Harue Kagetsu

silence.

The answer to her was always silence.

That horrible silence.

Luoshen finally wiped away his tears.

"Li Mu."

she says.

"I remember watching the tides of the Spring River that night, you told me that even if the world is against you in the future, you will not hurt me and Aya Niang. You also told me that as long as I want you in the future, you will never hurt me. Blame me."

She smiled sadly and shook her head.

"If you are not a minister, my uncle Aye will not allow you, so why do you want me to ask you?"

"I know you are a hero. But Aye is right, the way is different and they don't work together, let alone the couple?"

"After you left, I was very sad. I knew that you had left me, but I didn't want to ask you to clarify it in person."

"Now I finally understand. You have a big thing to do, compared to what I am."

She looked at the man across from him who had been silent all along, and smiled again.

"I know what's going to happen next. I'm relieved."

"I'm tired, I want to sleep, you can do it yourself."

After Luoshen finished speaking, without looking at him again, he turned around and climbed into the bed, and lay down with clothes.

That night, she curled up on the bed, closed her eyes, as if she was asleep, as if she was awake, as if she was in the world, and as if she was in a dream.

Wake up, the morning light is faint, the door is half open.

She saw Li Mu sitting on the eaves steps outside the door.

The clothes were wet with dew, and they were tightly attached to his shoulders and back.

His back was motionless.

It was like sitting like this all night.

Luoshen silently watched him recite the video for a moment, got up, and started to pack his things.

When he bent down and put his clothes into the box that Fang opened last night, he was hugged from behind.

His body was no longer the fiery heat she was familiar with, but it was clammy and cold with dew soaked all night.

The arms that hugged her waist were no longer as firm and strong as before.

An equally clammy face with a messy stubble pressed against the warm and soft skin on the back of her neck.

Cold lips gently rubbed against her sensitive earlobes.

"Ami...don't leave me like this..."

A hoarse, pleading murmur entered her ears.

Luo Shen was determined.

"Li Mu, what kind of virtue and what can I do, you keep saying that you love me? If you are dedicated to a great cause, what's the benefit of keeping me?"

"If you really still cherish me, Mo Qiang stay. I don't need you to send it."

She spoke lowly.

He didn't look back, he only released the hands that were placed in front of his belly, pushed open the arms that wrapped around his body, walked to the door, and said to A Ju, who had stood up and was looking anxiously outside the door, "Mother Ju, I have something to do with you. Bi, come back today."

…

For Gao Huan, this news was like a bolt from the blue.

Last night, he just rode his horse all over this desolate west city, walked through the four corners of the city wall, boarded the newly built majestic pier, and looked north towards the wind.

After a good night's sleep, she opened her eyes, and my sister actually said she was leaving?

The things on Luoshen's side were not taken out due to the lack of time last night, but they were packed this morning, and it was also a lunch box.

When Chaoyang shot into this dilapidated courtyard, she was already ready to go and was waiting for Gao Huan, one of his entourage hurried over, saying that Rokuro came back from outside last night, vomited and diarrhoea, was very uncomfortable in the morning and could not get up.

Luo Shen was shocked.

Gao Huan's body was weak when he was young, but Gao Qiao was interested in martial arts training. When he grew up, his physique gradually improved.

For this reason, coupled with the early death of his parents, Gao Qiao has always been reluctant to let him join the army.

Along the way, he suffered a lot of hardships, the wind and the sun, and when he got here, not only was he much darker than before, but he also lost a lot of weight. Now that he heard that he was sick again, how could Luoshen not be in a hurry? Hastily rushed over.

Gao Huan slept in an empty room not far away last night, and the window was half-missing. After Aju cleaned the room for him, she covered it with a cloth. He felt bored and pulled the window cloth by himself. Lying on the bed at the moment, tightly wrapped in the quilt, eyes closed, when I heard Luo Shen's footsteps coming in, I groaned. groaned.

Luoshen sat by the bed, asked him what he ate last night, and reached out to touch his forehead.

Luo Shencai was very worried just now, but when he really saw someone, he touched his forehead and it was warm and cold, and there was nothing unusual about him. Then he said: "If you are so uncomfortable, I'll ask Second Brother Jiang to call a military doctor."

She turned to call.

"Sister, don't! I know that I hated taking medicine the most since I was a child. Hey! It seems that when you come, I feel better than before, but I still can't get up and feel a little dizzy. You let me lie down and lie down again. , I'll get better by myself—"

Luo Shen looked at him for a moment.

"Rokuro, if you don't want to come back with me, just stay. You have to be more careful yourself. Sister will leave a few people for you, go first."

She touched Gao Huan's arm and stood up.

Gao Huan stared at her back and was stunned.

The sun gradually rose.

Luoshen and his entourage each got into the carriage, Fan Cheng assembled the guards, and the group set off from the gate of the governor's mansion, along the dirt road that came yesterday, silently heading towards the city gate.

Those children, still playing on the side of the road, saw a group of people come out, but they were not as frightened as they were when they first met yesterday. Standing on the side of the road, tilting his head, looking at Luoshen's carriage, it slowly passed in front of him.

"Sister, wait for me!"

A cry came from behind.

Luoshen looked out of the window and saw Gao Huan running out of the broken door of the governor's mansion. He caught up out of breath and said with a sad face, "That's it! I sent you here, my sister, and I will also send you back in person. I don't want to. left behind!"

He took the reins handed by his entourage, turned over, whipped a whip, and galloped forward.

Luoshen watched his figure on the horse gradually go away, and subconsciously, he turned his face and glanced at the direction behind him.

The door is empty. There were only two soldiers with halberds standing at the door, and there were two pillars.

Luoshen lowered his eyes, looked down at the window, turned his face, and just met the two eyes from his fellow car, Aju, and smiled at her.

"Mother Ju, I'm fine, don't worry. Let's hit the road."

Aju didn't say a word, just silently stuffed another pillow around her waist.

The convoy left the Governor's Mansion and walked in the empty barren city.

When they approached the gate of the city, Jiang Tao brought a group of people and caught up with them out of breath.

Luoshen declined, saw his insistence, smiled, and let him go.

Under the watchful eye of a group of patrolling soldiers near the city gate, the convoy went out through the door.

Suddenly, Aju, who was sleeping with her eyes closed in the carriage, opened her eyes and said to Luoshen: "Little lady, I suddenly remembered that I was in a hurry this morning, and I forgot to pack something. You go on the road first, I will go. Take it, take it and go back!"

Luo Shendao said, "Mammy, you don't have to go back by yourself, just ask someone to get it."

"No. It's my personal thing, I'm afraid people won't find it. I'll go get it myself, don't worry."

After speaking, Luo Shen couldn't help but stuck his head out, ordered to stop, climbed down, and told him to move on. He changed into another car by himself, told the driver, and then went to the governor's mansion again.

Seeing that she was in a hurry, Luoshen said it was a personal thing, so he also followed her, and only asked Fan Cheng to lead the team to go slower, and when she came back to meet, they would go on the road again.

…

The car stopped in front of the governor's house, and Aju got out of the car and asked the soldier at the door, "Your governor, can you go out just now?"

The soldier shook his head.

Aju stepped inside, rushed to the front hall of the discussion in one breath, and pushed open the door. After seeing a man, Xun, sitting on the case, his figure was straight and motionless. It was the person he was looking for when he came back.

Aju walked over hurriedly.

"Inspector Li, when you forcibly married the little lady, you didn't care about the grievances of her marrying, I knew you were not a good person! Only the little lady doesn't care about your rank and filial piety. Your mother, be kind to your sister-in-law, and be your husband and wife with peace of mind. How did you treat her?"

She glanced around.

"It's such a messed up place, even me, the waiter, can't stay any longer! The little lady has no complaints at all! You know how much she spent with the eldest princess, Gao Xianggong, for this trip. How much did you say?"

"Do you know how much hardship she endured on this journey? To get there earlier, she would rather ride in the car that was so bumpy that she would vomit her liver and lungs, rather than take the waterway. After sitting, her feet were swollen. Shit, I can't sleep at night!"

"It's not easy, after all the hardships, even if she is angry with you, how can you coax a few words? There's no bullshit! Just watch her go like this for one night?"

"Are you worthy of her affection for you?"

The more Aju thought about it, the more angry she became. With a "Bah", she opened her mouth and spit, and flew towards Li Mu's face.

"I just feel wronged for the little lady, I can't be angry! Forget it, a ruthless and unrighteous man like you, don't worry!"

"Open your eyes and watch. Without you, the lone evil star, my little lady has gone back, and she will have a very good life in the future!"

The saliva spit on Li Mu's forehead.

He didn't seem to notice it, didn't wipe it, and let it slowly drip down his forehead.

Aju wiped the spit on the corners of her mouth, left the person behind, turned to go to the room where Luoshen slept last night, rolled up the bed cover that was left on purpose this morning, and sneered to herself: "Wait. If you don't have a conscience, let's go back to sleep in his own straw nest!"

After all, he grabbed the bed and walked away.

…

Aju quickly caught up and rushed back.

When Luo Shen saw her going back, he deliberately took back the bedding left by the bed and glanced at her.

Aju said as if nothing had happened: "They are men with rough skin and rough flesh. They sleep the same in everything. It's not easy for us on the road. It's always good to have an extra bed."

She rolled back the bedding, and Luoshen couldn't ask him to send it back. I felt empty and listless in my heart, as if I didn't have the strength to say a word, so I closed my eyes and said nothing.

When the convoy left the city, Jiang Tao kept sending it.

Luoshen asked him to stay.

He said that Qiuchi, a hundred miles away, was the territory of the Hufu Hou family.

The Hufu Hou clan is a big surname among the Jie people, with a large number of clansmen. He was conquered by Jiexia in the past and forced to surrender. During the civil strife in Beixia last year, Hufu Hou returned to this place under the leadership of Hou Ding and established himself as king. Although there has not yet been a head-on conflict with Li Mu, it is always right to take more precautions, and insist on sending them off.

After passing the Qiuchi, Luoshen asked him to stay again. Jiang Taofang stopped, led the people to turn around, and said to Li Mu who was parked by the road: "They have passed the Qiuchi, so they should be fine."

Li Mu said nothing, his eyes looked straight ahead, and after a long while, he said, "I have the second brother Jiang. You bring the brothers back to the city first, I will return later."

Jiang Tao really couldn't guess what happened to his wife and his wife. The daughter of Gao's family traveled through mountains and rivers and only arrived yesterday, but she left this morning after only one night's work.

Because Li Mu opened his mouth like this, he didn't ask too many questions. He just nodded and agreed, telling him to be careful, to return earlier, and then take people away.

…

That day, Luoshen and his party went out for dozens of miles. In the evening, Fan Cheng saw that it was getting late. After passing a flat area by the water, he found a suitable place to camp. Hundreds of people settled down and cooked rice.

Luoshen's tent was clustered in the middle of the guard camp.

When it got dark, Fan Cheng ordered his men to take turns to guard. In the middle of the night, he also got up, went out of the tent and personally patrolled the camp. Seeing that everything was good, and the guards had returned to their positions, just as he was about to return to the tent, he suddenly heard a faint sound of horseshoes in the distance.

Going out and sleeping in the wilderness is not a land controlled by Dayu. What's more, the person he wants to protect is the current eldest princess and Gao Qiao's beloved daughter, how dare he be a little slack?

Immediately rushed out of the camp, climbed a nearby hill, and looked up.

Under the moonlight, on the sidewalk, a horse was coming in this direction, and it was getting closer. It was only one person. Fan Cheng breathed a sigh of relief, but he still didn't dare to be careless. A few people went out of the camp, screamed at the other party as a warning, and said loudly: "Who are you? My camp is ahead. If you pass by, just take a detour!"

The man did not make a detour, and continued to ride the horse, and the water came.

Fan Cheng immediately drew his sword and waited.

The man went ashore, stopped his horse, rolled over, and walked towards Fan Cheng.

As they got closer, Fan Chengcai recognized that this person was actually Li Mu.

Surprised, he hurriedly retracted his sword and hurried up to greet him.

"It turned out to be Inspector Li who arrived. I didn't recognize it just now, how offended!"

Li Mu is dressed in ordinary clothes, the only difference from the commoners is that he is equipped with a sword.

He stopped, the corner of his clothes was swayed by the night wind from the water, smiled, and nodded to Fan Cheng: "I want to see Mrs. Please let me know."

In the middle of the night, he suddenly appeared here, and naturally he didn't want to chat with himself here.

Before he spoke, Fan Cheng guessed his purpose.

But it was still a bit surprising to hear such words come out of his mouth.

This tone, how is it like a couple, it is like a cautious outsider.

I thought to myself, but didn't show it on the face, I just politely asked him to wait, I hurriedly turned around and entered the camp, and whispered before the tent.

Aju sleeps with Luoshen tonight.

Aju was already sound asleep, emitting light and heavy snoring.

It was not the first time that Aju slept with her since she was a child.

Luoshen had long been used to her snoring.

Tonight, it was so noisy that I couldn't sleep, and people kept awake.

Suddenly I heard Fan Cheng's announcement coming from outside the tent, my heart skipped a beat, but I didn't make a sound for a while.

"Little lady, Governor Li is here. At this moment, people are by the Yingtou River and want to see the little lady."

Fan Cheng thought she didn't wake up and repeated it again.

Aju turned over.

Luoshen closed his eyes and said, "Tell him to come back, there is no need to see him."

Fan Cheng was stunned for a moment, hesitated, and waited for a while. He didn't hear any sound from inside, so he had to come back and repeat Luoshen's words.

Li Mu was silent for a moment, and then said: "Can you trouble you, and then report it on my behalf, saying that I have something to tell her. It is extremely important."

Fan Cheng went back hurriedly, and whispered Li Mu's words again. After a while, he came out and saw Li Mu looking over, he couldn't help sighing to himself.

Marrying high and marrying low really makes sense.

It seems that Li Mu, a contemporary hero with the name of the God of War, just married the daughter of a high-ranking family, and the closed door in the middle of the night is also deeply sympathetic to eat.

He felt a little uneasy in his heart, and said in a low voice, "Censor Li, Madam must have worked hard to travel during the day, and she is very tired at the moment. Or, you should go back..."

Li Mu was silent again, thanked him, and asked him to do it himself.

Fan Cheng sighed secretly, bowed his hands to him, and led him back to the barracks first.

…

Luo Shen listened to Fan Cheng's footsteps and went for the second time, and never came back.

A long time passed, and A Ju's snoring seemed to be getting louder and louder. It also became swelteringly hot in the tent.

Luo Shen felt that he couldn't even breathe out.

She was lifted up and sat up, dazed for a moment in the pitch-black tent, put on her clothes in the dark, carefully stepped over under the feet of A Ju, who was sleeping outside her, and exited the tent.

A guard on duty saw her come out and hurriedly followed.

Luoshen walked aimlessly in the barracks under the moon for a while, and gradually reached the edge, only to realize that he had walked to the waterside of Yingkou without knowing it.

She stopped suddenly.

A few meters in front of her, she saw the figure of a man by the moonlit water.

With his back to her, he sat cross-legged beside the reeds on the water's edge, with a pitch-black long sword on the pebble ground by his hand. A horse was by his side, quietly chewing on the tender reed heart that had just taken out its head.

The night wind blew across the water, sweeping out wisps of water waves, and the leaves of the reeds and grasses rustled.

That dark back, motionless, people seem to be in meditation.

Luoshen stared at it for a while, and suddenly, a burst of anger surged in his heart, and walked towards the back.

"Aren't you leaving yet?"

Li Mu turned his face slowly.

The moonlight was pale, and his face was pale.

He got up from the reeds, looked at Luoshen, and smiled slightly: "If you don't see me tonight, it won't be too late when you get up tomorrow morning."

Luoshen's brows were cold: "What else can I say to you? You are playing with me. I have not drawn my sword to you, but I have done my best. I have already said what I should say, and you are still so shameless. What else is there to do?"

After she finished speaking, she turned and went in.

The sound of footsteps approached behind him, and Li Mu caught up with her in one step, holding her arm from behind.

Luoshen turned his head and stared at the palm he was holding his arm.

He paused, let go, but took a step, and instead stood in front of her, begging in a low voice, "Ami, I really have something to tell you."

"Last night you said that you are so virtuous and capable, that I love you all the time. You have also asked me several times why I married you. I used to avoid it and didn't answer. It's not that I don't want to sue you. It's that I don't know where to start. ."

"Please, let me tell you a story first, okay?"

A man's voice, which originally shook the sky and gave orders to the three armies, was soft and hoarse tonight. In front of her, it was as hard as sand to be low and small, begging her.

Luoshen really hates himself, why is it so useless, when he said such a sentence, he seemed to be tied his feet, unable to move, stopped there and listened to him.

He said: "Many years ago, there was a young man from the north who fled to Jingkou with his mother and went to work in a noble manor. He ate leftovers every day and slept in a cattle pen. A year later, When the original term expired, the villain of the family refused to let him go, falsely accusing him of stealing money, and threatened to sue him if he did not sign and sell himself."

"The boy had a bad temper since he was a child, and in his anger, he beat the evil slave. They tied him to the gate of the manor and nailed it into the palm of his hand to kill chickens and show the monkeys. His grandmother came and knelt down to them when he heard the news. Pleading, begging them to spare his life, is not only useless, but humiliated."

"At that time, he had been crucified for three days, and he had already lost his strength. Unhappy about what happened to his mother, he pulled out two crucified palms and rushed up, trying to save her from the predicament. But one has been crucified for three days, How can a teenager who has never eaten a bite beat those adults?"

His tone was very calm, as if he was really just telling someone else's story.

The blood in Luoshen's body slowly accelerated, and his heartbeat followed.

She slowly raised her head and looked at him.

He lowered his head, smiled at her, and continued: "Just when the boy was restrained and fell into despair, a girl came."

"The girl relieved him, saved him, and left."

"That girl, she should have been only seven or eight years old at that time, she was still very young, but she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life, the most beautiful voice, and the kindest heart..."

"After that day, the boy did not forget her..."

"It's you, how is that possible!"

Those vague memory fragments that had long since been dusted, such as snow mud claw, suddenly reappeared one by one in Luoshen's mind as he spoke.

She widened her eyes in surprise and stared at him, unable to overlap the boy's face in her memory with the Kongwu man in the moonlight in front of her.

"That boy is me, and the girl is you. I still remember what you looked like that day. You are wearing a yellow shirt, you are very beautiful..."

Li Mu stared at her shocked face, raised his arm, stretched it out in front of her, and slowly spread his palm.

On the palm of his hand, there is a scar the size of a hole in a copper coin, which was the mark left by the iron nail that had been pierced through the palm for three days, and he was forced to break free.

It's just that on weekdays, compared with the other large and small scars on his body, it is extremely inconspicuous, so Luoshen never paid attention to it before.

"Ami, this is the mark left by the nail going through the palm. It was very painful at the time."

"If you don't believe it, you can touch it, okay?"

The man's voice, softer than the moonlight above his head, faintly seemed to have a hint of pity, it sounded beside her ears, full of bewitching power.