Under the sky

Chapter 305 Gains and losses follow fate

Zhuge Ran had never been so shocked in his life.Changzhan and Yuniang?When did it happen right under his nose?
Perhaps it was because Changzhan had never let him worry about this child. This child had always been smart and steady, and had never done anything out of bounds, so he didn't notice it.Zhuge Ran was trembling all over, and the quick wit that he always had from being cautious was useless at this moment. His mind was in chaos, his tongue was bitter, his throat felt like there was a lump of phlegm stuck in it, and his heart ached and chilled.He imagined what kind of difficulties he would encounter when sneaking back alone, and thought of various ways to deal with it, but he never thought that his most beloved nephew would betray him.

"Second uncle, run away quickly." Zhuge Changzhan urged, "Big brother is coming back soon."

"Why should I run away?" Zhuge Ran was shocked to realize that he no longer had the confidence he once had, and his voice was a little hoarse. "Your third uncle is dead, but I can still order the guards."

"I would say that it was the second uncle who killed the third uncle." Zhuge Changzhan said, "The third uncle has just died, and the garrison will be in chaos. When we argue, the eldest brother will come back. This will really hand over Dian Cang." Big brother."

"Are you threatening me?" Zhuge Ran held the cane tightly, the veins on the back of his hand were exposed, his knuckles were bulging, and his breathing was rapid.

"I love you more than your father, how could you do this to me!" Zhuge Ran finally roared, tapping his cane hard, "I asked you to be the leader, and you actually harmed me for a woman! It's still you Sister-in-law! Is it worth it?"

Zhuge Changzhan raised his head. This was the first time he had looked at Zhuge Ran since he entered the room. His eyes were full of determination: "I will risk everything for Yu Niang."

Zhuge Ran saw his nephew's determination from his eyes.He can also risk his life and call on the garrison to follow him. Changzhan will hinder him and compete with him for control of the garrison. There is also the Zhen family. Zhen family will come after hearing the news. This sister-in-law is impossible. Do yourself a favor.

Who would the garrison believe?Will you believe in yourself more?Then what?Three thousand guards, 150 squad captains, fifty captains, twelve deputy commanders, and four commanders. It is impossible to respond to everything when the leader is dead and there is a dispute. These people will hope to wait until the leader comes back. The handling, justification, disputes and even internal fighting could not be completed before Zhuge Tingguan rushed back, let alone lead this chaotic garrison against the Kunming garrison.Maybe he could frighten Zhuge Tingguan, but Zhen Chengxue and Zhen Shi would not let them go without a fight.

Even if you really respond to everything, even if everything goes well, even if you win miserably in the end, how should you deal with Chang Zhan?Kill the eldest brother's two sons and become the leader yourself?Zhuge Ran had no weapons in front of his nephew. The kid knew him too well. He could only choose to give in or die together.

As if instinctively, Zhuge Ran limped toward the door.What happens next?He hasn't thought clearly yet, but there is no place for him in Dian Cang.

Zhuge Changzhan turned sideways and made way for him.

Can I come back?Zhuge Ran didn't ask. His pride and self-esteem did not allow him to ask this question.He has many questions, and maybe he won't get the answers in this life, and maybe the answers won't be important in the rest of his life.

He failed miserably and was defeated by the person he trusted the most.

"Second uncle, take care." Zhuge Changzhan still spoke, "Don't get caught."

Zhuge Ran didn't reply, he walked faster and faster with his lame foot, summoning the horses to leave Dian Cang Courtyard quickly, his mind still in chaos.He reminded himself to clear his thoughts as soon as possible and start to escape.He avoided Zhuge Tingguan who was coming back from the east gate and left through the west gate. Everyone saw him running to the west.

Zhuge Tingguan and Zhen Chengxue led a hundred cavalry to meet Zhuge Ran. When they saw forty cavalry guards, Zhuge Tingguan was too scared to step forward. Zhen Chengxue gave an order and the five hundred Qitianmen disciples who were ambushing rushed out. The forty cavalrymen died under the arrows and swords of their own people without knowing what happened.Zhuge Tingguan found that there was no one in the sedan, and was so frightened that he almost did not dare to return to Kunming. It was Zhen Chengxue who forced him to rush back, and then he learned that Zhuge Ran had sneaked in and Zhuge Yiyun's death.

"I saw my second uncle outside my third uncle's study. He was covered in blood." Zhuge Changzhan said, "I was shocked. I didn't know how my second uncle could appear here. My second uncle was very surprised when he saw me and wanted to I helped him rebel, and I saw the third uncle lying on the table. I went to check and found that the third uncle was dead and the second uncle took the opportunity to escape."

"You useless guy!" Mrs. Zhen slapped her youngest son, "Why don't you ask someone to arrest your second uncle?!"

"I was dumbfounded for a moment." Zhuge Changzhan covered his face, "I didn't expect that my second uncle would kill my third uncle. When I wanted to call someone, my second uncle had already escaped from the inner courtyard. I couldn't give orders to the guards, I could only wait. Brother will come back and deal with it."

"Your second uncle may have sneaked into the city to instigate rebellion against the garrison." Zhen Chengxue speculated, "If your third uncle didn't obey, your second uncle would kill him. Your third uncle's martial arts skills are so strong that no one has the ability to kill him with a knife. Your second uncle must have sneaked up behind him and attacked him, but he was caught by Chang Zhan."

Zhuge Tingguan confirmed that his second uncle had escaped, and danced back to the God Emperor's Palace to give orders, ordering Zhen Chengxue to take over the garrison.Zhen Chengxue was afraid that Zhuge Ran would rush back to Lengshuitan to incite rebellion against the frontline troops, so she hurriedly ordered all roads to the east of Kunming to be blocked.

Elder Dian Cang's dignitaries were all shocked when they heard the news, and came to ask questions one after another. Even with Zhuge Changzhan's testimony, everyone still couldn't believe it.Zhen Cheng Xueyuan is going to issue a wanted order saying that the deputy leader intends to rebel, and the murder of the garrison is directed at Zhuge Yiyun. He will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver regardless of life or death, and the person who shields him will be punished and killed for three generations.Although Zhuge Ran offended many relatives and elders on weekdays, such a big event should not be taken lightly. Dian Cang and all the senior ministers expressed their disapproval and forced Zhen Chengxue to capture a thousand taels alive. 300 taels were killed, and the horse immediately spread the word to all places.

Zhuge Ran came out from the west gate. Everyone knew that he had friendship with King Mangxiang. Zhuge became afraid again after hearing the news. He was worried that his second uncle and King Mangxiang would borrow troops to fight back. He sent his uncle Zhen Songsheng to lead a team to search west and ordered a temporary blockade. Borders are strictly checked for pedestrians.

"Let Zhan'er take over the position of deputy head." Zhen Chengxue advised Madam Zhen, "It doesn't matter whether you like this kid or not. He is talented and is Guan'er's brother. You always said that his elbows are turned outward, but he didn't help. Let Zhuge Ran rebel, otherwise our whole family will die."

"He didn't dare!" Madam Zhen said dissatisfied, "Who knows if he let the dwarf go on purpose! If you ask me, it would be most appropriate for my second brother to be the deputy chief."

"There are many uncles here in Dian Cang." Zhen Chengxue is not an idiot after all. "I am in charge of the Imperial Army and let Sheng'er be the deputy commander. What do the uncles think? It's better to stay calm at this moment."

After hearing what her father said, Mrs. Zhen nodded in agreement.

Several days passed and there was still no news from Zhuge Ran. Zhuge Tingguan became more and more suspicious.He was afraid of Zhuge Ran like a tiger, fearing that his second uncle would collude with the frontline generals, and wanted to send someone to replace Gu Dongcheng. Zhuge Changzhan tried to dissuade him, but he also reasoned with his grandfather in private, saying that if Gu Dongcheng could be appointed by Zhuge Ran, he must be outstanding. .Zhen Chengxue also advised Zhuge Tingguan, but Zhuge Tingguan still refused to give in. Zhen Chengxue said: "If the master is worried, send a few supervisors over, and I will draft the candidates." Zhuge Tingguan agreed.

Zhuge Changzhan left the Divine Emperor's Palace and passed by Qiongzhuxuan. He saw a pot of red flowers on the window sill on the second floor from a distance.After nightfall, Zhuge Changzhan blew out the lights, jumped out of the backyard, went to the backyard of Qiongzhuxuan, made sure there was no one around, and jumped over the wall.

The window had already been opened. Zhuge Changzhan saw the figure through the window. As soon as he climbed over the window, the figure rushed towards him.The two hugged each other tightly, and Zhuge Changzhan asked in a low voice: "Why don't you have a good rest?"

Yuniang whispered: "I haven't slept well these past few days. I don't know why I miss you more and more."

Zhuge Changzhan gently stroked Yu Niang's back and recalled the past a year ago.

It was when he had just returned from Qingcheng that his father was preparing to go to Kunlun to have a discussion. His second uncle couldn't find his eldest brother, so he asked him to come to Qiongzhuxuan to find someone. When he came to the door, he heard the sound of the piano, which was a song called "Cangwu Yin". According to legend, It was written by Yingsi Shun, the Empress of E.Zhuge Changzhan knew that his eldest brother had always neglected his sister-in-law, so he expected her to use the piano to express her longing for her. From this point of view, it seemed that his eldest brother was probably not here.

He was about to leave when he heard a sigh inside, and a faint voice chanted: "Threads are embroidered to sew neon clothes, needlepoints are piercing and breaking begonias. I am too lazy to apply rouge and fix my hair, and my pearls are covered with dust." Zhuge Changzhan. As soon as I thought about it, I realized that the meaning of this poem was to lament that I was not taken seriously, which seemed to be contradictory to the music just now, so I mixed it with the poem: "Needle and thread can't describe the colorful clothes, and the loneliness and frost are like a tang. Now the hairpin ring is dim." Colorless, its sun shines like a pearl and its face shines brightly.”

With a sound of "Ah", the window opened, and his sister-in-law stood behind the window and looked at him in surprise: "I didn't know that my uncle was here."

Zhuge Changzhan was a little embarrassed: "I'm looking for my eldest brother. If he's not here, I'll leave right now."

Yu Niang was stunned, and her face turned red when she knew Qin Yin had been discovered.Zhuge Changzhan said: "I will advise my eldest brother to return to Qiongzhuxuan more often."

Yu Niang shook her head: "Stop trying to persuade him, lest he complain to your mother-in-law and make you suffer in vain."

Zhuge Changzhan smiled and said: "I'm used to being wronged, it doesn't matter."

Yuniang whispered: "You are used to being wronged, do you deserve to be wronged?"

Zhuge Changzhan was stunned for a moment, feeling something in his heart and not knowing how to comfort him.

Yuniang noticed the loss and said, "Thank you for your concern, uncle. Tingguan is not here, uncle should look elsewhere."

Just as Zhuge Changzhan was about to leave, Yuniang asked again: "Where did the poem that my uncle just made come from?"

Zhuge Changzhan said: "This is my own entertainment work."

Yuniang was surprised: "It turns out that my uncle is still capable of seven steps."

Zhuge Changzhan smiled bitterly: "I feel something in my heart, and I have some thoughts in my mind. I dare not compare with King Chen Si." Yu Niang said: "I have a few poems that I can't write well. If my uncle has time, he can take a look at them for me."

Zhuge Changzhan nodded in agreement, and Yu Niang brought some poems and notes to him. Zhuge Changzhan went back to his room to take a look, and found that his sister-in-law was quite talented. She wrote some opinions on the letter and asked the guard to pass it on.The next day, Yuniang sent someone to send a reply. The letter asked some questions. Zhuge Changzhan wrote a reply. He also thought that sending letters frequently would be bad for his sister-in-law's reputation, so he prepared a gift and hid the letter in the gift. Back.The next day, Yu Niang brought snacks. Zhuge Changzhan knew what he was saying, and he found a reply in the snack box.

The matter should have ended here, if he hadn't met Yu Niang in the garden the next day.The two looked at each other from a distance and nodded in greeting, but they approached each other unexpectedly.Looking back afterwards, Yu Niang said she didn't know the reason. Maybe it was unintentional or intentional. She originally planned to just say a few words, but when she opened her mouth, she seemed to have endless words. She occasionally made witty puns and smiled at each other. Zhuge Changzhan looked at Yu My mother covered her mouth and smiled, but couldn't help being stunned.

They didn't talk about Zhen and Zhuge Tingguan, for fear of spoiling their interest.Before he finished talking, it was already dusk. Zhuge Changzhan was shocked to realize that he had missed a lot of business and hurriedly got up to leave.In fact, Zhuge Changzhan didn't want to leave. He felt that he still had many things to talk to his sister-in-law. After returning to the study, he wrote another letter to Yu Niang. The next day, he made an excuse to go to Qiongzhuxuan. He originally wanted to leave the letter and leave. , but Yuniang said: "Send some sweets from the dining room, uncle, have a cup of tea before leaving?"

He had no reason to refuse. The conversation lasted for half an hour, and both of them were reluctant to leave.Zhuge Changzhan put down the letter and was about to leave when Yuniang suddenly stopped him and spoke with great determination: "If I have any doubts about writing poems in the future, can I write to my uncle for advice?"

Zhuge Changzhan hesitated and said, "I'm afraid it's inappropriate."

Yuniang's face suddenly turned pale, she lowered her head and said, "It's really inappropriate. I made a mistake." She covered her face and left quickly.Zhuge Changzhan looked at his sister-in-law's back and couldn't bear it. He returned to the study, hesitated again and again, and couldn't help but write a letter to apologize to Yu Niang...

Zhuge Changzhan knew that Yuniang was wronged, but Yuniang never expressed her grievances in letters.At first they discussed poetry, songs, ancient and modern history. Later, Zhuge Changzhan would write some interesting gossip in his letters. Most of them were Zhuge Ran's vicious curse words. Sometimes they were interesting things he encountered. Yuniang would also write some interesting things about her childhood. , responding to each other.

The two go back and forth frequently, fearing suspicion.Yu Niang was not favored, and she was a female family member. She only had guards outside the courtyard. Zhuge Changzhan was thoughtful and knew that there was no one guarding the backyard of Qiongzhuxuan, so he made an appointment with a secret code. Only when they confirmed each other's identities would they send messages across the wall.

One page, two pages...the letters became longer and longer, as if there was a tacit understanding, and they bumped into each other more and more often.Sometimes in front of many people, Zhuge Changzhan would look at Yu Niang, always making eye contact with her, and then looking away.

Like a child who is caught stealing.

Every time Zhuge Changzhan sent a letter, he waited for Yu Niang's reply.When replying to the letter, Yuniang would place a pot of flowers in the window, and Zhuge Changzhan would go outside the wall to receive the letter that night.Sometimes they would whisper to each other through the wall with their ears pressed against it, and they would talk to each other most of the night.From now on, they simply stopped sending letters. Seeing the flowerpot, Zhuge Changzhan would go to the backyard of Qiongzhuxuan to meet Yuniang across the wall.

They talked about everything except Zhen and Zhuge Tingguan. The only time they mentioned it was when Yuniang said that she played "Cangwu Yin" that day because her mother-in-law and Zhuge Tingguan understood the music, and she was afraid that they would feel bad after hearing it. When she was telling her grievances, what she wanted to play at that time was "The Grudge of Nagato".

Zhuge Changzhan knew that his sister-in-law had completely despaired of her husband and mother-in-law, and did not even want to talk about it.

The news of Zhuge Yan's death came from Kongtong. Zhuge Changzhan mourned for a long time. Zhuge Ran was busy with the war. Zhen only blamed him for being incompetent and unable to die in his father's place. Only Yu Niang comforted him with her heart.There was a wall between the two of them, and Yu Niang listened to him recount the past events of his father's lifetime.

Zhuge Changzhan knew that he was getting deeper and deeper...

When his father was buried, his eldest brother caused a scandal, and he kept the jade concubine Mayusa. This was known to everyone. Some people also said that Zhuge Changzhan hid the jade concubine outside the city and raised her.He didn't see a flower pot on the window sill for several days, and he felt anxious. It wasn't until he saw a pot of yellow flowers on the seventh day that he went to talk to Yu Niang outside the wall.

"I sent Mayusa away that night. I just wanted to save her and had no wrong intentions." Zhuge Changzhan didn't know why he had to explain this to his sister-in-law.

"I know." He seemed to hear Yu Niang sighing, "But I'm jealous."

A word of jealousy left the two of them unable to escape.Zhuge Changzhan knew that Yu Niang would be disappointed if he didn't reply, but he didn't know what to say. He was afraid that if he said something, it would be difficult to deal with it. After all, the threshold could not and should not be crossed.

After a long time, he heard Yu Niang's disappointed tone: "Will you come again in the future?"

"I..." Zhuge Changzhan's heart ached, "Dian Cang is deploying troops, and my second uncle is going to the front line. I will be very busy in the future, and I'm afraid... I won't have time."

It's best to just cut it off.This was the only time Zhuge Changzhan resented that he was not the eldest son. If he were the eldest son, Yu Niang would marry him.He would never neglect Yuniang like his eldest brother. He would draw Yuniang's eyebrows every day, pamper and pamper her, and make her the most beloved wife of the nine families.

Yu Niang didn't reply, and Zhuge Changzhan knew that she hadn't left.Zhuge Changzhan didn't say anything anymore. They leaned against the wall, as if leaning on each other's backs, and sat quietly until the sky turned white.

After that, there were no more flower pots on the windowsill of Qiongzhuxuan. Zhuge Changzhan couldn't help but look up every time he passed by.He couldn't sleep day and night for three consecutive days, feeling in a daze and not thinking about food or food. However, he had a lot of political affairs to deal with and he had to keep his spirits up.He thought he was depressed enough until he saw Yu Niang in the yard a month later...

After only one month, Yu Niang was already in a degenerate state, as if she had suffered a serious illness. Not only did her eyes lose their former charm, but she also seemed to fall down when the wind blew.She was indeed sick, but no one cared.Needless to say, Zhuge heard that Madam Zhen had no other condolences except telling her to take medicine and get better soon.

The two looked at each other, but Yuniang did not avoid it this time.Zhuge Changzhan took a few steps forward and then stopped. He didn't dare to get too close, for fear that once he got close, he would no longer be able to suppress his thoughts.

Yu Niang looked at him and sighed softly: "I admire you for your talent, but I blame you for not having the beauty of Luo Shen." After saying that, she turned around and left.

These words were like a knife piercing Zhuge Changzhan's heart, stirring him up.He has known that he is ugly since he was a child, but with his status as the second son of the head of Dian Cang, there is almost no woman in the world that he cannot want. As Zhuge Ran said: "You can marry anyone you want."

But he also knew that these girls might marry him because of their power, wealth, status or even being forced to marry him, but they might not really love him. He thought that no one in this world would fall in love with him.

Until he saw Yu Niang and saw her become like this for him.

That night, regardless of the flowerpot signal, he came outside the backyard wall.Knowing that Zhuge Tingguan was not in Yuniang's room, he jumped over the wall and entered. Seeing that the lights were still on and the windows were not locked, he simply pushed the windows and entered the house.

Yuniang was sitting on the edge of the bed and was very surprised to see him.Zhuge Changzhan was shocked and frightened when he saw a long silk hanging by the bed. He took a step forward and grabbed his sister-in-law's wrist: "You...what do you want to do?"

Yuniang shed tears and said, "I thought I would live like this day by day and have no other thoughts for the rest of my life. This life would be over. But who would have thought that when I met you, I couldn't endure it anymore."

In just a few sentences, you can express your love and affection.Zhuge Changzhan felt distressed and blamed himself, and hugged Yuniang tightly, just like he did today.

The second uncle wants to kill his eldest brother and make himself the head of the family. But if the eldest brother dies, what will happen to his children and what will happen to Yu Niang?He knew his second uncle, who would send Yuniang back to her parents' home.The second uncle has been away from Diancang for most of the year. When the second uncle comes back to Diancang to take charge, even if Yuniang can stay in Diancang, sooner or later his affair with Yuniang will be discovered by him.The second uncle will not sit back and watch his incest with Yuniang. He will kill Yuniang. If the second uncle can indulge himself and Yuniang, if the eldest brother dies, Yuniang's child will not be able to inherit the family. The second uncle will Let yourself marry another wife and give birth to Dian Cang's heir.

The one who inherits Dian Cang must be his and Yu Niang's children.

So he rushed back to Diancang early, and on the pretext that his second uncle asked him to come back first to deal with political affairs, he approached his third uncle. After testing, it turned out that Zhuge Yiyun had no confidence in Zhuge Tingguan. When he heard that Zhuge Ran had the intention of abolishing the establishment, he immediately He promised that he had to kill the third uncle and cut off the second uncle's escape route.

"Second uncle..." Yu Niang asked worriedly, "Can he escape? What is going on? Changzhan, are you hiding something from me? You can't possibly harm your second uncle."

"Just concentrate on raising the fetus." Zhuge Changzhan comforted Yu Niang, "Second uncle is very smart and will not be caught so easily. I guess he did not go east or west, but went north. I don't He said that neither the master nor grandpa expected that as long as he defected to the third master, the second uncle would be safe."

Yu Niang felt relieved and said, "I plan to ask Chen Jinda to check for pulse tomorrow. It's time to announce the good news." Then she said worriedly, "I'm worried that if my second uncle is away, you will be bullied even more in the future."

"It will be over if you endure it." Zhuge Changzhan said, "I have endured it for more than twenty years, so this period of time is not enough."

Seeing that he was confident, Yuniang didn't ask any more questions.

The second uncle is right. Even if people understand, they still have to fight. If they don't fight, there will be nothing, Zhuge Changzhan thought to himself.He originally didn't want to fight for anything, but for Yu Niang's sake, he had to fight.

(End of this chapter)