Chaos in the Chu Palace

Chapter 9
Ouyang Ruo squeezed Wan Hui's arm tightly, as if to dunk it into her flesh.

"Don't cry!" A firm yet small voice sounded in Wanhui's ear.She turned her head to look at the numb woman beside her in surprise.

"Don't cry! We can't show them our tears at this moment!" After Ouyang Ruo finished speaking, she walked forward firmly.Wan Hui was taken aback for a moment, and hurriedly followed.

The large northbound team has already lined up neatly, and the palace family members and captives accompanying the team are arranged at the back of the team, and the baggage will start another day.In the long line, Chu Hou's big distilled purple gold four-wheeled carriage was in the middle of the line.Ouyang Ruo and his party were only slightly behind the line, with four or five inconspicuous cars, restrained and unobtrusive.

Ouyang Ruo looked around and got into the car.She is very satisfied with this arrangement.Originally, she was already on the cusp of the storm, and if she rode with him to the state of Chu, she would not be taken apart by some people.You know, in the entire Hua Palace, Chu Hou only touched her as a woman.

Amidst the noisy yelling of people, the brigade set off slowly.

In the summer of the fourth year of Gande in Chu, Marquis Ding of Chu brought 3 horses and more than [-] people from the palace of Hua Kingdom back to Chu in a mighty manner, leaving [-] soldiers and horses to guard various places in Hua Kingdom.The remaining soldiers and horse generals were ordered by the Marquis of Chu to select local talents to govern the local affairs of Huaguo. At the beginning, no one applied for the recruitment, and after more than a month, some people were willing to take up this post.

Chu Dinghou and his party of tens of thousands of horses marched slowly, and it took more than half a month before they reached the bank of the Yuan River.After crossing this river, it is the territory of Chu State.

"Jingcai, is there any news from Chu State?" One day, Chu Huotian was reviewing official documents and asked casually.

Li Jing, who was waiting on the pen and ink, hurriedly said: "I just received it, and now people all over the country are praising our marquis for being great, and we have won a big victory." He laughed.

Chu Huotian was expressionless, and raised his eyes to stare at him with a half-smile: "You kid, be serious, who told you to flatter me."

"Yes, the emperor's heart is very happy. Three days ago, he told the ministers that when Lord Hou arrives in Chujing, he will be named a loyal, brave and mighty prince, and he will be rewarded greatly. I heard..." Li Jing was just beginning to speak vigorously. Chu Huotian interrupted him: "What's the attitude of that person in the palace?"

"There is nothing unusual about that person, but King Jing has been in the palace a few times recently and has seen her. The Xianfei sent someone to deliver the letter and said the same thing." Li Jing lowered his voice, not exaggerating.

"Continue to send people to watch, don't let them become suspicious, and write a letter to comfort the concubine to be safe. Everything will be discussed after the Marquis returns to Beijing." Chu Huotian's face was cold.

"Yes!" Li Jing calmed down and accepted the order.

Chu Huotian frowned slightly, now Huaguo has been defeated, but the prosperity of the people will inevitably decline, if one is not careful, the chess game that has been laid for many years will be completely lost.

Li Jingcai took a peek at his expression, and said cautiously: "Master Hou, you have been working hard these few days, why don't you hire that... madam to serve you? Or do you want my servant to arrange it."

"Bump!" A book hit him heavily on the head, overturning some of Li Jingcai's thoughts.He hurriedly squatted down with an "ouch".The carriage was big and spacious, and it continued to move forward steadily.

"You kid, you are full of crooked ideas. Benhou hasn't settled the score for you yet. You are getting bolder." Chu Huotian scolded with a smile.

"The maidservant died unjustly. This is for the good of Lord Hou, how could it be a crooked idea?" Li Jing saw that the smile on his face was gone, and then he was indifferent, and hurriedly pretended to be pitiful and begged for mercy.

"Then how do you say you stuffed her into Benhou's bed that day?" Chu Huotian tucked up his collar as quickly as lightning, and said with a half-smile.

"That... Is it because I see that she is beautiful, and she doesn't cry like those women, so I just thought about it, doesn't Master Hou love such a little lady the most... So..." Li Jing smiled flatteringly boldly.

"Go! What if Ben Hou doesn't like it? Are you tired of living and looking for guilt? Absurd!" Chu Huotian snorted, loosening his grip on his collar.

"As a result, Master Hou likes it very much." Li Jingcai let go of the restraint on his neck and muttered in a low voice.

"Huh?!" Chu Wentian shot a murderous eye, and Li Jing hurriedly stopped talking. He laughed and waited on the pen and ink.After a while, Chu Huotian suddenly said indifferently: "How is she?"

Li Jing just let out an "ah" before realizing that "she" refers to Ouyang Ruo, and said with flowers on his busy face, "Don't worry, Lord Hou, the servants and servants are all arranged, and there is no shortage of meals. She is also quiet." Stay here, don't cry or make trouble, this lady has a good temper, no wonder she was able to favor the crown of Huagong back then." Before he finished speaking, he came back to his senses, almost wanted to bite his tongue off, and hurriedly slapped himself a mouth.

This damn talkative!

Chu Huotian didn't respond, he just looked at the official document in his hand, and said coldly after a long time: "From now on, don't mention how she is in China. Just remember that she is only the woman of this Marquis."

"Yes!" Li Jing hurriedly took orders.

The convoy moved slowly and orderly, the official roads were full of dust, and the royal family members who were well-clothed and well-fed had long been miserable. They walked mechanically with support in twos and threes. In the past, there were royal relatives and concubines accompanied by gorgeous chariots and horses. , Concubine, at this time there are only a few broken carriages for transportation, and they are already fully loaded, there is no place to sit, so I have to walk all the way.The weather in April was cold in the morning and evening, but it was hot and humid at noon. Many pampered relatives of the royal family suffered from cold, or suffered from heatstroke and fell ill.

Along the way, there were many family members who were sick and unable to walk, and they were carried by others. Even so, many people died quietly like this.The life of a subjugated slave is even more humble than an ant. Ouyang Ruo often wakes up and can hear a few palace people whispering outside which prince is seriously ill, which princess died of illness, and they are dragged to the field and buried in the middle of the night.The slightly cold morning seemed extraordinarily cold because of these ominous news.

A large group of people opened the way in front, and on both sides were guards like wolves and tigers.Ouyang Ruo hugged Ling Xiang in the car and walked behind the team. She looked out the window from time to time, and she would not be able to look at the land of Huaguo in a few days.Ling Xiang is an ignorant and playful child, so naturally he couldn't sit still and often clamored to get out of the car.Ouyang Ruo and Wan Hui naturally coaxed her in every possible way.Although I was a little tired, I was angry because of having a child.The sorrow of separation has also faded a lot.

"Your Majesty, drink some water." Wan Hui took the water bag, Ouyang Ruo nodded, took a sip of water, and asked, "Where are you?"

"Go back to Madam, we've arrived in Bingzhou, and we'll have to cross the river in two or three days," Wan Hui said.

Ouyang Ruo stretched out her plain hand, straightened her curly hair, and looked out of the car habitually. Suddenly, some people behind the convoy began to shout and curse, which seemed to be mixed with the sound of women crying.

Ouyang Ruo and Wan Hui looked at each other with worry in their eyes.I don't know which family member was beaten by Chu soldiers again.

At this moment, the car stopped, counting the time, it was time to rest.Ouyang Ruo winked at Wan Hui, who nodded and helped her out of the car.Ling Xiang was also carried out of the car by the accompanying maid.

Ouyang Ruo stood beside the carriage, with numb legs and feet, and it seemed that a group of people gathered behind him from a distance.A woman shouted: "Master Bing, spare your life, spare your life!"

Ouyang Ruo's heart skipped a beat, how could this voice be so familiar.Busy walked over quickly.

Wan Hui saw her coming in the crowd, and quickly helped her squeeze into the crowd. Ouyang Ruo saw a Chu soldier grabbing and whipping a man in servant clothes.

Chu Bing yelled and cursed: "I told you to hide. It looks like a traitor. When General Su comes, I will hand you over to serve in military law. Hmph..." He kicked him hard, and he was about to kick that man's head In the heart, Ouyang Ruo was startled, suddenly a servant in the crowd seemed to stagger, and just in time jumped forward, blocking such a kick with his back.

Chu Bing wanted to fight again, but Ouyang Ruo couldn't help shouting, "Stop!"

The voice is not loud but full of majesty.Chu Bing looked up in surprise and saw that she was neatly dressed, not like a prisoner, her beautiful face was as cold as ice, and she didn't dare to get angry for a while, so she stopped her hand resentfully.

Seeing Ouyang Ruo, the person who was beaten on the ground was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly rushed forward crying: "Young lady, help me! This servant is Ming Ying." A dirty face was full of tears, emaciated, not Ming Ying. Who is it again? !

Ouyang Ruo's eyes were slightly hot, and she forced herself to hold back, and gave Wan Hui a wink, Wan Hui hurriedly stepped forward to bless the Chu soldier, and said with a smile: "Master, what did this man do, do you have something to say, you It's not worth it to get your hands red, right?" As he spoke, he gestured to take his hand, and quietly stuffed a small ingot of silver.

The Chu soldier got the benefits, and his anger was half relieved: "I asked her to serve her and she refused, and then I found out that she is a woman, hmph! Pretending to be an eunuch and mixing in there, what is it if you are not a spy?"

Ouyang Ruo helped Ming Ying get up, wiped her dirty face carefully, turned her head and said softly: "She is my personal maid, not a spy, Mr. Bing calm down, and I will ask you later when the matter is clear. Would you accompany me, okay?"

When the Chu soldier saw that she had a beautiful appearance and a gentle and sweet voice, his bones were half brittle.He was almost about to answer, but suddenly thought that he had already reported to the higher-ups and did not dare to make decisions on his own, so he only snorted a few times.At this moment, a few horsemen came running over, first a young soldier in white robe, he got off his horse neatly, and asked, "What happened?"

The Chu soldier hurried forward to report the situation.Ouyang Ruo glanced at the person in front of her, and her heart was shocked. It turned out that it was General Su who sent her to Lingyunxuan that night. She was extremely embarrassed, and inexplicable resentment welled up in her heart, so she took a deep breath to try to calm down.The warbler only wept softly.

"General Su, it's all a misunderstanding. This is a maid in my palace. She was mixed up with the servants in the chaos that day. I didn't expect to be discovered today. She is not a spy. Please check it out." Ouyang Ruo stepped forward and said, with a pair of The big deep eyes stared at him with a complex expression.

Seeing that it was her, Su Yanqing turned her head unnaturally and said: "Is it a spies to find out after an investigation? Please rest assured, Madam, I will definitely not wrong people in the end." After saying a few words to the people around, she hurriedly got on the horse and walked away. go.

Ouyang Ruo patted the warbler in his arms.Ming Ying was injured all over, and she had suffered a lot of grievances, Ouyang Ruo whispered a few words to Wan Hui to comfort Ming Ying, and then someone took her away.

"Niang Niang..." Ming Ying was still about to say something, but Ouyang Ruo said warmly: "Go, after the investigation is clear, you will naturally be sent to my side." He gave her a reassuring look.Mingying choked and followed the soldiers away.

Back in the carriage, Ling Xiang laughed and crawled over to play with the auspicious Baifu Yingluo on her body, while Ouyang Ruo hugged her in a daze.

Wan Hui asked again: "What about that girl Mingying?"

"It will be delivered tonight at the latest. Don't worry, aunt. I'll ask aunt to prepare some clothes for her." Ouyang Ruo said calmly.Ling Xiangyiyi in her arms smiled sweetly at her.

Sure enough, before sunset, Ming Ying was sent back, and when she got into the frame and saw Ouyang Ruo, she burst into tears: "Mother, I think this time I'm going to die."

Ouyang Ruo supported her, and said with a relieved smile, "Okay, change your clothes quickly. You can follow me from now on." Saying that, she asked Wan Hui to help her wash up.

After changing her clothes and rubbing the ointment on her body, Ming Ying's big eyes flashed brightly again.Seeing that she had recovered, Ouyang Ruo was finally half relieved.Ming Ying looked around curiously, and was even more surprised when she saw Ling Xiang. Ouyang Ruo didn't want to hide from her, so she told her the important ones, and skipped the rest hastily.

The wheels turned forward with a heavy grunt, which seemed to be pressing on everyone's heart, which was extremely uncomfortable.Mingying's eyes were filled with tears again, and seeing Ouyang Ruo's expression was calm, she couldn't help sobbing: "Mother, you have been wronged."

Ouyang Ruo patted Ling Xiang, who was tired and sleeping in his arms, and said calmly: "It's not a grievance."

In fact, there is a sentence that she kept in her heart and has never said it. This kind of encounter is already a blessing among misfortunes for her. At least now she can hide the safety of the car and don't have to walk all the way to Chu Earth, life and death are like duckweed.She has seen too many deaths, and those who survived should live better.

Mingying suddenly thumped, knelt down from her seat and said: "Your Majesty, these servants have been favored by others, so I would like to ask your Majesty to do me a favor."

Wan Hui interrupted: "Miss Mingying, this is not easy. At this time..."

Ouyang helped her up, and said solemnly: "Mingying, are you sure you want to help this person? Tell me who that person is."

Ming Ying's eyes lit up, afraid of waking Di Ji, she hurriedly said in a low voice: "That day the servants and the empress will be separated..."

The more Ouyang Ruo heard it, the more amazed he was at the end, and asked: "From this point of view, that person is also a bit witty. Let me think about it."

All three were speechless.

When it was nearly evening, a group of people took a break in Anhua, a small county next to Bingzhou, Huaguo.The palace family members were all driven to the abandoned house without an owner and imprisoned.Chu Dinghou and his party stayed at the home of the largest family in the county.It is said that the mansion was left by a wealthy businessman who fled, with carved beams and painted buildings, two huge stone lions with teeth and claws, standing at the tall lacquered gate, and the prosperity of the past can be seen.Although there are many houses, Ouyang Ruo, master and servant, are only assigned to one side of a small garden.The rest were distributed to the accompanying counselors, scribes and generals of all sizes under Chu Dinghou.Except for one or two thousand soldiers who entered the city to garrison, the remaining 3 horses set up military tents outside the city to bury pots and cook food.Households in the small Anhua County are confined like a dead city.

Ouyang Ruo breathed a sigh of relief, he hardly had a good rest in bed after traveling for several days, now he can breathe a sigh of relief.Wan Hui was able to act, and Ming Ying was also a clever person. Although she was injured, her hands and feet were still neat. The two of them tidied up the house and settled everything.

Ouyang Ruo was very happy in his heart, and he would not be afraid if the two of them could accompany him to the state of Chu.Thinking about it, he was supported by the maid and wandered around in the courtyard at will.Although the yard is small, it is also exquisite. It seems that it has been abandoned not long ago, and there are all kinds of spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums. It's just that there is no maintenance, and weeds have grown up beside it.Ouyang Ruo also likes to tend flowers and plants on weekdays. Seeing several varieties of Phalaenopsis is very strange, she can't help softly ordering the accompanying maid to weed and water these varieties of Phalaenopsis.

While he was busy, he suddenly saw a group of guards approaching, Ouyang Ruo wanted to dodge, but the pedestrian walked very fast, walked to her side in a few steps, and bowed to salute.Seeing that it was General Su, Ouyang Ruo didn't want to confront him, so she turned slightly sideways.

"If Ma'am is missing something, please feel free to explain it to your subordinates." Seeing her turning sideways and not wanting to talk to him, Su Yanqing couldn't help but blushed slightly on her fair face, and said bravely.

Ouyang Ruo saw that his handsome face was even more deep-lined in the setting sun, with silver armor and white robes, a long body and a tall body, and the elegance of a Confucian scholar in his sassy and heroic posture.Such a bright young man must have been unable to help himself that day.

Ouyang Ruo thought so, then slowly turned around, and said with a gentle tone: "Thank you, General. I don't need anything, please General to take care of me."

Seeing her change of attitude, Su Yanqing felt relieved suddenly.For some reason, there was something in his heart that he didn't want the woman in front of him to hate him.Looking up slightly, she saw that she was only wearing a thin pleated embroidered skirt with gauze hook and silver silk, and a very light cloudy sky color robe was draped over her body, standing gently in the courtyard, with a beautiful face The smile on the face is faint, like a fairy in the sky.

He suddenly blurted out: "The night wind is very cold, you need to add more clothes."

Ouyang Ruo was taken aback for a moment, and then saw that he had already lowered his head.Both of them were speechless.The cool night wind blew past softly, with the heat of the day, Ouyang Ruo felt that the wind was blowing on his face, and he didn't know why it was hot.

Su Yanqing silently bowed and turned to leave.Ouyang Ruo suddenly thought of something, and hurriedly said: "The general stays behind, I have a problem with myself, please be accommodating, general."

Su Yanqing was startled: "What's the matter?"

Ouyang Ruo's face was slightly bitter, as if a gloomy cloud covered the clear moon: "The journey for several days is very tiring, and the concubine's car is full of women. When resting and staying overnight, the cage is always unbearably heavy. If you can get A person with a little bit of strength will not be able to do this."

When Su Yanqing heard it, it wasn't too difficult, and hurriedly said: "At the end of the day, I will bring someone over to help."

When Ouyang Ruo heard that he got the wrong idea, she hurriedly said again: "I'm afraid this is inappropriate, men and women are different, and the general's reputation of innocence makes me afraid..."

Su Yanqing also lost her mind for a while, and stood there blankly thinking hard.Ouyang Ruo scolded him in his heart for being stupid, because he didn't understand that besides men and women, there was another kind of person called eunuch.So he said helplessly: "So I want to choose a servant from the general's accompanying palace family."

Su Yanqing suddenly realized that he was decisive and brave on the battlefield, but why did he bind his hands and feet everywhere in front of her?I was so embarrassed that I didn't know what to say.

After Ouyang Ruo finished speaking, he called Mingying: "Mingying, you went with the general to pick out a clever and capable servant. You didn't complain that your arms hurt from fatigue. Now the general is willing to let him come. It's a great favor. Go quickly!" Go." Mingying is also a clever person, and when he heard Ouyang Ruo say this, he happily responded.

The three of them were talking, when suddenly two more people came in at the gate of the courtyard, the first was Li Jingcai, followed by a small servant, holding a lacquered red plate covered with red thick cloth.

"I've met Madam. Lord Hou wants to have dinner with Madam, please Madam to prepare. The servants will wait on Madam by the side." Li Jingcai was still smiling, with a hint of flattery on his delicate face.

Ouyang Ruo froze all over. She hadn't been summoned by Lord Hou during the past few days. She thought she could go all the way to Chu country.Su Yanqing and Mingying beside her were also stunned. Seeing Ouyang Ruo's dazed expression, Mingying called out worriedly: "Ma'am, do you want a servant to wait on you?"

Ouyang Ruo squeezed out a smile when he heard the words.That smile was like rippling water, with a fragile and helpless beauty.Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly met Su Yanqing's eyes, his eyes were full of pity and bitterness, pressing down on her heart like a dark cloud, making her heart feel a dull pain.The lanterns in the corridor have been hung up, flickering in the night wind, reminding her of that night, when everyone left her, and she was the only one walking the dark path alone, involuntarily falling into a dirty place. trap.

"No need." She waved her hand at Mingying, and then went into the house.

Su Yanqing watched the slender image of a late-returning butterfly disappear into the night, feeling a thousand times in her heart.

(End of this chapter)