Qi Yan held the wooden man and at the same time covered Xia Xun's hand:
"After you died, I haven't dreamed of you for many years. I thought that you must have resentment towards me and refused to enter my dream, but I really missed you. One day I woke up and suddenly found that I can’t really remember your appearance, and I’m afraid I will forget you. From that day on, I started to learn how to carve wooden figurines. Every time I carve one, I will recall your voice and smile in my mind. I think, in this way , I will never forget your appearance no matter what.
"A few months ago, I missed you so much. I said to myself, no matter what the price, I would like to see you. I secretly found a wizard. Ironically, I didn't believe in ghosts before. When others discuss it, they only find it ridiculous, but now that they have something to ask for, such illusory spells have become the only life-saving straw."
The sorcerer told Qi Yan that if he wanted to summon the spirit of the deceased through the technique of exhaustion, he had to take the paulownia wood to engrave the face of the deceased, engrave the character of birth on the back of the wooden figurine, and then take the personal belongings of the deceased as a means of relying on both. Unity, enshrined in front of the tablet on the night of the full moon, so that you can meet it in your dreams.
Qi Yan picked up the brocade bag placed next to the incense burner, which contained Xia Xun's black hair.
"This is your hair that I took off quietly when you and I met for the last time, and I used it as a primer to call you back."
Qi Yan obeyed the wizard's orders one by one, and even specially bought pagoda leaf parfaits to put on the table.
He thought, if Xia Xun really came back, he would still have his favorite snacks to eat.
He knew what Qi Hui thought of him, he might have regarded him as a lunatic long ago, but Qi Yan didn't care anymore, as long as he could see Xia Xun, he could give up his life.
Qi Yan said in a daze:
"That night, I really dreamed of you... I dreamed that you walked in from the outside and sat down to eat the cakes on the table. I didn't even dare to breathe too loudly for fear of disturbing you. I walked slowly Behind you, your name is called, you turn your head, I haven't seen your face clearly, a large bloodstain suddenly appeared on your chest, more and more blood, trickling down your clothes to the ground, I think Hugging you, I just walked a few steps forward, when I lowered my head, I suddenly saw a knife stuck in your chest, and the handle of the knife happened to be in my hand... You looked at me sadly, and didn't say anything... "
Qi Yan's hand moved up Xia Xun's arm, and came to his back little by little, and gently pulled Xia Xun into his arms:
"Actually, I remember very clearly. You told me that even Xia Hongxi didn't know your real birthday. I engraved the horoscope of your birthday on the back of the wooden figure. It must be inaccurate, but I still dreamed of you. I guess, it must be It's because I miss you too much and feel too guilty. Over the years, I have always believed that I killed you... I like you so much, how could, how could I not save you...?"
There was a faint cry in his words.
This time, Xia Xun did not refuse his hug, he put his face on Qi Yan's neck and murmured:
"That's why you went to Douzhou...?"
Qi Yan pressed against his ear, as if waking up from a dream:
"I was afraid that you would have unfulfilled wishes, so you entrusted me with a dream. The next day I hurried to Lingnan. Fortunately, I went... Fortunately, fortunately..."
His arms became tighter and tighter. In front of Xia Xun's spiritual tablet, his years of painful longing finally came to an end. The lover he had been thinking about like crazy was still alive, still breathing, and still had a heartbeat... still nestled in his arms.
Xia Xun took a deep breath, and Qi Yan's heartbeat was transmitted to him through the thin fabric.
Just when Qi Yan's empty heart was finally about to come to fruition, he suddenly noticed that the touch of his hands was a bit abnormal.
His palms were sticking to Xia Xun's back, and under the clothes there were vaguely jumbled bumps. Qi Yan's expression was serious, and he rubbed vigorously, feeling that Xia Xun's entire back had similar conditions.
He hurriedly asked: "What's going on on your back??"
Xia Xun didn't expect him to ask such a question, and said calmly:
"It's the scar of the rod."
Qi Yan was stunned, and distanced herself from Xia Xun:
"What rod?"
Xia Xun felt strange and raised her eyes to look at him:
"The law of this dynasty stipulates that prisoners who are sentenced to exile will be punished thirty times before exile. Didn't you serve as the chancellor of Dali Temple, don't you know?"
As if hearing a thunderbolt from the blue sky, Qi Yan said tremblingly, "... what?"
But he has already woken up.
His heart skipped a beat, his head felt like it was going to explode with a "boom", his whole body was numb, and he felt his body suddenly sinking down, like being stuck in a thick mud.
He served as the prime minister of Dali Temple for three years, how could he not understand the laws of the dynasty? How could he not know that exiled prisoners have to receive thirty rods before they can leave Beijing
But he just forgot.
The joy of reuniting with Xia Xun was so overwhelming that both his brain and his heart fooled him.
Before today, he always thought that Xia Xun hadn't suffered much, especially after finding out that he was still alive.
He thought that Xia Xun was not bullied by the jailer in prison, he thought that he got into the prison car without incident, and he thought that when he arrived in Douzhou, he escaped smoothly by feigning death.
He thought that even though Xia Xun hated him, he still protected Xia Xun very well, he saved his life, and although the manpower he placed was not useful, after repeated twists and turns, Xia Xun finally regained his freedom .
He always thought that although the journey was bitter, the ending would be happy in the end.
So he forcibly brought Xia Xun back. He always thought that as long as Xia Xun knew the hard work he had done for him, he would forgive him, abandon all the past, and have no gap with him, and be with him again .
They can still treat each other with sincerity as before.
During this period of time, he unconsciously ignored a lot, but now, all the details of the past emerged in his mind like thunder:
When he saw it from the Guangning Tower, he was completely wrong. Xia Xun was not asleep, but he had just been tortured with a stick and passed out on Xia Wen's lap.
Xia Xun always cried out in pain in her dreams, and always babbled his name, not because of the hand that was burned by Xia Xing, but because of the back that was once bruised and bruised.
Xia Xun would say that her back hurts, Xia Xun's physique is much weaker, Xia Xun doesn't want to be touched by him on the back.
And Xia Xun started to cough as soon as autumn came.
This is not acclimatization at all, it is clearly caused by the rod punishment that year.
After hitting the back with a three-inch-wide plank for thirty blows, even a strong and healthy man would be left with scars and bruises all over his body.
And Xia Xun had to travel three thousand miles to the barren land of Lingnan with such a bloody wound.
Xia Xun didn't die on the road, it's God's pity.
The sour waves surged in Qi Yan's heart, making him want to cry aloud, and the shudder of pain swept over him. He hugged Xia Xun tightly, buried his head in his neck, and swallowed his sobs deeply.
Xia Xun couldn't bear to see him so distressed, and comforted him slowly:
"So you didn't know? In fact... it doesn't hurt as much as you think. I'm not doing well now, let alone He Cong helped me back then. He—forget it. It's all over. I forgot about it myself. Why do you have to repeat the old things?" carry."
Qi Yan hugged him with all her strength, and Xia Xun was so strangled by him.
The sadness in Qi Yan's heart was like a torrent pouring out of the gate, and it was out of control.
The Xia Xun he regarded as a treasure, the Xia Xun he risked his life to save, the only Xia Xun he ever loved, paid such a painful price because of his decision.
Now that things have happened, what face does he have to keep him by his side
Qi Yan clenched her teeth, leaned on Xia Xun's thin shoulders, and shook her head stiffly.
He regretted it too late, and was destined to regret it for the rest of his life.
With a hoarse voice, he asked hoarsely:
"Xia Xun...do you still want to go back to Lingnan..."
Xia Xun was startled, but did not answer.
Qi Yan understood his silence, his throat was sore, as if a heavy weight weighed on his chest, making him unable to breathe.
He swallowed with difficulty, his throat was sore and astringent, as if he had swallowed a thousand silver needles.
He squeezed out a voice between his teeth:
"Okay... I'll let you go... Xia Xun, I'll let you go..."
Three days later, by the Shou River in the western suburbs, beside the Changting Pavilion.
Qi Yan is doing the final inspection.
He bought a fairly sturdy carriage and hired a groom whose hometown was in Douzhou. He was worried that Xia Xun would not have enough food and clothing on the road, so he bought a lot of things himself and filled the carriage to the brim.
He counted the luggage one by one, and after counting the first time, he counted from the beginning for the second time.
Xia Xun was watching from the side, not intending to stop him.
After counting back and forth a few times like this, Qi Yan was finally relieved, and turned around to tell Xia Xun:
"Everything you can use, I have prepared for you. Don't rush to buy what you need. Search in your luggage. If you can't find it, then spend money to buy it. In addition to food and clothing, I will also prepare for you. The bag of broken silver, when you give it to the officers and soldiers who are checking along the way, they will not make things difficult for you, and I brought you a water bag specially, you always cough, you should drink some water from time to time to moisten your throat, and in addition—”
Xia Xun couldn't take it anymore:
"Okay, I remember it all, you said it three times."
Qi Yan stared:
"Don't say it three times. As long as you can return to Douzhou safely, I can say it thirty times. Be patient and listen to me. In addition, I have written a letter to your elder brother, telling him that you are going back, and asking him to tell you in advance." be ready."
Xia Xun nodded:
"Okay, is there anything else?"
Qi Yan endured it and said:
"… Gone."
Xia Xun turned around and wanted to leave: "Then I'll get in the car."
Qi Yan called him to stop:
"Xia Xun!"
Xia Xun looked back at him: "What's wrong?"
Qi Yan took out a simple square wooden box from his sleeve, opened the box lid, and inside were two gold bracelets.
Qi Yan paused and said:
"This is my mother's dowry, and it is also the only relic left by her. After I returned to Beijing as an adult, I spent a lot of effort to find it. Now... I will give it to you."
Xia Xun looked at it for a while, and said he couldn't accept it:
"I can't accept such an expensive gift. You should keep it by your side so that you can ease your longing for your mother. Besides, as a man, when I can't use it, you should leave it for—"
Qi Yan interrupted him:
"This is not for you, but for your... future wife."
As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere between the two fell silent instantly. The seemingly relaxed state they had created together just now was like a handful of ashes in the wind, blowing away.
The heavy meaning of parting engulfed the two of them like a tide.
Qi Yan took a breath and showed a smile, but unfortunately it was uglier than crying:
"The gold bracelet is a gift for the bride. When you get married in the future, you will naturally have a place to use it. At that time—"
The root of Qi Yan's tongue was numb, almost unable to open his mouth:
"... At that time, don't forget to write a letter to tell me, I will prepare another generous gift for you, guaranteed to be more valuable than this one, how about it?"
Xia Xun stood there for a long time before making a move. He took the wooden box and stuffed it into his arms.
By the pavilion, they are not the only ones who want to say goodbye. Along the Shou River, many men and women say goodbye here. Some of them will meet again soon, and some may never see each other again in this lifetime.
Those who see off will break off the willow branches and give them to the departing travelers. In the early autumn, the leaves of the willow trees have already fallen off, leaving only bare branches.
Qi Yan lowered her eyes and said in a low voice:
"I won't give you a broken willow. Douzhou is the place you want to go back to. How could I be cruel to leave you behind? It's just... from then on, I don't have any wishes for the rest of my life. I only wish you a safe life and a happy life forever." .”
Xia Xun gave a low "hmm":
"… I'm leaving."
He turned quickly and boarded the carriage resolutely, as if he would change his mind if he stayed just a moment longer.
The groom swung down the reins, and the wheels moved forward slowly.
Qi Yan stood under the car, watched him go, and bid him a final farewell:
"Xia Xun, goodbye."
Xia Xun didn't dare to look at him anymore, waved her hands hastily, and hid in the carriage.
In the depths of the carriage, where the sun could not reach him, he took off all his disguise. He hugged his knees and curled up in a ball, feeling lost.
The wooden box Qi Yan gave was nothing special, but it was like a soldering iron when it was placed in his arms, which made his heart ache.
He took out the wooden box, but he refused to throw it away far away, insisting on holding it tightly in his hands.
He belatedly thought that everyone had changed.
Xia Wen used to love her sister-in-law so much that she settled down in Douzhou and married a new wife.
He Cong liked him, and in order to save him, he did not hesitate to sever ties with his parents. A few years later, both children had two children.
The eldest sister-in-law remarried Xiong Qian, Shaobo became Mrs. Raobi, Xia Yin had long forgotten him, and even Zhigui and Fumeng Tancha left far away after a brief encounter with him.
Even he himself is no longer the naive and simple Xia Xun he used to be.
Only Qi Yan remained unchanged.
He stays in the gap of time, letting the torrents of the sea toss and roll, and with his love and longing for Xia Xun, he will stay where he is forever, and he will never take a step back in this life.
Whenever Xia Xun is willing to turn around, he will be seen behind him.
Even if everyone is gone, even if everyone forgets him, Qi Yan will always love him unswervingly.
The treasure that Xia Xun thought she had never obtained, turned out to be in his arms all along.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help leaning out the car window and turned to look at Qi Yan.
Under the long pavilion with bucket arches built by Baishi, there are three steps in total, and Qi Yan is sitting on the last stone step.
The carriage had driven a long distance, and Qi Yan's figure was blurred, but Xia Xun could still clearly see this man whom he had loved all his life, buried his face in his hands, and cried silently.
Xia Xun's heart ached sharply, and tears flowed down unexpectedly. He couldn't help saying, "Stop the car..."
His voice was too soft, the groom didn't hear, the wheels were still moving forward, Qi Yan was getting farther and farther away from him.
The churning emotions in her chest could no longer be tolerated, Xia Xun shouted:
"parking!"
The groom hurriedly pulled up the reins, Xia Xun jumped down and ran wildly.
Hearing the movement, Qi Yan raised his head and looked over in a daze.
Xia Xun ran to him in one breath, and when he was a few steps away, he stood still slowly, adjusted his breathing, and walked towards him step by step.
Qi Yan looked at him in disbelief, with tears remaining on his face.
Xia Xun grabbed his hand:
"Didn't you say, let me give the bracelet to the person who will marry me in the future?"
He patted a pair of gold bracelets on Qi Yan's palm:
"gave it to you."
Qi Yan wanted to laugh, but grinned, and couldn't believe it:
"you-?"
"I suddenly felt that the capital city is also very good." Xia Xun broke off a willow branch and put it in his sleeve: "You don't need to break a willow to give it away, I keep myself."
The author has something to say:
It's over! There will be a special episode in two days~