This winter, the shape of the Wei Dynasty was not very good, the country was already empty, and Emperor Yanchang had not yet negotiated with the Tatars in the north during the autumn hunt. Moreover, because of a beauty who came to pay tribute, the prince had a lot of disputes with the other party after drinking, which was really embarrassing. Since the end of October, the Hu people have begun to burn and loot in the south, and the southernmost side is almost to the Huai River.

Mei Ru and Mr. Pingyang left Beijing in August, originally planning to go to Jiangnan, Huainan and other places to have a long time, but when the clinker passed through the Yellow River crossing, they saw the tragic situation of dead and wounded, so they suddenly changed their route to the north. Mei Ru was afraid that her father and mother would worry, so she didn't dare to mention this matter in the letter. So much so that Qiao's thought that he had already arrived in the rich land of Jiangnan, and he was eating and drinking spicy food. Qiao's family also said to Mei Yin in the mansion that it is blessed to follow that little mouth, that is, don't eat too fat, it is not good to get engaged when you come back.

The master and apprentice went all the way north, and Mei Ru hid everything, but she didn't expect to meet the eldest brother in the middle.

Because of the repeated invasions of the Hu people, the situation in the north was extremely tense, and Mei Xiang was leading his troops to guard Ankang at that time, patrolling the city wall every day. He had sharp eyes, Mei Ru had just entered the city, and she quietly poked a little head out of the carriage, and Mei Xiang recognized her. But Mei Xiang didn't dare to believe it, after all, a few days ago, his father wrote that he had already eaten soup dumplings when he arrived in Yangzhou in the past two days...... Mei Xiang frowned, and looked at it coldly.

When he was sure that it was really Xunxun, he was angry in his heart, he never thought that this little girl would also deceive people!

With this thought, Mei Xiang's anger rose up, and he hurriedly sent the city guards to stop the carriage.

Coming all the way from south to north, it's unprecedented. In the carriage, Mei Ru was puzzled, and saw Mei Xiang struggling down from the city wall, wearing armor, majestic, but angry, as if he was about to kill!

The brother and sister looked at each other, Mei Ru knew that her itinerary was exposed, and she shrunk her neck, and she was slipped aside by Mei Xiangti and reprimanded fiercely.

Mei Ru hurriedly took her brother's arm and sprinkled a lot of coquettishness. Mei Xiang suppressed her anger and ordered her to go south, or return to Beijing as much as possible.

Mei Ru softened and said carefully: "Good brother, don't tell your father." ”

Mei Xiang loved her the most, and she couldn't stand Mei Ru's begging, so she reluctantly agreed.

He is the only male in their house, and his father naturally writes all the things in the house in the letter. Mei Xiang also knew that she was being targeted by the queen and the crown prince, and this time she was forced to come out. Looking at the emaciated Xun in front of her, Mei Xiang became more and more reluctant to let her suffer this pain. Sighing, Mei Xiang asked, "When do you plan to return to Beijing?" As soon as May next year passes, you'll be in time. "The family affairs that follow must be booked as early as possible, so as not to be coveted.

Mei Ru replied, "It depends on what Mr. means." ”

Mei Xiang saluted Mr. Pingyang with his fists, lowered his voice, and reminded: "Sir, according to the recent meaning of the imperial court, there may be a vicious battle in the north after the year, and I hope that Mr. will make arrangements to return to Beijing or go south in advance, otherwise it may be inappropriate." ”

Hearing this, Mr. Pingyang nodded calmly, but Mei Ru was surprised: "Why is there another war?" ”

Since the winter of the previous year, the war has been fought year after year, not to mention the people, even the treasury cannot bear it. In the past two years, the city should have been defended, and everyone should have a chance to recuperate...... It would be too hasty to take the initiative to provoke a war now.

Mei Xiang sighed and said: "The Northern Liao Tartars arrived at the Huai River a few days ago, and the prince suffered a defeat there, and after returning to Beijing, he was very dissatisfied, so he built a ...... to the saint."

Thinking of the prince, Mei Ru frowned, didn't answer again, and only went to the city inn with her husband to settle down first.

The brother and sister rarely see each other now, and during this day and night, they didn't mention those bad things again, but only chatted about the current situation in the house. When it comes to Sister Yue, Mei Xiang naturally can't hide her joy. He also has the portrait of Sister Yue painted by Mei Ru last time, and now he is happily taking it out. Mei Ru gestured: "Sister Yue has grown up a lot now, I can't hold her anymore." Thinking that after Sister Yue was born, Mei Xiang hadn't seen it yet, so Mei Ru asked again: "Brother, when will you return to Beijing?" ”

Holding the portrait's hand for a moment, Mei Xiang smiled astringently: "After these battles, I'll go back." ”

When he went back, no one waited for him.

If he makes a mistake again, he doesn't care about looking for her, or fights with Hu Sanbiao again, it will be really a joke.

Mei Xiang was silent.

Sensing that her brother's face was wrong, Mei Ru hurriedly said a few interesting things about Sister Yue'er. Mei Xiang smiled and said, "Rest quickly, you have to go on the road tomorrow." ”

Seeing each other in a hurry and separating again, Mei Ru thought so, her heart was sour, and she was extremely reluctant.

Mei Xiang came out of the inn alone. It was really cold outside, and he sighed, full of misty white mist.

The next day, Mei Ru and Mr. Binh Duong came out of Ankang Mansion and continued north. Mei Xiang gave them a ride on horseback. Before parting, Mei Ru's eyes were wet, and she didn't forget to tell her: "Brother, don't tell your parents." Mei Xiang nodded. The carriage was getting farther and farther away, he looked at it fixedly, and saw his head poking out of the curtain of the carriage, and he couldn't help but look back, Mei Xiang's eyes couldn't help but feel a little damp.

He and Xun Xun are really two little people who have no conscience, and if they don't do their filial piety in front of their parents, they know that they run around, and they don't dare to let their parents worry about running around, and they have to hide it like this...... Mei Xiang sighed.

Let's say that the further north you go, the worse the situation is, and the great rivers and mountains are full of desolation, which makes people uncomfortable to look at.

In fact, without Mei Xiang's advice, Mei Ru and his party could only return to the south in early February. Xiongzhou and Datong in the north were full of gunpowder smoke preparing for war, and the officers and soldiers defending the city no longer allowed people to continue to the north.

At that time, there were more and more displaced people on the road, and they all said that there was going to be a war, and they fled in large numbers to the south. The official roads were full of people fleeing, and the other states did not dare to open the gates to let the displaced people in. In the cold and freezing, only a few people can curl up in one place, and they don't even stutter much. There are countless people who snatch things, and people are panicked. If it is dead, it is good to have a piece of grass swept away, and Mei Ru often sees those dead lying straight on the side of the road, without even a cover.

Later, Mei Ru couldn't bear to look at it. She sat in the carriage and felt panicked.

On the third day of the first month of March, Mei Ru and Mr. Pingyang traveled to Anzhou City. Although the city of Anzhou was also heavily guarded, with officers and soldiers patrolling everywhere, it was far from the tense atmosphere that Datong or Tongguan faced before the war. Moreover, when she entered the city on this day, Mei Ru was even more surprised to find that the first lights in the city were colorful, and it was peaceful.

I saw that a total of seventy-two light archways were erected in the entire Anzhou City, and those lights were lit up, one after another, looking at the past from afar, endlessly. There are also jugglers, firecrackers, and food sellers on the roadside, which is really lively.

Mei Ru walked among them, crowded in an endless stream of people admiring the lanterns, and for a long time, she still felt a little incredible.

Speaking of which, they are indeed a bit miserable along the way. The Lantern Festival was on the road, and I didn't see any lanterns at all, and even on Chinese New Year's Eve, it was just a casual meal in the inn. Now that I have entered this light market, it is like entering a fairyland on earth.

After inquiring, Mei Ru learned that it was customary to have a lamp market in Anzhou City on the third day of the first month of March. It's just that this year, because the war is imminent, the scale is much smaller, but the people are still willing to be lively, and the commander of the military camp stationed nearby is also willing to maintain this excitement. Now the people who shop for lanterns on this street are not only the people, but also groups of officers and soldiers.

Mei Ru looked at it steadily, but she was still a little slow, and a vendor on the side of the road beckoned her: "Girl, buy a lamp." ”

Meiru hadn't visited the lanterns in two years. She was stunned, walked over, and looked up at the lanterns hanging on it, including lotus lanterns, goldfish lanterns, and landscape lanterns...... Mei Ru was not interested, she smiled apologetically, and continued to walk aimlessly.

The tavern next to it is also lively, the window of the private room facing the street on the second floor is supported, and a few people from the barracks are drinking, suddenly, one person does not speak, and through the window railing, the person's eyes are low and sail down. When his gaze fell on the figure below that he hadn't seen for a long time, he was slightly certain. She went forward, and that gaze followed. She froze, and so did her gaze.

The inky black eyes were calm, like a deep pool, and then slowly tightened, and the two eyebrows frowned slightly.

He got up, put down a silver ingot, and went downstairs.