The third day after sending Xiao Junmeng away from Chang'an was the day of the emperor's burial.

It was still the eve before, Xiao Yanzhi and Pei Ze entered the palace and shared dinner with Xu Lishan, and the three men were not so sad and sad together, so they only served wine to the table, and they rested when they were drunk. Of course, Xiao Yanzhi only drinks tea.

Finally, after placing the two drunks with the palace people, Xiao Yanzhi, who was extremely sober, took Lian Sheng and He Yan to wander around the palace, from the Liangyi Hall to the Wanchun Palace, and it was inconvenient to go to the Forbidden Garden at night, so Xiao Yanzhi went south to the Hongwen Pavilion.

Although every part of this palace has not changed, it looks different everywhere after the change of ownership, but this Hongwen Hall has an eternal momentum, and the faint candle flame in the library has become the only constant scenery in this palace.

When they arrived at the door of the library, He Yan and Lian Sheng stopped at the door as they did when they first came, and Xiao Yan pushed the door and saw Ji Wencheng sitting alone under the candlelight.

The scene when they first met suddenly flashed from his mind, Xiao Yanzhi smiled, walked to the low bookcase, and sat cross-legged on the futon.

"I've always wanted to tell Mr. Ji that the books in the library won't disappear out of thin air, and Mr. Ji should stop staying up late to read, it's not good for your health."

Ji Wencheng raised his head and looked at Xiao Yanzhi, still with an expressionless and old-fashioned appearance: "Thank you Your Highness for your concern." ”

"I'm no longer Your Highness."

A smile suddenly leaked out of Ji Wencheng's eyes, and he said softly: "It has nothing to do with the title, whether it is the king of Shu or the common people, you will always be the eldest son of the first emperor, and this layer of blood relationship will never change." ”

Xiao Yan was stunned, then shook his head and smiled: "What Mr. Ji said is that I am narrow-minded. ”

"It's okay," Ji Wencheng said again, "Not everyone is as open-minded as His Highness, so it's better to give an explanation to those who are bound by the form." ”

Xiao Yanzhi looked around and asked Ji Wencheng, "Does Mr. Ji still plan to stay in the Hongwen Pavilion?" If Mr. Ji wants to go somewhere else, I can help for the time being. ”

Ji Wencheng shook his head and said: "The old man has read poetry and books all his life, but he is a dead brain, the first emperor was tolerant, so he allowed the old man to settle down in the Hongwen Pavilion to study and educate people, leaving this Hongwen Pavilion, the old man has nowhere to go." ”

"That'...... Mr. Ji take care. ”

Ji Wencheng nodded and said, "Your Highness should also take care." ”

Xiao Yanzhi smiled and got up to leave.

When he returned to the Daji Hall with He Yan and Lian Sheng, and was still far away, Xiao Yanzhi saw a person sitting at the gate of the Daji Palace, and only recently did he see that it was Pei Ze sitting on the stone steps.

"Where did you go?" Hearing the footsteps, Pei Ze turned his head to look at Xiao Yanzhi, but he had an ugly face because he was extremely uncomfortable after being drunk.

"Why did you get out?" Xiao Yanzhi hurriedly ran over and squatted in front of Pei Ze, "Isn't it uncomfortable?" ”

"It's uncomfortable," Pei Ze rubbed his forehead, "but you're not there." ”

Xiao Yanzhi smiled and said: "I walked around the palace, and I also went to the Hongwen Pavilion. I'll help you in. ”

"Go see Ji Wencheng?" Pei Ze helped Xiao Yanzhi to stand up, then hooked Xiao Yanzhi's shoulder, and unceremoniously leaned half of his body on Xiao Yanzhi's body.

"Probably." Xiao Yanzhi scratched the corners of his mouth.

Pei Ze glared at Xiao Yanzhi: "You really have to worry about an old man!" ”

Xiao Yanzhi immediately rolled his eyes.

Pei Ze's wine hasn't woken up yet, right?

A good night's sleep, the next day the whole palace got up early in the morning, Xiao Yanzhi and Pei Ze put on filial piety clothes and went to the funeral palace after washing, and when they stepped into the gate of the funeral palace, it was about to dawn, but Xu Lishan, who was dressed in filial piety clothes, was already standing in front of the incense case.

"When did you come?" Xiao Yanzhi walked to Xu Lishan's side and stood still, and Pei Ze was on the other side.

Xu Lishan glanced at Xiao Yan for a while, and then sighed: "Even I have something I want to say to my father." I didn't expect you to come until morning. ”

Xiao Yanzhi smiled lightly: "What I want to say has already been said." ”

After being silent for a long time and hesitating again and again, Xu Lishan spoke again: "The enthronement ceremony is scheduled for more than a month later, you ......"

"No matter where we are, we will let Pei Ze come back and show his face."

"What about you?" Xu Lishan turned his head to look at Xiao Yanzhi, "When Brother Pei comes back, you will come back with you, right?" ”

Xiao Yanzhi glanced at Pei Ze, and then said, "I will come back with him, but I won't attend your enthronement ceremony." ”

"Is this to completely sever the relationship with me and Xu Lijia?"

Xiao Yanzhi shook his head and said, "How can the blood relationship be severed?" I just don't want to shake the loyalty of my ministers anymore, otherwise if there is another commotion, my father's hard work will be in vain. ”

Xu Lishan sighed and said, "If only you really thought so." In a word...... Your family is not just the Xiao family. ”

Xiao Yanzhi turned his head to look at Xu Lishan and said jokingly, "What's wrong with you today?" It's really rare to say so many things in front of my father. ”

"I want to say it in front of my father," Xu Lishan glanced at Xiao Yan, "otherwise you will probably be fooled, but you will never lie in front of your father's coffin." ”

Xiao Yan was stunned, and then smiled: "What a shrewd emperor." ”

"I dare not be shrewd in front of you."

When it was time for the funeral, Xu Lishan left the funeral palace with Xiao Yanzhi and Pei Ze first, and then the eunuchs poured into the funeral palace and carried out the coffin according to the method discussed before.

Xu Lishan and the three of them went directly to Chengtian Gate, looking at this pure white team, Xiao Yanzhi had a faint headache.

Three days ago, he sent away a fiery wedding procession, and today he changed into white clothes to lead this pure white funeral procession to the imperial tomb, his feelings are really not easy to convert, fortunately, crying and mourning is the task of a group of eunuchs and palace maids, and their two and a half sons only need to ride a horse and follow the leader to the imperial tomb.

After Xu Lishan's wife and some courtiers arrived, the team began to march, listening to mourning music along the way, Xiao Yanzhi's expression gradually became solemn, not to mention heavy, but also very depressed.

Because the eunuchs and palace maids were on foot, this team walked for half a day to reach the imperial tomb. When the group arrived, the sacrifices inside and outside the imperial tomb were already ready.

Xiao Yanzhi turned over and dismounted, stood side by side with Pei Ze, stood half a step behind Xu Lishan, quietly watched the entourage of everyone in place, and then heard the voice of the master of ceremonies pretending to mourn at the funeral.

At the end of the bow outside the imperial mausoleum, Xiao Yanzhi, Pei Ze, Xu Lishan and Xu Lishan's two sons entered the underground palace under the guidance of a small eunuch, and a dozen or so eunuchs carried the coffin of the first emperor to follow.

Entering the underground palace, Xiao Yanzhi and a few people only stopped in the first stone room, and after listening to a long speech of the master of ceremonies, the dozen or so eunuchs carried the coffin of the first emperor and continued to walk inside, and Xiao Yanzhi and several people were in the first stone room according to the guidance of the master of ceremonies or incense or bowing.

Xiao Yanzhi seemed to hear all the specific things he was kneeling for, but he didn't even remember a word, he felt that he was still shaking, this ritual had already been done, and finally echoed in the underground palace, haunting in his ears was the muffled sound of the heavy stone door smashing on the ground when it closed, one after another, one after another, closer than the other, engraved in his mind, extremely clear, until the stone door in front of them fell suddenly, Xiao Yanzhi's eyes flashed, and he felt a little more conscious.

It was already dusk when he walked out of the underground palace, and looking at the half-round sunset at the end of the vast earth, Xiao Yanzhi breathed a long sigh of relief.

The happy event and the funeral have dragged on for too long, and the strong emotion gradually becomes habitual, and then gradually fades away, making people unable to cry with joy or cry bitterly at the ceremony, but this last emotional precipitation is always so stuffy that people feel uncomfortable, and after completing the ceremony in a daze, they have no real feeling, and they can't even remember what they did a quarter of an hour ago, and they are only sad in their hearts.

Pei Ze leaned over to Xiao Yanzhi and secretly held Xiao Yanzhi's hand.

Xu Lishan, who was already surrounded by officials, glanced here, then pulled over to Xiao Yanzhi's side, raised his hand and patted Xiao Yanzhi's shoulder, and said, "You should go, your sister will not feel at ease if you are not there." ”

Xu Lishan also felt that this period of time was indeed hard Xiao Yanzhi, not that he was physically tired, but the sister of the Xiao family would not be sad for the death of the first emperor, her lifelong events could not be delayed, Xu Lijia would not be happy for the marriage of the sister of the Xiao family, and the funeral of the first emperor could not be delayed either, if Xiao Yanzhi, who was involved on both sides, did not want to disappoint either side, then his own heart should be very difficult.

"yes, it's time to go." Xiao Yanzhi habitually showed a smile, but that smile looked very thin.

Xu Lishan looked at Pei Ze again, nodded at Pei Ze when his eyes met, as if he had reached an agreement in an instant, and then Xu Lishan turned over and led the team back to the palace.

Xiao Yanzhi stood in front of the imperial tomb for a while before turning to leave.

In a dense forest not far from the imperial tomb, He Yan and Kong Qing led four horses to hide in it.

"Lord Wang." Seeing Xiao Yanzhi and Pei Ze coming together, Kong Qing stepped forward and handed Pei Ze a burden, "This is the prepared clothes." ”

Pei Ze took the bag and opened it, and saw that the bag contained two sets of clothes, one was purple and the other was snow blue, obviously specially prepared for Xiao Junmeng's wedding.

Xiao Yanzhi laughed and said: "I'm really miserable, there is probably no one in this world who is as sad and happy as me." ”

Pei Ze only raised his hand and touched Xiao Yanzhi's head, but did not speak.

After He Yan and Kong Qing turned their backs, Xiao Yanzhi and Pei Ze changed their clothes on the spot, and then the group jumped on horseback and quickly traveled south.

I don't know if Xiao Ren'an and they deliberately slowed down so that they could wait for Xiao Yanzhi to catch up, or Xiao Yanzhi was afraid that they wouldn't be able to catch up and ran too fast day and night.

The first to hear the sound of frantic horses' hooves was the Yan family who walked at the end of the wedding procession, turned their heads and saw four people and four horses galloping wildly, and the people of the Yan family shouted to spread the news to the front, Xiao Junmeng, who had a sad face in the sedan chair, immediately shouted to stop the team as soon as he heard that Xiao Yanzhi was coming, kicked open the car door and jumped out, and Xiao Xiangsheng, who was so frightened that he came to the scene, exclaimed again and again.

"My little aunt, what are you doing here?"

"Brother is here!" Xiao Junmeng, who hadn't seen a smile for a few days, finally showed a brilliant smile, and this smile alone made Xiao Xiangsheng unable to say anything.

Reaching out and pinching Xiao Junmeng's cheek, Xiao Xiangsheng smiled: "Yes, yes, my brother is here, and your little aunt and grandmother finally laughed." ”

Xiao Junmeng wrinkled his nose and said, "I'm not afraid that my brother will run away!" ”

My brother was originally a restless person, but since the death of the first emperor, she felt that her brother was even more erratic, as if he would leave at any time.

"You girl loves to think wildly!" Xiao Xiangsheng glanced at Xiao Junmeng, "How could my brother not attend your wedding?" ”

However, Xiao Xiangsheng also said so, in fact, he and Xiao Junmeng also felt the same way.

Lerma stopped next to the sedan chair, Xiao Yanzhi looked at Xiao Junmeng in surprise, and said, "Why did you run outside?" ”

"Brother!" Xiao Junmeng ran to Xiao Yanzhi's eyes in two steps, and hugged Xiao Yanzhi's waist and hung in the air with a strong jump.

"Hey! Don't make a fuss! Xiao Yanzhi was so frightened that he hurriedly reached out and grabbed the clothes behind Xiao Junmeng, and then carefully turned over and dismounted, "What are you fooling around?" What should I do if I fall? ”

"How can you fall with your brother?" Xiao Junmeng raised his head and looked at Xiao Yanzhi with a smile, "Why did my brother come so soon?" ”

Xiao Yanzhi raised his hand and patted Xiao Junmeng's forehead, and said, "It's not that I'm afraid that you will be naughty." ”

Xiao Junmeng pouted: "I'm very obedient, I don't believe you asked the second brother!" ”

"Do you need to ask? Your second brother is designated to you. Xiao Yanzhi took Xiao Junmeng's hand and led Xiao Junmeng to the sedan chair, "The bride has the appearance of a bride, go in." ”

"Yes!" Xiao Junmeng nodded, and then jumped into the sedan chair.

Xiao Yanzhi smiled, turned back to the horse, stepped on the horse again, and asked Xiao Xiangsheng while walking to the front of the team: "Didn't you encounter anything along the way?" ”

"No," Xiao Xiangsheng said with a smile, "but whenever someone with a suspicious appearance approaches, those guards of the prince will keep a straight face, and they will scare everyone away." ”

"That's good," walking to the front of the line, Xiao Yanzhi reached out and patted Xiao Ren'an's back, and said, "It's hard work." Where's Hanqing? ”

Xiao Ren'an replied with a smile: "He has already returned to Suzhou, if we stay in Luzhou for a day, we will probably be able to meet him after leaving Luzhou City." ”

Xiao Yanzhi frowned and said: "If he can't catch up, he should wait ten miles outside Suzhou." ”

Xiao Ren'an said: "It was Liu Hanqing who insisted on coming to Luzhou, saying that he was sincere. ”

Xiao Yanzhi sneered: "Is he afraid that I will rob Jun Meng halfway?" ”

Xiao Ren'an only smiled silently.

It's not all my brother who leaves a psychological shadow.

Xiao Yanzhi smiled and said, "Then continue walking, and take a good rest when you arrive in Luzhou." ”

"Okay."

So the order to set off was passed down again, and the big red team continued on.

Pei Ze rode up to Xiao Yanzhi and asked in a low voice, "You seem to be in a better mood." ”

"Huh?" Xiao Yanzhi's eyes flashed, he looked at Pei Ze and smiled, "Am I in a bad mood?" ”

Pei Ze looked at Xiao Yanzhi with a serious face, and said in a firm tone: "Yes, after the death of the first emperor." ”

Xiao Yanzhi smiled: "I'm really loved by others, I obviously don't think I have come out, but you can even detect it." ”

Pei Ze snorted lightly and said, "It's not by people, it's by me, and by me who loves me deeply." ”

Looking at Pei Ze's smug side face, Xiao Yanzhi laughed heartily.

When they arrived in Luzhou, Xiao Yanzhi and Pei Ze entered the city with Xiao Ren'an's brothers and sisters, found an inn to rest, and the rest stayed outside the city with the dowry and camped under the care of Kong Qing.

After staying in Luzhou for a day, the group set off again, all the way south to Suzhou, and met Liu Hanqing without going far.

There were not many people in Liu Hanqing's welcoming team, but everyone's line was full of the pride of a wealthy businessman in Jiangnan, and after a handover, Xiao Yanzhi's brothers retreated to a lower position, leaving the leading position to Liu Hanqing.

The team continued to travel south, and after arriving in Suzhou, it was stationed outside Suzhou for two days, and then stepped on the auspicious day and entered Suzhou City, Liu Han proudly led the team in Suzhou City to turn around before coming to Liufu Gate, kicking the sedan car door and crossing the brazier in the crackling firecrackers, Liu Hanqing was so excited that he personally led Xiao Junmeng into the door, and the matchmaker specially invited was at a loss to follow aside.

Xiao Yanzhi took advantage of this kung fu to advance into Liufu.

"The head of the Liu family, Mrs. Liu, I haven't seen you for a long time. I'm really sorry, because there are still some things to deal with in Chang'an City, so I came late and caused trouble to the head of the Liu family. Xiao Yanzhi smiled like a spring breeze, and when he saw the Liu family and his wife, he was as enthusiastic as seeing friends for many years, but in fact, this was their second meeting.

The head of the Liu family laughed heartily and said, "Hahaha, it's okay. People say that Shibei should be impressed by each other for three days, which is true, Xiao Gongzi's identity is now more and more noble. Thanks to Mr. Xiao for not giving up, I am willing to marry my Liu family. ”

"The head of the Liu family is polite," Xiao Yanzhi said with a smile, "as long as Jun Meng is happy." ”

"Hahaha, good, good!" The head of the Liu family welcomed Xiao Yanzhi into the door with a smile, "Eldest brother is like a father, but the position of the Xiao family's high hall is for Xiao Gongzi to sit in?" ”

"It's the junior, I really can't stand the head of the Liu family." Xiao Yanzhi arched his hand at the head of the Liu family.

"It's okay, it's okay," people are in good spirits on happy occasions, this unsuccessful kid in the family actually married a nobleman and came back, at this time, probably no matter what Xiao Yanzhi wanted to do, the head of the Liu family didn't mind, "Then Mrs. Ling ......?" ”

Xiao Yanzhi glanced at Pei Ze in the crowd and said, "That...... I have come here on my own today. ”

"Oh ha, then please sit down, the old man will see that they are coming in soon."

"The head of the Liu family, Mrs. Liu, please first." Xiao Yanzhi politely pushed.

After a few more polite words, Xiao Yanzhi was finally able to sit down in the position, and the chair was not hot, so Liu Hanqing led Xiao Junmeng into the hall.

Probably the mood of marrying a daughter is different from marrying a daughter-in-law, looking at the happy Liu family couple around him, Xiao Yanzhi is still depressed, but he still has to smile festively on such an occasion.

calmly accepted the worship of Liu Hanqing and Xiao Junmeng's pair of high halls, and watched the crowd hug the couple into the cave room, but Xiao Yanzhi got up and found Pei Ze in the crowd.

Seeing Xiao Yanzhi striding closer, Pei Ze was a little surprised: "Why don't you go to the cave room to have a look?" ”

Xiao Yanzhi replied funny: "What am I going to do in my sister's and sister-in-law's cave room?" Seeing my sister making out with other men, I don't know if I'm going to rush up and beat someone. ”

Stopping beside Pei Ze, Xiao Yanzhi grabbed Pei Ze's hand, and his wrist interlocked with Pei Ze's ten fingers.

Pei Ze raised his eyebrows, attached to Xiao Yanzhi's ear and whispered, "What's wrong?" Envy? ”

"Envy what?" Xiao Yan looked at Pei Ze puzzled, then thought of something interesting, and said, "I just want you to sit next to me." ”

Pei Ze was stunned for a moment, and then laughed: "Then should I sit in the father's seat or the mother's seat?" ”

Hearing this, Xiao Yan was stunned, and then burst into laughter.

Seeing the familiar smile, Pei Ze pulled out his hand and put his arm around Xiao Yanzhi's shoulder, and said, "In the future, you just need to laugh beside me like this." ”

"What a big breath!" Xiao Yanzhi tilted his head and stared at Pei Ze, "You have to have the ability to make me laugh every day." ”

"We'll see." Pei Ze tilted his head and pecked lightly on Xiao Yanzhi's cheek.

After sending Xiao Junmeng into the cave room, Liu Hanqing came out to toast again.

Xiao Ren'an and Xiao Xiangsheng wanted to take this opportunity to say hello to the businessmen in the Jiangnan area, and Xiao Chunyue blended into the maidservants and accompanied Xiao Junmeng in the cave room, but Xiao Yanzhi, the eldest brother who acted as a father, had to sit next to the head of the Liu family to socialize, but fortunately, Pei Ze sat beside him silently and as a matter of course, so he blocked a lot of wine for Xiao Yanzhi with his cold face.

Halfway through the banquet, Liu Hanqing, who was pretending to be drunk, was helped back to the cave room, and seeing that the others were almost drunk, Xiao Yanzhi and Pei Ze slipped out.

He Yan and Kong Qing had sharp eyes, and as soon as they noticed that these two people were about to slip away, they hurriedly followed, and shrewdly took the four horses in Liufu.

The horses they rode when they came did not know where they had been led, and now they went to look for them for fear of alarming others.

Stepping out of the gate of Liufu, Xiao Yanzhi looked up at the starry sky and breathed a sigh of relief, then turned his head and asked Pei Zedao, "Where are we going next?" ”

Pei Ze was stunned for a moment, and asked in surprise, "This is leaving?" ”

Didn't Xiao Yanzhi say hello to Xiao Ren'an?

"Well, let's go," Xiao Yanzhi smiled, "I can't let them know, otherwise it's not easy to go." ”

Especially today is a day of great joy, and it is not appropriate to talk about such a sad thing as separation.

"Let's go, then." Taking a horse from Kong Qing's hand, Pei Ze turned over on the horse, and then stretched out his hand to Xiao Yanzhi, "Come up." ”

Xiao Yanzhi smiled and held Pei Ze's hand, turned over the horse and sat behind Pei Ze.

Hugging Pei Ze's waist, Xiao Yanzhi rested his chin on Pei Ze's shoulder and asked softly, "Where are you going?" ”

Pei Ze shook his whip and said loudly: "Go to the place where only you and me are." ”

The night was like ink, and the three horsemen and four people rushed out of Suzhou City and headed towards the four seas.