Mountains and rivers fall into red

Chapter 44 Fragrant Ink (6)
The sun was lazily shining on them, the heat in the yard was turned on, and the air was filled with helpless gloom.

That day, Xiuxiu left Mengmata County with Xiao Hao.

There was a drizzle of rain blowing from the other side of the lake, and the melancholy mist filled the empty sky again.The messy duckweed drifts with the tide, and it doesn't know where to go under the rain and wind.For the first time, Xiuxiu felt the bleakness and helplessness of life, and sadness filled his heart.

The gardenias in the yard are about to bloom again. The white, elegant and fragrant stamens are attracting butterflies everywhere. This magnificent and warm scene will never be seen again.

Wanton

Xiao Hao and his party traveled non-stop along the land road, day and night, when they saw the tall city wall of Jiangling, the east had just turned white, and there were two days before Xiao Kui's wedding.

There was still time before the city gate opened, so Xiao Hao had no choice but to wait outside the city with the people entering the city.He got out of the carriage, stretched his muscles and bones, and shouted: "Xiuxiu, come out and do some exercise."

Xiuxiu responded and got out of another carriage.She wore plain clothes and light makeup, and her face was slightly pale due to the long journey.When Xiao Hao saw it, he felt pity in his heart, supported her, and said with a smile: "The water color in Jiangling and Mengmao County is really different. I feel that people are much more moist there. Looking at the mountains and water with you makes me feel better." .”

"Unfortunately, I'm in Jiangling again." Xiuxiu sighed quietly.

"Jiangling is not my place to stay, I want to go back to Huanyi." Xiao Hao couldn't help sighing.

The two watched the last ray of night recede, and the eastern sky appeared, illuminating their young faces.The suspension bridge over the moat is slowly being lowered, the soldiers of the Northern Zhou Dynasty are not as ostentatious as in previous years, and the faces of the people entering the city are also calm.

Xiao Hao looked at the rest, and said: "Passing the moat, Mr. Shen is waiting in front. Thank you for letting me accompany me all the way. I thought I left in a hurry and came back alone. I didn't expect this to happen, and I feel very satisfied."

He always thought that there was a story between the third brother and Xiuxiu, but the story didn't continue.Why did the third brother give up on this hibiscus-like woman?
It's just that he didn't want to mention his third brother on such a beautiful return journey.Maybe that would touch the delicate nerves in her heart, but he didn't want to.

Sure enough, not long after entering the city gate, on the road leading to the Prime Minister's Mansion, Shen Buyu waited for a long time with a few attendants.The maid Yanxi stood beside the soft sedan chair, excitedly calling Miss.

Shen Buyu greeted Xiao Hao and said a few words of thanks.Seeing Shen Buyu, Xiuxiu's expression was always calm, and there was no sign of great grief or resentment.She saluted Xiao Hao slightly, then lowered her head and entered the soft sedan chair of Shen's residence, making Shen Buyu feel guilty for a while.

Xiao Hao was about to go back to his carriage when Shen Buyu suddenly called him.

"The Fourth Highness has been working hard for several days, and escorted Xiuxiu all the way here. This minister is very grateful. Xiuxiu will go to the palace tomorrow, please ask the Fourth Highness to take care of her."

Xiao Hao hesitated a little, but Shen Buyu's rather profound gaze made him vaguely understand Shen Buyu's intention to pick up Xiuxiu in a hurry.He thought for a while, but agreed with a smile.

Xixiu, who was sitting in the sedan chair, also heard Shen Buyu's words, and suddenly felt that his chest was hit by a heavy hammer, and it throbbed chaotically.

It turned out that Shen Buyu wanted her to enter the palace.Do you want her to see Xiao Kui?

The past turned upside down and cruelly submerged her again.It's like a poisonous needle, knowing her pain, but still piercing deeply into her heart.

Her heart began to bleed again, and she vaguely thought of Xiao Kui's deep eyes, handsome face, and casual words.

He has already chosen someone else... He always thought that we would never see each other again in this life, and that love and hate are all over.Two days later is his big wedding, there is nothing more to say.So far, that's all.

In this bitter dissociation, she seemed to hear another self saying: "It's better not to meet again, it's useless to go. Don't be looked down upon by him, where is your last bit of dignity?" Struggling all the way, one thought always Can't go away, stubbornly precipitated.

Finally, she closed her eyes depressedly, and said to herself, "I really want to ask him, why did he lie to me?"

Since March, the palace has been shrouded in happy events, and the Palace of Wenyong is also extraordinarily charming.Although it is not the period when the lotus blossoms bloom and fall, the lotus leaves float in the Jade Lotus Pond like a fan, directly dyeing the pond full of emerald green.On the wide and thick leaves, the water droplets are rolling and flashing, and against the blue light and clear water, they are crystal clear.

But Concubine Rong's face was not happy at all.

Through the carved window, Concubine Rong looked at the green outside anxiously, and took a sip of Biluochun in her hand.There was still no sound outside, and the silence made her panic.

She turned her head, and with a helpless smile, she said: "It's hard to coax Kui'er here, I'm afraid he will turn back halfway."

Hugh stood silently behind.

Hearing this, her face was calm, and she let out a breath and said, "If the Third Highness sees me here, he will turn around and leave. I'd better go back."

"No hurry, just wait."

Concubine Rong waved her hand to dissuade, the tea lid knocked against the cup wall, her voice was as deep as her heart.She thought for a moment, then said calmly: "He comes in, you go inside first. I'll see his face first, and then call you out."

Shen Buyu asked her to arrange this meeting.At that time, she was full of worries, and asked: "The emperor has issued a decree, and the whole world knows that Kui'er married the daughter of Zheng De's family. Is it appropriate for Kui'er and Xiuxiu to meet at this time?"

"This is the last chance! If there is still hope, we cannot let it go in vain!"

When he said this, Shen Buyu used an unquestionable tone, his face was sharp and calm, just like when he sent her into the palace more than 20 years ago.At that time, she knew that he was doing it for her official career, but she was willing to do anything for him.

It's too late for her to realize now.Only then did she realize that she hated him.

So what about resentment?When it came to the crucial point, she was still at his mercy.

The few rays of sunlight coming in from the window were covered by tall and dim shadows, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.Concubine Rong's heart tightened, she knew that Xiao Kui must be here.

"You go in and wait inside. I'll talk to him first, and I'll call you later."

Concubine Rong hurriedly spoke a little nervously, but after a while she understood, she dodged inside.

Xiao Kui went straight into the hall and stood with his hands behind his back, his face was completely devoid of mischievous youth.The smile was very calm, hanging on his indifferent face vaguely.

"Mother concubine is calling the baby over right now, what's the hurry?" He spoke first, vaguely impatient.

For some reason, Concubine Rong suddenly felt a chill in her heart, and said with a sneer, "I can't even invite you, Your Highness the Third Prince."

Xiao Kui glanced at his concubine mother, seeing her serious face, she knelt down very reluctantly and slowly.

"The fourth brother just came back from Mengmata County, Shen Xiuxiu was taken back to the capital by Shen Buyu, mother and concubine will not be a lobbyist, right?" He said bluntly.

When Xiuxiu inside heard Xiao Kui mentioning his name, his breath was short, and he touched his chest unconsciously.

Concubine Rong's expression changed in anger for a moment, and said: "Okay, you are amazing. Because your father loves you, you will not take your mother and concubine seriously."

"Mother Concubine has something to say quickly, the baby is very busy."

"Yeah, you're busy. You're going to be the bridegroom's official, of course you're busy. It's not like I'm a mother, but I have a lot of free time."

"Why does the mother concubine need to be so busy? Let the shrine department take care of those trivial matters, and the concubine mother only needs to dress herself beautifully."

After Xiao Kui finished speaking, he bowed slightly, got up and left.

"Where are you going?" Concubine Rong hurriedly stopped him.

"Didn't my son say that? My son is very busy. If my concubine has nothing important to say, my son will leave." Xiao Kui stopped, with a strong nasal voice.

Concubine Rong walked in front of Xiao Kui, her voice was a little hurried: "Let me ask you, have you ever regretted choosing this relative?"

"Regret?" Xiao Kui raised his eyebrows, and the corner of his mouth curled into a smile that was not a smile, "Why should I regret it?"

"You have never met Mr. Zheng's daughter. You chose her rashly. Do you know her?"

"I've never met her before? Haven't I met her before? I think she's quite nice, well-educated, gentle and beautiful. I like her very much. Don't you think the concubine mother likes her?"

Xiao Kui's voice was always faint, making Concubine Rong unable to figure it out.She glanced at the hall, and said loudly: "But, the mother concubine likes Miss Xiuxiu."

Unexpectedly, Xiao Kui frowned, and said in a deep voice: "You like it? Then how much do you know her? Could it be that the concubine loves the house and loves her?"

"presumptuous!"

Concubine Rong couldn't bear it anymore, she slapped Xiao Kui on the face, her face turned pale with anger, and her voice trembled: "How dare you say such a thing!"

"Mother and concubine played well and played well."

Xiao Kui praised his mother with a smile, but stared at Concubine Rong.Under his piercing stare, Concubine Rong seemed to have her heart pierced. She turned her face away and drooped her fair neck weakly.

"Mother Concubine, you are so stupid, do you know that Shen Buyu is using you?" Xiao Kui's voice rang in his ear, "Do you really think I don't know their real relationship?"

Xixiu couldn't help but froze inside, biting his lower lip tightly with his slender teeth.Soon, she heard Concubine Rong begging in a low voice: "Ku'er, don't talk nonsense!"

"I just said, they are a pair of biological father and daughter!"

Xiao Kui couldn't control it anymore, the long-simmering resentment burst in his chest and spewed out uncontrollably.He said loudly: "Shen Buyu knew that I rejected him, so at the beginning she asked her to pretend to be his adopted daughter to approach me on purpose, which made me relax my vigilance. When the raw rice is cooked, he will be one person above ten thousand." Yes. Father thinks highly of him so much, maybe the Jiangshan Sheji in the future will also have the surname Shen!"

"Kui'er..." Concubine Rong was unexpected and cried in despair.

Xiao Kui ignored his mother's pitiful appearance, and the anger in his eyes was burning: "And you, you know that this relationship still tricks me! Shen Buyu, this old fox, I have hated him for more than ten years, I will not let his conspiracy It worked!"

Concubine Rong grabbed her son violently, holding on to the last sliver of hope, but her voice was weak and feeble: "Even if you already know their father-daughter relationship, you and Xiuxiu are in love with each other, what is wrong with Xiuxiu?" ?”

Xiao Kui laughed again: "The concubine mother is wrong, there are countless children, Miss Xiuxiu is just one of them, how can we talk about falling in love with each other, and the two hearts are happy?" He looked at the concubine mother with cruelty, and emphasized his tone, " Tell Shen Buyu that I just ate too much meat, so I just changed my taste."

Concubine Rong was completely crushed, she was trembling with anger, pointing at Xiao Kui, the jade pendant on her bun was shaking and rattling: "How could I give birth to a son like you? Get out of here!"

After Xiao Kui had vented, he was so happy that he leaned close to Concubine Rong and smiled wickedly: "Mother, Concubine, don't be angry, the child will be the bridegroom officer tomorrow, you should be happy, maybe you will be here by this time next year." You can be the emperor's grandmother now. Haha..."

He laughed wantonly, and walked out while laughing, and when his figure receded outside the hall, the annoying laughter still lingered on the beams of the hall, which could not disappear for a long time.

Concubine Rong collapsed decadently on the pear-blossom wooden chair, a trace of shade rose from the soles of her feet to her heart, which made her heart ache.It was only then that I remembered that there were still people inside, choking my breath, and said weakly: "Come out."

After waiting for a while, I saw that the corner of the curtain was lifted, and Xiuxiu came out slowly.Her face was pale and pale, as transparent as snow, and her clear pupils were hollow, as if her mind had drifted far away, and the scene in front of her was not real.

"Xiuxiu..." Concubine Rong called out nervously.

Xiuxiu's eyes were wide open, as if he was trying to find a ray of light in the deep night, and he was struggling to escape everything that happened in front of him.Concubine Rong regretted so much, her heart trembled violently, she couldn't help but grabbed her hand.Only then did I realize that Xiuxiu seemed to have just come out of the ice cellar, her hands were icy cold.

With the matter at this point, Concubine Rong had no choice but to persuade her: "Xiuxiu, now that I know about it, I want to start something. It's not your fault, I don't blame you, Master Shen is wrong..."

Xiuxiu walked out stiffly as if she had never heard of it.Concubine Rong called her again worriedly, holding her hand and not daring to let go.

Only then did Xiuxiu shift her gaze to Concubine Rong, with a mocking smile on her tightly pursed lips, she said, "It's time to tell Master Shen that his plan has failed again."

Concubine Rong let go of her hands.Xiuxiu didn't salute either, and walked out of the hall step by step through the door curtain of shark bead gauze.

On the corridor, a chariot was waiting quietly.Xiao Hao's brocade clothes are elegant, seeing her expression, the faint smile on her face immediately disappears.

He came over and took her hand, looking at her worriedly: "What's the matter? What did the third brother say? Why are your hands so cold?"

Xiuxiu's eyes were blurred and empty, but he suddenly sneered: "So it's like this..."

Xiao Hao didn't feel well, so he quickly supported her by the shoulder: "What happened?" "You shouldn't come, you shouldn't come..."

Xiuxiu murmured in detail, unable to stand still,

The whole person slipped into Xiao Hao's arms.

Su Xinyuan.

Xiuxiu sat alone by the long carved window, her face pale.The cheeks are facing the sun, like a silhouette carved from ice and snow.According to Yanxi, for the past two days, Xiuxiu has always sat in such a lonely posture, silent for a long time, and shed tears occasionally.

Xiao Hao stood behind her silently, sighed, and came outside the house.

At this time, the dusk was getting heavier, and there was a faint sound of salute from the direction of the palace, and the late spring wind blew over the courtyard wall, bringing in a few lily fragrances.A wedding ceremony celebrated by the whole country is about to begin, and he is so depressed that he has nothing else to do other than come to accompany Xiuxiu.

(End of this chapter)