Under the sky

Chapter 325 Volume [-] "Zhu Lu Tian Xia" Worries about the Future
Kunlun summer in June 91
Li Xuanxuan held a funeral ceremony for Ruan Qifeng and other fallen generals, and then awarded them one by one.Lan Shengqing defeated Dian Cang and came to the rescue in time. He took the lead and was rewarded heavily. When Hengyang was trapped, many of the leaders of the He faction were demoted, leaving many official positions vacant. Each team wrote down the meritorious personnel, and the war hall reported and rewarded them uniformly.

Shen Weichen cut a plate of pears, peeled off the core, and complained: "My sister is finally feeling better. Is this your revenge on Tian Shui? Are you deliberately making me worry?"

Gu Qingshang sat on the edge of the bed and smiled bitterly: "It was obviously me who dragged you down that time in Tianshui. Both times, it was my own fault, which caused you to get hurt and made you worried."

Shen Weichen smiled and said: "I have always been grateful to my sister for taking me out."

Gu Qingshang smiled and said: "Yes, otherwise how would my sister have the chance to save Hero Li?"

Shen Weichen blushed and moved the plate to the table: "The pears are too cold. My sister's injury is just right. I think it's better not to eat it."

Gu Qingshang smiled and said: "No, the girl has to feed me. This kind of enjoyment is not exclusive to Li Daxia." He opened his mouth and moved up.Shen Weichen was afraid of disturbing her wound, so he stuffed a piece of pear into her mouth and said with a smile: "I don't want to enjoy the scenery, be careful of choking."

Gu Qingshang's mouth was full of juice, and Shen Weichen handed her a handkerchief to wipe her mouth.The two were talking when someone knocked on the door, but it was Deputy Head Mao Yanxue. Shen Weichen stood up quickly and bowed: "Deputy Head Mao."

Based on her status in the Qingcheng army this time, Shen Weichen is just a general, similar to Fang Jingjiu and others, but she is also the sister of the head of Qingcheng. Now General Wei Shu points out that she has the same status as Mao Yanxue.Mao Yanxue bowed and said, "Miss Shen, you are polite."

Shen Weichen gave up his seat, and Mao Yanxue sat next to Gu Qingshang and asked, "Are you feeling better?"

Gu Qingshang said: "I can get out of bed now, and I want to go see the master."

Mao Yanxue said: "This time you worked hard and made great achievements..." She hesitated for a while, as if she felt a little embarrassed to say it, and patted the back of Gu Qingshang's hand, "Thank you for your hard work."

Gu Qingshang felt that Vice-President Mao was a little weird and replied casually: "We are all doing our best for Hengshan."

"The leader appreciates your hard work, so I will give you a reward as the first one." Mao Yanxue said, "She appointed you as the governor of Yuezhou Dongting Lake Fleet, and rewarded you with 500 taels of silver."

Gu Qingshang was stunned.

Northern Hunan blocks the strategic entrance of Jingzhou, and Dongting Lake is an important water transport route. It is not unimportant, but... firstly, although I have fought in water battles, I am not familiar with waterways. Secondly, there are Yuehu sect and Zishui sect on Dongting Lake. Waiting for the sects, each fleet on the lake belongs to a sect, and the governor is mostly an important person from the Caogang. During the Changsha War, the fleets of the four sects in Yueyang, Yiyang, Wuling, and Dayong in northern Hunan rushed to the aid of Changsha along the Xiang River. After a year of hard fighting, they were defeated. The Beggar Clan was crippled, and numerous members including the leader, hall master, and deputy hall master were killed or wounded. In the end, this position fell into the hands of an outsider. How could he convince the public?Thirdly, although Dongting Lake is an important road, it is adjacent to Wudang in the north and has never been an important border defense area. It is also far away from Hengshan and it will be difficult to meet the master. What should Qingyi Academy do...

Although Shen Weichen didn't know the details, he felt that Xiangbei was not an important border defense area in Hengshan. Seeing the strange expressions on the two people's faces, he didn't know whether he should congratulate him or not.

"I want to see Master." Gu Qingshang said, "I feel much better. I haven't said hello to Master yet when I come back this time."

Mao Yanxue sighed in her heart.She certainly knew why Qingshang wanted to see the leader. She thought she would have been dissatisfied when she was young and energetic.Although the governor of Yuezhou Dongting Lake Fleet was promoted highly and held a full-time position, it was far from what Qingshang wanted. It was more like an overt promotion and a covert demotion, keeping her away from the center.

but……

"I'm going to see Master." Gu Qingshang lifted the quilt and stood up, pulling on the wound and grinning in pain.Shen Weichen hurriedly stopped him, and Mao Yanxue also advised: "The leader has been very busy these days, and I can't see him even if he goes there."

Master...does she really not understand me?She doesn't approve of what I've done?Gu Qingshang was confused.

"Your master may want to train you." Mao Yanxue said, "You are still young, don't worry, the master will call you back in a year or two."

Gu Qingshang said sadly: "Yes."

Mao Yanxue said a few words of comfort and then left. Seeing Gu Qingshang's loss, Shen Weichen comforted him and said, "Everything you do is seen by Head Li. When you were seriously injured, Head Li personally brought Dr. Hu to see you. Maybe Deputy Mao Zhang is right, this is what Master Li wants you to practice." He added, "I don't know anything either. It's only in the past two years that I've learned that there are many things to learn. My sister is already better than me."

Gu Qingshang lowered his head and sighed: "I'm not as smart as you."

"My father used to say that intelligence is not the most important thing, but hard work, training and worldliness are." Shen Weichen comforted, "Old Beggar Peng is by no means the smartest person in Jiangxi, but he became the chief helmsman of Jiangxi and was very popular. I love you. Mr. Fu and the heads of the various halls in Qingcheng are not the smartest people, and they all hold important positions. I don’t believe that Xu Fangge is the smartest in the Beggar Clan. Jingfeng also often says that he is stupid and doesn’t understand anything, but he is so talented In two years, my kung fu has progressed very quickly.”

Shen Weichen continued: "Head Li must have a deep meaning. Maybe when my sister arrives in Yuezhou, she will understand."

Does Master really have a deeper meaning?She had never had to guess what the master was thinking before. Everything seemed to have changed since she was unwilling to marry into Qingcheng. Did the master really care about that?Gu Qingshang sighed and forced a smile: "I know girls can coax people, but there is no need to mention your brother Jingfeng in front of me. How about showing off?"

Shen Weichen advised: "Let's wait until my sister gets better before going to see Head Li."

Gu Qingshang nodded: "I'm tired and want to take a rest. Sister, please go back first."

As soon as Shen Weichen left, Gu Qingshang stood up. Although the wound hurt, there was no harm in walking slowly.She came to the backyard. She had not stepped out of the room for a long time. She felt very comfortable at the moment. She got water from the well to wash herself, but there was still a big stone in her heart. After all, she couldn't calm down. She went back to the room and changed into casual clothes. The wound hurt her. Frowning and grinning.

She came to the front yard. Yuan Zhen was teaching students in the west wing. When he saw her, he came out to greet her: "Why are you getting up, Miss Gu?"

Gu Qingshang said: "I want to see Master."

Yuan Zhen looked at her pale face and advised, "The Hengshan Palace is a few miles away from here. Miss Gu, rest for a few days before going. How about I hire a carriage for you?"

Gu Qingshang shook his head and opened the door while the children were studying, only to see Shen Weichen and Xia Lijun waiting at the door holding their horses.

"The eldest lady said you won't just let it go, so I'll wait here." Xia Lijun took the reins and handed them to Gu Qingshang, "Can you ride a horse?"

Gu Qingshang took the reins and said with a smile: "If I say no, you will definitely laugh at me for being useless." As he said this, he looked at Shen Weichen and felt warm.

Many doors in Hengyang City are covered with white paper, and coffins are parked on the streets.Most of the family members of the Wei army lived in Hengyang. There were heavy casualties in the war. The disciples of the Wei army received generous salaries and pensions, and could afford to prepare coffins. Those who were wrapped in thatch and did not even have bodies, but only had a few clothes and pants died on the front line. An ordinary disciple.The women wearing mourning clothes and holding their children on the road all looked sad, like zombies walking around.

I heard from Yu Ping'er that when the beggar gang attacked the city, there were cries on the streets, but now it is very quiet. After all, everyone is gone, and those who are still alive have to find a way to survive.

The horse jolted Gu Qingshang's wound a little painful.

When they arrived at the Hengshan sect, they reported that all the disciples were surprised to see Gu Qingshang.There were many things going on in the sect, and the corridors were full of people. Gu Qingshang had a seat in the hall, so when everyone saw her, familiar people asked her hello, and she nodded in return.When they arrived at Ziyun Hall, junior brothers Ding Liangji and Zhao Yili couldn't help gesticulating with others, as if they were giving orders. Gu Qingshang watched for a while, then walked directly to the master's study to ask the guarding disciples to report.

Will Master meet me?Gu Qingshang became anxious.

After a while, the guard disciple walked out: "Master, please ask Senior Sister Gu to come in."

Gu Qingshang entered the courtyard. There were no guards under the corridor. It was obvious that the master was discussing important matters with someone. Who was he talking to?She turned the corner and heard her master's voice: "Do you think this palm is unfair to Qingshang?"

Gu Qingshang couldn't help but be startled when her master mentioned her, and stopped to listen.I only heard the voice of deputy commander Lan Shengqing coming from the study: "She participated in the Hanzhong War and helped Qingcheng repel Huashan. Wei Xihou also said that she had meritorious service. She also found information in Qidong and helped Qingcheng avoid an ambush. , He also took the lead on the battlefield, which is a great achievement. Although Qingshang is high-spirited and willful, it is because he is young. If he is tempered, he can become a great weapon. "

Mao Yanxue said: "The master knows Qingshang well. She is unwilling to marry Qingcheng, which shows her ambition. The master is dedicated to cultivating her, and whether she can succeed or not depends on her ability and luck. The good opportunity and Yili are still young, so they will not delay it. Moreover, she If we have good relations with Qingcheng, we will have many conveniences in the future."

Gu Qingshang was overjoyed when she heard that both Lan Shengqing and Mao Yanxue spoke for her. She was wondering if her master would change her mind when she heard Li Xuanxuan say: "Qingshang can't take up the mantle of Hengshan, so it's better to stop her thinking as soon as possible. "

Gu Qingshang was stunned again, and her heart sank to the bottom of the water.She wanted to ask why, but Lan Shengqing had already asked for her: "Why? Qingshang is still young and can learn..."

"Did you know that she was captured in Yinghu?"

Gu Qingshang felt dizzy for a while and hurriedly supported the wall with her hands to prevent herself from falling.

"Don't you know what happens to a girl when she is captured on the battlefield?"

Gu Qingshang couldn't believe that these words came from the master's mouth.

Mao Yanxue's voice was a little anxious: "Master, it's a matter of reputation. Besides, Miss Xia next to Miss Shen can testify..."

"Just because it's a matter of honor, do you think Miss Xia won't cover up for her?"

Many disciples in the Qingcheng team who participated in the Yinghu Water Battle were mixed with the disciples at Hengshan. Word of mouth spread, and many people knew about Gu Qingshang's capture, and there were no rumors.Xia Lijun couldn't listen to gossip, so he came forward to testify and forbade any further discussion of the matter. His disciples showed promise on the surface, but how could they spread rumors in private?

Gu Qingshang touched her heart with her left hand. Her mouth was dry, her nose was sour, and her stomach was churning.Is it for this?She wanted to rush in and defend herself against her master, but how could she defend herself and prove her innocence?Why should I prove my innocence?I have worked so hard and done so much, but my hope has been lost because of a few rumors?Is this why the master ignored her?She couldn't figure it out, shouldn't the master believe in herself and protect herself? How could she give up on herself for such a ridiculous reason?

She can lose, she can accept not being the leader, but she cannot lose for this reason.So what if I lose my integrity?Why can't you be the leader if you lose integrity? Is there such a rule in Hengshan?

"The rule of the leader of Hengshan is to follow the Tao. Since Qingshang has lost her integrity, no matter how good she is, she should not take over as the leader. I hope that she will retreat when the difficulties are encountered. This is for her own good. Keep this matter deep in your heart and never do it again. Don’t mention it.”

There was no other sound coming from the room, and the two deputy commanders seemed to nod. Gu Qingshang's feet were weak, and he held on to the wall and walked forward step by step.

She wanted to turn around and go back to the academy, but wouldn't Master become suspicious if she went back?There was no further sound coming from inside. It seemed that the master and the two assistant masters were waiting for her.

She had never been so afraid of meeting her master.

She stood at the door, bent down and saluted, her voice trembling but still respectful: "Disciple Gu Qingshang has met the master." The injury helped her hide her pale face, and she didn't even dare to look up at her master.

Why do I dare not look at Master even though I have done nothing wrong?
Li Xuanxuan said warmly: "Your injury has not healed yet, and you can't bear it for just these few days?" His voice was as kind as ever.

"Disciple... I haven't seen Master for a long time..." In a daze, all the pain on Gu Qingshang's body disappeared, leaving only heartache, "I want to come and see Master."

Li Xuanxuan nodded: "Mr. Hu said that your injury is much better, so I am not in a hurry to see you. Sit down." Gu Qingshang shook his head: "No, seeing Master, I feel sorry for disturbing Master's business."

"It's hard to get here, why can't you say it?" Li Xuanxuan asked, "You want to ask me about sending you to Yuezhou to be the governor of the fleet? I know you are not happy."

Gu Qingshang's lips trembled and she was speechless. Mao Yanxue thought she was injured and felt very distressed. She held her arm and said, "Why are you so brave?"

Gu Qingshang finally raised her head, looked at her master and asked in a trembling voice: "Why... why?" As soon as he started to speak, he couldn't say any more.

Li Xuanxuan's eyes flashed with a trace of love and intolerance that Gu Qingshang didn't notice: "I'm doing this for your own good."

Is this good for me?

"Yes..." Gu Qingshang whispered, "Disciple will not disturb the master anymore."

She respectfully excused herself and walked slowly out the door.

Li Xuanxuan stared at his apprentice's back, remained silent for a while, and asked, "Where did you just talk?"

"The leader wants to promote Lord Yin to serve as deputy leader." Lan Shengqing said.Just now they were discussing this matter, and the disciple asked Gu Qingshang to see him. He originally thought that the master would ask the disciple to wait outside, but he didn't expect the master to let her in directly. He also rejected the surrounding disciples and turned the blame on Gu Qingshang.

To be honest, the headmaster's arrangement is indeed unfair to Gu Qingshang. Although this child is arrogant and arrogant, his achievements can be said to be the greatest among the next generation of disciples. It's a pity...

■

Gu Qingshang couldn't remember how she left the Hengshan Sect. When she came to her senses, she was already riding her horse on the way back to Qingyi Academy.A group of disciples came, led by Yin Molan. Gu Qingshang stepped back to the side of the road to get out of the way.

Yin Molan stopped. He recognized Gu Qingshang and asked, "Is the injury better?"

Gu Qingshang nodded.

"The front line is not a place for women. You are very lucky this time."

"Miss Shen is also on the front line. She is more powerful than many men."

"You are not her. Not every man is Mr. Qi, and not every woman is your master." Yin Molan said, "The battlefield for women should be the food and grass camp and the wounded soldier camp. You are needed there. Women are another The battlefield is behind the husband, be his support. The husband is a kite, and the wife is the wind. As high as the husband wants to fly, the wife behind him must support him."

"Find your kite and send it to the sky, where is your battlefield." After Yin Molan finished speaking, he led the team towards Hengshan Mountain.

Yin Molan is known as Jinghu and has always been taciturn. He would say this to Gu Qingshang because Gu Qingshang is a good friend of his niece.In the past, Gu Qingshang would have retorted or even gotten angry, but now she was not in the mood.She returned to Qingyi Academy, where Shen Weichen and Xia Lijun were still waiting for her.

"Sister came back so soon?" Shen Weichen was surprised, "I thought you would talk to Head Li for a longer time."

Gu Qingshang turned over and dismounted, filled with sadness that could not be suppressed, and cried loudly while holding Shen Weichen.She cried so loudly, as if she wanted to cry out all the sadness in her heart...

When Gu Qingshang woke up again, he lay back on the bed again.There was an oil lamp on the table, and it was dark outside the room. Shen Weichen was lying on the bed and fell asleep. Only then did she remember that she had passed out from crying, and she hurriedly sat up.

Shen Weichen was awakened and asked with concern: "Is sister okay?"

Gu Qingshang said hurriedly: "It's okay, I'm just dizzy and felt aggrieved. I cried and fell asleep."

Shen Weichen asked: "Did you quarrel with your master?"

Gu Qingshang shook his head: "Master did it for my own good. She was busy, and I was afraid of delaying her, so I came back earlier."

Shen Weichen frowned.

Yu Ping'er heard Gu Qingshang wake up and came in with medicine. Gu Qingshang saw her sad face and asked: "What's the matter?" Yu Ping'er looked at Gu Qingshang in a daze, and suddenly her eyes turned red: "Sister Gu, Mr. Yuan You said you are going to Yuezhou?"

Gu Qingshang forced a smile and said: "Yuezhou is not far away. When I miss you, I can ride there in a few days."

Yu Ping'er said: "You have been out frequently in the past two years. When you are gone for a long time, everyone misses you. You are injured and everyone is worried. What will we do if you are not here?" She said, tears falling uncontrollably, "Mr. Yuan asked us not to stop you, but...but..."

Gu Qingshang turned around and saw more than twenty children standing outside the door, all looking at her with wide eyes. A few of the younger ones couldn't help crying.Gu Qingshang touched Yu Ping'er's head and said with a smile: "Silly boy, the academy is still there. It's not like my sister will never come back after she leaves."

Shen Weichen couldn't help feeling sad, and Gu Qingshang said hurriedly: "I'll drink the medicine myself. It's late at night, let's go back to sleep, and my sister, go back too." Shen Weichen knew that she had something on her mind, but since Gu Qingshang didn't say anything, he couldn't force him, so he had to get up Farewell.

Do you still want to go to Yuezhou?Gu Qingshang tossed and turned.Once she calmed down, the pain in her body reminded her repeatedly of how badly she had been injured.

After arriving in Yuezhou, it was rare to come back several times a year to accompany these children. Since I knew that I would never be the leader, I might as well stay in Hengyang. Isn't it my ambition to open an academy?Let's forget about the head's affairs.

But how could she be willing to lose in something like this?

She was half asleep and half awake until almost dawn. She put on her clothes and sat in the front yard. She looked at the lonely plum tree in the yard in a daze. She couldn't help but feel sad. The more she wiped her tears, the more they became uncontrollable. He covered his face and cried.

Suddenly he heard a cry coming from outside the door, and Gu Qingshang was stunned.Gu Qingshang was still crying, vaguely at the door, and felt suspicious.Yuan Zhenzhi put on a coat and walked over quickly. When he saw Gu Qingshang going to open the door, he hurriedly shouted: "Miss Gu, don't open the door!"

Gu Qingshang asked: "Why can't it be opened?"

Yuan Zhen walked forward anxiously and blocked the door: "The child hasn't gone far yet. If you don't open the door, you may not be able to let go. If you turn around and take the child back, if you open the door, you will have to stay in the academy."

Gu Qingshang was startled. He used Qinggong to climb up the eaves and looked around. The sky was not bright yet and it was gray. No one could be seen.

Yuan Zhenzhi said with concern: "Miss Gu's injury is not healed yet, don't be impulsive."

Gu Qingshang jumped down from the eaves. She was so weak that she almost fell down and said, "I didn't see anyone."

"Then we can't open the door." Yuan Zhen said straightly, "When a kind person passes by tomorrow morning, I will pick it up. If not, I will send it to the sect and let the execution hall catch the abandoned baby criminals."

"How can the execution hall have time to take care of this now?" Gu Qingshang said anxiously, "Since we have abandoned the child, we cannot afford to raise it."

Gu Qingshang was about to open the door again, but Yuan Zhen was blocked behind the door: "Miss Gu, the academy can't even afford to support her!"

"It's just one more child." Gu Qingshang said, "That's enough food."

"There won't be just one more child." Yuan Zhenzhi still refused, "As long as Miss Gu takes in this child, people around Hengyang who can't afford to raise their children will throw their children into the academy. There must be at least dozens of them. The academy can't raise them. There are so many people!"

Gu Qingshang said angrily: "That can't be ignored!"

"I can't control it." Yuan Zhen shook his head, "We can't set this precedent. Miss Gu, you want to take in the children, but there are many orphans and widows in Hengyang now. In the past, you took the children back to the academy to take care of them, and others knew that the children in the academy were yours. You are a picker, and you don’t have any evil thoughts, but as long as you open the door and accept this child, there will be piles of children dumped at the entrance of the academy."

"Are we letting our children die outside?"

"I know your temper. As long as the door is opened, you won't be able to let go." Yuan Zhen shook his head, "You go back to your room and rest. I will wrap it up in a rag and put it next to the academy. If this child is lucky, who will take care of him? Whoever can afford it will take care of it. It has no good fortune and will become quiet in two or three days."

"If one or two die, no one will leave the child at the gate of the academy." Yuan Zhen said directly, "How much does it cost to raise a baby? It is enough to take care of three or five teenage orphans. Miss Gu, what do you think? If you save a few children, you have to let a few children die.”

The baby's cry awakened the other children, and Master Chen and others also put on their clothes and came to the front yard.Yu Ping'er asked: "Why are there children crying outside?"

"Go back to bed!" Yuan Zhen shouted, "Master Chen, take the children away!"

Mr. Yuan rarely loses his temper, and several children were scared when he yelled at him. Mrs. Chen hurriedly drove the children back to their rooms, and a few curious ones couldn't help but look back.

Gu Qingshang was confused as she listened to the child's cry. She knew that Yuan Zhen was right, but she couldn't pretend not to hear it, let alone let the children in the academy listen to the cry indifferently.

"Zhenzhi, get out of the way." Gu Qingshang stepped forward, "Foster as many as you want, and I will find a way."

Yuan Zhen shook his head: "You can't help it."

Gu Qingshang said no more and reached out to open the door, but Yuan Zhen grabbed her hand.Gu Qingshang pushed Yuan Zhenzhi away with all his strength, opened the door, and saw a half-naked baby girl wrapped in a rag and thrown on the steps.Gu Qingshang hurriedly picked up the child and gently held her in his arms to comfort her. The child's crying gradually stopped.

A stone fell in Gu Qingshang's heart. She thought to herself, forget about being the head of the family. It doesn't matter if you don't go to Yuezhou. You can stay in Hengyang. Even if you are the most ordinary disciple of the punishment hall, being able to take care of the academy is the most important thing.

She saw a red note in the baby's arms, with the child's name and date of birth written on it. She picked it up without looking at it, crumpled it and threw it on the roadside.

Since you don't have children anymore, why do you keep these things until the academy raises them and reunites the family?
Gu Qingshang was filled with disgust.

(End of this chapter)