Mountains and rivers fall into red

Chapter 8
one

"Great! Go and prepare your hunting gear right away!"

Shen Buyu paced back and forth in Liu Rulan's room, his face full of uncontrollable excitement.After exhorting him in this way, he couldn't help raising his head and sighing: "Things are better than expected, I really didn't expect it!"

Liu Rulan also had a happy expression on her face, she understood that the master recruited an adopted daughter in order to marry the royal family.When Xiuxiu entered the palace, she was uneasy for a long time, but now she also smiled and said: "The third prince is usually arrogant and indifferent, today I will see our family Xiuxiu."

"Prime jade is pure gold! Jade cannot be made into a tool without being carved, and it must be a good piece of jade if it is well trained." Shen Buyu thought of Emperor Liang's words, and said happily, "The third prince is used to delicacies from mountains and seas, so he must be very tired. Some wild vegetables and coarse grains, he It will feel fresh, and I naturally want to experience a different taste."

No wonder the master would be furious if Xixiu dressed up too thickly.Liu Rulan suddenly realized, and was more and more impressed by the master's thoughtfulness.When Shen Buyu was about to leave, he didn't forget to say something: "Call Xiuxiu to have dinner with me at noon tomorrow. She has been delayed in staying in the Juxin Courtyard, so we can't always let her eat alone."

At noon the next day, Xiuxiu went to Liu Rulan's yard early.Liu Rulan personally took Xiuxiu's hand into the small hall, where delicate meals had already been prepared on the red sandalwood table.Before Shen Buyu arrived, Xiuxiu naturally didn't dare to sit down.Since she was a child, she loved to eat at Tianji's house, competing for stools with her three older sisters, and Tianji would always give her the best seat.Even so, Xiuxiu also heard from Ni Xiu'e that officials and eunuchs are most particular about not talking when eating and sleeping, and they have to eat up slowly little by little.

Liu Rulan's only son Shen Xinyang also came to sit with him, he is only one or two years younger than Tianji.When he first entered the prime minister's mansion, Xiuxiu didn't pay attention to him.Seeing his gentle appearance today, and remembering that his nanny is Ni Xiu'e, he couldn't help but smile at him friendly.Shen Xinyang has thin skin and tender flesh, she would be shy when meeting strangers, not to mention such a delicate younger sister who can't say anything.

Shen Buyu entered the mansion later than usual, Liu Rulan went to the mansion gate to greet him.There were few people in the small hall, so Shen Xinyang said expectantly: "My mother and auntie don't eat together, they only get together during the festivals."

Don't think about it: the big family has a lot of talk, so they are so particular.In the past, there were only three people in my family, and my mother seldom ate at the same table with them, probably because she was used to seeing the ostentation of the prime minister's house and disdained father's plaster.Thinking of this, she asked softly: "Is there any old servant in the mansion who has been working for at least 15 years?"

"Uncle Fu is the oldest in the mansion. I have never seen such a long servant."

Seeing Xiuxiu's disappointed expression, Shen Xinyang couldn't ask carefully, and said: "There are handymen in the west courtyard, maybe there are older ones, I'll help you find out."

"If it's okay after dinner, just take me there." Xiuxiu smiled again.

While speaking, footsteps came from outside the courtyard.The two stood up almost at the same time, only to see Shen Buyu stepping in quickly with his head down, took off his black gauze hat and stepped into the threshold, stumbled and almost fell.Liu Rulan followed behind to support him, and said softly, "Master, slow down."

Shen Buyu looked up to see Xiuxiu, handed the black gauze hat to Uncle Fu who was accompanying him, his expression became as calm as ever, and said: "I've been delayed in the palace for a while, please sit down, it's rare to have a meal together."

During the meal, Xiuxiu sat quietly at the bottom, listening to Shen Buyu talking to Liu Rulan.She seemed to understand those things, but only listened to a few words.Probably Emperor Gong of the Western Wei Dynasty was murdered, and the Yuwen family usurped power to establish the Northern Zhou Dynasty. When this matter spread to the Liang Dynasty, there was an uproar inside and outside the court.

"I have been under the control of the Western Wei Dynasty. Now it is the Northern Zhou Dynasty. The Yuwen family is greedy and indulgent, and the stupid government harms the people. It is hard to predict whether my dynasty will be good or bad. The Mu family secretly cooperates with the Yuwen family, and the political situation is cloudy. Treacherous, even more intense now."

Shen Buyu said these words to his youngest son, Shen Xinyang moved the rice grains with chopsticks, bowed his head and remained silent.Shen Buyu finally said in a disciplining tone: "Father is at the top of the wave. Your two elder brothers have become officials at least one way or another, so they can help father. You will also be good at the exam next spring. If the government is handed over to the Mu family, the whole family will be in charge." Life will be over."

Shen Xin Yang murmured as if in trouble: "In terms of being an official, the child is far inferior to the two eldest brothers. Besides, the concubine Rong and the third prince belong to the Shen family, and the emperor will hand over the government affairs to the third prince sooner or later."

Thinking it touched something on his mind, Shen Buyu choked up without taking a sip of the soup.Liu Rulan hurriedly got up and beat him on the back, and gave her son a dark look.Shen Xinyang realized that he had said something wrong, so he lowered his head and remained silent.

"So what if the government is handed over to the third prince? How old is he? It doesn't matter! In my opinion, he's only a little bit smarter than you. It's a pity that there are three thousand beauties in the harem, and Concubine Rong is falling out of favor day by day, and even a prince can't control her." Live. If the Shen family is over, the ending of her mother and son will not be much better."

After Shen Buyu finished training his youngest son, he squinted to see Xiuxiu listening ignorantly, his eyes were like cold blades, which gave Xiuxiu the illusion that his thoughts had been ripped apart.

"Although the hunt lasts for two days, tigers and leopards come and go from time to time. You don't have to be afraid of the guards in the palace. But Xiao Kui has an unpredictable temperament. You have to follow him and don't make up your own mind."

Xiuxiu lowered her eyebrows in a panic, and responded with a low voice.

After noon, Xiuxiu and Shen Xinyang quietly walked towards the west courtyard.It is clearly a stone path, but there is no sound under the feet, so quiet that you can hear your own heartbeat.It is almost unnecessary to try to figure out that such alleys are for servants to enter and exit.Xiuxiu seemed to be following in his father's footsteps, feeling a little sad in his heart, thinking: Is this how my father used to travel to and from the workshop?

Thinking in a trance, she felt a pair of bright eyes fixed on her.She turned her head, Shen Xinyang closed her eyes in a panic, but blushed, and said softly with a childish expression: "I don't want to be an official."

Xiuxiu tilted her head and smiled, the sun reflected on Shen Xinyang's face, her innocence of seeing no shadow at all, reminded her of the sky.

She imitated Ni Xiu'e's tone and said: "You are the only son of the second wife, and she is also her reliance. If she hears this, she will be sad."

Shen Xinyang sighed, "If you don't do it, it's even harder if you do it. My father taught me the way to be an official every day, but the more I listened to it, the more headache I got. Dealing with people will be annoying and tiring, why bother?"

Xiuxiu listened silently, she didn't know how to comfort the distressed young master of the Shen family.Shen Xinyang didn't mean to ask for comfort, he seemed to be looking for someone to vent, and he was very upset.The two walked like this for a while, and suddenly they saw the wooden door of the west courtyard, just halfway open, there was a sound of dogs barking inside.

Looking inside from the wooden door, I saw a few scattered thatched huts, the ground hadn't been cleaned for a long time, and the moss was thickly accumulated, as if no one had lived there for a long time.The leaves of the old elm trees have begun to fall, and scattered yellow leaves are whirling in the air with the wind, making the place even more empty and lonely.

Shen Xinyang was almost vomited by the smell of rotten leaves. He took Xiuxiu's hand and urged her to leave quickly.

"Dogs can bite people, let's go quickly. If someone finds out, I will inevitably be scolded by my father."

Xiuxiu didn't want to drag Shen Xinyang down, thinking that his father was just a famous mason, how could there be traces of him more than ten years ago left here?She thought that she might have thought too much, as long as she lived with her father in the same world, that would be her great satisfaction.Maybe one day, her father will come to meet her in her dream.

After the two came out, they each returned to their own yards.Shen Xinyang had a conversation with this new sister, and his heart became brighter. He walked into the wing with a smile on his face, and suddenly found his mother standing in the room waiting for him.

Liu Rulan said angrily: "Fortunately, Cui Hong reminded me, so you didn't go back to your room to work hard, so you took Xiuxiu to sneak around. Your father has been worrying these few days, and Xiuxiu will go out again the day after tomorrow, can you not cause trouble?"

Shen Xinyang glared at Cuihong, who was so frightened that she hid behind her wife.Shen Xinyang said: "Didn't you just go to the West Courtyard with Xiuxiu? What's all the fuss about?"

"What are you doing in the west courtyard?" Liu Rulan asked strangely.

"She just asked if there were any craftsmen in the mansion who had been working for more than 15 years. I accompanied her to the west courtyard to look for it, but there was nothing, so I came back."

"Those people have been fired a long time ago, what does she want them to do?"

"She said she was just asking casually, and she won't inquire again in the future."

When Liu Rulan returned to her yard, Shen Buyu had already gone out to work.After Cuihong made the tea, Liu Rulan took a few sips.The best tea leaves are as green as emeralds, the tea soup is clear and transparent, and the most refreshing thing is the refreshing fragrance.As usual, she could spend the whole day comfortably, but today, she was restless for no reason.

She said to herself: "What a coincidence, something happened to Shen's family 15 years ago, and there are no more craftsmen in the family. Who is Xiuxiu asking about? Who is that person to her? Let's wait for the opportunity and have a good time." Ask her."

The next day, the sun climbed to the top of the mountain, and the whole Jiangling was covered with endless hazy golden red.Looking in from the outside of the palace gate, the entire palace is deep and mysterious, and it is magnificent.

Xiuxiu waited outside the palace for nearly an hour, and when the drum sounded the time, he saw a group of chariots and horses rumbling out of the palace.There are armored cavalry in front of the road, guarded by palace guards with swords and halberds in the back, and several gorgeous bronze chariots in the middle move forward slowly, really majestic and full of style.

"They are here."

Shen Buyu next to her reminded her, and then walked to one of the black cars, solemnly cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, my little girl, Xiuxiu, is waiting here."

There was no movement inside, and Shen Buyu was a little embarrassed.After a while, someone lifted the curtain and appeared, and it was a palace lady with a bun.The maid glanced at her, and said with a bit of arrogance: "The Third Highness ordered, please invite Miss Shen to take the carriage of the Fourth Highness."

"Thank you, Miss Qiuyue."

Xiuxiu saw that even though Shen Buyu was unhappy, he had to suppress it.He led Xiuxiu to the black car at the back, and with a light tap, a young face appeared from the curtain of the car.

"Fourth Highness." Shen Buyu called out, saying a few words like this.

Xiao Hao's eyes met with Xiuxiu's eyes slightly, his eyes were misty, with a gentle smile on his lips, he seemed to be listening to Shen Buyu's words, but at the same time seemed to only look at her.

"Then let's sit together. Yizhen is also here, and the three of you can talk more lively." He responded crisply.

But Zheng Yizhen's dissatisfied voice came from inside: "Three people are squeezed together, and the horses are exhausted. There are only some sundries in the car behind. Ms. Shen might as well sit in that car. It's an hour's journey, and you won't be suffocated if you don't talk."

The words obviously did not welcome Xiuxiu, although Xiuxiu did not see the real face of the speaker, she was sure that the lady must be delicate and arrogant.She didn't care, she walked back with her head down, Shen Buyu's face turned livid, and she reminded her side by side: "Her father is just a servant, because her uncle is Huanyihou, and he is with the fourth prince." She's a cousin, she's used to being arrogant, just ignore her."

Before the words finished, Xiao Hao jumped out of the car and ran to the car behind to help put Xixiu's belongings on it, and tidied up the car. After looking comfortable, he said apologetically, "It's true. I'm sorry to have wronged you. If there is anything, just call me." Looking back, I still didn't forget to tell Shen Buyu, "Don't worry, Prime Minister, I will take good care of Miss Shen."

Before Shen Buyu could answer, there was a chuckle in the car ahead, and Xiao Kui's lazy voice came: "Why haven't you left yet? If you drag on, it will be dark there."

"Let's go, let's go." Shen Buyu hurriedly called the convoy to set off.

Although it was the end of autumn, Shen Buyu couldn't help sweating from this torment, but he didn't dare to say more, for fear that Xiao Kui would become impatient.In fact, what should be warned has already been made clear in the prime minister's mansion, but he watched Xiuxiu's carriage drive away in the dust, and his heart was very empty, as if he had missed the most important words.

"Look at the good fortune this time!" He pondered on the spot.

Xiuxiu followed the horse team all the way, and after a few hours, he gradually lost consciousness amidst the bumps.When she woke up again, the sun was shining, and the team was winding into the depths of Populus euphratica forest.Looking from inside the car, there is a wisp of white clouds covering the distant mountains, wild geese flying in a row, the sound of horseshoes and cart wheels, and the falling leaves whirling, as if entering a mirage.The scenery in front of him was different from that in Mengmata County. With his curious eyes open, Xiuxiu completely forgot the dullness and exhaustion along the way.

About an hour later, only a burst of excited voices came.Xiuxiu raised his eyes, only to see that the clouds had cleared, the sky was as blue as washing, and the distant mountains and near waters showed off the blue, like an ink painting rendered on paper, wantonly laid out in front of everyone.

The hunting ground has arrived.

The convoy turned into the valley and stopped at an open and flat place.Xiuxiu got out of the car, stretched his muscles and bones, and looked into the distance, but saw the surrounding mountains and plains, thousands of trees in autumn, and patches of maple forests.A small lake spreads out in front of you, the reeds on both sides fluctuate with the wind, and the surface of the lake is glowing brocade red.The open space has long been turned into a grassland with a radius of several hundred feet, a winding white stone wall that is one and a half people taller, and some small courtyards with log doors.

Xiuxiu was still curious, but the venue was already full of people.People from the Palace of Guards began to set up tents, move things, and it was as lively as a big city.At this time Xiao Kui had already got out of the car, and Qiuyue, who was accompanying him, put a cloak on him.Xiao Kui also ignored Xiuxiu, and shouted towards Xiao Hao's car: "Brother Hao, we have arrived, what are we still dawdling about?"

Xiao Hao obeyed the words, turned around and helped his cousin get off the car.It was only then that Xiuxiu saw clearly that Zheng Yizhen was dressed in a brocade dress of flowers and phoenixes. She seemed to have just finished dressing up, and the pink was glamorous and shy, like a hibiscus in bud, with an extremely graceful demeanor.Hugh looked a little dumbfounded.But seeing Yizhen stretch out his hand to support the white jade hairpin on his head, he made a shy and respectful look towards Xiao Kui, and said, "Third Highness..."

Xiao Kui frowned slightly, as if he was saying to Xiao Hao: "This is not like hunting? It's more like going to a palace banquet."

Yizhen was startled, and hurriedly said, "Let's change it now."

Xiao Kui told Qiuyue in a blink of an eye: "Take Miss Yizhen to change clothes."

Qiuyue's face was pale, her eyes swept over Yizhen's delicate face, and she went straight to the tent that had been set up.Yizhen frowned and said: "Cousin, you have to wait for me." She followed Qiuyue gracefully.At a glance, Zheng Yizhen's waist was so slender that it could be blown off by the wind, and the four-petal red flower at the corner of the skirt was so beautiful that it really caught people's eyes.

When he arrived at the hunting ground, Xiao Kui's mood suddenly eased. He put his shoulders on Xiao Hao's shoulders, pointed to the not far away and said with a smile: "This place is quiet and hidden, and it is a good place for hunting. Look at these courtyards, which were built by my father more than 20 years ago. When I was King Yueyang, it was the place of refuge when I was hunted down by Emperor Jing of Nanliang. My father brought me here three years ago, and I was filled with emotion after seeing things and thinking about people. Reluctant to tear it down, they built a stone wall and became a royal hunting ground."

Xiao Hao nodded suddenly: "No wonder the third brother would think of hunting here, it is indeed a good place." After finishing speaking, he looked back at Dingxiu and smiled, "What do Miss Xiuxiu think?"

Xiuxiu had been left out in the cold for a while, but when she heard Xiao Hao talking to her, she didn't relax for a moment, she just let out an "oh".Only then did Xiao Kui discover her existence, looked at her attire casually, and continued to say to Xiao Hao: "Your cousins ​​are here, you can let them all follow you, I don't like being surrounded by women when hunting."

"My cousin is here just for the third brother." Xiao Hao blinked mischievously, "Otherwise I won't be able to explain it when I go back. It's she and you, Miss Shen and me."

Xiao Kui waved his sleeves impatiently, and said: "It's troublesome, let them watch from the top of the mountain, don't follow us."

It didn't take long for Yizhen to come out in a knee-length hunting suit, looking heroic.The two brothers Xiao Kui had already got on their horses. With the sound of drums and the sound of flags, under the sound of shouts, Xiao Kui led a group of horses and jumped up the forest hillside.Zheng Yizhen was supported by the palace maid, and rushed up the hillside with an excited expression on his face.Xiuxiu was used to climbing mountains since she was a child, and she wanted to keep ahead of Zheng Yizhen, but she was afraid that she would be unhappy, so she had no choice but to follow her step by step.

The hillside is not steep, and Xiuxiu climbs up easily.On the hillside, people rejoice and horses make noise, and banners appear and disappear in the lush forest.A frightened wild deer is running past, blinking into the dense jungle.

"Catch it fast! Catch it fast!" Infected by the scene in front of him, Xiuxiu jumped and shouted, regaining his innocence.

Yizhen climbed up the hill with great effort, already out of breath from exhaustion.She looked around and asked nervously, "What is it? Where is it?"

Hearing that Xiuxiu said it was a male deer, Yizhen snorted disdainfully, and said mockingly: "After all, he came from the countryside and has never seen the world. What's the fuss about a small deer? The Third Highness doesn't care about it at all. They want to catch it." It's a tiger and leopard, so it shows the royal prestige. Tiger and leopard, do you understand?"

Just as he was speaking, Xiao Kui's men disappeared in the woods, and the sound of drums and horns rang in the distance.Soon, even the neighing of the horses could no longer be heard, and the hillside became quiet, and the forest birds called one after another.

Yizhen became nervous again: "What about people, where did they go?"

"Of course I went to a deeper forest." Qiuyue's voice came from behind.

Qiuyue stood in front of them with an expressionless face.She glanced at Yizhen, and said in a deep voice: "You two ladies, if you have nothing to do, please help me cook."

"Why do you let me do these rough jobs? What about those maids and regular servants, what do they eat?" Yizhen said angrily.

Qiuyue said nonchalantly: "You mean to move the dining room here for hunting? In the mountains and forests, everyone has to do it, and no one can be idle. As for the regular servants, they will take good care of their masters." After finishing speaking, he went down the hillside by himself.

Yizhen pouted, her face flushed with embarrassment.She stared at Qiuyue's back, and spat bitterly: "What's the arrogance of being arrogant? Isn't she just a maid who serves the bed, thinking that the third highness likes her so much. Want to be a prince and concubine? Daydreaming!"

When they returned to the camp, they saw that the palace people were camping for a picnic, and a row of food and wine had been prepared.The pots and stoves set up include steamed wheat noodles and stewed bone soup, and the breeze brings the scent of wine and meat.In front of the pot and stove that had just been set up, Qiuyue called someone to bring a large pile of firewood, and after a while, she started to light a fire and boil water.

Yizhen saw that the mahogany basin was already filled with clean water, and rolled up his sleeves to wash his hands. Qiuyue was already on guard, and suddenly shouted: "Don't move! This is for cooking soup, not for washing hands!"

There were two court ladies giggling beside them.Yizhen blushed, and raised her eyebrows: "Then I have to wash my hands?"

"There is plenty of clear water in the lake, Miss Yizhen can take a good bath." Qiuyue replied slowly.

(End of this chapter)