Mountains and rivers fall into red

Chapter 16: Cuiqiao (4)
Xiao Kui no longer pretended to be himself, and recovered his indifference in the blink of an eye, walked in front of her, threw the curtain, and went out on his own.Xiuxiu had no choice but to come to the outer hall afterwards, listening to Xiao Kui calling Jiang Chen's name.Jiang Chen appeared soon, and Xiao Kui ordered with a straight face, "Go to the prime minister's residence and tell them to take Miss Shen back."

Then, Xiao Kui turned around, frowned and said to Xiuxiu: "Of course I know who you are very well. That's good, so as not to get confused. You just wait here, and someone will take you back." Said After that, he strode out of the hall.

Only Xiuxiu was left in the huge outer hall, and even the maids stayed away.Xiuxiu recalled Xiao Kui's hot and cold expression, and couldn't help sighing deeply.Even though she had already learned about Xiao Kui's intention to get close to her, she was still very sad, after all, there was an invisible wall between them.

After the snow, the sky cleared up, and the outside of the temple was brightly lit.Pulling back the red curtain rolled with golden tassels, Xiuxiu walked towards the white jade steps, looking around, there are palaces and terraces scattered all around.In the middle is a huge lake with misty waves and clear water.Several small islands are dotted among them, there are all kinds of pavilions, pavilions and boats, and there are also winding bridges connecting them.Although it is covered with snow all around, it still cannot hide the prosperity and splendor, and the fragrance is floating.

After going down the steps, there is a green bamboo forest beside the path. It seems that it has been carefully cultivated, and the slender bamboo joints are full of green bamboo leaves, which are particularly dusty among Qionglou Yuyu.Xiuxiu couldn't help thinking about it, thinking of the poems Tianji taught her before.

"I intend to keep the bamboo screen densely, so that the scenery without flowers will be quiet. The light wind makes the shadows whisk the dust quiet, and the sound of the thin leaves makes the jade soft..." she groaned.

"What a thin leaf singing to make Yurou!"

A dark blue figure flashed by the bamboo forest, and a man in his twenties stood in front of Xiuxiu.Although his appearance is not as good as Xiao Kui's, it is more lively and interesting. The navy blue cotton robe looks very ordinary, but the material is extremely exquisite.He was looking at her curiously, smiling.

"Who are you? The third brother is in the golden house?" He clasped his hands in a humorous tone.

"Who are you?" Xiuxiu asked him rudely.

The man was stunned immediately, thought for a while, and said: "Xiao Kui is my younger brother, and the present emperor is my father. My name is Xiao Shao."

Xiuxiu was amused, and said: "You can just say that you are the eldest prince."

Xiao Shao chuckled, without the air of an eldest prince at all: "That's right, I'm stupid. I was afraid that my third brother would think I was annoying him early in the morning, so I came in without letting the notification, and happened to meet a girl."

Seeing Xiao Shao's smiling face, Xiuxiu was sincere and much more cordial than Xiao Kui, so he reported his identity and pointed to the middle of the lake: "The third prince is over there."

At this time, Xiao Kui was standing on the boat, surrounded by several court ladies, all in high spirits.The boat was narrow, there was a court lady who almost fell into the water under pushing and shoving, Xiao Kui grabbed her sleeve and pulled it along the way, the maid fell into his arms, everyone screamed and laughed.

"The third brother's palace is really lively." Xiao Shao said to Xiuxiu with a smile, "Why doesn't Miss Xiuxiu play together?"

"I'm leaving soon." Xiuxiu said sadly.

Xiao Shao misunderstood her and explained: "Don't be angry, those are maids serving the bed, and the rules in the palace are like this. After all, the third brother is still young and has a bit of playfulness, so you must not take it to heart. "

Xiao Shao is not stupid, after Xiao Kui and Xiuxiu walked out of the palace hand in hand three days ago, the palace is already full of rumors.Maybe they are together every day.But now they seem to be at a standstill.He knows the personality of the third brother, and he absolutely does not want to take back what he gave up.

so beautiful.

He felt sorry for his third brother, so he kindly comforted Xiuxiu: "Just now you said that the thin leaves make jade soft, but can the bamboo leaves make other sounds?"

Hexiu didn't answer, picked a piece, put it between the thin lips, stroked the two ends of the leaves with both hands, a little luck, a wonderful note flowed from the lips, like a warbler singing a bird, it is indescribable.Xiao Shao suddenly found it interesting, and learned to imitate, his face flushed but he didn't make much noise.Xiuxiu laughed loudly, this kind of small folk art is something that their princes and grandchildren know.Seeing that he likes it, she patiently guided him, and made the leaves make noises. Xiao Shao got more and more energetic, and there was a lot of laughter beside the bamboo bushes.

Looking at the boats in the middle of the lake, I don't know when they came straight to them.

As soon as it touched the shore, Xiao Kui jumped off the boat, and said in a gloomy voice, "Brother is very elegant." He glanced at Xiuxiu inadvertently, and said with a sneer, "It's so intimate when we first met? Miss Xiuxiu really deserves to be Shen. It was taught by adults."

Without saying a word, Xiuxiu lowered her head and walked towards the gate of the palace.

Xiao Shao looked at the back of her leaving, and said with a smile: "The third brother is really cruel, if you don't want it, you don't want it, and you don't even give it a pity."

He repeatedly said "It's a pity", he saw Xiao Kui's face was ashen and silent, he weighed the bamboo leaves and blew.

"Stop blowing it up! It's awful!" Xiao Kui suddenly shouted angrily, lifted up his satin robe and walked towards the boat again.

Before Xiao Shao recovered, he quickly threw the bamboo leaves and followed up.

Xiuxiu walked out of the palace alone, she hoped that the carriage that would take her home would arrive soon.

Beside the huge white jade lion, Tingting stood alone.Bright and beautiful, with a full smile.

It's Qiuyue. Has she recovered from her illness?
When Xiuxiu approached slowly, Qiuyue's eyes shifted to an old pagoda tree outside the palace.

Feeling that Qiuyue intended to wait here, Xiuxiu couldn't help asking softly, "Miss Qiuyue, what else do you want to say?"

"I'll tell you a story about the time His Highness the Third was eight years old. After you listen to it, you will understand everything."

The breeze blows, and the snow slag is chaotic, and Qiuyue's mood falls down in clusters with the flying silver pieces.She spoke eloquently, as if telling a distant story.

"Ten years ago, when I first entered the palace, I was just a miscellaneous court lady. Do you know that women from poor families like us dare not have extravagant expectations once we enter the palace as deep as the sea.

At that time, the third prince was only eight years old, with delicate features, and everyone in the palace doted on him.He is the emperor's darling, very naughty and playful, but happy.In his eyes, his mother, Concubine Rong, is the most beautiful woman in the world.His teacher is Mr. Shen, and he respects him very much.

Once, it was also a snowy day, and we cleared the snow in a courtyard.He broke in from the outside, and everyone knelt down and kowtowed.Only I saw the grief and helplessness on his face.I stood up and somehow said, "Third Prince, what's the matter?" 'He ran over, hugged me and burst into tears. "

Qiuyue clearly remembered Xiao Kui throwing herself into her arms, sobbing.He broke in unintentionally, and his two small hands were tightly clutching her sleeves, without letting go at all.Tears soaked her front, and she felt her chest was wet and warm, seeping into her internal organs, and it hurt astringently, she couldn't help but hug him tightly.

"From then on, he didn't allow anyone to touch him except me, not even the concubine Rong. He wanted me to be by his side all the time. My ten years, the best ten years, were in the deep courtyard of the palace, in the Spent in his bedroom."

When Qiuyue said this, her voice became a little choked up.She secretly glanced at Xiuxiu, and saw that her innocent face seemed to be frozen by the cold, and her slightly pale lips were trembling slightly.She turned her head and continued to say indifferently: "This is the third prince's secret. He has kept it in his heart and never told anyone. But I know that it has something to do with your godfather. Because, since that year, he has secretly kept secrets. Call him 'Teacher' again and call him 'Shen Buyu'."

"But Concubine Rong..." Xiuxiu trembled.

"Concubine Rong is the mother-in-law of the third prince, so he has no reason not to love her!" Qiuyue suddenly interrupted Xiuxiu with a sneer, "In the palace, intrigues and deceit, life and death, the third prince knows best, he is desperate He will also protect his own mother! Therefore, he must be bored in his heart when he shouldn't say it. I understand this, Miss Xiuxiu, do you understand?"

Xiuxiu stared at Qiuyue with slack eyes, and murmured: "I don't understand, and I don't want to understand..."

Qiuyue said: "You don't understand."

Then, she changed her tone and said casually: "The carriage to pick you up hasn't arrived yet, would you like to hear how I serve His Highness?"

Xiuxiu trembled and silently lowered his head.

Qiuyue suddenly felt a pleasure, the paler the daughter of the Shen family in front of her, the more she wanted to touch her heart and make her feel chilled to the bone forever.

She talked about how her first time was dedicated to Xiao Kui.At that time, he was still an ignorant teenager, and the chief deacon in the palace called her, and asked the nunnery to examine her body carefully and teach her the knowledge of sexual intercourse.After taking a bath, she was wrapped in a felt blanket and sent to the bedroom naked.

The bedroom was dimly lit, and the red candles on the floor-to-ceiling candlestick flickered on and off.Xiao Kui lay quietly on the bed.On weekdays, she would sit in the west corner, only two feet away from him, and hear his even breathing.

He called her tremblingly.She answered, slowly approaching him.His arms are very thin, and the shoulder blades have not yet grown out. They are narrow and can clearly touch his collarbone.His breath pounced on her undulating chest, bringing more and more numbness.

She laughed out loud, a strange tide surged from her body, she hugged him tightly, and kept stroking his smooth back with her hands.Gradually, abnormal blush appeared around his eye circles, and with a dreamlike look in his eyes, he looked at her in confusion, and murmured: "Qiuyue, I...I..."

Qiuyue knew in her heart that she was lying quietly.Xiao Kui fumbled under the ground indiscriminately, and his body was inexcusably restless.When an unbreathable pain surged in, as if some thin barrier had been broken through, Qiuyue let out a "Hey", her body stiffened there and did not move...

Xiao Kui curled up on her bare chest and fell asleep quickly.Under the face covered by black hair, the corners of his mouth were slightly pursed.Her fingers stroked his lips like catkins.Soon, she was lightly awakened, and Xiao Kui, who was deeply asleep, slowly left her embrace.She put on her clothes and walked out of the curtain. Someone brought over a bowl of soup. It was yellow and clear. She closed her eyes and drank it down. It was bitter.

"Women always hope that they have something to rely on in their lives. But I know my identity. I am just a maid serving the bed, and I dare not expect extravagant expectations. In the past ten years, he has been used to living under our love, just like me. But Miss Hugh, I venture to ask you, how much do you know him? How much do you know him?"

Qiuyue's eyes were red, her voice was choked up, and her body was shaking all the time.

Xiuxiu felt that her body was not much better.She looked at Qiuyue blankly, she really didn't know him, really didn't understand him, for example, why did he cry ten years ago?Does she need to know?
Qiuyue stared into Xiuxiu's eyes, thinking: This Shen Xiuxiu is too young, really too young, she can be knocked down lightly with just a few words.But she insisted on not giving up, she had to shatter all the remaining illusions in Xiuxiu's heart.

"Don't have any illusions about the third prince, Miss Xiuxiu. What the third prince needs is a woman he likes who will love him for the rest of his life and tolerate him with tenderness, not the daughter of his enemy. Everyone has the hope to become the third prince. Concubine, only you, absolutely not."

Xiuxiu's face was pale, she was really scared and flinched.She and Qiuyue live in two different worlds, facing different lives.Maybe she can't walk in, and she doesn't want to disturb their original beautiful life.

It doesn't matter what her identity is, because this Xiao Kui doesn't like her in the first place.

He has been fooling her.

What is she still doing standing here stupidly?
A touch of self-deprecation floated on her lips, she smiled and said to Qiuyue: "Miss Qiuyue, it's too cold, you go in. Don't worry, I won't come again."

Qiuyue is such a poor woman, I hope Xiao Kui can treat her kindly.

The carriage of the Prime Minister's Mansion slowly stopped outside the palace.Xixiu walked towards the carriage with an extremely heavy gait.The carriage started quickly, and a gauze-wrapped hand stretched out from the curtain, waving weakly at her.

Qiuyue watched her go, and slowly spit out the poisonous gas that had been pent up in her heart for a long time, and couldn't help smiling.

She hoped that Shen Xiuxiu would never come back from this walk.

叁

After the carriage left the palace, it turned a few streets and heard the sound of drums and music.Xixiu opened the curtain and looked, and there were rows of tall buildings along the street. The plaques between each building were painted with brightly colored characters, and red lanterns were swaying in the wind.Accompanied by bursts of fragrance, the woman with heavy make-up huddled on the snow, leaned against the doorpost, and waved a handkerchief lazily.

Xiuxiu thought of the woman who sent her away from the brothel, and thought sadly: Everyone is smarter than me, I can't compare with anyone, I can only laugh at myself.

She stared down at her injured hand, the gauze was put on by that person.How gentle his actions were at that time, but in the blink of an eye, he changed into a fierce and ferocious look, so this is his original face.

The path leading to the prime minister's mansion was deserted, even the sound of the wind blowing was dead, and her heart was dead.Still in a trance, a series of hurried hoofbeats sounded from behind, Xixiu didn't pay attention at all until the servant driving the carriage in front let out an "ouch".

Xiuxiu hurriedly looked around, the servant fell on the snow, his throat was cut open by a sharp weapon, and blood gushed out, it seemed that he had died.Xiuxiu opened his eyes wide in horror, and a bloody gleam lay in front of his eyes.

Someone said gloomyly: "Quickly tell me, what did you see in Xiao Kui's palace?"

Xiuxiu trembled all over, subconsciously shook his head and said, "I didn't see anything."

"Nothing? Is there a wounded young man hiding in the palace?"

Hearing the "injured young man", Xiuxiu suddenly thought of Yang Jian, a cold light flashed in his mind, and immediately replied lightly: "I didn't see it."

Someone whispered: "My lord, seeing how frightened she is, it's probably true. What should I do? Let her go?"

The gloomy voice replied: "Women are the best at pretending to be pitiful and fooling outsiders. Take them back for interrogation, I'm not afraid that she won't recruit!"

Soon, two hooded men got into the carriage and tied up Xiuxiu.Xiuxiu still wanted to shout, but her big rough hands covered her face, and Xiuxiu's eyes were covered with darkness, so she didn't know anything.

When she woke up, she found herself lying on the smooth and cold floor, unknown incense was burning in the gold-plated tripod, the smoke was lingering, and the surrounding layout was all blurred.Xiuxiu calmed down, only to see a man and a woman sitting across from each other in sequence, the room was already very dark, the two looked like monsters and monsters in the legend, extremely terrifying.

Because of being tied up, Xiuxiu struggled helplessly a few times, feeling cold sweat dripping down his forehead.Finding her awake, the man spoke first, still with that gloomy voice.

"Miss Shen, tell me what you saw in the palace? What did you hear? If we are satisfied, we will let you go back."

"As I said, I saw nothing and heard nothing."

Although Xiuxiu's voice trembled in fear, his words were clear.The room was so quiet that only the sound of her own breathing could be heard, and she gritted her teeth to say every word, and she herself couldn't figure out why she didn't call out that "General Yang" in such a terrifying situation.Maybe it was out of instinct, maybe it was because there was another voice constantly reminding her: don't speak out.

Just as the man was about to get angry, the woman on the side raised her hand to stop him.The woman stood up and walked slowly towards Xixiu. The exquisitely stitched and gorgeous skirt flowed on the floor, pouring down like quicksilver.Xiuxiu tried his best to stabilize his mood, and boldly met the woman's eyes.

The woman bent down, and the numerous golden hairpins and silver rings on the hairpin jingled. She opened her mouth lightly and said, "Everyone knows that you are not Shen Buyu's own, but you recognize it. You are young and have little knowledge, and you think that you are near such a tree. You can enjoy the shade of the towering tree. Little do you know that women like you are everywhere, even if you die here, Shen Buyu will not blink his eyes in pain, he can find another younger and more beautiful Instead of you. So, don't work for this kind of person, it's not worth it."

The last few words have a long sound, but they seem to be meaningful.

Who is this woman?

Xiuxiu was full of twists and turns in her heart, looked at the other party, and still said forcefully: "I was injured and slept in the bedroom all night. After waking up, it was already morning. His Highness the Third Prince asked someone to call the Prime Minister's Mansion to pick me up. That's it."

"As far as I know, you played all afternoon yesterday. You were injured in the snow, and Xiao Kui rushed you to the palace. From this point of view, you are the first outsider who can enter the palace. It can be seen that he is in pain. You. Why did he change his attitude overnight and drive you away instead of sending you back in person? What happened?"

Xiuxiu was smart at first, she changed her mind, and realized that the person who arrested her was not really sure that Yang Jian was in the palace, it was just a test.So he cleared his throat and explained: "Third Highness is uncertain, yesterday was fine, and suddenly lost his temper because of a trivial matter in the morning, even I was baffled. I have no choice but to go home by myself. If you don't believe me, you can find someone else inquire about."

The woman straightened up, glanced at Xiuxiu sharply, and then gave the man a wink.The man understood and helped the woman walk outside.When the skirt that dragged the floor lightly slid across the threshold, the door creaked shut.

Xiuxiu struggled to get up, and almost flew towards the closed door.Through the lattice door, I saw two people walking slowly.Xiuxiu first heard the man ask: "Hungry her for a few days, see if she recruits! If she can't confess, you can also find out what Shen Buyu did on weekdays!"

"Just ask, it's not too early and I'm going to enter the palace." The woman said leisurely, "Remember not to leave anyone alive. That old thief Shen Buyu couldn't grasp the clues, so he couldn't suspect this side, thinking that Killed to death by Xiao Kui. Haha, kill two birds with one stone! Make it clean for me!"

The man bowed his head in promise.

Hearing these conversations, Xiuxiu fell to the ground as if he had no strength anymore.Tears fell down, and the eyes became blurred again.She kept muttering: "They... want to kill me... Father..."

After noon, the sun was high in the sky, and the shadow of the sun penetrated into the house lightly.

Xiuxiu was still leaning crookedly in front of the door, with a blush on her slightly pale face.The sunlight rippled on the cold ground, hovering over her head like a ghost.

No one came in, her body was hot and cold, and she felt that her soul had come out of her body.

"It's hard, I'm really going to die this time..." She thought in a daze.

There seemed to be a wind blowing outside the window, and it beat against the doors and windows in panic, and the air-conditioning poured in unscrupulously.Xiuxiu couldn't feel anything anymore, she silently waited for the god of death to come sooner.Just at this time, there was a pleasant voice in the wind.

"The backyard of Mr. Ji's house is really big. Where did my purple and blue King Kong fly? You didn't listen to me telling you not to let it out. Now it's over. If you can't find it, I will ask your Mr. Ji to pay for it!"

"The First Prince..."

(End of this chapter)