"There are assassins!"
Guanshi Feng had never seen such a scene before, and he exclaimed: "Come on! Come on, there are assassins!"
Feng Guanshi's heart was cold, he didn't know martial arts at all. The concubine brought two maids and Ren Zinan, who is missing an arm, by her side. This time, it might be bad...
The four masked men lowered their bodies and accelerated violently, approaching Nangong Yue like black panthers.
Lily stepped forward and said: "Cousin, you protect the concubine." Then she pulled out another whip, like a snake coming out of a hole, wrapping around a masked man, and then waved her big arm, taking advantage of the situation thrown out.
At the same time, the ghost-like Xiao An also appeared in the chaos at some point, kicked a masked man over before swinging his sword.
The masked man at the head shrank his pupils, held up the long sword in his hand, and raised his voice to order: "Give it to me! Whoever kills the princess will be rewarded!"
Sure enough, it was aimed at her! Nangong Yue's expression turned serious, and she thought to herself: Who would send these people? There should be only a few people she offended recently...
"Yes, boss!" The other three masked men shouted in unison.
Two of the masked men rushed towards Xiao An, while the other grabbed the gap and rushed towards Nangong Yue, with silver swords like poisonous snakes spitting out letters.
"It's up to you?!" Lily sneered disdainfully, and swung out another whip, wrapping it around the opponent's neck accurately. She exerted a little force and tightened it suddenly.
"Whoosh!" A cold arrow suddenly shot from a tree, as fast as a shooting star, and the target was Lily.
When Baihui saw it, she cried out: "Lily, be careful!"
Lily tried to dodge in a hurry, but her opponent suddenly grabbed her whip firmly, causing her to pause for a moment... When fighting, just a short moment is the key to deciding the outcome and life...
Baihui's face turned pale with fright. Seeing that the cold arrow was about to hit her, a gray figure suddenly strode forward and grabbed Lily's arm and turned around. Just an inch away, the cold arrow landed on Lily's body. The side brushed past dangerously, and Lily was so shocked that she couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat.
She felt that she was humiliated and humiliated this time, so she slashed the masked man's neck with a hand blade in anger, knocking him unconscious.
Then there was a loud "boom", and a black figure fell from the big tree just now, and fell heavily on the ground. Then Xiao Ying lightly jumped down from the tree, clapped her hands, and said with a smile: "Lily, you're welcome."
Lily glared at him angrily, thinking: Who should thank you!
At the same time, Xiao An also dealt with the other two masked men, leaving only the masked man who was the leader.
It turned out that there were hidden guards beside the concubine! Feng Guanshi, who was on the sidelines, finally heaved a sigh of relief, and his expression eased a little.
Seeing that several of his subordinates were subdued, the masked man at the head shrank his pupils sharply, and his face under the black mask was as pale as paper. He instinctively turned around and wanted to run away, but Xiao Ying would not allow it. In a flash, his figure had already appeared ahead of him.
"Say, who sent you?" Xiao Ying looked at him with a smile, as if he was an old acquaintance, but in the eyes of the masked man, he seemed to be aiming at the prey. Vultures in general.
The masked man took two steps back reflexively, but heard a disdainful snort from behind, and Xiao An appeared behind him at some unknown time.
The masked man wanted to hide in another direction, but Xiao An had already slapped him out neatly and knocked him out.
Xiao Ying complained angrily: "Xiao An, why did you knock him out, he hasn't made a move yet..."
His words were quickly swallowed by Xiao An's cold eyes. We have been together for more than ten years. Whatever, leave it to Shi Zifei and Zhu Xing.
Reluctantly, Xiao Ying leaned over and tore off the scarves on the faces of those masked people one by one, pointed to the faces that were too ordinary to be remembered when mixed in the crowd, and asked: "Concubine Shizi, how can these people Recognize it?" Xiao Ying just asked casually, just in case, in fact, even if Nangong Yue recognized the mastermind behind the scenes, it was unlikely that she would know these killers.
Nangong Yue quickly scanned around, then shook her head, "I don't know."
Followed Xiao An and asked for instructions: "Concubine Shizi, three of these five killers died and two fell into a coma. How does Concubine Shizi want to deal with it?"
Nangong Yue pondered for a while, then ordered Feng Guanshi to take the three corpses to Jingzhao Yamen, explain what happened clearly, and then pointed to the two unconscious men in black and said: "Take these two people back to Liuhe Village first."
Xiao Yi's identity is somewhat embarrassing, although it is harmless to deal with these people in private, but if it is inevitable that they will be used in the future, it would be better to have a better understanding.
After this episode that was definitely not pleasant, Nangong Yue was naturally not in the mood to see the wasteland in the back mountain, and everyone went back home together.
Nangong Yue's identity was too conspicuous. After a while, the assassination of Shizi Concubine spread throughout Liuhe Village like wildfire.
As soon as Nangong Yue and the others returned to Liuhe Village, Zhu Xing and Fu Yunyan came after hearing the news. Fu Yunyan rushed to Nangong Yue ahead of Zhu Xing, took her hand and looked up and down: "Ah Yue, are you okay?" ?” She blamed herself, “I should be with you.”
Seeing that Nangong Yue was safe and sound, Zhu Xing finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Concubine Shizi, fortunately you are fine." If something happened to Concubine Shizi, he would be to blame for death, let alone explain to Shizi who is far away in southern Xinjiang !
"I'm fine, but..."
Nangong Yue's few words made everyone's hearts tense. She looked at Ren Zinan and said, "Baihui, give Ah Lan some golden sore medicine."
Medicine for golden sores? Lily was stunned for a moment, and when she took a closer look, she found a faint bloodstain on Ren Zinan's left arm, and her eyes narrowed slightly. Was he injured? Could it be that time...
She couldn't help thinking that if Ren Zinan hadn't pulled her away in time just now, she might have been seriously injured this time. However, she didn't even notice that the other party was injured.
Lily lowered her eyes in embarrassment, well, this time, she owes him once! She will definitely pay him back when she has the chance.
Baihui sent someone to fetch the scissors, skillfully cut off Ren Zinan's sleeve, and bandaged him with medicine... At this moment, there was a noise and a mess of footsteps from a distance outside the hall, getting closer and closer, without a trace. After a while, Chu Dawei and a group of veterans hurried into the hall, their expressions couldn't hide their anxiety, especially Chu Dawei.
It wasn't until seeing Ren Zinan sitting on the armchair safe and sound that David Chu heaved a sigh of relief, collected himself, and said, "Alan, I heard you were injured? Are you okay?" David Chu's expression showed It's a bit complicated. I never expected that Nangong Yue would be assassinated on the first day that Ren Zinan served as Nangong Yue's guard...
"Father, I'm fine." Ren Zinan touched the freshly bandaged wound and said indifferently, "It's just a little scratch."
While Chu Dawei was relieved, he couldn't help but glanced at Lao Min beside him. This injury made David Chu a little worried about whether he was self-defeating. Perhaps instead of alleviating my companion's fear of the Shi Ziye, on the contrary...
Sure enough, Lao Min's complexion was so gloomy that water dripped out, Chu Dawei's mood became heavy, he hesitated to speak.
But soon, he realized that there was something wrong with Lao Min's expression. Lao Min's eyes were looking at one of the unconscious men in black on the ground.
David Chu tentatively asked, "Old Min, is there something wrong?"
"I know him... I know him..." Lao Min murmured, his body trembling slightly with excitement. Suddenly, his scorching eyes suddenly looked at Chu Dawei, pointing to the man in black with a short beard on the ground. People, "Old Chu, have you forgotten him?"
Lao Min's words immediately attracted everyone's attention. Nangong Yue raised her eyebrows slightly, and followed Lao Min's gaze. The man in black seemed to be in his early forties, with dark skin, a hooked nose, and With a short beard on the middle and lower jaw, his figure is very strong.
If Lao Min knew him, then he should be...
Nangong Yue narrowed her eyes thoughtfully, and ordered: "Xiao Ying, wake him up."
"Yes, Concubine Shizi." Xiao Ying was feeling bored at first, but when Nangong Yue gave her orders, her eyes lit up and she became more energetic.
It's the twelfth lunar month now, so I don't worry about not being able to get "cool" water.
"Clatter!"
Biting cold water was poured on the head of the man in black with short beard. He trembled violently and opened his eyes suddenly. His eyes were a little confused, as if he hadn't figured out where he was, but soon his pupils shrank suddenly, and he was about to jump up, but Xiao Ying stepped on his chest with a smile, and deliberately pushed down.
The man in black distorted his face from the pain, and said loudly: "Young master, spare your life! Young master, spare your life! The little one is just taking money from others to eliminate disasters!"
"Really?" Nangong Yue said lightly, "But someone here seems to recognize you."
The man in black felt a "thump" in his heart. There should not be many people who have seen him here... The next moment, he saw an old face covered with wrinkles, and the other's cloudy eyes stared at him firmly. The hatred is so strong that it is almost overflowing!
How could it be this old thing! The man in black secretly thought that something was wrong, his face was ashen. This time I'm afraid I won't be able to escape...
As if wanting to eat him, Lao Min said fiercely: "I know you, you have come to see Steward Niu twice in the past year!"
The three words "Niu Guanshi" were like a drop of water falling into a hot oil pan. The emotions of dozens of veterans in and outside the hall exploded instantly, and several more veterans said:
"I remembered! He did come to see Steward Niu!"
"It seems to be in the back mountain..."
"Now he is here to assassinate the Crown Princess again..."
"..."
The more the veterans talked, the more excited they became. They finally understood and were convinced that Steward Niu really had nothing to do with the Shizi, and the Shizi really wanted to provide for them!
At this moment, the feelings of the veterans are very complicated, they really wronged the son!
Nangong Yue also felt a little bit emotional in her heart, this was really "inadvertently planting willows and willows into shadows", she didn't expect that steward Niu wanted to get rid of her, but instead gave her an unexpected harvest.
"It was Steward Niu who sent you to kill the concubine?" Zhu Xing was so angry that he was so angry that he thought, "You are so courageous, you are so courageous. With Xiao Fang's backing, these people are simply lawless." !
Zhu Xing couldn't help but think of the time when they and Qian Moyang and his party were hunted down by Xiao Fang for thousands of miles. If they hadn't been lucky, they would have died at the hands of Xiao Fang long ago, and the companion who was also entrusted by the old prince Several of them have already died.
Thinking of his dead companions, Zhu Xing's heart was burning with hatred.
The man in black snorted coldly, ignored Zhu Xing, and just said: "Since you have caught me, you can kill or cut me up as you like!" He knew very well in his heart that if he recruited Manager Niu, let alone Manager Niu , I am afraid that it is impossible for Princess Xiaofang to bypass him!
Seeing him so stubborn, Xiao Ying applauded heavily: "I admire, I admire, what a man!" He smiled and looked at Zhu Xing, "Butler Zhu, I heard that there are many prisoners in your army who make confessions The means, how about teaching me so that I can learn more?"
Zhu Xing immediately understood his intentions, curled his lips coldly and said: "Speaking of torture, the most severe torture in our Dayu Army is nothing more than quartering the body by five horses or cutting it in half. I heard that there is a kind of torture in Nanban called skinning alive. The method is to bury a living person in the soil, only revealing a head, and then cut a cross with a knife on the top of the head, pull the scalp away, and pour water into it When the silver goes down, the mercury keeps falling, and the flesh and skin of the person will be pulled apart... It is said that the person buried in the soil will feel pain like death at that time, but they can't break free, and finally the body will fall from the top of the head. Crawled out naked, leaving only a piece of skin in the soil. I haven't tried it, why don't I try it today?"
The man in black had no color on his face, and was trembling uncontrollably...
"Sure enough, he is a man who would rather die than surrender." Xiao Ying said while grabbing one of his legs, but the next moment he smelled a stench of urine, the man in black was so frightened that he lost control and panicked. Said: "I'll recruit! I'll recruit. It's Steward Niu who is unwilling to be taken over by the concubine... No, he took back Liuhezhuang and trampled on his nephew, so he ordered the little ones to come and assassinate the concubine... Spare the concubine!"
Everyone in the hall couldn't help covering their noses, and although Zhu Xing had already guessed the reason, but when he heard him say this, he still felt a wave of anger rushing straight to the top of his head, and he really wanted to cut this person into pieces. Zhu Xing took a deep breath, tried to calm his emotions, looked at Nangong Yue, saw Nangong Yue waved his hand, and said to Xiao Ying and Xiao secretly: "Take care of these two people first, and then take them back to the palace to be imprisoned."
"Yes, Crown Princess!"
When the two men in black were taken down by Xiao Ying and Xiao An, only Nangong Yue and the group of veterans were left in the hall.
The veterans looked at each other, and suddenly, they knelt on the ground together and kowtowed heavily to Nangong Yue.
"What are you doing? Get up quickly." Nangong Yue hurriedly said, "I can't stand you doing this!"
Lao Min knelt on the ground and cupped his fists and said: "Concubine Shizi, we are ignorant, we were deceived by the concubine step-by-step, and almost misunderstood Master Shizi, and even ruined Master Shizi's reputation!"
Lao Min's expression was extremely complicated. Over the years, Xiao Fang's superficial skills have been done so well that they, veterans, are really grateful to her, and even listened to her one-sided words. It can be saved... Even if they were taken to the capital, it was because of Xiao Fang's mercy, the son had no choice but to do it, and that's why he abused them like this after they arrived in the capital.
Lao Min took a deep breath, still unable to calm down.
Thinking of the old prince's expectations for the son when he was alive, a strange light flashed in Lao Min's eyes.
Nangong Yue stood up and said solemnly: "There is something wrong with this matter. He took you here with good intentions but failed to settle you down. He is responsible. Fortunately, it is not too late. Everyone, get up .”
The veterans looked at each other in blank dismay, and finally stood up from the ground.
Nangong Yue asked them about their recent situation in detail, and talked to them one by one... It was not until half an hour later that these veterans gradually dispersed, leaving only David Chu and Lao Min.
Nangong Yue smiled and said to David Chu: "Uncle Chu, today is thanks to your family, Lan, otherwise my maid Baihe might have to lie on the bed for a while."
Lily showed embarrassment, and lowered her head almost touching her shoes. Hey, who made her careless!
David Chu smiled from ear to ear, patted Ren Zinan on the shoulder and said, "It's good that he can help."
"A Lan's skills are really good." Nangong Yue praised without hesitation, "Especially... I feel that his ear is very strong!"
"Concubine Shizi, your vision is really good." David Chu showed a proud smile, "Alan used to be a scout, and his ability to listen to the wind is very good..." As he spoke, he showed a bit of regret, If Ah Lan's arm hadn't been disabled, he wouldn't have fallen into the current situation.
However, the battlefield is changing rapidly, and Alan is lucky to be able to recover his life.
David Chu thought of something, calmed himself down, and said again: "Concubine Shizi, I heard that the son of the son recently defeated the Nanman in southern Xinjiang, and he has regained half of the city. It is really satisfying. The son of the son is worthy of being led by the old prince himself. Big one, it really has some of the style of the old prince back then!" As he spoke, not only Chu Dawei showed reverence and nostalgia, but also the old Min beside him, his turbid eyes were also a little brighter, as if thinking of him. The heroic appearance of the old Zhennan King galloping on the battlefield.
"It's a pity that I didn't have the chance to see my grandfather's demeanor with my own eyes." Nangong Yue also felt a little bit emotional.
A person who can leave such a strong impression on his subordinates and soldiers must be a generation of heroes, peerless famous generals, such as the deceased old Zhennan King, or General Guan Ruyan...
"Uncle Chu, why don't you come and stay with me in the palace with Alan?" Nangong Yue suggested.
When Nangong Yue mentioned this, Ren Zinan's eyes suddenly showed a light of expectation, but Chu Dawei was a little hesitant. Wouldn't he cause trouble for his adopted son by following him as an old cripple
Unexpectedly, Lao Min suddenly persuaded: "Old Chu, you can go with Alan. Alan has already said that he will take care of you until the end of his life. If you stay here, he will not be at ease."
David Chu hesitated, but finally nodded.
At this time, Guanshi Feng walked into the hall and said: "Concubine Shizi, the three corpses have already been sent to the Yamen of Jingzhao Mansion. I wonder if Concubine Shizi has any orders?"
Nangong Yue pondered for a moment, then said to Lao Min and Chu Dawei: "I wonder if you two would like to accompany me for a walk around the wasteland in the back mountain?"
Hearing this, Lao Min and Chu Dawei couldn't hide their astonishment, but before they said anything, Guanshi Feng couldn't help persuading him: "Concubine Shizi, you were assassinated just now..."
Nangong Yue raised her hand to signal him to keep quiet, and smiled nonchalantly: "If I feel like a frightened bird because of such a trivial matter, then wouldn't I have to stay at home and sleepless at night in the future? That would allow those villains to succeed !"
"Ah Yue, you are right!" Fu Yunyan clapped her hands and praised, "You can't let the villain get what you want. I'll go with you, and see who doesn't have eyes and dares to do you harm!"
"Liu Niang, then I will depend entirely on you." Nangong Yue smiled freely with her eyebrows curved.
It seems that the previous assassination did not leave a shadow in her heart. Lao Min and Chu Dawei couldn't help but glanced at each other. They heard that this eldest concubine is the daughter of the Nangong family, and that a girl from a family of civil servants is so unreasonable. No matter what the character and disposition of the son is, it is indeed the blessing of the son to have such a virtuous wife!
In this way, everyone went to the back mountain wasteland again, but this time the team was different from before, it became a bit mighty, not only Zhu Xing and the guards of the palace followed, even the guards in Zhuangzi were also killed. Feng Guanshi, who was like a frightened bird, called and followed behind, fearing that there would be another accident.
The half-cultivated wasteland is right behind the village, because the villagers kept saying "the back mountain wasteland", Nangong Yue originally thought it was a terraced field, but she didn't expect it to be a large flat land next to the back mountain. Looking at it, I saw that the land was covered with a thin layer of white snow, which was so white that it dazzled people's eyes.
But it shouldn’t be snowing recently, right? Nangong Yue blinked, suddenly thought of something, turned her head to look at the village, and said in surprise: “This is a bittern land?” The land, the snow-like crystals on the surface of the land are the salt particles precipitated in the soil.
"That's right, it's the saline-alkali land." Guanshi Feng said, "The imperial concubine is really well-informed!"
"I've only seen it in books," Nangong Yue squatted down in surprise, and picked up some soil mixed with white crystals through a piece of veil. "Historical Records. Hequ Shu" has a saying: "The people of Linjin are willing to wear Luo To irrigate more than 10,000 hectares of brine land to the east of Chongquan. Sincerely get water, you can save ten stones per mu." It seems that the steward Niu has some knowledge, but he just has a wrong mind.
David Chu explained aloud: "The steward Niu originally planned to build a canal to draw the river water in front of him to irrigate the brine and turn it into a fertile field after the spring of the next year."
After pondering for a while, Nangong Yue said to Guanshi Feng: "If you can turn the wasteland into fertile land, it will be beneficial to the people. This matter can continue. Now that the farming is slack, you might as well hire the young tenants in the village to continue to cultivate this wasteland Let’s work hard on wasteland, and the wages we pay them are 30% higher than the market price, plus two meals are included.”
"Yes. Princess Concubine." Feng Guanshi hurriedly responded. With such a favorable condition, he believed that the tenants would flock to her.
Lao Min, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said: "Concubine Shizi, can you also hire us veterans?"
Not only Nangong Yue, Feng Guanshi and others were also accidents. I didn't expect Lao Min to make such a request, but Chu Dawei understood Lao Min's mood. Lao Min continued: "Actually, we veterans still have some strength, and we are too busy to be idle in this farm every day. Why don't we find something to do and have some fun in life."
They are not people who like leisure and work hard. It would be fine if the cattle stewards just let them open up wasteland, but they are treated worse than livestock.
"If you are willing, I would welcome it, but I can't wait." Nangong Yue said with a smile, and hoped that these veterans could find a life suitable for them in this Liuhe Village.
The most fearful thing in life is that there is no hope and expectation, it will only become a pool of stagnant water...
This day was busy and fulfilling, and when the sun gradually moved westward, Nangong Yue and his party were finally ready to go back home.
When they came, they came in light clothes, but when they returned, they were huge and mighty. Not only were there a few more people, but there were also two more carriages. Feng Guanshi and the tenants in the village gave Nangong Yue a lot of land And game and so on, fully loaded two carriages.
All the veterans came to see them off. After Nangong Yue said goodbye to them, she was about to get into the carriage when Lao Min suddenly said, "Concubine Shizi, can I have a few words with you alone?"
Baihui frowned slightly, thinking that this old Min had been full of hostility towards Nangong Yue before, and felt something was wrong.
Nangong Yue was a little surprised, but she still nodded and said: "Of course." The two walked side by side and walked forward, while Baihui and Baihe behind them kept watching Lao Min's every move.
Of course, Lao Min also felt the vigilant eyes of the two little girls, but he didn't take it seriously. He was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked: "Concubine Shizi, the old man only met Shizizi a few times when he was young, and later on about Shiziye, I just heard from outsiders... Shizifei, you can tell me about Shiziye What kind of person is he?"
Nangong Yue felt even more surprised, she never thought that Lao Min called her to stop just to ask Xiao Yi.
What kind of person is Xiao Yi
Nangong Yue thought for a while, and she simply started talking about the first time she met Xiao Yi at the age of nine... talking about how he was assassinated by Cheng Bo, who he regarded as a relative; Talking about him being left in the royal capital as a hostage; talking about Cheng Yu and Zhu Xing being hunted down by killers sent by the Xiaofang clan; talking about the emperor's fear of him and the Zhennan Palace...
Although it was only a short period of four and a half years, too many things happened. The past scenes flashed before Nangong Yue's eyes, although her tone was still calm as if she was talking about outsiders' affairs But her heart was turbulent, and her eyes were even more sour.
Ayi, how are you doing in southern Xinjiang
I miss you!
Nangong Yue raised her chin slightly, looked up at the red-stained sky to the west, and held back her tears with difficulty.
After a while, she calmed down, took a deep breath, turned her head and said to Lao Min: "It's getting late, I should go, otherwise..."
She didn't continue her words, but Lao Min took out an envelope from his pocket. This envelope must have been there for several years, not to mention the yellowing of the paper, and even the creases on it were a little worn out. It seemed that it had been repeatedly held by someone for many years I have examined and caressed.
Lao Min's expression was extremely dignified. He put the trust in his hands very carefully, bowed his head and sent it to Nangong Yue, saying: "Concubine Shi Zi, this is the suicide note from the old prince to the prince!"
Even Nangong Yue was shocked by these words for a while, but couldn't recover, and almost suspected that she was hallucinating.
She tried her best to calm down her emotions, took the letter, did not open it, but just looked at the big characters on the envelope: Sun Yi, personally.
Lao Min raised his eyes to look at Nan Gongyue, and said slowly: "Back then, the old Zhen Nan Wang felt that his days were numbered, but at that time the son was still young, and Xiao Fang seemed to be good to the son, but I don't know what will happen for her own son in the future... The old prince was really worried, so he made many preparations. On the one hand, he left some manpower and property for the son, and on the other hand, he handed over this suicide note to the old man , and told the old man, if the son can't support him when he grows up, this suicide note will never be sent out, and the money left by the old prince to the son is enough for him to be rich for a lifetime... "
Over the years, due to the misunderstanding of Xiao Yi, this letter has been hidden in Lao Min's arms.
Nangong Yue suddenly understood that although Lao Min had always shown hostility and resentment towards Xiao Yi before, in fact, he still held a sliver of hope in his heart and tried to believe in Xiao Yi, otherwise, this letter would have been gone long ago!
-off topic-
There is a small event in November. (from November 1st to 15th)
I specially asked someone to draw a Q-version wedding picture of Yi and Yue, and customized a metal bookmark and a postcard using this as a template. Obtaining conditions:
1. The top 50 girls on the Xiaoxiang fan list. (until November 15th)
2. From November 1st to 15th, the top ten girls with the most comments (including replies) in the Xiaoxiang Book Review Area. (only if the fan value is above the scholar)
3. For the girls of Tencent Bookstore, because the author cannot use the backstage of the bookstore, it is simply the top 15 on the fan list. (until November 15th)
Because the customization fee plus the courier fee will be more expensive, so I can only add these restrictions... Girls don't need to spend a lot of fan value for these gadgets. If there are more girls who like customized products, there will be other activities in the future of.
Please don't deliberately smash the fan value!
Please don't deliberately smash the fan value!
Please don't deliberately smash the fan value!
(Important things are said three times!)