In the afternoon at the end of February, Zhao Dangshi walked into the Xiangwang Mansion with a familiar car, and the posture of no one on the side seemed to have returned to his own house. Since entering the Xiangyang Mansion City, he will go to the palace every three or five times. At the beginning, he would politely go to Xiangwang Zhu Yiming to say hello, but later he simply didn't engage in this self-deceptive trick and went straight to the goal. Zhu Yiming is also very interesting, pretending to be deaf and dumb, and never asks.

He tied his horse at the green shadow wall, and from the vermilion lacquer gate, there were servants and maids in the palace who saluted him respectfully all the way. Zhao Dangshi "uh-huh" perfunctory past, without stopping. He was tired of seeing the water pavilions and carved beams and paintings of the palace, and his eyes were always looking straight ahead, and his feet were moving forward like a machine.

When I first came to "Anlan Xuan", I had the impression that I had walked for a long time, but now, I am afraid that it only takes a few breaths to walk here. Zhao Dangshi walked through the familiar moon gate and habitually looked at the sandalwood plaque carved with three cinnabar characters hanging on the top of the moon gate. No matter how many times he comes, every time he comes at this time, his heart will be filled with warmth.

In the clean courtyard, the figure of longing is still there. Hua Qing, who has cloud sideburns and green shirts, is a little pink today, and it seems to be a little more familiar and charming than in the past.

"As soon as the cold clouds pass, the spring flowers bloom. It seems that this courtyard will be lively again. Zhao Dangshi walked over with a grin. There are a lot of empty utensils of various colors in the open space in the courtyard, and Hua Qing, who has always liked flowers and plants, must be preparing for sowing.

"Zhao Lang." Hua Qing handed a short wooden shovel to the maid Xiaolian and instructed her, "Go to the house and sort out the seeds." ”

Xiaolian looked at Zhao Dangshi, stuck out her tongue, and went in response. Zhao Dangshi came to Huaqing's side and accompanied her to look at the colorful porcelain vases and crockpots, but inadvertently smelled the faint smell of fat powder.

"Why is it so grand?" Zhao Dangshi smiled, "It doesn't seem like it's a festival today, or am I mistaken?" ”

Hua Qing did not answer him directly, but said: "I reviewed the Analects two days ago, and read the sentence 'I am determined to learn five out of ten, stand at thirty, not confused at forty, know the destiny of heaven at fifty, obey at sixty, and do what I want at seventy, and do not exceed the rules'. ”

Zhao Dangshi said strangely: "Confucius's words can also lead to the meaning of dressing up?" ”

Hua Qing's originally cold expression amused him with this sentence, and he couldn't help laughing: "You gaged again." When I saw this sentence, I just thought of the truth that people should do the corresponding things when they reach a certain age. ”

Zhao Dangshi pretended to be thoughtful and said: "I see, Zhao is stupid, thank you for the county lord's advice." ”

Hua Qing suddenly turned his face back cold, and said: "When the window is cloudy and the sideburns are yellow, it is the nature of women in the boudoir. I went to the princess yesterday and exchanged makeup tips with her, which benefited me a lot. ”

Zhao Dangshi stared at her, pretended to nod and said, "I can see it." ”

"Don't make fun of me." Hua Qing pouted for no reason. She has a gentle and straightforward temperament, rarely showing negative emotions, and to be honest, even if Zhao Dangshi is close to her, it is rare to see her dissatisfied on weekdays.

"I don't want to make fun of it, this makeup is elegant but noble, which is just right for the princess and your identity." Zhao Dangshi was busy, but he secretly wondered in his heart, Hua Qing looked at him with some temper, which was too rare.

Hua Qing didn't pay attention to him, but turned around and walked under the eaves by himself. Zhao Dangshi was now completely sure that she was definitely uncomfortable, so he stepped forward and asked with a smile: "My county lord, but someone is angry with you." Say his name, there is no one in this Xiangyang Mansion that I can't control! ”

"That's good." Hua Qing said, "There is a person named Zhao Dangshi who is angry with me, you go and teach him a lesson!" ”

"Huh?" Zhao Dangshi was stunned, and recalled in his mind that someone seemed to have said the same thing to himself, but Huaqing's importance to him was comparable to others, let alone words, and directly pulled up Huaqing's slender hand, "Ah Qing, if you want me to do something wrong, you don't hurt to say it." ”

When Hua Qing heard this, there was a hint of resentment in his eyes. She looked down at her skirt and said softly, "I'm afraid." ”

Zhao Dangshi asked, "What are you afraid of?" ”

"I'm afraid you don't want me anymore."

Zhao Dangshi fell into the clouds and mist, and said: "How could I not want you, who said that?" ”

This made Hua Qing laugh again, only to hear her half-laugh and half-disgusted: "It's not yourself yet." You didn't say that, but what difference does it make to do it? ”

Zhao Dangshi's heart was shocked, and he hurriedly secretly introspected: "Could it be that my joke with Ah Shi and Lian Zhi reached Ah Qing's ears?" Heaven and earth conscience, I have no substantive actions with them, and even Zhi is also the maid recognized by Ah Qing at the beginning......"

Just like Mang on his back, he listened to Hua Qing's soft voice in his ears: "That night in the backyard, the relationship between the two of us has been clearly seen by the people in the Xiang Domain. You don't know, I couldn't bear to tell you before, King Xiang has come to me more than once, questioned my relationship with you, and even asked me to cooperate and sneak out......"

When Zhao Dangshi heard this, his face was solemn: "Where does he want you to run?" ”

"Back to Hanzhong." Hua Qing bit his lips lightly, frowned, and said, "I never agreed, so much so that he flicked his sleeves several times and went angry." ”

Zhao Dangshi said: "I told him that he will never be allowed to get in the way. And that night in the backyard, as long as he has good eyes, he naturally understands the relationship between the two of us......" Speaking of this, he saw Huaqing's apricot eyes already looking at him with tears in his eyes, as if he had something to say but it was difficult to say, and his heartstrings suddenly realized, and instantly understood the meaning of Huaqing's word "afraid".

Although Huaqing is steady and organized, he is actually only one year older than the naughty and lively Qin Shilu in his impression, and after all, he was only a seventeen-year-old girl when he first joined Zhao Ying. But time flies, Zhao Dangshi is thirty-three years old unconsciously, and Huaqing is also twenty-two. In the past, the situation was uncertain and the two places were separated, Hua Qing was willing to endure loneliness and silent suffering for the future of the two, and even stayed in the Xiangwang Mansion for a few years, and she never complained.

It's just that she was disappointed that she finally got to the moment, and the Xiangyang city wall and the palace wall that blocked the two of them had been broken, and she was full of joy and looked forward to staying with Zhao Dangshi smoothly, but Zhao Dangshi still didn't mean to take her out of Xiangwangfu, even if she would visit her every once in a while, how could this give her enough security. She still has to face the deep palace walls day and night, face the bitter waiting and infinite loneliness.

This kind of relationship is really not as good as when he was displaced with the camp at the beginning. Although those times were bitter, at least Hua Qing could feel the same boat with Zhao Dangshi, and her heart was satisfied. And the trip to Jiangnan that she misses the most may only be buried in her heart forever and become an eternal but dusty memory.

For Zhao Dangshi, she has paid too much, she can give up the glory and wealth of Hanzhong, she can endure the exile of eating and sleeping, she can endure the loneliness of living in a different place, and she can bravely face the surprised eyes of the people in the Xiang clan that night...... The only thing she can't accept is Zhao Dangshi's inaction.

This is a woman's instinctive concern, and it is also her inevitable appeal to her own happiness. Just like the concise sentence "the age is up", everything is so natural and irrepressible.

Zhao Dangshi was silent in self-blame, Hua Qing looked at him for a long, long time, his lips smacked several times, and he didn't say anything. Finally, after repeated hesitation, she relented and said softly: "I want you to marry me." With a soft voice, a crystal teardrop fell down her cheek.

Zhao Dangshi's eyes looked straight at her, but he still didn't speak.

Hua Qing's tears could no longer be uncontrollably welled up in his eyes, and he almost mourned: "You don't want to? ”

Zhao Dangshi shook his head, Hua Qing was about to collapse, and suddenly felt that his hands were tightly closed in the center by Zhao Dangshi's thick and warm big hands.

"You have waited for me for so many years, and I am ashamed of myself when I think of it from time to time. But how can you think about it, it can delay your good time. Zhao Dangshi's face was as calm as a mountain, and every word was sonorous and powerful, "I will definitely marry you, and I will marry you in a dignified and majestic manner." I, I want everyone in the world to know that you Huaqing are my Zhao Dangshi's wife! ”

When Hua Qing heard this, he cried even more. Zhao Dangshi smiled and took her into his arms. The beauty of the country and the city is like a child at this moment, whimpering and crying.

Zhao Dangshi stroked her black hair and temples, and said in a low voice: "Ah Qing, in just these two days, I will send someone to Hanzhong to propose marriage to your father." ”

"Hmm." Hua Qing cried, but a simple promise contained incomparable joy.

Zhao Dangshi allowed her to cry for a long time, until the placket on her chest was soaked with tears, and the two people who hugged each other were slightly separated. He wiped away a few of her tears, and only after a closer look did he find that she was nervous and a little proud, her cheeks were crimson in excitement, and she was as beautiful and delicate as a peach blossom in the spring breeze in February.

A few days later, Shihua Street in the northwest of Gucheng County.

Although Shihua Street has a "street" in its name, it is actually a town, similar in size to Shengkang Town to the south. Chen Hongfan, the nominal commander of Changping Town and the commander of the former battalion of Zhao Ying Changhong in essence, was inspecting the place with dozens of horsemen. Shihua Street is adjacent to the Shixi River, there are fresh fish in the river and delicious, with Chen Hongfan's excellent travel, the content of the so-called "inspection" is nothing more than to enjoy the delicacies and view the scenery.

When Zhang Xianzhong rebelled, the fortresses of Gucheng were completely destroyed, and Zhao Ying later allocated some money and food to help rebuild. With the experience of building Fanhe City, although the city wall of the new county seat of Gucheng County has shrunk compared with the old city wall, since the county has a wall, the psychological safety given to the people is not a simple number that can be measured. Chen Hongfan was lenient and benevolent, and under his management, the dilapidated Gucheng County gradually began to revivenation.

The people of Gucheng are more fond of Chen Hongfan, Chen Hongfan has gone to Shihua Street, many fishermen have taken the initiative to offer all kinds of delicious river fish, Chen Hongfan eats straight from morning to evening, eats fish at once, and even in the end, sees the fragrant fish, has no appetite. After being full of wine and food, Chen Hongfan remembered that he had called a troupe to perform in the county tonight, so he patted his ass and prepared to go home. But before they could get on their horses, a large number of scattered people fled in the direction of the west of the town.

Shihua Street further west, to the mountains of Yunyang Province. Recently, there have been many thieves coming and going, Chen Hongfan only said that the people were thieves, and immediately ordered dozens of battalions to accompany the town to prepare for battle. Although he is not good at leading troops to fight, he is only compared to Zhao Dangshi, a veteran general who is used to fighting, and he is never afraid to deal with ordinary small-scale thieves.

"How many thieves are coming from the west?" Before the war was imminent, Chen Hongfan took the safety of the situation and asked a few people about the situation.

But those people turned their heads and couldn't say why. It wasn't until later that Chen Hongfan almost heard the rumbling sound of horses' hooves coming from not far away, and he didn't feel good. With experience, he judged that there were more than a thousand horsemen who were rushing towards the town. The scale of this kind of horse army, in his mind, is probably the power that only Li Zicheng, Luo Rucai and other giants have.

Speculation is at this point, so what else is there to fight?

He immediately gave the order to change the preparation for battle to retreat. It's just that at the moment when he pulled off the horsewhip, he suddenly remembered that there was still a heavyweight hidden in the mountains of Yunyang.