It was noon, and the scorching sun of July was in the sky, and the roasting of the flesh was painful. Because the sun was too poisonous, there were not many pedestrians on the street, and the vendors tried their best to move their stalls back into the shadow of the eaves, and the street was lighted up in a spacious and accessible way, so that Xiao Jingyan did not get in the way and ran faster and faster all the way. It took a lot of effort to get behind him.
After passing Huarong Embroidery Workshop, and turning another corner, it is the street opposite the main entrance of Su Mansion. But just before he was about to turn, Xiao Jingyan suddenly restrained the reins for some unknown reason. His movements were so violent that the horse under his crotch neighed, his front hooves raised, and the horse was almost upright. The body fell from the horse's back and hit the ground heavily, frightening Meng Zhi, who came later, to the point where his body fluttered. He rushed forward to support him, and hurriedly checked his body for any injuries.
However, Xiao Jingyan didn't seem to feel any pain, even as if he didn't even notice that someone was coming next to him, his eyes locked on the street corner not far away, his teeth clenched.
As long as you turn there, it's Su's house, and when you enter Su's house, you can walk in front of Xiaoshu, but he has to force himself to stop suddenly, and even if he falls, he can't continue to move forward.
The East Palace Guards had also caught up at this time, and under the command of Meng Zhi's gestures, they quickly surrounded the surrounding area, isolated and guarded the prince, and drove all the passers-by to a distance.
In the circular space enclosed by the human wall, Xiao Jingyan maintained his posture of sitting on the ground, his face was full of sweat and bloodless. Stand up slowly.
The mount that fell him was beside him, his cool nose snorted, he took the initiative to snuggle the horse's head over, biting the rider's sleeve. Xiao Jingyan reached out and touched its neck covered with beautiful mane. Once he pressed the saddle, he turned over again, but the direction of the slow rein was the same way that he dashed wildly.
"His Royal Highness?" Meng Zhi held the horse's bridle with some unease. "Are you... going back to the East Palace?"
"Go back to the palace..." Xiao Jingyan murmured, "Since he refuses to let me know. Naturally he has a reason for doing so, so why should I have to know, it will add to his troubles for nothing..."
Meng Zhi understood what he meant, and his heart was hot, and fiery bitterness rushed through his throat.
The guards of the East Palace Guard were well-trained to change their formation. Change the enclosure enclosed on all sides to front and rear guards to cooperate with the prince's actions. However, in contrast to the hurricane when he came, Xiao Jingyan on the return journey seemed to be vented out of the breath that was held on his chest, in a trance and confusion. He didn't know how to describe his current mood. If he was happy with the survival of his friend, why would he feel so depressed that he wanted to open his chest with a knife? But if he resented that he deliberately concealed it, then why was it so unbearable that he could barely breathe
Who is Lin Shu? Lin Shu was his arrogant, aggressive, acquaintance and friend who never bowed his head to admit defeat. The little fireman who never knew what the snow in the cold winter was, jumped up when he was happy, was like a tiger when he was angry, and never concealed any emotion in his heart, the young marshal Chi Yan...
But who is Mei Changsu? He lowered his eyebrows and smiled. His voice was so soft that no one could see what he was thinking; he always had his fur around the fire. His dark eyes flashed with sinister expressions; his face was always as pale as paper. Without the slightest breath of fresh air, his fingers were always as cold as ice. As if with the coolness of hell.
He was like the ashes that remained after a raging fire was extinguished. Although it reminded people of the flames that once existed, there was no longer the scorching heat and dancing gestures of the flames.
Xiao Jingyan found that he couldn't imagine the process of this change at all. When he thought about it, it was a pain that was deeper and darker than the starless night. Entering the East Palace, Meng Zhi personally came to help Xiao Jingyan dismount, but when the new prince stepped on the white jade steps of the main hall of the East Palace step by step, he suddenly felt that he was stepping on the back supported by his friend's teeth. forward. The commander of the Imperial Guard who was supporting him also lowered his body, half squatting and half kneeling beside him.
King Ji and Yan Que, who had been inexplicably thrown into the hall, ran out, but did not dare to approach, so they could only watch from a distance like the other guards in the East Palace.
"You always knew, didn't you?" After sitting quietly for a long time, Xiao Jingyan finally raised his eyes and stared at Meng Zhi's face.
But the determined man avoided his sight, not knowing how to answer.
Xiao Jingyan clenched his teeth tightly, one hand clamped Meng Zhi's right wrist like iron pliers, the skin on his palm was hot as fire, "How did you know? Did you recognize it?"
"Yes... it was he who contacted me..."
Xiao Jingyan's eyes were a little red, and he slowly read the name: "Xiaoshu... Xiaoshu... He is my best friend, but why, when he returned to the imperial capital after the catastrophe, he refused to contact him first. I?"
Meng Zhi slowly persuaded: "His Royal Highness, Xiaoshu has different expectations for you than others. You should understand his thoughts on this point."
"Yeah... I understand, if I don't understand, how can I come back like this..." Xiao Jingyan took a few breaths, but couldn't stop the trembling of his lips, "But Meng Qing, you must tell me why he What happened to him now? What terrible thing happened to him? That is Xiaoshu! You and I both know what kind of person Xiaoshu is. Pretending to be, he will always be that high-spirited Lin Shu..."
Xiao Jingyan's last sentence was just a metaphor, but in Meng Zhi's ears, it seemed as if a knife had been plunged into his heart, pulling it in and out, turning his forbearance complexion into blue and yellow. one slice.
"You must know," Xiao Jingyan's eyes were hotter than the sunshine in July, and he approached without any hesitation, "He won't say it, I won't force him, but I want to hear you say it, you say it!"
"His Royal Highness..." Meng Zhi seemed to be completely suppressed by him in his aura, but after lowering his eyes, he still shook his head and said, "I promised him..."
"Okay," Xiao Jingyan didn't bother him too much. He stood up abruptly, and seemed to finally regain his strength, "Come on!"
"exist!"
"Get your car ready. Enter the palace!"
"Yes!"
Meng Zhi took a step forward, as if to dissuade him. But his lips moved a few times, but nothing came out.
"Uncle Wang, Marquis Yan, I'm rude. I have important matters to deal with now. I'll ask the two of you to talk about it another day." Xiao Jingyan strode up the stone steps. He bowed his hands to King Ji and Yan Que at the entrance of the hall, but before the two could react, he quickly turned around, flew to the outer hall, and jumped into the Prince's car that was just ready to come. : "Go! Move faster!"
The two people who were hanging at the entrance of the hall had to cast their doubtful eyes to Mengzhi in front of the steps, but in the end they only got a wry smile and a short sentence that could not be regarded as an explanation: "It's a long story, I'll talk about it later when I have a chance..."
In Concubine Jing's palace, there are still some late guests who have not left, and it is reported that the prince is coming. These people rushed out to greet them. Xiao Jingyan returned the salute with a faint smile on her face, and her demeanor was very thoughtful, but the first sentence she said after entering the hall was: "Mother concubine. The child brought you a gift, which can only be seen by you alone. Don't look at it now?"
Say this sentence. The fool didn't understand, and the congratulators quickly finished the last polite congratulations. They all said goodbye and went out, and it didn't take long for the entire palace to come down clean.
Concubine Jing naturally had doubts about her son's departure and return. Seeing him doing this, she immediately understood that she had something urgent to say, so she immediately backed away and brought him into the inner hall.
"Mother concubine," Xiao Jingyan entered the hall and stood still, and asked straight ahead, "What disease does Xiaoshu have?"
Concubine Jing's whole body was shaken, and she almost staggered a step with one step, but she immediately stabilized her mind and turned to look at her son.
"You heard right. I'm asking about Xiaoshu... I don't think you'll tell me, you don't know who I'm referring to now?"
The initial shock quickly passed, and Concubine Jing's expression changed from surprise to sadness, and slowly sat down on the armrest of the seat.
"Lin Shuai used the pseudonym Shi Nan, and he rescued his mother who was a doctor girl when he traveled abroad, and then brought him back to the Lin Mansion to protect him, didn't he?" Xiao Jingyan continued, "This mother's past has never been mentioned to me before. However, as long as you don't mention it, of course others won't tell me. So when you talk about an old friend, I never thought that the old friend would be Lin Shuai... "
"Then how did you finally notice the land?" Concubine Jing asked with a sigh.
"I have something to do today, I chatted with Marquis Yan..." Xiao Jingyan took a step forward and squatted down in front of his mother's knee, "but these are not important, the important thing is... What's wrong with Xiaoshu now? Tears, is he seriously ill?"
Concubine Jing thought for a while, then nodded slowly: "It's very heavy..."
"Then what should I do?" Xiao Jingyan suddenly felt flustered and grabbed his mother's hand suddenly, "Xiaoshu trusts her mother's medical skills so much, you should have a solution, right?"
Concubine Jing pondered for a moment, lowered her eyelashes to cover her eyes, and said softly: "Xiaoshu has a better doctor than me, so he must be able to keep him safe..."
"Then how long will it take to cure his disease?"
"This... not sure, maybe tomorrow... maybe next year..."
If Xiao Jingyan could understand the true meaning of his mother's words, he would have jumped up immediately, but unfortunately he didn't know, so he felt a little comfort, "No matter how long it takes, it will be cured. Become like this now?" Concubine Jing shook her head, "Xiao Shudi's appearance changed, not because of illness, but because he had been exposed to a poison of fire and cold before. "
"Then he has changed, which means that the poison has been removed, right?" Xiao Jingyan was slightly delighted, "Because of the detoxification, the body has become so weak and easy to get sick, and it takes time to recuperate to recover, right? "
Concubine Jing stared at him for a long time before nodding slightly, "Yes..."
"That's good," Xiao Jingyan's tense body finally relaxed a little and stood up, "I understand why he couldn't rest in peace before, but I'll take care of things from now on, he just needs to concentrate on treating his illness. Mother, Does he have the same symptoms every time he gets sick?"
"It depends on what the cause is. Cold, fatigue, emotional agitation, the symptoms are different." Xiao Jingyan said decisively: "It doesn't matter, Xiaoshu will no longer suffer from cold and fatigue in the future. As for emotions, happiness should be No harm, right?"
"There's no harm in being happy at any time," Concubine Jing's smile was a little sad because of the glittering eyes in her eyes, "You want to make him taller. I know best what his wish is," Xiao Jingyan took a deep breath , eyes shining, "I will speed up, let him see the stigma being snowed one day earlier, and he will be more at ease when he recovers..."
"Jingyan," Concubine Jing grabbed her son's hand, and said very solemnly, "Don't take risks, if the situation has reached this situation, maybe you can still stand failure, but Xiaoshu can't stand it anymore, do you understand? "
Xiao Jingyan pursed her lips and nodded heavily, "Don't worry, concubine, I know that I have to be careful. Xiaoshu is still watching, so I won't fool around."
Concubine Jing's heart felt as if it had been gouged out. She also knew that when Xiaoshu was watching, Jingyan would insist on taking every step, but how long could Xiaoshu be watching? With such hard work, will he be able to survive until the day when Lin's ancestral tomb is rebuilt
"Thinking about it now, I can understand why Xiaoshu refused to tell me," Xiao Jingyan saw her mother's sad expression, thinking that she was just thinking of the past and felt sad, so she couldn't help clenching her hand tighter, "If I had earlier Knowing his identity, this journey probably won't come this way..."
"Jingyan, over the past year, you have become more and more calm and condensed, and you have become more and more reliable, Xiaoshu must be very pleased," Jing Yan bit her lower lip, her face finally returned to calm and gentle, and said softly , "So, you don't have to regret or be sad, just keep calm and don't add more troubles to him."
Xiao Jingyan pondered for a moment, then nodded silently.
"Okay, let's go back to the palace. Later, His Majesty will come over and say that he wants to discuss the matter of your wedding. In the past few days, Liu Shangshu of the Ministry of Rites will also go to the East Palace to report the preparations to you..."
"Mother concubine," Xiao Jingyan frowned a little irritably, "Just follow the rules, I'm not in the mood now..."
"Jingyan," Concubine Jing's face was slightly stern, "you promised to keep your head down, forget it? The wedding is not for the glory, the crown princess was appointed by your father, Mrs. Liu Zhongping is serious, his The granddaughter is also plain and gentle. From His Majesty's side, he wants to set your temperament, but for you, this marriage is also very beneficial. look, okay?"
In fact, Xiao Jingyan understood these truths long ago, but at this moment, he was in a turmoil and complained casually. After being reprimanded by his mother, he knew that he had made a slip of the tongue and did not dare to contradict any more. , As soon as he saw him coming out, he hurriedly greeted him. Xiao Jingyan looked at the bright and dazzling dazzling dazzling guard of honor of the crown prince, and felt even more disturbed and stinging in his heart.
Meng Zhi was waiting at the corridor of the outer palace gate. Although he was anxious, he didn't show much on his face. As soon as Xiao Jingyan appeared, he took a closer look at his face. Seeing that His Highness seemed to have restrained him, he felt a little relieved, and hurriedly stepped forward and asked An to salute.
"Meng Qing, please excuse the ceremony." Xiao Jingyan glanced at him and said lightly, "This palace has more and more political affairs, and it is inevitable that the martial arts practice will slack off and retreat. Meng Qing is the number one master of Daliang. a bit."
Meng Zhi understood what he meant, knelt down on one leg, and replied solemnly: "Chen, take the prince's order."