When Qi Fan and his entourage arrived at the family mansion, it was already noon. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info Qi Fan just circled around the house, and then stood firm at the gate of the courtyard, and did not rush into the courtyard.

"What do you seem to have discovered?" Gen followed Qi Fan's gaze and looked at the road under his feet.

"In the streets and alleys of the city, there are footprints left by people fleeing, but in front of this house, there have been no footprints or rut marks. There is no front door, no back door, and no outside the surrounding courtyard walls. Qi Fan said.

"My lord means that no one from the house has ever left the gate of the mansion?" said Dui suspiciously, "but there is really no one in the house." ”

"It may seem so, but that's only part of what we see. Qi Fan glanced at the departure that inspired him, and continued, "What about under the ground?"

"Is there a secret passage underground?" Kan comprehended Qi Fan's words and asked rhetorically.

"If there is a secret passage, where should the entrance be?" he said, looking around.

Gen and Dui pondered for a moment, and then spoke almost at the same time:

"Backyard!"

"Shack!"

Qi Fan looked at the two of them, nodded and said:

"There are no very valuable items in the backyard, so they should not be destroyed, and if there is no reason, how can the kitchen utensils in the shack be scattered. ”

While speaking, Qi Fan led the four of them across the gate of the house and strode straight into the backyard. Then Qi Fan stopped outside the shed, looking at the structure of the shed, and Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui entered the hut and scattered to find the mechanism to open the entrance to the secret passage.

After a while, Li found a bucket measuring utensil fixed on the wooden partition where the kitchen utensils were originally placed—a square bucket made of mahogany. After trying to lift it up, he turned it around the mahogany square bucket with both hands, and he was really able to turn it a few points. Then, on the ground near the east wall of the shack, a three-foot square gap suddenly opened, and a stone staircase leading to the ground appeared in front of several people.

"My lord, my subordinates will investigate first. Li turned to look at Qi Fan and asked.

"It's okay, I'll go ahead. Qi Fan waved his hand, strode into the shed, and walked down the stone steps one by one. Kan, Li, Gen, and Hui followed.

There are 12 stone steps, and when you reach a platform, you can see flints and torches hanging on the side walls. Kan lit the torch with flint and removed it from the base, and the entrance to the tunnel closed by itself, and the scene suddenly darkened, and the light covered only a small area around the torch.

By the light of the torches, the five of them continued to walk deeper along the passage, and after about three hundred paces, the road in front of them suddenly became wider, and it was supposed that the passage should be connected to a stone chamber in the shape of a wine cellar.

In the silence, Qi Fan stopped and stood still for a moment before moving forward again. At the moment when Qi Fan walked into the entrance of the wide stone room, two people on each side flashed out of the invisible dead end, trapping him in the middle, while the four people of Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui were blocked in the narrow passage behind him, making it difficult to help.

However, Qi Fan seemed to have been prepared, and immediately calmly took over the attack of the four people facing him, and at the same time sank into the dantian and said loudly:

"Qi Fan, the captain of the light car, is here, I don't want to hurt others by mistake, so if it's my own person, I'll stop. ”

As soon as Qi Fan's words fell, a person in the shadow on the opposite side responded:

"It's an adult's voice, yes. Quick, stop!"

After the four people in front of him stopped moving, Qi Fan took a step to the side, and Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui were able to pour into the stone room, and the area illuminated by the torch in Kan's hand also moved forward a lot. At this time, a few people saw that in addition to the four people who launched an offensive on both sides, there were about twenty people in charge of guarding a few feet ahead. At this moment, these more than 20 people had taken off their guards, knelt on one knee in the face of Qi Fan, and said in unison:

"Your subordinates, see your Excellency. ”

"Get up. Qi Fan looked around at everyone and said, "What happened in the city, can the people in the city survive?"

"Hui Yu, it was a group of unidentified caravans who had infiltrated the city and launched a surprise attack at sunset when the people were busy cooking smoke, and the raiders were not only dozens of caravans, but also 500 people on the outskirts of the city. The subordinates finally fulfilled their mission, and used the underground stone house of the Jiami business to transport and store grain to protect the safety of Miss Mojia, the family and the people of several nearby houses, but the people who remained on the ground were only afraid of ......," replied the young general who had responded to Qi Fan's words earlier.

"No one was spared. Qi Fan said in a deep voice.

After a short silence, the young general spoke again:

The rest of the brothers were accompanying the people in the stone house inside, trying to calm and encourage their emotions, and Miss Mo was there. It's just that the adults said that no one on the ground was spared, that is to say, the shopkeeper and the shopkeeper of the Jiami business who had not yet been able to return home at that time...... They are no longer alive. If Miss Mo learns this news, I don't know how sad she will be. ”

When Qi Fan heard this, he subconsciously glanced in the direction of the stone house guarded by everyone, but saw a young girl standing beside her, obviously listening to all the previous conversations. And this girl looked sad and wanted to cry at the moment, not Mo Lanhui or which.

Subsequently, Qi Fan assigned forty soldiers in the stone room to escort the surviving people home, and instructed Kan Heli to notify the three thousand soldiers stationed outside the city to quickly enter the city to help the people rebuild their homes and resist foreign enemies.

Although Mo Lanhui was sad in her heart, her words and deeds were very strong, and she temporarily provoked the pillars of the family with the mentality of being the mother of the house, so that the more than 20 people in the family who had lost their center of gravity regained their backbone. Qi Fan watched from the sidelines, and secretly praised Mo Lanhui. At this time, Qi Fan, even if he had never promised to Yu Shi, was already determined to protect Mo Lanhui from any harm.

After a busy day, in the evening, Qi Fan personally delivered the food to Mo Lanhui's room and said to her:

"Since yesterday afternoon, you haven't eaten much for more than a day, what should you do if your body is exhausted?

Mo Lanhui's eyes were red, holding back the tears rolling in her eyes, she nodded, and said softly:

"I know. ”

"I'm sorry, I'm late. Qi Fan looked at Mo Lanhui, who was still strong, and felt a little distressed in his heart.

"It's not about you. Lord Lieutenant has been of great help. Besides, if you hadn't sent someone to protect me, I and the remaining 100 villagers would not have escaped this catastrophe. I haven't thanked you for saving my life. ”

"What are your plans for the future?"

"Although my son-in-law and I have not formally visited the church, I have regarded him as a husband in my heart, and it is reasonable that I should stay and mourn for my son-in-law and his uncle. ”

"It's just that it is a time of war, and the city here is always unsafe, so I want to take you to the border to live temporarily, where you can also pray for them. Qi Fan looked at Mo Lanhui and sincerely extended an invitation.

"What's the difference between the border and here? Mo Lanhui said as she shook her head to express her refusal.

"It's a little different. I'm at the border. Qi Fan looked at Mo Lanhui's slightly confused expression, and then said, "You are in Belvedere, what happens, there must always be time for the message to be transmitted, after all, I can't reach it." And you are at the border, in front of my eyes, I can protect you with my life at the first time. ”

"Why ......" Mo Lanhui knew that his relationship with Qi Fan was still shallow, and he felt that he couldn't bear Qi Fan's heavy promise for a while.

"I'll give you a reason, are you willing to go with me?" Qi Fan said, without waiting for Mo Lanhui's reaction, he said again, "Your grandmother is the eldest princess of the first emperor's period, and my grandfather is King Ji Yingfan, who was cut down and restored to the status of a prince, counting, you are my sister." ”

"It's no wonder that Lord Du Wei was very close to our brothers and sisters when he was in Hengdu, and now he takes good care of me. ”

"You still call me Captain?"

"It's Brother Duwei. ”

"I've told you the truth, you're not going to refuse, are you?"

"Can you promise me two more things?"

"When the war is over, I will definitely send you back, and it is up to you whether you stay at home or return to Hengdu. Qi Fan understood a little in his heart and said.

"It's one thing. Mo Lanhui nodded, and said, "Second, please also protect the people here in Belvedere like guarding the border pass." ”

"I have ordered my brothers who arrived earlier and the 3,000 soldiers who came with me to stay in Belvedere to defend against the enemy. ”

"It couldn't be better. Mo Lanhui finally became a little happy, relieved the burden in his heart and said, "The border war is tense, and the commander can't be away for a long time, so I will go back to the border with Brother Du Wei early tomorrow morning." ”

"Good. ”

~~~

On April 18, in the hall of Emperor Jing of the Palace of Yiguo——

Emperor Jing had just sent someone to summon the fourth prince Xiuyao to meet him, and while waiting for him to come, Emperor Jing had nothing to do, so he thought to himself about the proposal of the fifth princess Xiuyan:

"Is my father hesitating about the candidates to fight with the Hengguo Light Car Captain before the war? The eldest brother and the second brother are already capable of sharing the worries and problems of the father, why doesn't the father think about the fourth brother and the sixth brother. ”

Xiu Yan's words have automatically filtered out the six princes Xiuxuan here in Jinghuang, because the queen is seriously ill, and Xiuxuan cannot be sent to the battlefield at this time.

Of course, Emperor Jing never thought that Xiuyan's "unintentional" proposal was actually instructed by Xiu Yao to make her speak, so he didn't realize Xiu Yao's desire to compete for the throne. What Emperor Jing is currently worried about is only whether Xiuyao will have the ability to defeat Hengguo's talented light car captain.

After a while, Xiu Yao heard the summons, leaned over and saluted Emperor Jing:

"See your father's father. ”

"Get up. ”

"Father Xie. ”

"I heard that you insist on going to the queen's palace every day to say goodbye?" Emperor Jing did not go directly to the topic, but first gossiped with Xiu Yao.

"Yes. Although the queen mother is not the queen mother's biological son, he is also worried about the queen mother's condition, so he goes to visit the queen mother every day like a concubine. Xiu Yao replied.

"Well, it's rare that you're a filial child. Emperor Jing nodded slightly.

"Father, how is the queen mother's condition recently?"

"It's still the same, I'm afraid ...... "time is running out...... Emperor Jing said silently in his heart.

Emperor Jing and the queen are young couples, who have been respectful and affectionate for many years, and the queen has a lot of weight in Emperor Jing's heart. Therefore, in the past few days, Emperor Jing has inevitably been sad.

"Erchen had an idea in his heart, and he didn't know if it was feasible. Xiu Yao quietly cast the bait.

"Tell me about it. A flash of hope flashed in Emperor Jing's eyes.

"The queen mother is thrifty, virtuous and virtuous, has the virtue of internal help to her father, and has exemplary beauty for the people. The son dared to ask his father and the emperor, can the queen mother be worthy of the title of a generation of virtuous queens?"

"Of course. ”

In this case, the son begged his father to make an exception and grant amnesty to the world, so as to pray for the blessing of the queen mother. ”

"At the moment, the medicine stone is useless, and this is not a bad stopgap measure. Emperor Jing was a little tired, so he said to Xiu Yao, "I will leave this matter to you." ”

"The retainers obeyed. ”

"Xiuyao, you're eighteen years old this year, aren't you?" said Emperor Jing.

"Yes. ”

"When you were your age, I had already gone on two expeditions with the Emperor and won one battle. ”

"My father is brave and martial, and my sons only hope to get a few points from my father, so that they can share their father's worries. ”

"What are you going to do if you get the chance to play right now?"

"In terms of talent, the sons are not as good as your brothers, but fortunately, they are still diligent and hardworking, and they have read a little bit of the military book. Erchen knew that leading troops to fight a war was different from talking about it on paper, and the situation in actual combat was unpredictable, and the fighter plane was fleeting. Only by having a clear mind, knowing how to make good use of people, summing up experience in actual combat and responding in a timely manner, can we live up to the expectations of our father. ”

"I will give you 10,000 troops, send you to the western battlefield for reinforcements, and fight against Qi Fan, the captain of Hengguo's light car, are you afraid?"

"The son has no fear. The father and the emperor hoped for his sons, and the sons and daughters should do their best to clear the obstacles for their father's southern expedition. ”

"Okay, after you say goodbye to your mother, go back to your house and make some preparations. Tomorrow morning, I will practice it for you. ”

"Thank you father, my son's retainers will retire first. ”

~~~

After having lunch in the concubine's palace, Xiuyao returned to the Four Princes' Mansion and went straight to Shu Ning's room. Shu Ning was lying sick and falling asleep in bed because of her fever.

Xiu Yao stopped the maid from saluting, turned sideways and sat down on the side of Shu Ning's bed, stroked Shu Ning's forehead with his hand, and said in a low voice:

"What did the doctor say?"

"Returning to His Royal Highness, the doctor said that although the symptoms of excessive blood loss of the fourth prince and concubine have been alleviated, because the injury has not been treated in time, there are signs of infection, which will cause a high fever for many days. The maid whispered.

"How is the infected wound now?" Xiu Yao asked with a stunned expression.

"No matter how the doctor persuaded her, the four princesses and concubines didn't let the doctor check the wound, so the doctor didn't know where the injury was. The maid saw Xiuyao's expression and replied cautiously.

"What medicine did the doctor prescribe?"

"Some fever-reducing decoctions and external medicines were prescribed, and the four princesses and concubines retired from the slaves and maids, took the medicine on their own, and then took the decoction and fell asleep. ”

"Alright, you go down first. No one is allowed to come in without my command. ”

"Yes. ”

After watching the maid exit the door and close the door, Xiuyao's gaze returned to Shu Ning, her gaze lingered on her lower body for a moment through the quilt, and then turned to her face. At this moment, Xiuyao's usual deliberately disguised expression completely relaxed, revealing a real and distressed emotion, and muttered:

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you...... Why are you so stupid, your body is like this, and you still think about my reputation...... Ning'er, you must be fine, hurry up and get better, okay?"

Although Xiuyao and Shu Ning's marriage was pursued by him out of Shu Ning's background, the two are not without feelings, putting aside the initial hypocrisy, getting along day and night, Xiuyao's feelings for Shu Ning have increased day by day. It's just that since Xiu Yao knew the origin of his mother's concubine, his heart was intertwined with inferiority and pride, his desire for the position of prince was unprecedentedly inflated, and the humility in front of people and the darkness behind people frequently alternated, and his psychology was on the verge of getting out of control.

Shu Ning, who was asleep, fell into a repeated nightmare. A few days ago, Xiuyao used force on her because she lost her mind for a while, and the scene was repeated in her dream. With Xiu Yao's vigorous venting, blood continued to gush out of Shu Ning's lower body, and the blood stained the mattress red, and also stabbed the hearts of the two.

As if sensing Shu Ning's uneasiness, Xiu Yao raised his hand to gently wipe the sweat beads off Shu Ning's forehead, and then imprinted a kiss on her cheek, waiting for Shu Ning's eyebrows to stretch before he stood up, tucked the quilt for Shu Ning, and then turned to leave.

When Xiuyao walked to the study, he saw that the sand gull and the vulture were already waiting at the door.

"Your Highness. The two saluted in unison.

"Come in with me. Xiuyao said, pushing open the door of the study, and the sand gull and the vulture immediately followed Xiuyao into the study.

"Your Highness, Mandarin Duck has a letter, which says that the people of the General's Gang have taken Belvedere and abandoned the city. Qi Fan, the captain of the light car, sent 3,000 soldiers to defend Belvedere, and the troops were finally dispersed. The vulture reported.

"Now they are no longer the opponents of the three thousand men and horses in Belvedere, so you will inform Mandarin Duck, Xiao Panwei and Chang Yan to stand by. Xiuyao instructed the vulture.

"Yes. ”

"I propose to my father today that he will be amnesty to pray for the queen, and my father has agreed. Xiu Yao said, looking at Sha Ou, "You stay in Yidu and help the fifth princess settle Changying's food, housing and daily life, the last injury plus a toss in prison, he should be not lightly injured, by the way, I will ask a doctor to take a good look at him." ”

"How can His Highness care about the affairs of the eagle?" asked the sand gull.

"Xiu Yan said to her father, I will go out to fight against the captain of Hengguo's light car. In exchange, I promised her to rescue the eagle. At this time, I was glad that Xiuyan did not die in Hengguo, otherwise it would not have been so smooth today. Xiuyao's tone was indifferent, and the brother-sister relationship was just a bargaining chip in his eyes, "After ten days and half a month, when my father doesn't care, let Changying return to Xiuyan's side, and then you will come to the battlefield to join me." ”

"Your Highness's orders, and your subordinates will do so. ”

"Hmm. Go ahead. ”

"The subordinates retired. ”