, but she was also wondering what happened to the prince this year, why she was full of unhappiness when she mentioned Lushan.
Chu Yuan was lying on the bed, holding a jade flute in his hand. He closed his eyes and didn't know whether he fell asleep or not. The next day, when Dongfang Chulu was white, Sixi came in lightly and whispered beside the bed, "Prince, it's time to get up."
Chu Yuan pulled the quilt over his head, and after a while, he stretched out an arm.
Si Xi happily helped him up, and while changing his clothes, he said: "This time, General Ning came to pick him up personally, saying that the jujube forest in Lushan Courtyard is just right, red and sweet."
Chu Yuan said: "Oh."
Sixi coughed twice, and kept silent.
Why isn't even Shanzao interested anymore, I didn't like it very much last year.
The carriage drove all the way out of the palace, Chu Yuan was leaning against the window, and the wind was blowing in his ears, which also blew away a lot of worries in his heart.
The Lushan Palace is not far from the royal city, and it takes seven to eight days to get there. When Chu Yuan and his party arrived, there was a banquet in the palace. The guests and hosts were very happy. The Emperor Chu was seven-point drunk. He laughed and called Chu Yuan to his side to ask a few words, and then sent him back to rest. It means that I will go to the Huaixiang Pavilion early.
Chu Yuan responded, and then retreated and returned to his residence alone. It was a quiet little yard, with trees, water and stone mills. Even the snacks on the table were thick rice cakes, a specialty here, and Si Xi said, "Prince Prince. Try it? It's said to be quite famous."
Chu Yuan took a bite and curled his lips: "Eighty percent of it is famous because it is unpalatable."
Sixi smiled and said, "Then the old slave has been withdrawn, and replaced with butterfly cakes brought from the palace."
"No need." Chu Yuan said, "If you are tired these days, you should go back and rest. I will sit by myself for a while."
"Yes." Four Xi urged again, "I am afraid that I will have to get up early tomorrow morning, and the prince will have to rest earlier."
Chu Yuan nodded, and after he left, he sat alone in the courtyard, staring at the moon in a daze.
There was a sound of cicadas outside the courtyard.
Chu Yuan: "..."
After a while, the cicadas stopped abruptly, and there was a rustling sound from the wall.
Chu Yuan: "..."
Duan Baiyue climbed up the courtyard wall with both hands, showing her head and looking at him and smiling.
Chu Yuan: "..."
"Shh." Duan Baiyue jumped into the courtyard, made a silent gesture to him, pulled the person's arm and ran back to the bedroom.
Chu Yuan: "..."
"No one saw me." Duan Baiyue closed the door and patted his chest in relief.
Chu Yuan continued to look at him.
"Speak." Duan Baiyue said, "Are you happy?"
After a long time, Chu Yuan struggled and said, "You..."
"Me, what's wrong with me?" Duan Baiyue asked.
"What are you doing over the wall?" Chu Yuan pointed outside. The prince of the Southwest Mansion is not a little thief in the rivers and lakes, shouldn't he be invited over in a dignified manner.
"Father can't come because of something, but if I come alone, it would be too rude." Duan Baiyue wiped his face with his sleeve, "Father does not allow me to come, Master does not allow me to come, I have to sneak here. already."
"...Don't come, just don't come." Chu Yuan sat on the stool.
"That won't work, I want to see you." Duan Baiyue squatted in front of him.
Chu Yuan disliked: "My face is dirty."
"I have been hiding in the grass outside. The emperor said that he also sent three imperial guards to protect this small courtyard." Duan Baiyue said with a bitter face, "Three floors inside and three floors outside, it is more difficult to break through than Huanya."
Chu Yuan patted him, went out to ask for hot water, and watched him wash his face.
Duan Baiyue put down the veil: "What are you laughing at?"
Chu Yuan's expression stiffened, and he said, "I didn't smile."
Duan Baiyue touched her stomach, looked around, and asked, "Can the snacks on the table be eaten?"
Chu Yuan: "..."
Chu Yuan said: "I will pass the meal for you."
"Farewell, just eat a few cakes." Duan Baiyue sat at the table, "I heard that you are going to Huaixiang Pavilion tomorrow morning to compete?"
"Competition?" Chu Yuan handed him a cup of tea and frowned, "Father only said that he wanted me to go to the Huaixiang Pavilion, but didn't say why."
"I heard what the imperial guards said when they were chatting." Duan Baiyue said, "This time there are a few noble young masters from the Mobei tribe, and it is estimated that they will compete with these people."
Chu Yuan said: "Do you know them?"
"I don't know, but it is said that the kung fu is not low." Duan Baiyue said, "You have to be careful, I will also protect you in secret."
Chu Yuan said: "If I had known this, I would not have come."
Duan Baiyue was depressed: "Then, then you don't want to see me?"
Chu Yuan said: "Well." I don't want to.
Duan Baiyue stretched out his finger and poked his shoulder.
Chu Yuan moved his chair and sat further away, and said, "Eat your dessert!"
Duan Baiyue had been hungry for a day, so she didn't choose at this time, thinking that those thick rice cakes were delicious. Chu Yuan's chin rested on the table, watching him eat most of the plate in one go, thinking in his heart, it's pretty good.
"Prince." A maid whispered outside, "It's time to take a break."
"Go to sleep." Duan Baiyue drank half a pot of tea, wiped his mouth and stood up, "I'll go outside and watch over you."
Chu Yuan asked, "Outside?"
Duan Baiyue replied: "Yes, there is a big locust tree with luxuriant branches, and others will definitely not find it."
Chu Yuan: "..."
Chu Yuan said: "Oh."
Big locust tree.
"Don't be afraid. With me in the competition tomorrow, no one can bully you." Duan Baiyue picked up the long knife on the table, thought about it and took out a small bottle from his arms, "This is for you."
Chu Yuan put his hands behind his back and said, "Insect."
"It's not a bug, it's a medicine." Duan Baiyue pulled the plug, "There are many mosquitoes on this mountain, so take it with you to avoid being bitten."
medicine. Chu Yuan said: "Thank you."
"Then go to sleep." Duan Baiyue said, "I will sneak in tomorrow morning."
Chu Yuan watched him leave the room.
…
There was still a piece of thick rice cake left on the table, Chu Yuan thought about his devoured appearance just now, he hesitated to pick up a piece, took a bite and felt that it was indeed not unpalatable, so he slowly finished it with cold tea before washing up. rest.
The herbal bottle by the pillow didn't smell bad, and it had a faint fragrance. Chu Yuan stretched his hand under the pillow and held the short jade flute. He didn't think about the next day's competition, and quickly fell asleep. Duan Baiyue was leaning on the tree branch outside, watching the warm candlelight through the window lattice, and the breeze was blowing. , Who would have guessed that when he opened his eyes again, he saw that there was already a circle of servants standing at the door, and Eunuch Sixi whispered at the door: "Prince, it's time to get up."
Duan Baiyue: "..."
Chu Yuan leaned against the head of the bed and said lazily, "Come in."
"Prince." Sixi glanced at the table after entering the room, and was shocked by the empty plate, "This..."
Chu Yuan said innocently, "I woke up hungry in the middle of the night last night."
"It's the old slave who neglected his duty." Four Xi helped him up, "Prince won't want to eat these things again next time, just take a bite or two to taste the freshness. If you eat a plate in one breath, you will have a competition today. How can you hurt your stomach?"
Chu Yuan asked him to wait and finish washing, and said, "Don't go to the dining room, let's bring breakfast to the bedroom."
Sixi responded and was about to go out when Chu Yuan said again, "Send more."
Si Xi looked embarrassed. After eating this large plate of rice cakes, he could eat at most a small bowl of silver noodles and a pot of tea for breakfast. Why should he send more.
Chu Yuan frowned: "I'm hungry, I can't move during the competition."
Sixi had to do as she was told, and find comfort in her heart. Maybe it was because the mountains were cool and pleasant, so the prince's appetite was much better than usual, so it's okay.
The breakfast was a wild vegetable and pork pie unique in the mountains. Chu Yuan sat with his cheeks supported for a long time before Duan Baiyue came in through the window.
"Where did you go?" Chu Yuan asked.
"Wash your face." Duan Baiyue pulled out the chair and sat down.
Chu Yuan said: "I left everyone in the yard, but you went outside to wash your face?"
Duan Baiyue said: "You are disgraced, you have to despise me again."
Chu Yuan stared at him for a while, then nodded: "That's right." He just disliked you.
After a breakfast, Duan Baiyue said: "It's almost time, don't be afraid during the competition, eh?"
Chu Yuan said: "It's just a competition, not a war, so what's there to be afraid of."
"I'm afraid of losing, it's so shameless." Duan Baiyue held his shoulders with both hands, "But don't be afraid, you won't lose with me here."
"If you lose, you will lose. The recent moves have been a bit big, and some people have long been disliked by me. If you lose a game or two, it will make them feel at ease." Chu Yuan returned to the bed and took out the jade flute from under the pillow. " This is for you."
Duan Baiyue was surprised: "Send me?"
"I know you don't know how to play, and I don't understand." Chu Yuan pouted, "But last time you said you were looking for a jade flute as a gift, and it happened to be in the palace, do you want it?"
Duan Baiyue said sincerely: "I will still listen to it." She is not deaf.
"Then do you want it?" Chu Yuan rarely elongated his tone, raised the corners of his eyes, and smiled.
Duan Baiyue took a deep breath and held the jade flute into his hand.
Of course you want it, and if you want it is yours, who would be willing to give it away. I can't blow it now, just learn it, you can always learn it.
The Prince of the Southwest Mansion had great confidence in himself.
It's even harder than fighting.