The next morning, Xie An was moving his hands and feet by the stream when he saw Xiang Shu come out to wash his face.
"Have you slept all night?" Xie An asked.
Xiang Shu didn't answer, and Xie An asked again, "How did Da Chanyu know that there is a village here?"
"I've been here." Xiang Shu twisted the cloth towel and squeezed out the ice-cold water. After thinking about it, he said, "The last time I was at the back of the mountain, I was taken into the prison in Xiangyang by you Jin people."
Xie An hurriedly said: "I'm so sorry, do you still remember the names of the officers and soldiers? I'll be punished severely when I go back this time."
"All of them died," Xiang Shu said. "If Chen Xing hadn't rescued me, I would have died. I didn't expect to die for you Han people now.
Xie An sneered a few times, and was about to find something to say when Xiang Shu returned to the room and put a cold cloth on Chen Xing's face.
"We're on our way." Xiang Shu glanced at Chen Xing and said.
In the seventh year of Taiyuan, on the first day of the second lunar month, the envoys of the Jin Dynasty traveled long distances, over the mountains and mountains, a journey that originally only took half a month, but it took nearly 20 days, and finally reached Luoyang with difficulty.
If Chang'an is like a big tree with tenacious vitality on the barren land, then Luoyang is like a huge stone stele standing on the ground and stained with blood.
Luoyang was built during the Xia Dynasty, and what is recorded in the annals can be traced back to nearly 2,500 years ago. The Shang, Zhou, Han, Wei and Jin dynasties all used this as their capital. As a capital city, after several wars, burns and destruction, it still establishes the luck of Shenzhou. The large characters on the monument are mottled, all written in the blood of the emperors and civilians of the past dynasties, telling the blood and tears of the storm and the change of the dynasties.
In the prosperous world of the world, it was finally blown away by the rain and the wind, but this stone tablet always stands in the center of the four directions of the world, just like the Buzhou Mountain, describing how many beacon fires and how many sad songs.
After the Sima Clan's Yongjia Rebellion, Luoyang was almost destroyed. After the Murong family took over and established the Kingdom of Dayan, there were less than 80,000 households in Dongdu, which originally claimed to be a million households. Then, under the leadership of Wang Meng, the Di people's iron cavalry and the Xianbei people fought fiercely. Fortunately, under the insistence of Chen Xing's senior brother Wang Meng, who had only met a few times, the Di people did not slaughter the city, and let the people in the city go. Hu Han people. In the past ten years, Luoyang has recuperated and gradually returned to 200,000 households.
The houses, city walls, and even the imperial palace were left with traces of fire. When the Murong family was so poor that they had to borrow money from the Feng family to run the country, they naturally had no money to renovate the big city. It is precisely because of this that Feng Qianyi was able to form an alliance with Princess Qinghe.
At the moment of entering Luoyang City, I saw thousands of old houses waiting to be rebuilt, criss-crossed streets, and scattered dwellings, all guarding the grand but gloomy Ziwei Palace in the center. In the midst of grievances, under the light of noon on a spring day, there is a rather desolate sense of fate.
"I'm back at last—" Xie An sighed when he entered the city.
This is Luoyang, which countless southerners are familiar with in word of mouth, and is the capital of the founding emperor of the Jin Dynasty. Seeing the old capital suddenly, the Jin officials who were born in and grew up in Jiangnan couldn't help but remain silent for a long time. Xie An, with tears in his eyes, led a group of envoys to worship three times in the direction of Ziwei Palace at the city gate of Luoyang.
An official from the Qin state came to greet him, followed by the big shopkeeper of Xifeng Bank. The handwritten letter of Emperor Jin Sima Yao had been delivered to Luoyang not long ago, and Luoyang quickly transferred it to Chang'an, which immediately aroused the anger of Daqin. Compete to speculate. The Northern Emperor Fu Jian was sitting in Chang'an, and it was reasonable to say that the envoys should go to Guanzhong, but unexpectedly they came to Luoyang, which Murong Chong nominally guarded.
This was also a step in Xie An's plan. After detailed discussions, the Jin Dynasty chose Luoyang for peace talks. The original intention was to test Fu Jian and let him leave Chang'an, the home court, and meet in a third place other than Jiankang and Chang'an.
But Fu Jian never made any reply, so he left Sima Yao's proposal for peace.
"Your Majesty has not yet decided whether to move to Luoyang or not. Since you have come from a long way, please..." The official name of the Qin State was Helian Shuang, and now he glanced at Xiang Shu and Chen Xing, and felt that the two of them were familiar.
Xiang Shu put on a black Han military military uniform and a silver mask that covered the left side of his face. The exposed right side of his face was slightly trimmed and his eyebrows were slightly more heroic than before. No matter what, the officials could not associate the former Gumeng Danyu with this warrior. Looking at Chen Xing, who was behind Xie An and whose identity was the main book, Chen Xing wore his hair and crown, compared to when he entered Chang'an at the age of sixteen. , has grown a little over the past few years. Helian Shuang was born in the Huns. When Xiang Shu entered the palace, he was in a hurry, and he couldn't recognize Chen Xing.
"Move to the official post?" Helianshuang spoke Chinese quite standardly and made a "please" gesture. The Luoyang shopkeeper of Xifeng Bank was even more respectful and said: "The post is now under the care of Xifeng, everyone. Please come with me... What is this carriage?" He looked curiously at the carriage sealed with iron sheets.
Xie An said with a smile: "This is a gift from our Majesty to King Fu Tian. When your Majesty comes down, it will be opened naturally."
He Lian Shuang didn't ask any more questions, and said with a smile, "Then please do it yourself."
"It's okay, it's okay," Xie An said, "Lord Helian doesn't need to pay attention to us, it's rare to return to the homeland, and just want to wander around Luoyang."
Xie An took the pseudonym "Xie Wei". Few people in the north had seen him anyway, so he didn't need to wear a mask, so he immediately followed behind Helian Shuang and walked across Tongtuo Street. Helian Shuang said, "Sir Xie is joking, Luoyang is now the territory of my Great Qin Heavenly King."
"Flip, slip." Xie An hurriedly laughed.
Helian Shuang said: "If you want to move to my Daqin, it is a good choice. Our Majesty the King relies on scholars the most."
Chen Xing thought to do this again. When passing through Tongtuo Street, I saw two splendid streets, like Chang'an, where there was an endless stream of merchants from south to north, but after all, something was missing, as if the lack of popularity was.
Most of Luoyang's business and trade only provide services for Xianbei aristocrats, and also serve the family of Wuhu, which ordinary people can't afford to visit.
"Everyone, please rest first." Helian Shuang will bring the group of more than ten people to the center of the pine and cypress in Luoyang, and then said, "Tonight, the prefect of Murong will hold a banquet for you.
Everyone was busy all the way, and they took a rest. When they were about to go to bathe and change clothes, Feng Qianjun said: "I don't want to see Murong Chong, so as not to cause trouble, in case Luoyang officials recognize me..."
"Come on, listen to my command!" Although Xie An has no martial arts skills, he still has a little wisdom, so he said, "Qianjun, please do some reconnaissance in the city after nightfall. It is best to pass the scouts and try to notify Murong Chong. , ask him to meet in private after the dinner party."
Chen Xing looked at Feng Qianjun a little worriedly. I was afraid that his mood was not stable recently. He was even more afraid that Xiao Shan would say something that should not be said at the banquet later, which would make people suspicious. "This Hun prince, Xiao Shan's little brother, please accompany Feng Qianjun for a while."
Chen Xing thought to himself, thank God, he was so smart, so that Xiao Shan would not make trouble at the banquet. When I first arrived in Luoyang, I didn’t know anything about the intelligence at the moment. The Feng family had arranged a lot of assassins in the local area. They had to go to the joint. With Xiao Shan around, it would be safer after all.
"Okay," Xiao Shan said immediately, "I'm going."
"If you don't attend the banquet, you have to take a bath!" Chen Xing immediately took Xiao Shan back, threw him into the bath, and washed him before letting him go.
Feng Qianjun left after a brief wash, leaving Chen Xing and Xiang Shu soaking in the water, and the two faced each other in silence.
Since the long conversation in the abandoned village that day, Xiang Shu's words have become less and less, and he has been silent all day long. Chen Xing tried to talk to him several times, but Xiang Shu always nodded, as if he was too lazy to speak, but occasionally Chen Xing was riding a horse on the road, and when he looked back to find Xiang Shu, he found that Xiang Shu was always looking at him. After so many times, Xiang Shu felt it, as if he didn't want Chen Xing to notice his heart, he rode to the front of the team.
"Do you think Murong Chong will recognize us later?" Chen Xing asked.
"He's not a fool." Xiang Shu said, "You still think Hu people are idiots until now?"
Chen Xing said, "Can't you be gentle? Are you always making fun of me?"
Xiang Shu seemed to have a conflict with Chen Xing along the way. Almost everyone noticed it. Feng Qianjun took Xiao Shan to leave first, while Xie An, Huan Yi and others deliberately did not enter the bath because they wanted to leave them alone. Space.
Xiang Shu didn't answer, sitting cross-legged on the edge of the bathtub, looking up at the ceiling, shrouded in the dense mist.
Chen Xing looked at Xiang Shu through the fog and felt that his figure without clothes was better than with clothes on, so he gave up the idea of arguing with him, forced a smile and said, "I thought about it that day, and I decided to accept it. your proposal."
"Well," Xiang Shu said indifferently, "a proposal to die."
Chen Xing said: "It's worth it, but Xiang Shu... I have something to say to you."
Xiang Shu frowned, glanced at Chen Xing, and Chen Xing said, "Although I think my luck is always good, maybe I won't die in the end? But if you think that the decisive battle will kill me, then you now Shouldn't you be nicer to me?"
Item description: "… "
Chen Xing said: "Otherwise, after all this is over, if I am gone, when you think back to the time we spent together, you are always arguing, won't it always be in your heart?"
Xiang Shu took a deep breath, as if there was an extremely suffocating anger in his heart that he had nowhere to express, Chen Xing said honestly: "Anyway, I'm gone, I don't know anything, the one who feels guilty is you. Of course, if you don't care, I don't have the right to say that."
Xiang Shu: "Why do you always talk about your life and death so plainly?"
Chen Xing said with a smile: "Because, master said, no one in the world dies? Live well while you are alive, isn't it better to focus on the present moment?"
Xiang Shu showed that familiar, sad look again, and Chen Xing said to himself: "And there are contingency, no one knows the outcome until the end, right? What I'm more worried about is how to hand over Dinghaizhu to Wang Ziye in a logical way..."
"I'll help you." Xiang Shu said suddenly.
Chen Xing: "?"
"Turn over." Xiang said that Chen Xing's backhand rubbing shoulder was very difficult. Chen Xing turned his back to Xiang Shu, and Xiang Shu picked up the towel and wiped his shoulders.
Chen Xing knew that Xiang Shu seemed to think about it, and maybe this was right. Since time is short, why not cherish the moment
"Xiang Shu, are you..." Chen Xing said softly.
Xiang Shu's movements stopped abruptly, but Chen Xing suddenly didn't want to talk anymore. What did he say? These days, he has an increasingly strong premonition that Xiang Shu seems to be a little concerned about himself. Since when did you have this feeling? Because of the way Xiangshu looked at him on the road? Or do you think about it later, "You pretended not to understand" that night
"Is it what?" Xiang Shu's voice suddenly became a little unstable.
Chen Xing's heart beat violently, and he finally realized it, as if after Sui Ji's coma a month ago, he felt that Xiang Shu treated him differently. Many words, the two always seemed to be in a relationship. He stopped talking, as if something had been scratching Chen Xing.
At first, he relied heavily on Xiang Shu, but he felt that Xiang Shu was simply heaven and earth and could do anything. But gradually found that Xiang Shu didn't seem to listen to his commands, so Chen Xing had no choice but not to force him to go with him many times. They should be the least tacit partners in the history of the Exorcism Division. Sometimes Chen Xing even doubts whether they can finally complete this flawed plan.
This made him want to push him and kick him when facing Xiang Shu, even beat him, and then shouted and let out a sense of depression in his chest, why can't you listen to me? But when he saw Xiang Shu's appearance, the pent-up anger could no longer be vented, and he could only occasionally get angry with him.
If he was not destined to face this fate, maybe they would become different? Chen Xing sometimes can't help but imagine that if in the prosperous world of ten thousand laws, if he can't say he can't stalk him, he will follow Xiang Shu, and occasionally provoke him, see how angry he looks, and apologize to him after he has angered him. , look at the expression on his face that he can't help himself.
But now everything is different.
"Nothing." Chen Xing replied, maintaining such a relationship is the best for each other.
Xiang Shu covered the back of Chen Xing's neck with one hand, and held a towel with the other, wiping his shoulders.
"You remember that you promised me one more thing." Xiang Shu said suddenly.
Chen Xing replied, "I know you won't be hard on others." Then he heard Xiang Shu take a deep breath behind his back. He seemed to have something to say, but he held back.
"You know that I'm going to be hard on others?" Xiang Shu said lightly.
Chen Xing laughed, and when he was about to speak, Xie An's voice from outside said, "That... two, are you finished? Murong rushed to the appointment time... Uh, this... Although it's not good to disturb you, but... "
"Right now!" Chen Xing also realized that he had been washing for too long, and there were still many people waiting outside. Xiang Shu had to get up to change clothes.
Xie An and others hurriedly showered. The motorcade that Murong Chong sent to pick them up had arrived at the gate of the station. Chen Xing and Xiang Shu changed into formal clothes. Xiang Shu put on a silver mask, but Yingwei couldn't hide his figure. , simply want to cover up. Chen Xing said: "Since he can recognize it, I will see this mask..."
"The mask is used to tell him not to rashly expose our identities," Xiang Shu said lightly, "It's not to hide from him, why are you so stupid?"
Chen Xing: "…"
When Chen Xing saw Xiang Shu began to mock him, he knew that Xiang Shu was not angry anymore, so he smiled and helped Xiang Shu tidy up his collar, and said, "Xing Xing Xing, I am not smart at all, let's go."
The two got into a carriage. Xiang Shu had long arms and legs, which made him a little squeezed. Chen Xing had to put his hands on his thighs. Thinking of what he just said in the bathroom, this feeling became stronger and stronger, and he couldn't help thinking about it. If Xiang Shu is really interested in him... Then in the last days of his life...
Chen Xing couldn't help looking sideways at Xiang Shu, wondering if his hunch was true? Does Xiang Shu also care about him? I always refused to believe or said that I didn't want to think in this direction until Xiang Shu said that. What would happen if he leaned over and kissed Xiang Shu's lips at this time
Chen Xing looked at Xiang Shu wearing a silver mask, and suddenly his face became a little hot.
Xiang Shu said indifferently, "What are you looking at?"
Chen Xing shook his head and turned his head.
Xiang Shu raised his hand and put it on his shoulder.
"Entering the palace - unraveling the sword." The servant said.
Xiang Shu was unwilling to hand over the immovable as a mountain, so he said, "Go back and tell you Murong Prefect, if you let him Xie Jian, I will go back."
The group was stopped in front of the palace gate, and the waiter was about to scold him, but seeing Xiang Shu's imposing manner, he didn't dare to neglect. Xie An was amiable, patted the waiter's shoulder with a smile, and said, "Are you going to report to the prefect first?"
Not long after, someone came to pass a message, so that the accompanying warriors did not have to remove the heavy sword. This order was only aimed at Xiang Shu, and the talents returned to the palace again and entered the Mingtang. Murong Chong held a banquet in the side hall of Mingtang. Chen Xing had just entered the hall, and everyone was sorted by seat order, Xie An was the first, Chen Xing was the second, and Xiang Shu sat behind Chen Xing.
"Mr. Murong is here—"
Everyone straightened their clothes, and Murong Chong, wearing a black slim-fit military uniform, walked in from outside the hall. Before they came, everyone had talked about the most beautiful man in the north, who was as famous as Xie An's grandson, Xie Pun. It was said that he looked better than Pan An and Wei Jie, but when they saw the real person Murong Chong, all the literati thought: Hey, that's it. Well, not surprising. Similar to Xiangshu, but a little bit stronger than Xiangshu.
However, after a short while, everyone had to nod their heads and admit that although the expectations were too high and they failed to get the shock of being "stunned", Murong Chong's reputation as "the most beautiful man in the world" was well-deserved. For those who have passed, no one can compare to Murong Chong.
"Everyone came from a long way..." Murong Chong was a little absent-minded, he saw Chen Xing and Xiang Shu behind him at a glance, and his voice stopped.
Xiang Shu just sat quietly as if nothing was happening, the whole hall was waiting for Murong Chong to finish his words, but Murong Chong stopped at this moment, his eyebrows raised, his thin lips trembled slightly, and after a long time he said, "All the way along the way. Thanks for your hard work."
Xie An and the others hurriedly humbled themselves. Everyone stared at Murong Chong. Murong Chong stood for a while, as if thinking. After a while, he came to the main case, sat cross-legged, tapped his fingers on the case, and then brought in a waiter. , whispered a few words, and the waiter turned and left.
Chen Xing jokingly said: "The prefect, shouldn't you have ordered the ambush of the knife and axe?"
Everyone laughed, but Murong Chong was startled, and then said, "No, how dare you make an axe?"
He Lian Shuang was also present as non-voting delegates. Below the main seat were several officials from Luoyang. The officials were headed by He Lian Shuang. As soon as Xie An saw it, he knew that Helian Shuang was sent by Fu Jian to monitor Murong Chong, so he smiled and said, "Under the prefect's reputation, it is true, and your Majesty has long admired it."
Chen Xing looked at Murong Chong and knew that he had already recognized the two, but now the situation has been turned upside down compared to when Princess Qinghe died. Obviously Xiang Shu's grasp of Murong Chong is very accurate. He does not want to seek revenge, or rather, he does not want to now.
"My whole life, I've been tired of being famous," Murong Chong said coldly. "Sometimes being too famous is not a good thing."
From the moment Murong Chong appeared, Chen Xing was thinking about the impression he gave him, and after thinking about it, he found the most suitable word—cold.
Murong Chong and Xiang Shu are both beautiful men, although they are both cold, Xiang Shu has the joys, sorrows and sorrows of ordinary people, and also has a bit of warmth. Murong Chong can only be described as cold, with a sense of not eating fireworks. Perhaps after the death of his sister, for him, there is nothing in the world that can cause ripples in his heart.
Today's banquet is really a problem for Xie An. Timurong's family is very close, and it is easy to involve Dayan's hatred of subjugation of the country. Complimenting him on his youthful and beautiful appearance is also reminiscent of his relationship with Fu Jian. , No matter what he said, it was easy to touch the scars that Murong Chong didn't want to be mentioned. After thinking about it, he said very beautifully: "Luoyang is in ruins, but the people have settled down, which shows that the prefect is sympathetic to the public opinion."
"It's none of my business," Murong Chong was a little absent-minded, glanced at Xiang Shu behind Chen Xing from time to time, and replied casually, "It's all due to Lord Helian and the officials, I'm just getting a false name."
This time, the conversation was blocked again. It seemed that Murong Chong didn't want to talk nonsense with them at all, and he was not interested in winning relations with the Han people. Xie An thought for a moment, decided to go straight ahead, and asked, "How did you decide on your Majesty's side?"
"I don't know." Murong Chong said coldly, "I have already sent someone to deliver a letter to him. Maybe he will come... Here, how is your condition?"
A figure appeared at the side door of Mingtang. At first, everyone thought it was Fu Jian, but they were stunned for a while, but when they found out that it was a thin young man in his twenties, they couldn't help but look at each other. shout out.
Tuoba Yan!
Tuoba Yan was thinner now than he was in a hurry under Chi Le Chuan. He was wearing thick clothes, and his once handsome face had an air of boredom. His brows were dark and his face was pale and gray. It looks like a delicate but dusty bronze vessel, but the moment he saw Chen Xing, a long-lost smile appeared on his face.
"You are here." Tuoba Yan smiled, and then took his seat, his eyes were still bright, and he only looked at Chen Xing.
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"You..." Chen Xing's shock couldn't be further added. It was not surprising that Tuoba Yan appeared in Luoyang, and he was extremely pleasantly surprised, but the joy of reuniting old friends was immediately diluted by Tuoba Yan's illness. Chen Xing wanted to ask what's wrong with you, but Xiang Shu stretched out his finger and tapped Chen Xing's shoulder lightly.
Helian Shuang was already a little puzzled. Luoyang Hu people officials looked at Chen Xing one after another, and Chen Xing stopped talking.
Tuoba Yan smiled reluctantly, and said, "I am sick and I came to Luoyang to recover. The prefect told me that when a Han Chinese came, he wanted to inquire about the whereabouts of one of my little brothers. His name is Chen Xing, and I heard that he went there. Jiankang, I don't know if he is doing well now."
"It's going well." Xiang Shu replied proactively.
Tuoba Yan smiled and said, "Then, I can rest assured."
Murong Chong said, "Something to eat?"
Tuoba Yan suddenly picked up Murong Chong's wine glass and said to everyone, "I toast everyone."
"You can't drink." Murong Chong frowned.
Tuoba Yan had already drank it, lit the bottom of the cup, nodded and said, "Forgive your sins and say goodbye."