In the morning of the next day, the Emperor of Jianwen officially issued an edict to the world:

"The country has the only right supply, Jiangsu and Zhejiang are unique, and Su and Songguantian are allowed to pay private taxes, and they are punished for a while, how can it be a rule. Today, with reductions and reductions, there is no more than one bucket per mu. Su and Song people still have the official household department. ”

It is ordered that all areas involved in the new policy must be implemented by New Year's Day next year, and local officials must not delay the implementation of the new policy under any pretext.

At the same time, the Son of Heaven sent Shen Ruoyu to lead a team of Imperial Forest Army to take Liang Rushui back to the capital outside the city and settle in the palace of King Gu.

For several days in a row, Shen Ruoliao has been living in Dong Yuan's barracks and has never returned home. Later, he felt that the two guards of Yulin were really a little decadent in the palace, so he asked the emperor of Jianwen for instructions to take the twelve guards out of the city to hunt together. Zhu Yunwen likes to be quiet and read, rarely goes out of the city, and hunting is a novelty. If it weren't for the Royal Forest Army's outpouring of the nest and the huge palace unguarded, Shen Ruoyu would not have had to drag the emperor. Zhu Yunwen couldn't stand his soft grinding and hard bubbles, and finally agreed. So after choosing an auspicious day for a few days of leisure, the Son of Heaven and the Queen took the little prince, together with Xu Huizu, Xu Zengshou and other military generals in the court, under the support of the Twelve Guards, they went out of the Taiping Gate, walked to the yin side of Zhongshan Mountain, and set up camp at the foot of Zhongshan Mountain. For several days in a row, Dong Yuan has been helping the Son of Heaven learn to ride and shoot, and taking the emperor around to hunt wild animals. Shen Ruoyu and Xu Huizu were in charge of the pro-army drills, from sunrise to sunset, and in the middle of the night, they had to blow the horn and line up to practice night attacks. Later, Xu Huizu also arranged a field exercise, and he and Shen Ruoliao each divided six guards, took turns to exchange commands, fought fiercely several times, and beat the six guards led by Shen Ruoyu to the ground. The two of them were very satisfied, on the one hand, Xu Huizu was secretly relieved to see that the battle was going on longer and longer, and that his side was in danger repeatedly; On the other hand, Wei Guogong almost taught himself how to fight by hand, which also made Shen Ruoliao feel that it was a God-given opportunity, and he was fortunate to have three lives.

On the last day, the Son of Heaven inspected the hard-trained Upper Twelve Guards; After the parade, everyone had a real fun hunting together. Then, the Imperial Forest Army escorted the Son of Heaven back to the palace.

The honor guard slowly returned to the city, and there was no crime all the way. After returning to the palace, the Son of Heaven sent people to invite Qi Tai, Huang Zicheng, and Fang Xiaoru, and asked them to present the concerts from all over the world in the past two days. Chen Di, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, and the eunuch of the celebrant also came to ask for the will of the New Year's celebration. Zhu Yunwen was very busy for a while, and said to Shen Ruoliao with emotion:

"You see, I occasionally go out for a few days, and I delay so many things. This emperor is really not good to be, he can't rest when he is sick and tired, otherwise he will be lazy and ridiculous in state affairs. ”

At this time, a guard hurriedly rushed into the Qianqing Palace and played:

"Long live the lord, there is a little girl who broke into the Xihua Gate, crying and shouting to see Lord Shen."

Zhu Yunwen raised his head, a little surprised like Shen Ruoyu.

"Who is that?"

"She said that she was the maid of Lord Shen's family, and said that something big happened in the family, and she wanted Lord Shen to go home with her immediately."

Zhu Yunwen said: "Hurry up and let her in." ”

Shen Ruoyu hurriedly said: "Don't, let's go out with me, how can I let her enter the Qianqing Palace casually." I'll go see what's going on and I'll be right back. ”

Zhu Yunwen said with concern: "I told you that you can't go home when you are old, you should always go back and have a look." It doesn't matter, if it's really urgent, you can just go home and don't have to ask me for advice. ”

Shen Ruoyu followed the guard out of the Qianqing Palace and rushed to Xihua Gate, and saw Dou'er being stopped by the soldiers guarding the door from a distance. Dou'er saw him at a glance and immediately cried loudly:

"Sir, sir—"

Shen Ruoxiao frowned and ran in front of her. The soldiers got out of the way, and Shen Ruoyu pulled Dou'er to the base of the city wall outside, avoiding his own men.

"What's wrong with you, Dou'er, you dare to break into the palace and kill you? Got a fire at home? ”

Dou'er cried: "Master, master—go home quickly, madam...... Madame she ......"

Shen Ruoyu grabbed her little shoulder: "What's wrong with Madam?" She's home? ”

Dou'er cried so hard that she couldn't speak. Shen Ruoyu looked around, stretched out his hand to wipe Dou'er's tears, and asked in a low voice:

"What's wrong with Madam, tell me quickly? - Dou'er, you're really anxious to kill me. ”

Dou'er's tears wiped more and more like a broken embankment: "Madam...... Mrs. She...... She's home......"

Shen Ruoyu sighed: "What's there to cry about - she won't come back to ask me for a divorce, right?" It's not a rush, I can't go back now. ”

Dou'er shook her head desperately: "Master, madam...... Mrs. She...... She committed suicide......"

For a moment, Shen Ruoyu didn't seem to hear anything. He was stunned for a long time, looking at the crying beans in front of him in confusion. Then, as if a ghost had sent a god, a large expanse of congealed blood suddenly appeared in front of him, and the bloody red of the eyes rushed down the deep wound from the pale and delicate wrist, and like a river, an endless sea of blood gathered on the ground. Qing'er, Qing'er......

Suicide?

He shuddered and muttered incredulously, "What? ”

It was not his voice, it was not the voice of a human being. Dou'er's tears were suddenly stopped, and she looked at him tremblingly, and muttered:

"Madame...... Madame, she committed suicide by hanging herself from a beam......"

She was suddenly frightened; Shen Ruoxiao's eyes made her immediately cry again:

"Sir, don't do this...... Madame, she's fine...... Husheng has already saved her...... She was lying on the bed, crying incessantly, and saying let's leave her alone and let her die...... Sir, go home and take a look......"

Shen Ruoyu only felt that his legs, which had just been so cold that he was unconscious, were a little paralyzed; He instinctively propped the autumn wind on the ground and held himself up, feeling trembling all over.

"Bean,...... Finally...... What the hell happened, and when did Madame come back? Why did she ...... Why don't you want to live anymore? ”

Dou'er said: "The master went to the court, and once he went, he never came back." Husheng and I went to Liufu to pick up Mrs. and told Mrs. everything. Madame cried and came back with us. The next night, Mr. Fang's wife came to visit, and after chatting with her for a long time, she didn't know what she said, and after leaving, her wife kept crying and kept saying that she was a bad person. From then on, Madame had to spend a whole day cooking dinner for the old man, keeping warm in hot water, changing the water over and over again, but the old man never returned. Later, the lady couldn't help but run to the palace to look for it, and when she asked, she learned that the lord took the royal forest army and the emperor out of the city to hunt, and I don't know when I will come back. Madame took me to the Taiping Gate every morning and stood and waited until the gate was closed and was forcibly sent back by the guards. Today, I finally looked back at the master, I called you, you looked back at your wife, as if you didn't see it at all, and turned your face back without any reaction, talking and laughing with the Lord Dong who was parallel to you. Madame wouldn't let me shout anymore and took me home. As soon as she got home, she locked herself in the house, and when she heard a sound inside, Husheng felt that something was wrong, so she slammed the door open and found that her wife was already hanging on the beam. ”

Shen Ruoyu called for one of his subordinates and asked him to quickly lead his horse. Then, reproach Dou'er and say:

"How is Madame? Why don't you go to the doctor first? ”

Dou'er said: "I...... I don't know, I only know that Madame is looking for a short time for the sake of the master, so I came to you, even if the Royal Forest Army kills me, I have to let you go home. Husheng is watching his wife at home. ”

The soldiers quickly brought in the second-rate son. Shen Ruoyu got on the horse, pulled Dou'er up, took out his Dudu seal from his arms, handed it to his subordinates, and said:

"Give this to the emperor, saying that I have some urgent matters at home and need to take two days off; Turning back, I will go to Banzai to apologize. If you want to find me for something, you can come to my house at any time. ”

He galloped towards his home, and when he passed by the largest pharmacy in the capital, he couldn't help but say that he had caught the best doctor and went home.

Nangong Qiu was lying on the bed, her face was haggard and pale, her eyes were dull and frightening, her face was full of tears, she kept coughing, and there was a wide strangulation mark on her delicate neck that was red and purple. On the floor, a long white cloth slumped awkwardly on an overturned chair.

Na Lang was diagnosed and came out of the house. Shen Ruoyu stood outside, restless, but didn't dare to go in.

"Don't worry, Madame is not in danger. Adults should go in and have a look. You are a good medicine, and it is not good for your lady to stand outside all the time. ”

Shen Ruoyu's heart sank slightly; But the doctor said no more, and took his leave.

He hesitated, then plucked up the courage to walk into the room. When Husheng and Dou'er saw him come in, they glanced at each other and went out consciously.

The door closed behind him. He sat down on the edge of the bed and reached out to carefully wipe away the never-ending tears.

Nangong Qiu gasped heavily, not looking at him.

Tears can't be wiped away; Shen Ruoyu was a little flustered. He took her into his arms and bowed his head to kiss her face, every river of tears. Nangong Qiu finally called out:

"If there are few ......"

She was so weak that she couldn't lift her hand when she could reach his face, so she could only collapse in his arms and tremble, as weak and pitiful as a withered grass.

Shen Ruoyu only felt distressed like a pinprick prick, and couldn't help tears flowing down her eyelashes.

"Silly girl, why are you so stupid...... You hate me, and you can't punish me like that. Why are you so stupid? ……”

Nangong Qiu muttered: "I'm a bad person, I deserve to hate me, I deserve to die......"

Shen Ruoyu hugged her tightly: "Qiu'er, you think too much." When I was in Taipingmen, I didn't hear Dou'er call me at all, let alone see you. Dou'er ran to the palace to look for me, and I learned that you were waiting for me at the Taiping Gate. If I had known, how could I have ignored you? How long have I been thinking about it? I'm not going home, it's not because you're not at home, I'm afraid to come back sad. Do you know how cold, how long, and how hard it is to stay alone on an empty pillow? ”

"I don't deserve you to love me so much," Nangong Qiu said, "I've never been so selfish, I don't know how hard and great you are." Mrs. Fang told me how much of a crime you suffered in order to get the emperor to promise to reduce taxes for the people of Jiangsu and Zhejiang, but I didn't ask you, so I made trouble for you. You're pretending to be someone else, but I've never thought only of myself. I don't deserve your love, I don't deserve to be your wife, I'm sorry for you, I'm sorry for you......"

She cried to the point of her heartbreak, coughing and whimpering together, and quickly choked herself. Shen Ruoxiao let go of her embrace, for fear of suffocating her. Nangong Qiu leaned closer to him, clinging to his chest. He lowered his head and kissed her forehead, and said softly:

"You are thinking nonsense, what has happened to me? It's me who should apologize, since you followed me, you haven't lived a few days of comfortable life, and you have been suffering all kinds of grievances, and I have ruined all your carefree happiness in the past......"

Nangong Qiu said: "You're not wrong, it's all because I'm not satisfied...... I love you like this, I should be willing to pay everything for you, no matter what the cost, it's worth it, but I didn't do it...... I really don't have the face to see you again, I should let you divorce me, drive me away, and marry a good girl who is truly worthy of you. ”

Shen Ruoyu was silent for a moment; He hesitated, not knowing how to answer.

You don't love me, Qiu'er; It's just that you're still lying to yourself, and you don't even realize it. What am I going to do? Do you continue to believe, continue to help you deceive yourself and me, or let you go and let you find the person you deserve, the one who can really give you happiness?

He didn't dare; He was not reconciled. He felt a weakness deep inside, so contemptible, so terrible, so pathetic, and yet so irresistible. He can only continue to stubbornly deceive himself: not now; She was too weak to stand it, even if she had to say, it couldn't be now.

He whispered, "I'll never drive you away." If one day you want to leave, I will send you to where you want to go, hand you over to the person you want to follow, and watch you leave safe and happy, so that I can rest assured. As for me, maybe I shouldn't have married you by my side in the first place, delaying your youth and waiting in vain, not being able to give you momentary thoughtfulness and sweetness, how can I hurt an innocent good girl again? If you leave, I won't admit another person into my heart. ”

"No, don't say that, you never know what will happen to you. Just like me, when I married you, I vowed to be a good wife who was obedient and gentle, but I didn't do it; Just like you, you must have said it to your clan sister before, but now-"

"Qiu'er! Please, don't mention my sister again......" He lifted up his hand and covered his forehead and eyes from her; She could only feel his shiver from head to toe.

He whispered, "Did you really come up with these words yourself?" Or did the people of the Liu family teach you badly? You've never doubted me like this, you've doubted yourself, you've doubted the future of both of us—it's not like Qiu'er said it. It's all my fault, how did I turn Qiu'er like this, how much torture did I make you......"

Nangong Qiu said slowly: "It's not your fault, it's me who should be like this...... I used to be so naïve, too naïve, too stupid...... I should learn to understand, learn to wait...... I should have learned to forget ......"

Her words made him shudder and terrified. He lowered his hand, wrapped his arms around her tightly, and kissed her on the lips, not letting her say any more.

When she was quiet, he gently pressed his face against her and sighed heavily:

"Do you know that Dou'er ran to the palace to find me, and told me that you committed suicide...... It scares the hell out of me. Do you think I can afford to do this a second time? My darling, don't be angry with me with yourself again; Qiu'er, you must promise me that no matter what happens in the future, you will never have the idea of suicide again. Life is the most noble thing for a person, don't give up on her so casually. Whatever happens—I can do whatever you want as long as you live safely. ”