Jiang Heng quickly ran into the hall again, sneezed a few times, and saw an old screen inside, a flat bed with nothing on it, and a corridor leading to another room in the apse.
Geng Shu said, "Heng'er!"
Jiang Heng responded from a distance, and had already run away without a trace. As soon as he left Geng Shu's sight, Geng Shu had to hurry to find someone and found him in the bookstore.
The bookstore is full of ancient scrolls with ashes. Jiang Heng seemed to have discovered a treasure in an instant. There are far more books here than at home! In addition to bamboo slips and scroll books, there are also a lot of tortoise shells!
"Madam is right," Geng Shu said, "there are endless books in the world."
Jiang Heng glanced at Geng Shu with a smile. In the dusty room where the dust was flying, Geng Shu was suddenly startled.
All the tortures and hardships he suffered along the way disappeared in an instant in front of Jiang Heng's smile.
"It has to be cleaned, wait for my mother to come over," Jiang Heng said, "she must like it here."
"I'm going to clean." Geng Shu said, "What book do you want to read, take it back to your room."
Jiang Heng followed behind Geng Shu and said, "There is always time, so don't be in a hurry. Here are the feet of the emperor, what are you still worried about? No one will come to burn our home again."
"I'm not at ease." Geng Shu said stubbornly.
Jiang Heng pushed Geng Shu, and the two walked towards the dormitory, thinking that the dormitory is so big, how can it be cleaned? Just the place to sleep, the top is two feet high.
Fortunately, someone came, but it was three young royal guards.
"General Zhao asked us to clean up for the two of you first," the Imperial Forest Army said. "The two young masters will make do with it first. When the bells and drums are tolling outside the palace, they will go to the Grand Hall for dinner. There will be two meals in the morning and evening."
Jiang Heng hurriedly thanked him, and Geng Shu rolled up his sleeves, walked up to the beam in three or two steps, and began to wipe the dust off. He said to Jiang Heng, "You step back."
Jiang Heng watched for a while, then went to the courtyard. Geng Shu said again, "Don't retreat too far! I can't see you anymore."
Jiang Heng was a little annoyed: "Then where do you want me to stay?"
Geng Shu suddenly felt amused. These days, Jiang Heng was like an invisible dog leash tied to his neck, and he was always worried about losing it.
With the three soldiers of the Royal Forest Army and Geng Shu, it was impossible to clean up the hall without ten days and a half months. After working all afternoon, only a small place to sleep was cleaned up. After listening to the drums for a while, Geng Shu thanked again. Said: "Several big brothers go to eat first."
The soldiers left, and Geng Shu led Jiang Heng, asked the way, and went to the Hongdian for food. The waiter brought the food box, according to the ancient ceremony, a box of five squares, which is the food to entertain the people. Jiang Heng told Geng Shu in a low voice what to eat first, what to eat later, and how to pay attention when holding a chopstick. Geng Shu didn't show any impatience, just nodded and listened.
"The king starts to eat, only we can eat." Jiang Heng whispered.
"If he doesn't come, we don't have to eat." Geng Shu said casually.
Jiang Heng whispered again: "Be disciplined, he is the emperor."
Although Geng Shu had a bad temper, he was still polite, so he waited quietly until Ji Xun and Zhao Jie came, sat down, and said, "Come on."
Zhao Jie still sat beside Ji Xun, opened his food box, and sorted out his chopsticks.
Jiang Heng hesitated, but Ji Xun noticed his expression, laughed, and said, "What?"
Jiang Heng shook his head and replied, "Nothing."
What Jiang Heng wanted to say was that Zhao Jie was a minister and Ji Xun was the emperor, so they could not be equal.
"General Zhao is like my siblings," Ji Xun noticed and explained, "I also know that this move is not in line with etiquette, and it should be a family banquet."
"Yes." Jiang Heng replied.
He respects the emperor from the bottom of his heart, and there is no other reason. Six hundred years ago, it was the Ji family who unified this fragmented world and ordered China to remove the cruel king. From then on, the people lived and worked in peace and contentment and spent a long time. .
Zhao Jie glanced at Jiang Heng and said nothing.
"Jiang Heng, have you met your aunt?" Ji Xun asked.
Jiang Heng put down the cutlery and replied politely, "No."
The last time, he remembered that the person who mentioned this person was Xiang Zhou, but his mother, Lei Ting, was furious and threw the case out.
Ji Xun smiled and said, "Don't be restrained, I think you are more like your aunt."
Jiang Heng let out an "ah", not knowing how to answer, Geng Shu couldn't answer, he didn't know any of the relatives of the Jiang family.
"General Zhao can't speak," Ji Xun said, "but he's a good man, don't be afraid of him."
Zhao Jie ate his dinner in silence, and dipped the boiled beans in the box with his chopsticks a few times.
Jiang Heng hurriedly said, "No."
Zhao Jie glanced at Jiang Heng.
Ji Xun continued to eat, and Jiang Heng began to eat dinner again. After a while, Ji Xun asked again, "Are you used to eating?"
"I'm used to it." Jiang Heng hurriedly put down the tableware and said.
Ji Xun laughed, many of the rules, such as when the emperor asked to stop the chopsticks, nowadays even the ministers in the Luoyang Palace are not abiding by them.
With the decline of royal power and the collapse of ritual and music, he has become a symbol, just like the royal flag that stood outside the palace 600 years ago. The child in front of him, as if he came to act with him, reminded him of a lot of things and enjoyed it.
"Fairy Wood"
What the Son of Heaven eats is nothing more than a piece of meat, four grids of vegetables, a grid of fish, a bowl of soup, millet and boiled beans as the staple food. In Zhao Jie's box, there is meat but no fish. In front of Jiang Heng and Geng Shu, the meat is halved, which is even more crude than what was eaten in Xundong before.
However, it is always good to eat meat, Jiang Heng said in his heart, the emperor must be for the common people, save food and clothing, and set an example for the world. There is a saying that "meat-eaters are contemptible and fail to plan far-sighted". If you eat less meat, you will not be easily deceived.
"If you need anything, you can just find a bodyguard," Ji Xun said. "Have someone call General Zhao."
"Yes." Jiang Heng said, "Thank you, King."
Ji Xun laughed again, and there was a little sadness in that smile.
On the way home:
"Ji Xun originally had a younger brother," Geng Shu said, "and he was married and had a son after marriage."
After nightfall, Luoyang became cold in an instant. The capital was further north than Anyang, and the spring cold rolled backwards, causing Jiang Heng to shiver and tighten his robe.
"But I didn't see it." Jiang Heng said.
"Dead," Geng Shu replied, "a family of three was murdered by an unknown prince while traveling."
Jiang Heng gave an "ah" and said, "Why?"
Geng Shu said: "I don't know, it's just hearsay."
"How do you know this?" Jiang Heng said in disbelief.
Geng Shu said again: "On the way to find you that year, I wandered in the town and heard a lot."
Jiang Heng was speechless, and Geng Shu said, "So, Luoyang is not safe either."
Jiang Heng had no choice but to nod, and Geng Shu said again, "In short, don't get too far from me."
At night, there is only one quilt on the couch, and the quilt is still very thin, exuding a musty smell of years.
"Go to sleep," Geng Shu said after tidying up the bedding, "I will dry it tomorrow."
The two brothers indented into the quilt, and Jiang Heng whispered, "It's a little cold."
The dormitory has been unoccupied for many years, and there is a gloomy and cold atmosphere, and there is wind leaking from the walls. Geng Shu remembered to look for something to block the wind, but Jiang Heng pulled him and said, "Don't move, it's finally warmer."
Geng Shu adjusted the screen to block Jiang Heng from the cold wind.
Jiang Heng's hands and feet were still cold, and Geng Shu was holding Jiang Heng's hands under the quilt, just like when two brothers were leaning against the broken courtyard wall in the abandoned village.
"I'm going to ask for another quilt." Geng Shu said.
"Don't," Jiang Heng said, "don't cause trouble."
He gradually realized that perhaps it was from intuition, and he knew that the life of the emperor should not be easy.
Geng Shu also felt cold. After all, they could make a fire when they were on the road, and they could always warm up slowly by snuggling in front of the fire.
"Let's make a fire." Geng Shu said again.
"Where's the firewood?" Jiang Heng said.
Geng Shu: "I'll go out and pick it up."
Jiang Heng said again: "I'm afraid that this bedroom will burn up, it's all wood."
The West Hall has been in ruins for a long time. If Mars explodes, it will burn whatever it touches. Hearing this, Geng Shu immediately put an end to the thought, and had to turn around, hug Jiang Heng, and put him in his arms.
"I didn't take a bath," Geng Shu touched Jiang Heng's head and said, "I smell on my body. I'll find a place to take a bath tomorrow."
Jiang Heng was shivering from the cold, Geng Shu was stronger than him, but not much better, Jiang Heng had to rest on his arm, huddle in his arms, and try his best to give him a little warmth. Geng Shu's chest conveyed a strong heartbeat through the thin lining, which reassured him a lot.
It was as if there was a hearth that radiated light and heat, replacing the coals in the cold night, and was continuing to warm him.
Jiang Heng put his arms around Geng Shu's neck and pressed his other hand slightly, then Geng Shu rested his face on his palm.
Geng Shu slid into Jiang Heng's jacket with one hand, gently rubbed it along his lower waist, and placed it where Jiang Heng had been scalded. The scalded scar has completely covered the birthmark, just like one life covers another, the days of Xundong are a long time ago.
"Is it still cold?" Geng Shu asked in a low voice.
The lips of the two were very close, Geng Shu looked at Jiang Heng's eyes, and then his eyes fell on his soft lips.
Jiang Heng said, "Your heart is beating so fast."
He gradually warmed up, perhaps because of his fast heartbeat, Geng Shu's body was much warmer.
"Don't touch it." Geng Shu suddenly said.
Jiang Heng: "?"
He felt that Geng Shu was a little strange, and even had a strange feeling in himself. It was the first time in his life that he had encountered this feeling, but he couldn't tell where it came from.
"Why..." Jiang Heng said.
"I don't know." Geng Shu frowned, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, he took Jiang Heng's hand, let him also wrap his waist behind him, and motioned to put his hand in his underwear.
"My hands are cold." Jiang Heng whispered.
"It doesn't matter." Geng Shu replied.
Jiang Heng put his hand on Geng Shu's back, and after a while, he was always dishonest and stretched out to the front again.
"Don't play with my stick," Geng Shu laughed, "Don't you have it yourself?" He pulled the curious Jiang Heng's hand away again.
Jiang Heng suddenly felt embarrassed, he freed his hand, stretched out to Geng Shu's chest, and played with the jade pendant he was wearing. Geng Shu didn't stop him this time.
"Go to sleep." Geng Shu said.
"Yeah." Jiang Heng replied.
Geng Shu has the figure of a young man. He has long hands and long legs, and his wrists are as strong as Zhao Jie's. He wraps his arms around Jiang Heng's waist. .
"Dang" a loud noise startled Jiang Heng and woke up suddenly.
It was also the first time that Geng Shu heard the morning bell in the capital, but he didn't expect it to be so loud.
"What's wrong?!"
Geng Shu said, "The bell is ringing, and people wake up."
The deafening giant bell of the royal capital is like thunder. For six hundred years, the sound of the royal capital bell has been the voice of the world. Whenever it strikes, it can be heard in the distance for hundreds of miles. Wave.
Jiang Heng calmed down. This was the safest night he had slept since he embarked on the road of escape. He rubbed his eyes and found that Geng Shu was dressed, sitting on the edge of the bed and looking out casually.
"I found a place to take a bath," Geng Shu said. "We'll take a bath later with breakfast."
Geng Shu called hot water and asked Jiang Heng to brush his teeth and wash his face, and then led him to the main hall to eat. The sun was shining, and Luoyang was much warmer. He still had the meal like yesterday, but the emperor Ji Xun and Zhao Jie didn't come. Jiang Heng waited for a long time, and the waiter said, "You two young masters, please use for your own use."
Jiang Heng ate only then. After the meal, Geng Shu said, "Let's go, take a shower."