Duting Posthouse was a large posthouse, and the post officials had seen and welcomed countless Chinese and foreign officials, but this was the first time they had seen such a strange guest.
This man was about 18 years old, and he took out a certificate of the commander of the Divine Wing Army, but he was wearing gorgeous clothes, with jade bridles carved on his head, and he was handsome and unparalleled. His whole demeanor showed that he was a noble prince, and his servants were all riding fine horses and wearing light furs, and they were not ordinary people. Of course, it was not uncommon for some nobles to walk around the city hiding their true identities, but what was strange was that today was New Year's Eve, even if he didn't reunite with his family, he should have invited a few friends to go to the brothel in Pingkangfang to get drunk and have a good dream, so why did he come to the posthouse
What was even more bizarre was that when he arrived at the pavilion, he found out that there were guests having a banquet in the main hall and only the side rooms were left. He did not leave, but ordered the best wine and food for the servants, and stayed alone in the room. He did not want any dishes, cakes, or soups, but only wine and oranges.
But he did not dare to ask more about the guest, and quickly sent the wine and oranges over. The guest took out a golden cake and said, "I don't need anyone to serve me here."
The postman was startled, but then he was overjoyed, for the golden cake weighed at least two taels. He was unlucky enough to be on night duty during the New Year's Eve, but he did not expect to have such a windfall and meet such a generous guest. He could not help but express his gratitude profusely.
Huan Xuan said, "Just serve my servants well."
The postman said, "Of course, of course, please rest assured. But a guest has borrowed the stove, so the dishes will be served a little late, please forgive me."
Huan Xuan naturally knew who the guest who wanted to borrow the stove was, and nodded silently.
The postman returned with the golden cake in his pocket, his face beaming, and he put some more firewood and bamboo tubes into the courtyard fire.
The flames burned higher and the bamboo tubes crackled and popped.
Huan Xuan picked up an orange from the plate, peeled it and tasted a slice, and couldn't help frowning. The oranges in the post house were not as good as those in the palace. They were small and sour, but he still endured the sourness and slowly ate the whole orange, just to suppress the fishy smell of the bowl of mutton soup noodles just now.
The door was wide open, and the firelight in the courtyard shone into the house. From the north, laughter and the sound of hooting and shouting could be heard from time to time. Those were the guards of Xiao Ling who were playing Chupu while staying up to celebrate the New Year.
Xiao Ling was not among them. At that time, she was cooking birthday noodles for her elder brother.
Huan Xuan suddenly didn't know why he came here. Maybe he just didn't want to stay in the palace, didn't want to go back to the palace, and didn't know where to go.
He was peeling oranges and drinking, putting the peeled oranges on a plate. When he peeled the sixth orange, snow started falling outside.
The snow fell heavier and heavier, and snowflakes as big as goose feathers fell into the fire and turned into water. The postman added a lot of firewood to the fire, but it could not withstand the heavy snow, and soon the fire went out, and the courtyard was dark.
In the main hall, Tian Yuerong finished playing a game of backgammon and asked the postman who was delivering wine and food, "Who was the guest who came outside just now?"
The postman said, "He is the captain of the army."
Tian Yuerong did not think much about it. Duting Posthouse was close to the palace. Perhaps the military officer was going to attend the grand court tomorrow and was afraid of missing the time, so he was drinking and waiting here.
After the postman left, she glanced toward the courtyard and said, "The general should be back soon."
Chun Tiao said, "It's snowing so heavily outside. My wife didn't bring an umbrella when she went out. I'll go get her an umbrella." Then he stood up.
Tian Yuerong held her back and said, "There are so many strong men with thick skin and flesh. Why does Sister Chun Tiao need to brave the wind and snow? Your wife will be in great pain if she gets frozen."
Chun Tiao smiled and said, "It's not as delicate as Sister Tian said."
Tian Yuerong pinched Chun Tiao's round face and said, "Jiaohao, we all love you.
Harujo blushed.
Xiao Shun stood up and said, "Sister Chun Tiao, please sit down and take a rest. I will go and see the general off."
Before he finished speaking, someone picked up the umbrella before him and said, "I'll go and take it off."
It was Cheng Zheng.
Xiao Shun quickly retracted his hand: "Then I'll have to trouble Master Cheng."
Cheng Zheng said, "It's my job." Then he opened his umbrella and walked into the courtyard.
One of the guards said stupidly: "Master Cheng, there are umbrellas, bring one more..."
Before he could finish his words, Tian Yuerong slapped him on the back of his head: "Stop talking too much."
The guard finally understood: "Oh!"
After being hit on the back of the head again, Tian Yuerong said, "Oh, what? Go get some wine!"
Chun Tiao lowered his voice and asked, "Sister Tian, are you trying to bring my wife and Mr. Cheng together?"
Tian Yuerong asked, "Sister Chun Tiao, do you think Master Cheng is not a good person?"
Chun Tiao thought for a moment and said, "It's not that it's bad, but my wife doesn't seem to have that intention."
Tian Yuerong said: "Cheng Zheng is close to us, and he is considerate and thoughtful. It is good for the general to have someone around to ask about his well-being."
Chun Tiao said: "In my opinion, Duan Sima is quite good."
Tian Yuerong burst out laughing: "Duan Beicen is quite good, but it's a pity that they grew up together. If they could have been successful, they would have been successful long ago. I actually hope that the general really has 70 or 80 male lovers as the rumors say, but she is not that kind of person."
She picked up the cheese bowl and took a bite. "Back then, the general and the court joined forces to quell the rebellion in the northwest. I followed the general. Because I was always with the general, I often saw the former prince. Cheng Zheng actually has some of the former prince's shadow. Both are gentle and considerate. Sometimes I think that when the general passed through Luoyang, he happened to save Master Cheng. Maybe it was God's will."
After a pause, he said, “Of course, whether it can be successful or not depends on his own luck.
Chun Tiao nodded and said nothing more.
…
Ladle the chicken soup into the soup bowl, scoop up the noodles with bamboo chopsticks and divide them into two bowls, then bring them to the dining table.
She makes this bowl of chicken noodle soup every year and is very skilled at every step.
She always made two bowls, one for Huanye and one for herself, and ate them together with him.
Over the years, this has become her habit.
She picked up the bamboo chopsticks, scooped up a noodle and was about to put it into her mouth, but she suddenly lost her appetite as she remembered the New Year's Eve banquet where Huan Xuan was eating mutton noodle soup mouthful by mouthful.
The noodles slid back into the soup. She put down her bamboo chopsticks and just sat there quietly until the noodles became mushy and cold. Then she stood up and walked outside.
When she walked to the corridor, she found that the fire in the courtyard had gone out and heavy snow was falling from the sky.
She was just about to borrow an umbrella from the postman when she saw a figure in white fox fur walking towards her, holding an umbrella in one hand and a glass lantern in the other.
The courtyard was dark and the lantern could not illuminate his face clearly, not to mention that his face was half hidden under the umbrella.
Sui Sui's heart tightened and he stopped.
The man walked up the steps and closed his umbrella. The lantern illuminated his face. It was Cheng Zheng.
Of course it was Cheng Zheng. It was a major event. There were only their group of people in the post house. Who else could it be except him
But she couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.
Cheng Zheng glanced at the falling snowflakes and said, "It's snowing heavily. I'll come down to pick up the general later."
Sui Sui nodded: "It's snowing so heavily, please take a walk, Master Cheng."
Cheng Zheng said, "General, there's no need to be so polite. I've been staying in the house for too long and feel a little bored. I just want to go out for a walk."
Then he held up the umbrella and said, "General, please."
The umbrella was very big, just right for two people to hold, but Sui Sui always kept a distance from him. Cheng Zheng didn't dare to get close to her, but just tilted the umbrella towards her. Soon, his left shoulder was covered with snow, and even his hair was covered with a layer of snow.
Sui Sui said, "Mr. Cheng, you don't have to give me all the umbrellas. You haven't recovered from your old illness yet. Be careful not to catch a cold."
Cheng Zheng said: "Thank you for your concern, General. I will take care of it now."
Although he said that, the umbrella in his hand did not move an inch.
The two of them walked out of the small courtyard where the kitchen was and headed towards the main courtyard. Cheng Zheng asked, "General, are you going to stay up in the hall or go back to the courtyard to sleep?"
It was still a long way from here to the courtyard where she was staying. With half of his body exposed outside the umbrella, Cheng Zheng might catch a cold. He said casually, "Let's go back to the main courtyard first."
The two men then walked towards the main courtyard. Before they reached the door, a tall figure walked out from the darkness beside the wall and stopped five steps away from them, motionless.
Cheng Zheng said to Sui Sui: "Just now a group of guests arrived at the inn."
Sui Sui had already recognized him and said to Cheng Zheng, "Master Cheng, please go in first."
Cheng Zheng was startled for a moment, then realized who it was. He glanced at the shadow and said to Sui Sui: "General..."
Sui Sui said: "You go back first, I will come in later."
Cheng Zheng's face flashed with worry, and he handed her the umbrella: "General, be careful."
Sui Sui said: "You hold the umbrella."
Cheng Zheng took her hand and put the umbrella handle into her hand. He turned back to look at the dark shadow and then walked towards the yard.
Sui Sui walked towards Huan Xuan holding an umbrella. He was not wearing a fox fur coat, only a brocade robe. No one knew how long he had been standing in the wind and snow.
"Your Highness, I'm sorry for not welcoming you in person." She stopped two steps away and said calmly.
Huan Xuan hated her indifferent look, a surge of blood rushed to his head, he took two steps forward, snatched the umbrella from her hand and threw it aside. The umbrella spun a few times on the snow and was blown away by the cold wind.
Sui Sui didn't pick it up, and said lightly: "Your Highness is drunk."
It was dark all around, with only the light from the courtyard shining on the snow. Huan Xuan couldn't see her mood, but he could imagine how cold those amber eyes were.
In fact, she has always been like this, even when she was Lu Suisui. She looks gentle and affectionate on the outside, but is as hard as ice on the inside. No matter how he makes trouble, she just watches coldly, because only Huan Ye can affect her joy, anger, sorrow and happiness.
He hated her so much, but he also loved her so much. To this day, he can no longer deceive himself. Even though he knows it's all fake, even though he is known that she doesn't have him in her heart at all, he still can't let her go, can't let her go, can't forget her, can't break free.
If he can't break free, then he won't struggle. He wants her. He wants to drag his sun down with him and fall into the abyss together.
He hugged her warm body, pressed her against the wall, and lowered his head to search for her lips.
He found it, it was so soft and sweet that it almost melted his whole body. He held her neck with his hands, feeling her blood vessels beating rapidly in his palms, her chest heaving, her breathing rapid, and the white air she exhaled was like the mist in the spring mountains, making the surroundings charming and hazy.
"Isn't it just a casual act?" He grabbed her shoulders and pressed his forehead against hers. "If others can do it, so can I."
After saying that, he kissed her soft lips again and pried open her teeth with force.
Then, he felt a piercing pain on his lip; she had bitten his lip.
Sui Sui said coldly: "No."
Huan Xuan felt pain and paused, but his lips were still pressed against hers, and he said in a hoarse voice: "Why not?"
Sui Sui said: "Do you know what day it is today?"
Huan Xuan let go of her, lowered his eyes, wiped the blood off his lips with the back of his hand, and suddenly raised his eyes and chuckled: "What's wrong with that?"
He spoke word by word: "I am a beast without a king, father, mother or brother, who has no regard for human ethics."
Sui Sui's heart was slightly moved. She remembered the day she returned to Wei Bo. Her aunt pointed at her nose and cursed her sharply: "You even killed your own uncle. You are an evil star who brings disaster to your relatives and a beast who disregards human ethics!"
So she killed her cousin and her brother in front of her. Maybe she was right.
Her eyelashes trembled and she closed her eyes. Huan Xuan lowered his head and bit her lips, attacking her savagely. The fishy and sweet smell filled between their lips and teeth, and it was impossible to tell whose blood it was.