During this time, the Prime Minister's Mansion was very lively, and many people came to the door every day to ask to see Chu Huaifeng. But the doorman received instructions from Xiang Ye early in the morning: all of them were blocked out of the door. The house was calm, and on the third day of Chu Xiangwan's return to the house, the palace sent a grandmother who taught rules and etiquette to stay until three days ago. Mama was very satisfied with Chu Xiangwan's performance, and kept praising her, "Sure enough, everyone is beautiful, knows books and etiquette, knows etiquette and rules, and behaves in a royal style." Chu Xiangwan was not happy with Mama's praise, but felt that her ears were finally pure, and she felt annoyed when she thought that Mama had been nagging in front of her these days, "How is the emperor, how is the queen, how is the prince". She wanted to ask Mama back, "What do they have to do with me?" However, after years of cultivation, she has always maintained the "patience" of everyone's girlfriends, and with a decent smile, she finally sent her grandmother away.

Now, Chu Xiangwan only has one unfinished thing in her heart - she wants to go to Shangyang Mountain again before entering the palace to pay tribute to her mother. I still remember that when she brought it up with her father last night, her father was silent for a long time, and only said, "Dad will go with you." ”

On February 15, Chu Xiangwan took Qian'er and came to Shangyang Mountain with his father early in the morning. Chu Xiangwan's mother almost died of a blood collapse when she gave birth to her, although she was rescued by the doctor from the ghost gate, but she lost both qi and blood, and her body fell into the root of the disease, she thought about it again and again, and finally died when Chu Xiangwan was five years old. Standing in front of her mother's tomb, Chu Xiangwan's eyes were already wet, and she choked up and said, "Mother, my father and I have come to see you." ”

Chu Huaifeng seems to be particularly haggard today, and in the past, the high-spirited Zuo Xiang in the court only had infinite sentimentality in front of the tomb of his deceased wife. In front of the tomb is Su Shi's "Jiangchengzi": ten years of life and death, without thinking, unforgettable. Thousands of miles of lonely graves, nowhere to talk about desolation. Even if you don't know each other, your face is dusty, and your temples are like frost. At night, I suddenly returned to my hometown, and I was dressing up in the small window. There are no words for each other, only a thousand tears. It is expected that the intestines will be broken every year, the bright moon night, and the short Matsuoka.

Chu Huaifeng silently thought in his heart: Yan'er, I've come to see you. He didn't turn his head, turned his back to Chu Xiangwan and said, "Today, Dad will tell you the story of your mother." ”

"Although eleven years have passed, I still remember the first time I saw your mother. Back then, I was just a poor scholar with no power and no power, but your mother was the youngest daughter of the first assistant Fang Dong of the dynasty. One day, I went to Lianghu Lake to set up a stall for people to write letters, who knew that I met your mother flying a kite by the lake, and then she accidentally fell into the lake, and I rescued her. Although she was embarrassed, I was shocked. Since then, we have often met by the lake, talked about poetry and flowers, and had a good impression of each other. After a long time, this news reached your grandfather's ears. Your grandfather was furious and locked your mother in the house and forbade us to come and go. Later, your mother was forced to die before being released. Your grandfather said, 'If you want to be with that poor scholar, unless you are not from the Fang family', originally your grandfather was just to scare your mother, but who knew that your mother, who has always been gentle as water, was absolutely abnormal, and broke off the relationship with Fang Xiangsan with three high-fives, and since then she has left the Fang family. She gave up the whole family, and from that day on, I knew that I would only love your mother and mother in my life. In five years, I became the youngest official of the dynasty. Later, your mother gave birth to you and your health has been poor, and she missed her parents and apologized, and the illness became more and more serious, so she died when you were five years old. Your grandfather hated me for snatching away his most beloved little daughter and making her suffer with me and die early, so he suppressed me many times in the court. Three years later, your grandfather passed away, I was reused by the emperor, was promoted to the left minister, the children of the Han family in the court are all headed by me, the Gaomen clan gradually weakened, since then the Fang family and the father have become more and more powerful. ”

Although Chu Huaifeng said these words with his back to him, Chu Xiangwan couldn't see his expression, but from his father's low tone, Chu Xiangwan could imagine the beauty of his father and mother when they first met, the pressure of the family, the anger of his grandfather, and the guilt of his father's death.

"Dad, will you regret it?" Chu asked out loud.

"I once regretted it," Chu Huaifeng still turned his back to his daughter, "maybe she didn't meet me, she would have married a husband who was the right person, and she might still live her original comfortable life until now." ”

"But I know that my mother must have no regrets, and she can encounter an unforgettable relationship in her life, and join hands with someone who knows her and understands her for a lifetime, even if the time together is only three or five years, it is enough." Chu Xiangwan's tone was admiration and envy for his mother.

Chu Huaifeng turned his head and looked at his daughter deeply: "You are very similar to your mother in this regard, and the people and things you have identified will always be the same." ”

Chu Huaifeng stroked the tombstone: "Yan'er, our daughter is about to marry the prince in half a month, I know that you never value wealth and wealth, I just hope that our daughter will go well in the palace, you must bless her." ”

"It's late, it's not too early, let's go back."

"Dad, I want to live in the courtyard on the mountain for a few days, and I don't know when I will be able to come to see my mother after entering the palace, I want to accompany her more."

Chu Huaifeng couldn't bear to refuse his daughter, so he nodded and said, "Okay." It's just that although it's quiet here, there are few people, so if you come to worship, remember to bring a little more of the family in the other courtyard. Three days before the wedding, your father sent someone to pick you up and take you home. ”

"Dad, don't worry, I'll be careful." Chu Xiangwan took Chu Huaifeng's arm and walked towards the carriage.

The annex of Chu Mansion is in the middle of Shangyang Mountain, although it is not as big as Xiangfu, but it is built exquisitely and compactly, full of greenery, the small bridge and flowing water in the courtyard, and the pine waves outside the courtyard, it is indeed a good place to relax. Chu Xiangwan played the piano, played chess, wrote poems, and painted in the bamboo pavilion in the courtyard every day, and lived a comfortable life. Entering the palace has become a fact, why bother mediocrity, why not seize this last leisure time.

However, there was an uninvited guest in the courtyard.

Chu Xiangwan never expected that the prince would come to the other courtyard to find her. The one who can tell him she's here must be her father. It's just that she doesn't understand why the prince would come to the door when the big wedding is imminent. When Qian'er came in to report, she was really surprised. So she asked Qian'er to invite the prince to sit in the front hall for a while, and she found a white veil to cover most of her face.

As soon as Chu Xiangwan entered the front hall, he blessed himself and asked the emperor to say goodbye. "The prince forgives his sins, and it seems unreasonable to meet before the wedding, and the people can only cover their faces with white veil as expediency."

"Cousin, there's no need to be polite, it's me who violated the etiquette law, cousin, don't be weird." Huangfu Jingwen helped Chu Xiangwan for a while.

"Prince, the folk girl really can't afford this 'cousin', and ask the prince to call me by my name."

"Why don't I call you to be late, you are about to become my concubine, you don't have to be so rusty." A "to the evening", gentle like a warm breeze on a spring night.

To tell the truth, Huangfu Jingwen is a humble gentleman with a gentle and cordial attitude, but Chu Xiangwan is still a straight look: "I don't know why the prince came to Xiangwan?" ”

"I just- wanted to come and see you."

Chu Xiangwan read a trace of tenderness from Huangfu Jingwen's eyes, which was different from the gentleness they saw for the first time.

Huangfu Jingwen coughed a little embarrassed, and continued: "Xiang Wan, the last time I saw the Imperial Garden, I knew that you didn't want to marry into the royal family. Are you still like that? ”

Chu Xiangwan looked directly at Huangfu Jingwen: "Prince, you should know that this matter is not for me to think about it." ”

"Remember what I told you last time in the Imperial Garden? I don't want you to enter the palace either. ”

From today's visit by Huangfu Jingwen to his words and deeds, Chu Xiangwan felt very strange.

"I know the mother's intentions, but I don't want to sacrifice a woman's life as a foil for power, so before the election, I also refused to accept the daughter of the left minister as the crown princess. But now, I am glad that the queen mother has decided. ”

Chu Xiangwan was stunned, Huangfu Jingwen said it so obviously, no matter how dull a person is, he knows the meaning of the words.

"We've only met once, Prince."

"You are really different from other important ministers, I am used to seeing princesses from the royal family arrogant and willful, arbitrary and reckless in the palace, and most of the women of wealthy families are arrogant and arrogant, but you are not contaminated with these at all. That day, I saw you in the Imperial Garden, dressed in plain clothes, and regretted that no one appreciated you, and I had a good feeling. Thou hast discovered my identity, but thou hast not shown any flattery, and I know that thou art not a woman who lusts for vanity. Later, when I heard that you were still my concubine, I was overjoyed. I'm here today just to tell you that I want our marriage to be more than just a power buy. Towards the evening, what I hope to get is your heart. Huangfu Jingwen stared at Chu Xiangwan deeply, and there was undisguised affection in his eyes.

Chu Xiangwan couldn't say what it was like to feel in his heart, and he was appreciated by his future husband, especially this man is very likely to become the lord of this country in the future, and as an ordinary woman, she has already cried with joy regardless of her image, but she is still calm and self-controlled, and she is blessed: "Raise love to the prince of the late thanks." In the future, Xiang Hui fulfilled a responsibility as a princess. It's not that she dislikes Huangfu Jingwen, it's just that she wasn't moved by the last hurried side, and she was asked to accept a man's affection for a while, and she really couldn't be false and wronged.

Huangfu Jingwen didn't seem to care: "You don't need to answer me now, if that's the case, I don't think you're the woman I admire." Okay, I've said what I want to say, and it's time for me to go back to the palace. We have a long way to go. ”

Without waiting for Chu to salute the evening, Huangfu Jingwen had already turned around and walked out of the hall. Chu Xiangwan looked at his back, with mixed feelings in his heart, if Huangfu Jingwen also regarded this marriage as a transaction, would her life be simpler? How to go on the road in the future, she seems to be in a fog, and she can't find an answer.

The arrival of Huangfu Jingwen broke the tranquility of the courtyard, and his words disturbed Chu Xiangwan's heart, and in the afternoon, she picked up her cloak and planned to go to the woods near the courtyard to relax.

"Miss, where are you going?" Seeing that the young lady seemed to be going out, Qian'er chased after her.

"I'm just walking around, don't you come along." Chu Xiangwan's footsteps did not stop.

"But after all, this is a mountain, and you are alone, so it is really not safe. Why don't I accompany the young lady and call a few more family members to go out. Qian'er still doesn't feel safe when she thinks about it.

"No, it's around here, nothing will happen, I just want to be quiet now. If anything, I'll call you out. Chu Xiangwan really didn't want a lot of people to follow him.

Qian'er nodded: "Okay, then miss, don't go too far." ”

"You know, it's your favorite nag." Chu Xiangwan scratched Qian'er's nose.

Chu Xiangwan walked aimlessly in the bamboo forest, and gradually walked farther and farther away, and came to a grass. She suddenly felt that the surroundings were very quiet, different from the usual tranquility, although Shangyang Mountain was inaccessible in the past, but there were buzzing birds, today it seems that it is not quiet, but a kind of solemnity and dead silence. She was wondering why she was so abnormal today, when suddenly someone covered her mouth from behind, and squatted down with the other hand pressing her shoulder hard. This is a pair of men's hands, with rough and thick calluses in the palms of the hands, which seem to be the result of holding weapons for many years.

"Don't make a sound, don't move, or I won't guarantee you'll have your life to go back the way you came." The voice of the person behind him was low and deep, as if there was a kind of magic that made people involuntarily follow his instructions after listening.

Chu Xiangwan turned around and faced the man, and she was stunned for a moment. With a slashed face, slanted black sword eyebrows, eyes as bright as stars, and thin lips, she was shocked by the momentum of the man in front of her.

"Girl, have you seen enough?" The man on the other side spoke in a playful voice.

Only then did Chu Xiangwan realize how out of shape she was, and the back of her ears was like a fire. Realizing that she was still covered by this man, Chu Xiangwan was embarrassed, she pointed to her mouth, signaling that she would not make a sound, and the man put down his hand.

"Why didn't Childe let me go?" Chu Xiangwan had already calmed down at this time, and she guessed that the unusual environment around her was related to the man in front of her.

The man was about to speak, when suddenly his eyes became alert. Because two feet away from them, a sudden voice came: "Everyone look carefully, he must be around here." If you see it, send out a signal, and be sure to kill him. ”

Chu Xiangwan looked through the gap in the grass and saw a group of black-clothed people distributing manpower in all directions, as if they were searching for someone. They were all masked and couldn't see clearly, but they could tell from their outfits that they were a group of well-trained killers. Chu Xiangwan probably knew who they were looking for. She looked at the man with her eyes, and saw that although his whole body was tense, there was no trace of fear on his face, but he was calm and calm, which made people have to admire his calmness.

He suddenly took Chu Xiangwan's hand and ran towards the top of the mountain to the north.

"What are you doing? Childe, please respect yourself. Being dragged by a strange man, Chu Xiangwan was ashamed and anxious, wanting to break free from his grip.

"I don't want to be caught in trouble by them now, so come with me." The man couldn't help but say, grabbing Chu Xiangwan's hand even harder.

Chu Xiangwan no longer struggled, she knew that if she went out alone now, she would definitely be regarded as this man's companion, and if something happened at that time, it would be very bad. And her marriage is imminent, more things are better than less, she chose to believe in the man in front of her.

The two of them ran all the way to the top of Shangyang Mountain, and when they reached the top of the mountain, the man finally let go of Chu Xiangwan's hand: "Girl, it's safe now." If no one is chasing after a while, you can go back. ”

Chu Xiangwan was suspicious: "Why was the son chased and killed by those people?" ”

"Girl, there are some things that you should know as little as possible. Today is my troubled girl. The man didn't want to say much.

"Take care, son." Chu Xiangwan didn't want to delay any longer and there were any accidents, "Those people may go somewhere else to find it, so don't leave it at that." ”

Chu Xiangwan was just about to leave, when he heard someone behind him: "No one can leave today." ”

She turned around, and the group of men in black just now had formed a semi-encirclement, trapping them in the circle. With a strong enemy in front of him and a cliff behind him, Chu Xiangwan stared at the man, hoping that he would have a way to break through.

The killing seemed imminent.