"Tell me the whole story." Li Yanqiu took Duan Ling's hand and said earnestly, "Start from your understanding."
There were tears in Li Yanqiu's eyes, and he could hardly hold back. Duan Ling felt that Li Yanqiu's hand had been cold, so he took the stove and put it in his hand.
Snowflakes filled the sky outside the window, the red clay stove in the room, and the uncle and nephew were sitting opposite each other.
Duan Ling pondered for a moment, then slowly recalled the past. From the time he was sensible in the Duan family to the time he learned about his mother's past and dark childhood, he took it with him and followed Lang Junxia on such a snowy night to leave Runan and head to Shangjing, which is further north.
Li Yanqiu did not interrupt, but just listened carefully. When Duan Ling thought of his father when he talked about the rebellion in Shangjing, Li Yanqiu held him in his arms and put him on his shoulders.
Those past, like a dream, gradually became unreal.
In the winter in Jiangzhou, there was a snowfall, and the roof of the house was not even covered. The exposed streets and tiles were like ink, and there were ice slag hanging on the remnant maple that had fallen yellow leaves.
In the palace, the red cloth for the New Year was gathered early. The birthday of the prince was approaching. According to the practice of last year, it must be a big deal. However, this year was very quiet, and Li Yanqiu actually left Jiangzhou overnight without receiving any orders from the king of a country. Leaving an imperial decree, the reason is to go to Huaiyin. During his departure from the capital, the crown prince supervised the country, the prime minister Mu Kuangda was in charge, and Xie You was the general of the town.
Fortunately, this year's government affairs are not as busy as in previous years, but even so, supervising the country is not an easy job. Cai Yan stayed busy until late at night and couldn't sleep.
"The Ritual Officer is here to ask, what do you want to do with your Highness's birthday this year." Feng Duo, who stayed with him the whole time, asked when Cai Yan put down his memorial.
In less than half an hour, before dawn, he was about to get up and face, Cai Yan looked tired.
"Compared to state affairs, birthdays don't matter much." Cai Yan said to Feng Duo, "Let's not do it this year."
Feng Duo nodded, the East Palace was almost abnormally quiet, and the large palace was deserted.
"What's the situation with the people sent out?" Cai Yan asked.
"I tried to contact him a few times," Feng Duo said, "but I didn't get a response."
"Who said that he was 100% sure?" Cai Yan's tone was unusually calm.
Feng Duo trembled slightly and did not dare to look at Cai Yan, but to his surprise, Cai Yan did not react excessively.
"You can't kill him," Cai Yan said. "You'll be the first to die, Feng Duo. Just drag it on slowly."
In the cold winter of March 9, Feng Duo was covered in cold sweat, nodded and said, "This minister is guilty."
Cai Yan said, "I'm not joking with you. If you want to survive, you'd better end this matter quickly while His Majesty is not in court. Don't ask me why."
Feng Duo didn't have time to think about Cai Yan's words, he nodded his head and said, "It's better to call him back to Beijing to report his duties..."
"I don't care what method you use." Cai Yan said, "This is not what I should be concerned about, I have worried enough, Wuluohoumu will never return, and there is no news, Feng Duo, don't think I am alarmist , your death is near."
Feng Duo had not chewed on the meaning of the words for a while before, but now the more he thinks about it, the more wrong he is. He looks up at Cai Yan, his eyes are full of fear.
There are some things that can't be thought about carefully. Once they think about it, Feng Duo can't bear it.
"Yes." Feng Duo trembled.
"I'll just say it here." Cai Yan said again, "Don't do things that you regret."
Feng Duo made a difficult swallowing motion, Cai Yan and Yi leaned against the couch, his eyes filled with sadness, whether it was for Feng Duo or himself.
"Within three years." Feng Duo finally said, "If you can't solve Wang Shan, His Highness will execute me."
"What's the use of taking your life?" Cai Yan said, "Don't make any military orders, that's all, it's almost morning, let me rest for a while."
Cai Yan leaned on the couch, closed his eyes, and water dripped from the front porch, one drop, one drop. He remembered that when he was a child, when it was raining in Beijing, he would sit in the corridor, waiting for his brother to return, holding a volume of books in his hand, but he didn't want to read it carefully.
The rain kept dripping down, one drop was all night, and the sound of falling on the wood could drive people crazy.
"I miss him." Cai Yan said suddenly.
Feng Duo didn't dare to answer, but Cai Yan added, "Send someone to send a letter to Huaiyin, and tell him to come back soon."
When the crown prince celebrates his birthday and the emperor is not in the palace, the courtiers will always have some discussions, not going early or late, but this time is chosen. Cai Yan always felt that he did not know when to start, and Li Yanqiu had become a little indifferent to himself. There are fewer opportunities to see him, but every time he runs over to see him, Li Yanqiu is as usual, making him feel like a spring breeze. Just after a few words, he urged him to be diligent in political affairs - he was no longer a child, he had to learn to take responsibility.
Most importantly, he was lonely.
He once thought that Li Yanqiu was just as lonely, but the emperor neither liked the empress, nor did he like talking to ministers, and he didn't even pay much attention to Zheng Yan.
He had listened to Feng Duo's private inquiries about the news, and the courtiers did discuss it, but the object of the discussion was Li Yanqiu, not himself. The content is "the Li family has a cold and weak nature", but the prince has a mild personality and is very kind to ministers.
Naturally cool, Cai Yan has also seen Li Jianhong's coolness. When he was in Beijing, Li Jianhong only had his son in his eyes. In the past, no matter who he went to as a guest, his classmates and parents would care about him, but Li Jianhong never treated him with superficial courtesy, as if Duan Ling wanted to be friends with him, Cai Yan could invite him to his house. One day Duan Ling didn't like him anymore, and Cai Yan couldn't even approach the alley outside the door.
Li Yanqiu is also cold, and sometimes Cai Yan can't even feel that he is sincere or because he is just a "brother's son". There is still one person in Li Jianhong's eyes, but there is nothing in Li Yanqiu's eyes.
The rain was mixed with snow, making Jiangzhou muddy, but Yecheng, thousands of miles away, was covered in silver all night, like a fairyland.
It was not yet dawn in Yecheng, but the last drop of the leak had been dripped, making a soft sound, the wick burned to the end, and went out silently, leaving behind a wisp of blue smoke.
Duan Ling fell asleep in Li Yanqiu's arms.
Wu Du and Zheng Yan had changed classes and heard that there was no sound inside, fearing that Duan Ling would be woken up, he pushed the door lightly and entered. Li Yanqiu was half lying on the couch, with one arm around Duan Ling, who was leaning on Li Yanqiu's arms and was fast asleep. Li Yanqiu raised his hand slightly and made a shush.
"Just sleep here." Li Yanqiu said in a very low voice, "Don't wake him up."
Wu Du nodded, Duan Ling moved a little, but he was already awake and raised his head sleepily.
"What?" Duan Ling asked in a daze.
"You have worked hard all the way." Li Yanqiu replied, "Let's rest first."
Wu Du nodded, and when he was about to go out, Li Yanqiu said, "Wu Qing."
Duan Ling was rubbing his eyes, Li Yanqiu thought for a while, and didn't say anything, he motioned to turn around and say, let Duan Ling lie down, undress himself, accompany Duan Ling, and sleep with him.
This sleep was long and stable. When Sun Ting came in to add charcoal, he thought it was Wu Du, so he called Captain Sheng in a low voice, filled the charcoal and went out without hearing the answer.
Li Yanqiu hadn't woken up yet, but Duan Ling had woken up first.
Hearing the sound, Duan Ling put his pillow on Li Yanqiu's shoulder, put his hand on his chest subconsciously, and touched the half of the jade Huang he was wearing on his neck.
That was the most familiar feeling from a long, long time ago. When he was still a child, he fell asleep on Li Jianhong's shoulder and touched the jade Huang in front of his father's chest. Even in his sleep, he could recognize his identity.
When he felt the shape of the jade Huang, Duan Ling recognized the hardness of the jade and the temperature with body temperature through Li Yanqiu's underwear, and opened his eyes.
Li Yanqiu raised his hand, covered Duan Ling's hand, and held his hand.
Duan Ling was shocked, and the whole person woke up. He was emotional last night and didn't think much about it for a while. Now that he thinks about it, it is like a dream, and he immediately becomes nervous.
But Li Yanqiu didn't move much, just held Duan Ling's hand and continued to fall asleep.
Duan Ling carefully pulled out his hand and sat up slowly, the sky was bright outside, the emperor slept here all night, it was incredible! It all happened so suddenly that he couldn't fully accept it.
He tried his best to avoid making any noise, stepped over his uncle, stepped lightly on the ground, put on his robe, opened the door a crack, and stepped out.
Zheng Yan was dozing off guarding the door, glanced at Duan Ling, and smiled.
Duan Ling also smiled at Zheng Yan.
The snow stopped, and the sun was shining brightly, illuminating the silver-white Ye City, as if to indicate that Duan Ling's life had started anew.
He quickly ran across the corridor to find Wu Du. Wu Du was sleeping soundly in the room. Duan Ling threw himself on him, Wu Du woke up immediately, and his brows twitched.
"Tangle with your uncle." Wu Du said impatiently.
Duan Ling burrowed into the quilt, Wu Du stretched out his hand, hugged him, turned around and pressed him on his side, and did nothing. He was obviously sleepy and just wanted to sleep.
Duan Ling crawled under the quilt, fumbled with his hands, unbuttoned his underwear, sniffed his neck and chest, smelled of sweat, and sniffed all the way down the quilt.
Zheng Yan said outside the door, "Your Highness, Your Majesty is awake and is looking for you."
Wu Du pushed Duan Ling and asked him to hurry up to serve him, but Duan Ling had to get out again. Wu Du was half asleep, and said, "I'll be there in an hour, and I won't have to wait for lunch."
As soon as Li Yanqiu woke up, he was going to find Duan Ling, so Duan Ling had to trot over again and personally serve Li Yanqiu to wash.
After the night, Duan Ling was still a little apprehensive, not knowing what to say, but Li Yanqiu rinsed his mouth and said, "From now on, you will treat me like your biological father, and I will treat you like my son. It's your father's, let you take it first."
With that said, Li Yanqiu handed over a piece of jade Huang, Duan Ling's heartbeat stopped instantly, he did not dare to pick it up, just looked into Li Yanqiu's eyes.
"Fourth Uncle." Duan Ling said in a trembling voice.
Li Yanqiu held Yu Huang and looked at Duan Ling's eyes.
"Take it with you." Li Yanqiu replied, "The ancestors of Dachen will protect you."
"Okay." Duan Ling took it with both hands.
Li Yanqiu added: "Your father will also look at you."
Duan Ling held it in his hand, tied it around his neck, and put the pendant in his personal pocket.