The pear blossoms in the courtyard have withered, and the plum trees bear green fruit. As the sun sets, cicadas chirp one after another, and the sky is filled with a crimson sunset.
"It's dinner, Heng'er." Geng Shu said.
The first day passed safely. In the afternoon of the next day, Geng Shu packed up the Jiang family, sat by the pond, and made a crane sound bamboo for Jiang Heng.
Jiang Heng then opened his mouth and said, "I finally know why Juicong wanted to kill me. It seems normal."
Geng Shu sometimes couldn't understand Jiang Heng's open-mindedness. Juicong poisoned Juicang and Jiang Qing, causing the family to be destroyed and reduced to the current situation. He even nearly killed Jiang Heng several times, causing him to suffer.
In Jiang Heng's eyes, it has become "normal".
"Do you want to avenge your parents... for them?" Geng Shu's words were very careful.
"As long as I'm alive," Jiang Heng said, "Ji Cong can't eat or sleep. From the moment he knows I'm still alive, I've been tortured. But I think, this Everything has to come to an end.”
Geng Shu understood Jiang Heng's feelings, so he nodded.
Jiang Heng added: "Is this the reason why Jie Gui left? Maybe this is also a decision he made after discussing with the Empress Dowager Jiang."
It all depends on Jiang Heng's own final decision. Choose to be Jiang Heng, Yonggong will never mention it again, and Jie Gui will disappear from his world; Choose to restore Juicong's identity, which means that will return to Yongguo and take revenge on Juicong , To find out the truth of the year, Jie Gui will also give everything for it.
"I'm sorry, Heng'er." Geng Shu put down the green bamboo in his hand, walked to Jiang Heng and sat down, feeling extremely guilty.
Jiang Heng smiled: "Where is your fault again? If it weren't for you, I would have died long ago."
"No." Geng Shu finally caught the last thorn that had been deeply stabbed in his body.
"The birthmark on your lower back," Geng Shu said, "I... I don't know... If it wasn't for me, I was in the fire that day... "
Only then did Jiang Heng remember that, in fact, Geng Shu was no longer familiar with that location. On the day he escaped from the fire, Jiang Heng pushed Geng Shu away to save him from being crushed to death by the collapsed and burning eaves, but he was crushed by the fire. Under the scalding beams, the birthmark on the back waist in the past was burned. Instead, there are burn marks on the birthmark now.
That was Jiang Heng's only possibility to prove his identity, but it was a blessing in disguise. Because of Geng Shu himself, the last proof was gone.
Geng Shu picked up Jiang Heng's unlined clothes and looked sadly at 's waist. Jiang Heng turned his head and felt the familiar touch.
Then, Jiang Heng leaned over and gently kissed Geng Shu's lips, as if an invisible hand reached into the 's and pulled out the thorn with his own hands.
Geng Shu: "!!!"
Jiang Heng suddenly felt embarrassed and said, "It's alright... it doesn't matter. I don't care, who I am, I don't need these to prove it."
Geng Shu suddenly had a handsome face up to his neck, blushing, he didn't dare to look directly at Jiang Heng, Jiang Heng jumped up and down for some reason. Geng Shu's lips were burning hot, his skin had the safety and reliability of an adult man, and there was still a very light bamboo breath on his body.
"I... Heng'er... I'm thinking..." Geng Shu suppressed the dizziness, and the sun shone directly into the corridor, making both of them unable to keep their eyes open.
"I..." Jiang Heng licked his lower lip unconsciously, and heard the fish in the pond bubbling and making a light noise.
The two suddenly fell silent, Geng Shu stopped talking, couldn't say anything, was silent, got up, walked to the pond and sat down, as if he wanted to hide from something, still doing Heyinzhu .
Jiang Heng looked at Geng Shu, suddenly a little startled, just for a moment, the burning heat and soft touch of Geng Shu's lips could not be lingered in his mind.
It's summer now... Jiang Heng worked hard to expel this feeling, never had any other thoughts about Geng Shu, but now that they are no longer brothers, it made him feel a little strange throbbing, as if Geng Shu There was a strangeness in me that I had never seen before.
"Want to go out for a walk, Heng'er?" Geng Shu simply packed up his tools.
"Okay." Jiang Heng hadn't figured out what to do next.
"I can't figure it out for a while," Geng Shu said seriously, "you can think about it slowly in the future, don't worry."
The Crane Sound Bamboo is full of flowing water and is methodical. It knocks on the stone and makes a soft sound of "dong". Jiang Heng said, "Let's go then."
Jiang Heng originally thought that Geng Shu was only going to go out and hang out in the city, but he did not expect that he packed a lot of luggage and put it on the horse, in a manner of going out.
At this moment, Geng Shu was also very complicated inside, and he didn't want to face the endless assassinations anymore, so the assassins sent by Juicong one after another made him extremely annoying, and his endurance had reached its peak. After a few more, if you say no, you really lose your mind, carry a black sword, and go to die with Juicong in person.
The former killer entered Xundong and traced their traces, which means that Juicong is very likely to have also found their whereabouts. If in order to kill Jiang Heng, Juicong recklessly attacked the hinterland of the ancient Yue Kingdom where Zheng Ying handed over, the whole city would be buried with him again.
Although Geng Shu was sure that he could protect Jiang Heng from leaving safely, Xun Dong was once again caught in the flames of war. How could he bear it
Leave here temporarily before the second scout sent by Juicong arrives. Besides, there is one more thing to do, which he has never let go.
"Let's go." Geng Shu patted the back of the horse and let Jiang Heng sit on it, and the two still rode together.
Jiang Heng hugged Geng Shu's waist and said, "This horse is too pitiful. It has to carry two people with something."
Geng Shu replied: "Buy another one on the way..."
Geng Shu was turning his horse's head and was about to leave the back alley, but the patrol city sheriff found them.
"Two!" said the sheriff, galloping forward, "is this gone?"
Geng Shu met the man face to face and was indifferent.
Sheriff: "Where is Mrs. Zhao now?"
Jiang Heng was startled and said, "Do you remember?"
"Of course I remember." The sheriff smiled, "You two were very young back then. If it wasn't for Mrs. Zhao, after Xundong broke the city, I don't know how many innocent people would have died. I saw you in the rain that day. The face is recognized, your name is Jiang Heng, right?"
Geng Shu said, "Just to save you, we almost got killed."
Jiang Heng squeezed Geng Shu's arm, motioning him not to say that.
"Mother is gone." Jiang Heng said, "she doesn't regret it, don't take it to heart."
The sheriff said, "Where are you going? Now that you're back, just stay here. It's a mess outside."
Geng Shu thought for a moment and wondered if this person had any information with the outside world. Now I don't dare to trust anyone casually. If something goes wrong, they will be killed.
"I don't know either." Jiang Heng said to Geng Shu, "Where are we going?"
The sheriff got off his horse and said to Jiang Heng and Geng Shu, "We haven't repaid Mrs. Zhao's kindness back then. Why don't we come to the county chief's mansion for a drink?"
"I think your horse is pretty good." Geng Shu said suddenly.
Sheriff: "..."
A quarter of an hour later, Geng Shu and Jiang Heng each took a ride and left the road along the northeast of Xundong County.
"What are you doing to him so fierce?" Jiang Heng couldn't help laughing, " is not wrong."
Geng Shu replied: "People's hearts are dangerous, so it's better to be careful."
Jiang Heng urged his horse to catch up with Geng Shu and asked, "Where are you going?"
Geng Shu looked back at Jiang Heng, deliberately shook it off a little to play, and said, "You'll know when you get there."
"Wait!" Jiang Heng shouted, catching up again.
The peach blossoms in Luoyan City finally opened, and the spring in the north always came very late.
Yong Guo finally occupied Anyang as he wished, and the territory and territory crossed the Yubi Pass for the second time in nearly 120 years and spread to the hinterland of the Central Plains.
During the First Battle of Anyang, the 100,000 Ying army was wiped out, and Yong Guo hurriedly evacuated, losing nearly 10,000. But on the first day, a heavy rain, plus the northwest wind, the poisonous smoke dissipated, the Yong army made a comeback and occupied this quiet dead city, and began to clean up and deal with the aftermath.
The corpses in the south piled up in mountains and burned for three days and three nights, attracting thousands of crows.
At the same time, Yong Guo opened a warehouse, distributed money and grain, celebrated the great victory in the south, and destroyed Liang in the first battle. Wild geese return to the north, covering the sky and covering the earth, raising their offspring on the sandbar outside Luoyan City.
small book booth
There was a lot of coughing in the Peach Blossom Hall. The Empress Dowager Jiang was already old, and she was already unable to do her best in the battle before the ancestral temple a few years ago. The frequent news from the south made Empress Dowager Jiang know very well that Juicong was ironed, and all obstacles on the way forward had to be removed.
But now her grandson is encountering a bigger problem, and she must solve the immediate problem first.
A few days ago, Prince Taki was too busy to touch the ground, and was discussing with the East Palace, how to send officials to appease the people after Yong entered the Central Plains, all signs point to the same goal: the Yong Kingdom is about to move the capital and return to them for more than 100 years. former hometown.
But whether the new country is Luoyang or Anyang is still to be discussed. Fortunately, in the face of such a vast project, Prince Taki found a document. That document exists in the pile of reform volumes, lying alone on the edge of the shelf, with four characters: Proposal to move the capital.
The proposal to move the capital was written more than ten years ago when Jui Lang was still alive. In the year he succeeded the monarch, Jue Lang drafted the country's important policy for the next few decades for Yong State. After Jiang Heng entered the dynasty, he turned out this volume, wrote a comment of nearly 10,000 characters beside the decree of Jue Lang, and placed it next to the decree of reform.
Jiang Heng made a general strategy, and Jiang Heng made additions and changes, including how to appoint officials at all levels in the new imperial court, how to change taxes, re-measure fields, relocate people, reform commerce and schools... According to the general outline of the reform, To achieve the same policy of one country inside and outside the customs.
Prince Taki immediately convened the East Palace to discuss government affairs, and asked the ministers for advice, in preparation for the comprehensive southward relocation of the Yong Kingdom.
However, on the same day, news came from Anyang that made him feel like a thunderclap—Wang Juiciao was defeated and captured, and he did not succumb to death. Jiang Heng's whereabouts are unknown.
"Boom", Prince Taki felt as if he had been hit in the head. When he barely stood up, he spat out a mouthful of blood in front of Dong Gong and fell to the ground softly.
The ministers panicked immediately, and immediately carried the prince to the Peach Blossom Hall and asked for a doctor. The Empress Dowager Jiang slowly learned about the whole thing from the conversation between you and me...
Some people say that Jiang Heng rebelled, and some people say that Geng Shu is not dead.
But regardless of whether Jiang Heng and Geng Shu are dead, her grandson is about to die. Empress Dowager Jiang knew very well that this was a symptom of anger and heart attack, and even fainting, so she sent the imperial doctor away, and personally used a silver needle to focus on her inner strength to diagnose and treat her grandson.
There is no room for mistakes... Even if the empress dowager Jiang is in a hurry, she knows that what she has to do now is to keep Juicy Taki.
Jie Gui hasn't come back yet, no, no, Empress Dowager Jiang has lived for all these years and is used to seeing the world. She intuitions that Jiang Heng and Geng Shu are not in trouble.
"Taki'er?" Queen Mother Jiang said.
Prince Taki finally woke up. After waking up, he couldn't stop gasping for breath, and Empress Dowager Jiang's dry hand was still tightly holding the pulse gate of .
Soon, Prince Taki burst into tears.
"It's good to cry," said Empress Dowager Jiang tiredly. "If you cry... you'll be fine."
Prince Taki grabbed the sleeves of Empress Dowager Jiang tightly and choked: "Grandma..."
"Nothing's wrong." Empress Dowager Jiang hugged Prince Taki and whispered, "You stupid boy, there is still no answer. Even if you cry to death, can your brother come back?"
Prince Taki, as if there was no one by his side, hugged Empress Dowager Jiang and cried aloud, Empress Dowager Jiang sighed softly.
The next day, Prince Taki left the court.
I slept in the harem for a full day. It was dark and my brain was aching. I dreamed that Geng Shu was covered in blood and shouted angrily, and then I dreamed that Jiang Heng fell off a cliff. look.
After waking up, held a jade pendant and went to the Yongshi ancestral temple to pray silently for Jiang Heng and Geng Shu. Costin has not come back for more than half a year. In the past few months, never imagined that Geng Shu would have an accident.
Until the day when Juicong came back, Crown Prince Taki hurried to see Yong Kingdom full of people in the city, and Juicong's popularity reached its peak amid the cheers.
At this moment, he is the great monarch who pioneered the prosperous world, just like the monarch who established the mighty Yong Kingdom here more than a hundred years ago!
"Father!" Instead of showing any adoration, Prince Taki descended the steps anxiously.
"Your brother died in battle." Ju Cong said the first sentence after sitting down, "After the celebration feast, a three-day national mourning will be held for him."
Prince Taki stared blankly at Juicong, and the ground in front of his eyes turned black.
"Jiang Heng's whereabouts are unknown." Ju Cong added, "I blame me for not saving Ju Miao and defected to China."
After the disaster, Juicong sent people to search the whole city, but did not find Jiang Heng's body, not even Geng Shu's Yujue, which made him very concerned. At the same time, news came from the Ying Kingdom - the prince and King Ying died suddenly at the same time, and the ruling and opposition parties of the Ying Kingdom were in chaos. But in any case, this is good news for Yong Guo.
Suspected that the person who was burned was not Geng Shu, but he could have been dead. As for Jiang Heng, Juicong had to find his whereabouts no matter what, and he had to find him and kill him at any cost.
"I'll send someone to find Jiang Heng." Juicong said, "While life is alive, no one will die? Taki'er, you don't have to be too... Taki'er?"
"His Royal Highness! His Royal Highness!" The courtier was afraid that the prince would vomit blood again.
Prince Taki waved his hand, the most tragic outcome, I had already thought of it a month ago, I staggered and walked slowly towards the outside of the hall.
"Where to?" Juicong said in a majestic voice behind him.
Prince Taki looked back at Ju Cong, the light of the setting sun lay in front of the father and son.
Prince Taki's eyes changed, making Ju Cong suddenly a little unfamiliar, what do you want to say? Juicong subconsciously wanted to avoid it, and deceived , deceived everyone, and even deceived his own son.
Juicong killed , which made him a little afraid of his son's eyes.
But it was only for a moment, that moment of dodging, that Tai Taki felt that there was some dirty truth buried under the high-sounding theory. It was purely due to the tacit understanding between father and son. After years of tacit understanding, Tai Taki realized that there were other reasons.
"I'm going to find Heng'er." Prince Taki said softly.
"You're crazy." Ju Cong's lips moved, and his voice was just as soft, but he made a decision that was too weak to resist: "Take him back to the East Palace, and I can't let him go anywhere."