"What if it's true. ...... sleep? ”

"There are no ifs, and no ifs!"

"How can you be so sure?"

Seeing Chu Jiangmian's firm attitude, the queen asked again urgently. Although she didn't believe in her heart that someone in Jinxiang Palace would kill her son at this time, she needed the most reasonable explanation to be completely relieved.

"Queen Mother, please think about it, since someone dares to ambush the royal prince outside Dragon City, it must be well thought out. How could it be that so many hands and feet could be left? Obviously, this is a deliberate attempt to set the blame. The attacker is cunning, and it would be best if he could get it with one hit. And if they don't succeed, that's the trick they leave behind after they miss. Hehe! If you want to take the opportunity to stir up civil strife in Jinxiang Palace, don't think too beautiful! ”

Prince Zhao, who had a dashing demeanor, talked eloquently, and the wise light in his eyes was heartbreaking. At this moment, such a demeanor is extremely incommensurate with his age, but like a scheming and perceptive guy. All the palace maids and guards cast admiring glances. Many people have such thoughts in their minds.

"There are many things about the prince that only people in Jinxiang Palace will know. If one day he does it, will it be a blockbuster? ”

Queen Jiang Xin looked at her energetic son and almost applauded loudly. She forcibly held back the joy in her heart, and swept the low-hanging curtain with the corner of her eye. One last question.

"Mian'er, the world is sinister, and people's hearts are unpredictable. If one day, someone in Jinxiang Palace does the same to you, what will you do? ”

Chu Jiangmian didn't seem to realize the deep meaning behind this sentence. The smile on his face spread out like a spring breeze, and he sat down on the thick woven carpet with Jiang Xin's outstretched hand, and snuggled his head between her knees. Regardless, he was still an eighteen-year-old who hadn't really taken on the responsibility.

"All the sons and princesses in the palace are naturally my brothers and sisters. After all, we all have the same blood in our veins inherited from our fathers...... If in the years to come, there are really people who will fight against me for various reasons. Regardless of the outcome, I promise that my sword will not be stained with a drop of their blood! ”

"Mian'er, do you really think so in your heart?"

"It's true, it's true!"

"Well, we need to listen to you make an oath in front of you."

Chu Jiangmian restrained the smile on his face. The Queen Mother's words have been said so clearly, and he doesn't have to pretend to be confused anymore. When you raise your head, word by word, your tone is firm.

"In this life, benevolence, filial piety and kinship, brothers and brothers...... If Jiang Mian violates this oath, when people and gods are angry, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed! ”

"It's hard for you. My good sleeper ......! ”

The queen hugged Chu Jiangmian's still thin shoulders, tears welling up. Spring and Autumn righteousness, do not violate the oath. In this day and age, taking an oath by example is already the heaviest vow. Perhaps, from now on, this young man's body will have to bear the weight of Zhao Guo's eight thousand miles of mountains and rivers. Internal and external troubles, tigers and wolves are fed, and the future is unpredictable, how can it not be sad and sentimental?!

"Good! Good boy...... Father really didn't misunderstand you! ”

A gentle high-five came. The heavy curtain in one corner of the palace was lifted, and there was a lonely old man lying on the couch, looking at it with a smile on his face. The king is in the twilight, and the hero is white-headed. Zhao Wang Chulie, who was already terminally ill, finally came to this day.

Chu Jiangmian, who had just returned from crossing mountains and rivers, fell to his knees and was already crying.

That night, in this palace in Jinxiang Palace, the lights were not extinguished all night. Father and son talked until dawn.

When the dawn broke in the east, King Chulie of Zhao, whose body was full of injuries and illnesses, finally fell into a deep sleep. Chu Jiangmian put the tiger skin he brought back with him on his legs. This tiger skin that has been processed is the one that Murong Licheng gave him in Zhongyue Mountain. In this northern season, it can effectively resist the cold and humidity of spring. Then he got up and walked out of the palace, and the morning glow in the east covered the sky like a flame. The guards outside the hall stood guard day and night, with a faint frost between their eyebrows, but they still stood motionless, their faces full of loyalty.

Chu Jiangmian stood on the high steps, looking at the sky and meditating for a moment, a wry smile surged up at the corner of his mouth.

"Originally, I just wanted to be a big man and enjoy life...... But I didn't expect it to be difficult to get my wish after all! Now that you have promised the old man, you must do as best as possible so as not to disappoint him. Although he may not have a few days to live...... Alas! ”

For many years, the princes of the world have fought openly and secretly, encroaching on each other. War is almost always possible. It's hard enough to stay on the ground. Even if Chu Lie is such a hero, he can barely get to the current point in his life. It is not easy to protect the territory and the people, and it is so difficult to expand the territory and even support the Zhou royal family!

What's more, there are also many undercurrents surging within the Zhao State. Whether it is Jinxiang Palace, the court, or the army, there are many contradictions. With Zhao Wang Chulie in the sun, naturally no one dared to jump out easily. If he really dies this time, I'm afraid that he doesn't have to wait for the external enemy to attack under Dragon City, and there will be chaos inside, and a catastrophe is imminent!

Fortunately, my father finally waited for his return. And that's enough. Chu Jiangmian stretched out his hand and gently touched the wound on his body that was almost healed, walked down the steps, and kept walking forward. His steps have never been more steadfast.

The sunlight came through the long window of the palace and shone on Chu Lie's old and haggard face, he squinted his eyes slightly, looked at the young back that was fading away in that light, and sighed softly. Actually, he didn't fall asleep. Now, even if his body is tired, he doesn't want to sleep. Because he had a hunch that maybe it wouldn't be long before he would sleep once and never wake up.

"If you're here, come out and talk to me."

In the quiet palace, Chu Lie said lightly to the air. The breeze blew, and someone sat in front of him, took a sip of wine, and said.

"When you're tired, sleep and rest, and when it's time to let go of something, let it go...... This is the world of their young people after all! ”

In the empty palace, there was no one else. Chu Lie held on to a few cases and sat up straight. He glanced at the person sitting across from him, smiled wryly and shook his head.

"Some things are easier said than done! I'm still not at ease...... It's too much of a burden! ”

"You haven't really put the power in his hands, so how can you know if it will work?"

"What do you think...... Can he do it? ”

"That's your own son, okay? Ask me less! ”

"Alas! I certainly knew he wouldn't let me down. But at the end of the day, it's still too hard for him. Lao Ji, this time I want to thank you for taking this trip in person to protect Jiang Mian'er's safe return. ”

"You don't have to thank you. Lao Zhao, I didn't go to Zhongzhou because of your face. Hum! ”

Looking at the person opposite who was talking these words, Chu Lie suddenly laughed, but the expression on his face was rare these days.

"Huh! Yes, how can I have such a big face and be able to command the moving season! However, no matter what the reason, this thank you still has to be said after all. If I don't talk about it at this time, I don't know if I will have a chance to talk about it....... ”

There was a sad atmosphere in the silent air. Lao Ji, who had been in obscurity in Jinxiang Palace for more than ten years, sighed in his heart, and only lowered his head to look at the pot of wine and muttered.

"You are still the hero that the world calls it, where are all the momentum in the early years? Becoming such a mother-in-law mom. Also, don't think too much about it, the reason why I helped you this time is just for the sake of these fine wines. Hey! ”

Chu Lie was still smiling slightly. Of course, he understood what the person in front of him, who had once been the unparalleled swordsman in Jiangnan, was willing to endure for more than ten years here. Their grievances have been entangled for most of their lives, but they are finally coming to an end.

"Old Ji, don't be hard-mouthed. I hope that in the future, you can take care of Zhao Guo, Jiang Mian, and her as much as you do now...... In this way, I can go with peace of mind. ”

"What does it matter to me that you are responsible? The wind and sand in the north are too bitter, and I am not used to living here. ”

Lao Ji said emotionlessly, still bowing his head and drinking his wine, the good wine in the past, but at the moment he felt bitter. Chu Lie suddenly glared at him.

"You drank so much wine from my son, why, do you want to pay the bill?"

"What's the debt? I didn't promise you anything...... These wines were all given to me by Chu Jiangmian as promised! ”

Lao Ji looked up at him unconvinced, but saw that his bloodshot eyes were full of worry. I couldn't help but tremble in my heart. It turned out that this northern hero, who was known as the Great Wall, had really come to the end.

"Do you know how expensive these wines are? One or two gold and a pot, calculate how much you have drunk in the past few years, pay back this account, and then you are allowed to leave! ”

"You! It's just ridiculous...... I can't afford to pay back so much gold even if I tear down this old bone! ”

"Then it can't be helped. Old Ji, unless you spit out all the wine you've drunk again. Otherwise...... Hehe! ”

"Lao Zhao, in this world, there are two things that my Ji Zi will never bargain for. The first is the sword, and the second is the wine...... I won't leave until I've drunk all this good wine. ”

Two people who became rivals in love more than twenty years ago in order to compete for that peerless woman finally laughed together at this moment. Love to love, righteousness to righteousness. In the hearts of heroes, in addition to happiness and hatred, there is also sympathy.

"I've seen it for you along the way...... That kid is so talented and broad-minded, it's amazing. I'm afraid that the achievements of the future will be beyond your reach! ”

Lao Ji, who was holding the wine jug, disappeared again, leaving only this last sentence. Chu Lie, who got the answer, finally completely relieved himself.