In the year 619 of Great Xia, shortly after the Chinese New Year's Eve Autumn Harvest Festival, the Xiongnu in the northern desert came to harass the border, looting grain and grass materials to prepare for the winter, Yanlong County was in an emergency, Huo Xun asked for orders to go to the Xiongnu, but this time, King Yan did not agree to his request, soon Huo Xun moved out of the Yanming Pavilion of the Dashi Palace, moved into the mansion that King Yan was rewarded for his war achievements in early autumn, set up his own door, the northern defeat was repeatedly reported, Huo Xun once again asked for orders to go out on the expedition, King Yan's reply was still not allowed, the young and vigorous Huo Xun did not understand King Yan's decision, It was difficult to understand the resentment in his chest, and his temper came up and smashed the two luminous orbs that King Yan had given, but King Yan knew but was not angry, and issued an edict to seal Huo Xun as the Marquis of Yanyi, in order to reward his great military achievements in the past, and sent the prince to announce the decree in person.

King Yan's snub and indifference made Huo Xun calm down, and he began to close his door to thank guests, living a life of two points and one line in the Hou Mansion and Qingquan Palace for more than two months.

Today is Chinese New Year's Eve, and it is snowing heavily, in the evening, Huo Ling wrapped the big foil and went to the Qingquan Palace, as soon as he entered the warm pavilion, Qi Meng helped Huo Ling take off the red big feather, and the maid of the Qingquan Palace handed the hand stove.

"The Queen Mother! Ling'er is coming to accompany you for the New Year! ”

Huo Ling craned his neck and looked behind the screen, and heard Suosuo's footsteps, Huo Xun was walking out from behind the screen with the queen in his arms.

"Ahem... cough cough cough ...... Ahem"

The queen coughed again, and Huo Xun hurriedly patted her mother's back gently and helped her sit down slowly.

Huo Ling also went to his mother's side, gently patting his mother's back instead of his brother.

"Queen Mother, I came to see you recently, and my cough is getting worse and worse, didn't you invite the doctor to come and take a look?"

Huo Xun asked unnaturally, this is not like his usual appearance, he took the teapot on the table, poured a cup of tea, handed it to the queen, and sat on the side himself, maybe only in front of the queen, he would be so restrained.

He raised his eyes and saw Huo Ling's frowning appearance, and saw his mother's shoulders shaking when she coughed, and he pursed his lips.

"Alas, it's old and sick, it's out of the way......"

The queen replied, and then said, "Xun'er, your father's decision has his own reasons, and you don't need to be depressed and get into the horns." ”

She knew that in the previous dynasty, Huo Xun asked for his life to go to the Huns and was repeatedly blocked, and smashed the night pearl rewarded by King Yan in a fit of anger, he was high-spirited, and he drilled the tip of the horns for a while, which didn't matter, but she began to realize that King Yan wanted to elevate Huo Xun and remove him from the center of power, King Yan He valued the prince Huo Chong more and more day by day, it seems that he still wants to leave the best for Shen Xiangxiang, right?

Huo Xun was silent, he didn't speak.

"It's the New Year, why are you talking about this!"

Huo Ling smiled awkwardly and said, and then she looked at Mama Hua, who had been standing on the side, "I heard that the dining room of the queen mother has just changed cooks, Mama Hua, let me and my second brother also try his skills." ”

"Oh? Novice, the lone king also has to try it! ”

Unexpectedly, King Yan strode in, followed by a few chamberlains, and entered the house, King Yan motioned for all the eunuchs and maids to step back and sit on the other side of the round table.

"The son has seen his father"

Huo Ling and Huo Xun both got up and saluted King Yan, and the queen also slowly got up and saluted, but she did not speak, "Today is Chinese New Year's Eve, let's four of us celebrate the New Year together." ”

King Yan said as he looked at them, and then his gaze fell on Huo Ling again.

"Hehe, Ling'er has grown up, and she is getting more and more beautiful, Chu Guoxin sent Luo Dai, tomorrow is your birthday, my father asked someone to send it to your palace, you don't have to be restrained if you want anything, your eldest sister was at your age, there were always things that could not be finished... Haha"

Saying that, Huo Qi laughed heartily, mentioning the eldest princess Huo Suluo, there was a soft light in his eyes, Huo Ling saw it, she bowed her head slightly, she didn't know what to answer, her heart was a little sour, today's Yan Wang is different from the past, somehow, he is a lot closer.

"The king did not spend Chinese New Year's Eve here in the past, and the concubine was not prepared, for fear of neglecting the king."

The queen spoke softly, drawing the conversation to herself.

In previous years, King Yan's Chinese New Year's Eve had always been at Mrs. Shen's place, and even the Chinese New Year's Eve of Shengling'er was hurried from Mrs. Shen.

"King Gu has something to discuss with the queen today, your sister, the youngest princess of the Great Xia clan, Princess Xinwu is about the same age as Ling'er, and it will be in time for March to come, I want to ask the queen to back up a suitable gift and send it over."

King Yan looked at the queen, as if his eyes were blazing, but there was a layer of gray mist, "Well, let Ling'er take this gift and send it to the palace of Changyi in person, I don't know what the queen wants?" ”

Huo Ling was a little surprised, but Huo Xun looked at his father in surprise.

Let Ling'er personally send gifts to Changyi, what is the Great Xia clan now, it's just a false name, besides, Princess Xinwu is younger than Ling'er, but her generation is older than Ling'er, how does Ling'er deal with herself?

"Father, this is not appropriate, is it?"

Huo Xun's tone was not very friendly, and his face was also very gloomy.

"I'm talking to your queen mother..."

King Yan was a little unhappy, he didn't look at Huo Xun, and only threw out a sentence.

"I'm willing to go, Father."

When the queen hesitated, Huo Xun was indignant, but Huo Ling said something like this, "Changyi is no less prosperous than Dashi, and his sons have been raised in the deep palace for fifteen years, and they have never seen the world, so it is good to go to Changyi to have a look." ”

King Yan looked at Huo Ling with satisfaction, Huo Ling smiled, she didn't want her mother to be embarrassed, and the queen coughed violently at this time, King Yan wanted to reach out to hold her hand but didn't move, Huo Xun hurriedly went up to help her mother, the queen coughed for a while, and said weakly.

"The concubine knows, she is really unwell, and she wants to rest first, please go back to the king......"

After speaking, she shook Huo Xun's hand on her body, "You also send Ling'er back first, go out of the palace, let's go......"

After speaking, Huo Xun let go of her, she called Mama Hua to come in, and carried her to the dormitory, there were only three fathers and sons left in the warm pavilion, Huo Xun looked at King Yan directly, Huo Ling was afraid that King Yan would be angry if it went on like this, she stepped forward and dragged her brother away from the warm pavilion, until on the palace road outside Qingquan Palace, Huo Xun broke away from Huo Ling roughly.

"Why do you say yes! Why doesn't the queen mother argue about anything! Why did the Father do that to us! Why should I be so suppressed! What we did wrong! What did you do wrong? Live like this! ”

Huo Xun angrily slammed his fist on the palace wall, and in one fell swoop, blood stained his entire palm.

Huo Ling looked at Huo Xun in a daze, why didn't she understand?

"Second Brother ......"

"Why is my mother so cowardly! Why never be close to you and me! Is she still a mother! What the hell does she want! ”

Huo Xun hadn't finished venting yet, he was puzzled, there were too many puzzles.

"Second brother! Are you resenting her? ”

Huo Ling didn't expect Huo Xun to say such a thing, she asked incredulously.

"I..."

yes, how is he?

How could he not know that his mother was weak and needed to be taken care of day and night for her normal life, let alone fighting for something for herself and her sister.

The brother and sister stood silently in the snow, Huo Xun's hair crown was a little loose in the face of the palace wall, a few wisps were scattered, his right fist was stained with blood, and he hung weakly, Huo Ling only wore a few thin and heavy clothes, shivering in the cold wind at this time, Qimeng ran over from a distance, she held Huo Ling's big coat, ran to Huo Ling's side, hurriedly wrapped her in a big coat, and timidly greeted Huo Xun, Huo Xun turned his head to look at them.

"Take the princess back to Jingfei Pavilion, I'll go first."

He said with some guilt, after speaking, he walked away on the snow, his figure was so stubborn, this was another unforgettable snowy night... On the way back to Jingfei Pavilion, Huo Ling was tightly wrapped in Dayu, she felt very cold, but she didn't want to go back yet, this cold wind made her sober.

"I want to walk alone, Qimeng, you go back first."

"Princess, are you okay alone?"

Qimeng asked.

"It's okay, let's go."

Huo Ling smiled comfortingly.

"No"

In the heavy snow, Huo Ling was slowly pacing on the long palace road with a lantern wrapped in a big man, she changed the handle of the lantern from one hand to the other from time to time, slowly, she thought of something, suddenly smiled, she exhaled from her mouth, watched the mist disperse, slowly, she didn't seem to feel cold.

I don't know why, I have already walked to the Xinuan side hall, the black hall door is closed, but there are two festive red lanterns hanging on the eaves.

"Yujue... Jade Jue..."

Huo Ling muttered softly to the door, but after standing for a moment, she shook her head in disappointment and turned to leave.

Not far away, Yu Jue was carrying a sword and a lantern and stepping on the snow to the west to the west of the temple, he saw the footprints on the ground, the footprints are not big, not like the footprints of men, walking very slowly, the prints are pressed deeply, not like people who practice martial arts, who is it?

He thought curiously, walking briskly along the footprints, and soon, he saw a little red shadow in front of him, and he slowly paused...