"yes?"
The man's low voice sounded in the empty secret room. This voice was very calm, even pleasant to the ear, but at this moment, it seemed to carry a heart-pounding power, which made people feel creepy when they heard it.
Xie Changchao was stunned for a moment, then let go of Shen Miao like lightning and turned to look at the person who came.
There are horns hanging on the wall of the secret room, and there are torches placed in the horns. The burning torches are bright, and the dark secret room seems to be divided into two parts. his appearance.
It was a very tall and tall young man. He was covered with a black brocade rat fur cloak, but the purple gold brocade robe, deerskin blue boots, and dark gold belt were revealed. Even in such a dark place, it was not at all Cover up dignity. On the other hand, he wore a half-silver mask on his face, which was clearly of an extremely cold color, but it jumped a little warmly under the light of the torches in the secret room, which made people involuntarily attracted.
Xie Changchao was sluggish for a moment, then suddenly called out, "His Royal Highness Prince Rui!"
He had met this person at Ming Qi's tribute banquet, and he had also met him at the Prince's East Palace banquet. The person wearing the half silver mask is not Prince Rui of Great Liang? But why did Prince Rui of Great Liang suddenly appear in this place? Xie Changchao's heart suddenly sank, and he asked, "How did you know about this place?"
This is the secret room in the Marquis of Lin'an's mansion, and Prince Rui has the great ability to sneak into it, but this secret room is determined to be never found. Xie Ding knew nothing about this secret room, and only Xie Changwu and Xie Changchao knew about the entire Marquis of Lin'an Mansion. King Rui of Great Liang, an outsider, discovered this place like this? Xie Changwu would definitely not say it.
Shen Miao breathed a sigh of relief the moment she saw Xie Jing Xing appear and felt a bit of joy in her heart. Of course she could fight against Xie Changchao, and she might not be able to think of other ways to escape, but there would always be contingency. If something goes wrong, it will be much more dangerous in the future. With the appearance of Xie Jing Xing, it seemed that even the word "accident" was omitted.
"Tell me! Why do you know that there is a secret room here?" Xie Changchao suddenly felt a strong unease in his heart. This uneasiness was not caused by fear that the other party was Prince Rui of Great Liang. It is an instinctive fear that comes from the bottom of my heart. But only he and Xie Changwu knew about this secret room, not even his subordinates. Today is also a person who came, and it is too late to escape at this moment.
"The Marquis of Lin'an, there is nothing I don't know about."
The purple-robed youth walked forward slowly, walking from the dark to the light. Under the brighter torches, the silver mask is also beating and shining. He hooked his lips, and he didn't know whether the smile was sarcasm or sincerity, and slowly reached out and brushed the mask on his face.
Shen Miao was slightly startled, Xie Changchao swallowed and stared at the purple clothed youth in front of him without blinking.
The silver mask was taken off.
The lights climbed inch by inch on the young man's almost perfect face, his facial features were so handsome that the scorching sun was eclipsed by him, the stubborn expression that seemed to be smiling but not smiling was the same as before, and a pair of peach blossom eyes, which had been precipitated over the years, and the frivolous restraint in his youth, gave birth to a bit of indifference. It was a bit deep, but it was like a boat on the star river in the dark night. Looking down, it was still full of bright eyes.
Xie Jing Xing was more handsome, calm, unfathomable and dangerous than two years ago.
He was pierced by thousands of arrows on the battlefield, skinned and air-dried has long since formed a sighing Xie Jing Xing in Ming Qi history.
Xie Changchao couldn't believe his eyes.
He shouted, "Xie Jing Xing! Xie Jing Xing!"
“It’s hard for you to remember my name.” Xie Jing Xing stepped forward with a smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes.
"Stay safe, Xie Changchao."
"Aren't you dead?" Xie Chang's face began to rise with a look of fear, and he said anxiously: "You were not pierced by thousands of arrows on the battlefield in the northern Xinjiang, peeled and dried to show the public, and the bones of the long-dead are gone. Are you a human or a ghost? Don’t come here!” He spoke quickly and hastily, as if he could conceal the fear in his heart, as if he kept telling the news of Xie Jing Xing’s death, those words could become General facts.
Xie Jing Xing said, "Do you think I am a human or a ghost?"
Xie Changchao was taken aback.
The young man in front of him was dressed in expensive clothes and had an elegant posture. If Xie Jing Xing two years ago was a treasured sword that looked very gorgeous, but now this treasured sword is finally unsheathed, with restrained killing intent, but it made everyone Can't ignore the sharp blades.
Xie Chang Chao's gaze fell on the silver mask in Xie Jing Xing's hands, and his heart moved.
If Xie Jing Xing was really a ghost, how could he still appear as Prince Rui? Xie Changchao could remember clearly that Xie Jing Xing who was in front of him put on a mask and was clearly Prince Rui of Great Liang. It was no wonder that he and Xie Changwu always felt that Prince Rui of Great Liang was very similar to one another, but they couldn't remember it, and now that they thought about it, it was Xie Jing Xing without a doubt. It's just that everyone knows about Xie Jing Xing's death in the battle two years ago, no one would associate Prince Rui with a person who had been dead for two years, but they didn't know that this person had already been replaced!
Thinking of this, Xie Changchao suddenly sneered: "So it is, so you didn't die, but you ran to the Great Liang, and you don't know what means you used to turn yourself into the Great Liang's Prince Rui. You faked your death and betrayed the country, you are not worthy of the Xie family. Descendants, if my father knew about this, he would definitely humiliate you. Big brother, younger brother really admire you."
Shen Miao had already retreated to the corner, she was a little surprised to hear that, not expecting that Xie Chang Chao would think that Xie Jing Xing was a thief of Ming Qi and defected to Great Liang. But he didn't think about it, no matter how much Great Liang treats talented people, the identity of a younger brother of Emperor Yongle is not given to others casually.
Sure enough, Xie Jing Xing chuckled and his eyes became colder: "Don't confuse your filthy blood with me. If you want to be my brother, Xie Changchao, you are not qualified."
Xie Changchao said with a disdainful smile, "Could it be that you think that you have acquired the identity of Prince Rui, that you are really the younger brother of Emperor Yongle of Great Liang? Xie Jing Xing, you thought you were superior to others, but now you have learned to daydream. "
Xie Jing Xing was noncommittal.
Seeing this, Xie Changchao's complexion slowly changed, and he said, "You... are you really Prince Rui of Great Liang?"
“So what?” Xie Jing Xing stared at him, “Have I told you not to touch my things.”
Xie Changchao was stunned. Since he and Xie Chang Wu were very young, they hated Xie Jing Xing very much. The servants of the Marquis of Lin'an were originally old people who followed Princess Yuqing. When they occasionally got together to talk, Xie Changchao heard that it was Mrs. Fang who forced Princess Yuqing to death. Xie Changchao did not know that Princess Yuqing who died when they were born, but he hated Xie Jingxing very much for no other reason, because Xie Ding had no reason to dote on Xie Jingxing.
Xie Jing Xing always had the best things in the Marquis of Lin'an, food, clothes, and play. No one dared to stop Xie Jing Xing what he wanted to do, but he made a huge mistake, even if he beat the prince or the young master of the minister's family, Xie Ding would only apologize to himself, and Xie Jing Xing would only lightly reveal it. Once a quick tiger skin was sent from the sea and Xie Ding gave it to Xie Jing Xing. It was a very rare complete tiger skin. Xie Changchao and Xie Chang Wu were young and secretly went to Xie Jing Xing's house to play with the tiger skin for an afternoon.
Later, when Xie Jing Xing came back, Xie Changchao would always remember Xie Jing Xing's expression. Xie Jing Xing glanced at the fur that the two brothers Xie Changchao had crawled over and let the housekeeper burn it.
He said, "Don't touch my stuff, dirty."
Xie Ding scolded the two brothers of the Xie family fiercely, but did not scold Xie Jing Xing for making a fuss. From that time on, Xie Chang Chao had an obsession with Xie Jing Xing's things. Shen Miao was the same.
So when he heard Xie Jing Xing's words, he immediately laughed, glanced at Shen Miao in the corner, and said maliciously, "Xie Jing Xing, so what, I touched your woman and you have to burn her as before. Is it? I just touched her, do you think it's dirty?"
Shen Miao's eyes were heavy, Xie Changchao really had the ability to make people want to kill him once he opened his mouth, not to mention a person with a strong temperament like Xie Jing Xing, she has always maintained a good temper since her rebirth, and now she wants to let Xie Changchao be dragged out beheaded.
“She is not the same as tiger skin.” Xie Jing Xing smiled slightly, “In my eyes, the tiger skin was worthless back then, so I burned it. Now…” His eyes were cold and his words were gentle, but with Chilling chill.
"I thought you were too dirty, so I'll burn you anyway."
Xie Changchao smiled disdainfully at first, then he smiled, seeing Xie Jing Xing's calm expression, he suddenly couldn't smile. Xie Changchao sat on the ground, took a step back, restrained his inner fear and said, "What do you want to do?"
“Xie Changchao, you still haven’t improved after so many years.” Xie Jing Xing seemed a little disappointed with his reaction and sighed, “You looked at my face, do you think I will let you live?”
Shen Miao actually thought it was a bit funny.
This paragraph of Xie Changchao was like a child in front of Xie Jing Xing, no wonder Xie Jing Xing felt disappointed. As early as when Xie Jing Xing took off the mask, Shen Miao knew in her heart that Xie Chang Chao would not be able to go out alive today.
Xie Changchao showed deep fear in his eyes, he said: "You dare not, I am my father's son, this is the Marquis of Lin'an, if you kill me, others will always find out your identity, and you will not be better off!"
“Don’t worry,” Xie Jing Xing smiled, “Today the Marquis of Lin’an and Xie Changwu went to the banquet and only returned at night, no one will find you.” He said, “For the sake of you calling me big brother for so many years, I will too. Take care of you, I won't leave you alone on Huangquan Road. Xie Changwu will come down to accompany you, so you don't need to say thank you."
Xie Changchao seemed to finally believe that Xie Jing Xing was really here, he stood up and was about to run outside, but he was not the opponent of Xie Jing Xing who had left room two years ago, how could he escape under Xie Jing Xing now. Before he could see clearly, he was kicked in the knee from behind, and his throat was stuck in the flash of lightning.
Shen Miao was looking at it, but suddenly the front turned dark, something gathered in front of her and she stretched out her hand, but it was Xie Jing Xing's cloak.
Xie Jing Xing covered her head with a cloak and said, "Don't look."
This one was gentle, but the other was mercilessly clenching Xie Changchao's throat, and the crisp sound of bones could be clearly heard in the secret room.
With a bang, Shen Miao pulled the cloak off her head, Xie Jing Xing had already wiped his hands with the handkerchief, and Xie Changchao lay on his back with his eyes wide open, obviously he was out of breath.
Xie Jing Xing was decisive and ruthless, it was the first time that Shen Miao saw him kill, but seeing that his expression was calm and there was no strangeness, she could not help sighing in her heart.
She handed the cloak to Xie Jing Xing, when Xie Jing Xing saw this, he glanced at her and turned his head, "Keep it for yourself."
Shen Miao followed his gaze, but found that when she was struggling with Xie Changchao, the front of her clothes was torn by Xie Changchao, and now it was so exposed that she could even see the clues in her belly pocket. She was stunned for a moment, then she scolded Xie Changchao in her heart, but put Xie Jing Xing's cloak over her body.
Xie Jing Xing’s cloak was too big for her and the buttons on the front could not be fastened, so Shen Miao would not be able to do it for a long time. When Xie Jing Xing saw that she had not responded for a while, he turned his head and saw that Shen Miao was still making the buttons of the cloak, so he walked over and squatted down in front of Shen Miao. He took out the strap from the neckline of the cloak and fastened it for Shen Miao.
His hands are very good-looking, with well-defined and slender joints, and the movement of tying the belt is dexterous and gentle, if one ignores a cold face. Shen Miao raised her eyes to look at him, Xie Jing Xing's eyelashes grew extremely long and when they fell down, the sharp eyes became soft and showed a rare gentleness.
He devoted himself to tying the knot, but his face was cold from beginning to end, as if he was in a bad mood, but he didn't know who had offended him.
After tying the sturdy bow tie, before Xie Jing Xing stood up, Shen Miao said, "Actually you don't need to kill him."
She was talking about Xie Changchao. In fact, Xie Jing Xing did not need to kill Xie Changchao, Xie Changchao was right, although he was a concubine, he was also Xie Ding's son. necessary trouble.
"He looked at my face and couldn't stay alive." Xie Jingxing said.
Shen Miao rolled her eyes in her heart, no one looked at Xie Jing Xing's face at all, from the beginning till now, Xie Jing Xing took the initiative to take off the mask. Xie Jing Xing just wanted to kill Xie Chang Chao, why did he find such a far-fetched reason.
"Let's go out less in the future." Xie Jing Xing said, "If I come later, you will have an accident today." When he said this, he frowned slightly, and his face was cold, but he seemed to be a little stern.
Shen Miao was speechless for a while and thought for a while before saying, "How are my parents and elder brothers doing now?"
"All the Shen family troops are dispatched, and Dingjing has searched from house to house a few times, but they have all returned without success." Xie Jingxing said, "No one guessed that you were hiding in the Marquis of Lin'an Mansion." After a pause, he continued, "Luo Tan is injured. Gao Yang has already gone to Shen's house to save people, and I heard that the situation is good now."
“Luo Tan is injured?” Shen Miao was stunned, “Why is she still seriously injured?”
“Being wounded by a knife,” Xie Jing Xing glanced sideways at Shen Miao, “You don’t know?”
Shen Miao shook her head, "At that time I was knocked unconscious and took me on the horse, then I don't know what happened." After a while of silence, Shen Miao suddenly remembered something and looked at Xie Jing Xing, "Luo Tan is injured and can't wake up, then what are you doing? found here?"
Xie Jing Xing was somewhat inexplicable: "What do you mean?"
Shen Miao's heart moved, Luo Tan was seriously injured and unconscious, naturally it was impossible to see Xie Jing Xing, nor could she tell Xie Jing Xing what she entrusted to him. Then Xie Jing Xing came to save people now... was it his own idea
Shen Miao felt a little complicated for a moment.
On the other hand, Xie Jing Xing’s eyes flickered slightly and he suddenly approached Shen Miao and put his hands on Shen Miao’s side, almost holding her in his arms. He raised his lips and said, "Listen to what you mean, you asked Luo Tan to find me? Ask me for help?"
Shen Miao pushed him away, knowing that Xie Jing Xing was smart and could not hide it. Then she said, "I just think you have this ability, and your status is much more convenient." She emphasized: "I asked Luo Tan to come to you, and we agreed that it was a deal. When you rescue me, I will naturally Pay accordingly.”
“Remuneration?” Xie Jing Xing said nonchalantly, “The Shen family posted ten thousand taels of gold, but I don’t care, the Great Liang treasury is so much, what can you pay?”
Shen Miao gritted her teeth, "As long as you don't promise each other, naturally it's okay."
Xie Jing Xing raised his eyebrows to look at her and sighed, “So you think so, are you reminding me of the fact that you want to marry me? Women should be polite and reserved, it’s not good for you to be like this.”
Shen Miao could only respond with a sneer.
“Forget it,” Xie Jing Xing said, “Saving people is just a trivial matter for me, I will not embarrass you. The remuneration is simple,” he stared at Shen Miao with a half-smiling smile, “Writing poetry, playing the piano, making cakes and needlework, That's all for now."
Shen Miao: “…”
"Change another one," she said.
“This king wants this.” Xie Jing Xing rejected Shen Miao’s words. It seemed that the ground was a little cold and she pulled Shen Miao up again.
"I can't send you back to the Shen residence right now. You have been missing for three days in total, and there are rumors outside. If you go back now, you will inevitably be suspected." Xie Jingxing said, "I will arrange for someone to send you to the princess' residence, and Auntie Rong will help you."
Shen Miao was stunned, looked at Xie Jing Xing and asked, "Princess Rong Xin also knows your identity?"
Xie Jing Xing shook his head, “Among the people of Ming Qi, you are the only one.”
Shen Miao was silent. Xie Jing Xing looked at the body of Xie Changchao on the ground, a trace of disgust flashed in his eyes, and suddenly said, "But today, in order to save you, I murdered, which inevitably caused trouble. This matter started because of you, from now on, we will be a rope. The grasshopper is on, you are my ally, understand?"
"I don't seem to agree." Shen Miao was anxious.
“It’s enough for me to agree.” Xie Jing Xing happily snapped his fingers and walked into two men in black from outside.
“Move back.” Xie Jing Xing touched Xie Chang Chao’s body with his foot.
Shen Miao was surprised, "What do you want his body to do?"
Xie Jing Xing raised his eyebrows, “It is of great use.”
Tie Yi and Nan Qi carried Xie Changchao's body out. It was also thanks to Brother Xie Changwu that he built such a secret room by himself. Even the servants of the Marquis of Lin'an did not know that the secret room had been dug into the tunnel, and one could go directly outside. It was a lot easier to walk.
…
The Princess Mansion has had no guests for a long time.
Since the news of Xie Jing Xing's death in battle two years ago came out, Princess Rong Xin became seriously ill, and after she recovered, it seemed that the root of her illness had fallen, and she seldom attended royal occasions. The time to leave the Princess Mansion to go out is less and less, and even if someone visits, it is said that they will never be seen. Everyone knew that this was because Xie Jing Xing died. Princess Rongxin had no children in her life, and she only treated this nephew as her own son. Originally, when Xie Jing Xing was alive, he would go to the Princess Mansion every once in a while, but after Xie Jing Xing died in battle, Princess Rong Xin had such an odd temper, that she was almost left out.
Today, at the princess' mansion, there is a guest.
The maid who swept outside was an old man who served at the Princess Mansion. At a glance, she could see that the girl sitting on the carriage had been to the Princess Mansion two years ago. At that time, Princess Rongxin warmly entertained her. What was her name? Come on, the maid can't remember. But the informant didn't wait long when they saw Princess Rongxin's personal female official hurried out, and welcomed the female guest and the guards beside her.
When the few remaining maids saw this, they all gathered in a group and whispered: "Which girl is that girl? The princess has never seen any guests in the past two years, and she did meet today."
"Looking at that appearance, it seems that I can't wait. Maybe I have some friendship with the princess from a long time ago. It's rare to see such a person."
"She also came here two years ago. Aunt Xi, who was beside the princess at the time, even sent her back to the mansion. It was her surname Shen."
The maid who was constantly remembering what it was called suddenly had a flash of inspiration and patted her head and said, "I remembered that girl's name, that girl is not the daughter of the mighty general, Shen Miao!"
Everyone was suddenly enlightened, and then their eyes became wonderful again.
They naturally knew Shen Miao, recently there was a lot of quarrel in Dingjing and disappeared for three days, Shen Xin was even willing to offer 10,000 taels of gold to save people. Everyone speculated that Shen Miao must have encountered an accident, never thought that the focus of the discussion at the moment would actually appear in the Princess Mansion
What did Shen Miao come to the Princess Mansion for
…
Shen Miao was sitting in the main hall and the maids came to serve her tea and snacks, but in the end she could still feel some eyes looking at her indifferently. Shen Miao accepted it calmly, if someone recognized her, she would naturally wonder why she appeared in the princess residence now.
But there is no way, just as Xie Jing Xing said, she is going back to the house alone now and cannot stop the rumors from happening. She had to find someone with high authority and convincing voice to prove it for her. Princess Rongxin proved it for her last time at the Lantern Festival, and this time she had to ask Princess Rongxin to help her.
There is no way, Princess Rongxin is upright and upright, fair enough that everyone knows some inhumane things. If it was said from Princess Rongxin's mouth, no one would doubt it.
After a while, footsteps came from behind, Shen Miao looked back and saw that Princess Rong Xin who was supported by the female official was walking slowly.
Shen Miao couldn't help being shocked.
The visitor was wearing an autumn-colored thin Luo robe and a cloak over it. He probably had some makeup on his face, but he couldn't hide his aging and haggard appearance. The last time Shen Miao saw Princess Rong Xin two years ago, she was still a very energetic woman, but now it was as if her soul had been siphoned out overnight, which made people feel a little sad.
Even at the end of Shen Miao's previous life, Princess Rong Xin was really old and she did not have the haggard face at this moment. And what was all this for, Shen Miao knew very well. It seemed that the news of Xie Jing Xing's death in battle had dealt a great blow to Princess Rong Xin, she had become so haggard in two years.
She got up and saluted Princess Rongxin.
When Princess Rongxin saw her, she showed a little nostalgic look, and there was a smile on the corner of her mouth: "I haven't seen you for two years, when General Shen left in a hurry, I didn't have time for someone to send you some words. Salute, when you returned to Beijing, this palace was cold again, and the tribute banquet was not there, but there was never a chance to meet you.” She sat down at the table and motioned for Shen Miao to sit down as well.
Shen Miao nodded slightly, "It is the servants and daughters who should come to visit."
"I knew before that you were good-looking," Princess Rongxin smiled and looked at her: "I see you now, but I have answered what Ben Gong had in mind. I have been a beautiful embryo since I was a child, and now I am more and more outstanding. My nephew is still alive..." Her voice slowly lowered, a tinge of pain flashed in her eyes, but she couldn't go on.
Shen Miao did not know what to say.
On the other hand, Princess Rongxin laughed to herself again, and she said, "Bengong always says these things that make people feel unhappy. Every time I persuade myself not to think about it, but in the end I always think about it. I will teach you to talk to Bengong. If you are unhappy together, you... are also sad. Ben Gong is looking after himself and is sad, but he doesn’t think about how you feel when you hear it, it is really Ben Gong’s fault.”
A tough person like Princess Rong Xin actually apologizes to others. Shen Miao was a little surprised, but more was sympathy. Xie Jing Xing's identity could not be explained with Princess Rong Xin, but in Princess Rong Xin's view, the pain in his heart could be imagined if his nephew, who had been with him for many years, was on the battlefield like this, or died so miserably.
Princess Rongxin smiled and said, "Bengong has heard about your affairs, don't worry, Igong helped you two years ago, and this time I will naturally help you."
Shen Miao only said that she was kidnapped by the villains, but because of the rivalry with the Marquis of Lin'an, she was rescued by Xie Jing Xing's original bodyguard. It was because Xie Jing Xing's dark guard had seen Shen Miao before to lend a helping hand, but to go back to Shen's house so rashly would cause rumors and have to ask Princess Rong Xin to come forward.
As long as Xie Jing Xing moved out, Princess Rong Xin would always become extra tolerant. In addition, the so called Xie Jing Xing's former dark guard really had the token that Xie Jing Xing gave him, Princess Rong Xin no longer doubted after seeing it with her own eyes. In addition, she had a good impression of Shen Miao, so naturally she readily accepted this task.
“My ministers and daughters are very grateful to Your Highness Princess.” Shen Miao said, “Every time I come to trouble Her Royal Highnesses, the ministers and daughters are really ashamed.”
"What kind of trouble are you doing?" Princess Rongxin smiled bitterly, "When Jing Xing was here, whenever he made a mistake, he always liked to go to the princess' residence. When the trouble was not bigger than the sky, I didn't see him having any trouble. I was ashamed. Originally, I thought that Ben Gong would do good deeds, and when Ben Gong was old, I would change Ben Gong to trouble him. Who knows..." Princess Rongxin smiled a bit ugly: "Now I think He's looking for trouble for Ben Gong again, but he can't wait any longer."