The hall of Wanghai City seemed very empty to the two lonely diners.

Long shadows sprinkled on the walls. One torch was silently extinguished, leaving only three remaining.

Murong Ke sat silently, glaring at the wine glass in front of him, the wine on his lips tasteless and sour.

Akamatsu sat opposite, and between the two, his father's high position was as empty as the other seats in the hall. Even the servants left, and she allowed them to go to the celebration.

The walls of the castle were unusually thick, and even so, the revelry of the people in the courtyard was faintly audible.

The officials of Wanghai City brought out twenty barrels of wine from the cellar for the commoners to celebrate Murong De's imminent triumph and Bu Feifei's conquest of Cliff Rock City. Everyone raised their horn glasses full of brown beer and drank heartily.

I can't blame them, Murong Ke thought, they didn't know. And even if they knew, what did they have to do with them? they did not know my child, they had never watched Bran climb with fear, and pride and worry had become inseparable twin brothers, they had never heard him laugh;

She looked at the dinner in front of her: trout wrapped in bacon, salad made of turnips, red fennel and beets, peas, and saury from the Yangtze River. Akamatsu Yue eats in an orderly manner, when eating is yet another work to be done.

I'm such a boring woman, Murong Ke thought to himself, good wine and good luck are not interesting, and songs and laughter make me strange.

I am a monster of sorrow and dust, with nothing but hatred, where my heart used to be.

Now it's empty.

The sound of another woman eating was unbearable for her. "Akamatsutsuki, don't just accompany me, if you have the heart, go to the celebration, drink horn ale, and dance to the sound of the rigoletto. ”

"I'm not fit for that, ma'am. She tore off a piece of rabbit with her big hands, and stared blankly at the charred and glittering grease stain, as if she had forgotten what it was. "If it's your order, I'll ......"

Murong Ke sensed her embarrassment. "I just think you should find a better partner than me. ”

"That's it. She put the rabbit in her mouth and chewed it heavily.

"Another bird came this morning. Murong Ke didn't know why he spoke. The bachelor immediately woke me up. It was his responsibility, but it was inconsiderate. Not at all considerate. She didn't want to tell Chi Songyue about this, only she and the brains of Wanghai City knew about it, and she planned to keep it a secret until ...... Until......

Until when? Silly woman, do you think that if you keep a secret in your heart, it will no longer be real? Do you think that if you don't mention it, if you don't tell anyone, it's just a dream, or even a dream, but a fright half-asleep? Oh, if that's the case, the gods are so merciful.

"Is there any news about Bright City?" asked Akamatsutsuki.

"It's fine. The birds flew in from Severn City and were released by my own hands, Master Su, the thinker of the Northern Underworld City. "Black wings, black message. "He has gathered all the forces he can muster and is marching on the northern city of Hades, where he will take the castle back. "It doesn't matter how inconsequential. But he said...... He wrote...... He told me that he ......"

"What did he say, ma'am, is there any news of your sons?"

Such a simple question, such a simple answer. Murong Ke tried to answer, but his words choked in his throat. "I don't have a son anymore. She tried her best to squeeze out these terrible words, but she didn't cry, and she didn't secretly rejoice.

Akamatsutsuki glared at her in horror. "Ma'am?"

Bu Yangming tried to escape, but was arrested at a mill by the Oak River. Tai Shi An hung their heads on the walls of the North Underworld. The Taishi family, a family that has been a vassal of the Buyang family for hundreds of years!"I said it, the gods forgave me, I said it, and now it has become true.

Looking at the tears, Chi Songyue's face was blurred. I saw her stretch out her hand from across the table, but her fingers never touched Murong Ke, as if she hesitated to touch it so unwelcomely, "I...... I don't know what to say, ma'am. My good lady. Your sons, they ...... They are now with the gods. ”

"Is it?" said Murong Ke harshly, "what kind of god would allow such a thing to happen?" my poor little son Bu Yangming...... When I left the North, he hadn't opened his eyes since he fell. I left before he woke up, and now I can never return to him, I can no longer hear his laughter. She opened her palms and looked at her fingers. "These scars...... When Bu Yangming was unconscious, they sent killers to take advantage of the opportunity to cut his throat. Bu Yangming almost died, and I would have died with him, but fortunately, his wolf tore open the throat of the person who came and saved his life. She paused. "Presumably Tai Shi'an even killed the wolf, it must be, otherwise...... I know that as long as the wolves live, my son will be safe, just as the north wind is to the wind...... But my daughters don't have wolves anymore. ”

The sudden change of topic made Akamatsu a little confused. "Your daughters ......"

"Since the age of three, Bu Yanglin has been a little lady, polite and pleasing anytime and anywhere. She listened best to the heroic stories of the knights. Everyone says she looks like me, but she's going to be much prettier than I was when she grows up, and you know when you see her. I often sent her maid away and combed her hair myself. Her hair was maroon-red, lighter than mine, thick and soft...... The red strands of hair shone like the light of a torch and shone like a copper plate. ”

"And Bu Yangnan, hehe...... If the guests of the Buyang family rode into the atrium without being announced, they always regarded her as a stable brother. I have to admit that Bu Yangnan is a tricky child, half boy, half wolf. The more you don't allow her to do anything, the more she thinks about it. She inherited the long face of Bu Yangchen, and her brown hair was messy like a bird's nest. I tried my best to make her a lady, but to no avail. Other girls collect dolls and dolls, but what she collects is a scar, and she always speaks without thinking, rushing out of her mouth. I think she's dead. She said it as if a giant was squeezing her bore. "Akamatsutsuki, I want them all to die. First is Tai Shi'an, then Qingqiu Youyong, Qingqiu Yourong and that crippled ugly ghost, everyone...... Everyone died, not a single one remained. And my daughter, my daughter ......"

"Queen Mother...... She also has a son," Akamatsu said awkwardly. "She also has sons, about the same age as your sons. When she hears this, she may ...... Maybe I'll be with you, and then ......"

"Send my daughter back safely?" Murong Ke smiled sadly. "It's just your sweet and simple thoughts, my child. I hope so too...... But that's not going to happen. Now he can only avenge his brothers by flying up, and I hope that the ice will be as deadly as fire. Do you know? The sword that used to kick up dust in front of me was called cold ice, and it was a sharp weapon forged by Gan Tiesheng, and there were thousands of spiral ripples on it, so sharp that I didn't dare to touch it. The sword that flew was like a stick compared to the cold ice, and I am afraid that it would not be easy for him to go to Tai Shi'an's head.

Bu Yang's family has no executioners, Bu Yangchen often said that those who sentence people to death must do it themselves, and it is his responsibility to kill, but he never gets joy from it. But I will, oh, I will!" she looked at the scar on her hand, her fingers opening and closing, and finally slowly raised her eyes. "I also brought him a jug of wine. ”

"Wine?" Akamatsu Yue didn't know. "To Bu Yangfei? or to ...... Tai Shi An?"

"To the King Slayer. "It's going to work. I hope you're thirsty too, Qingqiu is brave, and I want your throat to be dry and dry. "I want you to come with me. ”

"Everything is at your command, ma'am. ”

"Good. Murong Ke suddenly got up. "Stay here and have a good meal. I'll come to you later, around midnight. ”

"So late, ma'am?"

"The dungeon has no windows, there is no difference between day and night, and for me it is always the same as midnight. With that, Murong Ke stepped out of the hall, and the footsteps echoed hollowly. She boarded up to the hospital room of her father, Murong Bo, at the top of the main fort, and heard the shouts of the people outside: "Long live Wanghai City!" "Cheers! Cheers to the young hero's adults!" My father is not dead yet, she just wants to yell at them. My son is dead, but my father is still alive, and you deserve to die, and he is still your lord.

Murong Bo slept deeply. "He's just drunk a cup of sleeping wine, ma'am," said Wanghai City's thinker, "to stop the pain." Now he doesn't know you're coming. ”

"It's okay," Murong Ke said. Looking at my father's appearance, it is not so much that he is alive as that he is dead, but compared to my two hard-working sons, he is really alive.

"Ma'am, can I do something? Perhaps, you would like a sleeping pill too?"

"Thank you, master, I don't want anything. I don't sleep to escape my grief, that's not fair to Bu Yangming. You go and go to the celebration, I want to be alone with my father for a while. ”

"As you wish, ma'am. The thinker bowed, and then left her.

Murong Bo lay on it, his mouth open, and his breathing was as slight as a whistle, as if sighing. One of his hands hung down to the side, thin and pale, and there was no blood left, but when Murong Ke touched it, he could still feel warm. She ran her fingers through her father's and squeezed them tightly. No matter how tightly I gripped him, I couldn't keep him, she thought sadly, just let him go. But she wouldn't let go.

"Father, I have no one to talk to," she told him. I prayed, but the Bodhisattva was unwilling to respond. She kissed his hand softly. The skin is still very warm, and under the pale and transparent skin, the blue veins are intertwined, like a river in the distance.

Outside the gate, the river was flowing eastward, and the Red Fork River and the Tengshi River were confluence, rushing endlessly, but the river in the palm of my father's hand could not do this, and it would soon dry up.

"Last night, I dreamed of us coming home from Haijiang City, do you remember? Looking around, it was gray, and the horse's nose was moving forward, and he couldn't see a foot clearly. We can't find the avenue. The branches of the trees are like long, thin arms, encircling us and scratching us. I cried, I shouted for a long time, but the sound was absorbed by the thick fog. Only Bai Jingting knew where we were, and he came back alone and found us......"

"This time, no one is going to come to me, right? This time, I have to find my own way, it's so hard, it's really hard. ”

"I have always kept in mind the language of the Buyang family. The strong are self-reliant, Father, and this is true for you, and it is true for me. Now Bu Yangfei not only has to fight against the Qingqiu family, but also has to use the same strength to fight against Tai Shi'an, but what is this? For a golden crown and an iron chair? There is no doubt that this land has already shed a river of blood. I want my daughters to go home, I want Bu Yangfei to put down my sword, go to Lord Xiahou Lei's side to choose a simple and unpretentious girl, have children, and live happily and happily, I want Bu Yangming to come back, I want to ......" Murong Ke lowered his head. "I want," she repeated, and the word swept away in a moment.

After a long time, the candle flickered and finally went out. Moonlight poured through the cracks in the narrow windows, leaving mottled silver spots on my father's face. She listened to the soft whispers of his laborious breathing, to the never-ending turbulent waves, to the faint ballad of the harp playing in the courtyard, sad and sweet.

"My last beautiful woman was as beautiful as the autumn sun," sang someone in the castle, "and the setting sun sprinkled on the ends of her hair......

The singing had stopped, but Murong Ke didn't notice it. Hour after hour passed in the blink of an eye, but before Akamatsutsuki knocked on the door, it seemed as if everything was just an insignificant moment. "Madame," she declared softly, "midnight has come. ”

Midnight came, Father, and she thought to herself, I must do my duty. She let go of his hand.

The jailer was a sneaky dwarf with broken veins all over his nose. When he entered, he was lying next to a large glass of ale and leftover pheasants, and he seemed to be very drunk. He narrowed his eyes and looked at them suspiciously. "I beg your pardon, madam, Lord Murong De has ordered that no one should visit the King Butcher unless he has his seal and letter of authorization. ”

"Master Murong De, could it be that my father is dead, and I don't know yet?"

Jailer's lips. "No, ma'am, of course not. ”

"Well, you can either open the cell door or go with me to my father's study, and explain to your face why you refused me. ”

He lowered his eyes. "Everything was as Madame commanded. He had a large set of keys hanging from his studded leather belt, and he grunted for a long time before he pulled out the one that opened the door to the king's slayer's cell.

"Go back to your bar," she ordered. An oil lamp hung on a hook from the low ceiling, and Murong Ke removed it and lit the flame. "Akamatsutsuki, don't let anyone disturb me. ”

Chi Songyue nodded, pressed the round head of the hilt of the sword with her hand, and stood still outside the prison door. "When Madame needs me, just speak up. ”

Murong Ke pushed open the heavy iron-wood door with his shoulders and paced into a filthy darkness. This can be regarded as the "belly intestine" of Wanghai City, and it smells as bad as the taste of the belly intestine. The straw that had not been changed for a long time was scattered all over the ground, rustling when stepped on.

There are patches of saltpeter on the wall, and the color is not visible. Through the stone wall, there was a faint pulse of the Tengshi River, and in the dim light, there was a bucket of spilled feces at the foot of the wall on one side, and a shrunken figure on the other. The flask was placed by the door and did not move at all. It seems that this time I have to use my brain. Thankfully, the jailer didn't talk too much.

Qingqiu Youyong raised one arm to cover his face, and the iron cuffs on his wrists clanged. "Mrs. Buyan," he hadn't spoken for too long, and his voice was a little hoarse. "I'm afraid I can't entertain you like this. ”

"Look at me, you unforgivable bastard. ”

"The light stung the eyes. If you are willing, wait a moment," since he was captured in the forest that night, Qingqiu Youyong has not even been allowed to shave his face, and the face that resembles the Queen Mother is now covered with a fluffy beard. Under the light, his long beard shone with golden light, and he looked like a huge golden lion, even though he was handcuffed, he was still majestic. His unwashed hair was tangled and hung down at his shoulders, his shirt was tattered, and his face was pale and withered...... But the man was still full of strength and beauty.

"You don't seem to take me. ”

"The sudden generosity is suspicious. ”

"It's easy to cut off your head, so why should I poison you?"

"Death from poisoning can be considered a natural death, but the head does not move automatically. He lay on the floor, squinting upwards, his cat-like blue eyes adjusting to the light. "I should have asked you to sit down, but unfortunately your brother forgot to arrange a chair. ”

"I'm just standing. ”

"Okay, I gotta say, your face is terrible. Maybe it's because of the lights. "He was handcuffed and shackled, and they were connected to each other, making it uncomfortable for him to sit or stand. The shackles were also nailed to the wall. "My bracelets are heavy enough, are they? Would you like to add some more material? Do you want me to play with them?"

"It's all your own doing," she reminded him. "We let you stay in the tower in comfort in a way that suits your place and status, and you return the favor by escaping. ”

"A prison cell is a prison cell, although this place is really a sunny garden compared to some places under Qingqiu City. Maybe one day, I'll let you see it. ”

If he is also afraid, at least hide it well, Murong Ke thought to himself. "A man whose hands and feet are handcuffed should be polite, keep his mouth shut, King Slayer. I'm not here to listen to your intimidation. ”

"No, then you want to cheat on me? No wonder they say that widows can't keep their boudoirs. Although our Imperial Guards have sworn never to marry, as long as you open your mouth, I will still be reluctant to make it difficult. Here, pour two glasses of wine, take off your skirt, and see if I react. ”

Murong Ke looked down at him with disgust. Is there anyone else in the world who is so beautiful and yet so contemptible as he is?" ”

"Unless he still lets me carry these things. "Qingqiu has the courage to make the chains clange. "We all know that the kid won't dare fight me. ”

"My son is young, but if you think of him as a reckless man, you are very wrong...... In my opinion, why is it too late to challenge him when you are in command of a great army?"

"Forget it, the ancient King of the Winter Realm will only hide behind his mother's skirt?"

"You think we won't dare kill you?"

"Of course you dare, I have never denied the courage of the Buyang family," Qingqiu Youyong raised his head and looked at Murong Ke with hazy eyes, he couldn't completely see her face. "But you can't kill me, but if there's a chance, as many of them as you have slaughtered, haven't you?"

There was no doubt that Murong Ke knew that he was facing a self-righteous guy.