The real cold wave came, and Luoyan City encountered an unprecedented test overnight. The soldiers put down their weapons, and thousands of people threw themselves into the fortifications of repairing the city wall. The factory stopped production and repaired the destroyed houses. The Di people brought food and supplies for the Yong people to spend the winter. The Lin Hu warriors had nowhere to go, so they stayed to help the Yong people repair the city.
Jiang Heng completed all the work within ten days, and his injuries have largely recovered. At the dusk of the winter solstice, Prince Taki said, "Let's go out for a walk, Jiang Heng. Jie Gui, can you stay with us for a while?"
Jie Gui pulled up his cloak, covered his face, and glanced at Jiang Heng.
Jiang Heng nodded happily and asked, "Where do you want to go, Your Highness?"
"Look at our brother," Prince Taki replied, "he led the army to repair the city wall, and has not returned to the palace for several days.
But what Prince Taki didn't know was that Geng Shu would go back to the palace every night, sleep with Jiang Heng until dawn, then get up in exhaustion, put on his armor, and go to the south of the city. Like soldiers, with their own strength, they drag bricks and stones, lay new foundations, and build strong walls.
Jiang Heng and Prince Taki chose to walk. They dressed plainly, just like commoners in the city. This is their home, their people. The people experienced the disaster, but they were still mobilized under the call of Prince Taki, donating money and materials spontaneously, freeing up tiles to cover their heads.
"Your Highness," Jiang Heng said, "this is your subject, your people."
Prince Taki walked down the long street, no one recognized them, and Yujie Kei followed behind them, so it was probably safe.
"They're not livestock," Jiang Heng thought for a while, and reminded, "It's not numbers, but people with emotions, family, living people, just like you and me."
"I understand," Prince Taki said, "I understand, I'm doing it."
Guan Wei Dynasty, he explained why his father did that, the era of "family world" has passed, and the result of enfeoffment is like the Jin court, where the princes are allowed to rise and fall apart.
They needed a stronger and more sturdy political system to keep people and the land firmly on the side of the monarch. They discussed many ways, and finally Ju Cong made the most barbaric choice. But now Jiang Heng has come with the kingly way and the hope of inner sage and outer Confucianism. Everyone needs to make changes, and this change is bound to hurt.
"Heng'er, brother sometimes thinks that he is really cowardly." Prince Taki suddenly said.
"Why did you say this?" Jiang Heng smiled, "I think you are reckless."
Prince Taki said: "I am cowardly and reckless. When will I be like you, or like the king."
"That's different, I'll be in it for you," Jiang Heng pointed out the most crucial point, "We're out of the way."
Prince Taki felt a lot better in his heart. The only ones who would affirm him were Jiang Heng and Geng Shu. From this point of view, he would regard them as his own life.
"And compared to the day we first met at the beginning of the year," Jiang Heng said, "I think you have a lot more momentum."
Prince Taki couldn't help laughing. Although Jiang Heng said so, he was the only other person besides Geng Shu who agreed with him to return to the capital.
Recalling that when Jiang Heng arrived at Luoyan in the early spring, Prince Taki suddenly discovered something strange. In the past year, his mood has indeed changed. Jiang Heng's arrival seems to urge everyone to accelerate their growth. There is a magical power in him. Not only himself, but also Juicong, Zeng Rong, and the entire imperial court are under his coercion and begin to introspect.
Like a slow carriage, with the arrival of a person from the Central Plains, the speed increased in an instant. Jiang Heng brought a crisis and a whip, just like a foreman, even if he just stood quietly, the royal family felt uncomfortable and straightened his spine.
"You are a role model for many people." Prince Taki said, holding Jiang Heng's shoulder.
"That's not necessarily true." Jiang Heng smiled, "But it's always good when someone says something out of place."
Geng Shu was shirtless, just like a soldier under him, wearing thin black military trousers and non-slip boots on the ground, carrying a large runner high above the tower on his shoulders, and pushing the runner into the iron tenon. In this way, the winch of the city gate is repaired.
"Your Highness! Your Highness!" The guards came to report.
"Don't yell!" Geng Shu was busy when he was suddenly called out, almost loosening the rope.
"Is that Mr. Jiang?" said the guard, "Lord Jiang seems to be here!"
Geng Shu didn't care about the winch, and immediately wiped his hands, smelled the sweat on his body, found a towel and wiped it a few times, and probed to the tower to look down.
"Heng'er!" Geng Shu saw Jiang Heng, but didn't see Prince Taki clearly. Prince Taki wore a cloak to cover his lost ears when he left the palace.
"Five Dynasties Rivers, Mountains, Wind and Moon"
"Hey!" Jiang Heng raised his head and smiled, "Brother!"
"Why are you here?" Geng Shu said, "Go back quickly! This is not where you came from!"
Under the lookout post of the tower, in the small room, Prince Taki took off his cloak, and all the soldiers immediately saluted him.
The Wang family was desperate, and at the last moment, they fought to perish together, and won the respect for the prince Taki, and everyone's eyes were on his lost ear.
"I brought you wine," Jiang Heng said. "By the way, I will be a supervisor and see the situation."
Geng Shu was a little uncomfortable, which made people angry. Prince Taki asked Jie Gui to distribute the wine and meat of the army, and then sat quietly by the side. Geng Shu turned his back to Prince Taki and hurriedly put on his robe and belt. Prince Taki couldn't help staring at his back.
Geng Shu is already an adult. When he came to Yongdu nearly five years ago, he was only a teenager. Today, he is like a Juicy Cong, with broad shoulders and a beautiful waistline, full of the security of an adult male.
He gradually replaced Juicong and became Yong Guoxin's patron saint.
"Come for a drink, brother?" Jiang Heng said.
"Don't drink it," Geng Shu said solemnly, "You're not well, you can't drink it, you can't drink the juice, and no one can drink it."
"Hey—" Jiang Heng said.
Jiang Heng pinched his waist, but Geng Shu was so strong in martial arts that he couldn't do anything, and his wrist was immediately locked. Jiang Heng just ignored it and messed with him. In the eyes of the prince Taki, only I find it very interesting.
He once also had the heart to make jokes at Geng Shu and devise some harmless pranks, but Geng Shu showed obvious dislike, so Prince Taki had no choice but to stop.
Geng Shu blocked Jiang Heng's words, and finally gave in: "I can only drink a little, one sip."
Geng Shu asked Jiang Heng to take a sip from his bowl and then took it away.
"Give me a drink too, bro." Prince Taki couldn't help but say.
Geng Shu then handed it to him, let the prince Taki drink it in a bowl, and took it as a matter of course.
"Your work is done?" Geng Shu asked.
Jiang Heng patted the front of his robe and said, "How can it be done? It will never be done."
Prince Taki smiled and said, "Can't you come if you can't finish it?"
Geng Shu: "Then what are you doing here?"
"I miss you," Jiang Heng said carelessly, "Can't you?"
Geng Shu's face suddenly turned red, he turned his head slightly, and looked at the brazier that was rising. Prince Taki never said this to Geng Shu, but Jiang Heng said it with an irresistible charm every time he said it.
"Yeah," Prince Taki smiled, "I miss you."
The small room fell silent. Jie Gui went out to drink with the soldiers. Geng Shu wanted to say a few words, but he didn't know what to say. Seeing Jiang Heng staying with Prince Taki, he suddenly had an unprecedented, Strange thought.
It seems that Prince Taki is the future monarch of this country, but Jiang Heng naturally takes the lead, as if he is the prince and Prince Taki is his brother.
"I remember drinking in the corner tower last time," Jiang Hengchao said, "It was in Luoyang."
Prince Taki said, "Oh? Is it winter too?"
Geng Shu also remembered and didn't want to bring up the past, but Jiang Heng raised his head and talked about the winter six years ago. Prince Taki naturally remembered that Princess Wuying personally went to Luoyang to persuade Ji Xun to come to Luoyan City.
But at that time, Jiang Heng never expected that after seeing Geng Shu, who was stationed in the army, the two brothers were waiting for a five-year parting, which was almost forever separated.
"Later, brother, you went to Lingshan, right?" Jiang Heng asked.
"Well." Geng Shu replied simply, his eyes were very complicated, looking at Jiang Heng.
Prince Taki was worried and asked about the thrilling experience of the year, but Geng Shu was distracted. A voice kept echoing in his heart, turning all the things he didn't want to face these days before his eyes.
He can no longer turn a blind eye, he must find out the truth of it all, even if he has accepted it.
"Afterwards, I was picked up by Master." Jiang Heng explained, "Now that I think about it, it's really fateful..."
Heng'er is not my brother.
In Geng Shu's heart, the ruthless voice echoed.
"That was proposed by Prime Minister Lu," Prince Taki sighed and said, "but it's not against his move, but it's not the time."
"They said that in the Ji family's body, there is crazy blood flowing," Jiang Heng said with a smile, "Now I understand it."
He is not my father's son... In Geng Shu's heart, the voice reminded him all the time.
He always thought that they had blood from the same person flowing in their bodies, and they were the only bond between them, but what Lang Huang said that day turned his entire world upside down in an instant.
"Heng'er." Geng Shu suddenly said.
"Ah?" Jiang Heng said.
Geng Shu's behavior these days is very unusual, but neither Prince Taki nor Jiang Heng have noticed, because he is not in the palace most of the time.
He's not my brother anymore, me and him... What is it now
But he is my constant son.
Geng Shu stared at Jiang Heng in a daze, looking at his face reflected by the flames, Jiang Heng raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at him, puzzled, but with the same smile in his eyes as always.
"Don't talk about the past," Geng Shu said, "I don't like to hear it."
Jiang Heng understood it as Geng Shu didn't want to hear about the days of his suffering, and smiled self-deprecatingly.
Prince Taki said, "It's all over."
"There is no past." Geng Shu said.
This unreasonable sentence made Jiang Heng and Prince Taki very puzzled.
Geng Shu avoided Jiang Heng's blank eyes, got up and opened the door, and said, "Go back, don't stay outside for too long, the palace is worried about you again."
"Brother, are you okay?" Jiang Heng asked.
Geng Shu shook his head, stood on the city wall and looked into the city. With the restoration of the city wall, the fortifications are almost over, and the next step is to welcome the winter solstice and the arrival of the new year.
A warm finger grabbed Geng Shu's finger, Geng Shu turned his head abruptly, and found that Jiang Heng came out.
He looked at the corner tower, where Prince Taki was still inside.
Jiang Heng looked into his eyes suspiciously, Geng Shu subconsciously wanted to avoid his thoughts, but his emotions overcame his reasoning, so he held Jiang Heng's palms tightly, holding them tighter.
"Heng'er." Geng Shu murmured and took him into his arms. Jiang Heng was a little embarrassed. They had already grown up, and it was already reluctant to get close in the palace.
"What's wrong with you?" Jiang Heng said.
"It's nothing." Geng Shu didn't force Jiang Heng, he stretched out his hand, put it on his side face, and put his thumb down lightly, "Just remembering some things from the past."
Jiang Heng said, "Are you done? Will you be back tonight?"
Geng Shu nodded and said, "Wait for me."
He knew very well what would be waiting for them once Jiang Heng's identity was revealed. At this moment, as soon as he rode under the city wall, he shouted to the heights: "His Royal Highness! His Royal Highness! Lord Jiang!"
"Your Majesty has a decree!" the messenger said, "Quickly go to the nave."
"Look," Geng Shu said, "I'm here, you go first, I'll come later."