As the sun sets completely, night falls, and the midsummer night appears peaceful and distant amidst the sound of insects.
When the willow was slightly turning on the moon, an uninvited guest ushered in the brightly lit inn. ..
"A Xin!"
Xiao Yi smiled and waved to the blue-robed youth who was brought into the house by the bamboo.
Xiao Yi's smile and Xiao Yi's expression were the same as before.
However, Nangong Xin couldn't be as calm as Xiao Yi. It was only two years since he last went to Southern Border. To him, it seemed like a long time ago, like a lifetime ago.
Of course, Nangongxin heard about the capture of Baiyue, Nanliang and Xiye by the Zhennan Palace. The eyes she looked at Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai were a bit complicated. Others might worry about the Northern Expedition of the Zhennan Palace, but Nangong Xin Knows his brother-in-law won't.
The Xiao Yi he knew didn't bother to do this!
"Ayi, Lord Hou." Nangong Xin sat down beside the two after seeing the ceremony.
Xiao Yi personally poured tea for Nangong Xin, his tone of intimacy remained the same as before, as if he had never parted.
"Ah Xin, you came just in time. I was thinking of sending someone to invite you over tomorrow." After speaking, Xiao Yi made a gesture, and Zhu Zi took out a scroll and presented it to Nangong Xin, "This is Ah Xin. Yue specifically asked me to bring it to you and Liu Niang."
Nangong Xin took the scroll with a trace of suspicion, and then opened it. His eyes were immediately attracted by the painting on the drawing paper, and he couldn't move his eyes away.
On the beige rice paper, there is a drawing of a milk doll wearing a cat ear hat and a small blue dress. The milk doll is rolling on the carpet with a chubby orange cat in her arms. Painted eyes bent into crescent moons
Both the milk doll and the orange cat in his arms are painted so vividly, delicately and vividly.
This was drawn by my sister.
The milk doll in this painting seems to have a magical rendering power, the corners of Nangong Xin's mouth can't help but curl up, and he blurted out: "This is Brother Yu?" Brother Yu is so big! He hasn't seen his little nephew yet
Seeing Nangong Xin staring at the painting in his hand obsessively, Xiao Yi knew that his brat had subdued his uncle again without any effort.
This painting was specially drawn by Nangong Yue after she knew he was coming to the capital, just to let Nangong Xin and Fu Yunyan see Xiao Xiaoyu.
"Ah Xin, do you want to meet that brat in my family?" Xiao Yi asked Nangong Xin without answering.
Nangong Xin was startled, then looked up at Xiao Yi, thoughtful. Did A Yi want to "avoid" going to southern Xinjiang
Xiao Yi looked directly at Nangong Xin without avoiding it, which was equivalent to affirming Nangong Xin's question.
Nangong Xin shook her head without hesitation, and said calmly, "A Yi, I want to stay in the capital."
Nangong Xin's expression was gentle and firm, and after a pause, he continued: "Anyway, the rest of the family have already avoided Jiangnan, and Liu Niang is protected by Grandmother Yong Yang, so nothing will happen, so I will stay in the capital Help King Jingjun"
Although the emperor issued an edict to appoint Han Lingfan as the crown prince, everyone present knew that the emperor was no longer the emperor of the past, and even if the crown prince was established, he could be deposed.
He and Han Lingfan are both monarchs and close friends, no matter how difficult the future is, he can't just leave
Nangong Xin seems to have a gentle temper, but he has his own persistence, just like his own Ah Yue. The corner of Xiao Yi's mouth was stained with a smile. He had already guessed that Nangong Xin would not leave the capital easily, but he was not too surprised and did not intend to force it.
Xiao Yi patted Nangong Xin on the shoulder, and said: "Ah Xin, since you have made up your mind, I will not persuade you anymore. But 'a gentleman does not stand under a dangerous wall', you have to be prepared." "
After that, Xiao Yi told Nangong Xin about the manpower and bases he had placed in Wangdu, and finally told him: "Ah Xin, if there is any accident in the future, you can go to Fengyin Restaurant on Wangdu South Street. , the treasurer there will protect your family to go to southern Xinjiang!"
Nangong Xin looked deeply at Xiao Yi, her mood fluctuated for a while, she wanted to thank her, but felt that the word "thank you" was too thin.
He picked up the teacup in front of him, drank the warm tea in it, and smiled at Xiao Yi.
Replace wine with tea, everything goes without saying
As the night gradually deepened, Nangong Xin came quietly under the escort of Princess Yongyang's mansion, and then left quietly, taking only one scroll with her.
A crescent moon looks down on all beings lonely in the night sky.
When the silver moon faded and the sun rose, the surroundings of the post station also came to life, and the Three Thousand Youqi Battalion immediately prepared for orders, and under the leadership of Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai, they marched to the west in a mighty manner. A white two-headed eagle soars above.
Dozens of Jinyi guards guarding the inn secretly breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Xiao Yi and his party heading for the direction of Xishangang.
Most people couldn't help but have a certain question in their minds—
Could it be that Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai did not hesitate to travel thousands of miles to the north, really not for the capital, but just for the bones of General Guan Ruyan? !
Soon, one of Jin Yiwei rode out to report to the capital.
Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai didn't care about these things at all, and brought the Three Thousand Youqi Battalion directly to the foot of Xishangang.
The originally empty and lonely Xishangang suddenly became a little crowded because of their arrival. A group of black crows perched on the branches screamed and startled, and they were chased by the double eagles and fled in embarrassment. became a lot more active.
The Three Thousand Youqi Battalion was on standby at the foot of the mountain, Guan Yubai and Xiao Yi only brought some old officials up the mountain.
Those old government ministries silently sprinkled handfuls of white paper money into the air, and the paper money fluttered wantonly with the mountain wind, just like a heavy snowfall suddenly fell in midsummer, flying in the air.
The surrounding temperature seems to have dropped a lot suddenly.
All the way is silent.
In this dignified atmosphere, everyone could not help but walk firmly on the narrow mountain path with awe.
In the silence all the way, everyone came to the top of Xishangang, and came to Guan Ruyan's tombstone.
The last time Xiao Yi and Nan Gongyue came here to visit Guan Ruyan's grave was four years ago. Back then, after Lu Wenzhuo subdued the law, Guan Yubai personally carved the words for Guan Ruyan and the entire row of wordless tombstones. Countless kings and surrounding people heard the news and came to pay homage to Ruyan
It's been four years at the flick of a finger!
These tombstones are still standing here as they were back then, and they are as spotless as they were back then, and the lacquer colors on the lines of lettering are as bright as ever
It's as if time has stood still here.
Yeah, their years have long since stood still.
A group of more than ten people stood quietly in front of these tombstones, silently remembering these old people buried under the soil.
A deathlike silence spread, only the rustling sound of the branches and leaves blown by the mountain wind, as if the lamentation of the dead
Non-stop!
Everyone's eye sockets were red and moist, and everyone held back their tears
On the contrary, Guan Yubai is the calmest, his eyes are as deep as a dark night, as if he wants to suck in the soul of a person, and his loose white clothes are blown by the wind.
After an unknown amount of time, Guan Yubai suddenly took a step back and said, "Let's get started!"
The three words are light and breezy, but it seems that he has exhausted all the strength in his body.
Xiao Si, Feng Xing and other old officials all stepped forward with shovels and hoes. The heavy tombstones were removed, and the loess was dug up one after another.
Guan Yubai watched without blinking, as if he wanted to engrave this scene deeply in his heart.
Shovel after shovel, hoe after hoe, it was like digging up the scars on Guan Yubai's body that had healed so hard, breaking the bones that had grown so hard
Everyone felt their hearts ache and tense, as if every shovel and hoe hit their hearts like a heavy hammer.
The excavated loess piled up more and more, and a black coffin gradually revealed its outline under the loess. This was the coffin of the official Ruyan.
The excavation movements of the old government ministries unconsciously slowed down, their eyes turned red again, and many memories of the past flashed in their minds
They are going to take the bones of General Guan to reunite with his wife.
They also want to take away the bones of Lieutenant General, Lieutenant General Liu, and Lieutenant Yang, so that they will not be left alone in this ghostly place in the capital!
The tombs on the top of the mountain were dug up one by one, and the coffins covered with mud were lifted out of the tombs one by one, and then these old men carried one by one and filed down
The white paper money sprinkled the ground again into the air, paving the road ahead into a snow-white patch, and the sky became gloomy at some point, making people feel even more depressing.
Rows of coffins were put on carts and fixed with ropes. After Xiao Yi gave an order, these coffins returned to the post station on the same road under the escort of the Three Thousand Youqi Camp.
Not far away, another Jinyiwei rode his horse towards the capital
"Master Shizi," a young general of the Youqi Camp quietly whispered in Xiao Yi's ear.
Xiao Yi curled his lips mockingly, and made a gesture to show that he knew.
He casually glanced in the direction of the capital, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes.
I hope the emperor will not disappoint him this time!
Thousands of horses' hooves rumbled away, but that Jinyi Wei Mingming was alone but galloped as if someone was chasing him, and rushed back to the capital at the fastest speed.
Half an hour later, Lu Huaining, the commander of Jinyiwei, went to the palace to see the emperor himself.
In the imperial study room, after Lu Huaining reported what happened on the west hill, the emperor couldn't calm down for a long time. After several nights of sleepless nights, the emperor's eye sockets were deeply sunken and he was haggard.
Every news from Jin Yiwei only made the emperor more and more irritable, uneasy, and anxious
The emperor's brows were tightly furrowed, and he couldn't help but blurt out and ask, "Is that how they went back to the station?"
Just go back to the station with Guan Ruyan's coffin
without any other action
Lu Huaining lowered his head and Gong said "yes".
At this time, there was a sound of light footsteps, and Han Lingfu walked over holding a cup of herbal tea in person, "Father, your calming tea."
Han Lingfu respectfully presented the herbal tea, which brought the emperor back to his senses.
Still Xiaosan is filial! The emperor thought with emotion in his heart, and the feedback of Han Lingfu and Han Lingfan after they returned to the palace last night couldn't help but echoed in his mind. Xiao Yi said, "It's a pity, the emperor didn't come today!"
These words echoed in the emperor's mind all night, over and over again
What exactly do Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai want to do? !
They wouldn't really want him to go out of the city to meet the two of them in person, would they? !
Thinking about it, the emperor found it ridiculous.
However, since they came here for Guan Ruyan's coffin, and now they have dug up the coffin, why don't they leave quickly? !
What the hell are they waiting for? !
Could it be that the King of Zhennan has something to say to Xiao Yi himself
If he didn't go to see Xiao Yi, would Xiao Yi have to find ways to enter the palace to ask to see him? !
The more the emperor thought about it, the more disturbed he became, Huo Di stood up and walked back and forth in the imperial study
There is a saying: It is easy to ask God to send God away.
I must send these two plague gods away as soon as possible!
You must turn passive into active
The emperor's steps finally stopped, a flash of determination flashed in his eyes, and he said: "Lu Huaining, pass on my order."
The emperor's voice echoed in the huge imperial study, and the air became solemn. Han Lingfu's eyes were half-closed, staring at the steaming medicinal tea on the imperial case, his eyes flickering
The whole house of monarchs, ministers, fathers and sons had their own thoughts, which made the atmosphere in the imperial study vaguely and slightly strange.
Another long day passed by in the blink of an eye, and the next morning, the sky was still dim, but the capital suddenly woke up amidst the hustle and bustle.
Thousands of imperial guards marched out mightily, those who blocked the roads, those who followed, those who accompanied them, and those who accompanied them, the guards who guarded them
In a situation without warning, the emperor's royal chariot was dispatched, and the whole king was shocked.
Of course, those ordinary people don't know what the emperor is doing, but those courtiers and nobles who pay attention to every move in the court and palace are well aware of what the emperor is doing.
Xiao Yi, the eldest son of Zhennan Prince, and Guan Yubai, Marquis of An Yi, arrived at the post station ten miles away from the capital last night. It was unheard of for the emperor to condescend to meet each other in person.
The sighs of all the prefectures could not reach the emperor's ears, and the mighty royal driver just poured out from the south gate, all the way to the post station in the southeastern suburbs
A homing pigeon flew over the blue sky, fluttering over the Royal Forest Army, but no one paid attention.
As the sun rose, the sky became brighter and more transparent.
This day, the sun was shining brightly, but the mood of Yi Cheng in this small post station was not bright at all.
First the prince of Zhennan and Marquis An Yi came, and now even the emperor came.
Little people like them would probably never see the emperor in their lifetime, but now they can see the sky, but they just feel terrified.
The Yulin Army and the Southern Border Army won't fight, right? !
If this place becomes a battlefield, they will probably have to confess to being here, right? !
Seeing the 3,000 Southern Frontier Army and the 5,000 Imperial Forest Army facing each other in two phalanxes, the rest of the posts were beating drums and sweating profusely.
Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai came out of the post station belatedly, and naturally saw the emperor sitting on the imperial chariot, and Han Lingfan and Han Lingfu accompanying him on both sides.
The monarchs and ministers looked from afar, the emperor stared at Xiao Yi and Guan Yubai with deep eyes, his right hand clenched tightly into a fist, if possible, the emperor really wanted to order these two rebellious ministers to be shot through their hearts immediately!
But he couldn't, he could only watch helplessly as the two men approached him in a leisurely manner until they were within ten feet of each other. look.
Xiao Yi didn't step forward either, and looked at the emperor not far away with a half-smile.
"The emperor specially came to see us off, we are really flattered." Xiao Yi said loudly with a smile.
There was no trace of the so-called "flattered" on his face, and from his words and deeds, he could not feel any respect for the Tian family.
Even in front of the emperor, he and Guan Yubai did not kneel down, salute, or call themselves "subjects".
Obviously, in the minds of the two of them, they are no longer Dayu's courtiers.
The emperor's face was ashen, and he stared at Xiao Yi with his sharp eyes, only to feel that Xiao Yi slapped him on the face in front of everyone, which made his face hurt.
Xiao Yiman didn't care, anyway, he was used to being hated by others, if he cared about everything, wouldn't he be sleepless every night!
With an undisguised sarcasm in Xiao Yi's eyes, he raised his voice and continued: "The emperor can personally come to see off the spirit of the official and general, it's really intentional!"
Sending away spirits for officials like flames? ! The emperor was dumbfounded, who said that he came here to send the soul of Guan Ruyan, but Guan Ruyan is just a guilty minister, what qualifications does he have for the majestic Emperor Dayu to send his soul!
There was a turbulent wave in the emperor's pupils, and the anger in his chest was about to explode, but there was another movement from Xiao Yi's side.
Xiao Yi made a gesture casually, and a boy in green clothes behind him handed three sticks of incense to Lu Huaining, and the cigarettes curled up
These three sticks of incense are naturally not for Lu Huaining, but for the emperor!